Daphne and Doll Go Shopping

'Zhe blue or zhe pink?'

'Could I see the pink again.'

Catriona looked down at me sternly.

'And is that just because I'm wearing zhe blue and you want to see my tits again?'

'Would you blame me?'

We were in the fitting rooms of one of Cat's favourite department stores - not the one she currently worked for. It was one of those places that do designer goods at a discount - seconds/returns/end of line and Cat was indulging in one of her favourite pastimes: lingerie shopping.

'I would not blame in zhe slightest.' She bent and kissed me on the lips then stood and undid her bra before sliding equally unselfconsciously out of the lacy powder blue knickers. 'Though I might ask Doll to punish you later.'

I shifted position slightly hoping she wouldn't notice.

'Come on, make yourself useful.' She passed me the suspender belt that went with the set and turned her back to me, lifting her arms above her head so that I could clip it on to her.

There's only one thing nicer than dressing in pretty women's lingerie and that's dressing a pretty woman in pretty lingerie.

I dutifully clipped the belt around her waist, looking slightly guiltily at the fading stripes on her bottom but still unable to resist sliding my finger into it and stretching it slightly before letting it snap back.

'That's quite enough of that, Daphne! If I wanted that sort of behaviour, I'd have invited Dennis.'

'I'm not sure Dennis would have been allowed in here,' I told her.

'You are some wonderfully naive sometimes, Daph.' She turned and bent to kiss me again. 'You cannot imagine what couples get up to in places like zhis. More zhan couples sometimes.'

'Why don't you show me?' I slipped my arms over her shoulders wondering if I could risk standing.

'Daphne! You are such a naughty girl.' She pushed me away with mock indignity. 'Now get down on your knees and help me into zhese stockings.' I wasn't surprised that this latter command was delivered in a voice that was far too loud for the little cubicle.

Dennis would have been embarrassed by this once. So would Daphne. We were both getting used to it although, when we went out, Catriona was usually accompanied by Daphne. Even when I wasn't out with her, I was usually out as Daphne; Dennis was the guy who went out to work and, much as I liked my feminine alter ego, I had no plans to change that. I'm a cross dresser, I don't actually want to be a woman.

So, as commanded, Daphne dropped to his stockinged knees moving awkwardly because of her erection and proceeded to slide the very sheer stockings over Catriona's feet with their newly pained toenails. I don't really consider myself a foot fetishist but, faced with this duty, I could probably become one. Catriona has very pretty feet and if I'm a good girl she lets me paint her nails. If I've been a bad girl, Doll makes me to it one my knees with my hands tied behind my back and the nail brush in my mouth.

Needless to say I made a meal of the stocking thing, sliding each one slowly up her calf and then her thigh, fingers lingering on her smooth tanned skin. Despite this, she didn't hurry me though she did slap my hand away when it strayed a little too high.

'Just clip zhem on.' She stood and, still on my knees, I worked through each clip as she turned slowly.

Then she slid on the knickers - lacy and pink with ribbon ties and just a little translucent.

'Would you mind?' She held out the bra and I stood, reaching round her, forced to press up against her which was exactly what she wanted so she could bump on my erection. 'Naughty girl,' she said as she did it then pulled my hands onto her breasts and ground herself against me. 'But, much as I like to humiliate you, we'd better let that go down before we go.' She turned and kissed me in a way that was obviously designed to have a completely opposite effect.

Then she fastened her bra, adjusting her little breasts in that way women do.

That pert, toned body looked gorgeous in the pink. Mind you, she'd looked just as good in the blue.

'Though, zhere is something missing.'

I couldn't possibly comment but I did anyway.

'A chocker and leash?'

'Daphne!'

'Doll seemed to enjoy them last night.'

'Playing with Doll is making you way too dominant.'

Since our trip to Manchester, I'd been allowed to play with Doll a few times including the night before where she'd crawled round the flat on a leash and we'd played fetch with her flogger.

'Besides,' she continued, 'zhe pet department is downstairs.'

'And you know that because?'

'Where do you think I bought Doll's collar and leash? Zhey are five times zhe price in sex shops.'

I couldn't argue with that logic.

'I saw a dress zhat would go well with zhis look.'

'And you want me to fetch it for you?' My erection was still rather obvious beneath my dress.

