Unearthed (The Dungeon Black Duology 1)

Greg’s calloused hands slid up Max’s back to his shoulders. “Yeah, Max. It does.” He chuckled softly. “For most, this kind of thing’s therapeutic and healing. But with you… It’s like trying to force a puzzle piece where it doesn’t fucking fit. And I think that’s doing more harm than good.”

Max felt the frustration right down to his bones. “I’d be a good Dom. I know it,” he muttered.

“You know, in that, I actually agree.”

He did? “You do?”

Greg chuckled again. “Fuck, yeah. You, my little man, have got some seriously untapped potential.”

Max’s insides almost smiled. “How can you tell?”

“Not from your sub skills,” Greg grunted. “That’s for sure.”

Max frowned in confusion, then moaned long and hard as Greg massaged every muscle in his back.

“I can tell from your spirit, Max. From that fire in your eyes. You’re a natural pure-bred, with a shit ton of passion. But you’ve also got a true Dom’s heart. It’s in there. I’ve sensed it, despite your efforts to hide it. And it’s something a lot of guys just don’t have. The very reason Doms always start their apprentices off with subbing. So they know that these rookies will be able to empathize with the subs they’ll eventually be working over. Not just so they can understand the pain and pleasure, but so they can relate to, and provide for, their subs’ emotional needs. Adequate praise and acceptance during scenes. Aftercare TLC when they’re done. All crucial aspects of BDSM that aren’t spoken of nearly enough.”

Finished with his rub-down, he snagged up a bottle and gently massaged lotion into Max’s ass cheeks. Max sighed, then moaned as Greg removed his butt plug. His restraints were the next order of business to attend to. And still, small little shivers rolled through Max’s body.

Greg helped him onto his feet. “I believe in you, Max, despite how impossibly terrible you are at subbing. Honestly, I think you’re my all-time worst.”

Max winced. “Damn. For real?”

“Well, yeah. Jesus God. How many times did we try this?”

Max scratched his neck. “Uh… Maybe four or five?”

“Try frickin’ six. And each time you bombed epically.”

Wrapping Max in a blanket, Greg walked him to the couch, had a seat, then eased Max down against him. Max exhaled, exhausted, his muscles still humming. He could only imagine how he’d otherwise be flying if he’d actually made it to subspace. He’d been so effing close…

Greg handed Max a water bottle as he pulled him closer. “Normally, I would’ve called it quits after three, but like I said, that spark I saw in you was undeniable. Couldn’t help it. I just had to keep trying.”

Max took a healthy gulp and stared at the ceiling, letting himself relax against Greg’s frame. “So… What now? Where do I go from here?”

“Well…” Greg propped his chin on Max’s head. “Maybe it’s time to let you try and prove yourself. Swap roles so I can see how you do first hand.”

Max stilled, then sat up and looked at Greg. “Seriously? You mean it? You’ll … sub for me?” Holy fucking shit, he couldn’t wait. Couldn’t wait to work Greg over.

Greg smiled with a shrug, his scruffy cheeks lifting. “You’ll be the youngest Dom in history if you pass. But sure, why not. S’not like I haven’t subbed before. Unlike you, most of us start at the bottom.”

Max inhaled, heart pounding, and grinned at the guy. “I won’t disappoint you. I promise.”

Greg chuckled and ruffled Max’s auburn head. “Believe me, I have no doubt.”

* * * * *

Max definitely didn’t disappoint.

The next time he met with Greg, he left the guy one seriously sated limp noodle. Because Max had come prepared. Had used every single spare minute of his free time to research, and study, and practice. The way he saw it, he had one shot left with Greg, to prove himself Dominant material. No way was he throwing that shot away.

So he’d read and watched videos, listened carefully to countless interviews. Specifically, the interviews taken before and after scenes, where both subs and Doms shared their thoughts on the experience. What subs liked, what they didn’t, and just as importantly, why. What Doms strove to achieve with their tactics.

Mental reactions. Bodily responses, both chemical and physical. The roller coasters of emotional highs and lows. Max committed every aspect, every angle to memory, taking every consequence to heart. Maybe because it all spoke so loudly to his own. Gave his soul something powerful to immerse itself in. And immerse himself, Max did, for two weeks straight. Until the concepts and varying mindsets of Dom/sub dynamics felt ingrained into his very subconscious.

So, yeah, he’d been confident when the time finally came to prove himself to his mentor. In their last visit, Greg had voiced how he suspected Max would do well, but Max still managed to shock the shit out of him. Why? Because not only did Max rock his new role, but succeeded in volleying Greg into subspace. Something Max was absolutely certain Greg hadn’t seen coming. Evidently, Max wielded a pretty mean flogger—probably because he owned one and practiced with it constantly—and was pretty good with strategy as well.