Aaliyah lay in her king size bed staring up at the ceiling. Her night at The Playground was on her mind. She had agreed to be Mark's sub. What was he going to do to her? Why did he want her to be his sub? What was going to happen in the session he invited her to?

As soon as she agreed she knew she had gotten herself into a world full of trouble. What if she ended up liking the things he was going to do to her? What if she became addicted to the life and everything that came along with it? How was all of this going to play out?

Mark laid in his bed with his hands behind his head looking up at the ceiling with a huge smile on his face. The thought of having Aaliyah as his submissive made him hard. He couldn't wait to taste and tease her. Might even be a little torture involved? Mark was looking forward to pushing Aaliyah to her limits and beyond.

The voice inside his head said that maybe he should slow down. Aaliyah was new to this? Because of that he didn't want to come on too strong. He didn't want to run her off. In fact, what he wanted was the complete opposite.

A week had pasted since Mark and Aaliyah had last spoken. He had started to think that maybe she had changed her mind. For days he constantly checked his message, emails and missed calls. He wished that he would have gotten her number instead. The thought of calling his sister and getting Aaliyah's number from her entered his mind. Quickly he dismissed it. The last thing he wanted was for his nosey sister to be all up in his business. So it was back to playing the waiting came.

When the call finally came, Mark tried not to act like he was the geek getting a call from the most popular girl in school. Aaliyah wanted to know when he would be free for dinner. Instead of going to some crowed overpriced restaurant, Mark thought he would cook her a good home cook meal. He needed her to know that he had skills in the kitchen too. It just might earn him a few more brownie points. At his house they would be able to talk freely. That and that fact that he wanted to be alone with her.

For dinner Mark was going to pull out all the stops. He prepared a beef roast stuffed with spinach, feta cheese, and onions, green and yellow bell peppers. There was white rice and a lovely white wine. Even thought it had been a while since he cooked like that, Mark knew he could still hold it down when it came to the kitchen. The smell was wonderful. When Aaliyah tasted his sweet potato pie he knew she was going to lose her mind. Hell, she might even ask him to marry him.

Aaliyah was nervous as she stood outside of a lovely brownstone on the West End. Beads of sweat covered the palms of her hands. She hadn't even seen him yet and her heart was racing as if she was standing right next to him. She started to panic. What if he wanted her to hold up her end of their deal tonight? Aaliyah wasn't ready. She didn't want to admit it but the thought of being at Mark's mercy did sound very appealing.

Truth was he was her first love. She had Nyla had been best friends since they were four. They lived down the street from one another. Aaliyah spent many a night at their house. As Nyla did hers. They all attended the same schools. The two of them were always around each other. He was her best friend's older brother. Mark was always popular. Play sports. All the girls loved him. He was tall, dark and fine.

As Mark waited for Aaliyah, he thought about how she started out being his kid sister's bratty little friend who was always around. She was cute. All the boys chased after her and Nyla. When Mark ran off all the boys who were after Nyla he did the same for Aaliyah. When Aaliyah turned thirteen everything changed. Mark noticed her smile and the way she smelled. When she stayed the night. He always made sure he hung around the house. The older she got the more Mark couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her. Aaliyah was beautiful.

Everything changed when he went to college. Mark was two years ahead of her. He went out west to go to school. When Aaliyah and Nyla graduated high school they went off to Spelman. It had been years since he had last seen her.

"Wow." Mark opened the door. For a moment he couldn't do anything. "You look amazing."

Aaliyah wore a lovely cream Maxie dress. The contras of the color of the dress next to her complexion was beautiful. It plunging neckline hinted at her full breast. The fabric clung to every curve she had. It highlighted her flat stomach and sinuous hips. The hem covered her feet. Her long auburn hair was pulled up into a bun. He thought the diamond butterfly on the side of her head was a nice touch.

"You don't look to bad yourself." Mark wore a nice black button down long sleeve shirt with black slacks. His curly black hair was faded into a Mohawk. His gray eyes did what they always did to every woman; put them in a trance. "Are you going to invite me in? Or let me stand here all night."

