“For every time my hand lands on your ass, you will reply with I will show respect to my Doms. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Before she could draw in air, Harrison lifted his hand and delivered his first smack. It wasn’t light, but wasn’t hard either. Elena maintained her placement.
“I will show respect to my Doms, Sir.”
Dispensing another wallop, Harrison made sure it was on her other cheek. He would alternate sides, making sure to even out the pink he wanted to see.
“I will show respect to my Doms, Sir.”
Harrison landed two more, eliciting the proper response for each. It wasn’t until the fifth slap that he witnessed her feet move. Grant noticed it too, for he was nodding his head. Now things were about to get interesting.
“Did you move, blossom?”
“No—I mean, yes, Sir.”
“Back in position. We will start again.”
“But—” Harrison delivered a harder crack, making sure his intentions were clear. “Yes, Sir. Please start again, so that I am reminded to always respect my Doms.”
“Good girl,” Harrison murmured, rubbing his hand over the pink flush that now decorated her skin. “Let’s continue.”
Harrison persisted on, not letting up although making sure Elena had enough time to say the proper response. He wasn’t keeping count, as it was more essential what she took out of this discipline. Her voice was now an octave higher, as her pink flesh was now a rosy red. Every so often, Harrison would pause long enough to draw his fingers across sensitized flesh, leaving a trail of fire to her folds. Elena was soaked. He would have to revisit her response tomorrow, as her reaction to a simple spanking was more than he could have hoped for. If her body replied to his hand in this manner, he could only imagine how it would answer to his flogger. Harrison would gradually work her up to his favorite whip. Elena had anticipated each blow and yet she hadn’t retreated or risen to any. Only her breath hesitated and a tiny gasp betrayed her level of excitement. Then there was the resulting wellspring between her thighs.
“I will show respect to my Doms, Sir,” Elena yelled out, stiffening her hips but not breaking form. Ah, at last she was done. Maybe.
Harrison heard the breathlessness in her voice, well aware that she was aroused from her spanking. Knowing Elena had been disciplined enough this evening and thinking maybe Grant would like to start her orgasm training a little early considering she was ready to come yet again, Harrison allowed his last two spankings to be ever so slightly harder. While she didn’t move her feet or her hands, Elena did arch her back slightly on the final blow. But it was enough for him to catch sight of it. He felt himself go cold. Elena must have felt his change of mood, as she stiffened her body as well.
“Sir?”
“Stand up,” Harrison barked, unable to soften his voice.
Was it only one scar? Were there more? Did it have anything to do with the lifestyle they led? Was it only a coincidence that the mark looked like it was made from the end of a very specific type of whip? Assisting her when he usually wouldn’t, Harrison made sure Elena was steady on her feet before letting go. She was trembling slightly and shot a look toward Grant. His best friend got to his feet as well, a questioning look in his eye. He hoped to God that he was mistaken in what he saw, and there was only one way to find out.
“Take off your corset.”
Harrison immediately saw the recognition in her face and knew that he’d been right. No wonder she always wore corsets to the club. He clenched his fingers into tight fists, trying to prevent himself from getting up and hitting the wall. He knew he was going to need to vent some of this anger and would eventually make it to the workout room, but right now, he needed to hear what happened from Elena’s lips. She had yet to remove the article in question.
“I can see that your discipline tonight will have to be revisited. You’re hesitating.”
“Because I know why you want me to remove it, and you’re wrong, Sir. It isn’t what you think.”
“I ordered you to take it off. Either you do so, or you use your safe word.”
It was all coming together—Elena’s overuse of her safe word, halting a scene before it became too intense, and the previous connection with a club known for its charlatans. She’d been abused. Harrison felt sick to his stomach, but didn’t let that show. Something was off, though. He’d seen the effects of abuse within the lifestyle before and Elena didn’t exhibit any of the signs. She didn’t flinch. She had no hesitation with doing scenes at the club. She wasn’t wary of pain. What the hell was he missing?
