Stoned (The Stone Series) (18 page)

“I’m still listening.”

“I know this will not happen for you overnight, I know it is going to take a lot of work on my part to earn the level of trust I’ll need from you. I expect you to fight me from time to time, we’ll have our setbacks, I’m sure.” He murmurs in his raspy voice.

“I trust you already, Day. Completely.”

“I understand that you think you do. But when I require things from you, you may not feel the same way. There’s just no way for you to understand all of it until you’re in the moment. I will be patient with you and we can go slowly. I can sense it in you, Sydney. It may take some time but you will submit to me completely, I’ll feel it happen in my hands, I’ll guide you gently when you need it and hard when you need that too.”

He lifts my hands to his lips and gently brushes his lips over my knuckles. I become speechless at the gesture even though he has done it before.

“Does it scare you to think of giving yourself over to me so completely?”

“Only because I don’t know what to expect” I admit.

Damian continues, “I’m confused too, baby. The part that I’m confused about is my feelings for you. I think I want us to try something different then I’m not used to with my subs” he confesses.

“Subs? Plural? How many have you had?” I reluctantly ask not really wanting the answer.

“One a semester since I left college including summers so you’ll be my twenty first. I was a submissive in college and my professor was my Dominate. She was older than me; she introduced me to the lifestyle at a time when I was in need of it most.”

“What do you mean something different with me from what you’re used to?”

“I want us to be completely in our roles when having sex and playing, while at The Society. But I’m thinking about in our everyday lives trying to have a real relationship. I never had that with anyone before. I never had the feelings for anyone that I have for you. I still will need to feel control over you in my everyday life and we will have to work out some details around that. That part’s going to be trial and error I’m afraid.”

“What happens at The Society?” I ask.

“We have play parties.

“And what does that mean exactly?”

“Play parties are social events held at either The Society or at the Head Master’s homes where other members engage in BDSM activities. I want to have the playroom in my apartment for us to use on our own to experiment but also for the parties with people from The Society. I’ll need you to help me decorate it with certain large pieces of customized equipment, things that people can be restrained on and the like. I’ll also want you to help me decide on the toys we’ll purchase for our use. During the parties people will bring their own toys, they’re never shared between couples. Some people who come to the parties don’t have sex; they just take the role of a voyeur and watch. When you plan out the room you’ll need to take that into consideration. The Society’s play parties are restricted to members only but the Head Master’s partners don’t have to be members. That means you wouldn’t need to go through the normal initiation phase unless you wanted to. The Society has a do not allow list so that participants can know they are in safe company within The Society, Mark is on that list for the reasons I’ve told you. We will not accept people who are a danger to our members. We operate with three golden rules of play: Safety, Sanity and Consensual. We use “safe words” as I explained before to be sure our partners are always safe. We don’t allow drugs or alcohol of any kind at the parties. Everyone has the power to stop a scene or deny engaging in anything they’re not interested in, we only allow consenting adults to be at Society parties.”

Again he pauses while gauging my reaction before continuing. “What are you thinking Sydney? I’m dying here not knowing what you’re thinking.”

“I’m not really sure what I’m thinking. All I know is that I really like you, Damian. You’re the first guy I’ve ever thought I could be with, you know in that way. Well, not that way, that way, but that way. Ugh!” I sigh. “I want to be with you. I just don’t know if I can do what you want me to do” I admit.

“Answer me this Sydney, you said you liked when I fed you, right? When I decided what we were eating? The clothes I picked out for you? Admit it, you like when I’m in charge. I think you want me to be in charge.”

“Yes, I admit I like all of those things but does that mean I can be submissive to you?”

“Maybe. Do you like when I kiss you and start things more than when you have to? Like this?” he asks as he lunges at me in his way only this time he pulls me to my feet and backs me up against my wall all the while never breaking our kiss. I can’t help myself; a moan of pure pleasure escapes me while I submit to his advances and relax in his arms.

“See baby, what just happened? You liked it and relaxed in my arms the minute I took over. Can you just agree to keep an open mind and come to the Society with me on Friday night and see if it’s something you can do for me, with me? If not we can reevaluate our relationship. I don’t want to lose you, not even over this. And we’ll need to work on the non-sexual aspect of our relationship. I’ve never done that before so you’ll have to be patient with me.”

“So what you want is for us to be together in a normal relationship but then me obey and submit to you sexually?” I inquire.

