Subspace [2/2]

Ethan's hand pressed against my midriff, making me whimper at the pressure. He'd started teasing me with tentative touches against my groin, my thighs, and my hips, but as the tour continued he became more aggressive. He pushed against my groin with the palm of his hand, while his other made their way between my inner thighs, creeping up just enough so that the curve of his wrist bumped against the clothed lips of my pussy.

We were walking, about to start the third part of the tour where the more adventurous partakers would put their acts on display. The first part was the introduction and what the potential paperwork would be if I agreed to everything. The second part was the 'hang-out' area, which was described as a way for other BDSMers to get to know each other and make the newbie's more comfortable with the idea of accepting something that wasn't socially accepted. There was a bar in this area, but no actual liquor.

"No alcohol? Wouldn't that help new people loosen up a bit?"

Gabe tilted his head, his eyes searching my face like he was trying to read a book in another language. He seemed to be doing that to me every minute, and he'd caught Ethan in his 'grope' session once, which made me yelp and Gabe had grinned slyly over at me. I didn't know if he was showing me that he was interested, or if he was doing his job and trying to decipher if I was here against my will.

I couldn't imagine how careful club owners and employees had to be. It was a touchy subject for most as-is.

"Perhaps, but it's a lawsuit waiting to happen. Individuals participating have to be of sound mind. Intoxication gives false courage. It's not only for the business aspect of things but for a participant's safety. If I were to find out, by facial expression, body language, or actual verbal confirmation that you were here against your will, it would stop. Authorities would come into play," Gabe said.

So he was watching me for that reason. I gave him a cheeky smile and held in a shudder as I hip-dodged away from Ethan's lowering hand. "I thought you were checking me out," I said, chuckling.

Gabe flushed and bowed his head before lifting his eyes to me again. "I was."

My eyes widened. "O-oh."

He shrugged his shoulders and slipped his hands into the pockets of his tight black jeans. "But I was also doing my job."

I nodded, still flustered by his admission. I ignored Seth's raised eyebrow shot in my direction. He didn't look too happy at the moment--he'd get over it. "And?"

"You aren't unwilling. Of course, you aren't willing either. You're curious but cautious. That is a very good approach to this type of situation... so, Ethan and Seth know what's next," Gabe paused, raised an eyebrow at me, and clapped his hands together before gesturing us forward. "Are you ready, Cassie?"

Gnawing on my lip, I nodded, "Yes, but for shits and giggles where are the 'exit in case of emergency' areas?"

Ethan slapped the side of my ass. The sting startled my gaze from Gabe's smoky grey eyes towards Ethan's.

"She's teasing." Ethan's words whispered against my lips, his body bowing over mine as he turned me halfway towards him. His hand slid up the column of my neck, wrapping his fingers gently along the base just underneath my jaw, and pulled my face closer to his.

"How do you know?" I asked, trying to be cheeky but failing due to the intensity of Ethan's gaze.

I was drowning in his eyes. His hard body vibrated against mine. His jaw clenched and his eyebrow twitched at my question before he dropped his lips to mine. It was a rough, open-mouthed kiss, but it was quick. He gave my bottom lip a hard bit, lapped at it with his tongue, and then gave me peck before pulling away.

The breath I'd been holding in, let out with a whoosh. "Gawd, it's like you're a drug," I whispered, trying to stop the gentle gyration my hips had started against his, but his hand kept me moving steadily. His pleased smirk made my toes curl and I turned to Gabe. "Lead the way."

Seth stepped beside us, walking closer than before. His hand brushed across my midriff, slid to the side and patted me on my side before he maneuvered his hand between the front of Ethan's body and the back of mine. I could feel Seth's hand massaging Ethan's erection, but it was Ethan's restrained, guttural growl that let me know his limit of restraint was diminishing.

I'd like to say that what happened next excited me further, but a bucket of ice water couldn't have worked better than watching a man whip a crying woman. "What the fuck?!" I growled.