'No!' She laughed pushing me away. 'I will go.' She slid her feet into the patent leather four inch heels she liked to wear, drew back the curtain of the cubicle and strutted off through the fitting rooms.

Erection of not, I had to follow just to see that happened. Catriona is blonde and pretty good looking and has a very nice toned body that I might once have thought was completely out of my league. And it was a joy to watch as she flounced - hips swinging - out of the changing area past a gaping assistant - a youth of few years and many spots to use a well tried phrase - onto the clothing floor. I can't say everything stopped, it wasn't like that scene in a western when the piano player stops - the piped music continued; it was more a ripple effect as one guy after another just stopped to stare, or did a double take, a smile creeping onto their faces; a few I'm sure looked round for the hidden camera. Some of the women stared too - some in shock and some awe, one or two with envy and perhaps lust. There was a kind of hush albeit on a background of Enya over which the click of Catriona's heels could clearly be heard and a definite stillness. A few guys made a show of looking away when confronted by the women they were with, the rest just enjoyed the show. From where I was standing at the entrance to the fitting rooms I had a perfect rear view - straight back, pink briefs stretched over firm buttocks and perfectly straight seams down those gorgeous legs.

I pretty much forgot about my erection that must have been obvious beneath my dress.

On reaching the end of the aisle, Catriona, picked up a pink PVC thing that looked as if it might cover about a third of her at a stretch then proceeded to drop it, exclaiming in a loud voice and overdone accent 'Vhat a clumzy girl I am', before bending straight legged to give me an even more perfect view of those buttocks and legs. She stayed there a moment too long for it to be necessary and leant round to make sure I was watching then straightened and turned holding it up for my approval.

Gazes swivelled in my direction. I like to think Daphne stands up to scrutiny and, since I've been seeing Catriona (and Doll) she has become a little more flamboyant in the clothing choice. For me, it's always been about the lingerie but a nice dress certainly helps a girl feel the part. Today it was a black and white number that was a little too dressy for clothes shopping worn with the black lingerie and heels that were not quite a match for Cat's. I think I passed muster and I got the impression that Catriona and I were bracketed together. Maybe a few of them wondered if I was about to walk out in my lingerie too.

What else could I do? I nodded my approval to Cat and, smiling, she did the walk in reverse, running a hand through her blonde hair in the way women do when they stride down the street in films.

'Just zhe one garment,' she said to the still gaping assistant, 'my mistress has zhe tags for the lingerie.

The startled assistant's eyes widened even further if that was possible and then, to his credit, he produced a disc with the number '1' on it.

'Zank you.' Cat was still hamming up her accent and speaking way too loudly again. 'Honestly, zhe zhings she makes me to wear.' She glanced at me. 'She is going to take me to zhe pet department next to buy me a collar and leash.'

Not unexpectedly, a number of gazes turned to me and I retreated into the relative safety of the fitting room.

Cat winked as she swept past me.

'Zhat is what you are planning, I hope.'

'Yes,' I said a little lamely as I bent to cover my straining erection, 'a pink one to match your outfit.'

*

The PVC dress, obviously designed for clubbing, did at least cover her knickers as long as she didn't bend over too far but left no doubt that she was wearing stockings and not tights. As we emerged from the fitting rooms I noticed a number of Cat's fans appeared to be waiting for her, a few primed with cell phones. I could only watch in awe as she put on a show for them, taking her time and flirting with the assistant then dropping one of the tags so she had to bend to retrieve it. Yes, it was possible to see her knickers.

Then we made our way to the cash registers where she made of point of paying.

'I don't want zhem to think I am not allowed my own credit card,' she whispered to me. 'It is fun to embarrass you but I do not want you arrested.' Her blue eyes flashed mischievously.

She turned and presented the tags for the lingerie to the assistant explaining that she was wearing the items and then lifted the hem of the skirt so that she could remove the security tag in another blatant flash of pink underwear.

'And I have a second pair of stockings.' She passed the packet across. 'My mistress will need zhem to tie me to the bed later when I am being punished.'

The assistant, a streetwise girl in her twenties with multiple piercings and tattoos, grunted at her appearing to take it all in her stride and, as we were about to leave, glanced at me knowingly and stated that the pet department was downstairs.

*

The pet department was easy to find and had a range of collars. I was pretty sure from the looks we got as we walked in that someone had phoned down to announce our arrival or maybe the staff were just being very vigilant.

