by Rita Lawless
***
April stared at the store, her eyes wide. “When you said masks, I thought about the sort that cover a person’s eyes, like they use in a Halloween costume. I had no idea you meant—” she paused and pointed at the sex store, “that.”
“We’re going to a spanking party, April,” Titan responded. “We’re not attending a costume event where we will bob for apples.”
She shook her head. “I’m not wearing a leather mask that covers my whole face. It will make me nauseous.”
“How do you know that?” Titan had turned off the engine in the car, but he hadn’t made a move to open his door.
“Because, I tend to get… breathy… when I’m spanked. When I breathe heavily, I sweat. I don’t want wet leather clinging to my face.”
April turned her gaze toward Titan. He was frowning, as if he had trouble comprehending what she said. Finally, he said, “If I’m hearing you right, what you want is something that will cover your eyes only.”
“It could have feathers or something, you know, to dress it up a bit,” she said. “I just don’t want to wear a full face mask.”
April thought about it for a few minutes. “Are we wearing full costumes to this event? It is October. Did you ask Poindexter?”
Titan chuckled, and she was pretty sure it was because of the name she’d just muttered. It did seem strange to her that it was the man’s real name; but then again, she knew some names came from family ties. Maybe this was a name passed down through the generations. If it was, and she was Poindexter, she would have shortened it at some point in time.
She watched him retrieve his phone from his pocket. “What are you doing?”
“I’m calling the man we met last night,” he said with a chuckle.
April settled into her seat as he made the call. The idea of wearing a full face mask Saturday evening made her hands shake. She knew people who enjoyed that sort of thing, but she wasn’t one of them. Or maybe she was; she’d never tried it before, but the idea had never appealed to her.
From the other side of the car, April heard Titan say, “Intriguing. Is there a sign up list, so there are not ten Marquis de Sade characters?” There was a pause. “Sounds great. Thanks for the info.”
He ended the call and turned to her. “Turns out costumes are an option. So I suppose what we need to do is decide which famous couple we want to be.”
“Romeo and Juliet?” she said hopefully.
“Not a chance,” Titan said with a laugh. “Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn?”
“She loses her head,” April said in mock horror. “Is that what you see happening between us?”
“This is fictional, remember?” Titan chuckled. “Of course, I’d be a young Henry, before he got all puffy and smelly.”
“Yuck,” April said, although she couldn’t help but laugh.
“I have an idea,” Titan said. “Let’s find a costume shop and see what’s available. After all, it is Halloween, and we need this on short notice. But I have another thought processing through my brain that would be perfect for a spanking party, with a woman that really needed a good spanking, or two, or three, or—”
“I get the point,” April interrupted him. “What’s your idea?”
He chuckled evilly as he turned on the motor. “You’ll see.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“No.” Titan turned his head as he backed out of the parking spot. “This is perfect. Trust me.”
***
In the end, going with what the costume shop had on hand helped them make the final decision. They were fresh out of Rhett and Scarlett costumes, but they did have a ‘southern rake’ costume, that of a river boat gambler. The outfit came with a jacket, vest, tight breeches and knee-high boots.
Titan had altered it just a little, leaving off the jacket and going with only the vest. April thought it made him look sexier than ever.
As that thought crossed her mind, she looked down at what she wore. It was pantalets, with a corset top tightened so much she wondered if she would be able to breath. The drawers would be pulled down easily, Titan told her, so she could be spanked on her bare bottom.
They hadn’t found her outfit at the costume store, but at a lingerie shop. The clerk at the first store had stared at Titan as if he’d grown two heads when he told her what he wanted. But another clerk, standing in earshot, had taken him aside and told him of another store that stocked what he was looking for in their ‘Naughty Nighties’ section.
Now, April stared at herself in the mirror. She felt naked. The material on her lower half was sheer, and she could see her flesh showing through. On the bed behind her, Titan lounged and watched her with interest. At least she thought that was what he was doing, since she couldn’t really see his gaze behind the black mask that covered his eyes.
He had her mask in his hands, a black and red Venetian half-mask decorated with feathers.
“You can see my pussy,” she said, her voice trembling.
“Yes, you can, and a very pretty pussy it is,” Titan responded as he stood. “I’m going to give it a good pounding after the party.”
“The mask doesn’t match the outfit,” she said softly.
“You can go without it, if you like.” He stroked her shoulder.
April shook her head. “I’d rather not.” Her stomach was in knots. Suddenly, going to the fete didn’t seem like such a good idea. She said as much, and Titan laughed. He put his arms around her and brought the mask up to her face. He fastened it around her face.
The effect was perfect, hiding her upper face completely. “You look very sexy,” he said, “half innocent, half vixen.”
“When people ask who I am, what do I tell them?”
“You’re a woman I won in a hand of poker, wearing exactly what I want so that your body is accessible to me in every way.”
“So I have no identity, no name?”
“If they ask for a name, tell them you’re Four Aces, a bound servant.”
