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What Happened Last Week

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I hope you have been enjoying Rika’s Lair, my monthly column dedicated to thoughts and experiences  regarding power dynamics in Service-Oriented D/s relationships. Look up “Ms. Rika” in the search box  for links to all my articles in KinkWeekly! 

This week, I decided to share a true story. I often get asked what life is like for my submissive hubby. I’ve  talked about his birthday celebrations in the past…days dedicated to tweaking his fantasies for him. But  the following happened last week, which is kind of normal for us, and I thought I’d write it down in prose form for my readers.  

NOTE: I run the risk of hokey dialog, but I don’t know any other way of depicting what happened. The  exact words might not be these, but they do capture the gist – forgive me if it ends up reading like a  letter to Penthouse: 

I told him to kneel, and he dropped immediately. 

I didn’t find his compliance surprising. It was rather expected; the result of 15 days of edging and denial.  He was surely aching, although he never would complain. But when I “accidentally” allowed my hand to  brush his crotch, his involuntary gasp and sigh gave him away. I could almost see his knees buckle. I  figured I might as well help him out. 

I knew he was almost at the point of losing reason. I was stretching his self-control – testing his will to  remain obedient. Desperation is a regular state of mind for him, so I knew his resolve would win out.  Still, this was the perfect time to tighten the noose, so he was going to need to experience how well I  understood the condition I was cultivating in him.  

To increase desperation, make the sub talk.  

“Tell me what you want”, I looked down at him and he averted my gaze. I put my index finger under his  chin and lifted his face so I could stare deeply into his eyes. “Tell me what you want. I want to hear it from you”. 

“I’d like to please you. Make you scream.”, he said. “Make you scream” is our “lingo” for oral sex. I knew  that he was being “good” and making it about me – and I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. 

“Is that all?” 

“No Goddess. I’d also like to come…please” he closed his eyes. 

“Please? Are you begging me?  

“Yes, Goddess. Please” 

I laughed a bit and played it up: “Do you call that begging? I don’t think you’re serious enough. Maybe  you haven’t gone long enough. Maybe a couple of more weeks?” I knew he was truly desperate and that  his brain was clearly unable to fathom reason. What a perfect time to make him panic! 

“No please…please. I beg of you. I beg you to please let me come. I can’t take any more of this…I mean, I  will if you want me to, but please don’t want me to!”

I turned sideways in front of him and lifted the bottom of my blouse from my pants. I watched as his  eyes sunk into my backside, loving the sleek look of my leathers. I swear I saw him tremble. 

“Kiss my ass while you beg. Maybe I’ll do what you ask!” – I actually do sometimes give him what he  wants, so it wasn’t an empty possibility. 

He fell into my body immediately. I felt his hands grab my hips and pull his face close to my ass. Then I  felt desperate kisses, creating tiny circles on my ass cheeks, moving around until finally his face buried  itself into the crack of my ass, pressing against the material of my pants. 

I pushed him back. “Where is your discipline? Slow kisses…gently…around my entire ass”. He was going  to have to control himself. 

He struggled to calm down. When I let him go, I felt his lips press against the cheeks of my ass, giving soft gentle kisses in concentric circles. 

“Don’t get my slacks wet!” Always making sure he stayed focused. Give him something else to think  about – in this case, keeping his kisses dry. Leather…focus…More desperation. 

“Oh…see? You CAN do it!”. I gave him some time to continue his efforts – testing to see if he’d tire. But  he continued to gently kiss. I knew he was struggling to keep his composure – binding his own hands  behind his back with his will. Exhibiting the self-discipline he knows I demand in hopes of gaining my favor. 

As he continued to kiss, I popped my hip out to the side, giving him a nice “S-Curve” to look at. “Tell me  what you want, slave”.  

Between his kisses, he sputtered, “Please, please…oh God…please, please let me please you!”. He was  regaining his rational mind. Trying to position his need in terms that would be about me, rather than his  selfish needs. I decided to test that a bit more. 

“Rub yourself”, I softly demanded. I heard him moan and shift and play with himself, careful not to  break the rhythm of his kisses. “You want to make me come? I might let you do that for me. Would that  make you happy?” 

“Yes…yes. Please, Goddess. Please”.  

I stepped away and slowly turned to face him. 

