With This Collar (13 page)

“The sub we saw that day at Master Damien’s house…”

“Yes.”

“I imagined what it might be like to be her. I’ve been curious about the St Andrew’s cross. And I thought I might want to try a flogger.”

At the Den, she hadn’t known what a St Andrew’s cross was. “You’ve obviously been doing some research.”

“Voraciously. I’ve watched a couple of videos, and I’ve done some reading. I talked to Lana more after she got back from her honeymoon.” She spoke slowly as if confessing a sin. “She offered to let Ben scene with me, and I was tempted to agree. But I thought I’d ask if you were interested first. I liked what we did. I trust you. And, well, you’ve seen me naked.”

The idea of any man but him introducing her to the sexual delights of a flogging pissed him off. Reminding himself he had no right to be angry, he asked, “What appeals to you about that fantasy?”

“When we watched that scene… The woman’s expression was so intense. And when he hit her, she looked peaceful. I have been imagining what it might feel like to be hit with all those strands. And I want to see your expression as you’re doing it.”

A lot of Doms preferred to have their partner face the cross so their back and buttocks were exposed, and he was among them. But he liked the idea of flogging her breasts and watching her expressions.

“I understand if you don’t want to. I mean—”

“I’d be happy to beat you.”

She was quiet for a minute.

“How does Saturday work for you?” he asked.

“That’s… Really? Thank you. Saturday is fine.”

Since it was only Monday, that would give him time to prepare. His playroom currently had very little equipment in it, but he would certainly change that before her arrival. He had a carpenter who was currently between projects, and Marcus’ ideas would keep the man busy for the remainder of the week. “I’ll send you a text message with my address and the code for the parking garage,” he told her. “Follow the signs for guest parking. I’ll meet you there. I’ll expect you at six, promptly. Is being on time a problem for you?”

Except for the incident with Harvey, it hadn’t been. She hadn’t been late to work in at least a year. “No, Sir. It’s not.”

“Be wearing the highest heels you can manage comfortably. I want you to wear only lingerie beneath your coat. Any questions?”

“What kind of lingerie?”

“I’ll leave that to you.”

“No guidance or suggestions?”

“Surprise me. Any other questions?”

He heard her exhale.

“No.”

He swirled the drink around the inside of the crystal glass. “Where are you now?”

“At home.”

“What are you wearing?”

“Workout clothes,” she said quietly. “I just got back from the gym.”

“Put down the phone and undress.”

“Are you serious?”

“Be a good sub and do as you’re told.” He wondered how she’d respond. Part of him expected her to refuse. She’d insisted that she wanted nothing to do with domineering men, and he was a Dom to his marrow.

He knew it was one thing for her to follow orders when they were scening, another to give over control when they weren’t together. It would take trust and a certain mindset so it didn’t seem ridiculous.

“All of my clothes?”

“That’s typically what I mean by getting undressed, yes,” he said drily.

“Yes, Sir.”

He sipped the drink as he imagined her peeling off her clothes. Yeah, he had seen her naked. He knew what she looked like, with her generous rear and pouty breasts.

“I’m back, Sir.”

He liked the sound of her voice. When she was being compliant, there was a slight husk in her tone. Each word, every pause revealed her emotional state. He knew if she was aroused, apprehensive, nervous, all without seeing her. She could protest that she wasn’t submissive, but he knew different. “Do you have a vibrator?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Is it handy?”

“No, Sir. It’s in the bedroom. I’m in the living room.”

“Put down the phone. Go fetch it and return. And I want you to crawl.”

“Crawl, Sir?”

“When we’re together, Julia, you may repeat an order if you don’t understand it. But if you are stalling, you’ll earn a punishment.” He leant back even farther in his chair and crossed his feet on top of the desk. Images of her continued to assault his senses. He was looking forward to seeing her sexy body sway as he had her move towards him on all fours. “Turn the speaker on,” he instructed when she picked up the phone. “Is the vibrator electric or battery?”

“Battery.”

He said nothing. He let the silence drag.

“I mean, it’s battery operated,
Sir.”

