Love My Way

by Bridget Midway

  Eagan paused, like he didn’t hear her. “What?”

  “Please.” She turned to look at him. “Harder.”

  He shook his head. “That’s enough for you.” He got her down from the cross and had Willow help her get cleaned up and get her clothes on again.

  “That just leaves you, Daisy. Come on.”

  Daisy took a step forward, stopped, and moved back. “I can’t.”

  “And why is that? Afraid to be naked on camera? Afraid of me? What is it?” Eagan approached her.

  “I don’t want to be whipped.” She glared at Eagan. “By you.”

  He stopped in his tracks.

  “I promise you, and you can ask any of the ladies in here, I won’t hurt you. I’ve been doing this for years and I know what I’m doing.” Eagan spoke in a calm and soothing voice, but it still didn’t help.

  “I don’t care. The whole connotation of you taking a cane to me, a black woman, is unfathomable.”

  Eagan gritted his teeth so hard, his jaw flexed. “You saw Freesia and Begonia go through the same treatment. They didn’t have a problem with it.”

  “Freesia did it so she wouldn’t get eliminated. I don’t know what’s up with Begonia. She shares a room with Sunny, so maybe she feels like she has to compete with her.”

  Ananda felt flames engulfing her body. So Daisy thought of her as some sort of yes-woman looking to be just like Sunny? Fuck her. Ananda knew why she did it and she knew what she felt. If she had to do it again, she would.

  Daisy pulled off her mask. She looked like Ananda’s third grade teacher. She had short hair that was styled in wavy curls, a small, pug-like nose and full lips. Moles dotted around her eyes and cheeks.

  “My name is Irene.” She took off her collar and put it and her mask in Eagan’s hand. “And you can say goodnight to me, because I’m out of here.”

  “That’s not fair, Irene,” Eagan called after her. “You’re expecting me to apologize for something I didn’t do, something I didn’t start.”

  “Good luck to you.” She kept on down the hall.

  Eagan shook his head and gazed at Phil, who only shrugged his shoulders. There was a secret conversation between them that they weren’t ready to share with the rest of the group.

  “Apple and Willow, help the ladies get cleaned up and get them back to their rooms. The winner tonight is Sunny. She has immunity for the next show.” Eagan walked out of the dungeon, looking defeated.

  A tingle tickled Ananda’s belly. Did Eagan plan on eliminating all of the black contestants to cut down on the controversy? He couldn’t do that. And if Ananda had her way, she wouldn’t let him do it either.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “I hate to say I told you so,” Phil said in a sing-song voice.

  “Not now, Phil.” Eagan rubbed his eyes. “I don’t get it. Why the hell did she wait until she was the halfway through the competition to say something? Did she not notice the color of my skin or know the name of this show? I thought I made everything perfectly clear.”

  “You did.”

  “So why am I the bad guy? She’s been calling me Master Eagan for nearly six weeks. Why the hell did it occur to her now to make a big deal of the race issue?”

  Phil hunched his shoulders.

  “You’re not helping, man.” Eagan swung his chair around to look out of the window.

  The motion sensor light in his backyard triggered. When it did he caught someone going into the guesthouse.

  Begonia?

  He turned back to his friend. He had to get Phil out of the room fast.

  “So what are you going to do now?” Phil tossed one of Eagan’s awards in the air like a toy. It was the same award Eagan had won the night his father passed away.

  “I don’t know.” Eagan stood. He caught his award in mid-air and set it on the desk. “I do know this. I’m not changing for anyone. If Poppy, Freesia, or Begonia wants to leave over that, they can.”

  “Isn’t Meadow Puerto Rican?”

  Eagan gritted his teeth. “Now I can’t even have a Puerto Rican submissive? What time are we living in?”

  “Doesn’t matter the time.” Phil strolled to the door in front of Eagan. “People aren’t ready to give up the past. My parents still talk about Imelda Marcos and her shoes.”

  “Yeah, I can see where slavery and an overabundant shoe collection compare.”

