Chapter 11:

I paced back and forth in my living room while talking to Rosalie on the phone. She was trying to convince me to go out to a club that night but I had already made plans with my sweet and sexy submissive. As much as I thought I'd enjoy a few hours with my best friend, I was equally excited to be going out with Edward. Out... as in actually outside of my apartment!

After the stressful couple days we'd had, I felt we deserved a night of normal. Well, normal for people like me and Edward. He'd said he wanted to check out a party at some new BDSM club and needed someone to escort him. He wanted me to be the one to do it, so I jumped at the chance to spend more time with him. I'd also get to see another aspect of D/s life. As enlightening an experience as it had been tagging along to Janice and Ian's house two weeks earlier, I figured this time would be less instructional and more fun. Edward wasn't bringing me to watch him submit to someone else; it wasn't an MMM sponsored outing at all. This was something Edward wanted to do for his own enjoyment and invited me along.

"What could you possibly have planned that's better than tequila shots and girl time with your best friend?" Rosalie demanded.

I couldn't simply tell Rosalie I was going out with Edward because she thought we were dating in the traditional sense, not in the he's-coming-over-so-I-can-tie-him-up-and-fuck-him sense. If I told her we had plans to go out, she would insist on joining us and probably invite Jacob too. How could I possibly explain my real reason for ditching her? Edward would be barely clothed. Drinking and flirting with me at a BDSM club in a sketchy Annapolis neighborhood. And there was the potential to be fucking him in a playroom with all kinds of props not available to us in my little apartment...

"Hello? Earth to Bella?" Rosalie chanted sarcastically.

"Sorry, Ro. My mind wandered."

"Duh. What's going on in that little head of yours?"

"I can't go tonight because I've made other plans. I'm not being a shut-in anymore so you don't have to worry," I explained. "Edward's taking me out somewhere."

"You have a date? Why didn't you just tell me that?" she replied enthusiastically.

"We're keeping things casual for now. I'm on the rebound, you know? Don't want to get to serious with anyone for a while," I responded.

I really didn't want to be giving Rosalie the impression that Edward and I were together. The last thing I needed was for her and Jacob to think I'd found a new boyfriend and then have to make up another fake breakup story when this thing with Edward, whatever it was, eventually ended. But still, it was nice to be able to talk to Rose about something other than my sulking over Jasper. I hadn't really even thought about him much in the last week. Edward and his drama has quite effectively consumed my thoughts both night and day.

"That's smart to give yourself some time to heal before jumping into another relationship," she agreed, "but don't be surprised if that boy falls for you, Bella. I saw him looking at you the night we all had dinner together. I picked up on some pretty strong signals between you two."

"You did?"

"Trust me, your nude model likes you," she teased.

"Shut up!"

Rosalie laughed lightly. "Come on! You can't tell me you haven't thought about fooling around with him! And you've already seen his damn fine naked body. That ad you put out for a nude model was a brilliant move! You had the opportunity to audition him before actually sleeping with him. I wish I could do that with my potential boyfriends!"

"See... maybe my career isn't as pointless as you thought," I jabbed.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm beginning to see a bright side to a job with no steady paycheck and no 401k. I stare at a computer screen all day and you stare at..."

"A nine-inch cock?" I finished for her.

"Damn, really?" she giggled.

"I'll get a more precise measurement when I get my hands on it," I replied rolling my eyes.

Rose laughed and said, "you better give me all the details... and then I'll forgive you for ditching me tonight!"

"Deal. But I don't expect to sleep with him tonight," I warned. It was scary to think how easy it was becoming to lie to her. Was that my future? One lie after another wherever Edward was concerned? I was becoming confused with all the different versions of the truth I'd been telling Rosalie, Jacob, and Alice too.

"You let me know when it happens!" Rose replied and let me go without any more grief about not hanging out with her.

After I hung up the phone, I took a shower and prepared myself for an evening out with Edward. I didn't know what one typically wore to a BDSM club, so I had to try on several options before I found something that seemed appropriate. Red and black seemed like cliché colors, so I opted for a tight fitting low-cut blue dress and tall leather boots. I put on makeup for the first time in over a month and as I was getting ready in the bathroom mirror, I thought about how long it had been since I had gone out like a normal person. Even though my destination wasn't something normal, like the movies or a local bar, I still felt like I was getting back a piece of me I had lost the night I broke up with Jasper. I was proceeding down a new path and it was beginning to feel really good.

