As I become more and more expierenced in this lifestyle, I am learning that there are different rules for every relationship. As a Top, I expect to a certain degree for my commands to be followed, as in "When you are around me, wear those boots that I love so much on you",, but I always respect their ideas and what they have to say. As a bottom, as much as i love and respect my Top, she knows that when we are around mutual friends, there is a limit to which i will go, as far as Her commands in front of them.

And as a human being, in the real world, I understand that people have bad days and there will be days when my bottoms (hell even myself sometimes) will not be in the mood to take commands, no matter how small they are and that is where the open channel of communitcation comes in. As long as there is still respect, I can relate to their bad days.

I do not own any of my bottoms, so if they feel like they want to play with another partner, who am I to say "no you can not refer to them as Master or Mistress" and with my Top, since I am still in the early phases of exploring this lifestyle, I discuss potiential (sp?) play partners with her and it's ultimatly my chioce as to whether or not I do end up playing with them and what I call them (or what they perfer for me to call them), but ultimatly my Top knows she is my primary Top and because of that, we have such a beautiful and open relationship.

I hope this helps