(Mark's POV – Sat. 26 July 2014)

"This is great news, Mom!" I cheer over the phone. "I'm glad Dad is finally considering it!"

"This is not a done deal yet, Sweetheart. It's only a two-week vacation for now," she replies warily.

"This is still a good start! At least, Dad doesn't completely reject the option. So, when are you going there?"

"Probably not before the end of September. For one, the season is going full swing at the moment here, so we can't afford to close the restaurant for two weeks. And secondly, it's far too hot at the moment in Florida, it'll be a tad better by the end of September. I don't want your dad to complain about the heat," she explains with a chuckle.

"Mom, Florida is always hot..." I argue. "Anyway, it'll do you good. You haven't taken some time off at all since last Christmas, and two weeks of holidays will be more than beneficial!"

"How about you? When are you taking some vacation?" she then asks, changing the subject. I can almost see her scowl through the phone.

"Mom... I'm young! I don't need as much rest as you and Dad do. Plus, I did take a few days off when I visited you last week!" I argue.

"It's not the same as going on holidays, Mark..."

"I know Mom, but I am far too busy at the moment. I'll think about it later. Talking about being busy... I gotta go now. I'll call you back soon, okay?"

"Sure, Sweetie! Don't strain yourself too much, alright?"

"Look who's talking!" I chuckle. "Take care, Mom, I love you."

"I love you too, Son. Speak to you soon!"

"Sure! Bye Mom!" I finish and hang up.

I am glad my parents will finally consider retiring from their activity. As my mother said, it's not a done deal yet, but this is shaping up.

I put these thoughts aside and start packing my bag for the club. Over the last week, the beautiful Shannon has often invited himself in my thoughts - much too often, to be honest - and it has caused me to space out quite a few times, remembering how he reacted to the scene last Saturday. A scene I didn't see much of actually, as my eyes kept peeking at the young man who was freshly getting acquainted to BDSM.

I spent the whole week wondering if I would ever see him again at the Black Diamond. I could have asked Josh, but I didn't want to press him with questions, as I am not ready to admit how attracted I am to the boy. My friends would find it weird, I think.

I have never let feelings interfere in the relationships I had with various Submissives, whether they were Subs under contract or one-night stands. I have never wanted to completely settle down with any of them. I have never wanted to feel more than lust for them. Call me a heart of stone if you please, but that's what it is; or rather, that's what it was.

Until a year ago, I used to take Subs under contract. It would last for a few months and I would take care of them like good Doms do. There was sex of course, and I also tried to provide them with guidance and advice toward a better life, but there were no real feelings. I liked some of them better than others, but the last ones turned out to be quite disappointing and deceitful. Even in a relationship devoid of feelings, you expect a minimum of respect and between one who openly claimed he was just after my money and another who cheated on me, I got tired of the system.

I then decided to do like my friends Camden and Aaron, and use only Subs who seek one-evening affairs, but I have recently gotten tired of that too. I guess that seeing Joshua and Liam's relationship develop into something serious helped, but I have realized that this is what I need and what I want.

What does it have to do with Shannon? I can't be sure, but I have a feeling things could be different with him. I felt it when our eyes met at the club, and I saw he felt something too as he stared at me. There is something in this young man that irresistibly appeals to me.

So, when I saw Aaron at the club yesterday and he told me that the guy wanted to meet us on Saturday, I could hardly stop myself from flashing the brightest smile. But I managed; I controlled the muscles of my face to just slightly up the corners of my mouth.

"Mark, are you available tomorrow?" Aaron asked.

"I have a meeting in the afternoon, but I should be available from 5pm. How can I help you?"

"Actually it's not really me..." he hesitated. We were in his office, and waiting for Josh and Camden to join us. "Remember the guy Josh brought last weekend, Liam's friend?"

Images of the blue-eyed boy immediately flashed in my mind. Woops. Little twitch of my cock. If my mini-me could stay quiet, that would be great.

"Yes... What's up with him?" I asked innocently.

"It seems like the guy has taken a sudden interest in the lifestyle. He's curious to find out more about it. He hasn't defined what he really wants yet, and he thinks there's no better way than to rub shoulders with people in the lifestyle to find out. He would like to meet us again and ask questions that have been keeping his thoughts busy since he came here," he explained, using his fingers as quotation marks.

"That's pretty right..."

"So, I was thinking, would you mind joining us and bring your own experience to answer his questions? Not that Josh and I can't do it by ourselves, but you know... it could be interesting and the more, the merrier! Camden will also join," he said.

