Free Camellia by Cari Z.

just as well, though. God, look at your legs, I'm so glad you're showing them off. I knew you'd look perfect. One more thing to finish you off, though." She took a pair of blue topaz studs out of a leather roll-up kit that held a variety of decorations and handed them over. "Something borrowed, now something blue." She grinned. "It's almost like a wedding."
    "I think my dad would have a heart attack if I got married looking like this," Danny said, putting the earrings in. Lucy hadn't said anything yet, and Danny glanced at her nervously. "Do you like it?"
    Lucy smiled slowly, then walked around the bed to Danny. Only when she got close did Danny notice the crop she held in a loose grip in her right hand. She tapped it against her leg as she inspected Danny slowly, and Danny felt her face flush with heat. She resisted the urge to squirm, or worse, ask for more. "You're gorgeous," Lucy said at last. "Natasha, if your booth doesn't sell out completely and your next month isn't full of commissions, I'll be stunned."
    "Me too," Natasha agreed. "And yes, we've got shoes for you." She indicated the pretty velveteen boots she'd pulled out of her mound of boxes. "I checked them against your heels, so they should be the right size, and they're a really comfortable fit. Although they're just for walking around in. You won't wear anything on your feet for the demonstration."
    Danny looked at Lucy. "Really?"
    Lucy shrugged. "Call me backwards, but I like the look of bare feet resting beneath your bottom when you kneel."
    Oh god. Kneeling. For the tea ceremony, with Lucy walking around her, wielding that crop, adjusting her, disciplining her … Danny thought she might honestly faint from how fast the blood drained out of her head. "Is it time?" Danny asked. Her voice came out as a croak, and she coughed and tried again. "Is it time for the first ceremony?"
    "Not for another hour or so," Natasha said. "We've got to get back down to our booth. Lucy let us borrow Dalton while we got you set up, but he can't cover for us forever. Our booth is very close to the stage, so it won't take long to get things ready for you." Natasha smiled. "You two should wander around, get the lay of the land. Just be sure you don't go out there naked." She tapped her wrist meaningfully, then took Lillian's hand. They left the room together, and Danny looked with confusion at Lucy.
    "Naked?"
    "A sign that lets others know your status here," Lucy reminded her.
    Danny still didn't get it. "My status? Status as what? A woman? A lesbian?" The soft lines around Lucy's eyes crinkled, and Danny was pretty sure that wasn't the right answer either.
    Lucy went to her satchel and from its myriad pockets pulled out two white ribbons. "Normally, if you were at a club, wearing white would mean something completely different. The handkerchief code, as it's sometimes referred to, is something gay men adopted years ago, and since then it's evolved into something much more varied and inclusive. There will be people at the convention running around with little cards that have the meanings of colors written down on them. In our case, those cards are completely unnecessary, as I have no interest in making any lasting sexual connections here, and for this weekend, your time is mine." She said it perfectly matter-of-factly as she tied one of the ribbons around her wrist, surprisingly deftly, considering she was only using one hand.
    "Our color is white because it indicates that neither of us is interested in being approached for liaisons. Yours going around your neck is an indication that someone is looking after you while you're here, and you're not to be spoken to without permission," Lucy said, proffering the ribbon to Danny.
    "You're saying it tells people that I'm submissive."
    "Yes. But only to me," Lucy added, as though that should make Danny feel better.
    Actually, it kind of did. Danny didn't think of herself as a submissive person. She'd never played that way before with