She was nervous and hoped it didn’t show. Twice, she’d wanted to turned around and left before coming in the door but she’d bought a new dress, had her hair done, and then there was the waxing! She had to go inside.

Samantha hadn’t been back to the Club in a few years. She’d been a regular back then and she’d met some wonderful people. She’d also met some not so great people. It was funny because her reasons for not coming back had nothing to do with the Club or the people. It had stemmed from trying to convince herself that she could go Vanilla. She could leave the Lifestyle and try to meet a nice, normal guy that didn’t need to spank her or have her kneel to him.

It had not turned out as she’d hoped. All she did know was being here, being a submissive, all of that had sparked something in her that made her smile each morning. It made her skin tingle as she walked among the regular people. She hadn’t had that spark or tingle in a very long time.

Jim had come tonight at the behest of an old friend. He’d had a lot of things going on with him. His friend commented that Jim was “trying to make his point the hard way.” It was an old quote from the musical “Guys and Dolls.” Jim had tried to be someone he was not and in the process had made himself and a lot of those around him rather miserable. This friend of his had pleaded with him to go back to his roots. “Go back to where you were happy.” He’d told Jim.

Well, that was here at the Club. Jim was a dominant male and once had enjoyed the company of submissives here every weekend. He’d made some nice relationships, but he’d decided to turn that aside in the effort to become successful in his business and in his business one was not a dominant who enjoyed turning a submissive woman over his knee for a nice spanking then having her beg for sex.

Samantha looked around at the table in the secluded but nice cafe area of the club. Doms were here to meet and greet. It was a Third Thursday Night event and meant to promote new relationships, new dynamics, and new club members. There were several men sitting along at tables and there were a few who already had women sitting at their table as they both chatted with animation. As she scanned those available, her eyes rested on one man who looked almost uncomfortable to be here. A kindred spirit?

Jim saw the lovely woman looking at him. He liked how she looked at him so he smiled and gave her a nod. She returned it and began to approach. The woman wasn’t one of these gym bunnies or twenty or thirty somethings either. She was an actual woman. He liked that because he was in no mood for being a Daddy or trying to bridge a huge age gap.

Samantha cast her eyes down in automatic submission as she walked to him. His eyes were still on her and she knew what he saw. She took care of herself and was no stranger to men looking at her. The dress she’d picked showed off her legs and a nice portion of her cleavage without going too far. She was NOT going to come across as one of those who let it all be seen.

Jim enjoyed her walk and the nervous gesture of pulling a lock of hair behind her ear. Her eyes were down and looking submissive but not too much so. Her eyes held a great deal of intelligence as she reached the table and looked up.

“Is this seat taken?” She asked, then realized what a stupid line it was for tonight.

Jim saw her realize her words were rather obvious but he quickly replied before she could bolt.

“No, Miss. I’d be pleased if you’d join me.” He told her and smiled.

She felt some tension leave her as he was trying to be helpful and not creepy. “Thank you, I’d like that.” She sat down.

One of the waitresses who was supposed to help lubricate these conversations was quick to show up and ask if they wanted to order anything.

Jim chose to defer to his new friend instead of just assuming a dominant role first. “Check with the lady, first.” He said.

The lady’s eyes shows a bit of surprise. She gave him a thankful smile and ordered a white wine.

Jim ordered one of the same. He really didn’t care what he was drinking. It wasn’t the point.

“I’m Jim…and you are?” He asked.

“Samantha…or Sam.” She answered. “I answer to both.”

“Well, yes, technically, I am James but I’ve never liked the formal version so I always just say Jim.” He took a breath to keep from babbling. “If you don’t mind my saying, you didn’t seem to sure you wanted to here.”

She grinned a real grin now. “Was it that obvious? I haven’t been here in a few years.”

“Same for me.” He admitted.

“May I ask why?” She prompted. It was a respectful way to ask a dom a question.

“Sure. I chose business over being myself. In the process, I’ve been making a bear of myself until an old friend pleaded with me to come back here and find happiness.” He told her.

Samantha liked his honesty and he wasn’t trying to make some more adventurous or romantic story of it. She took a breath and returned the favor. “I chose to try and be normal. It didn’t work out too well for me either.” She shrugged. “I came because I wasn’t sure what else to do.”

“Well, here we are…two prodigal children returned to the fold.” He smiled.

She softly laughed. “Nice. Wasn’t expecting scriptural references tonight.”

Their drinks came and the waitress asked if they wanted menus. Jim glanced to Samantha who gave a soft nod.

“We’d like to see some, yes.” He replied. It was a small thing but her deferring to him felt nice.

“We could play twenty questions, or we could move past that to the next steps.” He told her.

She cocked her head. “What do you mean?”

“Well, this isn’t a normal cafe or a normal bar. We both know why were are here so I’d like to suggest we dispense with the pleasantries and agree we are interested in each other for the moment.” He answered.

She took a sip and let that sink into her. He was showing that he was indeed a dominant. Doms were always Are you ready to do this? How about now? Now? It was part of their nature. Some handled it with a lot less poise than Jim had.

“I can conceded that point. I am interested at this moment.” She gave him a soft smile. “May I ask, why are you?”

He grinned. She was smart and she had a definite backbone. The ball was in his court early but that was okay because he’d started this match. “I could say because you’re beautiful and it would be a full lie. You know you’re beautiful. I can tell in how you carry yourself. I’m interested because you are a woman, not a girl, not a brat, not someone with an agenda other than wanting to meet a dom you might like.”

