mother hen if you recall. You’ve been in the club often enough now to see the dynamics at work, you know they’re not all exactly alike. Whatever you feel comfortable with is all I’m asking, little one. I’m begging you to give this a shot, to see if we can make something between us that lasts.”
She sighed. If he was prepared to dismiss the danger she posed, how did she make him listen? Oh, she was aware she was using her parents as a last ditch attempt to deter him from pursuing this, even though she was going to fold and give him what he thought he wanted, but until he understood what kind of family she came from, he couldn’t make an informed decision.
“Do you really want to be with someone whose family would blackmail you down to your last cent if they got wind of this place? Because that’s the kind of people I come from, Braun. They’ve done it to me more than once. I can’t even buy new furniture for my apartment because the next time they drop in for their dues, they’ll wonder where I got the money, then...” She trailed off, dreading the day that happened.
“Then what?”
It wasn’t worth imagining. Her father would smash the apartment up and knife her couch, her mattress, before pissing on everything she’d worked for like some territorial stray dog. Her mother would tear the rooms apart on the hunt for cash and valuables, leaving a swath of destruction in her wake. And once the search was complete and they had everything they wanted from her, that was when Abraham would do his duty and batter her as a warning not to skimp on what was theirs.
“Communication, little one. We fucked up with that last time, I won’t allow it to happen again. Your parents don’t worry me. They sure as hell shouldn’t worry you either; I have no issues beating the pair of them senseless. The other Masters would jump at the chance to assist me.”
Bodie welled up again at the unified front Braun presented. If he asked it of them, the Masters would help him do whatever he needed. They might rib each other mercilessly and have their disagreements, but they banded together like brothers in arms.
“Jasper would be the first,” Braun added nonchalantly. “He despises abuse of any kind. Been known to coldcock Doms who’ve stepped over the line between consensual and assholery.”
She jerked, shocked. “But...but he’s a sadist.”
“Pain’s arousing to a lot of people, Bodie. Some can only handle a light paddling; others need a darker kind of pain to reach their pinnacle. Jasper’s the kind of guy masochists flock to in droves because they know he’ll give them exactly what they need to fly, then catch them when they lose momentum.”
That actually sounded kinda...appealing. “Fly how?”
Braun chuckled. “Well, orgasms are pretty popular. Subspace is achievable if the sub’s in the right headspace. Some find it harder to reach than others, but with patience and trust, flying isn’t an insurmountable task.” His lips touched her forehead; she closed her eyes and absorbed the warmth. “Considering we’re discussing this as adults, does this mean you’re not against the idea of...”
Snuggled up on his chest, it didn’t seem to be the worst idea. The rest of what it entailed...maybe she’d think again when they got to it, but after the month she’d had, saying yes to Braun wasn’t as difficult as she first thought. “I still don’t think I’m submissive...” she began, then giggled when he flicked her earlobe. “But everyone else thinks that I am, so...”
“I’m liking where the ‘so’ is leading.”
Bodie flattened her hand over his chest. “I’ll try. I’m not going to promise I can do it because I’ve never done anything remotely close to what you’re asking. Trying is all I’ve got to give.”
“Then that’s all I want from you. Your best shot, Bodie.” His big body relaxed as though her answer sucked all the underlying tension out of him. “I meant what I said about communication. You need to talk to me, little one, when things overwhelm you, instead of shutting me out and taking off. Understand me?”
“Yes. Yes, Sir,” she amended, rolling the honorific on her tongue for size. The honorific was particularly important, she recalled from her research. Respect and obedience were two essential components of this journey.
She just needed to remind her tongue before it got her into trouble.
“God, I love the way that sounds in your voice,” Braun