While I was having my way with Kathleen, Chelsea was meeting Cassandra. Chelsea was nervous as she approached Cassandra's house, and once she had parked and was walking up the sidewalk she nearly turned and left. Then Cassandra opened the door and there was no turning back.
"Hello," she said as Chelsea climbed the steps. She reached a hand to Chelsea and the women shook. "I'm Cassandra Fitzpatrick. We've never been properly introduced. You are Chelsea."
"Hi, Cassandra," Chelsea said demurely, looking down.
"Look at me when you speak, dear. What's your last name?" she asked, still gripping Chelsea's hand.
Chelsea gazed into Cassandra's green eyes and noticed her pouty lips again. "Beauchamp, Chelsea Beauchamp."
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Chelsea Beauchamp, please come in. Don't worry, I won't bite."
Chelsea stepped through the door and looked around. Cassandra's home was beautifully appointed, with hardwood floors and white walls, and decorated in light colors. It looked like a page from a home decorating magazine. Chelsea stifled a laugh. For some reason, she'd half expected Cassandra to live in a dark dungeon, with restraints on the walls and burning torches.
"You have a beautiful home."
"Thank you, I try to keep it up. It can be a challenge with a teenage boy flopping around the place. Please have a seat." Cassandra motioned to the sofa, and Chelsea took a seat on one end. Cassandra sat in a chair next to her. Chelsea noticed that Cassandra was wearing the same chain choker as that night in Jason's bedroom but in the full light of day, she could see that the back of the choker was leather and the chain was attached by D-rings that fell under each ear. Chelsea wondered if she'd worn it intentionally, to remind Chelsea of that day, or to embarrass her.
"That's an attractive necklace," Chelsea said.
"Thank you, it means the world to me. It's Jason's."
"Do you mean Jason gave it to you?"
"No, I mean it belongs to Jason, just like I do," Cassandra explained. "It's one of several he's provided me with, to be worn for different occasions. This is my favorite because it was the first one he placed around my neck."
Chelsea regretted asking what she thought was an innocuous question. Now a portion of Jason's and Cassandra's relationship was laid bare, and it was a rather disturbing portion.
"I'm not one for small talk so let me clarify some things," Cassandra began. "Jason said that you were upset when you found me strapped to his bed."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Ma'am is your grandmother. Call me Cass. Only my closest girlfriends call me that, and, well, since you've seen me naked I guess we're pretty close. He said you're afraid of him now."
"Yes. I don't understand how the Jason I've come to know could be so cruel to another human. I'm trying to understand. And it's not like I hide from him, or wince when he touches me. Heck, I still snuggle with him at night and I enjoy spending time with him. It's just that I have this nagging feeling that I might say something, or do something, that will set him off. My ex-husband yelled at me and shoved me. I can't live with a man that would be violent to women. What I saw sure looked like violence toward a woman." She felt her eyes start to well up.
"Let me start with the bottom line, and then we'll go to the kitchen and have lunch. We can talk some more while we have some food and wine. Do you like wine?"
"Yes," Chelsea responded.
"Good. So, you said you fear him, but believe me, you should never fear Jason. The man you thought you knew is the real man. He will not strike you in anger, not ever. I've never even known him to raise his voice in anger."
"That's what he said, Antwon too. But I need to understand why he was doing that to you before I can truly believe it."
"Fair enough, I have lunch set up on the kitchen island. We can sit there and talk more."
They moved to the kitchen where Cassandra had set up a charcuterie board. She poured them each a glass of wine.
"So, first, let's start with terminology. Jason and I have a different kind of relationship. It's called Dominant and submissive, and it's part of what's called BDSM, which stands for Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, and Masochism. There are as many variations within BDSM, and even within Dom/sub, as there are colors. In our relationship, Jason is the dominant, or Dom, and I am the submissive, or sub. But it's not always gender aligned, where the man is the Dom and the female is the sub, I know of several wealthy and powerful men that enjoy being dominated by a woman. Do you understand so far?"
Chelsea nodded.
"So, what you saw was Bondage and Discipline. I was bound to the bed and he was disciplining me for an alleged transgression that I'd made up. As a form of punishment, Jason and I use a measure of pain. We find that it heightens our sensations and excitement during sex. We both enjoy the pain, him giving it and me receiving it. That's where the S and M come in. Jason is a Sadist, someone who enjoys administering pain, and I am a Masochist, someone who enjoys receiving pain."
"So, you want him to beat you?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"No, don't use that word. It implies something harsh and uncontrolled. The level of pain he inflicts on me, and how he does it is very controlled. Controlled by our agreement, and while he's doing it, by me."
"He said you had some form of contract."
"Yes, and I have it right here. Would you like to see it?"
Chelsea nodded and Cassandra slid the document across the island to her. As she read it, her eyes got big.
"That's very specific."