“Look at you! On your knees, playing with yourself like a schoolboy! Don’t forget to play with your balls  too…pull them down. Oh, You poor desperate thing. You ARE desperate, aren’t you?” 

He was going to have to admit it out loud. His own words are so much more powerful for driving him  into his subspace than any others. 

“God yes! Please. I beg you! I’m desperate!” His rubbing increased tempo. 

“And who made you desperate?”, I prompted his demise. 

“You…you made me desperate” 

“Me? You allow me to control you like that? Why?”

“Because it pleases you and I’m your slave.” 

I chuckled. Then came that perfect moment. 

“Please Goddess, may I please stop masturbating – I will come if I continue” 

Music to my ears! As instructed, as trained: The “Please Stop Me From Orgasming” rule is always in  effect. Even though he so badly wants to come, he exhibited perfect self-control. Rather than begging  me to come, he is instructed to beg me NOT to let him…even at his own hand. Total control because it’s  all in his mind. 

“Yes, slave. You may stop”, I calmly responded. 

He let go of himself and slumped forward, catching himself with his hand against the ground. “Thank  you, Goddess” 

I walked closer to him and straddled his head, squeezing it gently between my legs. “You’re welcome,  my pet!” I heard him inhale. I let him stay there for a moment, knowing that the smell of my leather  slacks would further drive his journey down. I stepped back. 

“Kneel up – hands behind your head” 

He assumed the position immediately, breathing heavily. A strand of precome stretched between the tip  of his penis and the small puddle on the floor. He was clearly ripe and ready. Poor baby. 

I walked over to the couch and motioned for him to crawl to me. I had him take my pants and  underwear down while I played with his hair. I let him kiss my belly and slowly work his way down to my  pubic bone. 

I put my hand on his forehead and pushed it backwards so he was looking up to me. Our eyes locked. “What do you want?” I asked again. 

“Oh God, please let me eat you!”, he was delirious, deliciously desperate and perfectly hard. 

I sat back on the couch and let him get close to me. I put my legs over his shoulders and shifted upwards towards him. 

“Take your time. Serve me well” I instructed.  

He was talented at oral sex when I first met him, and has been a very attentive student through the  years – a great combination. His only wish is to get as close to perfect for me as he can. I’m more than  willing to help him, although I openly admit, there are times when he does things I can’t explain – but  want again! 

He gave me two orgasms: The first a slow, long, drawn out, warm-me-all-over come; the second far  sharper and more sudden. It was all I could do to let him maintain connection when the second one crested. 

I looked down at him. He was so content and yet, so wanting. His erection had not faded throughout. I wanted that inside of me.

“Put it in”, I directed. He quickly slid into me. I was so open and ready. He slumped down against my  chest, kissing and nuzzling my neck as he thrust against me. We were hitting a rhythm and I could feel  his desire. I love that animal drive. 

He was getting close, I could feel him swelling inside of me. Then, dutifully, he offered his ultimate  submission, yet again: “Please let me stop”, he groaned out. 

I considered the moment while he hung on the edge – awaiting permission to not come; I just LOVE that  irony. I let him stew for a moment, well-aware that I was playing with fire. I could feel him slow down,  just a bit, holding himself just short of going too far, but not wanting to stop without permission. So  dutiful a servant, even under such desperate conditions. 

“OK…you can stop”, I “relented”. 

I could feel him collapse inside. I watched as he delicately and carefully stopped all motion, allowed  himself a moment to recompose, and then slowly and carefully, pull himself out. 

“And?” I inquired. 

“Thank you, Goddess”, he mustered, trying to sound as sincere as possible. I’m sure the word “Bitch” was on his tongue tip at that moment – so I gave him some leeway despite him seeming a bit insincere. 

“You’re welcome, puppy!” I rubbed his hair as he slipped down to a low kneel. “You can finish me now”,  I leaned back and pulled his head once again to my pussy. He ate me deep and hard, his desperation  driving him beyond. “Oh…you serve me SO well, slave”, I gave him encouragement and recognition. He  just moaned and delivered. It was heaven. 

The final orgasm was another long and warm, full-body toe-curler. By the time we were done, I could  tell that he was getting back into full sub-mode; no longer disappointed that he didn’t orgasm, but  rather loving the fact that the steady ache in his groin was making his head so much more subby. 

