Mastering Love

by Morticia Knight

  After donning his driving gloves and goggles, he backed out of the driveway of the small bungalow he’d recently purchased. It was a temporary residence until he found a boy. Then they would move to a grander place to live out their days together. Ned was nearing thirty, and it was time for him to bring an end to his playboy ways. He owned several large tracts of lands in Hollywood and Los Angeles that were prime locations to be developed. Eventually, he would either sell them off or develop them himself. With that income—in addition to the hefty sum he’d put away—he could afford to keep his submissive in comfort.

  Within fifteen minutes, he’d arrived at the ornate front gates of Hampton Road. It was already dark outside and there was another car ahead of him, no doubt being vetted by the valet. He’d once inquired as to what the neighbors thought of the abundance of guests coming and going. He’d been told by Master Saul—a distinguished, older gentleman and one of the founding members—that any nosy inquiries had been satisfied with the explanation that Saul ran an elite social club that only catered to men from some vague fraternity. It helped that the grounds surrounding the Tudor Revival mansion were not only large, but well off the road and concealed by a high stone wall.

  When it was Ned’s turn to be questioned by the valet, he leaned out of the car, showing his identification card. He’d been given one a few years before, the first time he’d been introduced to Hampton Road by a man he’d met at a pansy club. It was only through another member that anyone was allowed to enter the establishment. As per the usual policy, Ned had been photographed in a rather explicit and compromising position to assure he didn’t run to the authorities upon leaving.

  After being waved through, he smiled to himself at the memory. Two lovely submissives had stripped naked then climbed onto the bed where the scene was staged. Ned had already removed his clothing and was laid out, waiting for them. One of the young men had taken Ned’s cock into his mouth, the other positioning himself higher so that Ned could grasp the boy’s member with his fist. One of the staff—Javier?—had taken several photographs.

  Once Javier had gotten what he needed and left the room, they’d all been enjoying themselves so much, they’d decided to finish things off. Then after a period of rest, Ned had bound their wrists behind their backs while they were on their knees. They’d then pleasured him with their mouths until he’d pulled out, shooting his spend on their chests. It had been a magnificent introduction to the club.

  Since then, he’d revisited the place close to a dozen times. He’d never had a bad experience there. Sometimes, he’d been so exhausted from his travels, he’d merely attended for the company or to watch the demonstrations. He’d even brought a couple of young men he’d met at pansy clubs to introduce them to Hampton Road in the same way he had been. Whenever he met a boy who he sensed was a natural submissive, who he was certain would benefit from the club, he would encourage them to come with him. In those instances, he never played with them, never took their bodies. It was due to the sympathy he had for them regarding what he knew of most of their situations.

  They were men who’d been cast aside, had nowhere to go—didn’t know where they fit in the world. Many times, they’d fallen into prostitution out of desperation. If he could contribute to them finding some sort of sanctuary for their hidden needs, then he felt it was worth it to deny himself an evening’s pleasure. The young men he’d brought there needed hope—not an orgasm.

  After parking his motorcar, he climbed out, ready for a relaxing evening. He didn’t plan on seeking out any of the submissives. His intentions for the evening only encompassed reacquainting himself with the club then purchasing a regular membership. If he was very lucky, there might even be some interesting demonstrations to enjoy.

  He approached the massive oak doors then employed the heavy, twisted iron knocker. Within moments, a man he judged to be not much older than himself answered, gesturing for him to enter.

  “Good evening, sir. Card please?”

  The fact that the elegantly attired greeter had asked for identification when it should’ve been obvious he’d shown it at the gate already didn’t surprise him. As far as he was concerned, it was yet another reassurance that proper security was in place.

  “Here you go.”

  He presented the requested item. The man gazed at it, then at him, then back down again. Seemingly satisfied, he handed it back.

