PainLove - Bk. 03 - Ch. 13-19

Chapter 13

Jenny lived near the main shopping district in Stratford. Helena could walk to it easily. It was January, the holidays were in the past and the weather was frosty.

Rob pressed the button of the door bell and Jenny opened the door almost immediately. Helena kissed Jenny, gave her a bunch of flowers they'd bought on impulse while driving to her place. Rob was in doubt as to what he should do. Should he kiss her? Jenny decided for him, she grabbed him and pressed her lips on his.

"Hi Rob. I'm so glad you're here. Finally we can talk." She took his arm and practically dragged him inside. Helena followed more slowly, looking about. Her first visit, just a week ago, was a blur. She'd been in such distress she had no memory of what Jenny's place looked like. The décor was very feminine; it was obvious she was living alone. The terraced house was narrow and didn't seem large, but it felt like a real home, warm and tastefully decorated.

Jenny left to bring coffee. Helena followed her into the kitchen. She returned with the flowers in a vase that she placed on a cabinet to the side. A framed photo was lying face down on the cabinet. Tilting it upright, she discovered it was down on purpose: the photo was Jenny and Rob's wedding. Even now, she still has feelings for Rob, Helena realized. When Jenny came in with the freshly made coffee, they sat. Helena thanked Jenny for helping her find Rose, confirming where she'd found Rob. Before finishing her coffee, Helena said she had some last-minute shopping to do, she'd leave them alone and be back in less than an hour. After Helena left there was a moment of silence.

Jenny felt the need to get a conversation started. "You'll be very lucky to have Helena as your wife."

"Yes, I will. Still, we have our quarrels, but until now we've been able to make up." Rob looked down.

"You sound as if you have problems. I thought you were happy?"

"I am very happy with Helena. But you know all about my experience with Marion. The two of them, Helena and Marion, are inseparable. Now, Helena is becoming a Mistress, too. Helena is fine on her own, more than one mistress in the house gives me worry, but Marion scares me on her own merits."

Jenny grinned. "Come on, Rob. It's what you always fantasized. I know, I've seen your favorite websites."

"Fantasy and reality are two very different things. Anyway, there's another reason I must talk with you. I was asking myself if I still would feel anger when I was with you, face to face. I must admit, the answer is no, no anger any more.

"Jenny, just one question bothers me. Why did you wait all those years to come out? You could have told me much earlier you wanted to be with women rather than men. I don't understand. I can't get past the feeling we wasted a lot of time, both of us. Well, I didn't think it wasted. But if you were so unhappy with me, why linger on?"

"Rob. I wasn't unhappy with you. On the contrary, we were good together. The problem was my need for women started to grow. It just became an obsession over time. You were so sweet, so trusting, I had a lot of space. I had the chance to go out with women. I could have affairs with some. I did this time and again and it was great, as I had found my true self. But I also felt guilty about you. No matter how you feel now, I knew what pain it would cause you if I told you. So I didn't leave you, at the cost of a bad mood. You must have seen me, angry one day, depressed the next. I blamed you for wasting my time. Looking back, I understand I had only myself to blame.

"Then, at Marion's place, things changed. That pointless game brought me to anger. I was so angry with you, Rob. Now I can say it was nothing you did. But in the moment I had this terrible impulse to take revenge on you. You didn't deserve it. You had done nothing to earn such a treatment. I regretted it so quickly. I've wanted to apologize, but I didn't dare try to face you. I know your temper, I saw your anger when I came to pick up my things, I knew words would be in vain at that point. Then I tried to write you a letter but in the end I couldn't write how I felt. I felt guilty as hell, but I couldn't help myself either. I thought we never could be friends again. But now you're here..."

Rob's looked confused and frustrated, he still didn't understand. "But why did you stay with me? That is what I really want to know and you haven't given me an answer."

"Don't you get it? Because I loved you! Rob, dear, I still love you, but it's - it's different now. I wanted to sleep with women. When you dressed as a woman, it was almost the same. That held me to you all these years. Because you could almost be a woman, you were gentle, sexy and above all, not the typical guy. You were fun to live with you, in your own way. And who knows what could have happened if Helena hadn't shown up..." The words were left hanging in the air.

Suddenly Rob felt great compassion for his ex-wife. She was a victim of her own character, divided between women she lusted for and a husband she loved.

"I think I understand. The bad scene at Marion's place was just out of frustration. Tell me, are you living with a woman now? I recognize some of your old belongings. I've heard Holly doesn't live with you any more. "

"No. I'm alone at the moment. I've had several affairs, but it seems I'm divided between two worlds. After a time I get enough of women, all the jealousy and talk and well, you know how some women can be. Then I miss your strong arms around me, no woman can hold me like you do. So, I'm not dating now. I hook up once in a while, but no relationship." She chuckled. "I put more time into my work so I'm earning better. I'm happy enough."

"God, what a mess we've made." He moved over to her, put his arms around her. "Jenny, I still love you too. We can't get back together, we both understand the barriers." He sat back, Jenny saw his eyes were moist from the emotion of the moment. "Listen, I truly want you to be happy. Please come to me any time you need to feel strong arms around you."

Jenny reached out to take his hand. "So, why the visit now, in a bit of a rush?"

"We're here to invite you to attend our private party, which is to be Saturday next; I have your invitation here." Jenny reached for the envelope, but Rob held it in his hands, not yet giving it over yet.

"Wait a moment, Jenny. There's more. You know I am to marry Helena." Jenny nodded, she knew.

"Saturday is the engagement party. I shall be dressed as a bride for the party, same as Helena. We'll also make a commitment to Marion."

Jenny started to laugh. "You're kidding me!"

"I'm very serious Jenny. The bride thing is of course kinky and fun, but we shall sign legal contracts, Marion will be living officially with us and she's getting lots of rights. They intend Marion, not Helena, will become my Mistress."

"Do you want this Rob? Can you handle these women?"

"That's the barrier. I simply will not accept Marion as my mistress. You were there, you might even have seen the anger on her face as she whipped me. That experience, Marion's and mine, goes unresolved."

"I'm sure you'll be fine."

Rob wished he could be as certain. He saw no reason to argue the point with Jenny.

They went on to catch up with what they'd been doing in the last year. Jenny wanted to know how Rose was, they hadn't seen each other in years. Jenny asked more about Helena, her house, their friends.

"There is more between the engagement and the wedding," Rob told her. "Two more women plan to live with us. In time they will get a contract too, meaning I'll be living with four women. Three of the four are dominas."

Now Jenny started to laugh heartily. The tears flowed over her cheeks from laughing, Rob laughed too; although it wasn't heartily. He knew she didn't mean it badly.

"You have everything you've always wanted. Four women! Are you sure you don't want a fifth? I could help, you know. All those hot bodies..." Again she started to laugh.

When Helena came back from her shopping trip, she found them smiling and in a good mood. Rob told her what started them laughing. "I'll live with four women, but don't worry, only three are dommes."

Helena couldn't do anything but laugh with them. She decided against showing Rob his new lingerie in front of Jenny; who appeared to be more sympathetic than Helena expected. Jenny received her invitation and said she'd be happy to follow the dress code.

"May I stay overnight Helena? I see there will be only women at the party. Maybe I'll get lucky." She gave Helena a smile. Rob saw her do something he'd seen Helena do, she licked her lips like a hungry animal.

When they left, it was as old friends. Rob hugged Jenny, she kissed him on a cheek, then full on his mouth. "I've missed you. I am glad we can be friends again."

She also hugged Helena. "You're a lucky woman," she said. "Take good care of our boy, he's special."

