“Petruchio I presume?” she asked, raising her eyebrows slightly.
He nodded in reply and returned her smile.
“Lady Grace,” he said quietly.
She was beautiful. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a loose bun, showing off her high cheekbones. She wore a fitted black suit jacket, with one button done up just under her bust line. Underneath the jacket was a silky red camisole that accentuated the plunge of her cleavage exquisitely. He was careful to only allow his eyes to rest on her curves for a moment before they travelled back up to her face.
It pleased him to see that she wore very little makeup. Only her full, sweet lips were adorned with a delicious shade of red. He was surprised by how natural she looked, but not disappointed in any way. In fact, he found her quite breathtaking. He leaned forward, ready for anything. Her bright green eyes were enchanting. He could easily get lost in them.
She inhaled deeply and began to speak.
“I have to admit, I have been looking forward to meeting you. Our exchanges left me quite curious.”
“I felt the same way,” he agreed. “This is pretty new for me and to be honest, I’m not sure what to expect. I’m even a little nervous.”
She smiled confidently and he felt drawn to her.
“I understand completely. Sometimes we find ourselves looking for ways to expand our experiences, but it can be intimidating at the same time. The cool thing about exploration is that it can lead to some pretty interesting discoveries and put us on the path to uncovering our authentic selves,” she reassured.
“I’ve been there myself,” he said, nodding in agreement and feeling as though she captured his feelings exactly. “Yes, I’ve been restless. I’m not sure why. I’m not even sure if this is the answer. What I do know is that I’m definitely intrigued, and maybe I owe it to myself to find out why.”
“Let me start by explaining,” she offered. “Our first meeting is designed to establish the boundaries and talk about expectations and limits. Although I’m ultimately in charge, it’s important to me that this entire experience fulfills your needs, whatever they may be. The only way this can happen is if we agree to be one hundred percent truthful with each other. It’s important that we honor the code of BDSM at all times. Safe, sane, and consensual.”
He sat back in his chair and respectfully took in her words, not sure how or when to respond, but certain she would guide him along the way. She continued.
“I read your client information form carefully. I have a strong handle on what it is you want. It is my role to study you. To learn your cues, spoken and unspoken, to push you to your limits. You will be surprised at how well I will come to know you. At times you may hate me, fear me, desire me, adore me. Perhaps you will feel all of those things within minutes of each other. You will strive to please me because the rewards will be like nothing you have ever experienced before. You will push yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally, and just when you think you have gone as far as you can go, you will find yourself reaching for more.”
She paused for a moment. He inhaled deeply, taking it all in. He was embarrassed to notice his cock was hard in his lap.
“In order for you to have all of this, you have to be willing to give yourself over to me completely. You will have to allow me to make the right decisions at just the right time. You must trust me implicitly.”
She cocked her head gently to the side, observing him carefully, gauging his reaction. He found her captivating. She conjured up arousing images in his mind and he had to shift a little to accommodate his growing bulge.
Although this was all new to him, he wasn’t intimidated by the unknown anymore. In fact, it was just the opposite. He welcomed it.
“Sounds like fun,” he said.
He grinned at her like a naughty school boy, and noticed that her smile soon followed. She shook her head gently, as if contemplating her next words.
“Being kinky is fun,” she purred, sending a shiver down his spine and straight to his cock. He wished she were there right now.
“But first you need to learn how to treat your Domme,” she added.
“I’m all ears, Milady,” he teased, drawing out another smile from her.
For the next hour they talked intimately about the expectations and limits. Their chemistry was undeniable. He hung on her every word, and was fascinated by how cool and in control she was. Her confidence was sexy as hell. She was so comfortable with herself and her own kinky nature, that it allowed him to be more honest with her than he had ever been with anyone else, including himself.
Although he kept trying to tease and charm her, she appeared to keep her composure, rarely breaking character. Those rare moments when she let down her guard a little and laughed were like a precious gift to him.
While she studied him, he was also studying her. He wanted to please her. With their meeting coming to a close, they set up a date for their session, two days away. She promised to send him a copy of the non-disclosure agreement they would both sign. He found himself wishing they could talk all night, but he knew better than to ask. She was winding things up and finished by asking if he had any more questions.
His curiosity getting the better of him, he decided to ask the one question he had been holding onto since they first started talking.
“Do you know who I am?” he asked her.
She smiled softly and gave him an ambiguous shrug.
“A better question, sweet man, is do YOU know who you are?”
Chapter Eight
Reagan
Reagan sat back in her chair and mulled over their conversation in her mind. Initially, she was astonished to see Ethan McLaughlin in front of her, but out of respect she maintained her composure. It probably wasn’t easy for him to reach out to someone like her, and she was not about to add to his nervousness by being a star struck fan girl. His comfort was imperative and gaining his trust was essential in order to build the kind of connection they needed.
