“Have you had breakfast?” Daniel asked.
“Breakfast?” she repeated, not having expected the question.
“Yeah. You know, food you eat in the morning?” He grinned.
“Uh, no, actually. I was a little wound up, I guess. I had some coffee a couple of hours ago.” Alex was hungry and could definitely go for another cup of coffee. “Is that an offer?” she asked hopefully.
“It is. I’ve got some banana muffins left over from Liam’s breakfast. I’ll brew a pot of coffee and we can sit and talk a little more before you get started on your day’s chores. Come on.”
“Daniel?”
“Yes?” He paused in the doorway and turned to look at her.
“Can I put something on? I don’t have to stay naked all the time, do I?”
He seemed to ponder the question. Finally he grinned and said, “No, I guess not. Though I do like looking at your breasts. They are a thing of beauty.” Alex’s face warmed with embarrassed pleasure. Perhaps the guy wasn’t entirely gay after all.
“You can wear a tank top if you have one and some shorts. Don’t bother with underwear or a bra. I’ll see you in the kitchen.”
Alex selected a yellow tank top and pulled it on, along with a pair of cut-off jeans shorts. On her way to the kitchen, she passed the large master bedroom and another room, its door closed. Unable to resist, she turned the knob, pushed the door open and peeked in.
She stood open-mouthed as she stared into what looked like a medieval torture chamber. She recognized the toys—a St. Andrew’s Cross in one corner, its cuffs dangling invitingly, a large selection of whips hung by varying size and type on hooks along one wall and an exam table, leather straps waiting to be buckled and tightened over a naked body.
One wall was lined with mirrors and there was what looked like a ballet dancer’s bar set into it. In another corner there was an exercise bicycle and some free weights. She wanted to linger, to see what was in the large chest beneath the whips, but she didn’t dare. Instead, She closed the door quietly and went downstairs.
She entered the kitchen. “Can I help you?” she asked.
Daniel was placing a small pitcher of cream on the table next to a napkin-lined bowl of delicious-looking muffins. The table was nestled in a breakfast nook, the walls of which had floor-to-ceiling windows. “No, the coffee’s just about ready. Have a seat and help yourself.” He waved toward the table.
The room was large, with green-tinted glass cabinets filled with neatly stacked china. Copper pots hung from an iron trestle over a wooden island, into which a sink had been set. A bowl of potatoes, already peeled and resting in water, sat next to a large white onion and a cluster of garlic cloves.
Following Alex’s gaze, Daniel said, “I’m making clam chowder for dinner. We got some great fresh clams yesterday down at Dudley’s Wharf where the shell fishermen come in. You can help me chop the vegetables if you get done with your other jobs in time.”
“About that,” Alex said slowly. “I’m not much of a housekeeper. I hadn’t really planned on chores as a part of my training…” She trailed off as Daniel furrowed his brows at her.
“You can’t be serious,” he finally said. “What did you expect? To come here and be waited on hand and foot? You’re training to be a sub, for god’s sake. This is, for this week at least, your Master’s house. While you’re in our house, you’ll live by our rules. We don’t have a maid. I keep the house and I take great pride in doing it. Liam is to have a lovely, clean home when he gets back from a long day. If you think you’re going to sit around eating bon bons and watching soap operas while I’m scrubbing floors—”
“No, I didn’t mean that,” Alex protested, though in fact she’d had something like that in mind, involving her laptop and writing while Daniel went about his daily duties. The fun, the training—all that would happen at night when Liam came home from work.
“What did you mean then?” Daniel asked. She hoped she detected just a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth but she couldn’t be sure. He really was incredibly good-looking. She loved the way the light from the window made his hair shimmer with myriad colors. She wondered if he had professional highlights but doubted it—it looked completely natural, spun gold and wheat over rich copper. He had classically Roman features—a long, straight nose, wide-set gray blue eyes beneath straight, thick brows, his curved lips almost feminine above a square, cleft chin.
