PainLove - Bk. 04 - Ch. 12-17

Chapter 12

Rob rose early on Monday despite Michelle's instructions, stole out to the street in the dark and retrieved the newspaper.

The smell of fresh coffee awoke Michelle right after she'd shut off her alarm.

"Careful," Rob warned her. She sat upright. Rob helped her put an extra pillow behind her back. He put a tray with a boiled egg, toast and the delicious smelling coffee over her lap. She'd forgotten her breakfast-in-bed tray, with its legs, but somehow he'd found it. God, he'd make such a nice live-in servant! Or a good husband, nicely domesticated. Rob opened the curtains, pale sunlight brightened the room.

She almost laughed when she saw what he was wearing. Rob wasn't wearing a maid's dress, he was wearing a fetish impression of a French chambermaid dress, the one from the engagement party. The heels were too high, inches of a white petticoat showing under the too-short skirt of the black satin dress, the sheer, white puffed sleeves exaggerated. He even had a black and white satin ribbon in his hair. He turned around, the seams on his stockings were perfectly straight, from the middle of his high heels, up to disappear under his petticoats.

"Rob, please turn your back to me and bend down."

He bowed. She saw black satin panties, white lace ruffles across his bottom.

"If you were nearer, I'd have slapped your behind. Hm! I'd like to pinch that bum."

Rob saw her amusement and smiled as well. "I didn't like this uniform when Helena first gave it to me. But the women loved me in it and I grew to like it as well. It's sexy and it's sensuous to wear. On the other hand, it makes me look ridiculous, its embarrassing as well as enjoyable. I always have second thoughts about wearing it."

"Of course, dear. But you can be proud of yourself. You made me a fine breakfast." She cracked her egg open and began to eat. "I appreciate you taking some initiative to please me, you've scored points."

"That was not my intent."

"But I refuse to hear you speak of embarrassment. You shouldn't be embarrassed, there's no reason. It's all in the game. When you show yourself dressed like this to others, nobody will look at you askance."

Her comment was met with silence as he moved about the room, fiddling, in an obvious effort to ignore her.

"What?"

His answer was serious. "I will never be seen like this, except to a few, intimate friends. Lovers, in private."

"Oh? And how were you planning to dress when we go to a large meeting, with a lot of people who are just the same as you. You cannot enter the place in your normal, everyday wear."

She saw his face darken. Socializing while crossdressed was an option Rob preferred to not consider, the very thought of it made him anxious. Michelle was losing credibility and therefore trust by speaking of it so often. Helena and Cathy had both taken him out walking in a dress; both of the experiences were terrifying. The engagement party's enormous humiliation had hardened his opposition to the idea. He was against making another try, especially not with other people around, even if they were in the club for similar purposes. He recognized these thoughts were making him angry, but decided he didn't mind her seeing the anger on his face.

"The solution is I will not go to a meeting, not a large one, not even a small one, thank you very much. You didn't see how embarrassed I was at the engagement party, a lot of women I didn't know focused on me as I was ordered to strip. I hated it. No, I am not in the least interested. Helena herself showed me."

As she sipped her coffee, Michelle gave him the plan of the day. "I told you I'd be going to the office. The session starts at one o'clock with you in the black waiting room, ready for me; this time completely naked. I'll be back around one, could be a bit later. Here is something to think on this morning: it will be a tough afternoon for you. Last night I was the fun mistress, this afternoon I shall be the cruel Mistress. You haven't yet seen that side of me well enough. You may make use of your safe word, don't hesitate to use it when you can't stand it any more. I do, however, expect you to use it only if you truly can't take it. It will just be pain, no humiliation. I shall test your stamina this afternoon."

She said this, knowing the fear of pain, the anticipation, was usually worse than the experience. She wanted to give him hours to get into the proper frame of mind. The agony would be nearly over by the time she opened the door to summon him. She tried not to smile, still a slight curl appeared on her lips without her realizing it.

Rob saw her smile and read it differently. To him it was a cruel smile, a signal she anticipated his pain, she would take pleasure in giving him this pain. He wasn't too happy about what was ahead for him this afternoon.

"Yes, Mistress. What do you expect from me in the meantime?"

"You'll be pressed for time to make dinner for us after the session, prepare in advance. Use your imagination. Keep it simple. You can shop at the grocery store, a five minute walk just down this street, for anything needed. Of course, you must shop as you are!" She gestured with her hand to dismiss him. "See you later."

Since she expected him to be naked in the afternoon, he didn't change out of the frilly, over-the-top maids costume. At least he could enjoy it for the morning. When it was time, he would undress.

He went down to look in the kitchen, figuring out what he could serve.

Michelle looked in on him. "I could sure use a man like you around the house. I'll ask Helena if she could lend you to me occasionally." She was serious, Rob could see.

"The next time Helena loans me out I will likely not return to her."

"Pity. We could have such fun."

He simply tilted his head, staying silent.

"So far you've studiously avoided giving me the fun which is rightly mine in this kind of situation. You'd have enjoyed it too."

"Not negotiable."

"Okay, up to you. Well, I'm off, see you at one."

Rob decided the ingredients for a salade Nicoise were at hand. It was more of a summer meal, but the day was warmer than the weekend had been. He put a potato in to boil for the salad, then started making a pudding of chocolate custard over cake.

When everything was prepared and chilling, he went to polish the dining table. It felt therapeutic, giving him time to let his mind wander. As he polished, he remembered the previous evening's live sex show.

Five minutes before one, he dropped his clothes on his bed and, naked, went to the black door in the basement. Before one, he was kneeling in the prescribed position.

Enough time passed that he lost count. There was no heating where he waited, he was starting to feel chilled. It reminded him of a cold night chained to a heating pipe, which didn't improve his attitude. He was about to rise and leave, certain more than twenty minutes had passed and likely more than forty, when he heard the clicking of her heels on the stair.

He was ill tempered by the time she opened the door, he spoke with no thought. "I am cold, Mistress, very cold. You said one o'clock, I've been waiting since before the appointed time."

"That is my decision, not yours. Consider the possibility I did it on purpose. You still have much to learn, don't you? You earned yourself 12 strokes with the cane."

"Black!" Rob turned and went back through to the white door. Fuming, he shut the door behind him with a loud bang.

Second later, Michelle opened the door. "Rob, I am sorry. There was an unexpected interruption just as as I trying to leave. I thought of phoning, but I thought you'd already be down here. Rob, I am truly sorry. I keep forgetting you aren't a submissive. I don't like doing things to anyone through negligence, especially not to you."

"Michelle, I apologize for being sharp, it was the cold me talking, I knew I was wrong even as I spoke. I'm still cold, but if you want to begin your session, we can."

"Come back to the dungeon. Today's plan was to warm you in any event. I shall use the cane on you, but not for being impertinent. I will bring you to a new level of play, but not because I'm angry. I had planned this event so long, you're ready for it, let's just do it."

Michelle waited for him to turn and step through the black door, then led the way into the dungeon. Rob admired her from behind, he was so angry when he first saw her he didn't even notice what she was wearing for him, an open cup bustier, a suspender belt with the inevitable stockings attached, disappearing under short-shorts. She wore a military-style cap, also in black and black, PVC gloves up to her elbows.

