Passion Flower: 1 (2 page)

“Bloody pom,” Natalie heard Rhonda mutter under her breath.

“I heard that,” said Amber. “My guess is that we’ll be
spending most of our time naked, which is why we don’t need any clothes.”

Oh, lovely. Just what I always wanted, to wander around
naked for nearly two weeks with a couple of gorgeous women for comparison.
Natalie
suspected Amber was right though. She’d reached a similar conclusion when
reading the no-luggage rule. It didn’t matter. If the men didn’t find her attractive,
that might give her more time to explore the island.

The door opened and a large man stepped out. Score two for
Amber’s theory that all the men were good-looking. This one was blonde, tanned
and buff. He wore a loose white shirt and tight blue jeans. “Hello, ladies,” he
said. “I’m Master Thomas. Welcome to Submission Island.”

Another man stepped out from behind him and then closed the
door. Maybe they weren’t all handsome after all. A scar ran across this man’s
nose and another graced his cheek. The scowl on his face didn’t help either,
although from the neck down he was as perfect as the others. “This is Master
Kyle. You’ve met Master Carter. We’ll be your hosts here. In a few moments Kyle
will show you your rooms, and dinner will be at six o’clock, which will give
you time to change into the clothes on your bed.”

“I thought there were four of you,” said Amber.

“Unfortunately Master Roger has other commitments this week.
You would be Amber, I take it? Carter has already informed me of your scene with
the luggage. Master Kyle will be disciplining you. We offer a total immersion
experience here, from the moment you stepped off that plane to the moment you
get back on. Of course you may leave at any time—and even if you need a
temporary stop, all you have to do is say our safe word, tapioca. But while you
are here, you’ll obey the rules, and you’ll address the Doms as Sir or as
Master. Infractions will be punished. Master Kyle is a sadist and he enjoys his
work, so he’s going to take you in hand.”

The scowl on Master Kyle’s face changed into a smile for a
moment but it didn’t make him more attractive. It was more like a predator
showing his teeth. Natalie gulped. Amber could have Kyle to herself all weekend
long, as far as Natalie was concerned.

Would each of them get a man to herself, was that how it
worked? If so, Natalie hoped for Carter, the pilot. Or maybe whoever misbehaved
would be turned over to Kyle.

“We usually give our members the option of requesting a
different Dom, but until Master Roger gets here that will be a little
complicated, as someone else would have to switch. However, you’ll get to know
all of us, and are expected to obey and treat us with respect. In the meantime,
Rhonda, Master Carter will be taking care of you and, Natalie, I’ll be seeing
to your needs personally.”

Damn.
Although it was better than Kyle. She took a
deep breath. She really knew nothing about the men. She was letting Carter’s
neat catch of her on the pier go to her head. In any other situation she’d have
been happy enough to have a man who looked like Tom ask her out, but this
wasn’t precisely a date. She wasn’t sure what it was.

“What about the servants? Sir,” asked Amber.

“There’s no one on the island but us. Just Doms and
submissives.”

“So who cleans?”

“We do. You ladies are on vacation,” Thomas answered
patiently. He glanced at Kyle, and Kyle grinned inexplicably.

“That seems kind of menial. Sort of dampens the atmosphere,
don’t you think?”

“I’d be willing to help out with the cleaning, Master
Thomas,” said Rhonda.

Screw that
, Natalie thought. Men offering to do
housework was not to be refused. Although it did make her wonder about how
clean the bathrooms were going to be. She’d seen men do housework before.

“Thank you, Rhonda, but that won’t be needed. You’ll barely
be aware it’s happening, Amber,” said Thomas. “And you really need to be better
about your manners, because Kyle is mentally adding to your punishment with
every sentence.”

Kyle walked toward Amber and then circled her. Natalie
watched with fascination.

“Take your clothes off, Amber,” said Kyle suddenly. He had a
thick Australian accent that was like Rhonda’s and not like hers all at the
same time. With his deeper voice, it was altogether sexy, but that just made
him more dangerous. Natalie’s instincts told her to stay far, far away from
Kyle.

“Excuse me, Sir?” asked Amber

“Take them off or I’ll cut them off you,” Kyle said.

