“Are you nervous?”

“Terrified,” Amy admitted as they approached the large stone house.  It was Friday night and she gave Valerie a nervous look before studying the house again.  She decided that house wasn’t exactly the right word – mansion was more appropriate.

“Don’t be,” Valerie said.  “I told you – it’ll be an amazing experience.  You won’t regret it.”

“This isn’t exactly my thing,” Amy said.

“How do you know?  You’ve never tried it before,” Valerie countered.  “Besides, you’re the one who told me you wanted to try it, remember?”

“I remember.”  A decision she was starting to regret as Valerie rang the doorbell.

It opened almost immediately, and Amy wondered if her jaw could actually hit the ground if she tried a little harder.  The man who opened the door was wearing a bowtie around his neck and a pair of very tight and revealing shorts and nothing else.  His body was amazing, all hard muscles and tanned skin, and she swallowed as he smiled at Valerie.

“Welcome back, Miss Valerie.”

“Thank you, Josh.”

“Come in, please.”

Amy followed Valerie into the house.  It opened into a giant foyer with marble floors and cold white walls.  A few women and men were wandering the room and Amy suddenly felt extremely overdressed in her winter jacket and jeans.

“Come on, doll.”  Valerie had a small grin on her face and she took Amy’s hand and led her toward a desk that was tucked into one corner.  A woman wearing a bustier and short leather skirt was behind the desk and she looked up from the computer with a smile.

“Hello, Valerie.”

“Hi, Angie.”

The woman typed something into the computer before handing them two plain white key cards.  “You’re in rooms 234 and 235.  Up the stairs and to the left.  Enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you,” Valerie said.  Still holding Amy’s hand, she walked toward the grand staircase that dominated the foyer.  Amy followed her up the stairs, holding her small suitcase in one hand as she studied her surroundings.

The place was lushly decorated and the thick carpet in the upstairs hallway muffled their footsteps as they walked to their rooms. 

“What do you think?”  Valerie asked as they stopped in front of a door marked with a small metal plaque that had the numbers 234 etched into it.

“There are fewer chains and whips than I thought,” Amy said.

Valerie giggled.  “Those are downstairs.  Upstairs is pure decadence.”

“It should be for the amount of money it costs to rent a room here,” Amy said.

“Please, you’re a friggin millionaire, you can afford it.  Besides, it’ll be worth it.  Trust me.”

Valerie opened the door using the key card.  “Come into my room for a minute.”

“Wow, this is nice,” Amy said as she studied the large room with the king bed. 

“I splurged and booked us the nicer rooms,” Valerie said.  She set her suitcase down and sat on the bed, running her hand over the thick duvet.  “God, I’m so glad to be here.”

“How often do you come here?”  Amy asked.

“About twice a month.  If I could, I’d be here every weekend,” Valerie replied.

“Does your dad know this is how you’re spending your trust fund?”

“Hell, no!”  Valerie said with a laugh.  “Can you imagine what he’d say and do if he knew his little girl was a kink addict?”

“Is that what we are?”  Amy asked with a grimace.

“It’s what I am,” Valerie clarified.  “You’re just trying a new experience.  That you’re going to love,” she added with an impish grin.

“I’m not sure about that,” Amy said.

Valerie shrugged.  “Sweetie, you told me yourself that you liked being held down during sex.  Liked it a lot.  Don’t you think it’s worth the time to see if you wouldn’t like more?  There’s nothing wrong with being submissive.”

Amy blushed.  A few weeks ago, after too much wine, she had confessed to Valerie her secret enjoyment of being dominated during sex, as well as her deepest fantasy.  Valerie was thrilled with her admittance.  Amy was completely blown away by her best friend’s immediate admission that she was a card-carrying member of a BDSM club called “Secrets”.  She’d had instantaneous visions of a dungeon-type atmosphere filled with scantily-clad women and men carrying whips.  But after nearly two hours of more wine and talking, Valerie had convinced her that “Secrets” was nothing like she was picturing.

“Ames, if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.  You know that, right?”  Valerie was giving her a serious look.

“I know.  I want to try it, I’m just nervous,” Amy said.

“I know you are.  Which is why I’ve booked you a special treat tonight.”