She gestured to a chair, then pointed to the floor before her. He fetched the chair and seated her. She made a motion with her hand, he knew he was to lay across her lap, hands on the floor. She started spanking him in a steady rhythm, one buttock, then the other, changing hands. He had learned she probably could do this indefinitely. When his bum started to glow she used more force. Rob moaned a bit, but he didn't give any further sign of distress. Finally she thought he had enough warming up and she noticed he had lost his composure enough he was getting hard. "Stand. To the whipping bench."

Rob walked to the bench and awaited further orders. He was afraid, yes, he knew this afternoon she intended to push him, apparently further than Marion and Helena had ever done. This was the dreaded session, the one she had told him to expect. He knew, if he could endure it, they would look at him with different eyes. The downside of it was they would feel they could treat him more cruelly. He could always say 'no', Michelle herself had told him so. He also doubted Helena would ever mistreat him, st least not intentionally. He was still worried about Helena hurting him too much by forgetting herself.

For now, he would play along with their game.

"Face down, legs together and arms forward." He lay down, making sure his dick had some room to grow below his belly. He was aware her spanking had lasted long enough, been effective enough, he had forgotten to work at avoiding an erection. The spanking had aroused him and the pressure of his hardening dick against Michelle's warm, nylon clad legs had stimulated him even more. He had more work to do.

Michelle set about securing him to the bench. She knew she would be treating him harshly. She planned to test his pain tolerance to a level he had likely not yet experienced. She'd discussed this session in great detail with Helena and Marion. They'd agreed, Michelle would try to bring him into sub-space, a level he had never been to before. She would build up the tension, stress level and pain, but would never go too far.

"Rob, I must tell you something. You know I've been taking you beyond most of your previous experience. I understand you haven't been into sub-space before. This afternoon I intend to achieve a change. I've agreed with Helena I may give you an orgasm, you might even earn more than one, if you behave. But this is only if I decide you deserve a climax."

He could only look a bit forward, but not upwards. He didn't know the expression on her face as she walked around him. She would finally do what she was the best at: bringing pain with almost no traces afterwards. Of course, tomorrow he might have some bruises, but they would be gone very soon.

That was what he hoped would happen at her hands.

"Be brave, please don't use your safe word unless you really can't take anymore. When you have endured my test without making use of your safe word, then I'll give you your well deserved climax, but only then. Should you have another kind of issue, like a cramp, use 'white' instead of 'black'. Using your safe word will be the end of the test. Understood? And do we have a deal?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes -- Mistress, I'll try to not use 'black.'" He didn't want to agree to an orgasm.

"Thank you. You must follow the etiquette I deserve. Remember you're a guest in my dungeon and mind your manners."

If he managed to get through this session successfully, she hoped, he might stop resisting the submission she sought. But if she was unsuccessful, he might flee. She had to be careful. Some men, often the ones she liked, could be difficult to convince.

"Let us begin." She took a small paddle from the trolley and used it on his buttocks. At first she didn't use much force, but when his bum began to glow again and she caressed it and felt the skin getting rougher, she used more force. Rob didn't respond to the first strikes, but when she used more force, he began to make small grunts.

The blows she dealt were given with care, she wanted to hit all the flesh on his bum and the below to the top of his thighs, where it hurt more. His thighs were not spared as well, luckily for him his legs were bound together. She couldn't reach his inner thighs, but she knew it would not be necessary. He would still get his surprise.

Rob felt the blows fall one after another. He stopped trying to count, just surrendered. He tried to focus on not getting turned on, not getting hard, but even that was a struggle. What she did to hurt him was not as bad as he'd expected. He knew Michelle was famous for her technique, therefore he could imagine this was just a start.

Finally Michelle stopped. She stood in front of Rob and said: "So far you're doing great. You must do this often with Marion."

"No, Mistress. I take care to avoid Marion."

"No matter, what is next is worse than any of your experience. I shall use something used on children, long ago. I assure you there is nothing childish about it. You may cry, in fact I expect to see your tears. Be brave and take it. You will receive 15 lashes, then I'll release you. I know aftercare is a concern; I promise I shall take care of you. Yes, I will beat your behind, but afterward we may lay together if you're up to it. But only if you don't safeword. Understood?"

"Yes, Mistress."

Michelle fetched a tray of water with a birch branch in it. She showed it to Rob.

"I wet it so it won't break easily." It looked harmless at a glance, but Rob saw the buds and twigs and suddenly he realized this instrument was fearsome.

"You count. I'll give you a slight pause after each stroke. Fifteen strokes, Rob. Are you ready?"

"I'm not sure."

"Start counting. Count before, not after"

"One." His voice was quiet, tentative.

"Speak louder, I want to hear you!"

"One!"

She set aside her annoyance at his lack of respect. She gave him his first blow, technically correct, controlled, unemotional. Rob heard a swishing sound and then the first stroke landed on his buttocks. He hardly felt it, his bum was still a bit insensitive from the beating with her hands and the paddle.

"Two!"

Again the swishing sound. This time he felt something, but nothing to worry about.

"Three."

Again the swishing sound and then it landed on his cheeks, this time he felt little tickles, as if his nerves were stimulated.

He hesitated. Michelle waited. "Go on."

"Four."

Swish, crack and this time he felt as if his behind had been touched by thousands of needles.

He hesitated again. "Five."

Swish and then pain. He hadn't expected this kind of pain. The blows didn't seem to hurt, yet he felt as if his bum was on fire.

"Six."

Why did she wait? Then, swish and pain.

It hurt like hell. He realized, the pain was building up. Each stroke was worse than the one before.

"Seven."

Fearfully he awaited the next blow. Michelle took her time, then, swish. For an instant, his entire world was his pain. Tears came into his eyes. It was as if many knives were cutting his buttocks. How much longer could he endure this?

"Carry on!" Her voice commanded him to continue to counting.

"Eight." She could hear a tremor in his voice.

Swish, and he had to clench his teeth, otherwise he would have screamed. This one was more painful than he expected. Seven more strokes to go and each one more severe?

"Nine." He knew his voice was soft, but he could not speak louder.

A pause, a few terrible seconds; and then again swish. He was fighting for air, his world was turning red. "You must not hit so hard. It's too painful."

"Six more to go, be strong. Continue!"

"Ten." He sounded like a man who'd been broken.

This time the pain didn't stop, he wriggled his hips in vain and screamed.

Tears flowed from his eyes. "Please stop!" It hurt far more than anything else he had ever experienced before.

"Continue."

"Eleven..."

The swish he feared, then the slash on his bottom and then his world was nothing but the pain. His vision dimmed, narrowed, then was completely dark.

"Are you there? Rob, look at me!" Fingers caressed his cheek.

He opened his eyes, didn't know for a moment where he was, then felt his burning buttocks. "Black!"

He discovered his wrists and ankles were already free from the bondage, but she'd not taken him off the bench.

"You were so close," she sighed. "Let me take care of you."

"No thank you. You've done more than enough." He added, "Mistress," an afterthought. He stood up, then almost collapsed again. Michelle had expected this, she supported him with strong arms. He stepped away from her, growling. "I'll manage."