'How about this one?' I asked, aware I was being watched but still enjoying the opportunity.

It was a wide pink leather band with two straps and buckles.

'If you like it, Mistress.' She lifted her chin. 'Would you mind?'

I'd readjusted my knickers so my erection would be less obvious but even so I could feel my cock straining. There was a time when this would have terrified me but I had gained a lot of confidence from being with Catriona and was becoming very used to her ways. Even so, I blushed slightly though whether it was visible through my make up I couldn't tell.

It did look good on her but, at her insistence, we tried three more before buying it.

We had just paid - and, yes, she was wearing this home too - when she leaned across the counter and said in a loud voice. 'We are new here, my mistress and I. Can you tell us where we can find the nearest sex shop?'

The dark haired assistant, a good looking man of about thirty who had been eyeing me up, grinned and gave directions.

*

Cat took my arm as we walked through the mall, heels clicking, the bag with Cat's leather jeans and white blouse hanging from her other arm. No, there was no underwear as had been obvious from the moment I'd pitched up at her door.

Why take it with you if you're going out to buy some?

'I love it when you show me off like this, Mistress.' She whispered leaning on me a little more than necessary. I hope I am being Daphne's very own submissive club Barbie fashion accessory.

'I thought it was Doll who liked to be treated this way?'

'How do you know I'm not Doll?' She asked. 'We are identical, you know. Perhaps there has been a coup or Doll has escaped and Catriona is lying bound and gagged in our bedroom.

'Lucky Catriona.'

'She put up quite a fight,' she confided, grinning. 'I have had to tie her very tightly to make sure she cannot escape. She needed to be gagged too.' Her blue eyes widened as she elaborated the story. 'I am thinking she will punish me when I finally let her out. If you are lucky, she might punish you too as a collaborator.'

'I might enjoy that.'

'And I am hoping you will punish me too, Mistress,' she said a little more loudly as we passed the cafe.

'I would definitely enjoy that.'

'You are a naughty girl, Daphne.'

'And is this why you are taking me to the sex shop?'

'Perhaps,' she said with a smug grin.

'Don't make me give you another demerit,' I warned.

'You are definitely spending too much time with Doll.'

*

'Ah, here we are.' She stopped me in front of another department store.

'Isn't this where you work?' I felt a twinge of deja-vu.

'Yes, I am glad you take an interest.'

'And is this a work thing?'

It wouldn't be the first time one of our outings had been related to Cat's job.

'No, this is purely pleasure.'

'We're not going to a proper sex shop then?'

'It is a shop and it sells sexy things.' She stiffened a little. 'But we can go to the seedy place that girl with the tattoos recommended if you prefer.'

'No, I'm sorry. That was rude.' I'd clearly struck a nerve. 'And you're happy to go in dressed like that?'

'Are you thinking they will fire me or make me undress because I am not wearing their clothing?'

'No, I'm just...'.

'Come on.' She drew me towards the door and guided me through the perfume and make up counters to the escalator and then up through women's wear and men's wear to the top floor.

In the past, there used to be two types of sex shops: the sleazy ones that mostly sold magazines and videos and were staffed by fat, balding men in vests and the glitzy high street ones that were invariably staffed by glamorous 'model' style girls in too much make up and heels that sold lingerie and toys. Not that I would ever complain about a pretty girl in too much make up and heels - especially if she wore stockings too.

Sex has now become mainstream and the glitzy high street ones have evolved, the lines blurring between club-wear such as Cat was now wearing and fetish-wear; sex books are not longer just kept on the top shelf; girls apparently shop for toys. There is probably a seedy element to all this but raincoated men probably spend their time online now.

Cat's department was, in fact, a latter-day sex shop - racks of fetish clothing, harnesses, restraints; lingerie; sex toys for both men and women and some for both; accessories; books - the written and even spoken work, 'art', photography; magazines - fetish, lingerie, lifestyle. It was stylishly laid out. On the walls fetish art set the mood, including the paintings she'd bought when we'd been on our first date to Gallery 8.

'I hope you're not too disappointed.'

I stopped and pulled her back.

'I'm not disappointed at all. I'm glad you've finally brought me here.'

'I know, you are thinking I am always working but today I am out shopping with my girlfriend.' She lead me between shelves of dildos and vibrators one side and S&M accessories on the other.

