Page 86 of Trained Royal
“We get so much crap heaped on us about being tough, not showing weakness and dealing with things out of our control. The balance needs to be changed. Subs can be strong, and Doms can be weak. It all depends on the situation.”
Douglas tilted his head. “True. I wonder if offering some…” He sighed. “Not therapy, but someone or something where anyone can talk about anything, regardless of who they’re deemed in public or private. Do you think it would help?”
Patrick shrugged a shoulder. “It depends on if Doms are willing to take the chance. Some might be open to the idea, and if we could get them on board, maybe others will follow suit.”
“My eyes have been opened to the downsides of being a Dom,” Kieren added. “Teaching subs about Doms and vice versa might be beneficial.”
“What do you mean by ‘teaching?’” Douglas asked, leaning forward.
Kieren collected his thoughts and turned to Patrick. “Can I explain some stuff?” he asked, not wanting to put their private life out in front of his cousins without his consent.
“I don’t hide much from them.” Patrick chuckled at the gasps from Christian and Douglas. “Well, you don’t really want to know my bowel movements, do you?”
Kieren laughed at their faces. “Without trying to get too…personal, I knew next to nothing about BDSM or Dominants or submissives before Patrick took me to the club. I’d heard of them, but it had never been anything that pulled me in and made me want to research more. But Freddie brought my attention to something I hadneverconsidered. Patrick needs aftercare, too. How many other Doms do, and their subs don’t know it? How many subs aren’t getting what they need because they can’t articulate what they need? That’s what needs to be taught.” He held up his hand when Christian went to talk. “I know every person is individual. I know everyone will have different things that work for them. But by giving everyone a lesson in positive and negative care, if something happens and a sub or Dom can’t explain, their partner will have more of an idea of how to help.”
“Doms do get training, though,” Christian said.
“Yeah,Domsdo. What about subs? Do they not have to be taught that they can say no, that they can change their mind, that there are good and bad things about being a sub, that it is just as much their responsibility to care for their Dom as it is for the Dom to care for the sub.”
“And even if they have training, I think it should be repeated more regularly than it is,” Patrick added. “And mandatory for members who have caused issues, even minor ones.”
“I agree with the repeated training,” Douglas said. “Maybe, though, training is the wrong word. We don’t need to ‘train’ submissives because their Doms will teach them about their needs, but instruction on how to have a positive relationship within a BDSM lifestyle and how to identify a negative relationship might be beneficial.”
He glanced at Christian. “I’d be happy to do it, and if we decide on sub instruction, too, maybe we could ask a variety of subs to help us provide it, or even provide it themselves.”
Christian nodded. “I like it.” He studied Kieren. “It’s a good job you’re already busy; otherwise, you would’ve made a new job for yourself.”
Kieren laughed. “I have to start keeping my mouth shut.”
Patrick snuggled up to him. “No, you don’t. How can we change for the better unless people speak their minds?”
Douglas cleared his throat. “Ever since Mav joined us, things have slowly changed in areas we never thought about. First Mav, then Robert, Timothy, Eddie, Oscar.” He glanced at Christian with a smile. “Now you. Each of you brings different strengths to our table. Without each one speaking up about what they see or don’t see, we would stagnate. We wouldn’t change for the greater good.” He sat back, crossing his ankle over his knee. “Father has always told us we need to change with the people. The people are the ones who dictate how we should lead the country. Yes, the Prime Minister officially leads, but the king has sway. He can overrule them in certain areas. But unless our eyes are opened to what we’re missing, we can’t help.”
“Spoken like a true leader,” Patrick said.
Douglas snorted. “No, thanks. I’ll leave that to Freddie.”
“I’m sure he appreciates that.” Patrick laughed.
“He has Damon by his side. He has help,” Douglas said.
Kieren bit his lip, wanting to say something about that situation but not believing it was his place, when Christian piped up, “I’m not the only one who sees it, am I?” He looked at them in turn, and Patrick and Douglas shook their heads. “Thank god. I thought I was seeing things, and with what Oscar said, it had made me look for the signs.”
“I don’t know if Freddie understands it or is just ignoring it, but I know for a fact that Damon is in love with Freddie,” Douglas said.
“How so?” Patrick asked.
“I asked him.”
Patrick gaped. “You asked him!”
Douglas shrugged. “It was annoying me not to know. Don’t worry, Mav tanned my hide afterwards—and yes, literally. The fucker stung for days.”
There was a moment of stunned silence before Patrick and Christian burst out laughing. Douglas frowned and rolled his eyes, showing his inner teenager. Kieren covered his mouth with his hand, trying to hide his amusement. It had been easier when he was a guard because he had hardly ever been on the inside of a joke with them, but now, it felt freeing to be one of them in some ways.
“Are we going to intervene?” Christian asked.
“No,” Kieren said, not realising he’d planned to speak up. “No. Leave them be. They’ve managed this long, and if you can see a difference in Freddie, then he’s not as oblivious as he appears. Maybe he’s trying to figure himself out. If you push him, he might retreat rather than open himself up to the possibility.”
