“Yes, I want to be Master Eagan’s submissive.” Ananda followed the women around the large house that was surrounded by a tall brick wall. Guess the man loved his privacy.
“You might have a good chance, especially after last night.”
“You mean dinner?”
Willow shook her head. “I mean after dinner.” She winked. “And didn’t Apple warn you about wearing your mask?”
“You saw what happened in the kitchen after dinner?” Ananda’s face felt hot with embarrassment.
The kitchen was dark. The only light came from the fridge. How in the world had Apple seen them? Maybe she’d followed Eagan to the kitchen. She had mentioned that she and Apple weren’t too far from his side at any moment.
“Anyone who went to the show’s website saw you and Master Eagan.”
At that proclamation, Daisy turned around. “Saw you and Master Eagan do what?”
When Ananda replied, “Nothing.” Willow supplied simultaneously, “The spanking.”
The group of women stopped at those two words. As much as Ananda wanted them to admire the beautiful Grecian-looking guesthouse, which included impressive white marble pillars and statues of half-naked men and women that sat behind Eagan’s mansion, all eyes were on her.
“You got spanked?” Iona asked.
“Now, when she says ‘spanked,’ does it really mean his hand on your ass or are you talking about something else?” Poppy quickly asked as she made her way to the back of the line to confront Ananda.
With a chuckle that started off in a nervous way, but ended up sounding manic, Ananda shook her head to minimize the gravity of the situation. “It was nothing. Five hits and I was on my way.”
“Was this during dinner?” Pansy asked.
“Did he hit you hard?” Sunny licked her lips.
“What did you eat for dinner? You never said.” Meadow licked her lips for a different reason.
“There was a lot Ms. Thang left out of her conversation last night.” Iona’s lethal glare made Ananda look away.
“Apple, aren’t we on some sort of schedule that we have to keep?” To illustrate her point, Ananda pointed to her wristwatch.
“No, don’t try to get out of this conversation. You need to tell us what really went down with you and Eagan Morton.” Poppy stood her ground.
Whenever Ananda tried walking around the obstinate woman, she stepped in her path.
“Begonia is right.” Apple went to the back of the line. “We do have a tight schedule to keep and we’re only halfway done with the tour. Please continue to follow me. You ladies will have time for private conversations afterward.”
Great. Ananda couldn’t wait for that. As it was, every one of the women shot daggers each time they looked at her.
At first she kept her gaze down to the ground, barely looking up. The more she thought about how she shouldn’t feel ashamed of what happened, she raised her head. This was a game of sorts, as strange as it might be. She was playing it to get close to the end. The spanking may have given her an advantage, but certainly not the win. It was still anyone’s game.
The tour had them going through the bottom section of the house, to the other bedrooms on that level, the social room, the library and the kitchen. As soon as Ananda stepped onto the hardwood floors in the kitchen her body trembled. She glanced at the spot where he made her put her hands on the counter as he disciplined her.
“Follow me back to your bedrooms, ladies. I have an announcement to make.” Apple walked with slow, precise steps to the room where Ananda and three other women were calling home for now. Once all of the women piled into the room, Apple and Willow faced them.
“Did you all enjoy going through Master Eagan’s house?” Willow asked with a beaming smile.
Ananda and everyone else nodded and mumbled that the tour had been enjoyable. Ananda secretly wished that the focus hadn’t been turned to her midway through it. Now, she felt like the center of attention. She knew as soon as Willow and Apple walked out of the room, the ladies would pounce on her.
“I’m glad you enjoyed the tour. Your reward challenge will happen today.” As though she cued them, the camera crews came up behind the two women and focused their lenses on the contestants’ faces.
Ananda swallowed.
“You ladies will be tested on the information about the house so I hope you were listening to me as I showed you around.” Apple scanned everyone’s faces. “The contestant who answers her question correctly will be rewarded with a special fitting.”
“Fitting? What kind of fitting?” Lily perked up. “Like a ring? Like a wedding ring?”
Apple shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Just be prepared. Testing will happen just before dinner and the winner will be announced shortly afterward. By the way, you cannot look out of the window or roam the house, until dinner tonight.”
Pansy swiftly moved away from the window and clasped her hands in front of her.
“No cheating. Good luck.” With that, Apple waved to them and walked out.
“No cheating?” Poppy stared at Ananda. “Looks like one of us already has a jump on that.” She took a few steps to get into her face. “Don’t mean you’re going to win.”
Ananda put her fists to her hips and squared off against Poppy. The hell if she would be stood down right here.
“I never said I would. Trust me. You’ll all get your chance for individual time with him. Better make the most of it.” Although her time had nothing to do with the spanking, she wasn’t about to reveal that. It was bad enough that they thought she was some sort of cheater now.
“Hmph. Like I said earlier. Watch your back.” Poppy walked out of the room to her own room.
Behind her walked the other six women. Left in her room were Meadow, Sunny and Iona. All in their masks, each woman returned to bed, while staring at Ananda.
“Looking at me, ladies, won’t get you to win the next contest.” Ananda busied herself with trying to remember certain aspects of Eagan’s house. Had she known she would be tested on the information she would have paid more attention.
