Page 13 of Tattoos and Tiaras
“Tonight, when we go on stage, I want you kneeling in Present, hands on your thighs, open and facing up. After I introduce us, I want you to move into each position when I command. While you are in position, I will start talking about my experiences as a Master, and then I will ask you to share your thoughts about your experiences.
Cullen nodded, then lifted his hand to his mouth, asking permission to speak.
“You may speak.”
“I’ve not been in a D/s or TPE relationship for a long time. I don't want to give the wrong ideas,” Cullen said.
“I can promise you that you won’t. They want to hear about why you enjoy this play and how it would feel to be in a long-term contract,” I answered, hoping to allay Cullen's concerns.
“That sounds fine, Sir.” Cullen shifted slightly to place his empty water bottle to one side, then put his hands back in his lap. “Are you happy with what I have chosen to wear?”
I used my hand to signal him to stand, and Cullen obeyed quickly. “Turn for me slowly.” Cullen looked perfect, but I had a feeling this was more about his self-confidence and wanting to please than a worry that he’d worn something I wouldn’t like.
“Very nice, Princess.” I stood and walked around him slowly, aware that others were watching us. “You have kept my property looking perfect.” I saw Cullen's brows rise just a fraction. I leant in closer, close enough that my lips brushed his ear. “When we are together, you are very much mine, Kitten. Mine to control, mine to dominate, mine to praise.” Cullen's eyes closed for a second, and his breathing sped up before he regained control.
“As my Master wishes.” Cullen's tone was reverent, softly spoken yet clear for anyone close to hear him speak.
“You and I shall have so much fun tonight.”
Cullen was exquisite through the demonstration, his positions beautiful and smooth. At the touch of my crop, he flowed from one position to the next. He obeyed each command as quickly as if we’d been doing this for years together not hours. The only red mark against an otherwise perfect demonstration was Cullen lying to me. Twice during our performance, I had subtly checked in with him, and I could see he was having some difficulty kneeling. Not enough that the onlookers apart from very observant Doms would notice, but I did.
“Cullen, you were almost perfect tonight. Almost.” I had led him to the comfortable sofas, and when he had gone to kneel, I had purposely made him sit on the sofa.
“Are you unhappy with something I did?” Cullen asked, his tone more guarded than it had been most of the night.
I rolled my shoulders as I thought the best way to answer. We were on a new path together, and I didn’t want to fall back into our old habits. “Cullen, when I asked you if you were okay, if your legs were hurting, you chose to lie.” I saw Cullen's head drop and his shoulders slump.
The defeated sigh I heard from him nearly broke my heart. “Sorry, Sir. It’s been a while since I’ve knelt for any extended period of time, and my calves were starting to ache.”
Damn proud man, he should have said something. “I understand, Princess, but going forward, you must tell me if anything hurts. I want trust between the two of us.”
“Yes, Sir, I promise.” Cullen sounded contrite, but I needed him to remember going forward.
“I’m sure you are, but I want you to remember, which I feel needs a more physical lesson.” I lowered myself down next to Cullen. “You were amazing for me tonight, Princess, but not telling your Dom when you are in pain, pain that is not part of the scene and could be detrimental to your health, that is a big red flag.”
“I understand if you don’t wish to continue our scene together tonight, Sir.” Cullen's shoulders rose. I could already see him building up those mental walls I had been trying to gently dismantle over the evening. I needed to act quickly.
“Did I say that, Cullen? Did anything I just say specifically tell you I didn't want to continue?” I watched him squirm as he thought about the question.
Cullen lifted his head and blinked a couple of times before he answered, “No. I just thought…” Cullen's head dropped, and he let out a long breath.
“You thought what, kitten?” Cullen looked up at the ceiling before he spoke. “Can I speak honestly?”
“I would hope so.” I smiled, trying to ease the tension I saw in Cullen's face.
“You’re confusing the hell out of me, and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to react.” I watched as Cullen ran his fingers through his hair, a habit I’d noticed before when he was stressed.
“I am?” I frowned. I hadn't meant to cause Cullen distress. I thought our scene together had gone well besides him hiding his legs hurting. I bit my lip, and a sudden, unexpected wave of nerves flowed over me, the sort I hadn’t felt since I was a baby Dom learning the ropes.
Cullen's lips twisted as he smiled nervously. “I’m messing this up. I had fun tonight, and I didn’t expect to. I maybe even expected to hate it.” Cullen pursed his lips and blew out a long breath. “I suppose it's fair to say I wasn’t coming into this with high expectations.”
I sat back, not sure what to say. Instead of speaking, I listened, waiting for Cullen to continue.
“I wasn’t expecting us to click quite like we have, which led me to feel like I had to prove something to you. That I was just a good submissive and not some sad old fool trying to fit into a younger man’s world.”
“That’s why you chose not to inform me your knees were hurting?” I asked. Cullen nodded.
“To me, it would’ve been an admission that I couldn’t cut it, that maybe the snide little remarks made by some of the younger members regarding my age were right.” Cullen seemed to shrink in on himself, and I didn’t like that one bit.