The club Edward brought me to looked like a dive bar from the outside. I shot him an apprehensive glare but he chuckled in reply. "It's inconspicuous on the exterior. Just wait until you get inside," he promised with a devilish grin.

I felt a thrill of excitement from his words and walked in ahead of him as he held the door open for me. He'd been acting like such a gentleman all evening; picking me up, dressing nicely, and opening doors for me. I could have easily been fooled into feeling like Edward and I were truly on a date until I got my first glimpse inside the club.

With a dive bar exterior, one might expect to find a sparsely occupied space with dim lighting and maybe a jukebox in the corner. Instead, the main room was much larger than it appeared from the outside and it was crowded with people. The decor was more welcoming than the dark and sinister ambiance I'd anticipated. The flooring was wood and the walls painted navy blue. The tables and chair were arranged as one would find in a restaurant, and the bar was in the center of the room surrounded by wooden stools.

I was comforted when I looked around at the people. Most were dressed like Edward and me in dressy street clothes; though others were scantily clad as I'd envisioned in my mind when Edward suggested we go to a sex club. I saw several women in underwear kneeling by the feet of clothed men who I assumed were their dominants. I found that dynamic fascinating since in my own mind it was the woman who played domme. I never once fantasized about being the submissive. It was a little shocking to see couples with such confidence that they would portray those roles in a public place, but I envied their ability to be themselves without the shame I still carried around.

Edward walked over to the coat check booth which caught me off guard because neither of us were wearing jackets. I watched as he unbuttoned his dress shirt and proceeded to hand it over to the attendant along with his jeans, shoes, and socks. He really was going to walk around in his underwear all night! My good girl subconscious thought he was downright crazy, but my newly discovered domme subconscious was proud to be the one escorting him around the club.

In exchange for his clothing, the booth attendant handed Edward a yellow ticket with a number printed on it. "Where are gonna keep that ticket?" I snickered looking up and down his boxer-brief clad body.

"Hmmm, perhaps you'll hold it for me?" he mused playfully. I took the ticket from his hand and placed it in my purse for safe keeping.

Many sets of inquisitive eyes turned to watch us as Edward led me through the crowd to the bar. I wondered if Edward would drop to his knees like the other submissives if I had the nerve to give the command? I looked up into his eyes and knew I wasn't ready to test that theory. We also hadn't discussed it beforehand which was an important factor when deciding to play with someone publicly. I pushed the thought to the back of my mind.

"Can I get you a drink?" Edward offered, oblivious to the attention we were drawing.

I requested a whiskey sour and Edward had the bartender mix up two. We took our drinks over to an empty table and sat down across from one another. For the first time, I noticed the music playing overhead. It wasn't blaring like in a typical bar, and the choice of the classical genre took me by surprise. Maybe it was supposed to mimic the type of music often used in the playroom.

"What do you think so far?" Edward asked eagerly.

"I like your wardrobe change for sure. And despite a few lingering stares, this place is not as scary as I thought it might be," I admitted.

Edward laughed. "You were scared when I suggested we come here? What were you expecting to find?"

I shrugged and took a long sip of my drink. "I really didn't know what to expect. I suppose I'm surprised that most people aren't wearing playroom clothes, and they aren't having sex or whipping each other in dark corners."

Edward smiled darkly and I'd seen that look on his face before. "Would you be freaked out if I told you those things were going on here, just behind closed doors?" he asked cautiously.

"Where?" I gasped. He pointed to the far side of the room where a long hallway disappeared around a corner. Several men and women were entering and exiting the bar through that hall.

"What's back there?" I whispered as if it was a secret. For all I knew, maybe it was.

Edward leaned forward, conspiratorially. "Judging by the amount of foot traffic, it's probably where the private playrooms are located. Do you want to go check them out?"

"I think I need to finish this drink first. And maybe have another one too," I responded honestly.

Edward smiled and lifted his glass for a toast. "To new experiences," he said and we clinked glasses. Then I downed the remainder of my alcohol and made him go get me another.

