Risk (BDSM Dominant submissive Romance): Everything to lose. Everything to gain.

by Mia Moore

  Dinner arrived, to his relief. Jennifer’s voice had been getting louder and louder and she was slurring her speech a bit. Dinner was only interrupted twice with text messages from Stephanie. Finally it was over. Jennifer had drunk three quarters of the bottle of wine.

  The waiter removed their plates and asked if they would like to see a dessert menu. Craig quickly said no and asked for their check instead.

  “What? Not even coffee? Oh wait, I get it” she looked at Craig grinning. “You want to go back to my place and have ‘dessert’ there, right?”

  “Guilty.”

  They got into a cab parked just outside and Craig gave the driver Jennifer’s address. He offered double the tip if the driver could get them there quickly. Jennifer turned to Craig and kissed him. She ran her hand up his thigh to his crotch.

  ‘Oh, I know how to wake this guy up” she purred. Or slurred. The smell of liquor on her breath and her cloying perfume were strong. Craig rolled the window down on his side a few inches. His stomach rolled. Thank God he had barely touched his salmon.

  Craig slid her hand down and smiled at her. Minutes later, barely concealing his relief, he saw her building in sight. He got out and helped steady Jennifer, who was weaving slightly. Tossing the cabbie some bills, he whispered to him to wait.

  When Jennifer was inside the building he said “Good night.”

  Jennifer turned, stumbling a bit before catching herself. She twisted her face into her best little girl pout, looked at him and asked if he would come in.

  “No thanks. I think you should get some sleep.”

  Jennifer felt his rejection and spat out, “Just as well. You can’t even get hard.”

  Craig sighed. There were a hundred retorts crouched, wanting to leap off his tongue; he could do sarcasm with the best of them. But this would be a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent. And he knew if he said something hurtful to Jennifer, it may last and hurt her for a long while. What would be the point of that? He’d hurt his share of women that week.

  “Good night.” was all he said. He raced outside, to the sanity of the cab. They hit a McDonald's drive through, and he wolfed the meal before arriving home.

  First stop was the fridge for a beer. He popped it and climbed the stairs to go to bed. He opened the book he had been reading and realized as he turned the page that he hadn’t absorbed one thing of what he’d just read.

  Thoughts of the times he had dined out with Jessica filled his head. Such a lady, so interesting, sexy and that lilting laugh. And here in his bedroom, he pictured her, blindfolded on his bed. His hand reached down and stroked himself as he gave in to thoughts and memories of Jessica’s body, her kisses…. He cried her name…..and climaxed with a groan. Sexually and emotionally spent, he drifted off to sleep, perchance to dream.

  In his dreams, he was on a pier; a large ship was pulling away. All the passengers were waving to him. Jessica was onboard, but he couldn't see her! Streamers were floating down, a brass band was playing, and he was running up and down the dock screaming “Get off! Get off! Don't go!” but the ship inexorably pulled away.

  And on the stern was written, Titanic…

  Chapter 17

  The sunlight streaming through her bedroom window woke Jessica at 7:30 on Friday morning. She sat up in bed, stretched, threw on her housecoat and went to the kitchen to turn on the coffeepot. Returning from the washroom, she poured a cup and stood at the window of her building looking over the street two floors below.

  It was a clear, beautiful day. The sun's rays dappled on the just washed asphalt, causing it to glint and sparkle in the morning air. Glancing up, she saw marshmallow clouds framing the beautiful blue sky. She watched an elderly couple, hand in hand, stroll down the street, their pet dog on a leash. Across the street she watched children heading off to school.

  Children. It was a little bittersweet. At twenty six, she had looked forward to the time she’d have kids. With a sigh, she turned from the window.

  Well, at least she had enjoyed ten nice minutes this morning- the first time in a week. Last Friday morning she had felt exhilaration and fear simultaneously as she began her morning routine.

  This was going to be a different day that was for sure. She had booked the day off to make up for the Monday vacation day she had missed. Now she and Annik could do lunch and shop - fetwear shopping at that.

