Training Amy (9 page)

            Once seated, Eric leaned toward her. “Face it, Amy; you’re clearly interested in a little more exploration. Maybe not as hands on. We could stop by the club later and have a drink.”

            “Like a bdsm club?” She could feel the terror run through her. She wasn’t sure she was quite ready for that.

            “Yes, but only as an observer and I’d keep you with me at all times and wouldn’t let you out of my sight,” he paused. “For education only, I promise.”

            She thought about a response before she answered. “Maybe. So you and your ex were both into the scene?”

            He nodded and took a drink from the iced tea in front of him.

            “So I overheard something about her and if I’m prying just tell me it’s none of my business,” she paused, remembering back to what the client from earlier had said to Brad. “She did something really bad to you, didn’t she?”

            Taking a deep breath he leaned toward her again. "I see you and Brad have been talking…”

            “Actually I overheard the customer who bought the cage say something to Brad about her and you,” she said. It wasn’t a lie, but she didn’t want him to know she had talked to Brad, too.

            “Such as?” He sat back with a raised eyebrow.

            “Well, I wasn’t straining to listen, he said it right in front of me,” she corrected, not liking the change in Eric’s posture. “He said something about being glad you had moved on from your ex and if a sub ever did to him what your ex did to you that he would have beat her ass until there were welts.”

            His expression softened. “Yeah, well, after we’d agreed to an exclusive relationship unless we were having a ménage with other mutually agreed upon partners, she decided to start having an affair behind my back. She was living with me, not working, we were exclusive and not even doing public scenes, and she started cheating on me with some young guy at the club. Let’s just say I found out about it almost immediately.  I confronted her about it and she lied to my face, so I left the store early one afternoon and followed her straight to his place…” His voice trailed.

            Amy didn’t know what to say.  “And?”

            “I knocked on the door, I was told to come in, I did, and they were already screwing and expecting another guy to join them evidently, because he showed up a few minutes later.”

            “Wow. What a bitch!” Amy started to feel guilty for asking. “And you said only people my age had drama.”

            “Touché. Anyway, obviously she couldn’t lie. I didn’t want to start a fight so I just told her it was over and she had until the following weekend to get out, and she starts running after me telling me how much she loves me.”  He shrugged as if trying to act like it wasn’t a big deal. “I was in love and blind.”

            “That really sucks. I’m sorry that happened to you. Some women can be bitches,” Amy said quietly. Then she wondered if that’s why Eric wanted to take her to the club. To show the ex that he’d moved on, too. “Does she still go to the club?”

            Another deep sigh emerged from his chest. “Unfortunately, yes. But we keep our distance and have done a pretty good job ignoring each other for almost a year now. Maybe it’s been a bit longer.”

            “Does she show up with guys just to flaunt them at you?”

            He chuckled. “You women all belong to the same club or something?”

            “What?”

            “How did you know she did that?”

            “Lucky guess. I have friends who’d do that sort of thing. So did you do the same?”

            A short span of silence passed between them. “No. I haven’t really been with anyone since.”

            “Not even dates?”

            “Not really. One or two dinner dates but not to the club,” he said in a subdued tone. “I kind of know what I’m looking for.”

            “Oh. Well maybe you
should
take me to the club then. You can show me off a little and I can satiate my curiosity. I bet I’m younger and prettier than she is,” Amy gave him her most brilliant flirtatious smile.

            He smiled back at her then said in a very sexy baritone, “That you are. Just don’t get too big for your britches or I’ll have to take you across my knee.”

            A rush of excitement ran through her. The thought of being draped over his knee and his hand smacking her ass made her tremble. Her panties were immediately moist. “Yeah, well, if I was in a relationship with a guy and we agreed it was exclusive, it would be. I’m ferociously loyal. Women like that give women a bad name,” she said with some venom. She was feeling very protective toward him right now - as silly as that sounded. It only reinforced what she already knew. She liked Eric a lot and even her initial shock and chagrin at being caged nude wasn’t enough to make her not want to be with him. Not to mention she had to admit that being caged really turned her on.

            They ate and continued talking, taking the conversation back to books and movies and their favorite hiking and camping spots. Once they’d finished dinner and found themselves back in the car Eric turned to her. “So do you really want to go check out the club?”

            She felt her chest tighten, but she wanted to go, if for no other reason to help Eric get back at his ex. “Yes, but only to observe and check it out, right?”

            “Yes.”

            “Am I dressed appropriately?” she asked carefully, looking down at her nice jeans, the black V-neck blouse and a pretty pair of strappy black leather sandals with a wedge heel. She’d even given herself a pedicure and manicure with a deep maroon polish in anticipation of their date that wasn’t really a date. Oh who was she kidding, it was a date.