"Have you ever had a real domme, Edward? Someone you played with for a whole weekend?" I asked as he returned to our table with drinks in hand.

"No, I haven't. Mostly because the weekends are when I make the most money at MMM. I've always thought it might be fun to try, but committing myself to being one person's submissive is like being in a relationship. It's too limiting for how I like to play."

"Having a domme is not the same as having a girlfriend," I countered.

"I know that, but I've always preferred to have the freedom to fuck whoever I wanted whenever the opportunity arose. The few serious dommes I've met have wanted exclusivity to my dick. That's not going to work for me."

"You'd rather share your dick with all of Annapolis?" I quipped.

"Annapolis, yes, but I've never been one to discriminate against women, or men, who live outside the city limits," he teased.

"How open-minded of you," I replied sarcastically.

"Some people like to go home and take a long bath after a hard day, or maybe enjoy a glass of wine with their dinner," he explained. I nodded and waited for him to continue. "Well, I like to go home with a nice woman and get fucked. I like to lie there, preferably tied up, and lose myself to the sensations as she fucks herself on my cock. It relaxes me."

I stared at him open mouthed for a few moments; processing his words. "I know how lonely I feel not to have Jasper to talk to anymore. You must feel like something is missing too. Don't you think it would be nice having someone to go home to?"

"I have an annoying little sister waiting up for me," he replied.

"I think Alice is great," I countered. "But you know that's not what I mean. I just think you should give a relationship a try. It might make you happier than you think," I suggested.

Edward was silent for a few beats and then smiled. "Why are you so preoccupied with my being single? I'm not a lost puppy, Bella; you don't have to find me a home."

"I understand that, I do. But everyone needs someone to love, don't they?"

Edward pursed his lips and sighed. "Spending time with you has been the closest thing I've had to a relationship in years. And it's been great between us, hasn't it?"

"Yes, these past few weeks have been amazing," I agreed cautiously. "But a real relationship between us is never going to happen unless you give up the other women."

"See, that's what I'm talking about."

"What?" I asked confused.

"You're going to want to be exclusive with your first real sub. Most women do. I'd have to change my whole life to do that, which is why I stopped kidding myself that I could have any kind of a serious relationship with someone."

"You can't deny a part of you still wants it though; to have a real connection with someone."

"Bella, don't you think you and I already have a real connection?" he asked seriously.

"Yes, I do. But I'm not changing my position on your career choices. You make me happy, and I'm learning so much with you, but we have to keep things the way they are."

Edward eyed me intently and it felt like he was trying to figure out if I was bluffing. Finally he replied, "well then, it's a good thing we're both happy with the ways things are."

I glanced away from his face, knowing I'd be unable to keep my emotions in check if I continued to look into his soulful eyes. Hopefully he couldn't see just how hard I was falling for him. It was clear to me that Alice had been correct about her brother. She worried that Edward was lonely, isolated, and confused. She was absolutely right. She knew it, I knew it, and I was pretty damn sure Edward knew it too. I couldn't shake the feeling that Edward was holding something back. Despite his insistence that he was happy, it seemed obvious to me that he wished for something more. I knew I had to keep my feelings in check because I couldn't change his mind. Edward had to decide for himself that casual sex wasn't satisfying his needs any longer. And I had no idea how long that might take.

"So, what was the main reason you wanted to come here tonight?" I wondered.

He looked around at the club and then turned his gaze towards me. "This place opened up a few months ago and some of the guys at MMM had been raving about it."

I leaned forward a little and turned my drink around in my hands idly. "What made you want to bring me?"

"Submissives need an escort. You don't come here looking for hookups; you come because you have someone you want to play with in public," he explained.

"But why did you choose me?"

Edward looked at me quizzically and said, "You are the woman I am currently training. You've shown a continued interest in this lifestyle. I thought you would enjoy a night out of your apartment. But mostly, it's because you're always the first person I think of lately."

I wasn't sure that was a good thing; Edward becoming more attached to me. One of us had to keep the boundaries of this relationship in check. But in the club, with the alcohol affecting my brain, I was in no position to protest. I was happy Edward decided to bring me and I wanted to experience what it felt like to be out at a club with my practically naked submissive by my side. I'd deal with the hearts and feelings another time.

