Perfectly Too Far

by Regina Button

  “More like a wall in his mansion.”

  “His what?”

  Judith blushed, sipping the water the waiter brought, explaining the situation. By the time she had told Lorraine about the guest room and clothes, the girl was openly gawking.

  “Judith, this guy... he must really like you, huh?”

  “Excuse me?” She choked on her drink, spilling some. “What the hell do you mean?”

  Lorraine rolled her eyes, stirring her ice around idly. “Don't tell me you didn't realize. Why else would he offer you all of this?”

  “Because he likes my art,” she spat, anger starting to make her temples hurt.

  “Don't get me wrong, I like your work, too. But someone doesn't just offer you a driver, and lodging, and access to expensive clothing and what have you just so you'll paint a wall. Do you like him?”

  “What!” That time, Judith did pour some of her water on her lap. Scrambling, she dabbed it away and fixed wide eyes on the girl across from her. “Do I what? I don't even... I don't know! I hardly know the guy.”

  “He's handsome, right?”

  “Maybe,” she said, thinking about when he had shared the pool with her.

  “And,” Lorraine waved her straw side to side, “he's rich. What's the problem? Why haven't you locked that down?”

  “Lorraine!” Scowling, she looked into her glass, cheeks pink as roses. Her mind filled with images of Benedict, how he would look at her as she worked, the deep sound of his voice.

  Suddenly, the firm, strong gloves of Onyx cut in, and she recalled the dominant man's scent. “I don't know,” she lied.

  Because there's someone else consuming my thoughts.

  “Well,” her friend shook her head, shrugging. “All I'm saying, is this guy wants more than your art. And if you don't want more from him than some extras, you need to be careful. Someone is going to get hurt, and my advice, is don't be around if it's going to be the guy with all the money. I'd hate to see what a man like him does when he's rejected.”

  Judith lifted her gaze, looking at Lorraine and trying to find the right words. “I think it's just... I think I like someone else, that's all.”

  Canting her head like a bird, the other woman leaned closer over the table. “Don't stop there! Is it your driver? He was pretty classy looking, but he's got to be even older than Benedict.”

  “No!” She shook her head, laughing at the ease in the tension. “No, uh, not Corbin. Someone else I met recently.”

  “Well, what's he like?”

  “Hmn... he's interesting,” she muttered, thinking of how he had touched her throat. “I've never met anyone else like him.”

  “What's he do for a living?”

  “I don't know,” she blinked.

  Lorraine wrinkled her forehead in disbelief. “Alright. Where's he live?”

  “I don't, ah, I don't know that either.”

  Throwing her arms in the air, Lorraine laughed sardonically before she spoke. “What does he look like?”

  I can't tell her I haven't seen his face. “He's got a nice body,” she whispered sheepishly.

  “So you pretty much know nothing about this guy, but you like him better than Benedict. Huh,” she sat back in the booth and waved the waiter over. “Well I can't really comment on that. I guess if you like him, you like him, but... why?”

  “Because he makes me feel good,” she finished lamely. Not wanting to say more when the waiter arrived to take their orders, she chewed her lip in silence.

  When they were alone again, she opened her mouth warily. “I know it sounds dumb. And maybe you're right, and Benedict likes me, and I'm being stupid about not jumping on that. It's just, this other guy, he really does it for me. I can't explain why, Lorraine, he does something to me.”

  Her friend smiled, reaching across to grab Judith's wrist. “Hey, you don't need to justify it to anyone. If this other guy gets you going, it's not my business to tell you what to do. Besides,” she laughed, pulling back and lifting an eyebrow, “you didn't listen to me about avoiding Benedict Vance. Why would you listen to me about anyone else?”

  Judith smiled shyly, nodding her head to be polite, but her mind was buzzing. Lorraine's concerns were not unfounded. She did like Onyx, but what did she really know about him?

  I know he can get me to do things I never imagined before.

  Flushing, knowing Lorraine couldn't understand why, she grabbed her drink and didn't bring her relationship worries up again the rest of their brunch.

