La Maison 2: Differences (Complete: BDSM mxm)

February 20

A/N: okay, this took ages. I had some very specific stuff that needed to come out in this chapter, and it was a struggle, I'll be honest. 

Dae

I had an unexpected phone call today. Owen asked me if I wanted to go out with him, for drinks and food. Normal stuff. But it doesn't feel completely normal. I'm friends with Owen, but we haven't hung out without any of the other subs being around before. So I'm nervous when I go to meet him, and I'm ashamed that part of my reason for accepting is because Ellis told me his new Dom is one of Master François' closest friends, and I might get something unimportant I can put Chul-Moo off with by dressing it up as vital information.

"I'm so glad you wanted to meet." He's so cute it's no hardship to give him a crushing hug and I'm proud to walk into the trendy downtown bar with my arm in his, even if I'm instantly conscious of all the eyes on us – not all of them envious. "Why here though?"

"Don't worry, Master Gray is paying."

"He is? Why?" Though I'm relieved, as I don't think my spending allowance will stretch far here.

He blushes all pink and adorable. "He says he's planning on exhausting me so it's important I get down time with friends too."

"Oh. So did he tell you to pick me?"

I can't tell, in the dim blue-ish lights of the bar whether that makes him blush more, but he shuffles like he's uncomfortable.

"Not exactly... how are you finding things?"

"Things?"

"Being a sub. Being new to it. How's shifts in the club going?"

I get a moment to think about how to respond as we order drinks, and get a sweet alcoholic hit to help me along.

"I'm pretty happy with things."

"You getting a contract?"

"I'd like one, I think. Master Chase offered but I wasn't feeling it, though I'll scene with him again."

"Oh? He not your type?"

"No. Maybe...I don't actually know what my type is."

"You dated much before this?"

That prompts a nervous laugh that I know Owen spots for the fake thing it is, but I just tell him 'no' and focus on my drink.

"We getting another one?" I ask, sucking the last bits of liquid from the ice.

"Let's order food. One more drink. And then the club." That's an idea I can get behind.

We have fun. Owen is kind of serious – much more grown up than me – but I like how often I can make him laugh, and I'm skipping up the broad stone steps to the club; buzzed more on the company than the two drinks we had, though I'm not sure if I should consider scening. They have a fairly strict rule about not being drunk, and no one who orders alcohol inside the club is allowed into the private rooms, but I've not had chance to push the rules on arriving with alcohol inside me.

"Hello, Owen." I jump a little at that whiskey-smooth voice behind us as we're signing in.

"Hello, Sir." See, Owen's back to being all perky and sweet. He really is a great sub, and I clench my jaw – I'll never be as good at it as he is.

"Did you enjoy your evening?"

"Yes, thank you, Sir. We had two drinks, like you said I could." Oh, so our limit was mandated by Master Gray. I wonder what Owen would have done if I'd asked for another drink. Everything had seemed so relaxed at the time, but it had all been about control after all.