Just come in. Don’t knock.

I rolled my eyes at the sign on the Dombers’ door. Another roleplay. I hefted my briefcase and shifted it to my other hand so I could remove the note and put it in my pocket. I need to find something better to do on a Saturday night. Still, it’s better than staying home alone.

I paused. That really wasn’t a good reason, and I knew it. I’d kept my Saturdays plenty busy before the Dombers had shown up at the club. Since I was, as usual, partnerless, I was happy to answer their newbie questions about the scene and, by the end of the evening, giving them my email address. They’d never returned to the club, but that hadn’t prevented me from agreeing to meet with them again on the outside. Those cups of coffee had just somehow turned into... this.

I checked my watch. They were expecting me. I put my game face on and turned the doorknob.

Inside, I almost broke character and grinned at the sight before me. Sandie and Tom were making out on the couch. Her cheerleader’s uniform clung snugly, but fit far better than his old letter jacket. She moaned around his tongue as his hand played under her skirt.

At least it’s a new one. I closed the door behind me and loudly cleared my throat.

Sandie bolted upright. “Oh! Mr. Hurtswell, you’re home early!”

I caught my cue. “I most certainly am,” I growled. “But what is this?”

“Oh, Mr. Hurtswell! When Tommy called, well I know I’m not supposed to have anyone over when I’m babysitting! But Tommy won the big game yesterday.” She beamed at her husband. “And he wanted to be with me. He even skipped the party because he wanted to see me⁠—”

“That’s no excuse, Sandie. You know you’re not supposed to have people over when you’re babysitting.”

She hung her head. “I’m... I’m sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t going to cut it,” I growled. “This isn’t the first time this has happened.”

Sandie looked up and mock fear filled her face. “Oh, please Mr. Hurtswell, don’t fire me! This babysitting job is the only one I’ve got!”

I scowled at her. “I don’t have much choice,” I said. “But you’re still on duty tonight. Go see to the baby. Now.”

She skittered to her feet and her eyes darted between me and the door to their bedroom where I was sure the imaginary baby slept. I just tossed my hand dismissively.

“And,” I said, “I think you should stay with the baby and think about what you’ve done. Think about all the things that could’ve gone wrong while you were out here fornicating with your boyfriend.” I shot Tom a dark glare. “I’ll call you when I’m done dealing with him.”

Sandie’s eyes grew wide, but she scampered into the bedroom and closed the door. I dropped character and turned to Tom.

“Same limits?” I asked.

He hesitated. “Well... yeah.”

I sighed. “Tom, you really need to learn how to do this yourself.”

He hung his head. “I... I know, Alan. I just can’t.” He looked at me, his eyes pleading. “I mean, I could try to give her what she wants, but it wouldn’t be the same. You’re a Dom! I’m....” He looked away again.

I willed myself to not visibly react. I wasn’t a Dom in the way he meant it, and I’d tried to explain that to him before. I was just a guy who knew how to assume the role. I wasn’t one of those guys who lived and breathed the scene. At one point, knowing what to do had gotten me a hot sexy girlfriend, before she left me for a lifestyler. But for the past year, it hadn’t gotten me much other than Tom and Sandie.

Sandie was cute, but I was getting a little tired of playing with them. True, I spanked her, but he fucked her. I was just the foreplay that let myself out while they romped in the bedroom. So I went home with little more than the satisfaction of a Scene well played.