Take Me With You

by Sindra van Yssel

“Because I want to.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m built that way. And because she wants me to.”

  “I’m gonna sound like a three-year-old in a moment,” Craig said. “Why?” He didn’t like being ignorant, but he knew the way to fix that was by asking questions, not pretending to know everything.

  “I want him to because it feels good,” Karen said. “And because he enjoys it. Both. If he spanks me, well, that’s some very nice touching in an erogenous zone, and while it may hurt at first, it fades to something more erotic. But whether it’s fun punishment or not depends on what he does. If it’s something like this—pardon me if I overstep, Sir, but it’s for fun, not because I really overstepped, yes?”

  “Yes,” agreed Parker. “Go on.”

  “Well, then the punishment is likely to be fun. It’s going to get me off or warm me up so I’m more aroused for later.”

  “That was what I wanted to know most. Why did Al— why did Sunny get off from me spanking her?”

  “Well, part of the reason is because asses are erogenous zones,” said Parker.

  “And part of it’s that when we take in pain, our body produces chemicals to react to them,” said Karen. “You’re a fit guy—muscles like the ones I saw when you took your shirt off don’t happen without hard work. When you work out, how do you feel after?”

  “Sore.”

  “And a little high?”

  Craig thought back to how he had felt earlier. He knew it wasn’t only that the shower felt good after. “Yeah.”

  “It’s the same thing,” Karen said. “The same chemicals. When you work out, you hurt yourself. You push muscles past where they want to be pushed, and while it helps make them stronger, it also makes you sore. As you push your body, it eventually produces endorphins to deaden the pain so you can keep going. It starts to feel good, and it keeps feeling good even after you stop.”

  “So you get runner’s high from being whipped?”

  “You betcha. Only my top does the work to get me there.”

  Craig still wasn’t convinced. “The same effect without the health benefits.”

  Karen shook her head. “I work out sometimes too. The analogy is only so good. You know that moment when you think you can’t do anymore?”

  Craig nodded.

  “Well, a good top can take a bottom beyond that, where she can take more than she thought she could. And a good bottom wants to do more for her top than she’d ever do for herself.”

  “But,” interjected Parker, “not all punishments are for fun. If Karen really violated my trust, I’d find something to do with her that she wouldn’t enjoy so much.”

  “Good luck with that, Sir,” Karen said with a grin.

  “You’re daring me to demonstrate?”

  “Yep.” The grin didn’t fade.

  Parker sighed. “Karen, go stand and face the corner and be quiet.”

  The grin vanished. But nonetheless Karen walked to the corner without another word and faced the wall.

  “Why does she go along with that?” Craig asked Parker. Asking Karen seemed more to the point, but it would also be fruitless. It didn’t seem Karen was likely to answer.

  “Because Karen isn’t just a masochist. She’s also a submissive. She takes pleasure from obeying and from pleasing. And I take pleasure from being obeyed, especially if it’s something that’s a bit of a struggle for her. Some submissives I’ve played with would have said make me, and I would. See the hooks there? I can make Karen face the wall and tie her in place. I can gag her. Even if she resists, I can overpower her.”

  Craig frowned. He understood Karen was willing enough, but it was starting to sound like it didn’t matter.

  Parker must have seen his look, because he added, “But if she says her safe word, everything stops.”

  “So even if she resists, in some sense you’re not really making her.”

  Parker winked. “Don’t puncture the illusion, my friend,” he said quietly. But he nodded.

  Illusion. Playacting. That part he got, and there was nothing wrong with that. If Alicia simply wanted to pretend, he could be fully on board. Master and slave, pirate and captive, teacher and schoolgirl—whatever she wanted, and he expected he could make up scenarios she’d enjoy. But then there was the physical part. The bruises. The pain. Karen’s explanation made some sense, but he still didn’t know that he could do it. And when did pretending creep into reality?

  He glanced over at Karen, standing quietly in the corner. Her near nakedness made him glance away, as if staring too long would be unfaithful to Alicia. It wasn’t as if he and Alicia had agreed to a committed relationship, but there was still something there that held him back.

