COMPLETED | Take Me Down The Rabbit Hole (BDSM | 18+)

LXXIV

Josh's flourish of a signature had landed under the contract over a month ago, and yet, the poor guy flinched every time he saw the Silva-mandated baby dominant supervision on a chair in the corner.
It didn't help that Leo — and Aspen, in turn, had made themselves quite unpopular due to this requirement.
Today wasn't set to be any different: Aspen opened the door, Josh saw the poor soul sitting in the chair and flinched, while the supervising dominant pretended they hadn't noticed Josh's discomfort.
However, Alan, who had set foot into Aphrodite for the second time since he had introduced Aspen to Thea so long ago, got up from his seat, sauntered over to the door and extended a hand for Josh to shake. "Alan Caulan," he said gently, reaching out to pull Aspen closer with his free hand. "Has my boy got you in good hands?"
Aspen watched Josh flush. "Y—Yeah," he stammered, "I—"
"Alan used to be my mentor, and since you requested we incorporate more bondage into our sessions he has kindly agreed to supervise today — and to stand model," Aspen explained.
"I thought the Silvas were your mentors?" Josh asked, and Alan scoffed.
"Leopold was my mentor, he's only Aspen's by proxy. Thea on the other hand—"
Aspen rubbed a hand over his face. "I'm sure you've heard of Wonderland," he said, "I am on the legal team for Alan's club, and as a result of that, he felt it was best I learn about the lifestyle. We wouldn't be here today without him ÷— and yes, that includes the fact that Mistress Silva is my other mentor."
Josh gingerly reached out to shake Alan's hand. "I see," he murmured, squaring his shoulders. "Nice to meet you, Sir."
"it's nice to meet you too," Alan returned cheerfully, in an obvious attempt to lighten the atmosphere in the room. "Aspen talks about you quite a bit, and I'm excited to see how you do."
"Oh," Josh made, looking like a deer in headlights. "Ah. Thanks."
"If you could sit back down, Alan," Aspen grumbled, "so I can get started by demonstrating technique on Josh."

*

"You shouldn't be so upset with them," Alan said, about an hour later while they were grabbing coffee in the instructors' lounge. Aspen prefered to stick to his playroom due to the obvious circumstance of having his employees-slash-mentors coddle him, but because Alan was here, he decided to stick it out.
"Easier said than done. If I wasn't in a teaching position this wouldn't be necessary, which just makes me wonder where the line is."
"If you're just domming you are only responsible for the safety of your client — Josh, of course — but as Josh's mentor you are also responsible for Josh's partner. I understand that that may not be what you signed up to do, and it may be a rather unfortunate side effect, but it should be in your best interest to practice RACK a SSC when thinking of Josh's partner."
"His name is Tony," Aspen mumbled. "I've met him."
"Oh?" Alan pulled his mug out from under the coffee machine. "You didn't tell me that."
"It was quite uncomfortable, but Leo insisted." Aspen filled his cup with hot water and selected a tea bag from the pile of boxes at random. "Tony is my PA now. I had hired him the day before Leo insisted Josh bring him in to meet me, and I had to tell him not to tell Josh that he's working for me while Josh was in the restroom."
With every word that came out of Aspen's mouth, Alan's eyes widened. "Fuck," he cursed under his breath. "Do Leo and Thea know?"
"No. I'm under no obligation to disclose the employment of a client's partner to them. Not that it's relevant."
"Is it not?"
"If Josh and I mess up, I can afford hazard pa for Tony," Aspen said.
A beat.
"Aspen Arkwright, you naughty boy," Alan chided. "You cannot say that."
"Say it, yes. Do it, no," Aspen said, and finally put his tea bag in his cup.
"So. Tony is woirking for you and knows that you are also being paid by his partner to teach his partner how to dom him, but Josh has no idea that you hired Tony as your PA."
"Yup."
"You are living dangerously for sure."
"Nah, I think I am comfortably and safely coddled," Aspen said and carefully took a seat so his tea wouldn't spill out of his mug.
Alan followed suit, but he put his cup down on a side table and wrapped his arms around Aspen. "You are doing a good job with Josh."
"Are you giving me aftercare?" Aspen grumbled.
His body, of course, remembered, that any close physical contact with people like Alan or Thea meant he was safe, and he could feel himself figuratively melt into the embrace.
"No," Alan said, "I'm just praising you. There's ... something very strong and admirable about being able to put your discomfort aside for the good of someone else."
"That doesn't mean I like it," Aspen grumbled. "It makes me feel like I'm right back where we started."
"That keeps you humble," Alan mumbled, gently directing Aspen to rest his head on his chest.
"Oh," said someone from the doorway, "Are we cuddling? I want in— Is he okay?"
"I thought you weren't coming in today," Aspen muffled into Alan's chest because his friend had started playing with his hair and even though Aspen should probably tell him to, he didn't want Alan to stop doing that. Ever.
"Well," Thea said, and a moment later, the couch on Aspen's other side dipped and a hand began stroking along his back. "I'm the owner of this here establishment, I am afraid I have to be here even if I wasn't planning to be." A pause. "So? Are you okay?"
"He's having another existential baby dom crisis," Alan answered for him. "He might recover in the next seven to fourteen business days."
Thea laughed. "Don't you know it, huh?" they teased.