“What do you mean?”  Amy said.

“Well,” Valerie said delicately, “I don’t think you’re ready to just wander the floor and find a Dom to claim you for the night.  So, I booked you in with one of the Dom’s in a private room.”

Amy’s eyes widened.  “You did what?”

“Don’t freak out,” Valerie said.  “It’s a good thing, I promise.  He knows you’re a newbie and exactly what you’re looking for.  He won’t go further than what you’re comfortable with, and if he does, you can safe word and he’ll stop immediately.”

“You told him!”  Amy dropped her suitcase on the floor and collapsed on the bed next to Valerie.  Boldened by the wine, she had told Valerie exactly the type of experience she was looking for, but she had never imagined that Valerie would tell someone else.

“Honey, of course I did,” Valerie said.  “They can’t give you what you want if they don’t know exactly what you want.”

“He’s going to think I’m a freak,” Amy said.

Valerie burst into laughter.  “Are you kidding me?  Being blindfolded, restrained and having sex with an anonymous stranger doesn’t even crack the top fifty of freaky requests at this place.”

Amy blushed furiously.  Having Valerie talk about her deepest fantasy with such candor was making her feel both embarrassed and relieved.  Being told she wasn’t a freak was oddly comforting, especially after the disaster with her last boyfriend.

“I know what you’re thinking, Ames, and stop it.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Of course I do.  I’m your best friend.  Tom’s reaction to your request was stupid and childish.”

Amy closed her eyes as Valerie patted her leg.  “He said I was sick, Valerie.  He said that only women with psychological issues had – had rape fantasies.”

Her cheeks were hot, and she felt a little sick to her stomach.  Even saying the words sent shame spiraling through her.

“Amy, look at me.”  Valerie cupped her face and squeezed gently.  “I know I told you this the other night but I’m going to tell you again.  Asking your boyfriend to blindfold you, tie you to the bed and pretend to be a stranger while he’s fucking you, is not a rape fantasy.  Do you understand?”

Amy nodded as Valerie stroked her blonde hair.  “Wanting to be dominated in bed, wanting to be restrained and held down during sex - hell, wanting to have your ass spanked or wondering what it would be like to be in a master/slave relationship – does not equate to a rape fantasy.  Don’t let some misinformed asshole try and convince you it is.  Okay?”

“Okay,” Amy said.

“One other thing – even if you did have a rape fantasy, that doesn’t make you sick either.  Understand?”

“Yes,” Amy said.

“Good.  Besides, I know of like twenty women alone who have fantasized about having sex with a total stranger.  It’s a common one, Ames.  I’ll be right back.  I’ve got to pee like you wouldn’t believe.”

Amy studied the duvet as she silently thanked God that the wine wasn’t enough to completely loosen her inhibitions that night.  Yes, she had told Valerie about her fantasy to be fucked by a stranger but if she knew the second part of it…

You mean the true part of it.

She tried to ignore her inner voice as Valerie stood and walked to the bathroom, but it refused to be quiet.

You don’t want to be fucked by a stranger.  You want to be fucked by your brother’s best friend.  Do you really think sleeping with a stranger is the answer to your wish?

The fucked-up thing was – she really did.  Being tied down was a kink of its own, she supposed, but asking Tom to blindfold her and pretend to be a stranger was just her way of pretending it was Mark.  If she couldn’t see Tom, if he stayed quiet and just fucked her, she could sink much more easily into her fantasy that it was Mark between her legs and not him.

She groaned to herself.  God, she was awful.  Tom was a perfectly good guy and she was horrible for trying to pretend he was Mark.  She needed to grow up and face reality.  Every boyfriend she’d had since she was nineteen was nothing more than a poor substitute for Mark.

She couldn’t keep doing that to the nice guys she dated.  It wasn’t fair to them and it really did make her feel horrible.  But having sex with an actual stranger and pretending it was Mark… well, that wasn’t such a bad thing.  Was it?

