Page 9 of Daddy's Firm Hand

"We'll agree on specific safewords that you can use to communicate your feelings easily during any activity," he explained patiently. "For example, 'yellow' if you need to slow down or discuss something, and 'red' if you want to stop completely. Does that make sense?"

"Yes," I whispered, marveling at the way he seemed to anticipate my every worry and need.

David smiled reassuringly. "Good. We can also use a number system, with 1 being perfectly comfortable and 10 being overwhelming. All you need to do is say the number, and I'll understand."

I exhaled shakily. I loved how matter-of-factly David was explaining all of this.

David reached out to take my hand in his. His touch was warm and grounding, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my skin. "I know this is a lot to take in," he murmured. "But I promise, we'll go at your pace. You're in control here, Candy. Always."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I blinked them back furiously. I couldn't remember the last time someone had made me feel so safe, so cared for. In that moment, the last of my reservations melted away, replaced by a blooming sense of trust and confidence.

With a deep, steadying breath, I turned to the final page of the contract. The blank space at the bottom seemed to pulse with significance, the weight of the decision before me both exhilarating and terrifying.

I glanced up at David, searching his face for any sign of impatience or pressure. But there was none to be found - only gentle encouragement and unwavering support. He met my gaze steadily, silently communicating his readiness to walk this path alongside me.

He’d let me into this secret world of his, but I had a feeling there was still a lot more to discover about David.

I picked up the pen with trembling fingers. The weight of it was familiar yet foreign, like a key to a door I'd never dared to open. I hesitated for a moment, the nib hovering over the page as a thousand doubts and fears raced through my mind.

But beneath them all, a small, insistent voice whispered that this was right. That this was the path I was meant to walk.

With a final, decisive flourish, I signed my name at the bottom of the contract. The ink gleamed wetly in the soft light of David's office. David leaned forward to add his own signature. His hand was steady and sure, the strokes of his pen fluid and decisive. As he straightened up, our eyes met, a frisson of electricity crackling between us.

David's eyes held mine, their icy blue depths glinting with a hint of excitement. "Now that we've formalized our agreement, I'd like to show you something," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.

My mind raced with possibilities, trying to guess what lay ahead.

David gently squeezed my hand before rising from his seat and gesturing for me to follow him. I stood, my heart thrumming with a mix of apprehension and curiosity as I trailed after him.

He led the way across the spacious office, the click of his shoes against the polished floor echoing in the quiet room. We approached a towering bookcase that adorned one wall, its dark wood gleaming under the soft glow of a nearby lamp. With a smooth, practiced motion, David reached out and ran his fingers along the books' spines until he found one that seemed to call to him.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

As he pulled it out, there was a soft click, followed by a subtle shift in the air around us. My eyes widened in wonder as a hidden door swung open, revealing a dimly lit passage beyond. The scent of old parchment and dust wafted towardsus, mingling with an underlying scent of something sweet and comforting.

“A secret passage?”

“Something not a lot of people know about me is that I’m a bit of a nerd,” he said, with a smile. “Secret passages. Treasure. Big surprises. I love it all.”

“Where does it go?”

“You’ll have to lead the way and find out.”

We walked the passage for half a minute or so. The lighting was dim, and the atmosphere was charged.

I wondered whether this was the hidden sex dungeon that people sometimes spoke about in hushed whispers.

So many of my co-workers would kill to be here, in my shoes, uncovering David’s secrets.

Before too long, we arrived at a door. The word “Playroom” was painted on the door in bright pink paint.

David produced a key from his pocket. “Want to open it up?” He handed me the key.

I breathed out slowly, the slipped the key in. With a soft click, the lock disengaged and I pushed the door open. I hesitated on the threshold, suddenly unsure. But the gentle pressure of David's hand at the small of my back urged me forward, and I stepped into a world unlike anything I'd ever seen.

The room was awash in soft, natural light that spilled through a large window overlooking a tranquil courtyard garden. Soothing pastel hues adorned the walls, instantly putting me at ease. Plush cushions in delicate shades of pink and lavender were scattered across a cozy sofa, inviting me to sink into their velvety depths.

A bookshelf stood against one wall, filled not with the dry financial tomes I was used to, but with art supplies, novels, and whimsical décor that seemed to whisper of faraway lands andmagical adventures. The air carried a subtle hint of lavender, fresh and calming.

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