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  “I’m sorry, Sir. I was just wondering, about the collar…” she paused to finger the leather band, then glanced at him, “… and, being employed in your company too. How will it all work? I mean, I know I’ll be your submissive here and I know what that means. But at the office…?”

  “I intend to respect your privacy outside of our D/s relationship, Thea. You can be Mrs Richmond at work, and no one need even know we have a personal connection too. Even if we do decide to share that information, the exact nature of our relationship will remain private. That’s the way I prefer it too.”

  “Will you expect me to scene with you here? In your house? Or will we still meet at the club?”

  “Both I imagine. I intend for you to spend a lot of time here though. I’ll get you a key cut.” He leaned in to cup her cheek in his palm. “Thea, I know you feel vulnerable, maybe a little confused right now. You accepted my collar with hardly any discussion, or planning, and now you’re wondering what the Hell you’ve let yourself in for. Am I right?”

  “Maybe. It’s all a bit—overwhelming.”

  “Second thoughts?”

  “No! No Sir, definitely not.” She shook her head, emphasising her denial. “I wanted this. You. I’ve known that, almost from the first time we scened together. I just didn't think it was possible though. Not and keep my other self, my real-life self, separate.”

  “This, you and me, is real life too, Thea.”

  “Yes, I know that. But it's different. I wouldn’t want people I work with to know that I love to be whipped. Or that I like having a plug in my arse. Or, well, everything really.”

  Tony laughed out loud, delighted with her frankness. “Shit, neither would I. That would cause some talk around the photocopier. But you must realise that most people who like a little kink prefer to keep their preferences private. That’s fine, and not the same as being ashamed of what we enjoy. Not everyone outside our lifestyle gets it, people can be judgemental. I get that you prefer to avoid complications, and it’s no one’s business but ours in any case. So, we’re agreed on that much. What I don't really get though is your insistence on keeping Thea and Mrs Richmond totally separate. And your blind panic last week when you came face to face with me. You were terrified, and I can't work out why. I hadn’t said I was going to out you, and there was no reason to suppose I would. I had as much to lose as you, probably.”

  “You? What would you have to worry about? People take you seriously. You own your own company, for Heaven’s sake. What would it matter what anyone thinks of you?”

  “Are you saying that people don't take you seriously? Why would you think that?”

  “It’s always harder for women. In business. You have to be tough. And single minded. No distractions and definitely no scandal. I can't afford to let anyone find out. I just can’t.”

  “Sweetheart, no one’s going to find out from me. But even if they did, we’d weather it. We’re consenting adults, we can do as we like.”

  “No! No, you don't understand.” She shook her head, vehement in her denial.

  “Then tell me, Thea. Make me understand.”

  “I’m a private person. I always have been. The way I behave when we’re at the club. Here, last night. That’s not the real me.”

  “It sure looked like you.”

  “Don’t make fun of me. Please.” Her eyes glittered with tears about to fall, but Tony resisted the temptation to comfort. In his experience tears were an honest response from a submissive, and that was what he most required from her now. She would have nowhere to hide.

  “You and I share somewhat singular tastes, Thea. But what we do harms no one—including ourselves—so we have nothing to feel ashamed of. Mrs Richmond, Thea, both are different facets of one beautiful woman. Keep your private life private by all means, but don't deny what, who you are. Accept your submission, love it as I do. Most important, don’t lie to yourself, and most certainly don’t lie to me.”

  “I don't mean to be dishonest. It’s just—hard.”

  “It doesn't have to be. Let me prove it to you.”

  “How? How will you do that?”

  “Come to work for me. Be my colleague in the office, and my submissive here. Or at the club. Or at your apartment if you prefer. Let me into your other side, allow me to know all of you. Blur the edges, and see what happens.”

  “I suppose I already started to do that. By coming here last night.”

  “Why did you come?”

  “Because you ordered me to. I needed to obey. I needed…”

  “You needed a bit of Sir time? Yes?”

  “Yes.” Her voice had dropped to a whisper. “I never felt like that before.”

  “You never actively defied me before.”

  “No, Sir. I think now I was looking for a reaction from you. I needed you to take control. Are you still angry?”

  Now he did relent. Reaching for her he pulled her to him for a hug. He dropped a kiss onto her hair. “No, and I wasn’t angry last night either. As you say, you needed the discipline. You got it. We move on.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “And talking of moving on, what do you want to do today? Do you have any plans?”

  Still in his arms she tipped up her chin to look at him. “I usually do my shopping at the weekend, clean my apartment. That sort of thing.”

  “Very commendable. Do you fancy a change? I thought we might go bowling.”

  “We … what?” Her face was a picture, her expression one of absolute incredulity. It was all he could do not to laugh out loud. He really did need to widen her horizons.

  “Ten pin bowling. Then something to eat. Or maybe we could see a film. Not Fifty Shades though—my delicate sensibilities won't stand it.”

  “You want to go out. With me?”

  “Yes. Definitely. First though I’ll drive you home and you can get some clothes. And whatever else you might need because you’ll be staying here again tonight. We’ll have a good time, get to know each other a bit more. Then we’ll come back here and I’ll brighten up those stripes on your bum before I fuck you. Does that sound like a plan?”