She realized he was waiting for her answer. Forcing herself to retrieve the thread of their conversation, she said lamely, “I just meant, um, that I’m not so good at it. I’ll have to learn, I guess, is what I mean.”
Appearing somewhat mollified, Daniel seemed to accept her explanation. “I’ve written a list of your chores. I’ll get you started with each one, but after today I’ll expect you to do them on your own. You can always ask me anything of course, if you have questions along the way.”
He handed Alex a sheet of paper with a list of items printed in a neat, masculine hand. It read—
Clean master and guest bathrooms, including toilets, sinks, counters and floors.
Collect used towels for laundry and place fresh towels in the bathrooms.
Dust living room, study and den.
Weed flower gardens.
Sweep and mop kitchen floor.
Vacuum carpets.
As she read through the list, Alex glanced up at Daniel, unable to control her expression of incredulity. “You expect me to do all this in a week?”
“A week?” Daniel retorted. “Those are your chores for today. After you finish each job, you report back to me. I’ll inspect your work and reward or punish you accordingly. Then you’ll need to shower and groom so you’ll be ready for Liam.”
Alex was momentarily silenced by his promise of a reward or punishment. Nervously she bit her lower lip. “I don’t know, Daniel. Like I said, I’m not that good a housekeeper…”
“That’s all right. By the time I’m done with you, you will be.”
~*~
A half-hour after breakfast found Alex hovering anxiously behind Daniel, who had entered the much-larger master bath to check on her first chore of the day. He’d shown her where cleaning supplies were kept and given her an apron and a few cursory instructions about what he expected.
As Alex had scrubbed, wiped, sprayed and mopped, she’d grumbled to herself. Being someone’s unpaid drudge was not her idea of an erotic adventure! Still, she had to admit, it made a certain kind of sense to share the duties of the other resident submissive. Daniel was working in the kitchen, she knew. It wasn’t as if he were just using her for free maid service. She tried to think of it as something sexy—a French maid on her knees as the Master came in to have his way with her…but she couldn’t quite manage it, especially not while she was scouring the toilet. Why couldn’t men aim better, for Pete’s sake?
He looked at the mirrors and examined the faucets and sinks, all shiny clean. He stepped to the toilet, lifting the lid and peering into the bowl. He ran his finger along the inside of the bathtub and opened the shower stall, closing it after a moment with a satisfied nod. His glance fell to the bath rug and he frowned. Alex followed his gaze and saw a bit of tissue, which she hurriedly bent down to retrieve and toss in the trash can.
“You swept the floor and mopped it?” he asked, frowning.
“Um, yes.” She had swept and she’d run a damp mop around the edges of the room. Jesus, this wasn’t a freaking hotel, for god’s sake. The place looked way cleaner than when she’d started, what was the guy’s problem?
Daniel knelt and lifted the edge of the bath rug. He shook it, watching as dust and a few bits of lint sprang free. “The fresh bath rugs are in the linen cabinet,” he said, pointing. “You should have seen them when you put out the clean towels.” He picked up the rug and shook it out again before dropping it into the hamper. On the floor where it had been lay two more crumpled tissues, proof positive Alex hadn’t picked up the rug in order to sweep and mop.
&n
bsp; Her face heated with chagrin. “Hey,” she said weakly. “I told you I’m not that good a housekeeper.” She knew her voice sounded whiny. She was angry at herself for not doing the best possible job. She had hoped to impress Daniel with her diligence and obedience.
He turned to her. “Lesson three. We don’t make excuses. You did a decent job as far as it went. You called me in to inspect incomplete work. What do you think I should do about it?”
“Um, chalk it up to inexperience?” Alex stared at the floor, feeling like a recalcitrant child as she twisted her hands nervously behind her.
“That I will. This is your first day and your first chore. I know it won’t happen again because I’m going to help you to remember.”
“How?” Alex asked, her voice tiny.
“Your first punishment. Pull down your shorts and bend over the bathtub.”
