Bound by Consent (13 page)

My orgasm, when it came, was muted but powerful enough to rock my world. Almost simultaneously, Cassie ground her lower body hard against mine, her limbs trembling as her own climax raged apace.

A feeling of total contentment washed over me. Even had I not been pinned to the bed by Cassie’s weight resting on me, I couldn’t have moved a muscle. Enveloped in post sex lethargy I dozed, we probably both did, until Cassie shook me gently awake.

“Time to move, honey.”

I stretched, and groaned, my body protesting with the effects of our recent sexual exploits.

Do I have to?

“Come on, honey.” Cassie snickered. As if she read the unspoken question in my eyes. “After all that exercise I’m hungry for my dinner.”

We showered together. The act of washing each other adding to and extending the pleasure of our new found intimacy. The need to give rather than take overwhelmed me. I dropped to my knees and worshiped Cassie with my tongue. Water cascaded over my back. She widened her stance to give me better access. Then she placed her hands on the back of my head and pushed my face into her sex. I lapped and sucked until she bucked against me, shouting my name as she climaxed; squirting a burst of hot cum onto my tongue.

Cassie pulled me to my feet and pushed me back against the tiled wall trapping me with her solid body. Then she bent her head and kissed me hard, forcing my lips apart and swirling her tongue around my mouth.

Suddenly Cassie pulled back from the kiss, and released me. “Get yourself dressed,” she said, slapping me playfully across the ass as I moved toward the bedroom in search of a towel.

I’d learned a lot from the fashion industry over the years, not least the art of making a quick change. From a standing start, like today, I could achieve the full transformation in a little over fifteen minutes.

Cassie hadn’t said where she was taking me to dinner so it was a pleasant surprise to discover that Cassie, a confirmed carnivore, had taken account of my tastes and booked us into a restaurant that specialized in seafood with not a single item of red meat on the menu. Our table on the outside terrace was perfect. Subdued lighting with candles in beautiful fluted glass shades that protected the flame from a breeze, a stunning view over a small water garden and soft music all added to the romantic ambience.

We shared a small mixed seafood platter. Oysters, scallops, crab legs, lobster, and baby squid sat alongside succulent shrimps, slivers of raw tuna, and fingers of salmon all garnished with wedges of lemon. Bowls of mayonnaise and an oriental dipping sauce completed the dish. I say shared, but all Cassie actually did was pick at the lobster and the shrimps, leaving most of the rest to me.

While we waited on the main course I brought up something that was puzzling me. “How did you and Célestin get onto the subject of bondage? I’d never have known she was into anything like that if you hadn’t drawn it out of her.”

Cassie smiled. “She was easy to read. I dropped a subtle hint and she hooked onto it instantly. The look in her eyes gave the game away.”

“Fair enough...” I sighed, now more confused by what she hadn’t said. What line of subtly got the sort of reaction she wanted? “The bit I don’t get is what prompted you to drop a hint in the first place or do you do it with everybody you meet?”

“Not everybody, no, but more often than not I slip a little something into the conversation just out of curiosity.” Her lips twitched with the makings of a smile. “You’d be surprised how many people take the bait.”

“Really?” I shook my head in amazement. I couldn’t believe she had the nerve to bring up the subject with a total stranger but that was what set Cassie and myself apart. She oozed confidence. Her commanding presence meant people didn’t question her authority or her right to pose probing questions. I’d die of embarrassment before broaching half the subjects she did.

“Yes, really.” Cassie put heavy emphasis on her response, although the tables were far enough apart to allow for private conversation, she had dropped her voice to a loud whisper. “Of course, not everyone who responds is into the serious stuff. Most people are a little turned on by the idea of being tied up. There is a lot of fiction about right now that plays to the mindset of the furry handcuffs brigade but as you already know that sort of titillation bears no relationship to the lifestyle. There’s a big difference between people who are looking to spice up their boring sex lives with what they see as naughty kink and people like us who get the whole lifestyle angle.

