The Master (25 page)

He continued his wicked whispers as he bound her ankles to the wooden frame. He stepped back and looked at her with lust heavy in his eyes and she’d never been more thankful to be restrained. If she wasn’t bound, she’d no doubt be a puddle on the floor.

He picked up a heavy flogger and her heart started to race.
He’s going to start with that one?
She swallowed.

“No talking unless I ask a question or you need to safeword. No moving. No coming. All clear?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“You will take this for me.”

It wasn’t a question, so she took it as a command. Yes, she would. A movement behind him caught her attention and she looked closer. Nathaniel and Abby. It made sense they would want to watch. Abby said Nathaniel had been worried because he hadn’t heard from Cole. Maybe after tonight he wouldn’t be so worried.

“Close your eyes,” Cole commanded.

She closed them and braced for the first stroke of the flogger
to hit. Because he’d picked up a heavy one, she expected it to hurt. But in a move that shouldn’t have surprised her, it landed with a pleasant thud on her upper thigh.

“I know what you were thinking, little one.” He spoke as the tails struck her other thigh. “And if you remember, I told you to expect to be unbalanced when it came to me. Didn’t I?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I’m going to bring you so close to the edge, but you’re not allowed to come without permission.”

He didn’t talk after that, but he must have picked up another flogger, because soon there were two different types of tails landing on her. A light one teased the upper part of her body while he focused the heavier one on her thighs. She never cared for the heavier floggers, but in Cole’s hand, it felt like nothing she’d ever experienced.

Then one of them started landing closer and closer to where she ached to be filled. He stayed in that spot for a time, letting her grow accustomed to the feeling and then he moved away, resuming his attention to her upper thighs.

She bit back a whine of frustration. If she could just bring her legs together for a bit of friction . . .

But no. He’d told her she wasn’t allowed to come. He’d also told her he was going to take her to the edge. With that in mind, it wasn’t a surprise when one of the tails landed on her clit.

Damn, that felt good.

She waited for it to fall again and bit back a moan when it did.

So good.

“What color, little one?” he asked.

“Green, Sir. So, so, so green.”

His chuckles were accompanied by others.

He brought the tails down over and over again and then it disappeared. The loss made her feel so empty and needy. But it wasn’t until the heavy thud suddenly struck her clit again that she realized just how needy. The feeling of release rushed up behind her and before she could control it, it pushed her over the edge with the next stroke of the flogger. Her body trembled as her climax overtook her.

The floggers stopped immediately and the entire club grew eerily quiet.

“Did you just come, slave?” Cole’s voice was colder than she’d ever heard.

“Yes, Sir.” Now her body trembled for a different reason.

“What did I tell you about coming?”

She wondered if she could even get the words out. “That I couldn’t without your permission.”

“Did I give permission?”

“No, Sir.”

He didn’t say anything. Her eyes were still closed and she decided she’d like to keep them like that forever. Or at least until his voice wasn’t so cold.

She heard him step forward, and one by one, he unbound her limbs.

“I didn’t bring a cane, so we’re going to improvise your punishment. Look at me.”

She slowly opened her eyes. He didn’t look pleased, but he was very much in control of himself.

“I’m going to have you move to the empty padded table to my left. I want you on your back. Knees spread. You want to come without permission? I’m going to have you come so many times, you’ll be begging to have the orgasms stop.”

Oh, fuck.

She’d never experienced forced orgasms, but she’d heard enough subs talk about them. She had a feeling that before the night was over, she was going to wish he’d brought his suit and cane. Someone really needed to invent a way to fast-forward through life’s unpleasant moments.

“Go,” he said.

She took a step forward and it wasn’t until she felt a blanket fall around her shoulders she remembered that in walking to the table, her back would be exposed. That he remembered, even when she’d disobeyed him, brought tears to her eyes.

He was a much better Master than she was a sub. Never before had she felt the enormity between them as she did in that moment.