“We’re just trying to figure out what you’re up to.” Iona fell back against her pillows and kicked off her sandals. “Why did Eagan have to discipline you?”
“How did it feel?” Sunny asked. Her eyes lit up.
“Did it hurt?” Meadow asked, and shrank back into her bed.
“I thought BDSM wasn’t about pain?” Ananda scanned the women’s faces.
“Not a lot of pain.” Iona smirked.
“If I lose this competition, I’ll be in a lot of pain.” Sunny shook her head.
“Why is that?” Meadow plopped on her stomach and rested her chin on her fists.
Without looking up, she said, “I just need him, that’s all. After my former Master released me, I’ve been feeling a void inside of me. I never realized how crucial it is for me to be someone’s submissive. It’s as important as having air or needing food.” She chuckled. “You don’t know what I’m talking about.”
But Ananda wanted to understand. She wanted to know how a person could feel that way.
“So now what do we do for the next six hours?” Iona rolled her eyes.
“Take a nap.” Ananda curled onto her side.
She needed to start thinking about what this competition meant to her and why she couldn’t get that damn spanking out of her mind.
* * * *
Aspen smoothed down Eagan’s lapels, while wearing a simple black eye mask.
“How are you doing?” she asked and brushed off some lint on his sleeves.
“It’s harder than I imagined.” He turned to the full-length mirror to gaze at his appearance. He looked together. So why was his head cluttered with thoughts of Begonia and Ophelia?
“How’s that, sir?” Aspen took two steps back and clasped her hands behind her back as she’d been trained.
“I never thought there would be women wanting to be my submissive and would want to compete fo
r that privilege.”
Aspen smiled. “I believe Master underestimates his power and worth.”
Financial and show business-wise? Absolutely not. After the harsh blow from Ophelia, his worth as a Dominant was shaky.
He kissed her. “You have everything you need up here?”
“And then some. I’m fine.” Aspen stood off to the side to let him pass.
“The offer still stands to put you up in a hotel until all of this is over.”
She shook her head. “I understand what you’re trying to do. However, please do not ask me to not do what I love. I’m here for you always.”
He encircled her thin wrist in his hand. “And the diet?”
In a manner unlike Aspen, she pulled her hand back from him. “Fine, sir. Thank you for inquiring.”
He still worried about her. He never saw her jogging, in or out of the house.
A knock sounded at his door.
“Enter.” Eagan stood in front of Aspen as though lions were going to come charging through the door.
Nina stepped inside. She looked cute today with her hair piled on top of her head and wearing a top that, when she moved the right way, showed off her flat stomach.
“Ready, Eagan?” she asked.
He worried about her, too, but she seemed to be holding up well.
He glanced at his watch. “Let’s start the show.”
Aspen stayed behind in his room as he and Nina walked downstairs. Phil caught up with him at the top of the stairs going down to the foyer. He babbled something about camera angles and the types of questions Eagan should ask, but Eagan’s attention was squarely on the eleven women waiting for him.
As though on its own volition, his gaze was drawn right to Begonia. Tonight, she wore a black minidress with a deep plunging neckline that went down almost to her navel. She stood up straight and stared at him with each step he took down the stairs.
Ignoring Phil, Eagan strolled to Tony. “Have you done the introductions yet?”
“I sure have.” Tony scratched his head, then rubbed his chin.
“You doing all right tonight?” Eagan watched his friend hug his body as though he couldn’t control his hands.
“I’m fine. Just nervous.”
Tony did shake a bit. Had it been over five years since he’d been on camera? Shame. He had such a talent for making viewers fall in love with him.
“You’re doing fine. The first show was a hit.” Eagan didn’t want to tell him it was because of his late night antics in the kitchen.
“Bullshit. The viewers hated me. I saw the message board.”
Damn.
“This is going to work. Don’t worry. Just keep doing what you’re doing. I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t trust you.”
“I won’t let you down.” He chewed his lower lip then took a deep breath and stood up straighter.
“I know you won’t.” Eagan gave him a knowing nod, then turned to the women.
“We’re rolling, Eagan,” Phil called from behind him.
“Good evening, ladies.” Eagan scanned each one of their masked faces to see their reactions.
“Good evening, Master Eagan,” they all replied in perfect unison.
He paused for a millisecond longer when his gaze fell on Begonia again. Then he turned away and continued. “Did you enjoy the tour of my house and grounds today?”
The ladies all nodded, except for Begonia.
“Master Eagan, why weren’t we allowed upstairs?” she asked.
He cleared his throat before answering. “Those areas are off limits for now. The further you get into the competition, the more access you’ll have in my home.”
She nodded, but something in her soft brown eyes looked like she didn’t quite believe him.
“As Apple and Willow explained to you after your tour today, you all will be tested on your knowledge of my house and surrounding area.” He started with Lily at the front of the line and strolled down the length of ladies, until he got to Begonia. “I’ll ask one question and one question only. The one who answers my question properly, will get the reward. I’ll announce what that reward is after the challenge.” Electricity surged in their stares, but Eagan wasn’t about to break it.