Amber hesitated and then stood up.
Don’t mind me
,
thought Natalie.
I’ll be making myself as inconspicuous as I can.
She
watched as Amber took her suit jacket off, then bent to inspect the table as if
checking to make sure it was clean enough before putting her jacket on it. Then
she unfastened the pearl buttons of her blouse, one at a time. She wore a lacy
cream bra.

“Shouldn’t they be naked too?” asked Amber, hesitating on
the last button.

Kyle shook his head. “No. Only you.”

Natalie was very glad she wasn’t in Amber’s position. But
what would happen when they found out she wasn’t a real submissive? Yes, she
had some fantasies, and those had helped her as she filled out the forms,
although she couldn’t remember half of what she’d put down. But she was bound
to slip up.

Amber pouted but continued to undress. Soon her blouse and
her skirt had joined the jacket. And then she stopped, again.

Kyle moved behind her. A moment later Amber shrieked. Kyle
tossed her bra onto the pile and her panties, sliced in two places, fell to the
floor. Definitely not a natural blonde. It was a good thing it wasn’t cold.
Natalie wondered whether that would have stopped Kyle or if Amber would be as
naked in worse weather, although she knew it probably didn’t get very cold on a
tropical island like Fleury.

Kyle snicked his utility knife shut. “Sorry about the
interruption, Thomas. I decided my sub would find it easier to show respect if
she had less armor on.”

Thomas nodded. “Good call. Nice looking sub too.” He
grinned. “Well then, let’s take you ladies to your rooms.”

“Amber will be there after her punishment, and after she’s
thanked me properly for it,” said Kyle. “You ladies can watch out your windows,
if you like.”

“Can’t we do that in private?” asked Amber, and then clamped
her lips tightly as Kyle shot her a look.

Thomas opened the door and gestured Rhonda and Natalie
through. Natalie didn’t think she’d be looking out her window. Even if she
wasn’t horribly fond of Amber, she didn’t want to see the woman humiliated. And
maybe they’d gotten off on the wrong foot. Everyone had been nervous on the
plane, and some people had different ways of showing that than others.

The room she entered, which she supposed was the living
room, was huge. There was a big television on one end, a fireplace on the
other. There were two big sofas, one leather and one softer and plusher, and a
couple of comfy chairs. Four more chairs were situated around a card table in
one corner. A stack of red velvet cushions drew her eye.

She realized she had stopped to gawk when she noticed Rhonda
and Thomas up ahead, waiting for her at the base of stairs that led up to the
second floor. She hurried to catch up, wondering if being slow would be
punished as an infraction of some unwritten rule, but Thomas nodded to her.
Somewhat coldly, she thought, but unconcerned. Well, fine. The less emotional
attachment, the better. She hoped to enjoy some of the kinky happenings on the
island but really it was just a means to an end. If all else failed, she’d lie
back and think of orchids.

She didn’t think she’d have that problem with Thomas,
anyway. He was, at the very least, good eye candy. If men could enjoy boffing a
pretty girl for the sheer physicality of it, she thought she should be able to
enjoy a romp with a handsome man without emotions having to get involved.
Maybe.

The hall upstairs was long and wide, and at the end was a
big window through which she could see the ocean.

Thomas let her into her room first. “Have fun,” she said to
Rhonda. She wasn’t sure she meant it. She liked the redheaded Aussie, but she
felt a twinge of jealousy to think of her with that pilot.

“You too,” Rhonda said, grinning and winking.

“We’ll see you for dinner downstairs no later than six, but
feel free to come down earlier,” said Thomas. “I’ll begin your training after
dinner.”

Training. Now that sounded ominous. Natalie nodded. “Thank
you.” As an afterthought she added, “Sir.”

“There’s a safe by the bed where you can keep your passport,
keys and wallet and anything else you thought was necessary to bring. You’re
not to carry any of that with you. The combination is set to your birthdate; we
can reset it if you’ve shared that with any of the other guests.”

“I didn’t.”

“Good then.”