She climbed onto the table, removing the blanket when she got on her back. With her feet flat on the table, her knees were spread, but her legs shook and she hated that.
Damn it all to hell.
This was supposed to be a fun night and she messed it up.

It wasn’t long before Cole was at her side. She’d never done a scene like the one he had in mind, but he was out of his freaking mind if he thought for a second she would be able to come once, much less multiple times. Best if she kept that thought to herself, she decided.

He placed a tube of lube and a vibrator next to her head. “Why are you on the table, slave?”

“I came without permission, Sir.”

“Yes, you did, and just to be clear, you are allowed to come whenever you wish whilst you’re on the table.”

“Thank you, Sir.” She’d made the mistake once before of not thanking him for allowing her release. It wasn’t going to reoccur tonight.

“Very good, little one.” Faint praise, but at the moment she’d take it.

He squirted some lube on his finger and applied it to her clit, and slipped more inside her. “Do I need to bind you to the table?”

Since she’d never done this, she nodded. “Please, Sir. I think you’d better.”

“Thank you for being honest.”

Minutes later, she was bound so tightly, she couldn’t move. She’d noticed while he tied her to the table that the crowd at the cross had remained to watch. Nathaniel, Abby, and Meagan were nearby, and she wasn’t sure, but she thought Fritz stood off to the side.

“I’m not going to blindfold you,” Cole said. “I want your eyes on me.”

She’d rather be blindfolded. Or at least able to close her eyes.

“I know this is hard. It’s supposed to be.” His voice matched the firm resolve in his eyes. “We’ll start slow.”

He turned the vibrator on and teased her with it, running it near her clit, but never touching it directly. Though he told her to watch him, his eyes weren’t always on her, but she kept her focus on him. If he looked her way, she wanted him to see she was following his instructions.

As he continued teasing her, she came to realize she had vastly underestimated him. He’d obviously been very astute when it came to how to turn her on. She didn’t think she’d be able to come at all while she was on the table, but Cole knew her body. And he used every bit of knowledge he had to get her hot and bothered.

Her body tensed as her climax approached.

“The first one’s easy,” he said. “So easy you can almost forget it’s a punishment.”

Just as he said, the first one came and went, bringing nothing but pleasure, though the pleasure was tinged with a bit of trepidation. Their first night together, she’d come three times with him. How many would he push her through now? Five? Six? He wouldn’t do more than that, would he?

“I reckon the second one isn’t that hard, either.” His eyes were intent as he repositioned the vibe closer to her clit. He slipped a finger inside her and stroked. “Of course, technically, this is three for you. So it might not be as easy.”

She relaxed her body as much as possible and focused on just feeling. If she didn’t fight the orgasms, maybe it wouldn’t be as bad. He looked her way and his face was unreadable as the familiar feeling of impending release grew.

“Give it to me,” he said, and she came with a soft cry and panting after.

That was three in a relatively short period of time. She didn’t think it possible for her body to do it again. Cole leaned over her.

“Now’s when it gets hard. When you don’t think you can have another one. But your body will betray you and you won’t be able to stop it. What are your safe words?”

Oh, holy hell, he was asking for safe words? She didn’t like the insinuation.

“Green, yellow, and red, Sir.”

He nodded. “Use them if you need to.”

She took a deep breath and nodded.

“Understand, I’m only stopping if you safeword.”

Her fingernails dug into the palm of her hands. “I understand, Sir.”

He didn’t say anything else, but took the vibe and placed it directly on her clit. The bundle of nerves was already sensitive after her previous climaxes and she cried out as the buzzing instrument tormented it further.

It was the strangest combination of pleasure/pain and heaven/hell she’d ever experienced. Almost as if the wires in her brain were crossed or confused. Part of her thought there was no way she’d ever come, but she felt the sensation between her legs start to do just that. She tensed up because she knew it would fucking hurt.

This orgasm wasn’t going to be calm or peaceful or quiet. She closed her eyes as it approached.

“Eyes on me,” Cole said.

