by Livia Grant
"Down on your knees, girl,” Dane commanded. With a harsh shove, he pushed Riley to her knees, his hands still holding her arms.
Her stomach soured at the distance she heard in his voice.
The Mistress’s instructions came next. "Face down, cheek on my boot and then you may beg me. And make it pretty. Stick that ass up in the air, too. My boys like to see a nice pussy." If Riley hadn't known she could feel even more humbled than when Dane took that marker to her chest, she knew it now. The two men shuffled around her and took position behind Dane, who was squatting beside her, still holding her arms. She would have kept them in place, but having his touch on her helped her survive the unbearable.
"Yes, ma'am." Riley took a few calming breaths, reminding herself she could safeword, this didn't have to happen, but when Dane moved one hand to the back of her head, to guide her into place, the idea vanished.
She moved forward until the scent of Silvia's leather boot signaled she was close, then she turned, pressing her cheek to the cool material. Dane's hand moved, sliding down her back, and resting between her shoulder blades. He didn’t apply pressure. She wasn't being held in place. He was simply with her in that moment.
Time didn't move. The sounds of the room quieted, as though everything just stopped while she gathered her nerve. Dane didn't press her, and he didn't leave her either. She licked her lips and gave him what he wanted, what she had offered when she signed up for the party.
"Ma'am, I disobeyed sir, and he has promised me a belting. I beg you to come watch him deliver my punishment, if you wish to do so." There, that wasn't so bad.
"I'm sure you can do better than that." Dane rejected her attempt. "And put your ass up higher, the boys over here can't see your pussy very well."
She groaned, but did as he commanded, arching her back slightly. He actually wanted other men to gawk at her? Had he turned into a fuck 'em and leave 'em guy? But then again… did she really want more than the party with him?
"Try again, Riley."
Riley cleared her throat and gave it another try. "Ma'am, please watch my punishment. I was a naughty girl for my sir. Please witness him taking his belt to my ass." She expected to feel crushed, to have her pride twisted, yet she found a sort of calm. Dane hadn't left her, wasn't ignoring her, she'd followed his instructions, and she was still in one piece—so far. Even the heat of her cheeks seemed to lessen.
"Better." Dane patted her bottom, pulling one ass cheek to the side. The men behind her whistled and a fresh horror rocked through her, only to be soothed by Dane's chuckle.
"I think I can manage to watch your little punishment. No doubt my boys will enjoy themselves immensely. You've a nice ass that will bounce under the lashes." Mistress Silvia pushed Riley up with her foot. "You got spit on my boot!" She pointed to a small droplet on the tip of the boot.
"That was rude, Riley." Dane whispered in her ear. He pointed to the little drop. "Lick it off."
Wanting to get out of the situation as quickly as possible, she obeyed without hesitation, swiping her tongue over the tip of the boot. Licking it off made a bigger mess, but neither Dane nor Silvia seemed to care about that.
"Very good." Dane helped ease her back to her feet. "Now, we need two more. There." Dane pointed to the next table over where a young couple was watching them with wide eyes. The man at the table had his hand halfway up the woman’s skirt and even from where Dane and Silvia were standing, the flush in the woman’s cheeks was visible. "Get back on your knees and crawl over there, come back with their answer." The flat of his hand slapped her ass.
“I knew her ass would bounce like that.” She heard one of Silvia’s boys whisper.
Watching Riley's ass sway as she crawled the few feet to where Samuel and Jeri were sitting nearly killed him. She'd done so much better than he thought she would with Silvia. He owed his friend a drink, she'd played her part perfectly, and with no prompting.
"That's the girl, isn't it?" Silvia nudged him with her shoulder. "The one that walked away, or got away, whatever the saying."
Dane didn't take his eyes off his girl as she knelt up at the table and pleaded her case. He probably should have gone with her, but he wanted to see how well she could behave on her own. Would she obey and continue to beg, or would she take the opportunity to stray from the rules? From what he could see, she was all in. The pout of her lips, and her frown as she continued to talk told him she was obeying. She was begging, and although Jeri had already nodded, Samuel seemed to be giving her a harder time. Bastard. He loved humiliation as much as Dane did, and he was having himself a really good time over there.
