by Avery Gale
“Indeed that is exactly what I said, and if you make me repeat the question, I’ll double the strokes.” He merely raised his eyebrow and waited.
“Oh…frack…probably because I tried to sneak on your island and spy on your club. But in my defense, I don’t want to know about your members, only what kinds of things you are doing…well, I guess everybody really already pretty much knows about that stuff, so maybe Harry really did want to know who was attending your little kink parties, because he did say to take pictures that—Hey!” He’d cut off her latest spiel by pulling her over his lap and adjusting her to his liking so that her ass was nicely peaked and her feet weren’t touching the ground.
“Enough. You will get extra swats for your earlier cursing, and yes, you are being spanked for sneaking on the island, but more important, you’re being spanked because you don’t take care of yourself, you live in a deplorably dangerous neighborhood, and I shudder to think when you last had a decent meal.” He lifted the tail of his shirt up so that her ass was bare, and he landed the first three swats in quick succession.
He knew the intensity of the swats would surprise her, but she didn’t cry out or fight him. “How many strokes you get will depend upon how well you behave during your punishment. Since this is new to you, you don’t have to count, but you are not allowed to come without permission. Do you understand, pet?” When she didn’t immediately answer him, he landed another three swats, these considerably harsher than the first three. “I asked you a question, Callista.”
“Shit, you found that out did you? And I hadn’t answered because I was trying to decide if you were joking about that not coming thing. And it’s hard for me to think standing on my head…Sir.”
He spanked her several more times before stopping to say, “Yes, I knew your full name from the moment I opened that file, and why you chose to lie about that is a discussion for another day. And no, I was not joking about not coming, and you’ll understand that soon enough.” He landed several more swats and noticed that she was pressing her legs together, no doubt trying to put pressure on her needy little clit. He was pleased to see she’d been lifting her ass to meet the strokes. Her ass had pinked up nicely, and now it was turning a lovely shade of crimson. He moved her legs apart and circled his fingers around the swollen lips of her labia. She was soaking wet with her arousal, and the smell of her sex was pure temptation. Just as he knew she was getting dangerously close to climax, he withdrew his fingers and resumed her paddling.
“Oh no you don’t, pet. Don’t you dare come until I give you my permission.” He gave her another five swats before Jace returned. He’d heard her quiet sobbing, and then her hiccupped promises to not swear ever again in her whole “fucking life.” He looked up at Jace and just shook his head. “Now, Master Jace has returned and—Damn it, hold still. I promise you, yours is not the first bare ass he’s ever seen, although I’m not sure he’s seen one quite this blistered for awhile. He’s going to give you five swats for that little wildcat performance down on the dock and then we’ll decide about that orgasm your sweet little pussy is begging for.”
Jace stepped forward and gave Callie five quick but harsh swats. “Hopefully the next time I get my hands on your ass it’s something a lot more enjoyable, Callie.”
Just as Jace stepped away, Ian plunged his fingers into her wet cunt and leaned over her to whisper, “Come, my pet.” Jace knew Callie’s ass had to feel like it was on fire, and most of her babbling through her sobs was unintelligible, but he had managed to catch just enough to know she didn’t understand how the pain had shifted to need.
He was going to enjoy teaching her all about that during the next month, if she lasted that long. And he was surprised how much he hoped that she did, because there was just something amazing about her. He couldn’t have explained it if he’d tried, but she had reawakened needs in him that he had feared were long dead. His cock felt like it was going to burst, and after he had turned her back over so she was sitting on his lap, it had taken every bit of his self-control to not plunge into her depths and take his own relief. He felt her settle against him and fall asleep almost immediately.
Moving toward the media room, he nodded to Jace who opened the door and turned on the large television. After he’d found a music station with soft piano music, he turned on a few of the soft side lights so if she woke up before they returned, she wouldn’t be frightened by the dark, unfamiliar room. Jace handed him a softly woven cover and said, “She is amazing. Do you think she knows?”
