±1±

New York City was a nice change of pace.

Even though I had been looking forward to moving to the city on my own—it felt good to have Seraphina with me.

Despite growing up in Upstate New York I’d never been to the city. I’d sat upright in the tiny rental car when I saw the cityscape on the horizon.  Sera had taken to sitting in the backseat. Our suitcases and a few boxes of belongings was all we took with us. The rush of the city was jarring and I had to down a handful of benzos to make it to the Upper West Side. The studio I’d rented was part of an old brownstone that had been divided into 4 and a half apartments. Ours was the half apartment.

Sera had to duck to get through the doorway and she slowly she took in the small galley kitchen, living room and tiny bathroom crammed into the 450 square foot space. It was clean and only slightly dated. The previous tenant had left behind their bright orange corduroy couch and a metal desk behind.

“Where are we going to sleep?” Sera asked setting her suitcase down.

I slipped passed her and took a seat on the couch.

“It folds out.”

The tiny apartment had us on top of each other and not the good way. The space was small with walls so thin privacy was a thing of the past. Sera had taken a risk moving without securing a job and she stayed in the apartment most of the day cold calling. I’d helped her write a resume and sent it out to the sex shops, clubs and dungeons but she hadn’t heard anything back.

The red train case she kept all her Domme gear in sat in the corner of the apartment untouched. I felt like it was teasing me. It wasn’t that I wanted sex (Sera had kept one of the cheaper vibrators a client had given her rendering me useless) I wanted to feel something intense. I wanted to shut my mind down and push myself through insurmountable pain/discomfort or safely drown in the anxieties I usually kept at bay.

I mean, our relationship didn’t change. Sera was my wife and Mistress. I took care of her, I served her, I obeyed her and worshiped her. Even though I’d leased apartment it was still hers and she had control over everything in it including me.

Before the semester started Sera went on a Columbia campus tour with me just to get out of the house. We’d also dropped off the check for my courses and had just enough money left to float for maybe another month.

“I could just go back to bar running or serving bottles” She suggested as we loitered around the business building after the campus tour.

“No. That would be a step back. Maybe I can get a job doing graduate research”, I said.

“You always clash with professors”, she shook her hair back sending the soft waves cascading down her back.

“I do not.”

“You do”, she had her hands in the pockets of her faded black, “It’s because academic types are submissive and you clash with each other.”

I glanced over to her. Sera wasn’t usually that analytical.

“Is that so?”

“January said it’s good practice to separate people you meet into Dominant or submissive category. She said it would help with my people skills. Academics are always looking for answers and asking questions. They don’t like absolutes. So submissive.”

Sera had broken things off with January Cordell but they still had plans to see each other when Sera went back to D.C to work a few Clandestine parties.

“Interesting observation. Sera, maybe you should look into getting a psychology degree. We can go down to the school and talk to an advisor. I’d help you.”

She shook her head.

“I told you that’s not for me. Right now I just want a fucking job.”

She probably wouldn’t have gotten a job if Sven hadn’t shown up on our doorstep a week after my classes started. He just showed up at the front door one day in a tight green t-shirt that showed off the outlines of his muscles and even tighter dark wash jeans.

“Paris”, he greeted me with a kiss. Even though we’d never been formally introduced.

“Uh, Hi.” I said.

“What are you doing here?” Sera asked moving me out the way and letting Sven hug her, “I thought you were in California.”

Sven gave the small studio apartment an appreciative glance, “I always spend the fall on the East Coast. Bet you guys need a roommate to afford this.”

“We will soon” Sera said.

“Where are you working now?” he asked.

“Nowhere”, she said.

“I know some people in the Manhattan and Brooklyn scene. What are you looking for?”

“I’ll do anything--” Sera turned to me, “Paris, is this really how we want to treat our guest? You should…I don’t know…make something.”

I realized she wanted me to treat any guest we had with the same deference I treated her with. Sera lead Sven over to the couch and I considered what was in the kitchen. I doubt she wanted me to serve him filtered water and ramen noodles. I had some peppermint tea in my messenger bag, I grabbed those and boiled some water to make tea.

“First of all the high-end Manhattan scene is much more glamorous and exciting”, Sven explained. His voice was deep with a seductive edge with that accent, “There are a shit more NDAs though because you got your celebrities, athletes, moguls and trust fund babies. The dungeons here usually recruit from adult agencies. I can probably get you an audition but you need a sexy portfolio and headshots. You also need references to show you are in good standing with the community. “

“Why is this so complicated?” Sera said.

“Can’t let just anyone near the whips and chains”, he said clearly referencing the idiot in Florida who probably tried to kidnap her. Sven had been there in Florida to help her. They had history.

I handed Sera her tea first, then Sven. Neither of them paying me much mind. I wasn’t sure what do with myself so I waited for Sera to tell me. Not having to stress about it curbed any panic attack I’d usually have. I wanted more of this. As if reading my mind Sven met my gaze when he took a sip of his tea.

“Before you audition, Seraphina.” Sven said, “I need to know you’ve been keeping your skills sharp. It’s been a few months. You sure you still have it?”

She was still in her pajamas and playing Dominatrix seemed like the last thing she’d want to do, but Sven smirked and inclined his head toward me. Suddenly Sera seemed game for what he was insinuating. My adrenaline was spiking at the prospect.

“Paris”, Sera said, “Get my case and bring it over here.”

“Actually”, Sven said before I could move, “I think he needs to undress first.”

