Safeword: Davenport(79)

She followed him into a tiny closet with a hot water heater and electrical panel. He pushed on a seemingly unremarkable white wall and the entire section moved back a few inches. He turned to her, his eyes full of delightful mischief as he slid it sideways to reveal a flight of stairs leading down. Something about secret passageways could bring the boy out in the most mature of men.

The staircase turned into a well-lit tunnel, the lights coming on a good twenty yards in front of them. They passed more stairs, which she discovered led to various places throughout the labyrinth, so he could reach just about any spot within moments.

Something had been bugging her, and now seemed a good time to ask. She worried about overstepping, but it felt important enough to take the risk. “Sometimes, it feels as if Jacob's doing what I tell him so you won't punish him. Eventually, if he and I keep going, I'd like to know he's submitting because of what we are to each other. Am I out of line by wanting that, when he belongs to you?"

"No dear, it just means you're coming into your own as a Domme. When you're ready to take control we'll need to have some extensive talks. You and I first, so we can discuss the rules you want to set up for him, and then the two of you."

"I think maybe I need a couple more sessions with him the way things are, and then I'd like us to have that talk. Please."

Nodding, he said, “He'll need it from you eventually, but you've got some time, so make sure you're ready before you take the step."

They reached an apparent dead end, but Brent pushed a button and another door opened. Dana laughed when she looked around and saw an HVAC unit, water heater, breaker box, and tools hanging on a wall. “I take it Jacob isn't very mechanically inclined? But he was talking classic cars with Zach?"

"He likes them for their looks, doesn't have a clue what makes them run. Let's get upstairs so we can be settled when they come in."

When Dana and Zach finally headed off to her room, she was exhausted. Once Jacob's punishment was over, they'd all stayed up talking for hours—no power play, just four friends chatting. Now that she and Zach were alone she wanted to be his again, but was hesitant to ask.

Zach's voice invaded her musings. “Penny for your thoughts?"

Chickening out, she said, “I was hoping I made the right call, suggesting you and I sleep in here, instead of with them."

"I'd have been okay either way, but I think you need time with me to reconnect and be assured what we have is real."

"Why are you being so agreeable to all of this?"

"If you'd described this situation six months ago, told me I'd be fine with it, I'd have called you crazy.” He smiled and sat sideways beside her, one leg curled between them and the other dangling off the bed. “But I find I care about you enough that I'm enjoying this journey with you; watching you figure things out and have new experiences. I won't agree to everything—there are some boundaries and stipulations I'll expect you to agree to, but I need to organize my thoughts before we begin that conversation."

He leaned in, kissed her softly. “I can tell you one of my conditions now, and I'm afraid this one's not negotiable: If we're to consider ourselves a couple, I need to be included in your adventures from here on out. I'll do what I can to facilitate whatever you feel you have to experience, but I don't want you going off without me anymore."

Dana shifted sideways, sitting with her legs crisscross, facing him. “Part of me isn't ready to give commitment promises, but the rest realizes it's time to define our relationship. I told Brent it's not fair to drag you into anything when I haven't put myself together enough to offer you a whole human being. I'm still... fractured. I thought I'd gotten beyond those feelings, but they're back."

She dropped her head, looked back up, met his eyes, hoping to show him her inner conflict. “How can I offer myself to you if I'm not sure who I am?"

"But you know who you are—your values, your morals—there's no doubt about who you are at your core. You're learning you have Dominant tendencies, perhaps even sadistic ones; you're also submissive, and apparently still quite the masochist. But again, these things are what you are; not who you are."

"Will you be able to give me the pain I need?"

He sighed, rubbing his forehead a few seconds before dropping his hand and saying, “I talked with Max on the phone today, and Brent and I've had some conversations, too. I'm still working through my feelings on the amount of damage you sustained. I know it'll heal, it's just short term bruising, and I'm aware you've had much worse."

He shook his head, looking a little sad. “I'll find ways to provide similar levels of pain, but I can't promise to deliver the kinds of marks you're wearing now. I'm not saying I won't, just that..."