"Sure. What kind of questions does he have?"

"Well, I don't know, but Josh said he was fascinated by the club and what happened there last week."

Yeah, I had guessed that much from the boner he was sporting while watching the show!

"But Shannon is not easy. He has a strong temper, and he also likes to top sometimes, so he thinks he might as well be a Dominant, you see?" Aaron argued with a sarcastic chuckle.

"He? A Dominant? I don't think so..." I deadpanned.

"I don't think so either, but you never know. He could be."

"Hmmm... I doubt it."

Aaron's smile widened. Judging people before I get to know them has never been my type, and here, my insistence was somehow screwing my facade.

"Huh huh... Is there something you wish to tell me?" Aaron asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Nope, apart from what the hell are Josh and Cam doing? Weren't they supposed to join us for dinner?"

And that's when our two other friends popped into Aaron's office, interrupting our conversation.

We discussed a bit more about the meeting we would have with Shannon the following day, and then spent a nice evening at the Black Diamond, not evoking the subject again until we parted and confirmed we would all meet at the club at five on Saturday. I was also glad to hear that Jeff had finally offered a contract to Joey, which the boy immediately accepted of course, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Shannon...

I had mixed feelings regarding the boy's uncertainty toward domination or submission. To me, he was clearly a Submissive. Having a strong temper or wishing to sometimes push his dick up someone else's ass don't make him a Dominant. For sure, I wouldn't let him push it up my ass, but I was decided to convince him to choose the other path if he had doubts.

*   *   *

As I park into the private parking lot at the back of the club and walk to the entrance, my mind is still wondering about the questions Shannon is going to ask us and how I am going to lead him to the Submissive role. It is a little after 5pm when I knock on Aaron's door and walk into his office. I am not that late but everybody is already here, sitting around the large oval table in the meeting room adjacent to the office.

We all greet and I take a seat between Camden and Aaron. Joshua is on Camden's left side and the young Shannon is sitting across from us, on the other side of the table, his hands fiddling with a piece of paper, his back straight and his gaze lowered on his lap. If that ain't a good Submissive? Joshua takes the lead and starts the conversation.

"Shannon, you have asked to meet people in the BDSM lifestyle after you visited the club last weekend and because you have questions. My friends here and I will try to answer them as best as we can."

The young man blushes a little but eventually looks up, his eyes briefly pausing on each of us. His expression is a bit wary as he faces Camden's cold stare, but his blush only deepens when his sparkling blue eyes meet mine.

"Hmm... Thank you all for taking the time, I really appreciate..." he trails off hesitantly.

Poor boy doesn't seem to know where he should start.

"Yes, I have a few questions. Of course, I searched the internet and found a lot of information, but... you know... it's better if I get it from people who are in it..."

"What is it you would like to know?" Aaron asks softly as he leans toward him.

"Well, like I said, I read a lot of things, and... I must admit I'm really attracted to the concept. What's confusing me is... I am not sure about what I want. How do you know if you are a Dominant or a Submissive? What if I take the wrong decision? Can I change if I realize I took the wrong option? How did you know you wanted to be Dominants? What does it imply? How do..." he suddenly blurts out, mostly looking at Aaron.

"That's a lot of questions at the same time," Camden interrupts him, lifting his hand to make him shut up, and the boy immediately closes his mouth and looks down at his hands. "Being a Dominant is something serious, just as much as being a Submissive. Both have a lot of respect toward each other, but in a different way. Most of all, it is a question of trust. Submissives would be much better at explaining what their role consists in, and I strongly suggest that you also speak with them, and not only Liam."

"Camden is right, you need to talk to Submissives," Aaron takes over. "We can tell you a lot about the Submissives, what their role is, how they have to trust their Dominant, but they will be the best to explain how they feel about being Submissives. Now about being a Dominant, it implies a lot of things. You need to have a very stable and strong personality, a leading character. You need to take initiatives and you need to know what you want. Not only for you, but also for the Submissive who will totally rely on you and the decisions you take for him. The Submissive will submit to your rules and follow your guideline. It is a huge responsibility."

Aaron pauses for a few seconds to let the information sink in. Shannon's eyebrows furrow in the cutest way as he realizes the meaning of my friend's words and their high importance. I can see doubt is creeping inside his head, so I take the opportunity to push it further.

"An important part is to be able to feel your Submissive's needs and feelings" I continue.

As his eyes shift to mine, I feel a new tension between my legs. The greenish blue of his eyes darkens and when the tip of his tongue passes over his bottom lip, I am feeling less and less comfortable in my pants. I'd love to see this wet muscle lick specific parts of my body.