Jenny walked with them to their car. As Rob drove away, Helena told him Jenny kept waving until they were out of sight.

"She still loves you, Rob."

"Yes, she said just that. I love her too, Helena, but Jenny and I understand we'll never again be a couple." He paused in thought. "I feel a bit sorry for her. She's the kind of woman who could benefit from being in your circle."

Chapter 14

It would take much work from Rob to get the playroom ready before the engagement party. His attention went first to the examining room. With its tiled floor and walls it looked cold and clinical, not at all inviting. The first feature of the examining room was a chair too much like Marion's. As he bolted it to the floor, Rob could not get past the impression he'd been in that very chair. Cupboards and open shelves had other equipment. It kind of scared Rob, although he knew a lot of what could be seen was displayed just for effect.

The classroom consisted of two benches and a front desk. The teacher would have the desk in front, the benches were large enough for adults to sit upon. A whiteboard hung on the wall. Canes in several sizes were standing in a basket, a punishment bench was located in one corner and a stool with dunce cap in another. Hooks on the wall, which might have been used to hang up students' coats in a real classroom, were stout enough for tying someone up.

The dungeon proper required a majority of the work. The contractors had followed Rob's instruction putting in the electrical service for the trolleys and rails where the equipment had a powered lift. They might have asked themselves what all the wiring was for, but they installed it. Rob put up the overhead rails suitable for both moving heavier items from place to place and supporting something in place to be used. The X-cross was erected at the center of the long wall, suspended by chain from a rail above far enough out from the wall to allow activities all around it. he whipping bench was placed between the X-cross and the entry.

The frame and bed were located in a corner opposite the bench, furthest from the door. The frame was suspended from a track reaching all the way across the center of the room. One end of the rail reached over the bed. The floor under the bed was tiled and the bed was covered with PVC sheets. The mistresses might want to do something messy so they made choices to simplify cleaning up.

The hardest job for Rob was mounting the wheel on the wall opposite the X-cross. Twelve holes had to be drilled to secure the plate holding the spindle. When it was done, Rob needed everyone's help and two chain lifts to mount the heavy, leather covered wheel in place. Of course Marion wanted to test the wheel immediately by fastening Rob to it. He declined, saying he had more work to do.

He installed a rack near the shorter wall opposite the entry. It looked like a ladder, pivoting in its center. Someone tied to it could easily be turned in any orientation. The Mistress could reach beneath the rack and fix all kinds of articles to the suspended victim. A very simple, but ingenuous device.

The last device was a large table beside the wall opposite the X-cross. Built from simple but sturdy oak, it had cuffs and bands attached. To Rob it looked pretty uncomfortable.

Rob had been quite insistent the playroom would not have a pillory. He reasoned if it was not present, it could not be used on him. Once he began to object to the idea he could see Marion wanted nothing more than to have him in one. Fortunately, Cathy had also advised against it, but not before Rob had decided how to arrange it so he could break out if necessary.

After a week of work, Rob thought everything had been completed.

The lighting had been installed in zones, with dimmers. Control panels by the door and in the lounge area permitted the lighting be changed from either location. The lighting included a few spotlights directed on the major equipment. There was also a computer with sound and video control. Any kind of music could be brought into the room, playing soft or loud at the whim of those present. Rob installed four video cameras fixed to the wall, with the computer collecting the images and a large screen near the couches in addition to the monitor.

The lounge had a small bar with a sink, refrigerator and cabinets. The lounge featured two couches, several upholstered chair with plenty of side tables. A dozen people could sit in comfort to watch whatever was presented on the big-screen television.

The evening before he completed the installations, Rob sent an e-mail to all four women with his revised list of limitations. The list had doubled in size; Rob had added specific consequences to violating many of his limits and a clause setting more consequences should a mistress violate his limits more than a few times, all the way up to severing the relationship between himself and the violator. Helena and Marion understood they were to sign it during the ceremony at Saturday's party. Rob made it clear he would refuse to sign the prenuptial agreement without his limits being signed first.

When he returned from taking his dogs out Friday morning, Helena and Marion were sitting at the kitchen table, each had a mug of coffee and a piece of freshly baked bread. Rob was hungry, he greeted them with a kiss each. Collecting coffee, bread and marmalade, he sat at the table.

"We have things to do today. We must check out our new fitness equipment." Helena used this term because the cook was still in the kitchen.

An hour later they were downstairs. "Shall we do it in style? I brought down some things." Marion gave Rob her usual wicked smile.

"I had the same idea this morning, my gear is next to yours." Helena laughed about having the same idea.

Rob suddenly felt uneasy. He'd come to recognize events which fell together too neatly were not accidental. "What do you want from me?"

Marion took charge, confirming Rob's expectation. "Go to the classroom, undress, put on the clothes laid out for you there. You must not be present whilst we change ourselves into our Mistress outfits, close the door when you enter and wait for us."

It seemed to Rob they had thought about this, planning in advance to test the equipment in proper style, just the three of them, their own little private party. He decided to go along. They did need to check all the equipment. He had his safeword. At the party, with many guests visiting, everything had to be working - and safe.

As soon as he was in the classroom, though, he became uneasy. On top of the bundle of lingerie there was a red wig. Were they really thinking he would wear it? He thought about the party. Perhaps she was going to require him to wear a wig. Maybe this was just to see if the wig would fit him.

He undressed and put on the inevitable suspender belt and sheer stockings. A matching bra and black leather ankle boots followed. And then the wig; he placed it carefully on his head, its hair brushing his shoulders. The hair on the front seemed to partially cover his eyes. Rob wondered if Helena had made this choice intentionally.

When he was ready, he sat on one of the benches. Immediately he felt something was wrong, the bench wasn't secured to the floor and could tip. He stood and checked the other bench. He started a things-to-do list on the white-board, first entry securing the one loose bench in the classroom floor.

As he wrote, the door opened and Marion and Helena came in. When he looked at them, his eyes widened and he felt a chill. It seemed to him they were wearing the same outfits as that night in his attic. It appeared they were also testing him. Black thigh high boots, long stockings attached to a waist-cinchers, open breast bras, gloves that reached above the elbow. Both were heavily made up.

He opened his mouth to use his safeword, but immediately was cut off by Helena: "Rob, nothing will happen. Don't use your safeword. All we'll do is test the equipment. We dressed this way so we can be accustomed to the way we'll be dressed during the demonstrations. You're to wear what you have on for the party tomorrow, with a maids' uniform over it."

She gave him a smile. "The wig suits you by the way. We looked a long time to find just the right wig, one with long bangs, but also would look natural on you. I think we succeeded."

Marion agreed and they both stepped forward to closely inspect his face.

"I think we'll ask Carmen to apply some make-up, eye shadow and a touch of lipstick will do nicely," Helena said.

"False eyelashes, too, wouldn't you say?" Marion added with a smile.

"Yes, absolutely. Good idea, love." Helena kissed Marion and she kissed her back, they were very pleased with themselves. Helena walked to the white-board and wrote, "false eyelashes," beside Rob's note.

Marion led him by the hand to the teacher's desk. "The next room will be more interesting." Helena disappeared into the examining room. Marion gave his naked bum a pinch, making Rob jump and looked askance at her. She smiled innocently. "We shall have so much fun together in the future."

They entered the examining room to see Helena pushing at the chair, confirming it was fastened to the floor. With a gesture she directed Rob to sit in the chair. With his legs on the supports and arms on the armrests, Helena clicked the restraints in place. There were eight in total, his upper arms, his wrists, his thighs and his ankles.

Helena noticed Rob trying, without success, to get out and asked if the bonds were too tight. "There is some adjustment available."

"No, it's okay. I was just assuring it was secure."