  “Whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Eagan rushed to his window that faced the front of the house. He waited until Phil pulled out of his driveway before heading downstairs to his guesthouse. When he got to the front door, the motion sensor light kicked on.

  “Shit!” He rushed into the house and hoped that no one saw him.

  Whoever was in the house left it without any illumination. He felt around the wall to the bedroom where he and Begonia were a few days ago.

  “Hello?” he said.

  “So you did see me.”

  Eagan’s heart was already pounding, hoping that whoever was in the house really was Begonia. Now, it jack-hammered when he heard her voice.

  “You took a hell of a chance coming over here tonight.” He felt for the bed and sat down, hoping not to sit on her.

  “I wanted to talk to you and it couldn’t wait.”

  Eagan felt a hand on his face. She guided him forward and planted the softest kiss on his lips.

  “I didn’t thank you for tonight.” She kissed his cheek before pulling back.

  “You mean when I single-handedly rolled back time to three hundred years ago? Phil had told me about public perception, but I didn’t expect that from Daisy, I mean, Irene. Poppy, maybe.” He put his hand on what he hoped was Begonia’s knee. “You, maybe.”

  “Is that why you didn’t name me the winner tonight? You’re trying to get rid of all of the African-American contestants?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “I can’t speak for Sunny. But I can tell you I loved every minute of that caning. The way you flicked it over my skin, it felt heavenly.”

  Eagan’s cock throbbed listening to Begonia. He knew she’d enjoyed the caning. Begonia dripped more juices than any of the other contestants. Even now, he remembered how she smelled then.

  “Why did you stop when I wanted more?”

  That part Eagan found hard to explain. No matter what, he would be honest. “For a couple of reasons, one reason I’m not proud of. For one, I didn’t want to cane you longer than I did any of the other contestants. Everyone got the maximum of fifteen minutes. If I did you longer, they would think I was showing favoritism.”

  “Okay, that excuse sounds tame. You have another reason?”

  “Phil and I had talked about the racial backlash the show was getting. I was afraid to show myself caning a woman of color on camera for longer than I had caned the other women. I feel ashamed admitting that, but it is the truth.”

  Eagan felt Begonia standing. She shoved his hand off of her leg.

  “What’s wrong? Where are you going?” Eagan scrambled to catch her hand.

  “Here I thought you were a man of integrity…that you didn’t give a damn about what other people thought. And then you backed off on your true nature because of public perception? Don’t kick me off the show. I’m leaving.”

  Eagan sprang to his feet. “Come here.” He caught her arm and managed to pull her to him. To stop her and halt her trembling, he pressed Begonia against the wall. “Don’t walk away from me.” He framed her face with his hands, thankful of the fact that the room was too dark for him to see the disappointment in her eyes. Then he kissed her cheek. “I didn’t want to even do this damn show.” He kissed her other cheek. “I just wanted my life back. I wanted that control again. I control everything around me, except I didn’t have my submissive. Now, I’m thankful to have this show. It brought you to me.” He kissed her lips and got lost in the darkness.

  Begonia moaned, vibrating her lips against his. Then she pushed him back, something that made his heart drop t
o the floor.

  “At every turn, you push me away,” she began. “From the very first day you wanted me off the show. Just tell me what you want from me and I’ll do it. Don’t you know that?”

  No, he didn’t. Ophelia had said the same thing and she didn’t stay. Words were hollow to him, just as hollow as his insides.

  Eagan gave Begonia a quick peck on her lips. “Be careful going back to the main house.” And he left her. He had to just walk away, because staying there with her would drive him crazy. Maybe it was time for him to end the show … and end it with Begonia.

  * * * *

  Ananda sat on her bed, gazing outside. Since the last night in the guesthouse, she hadn’t seen or talked to Eagan in several days. She wondered if the show was still going on or if they had canceled it after the Daisy/Irene controversy.

  Since none of the contestants were allowed to use the phone, read the newspaper, or watch TV, Ananda had no idea what was going on in the outside world. What did people say about her and the other women in the house? What did they think of Eagan?

  “What do you think is happening?” Sunny asked from the bathroom door? She adjusted her mask on her face.

