Camellia (10 page)

Danny looked over at her, then down at the bowl. She picked the bowl up in her right hand, turned to face Lucy, and …

Oh,
that
was not a crawl. Crawling was an awkward method of ambulation, not this slinking, suggestive slide across the floor. Somehow Danny had turned an act of obedience into a declaration of pure sensuality, and the crowd was riveted by her. It was all Lucy could do not to glare at them all and shout, "Keep your distance!" Using a professional model was supposed to protect her from this sort of distraction. Instead she'd gotten Danielle Breaker, novice at BDSM but rapidly becoming an expert at trying Lucy's rigid self-control.

It took Danny approximately ten seconds to reach Lucy, which was at least five seconds too long in Lucy's opinion. She resituated herself into perfect position, presented the bowl with both hands, and cast her challenging gaze up at Lucy.
Your move.

Indeed it was, and Lucy wasn't about to be outdone by her submissive in this scene, no matter how delightful Danny's actions were. Two could play at this game.

Lucy bent at the waist, balancing carefully on her rather high heels and leaning until her back was parallel to the stage, putting her cleavage on dramatic display. She placed her hands on top of Danny's, not bothering to set her crop aside, then tilted the bowl to her mouth. Danny let Lucy's hands do the guiding, seemingly unable to take her eyes off of the peach blossom pink of Lucy's lips, and Lucy finished the frothy bowl with satisfaction, careful not to let any of it spill.

She let go of Danny's hands and straightened up just enough to lay a tender kiss on Danny's forehead. "Very nice, Danielle," she congratulated her softly, then helped her up. "Dalton will tidy things up. Our work is done for now."

Lucy turned away from the stage and was surprised to see Natasha and Lillian there waiting for them even as the last of the people that had been watching their performance moved on to the next attraction. She had thought Natasha would want to hang back for a moment while Dalton prepared the booth for her again.

"That was
stunning
," Natasha exclaimed, coming up to her and placing a quick kiss on each of Lucy's cheeks before moving onto doing the same to Danny, who looked surprised by the gesture.

Lucy gave her a soft smile. "Thank you. I appreciate that, though the credit goes to Danielle. She has a natural grace about her that is most appealing."

Meeting Danny's gaze, Lucy was surprised to find her smirking. "My brothers would disagree with you in a heartbeat."

Somehow Lucy didn't doubt that. She'd barely spent any time with them, but they seemed far more ... rambunctious ... than Danny did. "But have they seen you perform the tea ceremony as you just did?" Lucy added a bit of lightness to her voice, softening the accent she knew she carried. Some had called it beautiful, others off-putting, but this time Lucy wanted Danny to know that she was attempting a bit of humor.

Danny's cheeks flushed and she looked away. "Um. No, they haven't."

Natasha made a cooing noise in her throat. "Oh, now that's a shame, honey. Maybe you should invite them to the convention so that they can watch you while you're dressed so beautifully. Or we could film it, if you prefer. Give you something to take home and show them later."

Lucy hadn't thought that Danny could become even pinker, but she had been wrong. "That's so not going to happen. Not in this lifetime, anyway."

People started to gather around the front of the booth, and though they hadn't started trying to get Natasha's attention yet, Lucy was sure that would happen soon enough. The recognition Natasha and Lillian got for their costumes was what had driven the demonstration in the first place, and it wouldn't do to keep them from making sales. Lucy put her fingers on the outside of Danny's elbow. "Natasha, Lillian, we'll see you later."

Natasha gave them both soft smiles. "Sure thing, ladies. Enjoy your time."

"You really think I did well?" Danny asked as they moved through the throng of people gathered to see the various vendors that had come to show their wares.

"I wouldn't have said it otherwise," Lucy replied. She lightened her hold on Danny's arm, not wanting to drag her along as she led her through the crowd. Some of the people who had watched the demonstration waved to her and Danny as they passed by. Lucy gave them quick nods, acknowledging their interest before continuing on their way.

When Danny turned to look at a display, Lucy went with her. "I saw these in a porno once," Danny said, lifting her finger and placing it on the glass in front of a ball gag.

