Assumed Master

by Lila Munro

  "Yes, Master."

  Blake shuttled off and Dante just sat a few minutes watching Julie stare at the breakfast she’d brought him. Every few seconds she shifted her weight from one foot to the other as if she grew tired of standing.

  "Come here," he finally said, patting the place beside him. "Hand me the tray and lay down."

  Dante stood and took the tray then let Julie settle herself on her back before he set the tray on the bedside table and sat on the edge, one leg drawn under the other.

  "Did you allow slave to tend to your marks this morning?" He lifted one of her legs to inspect the back of it, satisfied all that remained were some angry red welts. There was very little bruising and no broken skin.

  "Yes, Master," she said emotionless.

  "How do you feel this morning?"

  "Am I allowed to be completely honest, Master?" she asked, grasping the sheet with both hands as Dante’s hands left her leg and made their way up her body, one stopping to caress her labia, the other wandering to one of her breasts.

  "I demand it," he answered, sliding one finger between her freshly shaven lips and stroking along her clit.

  "I'm hurt, angry, humiliated, sorry, afraid, and horny," she admitted, closing her eyes and cringing when his forefinger found its mark, gliding easily into her.

  "So, I see." Extracting his finger, he held it up. "Open your eyes, princess."

  When she did so, he lifted the still glistening digit to his mouth and licked it clean. Much to his amusement, her pulse did a little dance in her throat. Knowing he had her full attention at least in that manner, Dante picked up the jar of honey from the tray, held it a few inches over her body, tipped it, and poured thin drizzles of the sticky sweetness over her breasts, down her belly, and between her legs ending with a few spirals across the tops of her legs. He set the jar back down and touched a pancake, finding them still warm. Tearing off a portion, he pulled it across one breast, coating it in honey, then took a bite.

  "Good," he said over a mouthful. "Did you eat, princess?"

  "No, Master."

  "Why not?"

  "I didn’t dare ask slave if I could and you only gave me thirty minutes to get back up here, Master." She looked down, watching Dante repeat the motion of dipping his bites of pancake into the honey now sufficiently spread all over her body.

  "Good answer." Dante dipped his head and rimmed her belly button, slipping his tongue inside to retrieve the steady deposit of amber liquid. "Open your legs for me."

  Not questioning or arguing, Julie bent her knees slightly and drew her legs back, exposing her already wet pussy to him. Tossing the rest of the pancake he held to the plate, he picked up the small pitcher of cream then moved to his knees between her ankles. Without warning, he tilted the tiny container and poured the ice cold, milky liquid right down her middle, letting it spill over, coating her pussy lips and clit. Before any could escape, he swooped down and lapped at the cream, sucking it from her heated flesh. For several minutes he repeated this act until Julie writhed beneath his touch and each time the cold cream hit her overly warm flesh, she hissed and moaned. Content that she was thoroughly aroused and in fact moments from orgasm, Dante stopped.

  "Master, please," she whined, pulling at the sheets.

  "Please, what?" Dante asked, retrieving his plate and attacking his eggs.

  "Please don’t stop, Master. I’m so close," she breathed, peering at him through hooded eyes.

  "I’m full," he said simply, placing the now empty plate back on the tray. "Time for me to shower. Take this tray back down then come back and change my sheets. You’ve left honey and cream all over them. Then wash them along with any other laundry scattered around here. After that’s accomplished you may clean yourself up. Oh, and princess," Dante added, turning back from the bathroom door. "Don’t get anything else dirty with your little mess." He indicated he meant the leftover breakfast condiments now dripping down her sides and legs. "If you do, you’ll start all over. I’ll have someone check on you periodically. I’m taking slave shopping this morning."

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Once Dante slammed the bathroom door behind him, Julie sat up, infuriated that he’d left her frustrated and without relief. So, this was her first punishment for the day. Orgasm deprivation. Very well. If he thought she didn’t know how to take care of herself, he was an idiot. Scooting up to brace her back on the headboard, she ran her right hand between her legs and picked up where he’d left off, stroking her clit with her fingers. With a wave of heat beginning deep in her belly, Julie’s eyes drifted shut and her clit drew up to the point of aching.