  “I’ve never been bowling.”

  “No? Then we need to rectify this situation without delay. Finish your tea and put your raincoat back on. You can check the cinema listings on your phone, in the car.”

  Chapter Five

  Thea was laughing as they ran up the steps to his front door, her raincoat draped over both their heads to keep off the rain.

  “Beginners luck, that was all. You just kept fluking strikes.” Tony tapped her on the bum as he dug in his pocket for the door key.

  Thea was irrepressible. “Three! I got three strikes in a row. How many points was that?”

  “Fuck knows. No one knows how to add up bowling scores any more, not since it all got automated. Like I said, you got lucky.”

  “I won. I beat you by…” She fished the printout from the back pocket of her jeans. “… thirty seven points. Wow, imagine that!”

  “Yeah, imagine.” He unlocked the door and they hurried in out of the rain. Tony took the coat and hung it on the bottom of his banister to drip onto the tiles in his front hallway. “I intend to exact my retribution now. Strip, please.”

  “What, now?”

  Tony arched an eyebrow, all the confirmation she required. Thea unbuttoned her blouse. He watched her slip the garment off, then undo the buttons on her jeans.

  “Get naked, and wait for me in the dining room. I expect you can remember the way.” He turned on his heel and marched away from her in the direction of the kitchen.

  Thea wasted no time in removing the rest of her clothing, leaving everything folded on the bottom step. She placed her bag alongside the neat stack of her garments, then made her way along the hallway, and entered the first door on her right. The table was clear this time, apart from the leather collar. She wasn’t sure if this was a good sign or not. For want of more det
ailed instructions she sank to her knees to wait.

  Tony followed her into the room a couple of minutes later. She kept him in her peripheral vision as he dumped a selection of wooden spoons onto the table. She had last seen those spoons in the kitchen drawer and had thought they would come in useful. It seemed Tony was there ahead of her. They fell with a loud clatter, and she flinched despite her contentment at what she knew would soon happen. This evening was progressing very nicely, in her view, the perfect end to one of the most enjoyable days she could recall.

  Tony picked up the collar. “Could you lift up your hair, please, Thea?”

  She did as he asked, experiencing a bone-deep sensation of bliss as he fastened the thick band around her neck. Symbolic of his mastery of her, the collar helped her to settle into her submissive mind-set too.

  Tony squeezed her shoulder, then crossed the room and opened a drawer in the sideboard. He withdrew several sheets of paper, which he laid on the table next to the spoons. Thea watched him, puzzled.

  “May I ask what those are, Sir?” She would never usually question him during a scene, but this seemed odd. Thea liked the familiar, she preferred no surprises.

  “Of course you may. It’s your contract.”

  “My contract? But we already negotiated our limits. We talked, we’re always talking. Why do we need to write it down?”

  He turned to her, his smile deceptively soft. “Not a BDSM contract. As you say, we talk those issues through. This is your contract of employment, Mrs Richmond. At Dart Logistics. Or perhaps it’s better described as your consultancy brief since you won't technically be my employee.”

  Thea was nonplussed. “What? Now? I prefer to read it later. At home, or at the office.”

  He shook his head. “No. You’ll read it here and now. And you’ll make notes.” He tossed a pen from his jeans pocket on top of the pile of papers. “I expect to see comments, and questions. Would you get on with that, please?”

  “If we’re to have a business discussion, perhaps I ought to get dressed…” She peered at him, confused. And upset. Was this some sort of rejection? Why? What had she done wrong?

  “Did I not instruct you to strip, less than ten minutes ago?”

  “Well, yes. But…”

  “In that case you can be certain I have no wish to watch you get dressed again just yet. Please stand up. Mrs Richmond. Come to the table and read this contract. Now.”

  “I don’t want to. Can I look at it later?”

  His gaze hardened. She had seen that look before. Not often, but enough to recognise what was coming next.

  “Thea, on your feet. Now. Bend over the table.”

  Still reeling from the conflicting thoughts ricocheting around her head, punishment was at least familiar territory, though Tony was not usually so unpredictable. Thea got to her feet and made her way to the table. She leaned on it, looking back over her shoulder at Tony.

  He selected one of the spoons and slapped the palm of his left hand with it. “Bend over, arse in the air. You’ll be getting two slaps, one on each side. For questioning my perfectly clear instructions. Then I’ll tell you again what I want you to do, and I hope this time you won’t find it necessary to prevaricate. Are you ready?”

  “Sir, I…”

  “Are you ready, Mrs Richmond?”

  Thea gave a sharp nod and lowered her torso onto the table top. Her breasts flattened against the cool, smooth oak as she lifted her bottom up for a punishment she didn't come close to understanding. This was developing into a scene she was finding more challenging than anything Tony had subjected her to at the club, and it had come out of nowhere. She was confused, off balance, desperately uneasy. Scared even. But even so, two strokes wasn’t much. She could handle that.

