“Red,” I whisper.
“Louder, Little Dove. Own your boundaries,” he says, snapping the whip once more, but with far less power.
“Red!” I say firmly. I hear him drop the whip, and I turn in time for Adrian to wrap me in a tight hug.
“You did amazing, Alania,” he says. “I’m so damn proud of you.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
The club resumes its normal business, and I hear movement as Adrian hands me my bra. I slip it on and he turns me to see my father and Brent are with us now. “I’m surprised, Alania. I was expecting you to run away like you always do,” Dad remarks. I don’t look up or react, because that’s the rules. That is submission, according to this society.
“What can I do for you, Edward?” Adrian asks as he applies salve to my back. Normally, he wouldn’t do this with my bra on, but I know he doesn’t want me exposed with Dad so close.
“To talk to my daughter. I don’t need…”
“You do, because I am her master. She knows the rules, and she does well with following them,” Adrian says simply.
“May I speak with her?” Brent asks.
“She can respond if she wishes to,” Adrian replies.
“How are you, Alania?” Brent asks me. I look up at him and smile.
“I am well. I didn’t know you’d be here,” I say. “How are you?”
“I’m okay,” he says with a soft smile. “You did well. I can tell you’ve been working hard on your impulse control.”
“I have. It is a bad habit I use for self-preservation, but I am learning different strategies to manage my emotions,” I say proudly.
“That’s—” he starts to say.
“It’s bullshit!” Dad snaps at me. “You have and always were a fucking brat. All of this is a fucking act to manipulate him into saving you.”
I grit my teeth and look at Adrian. “You can speak freely,” Adrian says with a smirk. I look at Dad for a moment, calming myself before I speak.
“Save myself from what, exactly?” I ask. “You wanted me to be submissive, and I am. I have and will continue to submit to Adrian. I have worked hard to undo the damage you did to me, and I will not have my efforts minimized."
“If you are so submissive, then prove it,” he scoffs.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I laugh. Adrian gently grabs my chin and turns my face.
“You may speak freely, but respectfully. Leading with anger rather than reason will make your words less effective. Okay?”
“Yes, Master. I apologize,” I say softly.
“It’s okay. You are learning, and it is my job to teach you, remember?”
“Yes, Master,” I say, and he releases my chin. I turn back to Dad and sigh. “Look, Dad. I get you are upset because you spent years trying to get me to this point, but I was never meant to submit to you the way I was meant to submit to a lifelong partner.” I say.
“You are not marrying him!” Dad booms.
“That is not up to you,” I say calmly. “You sent me here to learn how to submit, and I have. Did you have a different expectation?”
“You don’t get to fucking question me,” he growls. “I am your father.”
“You are, but you are not my master,” I say. “Adrian Santos is my master and the only one who has earned my trust in order for me to submit and feel safe.”
“Safe? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!”