It was time to give him a treat – something that he loves that will help him firmly establish his sub space…just for him. For my sub, the best gifts have to do with my feet. I stood up next to him, stepped  into a puddle of his precome so that it squished into my toes, and lifted them to his mouth so he could  clean them. I repeated the process until all the puddles were just wet-spots. He dove into this task with  enthusiasm and gratitude. 

When he was done, I stood him up and gave him a big kiss. Then I told him that I was going to take a  shower and that he should put on some shorts, run my water, and turn the towel-heater on. Then he  could go make dinner. 

He thanked me (quite sincerely) and went off to the bathroom. 

As I readied myself for my shower, I considered how lucky I am to have such a diligent and devoted  submissive. I know he feels lucky too. For him, there’s no telling how many days of this type of close-call  T&D I will put him through. Sometimes I let him come right away – other times, this type of “scene” could last weeks. He never knows. Sometimes, I don’t even know until the moment comes.

Last week, he “suffered” for three more days of edging (a total of 18 days), before I finally allowed him  to orgasm onto my feet (and eat it up). Then I gave him 10 minutes to recover and then it was a night of  massage and service – right back “on the horse” – no slacking off, just because the desperation is gone. 

This is our life together. We both couldn’t be happier. I’m glad to share a little episode!

 Ms. Rika is a lifestyle dominant, educator, and author; living in the suburbs of NYC with her  husband/slave. She has written several popular books on her approach to adding Dominant-Centric,  Service-Oriented D/s to relationships. You can find her books (in both print and eBook formats) at  Lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/msrika), or at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the iStore, Books-A Million, Kobo.com, or anywhere books are sold. Search for “Ms. Rika”. Write to me at  Ms_Rika@hotmail.com

This week in kink: October 18, 2021

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Want to learn more about what it means to bottom?

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Learn about the Uk’s oldest Pro Domme, Mistress Sofia from DailyStar!

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AnnaLynne McCord talks about how she uses BDSM to cope with childhood trauma.

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AnnaLynne McCord Opens Up About Using BDSM To Cope With Her Childhood Trauma

Have some kinky news to share? Tell us about any upcoming BDSM events, new products, dungeon openings / closings, kink in mainstream media, and anything else you think kinky folks might be interested to hear about. Send your tips through to kinkweekly@gmail.com, and it might just end up on next week’s “This Week in Kink.”

What Makes A Great Submissive?

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I hope you have been enjoying Rika’s Lair, my monthly column dedicated to thoughts and experiences  regarding power dynamics in Service-Oriented D/s relationships. Look up “Ms. Rika” in the search box  for links to all my articles in KinkWeekly! 

A couple of days ago, I participated in a forum discussion on FetLife regarding attributes that dominants  look for in their submissives. There was a lot of talk about appearance, obedience, strength, etc.  

As I often do, when I structured my answer, I did so in two parts: Attributes of a partner in a relationship  (any relationship) and additionally, the attributes of a submissive. After all, a D/s Relationship has both  the power dynamic and underlying relationship in play, simultaneously. 

In terms of relationship partners, I look for reliability, trustworthiness, good communication skills, a  good sense of humor (the ability to make me laugh), intelligence, empathy, and loyalty (is that so much  to ask? ). They also need to be respectful, honest, and caring. I look for these things from my spouse,  my friends, my family, and even from my business associates. Even acquaintances need to have these attributes, in some level, to last. 

Submissives are relationship partners, so they require all the above. In addition, there are some critical  attributes that I feel will help them to be top-notch submissives: First, they must want to be the best  submissive they can be. An inner need to strive to improve, and continually improve. They also must be  able to divorce themselves of any preconceived notion of what submission is, and adapt to deliver it the way I define it. They must internalize feedback quickly and continue to adapt their submission  accordingly. 

In terms of characteristics that make a great submissive, I’d have to say CONFIDENCE, HUMILITY, and  FLEXIBILITY: A great combination! 

They must be confident enough to trust that they can do things without assistance and confident  enough to take correction to heart and make changes. They must be confident in their desire to submit; in whatever way is required of them. Confident enough in themself to not be needy and to be able to  function independently without constant assurance, attention, and monitoring. 

As far as humility, they must be humble enough to realize that their submission is not all about themself and yet, to accept praise without getting cocky or know-it-all. They must be humble enough to consider  themself a student, continually striving to learn and improve. 