Neither of us spoke for several minutes and we watched other people in the club coming and going. People were talking, laughing, and enjoying themselves. I noticed more submissives as I watched the crowd. Women, and even one or two men, sat or knelt beside their masters obediently. I started to think about what it would feel like to hold that level of control over another person. After a while a topless waitress came over to the table and refreshed our drinks. It was the first real nudity I'd seen at the club so far, and it reminded me exactly why we were there.

Now that I'd trained with Edward for a few weeks, I had a good idea of what was involved in creating a good scene. But was that where it stopped for me? Would the kind of sex I'd been having with Edward ever feel as routine and dull to me as sex with Jasper had felt? Maybe everyone in this room started out small like me and gradually found themselves exploring more and more aspects of a BDSM lifestyle to feed their deviant sexual appetites. I realized that I still had no idea what kind of domme I wanted to be. Maybe that was why I really wanted to come to the club tonight; to see if this sort of thing interested me and how far I was willing to take it.

After our third round of drinks, I was ready to explore the club a little further. I realized Edward had been staring at me as I watched the crowd mingling, and he seemed to sense the direction of my thoughts. I noticed him fidgeting in his chair, trying to hide his excitement.

"What do you say we take a walk? I want to see why couples keep going down that hallway and coming back flustered and sweaty."

"I would love to solve that mystery with you," Edward replied with a smile.

He waited until I stood up first, and I remembered that was a D/s thing. It was fun getting the opportunity to test the waters with this kind of a relationship, but it saddened me to think that if I ever wanted it for real, I'd have to find someone other than Edward.

He walked behind me as I crossed the room and peered down the dark hallway. As I was hesitating, Edward stopped close behind me and pressed his chest to my back, offering support. I reached my hand out for his and he let me have it willingly. Together, we proceeded down the hall and turned right at the corner.

There was a longer hall there that must have stretched down the entire length of the club. The lighting was dim, but not too dark to see people standing around. The space was wide enough that several couches lined the walls and there was still ample room to walk through. For the first thirty feet or so there were doors spaced evenly apart on either side of the hall each with a number in the center. Edward whispered in my ear that those were private playrooms that had to be reserved earlier in the evening. There were a few couples hovering around these rooms and I assumed they were waiting for their turns inside. My stomach flipped as I wondered what was in those rooms that people couldn't get for themselves at home. I wish I had known to make a reservation because that was something that I was quite curious about.

We continued walking and I noticed there were more people down at the end of the hall. Most were staring at the walls and I didn't understand why until we approached the first room. The next door I saw had a large glass panel insert allowing people to look inside the room. Also, the wall had a large window panel that made the room look more like a zoo exhibit than a private playroom. Obviously, that was the intent. The couple who happened to be occupying that room were fucking like animals, and the female kept looking up to make eye contact with us out in the hall.

I gasped and Edward's hand squeezed mine tighter. "You okay?" he mouthed. It was very quiet in the hall. So quiet I could hear the panting and moaning coming from inside the playroom.

Edward needn't have worried about me. I was more than okay, I was turned on. I loved the voyeurism, I loved the way the dominant had his sub shackled to face the hall window, and I loved how it made me feel to watch them play.

"Will you kneel for me?" I whispered to him. Edward stood almost a head taller than me and I felt the urge to bring him down to a submissive stance. It was a spontaneous request; one I hadn't planned on making until that moment.

Edward tried to hide his smirk but failed. He pressed his lips together firmly and then got down on his knees beside me. I placed my hand on his bare shoulder and we watched the conclusion of the scene through the viewing pane. The man and woman seemed like a perfect pairing; the man as dominant and the woman tied to a padded table submitting to his will. Their scene was nothing spectacular or unique, but I found myself fascinated by the rhythm of their movements and the man's ability to read all woman's subtle cues. I figured that kind of synergy comes with years of practice.

When the scene ended, the dominant closed the curtains inside the room to give them privacy. I felt the loss immediately; wishing it hadn't ended so soon. Edward looked up at me curiously, but all I could do was smile weakly. Watching that scene had moved me. I wanted that with Edward. Not just the peep show part, but to have that kind of rapport with him where I could sense his needs and emotions without him having to verbalize them.

"What do you want to do?" Edward whispered, looking up into my eyes expectantly.

