Harriet's Arrangement

A little less vanilla

"Hattie, we need to talk," Tom said, settling himself next to her on the sofa and turning the TV off. It had been two weeks since Harriet had made the decision to tell Kieran that she wasn't pressing charges against Malcolm, but that that decision was entirely dependent upon Malcolm's behaviour going forward and that it could change at any time. Kieran had seemed uncomfortable with the call she'd made, but had respected her decision and reluctantly relaid the message on her behalf.

Harriet was still settling into life without Malcolm hanging over her head, but she and Tom had stepped things up a notch in the past few days and she thought she knew where this conversation might go.

"About what?" she asked, a little nervously, her fingers tracing little patterns on his knee.

"About us," Tom said gently, but with definite purpose, "And how we... work."

Harriet nodded. "You need a little less of the vanilla stuff?"

He shook his head and smiled a little. "With you, Hattie, it's never vanilla... and I don't want less of what we have, it's just at the point where I need a little more of my normal. And I think you're probably ready to go there. Right?"

She nodded again, only hesitating slightly. She did, she desperately did want and need more of the side of him that she knew existed but that he had kept respectfully and carefully under control since the beginning of their relationship... "I think so," she said, "But is it ok that I'm a little... nervous?"

He reached across to put a hand on her arm. "Completely ok," he said, "We have safe words here: do you know how they work?"

"I'd use a safe word if I was uncomfortable," she said, almost as if he was quizzing her for a test, "or if it was too... intense." In her own time she'd been reading what she could about BDSM and Dom-sub relationships, and she'd learnt a lot about different types of relationship, and some of the basic ways in which they worked. She understood that every relationship was different, and that Tom would have his way of doing things, and also that they would find their own quirks and routines as they adjusted to one another. Like any other relationship, Tom would say – and she smiled to herself every time she thought that.

"Exactly," he said, nodding, "If it's ok for you, I like Amber and Red – Amber when you're nearing your limit and Red if we reach it. If you call Amber I'll slow it down, ease up or change direction, after checking in with you – if you call Red it's a hard stop, and I will always respect that. I'll check in often, and when I do I need honest answers, because that helps us not have to use safe words."

"Ok," she said, her mind running through the things she'd read, "Do you... do you have... rules?"

He smiled. "Not exactly, but there are some basics. I don't like rudeness; I don't like bratty behaviour – although sweetheart, I can't imagine you being a brat, exactly –; I don't like you directing your attention to other men, especially when I'm around; and, as you know, I don't like you talking yourself down or apologising when it's unnecessary to do so. Self respect is a seriously attractive quality in a woman, and I like seeing it – it's not cute when you try to make yourself seem small," she heard the quality of his voice change as he listed the things that could get her in trouble and she shivered with anticipation, "I will never discipline you for something that I think is a serious problem in our relationship: while it's not entirely play, this isn't about me controlling every aspect of your life and our relationship, and if you want change you should always feel like you can discuss that with me without fear of any ramifications. We can always talk, and you should never feel you can't bring something up with me. Do you understand that?"

"Yes," she said, "And I appreciate it, thank you. Do I... do you want me to call you... anything when we're... you know...?"

"If you feel comfortable with Sir, we'll start there. Is Sir ok?"