Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

She has her bath, returning an hour or so later scented of lavender and rose. We drink, but not too much. We eat, sharing Charlotte’s favourite treats; cheese, bread, olives, strawberries and cream. She sits on the rug by the fire, not hitting the food the way she normally does, but nonetheless, she eats.

Then she sits, inert, leaning back against my legs as I stroke her hair.

Over her head, James cocks a brow to me, tilts his head. I nod.

He rises, takes Charlotte’s hand and pulls her upright, then kisses the fingers. “You are going to go downstairs now, undress and wait for us. Michael and I will join you in a few minutes…” She hesitates… “And the next words I expect to hear from you are ‘Yes, Master’.”

She bows her head. “Yes, Master.”

“Good.” I pass her a glass of Rioja… “Now, drink your wine… And I want you to have another glass after that.”

*****

Downstairs, in the basement, James’ ‘playroom’, the demesnes of a Master, she’s waiting for us. As he instructed, she’s naked, kneeling, head lowered and the glass she took down with her, empty.

She’s goosing a little. The heating hasn’t quite dispelled the chill yet, but that won’t matter. With what James has in mind, I’m sure she’ll soon be warm.

And the hearth glows; old logs dropping to embers, new logs flickering new flames. The light shimmers gold and amber. Candles reinforce the honeyed glimmer, sending dancing shadows over wall and arch.

James gestures me towards her and then to a ceiling hook. “Charlotte, stand up.”

She rises, chewing her lip, trembling slightly…

Cold?

… Or nervous?

Stepping close, I wrap arms around her, holding her against myself, giving her the heat of my body. One hand winding into her hair, with the other I caress the smooth skin of her back and shoulders, “Shhh… It’s alright. Calm down.”

“What’s going to happen?”

“Remember your safety words. You may need them.”

he angry? Is he going

he’s not angry... You’ve done nothing to be punished for.

“What then?”

How to say this?

yourself, then we’ll both

there’s still a tremor in

cupping her cheek. “You can always say ‘No.’ Do you want

her head. Taking her hand, I lace my fingers with hers. “Come on. You’ll be fine. And you’ll feel better

“Are you sure?”

sure. You trust

“Yes, I do.”

trust him now. Let him take you the way you

lead her to where James waits, a flogger in one

know him, he might appear severe, frightening even, but as his eyes follow her, I see the

… the pity…

press my lips to hers before, loudly enough for her to hear clearly, “Rope, cuffs or

“Cuffs will be fine.”

walk by him to the racks, quietly, “She’s jittery. Be

he murmurs, “And she’ll be

what I told

of cuffs are a snug fit to her wrists; a carabiner and a length of rope connect her to the hook, restraining her tautly upwards.

check her colour; hands, fingers, face,

hands drift over her upstretched body; her hips, her waist, her breasts. Muscles tremble and quiver. And she smells cool, with no scent of arousal.

head for the cupboard where I keep a store of massage oils. Passing James,

I run my hands over her again; seducing her, coaxing her arousal. My hands on her waist, my fingers almost encircle her as I work her spine

deliberately; removing his jacket to hang it neatly over the back of a seat. His tie is next. Tugging at the knot, he loosens it, unravels it,

her neck. “You’re so beautiful. I never forget how beautiful you are. Or that you are my wife. Or

watches him, her breathing accelerating as I caress her. My hands cupping and stroking, my chest pressed

off his shoes. Barefoot now, stripped to the waist, he takes