“OK?” he asked leaning against the wall.
“Sure, she just checks up on me from time to time,” I explained.
“Good. Friends should do that.” He eyed me for a moment. “Don’t let our relationship deprive you of your friends. I don’t want you to give up on things that you consider important.”
“I know. But, to be honest, I can’t go back there to those friends. I’m sticking to my vanilla ones for now. Trudy and her gang,” I smiled at him. My heart was fluttering and I had to box my emotions away like my worldly possessions and accept he was not staying with me.
“Friday then?” he said.
“Of course, can’t wait for it, Jason,” I smiled. It had been very peculiar evening.
We walked to the door and as he stepped across its threshold he waved a finger at me. “No more hanky panky!” he warned me and I beamed back at him, shutting the front door.
I scurried back to my bedroom. I realised that this was Jason’s first and last visit to my apartment. The only dom I had ever allowed to use me on my own territory. He had been here for less than an hour and left his tangible mark on me as usual. I was blissfully happy and a little sore.
Chapter 13
The motivation to work hard was fast disappearing as I compiled my final report for Andy. A dismal Wednesday lunchtime and the others in the office had been ignoring me for most of the week, as if I had betrayed them for wanting to leave their little sanctum. They could not hide their frustrations when I avoided giving an explanation or refused to reveal my plans. The secrecy was driving them crazy. I was sure the chin-wagging was intense the moment I stepped out of the room.
Being in clandestine relationships was the norm for me though. My parents must have thought I was determined to be one of those independent single women who went through life with nothing but an ambitious career plan. My mother certainly would have lauded the idea as being virtuous and worthwhile. The reality was I thrived on the company of others and particularly like-minded people. To be able to compare marks, scenes and those moments where ones dominant takes control were the fun parts of mixing with other subs.
I had not boasted about my achievements, I had merely enjoyed the pleasure of admitting I was wanted and desired. My wavering ego had inflated a little if I got the chance to exchange the smallest amount of tittle-tattle with my D/s friends. I would hint at my exploits in cagey remarks in emails and chatrooms. Discretion had been important too and though I had avoided the complexity of entering into affairs with married men, I had known some of my previous doms were not exactly free or single.
I had been their alternative lifestyle, the little bit of fun on the side. Masquerading as a night with lads in the pub or a late night at the office, I was the girl they tied up or spanked for a brief period before they returned to their domestic normality. Therefore, I had learnt to be discreet and covert with my social life in order to protect those about me from falling foul of malicious gossip or spiteful maligners.
I had my vanilla friends and they were just as important. They grounded me in the day-to-day of life. With them, I spoke of work, families and financial worries. While I was with them, I was Gemma Marshall without the frills and trimmings, definitely a plainer woman. The role of my kink-free friends had grown over the last few months as I parted company with my past. The escapism of my dual social life was shifting in balance, kink down and vanilla up. Even moving in with Jason would not alter the change in my social circumstances and with the added complication of jacking in my job, I was even more dependent on the need for some frivolity and fun with friends. I fretted I had abandoned too much too quickly. Relief came from an unexpected quarter as Trudy’s number came up on my vibrating mobile phone.
“Trudy! Good to hear from you. I had a great time last week.” I was happy to be talking to someone.
“Come out tonight... please, Gemma. Nicky is still in town and now Jane has come for a visit, some conference she’s been attending. Come on, we’re going clubbing, letting our hair down,” her voice implored me and I, the rebellious part of me, was seriously tempted. For one thing, I had done my gym sessions already, so Jason could not be mad at me on that front.
“It’s midweek, Trudy, don’t you have a job to keep up with?” I said in hushed tones, conscious that I was not alone in the room.
“Yes, but you’re quitting yours so what’s the prob. Who cares if you’re hung-over the next morning.”
One person would I knew for a fact.
“Gemma, it’s not money? I mean if you’re skint, I can help out.” Trudy sympathetically inquired. I knew her job paid better than mine.
“No. It’s not the reason.”
My heart fluttered inside, glancing about, wondering if anyone could read my thoughts. Money was certainly not a factor any more. I recalled quite clearly on Monday morning when I checked my bank balance at the ATM and found a deposit of £20,000 had been made that very morning. My allowance! I had not imagined it would be that much. What kind of clothes and beauty treatments had he in mind! I took the risk of texting him to show my appreciation.
: Sir. Thanks for the allowance. It is very generous.
The reply came almost instantly:
: You are welcome. Enjoy spending it.
What the hell, he never took me anywhere.
“Sure, Trudy. What time are we meeting up and where?”
Trudy could not hide her delight as she whooped down the phone at me. “The Jinx, like always!”
“The Jinx it is then.”
***