Her eyes flew open right as the peak of her climax struck and she yelped.

“Who owns your orgasms?” Cole asked.

“You do, Sir.” Maybe he’d turn the damn thing off now. Please let him turn it off.

“Very good. You’re going to come again.”

Fucking hell,
he turned the vibe up a notch. She shifted her hips trying to get away. “No, Sir. I can’t. I can’t.”

“Be still or you’ll find another one in your arse.”

She whimpered. Her lower body tingled in a combination of feelings. The damn vibe was going to drive her crazy. She didn’t think she could handle another climax. But Cole was unrelenting and he kept it right on her clit. Sweat beaded on her forehead.

“When do you come?” he asked.

“Oh my God, turn it off.”

Her flesh balked at another orgasm, but she knew it would happen anyway. The evil buzzing thing wasn’t going to stop until she came.

“Either say the right word to stop it or answer the question.”

The word. She could stop it with a word. Red. Red would stop it.

Cole met her eyes and in his gaze she found what she needed.

“I come when you tell me, Sir.”

“That’s right.”

Fucking, fucking, fucking hell. He’d turned it up again. She panted and tried to keep her hips still. The next one was running up on her, and she was certain it’d crush her. She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t do it. Couldn’t do it.

“Come,” Cole said.

Her back arched off the table as the climax consumed her. Consumed. Empty. Void. She searched for Cole, but of course he was right there. She had to tell him. Had to.

“Red.”

•   •   •

E
verything looked hazy. Or maybe that was the buzzing that still continued even though she knew he’d put the vibrator away.

“I’ve got it,” he said to someone. “Look at me, Sasha. Are you okay?” His hands were busy untying her limbs.

Her breath still came in pants. “Yes, Sir. Will it stop?”

He brushed her cheek and his hand was warm. “It will.”

“When?” She shook as another wave of sensation swept over her body.

“Pretty soon, I would think.” He looked to this right. “Hand me that blanket. No, I need it before she sits up.”

She didn’t want to sit up. She didn’t want to move at all.

He took the blanket and laid it across her. “I’m going to pick you up so your back is covered and carry you to a private room. Are you okay with that?”

“Yes, Sir.”

When he picked her up, she was still shaking, but she found comfort in his arms and hoped he didn’t let her go anytime soon. She closed her eyes and only knew they made it to the private room when he sat down.

He situated her on his lap and held her close. “Has it stopped yet?”

“Almost, Sir,” she said as another tremor hit her body.

“I’m glad you used your safe word, Sasha. That brings me more comfort than you know.”

“This sounds crazy, but I’m glad I got the chance to use it. Is that weird?”

He stroked her hair while he talked. There wasn’t anything sexual about his touch; rather, it soothed her. And she got the impression it soothed him, too.

“No,” he said in answer to her question. “I don’t think that’s weird. After the scene with Peter, I think you needed to safeword and see that everything stopped. So, while it wasn’t my intent for you to do so, I’m glad you did.”

“The other thing is, once I knew I had to, I didn’t hesitate to say it.”

He kissed her forehead. “Good. And just so you’re aware, I was seconds away from ending the scene. You had endured enough.”

She sighed deeply and curled closer to him.

“That does not mean, however, that we should play without safe words.”

His off-handed reference to how she’d played with Peter chilled her just a bit. “I know, Sir.”

“I didn’t say it to be a bastard.”

“I know that, too, Sir.” Though why did it make her feel bad that he’d said it?

“Here.” He reached to the table at his side and pressed a bottle to her mouth. “Drink for me, little one.”

She sipped the water. “Tastes good.”

“I have chocolate, too.” He held up a fun-sized bar.

“Even better.” She smiled at him as she ate it, but it felt forced. Telling herself it was just her emotions going haywire after the scene, she settled back into his arms, certain things would feel different in the
morning.