Chapter 13

Rob stumbled to the clothing room behind the white door and examined his behind in the mirror there. A whole lot of scratches, but no real cuts, but he saw the surface of the skin was damaged. No blood drops were visible, but it seemed to him another stroke or two and he would have bled.

He went to the crowded little shower, toilet and sink behind the blue door. A cabinet hung over the sink, inside he found the normal wound treatments, but also some oils and salves. He decided to take a shower first and after the shower treat his buttocks.

He knew hot water would be agony and started with just lukewarm. When his bum didn't burn so much, he used warmer water. He spent a long ten minutes in the shower, letting the spray flow over his head and face as well. He didn't want to show Michelle he had actually been crying from the pain she'd given him.

He used some salve to coat his damaged skin, leaning on the sink to wait for the ointment to do its work. When it was incorporated into his sore flesh, he applied more, massaging the injured skin. It was a little painful, but also felt good. Finally he returned to the changing room and dropped his dress over his head. He collected the rest of his clothes in a bundle in his arms and headed upstairs.

There in the corridor, Michelle stood waiting, between him and the stair to exit.

"Finally. I hope you feel better?"

"I'm out of this silly game. I get nothing out of it, only pain, only hurt, it does nothing thing for me. You may tell Helena, if this is to be my future with her, I am leaving her."

Michelle's face paled, shaken by his words. "Rob, wait, that was not the intent."

"Not the intent? Seriously? It seems you wanted to break me. You stepped over a boundary, one I never intended to pass. I fainted, Michelle, I was out for a few moments and all you could say was it was a pity. 'You were so close,' I heard you say it. What were you thinking? Did you even care I had fainted?"

"Rob, I do care. I'm very sorry. I thought you could handle it. You aren't the first, you know. I have done this to others and they endured the fifteen strokes."

"I didn't."

"It's perfectly clear I crossed a boundary. Nothing else will happen. Rob, I'm upset you didn't let me help you with the aftercare. May I see?"

His voice composed, Rob spoke damning words. "I did nothing to stop you from helping."

Michelle instantly knew he was right, but she could never admit it to him, spoiling her standing as his Mistress. She led him back into the white changing room, had him lean over the bench so she could look him over. "You've done a good job. It looks like we stopped at the right time.

"I have one more request. Please stay here, tomorrow it will be an easy day. I have a session planned with somebody else and the only thing you must do is to be quiet and watch."

"I've seen quite enough of you."

Michelle could understand his anger, his intentional insult. She was upset with herself as well. She wanted him to reach that special place. It seemed clear the only reason he didn't reach subspace was his resistance. There could be no other explanation. He ended up feeling only the pain, none of the pleasure.

She had gone too far, she knew it. She should have stopped before he fainted. She knew she should have been checking for the signs. She had sought a goal which was not in reach - not as Rob was today, perhaps not ever. It appeared she had damaged her friendship with Rob. She felt tears forming in her eyes.

Rob saw the emotions pass over her face as she took in his words. He felt no pity for her when her eyes filled with tears. She'd forced him to tears well enough. Upstairs, in his room, he dressed as warmly as he could from the collection of short dresses, put on his shoes with two-inch, square heels, grabbed his coat and headed for the kitchen door.

"Where are you going?" Michelle shouted after him. She wasn't dressed to chase after him.

He gave no reply. He needed fresh air, he needed to see a world where these kooky women weren't the only thing. The low clouds made it dark quite early, it was windy with bursts of pelting rain. There was no one on the street, he felt okay being out in a dress.

When he returned, Michelle opened her front door before he reached the first step. This time she was normally clothed, a jumper and jeans.

"I didn't expect you back, I thought you had run off."

"Dressed like this, no money? You've got it sorted already. I must call Helena crying, begging her to help me escape. If she will."

"Come, you need whiskey."

Rob didn't want to agree, but he thought it might help him.

She joined him. Rob didn't notice he'd finished his second glass before she'd finished her first. The alcohol affected him more than he was expecting, he'd not accounted for his empty stomach.

"Was it really necessary to leave?"

"I had to go out."

"I see. You didn't want to be near me anymore."

"It wasn't about you. I had to go see the normal world. There are times I fear I might not find myself again, staying where the session took place. I'm back because somehow I made a promise, to stay the week and to learn." He grimaced. "God, a week of this, I must be mad. I don't feel I've learned anything yet."

"You haven't learned as I'd intended. You are good at anger management. I recall a few past episodes where you would run, hide in your bunker after something bad happened."

It wasn't her intent, but her words stung. He responded in kind. "I remember a woman who was crying, because she was elevated to a position of honor."

"Okay, you've made your point. Peace?"

"Truce. What you did to me still smarts, literally."

"Will you eat dinner with me now?"

"The dinner I made?"

"We can stand side by side together in the kitchen to eat. What did you make?"

"Salade Nicoise."

She laughed. "I was wondering why there was one, lonely, boiled potato on a plate. Come! Let's throw together our salads, I'll pour a little Chardonnay."

The dessert was a pleasant surprise, for both of them. Michelle whipped a little cream to top it. As they dropped dishes and silver in the sink, the cumulative effects of the session, the walk, the whiskey and wine and the dessert had Rob tired, calmer, much more pliant. He gave up on any resistance as Michelle led him to his room, where she stripped him and laid him face-down on his bed. She applied oil and salve, massaging them into his hurting buttocks. She took out a satin nightgown and helped him into it.

He didn't notice when she put him in her bed, not his own. He fell asleep quickly.

He awoke later, unsure of the time, when she climbed into bed beside him. "Hey!"

"No sexual contact, Rob, but I think you need to be held tonight. Aftercare."

She spooned her body up against him. In the context of his afternoon, how he felt at the moment, it felt wonderful and he couldn't bring himself to protest. Michelle didn't sleep very much that night. She still thought about how nothing had gone as she'd intended.

Chapter 14

Tuesday morning Rob was disoriented to awaken with Michelle still asleep beside him. What had he done last night? He knew he'd been pretty tipsy; he was upset to think they might have had sex, more upset that he couldn't remember. He tried to turn, slip out of bed, but his burning behind reminded of why he'd been drinking. He groaned softly, but Michelle's eyes opened, she put a firm hand on his shoulder and drew him back beside her.

Putting her arms around him, she murmured. "This is quite a privilege for a sub, to sleep with his mistress."

"Aren't you saying it's a privilege for me to do what you wanted me to do?"

"He's back. I'm sorry I said it. Just cuddle and enjoy the warmth."

A few minutes later, she spoke quietly. "What startled you this morning?"

"I didn't recall the circumstances of ending up in your bed, I was upset I might have had sex with you."

"Do you think we had sex?"

"No, I recall now."

"I brought you to my bed as part of your aftercare, Rob. Nothing more."

"I appreciate it."

"You're so worried about being a good boy." She had another thought. "No, it isn't about being faithful to Helena, is it? No sexual contact, avoiding erections: that's your way of staying in control, isn't it?"

He didn't exactly agree with her. "You heard me give my reasons to Helena."