"I'm sorry." Mark shook his head as he stepped to the side. He gestured for her to enter with his hand.

"I brought a bottle of red wine." She stepped inside. "I hope it goes with whatever you're serving."

When he locked the door he stood there a few more seconds looking at her. Aaliyah handed him the bottle of wine. Turning around, she began to look around Mark's place. Nothing said that a single man lived there. A black leather loveseat and sofa sat in a spacious living room. Books by Langston Hugh, Nikki Giovanni and Eric Jerome Dickey filled the shelves of a massive bookcase. There was the typical flat screen. A custom made shelve for CD's and DVD's was within reach of the 72' flat screen.

Photos of Mark and his family filled the room. Pictures of him and Nyla as babies, then toddlers to teenager were sporadically placed around. There were a few of his parents and ones with them all together. The best one that hung over the sofa looked as if it was resent.

Something caught her eye. On one of his end tables Aaliyah saw a photo of Mark and her. It was old. Maybe she was about seven. Mark about eleven or twelve. She didn't even remember taking it. Her senior photo was next to that. He even had the one that was on the back of her book. She wondered why he had them.

The music collection was next. She saw eight tracks, albums and even tapes. That made her smile. Only God knew when the last time was that she had seen an eight track tape. Earth Wind and Fire. The Temptations. Etta James. Marvin Gay were some of the albums, tapes and eight tracks she saw all neatly arranged. Aaliyah couldn't believe it when she saw Thriller and the Mary Jane Girls albums.

"I see you like my music collections." He handed her a glass of wine.

"I haven't seen an album in years." She picked The Mary Jane Girls album. "My grandmother still has this. My House is my favorite." She smiled. "I can still remember the video."

"Yeah." He smiled. "They were on a boat in their lingerie. That was right out of a wet dream."

Putting the album back she continued to look through his collection. Her heart almost stopped when she saw the 45 of Princes Little Red Corvette. Pulling it from the shelve she place it over her heart. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath.

"Let me see." Mark took the small album from her hands. His smile grew wider. "Man you and Nyla use to listen to this all the time. At one point I was sick of hearing it." He shook his head as the memory of his sister and her friend dancing hour after hour to that one song. "The two of you were so crazy about him. Nyla's walls were covered with his posters. Every time you spent the night I had to watch Purple Rain." He laughed. "So did you ever get that little red corvette?"

Mark stopped smiling as he looked into her eyes. Even though she was the big deal writer, she still managed to stay the same. She hadn't sold out or become stuck up. He was starting to like her even more. Stepping closer to her, he use the back of his fingers to push a few stray hairs away from her face. As she looked up into his eyes her smile faded.

"Will you do me a favor?"

His lips looked so soft. She wondered what they would feel like all over her body. The sound of his deep voice always seemed to turn her to mush. Aaliyah opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. The only thing she could do was nod her head.

Reaching behind her, he grabbed a book off the shelf. He was closer than necessary. A few more inches he would have had her pinned against the bookcase. His cologne filled her nose. It was light but strong. She wanted to put her nose to his neck and inhale. Aaliyah wondered what her head resting on his chest would feel like. Something in her wanted him to kiss her.

Would she ever know that everything in him wanted to push her against that bookshelf and kiss her like there was no tomorrow. He loved the way she reacted to him. Thus far he hadn't laid on finger on her. Yet. The need to have her and her submission was starting to consume him.

"Will you sign these?" Looking down Aaliyah saw her first two books in his hand. Mark pulled a pen from his pocket. "Please."

"Okay." Willing her hand to move she grabbed the pen. Being the perfect gentleman he open it the first book for her.

"Write: To my future husband. With all my love your wife, Aaliyah."

"I'm not writing that." Her hand went to her hip. She looked up at him as if he was crazy.

"Why don't you save yourself the trouble and go ahead and write it on your own. Then we can have dinner."

She laughed.

"You said that like you are going to make me do it if I don't."