  When Corbin had pulled up outside, the girls hugged each other tightly and promised to get in touch again soon.

  “Maybe I can come visit you and see your painting?” Lorraine asked.

  Though she was terrified of introducing someone else to that mansion with its strange secret night life, she gave a quick nod and ducked into the sparkling car. “Right, maybe sometime soon!”

  Waving out of the window, Judith wondered what Lorraine would have said if she had told her the whole truth about Onyx.

  Chapter 10.

  The day stretched by far too slow.

  She was lost in a daze, thinking about the night before, and the terrible things she had partaken in. The very idea of it, kneeling at someone's feet and calling them 'Master' was so far out of her realm, if she had been told about it in regards to anybody else, she would have laughed.

  Yet, here she was, biding the time until she could rush back through that red door, to fold at the ground before Onyx. Closing her eyes, she breathed in slowly, imagining what he might do to her. How he had teased her, so close to kissing her lower lips, instead forcing his hard length down her throat.

  The sound of his voice, that low baritone that penetrated her bones... she wanted to hear him call her 'little Sparrow' again, or even just to tell her how good she was.

  “Beautiful,” that voice whispered. It was so real, so close to her ear. Yes, he thought I was beautiful.

  Again, it brushed along her neck, stating how she was...

  “Beautiful.”

  Judith jumped, jerking around to fast she hurt her neck. Benedict grinned at her, eyes twinkling wickedly. Grabbing at her heart, she gave a weak laugh as she eyed him. “You surprised me!”

  “Sorry,” he inclined his head, turning to view the wall she had been painting in her fog. “I was only admiring how this is coming along. It's wonderful, it looks like it will be done soon.”

  Brushing her hair behind her ear, she shot him a sideways look as she calmed her heart. I was really daydreaming, there. How embarrassing, I hope he didn't notice. “I think maybe another day or so, yeah.”

  “That quickly?” He flashed her that perfect smile, dusting down the front of his crisp jacket. She couldn't help but notice it was a different garment than the one she had splashed paint on. Hoping she hadn't actually ruined it, she wiped her stained hands on her shorts self-consciously.

  “Yes, if all goes well, I'll be out of your hair by the weekend.”

  “What if I wanted you to stay longer?”

  Blinking, Judith almost stepped backward. He's so blunt! Her brain tingled, recalling Lorraine's comments on how her employer had a thing for her. “Why would you want that?”

  Shrugging, he tucked his hands in his pockets casually. “I have other rooms I'd like painted.”

  Other rooms? She glanced at the red door below them, and was sure he noticed. Yet he said nothing about it, only gestured with his styled hair at her current work. “Think about it, you might find staying here longer to be to your benefit.”

  “Um, it's just that I was really hoping to catch the next admission period at Sun Arts.”

  “You could do both. Think of the money you'd save staying here, and Corbin could take you to the campus everyday. Then at night, you could work on art here. Wouldn't it be nice?”

  Judith parted her lips, then closed them. Imagining the idea of more time, how she could keep sneaking off to meet Onyx, she felt her lower belly twitch. That would be amazing. “I'll co
nsider it, okay.”

  “Good,” he beamed, a smile that was much more genuine and cheerful than any she had seen him wear before.

  “Does that idea make you that happy?”

  “Hm? What do you mean?”

  Pointing, she felt her own mouth tugging up at the corners. “You just... I've never seen you smile so much before now.”

  As if waking up, his face melted back into a more relaxed line. “Oh, well, as to that... I guess I am in a good mood. But never mind, I've things to do, so I'll leave you to it.” He spun on his polished heels and almost danced down the steps.

  She watched him go, confused by what could make a man like that so chipper.

  ****

  Night could not have fallen fast enough. That is, until it arrived. Then Judith was bursting with anxiety, pacing her room and wondering if her plan was actually a good idea.

  If I go back, what then? It seemed fun last night, but couldn't it get worse?

