(Mark's POV - Thur. 7 August 2014)

"Steven, the results are good. Great job!" I exclaim to the manager I hired at the Wine & Cheese Bar.

I've just finished reviewing the figures for the first quarter of existence of the restaurant and I am pretty impressed by the outcome. I didn't think the concept would have such success. Being a lover of the French cuisine, and especially their cheese and wine, I did hope it would be successful, but I never thought it would work out well so fast.

The concept is rather easy: high tables and stools, good fresh baguette, a large variety of cheese and deli meat, as well as the best wine. It is perfect for a quick sandwich lunch at noon or for a rapid dinner before you go out for a movie or anything else. Maybe I should think about developing the concept in other cities. Besides, it's much easier to implement this kind of brasserie than a big restaurant.

"Well, it was your idea, and a good one as you can see!" Steven replies. "You should see the place at lunch time, it's full!"

"Brilliant! Let's keep it as it is for the moment. If it goes on like this, I might open another one or look for a bigger place."

Either way, this restaurant will grow bigger, so I'll have to think about it seriously. I spend another half hour working on spreadsheets in the small room at the back of the restaurant. I still have time before my business meeting with a wine importer.

"Boss, I think your phone has been ringing," Steven says walking back in the office and carrying my jacket that I had left behind the counter.

"Thanks," I reply, hearing the device going off again.

As Steven walks out and shuts the door, I fish my phone inside my pocket and can't help a goofy smile at the caller ID.

"Good afternoon, Shannon," I say, purposefully taking a deep voice.

Yesterday, he spent a long time talking to Mick who good-naturedly replied to all his questions and apparently, there were a lot since it lasted for two hours.

"Good afternoon... Sir... I'm sorry to disturb you... I can call back later if that's better..." the young man stutters nervously, which makes me smile even wider because he is usually much more boisterous and full of assurance from what I have heard of him so far.

"You're not disturbing me, Shannon. How can I help you?" I ask warmly.

"I... hum... I've thought about... I mean..." he begins hesitantly before he blurts out the rest at a speed that allows me to barely understand what he is saying. "I've thought about your proposition and if you're still willing to try, I'd really like to accept it, I mean, that's if you're still okay to have me as your Submissive of course. If you don't want to anymore, I can understand, but if you're ready to give me a chance, I'd really like to t...."

"Shannon, slow down!" I scold him.

Did he just say he accepted to be my Submissive!!?

"Say that again, calmly and intelligibly."

"Sorry, Sir. I'm just a bit nervous."

"Take your time, Shannon."

"Okay... I have thought about your offer to become your Submissive for long enough, and I would like to discuss it further with you..." he repeats, articulating each syllable. "You know... for the rules and stuff like that."

I didn't think he would make his decision so quickly, but I feel my body fill up with excitement already.

"This is great news, Shannon. If you're sure about this decision, we need to discuss this further indeed. Are you ready to start now or would you like a few more days before we review the rules and limits together?"

"I'm ready now, Sir!" he exclaims cheerfully.

Now this is more like him, I believe. I don't want him to rush into this decision, but I must admit I am eager to have him to myself. This may sound like I am losing my self-control, but I'm not. I already have a plan in mind, and I trust myself to take things slowly with him.

"Does ready mean tonight?"

"Wow... Yes! Tonight works!"

"Are you available for the next few days?"

"I'm supposed to help Liam pack on Sunday afternoon, but maybe he could do without me... He doesn't have that much left to move to Joshua's place. Other than this, yes I'm available."

"I'll speak with Josh and see if it's a problem for Sunday afternoon, but I don't think so," I reply, pretty sure my friend can handle this on his own. "So, I want you to pack a few things and be ready by 6 pm tonight, I'll send a cab who will pick you up and drive you to my apartment."

"When you say... pack a few things..."