Lastly, they must remain flexible to adapt. Good submissives are good listeners and act on what they  learn. They don’t get stuck in “the way they’ve always done it” and, in fact, are usually looking for better  ways to achieve the tasks assigned to them. They need to seek to understand and internalize my  preferences and expectations and allow themselves the freedom to adjust to fulfill them. They believe  they can always do better and seek out constructive recommendations for improvement. 

There’s great value in a good submissive. They make your life easier; simpler. A good submissive is easy;  you just find yourself being able to use them and rely on them. Good ones are a pleasure to have around  and generate positive energy.

If you find yourself having to work harder to maintain a submissive or find yourself having to play games  in order to get them to do what they committed to do when they submitted to you, they are likely  missing some of the characteristics I’ve listed above. Figure out what those are quickly – and inform the  submissive to make the changes needed. If they don’t, or aren’t willing to – then “cut bait” as quickly as  possible and get out. It will only be a matter of time before the frustration wears you down. 

If, however, you find yourself a great submissive – they’re worth their weight in gold! Use them, mold  them, and custom fit them to you. They will appreciate it and your life will be lifted by having them around! 

Ms. Rika is a lifestyle dominant, educator, and author; living in the suburbs of NYC with her  husband/slave. She has written several popular books on her approach to adding Dominant-Centric,  Service-Oriented D/s to relationships. You can find her books (in both print and eBook formats) at  Lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/msrika), or at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the iStore, Books-A Million, Kobo.com, or anywhere books are sold. Search for “Ms. Rika”. Write to me at  Ms_Rika@hotmail.com

This week in kink: August 23, 2021

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Learn about the real life Stepford wife that loves pleasing her husband!

Self-confessed ‘Stepford wife’ says she lives to please her husband

Meet the Berkshire-based Pro Domme, Kaz!

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Survey says that 63% of kinksters have cheated in long term relationships. What are your thoughts about this statistic?

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Have some kinky news to share? Tell us about any upcoming BDSM events, new products, dungeon openings / closings, kink in mainstream media, and anything else you think kinky folks might be interested to hear about. Send your tips through to kinkweekly@gmail.com, and it might just end up on next week’s “This Week in Kink.”

This week in kink news: August 16, 2021

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Kink editors Kwan and Greenwell share their collection of kink stories.

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Don’t miss how a Mom of two with epilepsy makes money as a part time Pro Domme.

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Have some kinky news to share? Tell us about any upcoming BDSM events, new products, dungeon openings / closings, kink in mainstream media, and anything else you think kinky folks might be interested to hear about. Send your tips through to kinkweekly@gmail.com, and it might just end up on next week’s “This Week in Kink.”

This week in kink: August 9, 2021

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Learn about Reflections, a kinky dinner theater performance from Sports Grind Entertainment!

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‘Reflections’ puts a BDSM twist on classic dinner theater

Read all about how Pro Dommes are taking the pandemic seriously by implementing vaccine protocols for their clients.

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Discover the lives of five poly women who happen to be in a country band!

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Have some kinky news to share? Tell us about any upcoming BDSM events, new products, dungeon openings / closings, kink in mainstream media, and anything else you think kinky folks might be interested to hear about. Send your tips through to kinkweekly@gmail.com, and it might just end up on next week’s “This Week in Kink.”

Queen vs. Warden

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I hope you have been enjoying Rika’s Lair, my monthly column dedicated to thoughts and experiences  regarding power dynamics in Service-Oriented D/s relationships. Look up “Ms. Rika” in the search box  for links to all of my articles in KinkWeekly!  

Today, I’d like to address a subject that’s been mentioned in passing in a few of my articles and books:  The difference between being an enforcer and of being a leader. 

The examples I’d like to use for this discussion, are the Warden of a prison versus the Queen of a land.  

Both positions have “constituents” – those that reside in the area over which they have authority. Both have the authority to set rules and procedures for those constituents. Both have power to rule,  somewhat unilaterally. Both have the right to enforce their will. Both are in positions of superiority. 

Of course, there are a number of differences: 

The Warden’s constituency is not present by choice. They are incarcerated and restricted. The warden is  feared. There is no personal relationship with the warden; interaction is limited to compliance with strict  and granular rules that impact every moment of every day. Compliance is not a choice, it is mandatory – and failure to comply has severe punitive consequence. They are counting the days until they can get out. 