"Giving rules and guidance is certainly an important part, but when you go into action, you have to be able to read body language, to make sure your Submissive is comfortable with what you are doing to him, and that you are not going over his limits. It's another huge responsibility, because things could go wrong very quickly. It requires a lot of self-control too. You cannot begrudge him for something you wouldn't be able to do yourself for example."

"I understand..." he says, yet he seems to be a bit lost with all the information. "I didn't imagine that... that it implied such responsibilities..."

"It does," Camden confirms in a firm tone. "Being a Dominant is being very responsible. If you fuck up as a Dominant, the consequences can be disastrous."

Yes, Cam knows what he is talking about somehow, and I sometimes wonder if he truly got over this one time he fucked up. It wasn't anything big, but I know it wore its toll on him.

"I think you should really take time and speak with Submissives. Let them tell you about their own vision of the lifestyle. I don't know you and it's not my place to judge you, but from the little I've seen and heard of, I believe you would fit better in this category," I add casually.

"Anyway, part of the Dominant's training includes similar sessions to the Submissives' so that they are familiar with what Subs feel, so if you really want to join the lifestyle and become a member of the Black Diamond, I would strongly recommend that you follow the Sub training. You might realize that this is what suits you best, and if you're still willing to try the Dominant one, you'll already have the basics," Aaron suggests.

"Training, you said?" Shannon asks, straightening his back.

"Yes, training," Aaron explains. "This is mandatory to become a member of the club. You just don't jump into the lifestyle without a minimum of knowledge and practice. You need to learn the basics, and I am not only talking about rules, but also about behavior, postures, and several other things. Depending on your availability, it can take one to three weeks."

"Wow... That's a lot! Did Liam..."

"Liam is a different case, and that's for him to tell you," Joshua cuts him. "Some people are just natural Submissives and don't require that many sessions to learn, but you might need more. This is not being mean to you, Shannon, but as much as I can't imagine you as a Dominant, I don't think you're a natural Sub either, and you will need to learn."

"Yes, I guess," the young man sighs before his expression brightens up. "So how does it work? I mean... How does this training work? Do I need to go to a specific place to take it? Do I need to get like a certification or something before I become a member of the club?" he then asks in a rush.

"No specific place," Aaron chuckles leaning back into his chair. "The Black Diamond offers its own training. As the Master Dom, I'm in charge of most of the sessions, but I also rely on a few Dominants and Submissives to help me. Once you have seriously pondered on what you want to do and decided to take the training, you can come back and we'll arrange some sessions for you, either with me or another Dom. Regarding the certification, it's obviously not like an official diploma, but you'll take a test when you're deemed ready, and if you pass, then yes, you will become a member of the Black Diamond."

"Cool... So, when can I start?" Shannon asks eagerly, his eyes filling with excitement. I'm really getting to like this little bundle of enthusiasm!

"Shannon, you need to think about it first," Aaron opposes, dampening the boy's eagerness. The poor guy's face falls and I feel like punching Aaron's shoulder for breaking his hopes. "I don't want you to take a hasty decision. There's plenty of time. Once you start, you'll have to be serious about it. I do not tolerate any lack of seriousness here. And I'd really like you to talk to other people first."

"I know what I want, Sir..." Shannon says firmly though, staring at Aaron with intense eyes before he lowers them. "I want to do it, and I want to start the training as soon as possible." He hesitates for a few seconds, then adds: "I know I said I wasn't sure about the domination or submission part, but I am more than sure about the fact that I want to join the lifestyle."

"It doesn't work like this, Shannon," Joshua says.

Oh yeah? And why not?

"You should really talk to other Subs first," Camden adds.

Oh come on! What the heck, guys?

"Please..." Shannon begs, looking at the four of us, and I can see determination in his eyes. "I know I can do it. Please give me a chance to prove I can be serious.... Please..."

His last word was barely a whisper and his plea hits me to the core.

"Guys," I say firmly, calling my friends' attention as I stand up and push my chair back. "Would you please leave us alone for a moment?" I ask them, looking down at the young man who seems to have found a sudden interest in his hands.

I can feel their scowls on me, but I don't care. I wait until they have left the room and walk around the table to take a seat in the chair next to Shannon, orienting it so that I can face his left side.

"Look at me," I order firmly and he complies, raising his eyes to mine. "What makes you so sure you are ready to enter the lifestyle?"

He takes a moment of reflection before he answers.

