Several nights later, I wake up in a cold sweat, not really sure what day it is or even what time. All I know is I’ve got a raging boner, and I’m panting for breath. My body is reacting to the dream I was just having about Ronin. Specifically, Ronin tying me in a leather harness and leading me around his house by a chain. I can’t even say where the thought came from, but it has a rock-hard effect on me.

I reach for my shaft as I replay the dream one more time. Ronin clips a metal chain to my harness and begins pulling me around. The feel of the soft leather from the harness as it digs into my skin sends pulses through my body like I’ve never felt before. And the rush of blood coursing straight to my cock is amazing.

“Sit,” he commands, pushing me down onto the floor. He’s completely naked, and his thick shaft is pointed toward my face. “Open.”

I obey, all the while stroking my dick even more furiously as the scene plays out in my mind. Ronin shoves his cock between my awaiting lips and face-fucks me. Hard. His cock gags me with each thrust of his hips, but he doesn’t give me an opportunity to protest. I barely have time to catch my breath as he continues to force his way into me, allowing me the full pleasure and pain of tasting his massive girth.

Even though I’m awake, the memory of dream is so realistic it’s easy to forget he’s not really here. My breathing becomes shallow as I continue to stroke, and a knot forming in my core brings promise of the release I’m practically begging for. But behind my lids, I’m still sucking Ronin’s perfect cock as he pushes deeper and deeper down my throat.

Just when he’s ready to come, he grabs a handful of my hair and pulls my head onto him even more forcefully. The instant he releases into me, my own cock squirts a warm, creamy load across my abs and chest, hitting a nipple and even coming close to landing on my chin. It’s one of the best orgasms I’ve had alone, and a close second to those I had the night I was really with Ronin.

As the last of my release empties onto me, I smile in satisfaction. I don’t even bother cleaning myself off as I lay in quiet repose. How did this happen? When did I become a sub? It’s not something I’d ever thought about before and had certainly never acted on. All my sex prior to Ronin has been, well…regular.

But something about the way Ronin took control that night had my dick pointing straight to the ceiling. And ever since then, I can’t seem to shake my desire to please him. For the first time in my life I only care about his pleasure, truly unconcerned about my own. I just want to obey him, so he’ll be happy with me. Happy enough to take care of me.

Being controlled has suddenly taken on a new, mysterious meaning for me like never before. All I want to do is give myself over to Ronin and let him have his way with me. And I completely trust him not to take advantage of me. I’ve known from guys at The Vault that he was always kind and caring, no matter how matter how rough he got.

He’s obviously not mean or abusive, so releasing my power over myself to him has a weird effect on me. It allows me to escape from my reality, so I can exist in a world where I don’t have to know all the answers.

I’m not being called in a million different directions.

I don’t have to make the decisions.

All I have to do is obey.

So, I do.

And the reward at the end is more satisfying than I thought sex could ever be. I’ve watched plenty of BDSM scenes at The Vault to know what how good it can be for all participants, but I never really thought about what being a submissive to a man like Ronin truly meant.

Now that I’ve had a taste, I don’t ever want to go back.

Sex isn’t the end-all of this…whatever we call this thing we have together. Sex is just the icing on the cake, because as we spend more time together, I realize how much I really like who he is as a person. His calm demeanor outside the bedroom is like a safe harbor that my body naturally turns toward.

I can easily see myself falling for Ronin.

The thought of us going on a date and getting to know each other even deeper lulls me into a deep sleep. But at the edges of my consciousness, Ronin is pulling out a special toy and using it to whip me into submission, which keeps my cock stirring for most of the night.

Back at The Vault, I looked at every situation from a completely different perspective.

After just a few nights of submitting to Ronin in the bedroom and getting to know him better over dinner and wine, I’ve learned quite a bit about myself. The most painfully obvious thing being that I have a hero complex that forces me to try to fix everyone without thinking about how it might affect me. That same hero complex is also why the burdens I shoulder can get overwhelming until Ronin relieves me of their weight, allowing me to just be in the moment without anyone else’s problems weighing me down.

“Yeah, Tanner. Things are good here. Just enjoy your night. We’ve got things covered.”

