by Lila Munro
"If she’s so inclined she may introduce herself if she wishes to know you. You should know, though, she’s under my protection for a while as a favor to her Master, the man she arrived with, Dante Larson. We treasure her and anyone that hurts her is a dead man."
"I understand," he replied. "So are you open to talking to me?" he asked Julie.
For a second her eyes settled on her lap then she looked up at Allen. It wasn’t as if she were asking permission per say, but she was definitely looking for direction. In Dante’s absence it was Allen’s job to offer guidance.
"It’s okay," Allen assured her. "I’ve known Keegan just a few short weeks, but he seems a very nice man and I think we understand each other insofar as where the property line is drawn." Allen smiled at her and motioned for her to turn toward Keegan.
Once she was turned facing him and settled, Keegan offered a hand. "I’m Keegan D’Amato."
"It’s nice to meet you, Keegan." She placed her hand in his offered one and Keegan promptly turned it and kissed the back before looking up and meeting her eyes.
"And you are?" he prompted, his fern green eyes sparkling with curiosity and heat.
"Julie Marie Hayden Chelsea Stevens-Seidler," she blurted before taking an enormous breath and blowing it out, a smile quirking her lips in a triumphant gesture.
Keegan looked dumbfounded. "I won’t ask you to repeat that, but damn."
"Julie was a bit out of sorts a few years back. She makes sure to let everyone know upfront now exactly who she is," Allen offered, cocking his head to one side as he watched Nicki who was obviously distracted by a couple walking by in drag.
"I can fully understand why she’d be out of sorts," Keegan mumbled, sitting back down on the bench. "Is there a story behind all those names?"
"Yes."
"Okay?"
"Keegan D’Amato? I don’t think I’m the only one who should be out of sorts. You should really try the crab balls," Julie said, twisting her legs in an effort to relieve the beginnings of a cramp. No way in hell was she sharing such intimate details with this man that made her pulse jump a bit. "Granted they aren’t colcannon or pasta alle sarde, but you haven’t really lived until you’ve had one of Delilah’s."
"Touché, and while I enjoy a good Irish potato or well put together anchovy sauce any day, I’m third generation, sweets. I’ve lived along the ocean, American side, my entire life. And now I’m intrigued. If I’ve not lived until Delilah’s crab balls, I’d say I’m definitely missing out." Keegan stood and offered his hand. "Would you be interested in showing me these can’t live without creations?"
"Sir, I don’t think my Master…" Julie said, ignoring his hand and turning to Allen. This man made her nervous in a way that was borderline scary and she had no desire to go off alone with him.
"Although I do trust Keegan, I believe you’re right. I think Dante would remove his head and mine for letting you wander away with another Dom. I’m sorry Keegan, I have to deny you that much access to Julie. However, Nicki’s free now. In fact, I think that’s an excellent idea," Allen said, putting a hand on one of Nicki’s elbows, urging her to stand. "Grab some more snacks, go for a walk."
Julie twisted her nose a bit and looked at Allen like he’d lost his mind. "Anxious to be rid of her, Sir?"
"No. I’m not. Just thought she might enjoy the walk, the fresh air, the stars. Now go." Allen made a shooing motion with his hands and before Keegan even had her pointed in the direction of the French doors, his attention was once again turned to the young girl Julie rescued from her own Dom.
"I think you’re afraid of her, Sir," Julie accused, watching his eyes follow Nicki before dropping back to her.
"Maybe. But she reminds me an awful lot of you at that age. I lost that fight once. I'm not willing to stick my neck out for another go at the reaper’s scythe."
"I tried, you know."
"We both did. It didn’t work and I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t with her, either."
They sat in comfortable silence a few minutes and Julie enjoyed the ease at which they could do that. Sit without talking. Allen was as much one of her old shoes as a Dante and Blake were now or Mason had been.
"Sir, my knees are giving out," Julie said, standing. "I don’t really want to piss off my Master by not being able to do much more than hobble around the rest of the evening."
"Wise decision," Dante’s voice spoke over her left shoulder. "How long have you been down there, love?"