My eyes instinctively went over to Sera. At some point Sera had decided I always needed to appear presentable in her presence; starched shirt, creased pants, sometimes a vest, shined belt and shoes. Occasionally she’d allow a polo shirt but there couldn’t be a single wrinkle.

‘Don’t look at me”, she snapped, “You do whatever Sven says and you can call him Sir. We want to make our guest happy, right?”

“Yes, Darling.”

Sven took out his smartphone and set a timer. “Paris, all your clothes better be on the floor before this timer goes off.”

I couldn’t see how long the timer was set for so I ran my fingers down the tight buttons of my shirt. I kicked off my shoes socks, unfastened my belt and removed my pants. My belt had been so tight a bright red imprint was left on my skin.

“Come here”, Sven growled his Norwegian accent thickening. He was sharp and to the point. It was so hard to believe this commanding man could be a switch. Sven ran his hand down my chest and sternum studying the barely visible outline of the bones beneath. My body anticipated his touch as his skimmed my pelvic bone and circled the base of my cock, “Smooth.”

“I got bored yesterday.” Sera explained opening the red travel case. I’d gone through a whole pack of dollar store razors to shave every fine hair on my body on her orders hoping that meant she wanted to fuck…she did not.

Sera removed a folding cane from the case that was similar to the one Alexxa used to carry. Sera circled the tiny apartment her brain trying to remember what to do next.

“What are you doing?” Sven asked his face scrunched in confusion.

“Alexxa always said to circle at least 15 times in a session to burn minutes.”

“Sounds like Alexxa.” Sven said, “Proceed.”

She took some red tape out of the case and put an “X” on the floor. She snapped her fingers and I scrambled to the “X”.

“Okay. So we have three positons. One is on your knees spread shoulder length apart, hands behind your back and chest out--chin up. Show me. . .good.”

I’d gotten over other people seeing my body but I flushed with Sven in the room. If he was in my position it would be a display of lightly tanned supple skin, tight muscles and rugged blonde hair. A handsome strong man on his knees would definitely turn Sera on.

“Two”, Sera continued and I realized I wasn’t focusing on my tasks, “Sit back on your ankles, hands behind your head and elbows out… good…Three. Bend forward forehead to the ground hands behind your back.”

That one involved more stretching then I was used to. Sera her socked foot on my back pushing my forehead closer to the floor.

“I like this one the best”, she said taking her foot off and turning to Sven, “Then maybe some footwear worship for like ten minutes followed by cleaning my shoes and then maybe we’d get a collar and go for a walk. Or sometimes I’d notice the messy pile of clothes or some other imperfection that would lead to ten minutes of punishment …oh you know what’s fun? Get up Paris, come here.”

I pushed myself up and went to stand in front of her.

Sera poured her tea out and filled it with questionable New York City tap water. She ruffled my hair a little and put the cup on top.

“Now, Paris circle the apartment three times. If you spill a single drop of water I won’t like it. Well. I’ll like it you won’t”, she turned back to Sven, “They can never do it without spilling water and if they do I trip them. Then if they are into forced feminization I’d make them wear heels or put make up on as a punishment. But I don’t get that fetish…or maybe take them to the stocks or a flogger. If there are masochist I’d go for the whips. Make them glow red. Whatever they are into and whatever gets me better tips.”

“I guess Alexxa taught you pretty well”, Sven said, “I have a connection at The Gilded Cage. It’s got a dark sexy and elegant vibe. It’s the go-to place since the Emperor’s Club closed.”

There was a beat of silence. I wanted to open my mouth and explained the Emperor’s Club but I focused on circling the apartment.

“Eliot Spitzer?” Sven said to Sera’s silence, “Client number 9? Anyway The Gilded Cage is an all-inclusive agency. They have strippers, Dommes, escorts and a massive sex boutique on the top floor.  At The Gilded Cage even the kink stuff has to be elegant but dangerous. You have to dress that way for the audition. What do you have to wear? What about make-up? Let me see.”

“Hold on”, Sera rummaged through Rubbermaid containers where we kept our clothes in and stepped into the bathroom.

“Come here”, Sven said and I obeyed. Sven was maybe 30 and his bohemian lifestyle made him all the more attractive. Sera had told me how he was based in New York City but traveled the world producing and performing in the BDSM community. Sven reached up and took the water cup off my head, “You are good on your feet.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

He smiled at that. His vibrant green eyes roamed the apartment and he noticed the metal desk piled with my books and leather messenger bag.

“You’re a good little schoolboy aren’t you?” he said and I don’t know if the way his eyes darkened was a trick of the light or desire flooding in. He had flipped into enticing Dom mode.

“I’m an above average student…Sir.”

“Tell me. How does your Mistress punish you.” he asks noticing the lack of marks on my body

“She takes away my desk, has me sleep on the floor, celibacy…”

“You like serving your Mistress. Or Darling? That’s adorable.”

“It’s…non-gendered.”, I explained

“Got it. You like it don’t you? Being her slave?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“When’s the last time she let you come?”

I tried to think back. It had been awhile because now little things set me off like listening to her shower or how she stretched before going running.

“Five months?”

“Paris, do you want to serve me?”

He pulled off his shirt still taken aback by the well worked body underneath. His low slung jeans revealing his tapered waist and I could see the thick outline of his oversized dick. I was slightly envious but also certain a man built like this would want nothing to do with me in my vanilla life.

“Paris?” he growled.

“Yes, Sir.” I swallowed.

“Three”, he said and I folded myself into the strenuous position on my knees forehead to the ground. I heard him rustling around in his knapsack, “Paris, Your safe word is …Peppermint.”

