Beautiful Affliction

by Celia Loren

  On the other hand, I bet not every woman would be so open to trying this BDSM stuff. So I guess we're each making compromises…very strange compromises. I don't wonder at all why Mr. Redmond would like being a dominant, I mean, he clearly likes to be in control. But I am surprised at my willingness to be a submissive. I was actually excited when he brought it up. Is there something wrong with me?

  I feel equally turned on and ashamed as I clear the dishes. Ms. Mueller and Aaron head up to bed, and I do my usual check of the basement and first floor, making sure I haven't missed anything. Mr. Redmond isn't in his study working like he usually is. I head upstairs and into my bedroom and notice his door closed with a little light peeking out from underneath it. It's only nine thirty, and probably too early to go to Mr. Redmond's room, but my curiosity is getting the better of me. I want to know what he has planned.

  I change into yoga pants and a t-shirt, walk into the hallway, closing the door behind me. I knock softly on Mr. Redmond's door.

  "Yes!" he calls abruptly, and I let myself in. He's sitting at his desk, typing on his laptop. "You need to pick a safe word," he says without preamble, and barely looking up from his computer.

  "Oh, um…shark?" I finally say. He turns and raises his eyebrows at me. "I don't know…I was just trying to think of something with a negative connotation." He shrugs and turns back to his work.

  "Strip, and then lie on the bed."

  "What?"

  "If you make me repeat myself, there will be consequences. Punishment. Do what I say the first time around."

  "Got it," I murmur, as a tingle spreads through my body. I pull off my shirt and pants, folding them neatly on the armchair, and then slide off my bra and underwear. I walk to the bed, glancing at him to see if he's watching, but his head is still in his work. I slide on top of the smooth duvet with my hands at my sides, and watch him expectantly. He doesn't move.

  "Um, I'm—" I begin, but he interrupts me.

  "Wait to be spoken to," he says without looking up. "And only call me sir."

  "Yes, sir," I whisper back. I watch the back of his head, and admire his wide shoulder in his cotton Henley. It's torture to have to wait here for him, not knowing what's coming, but I guess that's the point.

  Finally, after what feels like forever, he stands up. But instead of walking over to me, he goes to one of the windows. I frown as I watch his back, and then realize he's removing the strips of fabric that holds the curtain back to the wall on each side. I take a deep breath as he walks over to me, excited for what's to come.

  "Arms above your head," he orders me. I obey, and he leans over me, wrapping the curtain tie tightly around my wrists and then around one of the rungs of his wooden headboard. "Close your eyes." I do, and feel him wrapping the other one around my head, tying it just above my ear so that I can still rest my head on the pillow. Suddenly I feel his breath at my ear. "Have you ever been tied up before?" he asks, his hand gently sliding across my stomach. I can't help the way my body arches immediately against his touch.

  "No, sir," I whisper.

  "Blindfolded?" His hand slides up over my breast.

  "No, sir."

  "Spanked?" He pinches my nipple.

  My mouth drops open. "No, sir."

  "Mm. Well, I still have some work to do," he says, pulling his hand off me. "I'm going to leave you here until morning. You're here to give me pleasure. I'll fuck you when I feel like it throughout the night."

  "Wait, how long until—" I begin, then feel him grab my hips and easily flip me over onto my stomach.

  "There are consequences to questioning me," he growls. "Punishment. Spanking, to be specific." I feel his hand rubbing my right butt cheek. "I'm going to spank you three times now. I'll start lightly. Do you remember your safe word?"

  "Yes, sir," I reply, my mouth suddenly dry. His hand pulls away and suddenly comes swiftly back down. I gasp at the stinging sensation, but the truth is that it was far more surprising than painful. He keeps his hand on my ass for a moment, rubbing it, then it disappears again, coming back down with a crack. This one was a little harder. Again, he rubs my skin, then spanks me once more. He leaves his palm there, and I hear him take a deep, halting breath.

  "How did that feel?" he asks hoarsely.

