by Cleo Cordell
'Ah, not yet. There is to be no release for you until I wish it. You are not yet obedient enough. Your climax must wait.'
She felt his knuckles brushing the curls between her thighs as he touched the marble pillar, rubbing his fingertips in the patch of seepage.
'How your body weeps for love of the lash,' he said. This is something you cannot conceal from me. Or from yourself.'
He carried his fingers to his mouth and licked them. Then he smiled tenderly and kissed the tip of her nose. She felt her heart turn over at the unexpected kindness. When he kissed the corner of her trembling mouth, nibbling gently at her underlip, she tasted herself on his mouth.
'And now,' he said in a deceptively sweet voice, 'we make progress. You shall spank Leyla, no?'
The tears pouring down her face, aroused past the point of no return, she nodded.
'Good.' He reached up and unfastened her wrists. Rubbing the chafed wrists, he raised her hands to his mouth and kissed the open palms.
Marietta shuddered. The slightest touch from him sent a riot of sensations through her. It seemed that her soul, as well as her body, responded to him. It made her afraid. She could not allow anyone to have such power over her, but at the same time a sort of warmth was spreading outwards from her centre. All she had to do was embrace those feelings. Give in to them. As Leyla had.
She lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his. His hard face looked like a mask of shadows in the candlelight. A small satisfied smile curved his mouth. It prompted her back to reality. She felt a surge of disgust at herself. Was it so easy to win her? At the first real testing she had been ready to give in, to welcome him as her master.
Now she raised her eyes and let him see the defiance that blazed there still. He laughed, the sound low and husky.
'Ah, Marietta. How valiant you are! You warm a man's blood.'
He turned to Leyla. 'Ready yourself.'
Marietta stepped away from the pillar. Her legs felt shaky. Each step brought a little shiver of sensation from her bruised flesh. She advanced on Leyla, knowing that she would do as Kasim ordered. There was no alternative. Besides, Leyla had beaten her without restraint.
She watched appreciatively as Leyla, breathing hard from her exertion, tossed back her ringlets of black hair. A few tendrils clung to her damp forehead. Her shapely body was covered in a sheen of sweat. The skin looked a soft peach colour in the candlelight. Leyla's full red-tipped breasts rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath. She smiled tremulously at Marietta and held out the switch. Marietta raised her hand slowly and reached for it, but Kasim stepped forward.
'No. Use your hands only. You will spank her. Wait He opened his velvet tunic and began to unbuckle his belt. 'You will spank Leyla's buttocks while I allow her to pleasure me.'
Leyla threw herself at Kasim's feet and gripped his booted ankles. She rested her forehead on his feet. Thank you, my lord,' she whispered.
Kasim stroked Leyla's bent head and looked into Marietta's eyes. His expression was eloquent. One day you will thank me for allowing you to pleasure my body, it said. Marietta allowed her lip to curl with disdain. A long, slow smile spread over Kasim's handsome face. He walked to the platform and laid down on the divan.
'Come,' he said crooking his finger.
Leyla hurried forward. Kasim arranged himself so that he lay facing one end of the divan, his back supported by cushions. His legs were stretched out, his boots braced against the padded and rolled arm, and his knees were lightly flexed. He pointed to the padded arm.
'Bend over Leyla. Leave your buttocks for Marietta and give your breasts to me.'
'Yes, my lord,' Leyla said meekly, arranging herself as he ordered.
Her heavy breasts hung forward like ripe fruits; they rested between Kasim's booted feet. The long curve of her back was arched and her full rounded buttocks were thrust up and out into a perfect heart shape.
Marietta moved forward and stood behind Leyla.
'Kneel, Marietta,' Kasim said. 'But do not sit on your heels. I want you to see everything.'
Marietta did so, feeling the tension in her thighs and stomach as her upper body remained upright. Kasim made a hand movement and Leyla freed the velvet tunic, letting it fall open at his chest. Then she opened the folds of his full leather trousers, and pulled them down over his hips. Kasim's powerful upper body was laid bare.
For the first time Marietta saw his chest, the slabs of hard muscle there were crested by dark brown nipples. There were ridges of muscles on his flat stomach. A line of silky black hair trailed downwards from his navel, flaring out into a thick curly bush at his groin.
