Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Leaning close to Travis, Lia murmured, “I’m gonna call it a night. You cool with that? I’ll take one of those Ubers they have lined up outside.”
He turned to her, his ingrained sense of gentlemanly duty clearly warring with his desire to pursue Nicole. “I can take you home. It’s no problem,” he said unconvincingly.
“Don’t be an idiot,” Lia retorted, grinning. “I’m just the wingman, remember?” She nudged him playfully, adding in a stage whisper, “Go on. Ask her to dance. You know you’re dying to.”
He grinned back and shrugged. Turning his attention to Nicole, he asked, “Would you care to dance?”
As the two moved onto the dance floor, Lia pushed back from the table and reached for her bag, which she’d left on the back of the chair. As if on cue, her cell phone pinged. Unzipping the bag, she pulled it out and looked at the screen. Lucia, finally.
Hey, chica. I have a little free time now. Can you chat?
Lia thumbed back:
Perfect timing. What’s your exciting news??
Hopefully, whatever it was involved whips and chains.
We’re hosting a full-scale impact toy event this coming Saturday and Sunday. We have top whip makers coming to sell their gear, and there will be stations set up around the main dungeon for hands-on demonstrations. Master Anthony and I would love it if you could participate as a demo volunteer the first evening. If you’re interested, I can give you all the details.
A thrill of excitement shivered up Lia’s spine. The invite definitely sounded like something right up her masochistic alley. Though she’d flunked out of training 101, she still missed the intensity of experience she’d enjoyed at The Enclave. Yet she hesitated, not entirely sure how she felt about showing her face again after the way she’d basically run away.
Because The Enclave was a private BDSM community, there were none of the restrictions of a public club. Edge play of all varieties was permitted. During her brief tenure as a slave trainee, Lia had reveled in the freedom of no limits. But it wasn’t long before the honeymoon ended.
She’d chafed at the submissive requirements of the program, unable or unwilling to subjugate her will to suit the whims of her trainers. She’d spent more time in the punishment cage than anywhere else, nearly always in disgrace.
She’d been forced to face the bleak realization that she just wasn’t cut out for true submission, or the serenity it seemed to bring to The Enclave slaves. Maybe all she was built for was the rough stuff, without the nuance. Or the love…
Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but why me? It’s not like you have a shortage of subs there. Won’t it be weird for me to come back there, after the way I fucked things up so royally?
It took a while for Lucia’s response to arrive, the undulating dots indicating she was typing. Finally, it appeared on Lia’s screen.
Master Anthony and I both agree you’d be an excellent volunteer. Danielle will also be participating. The rest of us staff slaves are going to be busy with the invited guests and vendors. You would definitely be an asset. And just to be clear: you didn’t fuck anything up. I’ve told you that before and I’ll keep telling you until I can convince you. Master Anthony and I were not happy with how things ended for you here. We should have figured out a better way to reach your inner submissive, and that’s on us.
Though Lia knew Lucia meant well, this stark reminder of her failure to elevate her own BDSM experience from mere impact play to something sublime made her groan aloud with regret and frustration.
As if reading her thoughts, another text appeared on the heels of the first.
I’m just saying we don’t see your leaving as a failure on your part, but more on ours. Which brings me to a related topic. Master Mark has a friend who recently relocated to Asheville for his work. The Masters are looking to expand some of our programs here at The Enclave, and he’s going to be working with us as a part-time trainer. Between you and me, the guy is super-hot and he’s single. You never know…
Lia snorted as she thumbed back:
OMG. Not another matchmaker, please. My mom is bad enough! But, yes, I’ll definitely come for the weekend. It sounds awesome.
Yay! So glad you’re coming. I’ll let Master Anthony know, and we’ll send you all the details. Love you!
Lia replied with a series of heart emojis.
As she slipped her phone back into her bag and stood to leave, she saw Travis still on the dance floor, Nicole wrapped around him like white on rice. His handsome cousin was nowhere in sight, which was just as well.
Without a backward glance, she left the Biltmore. She flagged down one of the Uber drivers. She’d make a quick stop at home to change and grab her gear bag, and then head to The Garden. A good, hard flogging would whip that guy right out of her head.