Carnal Series 1 - Carnal lesson (4 page)

Shamed by the hot stench, Cheri bounced up and down hoping to shake off the drops. The redhead was trying to say something, but only muffled grunts came out. Desperate to communicate in some way, Cheri grunted back. After a moment, her fellow sufferer awkwardly turned away.

The redhead’s back, buttocks, and thighs were cruelly marred by whip marks.

Horrified, Cheri reared back fighting the leash. The collar bit into her neck.

Chapter Four

“
Were you given any marching orders, or did your
employer
leave her training up to you?”

“
A little of both,” Cheri’s captor replied as the two men descended the stairs maybe an hour later. “What about your plans for today?”

The man called Damek walked over to the blinded woman and reached up. A moment later her still-tied arms dropped in front of her. “Obedience training.” Crouching, Damek released the spreader bar but left the ankle cuffs in place. After standing, he hooked a leash to her collar and tugged, giving her no choice but to stumble behind him up the stairs. Halfway to the top, Damek stopped and looked back. “Drinks at six?”

“
I should be done with this piece of ass for the day by then. You buying?”

Damek laughed. “You know what the other trainers say about you, don’t you? Keep an eye on Reno or he’ll stiff you.”

Her captor—Reno—shrugged. “I’d hate to do anything to mess with my reputation.”

Reno waited until the others had gone inside then reached dug into his gym bag. He pulled out more rope and a scissors which he pressed against the base of her chin, forcing her onto her toes.

“
Stay up there. Otherwise, I’ll cut you.”

Frightened, she did as he’d commanded. Being on her toes made balancing difficult, and she swayed. Instead of unbuttoning it, he grabbed her shirt hem in front and took the scissors to it. The separate halves gaped, exposing her bra.

“
What’s this?” Reaching between the bra cups, he extracted the hundred dollar bill she’d taken from her uncle’s till. He shoved it into his front pocket. “It’s mine now. You don’t have any more need for money.” Chuckling, he slit the garment up both arms, then yanked it off, throwing her off balance and back down on the balls of her feet.

“
What’s that?” he demanded. Planting his hand on her chest, he forced her back against the stair post. “Did I give you permission to move? One more thing I’m going to have to punish you for.”

Punish?
This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be.

If he had any idea what she was thinking, he gave no indication as he slipped the bra straps down her arms. Her nipples hardened in alarm, yet she managed to keep from trying to break free.

Somehow, some time he’d let down his guard and she’d run.

How? Your ankles are tied.

Incapable of facing that reality, she frantically searched for another place to put her mind, but it refused to move beyond the rope he was draping around her neck. That done, he again held up the scissors.

“
For the record—“ He looked around. “This is the only place for more than a half mile in any direction. The developer got a great buy on the land. His intention was to build secluded vacation rentals, but not all plans go through. Thanks to how the condo was constructed, we’ll be high and dry if the area’s hit with a tsunami.”

She didn’t care about any of this. Most of all she didn’t want to hear how isolated they were.

One snip followed another. The useless bra straps now hung off her. Hard as she tried, she couldn’t silence a muffled sob. Her mouth burned from having the bit between her lips for so long, and fear—had to be fear—again dampened her pussy. He was big and strong, the ultimate male. Masterful.

“
There.” Planting a hand under her right breast, he lifted it. “That’s the sound I need to hear. Let’s see what it takes to get you to repeat it.”

Before she could begin to wrap her mind around what he was doing, he slipped the scissors between the bra cups and cut. Chuckling, he reached behind her and pulled off the bra. Naked. Exposed.

He was no longer smiling when he backed up. He leered at her breasts, making her nipples tighten. “What’d those suckers cost?”

Platt had paid the bill, and she hadn’t seen it. Her perky full C breasts were, Platt had told her, his way of making it up to her for having to cancel their vacation when a key person in his business abruptly quit. Truth was, she hadn’t been that disappointed about the change of plans because guilt went a long way with Platt. She’d milked that to her advantage.