Leyla did not draw the trousers down fully, but left them to lie in folds around the tops of Kasim's muscular thighs. She drew out Kasim's phallus, making a sound deep in her throat at the sight of it, sturdily erect and topped by the swollen bulb. The sight of Kasim, naked to the hips, with his phallus jutting upright was powerfully erotic. The black trousers and high leather boots, clothing his lower body, added a poignancy that complete nakedness would not have.
'Pleasure me with your hands, my Leyla. I wish Marietta to watch everything you do. Now. Begin to spank her Marietta. At once.'
Marietta landed an open-handed slap on Leyla's lush backside. Leyla winced, as the flesh trembled. She gripped Kasim's shaft in one hand and began to work it up and down. As Marietta spanked her Leyla jerked forward, making little cries of pain. Despite the discomfort she caressed Kasim's stomach with a feather-light touch, then dipped her hand down to stroke the heavy sac.
She groaned as the spanking continued, tossing her head so that her fall of hair spilled on to the divan, covering Kasim's boots. Marietta spanked Leyla again and again, feeling the firm flesh tremble under her palm. Soon the buttocks grew warm and began to glow. Marietta could not deny that she felt pleasure in spanking Leyla. Her palm stung as it connected with the now burning flesh. The sound of the slaps echoed around the room.
Marietta's lips parted as her breath quickened. She was aware of Kasim's dark eyes watching her. They were slitted with pleasure, holding her gaze with hypnotic force.
His hips rose a little to meet Leyla's hand as she pumped his cock-skin up and down. The swollen end was reddish-purple, shiny, and weeping a clear fluid. Leyla drew her thumb over the moist end and smeared the fluid over the bulb, squeezing the little mouth shut and anointing the tip of the cock.
Kasim groaned and shifted his hips. Marietta felt a throbbing deep inside her belly. She wondered how it would feel to straddle Kasim's hips and press her soaking sex onto the head of his cock. She imagined it slipping into her, filling her until the tip nudged her womb. Kasim smiled, his tongue moistened his lips. It was as if he knew what she was thinking. She did not care. The liquid heat inside her was demanding that it be slaked.
As she watched Kasim's pleasure, she felt keenly what it was to desire a man. To want him to thrust his hard cock into her, again and again, while she bore down on to it, grinding her bud against the slick cock-stem.
She imagined Kasim, holding her buttocks, dragging them apart, his fingers digging into her flesh-valley as he worked her up and down. The pressure built inside her. She was not aware that she was spanking Leyla hard. Each blow followed on the previous one in rapid succession. Her eyes were held by Kasim's tension. The muscles in his belly were hard, defined into pronounced ridges, as his phallus swelled and jumped in Leyla's grasp.
Leyla began to weep aloud, arching her back and trying to avoid the slaps. Her buttocks simmered under Marietta's hand. She sobbed loudly now, wincing at each slap.
'Wait,' Kasim ordered, gently chiding. 'Leyla has been punished enough. You are overzealous Marietta. How soon you learn to enjoy such contact.'
Leyla raised her head. Her lovely face was tear-stained, the full red lips trembled, Marietta looked in horror at Leyla's flaming buttocks. They were dark red, startling against the white body. She bit her lips, feeling ashamed at her arousal, at the undeniable pleasure she had taken in
spanking Leyla.
'Stretch towards me Leyla. Leave those pretty globes to Marietta. Oil them, so that the pain diminishes.'
Marietta anointed the tortured flesh, while Leyla sighed with relief. Then she took up her position again.
'I want your mouth, Leyla,' Kasim said. 'Has she not been obedient Marietta? Now she is to be rewarded. But not you. Not yet. You may bring Leyla to her peak of pleasure with your lips and tongue. Between her folds you will find her bud, so beautifully large, and hungry to be tasted. Do not disappoint it.'
Thank you, my lord,' Leyla said throatily as she shifted her body forward over the arm of the divan.
Her breasts were flattened against Kasim's knees, her buttocks were tipped up over the padded arm. She spread her thighs apart eagerly as she braced herself on the tips of her toes.
Marietta was stunned by Kasim's orders. Mouth Leyla's sex! She had never done such a thing. But she dared not disobey. Besides, she did feel guilty that she had spanked Leyla so thoroughly.