Helena reached behind Rob and whole chair tipped slowly backwards. Rob let his head drop back to a headrest. His legs went up and he felt very exposed. Helena moved the leg supports further apart. Marion and Helena could literally look into his bum.

"I find this a little scary," Rob told them.

Marion answered in a soft voice as she slid out the panel further exposing his bum. "Now you know what we must endure when we're at the doctor and he has to examine us down there." She opened the cabinet over Rob's head, took out a blindfold and quickly turned to cover his eyes.

"Hey, what's this?"

It was Helena who answered as Marion finished covering his eyes. "We've a little surprise. We want to know if the surprise can be quickly mounted to this chair, there are measurements to take. We'll use it on you, briefly, just confirming everything is functioning. Have no fear. I expect this chair will be quite popular tomorrow."

Rob heard the sound of a trolley moving. The chair seemed to go down, then Rob heard a few clicks from below him. He felt fingers grease his arse and he knew: he was to be fucked.

He felt something cold against his arse, then he felt himself being spread by a small dildo slowly entering his hole. He heard a soft humming and the dildo advanced into him quite slowly. He thought he couldn't stand the dildo going any deeper, he was ready to safeword, but just then it reversed direction and went back out again. It stopped, the head was still in his arse when Helena removed his blindfold.

He couldn't see very well, but he could make out a trolley was attached to the chair's base. It held a motor with adjustments that seemed to allow changing the angle. A rod extended from the motor to the dildo in his arse. Rob had heard about fucking machines but never thought he'd see one in use. Once the motor was on, it could run endlessly, likely the speed could be adjusted.

Helena touched a switch on the control, the motor began to hum. The dildo went slowly in, then out again. As it ran slowly, Helena adjusted the angle slightly. She turned a knob on the control box, it began to run faster.

The experience was erotic, he nearly moaned, the feeling was so strange. Nerves were tickled that he didn't even know he had. Against his will he found himself being aroused. But he also knew he had to say no. He had only one way to say no to them at this point. He took a deep breath and relaxed. The expression on his face turned to boredom, he looked around the room as if disinterested. His dick never got hard. He had spent weeks preparing to give them a response like this, it was working. In his attic, they hadn't even noticed.

Suddenly he felt a warm mouth enclosing his dick and a hand was caressing his balls. Then the chill of the mouth leaving his dick wet, the dildo slowly pulled from his arse. He was still soft.

He looked to Helen and Marion. "Okay, what's next for testing?"

He saw them exchange looks as they opened the restraints. Rob hoped the message reached them this time. Helena removed the dildo from the device and discarded the condom covering it.

Stepping from the chair, he forgot he was wearing high heels and stumbled. Marion was holding his arm and quickly steadied him. Her words suggested she misunderstood the stumble. "I told you. We shall have so much fun."

Rob felt a bit strange, walking between these women while wearing a wig. Three sets of heels clicked on the tile floor as they left the room. It was as if he was really one of them. Since the wig was a new thing, he was expecting them to make fun of him. He caught Helena glancing at him occasionally, as if she couldn't believe it was really him. But the women said nothing.

They led him out to the main playroom, first to the whipping bench. It had wheels to make it easily moved, but the bench itself had a lever to lift the wheels, immobilizing it anywhere on the floor. Rob was required to lie on it, face down, not only his wrists and ankles cuffed to the bench but also his upper-arms and thighs. Marion took time - and Rob suspected pleasure - in pulling and buckling the leather cuffs tight. He tried to move his arms, but couldn't. He was secure. Helena took a paddle and hit him softly with it. It didn't hurt; it was just a bit of a tease.

Marion knelt down and slipped under the bench. "As a Mistress, I would not ordinarily have this role. I'd tell another slave to do it, but I choose to give you an idea of the pleasures before us." She took his dick in her hand. Again he concentrated on taking no interest; she soon gave up.

Helena expanded on her vision for the future. "Of course I can put you in that spot, Rob. Suppose it was Kim on the bench, then I might order you to stimulate her as I whip her."

Chapter 15

The next piece of equipment to be tested was the wheel. This would be the first trial, none of them had used one before. Despite having hung it from the wall with heavy anchors and bolts himself, he felt insecure. He decided it was easier to get it over with than to give them ideas about what bothered him. He walked to the wheel as though he had no concerns, placing his feet on the rests. Marion fastened his arms, his legs then his waist. Rob was busy looking elsewhere, feigning an utter disinterest. The footrests were taken away, he was suspended above the floor.

"Try to get loose!" It seemed to Rob that Marion was unhappy, perhaps she wanted him more attentive. He pulled at the leather restraints, but they didn't give at all. He also moved his body, trying to shake the spindle. He didn't hear a thing.

"Shall we try turning the wheel, then?" Marion reached to turn the wheel, but Helena, who had been in a nearby cupboard, stopped her. "Wait a moment Marion. Shouldn't we test with these?" Marion pulled his bra up. Rob knew what was coming. Helena held in her hand two nipple clamps, each of the women attached a clamp under his nipples. These clamps were cruel, they had teeth. They stung horribly; Rob grimaced and wondered if he should safeword out of this mess, it wasn't necessary to test the equipment. Helena said, "Just bear it, no safeword, we'll turn you round once and they'll come back off." Rob had tears in his eyes; these were no funny things, they should be used only with very experienced people. Marion might be this experienced, but neither he nor Helena were.

Marion clipped on small weights.

Marion turned the wheel with an excruciatingly slow speed. As the wheel turned, the weights shifted to continue hanging down, not smoothly but with unpredictable little jumps, sideways, then up his chest as his head reached the bottom. When he was completely inverted, the wheel stopped turning. Helena stood in front of him. She bent her knees, bringing her cunt close to his mouth. "You know what to do."

Rob did nothing. He was surprised to see she was dripping wet, this exercise must really have her aroused, he thought. Helena thrust her hips at him, then stepped back to glare at him.

Rob took care to keep disinterest in his voice. "Yes, this is a good height, I can reach easily."

Anger on her face, she stepped back forward to demand more of him. He stopped her with his words. "Helena, you must decide if you want the testing completed today. If you continue like this I am will be forced to stop. It may take some days to regain my interest."

She stepped back again, fixing him with a cold look for some time, he kept his face bland. "Turn him back to the top, Marion. We're done here."

Again at slow speed the wheel was turned. Rob was relieved to return upright. The clamps were removed and Rob gasped as he felt the sting surge to his nipples. Helen reached for his dick, taking it in her hand and stroking. He looked across the playroom and thought about which switches controlled which lights. He didn't harden. Helena began to pull with more vigor, it was painful. Rob knew what to say. "Black!"

Helena stepped quickly back, her face angry. "We weren't done yet, Rob."

"I gave you a choice, you made it." He kept his anger in check. Marion and Helena seemed to be taking longer than necessary to release him. When he was free, he stepped down, kicking off his heels, leaving them lie where they fell. He walked toward the bathroom, pulling off the wig and tossing it behind him. He used the toilet, choosing to make more noise than usual.

Marion and Helena stood in the dungeon waiting, they assumed he only went to use the toilet. After flushing he went to the classroom, where his clothes were. He quickly dressed in his male clothes and left the playroom. Helena and Marion were just walking over to meet him but he continued out the door. He didn't look back, leaving the door standing open.

Marion said, "We were just about to have a good scene."

Helena sighed. "I really wanted to ride him on the bed. It's been too long."

"I didn't want to say it in front of him, but with the nipple-clamps you went too far. You should apologize to him, tell him you had no idea they would hurt so much." Marion shook her head. "I think I made the right decision to declare myself his mistress. We must bring him along slowly, ease him into what we have in mind. If you don't talk to him, I shall."