My shoulders stiffened the instant I'd seen it, and the vibrating in my body no longer had anything to do with what Ethan had been doing to me previously.

A strong, unfamiliar hand clamped down on my shoulder. I frowned and swiveled to see Gabe standing next to me. When had I moved away from Ethan and Seth?

"Victoria likes the feel of the whip against her skin," Gabe said, his voice almost hypnotic as it kept me in place.

I shook my head, my mouth opening and closing as I searched for what to say, but all that came out was, "How?"

Gabe frowned at me and turned his head from me, but not before I noticed the flicker of disappointment in his eyes. "Judgments are hard to overcome, but know that this," he paused, gesturing to the gorgeous black haired woman with porcelain skin covered in angry red whip marks, "is what she wants."

"Sh-she's crying."

Gabe turned back towards me, eyeing me once again like he still was trying to figure me out. "You thought he was abusing her?"

I exhaled, forcing myself to remember where I was. "I didn't mean to be judgmental, but I've experienced that when it wasn't wanted--I'm sorry, I jumped to conclusions," I mumbled to him. "I forgot myself... and where I was." I took another breath and wiggled my shoulders to loosen them up, before rubbing the back of my neck.

I felt fingers intertwining with mine and I glanced down, shocked at the warm, strong palm connecting to mine. Lifting my gaze I saw Seth offering me a small smile as he held on tight. I squeezed his hand, thankful for his comfort. He tugged my hand, pulling me into him. My shoulder rested against his chest and his chin dropped onto the top of my head.

Turning towards Gabe I noticed sadness frowns wrinkling into his forehead. His mouth dropped open and then closed. "That won't happen here. Not with the constant monitoring we do. There are cameras everywhere. The safety of our clients is the top priority. Our staff is professionally trained and will be able to identify the signs if unwanted force is used."

I nodded. I appreciated the reassurance, even though it sounded like a regurgitated script, I could still see the sincerity in his eyes.

"Cassie, come closer. Look at her face," Gabe said, walking forward and gesturing for us to follow. "She's crying, but look at her eyes."

It was awkward, to say the least, watching what was happening, being so close to someone who wasn't present in the situation. It was like she was in another world... and she was happy--more than--wherever she was. The man whipping her paused as I leaned closer to her face, trying to look more clearly into her eyes without space invading.

"Huh," I said, frowning.

"It's called Subspace," Gabe said quietly next to me.

I shifted, turning my head to glance back at him. "Subspace?"

"It's a euphoric state. Vic and Dominic are regulars. Very experienced. Getting to this type of intoxication isn't easy. I've seen it happen maybe a handful of times with the inexperienced. It's a dangerous state to be in if you aren't well versed in BDSM. It's one of the reasons why Subspace was started... other clubs as well. The best thing I can tell you Cassie is to know your resources and utilize them to figure out what you can and can't handle." Gabe paused and shifted his gaze from mine to Seth's. "Have you considered my offer?"

Seth's mouth dropped open and closed. He sighed, shrugged his shoulders, and then ran a hand through his hair before gesturing towards Ethan. "I have. They haven't."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What was the offer?"

Gabe cleared his throat. "You're a Switch, Ethan. You new to being dominant. Something in Cassie brought it out in you and while Seth is skilled he's far from what I would call experienced. If Cassie wants to become a member, then you might consider a spotter, if you will."

"A spotter?" I mumbled. "Is this a new BDSM term?"

Gabe shot a half-smirk my way and shook his head. "No, doll face, it's not. It's a good idea for beginners to have a pro-assist. Your session is tomorrow night. Would you prefer a man or a woman?"

My eyebrows shot so far into my hairline I gave myself a two-minute headache. "For what?"

"For your safety, and theirs."

I licked my bottom lip before biting down. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about that. Or how I'd feel about the fact that even though Seth booked a private room, cameras would still be present... light bulb! "I-if we had a pro-assist, as you call it, could the cameras in the room be shut off?"