With my forehead still pressed to the ground I heard him go over to Sera’s red train case. He pulled something out and disinfected it. I felt him slide a leather collar around my neck, he pulled it tight but even at the smallest rung it hung off my neck. He clicked a chain lead to one of the O-rings on the collar. I heard the familiar sound of a condom opening.

“Relax Paris”, he said running his finger up my spine, “I can see you’re getting tense. You don’t have a choice in one happens next so you might as well relax and I might let you enjoy it. The only rule is you better not come. Only She can let you do that. Sven yanked on the lead and pulled me up to my knees. He settled on his knees behind me, the light hairs of his hard chest pressed against my back.

“Lean back against me, Paris. Put your arms around my neck.”

I leaned back until I could loop my arms around his neck my back pressed to his chest. I heard him open his wallet and open another packet. I felt a cold stream of lubricant as he adjusted my positon and slowly entered me.  He was big and took his time eventually taking on a rhythmic push and pull.  His broad soft hands ran up and down my stretched out body. I was doing everything in my power not to come first.

“This is too easy”, Sven grunted into my ear, “You’re going to get yourself into trouble by coming”

The walls were thin enough that I knew Sera could hear what was happening on the other side of the door. Sera stepped out of the bathroom and I only caught a glimpse of the sheer black teddy with gold accent threads she was wearing. Usually she’d also wear garters and sheer stocking. Boots instead of six-inch heels. Sera looked right past me and waited for Sven’s approval.

“You can’t wear that to The Gilded Cage. You look like the other kind of mistress”, Sven advised tightening his grip on me I felt every muscle in his taut warm arms as he slowed down his pace, “The Gilded Cage likes real fetish wear. You might want a light tan and build up your core.”

Sera crossed the small room and the click of her heels alone almost made me come. She got on her knees in front of me. She leaned towards me and I was anticipating her kiss, but she leaned over my shoulder to kiss Sven instead. I locked my fingers around Sven’s neck fighting the urge to touch her as she moaned into Sven’s mouth.

“I thought you were helping me”, Sera said in between kissing him.  My body shuttered at the lack of …motion from Sven.

“You don’t need my help”, Sven said and he began stroking my cock. I shuddered holding back, “You’re still a six foot tall gorgeous Russian. You’ll do fine at the audition.”

“I’m not… Russian”, Sera said still kissing Sven “Also that tea he made wasn’t that good.”

“Come on Sera. You both looked bored. Let’s see far we can push the schoolboy.”

Sera quietly stood up and walked back to her train case, “There is no ‘we’ Sven. I don’t like to share.”

She pulled out another collar and lead. Sven switched in an instance.

“One”, she said.

 Sven gently removed my arms from around my neck and crawled to a spot in front of her in the kneeling position. She dropped the collar and lead for him to put on along with an expensive condom. She tossed a different condom at me, her focus on Sven’s willing body wearing her collar.

Sera pushed me to lay flat on my back on the parquet floor I’d just mopped before class this morning. She wrapped the end of my lead around the foot of the couch then tied my hands behind my back. Sera had never used a collar and lead on me before, with it tied around the couch leg I couldn’t lift my head off the floor

She laid herself on top of me, her back to my chest. She unfastened where the lingerie buttoned between her legs and carefully adjusted herself until I was filling her ass. I moved the best I could to create friction but her weight was too much and my core wasn’t that strong.

I still couldn’t lift my head but I heard the rattle of chains as she (I assumed) wrapped Sven’s lead around her hand and pulled him up and over her open legs.

“Fuck”, she said before Sven entered her. I realized she was reacting to how he must look in just the collar and lead. All that muscle and brawn being led by a delicate chain at her hand. I heard the soft groan of their shared kiss, “Fuck me.”

“Yes, Mistress”, Sven growled and the way he nipped at her neck as he started fucking her pussy made her laugh. He let out a hiss when she pulled tight on his lead.

“Slowly”, she ordered him

“Like this, Mistress?”

“Yes…fuck”, Sera tries to stay quiet and Sven starts panting above her, “If one of you comes before me I’m locking you in the closet for two hours.”

“Yes, Mistress”, Sven and I accidentally said at the same time.

She laughed quietly which made Sven work a little harder. He groaned with the effort of holding back. I understood that quiet cruel laugh of hers. It was reserved for when she got her fucking way. Sven kept his slow pace. Sven expressed his pleasure through soft hisses, grunts and low growls. He seemed to shift looking for a certain angle while pushing her legs farther apart and testing her flexibility.

“Fuck”, she said and I’m pretty sure she bit through her lip trying to keep quiet, “fuck. Fuck-“

She came almost instantly with wave after wave of residual tremors. She let go of Sven’s lead and pushed him away, she crawled off of me and turned back to Sven wrapping his lead around her hand pulling him, still erect and bobbing, towards her into a heated make out session. He was desperate to please her. Fuck it so was I. I moved to kiss that spot on her neck Saunders had been able to find. She turned to let me briefly kiss her mouth before going back to Sven.

“You two can switch now”, she said taking off the leads, “I’ll be nice and let you both co-”

Before she could finish Sven had already switched condoms and pulled her back into his lap and his hips moving like pistons.

“I…didn’t finish”, Sera said but she was laughing almost giggling.

“Guess I’m too much of a brat to be let off my leash”, he said and she laughed when he blew into her ear

“You just want to be punished”, she said.

“With all due respect Mistress when I’m done fucking your ass you’ll be too tired to punish me.”, Sven flirted right back to her.

