The Agreement by S. E. Lund Read Free Book Online Page A

beyond reading a few books, fantasizing a
bit. To actually contact someone in the lifestyle?" She shook her head.
"That's the next step and that means this is really you , somewhere
deep inside underneath all that self-judgment. You're pretty vanilla but there
were a few hints in your list of fetishes that suggest you could be a secret
sub."
    I frowned at that. "Like what?"
    "Bondage, bare handed spanking, hair
pulling, leather corsets, kneeling…"
    "I just put those in so I didn't appear
like a poser."
    She just grinned. " Sure ."
    "So you don't think I can just be
interested as a student writing a paper?"
    "It must appeal to you on a human level,
sexual level, or else you'd write about something else. Either you're totally
against it and want to criticize it or you're totally fascinated and can't stop
thinking about it. I can help you. In fact, I enjoy teaching. But here's my
warning to you. I won't go along with any kind of shocking exposé ,"
she said, making air quotes, "so if that's what you thought you'd do,
forget it. I will help you understand how things work and introduce you
to some people I know. No names, though. As you can imagine, we're quite…"
She paused and shrugged a shoulder. " Protective of our lifestyle.
Puritans and moralists would love to try to discredit us. If people found out
who really frequents our dungeons and fetish parties." She grinned
at that. "Even people like your father."
    "Not my father ?"
    "Not that I know of, but people of his
status. All kinds of men and women enjoy kink, Kate. The public has the wrong
idea. Some of us just get off on a bit of bondage, a bit of power exchange.
Enhanced sensual experience."
    "You mean pain. I'm not into pain."
    "The pain and pleasure responses in the
brain are very similar. It's all sensation."
    "My boyfriend wanted to spank me," I
said, remembering our very brief and upsetting foray into kinky sex. "He
wanted to do mock rape scenes, and it was too much. I was afraid I was with
some kind of serial killer in the making."
    "He sounds like he had no idea what he was
doing. Don't use him as an example of what most Doms are like."
    "Since I did some reading," I said and
took in a deep breath. "I can't stop thinking about this. Not S&M, but
bondage and dominance. Some of the descriptions by the Dominants – the
way they talk about their subs. The way the Dom spoke to his sub in the letter
you sent me." I shook my head. "It did something to me and I realized
that I've always had this secret fantasy..."
    "But you always denied it, right? Because
it was upsetting."
    I nodded. "I'm a feminist."
    "So am I." Lara smiled quickly.
"You're attracted to a strong man who wants to take control over you in
the bedroom, but that conflicts with your feminist sensibilities outside of it.
It's a very common fantasy, Kate. Probably one of the most common fantasies for
women. It’s harmless as long as you're safe and it's all done
consensually." She looked out over the street and then her gaze returned
to me. "That's our motto – safe, sane, consensual. Sex is sex.
Pleasure is pleasure. Don't judge yourself – I always add unless it's
illegal, of course. No animals or children."
    I sighed. "Of course. But it's hard as a
modern woman to admit that I even consider it. My mother was a big
feminist. How can I want this?" I shook my head. "I'm embarrassed by
it."
    "You shouldn't be. Human relations are all
about power exchange, finding some kind of balance that benefits those who
interact together. Sexual relations are about pleasure and sensation, but power
exchange still plays a role even in sex. Some people need equality in sex. Some
people love to give up power to their partner during sex, some like to hold it.
Some people prefer vanilla ice cream, some like Rocky Road with chocolate,
marshmallow and nuts. That's all, sweetie." She raised her eyebrows.
"Nothing moral about it."
    I took another sip of my cappuccino and studied
her over the rim. "You make it sound so…