The first time I'd put on anything leather, I was 22, freshly out of college, and got up the courage to go into a sex shop with one of my friends. I came out to her the day before that, even though everyone knew I was gay since eighth grade, and we ended up getting drunk and exchanging fetishes. When she tied me up into that first leather corset, its boning stiff and its skin sumptuous, something new and fresh prickled up my spine.
The soft caress of its supple skin invited curiosity, while the sturdy boning inside promised empowerment. The shop owner, a woman I'd later learn was a fellow dominatrix, skillfully laced me up after my friend had started, and told me I looked powerful. As each lace tightened, an unfamiliar, invigorating buzz filled me from toe to chest, awakening a side of me that I would spend the next decade chasing and fulfilling.
At 35, I'd become a beacon of the local scene. I arranged munches and taught rope classes at the local dungeon, owned by a close friend. I went to Red Velvet most Saturday nights, and tonight was no different. It was cold outside, but my heavy leather coat covered up my fetish gear. As I glided through the heavy, unmarked entrance, the familiar thumping bass sent a jolt of excitement through me. The dimly lit club welcomed me as an old friend, and I exuded confidence as I embraced its atmosphere. The low lighting accentuated my every move, casting me in a sensual and commanding aura.
I walked up to the coat check and grinned at Bella behind the counter. "Anything good for me tonight, love?"
She rolled her eyes. "Such a predator. There's a few girls who might be your type. The one in the white dress particularly; she's experienced but new to the area."
"Thanks for the tip." I winked at her, trading in my coat for a ticket.
Like Bella had implied, tonight, I was hunting, not teaching.
The air was thick with desire and anticipation as I navigated through the crowd. It was ladies' night, and being a dom put me in high demand. Heads turned and gazes lingered on me, admiring the presence I commanded. Conversations hushed briefly in my wake, acknowledging that the Queen of this underground realm had arrived.
They called me Hera, after all.
My attire, an intricate dance of leather and lace, turned heads and sparked curiosity among those who dared to steal glances. All black, of course. It was a classic for a reason. I liked this bodysuit for a reason; the leather straps with silver rivets crossed in an X between my breasts where a large ring held everything in place, creating a sight line that drew eyes over my hips and waist and then, at last, to the sternum tattoo reading 'MOMMY' in all caps, small enough that the only people who could read it had to be looking. Soft, detailed lace lined the leather edges, bringing it a softness and femininity that highlighted it well.
Each step I took was deliberate. As I moved deeper into the club, the subtle scent of wax candles mixed with the arousing musk of leather. My eyes scanned the room, meeting the gazes of those I knew and roving over those I didn't. I was most interested in the girls I didn't know, of course, but they didn't need to know that.
For a while, conversations flowed easily as I engaged with various admirers, each vying for my attention. I held their gazes firmly and mostly listened. They sought to please me, and in return, I offered morsels of my attention in the form of an affirming nod or head tilt.
Finally, I met eyes with the girl Bella had pointed out to me. She was short and plus-sized, which was exactly my type. Absolutely nothing like a girl having to look up into your eyes or seeing bright red whip marks on an ample ass. Her honey-blonde hair trailed in low pigtails down to her breasts, which were held up in a tightly-laced dress. The top was a cream-colored satin corset, laced down the front, and the bottom was a flowy skirt, maybe chiffon, with a baby pink floral pattern.
Anyone else might clock her as an innocent girly girl. But I saw past the blonde hair and blue eyes to the careful, enticing positioning of her breasts, the way her skirt was just short enough that when she bent over there was a peak of her thong, and the bold false lashes around her fuck-me eyes. Just like me, she knew what she wanted, only going about it a different way. I picked up a shandy, the bottle cap still on, and walked over to her.
I cut my way easily through the flock of girls she must've come in with and touched her arm, right above her elbow. She turned to me with bright eyes. Closer now, I noticed her smattering of light freckles all across her face and chest. I offered her the bottle and introduced myself in a low, private voice only she could hear, "I'm Hera. And you are?"
