by Amy Cross
He stares at me for a moment, and finally a nervous smile spreads across his lips. "It's kind of hard to talk when you're holding me against the wall".
"Try," I say firmly, pushing harder against his collarbone. Just an ounce more pressure, and it'll snap in two.
"What do you want to know?" he asks. "It's a fucking big story. Where do you want me to begin?"
"What's this game all about?" I say. "Give me the potted history".
"It's old," he says. "No-one knows how old exactly, but it's very, very old. At least a century, probably two. The history and the rules are set down in a book that remains at all times in the hands of Lady Red. If you want to know the full details of the game, you need that book. But good luck getting to see it. You see, Lady Red's the guardian of the -" Suddenly he pushes me away, almost knocking me to the ground. I momentarily lose my grip on his collar, and he scrambles a few feet away before I grab his leg and haul him down to the ground. Pulling him closer, I climb on top of him, turn him to face me and wedge my arm against his neck, determined to make sure he can't get away again.
"Nice try," I say. "Keep talking".
"Fuck!" he shouts in frustration. "What do you want from me, Pope? These walls have ears. If I talk to you, they'll find out, and then my life won't be worth living".
"You're life isn't worth living now," I point out. "It never has been".
"I've told you everything I know," he splutters. "Lady Red's the one who's in charge. Mr. White's always the enforcer, the one who deals with problems as they arise, and the one who uses the really kinky stuff. It's all about sex, you see. Mr. Blue's the one who secures the girls initially and tests them before passing the successful ones on to the others. The aim is to find a girl who can reach the final stage of the game and then meet the challenge that's laid down in the book, but beyond that..." He struggles for a moment. "I don't know anything else! But I can tell you this: they're the most secretive people in the world, they have connections to the most powerful people in London, and they know how to get what they want. And any girl who's drawn into their world, who falls under Mr. Blue's spell... She's history. There's no way back".
"What's their weak spot?" I ask. "Everyone has a weak spot. How do I get to them?"
"They don't have a weak spot," he says with a laugh. "They're impenetrable. They have it all sewn up. If they want you dead, you'd better make your peace with God, because you'll end up with your throat cut. These people mean business, Mr. Pope, and it seems to me that you're already doomed. Just please, please don't get me involved! I've already gone to great pains to make it appear that I know nothing about them".
"Everyone has a weakness," I reply, lifting the pressure on his neck a little. "I'm not going to just roll over and die. It's not in my nature".
"You're a rat," he sneers.
"That's right," I say, "and rats don't give up. Rats fight to their last breath".
"No," he says. "Rats don't run unless they're cornered. If there's any way out at all, rats run. That's what you need to do. Get up, run, and don't stop running until you're on the other side of the world. They can reach you anywhere, but at least you'll be able to live a little longer if you're far away. It's your only option, Pope. Don't delude yourself. You're good, you're one of the best, but they're better. If you go up against them, you don't have a hope in Hell. They'll take you down".
"Someone must have found a weak spot before," I say. "They're not -" With no warning, John pulls himself partially free and slams his fist straight into my face, knocking me backward. I recover quickly, but it's too late and I see him racing away down the alley. I could probably chase after him, but right now I don't see the point. I already know everything I need to know in order to make a stand, and time's running out.
Getting to my feet, I figure I probably wasn't going to get too much more information out of him anyway. John the Pig is a lot of things, but he's never been brave, and it's clear that he's terrified of these people. If I'm going to get out of this situation, I'm going to have to go on the offensive, rather than just waiting for them to catch up to me. They think I'm going to run, so I need to stand my ground. Inspector Matthews was a good man, maybe, but he was impatient and prone to rushing ahead without a plan, whereas one of my great skills is the ability to come up with an idea and then implement all the complexities. Sure, I'd like a little longer in order to work out what I'm going to do, but right now I have to work fast. I can't stay in the King's Arms forever, and I'm sure Lady Red and her gang have feelers out all over London. I have to come up with the one thing they'd never expect me to do, and then dive straight in. It'll be dangerous, but it's better than waiting for one of them to slip a knife into my heart.
