PainLove - Bk. 04 - Ch. 01-05

Houses of Pain and Love

Four novels about being a submissive man to dominant women

Book 4: Michelle's House

by Doberinca

and

Henry Daniels

Chapter 1

Sunday morning's sky was dark. Low, dark clouds moved slowly across the sky, bringing rain squalls. Lightning flashes followed by heavy thunder kept the dogs uneasy, always alert. The flashes of lightning gave a sinister effect to the trees surrounding the Helena's house.

If any engagement party guests were awake, they hadn't yet emerged from their bedrooms.

Rob was standing at one of the large windows, staring outside. In a somber mood, he'd eaten a small breakfast quickly. He waited impatiently for a little break in the rain or at least for the heavy rain to pass and turn back to a shower so it would be more bearable. He was anxious to get out, he felt an urgent need to leave the house, get away from all the other people and breathe some fresh air to clear his head.

He thought again about Michelle, the session with her just a week ago, the odd questions she had asked during the session then, after, the shock of hearing her announce she would become his Mistress. There was some understanding amongst Marion, Helena and Michelle. He had the impression hours of discussion had gone into it. He anticipated unpleasant surprises would come from so much planning, Cathy had said as much.

His thoughts shifted to his own coming out before the party guests, dressed first in a bridal gown and later as a French maid. He had to admit it had not been bad, some bits even fun. Even so it had been madness to agree to appear in women's clothing. It was public exposure or nearly so: all those women he didn't know at all. Dressed indoors in front of forty women was not so different from going out in public. They had all seen him in a dress. Then there was the rest he'd been led to do, they'd seen him in lingerie, the dress gone.

It was true none of them had mocked or teased. Even so, it made him uneasy that these strangers had even seen him. His anger when Helena told him to strip - completely - in front of all those guests should not have surprised her. Thinking about the event made him relive his embarrassment. It was only after he'd learned the plan was they'd all do the same along with him, which he didn't think any better. There would most certainly be a discussion with Helena, and soon. This was the very last time he'd agree to play along in her little games. Invariably there was a surprise, invariably it went badly. What she had supposed would be a bit of fun had been instead upsetting, humiliating. Still he had called Helena's bluff and held his ground, apparently to her satisfaction.

Helena and Marion appeared, yawning and seeking coffee. Helena gave Rob a kiss. "We had a time, didn't we?"

"I totally agree." Marion stopped to yawn again. "I'm a bit drained. We had fun for ourselves, but the effort of entertaining was tiring. And how do you feel, Rob?"

He was slow to turn from the window to face them. "I'm okay. Yesterday gave me still more to think about, on top of quite a few things to think about from last weekend." His voice was somber.

The kitchen door opened and Sylvia came in, clad in her usual dark clothes under a raincoat, greeting them with a smile.

Helena smiled. "Good morning, Sylvia. Have some tea or coffee, please join us at the table."

After taking off her raincoat and hanging it on the hooks by the door, Sylvia poured tea and sat at the breakfast table, at first uneasy. Rob remembered she had become still another consideration. She'd been so keen to make love with him, then told Helena she would not. Well, he could blame himself, he'd given her reasons to demur. Still Helen was in her debt for turning him back the previous morning. And, once again, he was to pay Helena's debt. Normally, he would object to Helena giving him to another woman, but he has such affection for Sylvia it seemed pointless to object.

He saw the rain had let up. "I must go out, bad weather or not. I don't suppose anyone wants to join me?" He hope he might walk with his dogs in solitude.

"I'll walk with you." He was surprised to hear this from Helena.

Sylvia put down her cup of tea. "I want to go back outside, do you mind if I come along as well?"

Rob didn't notice Helena about to respond. "I don't mind at all."

"Yes, you all go, I'll keep an eye on our guests." Marion gave a dismissing wave from her chair. Rob noticed her wink to Helena, who smiled back. Another plan among these women?

He whistled for his dogs to come. They quickly appeared for him by the kitchen door.

The rain has slowed to a steady drizzle. They had walked only to the far end of the crowded car park behind the house when Helena made an announcement. "Sylvia, today I need you to keep an eye on our guests, supporting Marion. Rob and I won't be here this afternoon." Rob wasn't aware of any plans, he expected Helena would stay to socialize with her guests.

"So you want me to go back inside right now?" Sylvia was a bit confused.

"Yes dear. I appreciate you walking with us in this weather, but I'd like you back there with Marion. I absolutely don't want more of a mess. Our servants will have a busy week anyway - I'm even thinking of bringing in some extra hands to clean up the bedrooms. This engagement party has been fun, but at a cost."

Rob didn't understand. "I think everyone behaved last night."

"I agree - but I want to be sure they keep behaving. They're probably more relaxed now, their curiosity has been satisfied, still I don't want any troubles. So, Sylvia, there is your task."

"Alright." Sylvia was always obedient to her employer. She saw the sympathetic glance Rob gave her. Encouraged his kindness was still there for her, she smiled gratefully at him and headed back.

After walking in silence, waiting for Helena to speak, Rob prompted her. "You have something on your mind."

Helena just nodded.

"You have something planned for the afternoon." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes, it's one of the reasons I came along. I do like the peace and quiet of the early morning, even when the weather is like this. But it also gives me the opportunity to talk to you about our next little surprise. Only if you're up to it, of course."

Rob looked at her a bit warily. "I have no idea what you're talking about and I don't like surprises, especially the ones you and Marion come up with. Most certainly, not after that awful surprise in front of all those women!" He growled the last words.

"I asked Michelle to be your new Mistress, here is an example of why. We've had so many misunderstandings and fights, I'm afraid - and so is Marion - those misunderstandings will damage our relationship. I don't want to hurt you unintentionally and from now on every game we play must be discussed in advance. We're still your Mistresses, but like you, we're to be trained by Michelle - on both sides of the whip." This idea surprised Rob. They would feel the bondage and pain he was feeling?

Helena saw the question in his eyes. "Yes dear, Marion and I shall both become the subs of Michelle, to learn and to feel ourselves what we inflict upon you or anyone else. You must stop being so fearful of her whip and seek training under her guidance."

"Her whip is the least of my fears. Your games, no, let me be clear, your awful pranks ending in my humiliation, I will never tolerate again. Do you understand? And who do you mean by anyone else?"

"You were not humiliated - only in your imagination." Helena spoke over Rob's attempt to respond. "Let it pass - everyone thought you very brave. I thought you were brave and clever both, the ladies even seemed to think the ending you improvised had been planned.

"Rob, yes, there will be others. There is Lisa and there's Kim, our friends, we cannot say no to them. And I must admit, I like to give it to them, I get aroused by doing it. I like being a Mistress, but I want to be a splendid Mistress, like Michelle. I never thought it would be so erotic, so sexy and so satisfying." Helena chuckled. "Look at me. I warned you about Marion and Jenny's plan back then and now I am becoming the same."

Rob was silent. To give him some more time before answering Helena's statement he picked up a stick and threw it far away. Nicky and Inca picked it up - each on a side - and started to pull. With a snap the stick broke and both dogs proudly carried a piece of the stick back to him.

"So you're to fully become a Mistress? A professional?"

"Only in the good sense of the word. Professional skill, not because of the compensation.

"Which brings me to the reason I came out with you. You are my life, you know it, and Marion thinks exactly the same about you and I. We knew this was to come, we had an in depth conversation with Michelle before she examined you herself. Our other reason for the session with Michelle last weekend was for her to evaluate whether you could be trained at all. Marion too appreciates Michelle's absolute superiority. Whilst you currently wear Marion's collar in the playroom, we thought about the best thing for you to do. Marion shall take her collar back from you, only temporarily, then she will hand you over to Michelle - not in person, but you know what I mean. You will wear Michelle's collar for as long Michelle thinks you need her guidance."

What she said had so many errors, but the count didn't matter. There was a principal point. "I wear no collar now. This will not change at Michelle's."

"Rob, I think you must -"

"Must? There is nothing I must do."

Helena was not going to let details take her from the main thrust of the discussion. "Presence or absence of the collar changes nothing. We'll give you into Michelle's charge this afternoon. Marion will stay here, attending to our guests for the time being, with Sylvia's support. I'll take you to Michelle's, we'll start by talking things over, just the three of us. That is, if you're willing to talk. Michelle is waiting for my phone call. She went home instead of spending the night with us so she could prepare. I want to make it perfectly clear it is your decision to go along - or not. It's completely your choice and your choice alone. We can advise but we cannot command. Another possibility for you is to wait for our lessons, until we're more experienced. Even Marion knows she's hardly as capable as Michelle. I believe Cathy too wants to join in for some lessons. So we all will be very busy - with or without you."

