To Seek a Master

by Monica Belle

  ‘We’re not. That’s what I was trying to explain. After what happened in Sheringham I told him where he could stick himself, but he won’t listen. He’s unbelievably arrogant, and thinks he just has to wait until I calm down. I told Daddy, but he tried to talk me out of it, telling me that boys will be boys and then inviting Chris up for the weekend to have a quiet word. That’s when Chris started saying you’d offered him sex in exchange for a good deal on the contract, just to save face, but Daddy’s really old-fashioned about that sort of thing, and well, you know the rest. I did try to talk him out of it, Laura, and I am genuinely sorry for what happened.’

  ‘Thank you. So, what are you going to do?’

  ‘Have another drink. Let me get you one.’

  Laura didn’t object, and Hazel quickly returned to the table with two fresh gin and tonics but each twice the size of before.

  ‘I have to drive.’

  ‘I don’t.’

  Hazel took a swallow of her drink, then sat down.

  ‘So that’s the story. I can talk to him, if you like?’

  ‘No. It’s too late. There were problems at work anyway, and as it happens I’m with somebody else, somebody I met only a few days after … you know. He’s wonderful.’

  ‘Good. That’s something.’

  She took another swallow, then laughed.

  ‘I thought you were going to hit me when you came into the building. You looked fit for murder.’

  ‘I felt fit for murder, but it wasn’t you I was after. I was going to tell Chris what I thought of him.’

  ‘I wish you had. He’s at a conference in Lille.’

  ‘Bad timing, like in Sheringham.’

  Laura risked a cautious smile as she spoke. Hazel shrugged, embarrassed.

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Don’t be.’

  They fell into an awkward silence, eventually broken by Hazel.

  ‘That wasn’t the first time he’s cheated on me.’

  ‘No?’

  ‘No. It was the first time I actually caught him at it, but I’m certain he’s had at least one other affair. Most of the time it’s been … different.’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  Hazel didn’t answer immediately, staring out of the window as if lost in thought before she replied.

  ‘You seem quite tolerant?’

  ‘I’d like to think so.’

  Again Hazel paused, then went on in a rush.

  ‘Chris. He’s obsessed with getting another girl into bed with us.’

  ‘Men like that, don’t they?’

  ‘He’s always trying to get me to chat up other women, or to agree to put an ad on the net. The trouble is, I have to admit it’s at least partially my fault.’

  ‘Why? You’re not responsible for his fantasies.’

  ‘Well, no, but … I was at an all girls’ school, and I used to clown around a bit with my friends. Nothing serious, but it drives Chris wild and he used to like me to tell him. So I did, most of it made up just to get him going, and because I’d soon run out of real stories!’

  Hazel’s growing embarrassment was evident as she spoke, and she swallowed the rest of her gin and tonic before she went on.

  ‘I just thought it was a bit of fun, but after a while he asked if I’d like to have one of my old friends to stay, with obvious implications. I tried to explain to him that just because we’d got a bit carried away together when we were eighteen and the only males we saw had hooves and antlers …’

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘Deer. I was at Klibreck School for Girls, in Sutherland. It has to be the bleakest place on earth, and believe me, on a winter’s night you needed a cuddle. Chris didn’t see it that way. To him it was all a big porn show, and he just wouldn’t take it in that even if my friends might have enjoyed a reprise the last thing they’d have wanted was him watching, or sticking his cock in where it wasn’t wanted. Another?’

  ‘No, I’d better not.’

  ‘I’m having one.’

  Hazel went back to the bar, quickly returning with another double and taking up her story where she’d left off.

  ‘Then he wanted to try swinging clubs. We went to a few, and … and other sorts of clubs, but he couldn’t bear the thought of me with another man.’

  ‘He didn’t seem to mind showing me off to other men. Sorry.’

  ‘That’s OK. Yes, he likes showing me off, but that’s not the same. At the clubs there were women willing to play with me, but only if their partners were there, so if he wanted to touch he had to let another man touch me. That’s what he couldn’t handle, and I didn’t want it that way either. Oh, no, he loves to show me off, as if I’m some sort of prize. He’s put intimate pictures of me all over the net as well.’