Helena had a puzzled look. "Marion, you suggested two days ago we use those very clamps with Rob testing the wheel."

"Did I? I might have been thinking of what the future may hold."

They went to the changing room and quickly dressed, but only by removing their high boots, putting on ordinary shoes and covering their mistress gear with the dresses they'd been wearing when they brought Rob down to the playroom. They went upstairs as quickly as they could to find Rob. They found him in the living room, standing in front of one of the large windows, looking over the lawn.

"Rob. I apologize, with the clamps on the wheel I went too far." Helena tried to make this the kind of apology he'd described. "I just thought, because you would be upside down, the clamps must be very tight. I didn't consider well enough the pain it must have caused. I'm sorry, dear. Do you forgive me?"

Rob turned and spoke without hesitation. "I expected you to do something stupid. Well, there it was, now we'll see if you've learned your lesson. I accept your apology.

"We can test the rest of the equipment later, in the afternoon. I agreed to help you with testing and I'll keep my word. But I want this clear: none of this testing is a scene. We didn't agree you could squeeze in little things that don't help you test the equipment. Nipple clamps are not necessary to see if the wheel works. It wasn't necessary to bugger me with the fucking machine more than two strokes. You chose to increase the speed. If you make it necessary for me safeword again, then you can test it all yourselves."

"But, Rob, be reasonable," Helena began, but Rob cut her off.

"The reasonable thing for me to do is heed your own warning when you give it to me! When you find it necessary to tell me not to safeword, you're admitting you already know you're doing something wrong. Should I leave this house and never come back? Do you want this?"

Helena didn't say a word. She left the room, tears in her eyes.

Marion held up a scolding finger. "Did you really have to be so harsh with her? I know what she did was wrong, I said so to her. But now you made her cry. A good start just before your marriage!"

He looked at her, taking no care to conceal his scorn. "She put on the clamps. Marion, who put on the weights? The two of you can be so stupid. I've made plain how hesitant I am right now, but you both choose to jump right into a scene instead of simply testing the equipment. I did hear you call it a scene, I stopped just outside to hear what you would say." He leaned close to her. "I accepted her apology, Marion, but I haven't accepted yours. In fact I haven't heard one."

He stepped back, muttering to himself. "What did I promise her for the party, what have I done?" Suddenly lost in his own thoughts, he turned and left.

Marion didn't understand his last words about promising Helena. What did Helena make him promise? She left the room and went searching for Helena. She found her in her bedroom, sitting on the edge of her bed, chin on her fists.

Marion walked to Helena and put her arm around her shoulders. "Come on girl, you know how he is. He doesn't mean it."

"I know, but the trouble is, he was right. I blew it. We apologize as much as we do, but still we make, no, I make the same mistakes."

"Precisely why I shall be his Mistress. He'll believe in us again or suffer for it! Just relax. Now, I have a question for you, is there something going on between you two I don't know about? He was thinking aloud I suppose, I think he didn't intend I hear what he said. What have you asked of him for the party?"

Helena looked at her for a moment, hesitant to reveal a secret she'd been planning. Well, it would be plain enough Saturday night. "I made Rob promise he would obey me. We talked about the events planned for the engagement party. There are times during the evening, he will be expected to do, umm, certain actions, like that party where I first met him."

Marion started to laugh. "He has to entertain the guests. Intimately, if necessary."

"Yes. We agreed he wouldn't use his dick, only mouth and hands are allowed. He has to save his energy for tomorrow night, for you and I."

"Yes, I know. The night will be all about the two of us." Marion pulled Helena to her feet. "On your feet and go face him again. He is quick to anger, yes, but even quicker to joy. He told me how foolish you were, I admitted as much to him. That's that. We can't stay angry all day. He wants us to learn to honor his limits; we must instead lead him to honor our wishes. It will take time, but we simply bring him along. The fact he was in the living room and not outside with his dogs is progress. Over lunch, we'll persuade him to test the rest of the equipment. The test we'll like most is yet to come. Let's tell him it will be fun. If we make it fun, he'll get over it."

Chapter 16

Downstairs, they found Rob still in the living room. Rob and Helena stood silently, looking at each other. Marion, uncomfortable with the silence, gave them a prod to start talking. "Helena was just saying she wants to walk with you when you go out with the dogs."

"Oh, did I?" Helena gave Marion a puzzled look. She turned to Rob. "Do you want me to come along, Rob?"

"If you really want to. I don't want to force you into something you don't feel like doing." The effort was wasted. neither of the ladies caught the other meaning.

A bit relieved Helena asked Marion if she could get them all coffee.

As soon as Marion left the room Helena asked with a small voice, "Rob, I really want to test the other equipment. We cannot use it untested, who knows what might happen in the party if something goes wrong. I promise you, I'll let Marion handle the devices."

She came over to him with a few rapid steps, grabbed his hand and pulled it to her legs, at the hem of her skirt. He ran his fingers up along her stockings, tracing a finger up along the skin of her inner thigh until he discovered she wasn't wearing panties. Finding her still wet, he caressed her softly. Helena gave a gasp, then pushed his hand away. "We'll do this soon, darling. I am forgetting my own rules, no sex here when the staff is present!"

Helena led him to sit on the couch. She surprised him when she sat on his lap and kissed him.

Marion came back in, carrying a tray with coffee and some biscuits. She smiled when she saw them like that on the couch. "Coffee, lovebirds!" She sat beside them, pulling up her skirt, showing her garters and stockings. "Look, I am still dressed as Mistress. Let's have some fun after you come back from walking. I want to fuck today. How about you?"

Rob saw no reason to resist the truth. Up in a bedroom, they could ask nearly anything of him. It was in the basement he had reservations. "I'd love to, I want the both of you."

Helena added her view. "You must wear the same outfit as this morning, I insist. The first thing we'll do is try false eyelashes on you. We'll pick a style that will suit, you'll wear them for the party. Okay?"

"There are styles to choose among?"

"Yes. We can try a few, then we'll go back downstairs."

"I think we won't put on eye shadow or lipstick today. Tomorrow will be soon enough. I'm looking forward to seeing you at the party, all done up!" Marion sounder quite eager to see him more feminized.

They sipped coffee and chatted about nothing. As Marion predicted, Rob's anger eased. Both Marion and Helena walked with him and the dogs. It was chilly, they didn't stay out longer than necessary. Coming back in after thirty minutes they warmed themselves with more coffee before the fire.

The three of them sat on the thick rug before the fireplace. It wasn't all that cold in the house, but sitting by the fire was enjoyable. Nicky and Inca came over to sit with them. As Helena caressed Nicky, her tail slowly reacted and a sigh of joy left her throat. Marion gave Inca a scratch behind her ears. She responded by putting her head on Marion's lap.

"I don't think they would hurt us, Rob," Helena said.

"Under ordinary circumstances, of course not, you're family. Still, one has to be careful about unusual circumstances. They can be quite frightening, can't they?"

Helena and Marion both admitted the dogs had scared them in his attic.

It was just past five, they decided to dine early then go back to finish the testing. The cook had left everything warming for them. Rob fetched their dinner, bringing everything on a trolley. After eating, Marion and Rob cleared away from dinner while Helena rushed upstairs to get Rob's eyelashes.

In the basement again, as soon as Helena unlocked the door to the dungeon, Rob headed straight to a cupboard for tools. He wanted to install the missing bolts required to fix the schoolroom benches to the floor.