Sera beckoned me forward and I moved between her legs, I took the condom off but didn’t put a new one on. Sera didn’t even notice. Sven was still blowing in her ear making her laugh again. It was so easy for him. He could get her a job. He could make her open that red case, he could make her smile, he could make her laugh, he could make her come like a faucet and fucked like a jackhammer.

He didn’t have to deal with her being mean, bossy, demanding and selfish. He would never have to give into her every whim or request. He would never have to follow her rules. I felt myself getting close, I pulled out and came into my discarded boxer. Neither of them seemed to notice. Sera switched their position so Sven was on top, the pad of his thumb working her clit. His stamina was clearly practiced his eyes boring into hers before he came, crashing his mouth against hers and bringing her with him. She managed to take his collar off before collapsing on the floor next to him.

 “You tricked me”, Sera said running her hand up his broad chest, “You didn’t need me practice or see my clothes for the audition.”

“I may have already arranged an audition before I got here”, he said, “But you will need headshots.”

Sera tapped his lips disapprovingly.

“I don’t like being fucked with in my own house”, she said but she was clearly flirting, “You’re buying me dinner. I can’t eat instant noodles anymore.  You’re cleaning this up”

I realized the last directive was aimed at me.

“Yes, Darling.”

She and Sven showered together while I put everything neatly in the red train case. Sven kept his gaze on her before they headed out. She worked her wet hair in a messy bun and put on a sweater dress and her Domme boots. Sven kissed and complimented her showing warmth and reverence.  She hesitantly returned his affection with kisses—showing affection wasn’t something that came easy to Sera but they were able to push each other’s comfort zones. Sera had been stressed about money and finding work that it was nice seeing her happy and distracted.

“Hold on”, she said to Sven before they left. She turned her attention to me. She hooked a finger around the O-ring on the collar I’d forgotten to take off and dragged me over to the closet, “You can stay in here until we get back.”

 

 

±3±

The Gilded Cage turned out to live up to its name

It was a gorgeous high-end multi-tiered strip club, hotel and BDSM dungeon hidden in the ritzy Lower West Side. I’d gone with Sera to the trendy building with massive Romanesque doors and columns after she was offered a job. Sera said the audition had been less than 10 minutes and they barley glanced at the expensive headshots before asking her to undress.

She had to sign multiple NDAs and despite have zero law experience I read through the contract before she signed it. The Gilded Cage ran a stricter ship than Alexxa because of their celebrity members. The girls who worked in the dungeons had to buy expensive designer fetish wear. Most of the girls got customers to sponsor them but Sera wasn’t that charming so we emptied our savings.

“If you invest in The Gilded Cage, The Gilded Cage invest in you”, is what the vaguely Eastern European manager said when I mentioned how expensive the outfits were before Sera signed the contract.

Despite making minimum wage and at least $175 in tips on a good night I could tell Sera was fed up with the dungeon. She had to take on clients with bad behavior and did scenes that pushed up against her hard limits. She was good at fucking with her clients emotions and giving them the kinks and fantasies they asked for but the dungeon manager told Sera she was too intense and not playful enough. Half of the men who visited the Gilded Cage weren’t in the scene they just wanted a light adventurous thrill while waiting for seats at the strip club.

“The strippers are treated the best and they make the most money”, Sera explained while she was trying to fix a broken leg on the orange fold out couch that had given out when we were sleeping.

“Are you thinking about stripping?” I asked trying to focus on my forensic accounting paper.

“No. I can do maybe two things on a pole and most men aren’t in to being crushed while getting a lap dance. The Dungeon Dommes are at the bottom. Most of them aren’t even Dommes, there are just actors who know nothing about kink and freak out when an actual masochist books a session.”

“We’re making ends meet.” I clicked over to my budget spreadsheet. We had enough for rent and after my textbooks we could maybe spend $100 dollars on a used couch if we ate two meals a day for three months. Fuck.

 “You know what? I keep getting asked about private sessions again.”

“That caused trouble last time. Let’s try to lay low.”

Sera pushed herself back from the sofa bed as it started to creak. Two more thin metal legs bent and the entire thing crashed to the ground and two springs popped through the mattress. “

“We need a new couch”, Sera said.

“First we need more money.”                                                                                                 

+++

 

 “Do you want to try shooting a video with me for my AdultStream channel”, Sven suggested when he dropped back by the apartment and realized we didn’t have a place to sleep.  Between my inability to negotiate Sera’s hourly rate with The Gilded Cage and the broken couch, Sera had made it very clear I wasn’t having sex until I figured this shit out.

“How much does it pay?” I asked. Sera didn’t seem to mind if interrupted her when it came to dealing with money.

“LoveLash is sponsoring the video”, Sven explained taking a seat at the small kitchen table, “I’ll split the $1000 dollar sponsorship 50/50 with you. The video will probably get pirated or end up on Tumblr so it’s better to take the sponsorship cut.”

“What do I have to do?” Sera asked, “I don’t know if I want to do porn.”

“It’s just like softcore kink stuff. It’s like doing a public scene but it’s being filmed. It’s more of a showcase for LoveLash’s bondage kits.”

Sera asked me to come with her to the shoot so I could carry her clothes and make-up case. I also brought my laptop so I could finish a presentation for my thesis advisor.  One of Sven’s many jobs was doing freelance producer gigs with his friends. They’d pool their money to rent a space for a few days then shot as many adult or sensual videos as they could at one time. It was bare bones staffing wise and I had to help Sera (and a few girls) with her makeup and hair.

