Page 181 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 2

Curious and annoyingly pleased with the distraction, Ben followed the duo into the library’s stairwell.

Kendra looked from Logan to Ben and back, and Logan cleared his throat. “You know Kendra here is researching sexual behaviors of women?”

Ben rubbed the back of his neck. “No, I didn't. What does it have to do with me?”

Kendra’s smile was easy and quick. “Amber is one of my interview subjects," she explained and held up a placating hand when Ben opened his mouth. "Don't worry. You won't be mentioned, and I don't want to interview you."

Well, that was a relief. Ben wrinkled his brow. "That’s not an explanation."

"Okay," Logan said, "it's like this. Kendra meets a lot of interesting people and travels in social circles that are... different.”

"Different how?"

“As in I meet people with a unique, more, um, more open-minded approach to sex and sexual activities.” It was Kendra who answered Ben's question.

Ben froze for a moment. "Okay."

"Okay, so Logan thought one of my contacts might be interesting for you to talk with. His name is Master Gillespie, and he specializes in Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and submission, and Sadism and Masochism – I think I'm going to abbreviate it to BDSM in my paper by the way. If you'd like, I can set up a meeting."

Ben tore open a package of sugar and poured half of its contents in his coffee. He needed a little bit of sweetness in the bitter brew, but not a spoonful of sugar. Hah, just about how I like a woman, not too sweet, definitely not bitter, but with a little kick.

He shook his head and stirred the warm dark liquid as he waited for Master Gillespie to arrive. Master, what a title. Ben sipped and watched a tall imposing African American man, probably in his mid to late twenties, enter the coffee shop. His skin was several shades darker than Ben's stepmother's and he commanded the space around him. His almost black eyes swept the room, but the man ignored the interested gazes he was getting until his intense stare fell on Ben.

Used to dealing with a dominant older brother and a father who took imposing and intense to a new level, Ben simply inclined his head in acknowledgment and waited.

A slow smile changed the man's entire demeanor, and Ben swore all women—and quite a few men—sighed and swooned like some Southern Belle from

Gone with the Wind. I can't understand why Madeline digs that shit, anyway.

Meanwhile, the man had stalked over to his table. "Master Ben I presume?"

Master? What the fuck? "I'm Ben Quinn." He rose to shake hands and noticed how his sizable hand seemed tiny in the huge man's palm. "You must be Shane Gillespie?"

A dimple popped in his right cheek. "In the scene, we don't use full names. Most Dominants use Master or Mistress with a first name, alias or an initial."

Strange habit. Ben wrinkled his forehead but gestured for the man to sit down. "But Gillespie is your last name."

"Yeah, I know. Well," the dimple popped again, "I didn't know when I started my journey and by the time I realized I should have been more careful with who I trusted with my full name, I was already known as Master Gillespie in the scene."

"Ah. Okay." Ben stirred his coffee. "So Master or Mistress for a Dominant." He paused, not sure how to call the other participant.

Amusement glinted in Gillespie's eyes. "A man of few words I see. A submissive, slave or bottom usually goes with a pet name, 'girl', 'boy' or just their name."

The waitress appeared with a large mug for Master Gillespie. "Here's your java, sir."

"Thank you, Jenna, well done, pet."

She practically beamed as she scuttled away. Once the waitress had left them, Ben tilted his head, wondering if the man would also understand this silent question.

“Yes, Jenna is a submissive and—before you ask—no she isn't mine." Gillespie tasted his coffee and hummed his approval. "Now tell me a bit more about you.”

“What do you want to know?” Raising a challenging eyebrow, Ben sipped his own coffee.

The Master placed the cup in front of him and huffed out his amusement. "I can see you're as dominant as they told me." He cocked his head. "I understand you want to investigate your sadistic side, too."

Startled by the blunt question, Ben looked around. Although Master Gillespie was still getting covert but interested glances, he didn't think anybody could overhear their discussion. “Maybe,” he hedged.

The Master didn’t appear to like Ben's evasion but seemed to understand nevertheless. “Don't worry. No one can hear us. Jenna gave us a private spot. She knows my preferences and expectations.”

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