  She had no idea what Onyx might plan for her, only that she had seen what he was capable of when he had the blonde woman at his mercy. And, after last night, she knew he could command her to bow to his wishes without much trouble.

  Remembering how he had spanked her, she covered her mouth to muffle her own moan. That was incredible, I have to admit. How could it be bad, to go back to him?

  Antsy, like she was an alcoholic who demanded a fix, she finally opened up her closet. The mask was where she had left it, sitting among the others and watching her with empty eye holes.

  Turning, she scanned the racks for something else to wear, thinking about how Roseli had shown up in something other than black.

  There doesn't seem to be any rule about what I can wear, I guess people just tend to choose dark stuff. Mulling it over, she grabbed an emerald green dress that hugged her body, tight as the way Onyx had gripped her jaw.

  Tying her hair back, still worried the red color might give her away if she left it down, she painted her lips with shiny gloss and left her room.

  She had estimated that everyone seemed to show up after eight, and it didn't take more than half an hour for them to finish filtering in. Peering down from the railing, she saw the foyer was empty, so she skipped down the stairs.

  Gripping the handle of that crimson wood, she felt herself shaking. Is it from fear, or anticipation?

  Deciding it didn't matter, she had already come this far, Judith slipped through and into the dim passage. At the bottom, she slowed, her heart racing the closer she got to the purple curtain. Though she was readying herself for it, she still nearly bolted when she saw Corbin.

  There wasn't a line like last night, one or two people were finishing up, exiting through the drapes as she approached. The chauffeur glanced up at her, that face neutral and impossible to read.

  Does he know, did he figure it out somehow? No, impossible, calm down!

  Gripping the pen on the clipboard, she paid attention this time to the page she was signing. She didn't need to add herself again to a new list of some kind and repeat the surprise of last night's role call. With one more glance at Corbin, she slipped through the curtain and into the strange underground world hidden beneath the Hollywood mansion.

  She could see the room was emptier than last night, drawing the connection between there being new submissives joining up. They were all here to watch us get called, so they'd know who we were, for the auction. And now...

  Now, she realized, that the members were all off enjoying themselves elsewhere in the tunnels. Turning in place, she almost walked right into Onyx before she even had a moment to wonder where he might be.

  The noise she made was a small, squeaky breath of air. The appearance of him, sudden as it was, called to her mind the way he seemed just as much a part of this place as the red door itself. His outfit was tight, charcoal. The shirt was open, displaying his glistening rows of ivory muscles.

  Still, always with those gloves.

  Hugging his long fingers, the smooth material caught the light, displaying the texture for a moment. Onyx linked his hands together behind his back, wordlessly staring down at her with an aura of pure confidence. It filled her, made her knees weak and her tongue swollen.

  Kneel, kneel, she reminded herself as she fought the distracting fog in her brain. Carefully, trying to be more elegant than last time, Judith folded to the floor and bowed her head. With her legs bared as they were, she was grateful for the plush rug.

  “Hello, little Sparrow,” he mumbled, sounding like he was more pleased than he wanted to admit. Something touched the top of her head, curling down to trace her jaw. It was clearly his hand when he tilted her head up, smiling into her anxious face. “Did you miss me?”

  “Yes, Master,” she whispered, knowing it was true.

  He only chuckled, rich and dark as molasses. “Follow me,” he said, letting her go and turning to walk. She could feel where he had touched her, it left her skin scalding with anticipation. Standing quickly, she followed behind him down the tunnel.

  From behind, she watched how he moved, enjoying the gentle sway of his wide shoulders. He had a powerful grace, it reminded her of some giant jungle cat. Not paying attention to where they were going, Judith almost didn't recognize that she had been down that passage before. But when they passed through the open curtains, and she saw the familiar couches, that unforgettable table.

  This is the room I wandered into the first night!

  Inside, there were no other people, yet her nerves still sparked as she stared around. Why did he bring me here?