Almost angrily, Elena jerkily untied the string on the front of her corset. Letting it drop to the floor, she stood there in all her glory. Any other time, Harrison would have taken the time to appreciate her body. As it stood, he needed to see only one thing. Grant’s reaction said it all.
“Son of a bitch! Who did that to you?”
* * * *
“Turn around,” Harrison ordered.
Elena couldn’t believe that it never occurred to her they would see her scars and think the worst. Lots of people had scars, right? It took her a moment to switch gears, as the spanking she received had taken her right to the edge. If Harrison had continued, Elena was positive she would have come. She did as instructed though, turning to face Grant who now looked to be shaking with rage. A part of her softened at his need to come to her defense, wanting to reassure him that it wasn’t what he thought—what they thought. But by doing so, she would reveal her secret and that was something she couldn’t expose. They wouldn’t understand.
“Master Grant, it’s not what you think.”
“Then tell us what we are thinking, Elena.” Grant stepped forward, leaving just inches between them. She refrained from moving as she felt Harrison’s hands trace one of the white lines on her back. There were three. “Because right now, we couldn’t possibly be imagining anything less than the obvious.”
“Who?”
Elena heard Harrison’s question but was too caught up in the depth of Grant’s emotions to break eye contact with him. She had to make them see that her scars had nothing to do with an abusive relationship.
“A D/s relationship is built on trust, right, Master Grant?”
“Yes. So trust us enough to give us the name of who did this.”
“Trust me when I say that this is not what it seems,” Elena said, pleading with him to give her the benefit of the doubt. Harrison stood up behind her and came around to stand side by side with Grant. Seeing the two of them with their fierce expressions was too much after the day she had. It was time to put this to rest. “I was not abused, Sir. It was not done on purpose and happened long ago. It’s not up for discussion.”
“Not up for discussion? Are you telling me that you wanted that?” Harrison asked in a tight voice, his warning evident.
“No.” Elena squeezed her eyes shut, giving herself a moment to think this through. She couldn’t bring herself to lie, but she wasn’t about to tell them the truth. This was a personal issue and something she had to overcome herself. If they wouldn’t allow her that, then they had the option of calling out the one word that would halt everything—Monarch. She opened her eyes to find both men staring at her intently, knowing she was about to take a gamble. “You need to trust me. I was not abused. I didn’t ask for anything of that nature. It was an accident that I will not discuss with you. Do you see me asking you about your previous submissives? No. What’s past is past. If you can’t leave it be, then call James now and have him come retrieve me.”
Silence. The only thing Elena heard was her own heartbeat and the crackle of the fire. The warmth fled into a vacuum that now encompassed the room. She was holding her breath, waiting for their answer. Would they send her away? A ball of emotion started to form inside her chest, making her feel like she was being smothered. Something deep inside of her knew that Harrison and Grant could help her get past her barriers preventing her from hitting subspace, but
had she just ruined her chances? She brought both of her lips underneath her teeth and bit down, having no choice but to wait for their reaction.
“Take the stairs in the foyer up to the second hallway on your left. Your room is the third on the right, overlooking the lake.” Harrison started to walk away, heading down one of the four passageways off of the room. “Be down for breakfast at seven o’clock, no later.”
Elena let out the air that had been held captive in her lungs as she watched him leave. The color returned to her skin as quickly as it had left, leaving her faintly dizzy and flushed. They were willing to let it go. She would never have to reveal what happened that night five years ago or the events that occurred afterward. Relief like she’d never known made her body react, exhaustion finally hitting her after months of waiting for a placement. Elena was finally here and they seemed willing to accept her preconditions.
“Remember this, my sweet Elena, if I find out that you lied through your pretty teeth, it won’t be Harrison doling out your punishment. It will be me.”
The promise behind his voice was evident and Elena now realized how wrong she had read him. There was nothing easy about Grant. His laid-back personality was just a ruse. Underneath, he was just as fierce and Dominant as Harrison. Instead of fear, Elena’s body immediately responded to his assertive guarantee of what he would do should he find out the truth. She would make sure he never did.