Sven blocked out the entire video deciding he was going to play a naïve college man who is chastised and punished on a St. Andrew’s Cross for not being able to please his cold cruel Mistress/sugar mama. Sera didn’t get that he was teasing me. I was only half pay attention to the filming. The creative side wasn’t my thing. I just perked up when Sven cut the check for $500.

+4+

 “Look”, Sven said showing me his laptop after the LoveLash video had been up for two weeks. It had 800,000 views on AdultStream. He clicked to another tab and I saw the video on a spam sites with millions of views, “It’s been pirated already. It won’t get any more legit views now.”

“Can’t we copyright claim it?” I asked no longer surprised to come back from campus and find Sven in the apartment, usually in the new sleeper couch Sera had purchased from a shady warehouse in Brooklyn. Sven and some of the guys from the production helped her move it in. Then he’d fucked her in it before I could.

“It’s not worth it.”, He said clicking back over to an editing software, “Better to just move on and post another video.”

“Yeah, but back in D.C I filed a copyright on Sera’s stage name so we could—“

“Paris, you always get so worked up”, Sera said coming out the bathroom in a black halter dress and flats. Sven was taking her out like he did every night she wasn’t working. Sera always had flings and girlfriends but I’d never seen her date a man until Sven. There was a genuine connection between them and Sven was able to intimately help her understand the BDSM community and the actual art of Domination.

After they left I had tomato soup at my desk and did some Googling on copyright law. After I cleaned the apartment I organized the large plastic bins Sera kept all her clothes in, remade the bed and went to sleep on my makeshift cot on the floor I used whenever Sven stayed over.

 Their fucking of course woke me up. Sven was in Dom mode and their sex was more like a battle of the wills that went on for hours. Sera had started asking for rougher and harder sex from him and Sven happily obliged.  That night Sven shook me awake and threw his credit card at me.

“We need condoms. You know which ones.” He said.

I pulled on my coat over my pajamas and reached for my shoes.

“It’s late--”, Sera started but Sven grabbed her, his massive hand around her throat pulling her attention to him.

“Don’t worry about your fucking houseboy. The only time you open your mouth is when you want my cock.”

Her nails dug into his wrist as he threw her back on to the bed. There was clear need in her eyes and he was giving her something I don’t think I ever could.

When I got back from the drugstore they were fast sleep and entwined with each other. It seemed they had decided to forget the condom. Sven was covered in a few scratches and he’d ripped her dress and underwear. I knew Sven was clean but not having to use a condom had been my only advantage over him. I went to get some water and saw Sven’s laptop open on the kitchen table with his Pandora playing softly.

I went to turn it down but glimpsed his AdultStream account open in another tab. I looked over to see him snoring. Out of curiosity I clicked around on his AdultStream account just to see what he was into but it was strictly a business account. I started getting a feel for the website and clicked on the earnings section.

The screen populated with earning statements for Sven’s videos. I scrolled to the one he’d made with Sera and saw a bright green $8,000 Ad Shares Earned logo next to it.  A green check mark next to the video said

Revenue Payment Completed, next pay out 14 days

Below it was an itemized list of processing fees and Sven’s total 14 day payout for the video was $6543.22

“The fuck”, I whispered. He’d undercut us. Sven barley did anything in the video and we just got a half of a sponsorship check?

I settled in. Sven’s account had hundreds of videos he’d done all over the world. He produced but didn’t star in all of them. Some he earned five dollars some he earned thousands. His straight channel was more profitable than his queer channel but he was making real money off the ad revenue.

I grabbed my laptop and spent the night in the bathroom doing what I should have done in the first place. I read  through AdultStream’s affiliate program and ad revenue policy.

“Fuck him”, I said showing Sera screenshots of Sven’s account after he’d gone home, “He tricked you.”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean to.” Sera said taking the grinds out the coffee I made her, “You had no right going through his stuff, Paris.”

“It was fate Sera. Fuck Sven.”

“No.”, Sera said, “He’s my friend. My only friend in this city. I’m sure it was a miscommunication. He knew we needed the money upfront.”

“I know I have zero say in this, Darling.  Maybe we should keep things personal with him. No more business.”

“I’ll think about it”, she said.

“In the meantime fuck people who take advantage. Fuck Alexxa and the fucking Gilded Cage. Sera you need to go out on your own.”

I couldn’t stop pacing in the tiny apartment. I was so fucking worked up.

“You said we shouldn’t do what we did in D.C.”

“This time you go entirely on your own. You need to start working for yourself. You’re not some college dungeon Domme trying to make money until you get a job. You are good. You’re a real cold, heartless bitch with respect for kink and the people that need it. You enjoy putting men in their place and clients can tell the different.”

“I’m not Alexxa.”

“Seraphina regulating the sex industry is something I strongly believe in. But while it’s not regulated let’s take advantage.  There is no certification or license for being a professional Domme. You are just as good as Alexxa. Better. I say you open your own dungeon. Here in the city.”

“How do we do that?” she asked holding out her cup for more coffee. Sven really had exhausted her, “We can barely afford rent.”

“Capital. Money. We need investors like in Silicon Valley. We can probably get January to invest. Maybe reach out to the rich clients you’ve really got wrapped around your finger and lure them away.  Also find out if any of them went to Harvard.”

 

In between classes and studying (I really could have finished my accounting masters in my sleep) I sat down with Sera and worked on a business plan. I pulled from her experience and trends I saw on the BDSM forums to develop a blueprint for a boutique BDSM dungeon and private sex club.

