Nathan stepped from his Club into the crisp night air. Eyeing his driver waiting with his door open, he looked back and tipped his chin up at the two doormen. Next time he returned, he hoped Rayne and Jaxon would be with him. Tonight's outing had been a spur-of-the-moment idea as Rawlings was eager to visit, having not been for well over twelve months.

And he would hardly refuse as earlier Rawlings had agreed to all of Knight's terms under their new business agreement therefore felt an obligation to indulge his guests' darker nature. They'd barely been inside fifteen minutes before Rawlings found a pretty young sub eager to play curtesy of Josephine.

As they drove away, he reflected on the day. Perhaps it had been a blessing in disguise that Rayne had met Josephine—forcing the issue front and centre. He would know one way or the other if this was something she could accept in him. 

Pulling out his phone, Jaxon had sent a message:

* Rayne happy.  Off to bed.  See you in the am. *

Nathan smiled, relieved the drama of the day was well and truly behind them, although tension weighed heavy with regard the conversation drawing nearer.

Half an hour later and kicking on for midnight, he stepped into their apartment where silence greeted him. Dropping his keys in the bowl, he headed into the main living area.

Loosening his tie but still not tired, he saw no point in going to bed. Although he could happily watch Rayne sleep as it brought a peace to him he could never quite fathom. 

Perhaps a nightcap may further relax his underlying tension. About to pour himself a whisky, a noise drew his attention.  Putting down the glass tumbler, he walked through to the kitchen to find Rayne rearranging the cupboards.

"Sweetheart?"  She hadn't heard him. But with her hair swept up, he could see she was listening to music.

His lips kicked up into a smirk. There she stood oblivious in one of his shirts, as she raised to her tiptoes to retrieve a glass, he watched his shirt ride up allowing him a glimpse of her sexy heart shaped ass. His cock jumped to attention as he gave her legs a lingering look over.

Stepping up behind her, he curved his hands around her waist to feel her tense as she squeaked and pulled out her headphones. "Nathan." She breathed out, placing her hand over her chest. "You frightened the life out of me."

He rubbed his nose along her neck, up towards her ear, nipping lightly.  Whispering. "Apologies my sexy girl, but seeing you stood here in my one my shirts I could not resist. Do you feel what you do to me?"

She could feel him nice and hard between her ass cheeks as she relaxed into his hold.

"Why are you awake at this hour sweetheart?"

"I have slept, but when I awoke and you still hadn't returned, I couldn't get back to sleep.  I missed you."

He flipped her around and pulled her for a kiss. "I missed you too Rayne-drop." Her warm lips parted and kissed him with the same enthusiasm.

When he pulled back, the darkness from earlier in her eyes had passed. "Everything good between you and Jaxon?" He had hated leaving them but had little choice in the matter.

Her eyes dipped as Nathan placed his finger under chin and tipped her head back.  "Rayne?"

His warm gaze reassured her. "Yes, we shared a bath... together."

A little smile creased his lips.  "Sharing usually means together, sweetheart... but is that all?"

The words left her lips in a rush. "We made love in the bath."  Although he had stated frequently, he wouldn't be upset with her and Jaxon alone together. This had been the first time, and worry was never far from her mind.

"I'm happy you two made up."

His reply seemed genuine as he leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. "So, if everything is okay and I understand why you are awake, but why are you rearranging the kitchen cupboard gone midnight?" He knew routine, structure and organisation settled her busy mind. "Do you want to talk; it's been quite a day."

Rayne inhaled and held her breath. He could read her so well.  Busy hands equalled a calm mind.  "Are you not tired, Nathan?"

"No, wide awake. Come, come sit with me."

He walked them to the table and sat, pulling her onto his lap, wanting her close.  She soothed him more than sleep ever could.

"What do you want to talk about?" He would let her lead. Whether it be Josephine, Nicole, or the incident at the eatery. Although he would prefer her doctors intervention on the latter and would encourage an earlier appointment.

Rayne bit her lip. Where to start?   Was there any point in dwelling on that awful woman Nicole?  No, that was better laid to rest, and she trusted Jaxon.  Did she want to discuss her lapse in her eatery? No, that might upset Nathan and perhaps he would want to know her reasons and she didn't want to lie. He didn't deserve her lies.  That left her with only one option—what he was hiding, and she was sure it tied to the woman in his office.

"Josephine."

Kissing the tip of her shoulder, he would be honest.  "I met Josephine shortly after my twentieth birthday.  A mutual friend introduced us.  I'd just begun to explore a side of myself that both confused and excited me.  And Josephine was also on a journey and we realized quite early on our mutual interests bonded us.

