B is for…

by L. DuBois

  That brought her chin up, her gaze defiant even as she remained submissively kneeling. “What letter are we?”

  “B, as in bondage.”

  *****

  Mae’s whole body was throbbing with arousal. She hadn’t been this turned on this quickly, or with such little physical contact, since she first discovered the delightful worlds of kink. Despite that, one thought was running though her mind on a loop.

  What are you doing?

  When the big bad wolf tells you you’re free to go, a smart person leaves. Apparently Mae was not as smart as she thought she was, because not only hadn’t she left, but she’d taunted him. She was setting herself up for a corrective punishment, and coming from this Dom that would probably be far more than she was equipped to handle.

  And yet…when he’d looked at her she felt something, something she wanted to feel again.

  Master Xavier pulled some papers out of an envelope. “Do you remember what you put on your checklist?”

  Mae barely remembered filling out the checklist. “No, Sir.”

  “Once we begin—if we begin—you will call me Master Xavier.”

  “Yes, Master Xavier.” She liked the way that felt, liked saying it.

  “I’ll start by reading off the list of items under B.” He flipped the page, scanned the text, then looked at her. “Ball gag. Beating, soft. Beating, hard.”

  Mae was acutely aware that he was studying her reaction to each thing he said. She winced at “beating, hard.” The idea should have dampened her arousal, but didn’t. If anything it increased it.

  “Blindfolding. Being serviced. Biting. Breast bondage. Breast whipping.”

  Mae’s breathing was fast, her fingers clenching rhythmically. She shouldn’t want these things. This wasn’t who she was.

  “Branding.”

  Mae’s gaze jerked to his, that one word enough to knock her out of the arousal-fueled daze. “We only do the things that both of us said yes to on our lists.”

  Master Xavier nodded and Mae relaxed. There was no way she’d marked branding as an interest.

  “There’s more. Boot worship. Bondage, light. Bondage, heavy.” His voice got deeper, and she realized he was aroused too. “B is a good letter. Bondage, multi-day. And finally, one more bondage, but this one is public under clothing.”

  Now that he’d listed them off, Mae remembered the checklist. She remembered the desperate arousal she’d felt while reading it.

  “If you choose to stay, you will remain with me from now until Monday morning. This is a purely BDSM scene, meaning there will be no sex, except as it relates to ‘being serviced.’ I have a copy of your hard limits, and know your safe word, but that doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t find submitting to me very difficult. I would not be easy on you, just because you’re…” he motioned vaguely.

  He thought she couldn’t handle him. Well she could. Maybe. She was stronger than anyone ever gave her credit for, and she wanted Xavier to know it. “I wouldn’t want you to be.” The words were mostly bravado, and she had a bad feeling that it would take only a matter of minutes for Master Xavier to push her deeper than she’d gone before.

  Master Xavier searched her face. “You’re not what I expected.”

  I’m not what I expected right now either.

  Mae didn’t know how to respond, so she tucked her chin down and stared at her knees. It wasn’t exactly a compliment, but it made her feel strong, as if defying his expectations freed her to be complicated.

  “Push down your robe, Mae. Show me your other breast.”

  With a shrug of her shoulder the robe slid off, the fabric now held in place by the sash at her waist. The first hints of arousal curled in her belly and her blood heated in anticipation.

  Xavier stood and circled around behind her. He cupped her neck, thumb and middle finger pressing lightly on the soft spots just behind her jawbone. It forced her head up and back, so she was looking at him.

  “You understand what I’ll do to you?”

  “Yes, Master Xavier.”

  “I want to hear it.”

  “You’ll do everything on the checklist that both of us said yes to.”

  “That may be only one thing.” His thumb moved in a small circular caress over the sensitive skin below her ear. “It may be all of them.”

  “Yes, Master Xavier.”

  “I won’t fuck you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t touch you, use you.”

  “I know.”