"Long enough to know better," she answered, seeing Keegan and Nicki returning. "Master."
Although Keegan and Nicki were chatting amicably, neither really looked particularly interested in the other. When they reached the end of the patio, Nicki once again took a chair near Allen and Keegan remained standing.
"Are you this fine woman’s Master?" he asked Dante. Julie swallowed hard at his forward manner. Just who the hell did he think he was?
"I am," Dante returned, eyeing the man up and down with a critical glare. "Who the fuck are you to be asking like you have the right?"
"I’m Keegan," he said, sticking his free hand out which Dante ignored. "We were talking a bit. She’s very well behaved. I asked for her help with the buffet and she denied me and turned to Allen for advice. Wish I could find a woman that yielding."
"Keep looking," Dante said flatly, pulling Julie and Blake a bit closer. "We have a closed relationship."
"I understand," Keegan went on as if he was oblivious to Dante’s subtle warnings. "I’d keep her close, too. Are y’all from Savannah?"
"No," Dante said. "And you’re not either, are you?"
"No."
"Allen, I think we’re ready to venture inside," Dante said, turning Julie behind him and moving toward the house. "I’d appreciate a safety. If you’re inclined."
"Gladly, my friend." Alan stood with a wicked smile on his face that told Julie she was in for a marking and he and Dante were pressing for this Keegan fellow to watch so he would know under no uncertain terms that Julie belonged to Dante. Period. "Keegan, Dante is an expert with the four-foot. Bring your plate. It wears a person out just watching him. Nicki. How about you, doll? Ever see a whipping before?"
"No, but I’d like to," Nicki said, popping up. "Linn usually just brings me and abandons me and I end up leaving before anything really exciting happens."
"I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that anymore," Julie said, shivering with fear at the look in Dante’s eyes.
Dante stopped on his way past the stairs before going down the long hall that led to Allen’s sound proof dungeon in the east wing of the house. "Slave, go get my bag," he told Blake.
Without hesitation, Blake shot up the stairs not looking back as Dante continued his path toward the room Julie had seen every day since arriving at Camelia Downs. Her introduction to the world of pain, as Dante had so eloquently put it, started off with paddling and progressed from there through floggers, crops, and canes. Last night he’d even let her have a small, if not satisfying, taste of the violet wand she’d been so keen to try. That was something she wanted to do more of and had expressed as much through a bit of pouty begging when he wouldn’t go further with her than he thought she was ready for. But something told Julie no amount of electricity would compare to what Dante had in mind for this display of ownership he was getting ready to inflict on her for the sake of some young Dom who'd shown an interest in her even though it appeared they were years apart in age. If she were honest, Julie had to admit the thought of someone looking at her like men had years ago gave her a measure of thrill. It was nice to know she was still considered attractive with her stretch marks from so many failed pregnancies, gray hair, and crow’s feet.
Too bad Dante didn’t see it for what it really was. It was an innocent flirtation that made her feel vainly pretty, although she’d be lying if she ignored the guilt that came along with that. Julie didn’t think he had a thing to prove. She knew who she belonged to. He didn’t need to beat his chest and bello
w over her. Of course, her head told her this was another aspect of the male ego thing. But as much as her heart tried to grasp the concept, the gleam in his eyes had her a bit rattled. Although she looked forward to the bite of the whip, for him to take her to task in anger was a kind of scary that didn’t sit well with her and as they entered the dungeon, a cold chill settled over her and sank like a rock to the pit of her stomach.
There were only two other couples taking advantage of Allen’s play room at present. One couple was happily enjoying his suspension equipment with the sub strung up in a bright purple rope sling, her Dom noisily lapping at her pussy. The other couple had claims on a spanking horse. The Domme in that relationship was so intent on the caning she was administering to her sub, she didn’t even seem to sense the people that streamed in behind Dante while he brought Julie to stand between the two heavy wooden posts that stood floor to ceiling at the far end of the room.