Rayne interrupted. "Bonded as in dating or a relationship?"

"No, never dated, more of a partnership that allowed us to explore parts of ourselves that others may not fully understand."

Okay... Rayne was a little puzzled but waited for him to continue.

"We joined a club.  A very exclusive club together—a BDSM club."

BDSM?  The acronym rang a bell, but kept her lips tight shut. 

The cogs in her mind sounded loud in his own head. "Bondage. Discipline. Sadism and masochism."

Rayne stilled as only two of the words echoed... sadism and discipline. "I don't understand."

"Don't let the words strike fear into your heart. I'm not a sadist, Rayne." He rubbed his nose against her shoulder.  "I would never hurt you. The abbreviation is an umbrella term for different kinds of erotic behaviors between consenting adults."  He attempted to keep it detached, knowing her mind would better handle such comparisons.

"And you and Josephine did this together?"

"Partly yes.  But quite early on. Josephine and I both realized we had the same similar personality traits but differing tastes and therefore never compatible."

"Oh, so when you said not a relationship in the traditional sense, it wasn't like ours at all?"

"Exactly, not in the slightest."

"And now you're just business partners and friends?"

"Yes, we run the club.  Well, to be more precise.  Josephine runs the club and I only step in when my expertise is required."

"And this club—"

"Yes, Rayne, it's a BDSM club, where people can explore different sides of themselves.  Ones that may not be so traditional in an open arena where there is no shame and no limitations as long as consent is given."

Okay, she understood that much, but wasn't sure where Nathan stood in this.  "So if you and she were never compatible, what does that mean?" She wasn't sure if she was explaining herself well.

Nathan sensed her struggle. Should he just come out and say it? Before he did, he would need to gauge her reaction as he considered himself pretty good at reading people. "Sit on the edge of the table for me." 

Tone firm, Rayne jumped from him in an instant and sat on the edge of the table without questioning his reasoning.

Nathan bit back his delight—once again proving the submissive in Rayne was as natural as sun rising from the darkness. "I'm a dominant Rayne.  I enjoy tying a woman up, having her at my mercy and begging me to give her the release she needs."

Oh.  She wasn't sure how she felt about that. Although the goosebumps dotting her arms, the step-up of her heartbeat and the throb to her sex sure resembled it excited her on some level, never mind where her mind was at.

He watched her pupils expand, the flush to her cheeks and the pulse in her throat double tap, and he was sure if he could hear her heartbeat, it would have been beating in time with his own. Clear signs she was nervous, but the flick of her tongue told him she was interested and maybe a little excited.

Certainly, how a submissive would react and undoubtedly inviting for him as his cock fully hardened. "I need you to understand Rayne, this is all about me having control over your pleasure.  And that's exactly what I want to give you... pleasure."

Licking her bottom lip again, she nodded, fearing her voice might fail her.

Nathan shifted his hands, placing them just above her knees, sliding inwards, he gently nudged them farther apart. "We already agreed that you would let me take some control, but I want more from you."

Rayne's tummy back flipped, her breathing quickened. "More?"

"I believe and I would hope you would agree, you're a submissive by nature.  You react positively to my instruction and if I have read you right over these last few weeks, a little pain has heightened your pleasure. Given you a relief of some sort...feeling free." His thumb stroked her inside thigh.

She could not deny the pain had always flourished into pleasure, often drowning out her compulsions, worries and the need to control her routines.  But did he want to inflict more pain?  That she was not sure.

"Is it supposed to be more painful?"

Nathan stilled his hands. "No, never Rayne.  BDSM for me is like I've said—control in the bedroom.  I'm dominant, your submissive, and together I would like to explore and bring out your desires."

That didn't sound too bad, in fact it sounded enthralling... freedom, almost.  "Is Jaxon a dominant?"

He shook his head. "No, in fact I would lean towards submissive."

They sat quietly for a moment as he let her process. Perhaps this would be a good time to show her... the room. "Are ready to learn more or do you have questions?"

Did she?  Was she?  Yes, she wanted to learn more. "I'd like you to teach me."

Nathan smiled, noting her choice of words... to teach rather than learn. "That pleases me so much, Rayne. Come."

He stood and reached for her hand. The thrill of his praise brought a smile to her lips.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

He led them towards the bedrooms, but instead of going into their bedroom where Jaxon lay sleeping.  They walked past heading towards the room he'd asked her not to enter without his permission.

He opened the door without unlocking, to Rayne's surprise. "I thought you kept this locked?"