  He held her gaze for another moment and then released her. He made a noise of either anger or disgust. Mae had a moment to wonder what she’d done wrong while he stalked away, but then he turned.

  “Last chance, little girl.”

  “I’m not your little girl.”

  “Okay, Red, you’re right. You’re not a little girl.” Master Xavier took out a pocket knife and flicked the blade open. “But what you are is mine.”

  Chapter Three

  Xavier pressed his thumb against the blade of the small knife, hard enough that he felt it, but not enough to draw blood. He needed the pain to center himself. This wasn’t supposed to be happening; she was supposed to be long gone, fled back into the arms of men who would kiss and cuddle her, then “punish” her with orgasms.

  Strangely, he wanted to kiss her, something he rarely did. But the cuddles…well.

  “Stand.”

  Mae pushed to her feet, her hands still clasped together in front of her. She had lovely breasts, large enough to make breast play interesting, and her nipples were excitingly pink against her pale skin.

  “Hands at your sides.”

  She hesitated long enough that he was tempted to grab a crop. He wouldn’t have tolerated this from anyone else.

  Mae unclenched her fingers and let her arms dangle, taking a shuttered breath as she did so.

  Rather than punishing her for being slow to obey, he found himself reaching out to caress her left shoulder and breast, rewarding her for her bravery. “Good.” She calmed slightly at his touch.

  Xavier hooked two fingers in the tie of her robe, slid the blade of his knife under the fabric, and cut it.

  The sash dropped and her robe fell open. In the next breath the fabric lost its tenuous hold and slithered to the floor, revealing a pair of hot pink lace boy-cut panties with a large fabric bow on the back.

  Xavier circled her, examining her near-naked body. “I haven’t had a sub who wore pink panties in…ever.”

  Mae cleared her throat. “What do your subs normally wear?”

  “Black.”

  “You don’t like pink?”

  Xavier squeezed her ass. The bow was completely ridiculous, and yet he found himself admiring the way it framed her bottom. He rubbed her back and shoulders, palmed her breasts, and ran his hands up and down her legs, getting her used to his touch.

  Mae was breathing hard, enough so that Xavier was concerned. For whatever reason, this lovely, soft woman had decided that she was going to subject herself to him. He knew all about using BDSM to exorcise personal demons, so he wasn’t going to judge her, or refuse to play with her. But he was going to protect her, if even from herself—at least until his own needs reared their ugly head.

  He’d never felt this protective urge. Usually he was all about pushing, both himself and his subs, to the edge.

  Right now he needed to know why she was breathing so hard.

  “Mae, look at me.”

  Her eyes were wide, the irises a lovely shade of gray. There was no distress in her gaze. It wasn’t fear that made her tremble.

  “Mae, are you wet?”

  She nodded jerkily.

  “Put two fingers in your pussy. Show me.”

  Her hand dipped into the pink lace, and her eyes fluttered closed as she touched herself. Xavier grabbed her wrist, squeezing enough that her eyes popped open.

  “Show me, Mae.”

  She held out her hand, two fingers coated in cream. The smell of her arousal was strong in the air. Xavier inha
led, startled and delighted by how wet she was at this early stage.

  “Clean your fingers.”

  She seemed surprised by the order, and for an instant irritation rippled over her features, but then she put her fingers in her mouth, licking them clean. As he watched her, Xavier started to suspect that there was far more to this submissive than anyone knew.

  “You’re aroused, when everything I know about you, and how you normally play, says that you should be terrified.”

  “I am scared, Master Xavier.”

  “Are you? Or have you been lying to everyone here, including yourself?”

  *****

  Mae opened her mouth to protest. She wasn’t lying to anyone. The words caught in her throat, and for the first time she really was afraid. Not by what he’d do to her body, but by what being with Xavier would reveal about her.

  “Kneel.”

  She dropped down, kneeling amid the discarded fabric of her robe, glad that she didn’t have to reply to his question. Master Xavier grabbed a duffel bag from the shadows under the wooden horse and dumped it into the chair to rummage through it. When he turned to her he had a handful of black straps and rope.

