I love that for you. I’ll be waiting on the pics. Try to have some fun and bring me back a hat and some cute boots. Call me tomorrow!
Me:
You bet.
I set my phone on the nightstand and changed into pajamas, then slid between sheets that were impossibly soft. Tomorrow I’d start learning protocol and begin understanding what I’d agreed to. But tonight, I let myself feel the anticipation, the possibility, the strange rightness of being here.
Then I melted into the sheets, cozy, and relaxed then drifted off. Tomorrow could wait until I was done enjoying being wrapped in these sheets. Tomorrow…
Morning arrived with sunlight streaming through the windows. I showered, dressed in leggings and a comfortable, long tank top, and headed down to find both Majesty and Lex already in the kitchen.
“Morning,” Majesty said cheerfully, handing me a mug of coffee. “Sleep okay?”
“Better than expected, actually.”
“Good.” Lex gestured to the spread on the counter and my mouth dropped open in awe. Fresh fruit, pastries, yogurt, granola, french toast, eggs, and bacon were lined up waiting for me to choose. “Eat something. We’ll head over for training after we’ve finished breakfast.”
I made myself a parfait with french toast on the side, topped with blueberries, whip cream, and syrup. We sat and talked fora while, enjoying the morning together. Afterward, we walked across the property back to the lodge and upstairs to a room I’d not seen before. Inside was an open space with mirrors along one wall, mats on the floor, and minimal furniture in the way. It reminded me of a dance studio.
A woman was already there, stretching near the mirrors. She was athletic but curvy, dressed in simple black athletic wear, but her hair was anything but simple. It was various colors, reminding me of a rainbow and pulled back in a ponytail.
“Cami, this is our volunteer assistant for the weekend, Luna,” Lex said. “She’ll be demonstrating alongside you.”
The woman smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you. They told me you’re new to all of this? I’m no pro, so don’t feel like you’ll have to follow my example to the letter. How new are we talking?”
“Very new,” I confirmed.
“Don’t worry. We’ll go slow,” Lex said.
Luna smiled. “Just remember to breathe. My Dominant is always reminding me to do that. A lot of fears, concerns, and even pain can be remedied by just breathing. Holding your breath makes you tense up. I got you, girl.”
I smiled, liking her already.
Majesty clapped his hands once. “Alright, let’s get started. Today’s focus is basic protocol—positions, forms of address, and understanding body awareness. We’ll start with the fundamentals.”
Lex moved to stand beside him, the two of them a united front. “Protocol serves several purposes. It creates structure, builds anticipation, and helps establish headspace. But most importantly, it’s about communication. That’s both verbal and non-verbal.”
“We’re going to teach you three basic positions today,” Majesty said. “Kneel, present, and inspection. Each one servesa different purpose and requires you to be aware of your body’s limitations.”
Luna moved to the center of the room, and I joined her, my heart rate picking up.
“Let’s start with kneel,” Lex said, his voice taking on an instructive quality. “This is a position of attention and readiness. Watch.”
Luna gracefully lowered herself to her knees, spine straight, head held high but eyes cast slightly downward. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and despite the submissive position, she looked powerful.
“Notice her alignment,” Majesty pointed out. “Back straight, shoulders relaxed, head up. The eyes being lowered is a sign of respect, but her body language is confident.”
“Try it,” Lex said, looking at me.
I attempted to mirror what I’d seen, lowering myself to my knees. The floor was padded, thankfully, but finding the right position was harder than it looked.
“Head up more,” Lex corrected, moving closer. “You’re hunching your shoulders. Relax them.”
His hand gently guided my shoulder position, and I felt heat creep up my neck at the contact.
“Better,” he said, stepping back. “Now, when you address either of us in a formal setting, you’ll use ‘Sir’. This isn’t about diminishing you, but it is about establishing structure and respect.”
“Yes, Sir,” I said, testing out the words.