She was surprised at how easy it was to talk to him, how naturally their conversation ebbed and flowed. Their personalities were a good match, his wit and intelligence being right on point with hers. She had to maintain her persona when she had her “Domme" hat on, because it was important to the fantasy, however, at times he was so funny that she found herself unwittingly slipping out of character and just enjoying his company. Then she would have to remind herself of her place and pull herself together.
He really seemed to enjoy her assertiveness and he responded well when she took charge. She could see the arousal in his eyes, and truthfully, that excited her. Her own excitement was unfamiliar to her. Clients were just that, clients. Although she played her role well with them, she always remained detached, separating business from pleasure. She would have to stay on her toes with Ethan. He needed her to.
This was not about her, it was about him. It was clear he was trusting her to take him under her wing and help him reach outside his comfort zone, to discover the world of kink in a safe, sexy, discreet environment. It was the only way he could let down his guard and allow himself the sensual vulnerability he craved. She took that responsibility seriously. She was looking forward to playing with him and seeing where she could take him. How much he needed and how far he would go remained to be seen, but if he was truthful about his fantasies and his limits, things were going to get hot!
She smiled to herself recalling how he referred to her as Milady. Typically her clients referred to her as Ma’am or Lady Grace. In fact, she insisted on it. She did, however, not correct Ethan. She liked the way he said Milady. It was romantic and sexy but still respectful. As far as she was concerned, she could reserve that moniker just for him.
She got ready for bed, still fantasizing about the upcoming session with Ethan. It had been ages since she’d had sex, and up until today, she hadn’t really thought much about it. Something about tonight had woken her desire again.
She was in her black lace nightdress and for some reason,
slipped out of it before climbing into her bed. She wanted to feel the sheets against her skin.
“Ethan McLaughlin,” she said aloud to herself, and as she said his name, she let her hand wander down to the soft lips of her pussy.
She ran her finger along her lips and then over her clit.
“Ethan,” she purred.
She felt herself getting wetter and put her finger to her mouth and sucked it, then ran the saliva over her clit. The sensation felt like a fire, kindling inside her.
“Ethan,” she moaned as her finger pushed between her lips, entering her pussy.
She imagined that it was his finger, or better yet, his cock. She imagined him in her bed, down below the sheets, putting his mouth to the mouth of her pussy and sucking, kissing, licking. She imagined his lips on her clit, sucking it like it was a tongue he was making out with. She imagined him sliding a finger into her pussy as he sucked her clit, and she slid her own finger, in and out, and curled it to reach the spot just inside that would put her over the edge.
“Ethan,” she moaned, and imagined his tongue stretching into her pussy and flicking around as if searching for something.
She felt her pussy gush as a wave of pleasure flooded through her body, sending her into a passionate orgasm.
“Oh Ethan,” she moaned. “You are going to purr for me.”
She didn’t care that her sheets were soaked. She didn’t care that a fine layer of sweat covered her skin like a gentle mist. She closed her eyes and had the most satisfying sleep she’d had in a very long time.
Chapter Nine
Ethan
Ethan woke to his phone ringing. It took him a moment to get his bearings before he realized he had uncharacteristically slept in. He fumbled for his phone and answered it.
“Hello?” he croaked, rubbing his eyes with his free hand.
“Hey man, what happened to you?”
He heard the familiar voice of his friend and manager scolding him from the other end of the line. For a moment he was confused and then he realized he missed their breakfast meeting.
“What time is it?” he asked, still waking.
“It is after ten. Were you sleeping?” Kirk asked him, his tone balancing precariously between concern and annoyance.
“Yeah, I guess I forgot to set my alarm,” he said, remembering how turned on he’d been when he went to bed the night before.
He’d been so worked up after his conversation with Lady Grace that he spent the next twenty minutes jerking off in the shower. He’d never come so hard in his life. His semen had spilled onto the shower floor in a never ending gush.
Probably not something he needed to share with his friend. He smiled to himself, remembering the intensity of his hunger the night before and the welcome relief that came with the release. He slept deeply, a rare but refreshing occurrence in his world.
“I was worried, bud. It’s not like you to miss our Saturday morning breakfast meeting. Late, yes, but to just not show up?”
Ethan knew Kirk was pissed.
He was the kind of guy that took shit personally. He was a high strung pit bull, which served him well as a manager, but made it challenging as a friend. Ethan saw past that. Kirk was relatively harmless and Ethan relied on him to handle his negotiations and all the ugly crap the industry threw his way. For Kirk, Ethan raised his status. It was a win-win situation. Their friendship was built on that, and Ethan trusted him. Kirk always told him the truth.
“Sorry, man,” he offered genuinely. Then, knowing Kirk would have a hard time letting it go, added, “I fucked up.”
“Yeah, okay,” Kirk said, backing off.
Ethan sat up, letting his legs hang over the side of the bed, and stretched out his back. He felt more rested than he had in a long time.
“Why don’t you come by the house and we can eat lunch together,” he said, noting his hunger.
Kirk quickly accepted.
“Bring some food with you. I’m not sure what I have in the fridge,” Ethan added with a grin.