Marion and Helena changed back into their Mistress outfits then came to wait impatiently for him to finish drilling holes and attaching the bench to the floor. The instant he was done, Helena produced a box with several styles of false eyelash sets. She and Marion discussed which would best match his face. When the discussion led to a set selected, Rob had to sit and to keep his eyes closed for Helena to glue the eyelashes in place.

When she allowed him to open his eyes again, she held up a mirror for him and asked him what he thought. They were not much longer, but they were thicker and darker. They really didn't match his eyebrows so Helena colored his eyebrows. Because the eyelashes looked quite natural, it looked like Rob had long lashes himself. Marion took a photo of him, saying it would be a shame to waste the moment without a memory for later. "When you're older you can remember how pretty you used to be."

Helena smiled at him; she was very pleased with herself.

"You want me like this for the party then?" Rob asked. He wasn't too keen on the idea.

"If you dare. You know who will be present and who won't be, why not? The event is more or less official, with the notary, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't look as feminine as possible."

Marion added her wishes, speaking sweetly. "I'd so much like you to wear them, Rob. Think of it as something extra for me, will you do it for me? It will make the day special; for me."

Helena listened approvingly, she totally agreed with Marion.

"Well, I'm to wear female clothes, I might just as well go all-in. I don't want an exaggerated look, I'm not some drag queen. I don't want to look unnatural."

Helena agreed. "We want you just feminine enough, dear. We can trust Carmen to do it well, she's quite good at these things."

"Okay, we have it decided." Marion spoke firmly, suddenly sounding more the mistress. "Let's move on." She and Helena started walking to wherever they were going.

Reluctantly Rob followed. They had promised to simply test the equipment, but something told him Helena and Marion would add another little surprise. Helena walked briskly, moving out before the other two. Rob looked to Marion, who gave him a reassuring wink. Seeing he was uneasy again, she took his hand.

Together they walked to the rack. Helena took the control switch to bring it down to knee level. Cathy had arranged the control limiting how high and low the rack could go, keeping it in a safe region.

They directed Rob to lay on the rack, face up. Helena and Marion secured a large number of straps, holding his chest, his abdomen, his hips, his legs and each arm. He noticed the rack, suspended on cables, swayed as they moved around him. The leather restraints were much wider than Rob had seen, in order to fully support the victim when the rack was turned over. When asked to check, he though he couldn't move at all. It was pretty unnerving, even face up.

When Helena rolled the rack over, he had a compelling sensation he would fall, that he was falling. He almost used his safeword again, but he had set this up himself, he calmed himself by remembering this was exactly the effect the rack was intended to produce. Held up by all the straps, his view was of only the floor and two sets of sexy boots.

Helena raised the rack. At the maximum height, Helena's had to stoop slightly to bring her face near his. She gave him a kiss. "Funny, my pet. You cannot move at all, while I have complete freedom of motion and have full access to any spot on your body. I could even tickle you to death." Her loving smile told him she was just teasing him. She grabbed his penis and slowly started to let it glide through her gloved fingers. At some point she had managed to get some lube on her glove. Fighting the sensation was easy in this situation, Rob simply let the fear of falling keep him from getting hard.

Keeping his face bland, he nudged them to move on. "What else is there to be tested?"

"I'm not quite done here."

Rob waited silently, keeping his dick limp. Helena grew frustrated quickly enough; Marion and Helena turn him back to face upward, moved him down and freed him from the straps.

"Let's sit in the lounge for a moment, take a time out." Rob was surprised Helena said this, they'd only just arrived. "Do you want something to drink? I'll get some water bottles from the refrigerator."

Marion drank quickly and went for another, apparently she was very thirsty.

Rob relaxed a bit after his experience on the ladder, frightening yet innocent enough when considered from a distance. They sat on the couch and discussed his experience. Rob reported it was more mental torture than physical. "A bit frightening, yes. There was the sensation I might fall as you rolled me over. Despite the belts I felt I was floating in space." He stuck with telling them what had truly been frightening, that he was high above the floor, the floor was all he could see, the sensation he might fall at any moment. He made a point to not say he'd also thought about all the places they could attach clamps.

Marion agreed as she drank from her second bottle. "I've seen things like this before. It is indeed a mental game. In reality nothing dangerous can happen at all. It's mostly because you are powerless to do anything about it that gets the idea in your head you might fall. I've read of a rack like this, somewhere on the Continent if I recall, where the master makes a point of showing the submissive the quick-release that can make them drop.

"We can also use the rack as a sort of open bondage table, a totally different experience. We secure you face down or face up, but always with the rack under your body. And since the rack is so open we can still make use of all of your body parts."

Helena added, as though in passing. "Rob, you can take off your wig and your bra, it should make you more comfortable."

"And these high heels?"

"No, not yet. The more you walk in them today, the better you'll walk in them in future. Even so, the evening of our party your feet will be killing you. Marion and I have walked in heels for years, it's still a relief to finally take our shoes off after a long party."

Rob didn't see the quick smile Helen and Marion exchanged while he was turned away from them to set down the wig and bra. He sat clad in just suspender belt, stockings and high-heeled ankle boots. He looked at Helena and Marion, pussies bare and nipples erect. He reached to caress both women's legs, but they both pushed his hands away.

"Rob! You are sitting here with your two Mistresses. Nothing gives you the right to touch us, unless we tell you to do so." Marion was now in full mistress mode, speaking angrily. "You will show us the respect we deserve at all times in here. I AM YOUR MISTRESS!"

She gave him a glare. "On your knees and fast!"

Rob did as was asked, but made no rush. "Now pay me respect!" He was unsure what to do, but Marion helped him by moving her boot toward him, just enough for him to notice it.

Rob kissed the pointed toe of her left boot, keeping his head down. Marion exchanged smiles with Helena.

"Now the same for your other Mistress!"

Rob turned toward Helena. She moved her boot further away, making him crawl a bit to reach her foot so he could kiss her toe as well.

Marion had further commands. "Move yourself from here and go stand beside, ah, let's see. The whipping horse? No, beside the frame this time. Head down, hands behind your back and wait for us!"

This was suddenly serious, Rob thought. He thought of using his safeword. He wasn't at all in the mood for this kind of play, certainly not while simply testing one day before their engagement party. He decided to play along and learn what they had in store for him.

Chapter 17

After a few minutes of waiting he heard their footsteps approaching him.

This time Helena gave the orders. "Up on the frame Rob. You know how it works!" The two of them efficiently attached cuffs and the waist belt. They quickly secured his cuffs to the frame with rope pulled tight. He imagined they might lift him over to the bed. There they would surely fuck him, like at Brigid's place. The anticipation made him start to get hard. The motor hummed and he began to move. Over the bed, the frame was rotated until he was facing the overhead, giving him the sensation he was falling backwards. The sensation reminded him to work at not getting hard. He was lowered a bit, then Marion put a blindfold on him. Slowly he felt himself going down the rest of the way, with slight bumps as the frame fit smoothly over the bed. He felt himself settling in place atop the PVC sheets.

Someone released the ropes pulling his waist belt, then the belt was pulled out from under his body. He was still secured, hand and feet. Any movement he could accomplish was just wiggling. He heard Marion's voice. "Okay, Rob, one final test."

He felt one, then two people moving on the bed beside him, then on both sides of his head. Someone, maybe two, were standing over his face. He waited for a pussy to demand service from his mouth. He anticipated frustrating the other with no erection to play with.

Suddenly he felt warm drops spattering his face, then a heavier stream of hot fluid. More fluid joined in, suddenly he realized they were both peeing on his face. This could not be happening, he had dismissed this idea with Helena and Marion months ago. He heard them laugh, both of them, cheerful laughs. Breathing was getting difficult, his mouth and nose filling with their urine. He tried to say his safeword, but had no air to speak. He tried to turn his head to one side, but a cruel foot pushed him back to face them. He'd caught just one breath. "Cruel!" he croaked. But the women controlled neither their bladders nor their laughter. They kept peeing until they were ready to stop.