“I’m not sure I do get
it
anymore.” I expelled a sigh. “I thought I did. Sasha talked me through the basics before Esmée came along and trashed everything. You have helped me to understand the difference between abuse and freedom of choice. Unfortunately though, your help has simply revealed gaping holes in what I thought I knew...both about myself and about being a submissive.”

“You’re doing great, honey.” Cassie covered my hand with hers. Her index finger moving in small circles on my wrist calmed my rising agitation. “It’ll all fall into place again given time. We can work on the detail bit by bit until you feel comfortable with everything. This isn’t a race against the clock, we can take as long as necessary. The main thing to remember is that I want you to find the experience stimulating both emotionally and physically. And for it to make a real difference to your life.

“That sounds good to me.”

The conversation was halted by the arrival of our main course. Cassie had followed my lead in choosing a fillet of salmon cooked
en papillote
with ginger, chilli, scallion, honey, and soy. The fish was served with rice and a selection of steamed baby vegetables.

Cassie lifted the first forkful of fish to her mouth cautiously, frowning slightly as if unsure of the taste, then she nodded. “Mmm, This is really good. I can see now why you like fish so much.”

“It’s more that I’m not keen on red meat – steak in particular.” I took a sip of the excellent Riesling Cassie had selected to go with our meal. “I do eat meat occasionally, and poultry too.”

Cassie nodded, as if she understood where I was coming from. “With me it’s ingrown, until now, a total rejection of anything with scales and fins. I had a bad experience with fish when I was young and it’s stuck with me ever since.” She took another bite. “However, this is absolutely delicious. I can see you’ll have to educate my palate and I’ll do the same with you. Have you tried venison?”

“No.” I shuddered. “Poor Bambi.”

Cassie’s loud snort drew immediate attention from the other diners. She shook her head and lowered her voice. “That’s a very shortsighted reaction. The production of venison for the table has nothing to do with cute little fawns being preyed upon by evil hunters with guns. Responsible landowners cull the wild deer to keep the numbers balanced, so there is enough natural food to see the remainder through the harsh winter months.”

“I’d never thought about it in those terms before.” I was somewhat taken aback by her vehement response.

“It’s a simple enough equation: too many deer per acre means none of them have enough to eat and then a lot more perish both from the cold and starvation. Besides which, nowadays most of the venison produced for the table is from farmed deer, just like sheep and cattle. Farming makes perfect sense if you want to ensure the quality of the end product.”

“Oh, I never realized you could farm deer.”

“Indeed you can.” Cassie topped up our wine glasses. “Hark at me, I didn’t bring you out for a romantic meal to lecture you.”

“You weren’t lecturing,” I quickly reassured her. “My reaction was based on false sentimentality. Besides, I’m all in favor of sustainability. Many types of fish are farmed for that reason.”

“See, that proves my point, there really isn’t any difference when you think about it.” She grinned and returned to her meal.

I put my fork down on an empty plate a few seconds before Cassie did the same.

“That was really good.” Cassie folded her napkin neatly and placed it on the table “The flavors blended so well and I liked the way they presented the vegetables.”

“Me too.” I smiled. “I must recreate that dish at home. Are you game to try my version?”

Cassie nodded. “Only if I can tempt you into trying something too. I’m thinking I might use those ingredients as a marinade with venison steak. Although I’d probably swap the soy for whisky to complement the cranachan I’d serve for dessert.”

“Cran-a-kan?” I stumbled over the unfamiliar word.

“Near enough.” Cassie laughed. “A traditional Scottish dessert containing raspberries, cream, honey, whisky and toasted oatmeal.”

“You’re on. How can I possibly refuse such a tempting menu?”

Cassie frowned like she wasn’t sure if I was being facetious. “Anyway...” She fixed me with a penetrating gaze. “Tell me a bit more about Célestin. How long have you known her? What’s her history?”

“A little over ten years. She has a lot of experience in the haute couture field. Latterly, she worked for Hervé as his première vendeuse before setting up her own label just over three years ago.”

“Does she have a partner?”