  Funny how the mask became a part of Ananda now. She felt naked not wearing it.

  “I don’t know. Everyone has been so quiet. With it down to the six of us, I really hope they don’t do something crazy like cancel the show.”

  If nothing else, Ananda wanted to see this thing through. She wanted to prove to herself and to Eagan that she didn’t quit. She wouldn’t be like Ophelia.

  Apple sauntered down the hallway with her usual smile and news to share. “Master Eagan would like you all to go to his dungeon for a reward and immunity challenge.”

  “He’s doing the reward and immunity at the same time again?” Sunny shook her head. “I don’t get it.”

  “Maybe it’ll depend on what we’re doing.” Ananda thought of different activities they could be doing today.

  “You have about thirty minutes to prepare.” Apple went next door to share the news with the other two women.

  Thirty minutes was nothing compared to the days Ananda had been waiting for Eagan to open up to her. She had to be ready for him. If this was what she really wanted, she had to show him that.

  * * * *

  “Are you sure you want to combine the reward and immunity challenge today?” Phil paced around Eagan’s bedroom while Eagan dressed.

  “We’re going to be doing wax play today. It’s messy. It takes a long time to set up. It’ll be better production-wise if we just go ahead and do the whole shooting match.” Eagan slipped on a pair of white silk pajama bottoms. Hugh Hefner had the right idea. Pajamas should be worn every day.

  “Good thinking. TV talk shows and the newspapers are calling Daisy ‘Goodnight Irene’ and labeling her as some sort of advocate on women’s rights and civil rights.”

  “Are we ready to go to taping?” Eagan didn’t need to hear this right now. He had to keep his mind clear on what it was he needed to do. And what he needed to do was find the right submissive for him, one who wouldn’t walk away from him at the first sign of trouble.

  “Yeah, I’ll go set up. We’re in the dungeon, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “You seen your boy, Tony?”

  “I’ll find him. Let me just get some notes in my office and I’ll be right down.”

  Phil nodded and headed downstairs. Eagan ambled up his stairs. He caught Aspen by his office door. When she saw him, she bowed her head and ducked into her room. Did she notice something?

  Eagan quickly caught what had grabbed Aspen’s attention. He heard moaning and panting sounds coming from his office. Feeling molten heat around his face, Eagan balled his hand into a fist and pounded open his office door.

  “Damn it, Tony! Don’t watch porn in my—” Eagan stopped his rant when he caught Tony sitting behind Eagan’s desk with Nina on his lap, her top over her breasts and more than likely naked from the waist down.

  “Oh, God!” Nina pulled her shirt down then stood before pulling her pants up. “I’m so sorry, Eagan. This has never happened before.”

  “What? You two having sex, or having sex in my office?” He stood in front of his desk and wondered if he could burn that chair and send it floating over the bay like a Viking funeral.

  Nina looked down sheepishly. “Um, your office.”

  Eagan’s eyebrows shot up. “You two have been seeing each other?”

  “Don’t act so surprised.” Tony leaned back in Eagan’s chair. “It’s your fault, really.”

  “Will you please pull your pants up? Nina may like looking at your dick, but I don’t.”

  Tony stood and hoisted up his jeans. “That day I was feeling down, you told me to go upstairs and see Nina. So I did.”

  “I asked you to see her for your wardrobe because you were crying and got snot all over your sleeve. Grow up, Tony. Nina’s a great woman. She deserves—” Eagan stopped.

  “She deserves what, Eagan? Someone better than me?” Tony tucked his shirt into his jeans.

  “You just got out of rehab for the fourth time. The day I sent you up to see Nina for wardrobe, you talked about wanting to use again.”

  “But I haven’t, and it’s all because of her. I don’t need a drug when I’m with her. Nina makes me feel whole.” Tony held Nina’s hand.

  Aside from the few times Eagan had played with Nina, he valued their friendship more than anything else. She was special to him. When things didn’t work out for the two of them, Eagan had hoped she would find herself a nice man, or even woman, if that’s what really floated her boat, to settle down with and make a family. Her kind demeanor shouldn’t be rewarded by being with a former user.