"You did a lot of thinking the days I was away."

"Yes - I knew you were coming back..." her voice trailed off. "At least, I thought you would be - until our awful misunderstanding." She remembered her feelings when she was convinced he wouldn't come back. She also knew he returned so quickly only because Sylvia and Jenny had persuaded him he was responsible for her well being. She had felt so lost in those painful hours.

Rob understood all too well the event she mentioned. It was no simple misunderstanding about his consent before watersports. Absolutely nothing had been done to address the lasting issue of how casually they had risked injuring him. The action itself might have been harmless, but their astonishing negligence at the end, walking away laughing, unaware of his distress, seemed a betrayal. His safeword had not influenced them, not even calling cruel. All the times she'd pledged to honor his safeword, but when it truly mattered she never had.

Despite all these misgivings he had returned, unwilling to lose her.

Helena was surprised to see sorrow, not anger as he recalled. She took his hand. "It still hurts, doesn't it?"

He took his hand back. "Yes. It isn't clear how much the pain will subside." He turned his back on her and walked away.

She did not understand. Yesterday, the big engagement party and all her careful plans to make this an event never forgotten; a big success. She realized his memories of her were not just the most recent. She ran to catch up with him. When she did she walked beside him for several steps, then tentatively took his hand again.

She tugged on his hand, encouraging him to stop, turn to her. "Rob, please wait. Let's talk!" She sounded more desperate than she wanted to sound.

"What about?" His voice was defiant, he kept walking. "I did my duty yesterday. I protected your reputation. You weren't forced to cancel your party again. I came back to fill my role as you wanted, didn't I? I played along, but don't imagine everything from before the party has been forgiven. It certainly isn't forgotten! Too much has happened, it seems obvious more will happen. I fear the day when something bad will happen again and I no longer have a hole to disappear into!"

The sorrow on his face was changing to anger. He took a deep breath to compose himself before speaking. His voice was almost reasonable. "Your stunt at nine sharp. You humiliated me in front of all those women - what were you thinking? I stopped my worst impulses, behaved better than you deserved, because I didn't want to embarrass you any more than I already had. My first impulse was to retrieve my car keys and make sure everyone in the house heard the door slam as I left. Look, here is the connection: I do not like to be humiliated and I experience humiliation with nearly every one of your surprises. Now, insisting I simply must go to Michelle's today is another surprise." He spread his hands. "History tells me to anticipate another humiliation."

He drew a breath, but paused before speaking. "Helena, much of your party made me uncomfortable. Now, looking back, I'm still uncomfortable. I remind you we've now signed an agreement, scenes only in the playroom, and only by consent. I'm not convinced you've read each and every word in the agreement you just signed. I doubt you take it seriously. If you haven't thought about the consequences your signature shows you accept, you 'd better read them soon. You have no latitude."

"But that's why we must talk with Michelle. She will guide you and if things go wrong - you cannot blame me or Marion. The whole point of the exercise is to have no surprises; ever again."

"Helena, if you want no surprises, you're the one who requires training, not me."

She frowned, this was a new concept for her.

Rob continued. "You've said so much about what you want. I've prompted you many times, you persist in telling me why you want it. You're still missing why I should want to do this."

"Because it's the price of staying together."

His laughter was the last thing she was expecting. "Helena, you're a terrible gambler. You're making a bluff, but we both know you have far more to lose than I."

"I, I - what?"

He put his hands on her elbows, sliding them down to take her hands. She suddenly felt like a child receiving a correction from her tutor. "Helena, Sylvia convinced me to return yesterday by speaking of what my leaving would do to you. Do to you. What she said to me was to protect you. I returned and went through your party to protect you. You can't threaten to separate from me, it seems to me you'll find a separation more difficult than I.

"Which is precisely why you must read the agreement. Read it carefully."

Helena felt panicky, thinking, not again, dear God, not again. After all the trouble we went through to get him back. She didn't want to, but she started to cry. She let go of his hand and turned, walking slowly back to the house. Her spirit was broken. Was Rob right, would it be better to tear down the playroom? No more games -- far less risk of losing him again. It was not worth it - she would speak to Marion and Cathy immediately.

Nicky and Inca appeared alongside her. Then she felt his hand taking hers. She looked at Rob, his face solemn. "Maybe it's the best thing for us both to talk to Michelle. You may be right."

"I think she's the best option for you; you know her already, you like her. She is fond of you. Her house isn't far, she is prepared to begin today. But she knows you, she understands you may be very reluctant. She won't be offended should you decide not to train under her."

"I promise nothing, but talking can't do any harm. I may ask her to advise you instead of training me."

"So, Marion is taking her collar back?" He chuckled. "Must I find one to give her, since I never let her collar me? That door was closed, locked and nailed fast, by her own hand, in her own house, the same day I met you."

"Perhaps we shall collar you, properly, before all our BDSM friends." She chuckled. "It would be another scene. You get collared and as reward you get a beating." She laughed, her mood improved. Rob felt better as well, not because of what she promised, but because Helena had cheered up. He hated seeing her sad or even worse, crying.

He wasn't all that willing to visit Michelle, but Helena worried him. The episode when she didn't want to eat and sleep told him what a separation would cost her. He was glad he'd come back in time to prevent worse. He, too, bore a great deal. He didn't normally stay angry long, but it seemed the sting of humiliation took the longest to pass. Bruises in his mind, scars on his soul, hurt far worse than clamps, a paddle or a whip.

When Helena finished talking on the phone with Michelle, she told Rob they should leave immediately for Michelle's place. She promptly raised the stakes. "Wouldn't it be fun if we were both dressed a bit formally?"

What an odd notion. "Whatever for? We're just going to talk, you said."

"It isn't required, but won't it help us get in the proper mood? There are no plans to do a scene. This is just to talk. She might show us her dungeon. I promise, together we'll decide what to do next."

"This is how we must approach these things, Helena. Engage me in the decisions instead of making an announcement."

She appeared to have missed his complement, already planning. "I shall bring my domme attire - and you bring along what you think she will tell you to wear. You know her better than me - so you must have a pretty good idea."

He didn't care for her mocking tone, she didn't see she was working against her own wishes. "It appears your idea of formal and mine aren't the same. I'll not wear anything today I can't wear on the high street." And what made her say he knew Michelle better?

"As you wish." Helena turned, walking to the stair.

"Helena!" His hand on her arm stopped her. "Another issue hasn't been discussed yet."

Helena's face colored; she knew exactly what Rob was going to say. She had hoped to avoid the subject and let things go as they might. It might be better she didn't know what they did with each other in bed. She knew he was asking for her clear permission.

"You mean - sex with Michelle?"

"No. I mean absolutely no sex with Michelle. I stand by my claim of monogamy. Yesterday I made an exception for you and I regret it."

"It would be unfair to deny sex entirely, to you and to her. But when I'm present, and usually I will be, anything we all agree to is permitted."

"No. Monogamy, even when you are there. Breaking this limit breaks your promise to me." He held up his left hand, displaying the ring he now wore before reaching to point to hers. "You're wearing a reminder of your promise."

"Such things will work themselves out, we must talk it over with Michelle." Helena made a point of not responding directly. She understood it would be difficult for him to participate in most of the planned training without some kind of reward. Some early sessions were already planned from their discussions, preparing for Rob's examination the previous weekend. There was a curriculum to be followed, a path for Rob to follow. Michelle was a true friend, Helena considered herself lucky to have such a good friend, who had such good insights about her issues with Rob.

Upstairs, they each chose what they'd wear. Unsure, Rob decided to be prepared for the chill and put on wool trousers, a jumper over his shirt and a tweed jacket.

Returning to the top of the stair, he met guests in varying states of dress in the upstairs hall, some almost naked in their lingerie, some others dressed casually and others in their nightgowns. Rob got glances and even a wink now and then. One woman turned to go back into her room, gesturing for him to follow. Silently, a small motion of his head signaled he would not.

Luckily for him, likely better for Helena as well, no one commented on the previous night's events. No matter how kind they'd seemed the previous evening, their behavior this morning made him think he'd been reduced in the eyes of Helena's guests to little more than a sex toy.