"I just mean pack a few things, Shannon. Take some clothes and whatever you need to spend a few nights at my place," I chuckle, but I can feel a bit of hesitation on his side. "Shannon, I just want to have you by my side to accelerate your training and have enough time to discuss the contract. If there's anything you dislike in what I tell you, we will discuss and compromise. And obviously, you'll be free to leave any time."

"I understand, Sir. Thank you. I'll be ready by 6 pm!"

"We're all good then! I'll see you tonight, Shannon."

My meeting with the wine importer goes smoothly. The specialist will be able to provide me with exceptional vintage wines from Bourgogne, Languedoc, Alsace and many more regions of France. Once we have agreed on my first order, I go home straight to prepare everything for tonight.

I decide for a sauté of veal with green beans and rice, and I prepare some chocolate fondant dough for our dessert, that I will just need to put in the oven for a few minutes. While the sauté simmers, I take a shower and dress in plain blue jeans and a light blue tee-shirt, and I still have time to set the table.

At nearly 6:30 pm, the receptionist calls to let me know my guest has arrived, so I walk to the foyer and wait for him. When I hear the lift has finally landed on the last floor, I open the door to let him in. He is wearing tight black jeans and a white tee-shirt, and carries a small duffle bag.

"Good evening, Shannon. How are you?" I ask as I lead him to the living room.

He is following me, a bit shyly, taking in his surrounding.

"I'm fine, thank you. How are you?" he replies as I gesture for him to sit down on the large sofa and take a seat beside him.

"I'm good, thank you. Would you like to drink anything?"

"No, thanks, I'm good."

"Alright, dinner will be ready in a few minutes, so maybe I can show you around before we move to the dining room?"

"Sure, I'd love to. Your apartment looks huge!"

"It's big, but it's not that huge," I chuckle, which is the plain truth. It's not one of those colossal condos with two floors and ten bedrooms. "Let me show you around."

We both stand up and I guide him across the apartment, from the living room to the dining room and the kitchen, which leads back to the entrance hall. As we walk into the corridor, my eyes wander to the playroom door and I wonder when I will show him this specific room. We pass several doors and I usher him into the second guestroom.

"Here, this is going to be your room," I tell him once inside the blue decorated bedroom that has a shared bathroom with the other guestroom. "There's another guest room next to yours, and mine is at the end of the corridor. I thought maybe you would like to have your own place when you're here, or at least for the first nights," I say with an encouraging smile.

"Thank you, this is very nice of you,"he replies, a tiny bit of expected disappointment in his tone, but I know he will need this bedroom at some point.

I also show him my office, the media room and the stock / laundry room then we head back to the kitchen. We enjoy a pleasant dinner, talking about nothing and everything so that he can loosen up before we broach more serious topics.

By the time I bring the chocolate fondants, I think Shannon has relaxed enough seeing how all tension seems to have left his body, so I assume it's time to introduce the subject of our contract. He brings a piece of the cake to his mouth, the liquid chocolate running along his chin, and I fight my urge to lick him clean.

"Mmmmh this is fuckin' delicious... I mean, really delicious!" he corrects himself.

"Thanks, glad you like it, I'll teach you how to bake them if you want," I propose him. "It's very easy!"

"That would be great, but I've never been really good at cooking you know..."

"Have you even tried?"

"A bit, but not really," he admits, casting his eyes down.

"Are you willing to discuss conditions, rules and the likes tonight, or would you rather wait until tomorrow?"

"Tonight! Please..." he says eagerly.

"I haven't prepared the contract yet, but we can already discuss some of the rules and limits if you wish?"

"Sounds good!"

"One of the most important values between the Dominant and the Submissive is communication. On my side, I will strive to be clear on my expectations and demands. On your side, you should feel free to ask for whatever you need. You'll have to tell me about your worries and your concerns. If there's anything you don't like or feel uncomfortable with, you must speak up and let me know as long as you remain respectful. We will define moments to discuss about all these things on a daily basis for now, then maybe once a week, once we have found our bearings."

I make a quick pause to let the information sink in and wait for Shannon to nod before I go on.

