Bedrock (11 page)

The thing that William found most unsettling was that the more he
pulled away, the tighter the women clung on, each one trying harder than the
last to prove that she could be whatever she thought it was he was looking for.
And when that didn’t work, she assured him that she was willing and able to put
up with his philandering ways. What they didn’t understand was what they were
buying into was a myth. Most men, and especially William, didn’t want a woman
who devalued and disrespected herself, who was willing to put up with being
treated in a way that was less than she deserved. This quality in women in
addition to fame and money seeking seemed to go hand in hand.

On the other end of the spectrum were the businesswomen he
bedded: powerful women looking to prove that they didn’t
need
any man,
only to reveal in their next breath that they were looking to take over the
world and would appreciate using his knowledge and assets to do so. The kicker
was that it was almost always another man at the heart of their motive.

So meeting Addison Greyer was a surprising breath of fresh air—one
he didn’t realize he’d needed until he noticed her standing there in the
elevator that day. And then suddenly, he couldn’t get enough. First of all, she
was crazy sexy, a natural beauty who carried herself in a way that told you she
knew it, yet didn’t flaunt it. She didn’t have to. William noticed the way
people looked at her, the way they watched her while she seemed oblivious to it
all.

Addison was refreshing. She was caring and intuitive, but she
also had a vulnerability about her that made William desperately want to take
care of her. She was maternal in a sense that William couldn’t fully
comprehend. This scared him. It took a lot to faze William, but children, even
the idea of children, threw him for a loop.

He understood that children weren’t pawns; they weren’t something
to take for granted. You were either in or you were out. It wasn’t so much
children per se that scared him shitless as much as it was that he worried
whether or not he’d be a good father. He excelled at everything he tried, and
he didn’t want fatherhood to be the one thing he messed up. He’d never had a
father, and since his own mother didn’t have a maternal bone in her body, he
worried that perhaps it was genetic. She saw William as her meal ticket, and
she took it, leaving the rest up to the slew of nannies she employed.

The fact that Addison was married hadn’t bothered him at first.
He’d dated his fair share of married women and had never really given it much
thought, until he met this married woman and she hadn’t returned his calls and
emails or responded to the flowers he sent.

William was all the more confounded when she seemed generally
conflicted about sleeping with him, determined to put it behind her and focus
on her marriage. This just didn’t happen to him. Rejection was a new concept. He
was handsome and extraordinarily wealthy, and things came easy for William.
Everything except love. Real love. So when he saw it written upon Addie’s face
as she spoke of her husband and children, when he felt her restraint and knew
she was holding back, when most women would’ve taken the selfish route and
given in, that was it for William.

He wanted that. He wanted her. He knew that he would do
everything within his power to win. This was William’s sweet spot. After all,
takeovers and acquisitions were his specialty.

Despite trying to keep her distance, Addie was falling
for William. He was extremely charming and did everything he could to see that
she was comfortable and happy. He was the kind of man that Addie dreamed about
loving. The kind of man that needed saving and who would save her in return.
From what little she knew about him, she found that she and William were alike
in so many ways. For one thing, their upbringings were similar, and they
connected over shared experiences. She was open with him in a way that she had
never been with anyone about growing up in her grandparents’ home, without
parents, where love was scarce and affection was nonexistent. Because he got it.
He understood. Still, deep down she knew William was never a long-term thing.
His type never was. For starters, their lives were so very different that they
practically lived on two different planets. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t
have fun and enjoy the moment, which was exactly what she was doing when she
made the life-altering decision to accept Sondra’s offer.

Lying on a chaise lounge by the pool overlooking the expanse of
the ocean with her head on William’s chest and the warm sun shining upon her
face, she decided she’d do it. Addie couldn’t put her finger on it, couldn’t
nail down the exact reason why in her mind, only that she felt it was the right
choice to make. It was more of a hunch, really. A feeling that something was
about to change and that taking the role and ultimately the money was the smart
thing to do.

What she hadn’t decided was whether or not she and the boys would
move to China and reunite with Patrick. What she did know was that, no matter
how welcome the distraction or how well it soothed her hurt, no matter how
amazing the sex or how beautiful the location, her heart wasn’t here. It was at
home with her children, her life. And part of it was in China with Patrick.
Yes, they had problems and had certainly made mistakes, but that didn’t erase
their history. It didn’t erase the years, the decade, and all of the good times
they’d shared.

That was the thing about marriage. It’s never all good or all
bad. It’s just two people doing the best they can. Addie’s mind flashed back to
memories of Patrick hold and soothing Connor as a baby. To him cheering as the
twins were delivered. She pictured him on their wedding day, and she realized
what she already knew, that she missed him, that she loved him, and that she
wanted to be a family again.

But whether or not she was willing to uproot her family and leave
a job she loved to do so was another matter altogether. She’d have to give it a
lot of thought. And later, once William left to attend a series of meetings,
she decided she’d sit by the pool and pore over the training materials Sondra
had given her. In hindsight, she would come to understand that sometimes not
choosing was in actuality doing just that.

