Disclaimer: No, this is not a good example of a healthy, consensual BDSM relationship. It is more noncon/reluctance in this chapter.
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Liam turned the dainty ring over in his fingers, watching sullenly as it caught the dim lighting of the bar bathroom. Music blasted every so often when someone entered to use the urinals, but otherwise remained a muted throb when the heavy door closed. He was sitting, pants up, in one of the two stalls, just staring at the engagement ring in his hands. He barely noticed when the bathroom door opened again, letting in a few seconds of pounding upbeat music, before swinging shut. He only looked up when he recognized the brown suede of Arthur's dress shoes from underneath his stall door. There was a sharp rapping at his door.
"Occupied," Liam sighed.
"I know, I can see your shoes. What are you doing?"
"I'm in the bathroom-- what do you think I'm doing?"
"You've been in there for like twenty minutes."
"I didn't realize there was a time limit."
"Liam, I can literally see you holding that ring in there."
Liam looked up and met eyes with Arthur through the too-wide gap between the door and its frame. Liam shook his head, stood up, and pocketed the ring before unlatching the door and stepping out.
"Walter needs to fix that damn door," Liam growled. "Can't get any privacy in here."
"That's not the problem right now-- though it is a problem. C'mon, let's get out of here." Arthur gave his friend a pat on the back and guided them out of the bathroom and back to the rest of their friends at the bar.
"That's the best idea I've heard tonight. I'm out of here."
"What? We haven't even started yet. Ryan was going to get us bottle service at that club he was talking about."
"The club is the last place I want to be right now."
"What? You're not coming to the club with us?" Ryan asked. Liam and Arthur had reached their friends, who all turned on their bar stools at their approach.
"Yeah, man," Arthur replied. "Liam's still not over Alice. It's been two months, and he's still carrying that ring around with him."
"Shut the fuck up, it's not anyone's business," Liam snapped.
"Dude, the bitch wasn't even worth it. She just wanted your money, and she had dick on the side! How are you still hung up over that?" Patrick sneered. "Good riddance, I say. You're single now-- live it up."
"This club is perfect for that, man," Ryan said excitedly, hopping off his stool and gently shaking Liam by the shoulders. "There's girls like you wouldn't believe. Just don't get into anything serious right now, and you'll be fine."
"Guys, leave him alone." George had been quietly drinking his beer, but he spoke up now on Liam's behalf. Let him handle it the way he wants to. Give the man some respect."
"It's just not healthy," Patrick argued. "We've left him alone, and now he needs to try something different."
"You're rich-- just get a sugar baby, like me," Arthur continued. "No drama, stress-free relationship. That's how I met Sophia, and we've been together for two years. Here, let me send you the link for the website I used." He pulled out his phone to shoot Liam a text with the link.
"That just sounds like another recipe for heartbreak," George sighed. "A girl already used him for his money and broke his heart-- you're really telling him to pay another girl to inevitably break his heart right now?"
Arthur held up a finger as he finished up his message.
"Yeah, isn't it easier to just hook up with a rando?" asked Ryan.
"I'm leaving." Liam brushed Ryan's hands off his shoulders and turned away. His phone alerted him he received a message. Probably Arthur.
"It's different!" Arthur said quickly. "It's basically a contract agreement! It's more stable than a hook-up, but less maintenance than an actual relationship! You know what you're getting into, so no hurt feelings!"
Liam waved a hand in the air without turning his back.
"We love you, man!" Ryan called after him.
Liam smirked. Stupid as they were sometimes, he loved them, too.
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At home, Liam tossed and turned in his bed. He couldn't go to sleep. He was horny, and his dick was hard. It throbbed and swung with his every uneasy movement, and he decided he'd beat one out quickly, just so he could get some sleep. He grabbed the tissue box and some lube from his bedside table drawer and pulled down his boxers.
Liam was well-endowed, and his cock lay heavily on his defined abs when he set it free from his underwear. He applied some lube and tried to conjure up the hottest thing he could think of.
Unfortunately, that happened to be Alice at the moment.
He grimaced, but his cock twitched as he imagined petite, blond little Alice bent over and bound in a rack for her head and hands. Her fine hair was tied into two short pigtails. A spreader bar locked her slender legs wide apart. She was wearing a skimpy, pink-and-white plaid schoolgirl's outfit that bared her midriff and barely covered her ass. He could see clearly the white lace thong between her pert buttcheeks. As if in a trance, Liam stepped behind her and lay his hands on her ass, rubbing under the skirt and massaging the firm globes of tantalizing flesh.
"I'm sorry, Daddy!" Alice sobbed. "I didn't... I know I shouldn't have."
Liam brought his right hand down on the corresponding buttcheek with a resounding slap, making her shriek.
"Sorry for what?" he asked her coldly.
He didn't know how he knew what to do-- he and Alice had certainly never done this before-- but his movements and words came naturally to him, like a well-memorized script with an actress he had perfect onscreen chemistry with. An actress, because Alice certainly never acted like this in real life. Not that he knew of, anyway. The bitch he knew would never have let anyone else have the upper hand. But this Alice was obedient. Contrite. Submissive. Fucking hot.
"For... for everything," Alice sniffled. "Please, don't punish me."
Liam brought his left hand down this time. Hard.
"You'll have to be more specific than that. Tell Daddy. Exactly. What you did." He raised his hand threateningly.
"O-okay! I-I lied to you and-and... I cheated on you... And... And I used you for your money!" Alice blubbered out between sobs. "I really did love you, though!" she blurted out quickly. "I swear I loved you...."