Helena came out of her room and they went down the stair together. In the kitchen they found Marion and Jenny seated at the kitchen table, talking. Jenny rose and greeted them in her warm-hearted fashion. She kissed Helena and thanked her for the wonderful weekend. She hugged Rob whispering in his ear. "I'm not done with you yet, darling!"

"I heard you Jenny!" Helena laughed. "How long do you plan to stay?"

"How long am I allowed?"

"As long as you like my dear. I think you and Rob may need to address some unfinished business. I really would like the both of you to be friends again. But he is mine now and don't you forget it!" Helena smiled devilishly when she said it. Jenny was pleased to find some kind of family again and to be able to call her ex-husband a friend.

Rob could see one thing had not been made clear. "Helena's understandably reticent so I'll tell you, Jenny. You may think you're not done with me, but some things can never begin. No session, no sex with me. Never." She looked surprised, Helena looked uncomfortable, but it had been said.

Jenny followed Helena out the kitchen door, catching her. "I want you to know how grateful I am for letting me be your friend. I know I hurt Rob, badly, but I think he has forgiven me. I'm so glad you both let me into your life again. I won't disappoint you. As you know I fancy women, but I hardly dare to ask this, would it be possible to do a threesome with you and Rob, to really reconcile?"

Marion, just entering by the door, overheard. "Make it a foursome."

Helena and Marion looked at each other and laughed. Jenny felt a little unsure of the situation. "Did I cross a line?"

Helena reassured Jenny. "No dear. But patience, you must wait, some time must pass until things are normal again. Today is a day for the guests, with Marion keeping charge. You might assist her, you're part of the family now." Helena didn't want to admit it was Rob refusing to have sex with anyone but her, even with her present. She doubted Rob would surrender his monogamy requirement until after his time limit, after their wedding.

Helena led Rob to her car. Rob drove down the long driveway thinking he would hear Michelle out, then take his time deciding how to decline. He felt again that blasted feeling in his gut, warning him, but against what this time?

Chapter 2

It was a familiar drive to Oxford, where Michelle lived to the north of the older center. Her neighborhood was larger, Edwardian homes, all substantial structures, two floors or three, surrounded by large gardens with established trees.

Michelle's house was nearly hidden from the street by a tall hedge offering only glimpses of the roof. Behind the hedge, a low stone wall defined the boundaries of a more formal front garden. A wrought iron gate on stone pillars marked the path to her door. Rob parked the car at the curb. Helena asked Rob to take a bag from the boot of the car. As soon as they passed through the gate they could hear a dog barking. Rob recognized the voice. "Ah, yes, Boris."

They came up the path to a wide front door of oak. They didn't need to ring the bell, Michelle opened the door as soon as they set foot on the first step up to her doorstep. She held Boris by his leash, but let him go as soon as she saw who it was. Rob had to ward him off, laughing at Boris' enthusiasm. He kept bounding between them, wagging his tail, pressing against their legs and licking their hands.

"Welcome, welcome to my little house." Michelle was smiling. She hugged Helena then Rob. Michelle was dressed in a floor-length wide black skirt with side slits showing her legs when she moved. She wore a semi-sheer white blouse, a lacy black bra clearly visible beneath.

The sales presentation begins, Rob thought. She chose an outfit intended to please him. He made a point of not letting his eyes linger. "Little?" Rob looked up and around the wide center hall.

"Compared to Helena's." She was proud of this place and she had reason. It was a beautiful house, well kept, with an exterior featuring narrow, mysterious looking windows and even a small garret tower. The central hall was paneled in walnut, oil paintings hung in spots and lamps at regular intervals spread a warm yellow light.

Helena carried a large bunch of flowers they'd stopped to buy on their way. Michelle accepted the flowers, thanking both of them. Rob dropped Helena's bag in the entry as Michelle led them to the living room.

The living room was not over-large, but a pair of pocket doors were opened onto the dining room, making for a much larger space. Her dining room table was an oval of highly polished wood., the six chairs leaving plenty of room for more.

"I'll be right back." Michelle excused herself and walked through the dining room to the kitchen at the back. She returned without the flowers, but carried a tray with a pot of coffee she'd just made.

"Helena, please, would you pour us coffee while I fetch the pastries?" She returned with the flowers in a vase in one hand, a serving plate in the other. Setting the flowers on the dining room sideboard, she invited them to sit and offered sweet cakes. Helena and Michelle sat beside each other on the couch, Rob took an easy chair facing the couch.

He looked around, saw the thick velvet curtains, the thick carpet and a heavy cushion for Boris to lie on. He'd expected it to be more feminine, but it was only in a few details. The curtains were fine lace, the wallpaper had a soft pink and blue floral pattern.

After some chit-chat Michelle raised the object of their visit. "It was a remarkable day, Saturday last. I think I fooled you for quite a long time, Rob."

"You concealed your identity well. I thought at first it might be you, but the hair wasn't as I'd expected, your wore a different perfume and you made your voice quite different. Your behavior, your Mistress character, was a totally different person. All my assumptions about what to expect if it was you were wrong. I realized after, it's not just you. Helena, too, presents quite differently when she is a mistress.

"I must add, you and Helena would have played quite an unpleasant trick had I not prevented it. Still, the way the scene ended, I suppose we were all okay." Both of them were trying to make sure he saw their stocking-covered legs; he was ignoring them and making eye contact. This was a negotiation, he knew how to set aside distractions.

"The questions Helena and Marion set for you ranged from annoying to daft, I still don't know what they were intended to accomplish. Not clear to me why the questions had to be part of the scene and for that matter it isn't clear why the scene was necessary at all."

"We though you would be more open with a stranger. As for the scene, it's commonly known in psychology that people are more honest when they're a little stressed. But it was fun, too, wasn't it? Isn't that why we do it? If we wouldn't have fun in doing it, what's the point?"

She turned to Helena. "Rob and I are quite close now. You watched as I did the session with him in your dungeon. Have you any problems with this continuing? If we've an issue, we must bring it out now. In future, we must look each other in the eye without hesitation."

"I totally agree." Helena spoke seriously. "I understand what you've done and what we plan for you to do."

"Will you feel jealousy?"

"I will, a bit, but I'll manage. My difficult feelings are with Rob, when we plan something nice and he ruins it." Her voice became softer and she looked at Rob for a reaction.

Rob gave a tight smile. "I have only one word in reply: consent."

"Yes, we've talked about our issues. It won't happen again. In fact, Michelle, this is the reason we've come to you: to prevent such disasters in the future."

Michelle looked between the both of them. "So we agree there are no hard feelings among us? No jealousy, no grief or bad thoughts? Rob?"

Rob had to think, he hadn't thought of the question in that way. "I suppose not."

"It feels like I'm interrogating you again." Michelle gave him a sour look. "I'd like to hear you answer definitively. Rob, speak now, aye or nay. Are we okay, you and I?"

He took his time before responding. "Yes, we're okay." He still felt caution toward her. He expected he could trust Michelle on her own but the odd session he'd just experienced with her suggested she might follow bad suggestions from Helena and Marion.

"Helena?" Michelle asked.

"I've said everything I have to say. No hard feelings whatsoever."

"Right. Here at the start, I must make a point with the both of you. When we're in the house proper, but not the dungeon, you can say anything you wish to me. In contrast, when we are in the dungeon I expect the proper etiquette. Everything you say to me there will be dealt with in an appropriate fashion if I feel it inappropriate. Rob, if you're disrespectful in the dungeon, I'll punish you for it or I'll ask you to leave. Here you can speak to me about whatever bothers you, but not there unless I specifically ask you to speak freely.

"Rob, in our session you said some insulting things. This will not be tolerated, is that clear?"

"Yes, you are clear."

"Helena, the same for you. You may be present in my dungeon as dominant or as sub, but, even as a dominant we are not equal. The dungeon is another world, a world in which I rule."

She looked at them, first Rob, then Helena. Her eyes had an expression they hadn't seen in her before. It was as if the temperature of the room had chilled, the expression on her face was hard and demanding. The Michelle who'd interrogated him in the dungeon the morning before the engagement party, Rob realized, had been quite friendly. This Michelle was another woman - she was clearly a superior Mistress, he hadn't seen behavior like this from Helena, Marion or Cathy. This self-assured woman was fearsome and he suddenly was no longer sure he wanted her training.

