A Friendly Game

This is designed to follow parts 1-3, not as a stand-alone piece.

As a songwriter and weaver of short stories, I've spent my life trying to perfect the art of saying more with less. I'm excited to embark on a new journey and finally write a full novel. Thank you for following along!

Daisy was in her front yard kneeling in a flower bed. Spring had arrived and she'd just made a trip to the nursery to buy some perennials to add to her collection. Every year she would choose a few new plants to expand her garden, and after living there for a decade, her yard was the envy of the neighborhood.

She didn't hear the Buick pull up and park on the street.

Diego watched her digging in the dirt, her hair pulled back and contained in a blue paisley scarf. She wore a tank top, a pair of cut-off shorts and old sneakers. His heart had been pounding the whole way there, but the sight of her again after a couple of months, even in her yardwork clothes, made his breath catch. She was more beautiful than he'd remembered. He felt ridiculous showing up uninvited after she'd been clear she didn't want anything to do with him except maybe friendly updates now and then. He almost made a U-turn and drove away.

Almost. As much as her beauty made him nervous, it also kept him from being able to move. He got lost in watching her.

Daisy felt someone staring at her and twisted around to see who might be there. She smiled widely when she saw the old car by her mailbox.

"Diego!" she got up and wiped her dirty hands on her shorts. "What a nice surprise."

He pushed the heavy car door open and got out, remembering to grab the envelope off the passenger seat.

"Ms. Carson, I don't mean to intrude..."

"Nonsense! Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Honestly, Ms. Carson, I just came to give you this." He shoved the envelope toward her and awkwardly waited for her to take it.

She reached for it hesitantly with a questioning look on her face. "Diego? What...?"

She opened it and peered over her distance glasses to double-check that her eyes weren't tricking her. Inside was a collection of $100 bills. She looked up sharply. "What is this?"

He wasn't going to forget his prepared speech this time. He'd had much longer to memorize it.

"Ms. Carson, it's for the window." She started to protest but he shook his head, "Please, listen. I know you didn't ask for money and maybe the homeowner's insurance helped pay for it. I hope so. I went to the groups you sent me and met some people who explained what BDSM, domination and submission are. I want to explore more. But my first choice would be to learn from you. I understand if you really are against the idea and obviously will respect what you want. But I needed you to understand that I am not just a kid, that doing this would not ruin my studies, and that I am serious. I got a job and I'm still standing strong at a 4.0." He grinned proudly. "I am responsible and take care of my obligations, Ms. Carson. I am a GOOD BOY. I had to find a way to show you and not just say empty words. This was the only thing I could think of. And whether you decide to make me YOUR boy or not, I didn't feel right until I paid you back."

Daisy just stared, dumbfounded.

"I'm going to leave now because I don't think I can stand the idea of you telling me 'No' in person. Please, Ms. Carson, take care of yourself and if you ever need anything, I'll be there."

Before she could speak, he had hopped back in his car and driven away, leaving her standing there with an envelope full of cash and a heart full of tumultuous emotions.

Diego plopped himself down on the bed. It had been a slow night at the bar but he was exhausted after seeing Ms. Carson, making the drive back to campus, and then working a full shift. Most students, including his roommate, wouldn't be back from spring break until Sunday but the bar remained open and he, being one of the newest employees, got stuck with the shift.

He hadn't grown up around much alcohol, but he was enjoying learning a bit about the art of mixing drinks from his position of barback at the popular college watering hole. Although, he felt it was more math than art, which attracted him to it even more. He had only gotten the job to earn cash to pay for Ms. Carson's window, but discovered he enjoyed it and decided he'd stick with it, maybe moving up to bartender once he was legally able to serve drinks and not just prep them. He'd never been very outgoing but he liked being around people. Hanging out on the sidelines was perfect for him, and making some good money while he was at it was even better.

