BDSM Checklist: A, B, C

James tugged Beth towards him, then slipped her legs over his left knee so she was entirely on his lap. Beth put her hands on her legs, then dropped them to her sides, but that caused her to brush her fingers against his crotch. She jerked her hands up, folding them under her breasts, but that was a closed, defensive posture—inappropriate for a submissive.

Feeling frantic, she unfolded her arms, running out of ideas, when James caught her hands in his, forcing them against her legs.

“Beth, it’s clear you’re uncomfortable sitting on my lap. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“I don’t know the position.”

“What position?”

“The appropriate position for lap sitting.”

“There’s isn’t one.”

Beth frowned. She knew that wasn’t right. “There’s a rule for every situation, an appropriate pose, response, or action for every possibility.”

“That is…the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Beth jerked her head around to face Master James’s bemused face.

“That’s—but that’s… BDSM is all about rules.” Beth was practically stuttering.

“No, BDSM is about power, control, and kinky sex. The rules are part of the game, not the foundation of it.”

Beth shook her head, so caught up in what he’d just said that she didn’t consider how disrespectful it was. “Training and knowing the rules are what make a good submissive.”

“The desire to submit and willingness to give up control make a good submissive.”

“No. I don’t like that.” The words were out before she could stop them. Saying what she thought, and telling the truth, were her greatest weaknesses when it came to dealing with other people, and her greatest strengths when it came to her career.

“Why not?” Master James didn’t seem angered by her response, which was unexpected, despite the fact that he’d invited her to speak freely. Usually “speak freely” was code for “I want to trap you so I can punish you.”

“The rules are why I’m here.”

He leaned his head back and the hand on her back started rubbing in small circles. “You want there to be rules—a set of rules that, as long as you follow, you know you’re being a good sub?”

“Yes. BDSM is subculture that values hierarchy and defined roles, which presuppose a set of rules which all culture members have agreed to abide by.”

His eyebrows rose and his lips twitched. “Well, that’s one way of putting it.”

Beth looked down, her stomach churning. She’d said the wrong thing, said something awkward, and now he was laughing at her. This was why she hated conversations.

Silence, which normally she was fine with, stretched between them, each second making her more aware of what a mess she’d made of the conversation the minute she forgot to behave like a sub. Embarrassment prickled along her skin like an itchy shirt. Yet his hand was still rubbing small circles on her back

have used the word stupid. That wasn’t right. We don’t know much about each other, though I’ve seen you participate in scenes. Clearly your training, and your preferred

easing with his words. “I need the rules,” she said

“You need them?”

she was naked and he was fully clothed, she did not feel as if the nakedness was as important as it usually was. It was as if everything was secondary to their words,

know what to

to make sure she knows what she needs to do or not do to bring

Beth savored

lifted, touching her chin. The pressure of his fingers guided her

“Look at me, Beth.”

James,” she

out a laugh. “Good point. I mean I want you

and she felt herself growing wet. Embarrassment almost made her look away, but she couldn’t—she didn’t know if it was the fact that he’d commanded her to look at

would you be

“No, Master James.”

want to sit on

with other subs. You touch them

things

“Yes.”

do them

“No.”

“Why not?”

that kind of

don’t want

Beth shook her head.

do want

back in her chest—she couldn’t tell what Master James was thinking, what this conversation meant to him, and it made her

time I saw you, Madame Cat was using you

Beth dropped her eyes, blinking hard. “Yes, Master

that kind of

answering. “Being furniture is not meant to be directly arousing or pleasurable.” She was proud that her tone was neutral, her answer both truthful and

a

“No, Master James.”

that kind of service the

out how to reach. She shrugged helplessly, knowing she needed to answer with

were you

enjoys having a

right. I think

did, because this

you’ve watched me