"If you would really be my sub I'd let you sleep beside me every night, of course it would be on a mattress on the floor."

"I'll never will be anyone's sub. I imagine you fully understand. We might play once in a while, but play ends and real life resumes. Nothing 24/7 for me." After a moment he added another thought. "Marion imagined she might take me there. It only took her a weekend to show me it simply wouldn't work. She still wants it, that's why she scares me."

She tried teasing. "How about just one weekend?"

"I'd have to really trust the woman who wanted a session lasting all weekend. I can't name, today, any woman I'd permit." His voice trailed off. He was still sleepy, he wasn't careful about letting his thoughts become words. His next words were more thinking aloud. "Well, maybe one, but I don't know how we'd ..."

After half an hour of dozing together, Michelle nudged Rob. "Time to face the day."

He groaned and began to stir. As he tried to roll out of bed, Michelle's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Is it unwanted sexual contact if we kiss?"

"We can kiss."

Michelle rolled toward Rob, her face suddenly close to his. "Don't get too excited," she whispered. She leaned down to kiss him softly on the center of his lips, then a few more to the right and left, sweet and tender kisses to show her love. "Rob, it's very important to me you understand how much I care for you, how much I value our friendship. I conducted a test last night. But I failed the test, you did really well. There's nothing wrong with you. You were angry with me because I failed. I want you to know I am angry with me, too. I worked so hard to gain your trust and I've squandered it. So, in the middle of the night, I've decided, I simply can't push you further in a direction not suited to you. The plan for the rest of this week has changed completely. I'll call Helena today and talk it over, but you're to stay here through the weekend as we'd agreed.

"Friday's training session, with Helena and Marion, won't be in the dungeon. We will talk. One of the things we'll do is read through your list of limits. I want all of us to understand what you really mean, why it's important your mistresses must honor them, item by item. Only after they show me they understand and respect your limits, can they participate in a session with you."

He lifted his head and kissed her. "Michelle, I imagine it was your aim to get me into subspace. I've tried to get there before. I didn't try to resist you, I really didn't. So, now we both understand what is and isn't possible. If you could get them, especially Marion, to let go of their plans for the fantasy Rob who doesn't exist and deal instead with the real me, I would be forever in your debt.

"I forgive you for trying yesterday. Yes, I was angry, but I got over it pretty quickly. As you saw, I've discovered ways to deal with these things. You've seen me taking a walk after a session with you before this, remember? This isn't at all like one of those awful episodes with Helena and Marion, where I'm round the bend for two weeks. Your aftercare is effective."

Michelle gave him another kiss. "Thank you, Rob."

They ate breakfast together, both seated at the table. Rob was back into a maid's uniform. It took him little time to serve scrambled eggs with a grilled half tomato. It wasn't too unpleasant for him to sit down, Michelle's expert ability to give pain without lasting issues once again demonstrated.

"Oh, Rob, you must get the newspaper."

Rob froze. She saw instantly he didn't like the idea. "Well, you have the previous mornings, why is it different this time?"

"It was five o'clock, not half past eight. My secret is I went out when it was still dark, too early for anyone to be out on the street."

"You didn't go out wearing male clothes?"

"No."

She tilted her head to one side. "You weren't in a dress, either, were you?"

He shook his head.

"Okay, how did you do it?"

"I went out naked."

"Oh, cold!" She managed to resist grinning at what apparently wasn't a limit for him.

After he cleared away the dishes, Michelle suddenly appeared in the kitchen. "Come, let's get the newspaper."

"No, I -"

She extended her hand to him, interrupting. "I'll hold your hand the entire time. I'll check to see no one is there. I'll attend carefully to your limit about appearing before other people."

Reluctantly taking her hand brought back a vivid memory of taking Cathy's hand as she subjected him to petticoat training. Michelle led him out the front door, not the kitchen door, then across the front garden to the driveway. She left him standing behind the shrubbery and stepped out to the sidewalk. She came back in carrying the newspaper. "You're right, too many people out at this time. I won't ask you to go further." She handed him the newspaper and they returned inside.

Michelle has a related question. "But you did go out for a walk on your own, last evening."

She expected a little shock, but Rob looked at her calmly for some time before speaking. "Okay, you're right. I will go out crossdressed, provided it's dark street in a quiet neighborhood and I can choose where we make sudden turns."

Michelle recognized she was being repremanded. She nodded and let it drop.

Mid-morning, she told him she was going out to run some errands. "I'll be back with lunch in hand, no preparations needed from you."

Michelle reappeared at half past noon, carrying hot pasties she'd just picked up from the bakery down the street. They sat together, enjoying the treat with a pot of tea.

Michelle gave him a smile. "Okay, now I have you eating with me, across the table. The next step is to sit next to me."

Rob smiled. "You always have a goal for what's next in your relationships?"

Her face grew serious. "Rob, I don't have many relationships. Submissives are no different from clients at my law firm, they arrive, they pay, they receive a professional service. When I said you were making me feel lonely in my own home, the lonely feeling was all too familiar."

Rob stood, moved his plate and teacup, then his chair, to sit right beside her. "We can't be lovers, Michelle, but you and I can be friends. If you feel lonely, you call me, I know that loneliness too."

Her eyes filling with tears, she put her arms around his neck and her head on his shoulder. "That means so much to me, thank you."

After a moment, she sat back up, produced a handkerchief and wiped her nose. "Well, for all we both didn't like about yesterday afternoon, I think we have a stronger friendship for it."

Rob had to agree. It wasn't the session, the way she'd spoken to him this morning made him appreciate her more. She was a friend, he would never again have a reason to fear her stern face, her cruel smile. Unlike Helena or Marion, when she made a mistake, she freely admitted it to him, making amends immediately. He doubted she was this way with her regular submissives.

"So, Rob the session this evening."

Rob almost rolled his eyes. Like Sylvia, Michelle could be ruthless about setting her emotions aside and returning to her agenda.

"You're part of the setting. You'll be bound to a chair. I'll gag you, I don't want my sub to hear you at all, but I'll do nothing else to you. He'll see you behind a curtain, you'll just be a shape."

"Does he know he'll be watched?"

"He knows only there will be another sub in the room."

"Has he been watched before?"

"Well, his wife often watches the video feed, live. He knows he's watched."

"Wait, what? There's a video feed?"

"By advance arrangement, yes. It's quite a secure web page, no one finds it without my invitation, no one watches without me knowing about it. I didn't offer it to Helena. Nothing you and I are doing is on video. In fact, there hasn't been a camera running, except for that one session."

Rob was relieved. "So, this scene tonight. What will I do?"

"You'll do nothing. The thing he's been worrying about for months is another man touching him."

"I won't!"

"Of course you won't. It's the anticipation, you see, facing this fear and what I might do about them. Later, should I threaten him with another sub in the room, he'll assume it will be more than just a figure in the corner. He'll struggle again with his fears. That's how it is with truly submissive men."

"I wouldn't think gay submissive men come to you. How will you get a sub who'll touch him, should you go that far?"

"Isn't it obvious? Years from now, if he ever gets there, this sub who doesn't want to be touched by a man, would be touched by another sub who doesn't want to touch men. They'd both hate it, then call me the next day to thank me." She chuckled. "I suppose logic isn't much use in BDSM, is it?"