The Queen’s constituency are members by choice. They are voluntarily citizens unless they no longer  want/need the protections / benefits of the land. The Queen is revered and honored. She is worshiped and adored. She is the leader of the land. Her rules are somewhat generic; providing an overarching  framework of culture and order, under which the citizens adapt for their specific lives. For the most part,  participation in the regulations provide a level of freedom within that framework. Of course, repeated  failure to comply to the regulations may result in banishment from the land or being turned over to … the warden, but for the most part, the constituents are governed by their desire to provide for the  queen in their deed and intent. 

Much of the literature surrounding BDSM and D/s fantasies, and consequently, many of those who  approach me for advice or contact, approach dominance as a position of enforcement. Of course, there  is a bit of a façade that gets played: When referring to dominants, they use words like “reverence” and  “worship” – vernacular that would have you believe the dominant is a queen, but when you actually look  at the nature of the imagery and understand the demands of the fantasy, you see that the role being  described most resembles that of the warden. 

Many submissivess are looking to be made captive. The fantasy is to be trapped, as if against one’s will,  under the authoritative and restrictive rule of the dominant. There is usually an elaborate storyline that  creates servitude – blackmail, disclosure, loss of bets, indenture – so that compliance to a strict rule is  assured. Every movement curtailed; every decision made for them. When to eat, when to sleep, where  to go, what to do. Enforcement is immediate and punitively consequential. The dominant is an enforcer: The “doer”; the active role. Obedience is driven through fear of consequence. All of this is necessary to make the façade feel real.

For most of the dominants I know, playing the role of warden can be fun and enjoyable – as a role.  However, being the warden day in and day out runs counter to what they’re looking for in their  relationships – and can be a lot of work! Most enjoy the feeling of being revered, worshiped, and adored. They want to set generic rules and structure, and not have to threaten or beat their submissives  into compliance. In my vernacular, they prefer “submission” to “acquiescence” …the difference being  that submission is driven by a desire to serve, whereas acquiescence is compliance driven by a desire to avoid consequence. 

The conflict this establishes can take a toll on relationships. A person who is looking to establish a power  dynamic using words like “worship” and “reverence”, is setting up an expectation that isn’t met (for  most) by the imagery of the warden. Sometimes that dichotomy is realized very late in the dynamic’s  development and can lead to all sorts of issues. If someone wants a warden, they need to be up-front  about it. This is not just a porn issue (although porn tends to present the imagery of the warden in the  guise of a full-time relationship – and for someone whose only exposure to power dynamics is through  porn, that can be damaging), this is a communications issue. Talk about what you want. Define  submission. Define dominance. Agree on your terms before you dive into the dynamic. 

For me, I am my submissive’s queen. They operate within the guidelines I present – my preferences and  expectations…the things that make me happy. They live within the purview of my land for as long as  they want to. They are neither forced to comply, nor are they trapped against their will. They opt to  serve me, each and every day they stay here. They are the “doers”; actively working to fulfill their role  within the structure. They are citizens of my land; knights; valued contributors to my domain. 

Ms. Rika is a lifestyle dominant, educator, and author; living in the suburbs of NYC with her  husband/slave. She has written several popular books on her approach to adding Dominant-Centric,  Service-Oriented D/s to relationships. You can find her books (in both print and eBook formats) at  Lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/msrika), or at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the iStore, Books-A Million, Kobo.com, or anywhere books are sold. Search for “Ms. Rika”. Write to me at  Ms_Rika@hotmail.com

This week in kink: June 21, 2021

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BDSM can have healing effects! Check out how financial domination helped heal Mistress Marley’s trauma from MadameNoire!

Mistress Marley Shares How Financial Domination Healed Her Trauma From Corporate America

Into erotica?

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Read this interesting poll where 1000 women were asked what they would never do in bed from mamamia!

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Have some kinky news to share? Tell us about any upcoming BDSM events, new products, dungeon openings / closings, kink in mainstream media, and anything else you think kinky folks might be interested to hear about. Send your tips through to kinkweekly@gmail.com, and it might just end up on next week’s “This Week in Kink.”

Managing Multiple Subs

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I hope you have been enjoying Rika’s Lair, my monthly column dedicated to thoughts and experiences  regarding power dynamics in Service-Oriented D/s relationships. Look up “Ms. Rika” in the search box  for links to all of my articles in KinkWeekly!  

