Page 24 of Liberating Lena

“Good girl.” His words of affirmation practically made me purr. I was led across the floor. The faint floral scents, reminiscent of those when at the table in the restaurant, teased the edges of my nostrils. I inhaled, taking in the deeper notes of the fragrance permeating the space. I recognized lilac and gardenia, in addition to the scent of rose.

Ethan sat me down on a plush seat. When I put my hands out at my sides, I felt different fabrics under my fingertips. Fur was the most distinguishable, and I had a sudden urge to bury my nose in it.

“Lena, what do you call me during our scene together?”

“Master Ethan.”

“Good girl. What do I call you?”

“Sub, or Lena.”

“And what is your color for when you are wishing to slow things down, sub?”

“Yellow, Master Ethan.”

“Good. What is your color if you get triggered and need or want to stop?”

“Red, Master Ethan.”

“Good girl. Now tell me, sub, do you promise to use both of these words and know that by doing so you are honoring your true self and mine.”

That was a lot harder to answer and I hesitated. He didn’t force me to hurry but allowed me space to process his words. Until Ethan, I’d had no safeword, except for in public scenes in my dungeon back home. Learning that my voice counted and was needed for this to be a responsible scene with two consenting adults had come as a surprise.

I should have known, I had in fact known, but had allowed Daniel to take away my power until having a voice was a memory. But this wasn’t Daniel. It was Ethan and he was asking me now, to admit to this being a necessary thing and, in giving my word, accept responsibility for using it. I blew out a breath.

“Yes, Master Ethan.”

“Good girl. Then we can begin. Open your eyes, Lena.”

I did, and they instantly rounded as I took in the decor. It was lavish, over-the-top, Hollywood glamour. I held up my hand, indicating permission to speak.

“Do you have something to say, sub?”

“I do.”

“Permission granted.”

“Master Ethan, this is so beautiful.” Tears gathered and leaked from my eyes. “Thank you so much for doing this for me.”

His eyes softened for a moment as he uttered, “Anything for you, Lena.”

My heart melted in my chest.

“Come let me show you all of our agreed upon toys, hidden like everyday items in this ornate scene.”

I smiled and took his hand. Standing in a vase of tall flowers was a soft flogger. I smiled seeing it so cleverly included. Tied around a bundle of dried roses laying on the makeup table was silk rope. Wool mittens like the kind you polish a car with weretucked under an antique hairbrush. The bristles of the brush were horsehair and had a stiffness to them that when run over heated skin would feel abrasive but not in a bad or harmful way.

A buffer brush for shining shoes sat beside the hairbrush. Sitting among the makeup items were several different brushes with varying levels of softness. I ran my fingers over the tips to feel the different strands that ranged from stiff to ultra-soft.

In a stack of books were different grades of sandpaper used as bookmarks. On and on it went, anywhere an implement could be added without being glaringly obvious, one had been carefully placed there. Laying on the table was a silk blindfold. We’d agree that the sensory experience would be heightened without the ability to see what was coming.

“Before we begin, sub, I would like to ask if you would wear my collar during this scene.”

Being collared, even for a scene, was like a dream come true. With Daniel it had been that horrid blue ribbon I’d be burning in the fires of Rawhide Ranch’s first Firelight Ritual. Could I wear Ethan’s even if it was only in a scene? His expression gave away nothing. He was leaving my choice completely up to me.

“No, Master Ethan, I’m not ready.”

Ethan smiled widely. “Good girl using your voice and speaking your truth so respectfully. I’m proud of you, Lena.”

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