“Good night, Sir,” Elena replied, and summoned all her remaining energy reserves to hurry off to her room, questioning what would take place tomorrow.
Chapter Six
Elena knew she lost color in her face as she walked into the dining room to find James having a cup of coffee with Harrison and Grant. Had they changed their minds and called him after all? She barely slept last night, not knowing what to expect today. It definitely wasn’t this.
“Good morning, Ms. Conti,” James said, placing his mug on the table. Any other time, she would have been fascinated with the room’s décor, from the elegant African blackwood dining room table long enough to seat every lawyer in the city to the ebony French doors leading out to a snow-covered lawn overlooking a frozen lake perfect for ice-skating. The hue of the wood contrasted with the bright, snowy world outside, pulling her in competing directions. She also felt as cold as she knew that ice to be, yet her stomach boiled with her inner chaos. “How was your evening?”
Elena’s feet seemed to be stuck to the dark hardwood floor, frozen in time. She had looked around her tasteful and feminine room last night, loving the light blue color and navy accents. The walk-in closet revealed dresses, in a variety of lengths, and nothing else. There were no shoes, there were no undergarments, and there were absolutely no pants. She had chosen a light pink cashmere dress that fit her as if the seamstress had been given her measurements. Now, Elena was thinking maybe she should have worn the robe that had been hanging behind her bathroom door. She felt vulnerable, with no panties and bra underneath the thin fabric.
“Elena, James asked you a question.”
Elena looked at Harrison, who sat at the end of the dining room table. Grant and James sat on either side of him, empty plates in front of them. She cast a quick glance to the side of the room, where a long service tray on wheels was situated filled with fruit, pastries, and bagels. All she really wanted was the hot liquid that the carafe held. Would she be staying long enough to have a cup of coffee? Elena looked back toward Harrison, who was studying her closely.
“Fine…” Elena choked out, her voice betraying her. Had Harrison and Grant told him the truth? She attempted a recovery. “Thank you, James.”
Safeword LLC’s Chief Security Officer nodded his head, apparently satisfied with her answer. Elena gave a sigh of relief that hopefully no one heard across the room. James stood, closing the distance to where she stood. She met his stare, reassuring him that she was indeed content with the way things were going.
“I’m glad to hear that, Ms. Conti. Remember, should you need me, just call my cell phone.” James stepped around her. “I’ll see myself out. Enjoy your day.”
Even though James had left, Elena still stood in place, wondering how she was to proceed. Did they have work to do, as Grant had said yesterday? Would they leave her to her own devices until later? She didn’t have long to wait before Harrison gave her instructions. They just weren’t exactly what she thought they’d be.
“Remove your dress and come sit with us.”
“What?” Damn. She’d done it again. Elena couldn’t help it, though. They kept catching her by surprise. “I mean, yes, Sir.”
Elena grabbed the hem of her dress, pulled it over her head and let it drop to her feet. Immediately, her nipples puckered as the coolness of the room caressed her tiny pebbles. She could feel the slight draft on her inner thigh, as her moisture was exposed to the air. The fact that they expected her to eat nude sent shivers down her spine, as it was something she’d never done before. As she started to walk down the length of the table, a woman appeared with a plate. Elena stepped back a bit, wanting to cover her body but knowing that to be unacceptable. She continued forward, although couldn’t prevent her movements from being stiff.
Harrison stood and came around to hold her chair out for her. Elena took the offered chair as gracefully as she could, trying not to flinch when his finger ran over one of her scars. The wood seemed to have retained the temperature of the ice it looked to be carved from. Glancing over at Grant, she knew that she wasn’t successful in concealing her cringe. Were they going to let her past go, as per their agreement last night?
Elena knew her cheeks had to be as red as her ass had been last night as the maid placed a plate directly in front of her. Her ass had hit the wooden seat of the chair with purpose, reminding her of her discipline. As odd as it might sound, Elena figured discipline to other subs would be something they would avoid, but for her, it had felt pleasing. But being exposed like this, in front of the help, felt almost as if it were a punishment.