“Can I give you a piece of advice?”  Valerie had returned from the bathroom and she sat next to Amy again.  “Don’t overthink any of this.  Just relax and enjoy the experience tonight, okay?  Tomorrow night, if you’re interested in trying other things, we can walk the floor.  You’ll find a Dom that’s the right fit for you.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because this place is amazing, Ames,” Valerie replied.  “The Doms here are very, very good at what they do.  It’s a safe place.  There are cameras monitoring everything and everyone, and they’re diligent about being certain that everyone’s experience is safe, sane, and consensual.  Now, we have a few hours before we go downstairs.  I’m going to have a hot bath and I suggest you go to your room and do the same.  Tonight will be a fantastic experience.  I promise, doll.”

“Okay, but can I ask you a quick question?”  Amy asked.

“Sure,” Valerie said as she started to unpack her suitcase.

“We’ve been best friends since high school.  Why haven’t you ever told me you like this sort of thing?  If there’s nothing wrong with it, why keep it a secret from me?”

Valerie studied her for a moment.  “I wanted to tell you, but I was worried.”

“About what?”

“Well, and don’t take this the wrong way, but you give off a serious ‘missionary only type of girl’ vibe.  Your friendship is important to me and I didn’t want it to end just because I like a little kink in the bedroom.”

“I’m sorry,” Amy said.

“For what?”  Valerie asked.

“That you thought I would stop being your friend over something like this.  I obviously come across as a jerk about certain things.”

“You don’t.  This is just my own insecurity rearing its ugly head.  I adore you and can’t imagine my life without you.”

“Same here,” Amy said.  “I’m glad we can, uh, share this type of experience.”

“Whoa, that’s a whole other kink,” Valerie said.

Amy blushed furiously, and Valerie laughed.  “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

“Are you into girls?”  Amy asked.

“I’ve been dominated a few times by female Dommes but I prefer the male ones,” Valerie said.  “I’ve also done a couple of threesomes but who hasn’t, right?”

“Uh, right,” Amy said.

Valerie grinned at her.  “Go on, doll.  Have a bath and relax.”

 

* * *

 

“I’m breathing.”

“Not enough,” Valerie said as the elevator doors opened.

They stepped out into a small room with white walls.  A man was standing beside a door and Valerie smiled at him.  “Just give us a minute.”

He nodded, and Valerie led Amy to the far corner.  “Take a couple deep breaths, babe.”

She breathed deeply before smiling tentatively.  “I’m good.”

“Better than good,” Valerie said.  “You’re about to have the best experience of your life.”

“Right.  Are you sure I look okay?”

“No.  You look fucking amazing.”  Valerie eyed her dress before letting her gaze linger on Amy’s breasts.  “God, I wish I had your tits.”

“Be thirty pounds overweight and you can have them too!”  Amy said brightly.

“Men love your curves and you know it.”

“Yeah, they really do,” Amy said, and Valerie laughed.

“There’s my Amy.  C’mon, doll, let’s go and get you laid by a total stranger.”

They approached the man standing at the door and Valerie held out her arm.  A plastic blue wristband was around her slender wrist and the man scanned it before turning to Amy.  Amy held her own arm out.  Her waistband was green, and she had found it on the nightstand in her room.  Valerie had explained that the wristbands were required to enter the lower area of the club and that the colour represented her experience in the BDSM world.  Green was for a complete novice and she was a little embarrassed by it.  The man scanned her bracelet without saying anything, then opened the door and ushered them through the doorway.

Amy stopped immediately and tried to keep a blasé look on her face.  Scantily-clad women and men filled the room and her eyes widened when a woman wearing leather pants and a leather bustier walked by.  She had a leash in her hand that was clipped to the collar of a man wearing just a pair of tight jean shorts.

It was a large room – large enough that she couldn’t see the far end of it through the people milling around – and it was painted a dark red.  Dim light shone from sconces hung on the wall, and there were a series of hallways that broke off from the main room.

“What’s going on over there?”  Amy whispered to Valerie.

There were about seven rows of chairs set up in front of a small stage.  Dark curtains were drawn across the stage, but the chairs were already nearly full.  Each chair had a cushion beside it and she watched as a blond-haired man sat down.  A slender woman wearing a collar and a gorgeous form-fitting dark green dress knelt gracefully on the cushion next to the chair.  The man smiled at her and petted her dark hair before gently pushing her head to his thigh.  She rested her cheek against his leg and stared adoringly at him as he spoke with the man sitting next to him.