“That she’s a natural submissive? I am sure she suspects. There’s no doubt she would have done a good deal of research before attempting to do this story. So it’s going to be interesting to see how many misinterpretations we have to correct. God, I hate those internet sites that are filled with wannabe Doms trying to lure unsuspecting women into abusive relationships on the pretense of dominance and submission.”
As they left the room, Ian glanced back at the sleeping wonder that was Callie Reece. Her face was blotchy from crying, and her hair was a mass of wavy blonde chaos. She was so tiny and delicate he was worried she’d have horrible bruises not only from the numerous falls she had out on the deck, but they’d given her a pretty harsh spanking as well. But he had wanted to convey a serious message about her language and taking better care of herself. Growling that he was going to take a quick shower, he returned to his suite, leaving Jace to make them a quick snack.
When he returned, the television had been tuned to an action movie and Jace sat in his favorite recliner, sipping a bottle of beer. Ian nodded toward Callie in question, and Jace simply shook his head, letting him know she hadn’t awakened. Ian sat on the edge of the sofa and just looked at her for long moments. She was so unbelievably beautiful she nearly stole his breath. Moving his fingers along the side of her face in a slow caress, he smiled when she pressed her cheek into his palm and sighed in contentment. He leaned down and spoke against her ear, “Come on, pet, wake up for your Master. I want you to eat something before I put you in my bed and sink into that sweet pussy of yours. I’m going to fuck you, Callie. Are you ready for that?” He felt her stir against him, and when he pulled back he was pleased to see her eyes wide open and locked on to his.
“Yes, I would like that very much, but, well, my ass still hurts.” He had been so pleased at her agreement that he’d nearly missed the last part until he heard Jace snort with laughter.
“Fuck, Callie. You made beer come out my nose. That shit burns, you know?” Jace’s words were tempered by his laughter, and Ian couldn’t help but laugh as well.
“Well, pet, then I suggest you do your best to avoid future punishment spankings. And yes, before you ask, not all spankings are punishment. Erotic spankings will be for both our pleasure. And I assure you, you will love them.” He pulled her into a sitting position and then pointed to the tray on the table in front of them. “Now, eat up, you’re going to need some energy when we go to bed.” When she took a small sandwich and started eating, he poured her a glass of wine. “Now, before we go any further, are you on birth control? And do you have a clear health report?”
His questions evidently surprised her, because she starting choking on the bite she’d taken, making him glad he’d already poured her wine. When he handed it to her, she promptly gulped it down, trying to ease the chokehold the bread seemed to have in her throat. “Mercy, give a girl a little warning before you cut to third-date questions, Mr. McGregor. You know, maybe you could hold up your hand with a number or something.” Which she promptly demonstrated, using her slender hands to hold up three fingers. For just a second, Ian forgot about the sass and focused on her hand and the vision of how it was going to look wrapped around his cock.
She brought him out of his musings when she said, “I am on birth control, and I had a physical a couple of months ago, there should be a card in my wallet stating my health status. I haven’t been with anyone since.” Ian watched as her gaze dropped to her hands as she’d spoken th
e last sentence and was grateful she was so very easy to read.
Reaching for her, he caught her chin with his fingers and lifted it so that she was forced to look at him. “How long ago did you last have sex, pet?” He knew the answer wasn’t something she would readily admit on her own, so best to just ask her straight out.
“Don’t suppose you’d be willing to settle for ‘quite awhile’ would you?” she asked hopefully. Then she quickly added, more to herself than to him, he was quite sure, “Oh hell no, you’re going to be like a dog with a bone on this one. I can just tell.”
Ian was torn, one part of him wanted to upend her and swat her ass again for her insolence and another part of him wanted to hug her because she was so damned adorable. When she reached for the wine, Jace took her glass and refilled it for her, saying, “Best rephrase that, sugar, or you’re going to get yourself another paddlin’, and I’m not sure that sore ass of yours can take many more swats tonight.” Callie had drained her wineglass by the time Jace had finished speaking, and he just raised his eyebrow at her in silent question.