“Oh Daniel. You’re kidding, right?” Alex had expected something sexy like a flogging in the torture chamber or being “forced” to suck Daniel’s cock, a task she absolutely adored. “You’re not going to spank me.” Even as she said this, she imagined his large hand coming down hard on her ass. Despite her embarrassment, her clit throbbed at the thought of it.
“No, I’m not actually. I know that wouldn’t be a punishment, you see. I’m just like you, don’t forget. I know how your perverted little mind works. In fact, you probably left that bit of cleaning undone just to see what I would do.”
That was unfair! “No, I swear. I’m just a lousy housekeeper.”
“So you say,” Daniel said, grinning. “Anyway, you’ve wasted enough of my time. Do what I said. Pull down your shorts and bend over the bathtub.”
“But if you’re not going to spank me…” she trailed off uncertainly.
“You’re going to bend over the tub with your bare ass sticking out. You’ll stay that way until I tell you.”
“This is weird, Daniel. I—”
“Alex,” Daniel interrupted, his voice deadly serious. “If you continue to disobey me, I’m going to tell Liam I don’t want you here any longer. This isn’t a game. You have one week to prove yourself. So far, you’re doing a damn poor job of it. While we’re here alone, my word is law. I own you for all intents and purposes. Do you understand? Now get in position and don’t move until I get back. Got it?”
Aware she was blushing, Alex slowly obeyed. She unbuttoned her shorts and pulled them down past her bare ass. She bent over the tub, pressing her hands on the porcelain to maintain her position. She was glad at least to be facing away from Daniel, whose eyes she could feel boring into her.
“Wider,” he said, flicking at her ankle with his bare foot. Obediently, if a little awkwardly, she spread her legs wider.
She heard him leave the room but didn’t dare turn around. In a moment he was back and she heard him moving behind her.
“What’re you doing?” she asked, craning her head to see.
“Face the wall,” he snapped. “I didn’t tell you to move.”
She turned back but not before she’d seen the cell phone he held in his hand. She heard the sound of a picture being taken.
“What are you doing?” she squeaked.
“Taking a picture of your stubble for Liam. I was going to let it slide, but I’ve decided he should see how you arrived for your first day as our sub girl.”
“I didn’t know,” she said miserably. “It won’t happen again.”
Hot tears formed behind her eyes. It took all her willpower not to slam her legs closed to Daniel’s scrutiny. This morning was not going at all how she’d planned. She’d envisioned sexy erotic torture, the kind she adored, with the added benefit of two men fawning over her instead of the usual one.
Yet, hadn’t she sought out men who would by their very nature be resistant to her efforts to control the scene, to dictate the pace and actions of those she claimed to want to serve? Before today, she would have used her tears to advantage. She would have turned around to show Daniel how he’d upset her, aware her large green eyes, brimming with tears, her lower lip trembling, would melt his heart at once.
Instead, she blinked, trying to keep the tears at bay. She would endure what in retrospect she guessed she’d earned, first by not grooming the morning of her visit and second by failing to properly clean the bathroom.
“You can get up now,” Daniel said behind her, his tone now gentle.
Slowly, Alex pushed herself upright. She didn’t turn around. She felt Daniel’s hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her toward him.
Crouching in front of her, he pulled up her shorts and buttoned them. “You did well,” he said. “You were very obedient just then. I know it was really hard for you to handle that. I embarrassed you. I’m sorry.” Reaching out, he flicked away her tears with his thumb.
“Come and sit down,” he said, leading her by the hand to the huge bed. It was piled with pillows at the headboard and covered by a huge, black quilt that felt soft as silk when she sat on it.
He held out the phone, open to the picture he’d just taken of her. “Go ahead. Hit delete.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not going to show him. I’m not going to have you start off on the wrong foot with him. I can see you’re going to mess up enough on your own.” He laughed, but the laughter was kind. “Go ahead. Press the delete button.”
She did so with a surge of gratitude. “Thank you, Sir,” she said softly. “I’ll do better on the next chore, I promise.”
“I’m certain you will,” Daniel said. “Now, we better get moving. Still lots to do before Liam arrives.”