“They’re setting up for the show,” Valerie said.

“Show?”

Valerie nodded.  “They do some public performances.”

“Public performances of what?”

“Depends.  I think tonight there’s a flogging and a forced orgasm scene.”

Amy’s eyes widened.  “Flogging?”

Valerie squeezed her arm.  “Stay calm, doll.  Remember, everything that happens here is consensual.”

The dull sound of a paddle hitting flesh and a sharp squeal of pain came from their left.  Amy turned, her hand gripping Valerie’s as she stared at the scene.  A man, his pale skin glowing in the dim light, was straddling a bench.  His chest and stomach rested against the padded upper part of the bench.  His arms and legs were placed on the padded arm and leg rests screwed into the sides of the wooden bench.  Leather straps were attached just above the rests and they were wrapped around his upper thighs and biceps, holding him firmly in place.

As they watched, a woman wearing a beaded mask and a short red dress, spanked him on the right ass cheek with a wooden paddle.  The man jerked and cried out then moaned happily when the woman rubbed his red cheek.

“It’s called a spanking bench,” Valerie murmured into her ear.

“H-have you ever tried it?”  Amy asked.

Valerie nodded.  “Yes, but not in public.  I always ask my chosen Dom to take me to a private room.”

Amy barely heard her.  She watched in fascination as the woman set the paddle on a small table before slapping the man’s ass repeatedly with her right hand.  The man was moaning in pain but the look of pure bliss on his face was undeniable.

She wondered what it would be like to be strapped to a bench like that.  To be vulnerable and helpless while a man spanked her.  As the woman gave the man a particularly vicious slap and the man squealed loudly, Amy decided it wasn’t for her.  She wanted to give up some control but not like that.

What if it was Mark doing the spanking?

The errant thought sent an almost painful cramp of pleasure deep in her belly.  She made herself look away from the spanking scene.  Mark was the most easy-going man she knew.  He wasn’t a pushover, but he was always willing to accommodate and compromise both in his work life and personal life.  Pretending he was a Dom and pretending he would like to spank her was utterly ridiculous.  A man like Mark wouldn’t set foot in a place like this and just the thought of him finding out that she did, made her cringe.  Despite Valerie’s assurances, she was still feeling very much like a freak.  She’d die before she’d ever let Mark know that she liked the idea of being dominated.

An image of Mark hovering over her, of his hands clamping around her wrists and holding her still as he pushed between her thighs flickered through her.  It sent more pleasure pulsing through her belly and a ridiculous desire to giggle.  The thought of sweet, gentle Mark ever holding her down and forcing her to take his cock was so absurd it bordered on surreal. 

Still, if it meant having Mark in her bed, she’d gladly give up all of her own timid desires to be dominated.  She liked the idea of it, but she wanted Mark.  Wanted him exactly as he was – sweet and kind and undoubtedly amazing in bed but not dominant.  Not him.

Valerie was pulling on her hand.  She wanted to take a quick walk through the room – her initial shock was wearing off and she was fascinated by everything – but Valerie led her to the first hallway.

A woman, holding a tablet in one hand, was standing at the entrance wearing jeans and a golf shirt that said “Secrets” over the right breast.  She looked so normal and ordinary that it sent another wave of surreal through Amy.

“Hi, Kori.  How are you?”  Valerie asked.

“Fine, thanks,” the woman said.  “You have a private session booked tonight?”

“Not me but my friend.  This is Amy.  Amy, this is Kori.  She works here.”

“Um, hi,” Amy said.

She tugged self-consciously at the hem of her short dress as Kori pushed the screen on her tablet.  It lit up and she scrolled through it before smiling at them.  “She’s in the Blue Room.  Come with me please, Amy.”

Amy gave Valerie a nervous look and Valerie stood on her tiptoes and kissed her cheek.  “You’ll be fine.  Have a good time, doll.”

She disappeared into the crowd as Amy said, “Wait!  What happens after?  How do I find you?”

Valerie was already gone.  Amy jumped a little when Kori touched her arm.  “Miss Amy?  Follow me please.”