A part of her relaxed now. He hadn’t messed it up by trying a line. What he’d said had all been very honest. She liked him even more now. Samantha knew it was kind of her turn to confess now. She took another sip first as she decided how to answer. “I came when you nodded because it felt right, for one thing. I also saw you as a kindred spirit who wasn’t sure why they were here. I am staying…because you’ve been honest and I like that.”

“Good girl.” Jim told her then realized his mistake.

Samantha felt the blush hit her cheeks hotly. He wasn’t her dom yet but he’d said those words to her in praise of her honesty to him. She could be mad but she had to admit hearing those words from this nice dom did some nice things to her insides.

“I’m sorry.” He apologized. “I had no right. It was an automatic instinct in the situation. I didn’t mean to offend.”

She knew her cheeks were still pink but she shook her head. “I’m not offended. It’s okay but…let’s wait on it happening again?”

He nodded. “Of course. I’m just going to break the ice of this and ask what do you look for in a dom?”

It was a fair question considering where they were and why they were here.

The waitress interrupted with the menus but felt the tension and evaporated like mist after depositing said menus.

Samantha took a breath and told him. She looked for a man who was honest and authentic to himself and to her. She looked for one that knew her submission was a gift to him, a precious choice she made and handed to him. She looked for open communication and admitted that once her loyalty or submission was earned then she’d blossom into something even more.

Jim loved every word that came from her mouth. Samantha knew what she wanted and articulated it very well. She’d even been kind enough to give him more than she had to with her explanation. She’d given him some hope and promise of what he’d get if he earned it. She hadn’t needed to do that.

“Thank you for your honesty and for…being generous in your answer.” He smiled warmly at her.

Samantha liked his smile and knew it was a dominant smiling at his prey. She was the prey and she was content to hold very still and see what happened. “Thank you, Sir.” She answered. It was part choice and part a deep-seated feeling to call him Sir already. It was fine to call a dom that was not your own sir or it had been when she’d been here.

He breathed a soft sigh of contentment or relief and she knew she’d pleased him with calling him that. “Has it been a long time, Sir?” She asked.

He laughed. “Very long. It feels good to hear…as I said…you’re a generous woman.”

Samantha liked how he handled it. She gave him another gift. “A generous submissive woman, Sir.”

There was just something magical when a woman freely admitted her submissiveness.

“What do you look for in a submissive?” She asked.

He leaned back and was just as honest. Obedience was a key factor for him. He had no patience for bratting-out or also for having to command in all things. He liked his submissive to be intelligent and strong in her own right. It made the gift of her submission, her trust, all the more sweet because it meant a great deal more.

Samantha almost needed to squeeze her thighs together. He was saying good things and he said them well. His voice was soothing and strong. His eyes were growing more and more comfortable which meant predatory. She didn’t mind it. She didn’t mind it at all.

“Hungry?” He let his eyes twinkle.

She heard the innuendo but it was more teasing than real. If he’d asked about thirsty then it would have ruined everything.

“Yes, I am.” She opened her menu.

He opened his and after a couple minutes Samantha told him what she’d like to order. Her eyes made sure to tell him she was letting him do it for both of them. He just nodded barely and made no big deal of it. Samantha relaxed a little more.

The meal was good and they ate and exchanged the pleasantries they’d passed on earlier while they ate. Each knew there was more to discuss but were relaxing in the moment and learning more of the vanilla in each other. Jim was giving up his place in a business to work for himself and do some writing which he knew sounded cliche but was true.

Samantha felt okay to tell him she was a nurse in one of the city hospitals. His eyes didn’t suddenly zing and he didn’t make a goofy grin. Admitting to being a submissive and a nurse could be asking for stereotypes or fantasies. Samantha had no problems fulfilling some of those if it worked out that way but it was nice he wasn’t crude about it.

Like muscle-memory, Jim found he knew what to say next when the right lull hit. “I do have one confession to get out of the way.” He told her.

Her eyes came up to his and hesitated but he wisely didn’t make her wait long.

“I’m a bit of a sadist as a dom. I do enjoy spanking, paddling, impact play in general and clamps etc. I just didn’t want to proceed from here without you being aware of that.” He finished.

Samantha drew a breath of relief. “Thank you for telling me, Sir.” She felt a small tinge of pink hit her cheeks. “I will also confess…I adore being spanked, paddled, and, yes, most impact play. It’s been a while since I tried clamps but…it’s very negotiable.”

Jim felt himself enjoy the old feeling. The prey was still here and she had just extended her neck to him a little.

“Well then, since we both know we like those things and we are both here. I’d very much like to take yo to the General Playroom and spank you tonight.” He told her.

The General Playroom was a large area with different devices in it that could be used or there were simply couches or soft chairs. It was an area a couple could go to and try things out without being alone with each other yet. It was meant to put both at ease. It did have the drawback that it was open.

“Do you like spanking a submissive in public, Sir?” She asked.

“Well, honestly, yes, but this isn’t public and…as always…she who wears the collar has the power. I’d never do anything against your wishes, Sam.” He tried out her shorter name and liked it.

She liked it, too. She’d planned ahead and was already wearing one of her smaller thongs. It would be pretty much bare bottom for him to spank without having to take that next step.

“Thank you, Sir. I would agree to that.” She told him and felt her nipples harden against the cups sewn into the dress.

“Do you want to order dessert first?” He asked.

She grinned at his patience and willingness to put her at ease. “Actually, Sir, I’d rather skip dessert, if that’s okay?”

…to be continued…