"We had to know if our urine would overflow onto the floor or not. This was our last test, Rob, looks like it went well." It was Marion telling him this as his left hand was released. He turned his head to one side, trying to empty his mouth. Each time he inhaled he could hear bubbles going through the fluid in his airway. He thought there was still some risk of drowning, but he could hear Marion and Helena walking away, their excited chatter receding.

He struggled to release himself. Finally, he rolled over to his side, coughing. "Help me!" He could barely croak out the words. Apparently they didn't hear him.

Rob stumbled to the toilet. Seeing his condition, the two mistresses quickly followed, finding him over the toilet, trying to vomit, but experiencing only dry heaves. He clung to the toilet for a few moments with his face over the water, coughing often and spitting. Slowly his body relaxed.

He had seen Helena and Marion watching anxiously. He ignored them and went to the shower, turning on the flow and waiting briefly for the water to warm. After he stepped under the spray the two mistresses heard something devastating, telling them how badly they had messed up. He began to sob. He leaned against the tiled wall, letting the water flow over his shivering body. He had never been so humiliated in his life, but it wasn't the worst of it. Through sheer negligence, his wife-to-be and her partner mistress had nearly drowned him in urine. He was coughing constantly, each time the phlegm tasted of urine. He tore the stockings and suspender belt from himself, dropping them in the shower stall. He washed his face and his body again and again. It was as if he still had the smell of urine clinging to his skin, caught in his nose; he kept washing again and again to try to get rid of it.

He stood for a long time under the hot stream, his shoulders heaved in total distress. Helena and Marion checked on him through the glass of the shower enclosure. They were truly feeling panic. What could they do? Helena retreated to the classroom next door and collapsed to a bench, face in her hands. Despite her tears, Helena was trying to reconstruct how they had decided to to this, who had contributed which ideas.

Helena and Marion, occupied with themselves, didn't notice when Rob finally stepped out of the shower. Seeing they weren't in the bath, he left the water running to avoiding bringing them back in. He grabbed a towel from the stack on the open shelving. After a quick job of drying he went to the examining room, to his clothes. He stopped with a thought and went instead out into the playroom. He adjusted the lighting lower, reached to a hook near the door, then opened the door wide. He waited in the shadows he'd just created beside the door.

After a short time had passed he heard the shower stop, then Marion calling out. "Helena, he isn't in the shower, he's gone." A minute later he saw them coming across to the open door.

"I'll never hear Rob's voice again," Helen sobbed.

Rob spoke just before they reached the door. "After-care."

Helena and Marion were startled to see Rob, completely naked, step in front of them, seemingly from nowhere. He closed the door and stood blocking it. He had a whip coiled in his hand.

"I've noticed there is no attention given to after-care from you two. In fact, Cathy is the only among you who's been consistent about after-care. I understand it's important to the mental health of the submissive." He spoke in a conversational tone. Helen and Marion were surprised by his sudden appearance. It was even more shocking to see he was holding a whip. It took some time to pay attention to what he was saying.

"But we shouldn't discuss the minor details. We should go straight to the real issue. Is is considered suitable behavior for a mistress to kill her submissive out of negligence? Must I really include in my list of limits that I don't die at your hands? I had the idea, I might be wrong, the mistress-submissive relationship was based on trust. A large part of the trust is the expectation the mistress will protect the sub's welfare. You put so much urine in my nose and mouth I couldn't breathe, I started to drown in your piss." Although he was trying to control his temper and his voice, he could hear himself getting louder.

He took a breath, lowered his tone. "Okay, mistakes can be made, you've shown me that. But did you even know of your mistake? Did you check on your victim? No, you were too busy laughing at your little prank. You didn't even release me, a new record low for you two bitches."

His voice fell to the quiet, artificially calm tone Helena hated most. "I can imagine three potential explanations for what just happened. You might have intended to kill me, which means you're not happy to see my ghost here accusing you. No matter what I think of you, I can't conceive of you as murderers. You might be tired of me, you did this to drive me away. Can't rule that one out. But a third explanation occurred to me late, I think it the most likely explanation. It happened because you two are fucking incompetent!"

With a small motion of his hand the whip uncoiled to the floor, ready for action. He seemed to know how to use it.

Time seemed to stand still, it seemed to be forever before Rob did anything further. Finally, they heard his voice again, still calm and controlled. "I took this whip down intending to use it on you both. But I've had a few minutes to reflect. I think whipping you will accomplish nothing useful." Marion flinched when his hand moved, but it was only a quick motion to reverse the whip handle in his hand. Extending the handle toward them, he shocked them again. "It appears I'm not very submissive. Should one of you use it on me? Put me back in my place?"

His expression was cool, completely unafraid. Helena could not meet his gaze and turned her eyes downward. Marion glared back at him. No one moved for a time, then Marion took a step forward and reached out to take the whip from Rob. Helena turned, a shocked look on her face, to grab Marion's hand and forced it back down. Finally her eyes met Rob's.

Rob nodded. "Marion, this was a test and you've failed quite badly. Helena, you didn't fail this test, but your marks for the term are none too impressive. You might want to consider some remedial studies on your holidays."

Still nude, Rob turned and left the playroom. He tossed the whip over his shoulder as he left, it fell on the floor before two astonished mistresses.

Chapter 18

The dogs bounded out of the living room to follow Rob up the stair, it was time for their evening walk. He dressed in warm clothes, threw some clothes and his computer into a bag and grabbed his car keys. Within a few minutes he and the dogs were outside the house. He'd intended to drive off, but decided it wouldn't be safe to try to drive any distance, he had to sleep first.

Helena and Marion came up the stair slowly, sadly. They went to their rooms and dressed. Rob's car was still parked on the gravel by the kitchen door, they expected he was outside walking somewhere. Unsure what else to do, they sat on the couch in Helena's sitting room.

Helena slowly shook her head. "He wasn't just upset, he was physically hurt. He was right, it was neglect that we simply walked away. I can't imagine doing such a thing, Marion, I've never treated a submissive that way, what was I thinking?"

"We discussed doing it, we decided he could handle it. Apparently he's weaker than we thought."

"You fool! I'm not talking about peeing on him, I'm talking about failing to recognize his distress and care for him afterward. He even said cruel, but I didn't listen. Again." She passed a weary hand over her eyes. "This isn't the first time we've totally failed at after-care, Marion. That chain to the pipe thing was marked by just such failures. Rob may have gotten angry, but I realize he's only been really angry when we've done stupid things which could have injured him. If we can't recognize our flaws and make corrections, then we don't deserve him."

Marion had nothing to say, they spent more than an hour in silence, each lost in her own thoughts.

They had gone to bed before Rob came back in through the kitchen door. He was exhausted and wet. Shivering, he walked quickly, but quietly up the stair. He and the dogs went to bed and fell asleep quickly.

Saturday morning, still very early, lights came on in Rob's bedroom. Carmen stood over his bed. "Wake up, Rob. It's party day! We have much to do to make you pretty."

Rob spoke without moving. "Go talk to Helena and leave me to sleep." She responded by prodding him on the leg. He rose from his bed, took her elbow and brusquely guided her out. He locked the door behind her. He unplugged the refrigerator, moving it from the kitchen to block the connecting door to Helena's bedroom.

Within minutes he was asleep again. Nicky and Inca were lying on his bed, their ears listening to the noises around the house. He awoke before eight and quickly dressed. He took Inca and Nicky downstairs and out the kitchen door. He ignored Cathy and Kim talking quietly in the hallway and went outside.