  “Aagh!” The first slap sent her to her toes, the pain burning through her left buttock. The stripes from yesterday’s caning were still slightly sore, but pleasantly so. This paddling with Tony’s kitchen implements would rekindle that tenderness, and she knew there would be nothing pleasant about these sensations. He seemed really pissed off with her.

  She managed to restrain her cries to a sharp hiss when he landed the second stroke on the right side. She was sure he’d spanked her as hard as he could, and it bloody hurt. She couldn’t tolerate much more if he was set on continuing like this.

  “Stand up.” His tone was curt, dripping with authority. Thea pushed herself up on her hands and turned to face him. Tears blurred her vision.

  “Do you feel more inclined to do as I say now, or should I repeat the lesson?” His expression was cold, his words clipped.

  Thea’s confidence shrivelled. What was happening? She nodded and reached blindly beside her for the documents. “May I sit to read them?”

  “No. You’ll stand at the table. I want you to place your hands on it and lean over, your feet spread as wide as you can. You’ll read your contract whilst showing me your pussy. And you’ll continue to read, and concentrate on what’s written there, regardless of what I do to you. Is that understood?”

  “I don't think I can, Sir. Concentrate, I mean. Not like this.”

  “Why not? The contract is written in plain enough English. Would you like your reading glasses perhaps?”

  “I do wear glasses for reading, Sir.”

  “You have them with you, I trust?”

  “They’re in my bag, Sir. I left it in the hallway, with my clothes.”

  “Go and get them please, then get back in here. Be quick about it.”

  Grateful for the chance of a short respite in which to collect her thoughts, yet at the same time unwilling to be out of Tony's presence for more than the few moments it would take to retrieve her glasses, Thea whirled with a sob. She ran from the room and back along the hallway to the bottom of the stairs. A quick rifle through her bag located the spectacles. She rushed back into the dining room, her glasses case clutched in her fist.

  Tony was exactly where she had left him, lounging against the table, the wooden spoon still in his hand. He caressed the implement, as though contemplating the prospect of using it again. Thea clenched her buttocks, her mouth dry as she removed her glasses from their case and perched them on her nose.

  “Is that better?” His tone was almost conversational. Almost.

  “Yes, Sir. Thank you.”

  “Adopt the position I described to you then, and start reading. You can make notes in the margins.”

  “Sir, I don't want to do this. I can’t.”

  “I believe you can. And I’d like you to try please. You can take as long as you need, but you will have read and understood every word of that contract before you leave this room. Now may I suggest you make a start, or be prepared to present your bottom for further punishment? It’ll be four strokes if I have to remind you again about obedience.”

  Thea turned to face the table and pulled the sheets of paper towards her. She flicked through them, counting. Just five sheets. She could manage to read and take in five pages, surely. She drew in a deep breath, held it for several seconds, then leaned forward. She widened her stance, spreading her thighs as far apart as she was able, and arched her back. If she was doing this, she would make every effort to ensure her Dom had no further cause for complaint.

  Thea read through the first few lines quickly. Nothing unusual, just the general terms naming the company concerned and the principal parties involved in this agreement. Herself, Althea Richmond, and Anton diMarco. Tony. Sir to her. The next section outlined her principal duties at Dart Logistics, the purpose of her secondment there. She moved on to the next section, then yelped as Tony parted her pussy lips with his fingers.

  “Did I hurt you?”

  “No, Sir. I’m sorry.”

  “Please continue reading.” He plunged three fingers deep into her drenched pussy. Despite her confusion and discomfort, there could be no mistaking Thea’s arousal at being made to pose for him in this way.

  She closed h
er eyes, unable to help herself, and clenched her inner walls around his thrusting fingers.

  “Mrs Richmond, are you concentrating?”

  “Yes Sir. At least, I’m trying to. But it’s not easy when you do that.”

  “I suggest you check the key terms one more time, Mrs Richmond. I will expect you to comply with the terms of this contract once we’ve agreed it.”

  Something in his tone warned her. Fighting off the impact of his skilled fingers as they continued to caress her inner walls, Thea re-read the paragraph she just finished. And this time she spotted it. She was to be seconded to Dart Logistics for a remuneration of half her usual salary. This wasn't what she had understood would be the deal.

  “Sir, this figure here…”

  “If there are any amendments required please note those in the margin and move on. And pay better attention to the rest. I won't prompt you again, and you’ll have to live with any mistakes you might make.”

  Thea bristled. Mistakes. She didn't make mistakes. At least, not of this sort. All her colleagues were agreed on one thing, Mrs Richmond’s attention to detail, to the fine print, was legendary. She picked up the pen and scribbled a note alongside the incorrect clause and figure, then gave her head a quick shake to clear her lust-fogged senses. She focused again on the sheet before her.

  She found nothing untoward in the rest of that first sheet, and turned it face down on the table next to the pile of unread pages. She heaved a sigh of relief when Tony slid his fingers from her body and stepped away. The respite was short-lived.

  Tony returned to the table and placed a saucer on top of her face-down sheet. Thea’s heart sank when she saw what it contained.

  A long finger of peeled ginger root, a deep groove carved into the flesh about a third of the way along.

  “We haven’t used figging in our play up to now, but I’m sure you know what it entails, Thea.”