'Not too close now, Leyla,' Kasim said. 'I want you to stretch that pretty neck and slide your open mouth down over me. Ah, yes. Like that. Just like that.'
Kasim gave a sigh of satisfaction as Leyla's expert lips drew the swollen cock-tip in. She moved down on him, rubbing and sucking the stem. Marietta was presented with the sight of Leyla's naked and aroused sex as it hung down a little between the flushed and widely parted buttocks.
The deep red folds were wet and shiny. She could see that Leyla's pleasure bud was swollen and erect. It was indeed well-developed, protruding from the inner sex-lips like a tiny cock, seeming to invite the touch of lips and tongue.
Marietta bent close. She reached out and took a hold on Leyla's buttocks. The sex pulsed as if anticipating her touch. The smell of Leyla's arousal filled her, prompting a new and deep excitement. The musky scent was strong, clinging to the moist lips, filling the valley of her buttocks. Marietta stretched out her tongue and took a first tentative taste.
She licked one side of the open flesh-lips, feeling the warm moisture on her tongue. The sensation of the tender skin, the rain-tasting flesh and the wonderful scent were as heady as strong wine. Her reticence disappeared.
She opened her mouth around Leyla's sex and lapped at the moist folds, drawing the unusually large bud into her mouth and sucking at it gently. The smooth nakedness of the sex-lips felt strange, but exciting. They were hot and liquid, sliding against her mouth in a sort of erotic kiss. Leyla squirmed and moaned, deep in her throat, as Marietta thrust her tongue deep inside her. She bore down and pressed backwards, so that Marietta felt the parted globes of Leyla's buttocks against her cheeks. The moist scented valley was pressed closely to her mouth and chin.
Marietta moved her mouth up and licked at the little mouth between the buttocks. She thrust in a little way with her tongue tip and felt Leyla shudder. Kasim, too, moaned and thrashed. It seemed that the three of them were locked in some primaeval dance. Marietta craved a release. She had been aroused almost to the brink of orgasm since the dream of last night. Her body cried out to reach a peak of pleasure. She thought she would die if she did not climax soon.
While she contined to mouth and lick Leyla's sex, and listen to Kasim's groans, which had become frenzied, she stretched one hand down to her own sex. It pulsed under her fingers. Quickly, she stroked herself to a fever pitch of tension. Oh, she was near. Let it happen. Let it happen now.
Leyla tensed suddenly. She gave a series of little yelping cries. Her whole body shuddered as her climax wracked her body. Marietta felt her spasms as Leyla's flesh convulsed around her buried tongue.
She rubbed harder at her own erect bud. The wetness had dripped onto her hand. She felt her pleasure drawing to that one burning point. The first waves began to sweep over her. She pressed frantic kisses to Leyla's sex, her heated bottom-cheeks. Then she sagged against Leyla's inner thigh as her climax encompassed her totally.
She choked back a scream. The pulsing was deep and hard. It went on and on. The final waves took a long time to ebb. For a moment she thought she had fainted.
When she could think again, she found that she had slumped to the floor. The carpet was soft under her cheek.
Suddenly she felt a strong hand on her wrist.
'And who told you that you could pleasure yourself?' Kasim hissed. 'I told you it was forbidden. Ah, how disobedient you are still. I hope it was good. Because for that illicit pleasure, you will be chastised further. Here you must earn the right to pleasure yourself. Only I can give that permission. Now. What shall I do with you?'
He looked from Marietta to Ley la. Marietta hung her head. She was unrepentant. It had been worth it. Kasim cupped his chin. He smiled slowly, the smile she was coming to anticipate and dread at the same time.
'I shall bring the date of the banquet forward. In two weeks from now, my friend Selim - the jewel merchant - shall visit. He will bring with him Gabriel, his favourite slave, whom you may remember. If you have not become obedient by that time, I shall ask Selim for his advice. As you saw, Marietta, he knows what to do with troublesome slaves. But for now . . .'
He reached into a carved cabinet and drew out a gold casket. Inside was a small object made of gold mesh and chains. Beckoning Marietta to come close he fastened the chain around her waist.