To persuade people to invest I had to look the part so Sera bought me a new suit from an irregular suit outlet sale in Long Island. I spent all night tailoring it to fit and Sera bought some bulk designer tags and accents to sew onto the slightly misshapen suit. I started easy and took a day trip to D.C after my classes to meet with January Cordell

 “I’m surprised Sera didn’t come”, January said when I met her in her D.C office and presented her the business plan, “I think it’s exciting she wants to be an entrepreneur.”

“I um… didn’t think Sera should be involved in the financial part.”, I explained, “Some of the investors could be her future clients and I don’t want to complicate things.”

“Look”, January said reviewing my investment valuation, “I adored Seraphina. We dated for nine months which is enough for me to know she’s not good with money, so I’m not keen to loan her half a million dollars.”

January hadn’t become a multi-millionaire by taking risks. She’d taken her family’s real estate business to the next level by investing in the adult industry. Triple Ex, Clandestine and Bunni Adult Toys were highly profitable business run by industry veterans that she’d funneled money into. I’d been prepared for this.

 “You can trust me, January”, I said, “Unlike all the other lobbyist, tech companies and business you’ve invested with you know you can trust me because you know what I’m about. I’m submissive and submissives don’t like to fail their Dominant counterparts. Sera needs this so I won’t fail. My mind won’t let me work that way.”

“Okay, Paris. Let’s negotiate.”

We settled on $350,000 which was basically nothing in Manhattan but it was a start. I tried to get an investment manager to handle the funds but most of them dismissed me, so I opened a New York Bank investment account and managed the money myself.

“Here”, Sera said handing me two business cards while I ran my hands over the keyboard trying to finish a last minute paper I’d forgotten about between all my bank visits. I’d been two months into this business idea and was still looking for financing.

“What’s this?”

“You said find clients who went to Harvard. These are my two clients at The Gilded Cage who went to Harvard. One of them, Whitaker, was in Winthrop House. His eyes practically lit up when I told him you used to live there and wanted to talk to him.”

“See”, I said closing my laptop, “I told you. Harvard ties mean something.”

±5±

Gerald Whitaker was a legacy real estate developer and had graduated from Harvard 10 years before I did but we’d had some of the same professors. John Hamlin was a COO of the company that owned the Knicks. He was in his late 50’s but when I mentioned I’d gone to school with Zane Marsh (of the Rhode Island Marshes) he was up for meeting with me.

 I used some of the seed money from January to woo the two Harvard men over lunch at The Four Seasons. I showed up in another tailored suit with fake gold cufflinks, fake Rolex and a tie clip. I made it seem like having lunch with New York City power brokers was a normal occurrence. All the time I spent studying my wealthy Harvard classmates finally came in use.

It wasn’t entirely disingenuous. I was like these men. A man who also enjoyed submission and who wanted to help build a better experience for others. They felt safe with me. Between appetizers they could talk freely about scenes they wanted to try and dungeons they visited. They didn’t know I was a grad student surviving on ramen noodles and filtered tap water.

Persuading these men to invest vaguely reminded me of the days I spent helping Carrie raise money for InspireHer. After the long lunch I’d wanted to go home and look her up on Facebook but Sera had blocked anyone I went to school with.

Collectively the men invested 1.9 million dollars in cash and assets.  I brought Sera along when we finalized the deal. I needed her to charm and tease them. I needed them to be locked into the fantasy. It was a low move but I wanted to remind them what they were getting.

Whitaker pointed me in the direction of a cursed vacant commercial space in his portfolio in SoHo. It was located in a building called 48X48 SoHo, a trendy glass enclosed high rise with retail on the ground level and 48 floors of condominiums on the top. The space had been vacant since the turnover in the economy because it lacked curb appeal. It was a basement end unit that was accessible from the street by a spiraling metal staircase. It had been a cooking school, luxury gym and yoga studio in a previous life. We bought it for 1.4 Million dollars.

In-between my team project and forensic accounting finals I managed to do enough research to fumble my way through purchasing commercial real estate in New York City.  January talked me through some of it and when it was all done all Sera had to do was sign the papers.

“This is a lot of money, Paris”, Sera said when I gave her the closing documents.

“We can’t turn back now.” I told her, “Hamlin, Whitaker and January have already put up 2 million dollars. We’ll have about half a million after we close.”

She tapped at the signature line.

“Paris, even I know that’s not enough money to run a business in Manhattan.”

“We’ll have to make the last bit stretch. We can do this Sera. After you sign this you’re done with the Gilded Cage. From now on you just have to work on building your own domain.”

“I’m trusting you.”

She signed the papers and we closed within a week. Sera quit the Gilded Cage and no one put up a fight.

That was their fucking mistake

48X48 SoHo was a prime space for the dungeon despite it being a good 45 minute train ride from our apartment. The space was stripped with exposed brick, concrete floors and shiny visible pipes--we were lucky the industrial look was in. There was a wide open reception area and directly behind a curved reception desk were with two studio spaces. Down the hall was a tiny office and storage closet. The mirrors from the space’s former days as a gym were still up.

I’d barley recognized myself when I stepped into one of the former studios. I’d run myself ragged working this deal and going to class. My under eyes were dark and I had more than a few gray hairs that never went away. Yet somehow hearing Sera’s boots clicking on the concrete floor made it worth it. She’d been working as many hours as possible to save up money much to Sven’s chagrin.

“What should we call it?” Sera’s voice echoed in the empty studio space.

“…New Aeterna?” I suggested

She thought about it.

“I like it”, she said, and “What is it?”

