by Linzi Basset
“Not he; they did it again. Used an explosion as a front.”
“Why though? As the Speaker of the House, Rebecca Lomas was next in line for the presidency and would have been put in the position by the SCOTUS for the upcoming four year election. Why kill her off? What power does that leave her with if she’s indeed still alive and having to hide?”
“That’s what we need to get out of Yale, Stone. They involved the Russians and killed the British Prime Minister as well. I believe they’re after more than control over the U.S. government or presidency but I hesitate to speculate out loud.”
“We need to check with Danton if they recall seeing Rebecca on the boat when they arrived. At least that way it’ll remove any doubt from our minds as to who we’re dealing with.”
“If it is her, we need to move fast, Stone. Rebecca Lomas is a dangerous woman … in more ways than one.”
“What did you find?” Stone opened a bottle of water and took a swig.
“I already asked Parker and Zeke to dig up everything they can find about her. Zeke reported it’s a deep hole and everything is locked tight as far as she’s concerned. It’s clear she had a dark story to hide but they’ll keep digging. Suffice it to say, she had proven association with the Bratva, Chinese Triads, and the American Mafia. That alone places an entirely different perspective of what her intentions were with the power she yielded over everyone who supported her.”
“Jesus Christ, and here I thought all we had to do was split apart SPEONUS.”
“If I’m right, I’m afraid they are but a small part of a much bigger problem our country is facing.”
Chapter Seven
“You’re late, Lady S.”
Alexa cast a heated glare at Shane where he stood in front of the classroom in his training dungeon. The damn man knew very well she had regular hours at BSE and took pride in her work, which was why she took every function she performed very seriously. To be ordered via Stone to report for a training demonstration mid-morning was a disruption she didn’t appreciate. An urgent discussion with her boss and Dom was in order. She refused to be ripped between her job responsibilities and the expectation from Shane as his permanent submissive.
“My apologies, Master Fox,” she clipped out with clenched teeth as she took the seat in the back row where she usually waited for the practical session to commence. She knew better than to remind him that she had been hard at work when he’d ordered her to present herself for his pleasure. She had taken his reprimand to heart that the trainees looked up to her. It would be detrimental to her tender ass to sass him openly with them eager to soak up any dynamic between a Dom and his sub.
“Today’s topic is caning.”
Alexa’s breath wheezed from her throat. She’d witnessed several canings performed by Shane. He was a perfectionist in many aspects of his life and using the thin impact tool was at the top of the list. Every strike was delivered with precision, every snap of his wrist performed with deliberate intent of how and where he wanted the searing snap to land. Watching him was poetry in motion—not to mention arousing, wanting … and frightening as hell. Up till now, she hadn’t been on the receiving end of such a scene, demonstration, or for real—not with him. The Doms she’d allowed to cane her, well … like always, she controlled the intensity, length, and monitored her reaction to bring it to an end without achieving the uncontrolled wave of euphoria she’d witnessed Shane’s subject reach during such sessions.
Today, all of that would come to an end. Not that he would use the training session to whip her into kingdom come, because even here, subs and trainees had the right to use their safewords—oh, no, it was much more than that. Shane wasn’t the kind of Dom she’d be able to manipulate. For one, she now knew he was a sadist of the likes she could only imagine since it became clear he’d been hiding his true nature. Secondly, his expertise was beyond anything she’d ever experienced, and therein was the crux of the matter—he would push her to a level of masochism she herself hadn’t even admitted she could cope with or needed to achieve complete pleasure.
She fisted her trembling fingers as she stared straight ahead. Watching him now would blow her control straight to hell and it was the one thing she couldn’t afford. If she were going to survive the beast, she had to keep her wits, but try as she might, she couldn’t block out his deep voice droning through the vast space.
“For me, as a Dom, there is without doubt little, if anything, to rival the effect of a sound caning. With its sharp penetrating sting, followed by a period of acute pain and soreness, and subsequent bruising, the cane is extremely effective in not only bringing immediate correction to the one receiving it but continues to remind the sub of both the offense and punishment for quite some time.”
“You’re telling us!” The burst of laughter following the exclamation from one of the subs sounded forced at best. It was evident the majority of them were wary of the sting a caning was well known for.
“You should be wary. Caning is a skillful art and can be utilized for correction as well as for pleasure but let me offer you a fair warning. Be sure to trust the Dom you agree to a caning scene with. Today we’re not spending too much time on the pleasure part of caning. We’re attending to the kind every sub dreads.” His eyes flicked to Alexa. “Except perhaps masochists. When caning to correct bad behavior, the intention is for the recipient to hate every second of it.”
Shane continued to describe the various canes currently on the market and the difference in their effectiveness. Alexa listened intently, parking every fact to use in the future. Knowledge was power and to be prepared for what was coming was always wise.
“Which type of cane do you prefer, Master Fox?” Trainee VB asked. To keep trainees in check, they were called by the initials during their months of training. It made it easier for the Masters and Training Assistants as it reminded the trainees not to have any expectations other than being trained in submission.