'I thought you could try this,' Cat stopped and gestured to a mannequin wearing a black PVC dress that zipped up at the front and a pair of knee boots with heels that were probably higher than hers.

It was gorgeous and not something Daphne had ever considered.

'What makes you think Daphne is that sort of girl?' I said trying not to get too excited that my girlfriend was trying to dress me as her fantasy mistress.

'Do you really need me to answer that?'

'I suppose I could try it on,' I said trying not to sound too enthusiastic.

Cat grinned. 'Zhen, I shall call over one of our assistants?'

Cat waved and a girl appeared. She was dressed in what I can only think is the modern equivalent of the stockings and heels look. Not too much to frighten the customers but with enough sexiness to fit with the ambience of the place.

I've always liked girls in leather - especially a fit one.

There was a moment's pause as the girl recognised her boss and appraised her outfit and another when Cat introduced me as her girlfriend taking my hand to demonstrate the subtler meaning of the word.

'Ah, Cat's other model from Manchester,' the girl said with an easy smile. 'Will you be joining us at the next fashion show?'

'You might recall Lauren was dressed in pink when you last saw her,' Cat prompted.

It took a moment but then I remembered pink rubber gym bunny from the Manchester show.

'Cat was very naughty making us model and keeping out of the limelight,' the girl said. 'That designer used to work here, you know. Abbie Davies, she was the one who started this department.'

'Yes, Cat told me.' I glanced at her. 'Another fashion show?'

'We are not talking shop today, Daphne.' Cat said a little primly. 'We're shopping.' She turned to Lauren. 'Daphne wants to try on the new dress.'

'And the boots?' Lauren asked.

'Oh definitely.'

*

In the cubicle, tastefully fitted out with a faux leather curtain, velvet trim and a Stanton poster, our roles were reversed as I undressed while Cat watched.

'I like the black stuff,' Cat told me casting a practiced eye over my lingerie. 'Quite the coincidence.'

'Almost as if I knew you were eager to kit me out in black PVC.

'I thought of you instantly when I saw it in zhe catalogue.'

'And what did you do after that?'

'I ordered it in, of course.'

'And after that.'

'You really don't want to know.' Cat doesn't blush often but she did at that moment.

'Oh, I see.'

She stood and helped me into the sleeveless dress. It was high enough for it not to matter that I only had a fake cleavage.

'Care to zip me up.'

'It would be a pleasure, Mistress.'

'And the boots?'

'Is Mistress commanding her slave to drop to her knees and help her into her boots.'

'Something like that.'

'So, dominant,' she said with more than a hint of irony.

'That's another demerit.'

She smiled and slid down to her knees.

'You know, those knickers are probably not as tight as they used to be.' Her face was on a level with my groin and my rapidly stiffening cock.

'They come under a lot of strain.'

'We do quite a range of chastity devices if that would help.'

'You want me in chastity?'

'Only if I get to keep zhe key.'

'I could be tempted.'

'You can be really dominant when you want to be, can't you?' She said with a laugh.

'Just put my boots on, Slave,' I commanded looking down the front of her pink dress.

'Yes, Mistress.' She bowed her head.

I sat and she removed my heels.

'You know, you have quite cute feet.'

'Perhaps I'll let you paint my toenails later.'

'I'll look forward to it, Mistress.'

She slid the right boot onto my foot and zipped it up. I'd never worn women's boots before. Something of an oversight I was pleased to be remedying and, given the five inch heels, the extra ankle support they provided probably reduced the chances of a serious ankle injury. I'd managed four inch heels in Manchester. What could possibly go wrong?

When Cat had finished I stood, somewhat unsteadily, reaching to brace myself on the wall and expecting a barbed comment for Cat but she was strangely quiet. I looked down to find her still on her knees gazing up at me.

'Thank you, Slave.'

She blushed again. 'It is my pleasure to serve you, Mistress.' She looked away and then back up at me. 'Shall we?' She gestured towards the curtain.

I pulled it back and, not entirely steadily stepped out into the small passageway between the rows of cubicles. Then, lifting my chin and focussing on the exit light at the entrance I started to put one foot in front of the other. To call it a walk was probably overstating it but I made it to the end, turning to find Cat close behind me. I was about to walk out onto the shop floor when she rested a hand on my shoulder.

'Daphne.'

I turned and she leant in and kissed me on the lips.

She was still blushing.