  “Give me your wrists.” Xavier draped some of the restraints around his neck, freeing his hands to work the black and silver cuffs he held. They were padded nylon, the outside reinforced with gleaming steel and set with heavy D rings.

  With quick, sure movements Master Xavier fastened the cuffs around her wrists. They were heavy, probably a pound each.

  “Kneel up and put your toes on the mat, ankles bent.”

  Mae let her heavy wrists drop to her sides and adjusted her feet. When Xavier dropped to one knee beside her, she was nearly overcome with the urge to lean into his warm, hard body, to cuddle against him.

  She bit the tip of her tongue to get herself under control. Cuddling would only reinforce what he thought about her.

  Master Xavier fastened cuffs around her ankles. “Stand up and follow me.”

  Mae took a second to look down at herself—the heavy metal-studded cuffs were unlike anything she was used to.

  Xavier was standing beside one of the sections of ladder-like bars on the wall. The horizontal wooden boards were evenly spaced, starting at the floor and going nearly all the way to the ceiling. It was deceptively simple, almost decorative, but with each step she took, Mae knew that whatever was about to happen would be anything but simple.

  *****

  Xavier again checked his urge to push Mae to move faster. He could feel her nervousness, just as he could feel her excitement. Or maybe it was his own nervousness and excitement that he was projecting on her. Ridiculous that he should be nervous. He was an experienced player who knew how to plan a scene and read a sub. What was about to happen would not challenge him—it was about challenging her.

  Mae stopped in front of the restraint wall, examining it with trepidation. Then she took a tiny step to the side, toward him, as if seeking his protection.

  It was time to show her that he was the one she needed protection from.

  “Back against the bars, arms up.” This time when she didn’t move fast enough he hooked a finger in the D ring of her right cuff and forced her hand up. She stumbled, eyes wide, then quickly got into position. Taking a strap from around his neck Xavier quickly secured that hand, repeating the process on the left.

  “Is this the light bondage?” Mae spoke softly, her eyes on his face. Her hands were spread up and to the side, wrists just slightly above shoulder height, with enough room so she could bend her elbows.

  Xavier pulled another strap from around his neck. “I would barely consider this bondage.”

  She shivered and dropped her gaze.

  “Legs together. Are you right or left-handed?”

  “Right, Master Xavier.”

  “Then lift your right foot off the floor.” He gave her a minute to find her balance on her non-dominant foot, then grabbed her right knee, lifting her leg and pressing it to the side. He didn’t know how flexible she was, so rather than force her knee up by her ribs he raised it only slightly higher than hip height before wrapping a strap several times around her thigh and the bar behind it, buckling the strap in place. He also secured the ankle cuff to the next bar down, and finally tied the cuff on her left ankle to the lowest rung of the restraint wall.

  Mae wavered, upper body tilting to the side as she tried to adjust to the position. She was totally exposed, her breasts and sex both easily accessible. Though she was still wearing the panties, Xavier could clearly see the lips of her sex. She was so wet that the lace was plastered against her pussy.

  “This isn’t bondage?” Mae squeaked.

  Xavier smiled. He couldn’t help it. The outburst should have yielded an immediate punishment, but he liked knowing what she thought. “It’s light bondage. Very light. Here.” He reached up and cupped her hand in his. Her fingers trembled. “Hold on to the strap. That keeps you from straining your shoulders and back.”

  Xavier reached across her to help her grab the other strap, bringing his chest within inches of her. Her head was tipped back, her pink lips slightly parted and oh-so-kissable. Xavier cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb over the corner of her mouth and lowered his head.

  What are you doing?

  Before he did something stupid, Xavier jerked back. Mae looked both disappointed and confused, the expressions flashing across her face.

  He went to his bag of equipment, using the action to gain control of himself.

  “I apologize, Mae.”