This time he drove off, to exercise the dogs in the wood. When he came back to Helena's house it was nearly ten. He went straight to the kitchen, gave his dogs fresh water and made himself coffee. He sat at the kitchen table waiting for the coffee to be ready.

Helena and Marion came in. Marion dropped to her knees before him and started crying. Helena sat next to him, sobbing quietly. Rob just turned his back to them. The coffee was ready, he got up and poured himself a cup.

Cathy came in. "You and I must talk Rob. This can't go on any longer."

"I totally agree. This cannot go on any longer. That's why I'm leaving today."

"No Rob," Marion crawled to him. She tried to kiss his shoe, he scooted his foot out of her reach. "Please marry Helena. Please stay with me. Please! It was all a misunderstanding. You and I have done it before, you didn't mind then. Why did you mind now? Why?"

Rob stepped over to close the kitchen door, lest someone else in the house hear. He stood before the door, his back to it, arms folded across his chest.

Cathy tried to bring him into a therapeutic discussion. "Rob, how were you feeling during the session?"

He spoke to Cathy as though there was no one else in the room. "Cathy, I'll ignore the assumption it was a session, the pair of buffoons managed to make that a lesser issue. Early on Marion peed on me, I even let some into my mouth. Just once, I agreed to try. I didn't like it, within a day I told Marion, quite clearly, it could never happen again. She has pestered me ever since, wanting to do this again, she insists on calling her gift to me. It's easy to find on the first page of my list of limits, a document Helena and Marion knew they were expected to sign today.

"So, the two of them gave me their gift. And what a gift. I couldn't breathe. Cathy, I was drowning in their piss while they strolled away, laughing at the trick they'd played on me. I had to free myself from the cuffs, using the one hand they deigned to release. I was coughing up their pee from my lungs for hours afterward. Did they check on me? No. Was there any after-care? No! How do you think I was feeling, shrink?" Rob spat out the word as though it was an epithet.

"I was forced to use the 'cruel' safeword. That word requires a very specific response from Helena. Her failure to respond brings about a clearly defined consequence. Nicky, Inca, follow!" His dogs, who were feeling his mood perfectly well, stood up and followed Rob.

As he the door closed behind him he heard Cathy's voice. "What have you two not told me about this episode?"

He went to his room, unlocked the door, grabbed his bag. Coming back down the stair, he grabbed his coat hanging in the wardrobe in the hall, took his keys in his hand and left the building. As he passed the kitchen it sounded like Cathy was well into the middle portion of a long lecture. He opened the doors to his car, the dogs jumped in. Soon he was driving.

In just over an hour he was back in Oxford, parking at his old place. He gave a sigh of relief, went inside and settled the dogs. He fell on his couch, eyes filled with tears. The whole scene replayed over and over in his mind. He asked himself why they done this to him, what he had done to earn such treatment. Overcome with emotion, he fell asleep.

When he woke up, he knew he needed some food. The shops would close soon, he had to hurry. Taking with his dogs with him, he went to a grocery and bought food for himself and the dogs. Satisfied he had stocked up enough to stay locked and isolated in his flat for some days, he drove home, only to see Helena's car parked at the curb in front of his house.

He cursed and drove on without slowing. He decided to drive to a woods nearby, one he went to quite seldom, to walk with Nicky and Inca. Seeing no cars in the car park, nor even nearby, he got out. He and his dogs started to walk. The dogs liked it, he kept going, ruminating and waiting, for what he was not sure. He could still hear Marion's voice saying, "we shall have so much fun." Well, he didn't have fun, quite the contrary. On Monday he would speak to his solicitor. He was getting tired but still thought it might be too early to return so he sat on a tree stump, his dogs sitting at his feet, finally having run off all their energy. He was getting cold, he knew he couldn't stay out much longer. It was getting dark, he decided to go to face whatever was waiting for him. When he got home, Helena's car was no longer there.

However, there was a dark Mercedes down the street. Rob picked up a spade from the stack he'd left by his stair and walked to speak with him, the dogs trailing behind.

The man was not someone he recognized. "Do you know me?" Rob asked.

"Yes, sir, I do."

"If you would be so kind, I'd like Mr. Haft to call me at his convenience. Be sure to tell him about this spade when you have him on the phone."

He turned and walked back to his home. About the time he had his door locked, his mobile began ringing. He took care to check who was calling before answering, it was Michael as requested. "Michael, thanks for calling. I want you to know I have no association with Helena any more, making it unnecessary to watch over me. Your presence is, as it always is, most unwelcome. You know what will happen if I see one of your cars again."

"Rob, I appreciate your viewpoint, but you understand who gives me orders. If you're no longer associated with Helena then you don't have much influence over what we do."

"You know the risk you're taking. I imagine you know the number of spades out there." Rob rang off.

Sunday passed in a blur. He walked a lot, came home, ate something, drank some beer, read a magazine, drank whiskey, watched an old movie on DVD, walked again. That night he got himself drunk enough to sleep without interruption.

Chapter 19

Monday morning, he was up early. He was thirsty and had a headache from his day-long bender. The weather, cold rain with a blustery wind, suited his mood perfectly. He went out to walk the dogs first thing in the morning. He was likely he the only person willing to stay out long in the weather. The wind in his face felt good. He hardly noticed the rain. Mile after mile they walked, until he found himself hungry and decided to go back again. His mood had improved, the lingering smell of urine in his nose seemed to be finally gone. The only thing he felt was regret, not regret about what he had said, but at the loss of his friends. He still cared for them, but he simply could not take any more of Marion's idea of fun. He was done with that bollocks. The clouds were thick enough he switched on the kitchen light as he made himself lunch. He hadn't eaten breakfast and decided to open a tin of soup.

The doorbell rang. Crap - he had all but forgotten about Helena's security organization. She didn't have to wait for him in person, she had her staff to do that. Haft had mad his watchmen less evident, but they were still there. No point in not answering the door, either.

He opened the door. He was right, it was Sylvia standing before him. "What are you doing here?" His tone was none too friendly.

"May I come in Rob?"

Rob stepped aside and she walked in. "As soon as you came back, I was to inform Marion and to wait inside your flat with you until your next guest arrives."

"And if I kick you out?"

"You can't Rob, you're no match for me."

"But these ladies are." He pointed to Nicky and Inca.

Sylvia surprised him with a grin. "True for nearly anyone else, but not for me. They're my buddies too, now. You saw to that." She stepped over, knelt between the two dogs and put a hand on each of them. Tails began to move in response.

It was all so natural for her, Rob smiled too, he couldn't be angry with her. He had no reason to be angry with her, she had done him no wrong. He sat down on the couch.

Sylvia rose smoothly to her feet from the floor. Rob had the sudden impression of the grace and strength of a panther. She was right of course; he was no match for her. Despite her small frame, he imagined she could break his arm if she wished.

Sylvia sat at the other end of the couch from Rob. "How old do you think I am?"

"When we first met, I thought you would be 35 or so, now I'm not so sure."

"Rob, I am 42 years old. I have been part of Helena's organization since I was 19. Helen and I have known each other by name for nearly 20 years. Believe me, she is the best thing to ever happen to you. I know you well enough to believe your quarrel with her must be very serious. Please forgive her, if she has done you some wrong. We're all human. It's still not easy for her to understand your feelings."

Rob wanted to protest but she talked over him. "Listen, I wouldn't be a very good security guard if I didn't know what was going on. I don't know details, but I guess something went very wrong with your S&M in the new basement room."

Flabbergasted, Rob looked at her.