  “Come,” he motioned, having moved to stand by that foreboding table, his tone revealing he couldn't even conceive of her resisting. On legs as unstable as wet spaghetti, the girl walked towards him.

  Mere feet away, the pair sized each other up. Judith was trying to judge his face, the cut of his smile, looking for any sign that this situation was not going to turn into what her paranoid mind expected.

  For his part, Onyx only parted his lips in a toothy grin. “You look lovely tonight. It's a shame you won't be wearing that dress for long.”

  Those words, mentioned so calmly and factually, caused her to almost swoon. Her mouth was dry, keeping her from speaking, which she knew she should be grateful for. Arguing with him would only make this worse.

  “Take it off, girl,” he flicked a finger at her, strict as ever.

  If I don't listen, will he spank me again? The concept filled her with a burning lust, quick as lightning. Excited by his firm instructions, the way he stood there unwavering in his position of power, Judith forced her hands to the hem of her dress.

  Inching it up, she pulled it over her head, like tearing off a band aid. If she gave herself too much time to ponder her actions, she was worried she'd panic and back out. Her mask, caught in the motion, almost pulled free. Flustered, she adjusted it and let the green garment fall to the floor.

  Standing there in her lingerie, Judith fidgeted, tempted to cover herself. Her master nodded his head, silently approving. “Now the rest.”

  Of course, did I expect any less?

  Reaching back, she unclasped the bra, shooting a look at the entrance as she did so. Still, no one entered, and she calmed at the idea they would remain alone. Soon, she gripped her panties, sliding them down her creamy thighs, adding them to the growing collection at her feet.

  In only her simple flats, Judith waited patiently for Onyx to instruct her again.

  “Good girl. Lay across the table on your stomach, reach for the far end and grab the ledge.”

  Even though her intuition had expected this, her stomach still coiled and twisted like she had eaten live snakes. It's going to happen, I'm going to end up like that blonde woman. It struck her, then, how odd it was to not even know that girl's name.

  Stepping forward, Judith leaned over the long table, the surface cool on her belly. It pressed on her skin, her body stretching as far as it could to hold the far edge. The temperature made her shiver, her nipples hardening where t
hey were crushed beneath.

  Lifting her head, she glanced back to see Onyx standing behind her, openly admiring the view. With her feet slightly apart, her ass exposed, she was sure he had a good eyeful. Blushing furiously, she started to bring her legs together to keep some of her dignity.

  “No,” he snapped, making her freeze. “Spread your legs, wide as you can, and don't you dare try to move them.”

  This is humiliating, she thought silently, but despite that, her loins were starting to throb with sudden lust. Knowing he had his eyes fixed on her, she slid her heels to the sides.

  When she was sure it was far enough, Onyx kicked them out even wider. Her legs strained, trembling in their extreme position.

  I don't know if I can hold this.

  Firm, familiar, his gloves gripped her ankles, shackling them into place. Judith gasped, understanding how vulnerable she truly was. He was bent low, so she could hardly see him from her angle.

  But she could feel him.

  Languidly, Onyx ran his palms up her calves, on and on until he tickled the back of her firm hamstrings. His voice rang with the smirk she couldn't see. “Your scent is amazing.”

  The rush of desire coursed through, making her moan, even though she bit her tongue to try and quell it. Onyx rose up, standing between her wide thighs, his hands resting on her hips. It was lewd, Judith knew, for her to be in this position. If he wanted to, he could pull his manhood free and slide it into her right then.

  And why is that so hot? I don't understand anything anymore!

  She thought she should have been more scared, but her attention was focused acutely on the feel of his gloves. He rolled them up, grazing lightly across the top of her ass. “I see I left some marks last time, I hope they served to remind you to behave today?”

  “Y—yes, Master,” she breathed out, licking her lips and wishing he would just touch her a bit lower. Her quim tingled, wanting attention, but he didn't seem keen to offer it.

  “Tonight,” he said, “I'm going to teach you a lesson in patience, as well as worth. I want you to understand what it means to belong to someone, to be a possession, everything it entails.”