  “Thank you, sir. My name is Michael, and the head of staff is Javier. I’ll ring him now. He’ll guide you to the gathering upstairs. Tonight there’s a social that includes an assortment of canapés. If you wish to work with a submissive later, you will be required to be marked by a rubber stamp. The bartender will check everyone’s hand to see if the mark is absent before you can be served. If you don’t wish to enjoy the favors of a submissive, then you can avail yourself of the bar. However, if you are intent upon having a boy this evening, you will be required to review then sign that you agree to adhere to the club rules regarding the proper treatment of the submissives.”

  Ned arched his eyebrows. Most clubs had a loose set of rules that revolved around courtesy toward the establishment and expectations as to what perversions were allowed, but he’d never heard of anything where a signature was required. It was especially unusual since it sounded as though it was specifically geared for the benefit of the submissives.

  I quite like that.

  “I see. That’s most interesting. Something new?”

  “Yes, sir. Quite recent. Will it be an issue?”

  “No, not at all. As a matter of fact, I think it’s an excellent idea.”

  “Shall I ring for Javier then?”

  “Yes. Please.”

  He was glad to hear there would be some spirits available. Since he’d already decided he had no interest in working with a boy for the evening, he hoped to enjoy a gin or two. When Javier arrived, Ned greeted him then followed Javier down the long hallway carpeted with burgundy, oriental runners. More rugs complemented the large wood-floored living area. The entrance for club members was at the side of the house, which always caused him to have to catch his bearings. To his right, two large bronze statues of nude young men held up lighted Aladdin style lamps. They guarded the rich mahogany banisters that led to the second floor where Ned remembered the majority of the activities took place—including the demonstrations that were held in the grand ballroom.

  He’d only ever been on the third floor when he’d gone to a large bedroom suite that had been converted into a lounge area—or den. It was for the unattached submissives to relax in as they waited to hopefully be chosen for the night. Since the young men who patronized the club—free of charge, as he’d originally been told—were either in a complete or partial state of nudity, they were required to congregate together. A staff member would stand watch outside the door to insure that they weren’t unnecessarily bothered. The claimed submissives lounged in their own separate room when their Masters socialized or discussed club business, but he’d never been in there.

  After trailing Javier up the staircase, he entered the ballroom that was filled with quite a few Dominant and submissive men. He guessed that the masters outnumbered the submissives by about three to one. As he glanced around the large space, he surmised there had to be as many as fifty or so people, all told.

  All of the submissives, perhaps a dozen were collared, leashed and naked. Some had their cock and balls restrained and one wore what looked like a miniature cage that had effectively kept the man’s boy from hardening. He’d never seen such a thing and made a mental note to inquire about it. On the flip side, there were boys who were quite hard, their rosy tipped shafts jutting proudly from their bodies. He’d picked an excellent night to attend.

  He was approached by another tuxedoed staff member who held up a small silver tray with a rubber stamp and a small ink pad on it.

  “Will you be seeking the company of a young man this evening, sir?”

  “No. Thank you.”

  “Ve
ry good.” He gave a slight bow then walked away.

  After taking another cursory look around the room, he spied the bar at the far end of the crowd. As he made his way through the throng of people, an unusually pale, young submissive with black hair caught his attention. A tall, blond man loosely held the leash of the submissive who stood next to him. The submissive exhibited perfect posture, his gaze cast down. As he chatted with a handsome, silver-haired gentleman, he noted that the older Dominant had his own leashed, sturdily built submissive kneeling at his feet. The submissive appeared to be older than Ned himself.

  Saul.

  Ned recognized the silver-haired man as the founding member he’d spoken with on a few occasions, but his interest was drawn back to the young submissive with the blond Dominant. The contrast of the pale skin with the black hair made him wonder if the boy had brilliant blue eyes.

  What was his name? Linus?

