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“That’s why you have me, love,” he purrs. “To make sure you relax. Mind magnet, love.” In the strictest sense of the trigger, he doesn’t need to snap his fingers, but he does anyway. That’s what David’s used to. They’ve found, by a lot of trial and error, that he responds best if as many cues are consistent as possible.
He knows it’s working when David grabs his right wrist with his left hand. “That’s what you were up to,” he hisses. “Get me out in public and drop me.”
“I’m not going to drop you.” Hartley takes a sip from his club soda, all exaggerated, wide-eyed innocence. “You’re going to drop yourself for me, in front of all these people.”
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Ch1
Not long before they go out, Hartley takes David deep into trance and spends the better part of an hour reinforcing his safety suggestions. What he has planned is consensual in that they’ve negotiated in detail in the past, but hypnosis and the element of surprise make for a sometimes-dangerous mix. If David feels unsafe, Hartley wants to be sure he has an easy way out of trance.
David wakes confused. Hartley never leaves him with an amnesia suggestion—David doesn’t want it, nor is Hartley sure it would work even if he did want to try. His confusion always stems from remembering every detail, not a lack thereof. “Do I want to ask why you decided my safeties needed reinforced right this minute?"
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There’s no better opening. Hartley sits forward, swirling his finger around the rim of his glass. “That’s why you have me, love,” he purrs. “To make sure you relax. Mind magnet, love.” In the strictest sense of the trigger, he doesn’t need to snap his fingers, but he does anyway. That’s what David’s used to. They’ve found, by a lot of trial and error, that he responds best if as many cues are consistent as possible.He knows it’s working when David grabs his right wrist with his left hand. “That’s what you were up to,” he hisses. “Get me out in public and drop me.”
“I’m not going to drop you.” Hartley takes a sip from his club soda, all exaggerated, wide-eyed innocence. “You’re going to drop yourself for me, in front of all these people.”
“You had to…” David tries to hold his right hand away from his face. He doesn’t seem to notice that he’s slowly, incrementally leaning forward. “You had to pick the obvious one, didn’t you, you bastard?”
Hartley tuts. That’s not a safeword, and he won’t treat it like one. He responds in the syrupy tone he uses with brats. “Is that a request to stop, David? Because I didn’t hear a safeword in there.”
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If he truly feels unsafe to drop in public, he could say. Instead, like the very good subject he is, he gives a slightly slurred sigh, “Sleep.” Then his fingertip touches the trigger point between his eyebrows, and he lolls back in his seat, eyes fluttering closed.“Very good.” Hartley scoots around so he’s on the same side of the booth as David, between him and the rest of the club. Not only will this keep him out of view, it will keep him from toppling out of the booth if he goes completely limp. “You really are the most beautiful subject, David. Going deep and blank for me now. Still able to answer questions, but without overthinking, without worrying. Just saying whatever comes into your mind when I prompt you. How do you feel right now?”
“Good.” David’s voice gets softer in trance. Hartley has to lean in to hear him over the noise of the club. “Blank. Aroused.”
Hartley stifles a laugh. That last one isn’t a result of prior programming—that’s just David’s kinky side at work. “Very good. We’re not somewhere we can take care of that right now, so you’re just going to have to stay that way. What’s making you aroused, David?”
“Trying to fight. Failing.” David’s hand starts to wander down between his legs. Hartley catches his wrist. He’s not upset—he gave him a warning, not an order. His own fault, when David is too blank to take a warning. “Not being in control.”
“That’s right, you’re not in control right now.” Hartley kisses David’s warm cheek. “I am. And you’re being very good for me. When we get home, I’ll drop you again and give you a reward.”
“Please,” David agrees.
Hartley brings him back up just to see his reaction. David’s embarrassed silence speaks volumes; he often blusters when caught off-guard, so this is new and adorable. He finishes his drink without much chat, eyes fixed on the table. Every once in awhile, he glances bashfully up at Hartley and then instantly drops his gaze.