  “That’s all well and good, Tony. But what if Nina says something that will piss you off and trigger you to want to use again?”

  “Um, we’ll talk about it, I suppose.”

  “Yeah, like you talked to that tranny prostitute about scoring some blow for you right before you smashed her face in.”

  “Damn it, Eagan! I was fucking nineteen and high. I’ve changed. I thought you knew that. I thought that’s why you hired me for the show.”

  “I hired you because I like you. You—” Eagan was about to share that Tony reminded him of Eagan’s younger brother, but now was not the time or place to go into that story. “You just need to stay away from Nina.”

  “Eagan, I’m a grown, unattached woman.” She pushed her glasses up her nose. “You can’t tell me who I can and can’t date.”

  “As the boss of both of you, I can tell you this.” He pointed to Tony. “You need to get your ass downstairs now to do my introduction.” Then, he glared at Nina. “And you need to do what I pay you to do and co-produce this show. I hope for your sake that you had these women tested for allergies. If one woman gets a rash from using baby oil or wax today, it’ll be your ass.”

  “You can’t talk to her that way.” Tony puffed his bird chest out at Eagan.

  “Or what? You’re going to kick my ass? Are you going to walk? Go ahead. See who’ll hire you after this. Better yet, let me do this. You’re both fired. Pack your shit and go. See if Brian Grazer or Ron Howard lets you fuck in his office.”

  “Eagan—”

  Eagan didn’t wait to hear what Nina had to say. He couldn’t believe she would stoop so low as to allow that tired, B-movie actor fuck her. He wanted to shake them both. What were they thinking?

  Phil caught Eagan at the bottom of the stairs. “Where’s Tony?”

  “Gone. I’ll handle my own intros from now on.” Eagan headed toward his dungeon.

  “Gone? Are you kidding me? Where’s Nina? Maybe we can get her to—”

  “She’s gone, too.” Eagan glared at Phil. “I told you I have this under control. Just get the cameras rolling and we’ll go from there.”

  Determined not to allow a bad event spill over into his show like the last time, Eagan smiled as he stood in the doorwa
y. “Hello, ladies.”

  “Good afternoon, Master Eagan.” The women all bowed.

  Eagan skipped their kisses today. He wasn’t in the mood. “Today we’re going to be learning something that you all will consider as relaxing.”

  Apple pushed a small cart into the room that had a large electric pot on top, ladles, brushes, spoons and candles of all types along with it.

  “We’re going to be doing wax play today.”

  Sunny clapped her hands.

  “Why are you so excited?” Poppy asked.

  “Wax play is so soothing. And if you get a good wax, your skin afterward will feel so soft.”

  “Because there’s so much set up and clean up involved in wax play, I’ve decided to combine the immunity challenge and the reward challenge for this competition. So whoever wins will get a prize, and can’t be eliminated from the next show.”

  “What’s the prize?” Freesia asked.

  “A day of beauty at a spa.” Eagan noticed some of them nodded. Others took stock of the items they were about to play with soon. “Good. Now let’s get started.”

  Apple and Willow prepared the paraffin wax as Eagan explained what would be happening.

  “As Sunny mentioned, waxing can be a great process. As the submissive, you are attended to by your Dom or Domme or another submissive or slave. You’re at their mercy until it’s time to take the wax off again. I want each of you to pair off into three teams and take a station.”

  Sunny and Begonia hooked up. Freesia and Meadow were the second team, leaving Poppy and Venus together.

  “Decide who’s going first. That person will have to get naked and get on the table first. Once everyone is naked and ready, we’ll begin.” And Eagan hoped today’s events went off without a hitch.

  * * * *

  Ananda actually wanted to pair up with Meadow. After the last challenge, Meadow had shared how much she hated to get naked in front of other people, but that she trusted Ananda. However things changed when, as soon as Eagan mentioned teams, Sunny grabbed Ananda.

  “Can I go first? I love wax play.” Sunny, who was normally reserved, hopped around like a grasshopper over this challenge.