"Yeah. That's her."
"She back for good?"
Dane looked over at his friend and snorted. "I'm trying."
"Does she deserve you?" The seriousness of the question sank into him. For many years, he had thought it was him that had been lacking, she'd walked out on him after all.
"She's trying." Dane nodded and turned back to find his girl crawling back to him with a triumphant grin and Jeri and Samuel walking behind her. Even in the moments when she should be at her most vulnerable, he saw her strength. The woman couldn't be further from a failure, but that lesson would have to wait. At the moment, teaching her obedience, and teaching her to love her submissive side was foremost in his mind.
"I hear this naughty girl has a belting coming her way?" Samuel nodded toward Riley, who had moved to Dane's side and was kneeling with her hands flat on her knees.
Such a good girl she was becoming, and so quickly. "Yes. I assume the girl begged prettily enough for you to get off your ass to be a witness?" Dane eyed Jeri who was smiling from behind her husband.
"Oh, yes. She did a great job." Jeri nodded with a big grin. Jeri was a humiliation slut if he ever saw one. The woman loved degradation, and lucky for her, Samuel enjoyed the play even more. "I asked her about her teasing, will you be punishing her for that, too?" The damn sparkle in her eyes made Dane laugh.
"Isn't there some unspoken rule that you subs should stick together?"
Jeri shook her head and leaned against her husband.
"She hasn't had a solid spanking since her surgery. She's trying to live vicariously through the subs here tonight. That's why we came."
"Oh, shit. I'm sorry, Jeri. I forgot all about that." Dane grimaced. Samuel hadn’t brought Jeri to the club since her full hysterectomy not long ago. "You sure you're up to this?"
Dane reached down to Riley, and ran his fingertips over her hair, almost smiling when she leaned into his touch.
"Yes, thank you. I'm fine. Just no play for a few more weeks, is all."
Samuel wrapped a protective arm around his wife's delicate shoulders. The surgery had been hard on her emotionally as well as physically. Dane could kick himself for having forgotten the bleak situation of his friends.
Silvia stepped around Dane and stood in front of Samuel and Jeri. Dane couldn't hear what words were exchanged, but once Silvia had enveloped Jeri in a warm embrace he had a good idea.
"I'm going to take the bad girl over to the crosses. If you'll give me just a few minutes to get her positioned, we can begin." Dane stopped stroking Riley's hair and sank his fingers into it, clasped a clump by the roots, and pulled her upward.
She yelled, and tried to pull at his hands, but he only tightened his fingers. "Up we go." Once she was on her feet, he laughed at the glower she tried to shoot at him. "That will only get you extra. Now walk." He moved so he was in front of her, and lowered his hand, making her bend at the waist. He marched her through the play areas in that position. He could hear her groans, her little shrieks when he pulled harder on her hair, but he didn't let any of that change his trajectory.
Lucky for them, one of the St. Andrew's crosses was available. Front and center on a raised circular platform, perfect for the spectators to be able to see everything clearly and no waiting. He yanked her up to stand at her full height and released her. Her hands flew to the top of her head, rubbing away what
he could only assume was an irritating burning sensation. A snap of his fingers and he had her attention again.
"Against the cross, arms up, feet spread." Her throat worked as she swallowed, her eyes washing over the wooden apparatus before them. "Now, girl."
“Yes, boy.”
He was on her in a flash, grabbing a fistful of her hair, and dragging it back against him. His chest pressed into her back, while her head leaned on his shoulder. Her hands grabbed for him, but he managed to slip his arm around her, gripping her throat.
She could breathe, not comfortably, but her air hadn’t been cut off.
“I call you girl because that’s what you are. A teasing, naughty girl. I’ll decide when I use your fucking name and when I won’t, but you, girl, will call me Sir and that’s it. Do you get me, or do we need to have a longer chat before your audience shows up?”