“Turn it on and let it run for a few seconds so I can hear it.” The hum was satisfactory. He would pick up a more powerful vibrator before the weekend. After she’d switched it off, he said, “Kneel, please.”

“I’m kneeling, Sir.”

“Describe the position to me.”

“My knees are wide apart. I have the vibrator in one hand, and both of my hands are behind my head.”

“And your breasts?”

“I just thrust them out, Sir.”

“Where is your gaze?”

She hesitated. “I’m looking at the floor.”

“Where were you looking before I asked?” he asked with lethal calm.

After sighing, she confessed, “At a picture on the wall.”

“I want honest answers at all times. If you want to play games, find another Dom. You knew what I was asking.”

“I apologise, Sir,” she whispered. “You’re right.”

“Good. Now. Masturbate with the vibrator until I tell you to stop.” He heard the slight hum. Then he heard little sounds of pleasure. He waited until he heard the first groan, and then he said, “Stop.”

The background fell silent.

“That’s a good girl, little submissive. Was that on the highest setting?”

“Lowest, Sir.”

“I have a rule about when a sub may orgasm. Do you remember?”

“I may only come with your permission.”

“Good. We understand one another. Now turn the vibrator to the highest setting. This time, I want you humping it like you did with my hand.”

“Anything you say, Sir.”

He hadn’t heard any sarcasm in her tone, just a desire to please. Damn, his cock was hard. “Do it now.”

This time, her moans were louder.

“Remember, you may not come without permission.”

Finally, she called out a desperate, “Sir!”

He snapped, “Off. Turn it off. Now.”

She made a sound like a growl. He loved how spirited she was. “The first time we played, you said me wanting you to climax when I commanded sounded like a fantasy.”

Her breaths were short and ragged. “I didn’t know how powerful your hold over me was.”

He considered stroking his cock while they talked. Since they’d been together, he’d only drained his balls a few times, all quick sessions in the shower. Now, need was clawing at him. He shoved away the feeling. He wanted all his focus on her. Her experience was more important than his. “Silently count to thirty and then turn it back on.”

“Sir…” She sighed. “Yes, Sir.”

Oh, yes. She was delightful. She was fighting against herself, wanting to please him more. Exactly half a minute later, she turned the vibrator back on. He imagined her squeezing her buttocks. He pictured her body straining and squirming. He thought of her gritting her teeth in determination not to orgasm no matter how hard she wanted to do exactly that. “Stop.”

He heard the vibrator stop and her ragged exhalation.

“My pussy is tingling, Sir.”

“Not nearly enough, girl. Now do it again, and do it right. Really work your cunt. Quit making this easy on yourself.”

Easy?

“I want to hear you. Do it
now.”

He half expected her to protest, but she didn’t. There were a couple of seconds of silence before he heard the telltale hum again.

It was only moments later that he heard her whimper. Within a minute, she swore softly. Then, delighting him immensely, she became much more verbal.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck! I want to come. Please, Sir. Oh, oh!”

“Stop immediately.”

She cried out. Her aggravation all but shimmered across the distance. He’d bet his company that she’d never been more aroused. “Did you come?”

“No. No. No, Sir.”

“How close are you?”

“My whole body is shaking. I… Oh, God. Please?”

“No. Breathe. Focus on how you’re pleasing me. I like you to suffer for me, Julia. I’ll ask you to do it often.”

“Damn it.”

He knew she wasn’t complaining about the suffering. To her, obviously, suffering was part of what she enjoyed. Instead, she was on the edge sexually. “I want you thinking so much about what will happen Saturday night that you’re obsessed.”

“I already am,” she said. “What if I ask please, very nicely?”

“I take it you’ve never been with a man who subjected you to this kind of denial.”

“Like I told you before, they were glad or at least relieved if they could get me to come.”

“After all this, would you still like to play this weekend?”

“Yes. Even more so. Actually, I have to admit that I’m not sure I can wait that long,” she said with a shaky laugh.

“If you want to play with me, you’ll follow my rules. That includes waiting. You will not orgasm between now and then.”

“At all? Are you serious? I’m so horny I’m going to explode.”