"And what did you think of its use?" Lucy asked her, genuinely curious in Danny's opinion of the lifestyle, good or bad.

"Well, there was a guy in it, so ..." Danny made a face and Lucy chuckled, knowing what she meant.

"Imagine he hadn't been there. What did you think about the way it was used? Were you intrigued or repulsed?"

Danny gave her a little shrug and turned away from the display. She led the way and Lucy let her, wondering what she would take an interest in next. "It was kind of overdone, to me at least," Danny said after a minute.

Lucy tilted her head to the side as she looked across to Danny. "How so?"

"Well ... the woman was tied up—which, not my thing, but whatever—but there was no lead up or anything like that. Just a bunch of whipping and then random sex stuff and some more whipping, and she really didn't look like she enjoyed it," Danny said, her hissed whisper barely loud enough to hear in the crowded room.

Lucy could understand not liking something, especially something more hardcore, but she didn't like the edge of fear in Danny's voice and wanted to allay it. "While there are many people that take part in the lifestyle, with many different tastes and therefore no definite rules, porn is quite a bit different from your average scene. Porn is usually nothing but entertainment, and not the best place to derive ideas on what actually constitutes domination and submission," Lucy said, hoping to reassure her. Even if Danny never went near the idea of submission again after this conference, Lucy still felt responsible for making sure that her first experiences and impressions of the lifestyle were positive.

Danny gave her a small, almost hesitant smile. "I get that," she said, and Lucy nodded. "So, uh … how did you get started in all of this?" Danny waved her hand in front of her, indicating everything around them.

Lucy wanted to answer Danny's question, but didn't care to shout in order to be heard above the crowd. She steered her to a quieter corner of the ballroom where they could talk amongst themselves without prying eyes and eager ears catching their conversation. "When I was in secondary school, I had a maths teacher who, though she said nothing at that time, must have taken an interest in me, because when I later entered university I received a letter from her. It said that I was invited to a play group to be held later that month."

Danny raised her eyebrows. "Did you go? And wasn't that creepy of her? She was your teacher, after all, when you were really young. Bit skeevy, there."

Lucy couldn't help the smile that came to her lips as she saw Danny's concerned expression. "I didn't go. My curiosity was certainly piqued, but I was far too nervous to seriously consider it. I wrote back to her, thanking her, but letting her know my reservations. We stayed in touch during my four years, and after I got out, I …" Lucy shook her head. "I was at loose ends, with no idea of what to do with my life. I had hoped my years at university would answer that question for me, but I was as rootless as ever, and I thought, well, what could be the harm? I contacted her, and she welcomed me into her group.

"I had no experience with the lifestyle at that point, but she let me find my footing in a controlled, and most of all safe, environment. I was always a quick study, and learning what the women under my hands wanted and needed came naturally. I won't say that I was perfect at it, certainly not in the beginning, but the women I discovered my nature with were very patient. They taught me almost as much as my teacher did."

Lucy didn't miss the soft sigh that escaped Danny, or the way she shifted her weight. "So ..." Danny licked her lips.

There was a sudden disturbance behind Danny, and Lucy saw the galumphing approach of a masked Puppy nosing his way toward them through the crowd. She wasn't surprised to see him, as there were quite a few of them around today, but his lack of manners was a bit unnerving as he stopped behind Danny, who hadn't yet realized he was there.

A thick, studded collar hugged the Puppy's neck, a chain hanging down from the center of it. Lucy followed the silvery line to its other end and found it wrapped around another man's hand. Unlike the Pup, this one was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. Lucy met the trainer's gaze, glad his Pup wasn't off on his own, as she waited for the man to do the right thing and bring his Pup back under control.

"Danielle, there's someone behind you. Turn around, but don't be alarmed," Lucy said softly.

"Uh ..." Danny turned and quickly backed up as the Pup moved toward her, making sniffing noises and shaking his hips. A long black tail swayed back and forth behind him.

Lucy stepped between them, partially blocking Danny when it was clear the Trainer wasn't going to regain control of his Puppy. "While your pup is beautiful and I'm sure quite good, please refrain from letting him come up to people who aren't expecting it while you're here. Not everyone is a dog person, as I'm sure you're aware."