She asked him to be ready to serve a light supper at five. He was to wear the ultra-frilly satin maid costume, adding a second petticoat to spread the dress out even more.

"If he's blindfolded, why must I be dressed a particular way?"

"For you, silly. I want you to feel a particular way whilst you're watching. The dress helps. You know, you ask your stern mistress a lot of impertinent questions." With him sitting right beside her as they ate, she felt she couldn't be a stern mistress no matter how much she wanted to.

For the light supper, Rob served soup with a Welsh rarebit. He had already changed into his frilly, black satin costume. Michelle was unable to resist giving him a pinch on the bottom. "Ow!" He stopped himself from shouting. "Do you by any chance remember what my bum looks like right now?"

"No, perhaps I should remind myself," she replied, impishly. She bent him over a chair, pulled down his filly underpants and ran her fingers over his skin. "You're looking pretty good, how do you feel?"

"Tender, but you know your work, it won't last much longer."

When her telephone rang, Michelle answered by greeting the caller by name. "Wendy, what's up?" The conversation was one-sided until the ending. "Wendy, if he's ill, he's ill. I'll shift my plans. See you Thursday next for lunch? Okay." She rang off and came back to the table. "You're off the hook. My sub isn't feeling well."

"Your sub's name is Wendy?"

She smiled at his naivete. "Wendy is his wife, I coordinate with her. We talk in between his sessions, over lunch."

She stretched her arms out, looking around. "An unexpected free evening. I'm going to watch television. Care to join me?"

"I have some work to do, online."

"I've an impulse to take a photo of you, in your costume, in front of your computer. We can send it to your clients."

He could see she meant it as a joke, but he didn't treat it as one. To be sure he gave a definitive answer. "No. No, you won't."

She summarized the plan for Wednesday. She would be at her law office most of the day, but she had a session in mind to take place after dinner. "If you're in your maid's uniform, you'll be ready," she said. "Try to wear lingerie I'll appreciate, including a bra."

Chapter 15

After breakfast in bed Monday, Michelle told Rob she preferred to eat at the dining table after dressing for the day. She came down for breakfast Wednesday in a conservative, chalk-striped navy blue wool suit with a silk blouse. Nothing about this professional woman gave a hint of the Michelle that Rob knew in the dungeon.

He made tea, served her a soft boiled egg and toast. She smiled to see the newspaper was on the table. "Did you go out naked this time?"

"I wore my waistcoat, morning coat and spats. Made me less noticeable." He gave her a grin. "No pants, though, they weren't pressed. Lacy, pink knickers."

He had already eaten, but he sat at the table with her now. Soon enough, she looked at her watch and said she had to go to her office. "I'll be appearing in court this afternoon, Rob. I'll call if things run late - actually it might just be a text."

She came home earlier than he'd expected, looking tired. "Trust, Rob, to the dungeon with you. Don't strip, I'll get to your instructions shortly."

He discovered first position had more of an effect on him when he was wearing a petticoat and skirts. It made him feel more feminine, kneeling because he couldn't sit on the floor with any modesty.

She entered his waiting room and stood over him. Roughly, she reached down the bodice of his dress, groping at his chest. He kept his eyes down and tried not to move. "I see you obeyed my instructions, to wear a bra. Next time you must wear a cupless bra."

"I don't have such a bra, Mistress."

"I didn't give you permission to speak, you'll be punished for this impertinence; right now. Stand up, step into the dungeon!"

Rob rose to his feet, stepped forward into the room, keeping his gaze down.

"Knickers down, bend over, hold your ankles!"

She had a riding crop in her hand. It was an odd contrast, still in her wool suit for business but brandishing a riding crop. She swished it through the air, testing its strength. Rob felt humiliated with his panties down. He paused briefly to remind himself the reason for wearing panties was to degrade him.

One after another Rob got six strokes, pretty hard and each stroke making a welt on his bottom. She carefully placed the strokes beside each other, leaving a row of three marks closely spaced on each cheek. When she was finished Rob had a tear in his eyes, but he didn't even moan. He would not give her the satisfaction.

"Knickers up and follow me!"

Rob did as commanded then followed her to the X-shaped cross. He stood against it and Michelle set about securing him. First wrists, then ankles were secured, but not pulled very tight. Michelle disappeared for a moment, when she returned he felt her pull down his panties, then felt the sting of ice on the welts she had just given him. Again he kept his mouth shut. No groans or other reaction was heard. Michelle just smiled. His body betrayed him, although he didn't give one audible sigh of discomfort with groans or moans, the way his body stiffened was enough proof for her he had felt it as she desired.

She use scissors to remove his knickers, ripping them off instead of cutting all the way through. She pulled his petticoat down, she tucked the hem of his dress into his bra band, leaving his bottom exposed. She took an ordinary ping-pong bat, one side flat wood, the other side small green rubber nibs. She started to swing the paddle, hitting each side of his behind, one after another; now and then flipping over between the blank side and the rubber side, which gave different effects.

She started slow, almost tenderly, sometimes caressing the reddening flesh and thereafter giving a swing with a lot more force, then again slowly and so on. Rob never knew what would come next. He flinched his bum, but to no avail of course. Michelle was determined to give him a tough spanking and was not satisfied until the whole of his bum was deep-red. She avoided making welts, like she'd made with the crop, but she knew each new hit on his tender flesh would generate real agony. When she thought he was close to safe-wording, she stopped the spanking.

Running her fingers over his bottom, checking his condition, she said, "I think you've warmed up properly for the next part." She pulled at his arm cuffs, making him rise up on his toes, an an extra torment. He almost hung in the restraints around his wrists. She added a wide belt around his waist and the cross. Then she secured his elbows and his knees as well. He tried to even wiggle, except his head he was fully immobilized.

Michelle fetched several cat-o-nine-tail whips, made of different materials and started lashing him. At first she used a deer-skin whip, a material that didn't hurt much, later she switched to rougher materials like thicker leather, rubber and even plastic. Each whip felt different, from tender to very painful to even pure fire and his back became as red as his bottom.

She began to release him from the cross, leaving his over-extended arms to last.

"Kneel, Rob."

Rob, grumpy, didn't have the control over his words. "If you say so."

Michelle warned him. "Remember - you are still under my command!"

Rob responded as she expected him to. "Black! I've had enough of this. I haven't begun to make dinner and I'm running short on time. I've no idea what else you want, but I expect to be in trouble if I don't feed you."

"Naturally, I'm hungry too. I did all the work in this session, you just stood there." She changed her tone from teasing to practical. "Rob, I've taken care of dinner. Let's go upstairs. We haven't finished yet, just stay in what you're now wearing. If you brought along a negligee, you may want to slip into it to stay warmer, but just your lingerie under it."

"During dinner?"

"Yes. When you're ready, go to the dining room, set two places."

Michelle went straight to her bedroom. Rob went to find his negligee in the wardrobe. In her en suite bathroom, door closed, she took out her cell phone, dialed and said she was ready for the food to be delivered. She smiled when she finished the phone call and went back to her bedroom. She'd left the door ajar, she made sure Rob saw her as he left to go down to the kitchen, completely nude, doing stretches such as she might do after a difficult day in court.