A couple of days ago, I was asked a question regarding managing the problems of having multiple subs  who serve you at the same time. As my readers know, I’m not talking about multiple play partners, but  rather, multiple partners who are striving to fulfill my expectations, desires, and preferences. 

The question was how I avoid the problems of multiple partners, particularly in the area of sexuality – how I manage intimacy with different subs. The person asking was having trouble rationalizing multiple  partners and how to split your time, attention, and commitment between them. 

This person was seeing all sorts of problems with treating all subs “equally”, yet having some who are  closer than others, and what that does to them in terms of jealousy and competition. 

This became yet another excellent use of the “layers” concepts (rather than rehash that here, I refer you  to my books, fetlife, or other articles that discuss the layers analogy). Bottom line, the way I look at  power dynamics simplifies these questions. The layers concept views D/s relationships as relationships  (of some sort) to which we’ve added a power dynamic. I currently have D/s relationships with 4 people.  All of them are dedicated to serving me in whatever way I define their submission. They’re all my  submissives and the power dynamic with all of them is very similar. 

However, their underlying relationships are very different: One is my husband, one is the husband of a  close friend, one is basically my lawyer and the fourth is a friend, turned business associate. 

Naturally, the relationship I have with my husband is very different than those I have with the other 3 – however, it’s not because of a difference in the power dynamic (or their intent within the power  dynamic) – it’s due to differences in the underlying relationship type. Clearly, one doesn’t feel the same  way about a friend than they do about a spouse – with or without a power dynamic! You trust your  spouse more than your lawyer (lawyer jokes aside). You communicate better with your business partner  than the husband of a friend (you hope). 

Resolving the Paradoxes 

The way the person had asked the question conflated relationship-level attributes with power dynamic level attributes and hence, they were having trouble resolving the paradoxes: How can you have the  same type of power dynamic with someone you love versus a friend? How does your spouse have more  privilege than your friend without jealousy?  

For me, it’s simple: I have relatively equal power dynamics with very different types of  relationships…and therefore the blended whole of each relationship is very different. But from the perspective of the power dynamics – how they serve me – their intent – the rules they live by — those  things are nearly identical.

The question about sexuality is moot when considered within the context of this separation: Sex is  something that (at least for me) depends on the underlying relationship type. Whether I am sexual with  someone has nothing to do with their service to me, it has to do with the type of underlying relationship we have.  

If you’re not the type to have sex with the husband of a friend, or your lawyer, or your business  associate, then you’re not going to have sex with them if they’re your submissive! So, I don’t have sex  with those submissives. I do, however, have sex with my husband. The fact that they’re all my  submissives doesn’t change that…because it’s not the power layer that defines the sexual component of our overall relationships. 

The other subs understand this separation – they don’t feel jealousy because they understand that,  while they are equals when it comes to submission, they are not on equal footing in the underlying  relationship. They don’t EXPECT to have that type of intimacy, because theirs is not that type of  relationship. 

The Team Approach 

When it comes to managing the submission of multiple partners, the number one rule is that they  operate as a team: My submissives comprise “Team Rika”. The overall success of Team Rika is my  happiness – how well the overall team serves me. It has nothing to do with the relative position or performance of any particular team member. Each team member brings their strengths to the team and  together they fill in each other’s weaknesses. They work together to be the best team they can be. They  can only succeed together. 

I have a couple of rules of thumb that govern this team, which help to eliminate jealousy and  competition – both of which are poison to a multiple-partner dynamic: 

1) I segment the areas of their focus. I don’t assign two submissives the same area of my life. If one  sub manages the kitchen, another one manages transportation, another will manage wardrobe,  another will manage the garden, etc. This keeps them out of each other’s hair and avoids two of  them trying to serve me in the same space.  

2) Competition is the enemy of good teamwork. A lot of folks believe that you get the best out of a  person when you make them compete. This is true for the performance of an individual, but I  don’t believe it’s the best solution for a team. The focus of each team member must be the  performance of the team, not their particular performance.  

3) Due to #2, a sub who is competitive has lost sight of the ultimate goal of the team, and will no longer be allowed to serve. They will be given opportunity to change their ways, but ultimately,  if I feel they are continuing to act in a counter-productive manner to the benefit of the team, I  will remove them from the team – no matter what they’re bringing in terms of individual performance. The health of the team is far more important than any one person. I have luckily  only had to do this once in almost 30 years. 