Lucy stared at the Pup as he backed up and dropped his head. He even added some whining noises as he came back to his Trainer's side. "A
dog
?" she hissed at Lucy, who held up a hand to forestall her questions.

The Trainer looked a bit embarrassed, his face going red as he looked between them. "Sorry. It's our first time out at something like this. I'm George." He offered Lucy his hand, which she took, giving him a quick shake before moving back. "And this is Bruno. He's a good boy, just energetic. He didn't mean to scare you. You can pet him if you want. He likes a bit of a chin rub." He gently scratched Bruno along the line of his jaw.

Lucy nodded. "Thank you, George. I'm Lucy, and this Danielle. I appreciate the apology. Danielle, do you wish to pet him, now that you know he's friendly?"

Danny stared at her, clearly unsure of what she was supposed to do.

"What kind is he?" Lucy asked as she moved forward. Danny went with her, staying close to her back. Lucy wasn't surprised at her hesitation; it wasn't every day that she was met with someone dressed in all leather and wearing a dog mask.

George gave them both big smiles, looking proud, but still a bit uncertain. "A Siberian Husky. He's three. A little crazy still sometimes, but he's getting better with obedience."

Lucy gave him a slight smile, just the barest lifting of the corners of her lips. "They're all crazy at that age." Danny stared at her as she offered Bruno her palm and he sniffed it, pressing his mask against her skin. More hip swaying, and his tail wagged. Lucy moved her hand to pet his face, and he leaned into it. "Danielle, if you wish to pet him, you can. He seems friendly enough."

Danny offered Bruno her hand as well. He sniffed it as he had done with Lucy, and she rubbed his chin, just as George had said he liked. She pulled her hand back when Lucy did, though. "Are you here with a group?" Lucy asked him.

George nodded eagerly and pulled a card out of his pocket. "Pups and Trainers. It's a local club just formed last year. We get together with other Trainers and let our Pups out to play with each other."

"I'm the owner of Camellia, a specialty tea shop downtown," Lucy said, handing him her own business card, which George took. "Danielle will be demonstrating a traditional Japanese tea ceremony later today after we have some lunch, and I hope you'll be able to stop by. Have someone from your group contact me if you're interested in having a little get-together at my shop. I have a back room that I host tea classes and parties in. I haven't hosted a Trainer party before, but the room has plenty of space for your Pups to play, and there's an entrance in the back for privacy if you'd care to utilize it."

Before they could go, George said, "Thank you for this. I'm sure my group would be interested. Also, I was hoping to talk to you a bit about your tea and ask you a few questions."

Lucy straightened up and put on her business face: calm and friendly. "Of course, George, what would you like to know?"

"I actually saw your first performance, and I wanted to know what kind of tea you used for it," George began.

Well, at least he'd started with an easy question. Lucy got this a lot—most Westerners weren't used to tea that didn't come in little prepackaged bags. "It was matcha, a traditional Japanese tea that comes in powdered form. It has a bit of an earthy taste, but it's gentle enough that it can be drunk with a variety of lighter meals. Mild fish, for instance, creates a beautiful pairing. As are shortbread cookies, if you're in the mood for something sweeter."

The Pup whined a bit and pulled on his leash, clearly anxious to get going and explore. Lucy ignored him. She wasn't his Trainer and so she was not responsible for him or his enjoyment of the convention.

"And where did you get the whip?" George continued.

This question also wasn't a surprise, and Lucy always took every opportunity to promote Natasha's shop that she could. The tools she stocked were the highest quality, and a beautiful submissive shouldn't be trained with an inferior instrument. "The owner of the booth to the left of the stage is a woman named Natasha, who will be eager to help you should you wish to acquire a crop for yourself. Her shop is where this one came from."

George looked relieved, possibly that it could be so easy to get a crop like hers, possibly because she didn't laugh at him for his lack of knowledge on the difference between a riding crop, such as the one in her hand, or a whip. Lucy knew better than to judge someone by what they didn't know. There were literally dozens of different types of floggers and whips and crops, and it had taken her a long time to settle on the crop as her favorite.