Within minutes, the doorbell rang. Michelle came to the top of the stair, wearing only stockings and a suspender belt. "Rob! You must get the door, it's dinner! I left money on the table by the door. Give him a nice tip, too."

"You don't expect me to open the door the way I'm dressed, do you?" He came out into the entry hall, then he saw how she was dressed.

"Sure, you can! This guy delivers all the time here, he's used to seeing my subs. You're wearing more than some others he's seen. Don't you worry, he won't offend you or mock you. Just pay the guy and be done with it. It will be a good exercise for you."

"Black!" Rob said.

"This is not part of a scene. The only way you can avoid this, is by leaving my house. And skipping your dinner, he's at the door! But don't come back here again, it's do this or we're through. You'll never be allowed in my dungeon again. I guess my relationship with Helena will suffer, too. I'm sorry, but this is my condition."

"A fine threat, but you forget I'm happy to not be here."

The doorbell rang again.

"Look, I said the guy who delivers the food is used to seeing people like us and won't talk about it. You are perfectly safe. You must trust me. If not, we'll say goodbye to each other and I'll know I've failed. So be it." She looked truly sad. "I'll run to get something on, can you at least tell him I'm on my way?" She turned and left him standing right by the front door.

She disappeared back to her bedroom. Rob was near panicking, he had no idea what to do. Quickly looking down at what he was wearing, he saw it was not very sheer, nothing was visible he wouldn't want to force on an innocent third party. It just had the usual amount of lace. Suddenly he was very conscious he wasn't wearing panties. He took a deep breath, blew it out, stood extra straight and opened the door. He accepted a heavy load of food in containers, he set them on the table by the door, then he had to hunt for the money he'd just put the food containers over. The man didn't even blink when he saw Rob, he accepted the money Rob gave him and thanked him for the tip. With a sigh of relief Rob closed the front door.

No wonder she told him to tip the guy well.

Chapter 16

He wasn't aware Michelle had been watching him all the time, from the moment he entered the hallway until the closing of the front door. She had seen the emotions going through him, his reluctance, mastering his fear before he finally opened the door and the sweat on his face afterwards.

She was proud of him, she knew the glance the delivery man gave Rob meant nothing. Just as she'd explained about her other sub the night before, Rob had had to fight his own anxiety. Being embarrassed in front of a man was the hardest battle. He'd succeeded. There was hope for them all.

When Michelle entered the dining room, Rob was standing there sorting through the containers on the sideboard. When Rob saw her, his mouth opened in awe, she was beautiful. She wore a long blue evening gown, hardly covering her body, a long split gave him sight of her legs in stockings. She wore black sling-backs, with very high heels. This Michelle had no apparent connection to either the cruel mistress or the serious solicitor going to the court.

Her hair was loose, her face had smoky makeup, not as black as a mistress. Instead of looking threatening in a dungeon, here was a high-fashion woman ready for an evening event. Rob's reaction pleased her, she gave him a smile.

"You haven't set the table and it will be for two tonight! Get us some white wine from the fridge, please." When he had places set and had their wineglasses filled, he was allowed to sit.

"You behaved well today. You, no we, aren't finished yet, but I think we're on our way. When Helena arrives I'll inform her about our first steps."

She pointed at the food. "Would you bring the appetizer, please?"

Rob didn't hesitate and during their meal he acted as the maid, serving, but he also sat to share dinner with her. It was all part of his day of training. The day she'd tried to force him to eat like a child, Michelle had toyed with making him eat on the floor, but she expected he'd likely laugh in her face, salute her with two fingers and leave. He would submit, but he was not a sub at all costs. Rob served the soup after the appetizer, then the main course of beef, vegetables and potatoes.

"Okay, now for dessert." Rob was confused by Michelle's pronouncement. He had taken food from every container on the sideboard.

"There was no dessert, Michelle."

"Clear away the table, we'll see."

Rob removed everything associated with dinner, stacking it in the kitchen to be deal with later. He managed to get the leftovers into the refrigerator. The table cloth was normally on the table only for eating so he began to remove it, but Michelle said, sharply, "stop!"

She gestured at him with a riding crop, he wondered where it came from. She seemed able to make BDSM gear appear wherever she wished.

"Before we unveil the table, we must unveil dessert. You're the dessert, Rob and I expect this to be very sweet indeed. Drop your robe."

He quickly dropped his negligee to the floor, leaving it in a black puddle on the dining room floor. Suddenly, under her examining gaze, he felt self-conscious, he moved his hands in front of his genitals. Michelle tapped his hands with her riding crop. "You may hide nothing from me. Feet at shoulder width, hands behind your neck. Chest up, head high, look straight forward!"

She took a step forward and looked him right in the eyes: "Tonight I shall some more fun with you. This time it will be different." She returned to her chair, saying, "turn, slowly,"

Rob turned until his backside was towards her. "Stop!" A tap of her riding crop on his hip punctuated the command.

She examined his back. Slight traces of the welts on his bum were visible. Nothing was visible on his back from all the whipping. She smiled to herself, she had done well. She had given him a lot of pain, but without giving him any marks.

"Now, up on the table."

He reached to remove the tablecloth.

"Leave the tablecloth. When I tell you, you can remove it. What are you waiting for? On the table, on your back, arms spread."

Carefully Rob climbed on the table, it was just large enough to hold him with his arms and legs spread. It wasn't comfortable, but it was sturdy enough to hold him safely.

Michelle took leather restraints and rope from the lowest drawer in her sideboard. Soon Rob was tied to the table. Cuffs on his wrists and feet went to ropes, which she tied under the table. Ropes around his thighs, too, were tied off under the table. Rob was immobilized.

From the same drawer she brought out more bondage accessories and laid them out on the sideboard. She showed him the leather gag had a hole through its center. "You've no worry about breathing." She fitted it into his mouth, then secured it behind his head. She showed him two small, red balls and put one in each of his hands. "Your silent safewords, do you remember in the dungeon? If you drop either one, I'll let you loose. Understand?" Rob nodded.

She walked round the table, checked the restraints: she had tied him securely. He could only move his head, which was easily remedied. She rolled the table cloth down to under his neck, rummaged under the table then fastened a thick belt across his forehead. He couldn't see how she'd done it, but his head was immobilized.

She stepped up to stand on the table over him, it was the only place to stand where she was sure he could see her. She slid her dress from her shoulders, she only wore her suspenders, stockings and high heels. She stepped out of the dress, leaving it in a pile over Rob's crotch.

She stepped back off the table. Rob could hear her rattling in the drawers in the kitchen, as thought searching for an item.

"If I have the urge I might put this in," she said, showing him a funnel. She pushed it into position in the hole in his gag. "Then I can sit on your head and pee into it if I want to. And this is a no safe-word issue! It won't hurt you, I won't pee much and I know you've done it before. So don't act like you won't do it, because I will do it!"

Rob dropped both balls.

She became angry. "You have nothing to say in this!" and tried to put the balls back into his hands.

Rob didn't hold them, the balls dropped again.