April knew it was just a game, a role to play for the event. But she didn’t like being thought of as a servant. It reminded her there were many levels to her chosen lifestyle, and she was at the very vanilla type tier. What would happen if, after she and Titan bonded, he told her he wanted to, in effect, take things up a notch?
“Something wrong?” he asked, and she knew he’d picked up on her tenseness.
“Just a little nervous about being so naked in public,” she said, trying to keep it light. “What happens if we have a wreck? You know they tell you to wear clean underwear in case such a thing happens.”
He looked down. “Your undies are clean.”
The glib retort lessened her tension. “I hope nothing happens and I have to explain this outfit to my mother if she comes to the hospital.”
“I’ll make sure you’re changed first,” he said. He took a step back and delivered a smart smack to her ass. April groaned in pleasure. She was still sore from the last few days, but Titan had promised to take it easy on her tonight.
“Let’s go,” he said. “We want time to look around and see what’s what before we get involved in the actual spanking part of the evening.”
They made the ride outside town in silence. When they’d make the final turn off the main road, April cleared her throat. She must have sounded nervous, because Titan responded immediately. “You have to trust me, April,” he said. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you tonight.”
“What about the red collar thing, which means anyone can spank me?”
“With my permission,” he said. “I don’t plan on letting anyone lay a finger on you… except, maybe, Poindexter. He’s hot to redden your ass. He’s mentioned it to me several times.”
“I wonder why?”
“Because you’re sexy,” Titan replied. “There are lots of us who like women with a little meat on her bones. Spanking a nice, round bottom is fun. He knows it, and I think he might try to lure you away from me.”
“Not going t
o happen,” she said, even though the thought of two men fighting over her made her smile. The GPS told them to take a right, and they would arrive at their destination. They were at a gate. Titan pressed the button and a disembodied voice asked why they were there.
“Titan here to see Poindexter,” Titan replied, and the gate swung open.
They drove almost another mile before they arrived at the house, set in a valley. It was a large house, and April wondered about the owner. Real estate was not cheap in this area, and someone was either very much in debt, or they had a lot of money to spare.
“You ready?” Titan asked her after he’d parked the car.
“Sort of,” she said. She’d been so brave and ready for it, at first. The reality of the situation was not as easy to take.
“Trust,” he said.
“Trust,” she repeated. “It’s the only reason I’m going inside, because I trust you.”
Even in the darkness, with a little illumination filtering in from the outdoor lights around the structure, she could see the smile on his face. “Stay with me,” he said. “If you see someone you think might be the man you saw with Virginia that night in Charlie’s, let me know. Don’t approach him, just tell me.”
“Yes, Sir,” she said.
They exited the car and made their way to the house. Once they’d mounted the steps, a woman opened the door to invite them in. She was dressed in Daisy Dukes and a red halter-top. When she turned, April could see a few welts on the top of her thighs.
“Interesting costumes,” the woman said with a smile. “And you are?”
“A river boat gambler and his prize,” Titan told her. The woman laughed and asked their real names. Titan told her. She checked a list and nodded. Then she picked up a red strap of leather.
“For your lady?”
“Yes.” Titan took it from her and handed it to April. “Put it on.”
She did as he commanded, her hands trembling as she fastened the adornment. When it was secured, she looked up at him. The look of admiration on his face made her smile.
“Have a good time,” their greeter said. “All the rooms in the house are open.”
Her statement prompted April’s mind to whirl. Was this house occupied by people, or was it kept for events just like this? How would you clear it of personal items, hiding things you didn’t want to disappear when strangers were in your home? She wanted to ask Titan if he had asked Poindexter about this, but now didn’t seem the time to bring it up.
They entered the main space by way of a narrow hallway. The sounds of spanking reached her ears before they entered the room. What she saw there answered her question about the house. She doubted this was someone’s residence, unless they redecorated for the event. The room was huge, dotted with couches and chairs.
Each piece of furniture was being used, occupied by men with women over their laps, or women with men over theirs. Spectators watched as those in the seats administered spankings.
April’s mind whirled as she took in the scene. This was not Charlie’s, which featured scenes in different rooms, with one main stage in the main room that could be used by couples.
The sound of hands, belts, paddles and brushes slapping against flesh was almost too much for her to take. She stiffened, and Titan took her hand. “Easy,” he whispered. “Just relax.”
“Welcome,” Poindexter said as he arrived at April’s side. “I’m glad you found the place all right.”
“Not a problem,” Titan said as he offered Poindexter his hand. “This is interesting, to say the least.”
“There are other rooms, where you can place her in a stock, or bind her with her hands above her head. Take a look around and choose what looks like the most fun to you.” Poindexter leaned toward them. “There is also a stable outside, loaded with crops and whips. Some of our more—adventurous—friends go out there.”
“Adventurous?” Titan repeated.
“Yes.” Poindexter had a smile on his face. “It’s for the harder core BDSM players, single tails and the like. I’m telling you about it now for information purposes. You have to have a special invitation to get inside.”
April shivered.