"Respect is another fundamental value of the lifestyle, and it goes both ways. As a Dominant, I will respect your limits, and I'm not only talking about the sexual ones, but I will also try to stretch them gradually in order for you to become a better man.

"As the Submissive, you also owe utter respect to your Dominant. You must speak to me in a respectful manner. Talking back or insults are obviously forbidden. In any moment of roleplay, in a playroom or as soon as we step into the club, you shall address me as Master or Sir. For the rest of the time, you can call me Mark. The rule on respect applies to any other Dominant you may meet at the Black Diamond. Address them as Sir or if you know them, you may call them by their first name, preceded by the title of Master. Is everything clear so far?"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Good boy. Another important aspect is obedience obviously. When I give you an order, you shall comply immediately, without hesitation. You have to trust me when I make decisions or command you to do anything. Trust that whatever I decide upon, it's because I think this is what's best for you. If at any point you disagree, you simply have to ask for permission to speak if we're at the club or in the middle of a scene - or just tell me in any other situation - and let me know what the problem is. As long as you do this respectfully, we will discuss it through.

"If you are to make a major decision at any moment of your life and I'm not around, you should find a way to postpone said decision and speak with me first. I will advise you as best as I can, and I will always take your arguments into account. Do you have any questions?"

"Hmm... This is a lot to take in, but all is fine so far," he replies confidently.

"I want our relationship to be an honest one, Shannon, as it should be between a Dominant and his Submissive. Faithfulness and loyalty are important. Once we sign this contract, neither you nor I will be allowed to engage in another relationship as long as our agreement runs. As I told you before, these contracts are moral and of course, either of us can terminate it at any time. Is this all clear?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Now about safewords. You already know what they are, correct?"

"Yes, Sir. Liam and Mick told me about them. If you don't mind, I would like go for the most current ones, red to stop and yellow to slow down," he replies with self-assurance.

"They are your choice and I will respect them. I suppose you have gathered what they fully imply?"

"I believe so..."

"This is very important, Shannon. I want to make sure you will use them at any time you need. Like I told you, while in a scene, I will test your limits a lot, and there will be times you'll tell me to stop or to slow down, and I won't. Not until you use your safewords. This applies to everyday life and punishments as well. You must never feel ashamed to use them. Saying Red or Yellow is not an admission of defeat, and I will never be disappointed if you use them. It will take a bit of time for me to be able to read your body, your mind and to guess your reactions, so please never hesitate to safeword if you need to, is that clear?"

"Yes, very clear."

"We're almost done with the basic duties, but there's another one I need to mention. As my Submissive, you trust me with your body and your being. I will be responsible for your well-being and your safety. In return, I expect you to behave in a safe way. Never put yourself in a dangerous situation, think twice before you do anything that might endanger you.

"Also, I need to be able to contact you at any time. If I call you, pick up the phone, if I text you, I want a response within the next few minutes. If you are not able to answer a call from me, I will leave a voicemail, and you'll have to call me back as soon as you get the message. In this case, you'd better be ready with a good reason as to why you didn't answer the phone."

"B... but what if my battery goes dead during the day?"

"This is your responsibility to make sure your phone is always charged. Okay?"

"Yes, I understand. But what if... what if I forget and I don't have a good reason to provide you with?"

"This is where discipline is brought into play. If you fail your duties or breach a rule, you get disciplined," I state seriously.

Shannon already knows about this aspect of the lifestyle, so it's no real surprise for him, but he still lowers his eyes to the table.

"This is part of BDSM lifestyle, Shannon. You will make mistakes, and I will discipline you. This is not for my pleasure. Instead, it aims at correcting your behavior so that you become a better Submissive, and ultimately, a better man.

"Now, if you happen to make a mistake without me knowing it, I expect you to confess and ask for your punishment..."

"Why would I do that!?" he interrupts me. "If you don't know, then...."

"I will most probably find out," I cut him. "And believe me, Shannon, if I find out by myself, the punishment will be twice as bad," I say firmly.

"Okay... got it..."