            He let out a laugh. “Personally I like short skirts, but yeah, for someone who isn’t participating you’re dressed fine.”

            Making a mental note that he liked short skirts she asked, “Any protocol I should observe?”

            “I’m glad you asked,” he said in a suddenly serious way. “Don’t look anyone in the eye. It’s bad form for a sub to look at a Dom. Also, don’t talk to anyone unless I say it’s okay. Stay with me at all times, and if anyone touches you or talks to you without my permission you need to let me know. That’s not allowed.”

            “So possessiveness is encouraged?” That seemed really strange to her.

            “Well, you have to remember that most people are there to play. For singles, it’s fine because the subs and Doms both know what they’re there for. But
you just want to observe.
So by pretending to be mine, you stave off Doms looking for subs and you also keep at bay people who want a play partner.  There are also some inexperienced Doms who think any sub they talk to or who talks to them should immediately call them Sir or Master and bend to their will. But there are also dungeon monitors who are there for everyone’s safety. If for any reason we get separated and you don’t know what to do, find one of the guys wearing the red arm band and tell them you’re with me and that we got separated and they’ll get you back to me safe and sound.”

            She took in the information. “I am going to need a drink. Maybe a glass of wine.”

            “I’ll make sure that’s the first thing you get,” he assured her.

            They drove in silence, the anticipation building. It seemed to take forever. She noticed Eric glancing over at her every few minutes. When they pulled into the parking lot there were a few people milling about. “You really want to go in?”

            Drawing in a deep breath she looked at the neon sign that announced to all that this place was called
The Black Lily
.  “Yes,” she whispered.

            They got out of the car and she stepped up next to Eric, who took her hand into his. “Just hold my hand. You must be really freaked out, you’re trembling.”

            “Just nervous,” she admitted.

            “Well, take a few deep breaths,” he said, carefully leading her across the parking lot to the front door. There were two huge guys standing guard there.

            “Eric!” the bald guy greeted. He looked Amy up and down. “Nice to see you back, man.”

            “You saw me earlier this week,” Eric told him.

            “No man,” he nodded toward Amy. “Back.”

            “Yeah, thanks.”

            “Oh by the by, buddy, Emily’s here,” he called after them as they passed over the threshold into the darkness beyond.

            Amy felt Eric’s hand tighten around hers. “Ow,” she whispered.

            He loosened his grip and gently pulled her close to him as they made their way past the ticket window with a nod to the woman behind the glass, down a hallway, and into the club beyond. “Sorry, just tensed up,” he whispered in her ear.

            Amy’s mind raced. So the ex, Emily, was there. She wondered if he’d point her out. It would be fucked up for her to ask so she didn’t. Just then her thoughts subsided and she focused on what was going on around her. To say people dressed the part was an understatement. The forward part of the bar was just that, a bar. But a lot of women were dressed scantily and they even passed a man wearing nothing but a G-string. There were large round metal cages next to the walls. A few them were occupied by women wearing ball gags and with their hands bound behind their backs. A cold terror ran through her and she clutched at Eric.

            He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and they sat down at one of the tables. Leaning into her he whispered into her ear. “Don’t worry. No one is going to do anything to you here.” For a moment he pressed his lips into her hair and breathed in deeply.

            She held his hand and kept her eyes downcast.

            “What can I get for you, Sir?”

            “A glass of Chardonnay for the lady and I’ll have a Guinness. Thanks, Mel. Tell Brian to make the glass of wine a big one. Long day,” Eric said. He took his hand from Amy’s and draped his arm over her shoulders, pulling her to him.

            Needing something to hang onto, she put her left hand on his thigh and her right hand on his chest.

            “Be careful,” he whispered.

            “Why,” she asked.

            “I don’t know how long I can handle being this close to you,” he said in a low growl.

            That’s when she realized his cock was straining in his black jeans only a few inches from her hand. It was so tempting to slide her hand up to feel it through the thick fabric.  She refrained, pressing her thighs together to stop the tingling sensation between them. Pulling away from him, she made herself comfortable on the bar table stool and leaned on the table.

            Two men approached the table. She only glanced at them, didn’t make eye contact, and looked at her hands.

            “Hey Eric. You going into the back tonight?” the shorter man with black hair graying at the temples asked. He was wearing a red arm band.

            Eric shrugged. “Don’t know yet. Depends if Amy is feeling adventurous enough to check it out.”

            The taller guy with blond hair cropped short said, “First timer?”

            She noticed he was wearing one of the red arm bands, too. She wondered why they weren’t in the dungeon monitoring.

            Eric nodded and ran his hand down her back. “Just checking things out. Relaxing after a long day.”

            “Well, we’re on break, but maybe we’ll see you guys in the back later.” With that, both men moved through the crowd, past the bar into a door that said Employees Only.