“Pretty much, yes I think so. But Sydney, make no mistake there will be rules to our relationship sexual and otherwise. We’ll talk it all through and if it makes you feel better I can give you some paperwork I’ve used before as a point of reference. You could read it and do some research on the lifestyle I’m proposing. You’ll have the week while I’m gone to think about it then on Friday you can come to The Society with me. After that we’ll talk about it again and see what you want to do.”

“Will we do anything at the party? I mean sex stuff? Or could we just watch?”

“We can do anything you’re comfortable with and we won’t do anything you’re not.”

“Okay, I’ll listen to everything and then read whatever you give me and think about it. Does anyone else know about this?”

“Alex knows about my lifestyle, he knows what I want from you. He’s not very happy about it. He’s warned me away from you continuously. He’s afraid he’ll lose you at S&S over this but Sydney; I can’t stay away from you. I need this to work between us, I need you.”

I take Damian by the hand and try to lead him back to the couch. He stands still and won’t allow me to budge him. He pulls on my hand and I realize he’s saying he doesn’t want me leading him; he wants me to follow him, be submissive. He takes me by the hand and smirks as he leads me to the door.

“Let’s go to my apartment so I can give you the paperwork and get changed then we’ll come back here to sleep so your bed will smell like me and you won’t miss me too much this week while I’m gone.” I follow him out of my apartment like a true submissive.

On the elevator to the penthouse I tell Damian that I have a lot of questions but he tells me to do some research first then we’ll talk about everything after I have some more knowledge on the subject
.

When we enter the penthouse Damian heads to his bedroom, telling me to make myself at home. When he disappears I wander to the door at the end of the hall, the door to the room that he wants me to create for him, the one he wants to be his sexual playroom. I open the door and cautiously walk inside as if some crazy sex games will already be under way. I stand in the center of the room and laugh to myself when I think of what I was planning for the space. I guess Damian would still like the idea of the naked painting and maybe even the dark rich navy walls. I’m thinking the bar; TV and pool table will be nixed from the plan. I don’t know what kind of equipment he’ll want in here or where I’d find them. I guess he’ll want a bed. That should be easy enough but furniture to restrain people on, I’d have no idea where to find anything remotely like that.

“I didn’t think I’d find you in here. God, I love seeing you in this room, I want to see you in this room, more of you” he says as he saunters in my direction carrying a large manila folder containing the information on his lifestyle I assume.

“I was just thinking about the plan for this room that I had in my head. I thought it would be a man cave. Dark navy blue walls, a pool table and bar and I was even thinking of contracting that artist from the auction who does the nude paintings. I was considering posing for a painting for you.”

“Sydney, you amaze me at every turn. I love the idea of the dark walls and navy blue is associated with depth, expertise, and stability. Did you know it’s a preferred color for corporate America?”

“No, I didn’t know that. I’m not surprised though that you did” I say with a smirk.

“The pool table can also have some potential; sex on a pool table can be very erotic. The bar would have to go but my favorite idea is the painting. I would be honored to hang a painting anywhere in my home of you naked or otherwise. Again you have me in awe over that idea.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to have my face in it. I don’t think that I would want people to know it was me. I’d be afraid they’d look at me differently.”

“Don’t ever worry about what other people think. They don’t matter. Come” he says as he takes me by the hand and leads me out of the room. “Let’s go to bed, I want to feel you in my arms. I want to know that we’re okay. I need to know you’re okay with everything I just laid on you before I leave tomorrow.”

Ch
apter 9

Damian and I spend the night alternating between sleep and making out like teenagers. I can tell he is as apprehensive about leaving me as I am about him leaving. When the sun comes up and my alarm alerts me that it is time to prepare for my first day at S&S Damian raises with me. His body is a glorious form to admire; he’s muscular but lean at the same time. He must work out for hours a day. I’m not sure where he finds the time. I am finally taking advantage of my membership at the gym, Hard Bodies; I’m entitled to through Hard as Stone and starting today after work. I think the structure of working then heading to the gym will be good for me especially with Damian gone. It will also take up more time so I won’t be sitting home alone missing him. I might even call Clark and ask to pick up a shift every night this week.

Damian grabs something off my dresser and I realize it’s his bottle of cologne. He sprays my sheets with it then hands it to me wordlessly with a kiss to my forehead and a long inhale of my hair. 

