Chapter 15
To take away from the obvious embarrassment, Bear cast his attention around the room. A busy place filled with attractive women where the men were more arm candy than the other way around. Bear posited to play the game of "spot the heterosexuals" in the room and in all honesty it was tough going. It seemed the lean and hungry look of most females was for each other rather than Mr Right. The enormous TV screen showing a naked woman being set upon by two other equally naked women in a "ménage à trois" seemed to support this. Thing being, the central player was looking at the camera furiously and obviously sending a message. Bear could not help himself and leant over to Ma'am, pointing at the screen and saying,
"Friend of yours, I'm thinking?"
"Payback is a bitch," was Ma'am's reply with a small shrug before turning back to her conversation with Aimee.
Sylvie came around to Bear's side and whispered in his ear,
"Don't worry, it was a long time ago and much ado about nothing, but with the video announcement upon your arrival, old grievances die hard."
Bear laughed.
"Should I be careful?"
It was Sylvie's turn to laugh, adding,
"Oh yes. Of everybody, well, except Aimee and me, as we are ecstatic with how things are. After the longest night there is morning, so to speak. You know she has waited for you for an endless time. Not something you should know, but true all the same. She, oh yes, you call her Ma'am, and so shall Aimee and I henceforth."
Then Sylvie continued,
"Ma'am is a wolf in many, many ways and as a wolf, she mates for life. She is hell on wheels, but still it is her little girl inside, asking your little boy, to love her. This is not to be underestimated or trifled with."
Bear stared at Sylvie for an extended period.
"To be honest with you Sylvie, I am a little scared. First over the depth of my feelings for Ma'am and second, her's for me. I have never thought of myself as born to follow, but she is a force of nature and I find it so comforting that she takes the lead."
Sylvie laughed at Bear's understanding.
"Oh yes, Ma'am was never born to do anything but lead. Please relax from here, Bear, and enjoy yourself. Look around it should be fun. Just take care least you end up in a room with three jelly wrestling midgets all screaming "He made me do it, it was disgusting but so satisfying," all the while looking at the fake video with you in the spotlight, at centre stage."
"She has that many enemies?" Bear replied.
"Oh, you naïve thing. Not many? Rather it is too many," and with that Sylvie kissed Bear's cheek and moved away to once again stand close to Aimee, who glanced his way before giving Sylvie a tender kiss on her cheek.
At this, Ma'am turned to Bear, her browse furrowed.
Bear activated the comms unit and said,
"A word of warning from Sylvie. Wow kid, you swim in interesting waters."
Then added,
"Do you want to show me around as the jelly wrestlers' speech touched a nerve?"
Ma'am's eyebrows lifted, then she shrugged.
"I enjoy watching, so let's get a fresh drink and go look for something interesting to ogle."
"Okay, I will bite," replied Bear. "What is your favourite subject to ogle at?"
Ma'am smiled and grabbed Bear's arm and said,
"A picture is worth a thousand words." While drawing him deeper into the house.
There were lots of people in every room and an almost carnival atmosphere highlighted with that odd corner holding a couple kissing and cuddling. This brought a smile to Bear's lips, as old-fashioned emotional interplay still had a very real place in his life. He turned to Ma'am and asked,
"Can we kiss is a corner later? It seems very life affirming, given how much of the other is on full display."
I Ma'am stopped and turned into Bear's arm and kissed him.
"You are always in my corner and yes, later we have a date in a spa pool in our suite with a fine cigar for us both and vintage port."
"Oh, the night just gets better and better." Bear said with a laugh.
Ma'am stood there quietly for a minute.
Bear queried,
"You okay?"
Ma'am just lifted her eyebrows before replying,
"Just thinking through next steps. No need to rush and I feel gently, gently could be a wise strategy from here. I will take you through a few rooms of, shall we say, entertainment and if they spin your wheels, we will stay awhile. If what is on show creeps you out, just say, and we will move on."
With that, Ma'am tucked her arm around Bear's and led him back towards the main entryway.
Ma'am was hesitant about what should come next. Riotous sex was available in just about every room but was participation a pathway to a deeper relationship with Bear. Her misjudgment with Sweet Thing was still fresh in her mind and an encore might just be the straw that breaks said camel. Further, this was all fun when you had nothing to lose and sex just an athletic, adrenaline suffused self indulgence. Things now had changed. As an experienced gambler, Ma'am understood that if you can't afford to lose, you can't afford to play.
Oh my, she giggled. Two doors, the Lady or the Tiger, were there before her in stark reality.
Ma'am knew exactly what to do next and immediately drew Bear into an alcove.
"Bear, what happens next is best discussed rather than me just dropping you in the deep end. Ive been here many, many times. Sometimes the prey, but mostly a predator. I would work out my anger, aggression and hurt in various ways with various souls for company. Am I remembered here, 'Oh Hell yes, and now I have something to lose. Let's just make this the most unusual forum for honesty."
"Bear, I'm in love with you and have been these many years. I am new to you, but you, my love, have been the object of my attention for such a long time. I'm not looking to rush you. I've waited this long. More time means nothing, but I want you to understand I'm exercising due care and responsibility in this environment. I now assess this party to be more than a little threatening. Tomorrow morning when I look you in the eyes, I only want to see good things."
"So that said let's open the Kimono a little further. Most of the stuff being undertaken in this house I have taken part in. You can ask me questions and I will give you a frank reply but understand sadly for me as much as I tried, I enjoyed little. How can I say? My heart was just not in it. Oh, dear, is that now as revealing as can be?"
Ma'am then tugged Bear's arm and shouted,
"Let the Games Begin!"
"Finally, take my hand. Don't you dare let go and stay close? There will be the odd soul intent of harming you as payback for my past acts, real and imagined."
Ma'am was now chuckling loudly.
"Oh dear Hon, I have got you bad. Such a treat here and now, as you never know what you have, till you can see it being taken away."
Ma'am opened the next door in the hallway and led Bear into the room.
"For your voyeuristic delight, I give you first, a bit of slap and tickle."
Many turned to see the new arrivals and Bear was thankful for the earlier briefing as the mixture of looks ranged from pleased to see you, down to, if looks could kill.
Bear was fascinated by the delights on show. Bondage and lots of leather and acrylic cat suits by the dozen. Oh my, he thought, now for something completely different.
Ma'am studied Bear's face intently, trying to gauge his reaction, and when Bear started to chuckle and shake his head, she let out a breath she did not know she was holding.