4) I don’t show favorites. As I already discussed, the underlying relationship types factor into the  overall relationship and how I treat that partner, however, as far as the power dynamic is  concerned, everyone is held to the same standard. Everyone is expected to strive to fulfill their  commitment to the dynamic. I provide equal assessment and feedback, simple gifts, clear  communications of my expectations, recognition, and active attention. 

5) Tattling is a big ‘no-no’. I’m not interested in individual guilt or assignment of blame. The team  succeeds or fails together. The team needs to work within itself to grow. They need to help each  other and correct each other. They share a common objective and if they keep their focus on  that objective, they will help each other work through their differences and insecurities. Personal goals are most visible when you take your eye off the team’s goals. It’s fine to want  yourself to succeed, but if that surpasses your focus on the objective of the team, you’re  priorities are out of alignment. 

Wrap up 

This is not an easy thing to manage multiple submissives, however, it is very doable when you  understand the forces at play. As the dominant, you need to be clear as to your expectations – not only  regarding how they serve you, but also their responsibilities to each other. When a team is functioning  well, it feels effortless. If you find yourself resolving conflicts, managing egos, reassuring insecurities – then something is amiss within your team and you need to snuff it as quickly as possible. Determine the root cause and if you can’t remediate it, eliminate it. Your team will serve you well – and a well functioning team will serve you better than any one person can. 

Ms. Rika is a lifestyle dominant, educator, and author; living in the suburbs of NYC with her  husband/slave. She has written several popular books on her approach to adding Dominant-Centric,  Service-Oriented D/s to relationships. You can find her books (in both print and eBook formats) at  Lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/msrika), or at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the iStore, Books-A Million, Kobo.com, or anywhere books are sold. Search for “Ms. Rika”. Write to me at  Ms_Rika@hotmail.com

Fear, Trust, and Finding Your Rhythm As A Top/Dominant

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Fear is a healthy reaction to the unknown. The right amount keeps us form going overboard. Too much keeps us from experiencing things, and we miss out. It does not matter if it is stepping on a roller coaster, getting in the car for the NASCAR experience, performing a caning, or rigging your first suspension. Fear is the dividing line between what we can do now, and what we can achieve.

Regular posts from bottoms/submissives appear on the boards asking how to help their tops/dominants get over the anxiety of causing pain and potential injury. Sometimes posts from new tops/dominants, asking for help so they can give their submissive what is needed or desired. Fear holds those dominants back. Fear of themselves, fear of causing harm, uncertainty in skill, and possibly not understanding trust during play, not just the dynamic, is a two-way street.

Trust in a Scene is a Two-Way Street

One of the tallest mountains a top/dominant can climb, is learning how to trust their bottom/submissive during a scene. Sure, we trust them to say when they are having a hard day, not hiding medical problems, or if they are not in good head space. That kind of trust is easier to understand because we have been practicing it our whole lives. That of a good partnership and friend. In play the bottom/submissive is placing their safety and possibly life in the top’s/dominant’s hands, and they are asking us to let go. To give in to some of our baser instincts which society has trained out of us. To be demanding, to be rough; not just to give, but to TAKE. It can be, and is, awe inspiring and overwhelming all in the same breath.

Learning to trust the bottom/submissive to say when too much, is too much. Pain does not always mean harm, injury, or lasting damage. Some bottoms/submissives crave pain, others may like it mixed in with sensual play. You may be a top/dominant who enjoys delivering pain. Let your submissive help guide you on what works and what does not for them. Take your time to study and learn from others how to play safely without causing harm. All the aforementioned cannot come just from the top/dominant, a book, or even a mentor – but must include communication with and information gained from our bottom/submissive.

Fear is about Me…..not We. Changing Mindset.

Being stuck in the mindset of fear, is all about the individual, not the partnership. The ego saying the top/dominant is supposed to know better, supposed to have all the answers, must make all the decisions. Which leads to, “I am afraid of…… I don’t know how…. I don’t know when… what if I fail,”….etc. versus, “we will experience…. we will find the edges….. we will learn….. together.” Tops/dominants are expected to take on a lot of responsibility, to learn, become proficient, and to lead. The mistake is thinking it can be done in a bubble. Trust your bottom/submissive and their feedback to help shed light where it is hard to see.