"Looking you over, you don't seem physically injured. It must have been mind games. So, my best guess is she has offended you. She's offended you before, something made this time different. Different, and quite serious."

Rob wanted to say something, but again she was ahead of him, holding up her hand. "It appears Helena is convinced she has lost you. The other times when you had a quarrel, she was crying. Not this time. She's locked herself up, she doesn't want to eat. Her friends cannot reach her. She's in her own world. One could imagine she wants to die. You must talk to her and make up with her. You're responsible for what happens to her at this point, you and no one else."

Rob sat silently and couldn't speak. Helena, depressed? That strong woman, depressed? Then his anger returned. "If you think the only person who must make an effort is me, then you're just as bad as the self-centered bitches." His retort was cut off by the doorbell rang. Sylvia stood up and opened the door, the dogs at her heel. Rob went into the kitchen and sat at the table. His pride and self-esteem were hurt, yes. But now he had reason to fear for his own safety. On the other hand he would also regret leaving these ladies. He would be in a depression too, if it weren't for his dogs. For some reason they kept him happy, no matter what. He could hug them and they were always at his side. He was more alone than Helena, but on the other hand, they gave him the strength to carry on and to say to hell with everyone.

He was very surprised to see the visitor in his kitchen doorway. He had expected Cathy, maybe Kim, but not her. "Jenny? What are you doing here?"

"One moment Rob," Sylvia said. "Let me finish what I was going to say, then I'll leave you alone. Helena needs you, now more than ever. She's my boss but she is also my friend, the best friend I've ever had. You didn't know it, but I've been Helena's personal guard for the longest time. For years after my divorce I had no friends other than her. She spent more time with me than she spent with anyone else. Now I'm your guard, by Helena's choice. Be my friend, as I was yours when you were in distress. As my friend, go back to Helena, at least to speak with her. Today." Rob remembered dark rainy nights, a slender woman always in his vicinity.

Hand on his shoulder, she bent to give him a quick kiss on his forehead. She whispered, "I want to see you in your bridal gown."

Rob stood up and saw her out. The smile she gave him was warm and friendly as she turned to go down his stair and walk, unhurried, down the street.

Confused, Rob went inside, where Jenny waited for him, still standing by the door. Operating from habit, he took her coat and hung it on what had been her hook by the door.

"Can I get you something, Jenny? I was just about to heat some soup."

"Thanks, I'd like some soup." She looked around. "You've made yourselves a cozy place."

"Helena has had her influence."

"Yes, I can see a woman's touch, but still it's clearly yours."

Rob took her to the kitchen and sat her at the table. He served two bowls of soup and a plate of dark bread. The soup was was still too hot to sip, they sat silently for a moment.

Jenny started. "After you visited me, I began to think of myself again as your friend. We had been together for such a long time, I think I must know you better than anyone else. We may never sleep together again, but I love you and I want what is best for you."

Rob was silent; he knew where this conversation would go.

Jenny took his hand and kissed it. "I never stopped loving you, but you understand I had to let you go. We're on different roads now. I feel badly, I feel stupid about how we separated. Things didn't go well, but since then we've both learned things. Rob, Marion phoned me, almost immediately after you left Helena's place. I was on the guest list, she called to tell me not to come to this afternoon's party. Since she and I know each other so well, Marion felt free to tell me what happened, in detail."

Rob's face colored. His anger started to rise again. He began to relive his emotions from Friday night.

"So, did she - did she tell you her part in the scene as well? My thought is Marion is more of the problem than Helena."

"She told me everything. Rob, look at me. Look at me!" Rob looked into her brown eyes, full of compassion, full of love for him. "What they did to you was wrong, plain and simple, it was wrong. But, they didn't realize it was so serious. For them it wasn't. Were they mocking you?"

"Yes, and worse. They walked away laughing with me literally drowning in their piss!"

"It's true. They were laughing, about themselves and about your surprise of course. Yes, they were laughing at your expense. Apparently they failed to check on you, to assure your welfare; for that mistake they are very, very ashamed. They have learned their lesson. Marion told me their plan was each would pee on you, you would clean their pussies then you would have great sex with the both of them. The same way as when Helena tricked you with Bridget."

Rob looked up at her again.

"Yes. Marion told me about that too. They both wanted to make love with you, bound to the frame. It sounds like fun to me. After, they were going to shower with you, then spend the night together in bed. That was the plan. But you used your safeword. They had no choice but to stop before the fun part; keeping you bound after your safeword would have been worse. Their plan went wrong, worse than they could have ever imagined."

Rob chose not to disagree over missing details in her story.

"I understand your anger. You could have been raging. Marion said she's never been more terrified of anyone. She said you were so threatening, yet you did nothing to harm them even when you could have. You sounded calm to her as you made it perfectly clear how they had gone too far. Marion told me she doesn't expect to see you back. For Helena's sake, I'm asking you, swallow your pride and go let her make up with you. Helena is the best thing that could have happened to you and believe me, you won't find such a woman, such a friend, ever again. I think her security woman said the same thing. Go to her. Tonight. Finish your soup and go now. Listen to your ex-wife. I love you and it is because I love you, I'm advising you to do what is best for you, which is go back to her. Just hold her, don't say anything, you can do everything without speaking a word if you want, but comfort her. And play your role as fiancée in the party.

"Rob, something else, something I thought of just now, driving down. You have the advantage now. They'll do anything to make it up with you. Make your point, extract the promises you require of them, but then be done with it."

After Jenny's long speech Rob was silent. Jenny sipped her soup, took another piece of bread and waited; she'd seen him thinking like this before. In his mind options were considered, rejected, re-evaluated. Finally he was convinced Sylvia and Jenny had given good advice.

"Okay, look, I'll go talk to her. I'll go to her. I'll also make sure she knows who's responsible for my return. But after I talk with her I can't guarantee I'll stay. So when you report, don't tell them I'm coming back. Still more promises won't solve this, this entire issue is about broken promises. I may have the advantage for the moment, but promises made have a way of fading from memory."

Jenny nodded. "Do it. Really, what they intended was so different than what you experienced. I didn't get into water sports the time we tried, but now I think about it, it could be fun. Imagine me, peeing all over you, my hot body fluids all over you. Under the right circumstances, it might make you crazy; we'd have the hottest sex after. I know you, Rob, it could be something you grow to love. Maybe, sometime in the future, I might ask Helena for a turn. Marion told me about that special bed of yours, I'd like to try it.

"Rob, dear, I always will be close to you. I might be your ex-wife, but I'm still your friend. Nobody knows you as well as I know you. We have a lot of history together, we still share a bond; we always will, no matter what. As the one who considers herself your oldest and intimate friend, I tell you: go to your fiancée. She needs you."

With a sigh Rob said, "Alright Jenny. You and Sylvia have me convinced. It's too late to go today, it will be tomorrow."

She helped him clear away from the meal and he saw her out. "Did you come by car?"

"Yes, same old heap, it's just down the road. Rob, let Marion take the lead, she'll be so good for you. Give her my regards. And Rob..." Jenny looked at him with an impish smile. "I have my needs too. I shall ask Helena for a favor, tell her that."

She kissed him, her tongue briefly tracing the line between his lips. He gripped her waist, pulling her against his body. "I can still excite you with a small gesture." Jenny smiled. "I'll be visiting you more often. I plan on helping, you and them." With a final kiss she walked away.

Rob felt quick pang of sadness to see her was leaving. In spite of what had happened, how they had parted, he knew Jenny had always had a place be in his heart.

He watched the lights of Jenny's car getting smaller until he could not see them anymore.

He went to bed early. This time he slept peacefully.