Chapter Text
The atmosphere around him was buzzing with excitement. Shane was excited as well, but he was also extremely nervous. He had been waiting for this night for two months.
It was Pairing Day.
Members of the club who did not have a regular play partner but desired one were given the opportunity to be matched with a partner based on compatibility. Shane had taken his compatibility quiz two months ago when it was first presented to him, and he has been waiting with bated breath ever since.
Tonight is the night that the pairings will be revealed. The club has thrown an exclusive event just for the occasion.
Despite Shane having been a member of 1221 for several months, he’s kept to himself aside from attending a few exhibitions. He’s been approached a few times, sure, but he hasn’t been ready for anything further than observation yet.
Shane has done a lot of research prior to making the decision to proceed with a membership at the club, as well as the decision to get matched with a play partner.
Several months ago, his friend Rose had been regaling to him the tale of her latest date. She had told Shane about how the guy was into some BDSM practices. She wasn’t too sure about it, but her descriptions had Shane more than intrigued. The things she was saying sounded good to Shane, really good.
The following research deep-dive was both enlightening and very thorough. He had to navigate through layers of fictionalized and embellished BDSM practices before he was able to reach real information, but once he did, it was like a whole other world opened up for him.
When he found this place online, less than an hour’s drive from his apartment, he applied for a membership almost immediately. The ironclad NDA required for membership was enough to hook him. He may not be famous, per se, but this is Canada, and he could very well be recognized as the trainer for the Montreal Metros hockey team.
He would rather not have his sexuality and preferences blasted for all of the world to see.
Shane stands off to the side, back against the black velvet wallpaper, and sips his ginger ale as he tries not to look as nervous as he feels. He can’t help but wonder if the Dom he’s going to be paired with will be disappointed. Maybe he’s not looking for a green Sub with absolutely no experience aside from online research. The compatibility test should mean they’re well-matched, but it can’t possibly capture personality accurately. Maybe the Dom will want someone outspoken, not quiet and reserved. Or maybe the Dom won’t find him attractive, that would also be quite embarrassing. There are so many nuances that are compounding on Shane’s nerves.
Shane glances at his watch for the fifth time in the last hour. The match cards will be given out at 11pm sharp, a little over ten minutes from now. Every Sub and Dom is wearing a wristband with their number printed on it. The cards will bear the number of their match.
It’s a great concept, if a little theatrical. It definitely builds the anticipation and highlights the novelty of the night.
When the ten minutes are up, the staff comes around the room with small laminated cards. They are instructed not to open theirs until they have all been handed out. Shane clutches his tightly, his anticipation in overdrive. The plastic laminate bites into his fingers, but he ignores it.
His eyes track the staff as they methodically go around the room, handing out the cards. There’s a decent crowd here tonight participating.
And one of them will soon be Shane’s Dom. It feels surreal. Once all of the cards have been disseminated, Harris, one of the staff, announces into a microphone that everyone can reveal their numbers.
“Dominants, you may go find your Submissives.”
There is cheering and clapping, but it all sounds a little far away to Shane. His heartbeat is practically drowning everything else out. He opens his small white card to reveal the number 81 written inside.
He takes a deep, fortifying breath and waits for his new Dom to find him.
He watches as various Doms approach other Subs around the room. The energy is palpable and everyone is in high spirits.
Someone approaches him. Spicy, expensive smelling cologne wafts into Shane’s nose. His eyes skate from where he was watching another couple to the wrist of the man in front of him. 81 is emblazoned on the wristband. Slowly, his gaze travels from the wrist, up a muscular forearm, and then past a broad chest to a chiseled jaw and a handsome face.
“24?” The man asks, his voice accented and melodic.
Shane holds his own wrist up in response, momentarily speechless. This man looks like an Adonis. This is who Shane matched with?
“Ah. I have found you.” The man smiles. “I am Ilya.”
“Shane.” Shane says, still feeling a little stunned.
“Can I get you a drink, Shane?”
“Just- just water is fine.”