Rob's voice no longer sounded calm. "I'll not be some slave who tolerates everything you do. I believe you, too, must show respect."

Helena looked down to the carpet for a moment. Rob was already irritated, she had to interrupt. "Rob, calm down. Michelle isn't the bogeywoman."

"She isn't? I'm getting quite another impression. It seems when we're in her dungeon, she is Mistress and Queen of her realm. In your Playroom, what she just called insulting was the honesty she asked for. If I give honest feedback, it will be called disrespectful and I must be punished or expelled? If that's to be the case, let's save time. I'll take my expulsion now." He rose, signaling he was ready to be told to leave.

"Michelle, you admitted you sought me out long after contriving to meet me in the forest. You knew me just a few hours before you cried on my shoulder, how vulnerable you were. Were you just playing me then? Were those crocodile tears? When you had me in Helena's playroom you told me how special I was. One could get the impression you're bringing me along to get what you want."

Michelle was silent and cool as Rob spoke coldly to her. Helena was startled, it seemed he was deliberately insulting Michelle.

Helena had a sudden insight. It seemed to her he was afraid and wanted reassurance. She rose, stepping to his side. "Please calm down, Rob."

She turned to Michelle. "I'm sorry for Rob's harsh words. He doesn't mean it to sound like this, but I see he is afraid. Not of you, but of seeing promises broken then losing your friendship. I know him."

Michelle rose as well, giving them both a smile. "I know him too. I know he can be rude, but he is honest. I appreciate honesty in a man, Rob. Say these things now, please. This is a safe place and time to speak. Later, in the dungeon, I am not hostess, I am Queen. It is is my dungeon, in my house; you are my guest. I ask you to behave as a guest and I shall do my utmost to entertain my guest."

She held out her hand, signaling for them to sit again. Helena took his hand and led him to sit between them on the couch.

Michelle spoke gently, all evidence of domination gone again. "Rob, you know me better than you imagine. You saw me in despair and you comforted me. Knowing I was a mistress, you still invited me into your home, introducing me to your fiancée and friends. I respect your kindness very much. I cherish you, I cherish Helena; under no circumstances would I want to lose your friendship. So don't fear me, don't fear what might take place in my dungeon. No matter what we do together, your care is my first concern. I will respect your boundaries. If there is another mistress present, I shall require the same from her.

"I guarantee this, Rob, everything that happens will be agreed beforehand. We start at zero. Once we begin our sessions, I'll ask you about each and every instrument, even when I know you're familiar with it. But it doesn't change my demand for the respect I deserve. You WILL treat me with respect." Her eyes flashed fire, the authority coming out in her voice. "In my dungeon I am MISTRESS! I am mistress over every person in attendance, while you are subordinate to every Mistress. If Helena is present or any other Mistresses, you must treat them, too, with respect. If you cannot do such a thing, you are obviously not a sub, making what we want accomplish moot. How do you respond?"

"Am I submissive, Michelle? Are we not already leaping to assumptions?" Rob's voice was not challenging her. He simply asked calmly, looking her in the eye and apparently unaffected by her little display of dominance. Helena tried to take his hand, he moved it away from her, turning more toward Michelle. Helena had taken for herself many opportunities to speak to him about Michelle, now his discussion was with Michelle directly.

"You can be. You don't know how to approach it."

Rob stood and stepped away from the two women. "I've found not all women calling themselves a Mistress deserve to be honored and respected as a Mistress. Even my dear fiancee - I suppose I should say in particular my dear fiancee - and my ex-wife, have mistreated me badly. This isn't about physical skill, it's about consent and limits. I suppose it's about keeping promises. Quite a few times, Helena's done something leading to our separation. You may well doubt my version of the story, I don't care what you think. Each time Helena had a role. If you haven't discussed our most recent episode with Helena, you must. If you don't know the context which has her bringing me to you, you probably aren't prepared to speak with me."

He paused, letting them reflect on his words before continuing.

"Respect is like trust, wouldn't you say? Both must be earned. I don't respect someone just because she's a Mistress, any more than I respect someone just because they're a Member of Parliament. In truth, I'm suspicious of most politicians until they prove themselves. Experience, too much bad experience, has taught me to be equally cautious with a woman who calls herself a Mistress. To this day, Marion imagines trust is due her when she has earned so much mistrust."

He turned to Helena. "You're free to repeat my words to Marion, I no longer will take care about her feelings."

He turned back to Michelle. "You too must earn my respect. Up to this point, exactly no one has earned my respect.

"I met you in the playroom, just once. I told you at the time you'd lost credibility. The event was bizarre, I still don't understand what the experience was intended to accomplish. Helen begged me and I agreed. I've the impression there's some quid pro quo between the two of you. It bothers me, there are times it worries me, no one sees fit to tell me about such things. There is a gap evident in your story which further harms your credibility."

Michelle chose not to argue, he believed what he was saying. "The question is are you willing to take that first, small step. At any point you can call a stop and just walk away. You control this process. The only way for me to earn your trust, for you to respect me, is by testing me. But listen to this: I do not make mistakes. I do make agreements and keep them. You will learn to trust me. I daresay you'll learn to love me."

Rob returned to the chair they'd drawn him from, so he could face Michelle and Helena together. "To return to your question, Mistress, I acknowledge the etiquette of your dungeon, I shall be polite, I shall be respectful, I shall mind my words." He realized he'd left something out. "In your dungeon."

Michelle gave him a thoughtful look. Not one of her subs had the temerity to say anything like this to her. Any new applicant would be rejected at this point in the discussion. This was either going to be interesting and succeed or it was going to fail quickly.

She turned to Helena. "I can live with that, can you?"

"Of course. Anything to get us all on the same line. But Rob, if this is not going to work, I'll clear out our playroom. This is not a threat, but a promise. We have fought over this for the last time. If this goes wrong, don't ever even try to talk me back into it, because I'm really fed up. I don't want to lose you, if we must live a vanilla life, it's fine with me. But I hope this outcome is fine with you too. If not, we have a serious problem."

"Don't forget to take the bindings off all the beds." Rob was certain she wanted the dungeon more than he. "And the handcuffs out of the drawer beside my bed."

Michelle tried to lighten the tone. "Shall I pour us more coffee? Are you interested in seeing my dungeon?" This wasn't what she expected to be happening this afternoon. Normally it was she who had to be convinced. Still, Rob was a special case, a fascinating case. She was confident she would win Rob's unhesitating trust.

Helena passed her cup to Michelle. "We brought some clothes. I thought we'd enter your playroom in suitable style. We understand you've spent a lot of money, time and effort on this place, I look forward to playing in it, with you."

Rob declined coffee. Michelle was surprised he seemed at ease, meeting her eyes with a frank, open expression. He noticed a detail. "Helena brought clothes. Her bag was already in the car before she spoke with me this morning. In contrast, I was told we came here only to talk. If I can't go in your dungeon dressed as I am now, then, no, I am not ready to see it."

Chapter 3

A long silence followed, Helena surprised by what Rob said, Michelle unconcerned. Finally, Helena spoke. "So Rob, are you okay now? You've been clear how you think about us Mistresses. I might take offense. Despite your blunt language, but I can see your point. I imagine, Michelle, you do as well?"

"Yes, I take no offense. In fact, Rob, I'm very happy you've shared your viewpoint so openly. It helps, it really does. I must make something very clear too: you know many men submit to me. If ever one of them spoke to me the way you have, Rob, it would not be tolerated. I would have told him to leave my house immediately. I know you pretty well, I know your history, I have my reasons to tolerate in your case. Yes Rob, I too must tolerate something."

Sacrifices Michelle claimed to be making didn't influence Rob, but he also remembered her saying she wanted sessions with him. Even so, a polite response was needed. "Sorry, Michelle. Helena knows how tactless I can be. None of this is your doing, but I need you to understand me." Michelle and Helena understood he was trying to soften his words, they were satisfied with the effort.

"Your interview with this candidate is different. I'm not asking for a place in your dungeon. I was brought here to be recruited. If you don't want me, don't recruit me. I imagine a submissive man would do anything for a session with you. I admit I'm indifferent to the idea at the moment. It's you who called me interesting. If you want me, you have not yet convinced me."

"Well, shall we visit the dungeon? What did you bring along Helena?" Michelle's lack of answer gave Rob the idea he'd made her uncomfortable.