“I don’t know…it came to me in a dream.”

±6±

From that point on it was about precise accounting and working every connection we had.

Using the stacks of cards Sera had collected, from the conferences Alexxa had sent her to, we cold called trying to find the best deals to turn the 48X48 SoHo retail space into a working dungeon.

I found an interior designer that specialized in BDSM dungeons to help design the space. To save money Sera and I sourced equipment and furniture directly from the manufactures. It cost an arm and a leg to get things deliver to Manhattan so to save money Sera assembled and installed the furniture, swings and rigs herself. Sven helped her design and put up mechanical suspension rig from scratch and I begrudgingly paid him from our dwindling funds.

“Look at this”, Sven said when I gave him the check, “Now you’re giving me a check. That’s the thing about this business your next boss could be your next employee.”

“I’m just being fair.”

Sven folded the check slowly. He somehow looked even better exhausted and in old work clothes.

“You…sound like you have a problem with me.”

“I don’t”, I’d mostly gotten over the LoveLash thing. I was just going to make sure it didn’t happen again.

“The three of us never get together and this was the closest to a date Seraphina and I have had in two months.”

I was probably still a little distrustful of Sven but we did have fun together. It took most people years to build a group or relationship in the community with someone you could trust.

“Getting this dungeon off the ground is just a lot of work.”

“Maybe that’s the problem. You guys are working way to hard”, he said, “Maybe you need another partner. I can bring investors.”

Okay maybe I hadn’t gotten over the LoveLash thing.

“I don’t want money to get in the way of what we have. Unless Seraphina tells me to make an offer I don’t see things changing.” I said deflecting, “Sir.”

Sven pulled me towards him by my tie, pulling the soft patterned fabric tight around my throat. Sven kissed me, his lips warm and soft beneath mine. I hesitantly opened my mouth for him.

“I like you, Paris”, He said, “You’re a good sub but you hold back. I see it in everything you do.  Sera should watch out. Because one day you’re going to snap.”

I was shaken by Sven’s comments but I put them behind me and kept the business afloat.

 I spent an outrageous amount of money on a detailed security system with 15 cameras and 24 hour streaming. After what happened in Florida I was worried about Sera’s safety and…I wanted the ability to watch.

It took three months and $400,000 dollars to get New Aeterna up and running by June 2013. I’d let my GPA slip to 3.0 and given up almost every waking hour to working or studying. I felt it was important Sera keep her skills sharp and set aside part of the budget to send her to BDSM conventions and workshops. I also bought several books on sex and sexuality off eBay for her to read.

The submissive in me wanted to also please Sven so I sometimes budgeted out enough money for him to go with her to the workshop and conventions, that way she’d get a few relaxing days away from the pressure of the investment we weren’t sure was going to pay off.

 

+++

New Aeterna always felt unique to me.

We kept the lobby area industrial but it was made warm by the flood of natural light. The lobby was furnished with comfortable modular leather couches and lounges with bottles of chilled black alkaline water to match the ominous aesthetic of a dungeon. The traditional reception desk was replaced with a large distressed table height counter, a comfortable non-intimidating space to meet with clients and discuss need. Plus it could be folded into the wall for parties

In contrast, directly behind the table were two floor to ceiling burnt wood (sound proof) barn doors with large iron hinges that concealed the two dungeons or more accurately studios. Each dungeon was equally furnished with a private bathroom/shower (one had a bathtub) for client use. The spaces were dark with dramatic with hanging Edison lights, exposed brick and black sports mats. Each one had suspensions chains hanging from the ceiling , a suspension rig, whipping post,  mirrors , a standard St. Andrew’s Cross, benches, bondage tables, compression gear, stockades and beautifully designed black velvet high back throne chair. There was an additional variety of discount BDSM furniture and tools hidden in the back including a medical chair.

We made waves when we did our soft open. Word had gotten around about New Aeterna. This new upstart sex club and dungeon by two newcomer in their mid-twenties. We weren’t hiring other girls because we couldn’t afford the overhead and it would take away from the private feel of the space.

 For clients New Aeterna was meant to feel more organic and lifelike.  From the moment clients step in real life gives way to fantasy. Payments are all done by a third party so no shamefully handing over a check at the end of a session. When men (94% of our clients were men) came they parked  in our reserved parking space in the 48X48 SoHo garage. After exiting the garage they’d head down the metal spiral staircase to the discreet basement commercial space where they could punch in their personalized security code to get in. The way the lobby was set up it subconsciously resembled an apartment so clients felt like they were visiting their Mistress in her home.

If they are on time they are rewarded with the soft clicks of her heels coming from the backroom. If they are late they will walk in to see one of the barn doors open and a very impatient Mistress waiting.

The private sex club business allowed us to rent the space and dungeon out for play parties while also serving as a space for sex positive workshops, seminars, sex toy or swinger’s parties—granted intercourse happened outside the club. We didn’t have the space or staff to accommodate that mind field of legality.

We were going to make it. Somehow we had to make it.

+++

Sven knew a shit ton of people so I reluctantly contracted him and one of his friends to plan the open house. At the last minute he had suggested I join the catering staff since they were short. I tried to push back but Sera told me to do it.

I spent the grand opening party in a starched polyester black shirt and pants with a red apron cinched around my waist. Sven greeted the guest while I poured wine and made runs to the caterer’s food truck that was parked outside and being used to heat up the frozen hors d’oeuvres.