S
omething was off with Sasha, Cole thought the next morning as he watched her kneeling and doing her morning meditation. It was so subtle, he didn’t think he’d have noticed if he wasn’t around her for so much of the day. She said the right things, did the right things, and she wore the smile that always made him feel warm inside.

So what was it?

He’d been honest with her the night before. He had planned to stop after that last orgasm and it did comfort him that she said her safe word when she felt the need.

When they’d made it back to the house, he’d drawn a bath and washed her. After, he’d poured them both some wine and they cuddled some more in bed.

He didn’t plan on her doing anything sexual for at least the next twenty-four hours. Her body had been tested last night and
it needed to recuperate. More importantly, her mind probably did, too.

Though he normally took her mouth after she meditated, today, he stood in front of her and held out his hand.

“Slip your dressing gown on and come have breakfast with me,” he said.

She looked up at him and her eyes were red and wet.

“Sasha?” he dropped down to her side and put his arms around her. This wasn’t a panic attack, this was something more. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

She sobbed. “I don’t know.”

“I do,” he said. “You’re having one hell of a sub drop.” Her body’s adjustment to the drop in endorphin levels had never been this severe, but it wasn’t unexpected due to the night before.

“It’s never been so bad before.”

“I imagine not, but I’m here and we’re going to get through it.”

She brought her knees to her chest and hugged them. “Okay.”

“First thing you need to do is get some clothes on and eat something. Let me make a quick phone call while you get dressed.” He’d had a few calls scheduled for today, but he needed to be with Sasha. The calls could wait.

She looked delicate and fragile when she stepped out of the bathroom. He held out his hand and she hurried to take it. At least she still liked him to touch her.

“Ready to eat?” he asked.

“Yes, Sir.”

“I think I’ll just do something quick. Oatmeal sound good?”

“Perfect, Sir.”

In his mind he updated his plans so he could be with her.
They would eat breakfast and go on a walk around the property. Exercise usually helped sub drop, and he’d been wanting to get Sasha’s opinion on the landscaping and to see if she had any ideas on improving the yard.

He squeezed her hand as they walked down the stairs. Hopefully, by this afternoon or evening, she’d feel more like her normal self.

While they ate, she brought up something that took him completely by surprise. He’d just finished making a cup of tea when she asked, “You know what I’d like to do?”

“What?”

“I’d like for you to host a tea party and have me serve everyone.”

He put his teacup back down. “Indeed? Where did that come from?”

She ducked her head. “I was watching you drink your tea and thought about how much I liked serving it to you. And then I thought I’d like to it do for more than one person. Like you’d talked about once before. I’ve never served tea for a group. And part of me would like to show people I’m better than I was last night.”

Her words were hurried, like she was afraid he’d turn her down or say no.

“Your mind is a delight, Sasha.”

She blushed slightly.

“I think a party would be a brilliant idea, but I want you to do it because you want to. There is no need for you to try and make up for an error that’s already been corrected.”

“I understand.”

She didn’t appear as though she was going to change her mind, so he simply added, “I’ll give it some thought.”

•   •   •

T
he following Wednesday night, ten minutes before people were due to arrive, Sasha stood in the kitchen, mentally running through Cole’s plans for the day. The food was all prepared and ready to serve. It wasn’t time to boil water for the tea just yet. She’d moved the china into the dining room earlier. Cole had decided to only invite the senior Dominants for tea.

She pressed her palms against the black dress Cole had picked out for her to wear. It felt damn awkward wearing clothes. Made her feel like she was hiding something. A nervous giggle escaped her. Who would have thought she’d ever feel more comfortable walking at home either naked or in skimpy lingerie than fully clothed?

“What’s so funny, little one?”

She jumped at the sound of Cole’s voice. Damn it. How did she miss him entering the kitchen? He stood in the doorway wearing a suit and tie. His hands were casually shoved in his pockets and a wide grin covered his face.

Her cheeks heated at being caught unaware. “Just thinking about how comfortable I am being naked and how I wouldn’t have thought it possible a month ago.”