  "Did I say you could do that?" Dante whispered right in her ear.

  "Shit! You scared me," she yelped, jerking her hand back. Her eyes flew open to find his own boring into her soul.

  "You forgot something," he informed her.

  "Shit. You scared me, Master."

  "That’ll work. Downstairs to the play room. We have something to take care of."

  Dante jerked her up by one arm and started downstairs with her. They were both as naked as the day they were born, his cock semi-erect from him watching her masturbate if she had to guess and her dripping honey at every step as they picked their way through the sleeping bodies, leftover guests from Allen's party.

  Not stopping until they stood in front of a spanking bench, Julie rolled her eyes and sighed. What she really wanted to do was stomp her feet and scream.

  "You did not just roll your eyes at me, did you?" Dante asked most seriously.

  "Yes, Master. I most certainly did do just that," Julie snapped back.

  "Looks like shopping will definitely have to wait. Now you owe me yet another punishment for ruining my day like that." Dante turned loose and turned to his bag which sat on a table not far away. "Bend over and spread your legs."

  "And if I don’t?"

  "You can call the boys right now and explain to them yourself why their mother never came back home." Dante held up two things when he turned back toward her, a butterfly and a girl’s worst nightmare, a chastity device.

  Knowing she was defeated because Julie determined after watching Blake suck him off last night, feeling lost and quite the outsider, that she did in fact want to be a part of this family, she relented and bent over the bench. With her hands bracing her weight, she spread her legs and waited. She’d never be a part of this family until she proved to Dante whatever it was he needed proven. If she could figure out what that one thing was, she’d gladly do it and get it over with so they could all go home.

  Dante kneeled to her right and laid the belt and four padlocks on the rubber mat beneath the bench while he went to work rigging the butterfly. With it untangled, he tapped her right ankle.

  "Lift up," he said.

  When she did, he slipped the harness around her leg then moved to the other side, again tapping her ankle. He stood and pulled the device into place, resting the feather light butterfly directly over her clit and cinching up the harness to hold it firmly in place. Before going further, he tapped the wireless remote once and a sharp tingle hit her, gripping her womb. Before it could go any further, however, he tapped it again to disengage it. Great. It looked to be they’d have an all-day denial game. She supposed it was better than taking another paddling on her sore ass.

  She stood perfectly still as Dante draped the wide leather belt around her waist, determining which notches would be sufficient to hold it in place then threading a padlock through the locking mechanisms on either side. Running his fingers between the smooth leather and her skin to ensure she was secure yet could breathe, he apparently decided he was satisfied and began working on the chastity flaps. He first pulled the anal flap down, pressing it soundly between her ass cheeks then locking it in place. Lastly he had her stand upright and he tugged the vaginal flap into place, making sure it pressed the butterfly even more firmly against her clit and set the last of the padlocks into place. Julie was well and thoroughly trussed. If her virginity w
ere in need of protection, she may as well have been imprisoned. As it was, she was also completely safe from touching herself.

  "Back upstairs," he ordered her. "We’ll try again to get on with our day like two civilized people in a twenty-four seven relationship."

  They weren’t half-way up the stairs when the butterfly fluttered between the flap and her flesh. Gritting her teeth, she tried her best to ignore the sensation and kept moving. At the top of the stairs the humming ceased only to resume again half way down the hall.

  "Sheets first, if you please," Dante said, following her into the bedroom. "I might want to lie down later while I torture you." He flipped the switch that stopped the butterfly and walked into the bathroom, leaving her standing at the foot of the bed.

  While laundry was a regular part of her domestic duties at home, Blake normally changed the sheets. He insisted it be done every other day and took it upon himself to ensure it. Amelia changed sheets when Mason was still alive. The last bed Julie had had any real dealings with was her double back in her studio apartment. This king seemed a monster in comparison and she wondered just how one went about making those neat, tucked corners.