"Do me proud, love," Dante whispered in her ear as he loosed her laces then reached around to unclasp the hooks in front, her corset falling to the floor. He kicked it to the side as he unzipped her skirt and it, too, fell in a pool around her feet. She stepped out of it and it soon joined the corset to the side of the station.
"Yes, Master," Julie said over a quiver in her voice as Dante took her left wrist and secured it in the metal cuff hanging from the black chain that ran through an eye bolt secured at the top of the post.
Once he was sure her wrist was immobile, Dante walked to the post, took the end of the chain, and tugged it through the bolt until Julie’s arm was taut above her head then he lashed the free end to another eye bolt in the floor rendering her frozen. He repeated the process with her other hand then proceeded to secure her ankles in the same manner, thoroughly spreading her legs, exposing every inch of pouting flesh between her legs.
Until that moment, Julie had been focused on Dante alone, but now that he was finished with the initial task of restraining her and securing her hair on top of her head, she looked around to find Allen watching with a critical eye, Keegan was seated in a metal chair a few feet away eating crab balls like he was at the movie with a bucket of popcorn, and Nicki was in the corner, hugging herself with a look of horror on her face. Clearly she hadn’t been lying when she said she’d never witnessed any of the good stuff. Although Julie could turn her head, she didn’t dare to see how many had gathered behind them for fear Dante would put her in a stiff collar to keep her eyes to the front.
"Master?" she asked, hoping her concern for Nicki didn’t further infuriate him. "I think someone needs to see about Nicki. Please, master?"
"Who does she belong to?" Dante asked, looking the direction in which Julie’s eyes fell.
"Well, Sir, she did belong to Linn Dabney, but I sort of took it upon myself to relieve him of his duties. He’s a poor Master and I…"
"You did what?" Dante demanded.
Oh dear. Julie really wondered if she should just call Orchid right now and hide in Allen’s quarters until Dante calmed back down.
"I said he’s a poor Master," she said over clenched teeth. "Please, Master, would you ask Allen to see to her. She’s afraid."
Actually, at this point Julie had no idea who was more afraid, Nicki or her. If she looked anything like Nicki did, they both resembled ghosts…green ghosts that were feeling queasy to be exact. Deciding the risk was worth the cost, Julie turned her gaze to Allen and pleaded with her eyes for him to pay attention. Whether he understood her concern about Nicki or saw the real fear in her eyes over her own situation, his brow crinkled and he walked over.
Never uttering a word or asking permission, Allen took her chin between his fingers and raised her eyes.
"Oh no you don’t," he said when she tried to avert them from his examination. "Dante, you have a bit of a problem. You’re not touching Julie until you get a lid on your fury."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Dante said, only proving Allen’s point further. Rarely did Dante raise his voice or use such harsh words unless he was in a mood.
"I’m talking about your attitude right now. I knew you were a bit miffed at our new friend over there, but you’re a tad past pegged and you’re not touching her until you tone it down. She’s terrified right now and I won’t allow it." Allen turned loose of her chin and bracketed her face with his palms. "Julie, look at me. You’re alright. I won’t let him touch you in anger. Understand me?" He leaned and spoke too low for Dante to hear. "He needs to piss on his fence, but I won’t let him tear the fence down doing it. Can you reel in your fear?"
"Yes, Master Allen," Julie told him, her breath coming in quickly drawn bursts. Allen realized something even she hadn’t. She was on the verge of hyperventilating.
"Okay. You’re okay. Take a few deep breaths. This is what I’m here for. The safety, remember? This is why Dante asked for help." Allen stroked the back of her head, never wavering from his stance, eyes always locked. "He’ll come down here in a minute. You want to do this for your Master, don’t you?"
"Yes, Master Allen," Julie said, the initial panic easing.
"That’s good, because he needs it. Probably more than you do right now. He’s as insecure as you are sometimes. You know that, right? He doesn’t want to lose you. He sees Keegan as a threat."