She squatted over him anyways. She watched as he, with great effort, slowly turned his head so the funnel was pressing painfully against her thigh, out of position for what she'd proposed.

"Have it your way!" She removed the funnel. "I can see you don't intend to be much fun tonight. Let's see what I can do to be less fun for you."

Rob muttered through his gag, but she didn't remove it. She put the balls back in his hands, this time he kept them.

"OK. I'll try something else." She pinched his nipples, twisting them a bit. Rob moaned but didn't drop the balls.

"Ah, you're learning!" She pinches his nipples again, attaching a clamp to one, then the other. Rob had expected her to clamp his nipples at some point. Her fingers twisting hurt more than the clamps and the clamps hurt only at the beginning. A dull pain was spreading across his chest now. Only a moment later she removed them. The pain made him grunt.

She fetched another item from the sideboard, Rob couldn't see what it was since his head was still tightly bound. She was fumbling with his nipples again, he felt a different clamp tight on them, again he felt a dull pain through his nipples.

"I'm getting tired from all this searching for your balls." She removed his gag. "Now you can say what you want. Are you ready for the next part?"

Rob didn't say anything, thinking, who is silent, admits nothing.

"I believe you're not acquainted with hot wax. There is always a first time; I'll take it slow."

She used a match to light a candle. She waited a moment until the flame was burning bright. The candle wax was slowly melting. She dripped a few drops on her hand. A slight shift and she was dripping wax on his chest. The drops fell at irregular intervals, it was impossible to anticipate. First on his nipples he felt a flash of hot, burning pain which faded almost instantly. The dripping trail ran down his belly. She cast her dress aside and dropped hot wax on his penis and balls. Rob moaned and groaned in his restraints, but didn't use his safe word.

Michelle knew it hurt a bit, but the pain faded quickly, he would feel the hot glow for only a few seconds.

"I can remove wax from your bum with the whip. It becomes quite a test of skill to hit the last of it. One of the reasons my St. Andrews cross can be tilted. We might do that tomorrow."

The dripping stopped. She began removing the cooled wax using her fingernails scratching over his body. Red stripes and dots remained where the wax was removed.

She was more careful with his dick and balls. Still her nails made a few stripes on his stiff dick. With a new experience like this he found himself with less control, he was very aroused and his dick began throbbing. Rob's sane mind was saying no but his body was betraying him. He caught himself and began working at losing his erection, he knew it would take some time.

"I see some more wax between your thighs, I need the right angle to see it in this light. Here." She climbed on the table, kneeling, then shifted her position over his head. There was no wax, she wanted to take his member in her mouth. She pushed her cunt down over his mouth; with his head immobilized, Rob could hardly turn away from her. He started to lick her. Michelle immediately took him in her mouth and started to suck on his shaft, then bit the head of his cock, teasing it and by the groan Rob made she knew it had the desired effect. She stopped and sat straight up, shifting to push her arse to his mouth.

Rob stopped licking. He had a sudden impulse to give her a good bite, but decided he didn't want the consequences.

Her command came out as a dangerous hiss. "Go on!"

Reluctantly Rob started to lick her arse. Rob was prepared to try things he hadn't experienced before, but there were things he wouldn't normally agree to do. The golden shower she had surprised him with; now she'd given him another item to be added to his list for his consent each individual time. It was ironic, he reflected, had she asked instead of surprised him he might well have consented to her urine tonight. Better to require the mistress to ask him, instead of leaving them a foothold.

She obviously liked it very much, she pushed down hard, her cheeks against his nose so he could hardly breathe. He couldn't see anything, he had the impression her fingers were working in her pussy; by her sounds she was taking her pleasure. She must be horny as hell. He smelled her, he remembered the taste of her juice and then he felt her moist cunt against his chin. She bent down again and he started slurping and licking the inside of her dripping wet pussy. He had only his tongue to serve her needs. Michelle slowly rubbed her own clit as he gave her oral service where he could reach.

He felt her mouth again over his dick. He stopped licking her. "Enough!" His voice was muffled.

"We only talked about intercourse, I'm not exactly shagging you, am I?" She continued her efforts. She noticed he didn't continue to lick her. Almost reluctantly she let his member skip from her mouth. She slipped off the table, removed the headband and put the gag back in place. "I don't want the neighbors to hear you." He didn't understand. She put the two red balls back in his hands.

Chapter 17

She bent over him, very close to his ear, to whisper conspiratorially. "I have your nipples clamped by the forceps used during piercings. There is a hole through them to guide the needle." She held a curved needle so close to his eyes he couldn't quite see it in focus. "If I wish I can use this to pierce you. I can put it through, then insert a nice ring through your nipples. Won't it be a pleasant surprise for your Mistress Marion?"

She moved down on his body. Suddenly he felt a sharp sting to one nipple. Had she begun piercing him?

Rob rotated one hand, then just the fingers threw a ball all the way into the living room. When she returned she saw his other ball was not in evidence. He lay quit still, his cock, hard just a moment ago, now completely soft. He eyes seemed blank, he stared into space. She stopped to look at him for a moment, was he okay?

"Look," Michelle said. "Everything else was optional, you've shown me your preferences. This is not negotiable, we all of us want it, including you."

She pressed the remaining ball back into his hand, he instantly pitched it away from himself. He was trying to say something through his gag.

"No matter, let's proceed. Let's see, I've got your needle here somewhere. I think I was supposed to apply some pain-killing cream, I have it just here. I know how sensitive this is for you, I expect you'll want a bit."

The sound made through his gags was clearly a scream of rage. Suddenly he was flexing his arms and legs rhythmically. Soon he was pulling hard enough the ropes were slacking, the high heels of his shoes clacking against the table-top, the pace increasing. He was pounding his head against the table as he thrashed. At first she she waited, arms folded, for him to get over it, but he showed no sign of stopping. Finally, putting a hand on each side of his head, she leaned over his head, each seeing an inverted view of the other.

"Shhh! Shhh! Calm down Rob." Her tone was soothing, but still it took her some time to get him to respond. He slowed, but didn't stop, pulling at his bonds. "Rob, listen, it isn't going to happen. Just a mind-fuck. Calm down, stop pulling and I'll let you loose now."

She started with his feet, he kept flexing his arms until they, too, were being released. She could see she had taking this particular teasing too far. She had seen he was hard during the threat to pee on him, he was hard during the waxing, but he had quickly lost his erection when the piercing threat had started. The message was clear, before he even said a word.

The last thing she did was take the gag back off. Rob rolled off the table to the floor, rubbing his arms and legs. They were sore, he felt the need to stimulate his circulation.

She threw him a towel. "Clear your face, honey. You've done very well." She gave him his negligee. "Now, come sit with me on the couch, we must talk about all this."

She was wondering if she'd mis-read his reactions. After the violence of his initial response, she was expecting to be dealing with an angry Rob, scolding her and calling her names. Instead he followed her to the living room, silent, almost docile. However, she knew something was up when she patted the couch beside her. He stood by the cupboard across from her, declining to even be seated.