“
I’ve seen worse,” Reno said. “Better too.”

Where?
Reminding herself that how her breasts looked didn’t matter, she waited to see what he intended to do next. It couldn’t possibly get worse, could it? What came after nudity? Nothing. Maybe.

The other woman had been whipped.

Exhaustion washed over her in waves punctuated by heavy dread. She wasn’t sure how much more her system could handle. Maybe her heart would stop beating.

He untied the leash and released her hands from the waist restraint. Fear of what he intended to do nearly brought her to her knees. As she waited, the last thing she wanted to acknowledge sunk in. He hadn’t taken her just so he could rape her. There was more to his agenda, maybe parallels to what the redhead was enduring.

“
Hold out your hands.”  

Her eyes widened. He couldn’t possibly think she’d obey him.

“
Last chance. Either I see your hands out where they belong or you’ll pay for it.”

Run. Somehow.
        

Shaking his head, he grabbed the leash and yanked down so she was bent way over with her ass in the air, her breasts dangling, and her hands still roped together. He planted his foot on the leash, keeping her where he wanted her.

She couldn’t fathom what he had in mind, just that he’d grabbed the rope he’d draped around her neck and was securing it to the rope belt near her navel. To her horror, he threaded the long end between her trembling legs. He pulled up so the stand pressed against her sex. She fought the insane impulse to try to break free as he knotted the rope at the small of her back.

Her fingers clenched repeatedly. Crotch rope firmly in place, he let her straighten.

“
For every unapproved action on your part, there will be an even stronger action from me,” he told her. “Think you can remember that?” He punctuated his non question by forcefully slapping her breasts. Pain radiated through her.

Don’t move! Whatever it takes, don’t anger him.

Head cocked and gaze hard on her, he slapped her breasts again. She shook and sobbed but held her ground.

“
Hmm. You might be smarter than you were given credit for.”

Who had spoken to him about her?

#

Moments later the question no longer mattered because he’d walked her over to where the redhead had been, yanked up her arms, and hooked the wrists’ rope to the overhead metal ring. Uncomfortable and unnerving as that was, the tight crotch rope was even harder to handle. The pressure against her pussy felt good, even right and that might be her undoing. She barely noticed when he pulled off her sandals and tossed them into the bushes.

“
If I were you, which fortunately I’m not,” he said, “the gag would be driving me crazy.” He tapped her cheek. “The human jaw isn’t made for tolerating this position for long. Besides, I want to hear you scream.”

Scream? Please don’t say that!

“
Got your attention did I?” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “As you might guess, that was my intention.”

It occurred to her that she was truly seeing him for the first time. Before he’d been a formidable presence in the dark. He wasn’t a massive man, but neither was he slightly-built. Because he wore a loose T-shirt and jeans, she didn’t have a clear view of his physique, but he’d already demonstrated his strength. His dark brown hair was receding a little, yet she guessed him to be in his mid-thirties. His hazel eyes were intense and calculating. Undoubtedly he was taking his measure of her. Under other circumstances, she would have been drawn to the air of danger about this man’s man.

Today she wished she’d never met him.

“
To clarify,” he said, “I work for an organization known as Carnal Incorporated. Its reach is international. Despite the organization’s many branches and functions, at its core it exists to fulfill the desires of wealthy clients. We don’t make moral, ethical, or legal distinctions which is why we’re as successful as we are. We know how to stay under the legal radar.”

Heart hammering, she waited to hear more. Instead, he grabbed the crotch rope at her belly and pulled up, forcing her back onto her toes. Sexual anticipation sped through her.

“
There are penalties, punishments, for breaking any and all rules. Forced obedience on the part of our trainees is key to our success. You will
not
speak unless spoken to. No sounds until I give you permission, none at all, got it.”

He punctuated his comment by again yanking on the rope, flattening her labia. Desperate to have the pressure-pain end, she nodded.

“
I hope you understand how serious this point is.” Watching intently, he let up enough so she could stand flat footed. Her crotch burned. Heat traveled up her vagina. “My subjects don’t get it the first time so I take your agreement with a grain of salt. All right. Where were we?”