Gabe shut an eye, thinking about it. "I'm not sure. This is the first time it's ever been brought up, but I can look into it. Hold on." He walked towards a box on the wall and pressed a button. "Hey, can you get Julian to the comm, please? Got a question about DS room 10b security cams."

"Hold," a voice said from the other end.

"Whattup brotha?"

"Julian, if newbies pro-assist do you have the ability to cut the cams in DS10B or are they all linked?"

"Uh, I can yes, but you'll have to check with the big guy about that one."

"Will do. Thanks, J!" The comm beeped off and Gabe swiveled. I didn't miss the hungry look in his eyes as he glanced at the three of us. I had a feeling he was hoping we'd choose him as the pro. "We can. Kell will agree to it, but your options on who is present are limited."

"And who do we choose from?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gabe's fox-like smile made me snort. "Well, me."

I gave him a pseudo-disapproving scowl. "And?"

His smile deflated. "You don't want me?" He stepped forward and curled one my blonde curls around his index finger as he bowed over me. "I can teach all of you so many things."

"Maybe not touching," Seth snapped, pushing his way between me and Gabe.

Gabe held his hands up, keeping a smile on his face. "I get it. I'm backing off. We don't have to touch or participate, just watch to make sure no one is pushed past their limits."

I could see the tension in Seth's shoulders, even after Gab's reassurance that he'd meant no harm, so I smoothed my hands up his back once, twice, before wrapping my arms around his waist and planting the side of my face into his back. Seth settled against me, exhaling. I peeked around him, giving Gabe a reassuring smile.

"Sorry, man. I just-" Seth started.

"It's fine. You're still learning. You've been a dominant for what? A year, maybe two? It takes years to get to a professional level. And adding someone new who also happens to be new to this scene, changes the dynamic."

Seth nodded.

"Of course, a dominant being possessive with someone he doesn't want to dominate... that's interesting," Gabe said, folding his arms across his chest and lifting his right hand to stroke his jawline. "You know, there are different ways to submit, Seth."

I let out a yip as my thoughts caught up with what Gabe was saying. Oh. Yes! I jumped to the side and slapped Seth's ass. "He just wants me to dominate him!" I teased, giggling when he yelped and leaped away from me.

Ethan snorted. "Cassie, you play too much."

Seth's jaw was tight and his teeth set as he watched me.

Why wasn't he saying anything?

"Seth?" I asked.

His body may have been rigid, but the heat in his eyes as they searched my face told me if he hadn't thought about me dominating him before he was thinking about it now... and he was liking it.

I laughed and clapped my hands together before settling them under my chin. I went up to Seth bouncing back and forth on the balls of my feet. It was difficult, pulling him down and kissing him while I was still bouncing, but he let me. I bit his bottom lip before he pulled away and pinched his ass for good measure.

"Hello, slutty leather!" I said, wiggling my shoulders at him suggestively.

"Maybe," Seth said.

I stopped bouncing and my mouth dropped. "Maybe? Pfft! You're hot."

Seth smirked. "Tell me something I don't know."

"No, I didn't mean it that way."

Seth's face turned serious. "I know what meant, Cass. Maybe."

"Well, shall we continue?" Gabe asked, his eyes twinkling with quiet laughter.

Seth turned around and I wrapped my arm around his lower back and turned my face to talk behind his back so Seth wouldn't see what I mouthed to Ethan and Gabe [his maybe is a YES]. When Ethan and Gabe chuckled, Seth stiffened again and turned his head, raising an eyebrow.

"What?"

I wrapped my other arm around his front, almost tripping both of us, but he managed to straighten us up. He turned enough so that he could wrap his arm around my neck and place a kiss against the top of my head. "Let's finish the tour, sign the papers, and go home to bed," he whispered next to my ear.

I nodded my head in confirmation. I couldn't wait.