Tart your legs,' he said, drawing the specially shaped piece of gold mesh between her thighs and securing it to the chain at the small of her back. That will stop you pleasuring yourself. Leyla, you will ensure that Marietta wears this at all times, especially at night. Remove it only when she is bathed or needs to expel body wastes. Until the banquet she is to be stimulated in every way possible, but her pleasure is to be withheld. I want her hot and eager on the night. Selim - Gabriel too - will take great delight in the entertainment I have planned.'
Marietta was too shocked to protest at this new indignity. She stood where Kasim left her, looking down at her caged sex. The little device was beautifully made, as decorative as a piece of jewellery. Wearing the device was worse than being fully naked. Everyone would see it and know of her torment. Her eyes filled with tears. How could he be so cruel? Surely he cared nothing for her feelings.
Kasim rang a bell for refreshments to be brought, then sank onto his divan. Ignoring the two women, he began to smoke a water pipe.
Marietta crossed the room and sank on to a divan next to Leyla, as Leyla bade her. The metal felt cold against her skin. She hardly tasted the food and drink they were served. Her mind was reeling. She must wear the device of mesh and chains until the banquet. What then?
And Gabriel. Gabriel was coming here with his master? She had thought of him often since seeing him in the market place. He was magnificent, there was no other word for him. There had been that one moment of undisguised absorption between them, when she had impressed upon him her admiration and highest regard - had it been love? And he had responded, his tear-bright, grey eyes holding hers just for the space of a moment.
She was eager to see Gabriel again. But she felt very afraid. Now that she knew a little of Kasim, she knew that he had some dark motive for arranging the banquet.
Leyla reached out and closed her fingers over Marietta's hand. Marietta returned the friendly squeeze. Ley-la's long dark eyes were liquid and full of warmth.
'You gave me great pleasure,' Leyla whispered. 'I wish to help you. Will you trust me now?'
Marietta smiled shyly. The last vestiges of resentment toward the Turkish woman faded. Whatever Kasim had planned, at least Marietta had Leyla for comfort. She knew at last that she had found a true friend.
Kasim flashed them a searching look. His black brows drew together. Leyla and Marietta quickly lowered their eyes, but their fingers remained entwined.
Kasim's scowl lifted. He did not look displeased at the open display of affection between the women. 'You may return to the harem/ he said at length. 'Remember Leyla. Continue to train Marietta in all the ways to please the flesh. I will visit every day to superv
ise your progress. Now go.'
Marietta followed Leyla. The gold mesh against her sex had grown warm from her body heat. She resented it intensely, but had to admit that its caress was intriguing. Now that she was forbidden to pleasure herself, she found herself longing to do so. Already the little bud within her folds was growing warm and beginning to pulse.
Chapter Eight
In the house of Selim the screened windows let in the late afternoon sunlight. The light in the small side room was smoky and diffuse, yet not dark enough for lamps to be lit.
Gabriel approached the figure on the divan. He held a brass tray. On it was a bowl of jasmine-scented water and a pile of hot damp towels.
Selim yawned and stretched. As he sat up his silk robe fell open and the great bowl of his belly was revealed. He was sweating; runnels trickled down his forehead and had collected in drops on his top lip. He passed a meaty hand over his face. The still handsome face, slack at the jawline and with a look of dissipation, was blurred with sleep.
Gabriel smiled and greeted his master. Once Selim had been strong and vital, the imprint of his intelligence giving his face a singular distinction. The young Gabriel, purchased in the slave market, had been drawn to his new master by the power of his mind. But that bright intellect seemed to have dulled lately. Selim was overly fond of bodily comforts and, as he grew richer, he had allowed his senses to rule his life completely. The only exercise he took now was on his back, with the most handsome slaves for company; male and female - Selim liked to vary his pleasures. The only task he set himself was to think up new ways to punish and humiliate the slaves for real or imagined slights.
Since that day in the market place Selim had ordered Gabriel to come to the chamber, where he took an afternoon rest at the same time every day. Gabriel knew what was expected of him. With the memory of the public whipping fresh in his mind, the humiliation of having his agonised sexual release witnessed by the common crowd, he took pains to appear good-natured and willing, whatever Selim's taste should be. But though he was willing, eagerness was beyond him at any price. Selim's bloated body held no attraction for him.