“I felt you’d had enough.”
“My clit’s kinda sore, actually. Not too bad.”
“It would have been worse if I continued. I’m told it’s something you can get used to, but we’re not going there right now. Or this weekend. Because the next time you come, I want to feel it from the inside.”
He meant with his hand, although he’d happily do it with his cock, but he realized the moment he’d said it that he’d probably be misunderstood. But she looked at him and said, “Yes, Colby. I think I’d like that.”
Well, good enough. We will see where this takes us.
“Now, let’s get that steak dinner.”
She stared at him as he began to untie the ropes. Finally, she said, “You do realize I came, don’t you?”
He smiled. “Of course I realize. Honey, I think the whole room knows you came.”
She blushed crimson. “No.”
“You screamed kinda loud the first time. And the second. The third was a bit quieter.” He undid the knots with practiced ease. He always tried to tie in a way that made it easy to undo, either for an emergency or just because he wanted to change positions or transition the scene to something else. It came in handy now.
“Really?” She looked around, the first time she’d taken her eyes off him for a while, except to close them.
He regretted bringing it up, but he wasn’t going to lie to her. “Really. But kinksters have short attention spans when it comes to other people’s scenes, and they’re probably looking at another scene now. And you were lovely, in any case.” He scanned her face. Her cheeks were still very pink, and her eyes were wet. Was she mortified?
But then she smiled. “Well then. I wouldn’t have thought it possible you’d make me come in such a distracting place, but you made me forget all about where I was. And that was fantastic. What a crazy adventure. What’s next, Colby?”
She made his name sound as sweet as any “Sir,” and he wasn’t going to make her change now. “The steak dinner.”
“Still?”
“Yeah. Still. It’s going to be quite a weekend, and you’ll need your strength. I want to learn a little more about you. I want to negotiate with you what we’ll do. After that I have another demo to give—all about rope, this time. I’d love it if you watched, but I’d understand if you want to do something else.” He loved teaching, but he was resenting the time it was taking him away from Sophia because their time together would already be so short.
She nodded. “I don’t really have much interest in tying people up. Being tied, though.” She got a faraway look in her eyes for a moment. “That was very nice, thank you. With or without that evil vibrator.”
“It’s not evil. It’s just misunderstood.”
“Might I have permission to go visit the bonfire after dinner? Assuming it stops raining and they can get it going.”
His talk was directed mostly at tops, unfortunately. She might learn some things that were useful to her, but she’d come to Bondage Ranch for something quite different from hanging out with him. As a top, it was his responsibility to seek what was best for her, and that wasn’t listening to him drone on. “The bonfire sounds like a good idea. But keep your clothes on. I’ll seek you out there when I’m done with my presentation.”
“Shouldn’t I come to you?”
“Would you get more out of your experience if you didn’t have to look at a watch or worry about time?”
She nodded.
“Then stay at the bonfire, and I’ll come to you. But understand that when I get there, I will want you to be mine and ready to serve.”
She nibbled her lip, but he could tell she was pleased. “Yes, Colby,” she said, far more demurely than he would have thought possible an hour ago.
He untied the last knot and tossed the rope in the bag, then picked up the blanket and wrapped it around her. “You’ll need some dry clothes. Where are they?”
“I have a bag in my car that has a few things I never managed to cart to my tent. I can put on my wet clothes to get there.”
He shook his head. “No, you don’t. You’re sweating, and you’re going to cool down in the air. Just stay still a second, and I’ll get you warm and decent enough for the parking lot.”
He adjusted the blanket around her and picked up one of the coils of rope he’d just used on her body. He tied the rope around her waist for a belt and then ran another line diagonally between her cleavage and over her shoulder, fastening it again in the back to create some extra tension on the blanket. “There. That will hold, and be dry and warm.”
Sophia checked out the work he’d done. “Do you dress people like this often?”
He shook his head. “Nope. But I figured it would work. That’s part of what I want to talk about tonight—that good rope work isn’t about memorizing a bunch of knots and ties, it is about knowing a few knots and then being able to use them creatively because you know how they work.”
