Alex
My afternoon had been dragging until Elena appeared in the courtyard, pulling every eye in the place to her. When she’d stolen my last cake, I wanted to chuck her over my shoulder and carry her somewhere private. But then she’d actually demanded to go somewhere private and that meant I needed to get it together quickly.
I had to find my long-lost professionalism.
We were here for a reason and I couldn’t blow that.
I followed her around the corner to the elevator and caught Asha’s eye to signal that we were heading up without her.
When we got to the door of the room we were using, I fumbled in my pockets for the key until I realized it was in my jacket, which was still draped over Elena’s shoulders. I nodded sheepishly to the right pocket and she retrieved the plastic card, swiping it in front of the reader.
I’d forgotten what it was like to walk into a hotel room that wasn’t a spacious suite and this one was no exception. Elena didn’t react to the luxury, but she was probably used to meeting clients in this kind of space.
She perched on the couch and I took a chair a safe distance away.
She said, “I wouldn’t normally tieCrown of Swordsinto the dungeon since it’s a fantasy world, but there’s an opportunity to try something if we can cross the two unrelated worlds for a minute. We’re going to try a role-play scenario and see if it opens anything up for you with the character. You’re going to pretend you’re Lucas Steel coming to the dungeon and meeting me for an interview before a session. We’ll keep it casual so you can break character and ask any questions that pop into your head. The idea is to use it as an exercise to figure out what those questions are. Let’s find out what you don’t know about Lucas Steel.”
“Why would Lucas Steel pay for something that people beg him for?” I asked. She tilted her head slightly like she was trying to decide whether I was teasing her, but I wasn’t.
She said, “Every human interaction is a transaction of sorts. We want things from each other. Lucas Steel’s partners expect pleasure and some degree of intimacy, his focus, his care. By paying for the experience, he would be shifting that transaction so it can be solely about his own needs because the other party is still being compensated. Humor me and go through the exercise. If he did, what would he want? How would he behave?”
I hesitated, still unsure what she expected of me. “What does a normal interview with a new client entail? Can you set the scene?”
She nodded quickly. “We’ll assume he isn’t being snuck in the back door like you were. You’re going to enter the dungeon and walk down a long hallway and as you do, you’ll pass storage rooms filled with every implement, toy, and accessory imaginable before being led into a comfortable sitting room for the interview. So start by thinking about that. How does Lucas Steel feel in that environment? Many clients are nervous and intimidated, but I think we both know he’s in his element. He’s used to being a wolf amongst sheep, and he’s stumbled into a den of other wolves.
“The interview is where we meet to negotiate the terms of the session. This isn’t where you just declare you want to spank me. We have to discuss how hard, with what, and how you want me to feel about it.”
“So your reactions with clients aren’t natural?”
Get your head in the game, Alex.
“They are to a point, but I become the fantasy they want me to be. Think about who Lucas Steel wants his sub to be.”
I nodded.
She stood up. “So let’s pretend you’re seated in the interview room. The Desk Mistress would ask, ‘Good evening, Sir. Are you here to see a sub, a Switch, or a Dominant?’”
“A sub,” I said without hesitation.
“Perfect. Do you have a particular one in mind, or shall I send all of the available subs in to meet you?”
I knew what my answer would be, but I was supposed to be Lucas Steel. He would want to look at all of his options, wouldn’t he? I opened my mouth to say that, then reconsidered. He always knew what he wanted and would’ve planned ahead. I said, “I want Lady Elena.”
Her lips quirked the tiniest bit. “I’m sorry, Sir. You can’t have her. She’s not taking submissive sessions anymore. But there’s a lovely fire witch who might suit your tastes or a siren if you’re feeling like living dangerously.”
She was leaning into the fantasy elements, which gave me permission to do the same, but I wasn’t ready to concede.
I narrowed my eyes. Being told he couldn’t have something would only make Lucas Steel want it more. But how would he get there? More gold? Threatening? He could control minds, but now that I thought about it, he never used that power purely to get his way for selfish reasons. None of that felt right.
I leaned back in the chair and crossed an ankle over my knee. “I think she’ll make an exception if you tell her who it’s for. I assume my reputation precedes me.”
Elena beamed at me, completely throwing my focus. She whispered, “I’m impressed. I was fully prepared to make you pretend to see another sub, but that was a perfect Lucas Steel answer, so I’ll let you have Lady Elena. Let’s assume we’ve bantered and I’ve agreed to do a session so we can get to the substance of it.”
She dropped to her knees in front of me in one practiced movement.
“What’re you doing?” I was confused by the move and trying not to think about her being on her knees.
“Subs always observe protocol and conduct interviews in a kneeling position. It’s been a while since I’ve done that, but I’m trying to give you the authentic experience here.”