The grin was still in place as he crossed the room to her, though his eyes had grown dark. He lifted her chin with his hand. “I’m immensely pleased to see your growth as a submissive and how you’ve embraced your training.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“And I have no doubt you will be exemplary in your service to me today.”

A not so subtle reminder as to where her focus should be. “I truly enjoy serving you, Sir.” She nibbled on her lip, debating on whether or not she should say anything else. The thought of
leaving him in a few days, of him taking off his collar, kept her quiet. She ran a finger along its edge.

“Sasha?”

But now was the time to show exactly how much she’d grown. She felt as if she’d accomplished so much in the short period of time they’d been together. Serving him was like nothing she’d ever experienced and he’d been so patient, helping her in her journey. She only had to think back to the tender way he cared for her during the sub drop she experienced to know she wouldn’t be in the place she was if it hadn’t been for him.

“I just wanted to say thank you for agreeing to these two weeks. I’ve learned so much and I think when the right Dom asks, I’ll be ready.”

His hand slipped to cup her cheek and he dropped his head so his lips almost brushed hers. “You
think
or you
know
you’ll be ready?”

“I know, Sir.”

“Words, little one.” His breath was warm on her skin. “They have meanings.”

“There’s something else I know.”

“Yes?”

“I know I don’t want to leave in two days.”

He froze. She didn’t think he breathed. And then he nearly growled, “Bloody hell, Sasha,” and took her lips in a deep kiss she felt in her toes.

She whimpered in a combination of bliss and need, pleased that his only reply was to pull her closer. Her fingers tangled in his hair and he moaned when she gave it a tug. Damn it all, she would never get enough of his kisses.

The chime of the doorbell made them both jump.

Not ready to meet his eyes, she buried her head in his chest. But as always, he wouldn’t let her hide.

“Look at me, Sasha.”

She peeked at him, but couldn’t read his expression. “Sir?”

“I’m not finished with this conversation. When everyone leaves, we’re picking right back up where we left off.” He kissed her quickly on the forehead and then left.

The exchange left her weak kneed and shaky and she was grateful for the few minutes she had to compose herself. Her focus needed to be on the upcoming tea service. Her talk with Cole would have to wait.

A few of the senior Doms stood in the living room, talking. Daniel and Evan were off to the side talking to Nathaniel. Jeff was sitting down, texting someone. Probably Dena. She didn’t see Master Greene. Sasha’s role was to be on the lookout for ways to help, but to remain as unobtrusive as possible. And she wasn’t to speak to anyone without Cole’s permission.

Cole inclined his head slightly at her entrance and the right side of his mouth lifted in a hint of a smile. Sasha gave him one of her own and then glanced around the room to ensure everything was in order. She noticed Kelly Bowman, the female Domme, had watched the exchange between her and Cole.

She turned around to check on the table for the third time and when she turned back to the group, Kelly was at her side.

“Master Johnson,” she said, getting his attention. “May I have your permission to speak with Sasha?”

“You may, but keep it short. She’s busy.” He looked at Sasha. “You may talk for five minutes.”

Sasha felt like dragging Kelly down the hall so they could talk in private. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed girly conversation. Talking to Julie or Abby
on the phone wasn’t the same as being in the room with someone. Besides, with the tea party being a group event, she wasn’t at liberty to gossip with the Domme.

Kelly pulled her to a quiet corner. “You look good. Everything going okay?”

“I’ve rarely felt more content, Ma’am.”

“As soon as word gets out I’ve seen you, Julie and Dena are going to be hounding my ass for details. For the next five minutes, I’m just Kelly.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “If you feel that’s too disrespectful, do it anyway and I’ll tell Master Johnson you’ve been a naughty little slave so he can punish you.”

Sasha laughed. “Thanks, Kelly. Seriously though, I really don’t want this time to end. It’s been eye-opening and insightful and he’s, well, he’s incredible.”

“Dear Lord, Julie will go batshit crazy.”

“Most likely.”

“Have you talked to Cole? Does he know how you feel?”