  “What are you thinking?” asked Parker.

  “I still have issues with the pain thing. I heard what Karen said about endorphins and all that, and it makes sense. I think I even understand why pain can be an aphrodisiac. But that’s a very different thing from being willing to inflict it on another human being. There are parts of us that are better kept under wraps.”

  Parker smiled. “There are parts of us that should be released so we don’t go nuts. Karen? Come here.”

  Karen turned from the wall. She had a pleased expression on her face as she walked across the floor. She knelt in front of Parker as if it was the most natural thing to do.

  “Would you like a flogging, Karen?” Parker asked.

  “If it pleases you, Sir.”

  Parker laughed. “You’re too well trained. That’s beautiful, Karen, but this time I just want an answer to the question. Would you like some pain?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Parker turned to Craig. “Do you believe her?”

  Craig nodded.

  “There’s the old joke: a masochist says ‘Beat me, beat me.’ And the sadist leans in with an evil grin and says, ‘No.’ I suppose I could say no. What do you think?”

  I think I don’t want to be given this dilemma. Craig looked between the two of them. They were both looking back.

  “Sir?” Karen asked.

  When Parker didn’t answer, Craig realized that she must be addressing himself. It had been odd when Alicia did it and even odder coming from Karen. “What?” he asked at last.

  “If you’re uncomfortable watching, I understand. But I would enjoy it, and you might learn something that you can take back and use with Sunny.”

  Slowly, Craig nodded. “As you wish,” he said.

  Karen grinned.

  “Get on the cross,” Parker said.

  Karen scampered to stretch herself out on it. “Should I take my clothes off?”

  Your clothes are off. There was a pile of them near the X-frame. Jeans and some kind of top.

  Parker looked over at Craig. Craig shrugged. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t curious about Karen’s body, but at the same time, telling her to get naked didn’t seem right.

  “Yep, everything, including the heels.”

  Karen hurried to obey.

  Parker turned to Craig. “Let me show you some things. Karen likes to be bound while she’s flogged, and you’ll find that’s pretty common. We don’t usually do that at the newcomer nights, because we want to move people along faster, but this is something Sunny might enjoy. It doesn’t leave bruises, and it doesn’t cause pain, unless you want it to or you’re doing it wrong.”

  Craig followed. The matter-of-fact way Karen removed her underwear made him feel more comfortable with the situation. He wasn’t being invited to watch or being told not to watch. He glanced over at her, and she caught his gaze. She was nice and curvy, and neatly shaved. He’d always liked that look. Could he tell Alicia to shave? Or order her to? There could be advantages to being in charge.

  Parker opened a bag and pulled out some rope. For the next few minutes, Parker explained the relative virtues of thick rope versus thin, of hemp versus nylon, and recommended a few books.

  I could tie Alicia up, if she wanted. More and more, Craig was realizi
ng there was a lot more to BDSM than whacking someone. And the rest of it was a lot more attractive.

  Parker took some of the rope over to Karen, who resumed her position facing the cross. Her backside was less distracting. Using short lengths of rope, Parker secured her to the frame, explaining the knots he was using as he went and how important it was that the knots be secure, unable to tighten, and the bonds be loose enough you could put a finger or two between rope and skin so that circulation wouldn’t be impeded. He showed Craig an EMT scissors that could be used to quickly cut through the rope if there were problems. “Good?” asked Parker.

  “Yeah, that’s interesting,” Craig said.

  “I bet Sunny would like you tying her up,” said Karen.

  “Maybe she would,” agreed Craig.

  “Would you mind helping me move this frame away from the corner?” asked Parker. “I want to show you something else.”

  Together the two men moved the cross, with Karen on it. “Whee!” she said. “You should put wheels on this thing.”

  “If there were wheels on it, it wouldn’t stay still when I flogged you,” Parker said.

  “You could have a different one just for kinky bondage rides,” Karen replied.