Arms folded, he paced back and forth. When he spoke he was in his very quiet, very controlled voice. Michelle recognized he was so angry he wasn't shouting. "You said you were going to call Helen a day ago. You didn't reach her, did you?"

It struck her as an odd question to start with. "I didn't reach her, I spoke with Marion."

"Aha. How much of the scenario tonight was suggested by Marion, on the phone yesterday?"

"She gave me a list of things to try. You and I did four of the six she suggested."

He nodded, looked to the floor and was silent for a long time.

"So, listen, Michelle, in the short time after we finished dinner, we've accumulate a large consequence under the agreement, let's call it a penalty. Two months for going as far as you did with the piss play, one month for your arse to my mouth, under the clause for a new thing without prior discussion. Ditto wax. Piercing, you may be pleased to know, is three months for even mentioning it, three more months for taking any steps at all toward doing it, as you did. So under the agreement the total is ten months before I'll see Helen again.

"I might enjoy sneering at you, ask you if it was worth it. I want to hold up my finger and scold you. But I can't blame you, can I? You took advice from a source Helena trusts, from Marion. I can hardly call you out for taking advice from her. But here's my advice: do not trust Marion, I've told you I don't. She has her own plans and if we let her have her way she will most certainly force me to go live in Bangkok or Nairobi or Buenos Aires. The very first time I met her, Helena warned me not to trust Marion. You may be interested to know Iris advised the same. She has nothing good to say about Marion, thinks she's not practical, always chasing fantasies. Once I saw the treatments on the menu tonight, I saw Marion's handiwork. Your answer didn't surprise me at all.

"The first thing Iris said to me when we started talking as friends, Michelle, the very first thing, was to warn me to be careful around Marion. I've spoken with others, they all say she used to recruit subs, who all promptly ran away from her. My experience with her appears to be typical.

"Marion is so committed to her fantasy of how I'm going to turn out, she signs but does not read a document which affects my relationship with Helena. She doesn't believe what I write down, she believes her fantasy. You're a solicitor, what do you call someone who signs a contract with no intent of complying?"

"I found your agreement reasonable and well-thought-out. It did run a bit long."

"They kept helping me find me things to add, details to clarify. Did you know Marion demanded she be named my training mistress before she'd permit Helena to announce our engagement?"

"I don't see how she can make a demand like that."

He nodded sadly. "Nor do I. I say I'll never have a mistress, never, mainly to assure the gate is closed for Marion. Tomorrow, I must go speak with Helena. If I don't return to you, I'll call and tell you what's going on. I tell you frankly, the most likely outcome is I do not dissuade Helen from trusting Marion, I separate from her and move to another country."

Michelle was silent, trying to absorb all he'd told her. It made her plans look ill-conceived.

"Listen, Michelle, let me tell you something, because I do respect you. Mistress or not, if you even mention piercing to me, I shall systematically go around this place, putting holes in everything in sight. You prized dining table will be badly scratched. Your law books will lose pages. There might be a fire in your dungeon. If you ever have me in a situation where I can't talk and threaten to pee on me, I will later go around, peeing on all your carpets, all your drapes, all your upholstery, on your own bed. I'll pee on Boris. I'm not saying this to threaten you, I'm promising you'll see me do it, to dramatize how far off limits these topics are. Those are decisions taken, mental lists I made, while you had me on your table, following bad advice from Marion despite her signing the written agreement."

He wasn't angry, he was serious, still Michelle had no doubt he would do exactly as he said. "Rob, I believe you and I apologize for what I've done tonight."

Rob came over to her, sat beside her. "There is nothing you've done wrong. I'm not angry with you. You've shown me, without question, I can trust your judgment -- when it's your judgment. You were misled, your only error was believing a woman who presents to you as trustworthy."

"Had I known I'd anger you, these things would not have happened."

"Yes, I know that. I respect you." He sighed. "In part, Marion feels free to violate the agreement because the penalty fails on Helena."

Michelle asked him if he wanted to talk about the specifics of the experience he'd just had with her, trying to move along to aftercare. She wanted to talk, too, after this stunning news of her role in a massive debacle. He was very frank: under the right circumstances he would let a woman pee on him again, but it had to be discussed before the session started, his consent was necessary each and every occasion. He hadn't minded licking her arse. Wax, as he'd expected, was okay, "but I am not at all keen to have it removed by whip." Piercing was out of bounds, plain and simple, as it had been for months.

She rose from her seat, pulled him to his feet and gave him a long, tight hug, her head on his shoulder.

When she finally let go, he said, "thanks, you needed that." They smiled, she took his hand and they went upstairs to go to sleep. She tried to draw him in to sleep with her again, but he declined.

In the morning she came down to find him wearing men's clothes. "Um, not to be stupid, but how did you manage that? Helena and I conspired very carefully."

He grinned. "I never reveal my secrets. Suffice it to say I saw the conspiracy coming and took evasive action."

"I was thinking in the shower, I must call Helena, don't I? To come drive you to her house?"

"Go look out the kitchen window."

Michelle looked out see a car she didn't recognize, a blue Vauxhall wagon, parked beside her car.

"What are you, a master of disguise?" She called out as she strode back to stand before him.

He took a sip of tea with an air of innocence. "I've been thinking about getting another car so I bought one from a garage here in Oxford. A short walk from here, in fact. It's been parked on the street, just around the corner, since a day or two after I heard I was to spend time here."

Michelle smiled, shaking her head. "There isn't a true submissive on earth who pre-plans how he'll escape, Rob. You have me more certain of you by the day."

"Out of curiosity, you said Marion suggested six things, you did four of them. What were the other two?"

"She's seen the dungeon, several months ago, she suggested I leave you to sleep in the cage overnight. I'd heard the story of you chained to the pipe so it struck me as an odd notion. I don't leave people bound without checking on them regularly and I wasn't willing to lose sleep. She also suggested I take your arse with a really wide dildo, she said you've had them without complaint. She added I should put a wide butt plug in after I was done, said she already had you on a program of getting used to bigger ones."

"She's trying to get me back on the horse. Those ideas have not gone to her plan in the past."

She leaned in and put her arm around him. "I don't envy you the discussion you face. Would you like me to come along and support you, facing Helena and Marion together?"

"Thank you, but no. I'm going to speak with Helen by herself. If Helena calls you, after we talk, tell her anything, freely, even about the car. If I can draw her aside, I'll talk to Marion one on one as well, a very different conversation."

"Should I call Helena?"

He held up a hand in caution. "No, please. It's important she has no opportunity to get ideas from Marion before I sit her down.

"Come, let me show you your breakfast before I go." He took her into the kitchen and showed her a tray with a bowl, a spoon and the Weetabix package. It was natural to embrace as they laughed.

"Seriously, Rob, did you learn anything whilst you were here?"

"Um, sorry, not really. More practice at anger management. Well, there is this: I learned you're probably the best mistress on the planet. I know I can always trust you, when it's entirely your judgment. It's not your fault you were given very bad advice."

As they hugged, she thought it might be the last time. "Rob? Whatever you do for yourself, let's still be friends, okay? I do value your friendship."

He gave her a kiss. "And I value your friendship, Michelle. You know, this week did I learn just how much I respect you, respect that isn't going to fade."