Chapter Five - Facing My Demons

Tori’s POV

It was eerie being in a closed club environment, yet I sensed Alpha Calvin was doing his best to put me at ease. The cut-out mini dress he’d selected covered me in all the right places with just a smidgen of tease. I felt confident and sexy, something which hadn’t happened in a long time.

I was watching Travis show a small audience of about twenty dominants, or Doms, how to deliver a spanking safely. To my surprise, Maria, the submissive taking part was able to give her perspective as well, once the scene was over.

“Your sub must be aware she can communicate with you at all times, even if gagged,” the Delta said.

One of the watchers raised a hand.

“What if she’s bound as well?” he asked.

“Establish pre-arranged signals like waggling fingers or blinking a set number of times. It is your responsibility to keep checking in with her.”

“And if there’s a blindfold?”

“Someone wants his money’s worth,” Travis joked. “Prepare for all eventualities. Each one of our submissives is precious and to be treasured.”

I glanced at the Alpha and was surprised to see him nodding.

Part two consisted of a flogging on the X fixed to the wall. Maria was clearly enjoying it. This time the importance of not tying the bindings too tight was emphasised. And, again, there was that caution about checking in. What if one of them were to work loose?

“Then she’d really be falling for you,” one wag said.

Travis also mentioned sub space. If that happened she wouldn’t necessarily speak up at all.

I felt as if I’d zoned out myself. My employer said something about us taking a break.

I shook my head before I remembered. Even though he wasn’t my Dom, words are the best form of communication.

“I’m okay, sir.”

“It wasn’t a suggestion.”

There was an edge to his voice, a firmness rather than an indication of a barely controlled temper. Or did I prefer to believe that?

I had to remember who I was dealing with.

“Maybe I am thirsty,” I said.

He followed me across to the water cooler.

“What are you thinking?”

“Travis is good. And I didn’t realise the sub would have so much input.”

“Don’t believe all you read online,” he chided. “It’s the submissive who holds all the power. She just gives her dominant permission to use her in the ways which give pleasure to them both.”

Now I knew he was lying. That hadn’t been my experience.

“Pleasure, not pain?”

“Sometimes one leads to the other,” he said.

No way would I ever believe that.

The final session saw Maria placed in a cage. She was wearing a cat costume for this part. I’d been relieved to see her in bra and panties for the first two demos.

“This seems ridiculous,” I blurted, unable to help myself.

“It’s not my thing, either. Though she does get a reward. See?”

I forced myself to watch as Maria reacted to a bullet vibrator, the kind which was controlled remotely.

There were no questions, though I saw at least one member of the audience clutch the front of his pants.

Doing my duty, I asked the Alpha later if there was a charge for attending training.

“Of course,” he smirked. “You can pay me in kind later.”

I froze.

“I – ”

“Relax, Tori, I was just joking. It’s covered in their membership fees. If we made it an optional extra with an additional cost I couldn’t be certain that our health and safety protocols were being followed.”

“And if a Dom were to be deliberately cruel?”

“Depending on the seriousness of the offence, he may be banned, fined or warned. I always take into account the views of my females.”

“You don’t have dominatrices? Why is that?”

“We’re a shifter establishment. No offence, but no self-respecting werewolf submits to a she-wolf.”

What an arrogant statement that was. It reminded me of my stepbrother.

I pressed on.

“How do you prevent someone shifting if the pain is too great and they’re trying to work through it?”

I knew the answer, of course, having gone through it myself. I was always too stubborn for my own good. Not quite a bratty sub; my rebellion was on the inside. I supposed that was what fractured me in the end.

“Good question. Someone’s on the ball. We line the cuffs with silver. Some need different strengths for various reasons.”

“I see.”

He glanced at his watch. “It’s late. Why don’t I send out for takeaway pizza? Then I can run you home.” He must have seen my face because he shrugged. “Or call a cab. You decide.”

I felt overwhelmed, not least because I’d been trying to avoid staring at his shirtless body for the past few hours.

In the end I compromised.

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to call it a day,” I said. “Though a lift would be perfect, if it’s not too much trouble.”

After changing in the restroom I realised I’d left my coat upstairs.

That was when I overheard a conversation not meant for my ears.

“She’s a looker and no mistake. If you don’t move in, I might be tempted.”

“What would your mate say, Travis?”

“Point taken. So, are you going to go for it, or not?”

My ankle must have given way or something at that point because I overbalanced with a startled cry.

I peered up at the two concerned male faces in complete mortification.

“I got my heel stuck in the carpet runner,” I said, feeling the need to explain away the inexplicable.

“You might as well teach her how to kneel correctly now she’s down, Alpha,” the Delta said.

“Behave, Travis. Lock up for me will you. I’m taking this one home. And before you ask, to her place.”

“Whatever you say, Calvin. No-one will hear it from me.”

My boss extended a hand and I took it gratefully, only to be swiftly hoisted from the floor.

“Ignore him, Miss Culpepper. Some of us know how to treat a lady,” he said.

This time I was grateful for the formality. You don’t address someone like that if you’re intending to ravish them. Do you?

On the way I opened up about Ellie, just to be on the safe side. He wasn’t to know she would still be at work. For all he knew she was waiting to buzz me in.

“See you tomorrow, Mr Phillips.”

“Calvin,” he corrected.

“By the way, Ellie’s free on Saturday the fifteenth. For those drinks you promised.”

“What makes you think you won’t be working?”

The Alpha really knew how to ruin a girl’s mood.

“Doing what?” I asked.

But he didn’t answer, just told me he didn’t need me until 1.00 pm the following day.

The enigmatic boss who’d driven me home was behaving rudely now and I wondered why. It was almost as if there were two different Calvins inhabiting the same body.