Once again her compliance to his instruction pleased him immensely. "I told you I locked it as a test of sorts, to see if you would try to enter. But you didn't."

The squeeze of her hand told her how happy he was that she had not attempted to go inside.

Rayne stepped into the room as Nathan flipped a switch, but still the light offered little in brightness, purposely kept low. Her eyes scanned the room, there was nothing strange from first glance. There was a bed, but the frame was metal, resembling half a cage...very odd. A weird bench of sorts and what appeared to be an enormous wardrobe. Not one thing pointed to why she shouldn't have been allowed in this room.

"I don't understand. This looks—" her hand moved around the room.

Nathan closed the door. "Yes, to anyone it would appear to be a bedroom."

Rayne looked up, and something odd caught her attention. "What's that?"

"A hook."

"For what?"

"That's for another time." His tone dictated she not push for an explanation.

He walked over the wardrobe and pulled open the double doors to reveal no clothes. "Come here Rayne, stand by my side."

She walked towards him. Her mouth dropped. Inside was ropes, thin chairs, handcuff, whips... and quite a few items that screamed the word pain in her head. Her eyes widened as her breath felt trapped by a vice, tightening as she sucked in more air.

"Consider what I said, Rayne.  Nothing you see here will cause you enduring pain. These bring about pleasure—a level of pleasure for us both."

She did not like the idea of a whip and shuddered, stepping four steps back.

Nathan reached inside, opened a small side draw and pulled four wrapped silk sashes.  A softer approach for an introduction to being restrained. Another test of sorts.

He closed the door and walked to stand in front of her as she raised her head, their eyes meeting, and still he saw trust for him. "Would you like me to show you what I can do for you, bring you pleasure?"

His voice was low, husky. Did she? Her mind drifted back to their anal play. The bite of pain had morphed into a pleasure that she had never expected, although he had yet to penetrate her with anything other than his fingers. She would trust him now. "Yes, Nathan."

He breathed deeply, stepping back he soaked in her innocence. 

Fuck!  She was beautiful. Her eyes were wide with her pupils fully dilated. Looking down, he saw her nipples pressing against his shirt as her breaths came in soft pants. "Before we start, sweetheart. I must emphasize, and this is important, Rayne." He waited ensuring her full attention. "We have to trust one other. You need to trust me to know and respect your boundaries and I need to have faith in you to always be honest with me."

"Yes, Nathan."

"Good, now we need to decide a safe word."  Her eyebrows furrowed.  "It's a word that tells me to stop. And we also need a system that tells me to slow down, if you need a breather and we will pause and talk—yes?"

"Yes."

"Okay, give me a word. A word that you normally wouldn't associate with good things and don't use often... if at all."

She thought long and hard.  Fairies had scared her since she was a child, the one and only story her mother had ever read to her as a child was about a fairy that made a little girl dance till her feet bleed down the bone.  She shuddered "Fairy."

Nathan's eyebrows raised. "Fairy?" He wasn't sure he dared ask and wasn't about to question. "Fairy it is." Rayne smiled. 

"At the club we use a colour system. Yellow, Green and Red. But for tonight and not to overwhelm you. I want you only to remember yellow. And that will tell me to pause. Not stop—that is your safe word. 'Fairy'"

Nervously, she concentrated on listening to his every instruction.

"So, remember yellow to pause—ask questions and Fairy to stop immediately."

"I understand, Nathan."

Nathan noted her small hands clench and unclench as she struggled to remain still.  He stepped up closer, slipping the wrapped sashes into his pocket. Brushing a soft kiss over her lips he freed her hair to smother his hands in her thick curls before letting it sweep down over her shoulders.

"Perfect," he mused as his hands moved to the first button of the shirt she wore.

Rayne's breathing once again escalated as she watched his fingers pop each button. It was unnerving, thrilling and a little scary not knowing what he had planned.

Nathan could literally taste her nervous excitement from each button he undid. That turned him on as he pushed his shirt open to reveal her beautiful bare breasts. He cupped one breast; his thumb slid over her pert nipple. His other hand slid down to cup her sex. As one finger slid inside to hear her gasp, it did not surprise him to find her wet as his nostrils flared and a gruff sound in his throat rumbled.

Pinching her nipple he enjoyed the way she shivered, leaving little room in his pants as his cock strained against the material. But he wouldn't rush this. Baby-steps, he wanted her to enjoy every single second. "Tonight sweetheart, your body.  Your desires and all your control will be surrendered to me and together we are going to explore the seductive side of BDSM..."

Edging closer, his hot breath fanned her ear.  "Tonight dirty girl, you're mine."