Page 12 of Schooling Little Sage

“Everything okay, Sage?”

He glanced around, leaned in and whispered. “Did you know there are Mommies and Daddies that aren’t your parents?”

I did my best not to laugh, but a small chuckle escaped. “I do.”

“And you”— his head swiveled from side to side, ensuring we were still alone—“you have sex with them?”

“Not always. Some relationships are negotiated without sexual relations.”

Those big blue eyes blinked at me. “This isn’t like any school I’ve ever known. I’m so confused.”

“Well, maybe I can help with that. How about an early dinner?” What in the world was I doing? I had no right to teach others any more than I had to… to… ah, hell. I was training my own Little, wasn’t I?

As much as I’d prefer to have this conversation privately, the cafeteria would have to do. I was afraid taking Sage back to my place could make him even more uncomfortable than he already was.

Trays loaded, I found the most private table possible. Sage wasn’t wasting any time, staring directly at me while I got situated. “Okay, let’s start with the basics. These questions aren’t meant to offend or embarrass you but will give me a baseline for where to start.” Those blond curls bobbed around as he shook his head. “So, about sex?” Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen cheeks turn that shade of red before. “You know how that all works, right?”

Jesus, I was worse than my father at this.

Sage whispered so low I hardly heard him. “We had sex ed in school and I’ve read about it, but haven’t, you know.”

Yeah, I figured as much, but at least had an honest, confirmed answer.

“Being a Mommy or a Daddy, a Dom or a Domme, a Handler, a Big, whatever you and your partner decide to label their place in your life means that they’re taking care of the Little, the Pet, the Sub and they’re trusting you to do so. Being a Daddy to a Little is a job I take very seriously.”

“Do you have one of those?”

“A Sub?” I shook my head. “My preference is for a Little or a Pet, but to answer your question, no, I don’t have one of my own currently.”

“What kind of care do you give them? Like, sex stuff?”

“It’s about so much more than that, Sage. I’ve had some I only had play dates with while others were more intimate. Our contracts were negotiated and safe words established before we embarked upon any play.”

“The teacher explained safe words today. I think that’s a very good idea. No means no.”

“Very good and I agree. Did you make a safe word?”

“Yup, bananas.”

Sage said it with so much confidence, I chuckled.

“I don’t like them.”

“That’s a great word association then. Did they go over the contracts with you today?”

“Yes, but I said no to a lot of stuff and maybe to the rest. Can I use my phone to research the things I didn’t understand? I won’t like, get in trouble for that, will I?”

“Yes, you can use your phone for that, and you would only get in trouble if you entered into a scene you weren’t prepared for. BDSM isn’t about hurting people. It’s about taking care of them, helping them release the stresses of their daily lives. There is nothing better than watching your sub sink into subspace and just let go. It’s very therapeutic for them, healing even.”

“They mentioned subspace too, but I think that’s something I’d have to experience first to understand it.”

“Very true. What do you think of the lifestyles they went over? Do any of them call to you or interest you?”

“I-I.” Sage swallowed hard and took a few moments to respond. “It goes against what I was raised to believe. Don’t talk like a baby, Sage. Men don’t cry, Sage. Toys? Toys are for infants.”

Ah, the great reprogramming struggle.

“Everything I learned today was just, a lot.”