She followed the woman down the hallway.  Unmarked doors lined the hallway and she bit her lip when Kori stopped in front of one and opened it.  She stepped inside tentatively and couldn’t stop her sigh of relief.  The room was small and painted a soft shade of blue.  It had a warm kind of intimacy to it and she studied the king-sized bed and then the blue overstuffed armchair that was tucked into a corner. 

There was a door on the left side of the room and a tall wardrobe against the wall next to it.  Kori smiled at her before starting to close the door.

“Wait!”  Amy said.  “What, uh, what do I do now?”

“Someone will be in soon to give you instructions.”  Kori closed the door.

Amy bit at her lip again before crossing the room to the door.  She opened it and peered inside.  It was a small bathroom with a shower.  She checked her reflection in the mirror over the sink.  Her cheeks were red, and her eyes were bright with anxiety.

She took a deep breath and closed the door before opening the one that revealed the interior of the wardrobe.  She stared wide-eyed at the contents.  There were a variety of collars as well as handcuffs and leather cuffs.  A whip and a flogger were nestled on a bottom shelf and a basket held an assortment of different sized anal plugs.  Brightly-coloured vibrators filled another basket and there were a few items that she couldn’t even identify.  She quickly closed the doors as the door behind her opened.

She spun around and stared silently at the woman who had entered the room.  She was tall and chubby like her and stunningly pretty.  Her hair was a rich black and hung to her waist in soft curls.  Her burgundy dress clung to her curves and her lips were painted a bright red.  Dark eyeshadow lined her green eyes.  She moved with an effortless sway of her hips that Amy knew she’d never be able to imitate.

“Good evening.”

Even the woman’s voice was sexy.  Amy cringed inwardly when her own voice squeaked out a “good evening.”

“Your name is Amy?”

“Yes.”

“I am Mistress Selene.”

She drifted toward her and Amy took a step backward.  “Oh, um, I think there’s been a mistake.”

The woman raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow at her before touching the ends of Amy’s blonde hair.  “What do you mean?”

“I, uh, was looking to book with a man.”

Mistress Selene smiled.  “Yes, I know.  I am not playing with you tonight.  Although, you are quite lovely.”

Her fingers traced the soft skin just above Amy’s breasts and sent a shiver down her back.

“I am simply here to help you prepare for your play session.”

“Oh, okay,” she said.

“You’ve signed all the paperwork?”  Mistress Selene asked.

“Yes.  Earlier in my room.  We dropped it off at the, um, front desk,” Amy said.

“Excellent.  Now, my understanding is that you’re asking for a bit of sensory deprivation with restraints and intercourse.  Is that correct?”

Amy nodded, and Mistress Selene let her fingers trace her bare upper arm.  “Out loud, please.”

“Yes.  That’s what I’m looking for.”

“Good.  Your safe word please.”

“Magnolia,” Amy said.  It was her favourite flower.

“Pretty,” the woman said.  “If at any time you wish to stop, simply say your safe word and the play session will end immediately.  Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Perfect.  Your Dom will be here shortly.”  She moved to the wardrobe and Amy watched as she selected a dark red piece of silk and two leather cuffs before returning to her.  She held out her hand and Amy took it.  She led her to the armchair and urged her to sit down.  Her legs were already shaking, and she collapsed more than sat in the chair as Mistress Selene smiled at her.

“Your hands, please.”

She held out her hands.  Mistress Selene buckled the leather cuffs around her wrists.  They were lined with silk and surprisingly light and comfortable.  She studied the metal hoop that was embedded in each cuff as Mistress Selene moved behind her.

The red silk appeared in front of her face and she took a deep breath as Mistress Selene murmured into her ear.  “Ready, my lovely?”

“Y-yes,” Amy whispered.

She closed her eyes as Mistress Selene draped the blindfold across her eyes.  She was plunged into total darkness and she gripped the arms of the chair tightly and willed herself not to hyperventilate.

The silk was tied tightly behind her head and Mistress Selene stroked the top of her head before whispering in her ear, “Stay where you are, my lovely.  He’ll be with you soon.”

“Thank you,” Amy said.

She heard the woman’s footsteps cross the room and the door opening.  It closed with a soft click and she stayed where she was, her heart thudding almost painfully in her chest.