“Are you sure? I can come back in.” I roll my eyes at the thought of Tanner coming back and putting in any more time at The Vault today. He’s practically been working himself to death with all the new guys he’s hired plus the fact that he’s expanded my team. A few of the guys are taking a little while to get the hang of things, but they’ll get there.

Roman, on the other hand, has caught on to his new role as bouncer and enforcer very well. I can’t get a read on whether he’s gay or not, but he doesn’t seem to mind being around half-naked men or walking in on guys fucking when he has to intervene on a situation.

He’s always professional and up for any task he’s assigned, which has made him a valuable asset to my team. As soon as Tanner and I feel like we’re ready to promote someone to second in command, Roman’s name will be at the top of my list. And the fact that his name is very similar to someone special in my life makes it even easier to remember.

“Don’t even think about it.” I check my watch to see what time it is. “Enjoy your night. I’ve got this.”

“But if…”

“Goodnight, Tanner.” I hang up the phone before he can protest any more. I wouldn’t normally hang up on my boss, but Tanner knows I have everything under control here. And he’ll be no good to me if he’s passed out from exhaustion. I lean back in my desk chair and think about Ronin. Our work schedules make it difficult for us to see each other as often as we’d like, but we text and talk several times a day. Usually, he’s giving me some kind of order or asking for an update on my sleep schedule. And I appreciate every bit of it because I know he’s doing it out of...care.

I pull out my phone and send off a quick text to say hello. He’s probably still at work, but since my shift just started, it’ll be difficult for me to talk when he gets home tonight, and I don’t want him to think I’ve forgotten about him.

To my pleasant surprise, there’s a text waiting for me. How about dinner tonight?

Sorry, I’m working tonight. I hate responding with a no because I really do want to see him. But he understands my nights are almost always booked.

It’s not like I don’t know where you work. When do you get a break? I’ll bring something by.

Now this is new. I’ve never had a guy willing to bring me dinner, especially at The Vault. Of course, most guys I’ve dated only know I’m a security guard and have no idea what The Vault really is.

Is eight too late?

Not at all. I’ll see you soon.

With the anticipation of Ronin coming by later to bring me dinner, my night has a sudden purpose. I want everything taken care of before he arrives, so I don’t have to deal with any interruptions when we sit down to eat together. It’s certainly a crafty way of getting to see each other despite our conflicting schedules, and the fact that he was determined to make it work gives me hope that he feels the same strong connection to me that I feel toward him.

I clean a few things off my desk, just in case. I don’t expect anything to happen but since we’ll have some privacy, it’s better to be prepared for anything. After I have things settled, I head out to the main floor to find Roman. He’s standing quietly in the corner near one of the dancing cages where Jason, one of the newer guys, is moving to the beat of the music playing over the speakers. Jason is wearing a string bikini bottom that barely holds his massive package in place. In just the short time that he’s been out on the floor, I’ve gotten several positive remarks about him. From what I’ve heard, he’s been topping some of our regular big bottoms and his tips have been record-breaking.

I haven’t had a talk with him about it, but the rumor is one guy left him a six-figure tip after a three-hour session.

Looking at Jason’s thin frame, you’d never know he was sporting a thick, ten-inch cock, but there’s no way to miss it tonight. Roman, however, doesn’t even seem to notice the huge cock that’s practically within tasting distance. I furrow my brow and study him for a second before moving in to say a quick hello and give him a rundown of the evening.

“Hey, boss. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, Roman. Things are good, I think. How’s everything looking out here?”

Roman scans the room and subtly points a finger at a guy across the room. “I’m watching that one. Nothing major happening yet, but he seems a bit out of place.”

I follow the direction Roman has indicated and notice the man he’s talking about. The client is a newbie but checked out okay. “Do you think he’s just nervous about the place? He told us he’s never been a member of a place like this before.”

“Maybe, but something in my gut tells me I need to watch him. It may be nothing...”

“Hey.” I clap a hand on Roman’s shoulder and give him a gentle shake. “Better safe than sorry. I know you’ll protect our guys. Follow your gut and keep an eye out. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Will do.” Roman continues to look around the room, watching for any unforeseen situation that might occur, but his eyes flick back to the man every so often. We definitely made a good choice hiring him.

