Page 210 of Masters of Pleasure
“Isn’t Laura engaged?”
“Yeah, but they don’t like her fiancé, either.”Noelle made a face.“He’s a douche, so I can’t blame them for that, but trying to break me and Tyler up so he can date Laura instead is fucked up.”
Yes, it would be if it was true, but it sounded a little far-fetched.On the other hand, weirder things had happened.
“I hope Law’s friends aren’t jerks to you.”Noelle shook her head, a scowl forming.“It’s the worst when their friends don’t like you.I wish he’d stop hanging out with them.”
Iris bit her tongue against advising Noelle to learn how to get along with Tyler’s friends since him ditching them completely didn’t seem likely.He and Noelle had been dating for a while, and she’d been complaining about his friends long enough, if he was going to choose her over them, he probably would have already done it.
She wondered what Law was doing this afternoon.He’d said he was having a relaxing day at home and possibly doing some work before going to Stronghold tonight for a shift as Dungeon Monitor.The urge to text him made her fingers twitch, but she didn’t want Noelle to think she wasn’t paying attention.
It was her own darn fault for starting this line of questioning.
Law
While Connor and Asad were messing around with the grill, Law sidled up to Q.
“Olivia talked to Julie and me yesterday.You want to sign up for the submissive class?”He kept his voice low and neutral.Being a switch was not something to be ashamed of, but not everyone wanted their private business bandied about where others could hear.A lot of people struggled when they realized they had a submissive side and didn’t want other people to know at first.They’d find out eventually, but he wanted to let Q tell Asad and Connor, and anyone else at Stronghold, on his own terms, which meant not blurting it out where the other two could hear.
Q tensed, then relaxed, confirming Law had been right to approach him privately.He’d planned to do it at Stronghold, but it was even easier here since they only had Asad and Connor for company, and they were busy getting the BBQ ready that they’d promised.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“I think you’re smart to explore both sides.”Clearly surprised, Q jerked his head up, and his gaze met Law’s.Law smiled at him, doing his best to convey his understanding.“Kink is a spectrum, just like sexuality.There are some people who are ‘all’ one thing, but everyone else falls somewhere within the spectrum.”He grinned.“It might surprise you to know I’ve enjoyed being tied up and restrained.”Granted, that was about as far as it went since he didn’t enjoy punishment or anything like that.
A masochist, he was not.
Occasionally being restrained and letting someone else take the lead?He’d only done it a couple times, mostly with newer Dommes or switches, who were feeling adventurous, as long as they kept things sensual and not painful.That still left plenty of opportunities open.
“Really?”
“Really.There are also some people who go back and forth, with years between being one or the other.We use terms like Dom, sub, and switch to help us define what we are, but sometimes a label is just a box we put ourselves into.You don’t have to confine yourself to that box.If you want to occasionally expand your box or step out of it entirely, then go back in, that’s what being a member at Stronghold is all about.”
While there was such a thing as “one-true-way” kinksters who believed in very strict adherence to the boxes, Stronghold wasn’t like that, nor was Marquis.Patrick, the owner of Stronghold, had wanted to create a place where people could be themselves, whatever that meant to them.His two partners for Marquis were in total agreement.
Patrick had no problem tossing people out the door, something Law heartily approved of.
Q nodded thoughtfully, squaring his shoulders when he realized Law wasn’t judging him for his desire to explore the other side of things.He still didn’t look as confident as he had at times during the Dominance class, but this was new territory for him.A lot of men struggled with the idea of submitting, especially straight men.Society raised them to be in charge, and that handing over control to someone else was a weakness.
“Yes… I want to explore.The Dominance class… I enjoyed a lot of the stuff we did on the submissive side, a lot more than others seemed to… especially when Mistress Julie was partnered with me.Sometimes, I feel like I fit with the Dom thing, and sometimes, I don’t.I know Zach is a switch…”
His voice trailed off, but Law knew exactly who he was talking about.Zach was a Dom and a wicked sadist, especially with women, but he was also submissive to his boyfriend.Q cleared his throat.
“I’m straight, though.”
Which was likely why he enjoyed having Mistress Julie as his partner.
“There are straight switches, too.That does bring up the point I wanted to talk to you about.”That got Q’s attention, and he turned his head to fully face Law for the first time, curiosity in his eyes.“Only one woman has signed up to be a dominant volunteer for the submissives class… Samantha.”
Q’s expression went blank, his eyes unfocused, and his mouth dropped open a bit.Leaning against the wooden bench that wrapped around part of Law’s back porch, Q let out a long breath of air.
“Fuck.”
“You don’t have to answer immediately, and Olivia is going to ask around to see if we can find another volunteer, but your other option would be to work with a male dominant.”
“Right.”Q closed his eyes, putting his hand up to his head, and groaned.
“Everything okay over there?”Asad called out.Looking up, Law scowled and waved his hand, gesturing for him to put his attention back on the grill.Sensing Law was serious, Asad turned around and said something to Connor, which made the other man chuckle.