Twelve

Addie awoke in William’s arms as he lowered her gently
down onto the bed.
God, she loved it here.
Everything was peaceful.
Serene. If her boys had been here with her, she knew she’d be tempted to stay
forever. The smell of the ocean, the breeze blowing at just the perfect speed,
the warm sunshine, and, oh my God, the food, it was almost too much. She tried
her best to soak it all in.

“What time is it?” Addie asked, yawning, forcing her eyes open.

“Two o’clock. You fell asleep by the pool. I didn’t want to wake
you.”

Addie rubbed her eyes, confused. “You carried me all the way
here?”

William smiled. “Yep.”

She pulled William down on the bed toward her, kissing him
lightly on his lips just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. He was real.
Damn,
those lips. What was it about this man that drove her to the edge?

She picked up her pace, lifting his shirt over his head. His
chiseled body was now a deep shade of brown. She hadn’t thought it possible for
him to look any better than he had that first time. But he did. “Addison, I
can’t. I have to go. My meeting is in half an hour.”

Addie grazed the edge of his jaw with her tongue. “This won’t
take that long. Promise.”

William laughed though his gaze was serious, focused. “No, really,
Addison. I have to go,” he replied, gently removing her from his lap, placing
her on the bed.

Addie scoffed. “Oh, and here I was assuming you were the boss.”

William leaned in, kissing her firmly. He lingered. “Wow. That
was a low blow. But you know . . . you’re pretty cute when you pout.”

Addie rolled her eyes and plopped herself playfully backward on
the bed, sighing loudly.

William scooped her up. “That’s it, young lady. You asked for
it.”

He carried her to the bathroom and placed her on the counter as
he slipped out of his bathing suit. “I hope you like it in the shower.”

Addie bit her lip, considering how much trouble she was going to
be in if she didn’t get a hold of herself. “Well, as a matter of fact . . .”

Addie threw her swimsuit on and gathered her training
materials and made her way back down to the pool. Glancing behind her, she saw
a man she only knew as Joe following not far behind. It was weird to have one
of William’s security guys in tow with her everywhere she went, but she did her
best to try and ignore it.

The first day there she questioned William about why
she
needed security when he was the likely target. He spoke in a clipped tone, only
saying that if she were known to be traveling with him then she was just as
likely a target. Noticing the way his demeanor changed and his jaw tightened,
Addie let it be and left it at that.

Addie sat down and flipped through her booklet before opening it,
trying to ensure that Joe didn’t get to close. He sat down across the pool and
began reading a book of his own.

She turned the first page: Lessons for a Dominatrix.

LESSON #1: (THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL!): Being a Dominant
is 99% mental.

You must believe in and harness your power or you cannot expect
anyone else to. This takes a lot of preparation and training. But it is the
first and foremost important rule of being a Mistress. You are playing a role
much like an actress plays a role. A Mistress must nail her part each and every
time. She must tune in to what her audience needs from her and fulfill those
needs. Leave them wanting more. Always remember, you become brave by acting
brave.

LESSON #2: Sessions provide an experience.

Potential submissives (slaves) often ask what is involved in a
BDSM session. They want to know what services are involved. The very use of
that word “service” shows that the majority of people still see BDSM as some
sort of service to be provided, akin to a massage, a haircut, or a visit to a
brothel. Perhaps there are some Mistresses that place themselves in that
category of “service provider.” Not at Dungeon Seven. Money often referred to
as a tribute never exchanges hands between Mistress and sub. All tributes are
handled prior to the session, taking place by a third party, the receptionist
at Seven. When one wishes to have a session with one of our Mistresses, he is informed
of how We at Seven approach the concept of a session.

First, our Mistresses do not provide services. It is the
submissive (sub or slave) that makes him/herself available to serve the
Mistress. It’s better to think of a session as a lesson. When coming for a
session, a submissive expects to be taken on a journey: an inner journey into
the realms of the mind, into one’s intimate senses. A session is an experience.
Now, how much one gains from a session depends on his ability to learn, surrender,
and trust his Mistress. While previous experience is not a requirement, only an
eagerness to go on the journey, the clients at Seven are properly vetted and
undergo an extensive selection process.

LESSON #3: You will see the same rotation of six clients during
the duration of your term as Head Mistress. Never anyone else.

Included in your training materials, I have provided lengthy,
detailed information on each client you will see. You will study their likes
and dislikes, as well as specific information about what happens in an average
session with that particular client. Explicit detail about each client’s
specific and individual needs and deepest desires should be learned both
forward and backward.

A good sub (slave) remembers all rules set up by his owner. He
will do his best to uphold those rules and keep within the set boundaries. Keep
in mind some subs like to push their Mistress, challenge her authority or be
naughty; this only works if the Domme is compliant in such games. If not, the
sub is breaking the golden rule by putting his own needs above his Mistress’s.
This behavior must not be tolerated.