"A domina outfit, I hope you'll approve of it when we visit your dungeon."

"Then I'll leave you to it." Rob rose, going toward the front door.

"Rob, wait! Won't you join us?"

He turned, speaking to them without returning from the central hall. "Helena, you have harped endlessly on why you want this. Michelle, it appears you are now in support, despite earlier hesitation. The two of you want this. I still stand outside your party, I'm not at all sure I want this."

Michelle took a different approach. "Rob, what are you trying to prove?"

"I'm trying to help the two of you understand you're so much more invested in this than I. Helena, you've never answered the only question I've asked about this plan of yours. I've asked at least ten times. Michelle has just managed to make the same error. Here is your last chance. I will never ask again. Answer the question or lose your recruit. Why should I agree to this? Why on earth am I motivated to go through this?"

His complaint surprised Helena. She could not recall being asked the question. She'd told him many times she wanted this, wasn't that enough?

Michelle saw Helena fail to respond and answered for her. "Rob, we want these games to be more fun for you and thereby more fun for your mistresses."

He leaned against the doorway, folding his arms but didn't speak. At least Michelle went go to the heart of why he did these things.

Michelle could see she'd said what he needed to hear, she pressed her advantage. "Helen and I will dress appropriately for the dungeon, according to its etiquette. And you, Rob? One does not enter my dungeon dressed as you are, in just casual wear. I put quite a lot of time, money and effort to create my dungeon, I'm proud of it. You'll see differences from Helena's. I'd never allow anyone to enter it without the proper attire, in fetish clothes or naked. You may choose either, it's up to you."

She picked up the tray, collected cups and saucers, disappearing into her kitchen for just a few seconds, then returning. "What are your plans for the afternoon? Will you stay for dinner?"

Helena eyes gave Rob a demand, who looked resigned. "I agreed to follow your etiquette. I'll strip, if it's what you want." He could walk away when it suited him. "Let's be clear: this is not a session. If you start a session against my wishes I assure you my words will make me most unwelcome in your dungeon, in your house."

Helena gave a wink to Michelle. "I think we can do the tour now. After, we'll decide what else to do today."

Michelle took them into the entry hall. Under the stair leading up to the first floor was a door to the stair down. Michelle descended, followed by Helena, with Rob last, carrying Helena's bag. At the foot of the stair was a short corridor with five doors. A pink door and a red door were to the left. On the right were a blue door, a white door, then a black door.

"Pink and blue doors are each a toilet and shower."

Michelle pointed at a white door, addressing Rob: "Submissives enter through the white door. Inside is a changing room where you undress. I may require you to put on what I direct. Once changed you go to the black door. There is a seat there, you wait until called. At your next appointment, you'll have a key to my front door, you come in and do the same as now: undress in the white room; wait in the black room. Clear?"

"I understand." Rob answered without enthusiasm. What's all the fuss about, he was thinking, it would be just a guided tour, he wasn't planning to participate in anything today.

Michelle looked at Helena, seeking support.

"Rob, you could take a greater interest. We're doing you a favor, this is not for us. If you don't want to be here, I'd prefer you tell us right now so we don't waste Michelle's precious time. She can have anyone here if she wants."

Rob saw Michelle had a stern expression on her face. He imagined this was her "in character" as a mistress. It was clear the intent was still more scenes at her hands. They all seemed to believe the cure for his bad experience was still more experience.

"Michelle, I understand there will be protocol. I have yet to be convinced there will be a next time. I agreed to take a look into your dungeon today. I haven't agreed to any future activities, I may not agree. There's little use in instructing me on details that may never be needed."

"I understand. We want you here to build up your trust again. We'll work on it, you can at least give me the benefit of the doubt. Rob, you know me. I think we'll have a good time together."

Without responding, Rob opened the white door and disappeared into the room. He knew she was exceptionally good with a whip. He also knew she had been willing to repeat daft questions to him. It wasn't clear which of these she would be.

Helena and Michelle opened the red door to quite a large dressing room. "I keep most of my outfits here. I bought something new, just for his occasion. Would you help me with it? I can do the same for you."

Helena opened her bag and took out the set she had chosen to wear this afternoon. Michelle opened the wardrobe and took out her new outfit. When Helena saw it, her eyes widened. "Perfect! Rob will drool over you."

Michelle just grinned and started changing.

Rob found the room behind the white door was quite small, only a bit larger than the changing booth in a clothing store. Still, he had space enough and pegs along the wall to hang his clothes. When he was naked he left the white clothing room and opened the black door. Inside there was a dim light. When he closed the door he saw a second door, also black, behind the first door but on the adjoining wall.

He had no idea how long he would wait. The best thing to do was to sit on the only chair and try to relax. He had no firm idea of the time, but it seemed like fifteen minutes had passed when the other door was opened and Helena beckoned. He rose and followed.

It was a dungeon, more or less the kind from erotic stories. The walls appeared to be large, irregular black stones. Sections of the wall were covered by dark drapes. Every several feet a sconce on the wall had a dim, flickering light bulb, giving the room the look of being lit by candles. From the ceiling hung a chandelier, wide but not very high with two circles of dim lamps. All the lights were electric of course, but the chandelier itself looked pretty authentic.

Even in the limited light Rob could see a display of various torture items. Even more disconcerting was the view of quite modern apparatus. Near him he could see an examining chair. Beyond that was some kind of bed, lacking a mattress or springs, instead having shiny tubes placed crosswise. A person could lie there, uncomfortably. Rob noted leather restraints were ready for use on each side. There were two chairs beside the bed and few more along the wall by the red door, as if for spectators.

A large wooden X-cross was erected in the center of the room. The cross was more complex than the one in Helena's playroom. This one had a pivot at its center, it could be rotated to put the victim, bound to the cross, horizontal or even upside down. Two wood chairs beside the X-cross suggested, when the victim was horizontal, the Mistress could seat herself and do nasty things, without getting tired.

Helena and Michelle stood in the center of the room, carefully watching his reaction to the room. When Rob finally looked at them he saw they had really put on a show for him. Michelle wore a latex corset, black and shiny, with openings leaving her breasts lifted, but fully exposed. Her nipples were prominently erect. The heels of her boots were painfully tall, at least five inches. Helena wore a similar outfit, black PVC, Rob thought he'd not seen this set before. Helena's breasts were covered, but she made a very sexy impression on him. He kept his face neutral but his dick began to harden at the sight of these two sexy vixens. Within a few seconds he casually moved his gaze on to resume his inspection of the room. Helena was shocked to see him stop becoming erect. Michelle recognized he had learned something she'd only seen in far more advanced submissives.

"Let's start over here, Rob. I've some things to show to you." Michelle gestured to a small table with a computer, beside the X-cross in the center of the room. From the computer, a few cables went up the ceiling and off in various directions.

"Say your safeword, please, Rob" Michelle gestured to show he could just say it to the room. Loud and clear he spoke "Black!".

"Thank you. I shall now demonstrate my high-tech, very safe release equipment. Please stand at the cross."

He gave them an appraising look before stepping to the cross. Helena and Michelle quickly secured him fully to the X-cross. Michelle moves something that made a clunk and Rob felt she was rotating him. She stopped when he was horizontal. This cross, covered by black leather with a bit of padding beneath, was almost comfortable as he lay on it, face up. The only discomfort was his legs, spread wider than the cross in Helena's playroom.

"I respectfully remind the mistresses there was a commitment to no scene today." He spoke calmly. "For some reason, what you're doing reminds me of how checking the equipment proceeded in Helena's dungeon."

"No scene, Rob. I just want you to use your safeword, say it again please."

"Black." As soon as he spoke, he heard clicks. His arms and legs were no longer being pulled, he was free. "A nice feature, Mistress."

"We're not done yet, stay there please."

Helena and Michelle fastened his legs and arms again. This time he got a red ball pushed in his hand. "Keep it there, hold it tight."

She slipped a ball gag into his mouth, lifting his head to buckle the strap behind his neck. "Now you can't say your safeword. Drop your ball."

He did as was asked and let the ball drop on the floor. The moment he heard the sound of it hitting the floor, the same thing happened.

"You see, safety for all. Of course, there can always be a system failure so I don't generally rely on it. It's an extra level of protection, for the uneasy."

Helena nodded, she liked what she had seen.

Michelle explained further as she helped Rob off the cross. "Of course, the locks won't open when it wouldn't be safe, for example if you were hanging upside down. We don't want accidents in here."