  He’d been very nervous when Ned had met him at the pansy club. Linus had been one of the escort boys who the owner had offered up. They weren’t whores, necessarily. It depended on the boy what he was willing to do or not to do. Linus had seemed so shy and scared that Ned had grabbed him up for the evening to see if he could discover what his story was. After sharing a meal, as well as a few drinks and dances, it had been obvious to Ned that Linus would bloom as a submissive with the right Dominant. He’d brought him to Hampton Road to introduce him to the possibility of such a life, and Ned held out the hope that the submissive standing so beautifully displayed before him was that very boy.

  Right as he’d just about reached the group, the submissive lifted his gaze, almost as if he’d known he was being watched.

  Yes. It is him.

  The boy’s jaw dropped open, his eyes rounding in shock. Ned approached the men, not wanting to intrude on their conversation, but anxious to find out if Linus was indeed happy with his circumstances. Hampton Road had never struck him as being the type of establishment that allowed sexual slavery—particularly given the instruction he’d received when he’d arrived regarding rules to protect the submissives—but he needed to be sure.

  Saul stopped speaking when he saw Ned. There was an expression of concentration then a look of recognition. With a friendly smile, he extended his hand to Ned.

  “Hello there, old sport. Ned, isn’t it?”

  He heard a gasp right as he took Saul’s hand. When he glanced over at the source, he was met with a glare from the blond man who clutched Linus’ leash. It seemed as if Linus had mentioned him to his new Master—if that’s what the man actually was to him.

  He let go of Saul’s hand after exchanging a firm shake with him. Ned smiled, hoping to reassure the blond man that he meant no harm.

  “Yes, Saul. Excellent memory. I hope I’m not intruding, but I did want to say hello. I’m interested in purchasing a full membership as I’m back in town for good.”

  “Wonderful!” Saul clapped him on the back. It was obvious the older man had no idea of the connection between him and Linus. “Then please meet a very good friend and one of our board members, Thomas. And this is his boy, Linus.”

  Ned smiled warmly again, extending his hand to Thomas. There was a pause before he took Ned’s hand. He shook it briefly then let go.

  “I believe you’ve already met Linus?” Thomas’ tone was cautious.

  Ned didn’t take offense. He was sure the boy’s supposed Master was only attempting to uncover Ned’s intentions toward Linus.

  He kept his gaze locked on Thomas. The last thing he wanted to do was start off on the wrong foot. “I have. I’m very glad to see he’s found someone to claim him. I was hoping that would be the case when I brought him here. It’s especially comforting to me knowing he’s with a man whom Saul has declared a good friend.”

  The tension in Thomas’ stance relaxed. Saul’s gaze had gone back and forth between them as Ned had spoken.

  “Well.” Saul cleared his throat. “I suppose I never thought about how Linus ended up here in the first place. That’s something else we should be keeping better track of.” Saul reached into his pocket then retrieved a small notepad with an equally small pencil. “More things to add to the list.” He’d muttered it to himself.

  Ned furrowed his brow. “List?”

  Thomas spoke up, his voice no longer tinged with concern. “Saul’s been very concerned about the safety of the submissives ever since… Well, there was a problem with a Dominant man who came through here. Things could’ve gone very bad for the submissives before we ousted him, so Saul has been intent on improving conditions for them ever since then.”

  Ned hadn’t been able to help but notice how agitated both Linus and Saul’s submissive had become as Thomas had spoken. The older submissive had whimpered, clenching his fists, his breathing accelerating. Linus appeared almost as upset, noticeably trembling. Ned observed as Saul stroked his boy’s head, murmuring calming words to him. After speaking, Thomas laid a hand on Linus’ shoulder then rubbed circles on his back. He leaned down to whisper something to him, then Linus nodded, answered him with a small ‘yes, Sir’, then took a breath and stilled.

  “That’s my good boy.” Thomas had said it softly. He placed a kiss on Linus’ temple.

  “Oh dear.” Ned looked between the two submissives. “I don’t mean to pry, but were they…?”

