Page 8 of Emergence and Ascendance

"Being new is just as much a headache as it is a selling point. You personally know how many try the lifestyle because they think they can handle it only to find out they're not built for it. I don't need that shit."

"I do personally know but I also know this is the perfect opportunity for you to try a contract with no strings attached. She's in town on business ,which means after the contract is up, you won't have to see her again since you're convinced a permanent sub is never going to be your thing."

"It's not." I shrugged. My life was good as it was. My time had also expired when it came to romanticizing having one person in my life who would be my equal, especially now, considering what I'd discovered about myself. But even if I did find that woman, one who understood my proclivities for the lifestyle, I didn'tknow that I would ever have the ability to trust anyone enough to fully commit to anything outside of what I was currently doing. Focusing on my physical pleasures.

"You believe it's not but I believe you simply haven't found a woman who deserves the trust I know you want to hand over."

I shook my head and chuckled lightly. "G, I don't really give a fuck what you believe."

"If you were anyone else saying that to me, I would be offended, Christian."

"No you wouldn't because you don't really give a fuck what anyone else believes."

She smiled arrogantly. "True but I'm asking you to do this for me as a friend."

"Because you believe it will somehow change my life and my mind about contract play."

"No, I don't think I have a chance in hell of changing your mind. In fact, I know with certainty I won't. That task will be solely up to the woman the universe pairs you with."

"Then why the hell do you want me to do this?"

"Because whatever introduction you have into the lifestyle will shape your experience. One bad experience can ruin it for you."

Which was why Giselle insisted on being my first. I'd been hesitant, given our past business relationship and that she was the owner. That was a slippery slope but having her as my introduction had been the best possible decision I could have ever made.

She grinned. "I know what you're thinking."

I arched my brow and she shrugged. "That me being your first was a blessing and a curse."

I chuckled. "Get the fuck out of my head, G. Maybe you do have a mystery psychology degree I'm not aware of."

"A degree on Christian Devereaux." She winked. "But in all honesty, you were a Dom in spirit. The only thing I did was teach you how to apply that here at the club and in your bedroom."

I hadn't fucked a woman in my bedroom ,or any bedroom for that matter, in years. Since my ex-wife actually.

"Regardless, I'm not interested."

"Which I was prepared for, so now I'm bringing out my big guns."

"Shit, G, what now?" I sighed.

"When you made the decision to come here…" Fuck, I already knew where this was going. I owed her. She was calling in a favor.

"Are you sure you want to waste this on a woman you don't know?" I frowned and considered something. "Wait, do you know her? Is this personal?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't know her personally but I trust my gut with these things. And with this one, it has to be you."

There was something she wasn't saying which really fucked with me.

"And if I say no?"

"I'll deny her membership. The only other option she has within proximity is Devil's Dungeon and you know what that might be like."

I did. I'd visited there twice when considering my options. The thought of engaging at a sex club in Crescent Falls given my reputation throughout the city after the skin trade rumors didn't feel like the best decision. The last thing I wanted was to answer questions about my personal shit and bondage with women was at the top of that list of things I had no desire to discuss.

One visit to Devil's Dungeon changed my mind. Clearly there were rules, very similar to the ones here at Erogenous. Based on my time there, I understood they weren't enforced. The mostimportant rule everyone needed to follow in this space was to never touch someone without consent and consent could be withdrawn at any time.

The staff at Devil's Dungeon didn't enforce that as strictly as Giselle did based on what I witnessed. There had been multiple times when women were approached and their personal space and bodies were compromised. The staff saw this and only stepped in if and when it got out of hand. However, by then, in most cases, things had gone too far which was a problem. That was never an issue here at Erogenous.

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