Allan rose from his seat and grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the booth behind him. The lights and noise of the club swirled around me, threatening to become overwhelming; I focused on his grip and tried to block the rest out. Allan stopped and looked around, deciding where we should go.
"There, that's perfect," he said. I tried to look, but being several inches shorter, I couldn't tell what he was looking at. I think maybe he did it on purpose to keep me in suspense a few moments longer. He tugged me through the crowd until we arrived in front of a Saint Andrew's Cross. He pointed to the floor just next to it.
"Kneel there. I have to get things ready."
I knelt awkwardly in the indicated spot, feeling strange. I hadn't really been asked to kneel by any of my previous partners. I didn't mind it, but some part of me said that I should mind. I ignored it, reminding myself that I had agreed to this. People were passing by and glancing over at Allan and myself, but pretty much moved on when they saw nothing was happening yet. I breathed deeply and placed my hands on my thighs, trying to stop them shaking. Allan didn't scare me exactly, but I was certainly nervous.
He promised to let me keep my clothes on, I reminded myself. And if things got too intense, I could always safeword out. I didn't like the idea of doing that, though. It would mean welching on my bet with Allan, for one thing - being pushed to safeword out wasn't my idea of being properly dominated, but it didn't prove he couldn't dominate me without undressing me. Stalemate, nobody wins.
I looked over at Allan to see what he was up to. He met my gaze with the sly, wicked grin I was starting to associate with him - and with trouble.
"I'm all set. Come on up."
I walked over and stepped up to the cross, facing it and raising my arms to the restraints. But Allan shook his head. "No, no. Not like that. Turn around." I followed his instructions. As he strapped me in, interested club patrons stopped to watch. I closed my eyes and tried to block them out, feeling slightly humiliated and very exposed, despite all the clothing between my skin and their gazes.
Finished with the restraints, Allan stroked my cheek. I relaxed into his touch.
"Look at them, Ray." He said softly. "They see what I see now. You're so sexy they can't help but look."
I focused my gaze on him instead, and saw the fire in his eyes. In the reflection of his eyes, I could finally see myself the way he described. Instead of feeling unwanted, I felt desired. My spirit felt light in a way that I hadn't felt in a long time. I knew I could handle anything he wanted to do to me, just to keep feeling that desire.
Allan smiled, as if he knew what I was thinking. Maybe it showed on my face. "That works too." He laced his fingers into my hair and pulled, harder this time than the last. "But from now on, you do what I say." He waited a moment, then jerked downward. "Understood?"