Her hands came up to his forearm, but she didn’t pull at him. A tear slid out the side of her eye, and he turned to catch it with his tongue. “Answer.” He tightened his grip in her hair, and moved his fingers higher on her throat. The muscles there clenched as she tried to swallow.
“Y-Yes, sir.”
He released her and spun her to face him. Wide eyes found his, fully dilated and focused on him. “Good. Get in position now.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and took a step back, adjusting his steel-hard cock in his pants. No way she didn’t feel it when he’d been pressed against her.
Her bottom lip sucked back into her mouth. Some wouldn't find her sexy in that moment, she did look a little silly, but he craved her more at those moments, when she let her guard down, than any others. Sensing her apprehension, he moved closer to her. He pulled her lip out and ran his thumb over the wet flesh.
"I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere. You've earned this, you know it, and you want it. If you can't admit it to me, and to them, at least admit to yourself. Start there." He used two fingers to tap against her forehead. "For now, this moment, I want you to admit it in here that you want this, that you've craved true discipline, that you've dreamed of submitting. By the end of the night I'll have your verbal affirmation, but for now, start here."
Her eyes widened, but no refusal touched her lips. The fear he'd seen all those years ago waned.
Once he saw the war inside her start to calm, he nodded toward the cross. "Go on. Face the cross, and arms up. I'm going to light your ass on fire." A little wink and pat to her hip and he turned away from her, letting her know he didn't need to watch every move she made to know she'd obey him.
Dane was surprised to see one of Silvia's boys carrying his bag and strap. "You left your strap at our table." He held out the leather. "And Mistress told me to get your bag for you, as well." The young man, no older than drinking age, held out the bag for him.
"Thanks." He took the items and gestured for him to go back to his Mistress, who had a broad smile and open arms waiting for him. Silvia liked her boys young, and she never once broke her stern resolve for absolute obedience, but she was more than generous in the affection department.
Dane dropped his bag out of the way, and turned to the spectators. "Fifteen lashes." He toyed with the strap, feeling the soft, supple leather run between his fingers, knowing it wouldn't feel so soft to Riley once he began. He almost wished he'd worn a belt that evening, so she could watch him unbuckle it and pull it out of the loops. She'd love it, oh, she'd hate to love it, but she'd love it all the same.
From that moment, their audience would remain captive to the scene, and he'd keep himself fully invested in Riley. He wasn't going easy on her, she needed a real punishment. Even if she couldn't say the words, he knew what was coming would be cleansing for her.
Chapter 4
Begging hadn't been as hard as she'd made it out in her mind. Samuel and Jeri toyed with her a bit, but they'd relented.
Her head still stung from Dane’s last grab at her, but she couldn’t fault him. She’d pushed. In her embarrassment at having been led to the cross like a piece of luggage in his hand, she’d lashed out.
The heat of his fingers around her throat lingered. She should have been frightened, shocked, outraged at his actions. But she wasn’t. It had been humbling to be held like that, as though with one hard squeeze he could take her air away. Like she was nothing at that moment but a disobedient girl who had crossed the line. Underneath it, beyond the embarrassment, she trusted. Dane wouldn’t hurt her. Dane would protect her—even from herself.
And now she had to get through the strapping. He’d proven how unrelenting and stern he could be, and she didn’t see any sign of reprieve coming from him.
She'd taken spankings, paddlings, and even had a belt used on her, but she'd been in control of those tops. She'd said how hard, how many, and where. Very little doubt resided with her that Dane would allow such things.
Dane was all control. All authority. Hearing that he'd gone the drill sergeant route didn't surprise her. He loved teaching and training, and he was all about rules and regulations. She'd figured him for a lifer, but she'd never really considered he could get hurt. A broken neck? Her heart clenched at the very thought of what could have happened.
A scream coming from the water sports sector tore Riley from her own thoughts. She turned in a flash, looking for the person. Too many people mingled, she couldn’t see anything past Dane and their own spectators.