Her eyes walked their way up from my feet, clad in laced-up leather platform boots, to my matte red lipstick. "You're Hera? I've already heard so much about you." Then she batted those lashes and asked, "Can you open this for me?"
"Of course, sweetheart," I chuckled. I smacked the bottle against the nearby bartop. It fizzed over the edge. I licked the half-sweet, half-sharp drink off my fingers. She watched my tongue, mesmerized. I handed her the bottle and asked, "So, what have you heard? Only bad things I hope?"
She took a sip of the drink and smiled a tiny bit at herself. Her lips begged to be touched, bitten, and sucked. "Well, I haven't been here in Chicago long, but I've heard the famous rumor."
I laughed and asked, "How I can make any girl squirt the first time I'm with them?"
"That's the one." She took another sip, clearly embarrassed for having brought it up. God, she was cute. After a moment, she held out a dainty hand. "If you're Hera, maybe I'm Sappho."
"More of a siren, I think," I teased. I took her hand in mine and kissed it gently. "My real name is Harlowe. Never thought it suited me."
"I agree, much more of a goddess than that. And I'm Rosie."
I held her hand another few seconds, kissing each of her fingers before putting it back down. "Dance with me?"
Rosie -- of course that was her name, sweet and soft and blushing and clear as a summer meadow -- took my hand and led me to the dance floor. A steady mix of female musicians in all different genres pulsed through the speakers. Girls danced alone and in groups and in couples. Some kissed and swayed while others jumped and laughed. It didn't matter as long as we had a safe, comfortable space to be ourselves. Nobody judged.
My hands found their place on Rosie's hips, and I pulled her in closer, relishing the warmth of her body against mine. Her eyes locked with mine, and I could see the desire flickering in their depths, mirroring my own. There was an unspoken understanding between us, a shared intention to explore and revel in each other for the first time here.
As the music enveloped us, we moved together as if we had done so a thousand times before. Rosie's touch was electric, and her hands traced the contours of my back, igniting a trail of fire wherever they roamed. I matched her intensity, my fingers exploring the soft curves of her arms. Unlike her, though, I let my nails drag down her skin, leaving pink lines on her shoulders that made her breathe harder against my neck.
With each sway and turn, our bodies spoke a language all their own. The rhythm of the music guided us, allowing us to listen to one another in a way words could never capture. As the tempo shifted, so did the nature of our dance. We moved with newfound sensuality, our hips grinding against one another, setting off sparks of pleasure that shot through me. I leaned in closer, my lips grazing Rosie's ear, and I felt her shiver in response. The sensation only fueled my desire to explore more of her, to know every inch of her.
As the music reached its climax, so did our passion. Our movements became more synchronized, more intense, as if we were chasing a shared crescendo of pleasure. The world beyond the dance floor faded away, leaving only us, wrapped up in the throes of desire. When the final notes of the song faded, we lingered in each other's arms, hearts pounding in harmony. We had shared an experience that transcended words, a dance that had revealed so much about each other in the language of touch.
Rosie looked up at me through her thick lashes, blue eyes reflecting the twinkling dim lights all around us. She stood up on her tiptoes and asked, "Take me to one of the playrooms, Goddess?"
Without another word, I took her to one of the rooms labeled 'private -- open' and flipped the sign the other way around. Inside, a variety of implements and tools -- all cleaned and inspected between uses -- lined shelves on the wall. This was my favorite room, dressed in deep purple, almost indigo, instead of reds and blacks.
Rosie's eyes widened with anticipation as she took in the array of toys open to me. Clearly, she was familiar with most, but not with a few. Each item had been carefully selected for its purpose and quality. We talked through what she liked and wanted, where her boundaries were, and how she needed to be handled before we got into anything. Playing with strangers necessitated care and communication; as a dom, it was my job to guide that conversation and make it easy for any partners to loosen up.