Five
Today
"You look nervous," Mark says as he approaches the bed.
I smile weakly, unable to take my eyes off the coiled whip in his hand. Everything about this night has been so soft and sensual so far, and it's a shock to see something so brutal introduced to the mix.
"You have to understand the purpose of pain, Elly," he continues, standing before me, his large cock now hanging semi-erect between his legs. "Pain is your body's way of telling you that something's wrong. Fundamentally, it's your body's way of saying you need to react in order to avoid a threat. It's a vital part of life, but in certain circumstances, it's possible for the mind to dominate the body and push the pain into submission. When you bit me just now, for example, I was able to withstand the pain by forcing myself to remember that it was just a bite, and that I was in no real danger. It's in this way that the mind is able to establish its dominance over the body".
"Uh-huh," I say, still unable to take my eyes off the whip. The thought of him using that thing on me, or me using it on him, is just too horrifying to contemplate, yet I'm quite sure that's what's in store. After all, I doubt he got it out simply to let me take a look.
"Most people live their lives in thrall to their bodies," he says, sitting on the edge of the bed. "If their body tells them something, they have to listen. But some people are able to elevate their mind above their body, and stay in control. It's in this way, Elly, that we prove that we're more than animals". He uncoils the tip of the whip and holds it out to me. "Don't be afraid. The more you understand, the less you'll be scared. Feel the surface. Get to know it".
I take the tip in my hand and run my fingers along the knotted, textured surface. It doesn't feel dangerous or terrifying, but I know deep down that its real power comes in the way that it's used. Although it feels like just a length of material, I know that in the right hands it could cause real damage.
"You've gone very silent on my suddenly," Mark says.
"I don't know what to say," I reply, still touching the whip.
"You're right to be nervous," he says. "This is a powerful tool. Used to its fullest extent, it could split your skin open with a single crack. But used by someone who knows what they're doing, its impact can be moderated. The level of pain can be controlled. Like all tools, it needs to be used with care and precision". He pauses for a moment. "I'm a master of this tool, Elly. That might sound big-headed, but it's true. I've practiced. I've made mistakes and I've learned, and now I control this thing completely. It does what I tell it to do, and I can control the level of pain it delivers". He stares at me. "Would you like me to demonstrate?"
I take a deep breath. In my mind, I'm screaming "No!", but I'm worried about the night ending.
"You can turn it down," he continues. "You can say you don't want this, and I'll put it back in the cupboard. Then, you'll have to put your clothes back on and walk out of here, and we'll never see one another again. As I told you before, you have total freedom and I won't do anything without your consent, but this is who I am, and there are no half measures. You're either in, or you're out. Do you understand that, Elly?"
I nod, not sure what to say. I feel as if I'm venturing into the kind of territory that terrifies me.
"Would you like a demonstration
?" he asks. "Something to help you get an idea of how this works?"
"Sure," I say after a moment's pause.
"Get on your hands and knees," he says.
I swallow hard. "You want to demonstrate it on me?" I ask, desperately playing for time. This time a week ago, I hadn't even heard of Mark Douglas, and now I'm sitting naked on his bed, waiting for him to whip me. "Where?" I say. "I mean... where on me?"
"Just get on your hands and knees," he says. "Unless you want to back out, in which case..."
"No," I say, feeling a new sense of strength surge through my heart. I know I could turn and walk out, but I'd spend the rest of my life wondering what might have happened. Mark's not a bad guy, and I'm sure he won't hurt me too much. This is probably on the same level as a little light spanking, in which case it's nothing to worry about. He's probably more bark than bite, so I just need to hold my nerve and let him do what he wants. If this is what it takes to get him to cum, I'm willing to put up with some light role-play.
Taking a deep breath, I get on my hands and knees, and I stare straight ahead as Mark gets up and walks behind me. I hear him fumbling with the whip, getting ready to use it on me. My heart is pounding, almost as if it might leap out of my chest. I don't know if he's going to use the whip on my back or my ass, but either way I can't help imagining what it's going to feel like when the leather of the whip cracks against my skin. Damn it, does Mark really need to do stuff like this in order to get properly turned on? Is he really the kind of guy who gets off on pain, and am I really the kind of girl who's willing to submit to this kind of treatment?