I glanced over his body and saw the erection tented in his cotton underwear. The scene had turned him on too. I don't know why I was surprised, just about anything of a sexual nature turned Edward on.

"Stand up, Edward," I commanded softly. As he stood, I took his cock in my hand and tenderly stroked him through the fabric.

"Oh, God. I want you so bad," he admitted breathlessly.

"Could we do it like them?" I asked. "Find an open room?"

Edward's eyes popped open and I worried I'd overestimated his desire. Perhaps he meant he wanted to go back to my apartment and fuck? He licked his lips and closed his eyes again; my hand having never stopped pumping his erection. My fingers loosened their grip but Edward's hand quickly came to cover mine and held it tightly against his groin.

"You'd really do that? In one of the viewing rooms?" he asked, his voice thick with need.

"I'm as surprised as you are," I replied grinning. "I didn't make any plans, but I want to give it a try and see how far I'll go."

Edward didn't take but a few moments to decide. "Let's do it. I'll see if any of these rooms are open."

He walked away, checking every room until he found one that was unoccupied. He waved me down to the end of the hall and I hurried up to meet him. My heart was fluttering wildly and there was a familiar ache between my thighs; a feeling I rarely experienced before Edward came into my life. Now that kind of excitement seemed to happen every time we were together.

The room he found had white walls and brown carpet. The decor seemed to be different in every room. The scene we just watched had a padded bench but this one has an apparatus across the ceiling and a futon against one wall. There were also curtains on the viewing pane but I was hoping to make it through my scene without closing them. We already had a small crowd, two couples, who were eager to see what Edward and I would do.

"Stand in the center of the room facing the back wall, Edward," I commanded coolly. "When you are ready, remove your boxers."

I wanted his ass facing the viewing pane so I could reveal his gorgeous cock when the time felt right. Edward stood up straight on his mark and took a few cleansing breaths before pushing the boxers to the floor and kicking them aside. There was a small cabinet in one corner and inside I found many interesting toys to use. I opted for padded handcuffs and showed them to Edward. Without my needing to ask him, Edward raised his arms over his head so I could string him up to the overhead contraption. I wasn't tall enough to reach so Edward hand to cuff himself on one side and I stood on the futon to reach the other wrist.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Very good, Mistress," he answered immediately.

I bit my lip to keep from moaning audibly and went to retrieve the riding crop from the cabinet. Edward squirmed when he saw it and the sound of the chains clanking above his head furthered my excitement.

"Part your legs a few more inches," I instructed. I touched the riding crop behind his knee and slowly dragged it up the back of his thigh. It slid over the curve of his ass, then I pulled it away about ten inches and whipped it quickly against the flesh of his ass. Chains rattled overhead but Edward didn't make a sound. I repeated the motions on the other leg and whipped the crop just a tad harder against his other cheek. That time Edward groaned under his breath.

I circled his body so he could see me and I saw raw desire in his eyes. My hand reached out to pump his cock a few times and I watched in fascination as Edward's head fell back and his eyes shut tightly. He looked so beautiful, I was sure every person watching us from the hall was in awe of him. The riding crop landed on his hip bone next. Then both inner thighs. I moved around back and hit his broad shoulder muscles. A few more blows to the ass cheeks and his skin began turning a light pink.

Edward's hips bucked the air, desperately needing to find something to fuck. I loved how it felt to deny him, to make him wait until he could barely control himself. I prolonged his anticipation, working him over with the crop once more, tapping lighter then harder in different places, so he never knew where to expect it next.

When I was finished with the crop, I climbed back onto the futon to release Edward's arms, sure they were aching from being held high over his head for an extended time. "Put your hands behind your back and don't move them," I commanded. "Do you want them to see you come, my pet?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"And see your cock?" I added.

"Yes, yes," he chanted breathlessly.

For a moment I planned to take my dress off and fuck Edward on the futon, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not too long ago I couldn't bear to have Edward see me naked. And I didn't have the courage to join in when Ian invited me to his scene with Edward and Janice. Suddenly remembering these prior fears caused me to lose my nerve and I cowered into Edward's chest, hiding my face.

"I don't know if I can do this," I mumbled against his skin.

Edward wrapped his arms around my back and nuzzled his cheek against my head. "Close the curtains, Bella. We don't have to finish this," he whispered soothingly.