*

At Cat's, or perhaps, Doll's insistence we stopped for coffee in the Dark Bean Cafe, taking a table on the street. It had become one of our meeting places. It was also a chance for Doll to enjoy a little more mischief. Whatever aberration had occurred in Cat's top floor sex shop had passed.

'My mistress likes her coffee black,' she told the waitress, dressed in her little black dress and stockings. 'She is very exacting. Make sure it is hot or she may put you over her knee and spank you like she does with me.'

The blonde, in her late teens, certainly didn't have the aplomb of the store assistants and glanced at me wide eyed then back at Cat, her cheeks colouring. To be fair, she probably didn't get to serve a pink bondage Barbie and her black PVC clad mistress every day.

'Hot black coffee, yes, of course, Madam.'

'Mistress,' Doll corrected.

'Mistress,' the girl repeated and fled.

'You will get us into trouble,' I warned.

'She's at least nineteen,' Doll grinned reaching into my bag and taking out the flogger which she'd insisted we buy to go with my new outfit and placed on the table in front of me. 'She'll be fine.'

I rolled my eyes.

'Still disappointed we didn't go to a proper sex shop?'

'I really am sorry, I didn't mean it like that.'

'I know but I enjoy your reactions.'

'And I'm looking forward to your reactions when I have you working off your four demerits.'

That slightly odd look came over her again and she looked away.

'Cat, are you alright?'

'Yes, I am fine.' It sounded a little forced. 'I have had a nice shopping experience with my girlfriend Daphne and now we are going home to play kinky sex games.'

'I've enjoyed it too.' Her mood was making me nervous. 'There was a time when Daphne ordered everything online and here I am going to sex shops and sitting in our favourite cafe dressed as a dominatrix.'

'Dominatrix may be stretching it a bit but maybe with practice...' That odd tone was still there.

'Are you offering to let me practice on you?'

'Do I have any choice, Mistress?'

'Yes,' I said. The words 'I love you' sounded in my head but I managed not to say them. I settled for 'I would never hurt you.'

'You wouldn't be much of a dominatrix if you didn't.'

I looked up to find the waitress hovering with a tray containing, no doubt, my hot black coffee and Cat's hot chocolate. She set the tray down beside the flogger and offloaded its contents. I thought she was about to go when she gestured to the whip.

'Are you really...'

'Oh yes,' Cat said. 'Would you like to hold this?' She passed the girl the whip.

'And she... uses this on you.'

'It is new but we have worn out the last one.'

The girl's eyes widened.

'Is it something you are interested in?'

The girl blushed, eyes darting from Cat to me. 'I'm...'

'I am not asking you to come home with us for sex,' Cat said, 'but if you might enjoy zhis sort of lifestyle then I am always looking for models for my fetish shows.'

The girl was blushing furiously but stood her ground. She licked her lips and looked away then back. 'I might be.'

Cat pulled a card from her purse. The girl glanced around quickly then took it, sliding it into her cleavage.

'Our next show is at Gallery 8 in a few months.'

'Thank you.'

'I thought we weren't talking shop.' I said when the girl had gone.

'One must always take advantages of opportunities. She was waitressing at zhe last show we went to there. There is little doubt of her interest. You know it is sad that some people go their entire lives without having a chance to explore their desires. I am doing her a service.'

It was something that could easily have happened to me.

*

We both picked up our cups and looked at each other.

There was still something odd going on, Daphne was sure of it, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Dennis was, as usual, feeling a little out of his depth. Nevertheless, we managed a little small talk as we emptied our cups and intermittently watched the pretty young waitress trying not to glance at us each time she went past. Daphne also enjoyed the glances of passers-by and the double takes - including the frowns - while Dennis enjoyed that fact that he was sitting decide a pink PVC Barbie doll who was flashing her stocking tops.

By the time we'd finished, things seemed a little more back to normal then, as we stood Cat looked at me with a very serious expression.

'Nipple torture,' she said then turned to go.

'What?'

'You said you wanted some practice. Doll is really into nipple torture.'

She started to leave but I held her back.

'And what is Cat into?'

'You are asking me if I like long romantic walks in the countryside and log fires?' There was an edge to her voice.

'Something like that or pina coladas and walking in the rain.'

She looked confused then smiled a little sadly.