  ‘Ouch! He photographed me in that bikini, the one I was wearing … half-wearing.’

  Hazel smiled.

  ‘You did look funny.’

  Laura stuck her tongue out.

  ‘What about his clothes?’

  ‘Oh yes! He went berserk!’

  ‘I wish I could have been there.’

  ‘So do I. I got it on the phone, when he was trying to put you down to make me feel better. I told him I’d have done the same if I’d had the chance.’

  ‘Good for you. So the swinging clubs didn’t work out?’

  ‘No. After that it was contacts, and I’d even agreed to try, just to please him. Then I caught him with you. One of the excuses he tried was that he was only after you in the hope that he could persuade you to join in with us.’

  ‘The cheeky bastard! What are you going to do now?’

  ‘I don’t know. I’m under so much pressure to marry him, and I still love him even if that does make me a prize idiot. At the moment all I really want is to wipe that smug grin off his face.’

  She went quiet and Laura didn’t reply, only for a deliciously wicked inspiration to hit her.

  ‘You should send him a picture of you with another girl and tell him he’s never going to get it.’

  Hazel grinned, but only for a moment.

  ‘That would only encourage him. He reckons he can talk anyone around, and he doesn’t believe in lesbian lesbians.’

  ‘Lesbian lesbians?’

  ‘As opposed to lesbians who only do it because they can’t get a man and lesbians who do it to show off for men. I told you he was arrogant.’

  ‘You’re not joking!’

  ‘No, I’m not. He’d just assume that she’d be game, unless it was you, of course!’

  ‘Me!?’

  ‘Why not? He’d hate it!’

  ‘He would, wouldn’t he?’

  ‘Let’s do it, come on. I’ve got my camera phone.’

  ‘Yes, but …’

  ‘Come on, Laura. It’ll be funny, and I’m not asking you to take your clothes off. We’re in a pub, for goodness sake!’

  ‘But what do you want to do?’

  ‘I don’t know, kiss and cuddle, I suppose. You’ve kissed another girl before, haven’t you?’

  ‘No. I haven’t.’

  ‘Oh. Well never mind, if you don’t want to, but …’

  ‘Hang on …’

  Laura stopped, fighting to get the words out, but found courage in Hazel’s complete candour about her own sexuality.

  ‘Maybe I could lie over your knee, as if you were spanking me?’

  Hazel laughed.

  ‘You’re terrible! OK, but quick, before the barman comes back or anyone else comes in.’

  Laura was laughing as she got into position, but shaking too, with the memories of how many times she’d come over fantasies not a million miles away from what she was about to do, draping herself across Hazel’s lap. They were on a long bench against one wall, allowing Hazel to hold her camera phone at arm’s length while taking the photo as Laura stuck her bottom up as if waiting to be spanked.

  ‘Here goes. Stick your tongue out at the camera.’

  As Hazel spoke the palm of her hand settled across L
aura’s bottom, an electric touch. The camera flashed.

  ‘Once again.’

  Hazel’s hand lifted and came down, applying a gentle smack to Laura’s cheeks just as the camera went off.

  ‘And again!’

  ‘Oh God! Just do it, Hazel. Spank me!’

  ‘Laura!’

  Hazel was laughing, and the camera flashed again as she planted a second smack on Laura’s bottom, much harder than the first. Laura stuck her hips up, lost to everything but the blissful shame of being spanked across another woman’s knee, only to catch the sound of conversation from the passage. Hazel gave a squeak of alarm.

  ‘Quick, get up! Get up!’

  Laura scrambled to her feet, just in time to avoid being caught by an elderly couple with a small brown dog. Her face was burning red, and Hazel couldn’t stop giggling, but the only reaction was a disapproving glance from the woman. Taking her drink, Laura swallowed what was left and sat down. Hazel leant close, speaking quietly but otherwise indifferent to no longer being alone.

