“That sounds perfect. There’s so much going on, I don’t want to rush through here and miss something and then have questions later that I didn’t think to ask.”
“Of course. I noticed you drinking a wine spritzer at Violet’s wedding. Would you like one to settle your nerves?”
“Sure, if it’s permissible.”
He whispered to the dark-haired submissive who came when he waved. She nodded and hurried away. Turning back to Cassie, he said, “We have a two-drink limit, and members who come to play usually refrain until after their scenes are over and they’re winding down.”
“That sounds like a good rule to have in place.”
“The safety of the subs and all the members is always my uppermost concern.”
“So you were saying members can come in and sit and just hang out for the evening?”
“Yes. There’s no rule requiring them to use the play areas. They can come and enjoy the company of other people who appreciate the same things they do. In that sense, it’s much the same as the Dancing Pony. Our members just enjoy a side of BDSM in their leisure time.”
“I was surprised to find out Samson was a prominent member of the club, mostly because we had friends in common and didn’t even realize the connection.”
“Does it surprise you he is Dominant and a sadist?” Joseph asked, relaxing in his chair and crossing his ankle over his knee as if he was talking about the price of coffee beans.
She gulped. “Well, when we were growing up, I acknowledged early on that Samson enjoyed being in charge. He was a good leader and a lot of our classmates respected him. I appreciated that I never had to wonder what we were going to do on a date. He’d make plans, and we’d have fun. To be honest, that was something I admired about him. His brother was a nice complement to him, too. Ivan was never a flunky, and he had his input, but once the plan was made, off we went. I think his decisiveness kind of irritated my dad, to be honest,” she added with a giggle.
Joseph listened intently the whole time she babbled on, nodding and chuckling. “That sounds like him around here as well. A submissive would value that quality highly in a Dominant. I’d worry if you told me it irked you that he liked to be in control.”
She shook her head. “I don’t have any doubt about the fact I have a submissive personality, Sir. My biggest worry is the other side of his lifestyle. The sadism. I tried to research it, but you know how the Internet is. I wound up scaring myself more than informing myself.”
“It’s a complicated issue, Cassie. I’ll strive to help you arrive at the answers you need, but I want you to remember one thing, no matter what.”
“What’s that?”
“At his core, the Samson you know is the real Samson. That part of him has been there the whole time.”
“What you’re saying is to a certain extent I’ve already accepted that part of him?”
“Yes. It’s just the outer, edgy expression of that side of his nature intimidating you.”
She sat back. “I think I understand. And you’re right. I’m concerned what I see tonight may ruin what we have. That it’ll be too much—too scary—and it’ll jeopardize everything we are together.” She met his sympathetic gaze. “It could be ruined, all in one night.”
Joseph took her cold hand and squeezed it comfortingly between his. “I place a high value on Samson’s friendship, and I know he’s been in a state of turmoil since reconnecting with you. I think he shares your worry. But we humans are complicated creatures, constantly changing and growing. Did you know he told me he’d give up sadism, being a Dom, the whole nine yards to be with you?”
“Ivan mentioned it one night, after our confrontation at the Dancing Pony. I think he wanted to reassure me.”
“I imagine he did.”
“But, Joseph, how would that be fair to him?”
Approval shone in his eyes at her question. “You feel such turmoil yourself, but that very question, coming from you, is the reason I’m optimistic.”
He spent the next few minutes discussing how to negotiate soft limits, hard limits, and safe words, how they were used in the club, and then said, “Samson isn’t here yet and likely won’t be until later after he gets done with work in town. Until then, I want to acquaint you with the play and techniques employed by some of the other club sadists. If you become more at ease, you can also watch Samson, if members request time with him tonight. I’m not even sure if he would be willing since he knows you’re here. I think he’s hoping knowledge might empower you and make what sadism involves more palatable before he lets you watch him in a scene.”