  He didn’t want to verbalize anything too specific in case it upset the men again.

  Saul kept a hand on his submissive’s head, idly petting him. “I’m afraid it was a rather dreadful situation. When the boys retreat to the den, I’ll give you the details.” Saul glanced down at the man kneeling at his feet. “This is Kenneth, who I’m delighted to say is my boy.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Kenneth.”

  Kenneth’s eyes remained lowered, but he spoke in a surprisingly soft voice for someone who appeared to be so strong. “Thank you, Sir. It’s very nice to meet you too.”

  Ned caught Thomas’ gaze again. “May I?” He indicated to Linus with a dip of his chin.

  Thomas cleared his throat then nodded. “Yes. Go ahead.”

  “I’m happy to discover that everything’s worked out so well for you, Linus.”

  “Thank you, Sir.” He took a deep breath then moved closer to Thomas until their bodies touched. Thomas glanced over to Linus.

  “Tell me, boy.”

  “May I speak freely?”

  There was a slight pause as if Thomas wondered whether he wanted to hear what Linus had to say. Then he shook his head slightly, chuckling to himself. “Of course you may. I want you to express your feelings, whatever they are.”

  Hmm. Nice.

  “Ned, um, Sir.” Linus took another deep breath. “I just want to say, um, thank you, um…thank you for bringing me here that night. It was how I met Thomas, and he’s, um, he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love him very much.”

  Ned arched his eyebrows. He was relieved to hear that whatever it was that had occurred with the Dominant man who’d been turned from the club, it hadn’t driven Linus away. He was relieved that Linus had found love and happiness at Hampton Road.

  “That’s wonderful, Linus. I’m very glad to hear you say that.”

  Ned smiled at Thomas then nodded once as if in thanks. A sincere smile was returned, and Ned felt reasonably sure there wouldn’t be any discomfort between them in the future. Ned turned his attention back to Saul.

  “Your greeter, Michael… He mentioned that I would need to sign a set of rules to obtain an ongoing membership. Was this something that came about as a result of the…incident?”

  Saul furrowed his brow, pressing his lips together as if contemplating something. “Actually, if you’re considering joining us on a regular basis, I wouldn’t mind retiring to the library to discuss it.” Saul regarded Thomas. “Would you care to join us?”

  Thomas quirked the corners of his mouth. “Certainly. Let me get Javier’s attention so he can escort the boys back to the den.”

 
Ned was curious as to why Saul felt the need to get him alone and why he’d made a point of including Thomas. No doubt the recent troubles were a big part of it. He only hoped that they weren’t about to give him the bum’s rush. Without the sanctuary of the Hampton Road Club, staying in Los Angeles would lose much of its appeal.

  Then what?

  Chapter Two

  Evan sat cross-legged on the small porch of the guesthouse—right on the wooden boards. It was a warm, quiet night, but every once in a while, he could hear a coyote yip-yip-yipping in the direction of the mountains above him. He couldn’t remember hearing them so close when he’d lived in Santa Barbara. Truthfully, he’d never thought about it one way or another. His mind had always been occupied with other things.

  He leaned over the edge of the porch, which was only about a half foot above the dirt-covered ground. The glow of the living room bulb from behind cast some weak light on the area in front of him. He idly drew in the dirt with his finger.

  I should’ve gone to the club.

  A frustrated groan poured from him. If there’d been anyone within earshot, he would’ve been embarrassed by its volume. But he couldn’t go to the club yet—maybe never. Not when Thomas was there with Linus. It didn’t have anything to do with him being jealous of Linus or wishing he was with Thomas still. As much as he regretted what had happened between them, he’d always thought there was something more he wanted. He just didn’t know what it was. Couldn’t name it.

  Thomas had been wonderful to him—loving, kind, generous. He would’ve happily stayed with him forever, even if there was a voice in the back of his head that had always teased him that it wasn’t enough. He’d genuinely loved Thomas as a man.