  “You’re apologizing, for not kissing me?”

  “We’re here for BDSM play. Not sex or sexual contact.”

  “Wait…you were serious about the no sex thing?”

  Xavier pulled his single-tail whip out of his bag and looped it over his chest. “You thought I wasn’t?”

  Mae didn’t respond. Her eyes were fixed on the whip. Xavier grabbed an eye mask and held it up so she could see it. “I’m going to blindfold you. I’d prefer something more substantial, but this will have to do for now.”

  Mae was still looking at the whip. “Are you…are you going to use that?”

  “What?”

  “T-that.”

  “Ask me properly.”

  She took a breath then met his gaze. “Are you going to whip me, Master Xavier?”

  In response he slipped the eye mask over her head.

  “Master Xavier?” She turned her head side to side, a hint of panic in her voice. He touched her cheek and she calmed.

  Xavier uncurled the whip, took two steps back and snapped his wrist. The crack of the whip’s tip was a sonic boom. Mae screamed, turning her head into her arm.

  In the ensuing silence Mae’s ragged breathing was the only sound. She lifted her head from her arm.

  “You jerk.”

  Xavier narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?”

  “You scared me.”

  Xavier pushed the mask off her face. “What did you just say to me?” He spoke softly, putting a hint of menace in his voice.

  “You scared me.” This time her words trembled.

  Xavier flipped the handle of the whip and pressed the butt of it up under her chin, forcing her face up.

  “Tell me, Red, when you submit, who’s really in control?”

  “The Dominant, Master Xavier.” The words were awkward because of the placement of the whip handle, but she got them out.

  “You’re lying again. You’re in control, aren’t you? You get exactly what you want, how you want it. But you make them think it was their idea.”

  “No, no. I don’t.”

  Xavier trailed the thick handle of the whip down the center of her body, then pressed it against her sex. Mae shuddered and dropped her head forward.

  “Have you ever done a scene where you didn’t get fucked or fingered, didn’t come?”

  “No, Master Xavier.”

  He moved the handle slightly, giving her just enough stimulation to distract h
er, keep her from being able to lie. “In the past who’s been in control? You or the Dom?”

  Mae’s lips trembled and there were tears in her eyes. “I don’t…I don’t know.”

  Xavier retreated and snapped the whip again. She flinched at the sound and let out a little cry, though she could see that it was nowhere near her.

  “Please, Master,” she begged.

  “Please, what?”

  She dropped her head. “I don’t know. I don’t know what I want.”

  Xavier grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to look at him. What he saw in her eyes was both familiar—the raw expression that submissives wore when they began to truly give in, and strange—a kind of delicate beauty that urged him to protect and cherish. Tightening his hold on her hair, Xavier pressed his body to hers and whispered in her ear. “I do.”

  *****

  Mae wanted to cry when Master Xavier left her, returning to that sinister duffel bag. The loss of his body heat made her shiver, even as her scalp ached from his hold.

  She couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said. Had she been topping from the bottom?

  This time when Xavier returned he had a flogger. Mae tightened her hold on the straps attached to her cuffs. She wanted him to flog her. She wanted to wear the marks from his beating.

  This isn’t you.

  “There’s something we haven’t talked about.” Master Xavier rubbed his cheek just under the edge of his mask. She wondered what he looked like without it. What color was his hair? How old was he? He was fit, but had the kind of presence that made her think he might be older.

  “Mae?”

  “Yes, Master Xavier?”

  “Did you hear what I said?”

  “No, I’m sorry.”

  “What were you thinking about?”

  “You, Master Xavier.”

  He rocked back on his heels and crossed his arms. “And what were you thinking?”

  “I was wondering how old you were and what you looked like under the mask. Why do you wear it?”

  “It’s not your place to question me.”

  Mae dropped her gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry, Master Xavier.”

  He was silent, and she thought he was angry, until he said, “Why do you think I wear it?”