"Remember: honesty and communication."

"I understand.... Are there more rules other than those you've exposed?"

"These were not really rules, they were what I would qualify as duties. Then, there will be a list of rules that I am going to set up for you," I reply with a smirk.

Shannon straightens on his chair, and I suggest moving to the living room. Once we are comfortably seated in the white leather couch, me slightly turned toward him, I go on with the rules.

"Most of the rules will deal with a proper and healthy lifestyle. No drugs, no tobacco, and as little alcohol as possible. Even if you're legal, your consumption of alcohol will have to remain reasonable and with my permission. It should never happen before we play a scene either."

"Why is that?" he asks, a bit confused. "I mean... In a club, it's hard not to drink..."

"You will find out that the Black Diamond mostly offers very light drinks, for one. And then, both the Dominant and the Submissive must be in full control of their brain when they perform a scene. Alcohol impairs judgment and things can become dangerous for both the Dom and the Sub."

"Alright, this makes sense," he agrees.

"Regarding a healthy lifestyle, you can forget about junk food, nasty fast-food restaurants, ready-made meals and the likes. I want you to get healthy eating habits, with regular meals, so you will learn to cook, and I will help you. Eating healthily is important and it goes along the next rule which is about working out. I'll set up a schedule for you to go to the gym or to run," I explain, witnessing an expression of disgust spread on his face.

"Gym? Is it necessary? I don't really have weight issues..."

"It is necessary. After a few weeks, you'll get used to it and realize you feel better too. As far as sex is concerned, I will require you to be supple and to have stamina, if you see what I mean..." I trail off.

"But I hate working out," he pouts.

"You'll get to like it. And if you don't, this is still part of the rules," I insist before I carry on. "Another part of a healthy lifestyle is rest. I want you to have good nights of sleep, preferably a minimum of eight hours, but never less than six. I need you to be in good shape, especially over the weekend. Any problem with this?"

"No, I need my sleep anyway."

"All good then. Last point, I'll set up appointments to make tests on Saturday to make sure we are both clean. Bareback is much more pleasant..." I say, wiggling my eyebrows once. "Do you agree with this?"

"Yes, of course! My last test was clear and I have always used condoms since then, this will not be a problem."

"Perfect! Is it all clear so far?"

"I think so..."

"Just let me know if you have any questions..."

"About all these rules... I don't really have questions, but... that's a lot..."

"Are there any that you feel are too much for you?"

"No, no... it's just a lot... it seems like soon you're going to tell me how to dress!"

"It could have been a rule, indeed. Some Dominants go as far as choosing their Submissive's haircut, their clothes..."

"Like wear skinny black shorts at the club or be naked at all times at home so you can fuck me at any moment?" he jokes.

"Nakedness at home can be fun sometimes, but it won't be at all times," I chuckle. "And as far as the club is concerned, if you feel more comfortable in leather pants in the beginning, I'm fine with them, but you'll get to wear these tiny shorts because they're too fucking sexy, and you'll get used to them. Outside of the club, you may dress as you want, as long as it remains decent. Does this sound acceptable?"

"Yes, that's fine!"

"Now about sex," I say, folding my arms across my chest.

Shadows of lust fill his eyes, his lower lip gets captured between his teeth, and he crosses his legs, probably to hide the beginning of an erection. I like this...

"Sex will be intense, in many ways, and I'm not only talking about frequency. Whatever you experienced in the past may have been great, but I trust you will discover new sensations and higher levels of intensity.

"This is another domain where I expect you to comply with any order I might give you. Sex can happen at any time of day and night, in any place, and as often as I want. Know that I would never ask anything that I don't deem doable, that would endanger you or make you uncomfortable. We will take things slowly, but I will stretch your limits, gradually. However, remember that you can always safeword out of a situation if necessary."

"Okay... sounds good..."

