Katherine was confused. What did he want her to say?
"I don't have a boyfriend."
"How old are you?"
"Isn't it on my application?"
He arched a brow at her and with nothing but one domineering look she was answering him. "I'm twenty-one." She knew from the information he had provided her earlier in the week, he was ten years older than her and had been practicing this lifestyle since he was her age.
"And you've only had one sexual partner." That was on her application too.
"Is that a problem?" Why would it matter if she'd had one partner or if she'd fucked the entire high school football team? It was in the past.
"For me, no," he said. "But it could be for you. I'm not here to be your boyfriend. If you're under the impression that there's something romantic about all of this you need to get that out of your head right now. I don't fall in love with my subs. It's a personal rule of mine."
"I don't need you to fall in love with me," she said. "I need you to help me learn to submit."
"How can I be sure this is what you want?"
"I want it," she said. "I want to try."
"Yes." He sighed. "That's where I run into the problem. Do I really want to invest in training you if you're not fully committed?"
"I'll do whatever you say." She had an overwhelming desire to be near him.
"You say that now, but I don't think you have any idea what you're getting into. I'm not an easy man to deal with, and I won't be soft on you because you're new. I know what I like, and I'll push your limits."
"I want you to."
"I don't know." He shook his head as he thought for a moment. "I'm very demanding."
"Please, Mr. Cain. I've been thinking about this ever since I left that play party. I was intrigued by what I saw there, and I want to be dominated."
"I think you need to research this further. You didn't ask me any of the right questions. You have no idea what I could ask of you. Do you even know what the words safe, sane and consensual mean?"
"I know you're good at what you do. I can learn the rest," she said. "Everyone wants to be your sub."
"Do you want me to put a leash around your neck and walk you around town?" he asked. "Like a dog?"
"What?" She didn't get it, but she hoped he wasn't serious.
"How about if I publicly humiliate you?" He paced his office. "Would it be okay if I locked you in a basement and only came down when I wanted to fuck you?"
"I don't understand."
Luke didn't look pleased at all as he stared at her with little emotion in his eyes. She couldn't tell what he was thinking, but the longer he stared the more uncomfortable she became. His intense gaze held her in place, but she liked being the focus of his attention.
"No, you don't," he said. "You can't just dive into a lifestyle because you think you want it. You have to be informed. You don't know anything about me. How do you know I won't abuse you when you come to my home?"
"I don't think you would." She wasn't sure why, but she trusted him.
"You're a foolish young girl, you know that?" He came up from behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She was embarrassed when she jumped. "And the only reason I'm agreeing to test with you is because I'm afraid you'll get referred to a Dom who won't have the patience for you."
"You want me to be your sub?" she whispered.
"No, I said I would allow you a test weekend. I'll expect you at my home at six PM sharp on Friday." He walked around the chair and stood in front of her, and then he reached for a packet on his desk. "Take this home and memorize it," he instructed. "There are also some informative websites for you. I strongly suggest that you research this topic thoroughly."
Katherine nodded.
"My address is in there too," he said. "As well as my phone number. Please keep in mind I'm a busy man, so if you change your mind, please have the courtesy of letting me know."
"Of course." She took the packet from him. She didn't care what was in the papers or on those websites, it wouldn't change her mind. She was more determined than ever now that he'd agreed to test with her.
"I'll see you Friday," he said as he returned to his desk. "Don't be late." He sat back down and read over a letter that was in front of him. "You're dismissed."
She stood up, gathered her belongings, and headed for the door. He never looked up again.
"Katherine," he called. "Next time, be a bit more informed before you offer yourself to a man you hardly know."
Chapter 2
First test weekend …
Luke hated the process of looking for a new submissive. It had been almost two years since he'd had to view applications and attend play parties to meet the perfect woman, if such a thing existed. Sometimes he wondered if it was time to give up on this whole lifestyle and try to make a go at a normal relationship. He always thought better of it; he just didn't do normal. He was a busy man and didn't have time to get into the personal aspects that came with relationships. He'd been working hard over the past few years to make his business successful, and the flexibility of being a Dom with no strings attached always seemed to work for him. He just wasn't sure if the little brunette on her way to his house was the right candidate for him. Initially, he'd rejected her application, but something made him reconsider. She had no idea what she was getting into, and that annoyed him. He wondered how she'd ended up here.
At exactly 5:58 PM, Katherine pulled into his driveway. He wasn't sure how that old beat up pick-up truck she was driving even made it up the hill to his house. He watched her from the foyer window as she stepped out of the truck and took in the house. She already looked intimidated, and he hadn't even done anything to her yet. It was one thing to be submissive, but afraid just wasn't going to work.
He opened the door before she could knock. She stumbled back. Obviously his presence had taken her by surprise.
"Hello, Katherine." He motioned for her to come inside. "Welcome to my home."
"Thank you for having me, Sir." She spoke so softly, he almost missed that last part.
"You've done some research since we last spoke," he noted. "And you came anyway."
"I want to be here," she whispered, but she didn't seem too certain.
"Are you telling me or asking me?" he said. "The burden will be on you to prove that you really want this."
She pushed the stray hair from her face and gave him a nervous look.
"Since this is a test weekend and you've never done this before, it won't be as formal as I'm accustomed to. You obviously don't know the rules, but I'm still going to push you, and I do expect to get what I want out of this."
She nodded as she fidgeted with her hands. He could see how uncomfortable she was and he knew it was his responsibility to ease her into this.
"But I can promise you'll be just as fulfilled as I am. Part of my job is to bring you physical pleasure beyond your wildest dreams. I'll make all of your fantasies come true."
"Oh," she whispered.
He moved closer to her and stared into her eyes before asking, "May I take your bag?"
"Thank you."
"Come, let me show you around." He placed her bag at the foot of the steps and headed down the foyer. Luke figured he'd show her the downstairs first before taking her up to the sub bedroom. He wasn't sure she'd be staying anyway.
They headed for the kitchen where he asked her to take a seat at the island in the center of the massive room. "This room is a safe place for you," he informed her. "You may speak freely here and voice your concerns, but you must still be respectful. If we have our meals in here, I'd like to engage you in conversation, learn about you, and share details about myself with you."
"You want to get to know me?"
He sat down next to her and leaned into her. "I can't be fulfilled with just sex, and you shouldn't be either. The things we'll share together will require us to be intimate, and how can we do that if we don't know one another?"
"I-I don't know," she stuttered.
She ran her fingers through her hair and chewed on her bottom lip. Luke noticed she had several nervous habits he hoped he could break. But he was getting way ahead of himself. He wasn't even sure this was a project he wanted to take on. It was so much work to train a new sub, and he hadn't done it in years. This was exactly why he dreaded this whole process. He had a pile of applications containing information about women who had no business even approaching him.