"But those people watching us... they're waiting to see us have sex."

"We don't owe them anything. The most important thing to remember as a dominant is the comfort level and limits of all participants. You did good, asking me if I wanted to proceed, but you must feel the same. We shouldn't be doing something unless we both want it."

Cocooned in the warmth of Edward's embrace I felt safe. And I did want to finish our scene; to tease Edward's body and make him orgasm before these interested bystanders. But I knew that I just couldn't bring myself to remove my clothes in front of them. I was still too new at this; I wasn't ready. Edward, on the other hand, was getting off on his audience. Their presence was intensifying his pleasure. He was so much further down his path than I was.

Edward hugged me closer and I felt myself losing control of my dominance over him, control over the scene, and control of my heart all at the same time. I needed to be strong and finish what I had started. Slowly, I pulled out of Edward's embrace and looked up into his worried green eyes.

"I know what I'm going to do. Are you ready for your much deserved release, pet?" I asked with as much confidence as I could muster.

Edward eyed me momentarily, then answered, "yes, Mistress."

I gripped the back of his head and pulled his mouth down to mine. I kissed him passionately, forcing my tongue into his mouth to convey my ownership over his body. Edward kissed me back with equal fervor but didn't touch me with his hands. They retreated behind his back in the position I'd last instructed him. Me, on the other hand, touched him everywhere. I felt all over his body from the stubbled cheekbones down to his tender backside.

Then I got down on my knees and sucked his cock into my mouth. He gasped in surprise but didn't move a muscle. I placed my hands on his hips and slowly turned us around so that Edward's front was facing the viewing pane, but his cock was in my mouth so no one could see it. I pleasured Edward with my mouth the ways I knew he liked it. He moaned when I lightly scraped his sensitive skin with my teeth. And he nearly came undone when I took him so deep that my nose touched his pubic bone.

I felt myself warming up, and focused my thoughts on the simple act of pleasure as my mind was getting acquainted to this new aspect of our playtime. When Edward was showing the usual signs of being so close that he couldn't hold back much longer, I pulled away leaving him desperate and exposed. His cock pulsed with need and our little audience in the hall was transfixed on his naked form.

Slowly, I slid my lacy underwear down my legs and slipped them off so I could fuck him without removing my dress. My panties were wet with arousal and I shoved them in Edward's mouth so he could taste me. His eyes burned with desire as he waited to see what I was going to do next.

"Lift me up, Edward. You're going to fuck me against the wall. Do not come until I give you permission. Nod your head if you understand."

Edward nodded immediately. I smiled and opened my arms to him. "Come and take me then," I ordered.

I was lifted off the ground and my legs wrapped around Edward's waist as he walked us over to the side wall. My dress rode up but the moment he entered me I didn't care who was watching us or if they could see my ass. I thought about how hot Edward's profile must look as he pounded into me against the wall. He groaned and grunted trying to stave off his orgasm. I threaded my fingers through his hair and held on tight as he fucked me with purpose and determination.

"Just like that, pet. Don't stop!" I chanted when he hit me at a particularly delicious angle.

I exploded in orgasm too soon for my liking; but there never was a time when I'd had enough of Edward's cock, so I doubted I ever would feel as though I'd had him long enough. I screamed and whimpered as the pleasure ran its course through my veins. As soon as air returned to my lungs, I shouted for Edward to come. It took only two more thrusts of his hips before my panties fell from his mouth and he screeched loudly, pressing my body flush against the wall. I cradled his head in my arms as he came crashing down in the same orgasmic haze that had claimed me.

I pressed my lips against his forehead and he hummed contently. The way I was feeling was beyond words. Edward had blown my mind once again, and I had faced a new challenge and succeeded. I didn't care how many people were still staring at us; I just wanted to revel in this moment a little longer before Edward disconnected our bodies and set me on my feet.

"You were amazing."

"No, Bella. It was all you. You are the truly amazing one."

"Kiss me," I demanded softly and he obliged. Edward kissed me tenderly in a way I was wasn't expecting. I opened my mouth wider and he took the invitation to deepen the kiss, letting our emotions and desires get the best of us once again.

Without breaking the kiss, Edward reached a hand over to the viewing window and closed the curtains.