Natalie looked around the room. It was lovely and
surprisingly feminine. She supposed she’d been expecting something in black
leather, but it was decorated in soft blues and the bed had a lace-fringed
bedspread and a canopy. She stepped in and Thomas closed the door behind her.
There was an oblong box on the bed, less than a foot wide and a little more
than a foot long, with a bow on top. Her clothes for dinner, she supposed. She
decided to put off looking at that and took in the old maple wardrobe and
matching chest of drawers. It felt strange not having anything to unpack. There
was an open door that led to a bathroom and she ventured in. Despite her
earlier misgivings, it was pristine. The towels were big, soft and fluffy.
Toothpaste and a new toothbrush, still in the package, were laid out for her,
as well as scented soap and salon-quality shampoo and conditioner.

She went back to the bedroom and put her stuff in the safe.
She’d added a tiny flashlight and miniature utility knife in case they came in
handy. It was dark with the windows covered in navy-blue curtains. Rather than
turn on the light, she pulled one back to let some sunlight in. Light streamed
into the room. She heard something snap below. She looked down and saw Amber
bent over one of the tables. Kyle had one hand on the back of her head, holding
her down, and was using the other to spank her.

She turned away, focusing on tying the curtain back so that
it would stay. Part of her was deeply embarrassed for Amber. But what bothered
her more was that it stirred a yearning deep inside. She’d been spanked before,
somewhat halfheartedly, by a boyfriend she’d convinced to try a little kinky
stuff. But it hadn’t been very interesting. Kyle, on the other hand, clearly
enjoyed what he was doing. To be spanked like that—and not to have to plead for
it to happen—that seemed rather delicious. If she’d had Amber’s body she might
not even mind being naked.

She went to the chest of drawers and opened one at random. A
froth of lace and silk confronted her, which she slowly resolved. It was filled
with lingerie, actually quite neatly arranged despite her initial perception of
disorder. She picked up one of the bras and checked the label. Her size, and
the silk was as smooth as could be. The garter belt and the corselette were
both her size as well. She wouldn’t be lacking for frilly underwear. No wonder
she wasn’t supposed to bring luggage. Panties, presumably, were in another
drawer. She opened the next drawer and her eyes widened. It was full of sex
toys. Vibrators, dildoes, butt plugs, some Velcro cuffs, a blindfold, a gag and
more. She shut the drawer. Good god, but they were well stocked.

She decided to check out the wardrobe. It was filled with
dresses. A few were sheer and long. The rest were far shorter than anything she
usually wore, but then, she didn’t expect to be very covered. Yet another
sacrifice for science. She bet Rhonda and Amber would look very good in things
like that. She, on the other hand, would be showing off the bruise on her shin.

All of which made her wonder about the package on the middle
of the bed and she went to look.

* * * * *

Carter chuckled and shut the suitcase. He’d gone back to the
plane to see what was in it and it took him a few minutes to pick the lock.
There was nothing in it but some old clothes. Kyle was going to have his hands
full with Amber, but it was probably better that she’d been testing him than
that she’d actually tried to bring something important with her.

He supposed he was procrastinating. Amber was far too
confrontational for his liking, but from the forms they filled out Natalie and
Rhonda were perfect subs. He was beginning to conclude that the whole setup of
Submission Island really wasn’t for him, although he’d been an eager
participant at first. He enjoyed a woman who gave him a little pushback, and
someone for whom everything was new. Of the two, Natalie was clearly the less
experienced, and the fact that she had an advanced degree in the sciences made
it likely she’d be an intelligent conversationalist, but he’d played
rock-paper-scissors for her with Tom and he’d lost. It hadn’t bothered him at
the time.

Rhonda was a looker from the picture, and that turned out to
be true in real life as well. Both women, as far as he could tell from what
they’d written, were eager to please. Maybe that was the problem. There wasn’t
any seduction with a woman who already wanted to do anything and everything.

It wasn’t until he’d caught Natalie coming off the boat that
he’d cared much one way or the other. He couldn’t put a finger on what it was,
exactly. It certainly wasn’t grace or agility. Unlike Amber’s act with the
suitcase, the fall hadn’t been pretense, he was sure. Maybe it was the moment
before, when she was considering whether to toss him the suitcase, a gleam of
mischief in her eye. Most of the women who came to Submission Island were
either like Amber, full of entitlement because they’d paid big money to come,
or like Rhonda, eager to please. But Natalie he couldn’t quite read.