*

I was probably a little confused as to whom I'd been out with when we arrived back at Cat's flat. However, Catriona was not bound and gagged when we went into the bedroom. Whoever I'd walked home with had been overly quiet and I was feeling edgy.

'Should we get those stockings out?' I said trying to lighten the mood.

Cat looked at me blankly.

'You said that's why you bought them.'

'Oh, yes.' A smile curved her lips and she pulled the packet out of the bag. 'Would mistress like me to undress?'

'Just the dress for the moment. I want to be able to reach those nipples.'

'Yes, Mistress.' She peeled off the dress and dropped to her knees, shedding her bra straps too.

Her nipples were very stiff.

I removed the stockings from their packet and she lifted her wrists to allow me to tie them together. Then, unbidden, she stood and walked to the side of the bed. Leaning back against the wall, she lifted her hands over her head. There was a hook there that looked as if might have once been for a light fitting and she went up on her toes and hooked her wrists over this.

'Don't worry, it takes my weight,' she told me with a little of her usual bravado. 'If you hook the chain over my wrists, you'll have uninterrupted access to my nipples.'

I did. She had, after all, told me that she wanted her nipples tortured.

'Thank you, Mistress.' She tried to kiss me but I ducked back.

'There'll be no favours granted.'

'Yes, Mistress.'

I took the other stocking and tied it around her head blindfolding her.

Her gasp of pleasure surprised me.

'Mistress?' Her tone was suddenly husky and surprisingly submissive.

'Yes?'

'The things you'll need are in the drawer by the bed.'

'Thank you, Slave.' I allowed her the kiss, which she accepted eagerly, licking her lips afterwards and pushing out her breasts.

I opened the drawer and found some chains and a variety of clamps - the hairpin type they often used on the old photoshoots, a particularly vicious looking set with spiked teeth, a set of clover clamps and some with sprung rubber pincers. There was a set of chopsticks too and some rubber bands. There were also a number of padlocks. I'd watched enough bondage videos to know how they were used.

I elected to use the rubber ones first. Their chains were separate and quite a bit thicker than the other sets; they were long too and heavier than I had expected. She obviously heard the clicking of the links as I took them out and perhaps guessed what was coming. I saw her lick her lips again. Advancing on her, I bent and kissed her right nipple. She gasped and I licked it making her squirm.

'I thought Mistress was going to punish me.'

'No reason I can't enjoy it.' I bit her nipple and she cried out in surprise.

'If you carry on like that I'll enjoy it too.'

I did, biting the other side before clipping the chain to it.

'Ahhhh!' She bit her lip, pulling on the bonds around her wrists. She did the same as I clamped the other side. The chains were long and hung to her thighs. I saw her move a little, testing their weight, then I hooked my finger under one and lifted it, running my finger under its length making her gasp again.

When I kissed her this time, there was no protest, just need.

I added another chain, hung between the two, enjoying her response. Then I gently caressed the skin of her small breasts. She squirmed deliciously and the chains rustled.

'I think that accounts for one demerit.'

'Yes, Mistress.' Her voice was breathy.

I added another chain linking the two producing another gasp and then hung a padlock on it. She bit her lip again, twisting slightly as if to get relief from the strain on her nipples but there was none to be found.

I slid a hand into her knickers, just teasing inside the waistband and she pushed forwards.

'You're being punished,' I said removing my fingers with a little snap of elastic.

She gave a little moan and stilled.

I added another lock to the chain and she tensed, clearly approaching her limit.

This time I slid my hand in further, she turned her head, clearly eager for another kiss but she didn't get one. Her sex was wet and so were her knickers. She squirmed on my fingers. I was suddenly very aware of my own needs, my cock straining against the knickers beneath the skirt of the black PVC dress. It felt delicious to be here like this, dressed as kinky Dominant Daphne in black lingerie and PVC and heeled boots wickedly teasing my submissive sex doll.

She was clearly in the zone, her body almost shaking with arousal, skin flushed, panting.

I couldn't resist releasing one of the clips and taking the erect nipple in my mouth as she cried out. This seemed to send her even more wild.

'Shall I take the other one off.' I teased releasing her nipple from my mouth.

She paused then nodded. Prepared for it this time, she didn't cry out but I saw her stiffen. I slid my hand out of her knickers and traced a wet finger over her newly released nipple then blew on it gently.