"I should be the sole master of your pleasure. Only I can decide if I will grant you to orgasm. In this respect, you are not allowed to come without my permission. This means that, unless I ask you to, masturbation is forbidden. Remember: you are not a sex slave, and you have a right to safeword out of it. Or you can just tell me. There may be days without lust, or when you feel sick or simply too sore. In any case, communication is key. Do you have questions?"

"No, I don't think so. This is all clear, Sir..." he says a bit hesitantly, so I encourage him with a smile. "About discipline... How does it work exactly?" he eventually asks warily.

"Don't work yourself up with punishments, Shannon. Like all Submissives, you will make mistakes and get punished. You will learn to tame your unruly temper, I will guide you in this sense. Whenever you mess up, you will be lectured, given some time to reflect on your wrongdoing, punished, and once you've apologized, you will be forgiven."

"Sounds like a parent educating their child..." he mumbles.

"There's a bit of that, indeed. Some Subs actually call their Doms Daddy," I reply with a chuckle.

"Huh... really? Don't count on me calling you that!!" he exclaims, making me laugh out.

"I don't expect you to, don't worry. But there's a bit of a parent / child relationship between a Dominant and a Submissive. Part of the Dominant's role is to educate his Submissive, to train him, to help him to become someone better."

"Yeah, I see your point."

"Talking about education, this is going to be your long term goal."

"What do you mean?"

"If you ultimately accept to be my Submissive, I will ask you to get a professional education. I can understand you never liked school and wouldn't want to go back there to graduate. However, you have to do something with your life, find a career path. You can't be happy with being a tiler for two weeks, then a warehouse helper for a month and a cashier for another two weeks, etc... You will have to think about what you like to do, what kind of job you would like to get, and find an apprenticeship or course to learn a trade."

"I'm not really keen on going back to school..."

"I'm not asking you to go back to school, Shannon. Just to follow a professional training."

"But I don't even know what I'd like to do... None of the jobs I've had in the past three years really appealed me..."

"You'll have to think about something. Some jobs don't require that you go back to school, there are accelerated courses."

"Alright, I'll think about it."

"Good. Do you have more questions about what we discussed tonight?"

"Not for the moment..." he says with a yawn.

"Then, let's go get some sleep. Tomorrow, you will think about all this, and we'll discuss it further. Then you can make your decision about being my Submissive."

I grab his hand and lead him towards the corridor. As we reach his bedroom, he coughs and says: "Hmm... can I ask a last question?"

"Of course."

"I'm just wondering... hmm I'm just curious... Are we really going to have separate bedrooms?" he asks, his face turning to a crimson red.

"This will be up to you," I reply as I raise my hand to caress his cheek. "I prepared this bedroom for you in case you would like to be alone tonight. There are a lot of Dominants who don't want to share their beds with their Submissives, but it won't be my case. There are also a lot of Submissives who, when they live with their Dominants, like to have their own bedroom. I'd actually like to share my bed with you in the future. But I still want you to have your own bedroom, if you need to be alone sometimes."

"Why would I want that?" he shyly asks.

"There might be times when you want to be alone, to have your own space," I chuckle. "After a long scene for example, or after discipline..." I raise my other hand and hold his face. "There are moments you may want to take some distance if you get upset."

"Oh I see..." he whispers, his eyes melting into an intense greenish blue. "Would you... I mean... could I... sl... sleep with you tonight, though?"

"Yes, of course. I'll be happy to hold you in my arms while you fall asleep," I say, smiling wildly.

And the smile is genuine. Of course, I don't expect anything to happen tonight. I want him to think things over again before he accepts to become my Submissive. I've just given him a lot to ponder on this evening, and he needs to absorb all the information. My hard shaft will have to be patient.

A/N When I read books, I like to picture the places in my head. When I started to write, and for the sake of accuracy, I had to draw some plans of the most important places; in order to be coherent with further action later in the story, I drew a plan of Mark's apartment, inspiring myself from what I found on the internet. So I am absolutely bad at drawing, but I took a picture of what I made and here it is. Most of the rooms haven't been described yet, but you'll find out that there will be some action in most of them.

Published on 5 May 2016