Glancing down at her glass, she smiled guiltily and said, “Oh, sorry for that, but it seemed like…well, maybe if I kept myself busy…you know, drinking…I wouldn’t be spouting off getting myself into trouble.” This time, neither of them bothered to hide their amusement, and they both laughed out loud.
“Damn, boss, she is somethin’ else. I think the next month is going to be mighty interesting. Hell, I’d been thinking about taking you up on that vacation plan, but I do believe I’ll stick around now.” Jace leaned forward and refilled her glass for the third time but cautioned her that it was the last she was getting before leaning back and grinning like a Cheshire cat.
When Ian just continued to watch her, she started to squirm before looking up at him through long, golden-tipped lashes and said, “Well, pickle-pops, you’re not going to let this go, are you? Well, it’s been seven years since I had sex. And I’ll just save you the math and tell you, that puts it at the end of my junior year of high school.” Ian noted that she had stopped eating, and her eyes had gone glassy and distant. He noticed her body language had shifted entirely inward, and even though he was tempted to let her have a bit of space, he knew he couldn’t. He’d mentored Doms for years and had preached, “Begin as you intend to go,” to each of them, so he knew he couldn’t let her keep any secrets.
“Look at me, Carlin.” When she finally raised her gaze to his, he hated the look of despair that he saw in her eyes. When he was sure that he’d gained her focus, he continued. “I know this isn’t easy for you, and I know you would rather not share what I’m going to ask. But for the next month, I am your Dom, and as such, I won’t allow any secrets between us, do you understand?” When she reluctantly nodded her head, he went on. “I intend to meet all of your needs, physical, social, financial, and sexual for the time we are together. As your Dom it is my right and privilege to do so. A sub entrusts herself to her Dom and honesty is the greatest part of that. Do you see where this is going? Now, it was written all over your lovely face that your experience was less than it should have been, and I want you to explain that to me so that I don’t do anything that might remind you of that experience.”
Ian watched Callie’s eyes as she processed everything he’d just said. He’d known it would be easier for her to accept if he didn’t just demand the information, even though he’d have been within his rights as her Dom to do so. But he also knew that her free-will submission would be far more valuable in the end than any small power play victory he could win right now. He suddenly had a far greater appreciation for his friends and club members who were in D/s relationships with women they loved. Because for the first time, he was struck by how much more challenging it had to be dealing with a sub you truly cared about.
Chapter 6
There wasn’t much in her life she regretted more than not pressing charges against the two boys who had raped her that night. Of course, with their parents’ money and influence nothing would have become of it, but she still regretted being such a coward. She’d let her mother convince her that silence was in her best interest. Somehow her social-climbing mother had turned the whole thing around until she was the victim and Callie was the selfish wench who had ruined everything for her.
Sometimes late at night she could still feel their hands groping her and tearing at her clothes. Their bodies, slick with the sweat of a hot summer’s night, moving over her. The stench of stale beer on their breath as they’d forced their tongues in her mouth. The oppressive weight of them atop her as they forced themselves on her had been crushing. The bruises had faded within the week, but the emotional damage had been far deeper. And she had recently seen some very real progress in her war against those demons.
Callie hadn’t even realized she was squeezing her hands closed until she felt the wineglass in her hand shatter, slicing into her palm. Ian had grabbed her wrist and was quickly pulling shards of glass from her bleeding hand while Jace had quickly started cleaning up the mess she’d made.
“Jesus Christ, Callie, didn’t you just get your ass paddled for not taking care of yourself? Carlin, this is not the way to avoid another spanking. Come on. Up you go.” Callie was registering the words, but they sounded so far away. She had been so lost in the memory she didn’t realize Ian had scooped her up into his arms and headed down a long hallway until she heard him call over his shoulder to Jace to meet them in his bathroom with a med-kit. When she heard him say, “Make sure you have a magnifying glass and sutures,” her head started spinning and she just laid her face against his chest and tried to concentrate on his heartbeat.