He shared a tiny dorm room with a guy with whom the university had randomly paired him. They weren't particularly close, but they got along fine. Diego rarely masturbated when Greg was there. Even if he could get away with it without being detected, he felt weird doing it with someone else in the room. Instead, he memorized his roommate's schedule and took advantage of the times he'd have the room to himself, which was usually after his morning classes in the early afternoon.

But tonight he was alone. Seeing Ms. Carson that morning had been intense. He'd worked for months to put the money together, and regardless of whether it changed her mind, he'd still been bursting with anxiety to share his surprise with her. Several times during the break he'd almost gone to see her but chickened out. He'd finally had to go at the last possible moment or wait at least another month. Until he saw her, there remained a small hope she'd decide to give him a chance. Once he'd made his case, he knew the rejection would be final. At least if he went right back to school, he'd be busy, distracted, and distanced from her.

He dragged himself to the shower to rinse off the smells of fried food and cigarette smoke. When he got back to the room, he slipped beneath the cool sheets in just his boxers. The water had woken him up, though, and he couldn't sleep thinking of Ms. Carson in her tank top and shorts kneeling in her garden.

He slid his hands under the waistband in the underwear and began to squeeze his already hardening dick. He lightly began to rub it, letting his mind wander to his visit at her house that morning, imagining going inside and bending over her knees again.

He was so tired, he just wanted to get one off quick and pass out. He pulled down the boxers and began to stroke himself more earnestly. Remembering the cage and being denied at Ms. Carson's whim always got him closer to cumming than any fantasy. It was a new favorite theme.

His eyes were closed so he shouldn't have noticed, but it was really dark and the text notification lit up the room.

It was from Ms. Carson.

'I'm sorry it's so late, you're probably asleep by now. But I didn't feel right letting this day end until I'd responded to your huge gesture today. I needed time to think hard about it'

He could see in the text window that she was actively typing more. As fast as he could, he wrote back.

'I'm awake'

His heart was pounding for the second time that day. He thought maybe if she knew he was right there on the other end of the line, she wouldn't be so quick to break it.

'Hi'

He waited to see what she would write.

'What are you doing up so late?'

'I just got off work'

'Where are you?'

'Back at school'

'You drove back today?'

'Yes. No rest for the weary'

She sent a laughing emoji. 'What are you doing now?'

'Just lying in bed.'

'Just?'

'About to go to sleep but I saw the text appear'

'So you were "just" lying there innocently?'

His dick, which had softened a little as he answered her messages, started to throb. He knew she knew from their conversation at the diner that masturbating helped him sleep, although it was tricky having a roommate.

'I was touching myself' he admitted.

'What were you thinking?'

'Do I have to say?' He followed that with an emoji of one eye peeking out from hands covering an embarrassed face.

She sent another little laughing emoji. 'I guess that answers my question'

To be caught in the moment he'd been thinking of her sexually felt almost as mortifying as if she'd walked in on him. He waited for her to write more as he didn't know what to say. He was already sure she was going to tell him that she never wanted to see him again.

The little typing symbol appeared in the text space. He held his breath waiting for the next sentence.

'If I'm going to be the one to teach you, the first thing you'll have to learn is to never touch yourself without my permission'

He stared at the message, rereading it over and over, not daring to reply.

After several long minutes had passed, she asked, 'Is there some part of that you don't understand?'

He replied quickly this time, 'No, Ma'am. It's very clear'

'We have much to discuss and we'll start with this "Ma'am" business. It makes me feel old. You'll call me Domina'

'Domina Daisy'

When Diego had driven away and left Ms. Carson standing shocked in her yard with an envelope full of money, she'd eventually regained her senses enough to go inside. She didn't make it further than the first armchair where she wrapped herself in a soft throw, flung herself down, buried her face in a big pillow, and started to cry. When Samuel had left, she hadn't let herself have the luxury of tears. She'd told herself all along that she had been prepared for the inevitable outcome. She'd let him go gracefully, truly wishing him well.