The rest of the evening is quiet, so when Ronin comes in with Italian take-out, I’m ready to sit down with him and enjoy a nice meal. After calling Roman to let him know I’m going on my lunch break, I guide Ronin into my office.

“Hey.” As soon as I shut the door, he moves in for a quick kiss. It’s a sweet peck, but one that has my world spinning. “I hope you like Italian.”

“Have you seen me?” I curl my biceps then gesture to my muscular torso. “I adore anything pasta.”

Ronin quirks an eyebrow. “Yeah, I’ve seen you.” The lust behind his eyes has my face hot, and I have to remember that even though this place is a house of sex, I’m at work and need to maintain some form of decorum.

I pull out the boxes of food while Ronin cracks the tops on two bottles of water I’ve set out. “Are you fine with us sitting on the couch?” I nod toward a small sofa at the end of my office.

“Of course.” We carry our food and drinks to the coffee table and begin to eat.

“How’s your night going?” Ronin asks before digging into a cheesy bite of lasagna.

“It’s good. Better now that you’re here.” I wink at him, feeling a bit cheesy myself...like a boy with a crush.

“I’m glad I get to see you too. I knew you had to work tonight but since you have to eat, I figured it was a way to feed you while seeing you in person.”

“Oh?”

“Well...yeah. I mean, it’s been a few days since you came over. I just wanted to carve out some time to see you again.”

“Well, you found a way.” I waggle my eyebrows teasingly before taking a bite of my pasta.

“Yeah, I hope it’s okay.” Ronin looks a bit worried, like he’s being presumptuous. Not like the commanding master I know he can be.

“Absolutely. It’s perfect. I’ve been thinking about you... A lot, actually.”

“You have?” Ronin smiles, his curiosity definitely piqued.

“Well, yeah. You know...you’re kinda hard to forget.” I’m almost at a loss for words, but Ronin just continues to stare, daring me to speak the words aloud. “Fuck it. It was some of the best sex I’ve ever had. And I’m anxious to do it again.”

Ronin just smirks. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

I grip the back of my head and rub at the nape of my neck self-consciously. “God. Really?”

“Absolutely. I was just afraid of going too fast, so I’ve been trying to give you space. I don’t want to scare you off.”

“No...” I pause for a moment, taking a drink of the water in front of me before continuing. “Actually, it’s been great. I don’t know how to explain it, but I just... I really like not having to be in charge.” I run my hand down my face. “God, I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”

Ronin reaches out, grabbing my hand with his. I immediately lock eyes with him, and the soothing vibes he’s sending me are full of comfort. “I’m glad you feel like you can open up to me about it. From the sounds of it, you’ve got a lot on your plate. I want to help you forget about all of your responsibilities for even just a moment. If that’s working, then I’m ecstatic.”

“Yeah?” I ask, surprised by his selflessness.

“Absolutely. Besides, you don’t think I get a kick out of bossing a thick stud like you around?” He laughs then leans in for a quick kiss. “That’s erotic on its own.”

I smile at his candor, but I’m slightly distracted.

My thoughts are racing about everything that’s going on in my life. There are so many burdens for me to try to give to him. Does he really know what he’s signing up for?

Ronin catches on to my sudden change. “You know you can tell me anything.”

I take a deep breath and relax into the back of the sofa. “Things have just been hectic around here lately. I always seem to be pulled in a thousand directions at the same time. And if it’s not one of the clients being a problem, it’s one of the new employees who needs me for something or other. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s my job. But some days, it’s almost too much...you know?”

“Yeah.” Ronin gently rubs my hand. “Some days it’s like everything inside you is screaming to get out, but you have to hold it in.”

“Exactly.” I nod my head at his analogy.

“Why do you think I got a membership to The Vault?” he asks with a chuckle.

“Maybe we can make it so you don’t need it anymore...”

“Is that something you want?” he asks, his eyes glued to mine.

“Yes, if you want me.” I wink playfully even though I’m terrified by his response.

“You know I do.” His kiss says even more than his words, but both combined alleviate any doubt in my mind about Ronin’s interest in me.

I know he cares. I just don’t know what that fully means yet.