“We’re talking tonight, when everyone leaves.”

“I hope you get everything you want, Sasha. You’ve been through a lot, but you took a bad situation and you learned from it and grew stronger.”

“Thank you. I feel stronger.”

Kelly leaned in close. “There’s no feel about it. You are stronger. Own it. Own it with pride.”

•   •   •

C
ole was only half listening to the conversation among Daniel, Nathaniel, and Evan. The majority of his attention was focused on Sasha’s conversation with Kelly. The Domme had said something that made Sasha laugh, but the rest of the conversation
must have taken a more somber turn; she only laughed that one time. They spoke for a few more minutes until Sasha glanced at a wall clock, hugged Kelly, and made a turn around the room to ensure everyone was content.

Kelly stayed where she was and looked him over as if observing him for the first time. He sort of felt the way he did when meeting a girl’s father, back when he was a teenager. He fought the urge to fidget and instead raised an eyebrow in Kelly’s direction. She studied him a few seconds longer before turning her attention to her phone.

Assured nothing in the room needed her attention, Sasha shifted her focus to him. Finding him looking, she smiled briefly before dropping her eyes. Still, he watched her as she moved to stand near one of his couches. Out of the way, but available if needed. Watchful, but not overbearing. The dress he’d picked out hugged her in all the right places, and he was pleased to note she’d lost both the gaunt and the lost looks.

All in all, she was transformed from the cowering submissive he’d first met in Daniel’s playroom. She was sharp, strong, and sexy as hell. She accepted him for who he was, and took everything he’d thrown at her in the last week and a half.

She’d shocked the hell out of him when she admitted she didn’t want to leave, because he didn’t want her to leave, either. He could no longer imagine working without her in the room, catching up on the news without her knitting by his feet, or pushing her body to its limit. He loved watching her experience unknown pleasure before he brought her back down. And how could he go to sleep without her snuggled against him, awed by her trust in him?

He couldn’t imagine it, and he wouldn’t do it. When everyone left, they would talk and somehow work something out so
she wouldn’t leave. If she didn’t want to wear his collar permanently, they would find a middle ground.

She glanced his way with a slight frown and he realized he was late moving everyone to the dining room. Bloody hell, she was probably worried about the food and timing the water. He’d made her worry, and that had never been his intent. He was supposed to support her, not cause her undue stress.

Sorry, my fault
, he mouthed, and the worry lines left her face. He gave her a nod and she hurried to the kitchen while he rounded everyone up and led them to the dining room.

As everyone sat down and Sasha started serving, he let out a relieved breath. Everything was going great. She’d been worried the last few days. He’d done his best to reassure her, but knew deep down that only actually doing the service would erase the doubt.

His eyes followed her around the table with an odd mixture of pride and desire. Bloody hell. What was it about a slave serving tea that turned him on so much? He could watch her forever and fortunately, everyone was talking among themselves so he didn’t feel the need to make small talk.

He almost missed Evan’s hand shoot out to cover his cup before she could pour him water. “I’ll just have ice water, thanks.”

Sasha faltered, just for a second, before nodding and continuing around the table. Most likely she was going to finish with the tea before getting Evan’s water. Exactly what he would have instructed her to do.

“It’s rare to see someone be both an ass and a dick at the same time,” Kelly quipped from across the table. She had never gotten along with Evan, but no one knew exactly why.

“I don’t see how this is any of your business, K,” Evan said. “I just don’t like hot tea.”

“You’re missing the entire point. If that’s the case, why did you come today at all?”

“I assumed there would be a discussion at some point about group business. I wanted to be part of it.”

“In that case, you let her prepare the tea and you don’t drink it. Were you raised in a barn?”

Sasha had made her way to Cole and though she’d appeared calm from across the table, up close he could tell she was trembling. Because of Evan or something else?

Cole reached out and lightly brushed her wrist as she served him. He wanted her to know she was doing great and how proud he was. She relaxed under his touch.