Nat:

I'm 23, same as you are (I'm male though) and from the looks of what you wrote on your first post, this vanilla man you're seeing is a much older guy. That makes me think he will not be so impulsive, he will listen to what you have to say and then think about it, without making him want to kill himself.

What Ruby says about getting 6 weeks no contact at all is a valid option. But being in the receiving hand of that option I can tell you it's the most frustrating thing you can experience. Uncertainty is the worst feeling you can have because you just don't know what to do, don't know what's going on. I'd rather have my girlfriend say to me "nope, this is not working out" immediately (although it would hurt -a lot) instead of asking me some time off, because in that time I will keep thinking about what's going on, what's going to happen, how can I fix it, etc. It's worst.

So I'd sit him down, ask him to let me talk and don't ask anything till I'm through. I tell him I value his love for me, that it is a wonderful thing, but that I just don't feel the same. Don't tell him what is unfulfilling in your relationship cause he'll want to try some D/s just to keep you around. Just tell him you don't really love him, and that it won't work out. Don't give any details. Tell him you think he should look forward to other things in life that are fulfilling for him (maybe he likes to hunt, or to read or whatever you know he likes), that he should see a therapist and -this I leave for you to choose- that you will be there if he ever needs you, but that you'll be no more than just friends who support each other. If you think this last thing, as Ruby says, would give him hope of maintaining the relationship, skip it.

It's a truly hard situation the one you're in. But you have to get out from it. And don't even consider of returning to your old master. Not even for "just games".

I wish you the very best of luck and many good thoughts.