*

'Please, Dennis,' Cat said suddenly. 'Stop.' She licked her lips again. 'I have not told you my safe word but it is pamplemousse, the grapefruit, and I am using it now.'

'Oh.' My fantasies ended abruptly. 'Of course.'

I reached up and undid the little chain over her bound wrists and lifted them off the hook. Then I untied the stocking. Her hands went immediately to her breasts, cupping them and pressing on the nipples as she sighed gently. I removed her blindfold and saw tears in her eyes that didn't help me ignore the well of guilt that was deepening inside me. Then I stood back and watched as she shrugged back into her bra straps before cupping her breasts again.

'I'm sorry,' I said a little unsure what I'd done.

She looked at me a little surprised.

'You are sorry?'

'Cat...'

'There is something I need to show you.' She went to the foot of the bed bending in a way I would have enjoyed in any other situation - those new pink knickers were soaking - and took her phone out of her bag. 'You must undress and let us get into bed,' she said. 'Sit here and I will help you out of those boots.' She patted the bed and I sat feeling confused as she dropped to her knees in front of me then unzipped my boots and pulled them off. 'The dress too, I think.' She stood and unzipped it.

I slid out of it.

'Come on.' She climbed into bed holding the covers for me.

Feeling awkward, I slid in beside her as she tapped away on her phone.

'Here,' she said after a moment.

The image on the screen showed a black hooded face a little like Doll's - very like Doll's in fact. The camera pulled out and I saw a rubber-clad woman spread eagle on a bed that looked remarkably like the one we were in. I glanced to the bedpost to check - the restraints were certainly the same.

'Is that Doll?'

'It is me,' she said in a raw voice. 'Zhis is too.'

Another video of Doll bent over in a strappado position, legs spread with a spreader bar being flogged by a figure dressed similarly in a tight black rubber suit, face hidden.

'And zhis.'

Doll on her knees, fellating the rubber clad man...

'Zhis too.'

Doll tied, standing, with her arms above her head, blindfolded, the rubber suit unzipped to her waist, her breasts on display and chains hanging from her nipples.

'I am sorry,' she said.

I didn't know what to say. What was she sorry for? We all had exes didn't we even if English girls didn't show their new partners videos of them having sex.

'When were these taken?' I suddenly had to ask and tried to keep the dread from my voice.

'Oh, zhey are about four years old now,' she said rather matter-of-factly.

'Oh.'

Both Daphne and Dennis were at a loss at this point.

She turned to me suddenly. 'Zhey are not recent,' she said sounding horror-struck. 'I have not been cheating on you.' Her cheeks were flushed.

'I'm sorry,' I said feeling I'd just made things a whole lot worse.

'His name was Xavier,' she said settling back in what sounded as if it might be a rehearsed script, the end of which I was instantly dreading. 'We met in a club in Paris. He introduced me to zhe BDSM scene. As you now know, I became quite involved.'

'Yes.' My mouth was dry.

'Oh, you are going all English again, Dennis. I thought I had just managed to loosen zhat stiff upper lip.'

'It's...'

'I know, I should probably not have shown you that third clip. Sorry.'

'Why are you telling me all this?' I desperately wanted to hold her, tell her it didn't matter that there had been somebody else even if I was jealous of him already.

'Because I have been using you.'

Oh god!

'I was with Xavier for three years and in that time he trained me as his submissive as...' She tailed off. 'I became very... very good at it.' She gave a self-deprecating laugh. 'You will have seen zhat.'

'Yes,' I said carefully. 'So, I assume that is the origin of Doll.'

'Yes. Doll was my submissive persona. I... she was very deeply submissive.'

Lost in what appeared to be a minefield, I waited. Daphne would probably have known what to say but I suddenly felt very much Dennis sitting in a woman's bed wearing female lingerie.

'I thought we were happy together... with me being his Doll but zhen, one day he found brought home somebody else and I knew it was different.'

I didn't need to look to know there were tears in her eyes again.

'I'm sorry.' I knew I shouldn't be glad but, selfishly I was.

'We played together for him at first. I was a well trained sex Doll and I did what he wanted but deep down I was not happy and he knew it.' She took a deep breath. 'I think zhen I realised he... liked to train woman and had trained me as much as he was able and... he wanted the thrill of starting over again.' She wiped tears away. 'I screamed at him after... but.. it was all fairly amicable in the end. I moved out of his apartment.' Another laugh. 'At least I got to keep the bed.'