  Parker reached up and untied Karen’s hands.

  “Why are you doing that?” asked Craig.

  “I want to show you another useful tie. Come over to the other side. Karen, hug the cross.”

  Karen wrapped her arms around the cross while Craig followed Parker around. He had seen Alicia in the same situation. The difference was that Alicia had still had her bra on and her skirt, and Karen was stark naked. In spite of that, it had been more arousing when it was Alicia. Perhaps it was better with some mystery left? He didn’t think that was it. He liked Alicia’s body more.

  “Wrists together,” said Parker.

  Karen complied. “Yes, Sir.”

  Parker wrapped rope around both wrists. “The tie I showed you before is great when you’re securing a limb to something else, like a post or a fastening hook. But sometimes you want to tie two limbs together—wrist to wrist, wrist to ankle, even ankle to thigh. And this is how you do it and keep it safe.” He tied it, and then untied it while Craig watched.

  “You give it a go,” said Parker.

  Craig hesitated.

  “It’s okay,” said Karen. “Rope is just rope, and we’re just being friends. If you like, I can put my shirt on again while you tie so that you’re not doing it to me naked, but you’ll have to get it.”

  Craig shook his head. “That’s okay.” He didn’t want her to go to the effort, and it wasn’t as if he objected to her nudity. He tied her wrists. What Parker had shown him wasn’t any harder than the knots he’d learned as a Boy Scout.

  “Nice,” said Karen.

  “Good job,” agreed Parker. “Want to learn more with rope, or should we let this lovely submissive here have the flogging she’s been wanting?”

  Craig remembered that, originally, Parker and Karen had been intending a quiet time together, not show-and-tell. “Go ahead,” he said.

  “Stand wherever you like.” Parker walked over to the other side of Karen and pulled a flogger from its hook on the wall. “Karen loves being watched, so feel free to keep staring at her tits, but it might be more instructive over here on my side.”

  Craig moved around.

  “First and foremost—mood music.” Parker moved to the laptop and punched a few buttons. In a moment, electronic trance with a steady, deep bass line came from every corner of the room. There were small speakers scattered around that Craig thought he would have noticed if he hadn’t been distracted by all the bondage equipment.

  For the next half hour, Parker flogged Karen, turning her back and ass a deep pink. All the while he kept up a commentary about how to stand, where to strike, how to let the tails brush against a woman and avoid wrapping around her body. At first, Karen would offer little comments or voice agreement, but as time went on, she seemed to enter a reverie, and Craig wasn’t sure she was still hearing their conversation.

  Regardless, what was going on didn’t seem vicious. As time went on, no matter how hard Parker smacked Karen with the flogger, it didn’t entirely seem like hitting. In fact, as the scene continued, it became more intimate, and Parker quit talking. He would reach out and stroke Karen’s back or the curve of her hip. Craig stepped back and let them have their moment. He sat down in the chair at the desk, turning the chair so he could watch and possibly learn. Eventually, the flogging stopped, and Parker kissed Karen’s neck softly while he untied her. Free, she turned to embrace him. He led her to the couch and held her for several minutes. There was no mistaking the tenderness between them.

  “Aftercare is important,” Parker said at last. “After you do something intense, you need to get down from that high. Especially with endorphins involved. And that’s for both the top and the bottom, by the way. Sorry for tuning you out for a bit.”

  “I would have done the same thing,” said Craig.

  “Good,” said Parker. “Even with aftercare, people can feel a drop after a scene. I guess that’s true in the vanilla world too, after a good date. It’s been a long time since I had a vanilla date.”

  Craig chuckled. “You two are a lovely couple,” he said, and he meant it.

  Karen twisted to look at him, and Parker shook his head.

  “We’re not a couple,” Parker said. “Just play partners.”

  “Yeah,” said Karen.

  Craig held up his hands. Oops. “Sorry.” He couldn’t help but feel their denial was too pat. There was something there, some connection, whatever they said.

  “No worries,” Karen said.

  Parker smiled. “A lot of people have made that mistake over the years.”