  ‘OK. It’s not exactly exhibition stuff, but he’ll get the general idea. What shall I say: “No boys allowed.”? How about: “This was just the start, but never for you.”?’

  ‘Keep it simple, and obvious: “We’ll never do this for you, and that means never.”

  ‘You’re right. I mustn’t let him think I’m teasing. Which picture shall we use?’

  Laura leant closer still as Hazel flicked through the options. The first showed her bottom up across Hazel’s lap, both with their tongues stuck out. Hazel shook her head.

  ‘Good, but too cheeky to go with the message.’

  In the second Hazel’s expression was stern and Laura looked shocked. Hazel clicked her tongue.

  ‘That just looks as if you’re getting it for being a naughty girl.’

  The words made Laura’s head swim and a guilty admission rose in her throat only to turn to a gasp at the sight of the third photo. Hazel was plainly enjoying herself, her mouth spread out in a wide cruel grin, while Laura was not only quite obviously pushing her bottom up to the smacks but looked as if she was about to come.

  ‘That’s the one!’

  ‘No, Hazel! You can’t let him see that!’

  ‘Why not? He’ll die of frustration. I’m sending it.’

  ‘No, Hazel, please! Send the first one. He’ll get the message.’

  ‘No, it has to be this one. And it’s for real. What was it you said? “Just do it, Hazel, spank me”.’

  ‘Hazel!’

  Laura snatched for the phone, but Hazel held her off easily, still trying to punch her message in, only to relent as Laura started to beg.

  ‘Oh, OK, I’ll send the first one. It’ll do the trick, but don’t blame me when’re you’re the one who got turned on having her little botty smacked.’

  Laura tried to find an answer, but no words would come. Her face was burning with blushes as she watched Hazel tap in the message and send it off, but her reaction had very little to do with Christopher Drake. She had been over Hazel Manston-Jones’ knee, and Hazel knew she’d been turned on, and Hazel just thought it was funny. Her voice was a croak as she finally managed to speak.

  ‘Could you send those to me too, please? And … and maybe, if … if sometime you’d like to do it again, properly?’

  Hazel’s eyebrows rose in surprise, then she smiled.

  24

  ‘I HAVE A confession to make.’

  Charles looked up from where he had been chopping a red pepper at his kitchen table, his expression as calm and controlled as ever.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘I wasn’t able to rise above it, the thing with Christopher Drake.’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘No. I went to where he works to tell him what I thought of him.’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘He wasn’t there, but I did see Hazel Manston-Jones. She spanked me.’

  ‘She spanked you?’

  ‘I thought that might wake you up a bit. It was only in fun, to annoy Chris, but it felt … right, and she says she’d be prepared to do it again.’

  ‘Which is evidently something you want?’

  ‘Yes, please, very much.’

  ‘And would these spankings occur in my presence or not?’

  ‘Um … I didn’t actually bring that up. She’s fed up with Chris trying to push her into a threesome, you see, so it didn’t seem a very good idea to suggest one with you. I would prefer it in front of you, of course, and it’s not as if she has to take any clothes off, so maybe she’ll come around to the idea? Would that be all right? I mean … because you did say, in the contract …’

  ‘That you were allowed to receive discipline from other women, yes. I know it’s something you need, but I had rather expected to be present, otherwise the situation does rather question my authority, and my position.’

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘Not at all. Only a fool refuses to allow himself to be questioned, and an insecure fool at that. A genuinely dominant man remains flexible, prepared to learn and to adapt himself to circumstances. I have worked out my ground rules over a great many years, and while I believe them to be good I would never be so arrogant as to claim that they are absolute. Nevertheless, I’m not at all sure about this. Did you tell her about me?’

  ‘Oh yes. Not everything, of course, mainly that I need to feel protected … and that I like to be disciplined.’

  ‘How did she react?’

  ‘She understood, I think.’

  His response was a thoughtful frown. Laura carried on.

  ‘She certainly didn’t disapprove, and she admitted she’d get a kick out of doing me. She’s bisexual.’

