Page 14 of Hard Discipline

He does not smile back. “First. A little housekeeping. Did you read my bio on the app?”

I blink. Bio? App? Fuck, I need to get my head in the game, not let his presence stupefy me like this. I struggle to think of what to say, because while I looked at the other Doms’ bios, I didn’t look at his. I mean, the first time I found him on the app I did, but I didn’t know what any of the terms meant. Also, I was also too anxious to pay attention, so I ended up skimming it. “Umm,” I begin, wishing I’d given the thing at least another glance before coming here.

“So, you didn’t,” he goes on, correctly reading my expression. “That’s fine, I don’t give a fuck if you read it or not, that’ll be on you. Because you’ll have to bear the consequences.”

“Fuck around and find out?” I ask, like a half-wit.

“Quite literally, I’m afraid.” He still isn’t smiling. Maybe Doms don’t smile. “So, a quick summary about me as a Master. I’m hardline with an emphasis on discipline. I’m into orgasm denial and edging, and I like to test the boundaries of what a sub can bear. I have it down to a fine art and believe me, I can make you scream and cry and plead for release, but I’ll only give it to you if I think you’ve earned it.” He pauses a moment, then adds. “But I’m not going to tell you what you have to do to earn it. That’s something you’ll have to figure out on your own. It probably also goes without saying that I like mind games.”

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it’s not for him to get straight to business within seconds of me walking into the room. Nohi, how are you?orhow was your day?ornice to see you. Not even an ice-breaker offer of a drink.

My heartbeat thunders in my head, my mouth dry as I go over what he said. It doesn’t sound too bad, except for the screaming and crying bit. Then again, he had me crying and partly screaming last week when he stopped me from climaxing, so maybe I can deal. And as for the hardline business, well, yeah, duh, at least I know that already.

“Okay,” I say, trying to not to stutter this time as I shove the fears and doubts away.

“Your safe word will bered,” he says. “And as I said last week, be careful how you use it. If you say it to control me, that will be the end of the evening. If you don’t say it when you should, that will also be the end of the evening. If you say it because you need a break, I’ll stop what I’m doing to allow you to collect yourself.”

I nod, my gut full of knots, my palms sweaty.

His blue eyes narrow as he surveys me, but I still can’t discern what he’s thinking. “Do you have any questions?”

I can only think of one. “Why did you change your mind?”

8

Gideon

Her gray eyes look blue tonight, taking color from the simple cotton dress she’s wearing. It looks incongruous with the stripper heels and red lipstick, but not with her hair, worn loose as I directed, a tumble of pale curls.

Good. Obedient.

I find no fault with the way she follows instructions. Still, I can’t deny second-guessing my decision to have her come here, where I live. Usually I meet my dates at a hotel because it’s impersonal and adds distance, but this is my home and the only person who visits me here is Lucas. Then again, there’s a certain ease that comes with having a scene here, mainly due to me having complete control over my environment and also access to all my toys. Having them delivered and picked up from various places is a fucking hassle.

It’s better not to think too deeply about that, though, and certainly not when she’s asking questions. I allow subs to ask a few things before a scene so they can get fears or doubts out ofthe way, and if they’re honest with me, I’m honest with them. I’m a hardline Dom, but I’m also fair. So even though I don’t particularly want to answer this question, especially when I can barely articulate it to myself, I answer, “Your photo was a pretty one. And you dumped my son.”

She colors. “I’m sorry about Luc, but?—”

“You don’t have to explain.” I don’t want to talk to her about Lucas right now. “It’s got nothing to do with me.”

“Um, a-actually, it’s got everything to do with you.” Her voice is husky and I can hear her nerves, but also that note of determination in the words.

She wants you.

It’s nothing I didn’t already know. She wouldn’t have pushed me that night in the hotel room, then sent a follow up message if she didn’t. I’m used to women wanting me and I don’t say that with arrogance, it’s just the truth, so I don’t know why the thought of this particular woman wanting me is so…arousing.

It’s not her youth — I’ve been with subs younger than I am as well as subs who are older, and it’s not the age of the person or their appearance that matters to me. It’s their mind— what drives them, what excites them, and what scares them that interests me.

She’s certainly a pretty package, though, and I’m not made of stone. I like naked women as much as the next heterosexual man, but there were elements of her that surprised me that night and it’s those elements that are drawing me in right now.

Her obvious nervousness. Her wariness. The way her eyes are already darkening as they look into mine, a sure sign that she’s in a state of arousal. The fact that I made her wait a week so she’d remember what happened between us last time and maybe rethink things if she wanted, yet she still turned up here. She’s honest, ending things with Lucas before she messaged me,and even though I didn’t give her an easy lesson, she’s back and wanting more, and that speaks to a certain courage.

Idolike a plucky little sub.

“I’m not your boyfriend, Odette,” I tell her. “So if that’s what you’re hoping for, you can forget it.”

Her fingers move restlessly on the strap of her purse. “No. I…I didn’t mean that. I j-just….” She trails off, her gaze dropping before the force of mine, and that sign of instinctive submission is like a long, slow stroke down the length of my cock.

A silence falls and I let it while she shifts on her feet, so antsy and nervous as the tension pulls tighter and tighter. It’s arousing, watching her be so anxious and unsettled, and knowing that it’s all because of me.

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