Removing the books from between them, he moved closer. His chest pressed against her soft breast. There was no denying the chemistry between them. This time Mark wanted something different. Everything in him said if he played his cards right he could have it with her.

"Something like that."

Placing the pen on the outside of her elbow he slowly dragged it up her arm. When he reached her shoulder he moved to her neck. In its wake the pen left a tingling sensation everywhere it touched her. Mark moved it along her jaw. Then her luscious lips.

"Mark." She wanted to grab his hand but didn't. It was taking everything in her to keep breathing. "What ... are you ... doing?"

"Shh." He placed the pen over her lips. Putting her hand on his chest she tried to push him away and couldn't. He felt solid as a rock. She had no idea he would feel so damn good. The pen moved down her chin and neck. Now it was headed toward her breast. "Would you like to sign now or would you like me to continue?"

"I'll sign."

He rubbed his lips against her temple. Aaliyah's eyes closed. Mark whispered in her ear.

"That was easier than I thought." He laughed. "See you do follow orders." She snatched the pen from his hand and wrote just what he instructed.

"Are you happy now?" Looking up at him, she rolled her eyes.

"For now." He smiled. "Come on." He returned the books to the shelf and took her by the hand. "I promised you dinner."

Mark led her into the huge dining room. A large black mahogany table dominated the room. There were two strange looking chairs at each end of the large table. Instead of regular seats these had a high back and were made out of the same mahogany. An exquisite silk with a black and gold pattern cover the back of the chairs. The closer she got the more she thought they resembled a throne. The walls were an exquisite shade of gold. Walking to the farthest end of the table, Mark pulled out her chair. She had a seat and he pushed in her chair.

"And they say chivalry is dead."

As she looked up at Mark and he looked down at her she got the feeling that he was anything but. Saying nothing he went into the kitchen. When he returned he had two plates. One in his hand. The other perfectly balanced on his forearm. In the other hand were two wine glasses and a bottle of wine. When she saw all the things he was trying to carry she got up.

"Let me help you." Taking the plate from his hand she sat it on the table. She grabbed the two wine glasses. Not being able to help it Mark watched her butt move from side to side as she walked back to her seat. He placed her plate in front of her. "This smells wonderful." Mark filled her glass with wine than returned to his seat.

"Would you like to say grace?"

"It's your house." She looked into his eyes. "You say it."

"You might not be a submissive after all."

Mark said grace and the two of them began to eat. The meal of chicken vermicelli with a garlic mushroom sauce was spot-on.

Her eyes rolled as she took another bite. The two of them laughed as the reminisced about the old days. They talked about where they were in life and where they wanted to go. Before either of them realized it their plates along with the bottle of wine were empty.

"So," he paused. "Shall we discuss the reason you're here?"

"I was wondering how much longer you were going to dance around the subject." She finished the last of her wine.

"Then let's began." Mark sat back in his chair and gave her his undivided attention.

"How did you get into the life?"

"Why don't we go somewhere we can relax?" He stood, walked down to her end of the table and extended his hand. She hesitated. Mark picked up on it. "I won't bite. That is unless that's the kind of thing that turns you on." He smiled. Aaliyah took his hand. What felt like no effort at all, Mark pulled her to her feet. She was standing just mere inches away from him. The palm of his hand caressed her cheek. The he led her into the living room.

"Have a seat. Make yourself at home. Take of your shoes."

Aaliyah slid off her heels and rubbed her feet. Mark left only to return with another bottle of wine. Feeling their glass, he had a seat next to her.

"Why have you decided to write a book about the life?"

"It's not really about the life. It's going to be about people who just so happen to be into the lifestyle." She picked up her glass and sipped her wine.

"So what are your charterers going to be like? Is the novel going to upscale or urban? Well the setting be past, present or future?"

"I'm the one who's supposed to be asking the questions." She smiled. "I would like for all of my charterers to be as realistic as possible. I need my readers to be able to relate to them. The novel will take place in the present. These are very interesting times we live in." She paused. "So how did you get involved in all of this?"

"It's a long story."

"That's why I'm here."