She led them to inspect the other devices. Rob noticed it was left to him to take his own gag off as he followed. She pointed out a large cage in the corner. "I'll put you in there quite soon. I've ideas for things best learnt in it. The cage makes your role passive, just watch and observe. For a first start, tomorrow we can do a light session, just the two of us; Helena has agreed."

He let her statement hang in the air, he kept strolling and looking around. His back to them, he spoke as though to himself. "Helena has agreed. I wonder when they'll ask if I agree."

Chapter 4

Rob's question had the effect he intended. Helena responded immediately. "No! Not anymore, dear. You, too, want to improve things between us. I want you to submit to Michelle, really submit. Please bow your head for once. You're no less a man to me if you give her the power. And yes - I know and admit it might hurt our relationship. This is another example how great my love for you is, when I allow you the privilege of this training."

She stepped to him, putting her arms around him from behind to whisper in his ear. "Remember our love, dear. I do this for you. I want to make love to you - and you alone. Let this not come between us, bear it and think of me. All these times you fucked other women, how do you think I was feeling? Happy? Of course not. This, like so much I've done, is for you."

Rob repeated her words. "This - is for me." She didn't respond despite the long silence he let hang in the air. He turned to her. "All those times I fucked other women, who arranged it? Did I seek them?" After an uncomfortable silence, Helena took a step back, her look pleading.

He grimaced. "I consent to one session, one only. It cannot be today! After one we can consider whether there might be more."

"Thank you, darling." Helena looked relieved. "I know you don't like some of these games. It will get better now, I promise. We expect you'll naturally come to like it more and more. You'll find more things to like. I promise you this, after you've trained with Michelle, if you still don't like it after one month, we'll talk about our playroom and if you're truly not in for most of the BDSM stuff, I won't ask you to go there any more."

"So today is a Sunday, after another four Sunday's we shall have a conversation. How many sessions do you expect me to do in four weekends?"

Michelle hadn't heard what Helena whispered, but she heard Rob consent. "As I said, Rob, I'm holding this week for you. Tomorrow we'll do a light session. Tuesday will be a tough afternoon, then you and I will have dinner afterwards and a talk - without Helena. From then on we'll go further, step by step."

Rob saw she hadn't him say only one session, then another decision, but decided not to interrupt in her dungeon.

"You can expect a corporal session on Wednesday. Thursday will be a day with a break. Friday will be a training session - only differently. You can bring your dogs, Rob. They can sleep here since, of course, you'll be sleeping here. You can stay here tonight or you can return tomorrow morning for our start. I shall need items from your wardrobe: a petticoat; six inch high heeled pumps and a dress you can wear when we go out."

She saw the reaction on Rob's face. "Oh yes, we shall go out with you properly dressed in feminine finery. You'll be a woman when I'm done with you, have no fear. Bring a wig and enough lingerie for the full week. Did I forget anything, Helena?"

Helena had the smile he associated with her trying to pile more things on. "A wide skirt too; to wear over your petticoat, mmm, yes, that would be perfect."

"We can go out Thursday afternoon, when no session is planned. I thought to visit the same mall where you bought your bridal clothes, Rob. We could call on Lisa at her shop, see if she recognizes you, a good test for you." Michelle paused to give Rob the opportunity to agree.

"Well, it appears to be all settled then." Rob turned and walked back to the black door.

"Rob, wait!" Helena called out. "We're not done."

He stopped and turned to face them, folding his arms. "Is there anything else you wish to show me in this room, Mistress?"

Michelle shook her head.

"Then I have no reason to be here."

Michelle made a suggestion. "Stay dressed the way you are, please -- or aren't." She gave him a slow wink. "I quite like you nude like this. I expect I'll like you in just lingerie even more. If it bothers you, the only one exposed, I can take my panties off for you." She slipped them down and dropped them on the table by the computer. Helena followed suit.

Rob knew they intended to provoke him, he would have none of it. He spoke over his shoulder as he left the room. "Too chilly for that."

Helena took a deep breath and let it out.

Michelle was confused. "What just happened?"

"I've an inkling. Was he serious about every word of those written limits?"

"Hold on, Helena, every word of what limits? What have you not told me?"

"One of the documents you witnessed at the party, the one with more pages, was a list of hard limits and consequences for violating them. He wouldn't sign the prenup if I didn't sign off on his limits first. We had a laugh reading them, then we signed to humor him."

The professional solicitor came to the fore in Michelle. "You signed something you don't take seriously? You'd better take it seriously, your signature is a commitment! Get that document, read it, every word, and start following the agreement you signed. Dear God, you want to marry him? How long will Rob stay with you if you don't keep your word?

"And get a copy for me to read before his first session!"

The ladies changed, in no particular hurry. "We'll let him cool down," Helena advised. When they looked for him, he wasn't in the living room, they found him in the small library beside the front door, seated at Michelle's desk. Boris lay on the floor, his head on Rob's foot. Michelle was surprised to see he had one of her books on contract law open, in the middle.

Helena pointed to the living room across the hall. "Rob, let's continue the discussion." Rob returned the book to its place on the shelf and followed them. He didn't take a seat. "Helena, one of your written commitments is you are responsible for enforcing others respect on limits. You, personally. Time to keep your commitment."

"Rob, we have a program planned for you."

"If you can't keep the promise you made in writing yesterday, then you are on the path to ending our relationship."

"What am I missing?" Michelle wanted to hear his view of this document they'd signed. She'd only glanced it over, preparing for the signatures at the party.

"Helena signed a document. She should know which hard limit you both just offered to violate."

"You don't wish to go out crossdressed?"

"I won't make you play guessing games." He produced from the inner pocket of his jacket a folded copy of the agreement they'd signed. Michelle held out her hand, but he handed it to Helena. "This is your agreement with me. Apparently you don't recall what it says."

Helena and Michelle moved together and quickly scanned. "Helena, you signed this?" Michelle looked reproachfully at Rob. "Did coerce her signature?"

Rob scoffed. "You watched as we signed. Did you see me twisting her arm? Marion signed it and still doesn't care what it says. Cathy signed, she'd read it through days earlier. She told me just before the party she has no problem with the documented limits."

He had more to say. "Michelle, before I got here today what did you know about my limits?"

"Nothing specific, Marion advised me you have the usual limits. She encouraged me to test how serious they really are."

"Marion. Not Helena?"

Uncomfortable to see his eyes move to her as he asked the question, Helena answered quickly. "I was busy, I know I can rely on Marion, I asked her to give Michelle the information."

He turned back to Michelle. "When did you speak with Marion?"

"Ten days ago, a few days before my session with you in Helena's dungeon. But Marion made it clear her advice applied equally to the sessions we were planning for my dungeon."

Rob turned to Helena, tilting his head. "I'm watching you outsource my training to another domina. You've delegated briefing the domina to a person you know I don't trust. What message does this give me about your view of our relationship? Helena, do you see you're leaving this part of our relationship to others? You say you worry about my getting bored. This is enough to make me wonder whether you're getting bored, already at the point of dismissing me." He was back in the calm, quiet voice she had learned to dislike, even to fear.

Rob turned to Michelle before Helena could make a response. "I fear, Michelle, you have been set up to quickly reach a very ugly ending. I would prefer to believe it was through negligence, but I cannot rule out intent. I'll not agree to even one session if you aren't completely clear on my limits. Helena's obligation to communicate these limits to you in writing is on the final page of the document. After you've had time to read the document, I imagine you may reconsider your plans. Then you can seek my consent. Helena has set her cause back by failing to honor the agreement she signed yesterday. Yesterday."

He gestured toward Michelle's library. "I was just reading, false dealing can void not only the contract in question, but related agreements as well."

Michelle knew Helena had spent hours talking and e-mailing with her. She chose to pull the conversation in a different direction. "What do you have against going out crossdressed?"

He paused for a few seconds, thinking of the right way to make his point. "When submissive, straight and vanilla Samuel Smith comes to you, why do you want to put him in women's clothes?"

"It makes him feel more sensitive, more subservient, more, uh, well, more submissive."

"Bollocks. You do it to humiliate him."

Michelle could not disagree, but chose to say nothing.

"Now consider submissive James Jones. It turns out crossdressing just gets him more excited, he's told you in advance. How would you make adjustments?"

"Hmm, I would find a form of clothing that still moves him over into the sensitive, subservient corner."