Once the party started Sven had to personally go to the tiny back office and bring Seraphina out. She looked stunning in the cut out black mini dress she used to wear when she worked at Oasis and a pair of small delicate dagger earrings in in her ears. Her legs were encased in a pair custom made thousand dollar six inch thigh high boots. Sven kept by her side so she wouldn’t have to endure small talk alone. She gave our investors most of her time.  January awkwardly keeping a distance.

±7±

Sera managed to slip away from Sven and made her way over to the bar area. She looked pissed and the other waiter made herself scarce.

 “Bring me a drink”, Sera said not even looking at me.  I watched her maneuver around the crowd and into the back office. I picked up a white and red wine I hadn’t watered down yet and followed her. The office door was ajar so I slipped in

She was sitting at the desk watching the party on the expansive security system.

“You didn’t say which one”, I said when her eyes locked on the tray with both drinks. She choose the white and set it down on the beat-up desk I’d found on a curb in Morningside Heights, “You look—“

“Shut up”, she said downing the wine, “This is too much.”

 “It’s not”, I said, “It’s what you deserve.”

“I’m a homeless deadbeat whore that barely gradate high school.” she drank the other glass of wine and it seemed to calm her nerves, “What the fuck am I turning into?”

I tucked the tray under my arm.

“Seraphina, you aren’t turning into anything you’re just becoming who you always were. Confident. Demanding. Bitchy. Powerful. Empathetic. Giving. You are getting what you always wanted when you were stuck in that orphanage or and trapped in Helios house. Control. You’re in control of your life now, my Darling. New Aeterna is yours and you will be fully in charge once we pay everyone back. I’ll make sure of it “

“Wait--What do you mean? Pay everyone back ?"

“The investors”, I said simply, “As long as we owe the investors’ money you won’t truly be in charge. January, Whitaker and Hamlin. We have to buy them out until New Aeterna is 100% yours. I’m thinking principal plus 15% profits and maybe free lifetime memberships.”

“Doesn’t that take years? I mean they loaned us two million dollars.”

“We can do it 18 months. We just have to pull a profit of about $200,000 dollars a month. Sex sells and this city if full of kinky people with money. Now I’ve broken it down into projec—“

Sera stood up and the office was so small I had to press myself into the corner. She pulled the door shut then pushed me hard against it. I kissed her gingerly not wanting to ruin her makeup.

“We can’t have sex”, I managed.

She pushed me against the door again.

“Aren’t you presumptuous, pet.”

“It’s illegal. There are millions of dollars on the line. This place has to keep clean. We have to be careful. Bright fucking lines. You also need to know your rights and the law.”

 “We aren’t technically open”, she pressed a hard acrylic nail to my chest, “and neither of us has money to exchange. Also this office is private property and not part of the commercial zoning.”

Okay, so she did know the law but I didn’t want this to become a habit.

“But—“

“But what?” she took the tray from under my arm and threw it on the floor, “I was surprised you didn’t put up a fight when Sven asked you to serve drinks. But that comes naturally to you doesn’t it.  Then I saw you pouring drinks and carrying trays I remembered that’s what I wanted.  A man to serve me in any way I want. Whenever I want.”

She pushed herself up to sit on the desk and pointed to the chair.

“Sit,”

I did.

She pushed herself slowly off the desk and straddled my lap, she pulled off my apron and used it to tie my hands to the chair. I kissed her slowly meeting her tired but vibrant eyes. She bit down hard on my lip and laughed at my quick recoil. She rocked against my zipper and I dropped my head to kiss her neck. I felt her reach for my zipper and pull out my erection. My cater waiter pants were a size to big and easily slid down my legs.

“Shit”, I said when I felt her warmth. My head fell back, eyes closed. I forced my body to relax and felt the blushing bruise where she’d bitten me. Her stillness was like torture. She tilted the chair back so it was angled precociously against the door, the angle making her tighten. She took her time riding me, grasping for her own pleasure. We both jumped at the loud knock at the door.

Sera shifted to tilt the chair upright.

“Seraphina”, Sven called through the door, “Everything okay?”

“I’m…fine”, she said pushing herself back on top of the desk, “I just need a minute.”

I stand up and make myself decent. I know when a moment has passed. We’re both quiet until we hear Sven head down the hallway.

“I’m not going back out there”, Sera told me, “There are too many people and I’m tired.”

I loved Sera but I also knew she was difficult. I love that most of the time she knew what she wanted and could be very demanding. But we had the nearly impossible task of paying back out investors.  In order to do that I needed her to be happy and onboard.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

A//N

Okay but what does THIS have to do with embezzlement in a small town

Well, so we are getting a taste of Paris’ experience with wealth, money, accounting and learning why he was able to pick up on the scheme. These next few flashback chapters more than all the others ones will tie in with the present day story.

The next chapter has some total United Light vibes. Sera and Paris have worked themselves into debt and we’re going to see what lengths they go to pay it off. The stakes are much lower but it was in the back of my mind.

This is also analgous to New Aeterna-Verse in which Paris and Sera build "a thing" together. Instead of a country it's a business.

I don’t think I’ve ever written something about characters “building” something. I had no idea how to write this and not make it sound like narrative non-fiction. I mean Tomas (lol, I did not research back then) has a business in S&A and I never explained the origin. I SORT OF did it with Le Fleur Marche but it was from Clara’s outside POV.

I wrote The Four Seasons before the jokes and I never wanted to take it out. OKAY.

Also this chapter originally started with Paris/Sera arriving and being overwhelmed in Penn Station but I literally just changed it because I couldn't figure out how they would have moved their stuff. SO HMMMM SHV