Freeing me from the awful gag, please.

She doubted he was reading her mind when he let go of the rope and started in on the straps that kept the bit in her mouth. Oh God, what was it he’d said about wanting to hear her scream? When he was done, he pulled the wood doweling from between her teeth. She started to close her mouth only to gasp at the fierce pain. Tears all but blinded her.

“
Hey!” He slapped her breasts. “What’d I say about you keeping quiet?”

I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it.

At the thought, fierce rage grabbed hold. Damn it! He’d deliberately hurt her. Why in the hell was she begging for forgiveness?        

Because he holds the upper hand.
But even as she acknowledged his power over her, she recalled the countless times she’d wrapped men around her little finger. She successfully juggled three men because she understood their weaknesses—ego and the need for sex. Reno wouldn’t have gone to the trouble he had if he intended to kill her. She’d bide her time, wait for her advantage, and when it came—

He almost gently wiped spittle off the corners of her mouth. “There’s the only disadvantage I’ve found to a gag,” he said conversationally. “Other than the mess, I’m in total favor of them.”

Before she could adjust to the sudden change in his attitude, he slipped a hand under her chin and lifted so she had to return his gaze. His other hand gripped the crotch rope. “Your first lesson in attitude adjustment is about to begin, but before I get going I’m willing to give you a drink of water—if you demonstrate the proper respect while asking for it.”

He was trying to fuck with her mind. Fine, let him try. He’d discover she could give better than she got. Boyed by determination, she nodded. “I’d love some water.”
You know I would, you bastard.
 

His hold on her chin tightened and the pressure against her pussy increased until she longed to squirm against it. “That’s the best you can give me? Didn’t your folks teach you to say please and thank you?”

They tried, but I wasn’t interested. That’s why I wound up with my aunt and uncle.
“I don’t—what more do you want me to say?”

A smile she’d be a fool to trust transformed his angular features into something almost handsome. “Oh I think you know. Last chance, bitch. What’s some water worth to you?”

Now that he’d asked the question, she had no choice but to acknowledge her dry throat. “I’d very much appreciate some water, please.”

“
Better. Not perfect but improvement. What you still haven’t done is address me properly.”

“
Sir,” she tried.
Thanks
to the position he’d placed her in, everything ached. Determined as she was to beat him at his sick game, she couldn’t concentrate. “I, ah, the other man called you Reno. Maybe you—“

“
Maybe not. I don’t give a damn what your name is. Given the context of our relationship, it’s immaterial. The same holds for what you call me. Come on, you’re a smart bitch. Figure it out. What will it take to appease me—and get some cold, clear water sliding down your throat?”

You bastard.

“
Last chance.”

I’ll kill you for this. Whatever it takes, I’ll kill you.
“Please, Master, I’d love some water.”

He grinned. “That’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to say, isn’t it? Get used to it because we’re just getting started.”

Chapter Five

Staying on top of her fear while Reno went inside for what she hoped was the promised water took all of Cheri’s concentration. If she knew how to pray, that’s what she’d be doing right now. She didn’t dare forget he was good at mind fucking. Also, she was in his clutches.

Clutches. Bodies entwined. Sex uniting them.
Was that what today was about?

Holding a full drink glass, he descended the stairs and stood before her. She repeatedly swallowed but couldn’t work moisture into her throat.

“
Something I want you to think about, if you haven’t already. This.” He indicated the frosty glass. “Wouldn’t be here if not for my generosity. When and if you drink, eat, or sleep is up to me. I control everything about your world. Everything.”

Blocking out his words, she stared at the clear, beautiful water.

“
One more thing. I want a repeat of what you called me a short while ago.”

Fuck you.
“Master,” she ground out.

He shook his head, dipped his fingers in the water, and splashed her face with it. Fear that he’d continue to waste the precious liquid nearly had her begging, but she’d never done that in her life. She refused to start now.