“Let’s get our drinks and then we will find a seat.” There is a short demo tonight to close out the official activities, before the new pairings will be left to their own devices.
Ilya keeps a large, warm hand on Shane’s lower back as they cross the room to the bar. A water for Shane and a Coke for Ilya. Drinking alcohol is forbidden if you are planning to do a scene. Shane’s heart starts up its rapid staccato rhythm again. He wonders if they will do a scene together tonight.
There are minimal seats set up in front of the stage for the demo. Ilya sits and pulls Shane onto his lap. “Is okay?” He asks in his ear.
Shane nods. Ilya’s thighs feel very muscular beneath him. His arm comes around Shane’s waist like a band.
Shane is sitting on the lap of the hottest man in this club.
He tries his best to pay attention to the demonstration, but it’s difficult to keep his focus from straying to Ilya. Ilya’s other hand rests on his knee, tracing light circles. It makes Shane feel warm.
Halfway through, Ilya leans down and grabs Shane’s water from beside their chair. He holds it up for Shane wordlessly. Shane grabs it from him and dutifully sips. He squirms a little on Ilya’s lap, admittedly a little antsy and eager to get to the next portion of the evening.
“Settle.” Ilya says in his ear. Shane immediately stops moving. His Dom has set the rules- he’s got him. He lays his own hand gently on Ilya’s where it rests on his knee, a little tentative and careful.
When the demonstration ends, Shane slides off of Ilya’s lap and trails behind him as he approaches and shakes the hands of the couple onstage. He hovers awkwardly behind him, unsure of his place.
“This is my lovely new Sub, Shane.” Ilya says, wrapping his arm around Shane’s waist again.
Shane gives a shy wave.
“Ah, congratulations to you both.” The other Dom says. “You make a stunning pairing.”
“Thank you.” Ilya acknowledges. “Have a good rest of your evening, gentlemen.”
Then, to Shane, “Are you ready?”
Shane nods, not even aware of what he’s agreeing to. Not even caring. He just wants this. He’s wanted this for months now, and so many things in life he wants but cannot have, but this thing, he can.
“Use your words.” Ilya prompts, not unkindly.
“Yes sir.” Shane manages, and his voice is a little breathless, but he can’t find it within himself to be particularly embarrassed about it.
Ilya looks pleased that Shane has added the moniker. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
“No sir.”
Ilya leads him to one of the private rooms. Shane has never been in one of these rooms before. It is reminiscent of a hotel room, clean and impersonal. There is a full sized bed in the middle of the room, with some sparse furniture and a small adjoining bathroom.
“Do you know proper position?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good.” Ilya praises. “Have you prepared anything for tonight, Shane?”
Some Subs came prepped, with a plug in, or maybe wearing something special for their new Dom.
“No, sir.” Shane admits. He shifts his weight, feeling bashful. “You- you didn’t tell me I could.” Maybe that was stupid. Should he have done something special? Does Ilya think he’s a dud? He just hadn’t wanted to do anything without his Dom’s permission, even if they hadn’t even known each other yet.
Ilya closes his eyes for a moment and Shane’s heart sinks. However, he doesn’t have long to dwell on it before Ilya is looking at him again.
“You are perfect.” He says, his eyes flashing. “Get into position. I will be with you shortly.”
Shane flushes and hastily complies. He strips, folding his clothing and placing it gently on the padded bench beside him. He leaves his boxers on, unsure if Ilya wants full nudity. He also leaves his socks on, because his feet get cold easily.
There is a pillow on the floor at the foot of the bed, so he kneels on it, hands behind his back, one hand holding the opposite wrist. He keeps his eyes trained on the floor.
His ears strain to hear what Ilya is doing. He can hear him quietly moving about the room, but he can’t discern what the other man is doing.
“Beautiful form.” Ilya compliments, returning to Shane’s space. “Can I ask you why you have kept on your boxers and your socks?” He asks gently.
Shane wants to squirm, but he doesn’t. “I didn’t know if we were doing full nudity. And…my feet get cold easily.” He admits.