  “Yep,” agreed Karen.

  They’ve just played with each other for years? Craig thought that was strange. He understood the attraction of no-strings sex. But no-strings and long-term didn’t go together well, which was why he didn’t let a woman into his bed too many times. Attachment happened. Stuff got messy. Alicia was the first woman in a long time who made him think messy might be worth it, and he doubted very much that sex with her would be casual.

  “May I get some clothes on, Sir?” asked Karen.

  “Yes.”

  “Thank you.” Karen got up and walked to where she’d piled her clothes. She put them on. Her jeans were loose, but her tank top fit her snugly. She left her heels off, and Craig was struck by how very normal she looked. Anyone could be into BDSM, and there’s really no way of knowing.

  “Have you learned some things that might help you with Sunny?” asked Parker.

  The rope, at least. Maybe the flogging. “I think so.”

  “She’s a nice girl,” Karen said. She was poking through her cell phone. “Why, speak of the devil. She called me. I’ll have to call her back.”

  For a moment, Craig tensed. How would Alicia react to knowing he had tied Karen’s wrists while the other woman was naked? And why was Alicia calling Karen? He didn’t even remember Alicia getting Karen’s number. He wasn’t ashamed of anything, and he’d done it all to get a better grip on where Alicia was coming from, but he’d put himself in a situation that could easily be misinterpreted.

  “Hi, Sunny!” said Karen. “How are you?”

  A moment later, Karen looked at the two men. “Do you mind if I take this upstairs, Sir? The reception down here sucks.”

  “Go ahead,” said Parker.

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  Parker waited until Karen reached the top of the stairs to turn to Craig. “So, do you feel you learned anything?”

  Craig nodded. “I did.” He glanced toward the stairs.

  “Karen’s not going to tell Sunny anything. That’s for you to do. But there’s nothing wrong with what we did, and no one is born knowing this stuff. I know people who have been in the scene for two decades and they are still attending classes, watching other people play, pickin
g up tips. Some of them play at the club we went to and just enjoy playing, like me. Others only practice BDSM in the privacy of their own bedrooms, but they still want to learn outside it.”

  Craig had always thought he was pretty good at sex. Women wanted a second encounter with him. He knew that was partly because nature had been kind, but he paid attention to what women liked and had developed some skill. Clearly there were a lot of things he still didn’t know. Who would have thought a nice, sweet girl like Alicia would make me feel I wanted to step up my game? I’m going to become an expert.

  Chapter Five

  Alicia adjusted her red jersey dress and looked in the mirror one more time. Do I look fat in this? I don’t think I do. Maybe a bit big in the bum. But it’s nice and snug around my breasts. She sucked in her tummy. Maybe I should put on makeup. She dismissed the idea. She’d worn some on her first date with Craig, and on the second, without it, Craig had commented on how lovely and natural she looked. I don’t use it enough to be good at wearing it without being obvious.

  Craig had only invited her to Tuesday night dinner. It could be a breakup dinner, she supposed, but she didn’t think so. He had told her about getting together with Parker and Karen to learn more about BDSM. After that, Alicia had pumped Karen for more information. What she learned sounded hopeful. Karen had become a good friend, however things turned out with Craig, and Alicia had told Karen her real name because being called Sunny felt strange.

  As to what Craig wants, I have to wait and find out. She smacked her lips. Maybe a fresh coat of lip gloss. I’ve chewed at it. Or maybe that black dress would be more slimming.

  The doorbell rang.

  Out of time. She adjusted her dress one last time and went to answer the door. She glanced at the clock on the living room wall and saw that the long hand was pointing at the twelve. When he says seven o’clock, he means on the dot.

  She opened the door. Craig stood on the stoop of her garden condo, dressed in a blue suit, a white button-down shirt, and a red tie with diagonal stripes. She took him in, wondering if she was underdressed before she realized he’d probably come straight from work. She only had a moment to think about it, because he brought a bouquet of red roses from behind his back and pressed it into her hands.