  I pause, my mind trying to process what just happened. "I…good," I finally whisper, feeling wetness trickle between my thighs. Holy shit, I can't believe I just got spanked…and I liked it. He grabs my hips again, flipping me back over, and I'm sure that I'm about to feel his body on top of mine, but I hear him walk away, then sit down at his chair.

  Fuck. Seriously? My body is already aching for him, and he's going to go back to work. I hear the keys of his laptop begin to clatter away, and take a deep breath to try to calm myself down. Who knows how long he's going to keep me waiting?

  My toes curl and I wind my fingers around the restraints binding my wrists, pulling down on them to test how strong they are. Very strong. And tight. Not cutting off my circulation, but I can't move my wrists against each other at all. Every time he pauses typing for a moment, I think he's going to come back over, but then the typing begins again. I wish I could just fall asleep until he's ready to do something to me, but he's left me in such a state of suspended pleasure and anticipation that I know that's going to be impossible.

  I have no idea how much time passes before I hear his chair move back. He walks toward the bed, and I practically begin to drool when I hear him open the drawer next to my head and rip open a condom.

  "You've been very patient," he murmurs. Suddenly I feel him slide one finger against my clit, feeling how wet I am. "Hm, so you enjoy this," he comments. He flicks his finger once over my clit and my body jumps. "You want me to fuck you?"

  "Yes…yes, sir. Please," I beg him. He flips me back over and slightly toward the headboard and picks up my hips. I end up on my elbows with my ass in the air. I don't have time to adjust to the new position before I feel him thrusting inside me. My body convulses as he enters me, an orgasm ripping through me with his very first thrust. I've never felt so ready in my life.

  The orgasm takes me and I struggle to stay stable on my elbows. I feel him still thrusting inside me again and again, and as soon as the pleasure has drained out of my body, I feel it building back up again. I whimper as another orgasm builds: it feels like almost more than my body can take. His hands reach around the outside of my thighs and pulls them together as his legs move to the outside of mine. I can feel how tightly I'm gripping his cock now, and my hands ball into fists as I struggle to contain the pleasure inside me.

  "Surrender to it, Cora," he grunts behind me. "You have to surrender." I relax slightly, trying to let him take complete control, and the second orgasm rips through me as he comes inside me. My head spins and I feel like I'm floating. When I become aware of my body again, he's still kneeling behind me, one hand resting comfortingly on my lower back. He slowly pulls out, and I hear him get off the bed. He turns me back over, and I hear a rustling sound before he moves my arms down to my stomach. They're still tied together, but not to the bed. He gently pulls the duvet cover out from under me, then pulls it up over my naked body up to my chin. I feel his mouth at my ear and he kisses me softly.

  "Good girl," I hear him whisper, just as I drift off to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  I wake up as I feel him get into bed next to me. I try to open my eyes, forgetting that I still have the makeshift blindfold on. From the narrow bit I can see out from under it, I think the room is completely dark now. I feel his hand slide down from my ribcage, over the dip of my waist, and then take my hip and pull me towards him. I can feel his hard, naked body against mine, his erection pressing into my lower back.

  He turns my face toward his, gently opening my lips with his. My exhausted body springs back to life as his tongue dips into my mouth, and I let out a low moan. His hand moves over my hip and slides into my opening. I spread my legs slightly as he slips a finger inside me, testing my we
tness.

  "I love how ready you are for me," he murmurs, circling his index finger around. "Do you want me to fuck you again?"

  "Yes, please, sir," I whisper back. His knee moves between my legs, opening them a little wider, and I feel him slowly press inside me. He's moving slowly and tenderly this time, probably knowing that I'm slightly sore from how roughly he took me last time. His finger moves to my clit, circling achingly slowly, as his other hand slides under my torso to my breast, taking it into his hand and massaging it.

  My lips part as I absorb all the different sensations moving through my body. With my hands tied, I can't exactly reciprocate, so I just let him take him over completely. My body feels completely limp, like I'm spreading out into a puddle. My head dips back and he presses his mouth back against mine. I whimper as he circles his hips, grinding his cock inside me at every angle. Then he begins to move a little faster, pulling his mouth away and wrapping his arm around my body and holding me tightly against him.