He heard Kirk grumble, but he knew it was all for show.
“Yeah, yeah, what else is new,” Kirk replied. “I’ll stop by the Beachwood Cafe and grab burgers. I’ll be at your place in forty-five minutes.”
Ethan looked at the time on his phone and then brought it back to his ear.
“Make it an hour, and bring me the Fez Bowl Salad instead.”
Kirk chuckled, “Are you sure you’re not a chick?”
“With a monster cock like mine?” Ethan said, ribbing his friend.
Ethan took a quick shower and was sitting by the pool when his iPhone signaled the gate buzzer. He let Kirk in and waited for him to come out to the yard. It was a beautiful day and he thought they could eat their lunch on the patio.
Kirk poked his head around the corner and held up the bag. Ethan waved him over.
“Thanks, man. I’m starving,” he said, pulling the plastic lid off his takeout bowl.
They ate in comfortable silence, Ethan contemplating talking to his friend about his new adventure. Kirk was his manager but also his friend, and Ethan knew he would give him sound advice on the matter. He was probably the only one he could talk to about it.
“So, you know how I was talking to you a few months ago about how I was feeling frustrated with my life?” he said cautiously.
Kirk looked up from his sandwich and raised his eyebrows. He shifted in his chair and sat back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Yeah, I remember. You were talking about taking a hiatus or something. I thought maybe you came to your senses,” Kirk answered, his scorn not lost on Ethan.
Ethan grinned and took a drink of water.
“No. I’m not sure if that’s what I need. I think it’s something different,” he offered reluctantly.
He knew that Kirk spooked easily and wanted to set him at ease.
“How do I put this? I’ve been feeling … uninspired by the relationships I’ve been in. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not about the women specifically. They’re all nice enough. It’s just that I haven’t really been on the same page as them.”
Kirk sat forward, curious about where this was going.
“Go on,” he urged.
Ethan paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. How much should he share, he wondered. Would his friend understand?
He decided to continue.
“The thing is, the women I’ve been with have all been fun, playful and sexy, but it has been pretty one dimensional, you know? Not a whole lot of substance. The sex is good, but,” he paused again, struggling for the right words, “it’s pretty vanilla. Not a whole lot of spice, if you know what I mean.”
Kirk chuckled, maybe a little relieved.
“Sure,” he agreed.
Ethan continued.
“I’ve been curious about exploring some other alternatives,” he finally admitted.
Kirk grinned and slapped the table.
“I knew it!” he exclaimed. “You’re gay,” Kirk said matter-of-factly.
Ethan laughed, realizing he hadn’t explained himself very well.
“Man, I’m not gay,” he said, wiping the tears from his eyes. “I’m kinky.”
Kirk laughed along with his friend for a moment and then stopped, most likely balancing public opinion on the matter.
“It would be easier to come out as gay,” he said.
Ethan nodded.
“Well, I’m hoping to keep my private life private,” he said calmly.
Kirk nodded again. Ethan could see him gathering his thoughts. Finally he asked, “Is there a woman?”
Ethan smiled, remembering his sexy talk last night with Lady Grace, and how excited he was as they planned their upcoming session together.
“No, not really,” he replied. “I’ve met up with someone, an expert in her field, so to speak. She’s pretty cool,” he added, as casually as he could.
Kirk grimaced.
“Have you considered the risks involve
d with that?”
“What risks?” Ethan asked.
This is why he needed Kirk’s input. Maybe he would offer something Ethan hadn’t considered.
“Well there’s the obvious one. Something like this could damage your career if it ever got out. How do you know you can trust her?” Kirk asked.
Ethan had thought about that.
“She assures discretion. We’ll both be signing non-disclosure agreements. Her privacy is important to her as well. It was all pretty standard,” he assured.
“How do you know she has a “safe” practice?” Kirk asked diplomatically.
Ethan thought about the question a moment, wondering what he meant. Safe practices? Safe words? Clean tools? Whatever he was referring to he felt pretty confident that Lady Grace was a stickler for things like that.
“Safe?” he asked.
“Safe. Like safe sex. Condoms. Shit like that,” Kirk said, growing a little uncomfortable.
Ethan smiled, realizing that Kirk didn’t quite understand the situation.
“She’s a Domme, man. She is not a prostitute. There is no offer of sex.”
Kirk looked at him quizzically.
“No sex? I don’t get it. What’s the point?”
Ethan shrugged.
“The point is that it’s other stuff, besides sex. It’s intimacy without penetration. It’s her putting me through situations that challenge me and my limits. Learning how pain can be pleasurable. Those things,” he said, not really sure how to explain it, having never experienced it.
“Oh, you mean like spankings and whips and chains kind of thing?” Kirk grinned.
Ethan threw his towel at him.
“Yeah, something like that,” he said, laughing.
“What’s her name? I’ll put a P.I. on her and check her out. I’ll make sure she’s not a lunatic or something.”
Ethan shook his head. That was the last thing he wanted.
Grace and Mercy Page 4