  WHY she was shopping for sex club outfits? She couldn't picture herself ever going back to Paradox's; the way the night had ended, made it an easy decision. But still…

  The role playing with Craig had been hot. Judging from the crowd at Paradox's, there was an entire world of sexuality she’d never known existed. Maybe meeting a guy with that sort of flavor wouldn't be hard?

  Yeah, right! Having done the internet single scene as a small fish in a big vanilla pond, she laughed to herself at the profile:

  “Professional woman looking for a hot guy to tell her what to do. Not too much pain, and I promise, no panties on our first date.”

  Ohhh yeah, that would bring out the freakazoids.

  Perhaps Annik could give her some pointers? The guy she was with… Kevin wasn't it? He seemed okay. Well, he was a older- Annik seemed to be in her early 30's and that Kevin chap looked like he was forty if he was a day. Even so, they seemed to get along well.

  Really well. She recalled seeing them just as she and Craig were leaving the club. Annik naked and on some sort of sex swing just as Kevin was about to take a 'schwing' at her! Jessica shook her head at that memory- having sex in public? No thanks- a touch more vanilla for her own kink, please!

  Even so, maybe she should pick the girl's brains; the role playing with Craig was exciting.

  Craig… he hadn't called or done anything all week. She wondered how his trip to New York went. She had been tempted to phone him to find out; as a journalist, she knew the impact the imprimatur of The New York Times would have on his career. In spite of her pain, she hoped he landed a good deal with them.

  She turned her thoughts away from Craig as she washed her dishes for the week- five coffee cups, five teaspoons, and five glasses. She'd get her laundry out of the way and tidy up the place in case Annik came back here after shopping.

  Still in her housecoat and slippers, she piled up a laundry basket to head to the basement laundry room. As she stepped in the hallway, she noticed a young man emerge from Mrs. Vaughn's apartment. It was the same guy, she was sure, she had seen with Mrs. Vaughn at Paradox's. He had his own keys, and was tucking what seemed like a grocery list in his pocket. The muscle t-shirt he wore told the story of how many hours a day he spent in the gym working on the ripples and hollows of his build. The guy could be a fashion model. For men's underwear.

  A grocery list? This STUD is doing her grocery shopping?

  He breezed past her without even so much as a sidelong glance- like she didn't even exist! She stood at the top of the stairs watching him zip down, two at a time. Hmph.

  As she did her chores, she realized it had been a long time since she had gone out with a gal pal to shop or just knock around. Her best friend from school, Denise was now a housewife and mother of three. They drifted apart after Jessica and Peter split. Denise was busy nesting with her family- soccer games, hockey in the winter, and with Jessica now single… well, it had been years since she was invited over for dinner and a movie.

  Peter pretty much got custody of their friends after the split. Not ONE of them had reached out to her when the breakup occurred… She hoped Annik wouldn't turn out to be a jerk.

  After finishing up her chores, she showered and dressed. At 1:00 PM exactly, her phone buzzed with a text.

  Out front.

  Jessica headed downstairs and out of her building to see parked at the curb, a cherry red Miata and a smiling Annik standing next to it.

  “Nice car! I've never been in this model before,” Jessica said, getting in.

  “Yeah, it's my chick mobile. It's got some pep, and it’s fun to drive with the top dow
n in the summer,” Annik replied as they pulled away.

  “So, where are we going, oh 'Wise One of The Fet Wear?”

  Annik smiled. “Well, I was thinking lunch first, remember?”

  “Yeah,” Jessica's stomach agreed; she hadn't eaten anything in five hours or so. They decided on Italian food and were soon sitting across from one another at a window table.

  “So, how did you like Paradox’s?” Annik asked.

  “Well… when I got there, I felt like a deer in the headlights, scared to death. I didn’t know what to expect. How people would be…if they’d be having sex all over the place…hanging from the chandeliers, expecting me to join in.”

  “No. Just hanging from swings. You left before a lot of playing happened. But that’s okay. It’s better to just ease into that scene slowly. Baby steps.” Annik replied. The waiter appeared and they placed their order.

  “Yeah, I guess. The people surprised me. They were really sensual; the place was really sensual.”