Commit this information to memory, as you will be tested.
Remember, the submissives I am entrusting you with are my
most
valuable
clients, and they must be treated with the utmost respect and care.

LESSON #4: Rules of a Session. Subs understand them. YOU
enforce them.

A session begins with the submissive undressing and sitting in
the chair in the middle of the room. The Mistress then fastens a black leather
collar around the sub’s neck, which marks the beginning of the session.

The sub must always ask permission before he/she says or does
anything.
PERIOD
!

A sub must always use the proper form of address when speaking
to you. They must ask, “Mistress, may I have permission to speak?”

Submissives are never to say, “No,” when their Mistress
instructs them to do something. If they don’t follow the rules of the session,
it is imperative that they are disciplined.

The “Safe Word” is “
MERCY.”
Subs know to use this word
when the situation becomes unbearable. Do not take this lightly. Stop the session
and talk it out. Tune in to body language; use your intuition to determine when
more or less is required within a session. Remember each session is different
and treat it as such.

LESSON 5: Never underestimate your role as Mistress. Respect
it. Uphold yourself to the highest standard at all times. Expect the same from
your subs.

As Mistress you are a considered a therapist of sorts. Being a
sub can take on many forms: being a slave, being told what to do, crawling
around on all fours at Mistress’s feet, being kept on a leash or chain, feeding
from a bowl, various fetishes, role playing, and, of course, being punished
when naughty and rewarded when compliant. All of these scenarios stem from the
same desire: the willing and joyful surrender of control. For a sub, nothing
can be more liberating than this—to step out of the “real world,” relinquish
responsibility, worries, and everyday pressures, and hand over his life to
another.

Being a submissive is not a one-way exchange. It’s not about
being helpless, being a victim, being lazy, and expecting someone else to do
everything for you; it’s the eagerness to serve, to worship another, the
willingness and desire to please. Submission is a ritualized role of surrender
and devotion to another. And if there’s one golden rule that reigns above all
others in being a proper sub, it is “THE DESIRE TO SERVE.”

It is essential that you understand the psychology involved in
being a Mistress, the psychology behind what we do at Seven. My clients consist
of high-ranking members of society: CEOs, physicians, attorneys, and
wonderfully brilliant men from all over the business spectrum. What they have
in common is that they come to Seven to create an environment where they don’t
need to think, where they don’t have to be “on” and in charge and in control.

These clients are looking for an escape, the chance to let go.
So they come to a place where they can trust me as Mistress to keep them safe
while I weave together an enticing, thrilling, euphoric, and painful world
where it is literally impossible to think. For some of them, it simply boils
down to the fact that they do not have the freedom to explore their fantasies,
desires, or sexuality with their partners.

You must understand that the majority of my clients experience
an extreme imbalance of power in their lives. For some, it stems from extreme
disempowerment, like child abuse, neglect, or poverty; for others, it is an
overwhelming burden of power, related to everything from wealth to politics.

Addie closed the booklet and stared out at the ocean, suddenly
feeling exhausted.
What was she thinking? Who was she kidding, thinking she
could handle this?
She’d finish reading the training material and the
client profiles, mostly because she was curious, but once she arrived back home,
she’d face Sondra and tell her that she just couldn’t do it. Only it wasn’t for
the reasons one might think. Addison found herself consumed by the rush, the range
of emotions evoked and the thrill she got when she imagined what saying yes
would look like. Overwhelmed by the mixture of fear and excitement coursing
through her veins, her imagination led her to dark places in her mind. Places
she wasn’t ready to admit existed.

William returned to find Addison down by the water. He
stayed back, watching her. He watched the way she stared at the ocean, the
facial expressions she made as she ran the sand between her hands.
God, she
was beautiful.
He sat, thinking that he could stay here forever with her
and be perfectly happy. He hated for this trip to end. Tomorrow they were
scheduled to head home, where she would go back to her family and he would go back
to the work that consumed him.

It bothered William that he felt so restless. It wasn’t a feeling
he was used to having. Not only that but he had just closed on one of the
largest acquisitions of his career, so why in the world did he feel so low?
Is
this what love feels like?

Addie spotted him sitting there. Something crossed her face,
surprise maybe. She smiled, running towards him. Pouncing, she knocked him
backward. Lifting his hands above his head, she pinned them there. “You’re
back.” She said, tickling him. William squirmed. Addie frowned, noticing his
dark suit. “But not exactly dressed for the occasion.” William raised his
eyebrows and shrugged. She began tugging on his tie, unbuttoning his shirt.
“We’ll have to change that.” Addie untied his shoes and removed them without
taking her eyes from his. She removed his socks and pants, leaving him in his
boxers. William watched her intently, the way she licked her lips unknowingly,
the little expressions she made.

Addison climbed on top of him; placing her hands on both sides of
his face, she searched his eyes. “Why so serious?

William smirked. “No reason.”

Addie sat back, crossing her arms. “Hmm. I’m not buying it.”

She ran her hand through the sand and looked towards the horizon.
“Someone wise once uttered those words to me, anyway.”