“Okay.” Ilya says easily. “We will not do nudity tonight. Next time. Tonight we do something small, get to know each other.”
He sits on the end of the bed in front of Shane. “Make yourself comfortable, krolik.”* Shane wonders what that word means. He also can’t help but notice that Ilya holds some papers in his hands. He shuffles forward a little until he is leaning his head on the inside of Ilya’s knee, feeling completely encased between the other man’s legs. His slacks feel nice underneath Shane’s cheek. He lets his arms fall out of their position as well, hoping he doesn’t look sloppy- but Ilya had told him explicitly to make himself comfortable.
“I have our test results here.” Ilya states. “I thought it would be helpful to read which items we matched on.” He rests a hand on the back of Shane’s neck. It feels nice, claiming. “Let’s practice. What is your color?”
“Green.” Shane says automatically. Ilya rewards him with a gentle squeeze to the back of his neck, where the top knob of his spine is. It fits perfectly into Ilya’s palm like it was meant to be there.
“We will start with kinks. We both marked yes for puppy play.” Ilya says. “Hm, I think you would make a beautiful puppy.” Shane flushes against Ilya’s knee. He’s kind of glad that he doesn’t have to look the other man in the eye, at the moment. “Also spanking, breathplay, temperature play, orgasm delay or denial, role play, overstimulation, light feminization, and exhibitionism. This is great list.” Ilya comments approvingly. Shane’s cheeks are so heated against Ilya that he wonders if the other man can feel it through his pants. He can’t believe he gets to do all of that with Ilya. It feels surreal.
“Okay?” Ilya checks. His accent makes it sound more like ‘okey’. It’s cute, Shane likes it.
“Yes, sir.” He acknowledges.
“I will read list of Hard No’s, just to be on the same page.” The paper crinkles in his hand. “No degradation, blood, scat, figging, or sounding. Also no sharing.” Shane involuntarily nuzzles Ilya’s inner thigh. “That is good, I do not like to share. Looking is fine, but no touching what is mine.”
“I’m yours.” Shane agrees.
“Yes, my krolik.” Ilya coos.
“What does that mean?” Shane asks, finally peeking up at Ilya a little. Ilya looks down at him hungrily, setting the papers aside momentarily to trace Shane’s jaw and lower lip with his thumb.
“Bunny.”
Shane scrunches his face up a little. “I’m a bunny?”
“Or puppy. Or kitten. Whichever you want. Or all of the above.” Ilya smiles. His smile is beautiful. He is beautiful. Shane doesn’t feel worthy. He hides his face again.
“Whatever you want, Sir.” Shane mumbles. He means it, too. He wouldn’t mind being any of those things for Ilya.
“We both say yes to kissing, oral sex, penetration, use of toys.”
Shane hums in agreement. He tries not to let his imagination run wild. It had been one thing to visualize these things before, now he can visualize doing them with his actual Dom.
“I think we will have a lot of fun together, Shane.” He pets through Shane’s hair softly for a few quiet minutes. Shane isn’t down in subspace, but he’s somewhere in between there and normalcy. A little hazy at the edges. This is usually as far as he can get, on his own at least. He’s really looking forward to experiencing true subspace with Ilya in the near future.
A few minutes later, Shane is getting dressed again, and they’re wrapping up for the evening. It’s late and the club is closing soon.
“I will walk you to your car.” Ilya announces. They’re silent on the walk to the parking lot.
“This is it.” Shane says, stopping outside of his vehicle. Ilya looks at him for a long, heated moment. Shane usually doesn’t like eye contact, but he finds himself unable to look away. Ilya leans down and presses their lips together in a deep kiss. They exchange phone numbers.
“Drive safe.”
“Thanks. Um, you too.” Shane stumbles out. He gets into his car and stares at the new contact in his phone before he drives home almost robotically. The whole night feels like a fever dream. When he gets inside his apartment, he passes by a mirror and realizes he has a small, stupid smile on his face without even noticing. He’s happy, content.
He is Ilya Rozanov’s Sub.