  Annik nodded, “The atmosphere's pretty electric on the Fet Event nights, yes.”

  “Yeah! That's it! Electric. But when I think about it, it was more anticipation. And it kept building through the stage show. And then when the playing began, all the energy was unleashed! It was exciting as anything. And the people there seemed pretty friendly, but not in a ‘come on’ kind of way.” Jessica said.

  “Etiquette’s big at Paradox’s. No one touches anyone else without permission. Can you imagine what it’d be like without the rules?”

  “Yeah, kind of like one of meet market bars downtown. I gave up on those. I was tired of the groping and drama.” Didn't I say just about the same thing to Craig? Craig… STOP IT!

  As if on cue, Annik asked, “So how’d you meet Craig?”

  “Oh, I picked him up,” she replied nonchalantly, “at a sex gallery.”

  “What!”

  Jessica giggled. It wasn't too far from the truth. “Believe it or not, yes, at an art gallery of all places. They were doing an exhibit of BDSM art.”

  “Oh, Bruno Pasquale's exhibition?”

  Jessica was a little surprised; she had never heard of him until she was given the assignment. “You know his work, Annik?”

  “Yes, Kevin was there that night- I couldn't make it, I had to work. He has a couple of Bruno's pieces.” She leaned across the table, “so what happened?”

  “Well, we started chatting, then went out to dinner, and one thing led to another, and …” Jessica smiled. A wistful feeling came over her; she hid it by taking a forkful of tortellini.

  She swallowed, and said, “He introduced me to D/s, BDSM. Did I miss any acronyms? SWOT? MADD? WASP?”

  “You mean he didn't tell you about ZXQR!” Annik looked shocked.

  “What's that?” Was it something dangerous?

  Annik laughed. “Gotcha”.

  Jessica smiled, “Sure did, that was good.”

  Annik was funny too, and Jessica liked that. She was concerned that being involved in D/s would bring out more somber characteristics. She decided to switch the subject before they got too much into Craig- it would be too soon for her to start sniveling over guy troubles. Besides, they were having fun.

  “Annik, you have a bit of a Caribbean lilt in your voice, where'd you grow up?”

  Annik told Jessica that she was originally from Barbados. Her father had lived in Barbados all of his life and had owned a few hotels there. Her mother was Canadian.

  “Poppa was older than Mamma, so when he retired he sold the hotels. He loved her so much. She was homesick for Canada and we moved here when I was 14.” Annik said. "Just in time for high school. If we were going to make a move, they felt that was the time to do it."

  “You say Poppa was…I’m sorry, did he die?” Jessica asked.

  “Yeah. I miss him and Mamma.”

  “And Mamma? Both your parents are gone?”

  “Yes,” Now it was Annik's turn to look wistful. “She's gone over five years now; Poppa almost fifteen.”

  Oh. Annik had lost both her parents. And she was younger than Jessica, by a few years. That must have been hard. Jessica thought of her own parents, living in Kingston.

  “What do you do for a living, Annik?”

  “Free lance social work.”

  “Where'd you go to school?”

  “Oh, University of Toronto. I was in grad school, but had to start working when Mamma became ill, so I dropped out before completing.” Which was the truth; she was in a Psychology program though, with the goal of becoming a therapist.

  They finished their meal chatting about movies, books and politics. Their viewpoints were so compatible it surprised them. They were a pair of single women, with good careers and similar challenges in today's world. Over garlic bread and pasta, a friendship germinated, which would continue to grow for the rest of their lives, through joy and sadness, tragedy and redemption.

  Annik insisted on buying lunch and they left to find the specialty shops she had talked about. The first shop was ‘Harlot’s Haven’. The name spooked Jessica a little, but she followed her friend in- she'd never go into a place with a name like that alone! A heavyset, older woman behind the cash register welcomed Annik like an old friend, kissing her on both cheeks, Annik hugged her and introduced Jessica.

  “We’re looking for hot Fet Wear” Annik told the woman.

  The woman directed them to the new arrivals at the back of the store. They checked out bodysuits, skirts of all types, short, long, slit up the side, spandex, leather – bustiers, corsets, bras with cutaways, and all sorts of see through tops.