  ‘I see. Well, I shall have to think about this carefully, and frankly if I am not to be present I don’t think it would be appropriate. Do you have the pictures you took?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Laura quickly extracted her mobile phone from her bag, calling up the three pictures and showing them to Charles. One corner of his mouth flicked up into his familiar grin as he saw, only for his expression to change to curiosity.

  ‘I see. Put Smudge out, Laura.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Do as you are told, Laura.’

  ‘Yes, Mr Latchley.’

  Puzzled, Laura hustled Smudge into the garden and returned to stand in front of him. Charles gave a complacent nod, pushed his chair back, and with one smooth motion hauled her across his knee. She squeaked as she was turned bottom up, and again as her clothes were adjusted behind, with her dress turned high and her knickers taken down to her knees. The spanking began, with his arm holding her firmly in place as several dozen hard smacks were delivered to her rear cheeks. At last he let go and she got up, treading on her toes and rubbing at her hot bottom. Charles waited until she had recovered herself, then took her hand to lead her from the kitchen and upstairs. Laura felt her stomach start to churn.

  ‘The necessary room?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Oh God. What am I going to get? And what for? Why did you spank me?’

  ‘I felt you needed it, and as for what you’re going to get. You’ll see.’

  He let go of her hand to unlock the door and led her inside. At the sight of the whipping bench her body immediately started to tremble and she cast a frightened glance at the lines of implements, any one of which he might be about to put across her bottom. Instead to went to the cage, unlocking it and swinging open the door.

  ‘Inside.’

  Laura got down on her knees and crawled into the cage. Charles immediately shut and locked the door, leaving her trapped.

  ‘How long will I be in here?’

  ‘Perhaps a few minutes, perhaps a little longer.’

  He made to leave the room, but Laura called out after him.

  ‘Charles, hang on! What happens if I call for you?’

  ‘You’ll find yourself with a sore bottom and not just a hot one. Wait until I come back.’

  ‘Yes, but …
what if I want to pee?’

  ‘The floor of the cage is PVC. I dare say you’ll find it easy enough to clean up when I get back.’

  ‘Charles!’

  He had gone, the door closed behind him and a moment later she heard the padlock click into place.

  Laura had lost all track of time when she heard the doorbell ring. She knew she’d been in the cage a long time, because the sun had swung around to the other side of the house, leaving the room full of warm yellow light. He’d obviously eaten the lunch he’d been preparing when she arrived, but she’d had to go without, adding a growing hunger to her woes. Her tummy was also beginning to feel a little uncomfortable, but the worst thing was having no idea why she had been put in the cage and how he was going to react to her liaison with Hazel. The spanking meant very little, being just the sort of brisk punishment he liked to dish out for minor offences, or simply to keep her in trim. Something else was going on, but she had no idea what.

  She had been curled up, half-asleep on the padded floor of the cage, but the ring of the doorbell had brought her back to her full senses. Kneeling up, she listened, but the thick walls and solid doors of the cottage made it impossible to pick up whatever was said between Charles and the caller, presumably one of his local friends. She was fairly sure she’d heard a car, and began to wonder if the man would stay long, leaving Charles unable to come for her, maybe until she’d wet her knickers, which was what was going to happen if he didn’t take pity on her before too long.

  There were no more noises, and after a while she slumped back into her curled up position, hugging her knees. Her bottom had been delightfully warm when he’d first locked her up, and she’d brought herself off under her fingers almost immediately, in a kneeling position with her knickers pulled down at the back and her skirt turned up, fully aware of the watching camera. Charles either hadn’t been watching or had simply ignored her, much to her chagrin, and after a while she had tidied herself up and settled down to wait.

  Now, as she rolled onto her back, she thought about playing with herself again, simply for something to do, but no sooner had she let her thighs come open and begun to stroke the front of her knickers than she heard footsteps on the landing. Turning quickly over, she got onto all fours, waiting as the key was turned in the padlock. The door swung open to reveal Charles, grinning wickedly as he looked down at her.