"Elly?" Mark says. "Are you sure you're okay with this?"
"Yeah," I say, trying to hide my nerves. "Go on. Do it".
He pauses for a moment. "You're trembling," he says eventually.
"I'm fine," I reply. "Just do it".
"Are you aroused?" he asks.
I open my mouth to reply, but then I realize it's true: I am aroused. I'm scared and frightened and freaked out, but I'm also extremely turned on. It almost feels wrong to be feeling like this, but I can't help thinking about Mark's desires. The thought of him wanting me, and using my body for his own pleasure, makes me feel as if I'm a real woman. I bend a little further forward, keen to give him the best possible view of my ass. As I do so, he reaches closer and runs his hand over my buttocks, as if he's sizing up the area he's planning to target with the whip. The touch of his skin is electric,
"Try to focus on the cause of the pain," he says. "Try to remember that your mind is in control".
I smile weakly, trying to brace myself for what's about to happen. After a moment, I feel something moving in the entrance to my vagina, and I realize a single drop of wetness is starting to dribble down the inside of my thigh. I take a series of deep breaths, determined to remain in control of my body. I never thought I'd be turned on by something like this, but the truth is that while I'm dreading the possibility of pain, I'm also excited about the chance to break through to another level of intimacy with Mark. This is what he wants, and I like the idea of giving it to him. Whatever he needs in order to be able to cum with me, I'll let him have it. What matters the most to me right now is the thought that -
Suddenly I hear a cracking sound, and a sharp pain lashes my right buttock. I let out a short scream of pain, and I instinctively turn around to face him, feeling a searing line slashed through my flesh.
"Fuck!" I shout, dazed by the force of the lashing he just gave me. I knew it'd hurt, but I thought he'd hold back a little.
"It's hard, isn't it?" he asks, unable to hide the smile on his face. "Your body's first instinct is to move away from the source of the pain. It takes so much mental fortitude to remain in place, to take whatever's coming".
Reaching down, I feel the sore spot on my buttock. There doesn't seem to be any damage, and I can't feel any blood, but there's a stinging pain along the line where the whip made contact. My heart is racing, but I can't help noticing Mark has an erection again. It's clear that doing this to me was extremely arousing for him, and from the look in his eyes I can tell that he's very pleased with how things have gone so far.
"The first time is always difficult," he continues. "No-one can conquer their impulses immediately. It takes training. It takes discipline. Trust me, I've spent a long time perfecting this side of my psyche".
"Why?" I ask, still a little breathless. "Why would you even want to do that?"
He pauses for a moment. "I'll do it again," he says eventually. "See if you can control yourself any better. Just one more time for now, I promise".
I stare at him, trying to decide whether I can keep this up. I know Mark talked about going past my comfort zone, but this is crazy. I can't believe he'd want to inflict pain on me, but at the same time I've got this incredibly powerful feeling in my chest, like a combination of fear and desire. Part of me wants to run out of here, but I know I'm going to stay.
"One more time," I say, getting back into position with my ass presented to him.
"You've got a beautiful body, Elly," he says. "You know that, don't you?"
"Do it," I say firmly, wanting to get it over with.
"Such soft skin," he continues, running a hand over my ass before parting the cheeks slightly to get a look at my asshole. "So firm and tight".
"Just do it," I say. I take a deep breath. Damn it, the way my heart is pounding, I'm worried I might actually pass out at any moment. I look down at the bed-sheets, willing him to get this over with. As I hear him step back, I tense my entire body and focus on controlling my breathing. "Do it," I say again. "Just do it".
I wait.
And wait.
And wait some more.