“I’m going to miss you. I will text you, email and call when I can. I expect you to answer me as soon as you can. Please don’t make me worry about where you are, what you’re doing and who you’re with while I’m gone. Understand?”

Wow, demanding already and I haven’t agreed to this whole submissive thing yet. But I discover I like him like this so I agree to behave myself.

“Good girl” he says with a fast but gentle slap to my ass and a smile on his face. The gleam in his eye is devilish and playful and it ignites a burning in my body, one I’m not sure I can let fester until he comes back and can put the fire out.

I walk him to my door and he pulls me into his arms making me whimper. He kisses me deep and long, his tongue finding mine and they dance together. Then he turns and walks to the elevators saying simply, “Think about it, we’re meant to be Sydney. I know we are, I can feel it and I’m never wrong, baby.”

I head into the shower, get dressed and ready for my first day at my real job and call Clark before I head out. He gives me the address of the gym and tells me I can have a shift anytime I want. I tell him I’ll take the nine to midnight Monday through Thursday.

When I step out of my apartment building I’m not surprised to find Jonesie waiting for me on the curb even though I probably should be. I’m getting to know there is no end to Damian’s madness. He tells me that Damian asked him to clear out the paparazzi before I exited the building today. I thank him and climb into the Escalade without question and we head to S&S.

S&S is just as I remember it from when Alex gave me a tour. It’s large and modern with clean lines and decorated in chromes, silver and white just the way Alex likes. Alex is the only designer with an office that’s located at the far end of the building. The other two designers and I are in a large open space with the receptionist being in the lobby. I am greeted by Alex; he pulls me in for a hug and a kiss to my temple. He whispers, “Damian asked me to speak to you. We’ll talk in my office once you’re settled in.”

Monica and Scott are friendly and ask me to join them for lunch so we can get to know one another. I accept and they leave me be to get organized. When I approach my desk I instantly spot two things, one is a framed picture of Damian and me in an embrace. He’s kissing me behind my ear; it’s from the night of the auction. It’s a sweet and tender gesture and the look on my face is one of contentment. The other item is a massive bouquet of flowers in purples, blues, whites, reds, pinks and yellows. I already know they are from Damian but I reach for the card anyway.

My Sweetest Sydney,

I wish you well on your first
day at your new job. You are an amazing designer and an even more amazing young woman. I miss you already…

These flowers remind me of you, of us:

The Bachelor Buttons represent anticipation

The Begonias represent deep thoughts

The Daisies represent innocence

The Geraniums represent comfort

The Lilacs represent first love

The Passion Flowers represent passion

The red Roses represent passionate love and the white represent unity

The Stars of Bethlehem represent hope

The Tuberoses represent pleasure

The Violets represent faithfulness

Yours Forever,

D 

I place the card next to the framed photo of Damian and
I and head in to speak to Alex. I find him sitting at his desk looking through some files. “Come in” he says when he sees me in the doorway. “Hey” I say as a greeting, “What’s up?”

Alex spoke to Damian earlier and he asked him to look out for me while he’s gone. Alex asks me what my plans are for the week and I tell him that I’m planning on working out at a gym every night after work and that I might make some dinner plans with girlfriends from school. He makes me promise to call him if I need anything and I agree.

He clears his throat as if what he’s about to say is difficult. “So, I know about the offer on the table from him, Sydney. He’s a good man, a little fucked up but a good man. He’ll treat you well but you need to be sure you want what he’s offering. It’s not the kind of lifestyle that you can just do half-ass. I tried it; it wasn’t for me at the time. Maybe with the right woman but…that’s all I plan on saying about the topic. You’re a grown woman you can make your own decisions. I just hope whatever transpires between you and Damian will not affect our working relationship or our friendship for that matter. You’re very talented and I would hate to lose you over it.”

“I think I’m falling in love with him, Alex. Actually, I’m already completely in love with him. I can’t think of losing him. I hate that I have to wait until Friday to feel his arms around me again, have him smell my hair, feel his lips on mine. What am I going to do if I can’t be what he wants?”

“You should tell him how you feel, talk to him. He’s a reasonable man, Sydney and he’s smitten with you in a way I have never seen him before. You’ll figure it out. If you need an ear or a shoulder I’m here for you.”

“Thanks” I say as I start to walk out of his office when he stops me. “Oh, and Sydney, he said to tell you the contract is in your brief case but not to read it until you have talked to him about it.”