"I... I have had several experiences in my short life; I've tried a lot of things, in different ways... I guess you don't need details... But... I've never ever felt what I felt at the club last weekend. I've never been so fascinated by anything before. It's been... obsessing me for the past week. This is one reason why I want to try it, but the conversation we just had only strengthened my determination," he concludes.

Now it is my turn to make a decision. Deep down, I know I don't need to think it over for too long, I know how much I want it... I know how much I want him... I already knew when I met him last Saturday.

I should be taking things slowly, but I'm not sure I can manage this. There is this little voice inside my head telling me to go ahead and urging me to guide this young man. I want him to submit to me. I only hope he will accept me as his trainer. That would be the first step before I reach my ultimate goal.

"Alright," I say with my deepest voice. "Unless you'd rather train with another Dominant, I am willing to take care of your training and..." I then say, but I don't get a chance to finish my sentence.

Shannon suddenly jumps off his chair, eyes wide opened, with a huge grin, and lunges toward me. The boy drops to his knees and grips my right thigh with both his hands.

"Will you? Will you really do this for me? Oh, thank you, thank you, I swear I'll do my best and I will train hard, and..."

He speaks so fast I can hardly understand what he says.

"Shannon!!" I groan, causing him to cower a bit and retrieve his hands from my thigh. "Back to your seat. Now!" I order.

"Sorry, Sir..." he squeaks while he sits back on his chair.

"Right. So, I take it that you accept to have your training with me?" He nods, so I go on. "Good. There will be some conditions and rules..."

"Anything, Sir!" he interrupts me again, but he casts his eyes down to his knees when he realizes I am scowling at him. His trepidation would irritate more than one Dominant, but I find it funny somehow. At least for now. "Sorry..."

"We will start your training next week then. Do you have a job at the moment? When are you available?"

"I don't have a job at the moment, Sir. I am available any time."

"What kind of studies did you do?" I ask, making him blush.

"None, Sir. I dropped out of high school before I could graduate. So I've just had little jobs once in a while," he finally admits with a shameful voice and shrugging his shoulders.

This young man really needs guidance, and this only comforts me in thinking that joining the lifestyle will help him. As his trainer, I won't be able to help him much, but maybe later...?

"Okay. Then I want to see you on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday here at the club, at 5.00 pm, and you'd better be on time."

"I will, Sir. Shall I bring anything? Or dress in any particular clothes?"

"No, just wear something you are comfortable in, at least for the first session," I reply as I stand up and motion for him to follow me. "Let's go and see Aaron so that you can fill out the necessary forms."

We walk out of the meeting room and into Aaron's office. Camden and Josh are talking on the couch while Aaron is sitting at his desk and working on his laptop. I gesture for Shannon to take a seat in one of the chairs across Aaron's desk, and sit in the other one.

"I will take care of his training," I announce bluntly.

Aaron stares at me questioningly for the briefest second before he recovers a blank expression. Cam and Josh have stopped talking, so there is a heavy silence in the room.

"Alright," Aaron eventually says as he turns to Shannon and pushes a bunch of documents in front of him. "These are documents I need you to fill out and sign. One is the general policy of the Black Diamond. Even if you're not a member yet, you still need to agree to them before you start your training. Then there's a general questionnaire on you and your situation, and then the last one is the typical program for the Submissive training. Have you already decided on a schedule?"

"Yes, Shannon will come three times next week for one-hour sessions. We will decide on further sessions depending on how things will be going."

"All good then!" Aaron says before he returns his attention to Shannon. "Please take your time to read all the documents, fill the forms and bring them back to me tomorrow in the afternoon. I will be at the club from 2.00 pm."

"I will do, Sir. Thank you so much!"

I stand up and show him to the door after he has thanked everyone and said goodbye, then walk him to the exit door at the back of the club.

"I will see you on Monday, Shannon," I say as I rest a hand on his upper arm. Beneath his white tee-shirt, I can feel his muscles tense at my touch. "Don't forget to read the documentation that Aaron gave you, and be here on time, alright?"

"Yes, Sir. I will see you on Monday, and thank you again!" he says with a wide smile before he walks away.

Just as I shut the door, I hear a loud shout that sounds like a Yihaaaaaa. Chuckling and shaking my head, I head back to Aaron's office. Yes, this is definitely going to be interesting. Shannon is certainly a cute young man, but there is something in his character that appeals to me. He is like a wild horse you need to train to march and to stop at the slightest command. His rebellious and unruly temper will surely be something!

Published on 3 May 2016