“For daily use, I prefer a traditional crook-handled rattan cane. It’s extremely flexible, which is essential to achieve the exact level of intensity and impact I wish to deliver.” His smile turned evil. “Of course, when I really wish to play hard, I prefer a glass or steel cane.”
“Like the one Master Eagle always carries with him?”
“Exactly like that one, yes.” He got onto the raised platform and sat down on the chair. “Impact play is the same, no matter what tool is used. So, what is the important thing to remember when you’re on the receiving end of a whipping?”
“Not to tense up.”
“Stay relaxed.”
“Lean into the strikes.”
“Allow the pain to flow through you.”
The responses came from all over simultaneously. Shane held up his hand. “You should know better than to be unruly in my dungeon. Come forward.”
He didn’t have to elaborate on who he expected to obey. The four trainees who had shouted out their answers got up and shuffled to the front of the class. His expression remained impassive but his eyes glowed in silent reprimand as he looked between them.
“Canes are generally used on soft tissue when used for pleasure but as a correction measure … let me demonstrate how a sub is shown the error of her ways. On your knees,” he snapped the order. The women immediately dropped down. Shane nodded to Dom Michael who approached with a rattan cane in his hand.
The trainees’ screams echoed through the dungeon as he delivered stinging snaps to the soles of their feet.
“Can I expect you to remember in the future to follow the rules in here, trainees?” Shane’s eyes glimmered as he watched the four women struggle to breathe through the pain, something they were taught the first week at the academy.
“Yes, Master Fox,” they sobbed in unison.
“Good girls. Back to your seats.” He watched with a pleased smile as they hobbled to their stations.
Alexa stared at him with trepidation. There was no doubt he basked in the pleasure of watching thei
r pain. She was beyond shocked as she recognized the throb of arousal pulsing inside her loins.
For fuck’s sake, Alexa, how can the thought of his pleasure at the excruciating pain he’s going to bring excite you? Get with the program!
She didn’t need the reminder. He was different from all the Doms she had scened with, something she realized the full extent of as she watched him now. Shane Sinclair was done hiding behind a facade of a strict Dom. He had unleashed the beast inside him. Master Fox had no intention of keeping the sadist shackled anymore … and he had his own submissive to play with to the hilt.
I am so fucked.
She was beyond fucked—if the essence of her arousal oozing from her pussy was anything to go by. It was a first for Alexa and it scared the living shit out of her. She might have given in to a certain level of masochism over the past eight years after shunning it for many prior to that, but it terrified her how much she looked forward to the caning … correction … how much her body yearned for the pain he was about to deliver to force her to accept the level of her own masochistic needs.
Alexa managed to thrive during certain painful scenes and due to having a high threshold for pain, it was how she achieved the most pleasure. It wasn’t something she bleated about to the sadistic Doms visiting the castle; she wasn’t that stupid—not if she wanted to maintain control over the scene. Master Fox, of course, wouldn’t stand for it. He was going to force her to accept the true masochist inside her … or chase her off for lying to him and herself if she refused.
She was afraid that what she’d experienced to date wouldn’t compare to what he had to bring to the table. Yes, she loved the ache of nipple clamps and enjoyed the sting of a bare hand, the slap of a crop, and the thud of a heavy paddle. Pulling her hair made her melt and the few times she’d been caned, she’d reveled in the fire of its sting. But lately, she’d come to yearn to feel pleasure in the way only the edge of pain could bring. A normal scene with controlled torment just didn’t do it for her anymore, she needed the agony, and the release it gave her, rather than being in pain for pleasure on its own.
Shane’s voice yanked her back to the present as he continued his lecture.
“Muscle memory means that the pain sometimes becomes pleasure much quicker than it usually does because your mind and your body remember.”
“I’m not sure I follow, Master Fox,” Sub PJ said.
“If you experience pain, shortly followed by the pleasure of a climax then your body will remember the feeling, so that when you experience a similar stimulation it’ll move quicker to reach that level of pleasure. In fact, you’ll reach the point where the pain alone will trigger a response because of the associations to the pleasure. If you like caning, I can guarantee you’ll encounter it often, particularly with a whipping or an erotic spanking. It intensifies by regular caning, spanking, etcetera as your tolerance continues to grow.”
The way he looked at Alexa as he said it was a veiled promise that caused a shudder to rock her body at the visions of Shane using pain to bring her pleasure and achieve an ultimate high. Part of the excitement rushing through her was no doubt in the fear the anticipation brought.
“Lady S, come.”
It took a second to assimilate the fact that he was talking to her as she blinked away the thoughts milling through her mind.
A warning gathered like a rising thunderstorm in his expression when she continued to stare at him without responding. She managed a hasty, “Yes, Master Fox,” as she quickly got to her feet. He gestured her to join him on the platform. Her fear started to rise as he got up from the chair.
Alexa’s mind was all over the place, suddenly not very confident in her ability to be what he expected her to be. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t quell having second thoughts about signing her life into his hands. She wasn’t convinced she’d be able to take the level of pain, not here, not when her failure would be witnessed by these trainees who all looked up to her for guidance as a seasoned submissive. Her heart convulsed in her throat as a chill shivered through her.
