Queen of Love

That was what made Genevieve truly blush. Which was a strange feat. Never before had she been shy about her predilections, let alone with someone like Aya, who oozed a natural dominance that sent shivers down the spines of every slightly submissive woman around her. Does she know it, though?

“What if I told you it brings me comfort?” Genevieve asked.

“I’d respond that there must be a story there.”

Sweat dripped down Genevieve’s forehead. Was it the hot water? Or the moment? “How much have you researched my life, Ms. Aya?”

“Enough to know that you run a BDSM club.”

“I co-own it but… yes, I oversee the management. In fact, that’s one thing I have to do when I go back to Taipei this weekend.”

“Sou.”

Genevieve lifted her leg through the water. As droplets fell from her skin, she wiggled her toes before dipping her foot back under. “What do you know about the lifestyle?”

”Is it a lifestyle? For you?”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“You’re right. Gomen.” That apology fell softly upon Genevieve’s ears, but she was aware of the tension between them. “You like to be the neko in a relationship. That much is clear. Do you think I have a problem taking the lead? I don’t care if you have more money than me. That’s never mattered to me.”

“Neko. It means cat.”

“Yes, it’s what we call the more submissive woman in a gay relationship. I’ve always loosely labeled myself as a tachi. I’m sure you can guess what that means.”

“Does it make you popular with the ladies?”

“Lots of women looking for a boyfriend figure. Does that include you, too?”

Genevieve wrapped her fingers around her throat. Never before had her simple collar felt so heavy on her skin. “I suppose I owe you an explanation.”

“Don’t feel like you have to lie about who you are with me. I’d rather know the whole story upfront.”

Genevieve’s slight smile gave her the strength to start from the beginning. “I didn’t always used to be the cat-like one. For a long time, I was the dominant one. It was how I got into the lifestyle. Back in my twenties, when I was navigating a world without my family. My parents died when I was young. Unlike a lot of my peers, I don’t have a huge, extended Chinese family. Both of my parents were only children. Their parents were only children. They were… well, to be quite frank, my grandparents had siblings, but they were the survivors of the Japanese invasion a long time ago. Everyone else perished.”

Did Genevieve imagine the tension still building between them? “I’m sorry.”

“You had nothing to do with it.” Yet this is why some of my friends may not like us dating. While most people looked toward the future, pain and trauma ran deep in family lines. Some aunties and uncles could eventually accept a family member being gay, but dating someone from Japan? Like a double-whammy to the face. Genevieve didn’t doubt that her own family would have been angry about it, and many other aspects of Genevieve’s life. “Anyway, as you said, lots of women are looking for dominant partners. Maybe it’s in our DNA. That whole fairy-tale of being taken care of. You know, being coddled.”

Aya wiped some water from her lips. “Being spanked and tied up.”

Genevieve lightly snorted. “So you know a thing or two?”

“Never practiced it myself, but it’s not exactly underground anymore. I’ve read some enlightening comics and seen some movies. Kinda hot.”

“Do you think so?”

“Are you asking me to give it to you like that? Hm. Maybe.”

Genevieve still didn’t let herself get her hopes up. “It’s only recently that I’ve made the switch. It’s what made me break up with my last girlfriend. I was a bit devastated by it. I really loved her, you know, but she hated roles. It was bad enough that I was always so dominant, but as I transitioned to being submissive, she went along with it. Until I wanted to hardline being submissive. Then she broke up with me.”

“I’m sorry to hear it.”

“I have to deal with her when I get back to Taipei.” Genevieve shook her head. “She’s actually one of my employees in my club.”

“You’re a fraternizer?”

“More like when we broke up I offered her a job because she’s one of the best bartenders I’ve ever met. I don’t care if the romance is over. You don’t let talent like that escape your clutches – not when your clientele includes some of the richest people in Asia.”