“Roger that,” was the big man’s only reply, and she heard his rapidly fading footsteps as he made his way down the hall in the opposite direction.
* * * *
Ian didn’t have any idea what had happened to Callie, but it had to have been extremely traumatic to have caused what could only be termed a post-traumatic stress disorder episode. Ian had seen similar things happen to subs before, but usually there had been some kind of physical trigger. He’d never seen someone who appeared to be processing a request zone out so completely that they didn’t respond to any verbal commands. He’d seen her gripping the glass with such strength he’d started shouting at her to release it before it shattered, but he hadn’t been able to reach through whatever memory she’d been lost in. She hadn’t opened her hand until the shards of glass had cut gashes into her delicate skin.
When Jace entered the bathroom with his med-kit, they set about removing each sliver of glass and washed the wounds thoroughly. Ian knew it had to have hurt, but Callie sat completely stock-still, never reacting to the pain in any way. Ian was starting to worry that they would have to call in professional help to get her to reengage when Jace spoke to him quietly. “I’ve got her. Why don’t you go call Mitch Grayson? His gifts and experience with PTSD might provide some insight. Also, the man has access to information that God himself doesn’t have the security clearance for—ask for his help.”
Ian was reluctant to leave her, but knew they needed some outside help, and they damned well needed the name of whoever hurt her. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips over her forehead and whispered, “I’ll be right back, pet. Let Master Jace take care of you. Be a good girl, now.”
She seemed to have heard him and met his gaze. Her eyes filled with unshed tears and she whispered, “I’m sorry.” His heart nearly melted, and suddenly he wondered if he hadn’t been wrong all these years. Maybe—just maybe he was capable of loving someone.
* * * *
Mitch Grayson had been a huge help and had promised to start looking into Callie’s background immediately. Mitch had given him a brief rundown of possible triggers and explained how the men at ShadowDance had handled similar situations with their women. Ian had been grateful when Mitch let him speak with his wife, Rissa, because she had experienced enough trauma of her own to be a great source of information.
B
efore they’d ended their call, Mitch had promised to get back to Ian by tomorrow with the information and also suggested Ian make sure Callie was available so he could talk with her via video-cam. Ian remembered that Mitch’s gifts as an empath were greatly enhanced if he could actually see and talk with the person he was reading. Mitch’s ability to “hear” and often feel the emotions and thoughts of other people gave him unique opportunities to help people who had experiences they needed help resolving. It had also been an enormous asset to his SEAL team when they’d interviewed prisoners and victims alike.
They set up the call for 5:00 p.m. the next afternoon to ensure Mitch had plenty of time to gather information. Just before they signed off, Rissa asked to have the phone back, and Mitch had reluctantly agreed, and Ian had suppressed his laughter when he’d heard the very pregnant woman explain that talking on the phone was not a “taxing” physical activity.
“Ian, I just want to know if you are really interested in this woman? Because if you aren’t, let someone else help her. It sounds like she has already had her trust violated in a big way, and well…adding a broken heart to her problems…that would just be mean…um, Sir.” Ian laughed out loud at her words. It was easy to see why Mitch and Bryant had fallen in love with her. He thanked her for her words of wisdom and for looking out for Callie despite the fact they’d never met. It had been humbling when she’d quietly added, “Well, you know, I’ve been there and I know how hard it is…and I’d like to help someone else like Kat and Jenna helped me.”
By the time he returned to the bathroom, Jace had sutured two of the deepest lacerations and gotten Callie changed into a clean shirt. Jace told him that he’d used topical anesthetic on her hand but didn’t want to give her anything orally until she’d eaten. “Callie, tell Master Ian when you last ate.” Jace was in Dom-mode, so Ian already knew he wasn’t going to like the answer.
