My interview with Damián Orlando from Nobody’s Perfect (& giveaway)

Damián: It’s good to be back.

Kelly: Can I get you anything before we start?

Damián: If you think I’m going to need reinforcements, how about a Dos Equis?

Kelly: Oh don’t look so nervous. I talked to Kally and know you don’t like to get too personal, especially when it comes to Savi. Besides, it’s me. I have been with you guys from the beginning. So just relax, I got ya *wink, wink*

Damián: Yes, Princesa Masters Brat Kelly, you truly have been there since before Masters at Arms was even published. And thanks for helping to organize Kally’s Street Brats, too. I know the team has been very helpful to her in getting the word out about her books.

Kelly: So tell me how are things going, since Savi and Marisol came back into your life? 

Damián: Family has always been very important to me, but I never thought I’d have one of my own—not like this. Granted, we have a lot of things to work out yet, but having Marisol call me Daddy, and having Savi put her trust in me, are among two of the things I cherish most in this world.

Kelly: How surprised where you to find out Marisol is yours?

Damián: I think it was pretty obvious to everyone but me, but I took to it pretty quickly actually. Anyone would be proud to claim Marisol as his daughter.

Kelly: How do you think you are doing at being a dad?

Damián: (Laughs) Maybe you should ask Marisol that question, but we seem to have hit it off, once her mama trusted me to spend time with her. Heck, even before that. The first night, while we were waiting for Savi at the clinic, the kid showed me she can build a mean castle with Legos. Just wish she didn’t expect me to climb up the tower to rescue the princess. Anyway, when Marisol baked me a birthday cake and told me to make a wish…(clears throat)…well, it was pretty clear what I wished for. That was just about the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.

Kelly: What is your biggest fear about being a dad?

Damián: Not being able to protect my little girl. Savi and I both have learned first-hand that there is evil in the world and trying to keep it away from the innocents like Marisol isn’t always easy. But we’re both committed to doing all we can to ensure Marisol doesn’t get hurt. Not that we can protect her from everything.

Kelly: How is Boots? 

Damián: Into everything and, with my allergies, he’s helping to keep Benadryl in business. He’s also about the clumsiest kitten I’ve ever laid eyes on, always knocking things off shelves or whatever he’s climbing on. I hope he outgrows that soon. But he makes my two girls happy, so he’s definitely going to be a permanent fixture in the household.

Kelly: I know you don’t kiss & tell, but how is Savi doing?  Getting better I hope?

Damián: Thanks for asking. I’ve never known a woman as strong as she is. She’s been to hell and back and, as I learn more and more about what’s happened in her past, I just thank God she returned to me and that I can help take some of the burden off her shoulders. Knowing that she trusted me enough to come to me when she needed help protecting Marisol means a lot to me.

Kelly: What do you think Savi’s greatest strength is? 

Damián: Resilience. No matter how many times she gets knocked down, she gets back up again. She’s also got some mean moves of her own for when she needs to do the knocking down, which I discovered recently.

Savi, giving up just a little control

Kelly: Interesting. How are things going at Masters at Arms Club?

Damián: There will be some changings coming up in who lives at the club and we’re bringing in some new Doms to form a Board of Directors, to help share the responsibilities. Other than that, we continue to strive for a nice, safe place for us kinksters to come together with like-minded people in the BDSM community to share what we love to do, learn new techniques, and just unwind.

Kelly:  Are you still happy that Adam talked you into being a part of the club?

Damián: If Dad hadn’t pulled me in when he did, I don’t think I’d be here today. To think that I would have missed out on the opportunity of finding Savannah…Savi…again, or never gotten to know my daughter. (Shakes head) PTSD fucks up your mind and I had convinced myself back then there wasn’t any way I’d ever get back to normal. But Dad, Marc, the folks at the Wounded Warrior Project, and others taught me that I’m wounded, not crippled or broken. Sorry if I got sidetracked, but for me, the Masters at Arms was the anchor I very much needed in my life at a dark time—and I’m not just talking about the building, but the people who make it up. It continues to be an important part of who I am. When I’m there, I can get involved in scenes that help keep me grounded and focused. I’m also the resident sadist. Even though I’m not a natural-born one, I’m often called on by Doms and Masters at the club to plan and execute sadomasochism scenes that will help their submissives achieve a goal or give them what they need, whether it’s screaming, crying, endorphin release, raging, or whatever they need to experience.

Kelly: Tell me what is the biggest misconception about BDSM clubs?

Damián: That they’re filled with abusers and sex addicts. . If you were walking down the street, you wouldn’t be able to pick out someone who belongs to a BDSM club. We’re just ordinary people—mechanics, nurses, businesspeople, firefighters, teachers, homemakers, you name it. And no one is more vigilant about exposing the abusers in the community than those of us who are active in a local club.