“What do you mean contract? And what briefcase?” I ask but I already know the answer to the briefcase question so Alex just sends me a look. I’ll a little concerned about Alex’s use of the word, “Contract” though.

I return to my desk to find a chic black alligator briefcase, inside is the manila envelope I saw Damian holding last night. Just as I am about to open it up Alex emerges, almost catches me red handed reading the contents before I speak to Damian, and calls us all into a meeting to discuss our accounts, it’ll have to wait till later.

In the meeting Alex gives me two accounts to start work on, one is a residential account and the other is a commercial space, both for the same client. I plan on making contact and setting up an appointment when I get back to my desk but I find an email from Damian that I chose to read and respond to first.

From: Damian Stone

Subject: A picture says a thousand words

Date: May 2
8, 2012 11:34am

To: Sydney Cooper

But I only need 3…

“Please say yes”

I hope you like the pictures and the flowers
, angel

D…

Damian Stone

CEO, Stone Empire, Inc.

From:
Sydney Cooper

Subject:
A picture says a thousand words

Date: May 2
8, 2012 11:52am

To:
Damian Stone

I only need 1… and I haven’t even read the “contract” yet…see I am already following directions but what did Alex mean by “contract”?

I love the pictures and the flowers

Thank you

S-

Sydney Cooper

Interior Designer, S&S, Inc.

From: Damian Stone

Subject: You are killing me

Date: May 2
8, 2012 11:59am

To: Sydney Cooper

Tell me the word, Sydney. I am about to go into a meeting and I don’t know when I’ll be able to correspond again. I’d like to know your answer beforehand. It will determine my mood in the meeting.
The document is a contract I have used in the past with my subs, just for you to use as a point of reference. Alex just assumed I would ask you to sign one as I have asked everyone in my past.  

D-

Damian Stone

CEO, Stone Empire, Inc.

From:
Sydney Cooper

Subject:
Please don’t die

Date: May 2
8, 2012 12:04pm

To:
Damian Stone

Who would guide me through my training if you did?

“
YES”…

But I’m scared and after
we talk and I read the contract I might change my mind and run for the hills. So these other girls signed a contract with you to have a relationship? Isn’t that a little impersonal?

Text me after your meeting and maybe we can FaceTime, I miss seeing you
already.

S-

Sydney Cooper

Interior Designer, S&S, Inc. and soon to be submissive

From: Damian Stone

Subject: Very much alive now

Date: May 2
8, 2012 12:05pm

To: Sydney Cooper

That is the best word I have ever heard
. I will make it my life’s mission that you won’t regret it, Sydney. I am in my meeting now and thanks to you I might just give this asshole the millions he’s asking for. I want you to read the contract now and text or email me with questions. It is impersonal, I agree but as I explained my feelings for my subs were not as they are with you. I don’t want things to be impersonal between us. I will call you as soon as I can and we will talk about it. I can’t wait to begin… 

D-

Damian Stone
Dominant as always and

CEO, Stone Empire, Inc.

************

“Ryan calls his friend Mark with news that he’s gotten Stone out of New York until Friday. Ryan instructs Mark to see if he can find Sydney. “When you find her call me but don’t speak to her. Just say two words, “Sleep tight” then walk away from her. Do not tell her you know me. She must not have recognized you. We’ll use that to our advantage.”

“How am I going to find her man, the city is huge you know?” Mark asks.

“Start with Stone. I’m sure you can find out where he lives, maybe she lives with him. Start there.”

“Fine, I’ll get on it first thing in the morning. Tonight I’m going to his strip club. I stay away when he’s in the city but now that you said he’s out of town I think I’ll have myself a night out at Hard as Stone. I’ll call you when I find her” Mark says as he disconnects the call.

************

I make contact with my client and set up a meeting for the next day at lunch. I ask her to join me at Stone’s and hope that I can get a table.

Andrea answers the phone and when I tell her who I am her tone of voice changes to one of annoyance. I ask her if I can have a table for two for lunch time tomorrow, she says that Damian’s private room is for my use whenever I may need it per his orders and then with a quick, “I’ll see you tomorrow at lunch” she hangs up on me. I’ve no clue what her attitude is about. There’s a part of me that wonders if it’s possible that she was once one of the twenty who came before me. It is one of the things Damian and I will need to discuss but I decide to wait until after lunch with my new co-workers to start to look over his paperwork and think about that.