  Just as she pulled the last pillow case from its pillow, the butterfly, which she’d managed to forget for a while, began buzzing again. What kind of range did the blasted thing have? With a bit of sweat trickling down her back, Julie collected the sheets and started downstairs with them only to stop herself before it was too late. She retreated and knocked on the bathroom door.

  "Master? I need to go downstairs," she said over the sound of running water on the other side.

  His only answer was the butterfly stopped again. Determined not to defy him again this day, Julie stood at perfect attention, the sheets gathered in her arms sticking to her chest and stomach and becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Her patience with his silence growing thin, she knocked again and was greeted by the vibrator kicking on again. By this time Julie believed she might spontaneously combust if he didn’t leave her alone for just a few minutes. She placed a hand on the door and leaned forward, panting.

  "If you come without my permission, there will be hell to pay," Dante said, pulling the door open and sending Julie stumbling headlong into his chest just as the tingling stopped again. "Well, look at that. You got me dirty."

  Julie pushed back and stared at the splotch of gooey honey clinging to Dante’s chest.

  "I’ll have to shower again." He turned the butterfly on and laid the controller on the counter as he took his time turning the water back on and testing it for temperature.

  "Please, Master," she begged, rubbing her thighs together hoping it would either dislodge the irritation or send her over the edge.

  "What was that?" Dante said, climbing into the shower and grabbing the soap. "Uncomfortable, princess?"

  "Please, Master. If you don’t turn it off I’m…" The wave started low in her belly and started to spread. God, no. What would he do to her for coming without permission? "I’m going to…"

  "No, you’re not." Dante reached out of the shower and turned it off. "Now go get the sheets in the washing machine."

  With the buzzing stopped, a dull ache replaced the warm pulsing that started and Julie gasped at the sudden pain.

  "Princess? Laundry," he said when she didn’t move right away. "Go."

  Julie spun on her heal and stalked off.

  It wasn’t until twelve hours later Julie sank into a hot tub, her reward for being at Dante’s beck and call all day in that blasted belt, sticky, and with that damn vibrator coming on and off all day until she thought she’d scream from the frustration of being on the edge of orgasm for so long. Dante probably didn’t even realize he was so good at psychological warfare. Once again she was required to climb into the bed next door alone and watch Dante fuck Blake all the while her pussy throbbed with need. She wanted to be in the middle of them more than anything. What did it take to get back in their bed?

  Falling into a fitful sleep, Julie dreamed horrible things that all involved permanent separation from her family. She woke in a cold sweat, heaving for air, to find Dante climbing into bed next to her.

  "It’s okay," he murmured, pulling her into his frame and resting her head on his shoulder. "I’m here."

  "For how long?" she managed in a shaky voice, her whole body trembling.

  "As long as you need me." Dante pushed the mop of wet hair off her forehead and kissed her temple.

  "Why? You’re angry with me."

  "What do I have to do to make you understand?" he asked, rubbing her now shivering body. "Jules, this is from one human to another. Not Dom to sub. I love you more than you could ever possibly fathom. And I want you. Not because you were given to me, or you think I believe you’re a possession. Not because I feel obligated to Mason. I want you because you’re the woman I’ve always wanted. It’s because of who you are and what you represent, everything you do. Because you have a huge heart and you’re a great mother. Because you’re an outstanding friend and loyal lover. But this won’t work if you don’t want me just as much. And it sure won’t work if you never give me all of you, willingly."

  "I did. I love you, Dante. I love Blake and I love the boys. I want this family and I want this to work, but I’ve given you everything already." Her throat swelled with emotion. It felt like Dante was telling her good-bye and she didn’t know what to do to stop it.