"To be honest I've always been into these kind of things way before I knew the life existed."

"What kind of things are you into? What makes your dick hard?"

Her last question caught him off guard. Aaliyah had gotten right to the point. His dick began to tingle. She wants to know what makes me hard. He smiled.

"I could show you better than I can tell you." That mischievous smile appeared on his face again. Goosebumps covered her skin. She knew he meant every word of it.

"That sounds good in theory but you know sometimes theory doesn't work when you apply it to reality."

"We can test that theory anytime you're ready." He swirled his wine around in his glass.

"Well you just tell me please." She had to change the topic. "Do you have any fetishes? If so what are they?"

"My fetish is being in control. That's what makes my dick hard. Lately the thought of you makes my dick very hard." Bending over he took a lock of her hair into his hand. Closing his eyes, he inhaled. "Remembering the smell of your hair. The thought of you chained to my bed and me doing very bad things to you." When his eyes opened he was looking right at her. No matter what they talked about the conversation kept going back to sex.

"So we can add that to your list of fetishes." She spat back. The two of them were tit for tat. Someone was going to have to let go. "Do you enjoy punishing your subs when they disobey you?" Mark tilted his head to the side while he thought about her question.

"I do." He smiled.

"What do you do to punish them?

"Depends on what they've done. Sometimes a spanking will do. I could use my hand or a paddle for something small. If they have been very bad then my whip or cane even. Or it could be not giving them what they want the most. Like the right to cum."

Aaliyah thought the room was getting just a little hot. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Are you a masochist?"

"I have been in the past. Could be one in the future."

"Do you like rough sex?"

"Yes. Having my way with a woman makes my dick hard."

Aaliyah watched his eyes as the slowly made their way down her body. It was late. Maybe they should call it a night. They had dinner and talked about the lifestyle. She knew enough that she wanted to have a charterer like him in her tome. Smart, confident, sexy, very sexy, debonair. He had to be just as fascinating if not more as Mark. Shaking her head, Aaliyah snapped herself out of the daze she was in.

"How many years have you been in to all of this? How many subs do you have? Do you share them with other Doms?"

"Since my senior year in high school. I started seeing Ms. Black." A memory of her made him smile and shake his head.

"The librarian?!"

"That woman had the body of a goddess up under all of those funky old sweaters and long skirts. Once you take off those glasses and her hair out of the ugly bun she was straight out of a young boy's wet dream."

"Never in a million years would have thought that Ms. Black was a cougar. Wow."

"She love for me to make her get on her knees and sick my dick. She liked being called a slut and bitch." He could feel himself becoming aroused. "I use to bend her over her desk and spank her in school and at her house. I started out using my hand. She kept a brush in her upper right hand drawer. I even used that more than a few times. Another time it was my belt. Christine liked having her hair pulled and for me to choke her while I fucked her as hard as I could."

"Was she your first women in the life?"

"Yes." He took a deep breath.

"Did you start to love to do those things to her?"

He looked right into her eyes.

"Yes. Whatever I wanted she made sure I had it. She treated me like a king. Christine cooked for me, rubbed my feet and back after practice."

"Sounds like you love her."

"Loved." He corrected her. "She started inviting me to these crazy parties her friends were always throwing. I saw a lot of wild shit. Did a lot of wild shit. Learned a lot."

"Well what happen?"

"I learned I was nothing but a boy toy to Christine." He took a large gulp of wine.

"Mark." Aaliyah grabbed his hand. "I'm so sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"The way you talk about her it sounds as if she was your first love."

"I went to college. Tired to date good girls. Vanilla girls." Aaliyah raised her eyebrow. "Vanilla is a term used in the lifestyle to describe something regular." She nodded. "They did nothing for me." Aaliyah understood a little more about him. "Fast forward to the present. I am a Dom. I have two slaves and one submissive."

"What's the difference between a slave and a sub?"

"A submissive has limits. They might not like anal or candle wax. A slave on the other hand has no choice in anything. A good dominate would respect their subs binderies and not make them do things they're not comfortable with. There are some