"Just so. I think corner is quite a good word for it. In truth you are facing Rob Graham, he likes crossdressing, done it for years, his wife knew and encouraged it, the woman he's now engaged to encourages it and by the way he isn't all that submissive. What adjustments are called for?"

"I suppose I'd still look for the clothing that takes him to a place where he'll be sensitive, a bit subservient."

Rob asked Helena to hand the agreement to Michelle and told her to read the top of page seven. "Any actions which lead Play Partner -- I suppose that's you?" She flipped to the beginning pages to check the definitions. "Yes. Lead Play Partner to form a dislike for crossdressing, mm hm, consequence two months separation?"

"Helena has agreed if she, or anyone whose behavior is her responsibility, uses crossdressing for my humiliation, she pays a high price."

"Oh, but Rob, we don't intend humiliation."

"Your intentions are not relevant, the agreement addresses how it makes me feel. You may rest assured, taking me out of doors will be humiliating and I will respond according to the agreement."

"But we want you to get used to going out."

Rob folded his arms. "I didn't miss you saying I was going to be a woman before you finished.

"I do not want it. The result will be I don't like crossdressing and I'll blame you for the loss. I do not consent to public exposure dressed, you will never get my consent. None of the guests at Helena's house saw just how much I hated appearing in those dresses. There's a reason my discomfort grew worse when told to strip down to lingerie, then still further. You have a reason to get me out in public crossdressed. You are carefully avoiding telling me your reason.

"Our discussion has shown me many reasons, but this reason alone is sufficient. Ladies, I expected I'd think it over, after the first session but you've made it quite simple. I decline your offer of training."

He stood. "Feminizing me is not the only flaw in your proposal. Once again, Helena, you've made a plan without even telling me about it. Today you want me to start a week here at Michelle's, but I have commitments. You persist in forgetting I have work, I have clients, I have meetings. I'm scheduled to spend all of Wednesday in London, for example, and I'm damned if I'll miss signing another client so I can be mistreated down there." He gestured toward the basement stair. "If you want to interest me in this training proposal, Michelle, you must show me you will meet three conditions. The first condition isn't in the document: no sexual contact. That too is not negotiable."

Michelle just looked at him in surprise. Why else would he do this?

"Second, training must not interfere with my real-life activities. You cannot bring me into a week-long session, certainly not on a few hours' notice. What would you say if I came here demanding a week of your time, not caring what commitments you had to keep?

"Third, you must be open and honest about what you intend to accomplish, the result you seek to reach, the reasons for your training steps.

"If you wish to reconsider your position and make a proposal to me again, one meeting these conditions, I will listen. If I reject your proposal next time, there will be no further opportunities.

"I'm sure you two want to socialize a bit more. You have so much in common. I'm going for a walk to give you some time together."

After the front door closed behind him, Michelle turned to Helena. "He isn't really a submissive, we must face it."

"Cathy evaluated him, some test method she has, I had hoped her conclusions were somehow off. He does things to make Marion or me happy, but if I denied him admittance to the dungeon he might be relieved."

"For a Mistress this is practically blasphemy." Michelle smiled. "Still, this clarifies what the training program must accomplish." She stopped in thought. "Helena I must say Marion gave me incorrect information."

Helena sighed. "She wants Rob to become what he isn't. Rob was right, asking her to help with this was a mistake."

Rob left Michelle's house, his steps unhurried. It was a short walk to the train station. He changed trains in London. In Milton Keynes he caught the motorcoach passing near Stoke Goldington. Waiting for the coach, he called Helena's mobile to tell her he was already on his way back home. Within two hours he was back at Helena's house, her car already there. The walk in the chill air helped him settle his thoughts.

Chapter 5

Early Monday morning Rob took his dogs for their walk. Sylvia joined him. They walked in silence until they were returning to go back inside.

Sylvia sighed. "I think I must quit this job."

"What! Why?"

"It isn't professional to be in an intimate relationship with your employer. It clouds your judgment."

"Don't worry about that until you think the relationship has turned intimate. Asking for an hour with me doesn't mean we're intimate for the longer term. And I'm not your employer." He put a hand on her shoulder, stopped her, turned her to look him full in the face. "Look, Sylvia, you have to feel comfortable with this. Do what you prefer, but don't sacrifice your job.

"Besides," he added softly. "I think you've loved Helena for a long time. I want you to know how much I respect you for keeping that love tucked safely inside as you have. You're so very disciplined about it."

Suddenly there were tears in her eyes. Rob saw for the first time a hint of vulnerability. She took a quick step forward and flung her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. Rob, surprised, brought his arms up to hold her as she sobbed just a few times before recovering her composure.

She quickly stiffened, let go of him, took one step back. She produced a plain, white handkerchief from the pocket of her trousers and wiped her eyes, then her nose. "Sorry, I was surprised how much what you said meant to me," she said. "Thank you, Rob." Rob saw the vulnerable Sylvia disappear in a few seconds, competence and control quickly returning.

His hand on her elbow, they turned to continue walking back to the house. He saw Helena watching them through the kitchen window, but he couldn't see the expression on her face.

They cleaned the dogs' feet in the carriage house, then went inside. Sylvia took a cup of coffee and disappeared into the house. Rob took a more substantial breakfast at the kitchen table. Helena sat beside him and asked, "what was that about?"

"I'm not sure," Rob mused. "I just said I respected her self-discipline." He would not mention the reason he said he respected her, the real trigger to Sylvia's response. It was for Sylvia to tell her or for Helena to notice.

"Don't get into a relationship with my staff," she admonished, but she was smiling. She'd seen how Sylvia jumped to him and how slowly he'd responded. It was clear he was just being a friend.

Rob smiled back. "Not with one who knows two dozen way to kill me."

Helena asked Rob to look at his diary; the two of them set a time to resume the discussion with Michelle. Because the first week of the proposed training would still be full-time, they also made a tentative plan for the earliest week he could keep open.

Michelle arrived mid-afternoon on a Friday. They went to Helena's library to talk.

Michelle opened the discussion. "Right, Rob, let's talk. I've reviewed your contract and I find it -- strange, parts extreme. Why does each of your limits carry a consequence?"

"Because the ladies who signed the agreement have clearly shown me it's not enough to agree to limits. Without something to enforce the limits, without consequences, my limits would be violated with impunity no matter how clearly they are stated."

"This clause about dildos, though."

"It has already saved my bum."

"Hmm. I'm not sure I can sign this."

"I won't ask for your signature. Helena feels the consequences far more than anyone else, which gives her incentive to follow the clause saying she must assure all others honor the limits. Look, Michelle, I have Helena's signature on this agreement, I'll not renegotiate it again with an outside participant. All I ask is you to understand the contents. Negotiate with Helena, she can decide what price she's willing the pay."

"You're pretty demanding for a submissive."

"I am pretty demanding." Rob agreed. "I think we've established I'm not submissive."

"So, Rob, let me describe the program we've in mind."

"I think you're starting at the wrong end."

"What?" Both ladies spoke at once.

"Let's not start with the program, let's start with an overview. I'm asking for full disclosure here. I'm looking for full and direct honesty. What is the intended outcome? What do you want Rob to be like after this training has been successful?"

Helena objected. "I think the training we'll describe will make than plain."

"This is a proposal, not a mystery story, tell me the ending at the very start. You must hook my interest in the outcome before I'll follow the story through with you." He didn't mention the ending might save them time, if he objected to it.

Michelle answered. "Rob, here is it is in a nutshell: we propose to make you a more compliant playmate for Helena. You'll be more fun during a session, probably have more fun. You'll be less likely to use your safeword and less grumpy after the session. To do this, we want to expand on what you already have, for example crossdressing. We must also give you some things you do not have."

"Take your example of crossdressing, how do you intend to expand?"

"Teach you how to be more ladylike, in both appearance and behavior. Help you feel more ladylike. Most importantly, help you enjoy the feeling. Do you find this objectionable?"

"Depends on the details. I like the clothing, I'm not so big on the feminine details. Make-up and wigs are a bother. Your proposed outcome sounds acceptable, it appears we must work through the details."

Michelle and Helena outlined four weeks of training. The first week, Rob would be at Michelle's house full-time, a live-in maid. There would be a session, of some sort, every day.

Rob interrupted as they got into the subsequent weeks. "So you understand, I can't be cut off from my work for an entire week, I'll bring my computer, I'll make calls on my mobile."