I shook my head. “Not currently, at least as far as I’m aware she doesn’t, I’m not that close to her socially. There have been a couple of relationships in the past but none of them lasted more than a few months. Célestin is a sexual butterfly. She likes variety – one nighter's, and the sort of ephemeral passionate affairs one finds in a constantly fluctuating society. With several big fashion shows each year, plus quite a few smaller events, she gets to travel a lot and to take her pick from a wide selection of the available talent.

“Interesting... Have you and she ever...?” Cassie quirked her brow interrogatively.

“No, we haven’t.” I snickered, finding the idea of Célestin and me having a sexual fling amusing to say the least. We were oil and water when it came to sexual attraction. “I don’t register anywhere on her gaydar meter or her on mine. Célestin has a predilection for the more androgynous models and also for butch types, like you, so you’d better watch your step. I imagine you’re ringing the ten bell with her... As you did with me.”

Crap!

I regretted that last bit the second it left my lips. The admission was a little too revealing.

“Ten eh? Thank you, honey, that is very gratifying.” A dark flush swept across Cassie’s face and then faded in an instant. “Perhaps I should mention here that while Célestin is welcome to visit the dungeon for some serious play, I’m not available to her on a sexual level.” Cassie winked. “That place my bed is taken, permanently.”

“Oh, yes, I see...” Heat suffused my face. This was the first time Cassie had made a clear distinction between what happened in the dungeon and in real life. It brought home to me how little I actually knew about her life and what made her tick. With everything else going on, since our reunion, we’d hardly had time to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s. It was one thing to talk about the dungeon as if it were a normal workplace but a totally different thing to face up to the reality of what went on. I didn’t know how I would feel when the time came for Cassie to have a client or whatever she called the folks who came to use her services. However, tension churned in my stomach, if we were to have a successful relationship I would have to come to terms with that aspect of her life.

“Just an idea, honey... I know you and I still have some serious talking to do about that side of our relationship. How do you feel, in principle, about the three of us getting together in the dungeon sometime? Nothing heavy, a little light bondage to test the waters. It might help you to understand the difference between my public and private persona.”

“I like Célestin a lot but...” The idea of a threesome with Célestin was a bit beyond my comfort zone. The intimacy of being naked and vulnerable didn’t sit alongside the strictly business relationship we shared.

“That’s fine, honey. I don’t want to rush you into anything... I can do Célestin on her own if it makes you uncomfortable. Or, providing she agrees, you could maybe sit in and observe.”

“I think I’d like that better.”

“Okay, honey.” She raised my hand to her lips and kissed the tips of my fingers. “One step at a time. Whatever makes you happy. Now how about we order some dessert?”

Cassie studied the dessert menu intently before she selected two fancy chocolate confections without consulting me first. My raised eyebrow caught her eye and she grinned sheepishly. “I’m celebrating. Okay! These are both for me. I know you don’t care for rich desserts. How about I order you a plate of fruit?”

“Yes, please. Fruit would be good.”

Later, we sauntered back to the hotel along the narrow streets. Cassie kept me close, with her arm around my waist, as we mingled with the crowds of tourists most of them gawping at the scantily clad girls who posed in lighted windows.

We turned into another street, leaving the crowds behind as we headed for the hotel. The darkness gave me confidence to raise a new topic. “I think I’d like to know a bit more about rope play.”

Cassie’s stride faltered fractionally. “What brought that on, honey?”

“This business with Célestin, I suppose. You were both so enthused in your discussion on rope play, it caught my interest although the topic has been on my mind for quite a while. After what happened in the club I was a mess, but something about the way those bitches tied me up struck a chord in my mind...”

“Go on,” Cassie prompted.

I hesitated, waiting until we’d entered the hotel and crossed the lobby to the elevator before I continued.

“I just thought you might explain some of the simple but effective ways to use ropes in play. I’ve not had any experience in that field. Sasha always uses handcuffs, Esmée did too, apart from that one time when she and Marisa kidnapped me and what those two did to me that night could never be described as play...” A shiver trickled down my spine and I drew a shaky breath into my lungs.

Will I ever get the memory of what happened at Out of Bounds into perspective?