Alex hurried out after Daniel, admiring the firm, sexy lines of his ass as he moved in front of her, wondering if the welt Liam had inflicted that morning still showed, wondering if she’d get to watch Liam put him through his paces tonight.
That would definitely be fun.
Chapter 4
Alex stole a sidelong glance at Daniel, who was kneeling a few feet away from her on the thick, brightly colored throw rug in the front hall. They were both leaning back on their heels, their legs spread, hands resting lightly on their thighs. Daniel seemed almost unaware of Alex, his eyes fixed firmly on the door.
Liam had left the text message on Daniel’s cell phone indicating he would be there in five minutes. That was Daniel’s cue to stop whatever he was doing and present himself at the front door for his Master. Alex watched with barely concealed lust as Daniel casually pulled off his shorts and knelt to wait for his lover.
His body was perfection—tan, smooth skin, broad, straight shoulders, a well-muscled, smooth chest tapering to firm abs and a cock that had risen to full erection as he sat waiting for Liam to arrive.
Alex couldn’t help but steal glances at his shaven groin and balls. His cock was long and thick, the head beautifully shaped. Her mouth actually watered and she had to swallow rapidly to keep from choking.
Daniel looked suddenly at Alex, who looked down quickly, embarrassed to be caught eyeing his body. “When he opens the door, make sure your head is bowed. Keep your eyes on the floor and don’t move until he says you can.”
Alex nodded, swallowing nervously. Though she was excited Liam was finally coming home and the actual fun would begin, or so she hoped, she was also quite nervous about what was to come.
The day had passed peaceably enough, though in retrospect it had been somewhat surreal. After the humiliating experience at the bathtub and then Daniel’s reprieve, Alex had applied herself fully to her chores, eager to please. He would stop whatever task he was involved in and patiently review her work, nodding his approval or correcting her as needed. They had stopped for a lunch of chicken salad sandwiches and fresh lemonade. Chores were completed by three o’clock and Daniel said, “You have some free time until Liam arrives, which should be at about five-thirty today. Usually it’s later, but he was able to juggle some things to be here sooner in honor of your first day.”
He handed her a tube of what looked to be very expensive shaving
cream and a complicated-looking razor, admonishing her to groom herself to perfection. “The inner door of the shower is a mirror. Check yourself as well as you can and I’ll inspect you as well. Be very careful not to cut yourself. Remember, while you’re here, that body belongs to Liam. Treat it as such.”
Alex took her time shaving her sex, legs and underarms, carefully examining herself to make sure she was as smooth as a baby. It had been embarrassing and slightly humiliating to have Daniel examine her afterward. She felt like a horse or dog being prepared for a showing at the fair.
He came into her bedroom when she was done showering and said, “Lie down on the bed, put your feet flat on the mattress and drop your knees to the sides.” Though comfortable in her nudity, it was another thing altogether to spread one’s cunt wide for a near stranger, not for sex either, but so he could clinically ascertain if she’d shaved herself to his satisfaction.
He’d sat next to her in only his little white shorts, his hair, still wet from his shower, curling tawny gold against the back of his neck. She would rather have pulled him down for a kiss and reveled in his masculine weight over her bare body. Instead, she forced herself to obey him, assuming the rather unflattering position as ordered.
She turned her head away, closing her eyes as his fingers glided over her labia and down to the cleft of her ass. Much to her chagrin, she felt the tingle in her cunt, aware it was swelling and moistening under his scrutiny and masculine touch. His hands slid down along smooth thighs and calves before gliding back up again and lingering over her sex.
“Is it okay?” she finally whispered, nearly desperate for him to remove his hand before she started gyrating against it like a bitch in heat.
“Very nice, very smooth,” he said, his voice low and throaty. She opened her eyes, his crotch directly in her line of vision. The erection poking hard in his shorts gave additional meaning to his words. She looked up into his face, surprised. Abruptly he withdrew his hand and said, “I’ll let you know when Liam is arriving. You can rest or put away your things. Remember though, no masturbating without Liam’s or my express permission. Ever.”
Two for Alex Page 4