“Alexa,” Shane’s dulcet tones rippled through her to tease the submissive inside her. “Are you with me, little one?” He might be a sadist, but first and foremost he was her Dom and was clearly aware she was struggling.
“I’m trying,” she lilted softly, surprised at how assertive she sounded when inside she was a mangled mess of fear.
Like always, she felt petite and vulnerable next to his commanding presence. He cupped her chin and forced her eyes to his.
“You can do this, my pet. I know you’re scared of the unknown … what the sadist in me is, but never forget that I am your Dom and I’ll keep you safe. You just need to trust me.” His smile warmed her heart. “Do you, Alexa? Trust me?”
“I always have, Master Fox.”
“And you want to please me, don’t you?”
It wasn’t something she needed to be asked. She had always wanted to please him, long before he ever graced her with his attention.
“With everything in me.”
The glow of pleasure in his eyes clinched it. She felt the fear and resistance ebb from her body, leaving her relaxed and calm.
“Come. I want you over the chair.”
He assisted her to bend over the back and to grasp the front legs low down. She glanced at the trainees who watched her with mixed emotions, some wishing it were them up there and some obviously glad they weren’t.
“I am going to demonstrate some of the techniques we have been discussing,” Shane said to the room. “I’ll start slow to show you it can bring pleasure before moving onto the punishment part.” He looked around the room. “Why am I concentrating on the painful part of caning today, sub TR?”
“To teach us how to be prepared and to handle the pain.”
“Correct. It’s important to realize that not everyone reacts the same but keep a close eye on Lady S’s stance throughout.” He smiled as she gasped when he traced the taut line of her skin from hip to thigh. “Also pay close attention to the way I control the cane and work with the reactions from my sub.”
Shane leaned over her to speak lightly into her ear. “I need you to stay with me throughout, Alexa. Do not let your mind stray and I guarantee you’ll enjoy this.” She basked in the promise until he laughed evilly. “At first.”
Alexa forced herself to relax as he stepped back. She noticed his arm draw back from her peripheral vision. Instead of relaxing, she couldn’t prevent her muscles from tensing as she waited for the whistling sound in preparation of the first strike. It never came, but the cane made contact with her skin—surprisingly gentle. She relaxed as the cane fell in circular tapping motions across her cheeks. Some were heavier and some were so gentle they were barely discernible. It didn’t take long for her to become focused on the sensations and the way that the taps danced on her skin. The thin tool seemed to land on her buttocks in a way that caused her pelvis to tilt in response, feeding the desire to be touched, almost like an invisible line connected the two desires. The heat every strike caused to flow through her, made her want more … aroused her quicker than she imagined could be possible.
It sure as hell never happened this fast with any of the other Doms she scened with!
“Time to ratchet up the intensity. Are you ready, Lady S?”
Alexa was surprised at the question. As a sadist, she’d expected him to wallop her ass purple and blue without care or concern whether she was ready. Then she realized it was in consideration of the trainees. To show them there was always a chance to end it with the use of a safeword.
“Yes, Master Fox.” Her voice sounded markedly less assertive than before but it couldn’t be helped. This was what he’d promised her that first night he’d whipped her for falling asleep. It had been excruciating even though he’d held back. Now … well, she didn’t think she’d be that lucky. She heaved in a deep breath. She was part of the training session and couldn’t fail the trainees. It was time to tap into the
masochist submissive and challenge her to see just how strong she was.
In all honesty, her body was molten metal wanting whatever he promised. She bit her lip as the force of the next strike shifted. A delicious flame licked across her backside. Again, the sear radiated downwards from the surface sting, where it touched her clit and burst to the surface.
“Ohhh,” she moaned, not having expected to feel like this. Not when she’d feared his cane and the level of pain she knew he’d give. She was confused at the fact that she wanted more.
“Ohh? Is there a significance in that response, my pet,” he rasped close to her ear, surprising her that he’d even heard the puff of breath.
“I … no,” she whimpered, not wanting him to stop, even for a brief second. She needed to drift as he pummeled her ass, to just let herself sink into the surface and melt away. “What are you … oh fuck,” she moaned as he pulled off her panties and tucked the hem of her skirt into the waistband.
“Hmm, just look at these gorgeous marks. Perfectly aligned and such a beautiful contrast to your white skin.” He feathered his palm over her cheeks, reveling in her painful gasps. “One of the problems with caning is the cutting of the flesh. Personally, I prefer for that not to happen but in certain circumstances, it can’t be avoided.” His beast purred at Alexa’s fearful whimper. “Fear not, little one, today isn’t the time.”
He traced his hand over her tight skin. “This is the perfect form. For a proper caning, you want the skin to be pulled tight like this. It's important, as it will stretch the tissues of her bottom tightly across the underlying bone. These are the tissues I’m going to thrash, and the tighter they are against the bone, the more pain I can inflict.” He moved around the chair to kneel in front of her. His eyes turned dark as she looked at him. “It’s important that you don’t move, Alexa. Even the slightest twitch of your hips or legs could result in the cane cutting your skin. I can control the tool but you need to control your body. Can you do it or do I need to tie you down?”