“I take it sex is not prohibited out there,” Titan said.
“It’s outside the main house,” Poindexter replied. “It doesn’t really fall under the parameters of the main event.”
Out of sight, out of mind, April thought as she cleared her throat. The red collar seemed to have tightened since she’d fastened it around her neck.
“I’m keeping you from your fun,” Poindexter said. “Although, I hoped the spanking you and I had discussed could take place first, Titan.”
April’s ears perked up. The two had discussed a spanking?
“Definitely,” Titan said. “Do you have a spot in mind?”
“Follow me,” Poindexter said. He headed for the stairs. They followed him up a half flight. There was a turn to take a second half to another level. Instead, Poindexter went down a hallway. The sounds of spanking were a little muted up here, but still in full force. It came from behind closed doors, and April, despite her nerves, itched to open a few of the doors and see what was happening behind them.
They reached the end of the hallway and Poindexter opened a door. He indicated April should go in first. The room was empty, except for the spanking bench that sat in the center. One wall was full of crops, belts, floggers and other spanking devices.
“April, mount the bench,” Titan ordered as Poindexter closed the door behind them. While she was happy that she wouldn’t be spanked in public, she wasn’t thrilled with the thought that she didn’t know exactly what was going to happen. She wanted to ask, but then she remembered Titan’s last words before they came inside.
Trust. She must trust him.
The bench was simple, a large slab in the middle with a padded place to rest her torso when she bent over it.
She glanced at Titan. His expression was unreadable, and she wondered what he was thinking. Springing things on her was probably fun for him, and she had to remember that she could say no, and he would let her go. At least she hoped he would. She had never tried it with him. But she did trust him.
April took a step toward the bench, then another, and another. Her heart was pounding by the time she put one knee on the slab. She put the second one on there and inched forward. The movement pulled on the pants she wore, tugging them down just a little.
“Scoot up,” Titan ordered. She did as Titan asked, placing her wrists near the open leather cuffs.
She murmured softly as he attached the bindings, first the left one, then the right. “Titan,” she said.
“She really isn’t used to this, is she?” Poindexter asked.
“I told you, we’re in the beginnings of our relationship. But she trusts me, and knows I would never do anything to harm her permanently. She loves to have her ass spanked, as you saw the other night. She’s just not used to being bound.”
“It’s good for her,” Poindexter announced. “Reminds her that you’re in charge.”
“True,” Titan said. “But, there is the thrill, for me, that comes when she stays in the position I put her in and takes the spanking I give her, without moving. I rather enjoy that. But I also like this, seeing her bound, with her ass bared, ready to be spanked until she’s bright red.”
With that, he moved behind her and fastened the cuffs around her ankles. April wiggled, wondering what the hell was happening and why she was letting it. She gasped when Titan wrapped a thick leather belt around her waist, securing her to the bench. She started to sweat, ready to voice her objection.
Why was she allowing this? After all, she was the woman who had kept such a tight rein on her relationship with Tom. She should run screaming from the room, or at least she should have before the leather had come into place. It took her a few, long moments to remember that coming here had been her idea, at first. Sure she’d been nervous, but she was the one who had voiced the idea. If sh
e objected now, Poindexter would question their motives.
When she was secured on the bench, Titan tugged on the pantalets, and bared her bottom.
“Very pretty, as I said the other evening,” Poindexter said. “I’ve thought about her since that night.”
“Don’t think about her too much,” Titan said. “She belongs to me. I agreed to this double spanking because I thought it would take her out of her comfort zone, and it will. But I’m not offering her for your use all the time. Tonight is a one night thing.”
Poindexter laughed. “I have a few friends who are as attached to their subs as you are. To me, they’re nothing more than play toys.”
There were two things from their host’s words that caught April’s attention. One was that Titan was attached to her. The other was play toys. It reminded her of Misty. She wondered if she should tell her friend about this place, see if she and Poindexter could hook up and have some fun together.
She was filing the idea away for future reference when Titan’s words pushed their way forward. Double spanking? What did that mean? “Excuse me,” she said. “Double spanking?”
“One man for each cheek,” Titan said. “You’re going to be nice and red when this is over.”
Rather than being repulsed by the idea, April felt a thrill run through her, from the tips of her fingers to the ends of her toes. The idea of two men spanking her at once had never occurred to her, and now that it was going to happen, she couldn’t wait for it to start.
The fact that Poindexter had never spanked her before didn’t bother her. Titan would keep things in hand.
“Leather? Hairbrushes? Crops? Floggers? What’s your poison?” Poindexter asked.
“She loves a crop,” Titan said. “But I think we’re going to go with floggers tonight. That way it will kiss her ass and thighs, make her really feel the sting.”
April turned her head to watch as the two men strode to the wall. They fingered the implements, each of them selecting a flogger.
Titan’s was brown, and she could see the ends were knotted. Poindexter’s was red, and the strands seemed to be made of something besides leather, but at this distance she couldn’t tell. She was just about to ask what it was when the door to the room opened.