Chapter One
Russell
Iroundedthe corner onto my street for the last stretch of my jog. I glanced down at my watch when it beeped; I was a few seconds faster this morning it seemed. When I reached my driveway, I poked the display on the watch to record my two-mile jog time, then began my cool down walk to the end of the street and back to myhouse.
I had a busy day ahead of me, but it was one that I had been looking forward to. Ryan Hudson would be over today to discuss being mentored by me as he explored his kink curiosities. He was a good friend of my best friend, Nick. I had met Ryan a number of years ago, but today would be our first face to face meeting about the BDSMlifestyle.
Once inside, I stopped in my den and grabbed my printed copy of the emails that Ryan and I had exchanged over the past week. I set them on the breakfast bar and would go over them again while Iate.
Nick had been concerned that Ryan might decide to try to navigate a club on his own for his first time, or that he might fall into hands of those who would take advantage of him. He especially wanted to make sure that Ryan learned without persuasion and felt comfortable enough to askquestions.
A bowl of oatmeal warmed in the microwave, while I cut up two fresh strawberries and thought about my prior apprentices. I had mentored before, many times in fact. But never to someone as fresh as Ryan was at his age. There were always the guys who thought they knew what the lifestyle was about, only for them to discover that their thoughts weren’t even in the same ball park as reality. Those who genuinely were interested, learned, while the others fadedaway.
I retrieved the piping hot bowl from the microwave and added the strawberries. As I tossed a strawberry sliver into my mouth, I pulled down the brown sugar container. Once I sprinkled a dash of brown sugar atop the oatmeal, I topped it off with a teaspoon of crushed pecans. After setting the bowl at my place, I grabbed a bottle of water and poured a small glass of orangejuice.
I guzzled some water as I held out an email exchange in front of me and skimmed it. I had actually read over all of Ryan’s answers to my long questionnaire several times. He had been very forthcoming on many topics regarding the sort of things that he thought turned him on. After reading his answers, I gathered he had been “kink curious” for most of his young adult life and into adulthood. Perhaps after waiting so many years he’s finally giving into the curiosity. I had already begun thinking about the plan of attack with Ryan and what should be the area of focus. His words echoed in my mind;I want somethingmore.
A desire to be something more, told me that there was some form of unfulfillment in his life. Through my questions during the week, I discovered that Ryan didn’t have many long-term relationships in his life. He had nearly married a woman and had a string of short-term relationships. I would dig further intothat.
I rinsed my dishes off in the sink and then placed them immediately in the dishwasher before I headed to get ready. As I walked by the room that held all of my kink furniture, I thought about how Ryan had also expressed an interest in experiencing a beating session. This kind of request usually wasn’t one that individuals who were new to the lifestyle inquired about right away. With that, I knew that he was either reading about this on his own, or talking to someone about it. I had been intrigued by what he said when I asked him what had drawn him towards thinking that he wanted an impact session.A cathartic release, had been his reply. I felt that this had been a mature response for someone so new. I was pretty sure Ryan Hudson had been talking to people or reading on his own. To ensure his safety, I would need to begin finding out his sources of information. I didn’t want him seeking this type of session out from justanyone.
In my bedroom, I toed off my running shoes and stripped my clothes off. From my nightstand, I grabbed my iPad and streamed the tech sector news. I leaned the iPad on its stand and lathered my face. As I pulled my blade out from its case, I glanced down at the stock ticker. It was towards the end of the alphabet so I had a good few minutes. While I moved the blade over my morning stubble, I partially listened to the tech news. My mind was focused onRyan.
He had indicated that he wanted to experience the beating as a stress relief. I asked if it was stress over something recent, or an older stress that he’s still carrying. I paid very close attention to his mannerisms, and could tell that there was a protective wall put in place. There’s always a reason for walls. Unknown to him that walls were my specialty; finding the cause for them in the first place, and tearing themdown.
Out of the corner of my eye the ticker flashed, alerting me that they were starting from the beginning of the alphabet. I had just finished my shave and held a washcloth under the warm water. With my eyes on the ticker, I wrung out the excess water and pressed the washcloth on the areas I just shaved. I smiled when I saw my stock roll across the bottom of the screen already up fourpoints.
“Good day,indeed.”
I pulled the electric trimmer from its charger and trimmed up my goatee. On my way to the shower, I turned on the towel warming rack and then reached into the shower and turned the lever on. I went back to the sink and brushed my teeth, still thinking aboutRyan.
I hadn’t thought I was dealing with a masochist who’s unaware of his needs. I figured I was dealing with a young man who was unfulfilled in many areas of his life and realized that he needed something more out of life. But at this juncture, I didn’t believe he’s amasochist.
None the less, I was very intrigued byRyan.
I stepped into the shower and stood under the spray for a few moments. That jog felt good this morning. I moved my head out from under the spray and took an invigorating deep breath and exhaled it slowly. I doused the sponge with my shower gel and began towash.
I’d given a lot of thought to Ryan all week and crafted questions for him that would give me further access into his mindset. Today would give me a chance to get to know him better, without the aid or mask of a computer screen. I had quickly gained information to a lot of personal and private things in Ryan’s life. I knew he grew up in a home that was void of love, but full of abuse of alltypes.
I rinsed and dried off completely before I made my way back to the counter. I watched the ticker on the iPad as it delivered more good news while I applied the aftershave that matched the scent of my shower gel. I powered down the iPad and set it back on my grey nightstand. I pulled on my black boxer briefs and walked into my closet. I stared at my options and thought carefully about my upcoming guest. This wasn’t a business meeting and I didn’t want to over dress as that would intimidate him. I decided on a pair of clean, but casual, grey twill pants and a fitted, black Henley. After I put my black boots on, I pulled my black Movado from my watch box. I walked out of my bedroom as I put the watch on and clasped it around mywrist.
I remembered that his answers to the majority of my questions were well written, and he had taken the time to expand on nearly all of them, with the exception of three. Three very important questions were answered with one word each. But I knew this young man most likely had novels worth of stored info that he could have elaboratedon.
Question: Have you ever been physicallyabused?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Have you ever been sexuallyabused?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Have you ever been emotionally or verballyabused?
Answer:Yes.
I gathered his emails and returned them to my den. He should be here any moment, I told myself as I headed back to my kitchen to start a cup of coffee. The chime of my doorbell stopped me in mid stride and I glanced at my watch. 9:59. It pleased me that he waspunctual.
I briskly walked through the entryway to greet my new apprentice. I opened the door and smiled atRyan.