“I don’t know my own strength,” or something similar is heard commonly. Expressing a reserve from pushing their own boundaries, let alone that of a bottom/submissive. So what? As tops/dominants we do not need to understand our own strength nearly as much as we do the strength of our bottoms/submissives. Work with them so you know if you can go harder or need to be softer. Physically and mentally.

Finding the mindset to balance the fear is a must. The place in the mind which allows acceptance of the bottom’s/submisssive’s trust and trusting them in return. Leveraging that trust to move past the abstract chains keeping a top/dominant from walking forward into the unknown. Embrace the uncertainty as it will always be there to one degree or another. But lean on trust so experiences are not missed, and the desires of both partners can be fulfilled. To learn as tops/dominants, we are not doing something TO our submissive, we are experiencing something WITH them. We are not causing pain, but delivering sensation which is desired and even craved.

Don’t Just Guess

“I’m not sure what to do….,” Ask. Ask your submissive what they are willing to try. Use imagination when designing play. Trust that when a submissive says, yes, they mean it. Whether subscribing to SSC, RACK, PRICK or the half dozen other paradigms regarding safety in play, having faith in each other, communication and consent are at the heart of all of them. Take time to thoroughly research a kink or aspect of play together before doing it. When the research is done, plans are made, and consent has been given…. accept bottoms/submissives have their own minds, and are making a decision to TRUST you…..so trust them.

“They want me to really go rough with them, but I’m afraid of hurting them…,” Well they are not, or they would not be asking for it. They may want the rush of adrenaline and the high which comes from play. The deep bond which can come from enduring and feeling in ways not normally felt. It can be done without damaging them or causing serious injury. It takes time, practice, research, patience, and seeking their feedback.

Have a Process

When I work with a new bottom or submissive, even if they are experienced, I take it slowly. Everything is discussed beforehand. Not just about the play itself, but what implements will be used; how I will be communicating with them; warning signs and signals; safe words; where the first aid kit will be located etc.

Warming up in the scene; checking in with them throughout asking where their comfort level is; 1 to 10. Watching how they act and react to different implements, how they are used, or different strikes on parts of their body. Both of us learning each other as we go. We do not have to know it all right out of the gate. We do need to have a plan, be focused, and pay attention.

After the scene, sometimes the next day, I will recap the scene with them; ask them what they did and did not like; what went well and what did not; If something was too much or too little; is something they want more of. The point being, with someone new, or as a new top/dominant, we have not learned to read our bottom/submissive yet. This is an opportunity to gain their input and learn.

As time progresses and with becoming more experienced, we will be able to read body language better and see the cues the bottom/submissive gives. Patience, practice, and listening to the bottom/submissive will help get a us to where we need to be. This does not take the place of good communication, but augments it allowing the scene to be more organic.

Finding a Rhythm

“I really like flogging, but am I doing it right?” Whatever it is, it rarely gets done right the first time, or even the first ten times. I can cane one submissive one way….. and for another it just does not work for them. It is as much art as it is science. The physical techniques will only get you part of the way. Learning what works for you and a particular bottom/submissive is the art. Some require a soft warm up, others prefer a hard shock to get them focused before warming and building into play. This is a process which requires the participation of both the parties. Don’t be afraid to experiment WITH them.

If you stick with it long enough you will learn your bottom/submissive. Just like playing poker, everyone has tells. Reading them becomes part of that experience. Eventually play/scenes become a dance where only the two of you can hear and understand the music. Talking through things is still important, but you will find the rhythm between the two of you that works.

Putting it All Together

Learning yourself and your bottom/submissive; learning more about the kinks that are of interest; and learning to let go of the fear. These become part of the building blocks for you to begin letting go and truly trusting your partner.

Trust is the daylight which pushes back the boundaries of fear. Trust in your bottom/submissive will pay off in your own self confidence because it frees you to be who you are. It is ok to be anxious when pushing forward into unknown territory. Just realize you are not doing it alone, but with your partner. Trust them, and they will trust you.

TAC is a lifestyle writer, dominant, and mentor who contributes to several online educational groups such as the BDSM Alternative Lifestyle Discussion and Education; Information Exchange for Dom/mes, Masters, and Mistresses; and the Virtual Munch. His writing includes information on self-improvement, growth, dominance, trauma, power dynamics and power exchange, and safety. His goal is to continue giving back to a community of friends who have supported him for nearly three decades. He can be found on Fetlife at TAC_1.