  At the same time, he pulls my upper leg back and over his so that my knees are spread wide apart and he begins to flick his finger rapidly back and forth across my clit. Pleasure is coursing through me and I can feel another orgasm building.

  "Oh, god, Brent," I burst out, forgetting the rules he laid out earlier. I feel him freeze behind me and realize my mistake.

  "Very bad," he says, clicking his tongue. I feel him pull out of me and hear him stand up next to the bed. The next thing I know, I'm being picked up and set down so that I'm standing right next to the bed with my thighs pressed against the comforter. I feel his hand against my back, pushing me down, and feel my breasts pillow against the bed as I bend my elbows so that my tied hands are under my stomach. "What happens now?" he demands of me, grabbing my ass in his palm.

  "Punishment," I whisper, biting my lip in excitement as I turn my head to the side.

  "You like getting spanked, don't you, Cora?"

  "Yes, sir," I admit.

  "Ten this time," he says, and I feel his palm come down on my ass. He goes a little harder this time, and by the last strike I can feel my skin smarting with pain, though I'm also gasping with desire. He doesn't keep me waiting long. He thrusts inside me, and I feel his hips contacting my tender skin.

  His hand moves to the back of my neck, pinning me down as he plunges into me again and again. I hear him grunt as another orgasm roils through my body. I shake under his steady grasp and feel him release himself inside me. I gasp for air as he collapses over me, gently kissing the back of my neck. He doesn't stay there for long, though. I feel him stand up, and then his hand gently caressing my ass before he presses his lips against it. Then he stands again, scooping me up and placing me down gently in bed.

  I can feel sleep pulling at me, but am surprised to feel a damp warmth between my legs. I shift in confusion for a moment before I feel him place a reassuring hand on my thigh and realize that he's cleaning me off with a wet towel. A smile crosses my lips, and I'm unconscious before he even finishes.

  "Cora, wake up," I hear Mr. Redmond whispering in my ear. I mumble indistinctly in reply, then attempt to open my eyes and see a sliver of light coming in from under the blindfold. "You did very well last night," he goes on. "I wanted to say thank you before I left for work."

  "You don't have to—" I stop as I feel his lips on my nipple. Oh, that kind of thank you. I feel him pick up the sheet covering me and toss it away. His mouth continues down, kissing my stomach, his tongue circling my belly button, before I feel him blow gently against my clit. His strong hands run down the tops of my thighs, spreading them apart and holding my knees down on the bed.

  His mouth sinks down onto me and I moan as he sucks on me, my toes curling against the bed. His tongue begins to flick over my clit and he takes one hand away from my leg. A second later, I feel two fingers pressing inside me, curling against my g-spot as his tongue circles me. I wouldn't have thought I'd be capable of having this many orgasms in such a short time, but another one begins to build up inside me. His other hand disappears from my leg and I gasp as I feel him pressing a finger inside my ass.

  The contact with my nerve endings back there sends another shot of desire through me and my hips begin to lift off the bed. He presses me back down with this mouth as his fingers do their work. Waves of pleasure begin rolling through me, softly at first, and then I shudder violently as it takes me away.

  After a few more licks, I feel his mouth and hands pull away. I hear him in the bathroom for a minute, and then he approaches the bed again.

  "I'm releasing your hands now," he says, as I feel him tugging at the fabric around my wrists. "Wait until you hear the door close, and then you may remove your blindfold."

  I feel his lips make contact with mine for one fleeting second as my hands are freed, and then he's gone. I hear the door shut and my hand shoots to my blindfold, pulling it up over my eye. I wanted so much to catch a glimpse of him, even though I knew he was already gone.

  I let my head sink back against the pillow, pushing the fabric off my head completely and turning my hands in circles. I study my slightly red wrists as I think about what happened last night, and this morning. I've never felt so sexually satisfied in my life. It actually felt like a relief to give up control like that. And I feel so well-rested too. Normally I'm awake for hours tossing and turning, but I don't even remember falling asleep last night, I just slipped under.