BDSM isn’t about abuse at all. A lot of subs, in particular, with abusive backgrounds have found solace and healing in clubs. It’s not always about sex either. My relationship with Savi started out mainly as my being her Top and helping her release pent-up emotions she’d kept a tight leash on for many years. While I’ve been attracted to her since the first day I saw her in the hotel where I worked before I joined the Marines, I knew she wasn’t ready for a sexual relationship when she returned to me. We needed to work on redirecting a lot of the negative messages still rattling around in her head from things her abusers had tried to make her believe about herself. So, for us, SM is the way we’re able to help each other and connect on a very emotional level. Someday I hope it leads to more, of course.

Kelly: What would you tell someone who was thinking about getting into this lifestyle, but scared all at the same time?

Damián: (Grins) Well, be careful who you admit your fear to, because a Dom likes nothing more than to know his sub is a little afraid of him. Seriously, though, you need to do your homework. First off, find out if there’s a club in your area where you can talk with others who are in the lifestyle. Most hold public events called munches that give people a chance to meet and greet. A good place to find out about your local scene is to check out fetlife.com, an online community for kinksters. You just might want to avoid looking at the photos at first, though, if you’re squeamish. But there are some good forums there to help you get to know more about the community and the lifestyle and people, for the most part, are eager to help newcomers understand and learn about the lifestyle. Just don’t go meeting strangers without taking the same safety precautions you would if going on a date with someone you met online. There are some real nutjobs out there. Most aren’t like the Doms and subs you meet in Romance novels.

Kelly: I know you have been around for the last three stories Kally has written.  How do you feel about her telling your and Savi’s story?

Damián: I just wish she’d hurry up and finish it so I can see how it ends. (Laughs) Actually, you know Kally. “The end” never means the end. But from what I understand, I’m going to make out better at the end of this one than Marc is.

Kelly:  Did she keep the story true? Or did she leave things out? Was there anything you wanted her to add that she would not?

Damián: If anyone tries to keep things out of these stories, it’s Marc, Adam, and me. Kally is all about baring our souls for the world to see. Well, you can imagine how well that goes over with a bunch of Marines who have built walls around themselves to keep themselves safe and their secrets hidden. She’s also tenacious. Picking on my buddy again, but she knew there was something going on with Marc that he hadn’t revealed to her when she was writing Nobody’s Angel. Well, she’s quite the reporter (she has degree in journalism, you know), and a few weeks ago she uncovered the beginnings of a story from Marc’s past that’s a shocker for him and has really caused some problems in his life. He’s still reeling from the news, as anyone might be, and has to figure out what it means for him, not to mention his relationship with Angelina. But I’m sure he’ll, as Kally’s readers like to say, “get his head out of his ass” eventually.

Kelly: It is always good to have you here. Anything else you want to share before I turn you loose?

Damián: I can’t think of anything. Just be watching for announcements on Facebook, Twitter, and in her newsletter for when Nobody’s Perfect is available to be downloaded and read. It’ll definitely be this month, but no earlier than June 26 it looks like. (Holds his hands up) Hey, don’t look at me. Marc’s the one who derailed this book. Kally says I’m the easiest of the three to work with. (Grins) Hmmm. But there’s still time. I wonder what havoc I might be able to wreak in the next few days.

Kelly: Master D, don’t you dare! We’ve been waiting since last summer for Savi’s and your happy ending.

Damián: Well, for you, princesa brat, I’ll try to behave.

I can’t wait to read Nobody’s Perfect.  Here is a quick look at Damián & Savi’s book.

Nobody’s Perfect
Masters at Arms #4

Savannah Gentry, now Savi Baker, escaped the torture and degradation forced upon her by a sadistic father for eleven years and has made a safe life for herself and her daughter. When her father threatens her peace of mind—and her daughter’s safety—Savi runs to Damián Orlando for protection. Their one day together eight years earlier changed both their lives and resulted in a secret she can no longer hide. But being with Damián reawakens feelings she wants buried—and stirs up an onslaught of disturbing flashbacks that leave her shaken to the core with little hope of ever being a sexual being again.

Damián has his own dragons to fight, but has never forgotten the one perfect day he spent with Savannah in a cave at the beach. He will go to the ends of the earth to protect Savi and her daughter, but can never be the whole man she deserves after a firefight in Iraq. Besides, the trauma of war and resulting PTSD has led him to find his place as the Masters at Arms Club’s favorite sadist. Savi needs someone gentle and loving, not the broken man he has become. But he sees that the lifestyle he’s come to embrace also can help Savi regain control of her life and sexuality. How can he not help redirect her negative thoughts and actions if she needs him?

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