"I know that." Julie’s eyes wandered to the chair where Keegan sat, a smug look on his face as if he knew things were deteriorating and might fall apart at any second, giving him a chance to swoop in and pick up the pieces. "Turn my Master loose on me, Sir. I’m ready." As good as her ego felt being stroked by the young man, it sort of pissed her off that he was so willing to treat her like a piece of meat. She wasn't property. She was a person first. "See about Nicki, though. I think this is freaking her out just a little bit."
"I can do that. You’re sure you’re okay?"
Julie nodded and gave him a weak smile. She could hear Dante pacing behind her, the whip zinging through the air every few seconds as he warmed up his arm.
She was okay. Was he?
Allen moved away from her and she heard him having a few quiet words with Dante before he came back around her and headed for the corner in which Nicki was still huddled, a gray ring developing around her lips. As she watched Allen move behind the young, clueless girl and start a steady kneading of her shoulders, her heart rate slowed a bit more only to have it speed back up at the low rasp of Dante’s voice in her ear.
"I’m sorry, love," he said, grasping the nape of her neck, squeezing. "I didn’t mean to scare you, before or just now. I’m under control. Do you trust me?"
"Yes, Master," she said, knowing she sounded more confident than she felt. "I trust you."
"Thank you. You’re a good girl." With that he backed away and the tip of the four-foot sailed by her head, caressing the air around her temple.
Julie jumped before she remembered there was nowhere to go and the cuffs bit into her wrists. Fortunately she was able to stay the cry of surprise from erupting and instead inhaled sharply before reaching up and clutching the chains to fortify her stance. She heard the whip sail around her, cutting the air to shreds, twice more before the third time it landed across her right shoulder, stinging but not brutally so. The now familiar tingle associated with the hurt settled in her middle and warmed her, chasing away the chill that had landed there earlier. She was sure if Dante was still in a bad place, she’d have detected it in his blow. Instead love radiated from the stripe now gracing her back and she was able to take a full breath in for the first time since entering the dungeon.
The next blow was more solidly placed on her left shoulder and elicited a bit of sweat to bead up on her brow, trickling down her temple. Metering her breathing as she’d been taught, letting the pain wash over her in increments to turn to heated pleasure, Julie let her mind shut down and her thoughts float away as she began to anticipate the strikes, reaching for them, craving more. Just as she began to drift, her eyes wandered a bit from the spot on the wall she’d been using as a foc
al point and she found Keegan had stopped eating, his plate tilted in his lap, the contents now strewn all over the floor at his feet His mouth was open, eyes huge as he watched her in obvious lustful fascination. Her last coherent thought was about how dangerous that man was.
Chapter Seventeen
When Julie woke, her back was on fire even though she was on her side and nothing touched it. She didn’t even sense the presence of anyone in bed with her. Odd. She thought she remembered Blake helping her into bed, explaining that Dante was recovering and would come to bed as soon as he felt better. Did she recall someone whispering Dom-drop? With that niggling at the forefront of her mind, Julie knew she needed to get up and see to her Master. Dom-drop was as bad as sub-drop and he could feel like someone had rolled over him with a tractor for days to come if he wasn’t properly tended to.
Sitting up was a feat in itself as she discovered not only was her back on fire, her body ached from head to toe. She forced her eyes open and started to scoot to the edge of the bed, noting it was still quite dim in the room, the only light coming from the bathroom doorway, although she wasn’t sure if it was really dark outside or the curtains where making it hard to discern the time accurately.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Blake asked, hurrying to the side of the bed.
"Where’s Dante? What time is it? Is he okay?" Julie rapid-fired questions at him as she continued moving toward the side of the mattress. "You should be with him instead of me…"
"Whoa, slow down, pumpkin." Blake took her by the shoulders and stopped her forward momentum. "First of all. Are you okay? Why are you awake? Are you in pain?"
"Yes. I’m not sure. Yes. Now where’s our Master?"
"Resting. He’s in the suite next door and Allen’s keeping an eye on him. It’s three a.m. Stay," Blake told her, patting her bare thigh which Julie found to be blazing as well.
"Shit, that hurts," she whimpered, looking down to find angry red stripes lining her upper legs. She looked like a crimson and white zebra. There were even welts across the tops of her breasts.