Page 31 of Teach Me
Dan fell in step beside us. Was he coming? I stared ahead, torn between trepidation and excitement for whatever they had planned.
Chapter Eight
I stared out the car window as Dr Braithwaite chatted to Dan about recent movies they’d watched and a planned trip to a concert in London, a casual conversation I paid little attention to as we sped down the dual carriageway. A sign welcoming us to Essex flew past, and I was about to ask if we were headed to London now when Dr Braithwaite turned off the dual carriageway.
‘Where are we going?’ I asked.
‘You’ll see.’
Half an hour later, he parked outside a brown-brick building. A few early fireworks shot into the sky behind it, further illuminatingThe Aurora,written in bold letters above the dark wooden doors. My heart flipped in on itself.
This was my own damn fault. I’d put ‘visiting a BDSM club’ on my list, and now it was time to face the consequences.
Dr Braithwaite and Dan exited the car. They exchanged a few hushed words before Dr Braithwaite opened my door. ‘Ready for your final assessment?’
‘Final? I thought I had until my exams?’
‘Some things have come up. I’ve had to change my schedule.’
‘Oh.’
I looked at his proffered hand. No, I wasn’t ready to end this experiment. I needed more time with him before we… I wasn’t sure what came after this. He’d talked about a second phase, but maybe he wanted us to be student and teacher again, or worse, strangers. My throat tightened.
‘What’s wrong, Ophelia?’
I swallowed the dread. ‘Am I, eh, dressed appropriately for this kind of club?’
‘Clothes are optional,’ he said with a crooked smile. ‘I’m only joking, of course. What you’re wearing is fine. Shall we?’
‘Okay,’ I whispered, taking his hand.
The Auroralooked like an ordinary nightclub, but there was no music, no drunken people staggered about, and three bulky security guards stood by the entrance.
Dr Braithwaite greeted the tallest one. ‘Evening, Bruce.’
‘Evening, Doctor B,’ the man said with a courteous nod. ‘Mister Greenwood, nice to see you again, too.’
‘Evening,’ Dan responded.
Did they often bring women here? Not knowing Dr Braithwaite’s history made me trip over the threshold. He steadied me before removing his jacket, handing it to a young blonde. ‘Good evening, Shelby.’
‘Evening, Sir Emmerson. Is this the guest?’
‘It is.’
‘Sir?’ I whispered.
Dr Braithwaite met my puzzled look. ‘At the club, Dominants are addressed by their preferred title. It’s a sign of respect.’
I knew that from the little research I’d done, but it was odd to call him anything but Dr Braithwaite. ‘Are you Sir Dan?’ I asked his friend.
‘I prefer Master Dan.’
‘Oh.’ This would take some getting used to.
‘Marquis Jack has your forms. He is in the…’ Shelby laughed, waving her free hand. ‘I don’t know, but you’ll find him, I’m sure.’
‘Thank you.’ Dr Braithwaite guided me to the double doors.