I ventured to put my arm around her shoulders and she didn't resist.

'I felt empty for a long time. I was lonely. Our relationship had been intense and although others came and went I had lost touch with all my previous friends and, I realise now, I had become completely Doll. There was no Cat. I was nothing but a submissive rubber sex toy. I still had my job, of course, which was some consolation. It took a while for me to sort myself out. Eventually, I moved to UK.' She glanced at me and reached for my hand on her shoulder. 'A fresh start. I found I liked it here but maybe it was not so good.' Another laugh. 'You English are so reserved and it took me a long time to make friends and zhese were just through work. I liked Abbie, zhe designer whose show we went to see. We shared similar interests.' I caught a little smile. 'I think we might have been closer.' A sigh. 'I told her about Doll and she was very interested but for some reason, she was not looking for a relationship. Zhen she got her dream job and I was left at the store.'

She placed her other hand on my stockinged thigh.

'I was thinking I might go home to France or maybe even back Germany but zhen I met you.' She laughed, more gently this time. 'Well, I met Dennis. It felt a bit like the one in those romcoms; Hugh... something meeting a girl while shopping for lingerie.'

I'd never been compared to Hugh Grant.

'You don't look like him,' she said bursting my bubble immediately, 'but it was funny.' She laughed and wiped her eyes. 'And when you revealed your secret I thought I had finally found an Englishman who was not repressed...'

She played with my suspenders and I was pretty sure she was smiling though I sensed a 'but' coming.

'But, Daphne... and Dennis I have to confess that I have not been fair to you.' She took a breath. 'I do not think I realised it at first but know now I have been trying to turn you into a Xavier. Playing bondage games with you and making you dress in fetish clothing.'

'If it helps, I have enjoyed it,' I said in a way that was probably a little too eager.

'I am glad.' She was becoming sad again and pulling at my suspenders. 'But I am also thinking you are now wanting to be with Doll more than you want Cat.'

I tensed. I could certainly have given that impression. For a moment, I floundered sensing that my next few words were likely to be very important. Then Daphne came to my rescue.

'I'm very fond of Doll,' I said carefully. 'But it never occurred to me that it was either or. I just thought she was part of you - like Daphne is part of me. And I, she, will always be grateful for helping her come out of her shell.'

'Shell?'

'It's an English expression. I mean that, until you asked Daphne out, she had been very shy and was very definitely single.' I couldn't help laughing. 'And look at her now, sharing a lesbian relationship with a beautiful exotic and very sexy woman.'

I wasn't sure where that had come from but I was quite proud of it.

'I am hardly exotic.' She laughed genuinely this time.

'You're from Paris. All women in Paris are beautiful and sexy and you're not English which makes you exotic to me.'

'So you are thinking this is a lesbian relationship?'

'You said yes to it on our first date I recall.'

'You are right, I did.' She turned to me smiling. 'And I remember you blushing.'

'Cat.' I rested my free hand on hers. 'We've all had bad relationships or even good relationships that went bad.' The ground around me still felt treacherous. 'And I guess we all carry baggage from them along with us. It makes us the person we are...' I was quite proud of that too. 'And the person I am really wants to share his life with you...'

Shit! Landmine!

'What I mean is,' I said quickly, 'I want you to remain as part of my life and to continue to make me do crazy things in public and make me dress up...'

'Daphne!' She spoke a little sharply clearly wanting to interrupt me.

I stopped and looked at her. She was looking way too serious.

'Daphne what are you saying?'

Was she angry? Did she think me absurd? She was so out of Dennis' league.

'Er...' I suddenly went all English.

'We cannot discuss it if you are not honest with me.'

I swallowed.

'I know, it's a bit soon and... What I mean is...' I was tearing up now, my palm sweating on her hand but I held it anyway. 'The last couple of months have been the best of my entire life and... I really thought I had found someone special and I think...'

I stopped before I could incriminate myself any further or be any more pathetic.

I prepared for the worst.

'What do you think?' She said carefully.

'I think I might be in love with you.'

'Only think and might? Zhat is a very English thing to say.'

'I'm English, I'm sorry, I can't help it. Just like I can't help apologising.'

I was shaking.

'Dennis.' She turned to me looking serious. Her eyes were so blue and so beautiful and in soft focus because I was crying.

I shivered.

Then she kissed me.