“If it’s not in him, you can’t force that hand, Claire.”
“I learned that. I got him into a kink club finally, but he was so closed-minded to it. Sex just finally stopped all together between us. After months of fighting, but not seeing eye to eye, I went to a club without him. I just needed to see if it was still in my system. I negotiated a flogging session with a Top,” Claire began and dabbed at her eyes. “Oh, my God, Russell. It was like I was finally living again for that short time. Soon, I began going on my own once a month just to get that itch scratched. Once a month turned into once a week, and then I just couldn’t stand being around him and we called it quits.”
I was a bit surprised to hear her admit to sneaking around. I wasn’t surprised about how things had turned out though. I tried to shift the focus to something positive that came from her marriage.
“How old are your children?”
“Twelve and fourteen,” Claire replied flatly.
“Did they make the move to Vegas with you?”
“No. We felt it was best if the kids stayed with their father and at their same school. He told them that I was searching for something.”
“Do you think it’s here in Vegas?” I questioned.
She smiled widely and stared at me.
“I hope so, Russell. I left my life in Miami to reconnect with the world I greatly missed.”
“I won’t lie; I was stunned and appalled by your behavior at the club a few nights ago, Claire.” I cocked my head to the side, hoping to hear an apology for her inappropriate behavior. “The aftercare interruption,” I prompted.
“Sorry, Russell. I had been so excited to see you. The front desk wouldn’t give me contact info for you of course, and I asked around with some of your friends a week or so ago. All I was able to get was your email address. When I saw you, I couldn’t wait to talk to you. Though I caught a glimpse of the two of you at a station, it hadn’t crossed my mind that you had had a session with him. It also hadn’t dawned on me that you were providing aftercare.”
“It’s unfortunate that our session confused you, but I assure you that it was a session. After all, we were at a station and I had been flogging him.”
Claire smiled smugly and leaned back in her chair. She glanced down at my hand that was wrapped around my glass.Looking for a ring.
“So, what have you been up to Russell? How’s your business?”
“The business has been doing just fine,” I replied, but was annoyed that she glossed over the fact that I brought attention to her behavior at the club.
“Is the broken boy an exclusive bottom to someone, or do you and the other Tops pass him around?”
I shook my head while staring at her. I was disgusted by her tone.
“So many assumptions and every one of them wrong, Claire. He is not broken. He is exclusive to me, but he is not a bottom. He is a submissive.Mysubmissive,” I firmly stated.
Claire’s mouth unattractively hung open in shock.
“What? Russell, no! You can’t be serious! That’s your sub? That guy is who you broke a cell phone over?”
I narrowed my eyes again and retraced what she said; broke a cell phone over. The only cell phone I had broken has been Leonard’s after learning about what he wanted to do to Ryan.
“Back up. Now, what?”
“I talked to Leonard. I saw him on social media and reached out to him when I knew I was coming back to Vegas. I asked about you and he said you had a sub now.”
“Did he?”
“Yes, but, he said the guy was a bad seed. Leonard said that the guy wasn’t worthy of you and that he didn’t even know how to kneel properly for you,” her words rushed out in a hushed tone.
As a server walked by, I held out my credit card so he would know to quickly close out the bill. Claire repeated the shocked head thrusting backward motion.
“Seriously, Russell? We haven’t even ordered.”
“Well,” I began and turned my wrist over to look at my watch. “Our meeting time was noon. You showed up at 12:20. I won’t sit here for a moment longer and listen to any non-sense garbage about my sub. Hearsay, at that, Claire.”
“Russell, listen to yourself. What were you thinking by giving up being a Top for a guy who can’t even kneel? Leonard said the guy admitted to him that he doesn’t always service you orally. What would possess you to take that instead of Leonard?”
“Love, Claire. Plain and simple, love.”
My own head was racing from this conversation and I couldn’t wait to leave. The server finally appeared with the card and paper for me to sign. I quickly signed the receipt and took another sip of water.
“Russell!” Claire said and grabbed my forearm and stared at me incredulously. “You’re not the same man I knew. You’re not the Top that I knew.”
“You’re right. I’m not a Top anymore. I’m Ryan’s Dominant. Best of luck to you here in Vegas. I suggest toning down that attitude before you think about approaching a Top at the club. You might also reconsider your association with Leonard. Goodbye, Claire. Don’t contact me again.”
I left without looking back at the table. By the time I got to my SUV, I had shaken Claire from my mind. I was now focused on going home, taking a swim in the pool and then getting ready to go see Ryan. I pulled my phone out to send Ryan the text that I promised him I’d send as soon as I left the restaurant.
Russell: I’m heading home, Ryan. Lunch is over. I hope you have had a good morning and afternoon. I can’t wait to see you this evening. I love you, Ryan.
