Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
“The other side?”
“The ones who truly want to cause pain without pleasure, who seek to control their submissives in a way that is not healthy for the sub. It’s why almost none of my friends in the lifestyle are twenty-four seven. Even the ones who started that way tend to ease up over time. You can cross the line into abuse if you get the wrong Dom and sub together. Don’t get me wrong. That kind of a relationship can work, but it’s rare. The submissive must be as strong as the Dominant for a relationship like that to work.”
“I thought the whole point was that the Dom was the strong one.”
“That’s because you don’t take any of this seriously. When I try to talk about the fundamental ideas of the lifestyle, you tend to take another shot and talk about spanking girls. The only reason I let you in here is because I trust you not to hurt the subs. Also, you tend to have terrible taste in women. I thought I might be able to save you.”
“I do not have terrible taste in women.” He’d been with some of the most beautiful women in the world. And many of them were horrible human beings.
“Dude, you can’t even tell a supermodel from a spy. Hint, the spies are the ones who try to kill you.”
He would never live that down.
Taggart leaned forward, his voice softening. “I like your wife very much. I have to wonder if she’s not the reason you’re suddenly asking questions.”
“I know you’ve met her before.”
“Have I met Dayita Samar, or Mistress D? I’ve certainly met the latter. She’s a friend of a friend and she’s considered one of the finest Dommes around.”
His stomach clenched at the thought. He was trying to forgive her for not telling him. He was trying to see things from her point of view. “That is good for her and for whomever she chooses to top.”
“Kash, she’s a serious sexual top. From what I understand, it’s merely a part of her personality. The same as it is mine. No damage or trauma forced it. Some of us are simply born this way. Like Harrison and Milo are bottoms. They gain great pleasure from serving their lovers in certain ways and from being served in the way only a top can.”
“Yes, I understand this much. They enjoy having their backsides smacked and kissing a woman’s feet.”
Taggart’s icy blue eyes narrowed. “Okay, that was judgmental, but I think you’re new to this so I’ll keep talking. There’s more to it than getting spanked. I’ve gotten spanked. It doesn’t do anything for me. I think if one of the male subs were here, they would tell you that what they get is a place where they don’t have to be in control. Hell, the female subs would tell you that. There are some strong-as-hell boss ladies who grace this club. They come from all walks of life and they seek to relax, to have those few hours a week where this other part of their personalities gets to come out. They can indulge that piece of themselves. Humans are complex. Well, Adam isn’t. Adam’s a douchebag, but for the most part there are these whole other people who live inside us and never get to come out unless we’re brave enough to explore. I might be the top here, but don’t you doubt for a second that I wouldn’t get on my knees in front of my Charlie. There’s nothing weak about that. I love that woman. She gets every piece of me, with nothing held back. And you know what, she’s the reason why I found that softer side of myself. She and our kids. I’m a completely different person without them. Colder. Alone. Some might have called that strength, but it was really fear.” Taggart shoved his phone back into his pocket. “Have you talked to your wife about this? About how to move forward?”
“How do two tops move forward?” The words felt stubborn, but he couldn’t admit the truth. He couldn’t simply say what he wanted.
“I have a married couple here who are both tops, and they enjoy themselves mightily. And before you start talking about cheating, they don’t sleep with their submissives. They give their expertise to the subs they top and then go at it like a couple of angry rabbits. Seriously, those two know how to tear up a bed, but then you go to hand them a bill and they get all legal on a man’s ass. Note to self, no more fucking lawyers. We’ve got enough damn lawyers.”
Jacob Dean strode in, wearing a suit that was only slightly less perfect than his partner’s had been. “Hey, Tag, you seen Adam? I got stuck in traffic. Stupid 75.”