"Of course, you'll have some time for your own needs every day." Michelle also had professional commitments.

The three following weeks would follow a pattern of two sessions at Michelle's each week, then a group training session either Friday or Saturday evening, sometimes at Michelle's and sometimes at Helena's.

"Not to train you, Rob, training for Helena, probably Cathy and Marion as well. You're to be the featured, ah, what did your agreement call you? The Play Partner. I think you'll be pleased with how quickly they advance if they can work with you regularly over some weeks. You, too will advance, I expect."

Helena and Michelle both chuckled at the face Rob made.

"Mmm, if I close my eyes I can see my fantasy, someone with a nice pink bottom." Helena mocked him.

Rob wasn't making jokes. "Marion is an issue. I'll never submit to her again, she cannot be trusted. I do not consent to any sessions with her present."

Michelle tried to reassure him. "Rob, you are indeed to be the training dummy, but you may use your safeword and I'll be there watching you and supervising those in training. In these sessions, I shall personally serve as your safety observer, I take this responsibility right now. Believe me, the corporal sessions I do with you alone will be much more difficult for you."

"Doesn't sound promising." Rob's answer had a sour tone.

"So, what to you think?" Michelle spoke as if she hadn't heard him. Helena nodded encouragingly.

"I'll tell you what. As I said when we last visited your house, Michelle, I consent only to the first session. After," he added with emphasis. "After the first session I'll decide whether I'm to stay for any further training."

Helena asked Rob to open and serve the bottle of wine she'd selected from the wine cellar. "I knew we'd want conclude this occasion with a toast." She raised her glass. The red wine was sweet and fruity, Rob thought it a bit heady so he made a point of not drinking much.

Michelle had a proposal. "Rob, after we finish our dinner, the three of use might go to the dungeon for some mild play. I suspect we'll spend the night in Helena's bed, if she agrees."

"Thank you, this brings out a detail we've not discussed in any detail." Rob put down his glass, observing he'd sipped far less than the ladies had. "Do you clearly understand no sexual contact?"

"I can do tease and denial, of course. You'll not suffer from an orgasm at my hands if you don't want one. You'll serve me, though, won't you?"

"You don't understand. No contact means no contact, none. Not you on me, not me on you."

"Rob, why on earth would you want such a condition? What else would be your motivation to participate?"

"If I'm not willing to do something when I'm certain of no reward at the end, then I shouldn't be so foolish as to do the same thing just because of the reward. The session, the way you treat me, the experience you give to me, must stand on its own merits."

"How odd."

Helena spoke in a thoughtful voice. "I think there is another reason. I'd like you to share it with us."

Rob was startled. He had taken care to give no indication of his underlying reason. The last thing he wanted was another person witness him speak of it with Helena. "Uh, Helena, what reason?"

"You don't wish to risk our relationship by letting me hear it said, I suspect. Today we've been open with you, please be open with us."

There was no choice but to go forward. Rob looked Helena in the eye. "My dear, you spend your money freely on your friends. You host large parties. You press any asset into the service of your friends, your staff run errands for them. You feel, I think incorrectly, your friends are not drawn to you unless you're over-generous. Dear, this is simply my impression. But I believe your friends don't care about that, they're here for you, for your friendship.

"So here's the thing, Helena: I found myself wondering if you lend me to a friend to prop up your standing with them. You don't need to do it and I will not be used that way, so I've forced you to stop. I imagine, by the time we are six months after the wedding, you'll understand not giving me out to friends has lost you no standing with them. I wish to enhance your friendships by us being a couple people like instead of me being passed around like an expensive sex toy."

There were tears in Helena's eyes, Rob stepped over to her, gave her a handkerchief and bent to put his arms around her. "Please don't be offended, dear, I can't find a gentler way to say it."

"I think it's damned accurate. Once again, darling, you call on me to be a better person." Her arms drew tightly around his waist. "Thank you. You're such a good man."

Michelle was looking at him with respect. "That is about the nicest thing I've ever heard a man say to the woman he loves."

Helena leaned back so she could see his face. "Rob, there was a time I didn't listen when you criticize me. Now, it really does make me listen. I think on what I'm doing. No one else has ever been so honest with me."

The ladies took up their glasses and gave a salute to Rob, downing what was left in their glasses. Rob was pressed to refill all three, then encouraged to catch up with them. The ladies chatted and drank, Rob listened and sipped. The occasions when Helena got tipsy were rare. In Rob's experience it was when she wanted him tipsy as well. This time in particular, he did not intend to cooperate.

Suddenly Helen put her glass on the table and stood. "Michelle, have I shown you properly around the house?"

"No, I'd love to see it." Michelle set down her glass as well.

"Come, Rob, walk with us."

The game is afoot, Rob thought. Will it lead upstairs or downstairs?

They toured the ground floor rooms quickly, the two ladies arm in arm and Rob trailing behind. In the kitchen, Rob stopped to answer a question for the cook, who was about to leave. "Come, Rob, we're going to peek in the wine cellar," Helena called from the back hall. Rob finished his conversation and walked, unhurried, down the basement stair to catch up with the ladies.

He found them in the wine cellar, taking out bottles seemingly at random and reading the labels. As soon as he appeared, they seemed to lose interest. They walked back out of the wine cellar, talking about which varieties they preferred but examining no more bottles.

Rob follow them out. They turned, as he expected, toward the locked door to the playroom. Helena gave him the key and asked him to open the door for them. As soon as he had it wide enough to pass, they made a dash at him. Having expected something foolish, he danced aside. The two ladies went through the door. Helena turned up the lights, then called him. "We want to demonstrate some of our equipment."

"You go right ahead, I've seen the room." Rob stood outside, against the wall opposite the door.

The ladies reappeared a few minutes later, looking a little disappointed. Rob gestured the key had been left in the lock, leaving it to Helena to lock the door.

Helena had all three of them crowd together into the lift up the bedrooms. Rob felt fingers working their way around to the front of his pants, he couldn't tell whose, he assumed Helena.

Helena made no pretense and went straight into her bedroom, bringing Michelle along by the hand. By the time Rob came through the door, Helena's dress was discarded and Michelle was dropping hers to the floor. Rob folded his arms and stood in the doorway. Helena was a vision, wearing an underbust corset presenting her breasts beautifully. The garters from the corset held up black stockings with lace tops. She had no panties on and her finger stroked suggestively across her pussy. Michelle was more fashionable, wearing a matching red lace bra, briefs and suspender belt set, with tan stockings.

Helena's plans for this moment had kept her horny all day. The sight of Michelle, who she also liked very much and wanted to try, was almost too much for her. Inexplicably, Rob's cool indifference, just watching from off to the side, aroused her even more.

Michelle guided Helena to sit on her bed and knelt between her legs. She gave Helena's hard nipples each a kiss, then she sucked on them a little. She leaned down between Helena's thighs licking. Helena fell back on the bed and started to moan.

Michelle, licking Helena, knelt with her own cunt in full display to Rob. He really wanted to kneel behind Michelle and serve her as she served Helena. But he was not going to be tricked into sex with someone other than Helena, even with Helena present. The ladies were getting louder, no longer giving Rob any attention. He slipped through the connecting door to his room.

Helena came, moaning loudly, cupping her own breasts and pinching her nipples. It seemed to her she could hear the sounds of more sex going on nearby, which only served to enhance her climax. When she came she pushed her pelvis up, Michelle continuing her licking. "Oh yesss, yess," Helena hissed. Finally she gave a deep sigh and moved a bit to signal to Michelle she was finished.

She drew Michelle up to cuddle with her on the bed. She gave her an open-mouthed kiss. "Thank you, Michelle, that was lovely."

Michelle stiffened and looked around. "Who else is here?"

"No one dear."

"I can hear someone else having sex and it's nearby."

They followed the sound to Rob's room, where they found a girl-on-girl video streaming on his computer, the volume turned up. Rob was not there, just the video. Exasperated, Helena stopped the video. On the same web site, she quickly found some rough, gay porn and played it on repeat, the volume turned down. "What impertinence! He deserves this."

"You know," Michelle said. "I'm beginning to believe he's going to stick to his no sexual contact thing throughout his training."

Helena had an idea. "I won't let him have sex with me either. There's more than one way to do tease and denial."

Michelle agreed with a smile. "We'll just let time do some work for us."