Begonia shifted her weight in her skyscraper heels, the ones that made her legs look like they went all the way up to her armpits.
“The first one I’ll talk to tonight is,” he paused before making his announcement, “Venus.”
She shrieked as though the man was a game-show host and she’d just won a new car. Eagan didn’t reward her exuberance with a reaction.
“Apple, please bring Venus to the dining room.” Eagan walked to the room with a bevy of camera crews following behind him.
He purposely didn’t request Begonia first, to play with her mind. Plus, he just wasn’t ready to deal with her yet. A day later and his heart still thudded over what had happened between them. He had to shake her up for the questioning. Despite Phil’s insistence that she last on the show, it would all depend on Begonia.
Eagan sat in the chair at the end of his long table. The camera crews all scurried around him and behind him.
“Miss Venus,” Apple announced and presented the busty blonde to him.
As he suspected, Venus sauntered into the room. She wore a flesh-colored tube dress that clung to every curve on her body. As visually appealing as she was, he wasn’t excited by her. Perhaps whatever she would say would sway him. For now, he was still on guard.
“I’m so glad you wanted me first,” she said in a provocative way. Her black mask accentuated her gray eyes.
Before she sat down, Eagan held up his hand. “Wait.”
She froze in her spot.
“Turn around. I want to see you.” Actually, he wanted the viewing audience to take a gander at her. No matter what he suspected of her, she was an attractive woman with an incredible body.
Venus did a slow turn with her hands in the air. By the time she faced Eagan again, her nipples poked proudly through her dress.
“Have a seat.” Eagan pointed to a chair next to him.
After she sat down, the cameras moved in tight to her face. Eagan noticed how she licked her lips and leaned in closer to him. Was all that for him or the cameras? With her, he wasn’t sure yet.
“You walked through my gardens and saw all of my plants and flowers. Which flower is my favorite?” He knew Apple had specifically mentioned this, so any contestant paying attention should know this.
Venus chewed on her lower lip then glanced at the cameras. “Your favorite?”
“Yes. And please don’t say that Apple didn’t tell you. I watched the playback of the tour this morning.”
Venus rubbed her hand over her neck, touching her collar. Maybe she felt she would be losing it soon. No worries for this contest. This was the reward challenge.
A smile spread across her face. “The Venus Flytrap of course.”
Eagan drummed his fingertips on the table. “Thank you.” He directed his attention to Apple standing at the doorway. “Please bring in Meadow next.”
“Did I get it right?” Venus asked.
Of course she didn’t get it right. With the cameras right in her face, it would have been a perfect time to burst her bubble. Instead, he said, “You’ll know when I make the announcement to everyone.”
Although she opened her mouth to continue arguing, Venus nodded and left the room without a word. Apple escorted Meadow into the room and led her to the seat Venus had once occupied. Eagan wasted no time in grilling her.
Instead of easing her into the questioning session, Eagan went right to it. “I like to read outside.”
Meadow cut him off. “On the pier! I know this one! I remembered.”
The hairs on the back of his neck stood at her interruption. When he remained quiet, the smile melted from her face and she listened to him again.
“What do I drink while I’m reading?” he asked.
This time she chewe
d her bottom lip. “I don’t think Apple mentioned that.”
He knew exactly what Apple had said. At the time, she mentioned that he drank Sechung oolong tea, Meadow was chatting with Pansy, which is why he asked her this question.
“Want to render a guess?” he asked.
She paused then shook her head.
“Apple, bring in Poppy, please.”
Defeated, Meadow slinked away, passing Poppy on her way out. Poppy’s dark skin showcased her body beautifully. Her full lips were painted in a dark berry color.
“I saw Venus and big girl look all upset. I’m ready for you. I was listening hard.” She sucked her teeth and leaned back in the chair. Her harsh comment took away from her beauty. “What you got for me?”
“Whose painting hangs in my guest bathroom?” he asked, knowing she wouldn’t know the answer.
“What? I thought you were going to ask what color are your drapes and shit, uh, stuff.”
Eagan stared at her, waiting for an answer.
“I don’t know.”
This was going to be a long day. Once Poppy was escorted out, the remaining women who saw him were no better. They either fumbled through a pathetic answer or they didn’t bother to guess at all.
Sunny was the next-to-the-last to see him. So far no one had impressed him nor gotten any answer correct. She sat down and placed her hands on her lap.
“You visited my library earlier,” Eagan began. “Who’s my favorite author?”
Sunny sat pensive for a moment. Just as Eagan was going to ask for the final contestant to be brought to him, she said, “Apple pointed out your J.D. Salinger book next to your chair by the window.”
He nodded. She was the first one to answer the question correctly.
“Thank you, Sunny.”
“However, I doubt that’s your favorite author.” She sat up straighter. “I think it’s Hemingway.”
Eagan blinked. “Really? Why is that?”
“You have so many of his books on your shelf, more than any other author, plus his biographies. I noticed that when we walked around the room.”
Answering the question properly impressed him. Actually knowing what he liked simply from observation bowled him over. She nailed it. If Begonia didn’t answer her question correctly, Sunny would win the reward challenge.
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