  “Annik!” Jessica whispered, “Who shops here?”

  “Gals like us, I guess,” Annik arched an eyebrow.

  Jessica looked around, “Well, I’ve only shopped for clothes like these once. Can there be that many kinky people?”

  “Why are we whispering?”

  “Well, I mean, this is some racy stuff-”

  “Yeah, you won't see it in an office environment.”

  “So-”

  “Exotic dancers, mostly, I guess, and hookers,” she shot a glance at Jessica, “and people that go to kinky clubs- D/s types, swingers too, I guess. People that dress the part for passion I suppose.” She had said all this while rifling through clothes on hangers.

  They tried on many outfits, while sharing the large change room, helping each other zip up and snap, and giving each other frank opinions on the outfits.

  Jessica chose a red corset with red lace trim. It was the only one which she could put on all by herself. The others had required Annik’s help tugging at hooks and eyes and straining to tighten laces. She could now understand why Scarlett O’Hara, the southern belle in Gone With The Wind, needed a Mammy to help her dress.

  Annik selected a red vinyl bodysuit which clung to her, accentuating her curves.

  “I like that. It’s really flattering. But it’s going to be a bitch for Kevin to get off you, unless he carries a vegetable peeler.” She stood back admiring the outfit Annik had chosen.

  “Oh, he’s good with his hands. He’s peeled a few oranges in his day.” Annik replied smiling.

  After they left the change room, Jessica’s eyes wandered over the selection of blouses and tops, looking for the sexiest one she could find. She picked a sheer, black, see thru blouse, holding her hand against the fabric, so sheer it was like smoke.

  “What do you think?” She turned to Annik.

  “No.You’re giving away too much. Let me show you.” Annik selected another from the rack. She held a black lace blouse up to her.

  “You can ALMOST see my hand. When you wear this top, you don’t wear a bra underneath. This sheer one tells the whole story; the lace one will keep Craig interested. You never give the goods away up front. And I mean Up Front.” Annik explained, smiling.

  “I feel like I have my own personal shopper. You DO know your stuff Annik. I would have chosen the sheer one.” If I ever see him again to wear it.

 
Settling up at the cash, the owner complimented their purchases and said “Annik, of course I would like to give you and your friend a discount”. They paid, thanked her, and left.

  A few stores down the street, was a store called Erogenous Zone. Jessica suggested they go in and check it out. She glanced around and saw that most of the items were sexual toys of all sizes, colors and textures. They wandered to the dildo section, silicone, long skinny, very thick, glass and even one hand carved, burnished mahogany.

  Jessica moved along and saw a section called ‘Butt Plugs’. She stopped, stunned. There was one with the circumference of a dinner roll plate.

  “Annik, look at this” she squeaked.

  Annik glanced at it. “Yeah, that would be a challenge.”

  Jessica spun around. “Have you….”

  “NO.”

  Jessica whispered to her. “You’d either have to HAVE or BE some special kind of asshole to buy that.”

  Annik and Jessica laughed and wandered to the sex doll section. There was a life like inflatable doll, mouth open in an ‘O’ shape. She turned to Annik, crossing her eyes and mimicking the doll’s face. Annik burst into laughter.

  Jessica looked into the corner section of the store, her face puzzled. “What the…” she said, striding to it. She picked it up and held it for Annik to see. “What’s this?”

  Annik crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head examining the artifact. Her eyes wandered over the leather straps, the stainless steel rivets, the loops of rubber and the thumb screws. She looked at Jessica and their eyes locked.

  “I have no idea.”

  They both burst out laughing again. Jessica started to sing John Denver’s ‘The Wonderful Toy’ song as they left the shop, arm in arm, giggling like two university students.

  They walked to the car and then got in.

  “What's next?” Jessica asked.

  Annik looked at her watch. “It's close to suppertime. Feel hungry? Wanna' get something to eat?”

  “How does dinner at my place, sound?” Jessica suggested. She was having a great time with her new girlfriend and didn't want the day to end yet. It was refreshing to just hang with a girl.