"Shh. It's okay." Dane's comforting fingers were back on her, trailing down her spine. "It's okay, that’s Alexander’s sub, she's fine. He’ll keep her safe."
Riley nodded. If Dane wasn't worried, she wouldn't be either. He knew more people in the club than she did, and if he trusted the Dom with the woman, Riley would take him at his word.
"Now get in position." He waited without touching her again for her to move her body where he directed. As she stepped up to the cross the overhead lighting shone down on her, putting her in a soft purple spotlight. Looking down at herself she could make out the black markings on her chest, and saw some of the same on her stomach, just below her breasts. Their implications weighed heavily on her.
Reminding herself again that she'd signed up for the party because she wanted to try something new. Stepping out of her comfort zone had to be done, and the fact that it was Dane standing behind her with that strap made it all just a little bit easier.
Sliding her hands up the smooth varnished wood, she stretched her arms out over her head and spread her legs until her feet nearly made it to the ends of the cross. Her short stature didn't help her fit into such equipment, but she doubted that would delay Dane.
Soon enough his body pressed against her back, pushing her chest uncomfortably into the wood. If only she were a few inches taller, her breasts would be completely over the cross beam and hang loose between the two extensions.
"Fifteen lashes. If you need to use yellow, use it, but if you aren't saying it, you keep your mouth busy with counting. If I stop, you'll beg me to continue, ask me to finish punishing you."
She had a good idea of what he had in mind. More begging, more pleading, and more putting her pride on a shelf.
His hands started on her shoulders, and ran up her arms until he clasped each hand in his. "You'll show me how good you are by keeping in place. Grip the cross, but don't turn, don't jump away. Be my good girl, show me how good you can be for me." His lips were pressed against her ear and she wanted desperately to turn and wrap her arms around him, to feel his warmth and his strength. "You've already done so well, but I want more. And you want to give me more." A quick kiss to her cheek, and he pulled away from her, the chill of the room washing over her now uncovered back.
Her fingers curled over the edge of the wood. Wouldn't it be easier to just bind her in place? Of course it would, which is why he wasn't going to do it. He wanted her to admit it to herself, that's what he'd said. And it didn't seem that difficult anymore. She did want this. She wanted him to take the strap to her for disobeying, she wanted his discipline, and his dominance.
Stepping off that chair had been blatant and now she would pay the price. It didn't scare her like she thought it would. Could that be because it was Dane holding the strap? When other Doms had tried to punish her, or even tried play punishment, she cried off or ended the scene. She was a tease. He'd been right about that as well.
A warm hand splayed across her back a split second before a fiery strike landed across both her cheeks. She pushed up to her tiptoes but managed not to jump away.
"One!" she squealed when his nails dug into her skin. Another lash, just a hair higher than the first. She called out the number and gulped in some air. He'd never spanked her so hard, no Dom had, but that had been her doing, her calling the shots. Dane wouldn't do that with her, he wouldn't let her get away with that. It was that determination in him, that sternness that anchored her to him.
The third and fourth stripes were laid with little time in between, leaving her breathless and hurting.
His hand never left her back, but she could feel him turning toward the spectators. "Doesn't her ass bounce fucking great?" Oh, no, he was going to provide commentary for the audience. Could he make things more embarrassing? She'd just managed to forget they were there solely to witness her punishment.
Riley recognized Silvia's voice, but whatever she said was blocked out by another scream somewhere in the dungeon.
"Do you have something you'd like to ask me, Riley?" His words were whispered close to her ear, not leaving any misunderstanding of what he wanted.
She took a deep breath, and pressed on. She had to give this her all. He deserved that much from her. "Please, sir, will you please continue my punishment?"
"Hmm… why should I?"
Damn him. "Because I was naughty. I stepped off the chair when you told me not to."
"Yes, that's right. Why did you step off?"
Oh, hell! "The clamps you had in your hand scared me." Honesty would be the only way to shorten the interrogation.
"Did it occur to you to speak up? Say yellow, or just tell me it frightened you?"