But she'd bottled up her feelings, convincing herself that a true Domme shouldn't get emotionally involved. She'd thrown herself into everything she could to avoid the pain, picking up extra clients, going on long jogs, reading books, dancing. Anything to distract herself from feeling.

But Diego's sudden appearance in her life had threatened to open all of that up again. She'd sworn off kink, at least for the foreseeable future. She'd even created a vanilla dating profile, although hadn't managed to go out with anyone yet.

Pushing Diego away had seemed like the only logical thing to do. She knew how it would end and rationally, didn't want to let it start.

Except it had, against her better judgement. Although her judgement hadn't had much to do with it. He'd just fallen into her lap. Or rather, bent over it.

Diego's persistence and selfless gesture touched her deeply, opening the floodgates. She sobbed. When she finally was reduced to just a few sniffles, she changed out of her dirt-smeared clothes, showered, threw on jeans and a T-shirt, and crossed over to the neighbor's yard.

She rang the bell and Janice answered right way.

"Can I borrow Cobey?" Daisy asked as the door opened.

"Come in!" Janice welcomed her. "Everything okay?" Daisy knew her eyes were still a little red and her cheeks puffy from her big cry, but she also knew Janice wouldn't pry. They'd been neighbors for as long as she'd lived there and had the kind of friendship where help was always available, no questions needed.

Daisy nodded. "Really great, I think. I'm not sure. That's why I need Cobey."

Cobey was the Patels' golden retriever. Daisy had dog sat many times and he was already running down the hall to greet her, tail wagging. Every so often, when Daisy wanted to go for a walk to think, free of human interruptions, but didn't want to be alone, she'd borrow Cobey.

"Why, I believe Cobey would be thrilled!" Janice said, already pulling his leash and harness down from a hook on the wall. "Kamal and I have a luncheon we have to attend so Cobey was going to be alone for the afternoon. He'd much rather be out putzing around with you."

Daisy knelt down and hugged the furry dog who greeted her with a few sloppy kisses and sat to let her put on his harness. She loaded him up into her blue Honda, and they went on a car ride to a trail outside of town.

While walking with Cobey, Daisy contemplated what she would want to be called if she were going to be someone's Domme again. She hadn't planned on taking on another submissive, but if she was going to do so, it was important to her to get certain rituals in place from the start. Samuel had called her "Mistress." She'd thought it was kind of cheesy and cliché at first, but had grown to love the sound of it, especially in his voice. She didn't want to use that honorific again. It held too many memories.

During her university years, she'd spent a semester abroad studying in Spain and was functionally fluent in Spanish. The word "Domina" had always held some appeal for her. It was an old term of respect for women with authority, and wasn't too far removed from the English word "Dominant." She liked the sound of it: graceful, wise, formidable.

She also liked the alliteration with her name.

When she'd let Cobey back into the Patel's house and returned to her own, her mind had been settled. But she didn't have the time she wanted to thoughtfully write to Diego, because she had her own social engagement that evening. She and her dance partner taught salsa at various clubs in the nearby city and Saturday nights they hosted their biggest social.

She changed, grabbed her salsa shoes and headed out the door. Moving to the music took her mind off of everything and brought her mood back up after the long cry. It's impossible to be sad dancing to salsa music.

When she got back that night, having had a few hours away from ruminating on the situation, she was sure of her decision. It was three in the morning and she hoped Diego would have his phone turned off. She didn't want to wake him up, but she also didn't want to go to sleep without giving him her answer.

'Domina Daisy' appeared on his screen. He stared at the words and then whooped out loud, which wasn't something he'd normally do in the shared living space, but the dorm was pretty empty. And he was so thrilled he couldn't contain himself.

