AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The question gave Mason pause.
Wasthat what he was saying? Washewilling to take Hannah on as a personal project? Did he even want to?
He did routinely participate in The Enclave slave training program, but only minimally, offering introductions to edge play with an emphasis on knife and needle safety. He was of more use as a Dom trainer. He enjoyed sharing his skills with both Enclave Doms and the Doms who signed up for various programs occasionally offered to the Asheville BDSM community.
Ashley had been the exception and look where that had gotten him. Did he really want another woman in his life, even if it was just for a few weeks?
Whoa. Who said anything about a woman in hislife? Since when couldn’t he train someone without getting emotionally involved? He had always excelled at keeping his distance—to a fault.
Anyway, this wasn’t about him. This was about her. The Dom in himcould clearly sense the sub in her. Anthony and Brandon had established The Enclave with the idea of helping submissives reach their full potential. Weren’t they doing Hannah a disservice by letting her skate along without correction or consequence? Didn’t she deserve better?
That was it. His motives were entirely altruistic.
Okay—maybe not entirely.
So he was attracted to her. That didn’t mean he planned to collar her, for crying out loud. He just wanted to give her a more authentic training experience.
If nothing else, it would get her out of his system.
“Yes,” he asserted. “Someone like me.”
He waited for the amused chuckle, the knowing look, the gentle ribbing. Instead, Anthony regarded him quietly for a moment. Then he nodded. “Okay. I actually think it’s a good idea, if you’re willing to take her on.”
A jolt of excitement shot through Mason’s nervous system. For the first time in a long time, he was ready, even eager, to train someone so new to the scene. He’d have to modify his usual methods, since he couldn’t hold her to the exacting standards required of Enclave slave trainees. But he would take charge, make no mistake. It was what she needed, even if she didn’t know it yet.
“Let’s discuss it with her,” Anthony continued. “Because I agree with you—she could definitely handle more than she’s signed up for. Your timing is good, actually. I’ve been talking with some of the others who have participated in her training, as limited as it has been, and we’ve all come to the same conclusion that Hannah could handle more than what we’re giving her. Indeed, that she would benefit from a more intensive program.”
“Agreed,” Mason said, pleased Anthony was of a similar mind.
“I negotiated that contract with her because of her unique situation—just coming out of mourning, and feeling her way in her fledgling submissive journey,” Anthony continued. “I suggested what Ithought she could safely handle without her freaking out in the process. If you think you’re up to the task of taking her on, one-on-one, I’m all for it. Assuming she’s willing, obviously.”
Mason got to his feet, energized and ready to act. He glanced at his watch as he bounced excitedly on the balls of his feet. “It’s not even that late. She’s probably still awake. Even if she isn’t, I can—”
“Whoa. Hold on,” Anthony interrupted with a chuckle. “Let’s take a step back. She probablyisasleep. And even if she isn’t, I’m willing to bet she’ll be more receptive if we approach her calmly in the morning.”
Impatient to get the ball rolling, Mason opened his mouth to protest. Then he closed it, forcing himself to take a mental step back. He wasn’t some teenager just looking to get his rocks off. Responsible Doms practiced patience. Anthony was right. Hannah would probably be more receptive if she wasn’t blindsided.
Anthony got to his feet and held out the paperback he’d been reading. “Meanwhile, I suggest you take a look at this. It’s one of those Angelique Rose novels you were disparaging earlier. Give it a skim and see what you think. You might just change your mind.”
“I doubt it,” Mason said with a grin. But he took the book.
Friday morning Mason was up by six, as always, in order to get the breakfast service prepared for those Enclave members who were heading out to work and for the trainees, who always got an early start. He’d stayed up easily an hour later than he’d intended, which was the fault of Angelique Rose. But, even sleep deprived, he’d awoken raring to go.
Mason had taken the paperback to bed with him with the intent of giving it a quick skim, just to say that he had. He’d opened the novel to a random page, his mouth already twisted into a preemptive sneer.
But then he’d started reading.
And hadn’t been able to stop.
Having never read a romance in his life, he’d expected somethingalong the lines of the bodice rippers his mother used to keep in a stack on her nightstand. They’d sported shiny covers embossed with a muscle-bound dude with long hair blowing holding a half-fainting busty wench who stared up at him with a mixture of alarm and pouty-lipped adoration.
The Angelique Rose novel, by contrast, had a photograph of a young woman dressed in a waist cinching crimson corset on the cover, the image set against a stark black background. She was on her knees, her head bowed, her face obscured by long, flowing hair.
The prose was immediately engaging—no gushing, swooning heroines in sight. As he’d read, he’d tried to get his head around the fact that Miss Newbie Wannabe had actually written a story so compelling, so authentic, that he couldn’t put it down.
Sleeping on the idea of training Hannah hadn’t changed his mind. If anything, he was more resolute this morning than he’d been the night before. It was her writing, as much as anything, that had solidified his resolve. Despite her lack of personal experience, she brought passion and a surprisingly nuanced understanding of D/s to her work. That wasn’t something you could fake. She was a natural, even if she didn’t know it yet.
He was at the table, his mug of coffee and the book in hand when Hannah entered the kitchen, dressed in one of those stupid dresses, her voluptuous body taunting him as usual with its unavailability.