Sophia seemed to study him for a long moment.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“It’s like an art form for you, isn’t it? I looked up at you on the stage and thought there’s a man who’s not in touch with himself or his world. Locked up indoors, armored in leather, holding a whip that puts him at a distance from the person he’s trying to connect to. But you touch me, and you’re so intense about it. You hugged me when I expected you to be tying me up already. And what you just said, well, I find you to be a far more interesting person than I thought you would be, at first.”
Colby smiled. In the scene, he was used to a different reaction. Occasionally people would assume that his notoriety meant that he’d be stuck-up, and they sometimes mistook his confidence as confirmation of that. But for the most part, people assumed he had it all together far more than he actually did. Sophia’s first impression made a certain amount of sense. And it was even true. Sometimes the toys were good at keeping people at a distance. But usually he wanted that sense of connection. He just didn’t want it to last too long.
“If you’re comfortable doing so, go get your clothes now and meet me in the living room. I’ll finish picking up here.”
“Yes, Colby.” The tone of Sophia’s voice touched him again. She sounded like she was in a lovely headspace, and he hated to interrupt that with dinner and negotiation. But they’d need food, and he needed to know more about her.
He watched her as she walked away toward the door that led to the parking lot. Only when she left did he turn his attention back to the rope and the frame.
He figured it would take her a little while to get dressed. He took his stuff off to the side so that anyone could use the station. There he braided the rope he’d used. He wouldn’t use it for the demo. Until he could wash it, it would only touch Sophia’s skin.
Dylan walked over to him. He’d changed his clothes for a casual look—an Edwardian smoking jacket and trousers. “Nice scene,” he said.
“Thanks,” said Colby. Normally gregarious, he wanted a few minutes alone to reflect on how the rope looked on Sophia’s body, and her reactions, while he ran the rope through his hands. Clearly, he wasn’t going to get it. “How’s Alex?”
“A bit frustrated but okay. She’s holding court in the living room, and I found a male sub who loves to pamper feet to give her other foot some attention, so she’s distracted.”
Colby smiled. It sounded like a good plan if Dylan was comfortable with it. For all the man’s foppish ways, underneath the ancient clothes lurked a kind, caring Dom who was utterly devoted to his wife and slave.
“Excuse me, Sirs.” Colby looked down to see that the soft voice came from a petite blonde wearing skimpy pink lingerie with black lace edging. Her stomach was flat, and her breasts slightly outsized for the rest of her figure.
He was foolish to think he’d have time alone anywhere but his room. “Hello,” he said politely.
The girl looked at the ground. “I was wondering if you’d be interested in doing a scene with me, Sir.”
There was a small chance she was asking Dylan. After all, without eye contact, it was hard to tell. Colby was pretty sure Dylan would turn her down, because while the man might let someone rub Alex’s feet or use her as a demo bottom, Colby didn’t think they had that open of a relationship. Maybe. The silence lengthened as neither man spoke.
“Which one of us are you talking to?” asked Colby after a while.
“You, Sir,” she said, not lifting her head.
If it were someone he was interested in, he’d probably teach them to look at him. He could tell what a sub was thinking so much better if he could see their eyes. It was a kind of nakedness, and he loved that. But some people liked the whole gaze-aversion thing and there was no point in training her out of it if he wasn’t going to play with her. “No, thank you.” He braided some more rope. Hopefully she’d go away.
“I saw your scene with that other girl, Sir,” she said. “I know she didn’t satisfy you. I would be happy to serve in any way you desire.”
He frowned. He’d actually occasionally ended up playing with a sub after sending them away, if they left gracefully and without hard feelings and he’d become available later. However, pushy bottoms were a total turnoff. “I said no. Serve elsewhere, sub.”
That got her to look up, at least. She looked more angry than hurt, which was good. He had no desire to hurt anyone, although sometimes it couldn’t be helped. But he was used to dealing with people getting angry at him. It happened often enough as a cop. The woman looked at Dylan, as if hoping for support, and got a shrug in return.
Finally the girl turned away.
“Daria. She made an announcement earlier that she was going to seduce you. Do you get that a lot?” asked Dylan.