'Thank you, Domina Daisy. I will do as you ask'

'Good boy. Now get some sleep, it's 3am'

Sleep was going to be impossible, though. Diego lay there for another thirty minutes, excitement coursing through his veins, and his dick, which he wasn't allowed to do anything about. He couldn't believe she'd agreed to continue playing with him, but the messages were really there on his phone. At 3:30, he put on running clothes and sneakers and set out for a jog around campus. It was quiet and the exercise felt good. The words "Domina Daisy" kept repeating in his head, like a mantra, in time with his feet hitting the ground. He came home and was too exhausted to even shower again. He just passed out.

He woke with his usual morning wood. He absently reached down and touched his dick, but then he jerked fully awake and pulled his hand away, remembering his promise. He lay there feeling the pulsing sensation. The urge to touch it was almost irresistible. But equally strong was his desire to do what Daisy had ordered him. So he settled into the sensation, just noticing it in a way he'd never done before. Of course there was a bit of discomfort but at the same time, he realized he enjoyed feeling the warmth spread from his groin outward, even to the tips of his anxious fingers. He'd never done anything like that before.

It was a pleasant feeling, and a feeling that meant that Ms. Carson was going to play more games with him.

He picked up his phone and sent her a message.

'Domina?'

'Yes?' she responded right away.

'Good morning'

'Good morning. How are you?'

His honest reply, 'Horny,' earned him an incoming call.

He answered, his voice raspy with sleep.

"Good morning, Domina Daisy."

"Good morning, Diego. So you're horny, are you? And I imagine you wish you could do something about that."

"Yes, Domina. Is there a chance that would please you?"

There was a pause. She was deciding what should come next...or who should NOT cum.

"Well, you've been a very good boy, and I think you deserve a little pleasure."

His dick jerked without him touching it. "Wow, thank you!"

"Not so fast, boy. I said a little."

"Yes, Domina. What should I do?"

"It feels good to touch yourself, right? I just want to be sure."

"Yes, of course, you know it does."

"Okay, so if I give you two minutes to touch yourself, it will be two minutes of pleasure, correct?"

"Well, yes, but why two minutes? I don't understand."

"There's so much for you to learn, and I get to teach it to you, sweet boy. You have two minutes to enjoy playing with yourself but you do not have permission to have an orgasm. You have to stop when the time's up, and that's all you get. For today."

He groaned as he realized the rules of this new cruel game.

"You're the one who showed up at my house yesterday using reason, and hard, cold proof, to convince me you wanted this."

"I do, very much. You just always surprise me."

"Good. That's part of the fun, for both of us. Your two minutes begin now."

Deigo's dick was aching. He reached down and began to stroke it, moaning into the phone without thinking.

"Does it feel good, Diego?"

"Yes, Domina. Very much."

"What are you thinking of?"

It was hard for him to concentrate on her words. He fuzzily worried that she would be upset he was fantasizing to her. He foggily thought it was unfair he had to answer questions if he only had two minutes. "You, Domina. Spanking me."

"Mmmmm, that's a good boy. From now on, I should be the only thing you think of when you touch yourself. I should be the only reason you touch yourself."

"Only you. That's easy," the pressure was building. He had to slow down or he might cum. He groaned. "Aaaaaah, I want to finish so bad."

"Don't you dare. You have 30 seconds. Enjoy it while you can."

He squeezed himself gently, still rolling his dick in his palm, but had to stop pumping. He'd never thought to do anything like this and he was pretty sure it might kill him.

"Five, four, three, two...and one."

He reluctantly pulled his hand away, his cock throbbing like he'd never felt it before, his balls tight and begging for release.

"Are you still there?" Daisy asked.

"Yes, Domina."

"What do you say?"

He searched his brain for what she might want. "Thank you?"

"That wasn't very convincing. Next time maybe you won't get such a reward if you aren't properly grateful."

"Thank you, Domina, for two glorious minutes of pleasure. I am very grateful."

"That's better. You're welcome, Diego. Have a nice day."

She hung up, leaving Diego lying in his bed, his whole body tight and shaking. He lay there a long time, letting the intense sensations Ms. Carson had gifted him slowly subside.