"Mark -" I start to say, but as soon as I start to speak, I hear the cracking sound, followed by an even greater slash of pain than before, crossing a little higher on my right buttock this time. I let out another scream as I drop flat onto my face, and this time the agony lasts a few seconds and it's quite clear that he whipped me harder. I squeeze my eyes tight shut for a moment, and when I open them I realize I'm close to tears. I can't take this any more. I have to tell him to stop. I don't care what he wants or how much he needs to hurt me in order to cum, I can't do this.
"I -" I start to say.
"Okay," he says, interrupting me. "Let's do something else".
I sigh, feeling a rush of gratitude flood through my body. To my surprise, I feel Mark wiping a piece of cloth across the spot on my ass where he whipped me, and when I turn around I see he's holding a little white towel with a small spot of blood on the fabric.
"Is that mine?" I ask breathlessly.
"The towel?" he says with a smile. "No. But the blood? Yes. Just a little".
I reach down and feel a small cut on my buttock. I can't believe he actually broke the skin. Suddenly this all feels far too real and far too dangerous, and I find it hard to believe I allowed things to get so far. I watch as Mark climbs onto the bed and lies down flat on his stomach.
"Do me," he says, turning to look at me. "Just once. Across the back and the buttocks. As hard as you can. Don't worry, you won't hurt me".
"No," I say, shaking my head.
"No?" He stares at me for a moment. "Are you quitting, Elly?"
I pause. "No," I say eventually.
"No, you won't do it?" he asks. "Or no, you're not quitting".
I take a deep breath, before getting off the bed and grabbing the whip. I stare at Mark's perfect body and try to imagine causing him pain. Looking down at the whip, I think about how it will feel to use it against Mark. My right buttock is still hurting from the whipping he gave me, and all I want to do right now is climb back onto the bed and make love to him, but I know that's not an option. For whatever reason, Mark needs this kind of interaction, and I know better than to try talking him out of these demands. Even from the limited time I've spent with him, I can tell that he's focused and driven.
"Elly?" he says, not looking up at me. "Are you -"
With no warning, I turn for a moment and then bring the whip crashing down against his body. To my horror, there's a slashing sound and I see a long red line open up in his flesh, stretching diagonally from the center of his back to the edge of his right shoulder. He tenses his body, but he doesn't let out a scream. Dropping the whip, I kneel by the side of the bed and stare in shocked horror at the wound I've made. Glistening redness peers out from between the two edges of skin, and the line runs for thirty or forty centimeters through his flesh.
"I'm so sorry!" I blurt out, watching as a thin trickle of blood seeps from the wound. "I swear to God -"
Suddenly Mark turns and puts his hands around my face, pulling me closer and kissing me passionately on the lips. Before I can react, he climbs off the bed and pushes me down to the ground, parting my legs and mounting me. I feel his hard cock slip into my vagina and this time there's no slow build-up. He immediately starts thrusting into me like an animal, and all I can do is put my arms around his waist and feel the awesome force of his strength as he fucks me. He's desperately out of breath as he stares into my eyes, and I finally witness a kind of fury I've never before seen face to face in another human being. I stare mesmerized at him, trying to withstand the relentless jolts as he pounds away at my body. I reach up and slowly brush the side of his face with my hand, willing him to finish inside me, and finally I see that he's tensing like never before, his neck muscles firm and strong.
"Cum," I say as I feel him increase his speed and force. He fixes me with a hard, determined stare, and finally he lets out the loudest grunt I've ever heard, almost like a snarl, as he cums in my vagina. I feel his hard cock ejaculating a thick, sticky load deep inside my passage, and I wrap my legs around him and pull him as tight as possible into my body. He's still ejaculating, staring at me with a passionate intensity until finally he slows down and I realize he's finished. Out of breath and glistening with sweat all over his brow and chest, he leans down and thrusts his tongue into my mouth, kissing me like I've never been kissed before. I feel his throbbing cock still inside me, resting now after its exertion, and I imagine his semen deep in my body. I'd begun to think I might never get him to cum, but now it's finally happened and I couldn't be happier. It's only when I run my hands over his strong, muscular back that I feel the sliced wound under my fingertips, and the telltale wetness of blood reminds me how I got him into this fervor in the first place.