“Now and then. There’s always people who want to fuck people who they think are big names. It’s funny because when I go out of here to that steak place you recommended, the waiter won’t blink an eye at my name. So I know I’m no big deal, and you know I’m no big deal. Hope she finds someone who is right for her, though.”
Dylan nodded. “Normally Alex takes it on herself to ease the social flow a little—by which I mean she sticks her nose in and tries to make matches. It’s as if she gets a vicarious thrill from getting two other people to fall in love. Not sure how Bondage Ranch is going to go with her not so mobile, but we shall see.”
Colby clapped the other man on the back. “I can see you have a whole bunch of good, enthusiastic people here. Don’t be afraid to ask some of them to help. And get new people involved too—running around doing little volunteer tasks can be a great way to meet people.”
“Thanks. I’ve got a core group to lean on, and we’ll see how it goes. I’ll see you at the next presentation.”
“Yep.” Colby finished with the last strand of rope just as Dylan walked off. Another female sub was approaching, so he picked up his bag and headed away quickly. He didn’t mind saying no, but he didn’t want to hurt any more feelings than necessary. He wasn’t sure he had enough time for Sophia, and he definitely didn’t have any extra left over.
I wonder how she’d feel if I tried?
But he really wasn’t interested in finding out. Sophia seemed like a pretty open individual, but there was something else under there, a vulnerability that he needed to protect.
I’ve plenty of variety in my life. I don’t need more than one girl this weekend.
He dropped off his bag in his room and then headed for the living room. As expected, he’d beat Sophia there. Alex was, indeed, getting a pedicure from a young male sub. A tall man whose rope work Colby had been admiring earlier was standing there, and the woman he’d been tying up was sitting on the sofa next to Alex. Colby walked over, and everyone looked up at him.
“Hey,” he said to the tall dom. “I liked the rope work you did earlier. I’m Colby.” He stuck out his hand.
“Bruce.” Bruce shook his hand, then gestured. “And this is my wife, Laera. Good to meet you.”
Laera stood and shook Colby’s hand.
“Good to meet you two also. I just wanted to make sure you felt free to chime in during the demo tonight.”
And maybe I’ll learn something too.
One of the things Colby had discovered was that no matter how much of an expert other people perceived him as being, there was always something new to learn from somebody. “And I’d like to see your variation on the two-column tie sometime up close.”
Bruce nodded. “Sure. Laera, could you get some rope from our room?”
Colby put up his hand. “Not now. I’m just about to go out to dinner with a friend.”
“Friends, are we?” said a voice from behind him. “I thought I was your sub for the weekend, Colby.”
He turned. Sophia wore a long black dress with beautiful red-and-orange tie-dye patterns on her left shoulder and breast. The dress was made of jersey fabric and hugged her every curve. He had no idea how tie-dye on a black background was possible, but it looked gorgeous on Sophia. He put his arm around her irresistible waist. Her heels, he noticed, matched the red of the upper part of the dress.
She grinned at him. “Speechless, Colby?”
“You look beautiful.”
“Why thank you, Colby. And horribly out of place at a BDSM convention, is that the other thing you were thinking?”
“It crossed my mind.”
“I actually didn’t intend to wear much in the way of clothes at all. But alas, restaurants tend to be quite prudish about these things.”
And it’s a damn shame.
“Have fun,” said Bruce. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
If he thought about Sophia being naked all weekend, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to do such a good job of driving. “Are you planning to be naked around the bonfire tonight?” he asked, trying to sound casual. He had no right to feel possessive, but he was.
“That would depend on your preferences, wouldn’t it, Colby?” Sophia said innocently.
“I would prefer you stay clothed.” They took a couple of steps together, and he opened the door for her. He decided to see how far he could push it. “Until I get there.”
“Of course, Colby. As you wish, Colby.”
Oh, that hadn’t helped at all. And he knew that trying not to think about anything, especially a naked Sophia, was a project doomed to failure. He had to think about something else.
He settled on imagining a juicy steak, medium rare. He opened the car door for Sophia and then walked around to his own side of the car, feeling he almost had his hard-on under control. He started the engine without looking at Sophia.