  "No, you haven’t, Jules. You don’t trust me enough to make right decisions and you expect me to live in Mason’s shadow. I know you love Mason. I love him, too, but he’s gone. I’m here. A flesh and blood man with as much pride as any man. You didn’t give me the courtesy of thinking things through and figuring out the best approach to our problem. You didn’t give me time to decide where to go and you didn’t give us a chance to talk things through. You balked at the first sign of authority and ran. If you want to live this life with me, in true Master/slave fashion, you can’t just go off haphazardly ripping your collar off whenever it suits you and running away. That’s not how it works. And you have to know if you act inappropriately, there will be consequences."

  "I miss you," she whispered. "And I miss the boys."

  "They miss you, too." Julie hadn’t stopped shaking and Dante snaked one arm out and pulled the blanket up to her chin. "We’re moving. If you’d given me the chance you’d have known that the next morning, but you didn’t."

  "Where?" she asked, warmth seeping back into her. She sank deeper into his embrace, hoping he didn’t pull away from her advance.

  "When you decide if you can give me everything, we’ll talk. It’s a conscious choice, you know." His fingers drew lazy circles along her leg. "Jules, I can’t live in Mason’s house. I just can’t. We all need a fresh start. A start that begins with us, not someone else. Can you understand that?"

  "I suppose," she concurred, beginning to understand it wasn’t just about selfish male pride, he truly did want her. He wasn’t asking her to forget Mason or even let go of what they had, just to make room for him. "What about the boys’ schooling? Can I at least help with that?"

  "We can talk about it. When you decide. They haven’t visited their new school yet, if we find it unacceptable, we may have to find an alternative. I know you want to help, but it’s hard for me to take it. You remember that feeling, don’t you?"

  "Yes. I do."

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  After drifting back off, Julie didn’t dream anymore. Or at least she didn’t remember if she did. When she woke back up, it was daylight and Dante was gone from her bed. She turned to find he and Blake gone from the other room, the bed neatly made and their clothes picked up.

  Was isolation her next punishment?

  She slipped out from under the covers and tip-toed to the door, why she wasn’t certain. It wasn’t like anyone was around to hear her moving about and order her back to bed nor did she have on some ridiculous contraption that might go off and torture her poor, sore clit further. With some trepidation,
she reached out and touched the knob. When nothing awful happened, she twisted and it freely moved, the door popping open a couple of inches. This was almost scarier than everything that had happened the previous two days. Holding her breath, she peeked out around the edge. She didn’t see anything and all was quiet below. Had she slept through the rest of the weekend? Was the party over? Had Dante left her here without saying good-bye or waiting for her answer?

  Spinning back around, she scanned the room and discovered if he'd left, he’d forgotten his overnight bag which still sat at the foot of the bed. He wasn’t gone. There was still a chance.

  Julie went to her purse and found her phone then quickly dialed Allen.

  "Good morning, sleepyhead," he said on the second ring. "You missed breakfast. Would you like me to send up some lunch?"

  "Where’s Dante?"

  "He and Blake went shopping. He asked me to keep an eye on you while he was gone. Is there anything you need?"

  "Keep an eye on me?" Julie asked, hurrying back to her bed and getting in it lest Allen lurked in the hallway and not leaving the bed was a rule for her confinement. "What am I not supposed to be doing today?"

  Allen laughed out loud before he answered. "You sound more like a slave today, sweetheart. Worried her Master may find her doing something forbidden. What are you doing anyway?"

  "Sitting in bed wondering what I’m allowed to do," she snapped. "Dante didn’t leave instructions unless you have them. I'd prefer not be doused in liquid sugar, paddled, flogged, caned, squeezed into a chastity device, or have my poor pussy tortured until it’s raw. Now what am I not supposed to do, Master Allen. I’m sure he left a list of tasks or something. Didn’t he?"

  "You may take a shower. You’re to groom yourself to your Master’s standards and you may come down to eat. When you come down, I’ll tell you what the rest of your day will consist of."

  "Thank you," Julie said with relief. He hadn't abandoned her. "Did he leave instructions as to my dress?"