“Do you have any dates between now and then?”

“No. I’m not seeing anyone.”

Marcus was shocked by how much her answer pleased him. He wanted her.

“You’re actually serious about this, aren’t you?” she probed. “I can’t masturbate until I’m with you again?”

“I never said that,” he replied. “In fact, I’d prefer if you did stroke your clit and fuck yourself with a dildo.”

“Then…?”

“I said you couldn’t come. Feel free to play with that pussy any time.”

“That’s worse, Sir,” she protested.

“Be grateful I’m not making it a requirement.”

“Ah…”

He heard her snap her mouth shut. “And I’ll expect you to kneel twenty minutes a day after you get home from work. You’ll stay in one place without moving. No getting up, no fidgeting. Consider it a submissive’s meditation.” He waited for her to protest. When she didn’t, he continued. “Think about pleasing your Dom, about your body. Notice your breathing. Try to relax. And while you’re doing this, where will your gaze be?”

She didn’t answer for so long that he wasn’t sure she was going to.

“I’ll be looking at the floor, Sir.”

“Good. Set an alarm so that you’re not tempted to look at the time. Any questions on either of my instructions?”

“No,” she said quietly.

“Then repeat them to me.”

“I’m not to orgasm between now and when I see you. And I’m to kneel twenty minutes a day while looking at the floor.”

“And you’ll be naked. I want you totally aware of your body and getting more comfortable with your nudity.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“These rules are not open to negotiation.”

“I understand.”

“You’re still in position, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Your legs are spread?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Your cunt is still damp?”

She took a breath. “Definitely, Sir.”

“You’re still wanting to come?”

“Oh, yes. Yes, Sir.”

“Good. Stay there. Set the alarm on your phone, but don’t get up until”—he checked the clock—“eleven after the hour. Put your hands behind your neck again. Do not touch your cunt. And Julia?”

“Sir?”

“I’m looking forward to beating you.”

* * * *

The damned man knew exactly what he was doing. Confound him!

Before they’d met, Julia had rarely thought about sex. Well, except for wondering how to avoid sleeping with certain guys, then, with others, how to get the act over with quickly.

For the last two days, she’d been consumed with thoughts of Master Marcus, of sex, of what they’d do, and how she’d behave. She hadn’t been kidding when she’d said she had never been hornier.

She was afraid she was becoming obsessed, not only with thoughts of beatings and sex, but also with him, what kind of a person he was, why he wasn’t involved in a relationship, and if it was really possible for her to be involved with him without losing herself.

Finally, frustrated and driving herself crazy with her thoughts, she’d called Lana. Lana had suggested Julia relax a little and follow his orders, even the dreaded kneeling. Her friend had advised Julia to give up the fight. By getting exposure to the idea of submission, she could decide whether or not she liked it. She could find she enjoyed it, or maybe she might prefer an occasional hook-up with someone in the scene. Maybe she’d just find a guy to tie her up or spank her from time to time. But she would never know unless she tried.

No one really died from frustration, Lana had promised, even if it felt like they would. Julia wasn’t convinced. Lana had softly added that concentrating on her Dom’s desires might make things easier. Julia had protested that she didn’t want a full-time Dom. This was taking up too much time as it was.

Lana had given a disbelieving snort then had changed the subject, saying she didn’t find his instruction to kneel every night all that unusual. “Just go with it,” she’d urged. “See how Saturday night goes, then decide what you want.” Lana had added, “Think of it as a research project.”

That
Julia could do.

After having been to the gym on Thursday, she arrived home and stepped into a warm shower. Demand was pulsing in her clit and she ignored it, resisting the impulse to direct the spray from the showerhead across her pussy.

She might protest that she didn’t want a Dom, but following his orders every day gave her an illicit thrill.

After sighing deeply, determined not to give in and pleasure herself with a dildo, she went into the living room and knelt by the fire.

 She was barely five minutes into her assignment when the phone rang, shattering the silence. Unable to help herself, she glanced at the screen. Seeing his name there for the first time ever jolted her, and she debated what to do. Then she asked herself what he would expect from her.