“Thank you, Candy,” Harrison said, before returning to his chair. Elena waited, not knowing exactly what she should do. It was implied that she should eat her breakfast, but all she really wanted was a cup of coffee.
“You’re too thin, Elena,” Grant said as he sipped his coffee. She closed her hands into fists on her lap underneath the table to keep herself from reaching out and snatching it from his hands. “Eat up and then we’ll discuss some things.”
Now that had her worried. “What things?”
Grant grinned and then took another swallow. “You’ll find out when you finish eating.”
“We’ll find another form of discipline after our evening meal. It’s rather obvious that a good old-fashioned spanking didn’t enforce the respect aspect of this relationship.”
Elena stared at Harrison as it dawned on her she hadn’t used Grant’s title. Shit. She was so off balance this morning and she blamed it solely on her lack of caffeine. Closing her eyes, she took in a few deep breaths. After she felt like herself, Elena opened her eyes and focused on Grant.
“I apologize, Master Grant. I don’t—“
“Not a morning person, I see.” Grant’s smile was almost contagious.
“Coffee?”
“God, yes,” Elena replied gratefully to Harrison’s offer. “Thank you, Sir.”
Harrison snapped his fingers and out came Candy. He requested a cup of coffee for Elena. Did the girl not care that she was sitting at the table naked? Did this happen often? Elena shifted on her pillar of ice, not sure she liked the idea of another naked woman sitting in the same chair as she was. The thought floated right out of her mind as Candy walked over to the small buffet and poured Elena a cup of coffee. Elena was about to say she could have done it herself, when she realized they were watching her reaction to having someone else in the room with her state of undress. This was an entirely new experience outside of a club setting.
“As long as you eat breakfast, you may have your coffee,” Harrison said
, sitting back to observe her. Elena found it disconcerting. This was also new, having someone watch her eat. She leaned back, making contact with the back of the chair as Candy placed her coffee in front of her, realizing too late that her breasts were pushed forward with that action. She flinched when her nipple brushed the server’s sleeve. Elena was mortified.
“I’m really not a breakfast type person, Sir.” Elena responded with honesty, knowing that wasn’t what they wanted to hear. But it was the truth. She was always too busy with work to eat and now with Candy seeing her naked, Elena’s appetite was nil.
“We’ll take that under advisement.” Elena knew that really meant they didn’t care what she did prior to staying here with them. She breathed a sigh of relief when Candy left the room. “You’re too thin. This lifestyle requires that a submissive be in good health. So while you are eating, we’ll go over your schedule.”
Elena slowly reached for the fork lying atop her napkin. Scrambled eggs, toast and bacon were arranged in a simple pattern on the china. Although she was certain it wasn’t the portion they had been given, it was big enough that she knew she’d never finish it. Regardless, Elena forced herself to eat while Harrison informed her of her daily duties.
“You are to arrive in the dining room every morning at seven o’clock, dressed as you would start your day. If no one is here, you are to remove your clothes and place them on the chair in the corner.” Elena looked over to where he was pointing and knew she’d have to place her dress on it before leaving the dining room. She reached for her coffee, taking a much-needed, drawn-out sip. It tasted so good, she could have cried. “You are to be bare, always accessible to us, while you are home. The staff has signed contracts regarding our privacy and is well aware of the lifestyle we live. That contract extends to you. If, for any reason, someone else is to be within our home, we will inform you whether or not you are permitted clothing.”
Elena had a suspicion that they were part of the Order. The elite group of men ran in the same circles, and most were good friends, according to the chatter on the street. She had no doubt that if any of those men were to drop by for a visit, she would not be permitted to dress. These ground rules were having an effect on her body, as she knew for a fact her pussy was leaving a wet stain on the wood. There was something about exposing herself to others that was tantalizing, knowing they couldn’t touch her without her Doms’ permission. She wasn’t quite sure how she would react if they did allow another man to touch her, but knew that she was safe under their protection.
Dare to Submit [Safeword LLC 2] (Siren Publishing Sensations) Page 5