  I turn my head and glance at the clock on the bedside table. 6:30AM. Wow, Mr. Redmond leaves early for work. So much for taking some time off. I hop out of bed and turn around, pulling the sheets up over the pillows and replace the curtain ties. I'll wash everything later today, but I don't want the room to look too messed up in case Whitney or anyone else glances in here before I have a chance. My clothes are still in a neat pile on the armchair, so I go over and slip them on. With one final glance around the room, I head out the door and back to my bedroom.

  I hop into the shower, humming happily as I wash my hair. It's funny, normally I can't enjoy myself this much. Usually a stab of guilt comes and I somber up, but something about being a submissive, and particularly about being punished, lets me feel free.

  I quickly towel dry my hair and put on a fresh uniform. I haven't had this much energy in a long time. I wiggle my hips as I head out my bedroom door. Definitely sore, and my ass feels a little tender, but otherwise good. Time to start my day.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  I've eaten and cleared my breakfast before Ms. Mueller has even appeared downstairs. Since everyone else is still sleeping, I start my cleaning in the basement today, where I can vacuum without bothering anyone. I'm so absorbed in my work that almost three hours pass before I remember to check the time. I want to get a load of laundry in the wash before lunch, so I head back upstairs.

  Ms. Mueller is just taking off her apron and hanging it on the hook in the mud room as I replace my supplies. She smiles at me, but I can see bags underneath her eyes. Not everyone's day was redeemed after the police search like mine was.

  "Oh, there you are! I'm running out for some groceries. Do you need anything?"

  "No thanks, I'm good."

  "When are you going to get that driver's license?"

  "Soon, I promise," I tell her, though I hope to put it off as long as possible. I've hated driving ever since Grace was struck and killed by a car. It's no accident that my license has lapsed. She heads toward the garage, and I follow her into the foyer and then turn and head upstairs. I take a left at the top of the stairs, intending to first take the sheets off of Mr. Redmond's bed, when I hear a crash from the hall in the other direction. I turn and hurry toward it and stop when I peer into Whitney's room.

  She's curled on the ground in just a t-shirt, broken glass and items from her desk spread at her feet. I rush toward her, hearing glass crunch under my rubber-soled shoes. I sink down next to her and wrap my arms around her thin shoulders.

  "What's wrong? Did you cut yourself?" I ask, examining her body. />
  "No, no," she says, tears streaming down her face. "I got upset. I threw the vase. It doesn't matter."

  "Why don't you get into bed, alright? I'll clean up this glass." I slip my hands under her armpits to urge her to standing. She weakly follows me up, then moves to step forward directly into the glass minefield. "Wait, wait, follow me," I instruct her, leading her around the shards and back into bed. Once there, she crumples onto the mattress and I pull the sheets over her, smoothing her hair back.

  She doesn't look like she's ready to talk, so I hurry down the hall for the DustBuster from the hall closet. I carefully pick up the larger pieces of glass with my fingers and toss them into the wastebasket, and then vacuum up the rest. I reach over to pick up the items that she must have knocked off her desk, and find myself picking a full pill bottle off the floor.

  I glance over at the bed. Her back is to me. I turn the bottle over, looking at the label. Lithium, prescribed a month ago, but it doesn't look like she's taken any of it. I tuck it into my hand and walk back over to the bed and sit on the edge of it.

  "Whitney, what happened?" I ask her.

  "Forgot to turn in my last philosophy paper. Probably going to fail the class now. It's just so hard to remember sometimes…" she mumbles into her pillow.

  "Are you supposed to be taking these pills?" She turns over slowly in the bed to look at me.

  "Are you going to tell my mom?" she asks, her eyes growing wide with worry.

  I clear my throat. "Well, I don't actually work for your mom, I work for your brother. But I am worried about you."

  "I just felt so fuzzy, and I'd been fine for so long that I just wanted to try to go off them for a little while. I felt great at first." I nod, remembering how alive she seemed when I first met her. "I'm not crazy," she whispers, watching me. "I don't want you to think of me as crazy."