He picked up the paddle and rubbed it against the bare flesh of her ass. “I want you to count for me, Charlotte.”

“Yes, Master.” Her voice was shaky in response.

He brought the paddle down hard against her flesh.

SMACK !

She squealed, “One!”

“One, what Charlotte?”

SMACK !

“One, Master!”

“Technically that was two, but yes.” He couldn’t help but smile. He drew back once again.

SMACK !

“Three, Master!” she cried out.

He continued on, and she dutifully counted off every number with “‘Master.” They made it to fifteen, and then Declan carefully inspected her ass to make sure he wasn’t causing more pain than necessary. The paleness of her ass had given way to a wonderful scarlet and purple hued canvas. Declan set the paddle down and caressed both globes of tender flesh, listening for her quiet gasp. He knew the blindfold was masking Charlotte’s tears, and he knew she hated this, but her body betrayed her.

“Ahhh, what do we have here?” He chuckled. “Looks like someone is rather enjoying their punishment instead of learning from it.” He clicked his tongue in mock despair as he walked over to his desk, returning with a rather large ginger root and a small kitchen knife. He placed them on the edge of the couch that Charlotte was laying over and removed her blindfold.

“Here’s your next set of instructions, my good girl.” He placed his hand gently on the small of her back. “Don’t move. That’s all.”

Charlotte looked at him quizzically and nodded. He reached behind her and smacked her tender derriere, making her squeal in surprise. “Yes, Master.” Declan smiled. He seemed to have successfully jogged her memory with that little spank.

“Good girl.” Declan sat back on the couch, picking up the ginger root and the knife. He carefully cut a chunk off before holding it up for her to see. “Now, Charlotte. For the next portion of your punishment, I’m going to insert this in your ass. Do you know what it is? It is important that you be appraised of all foreign objects that are going to make their way into your body. Don’t you?”

“It smells familiar. Is it ginger, Master?” Her brow furrowed in confusion.

“Yes, very good, Charlotte.” Declan smiled. “Common kitchen spice as you know. But what you may not know is it is also a common torture device.” At that moment, all color drained from Charlotte’s cheeks. Her eyes grew bigger revealing her trepidation.

“Once again, do not move or I will be forced to tie you down. Do I make myself quite clear, Charlotte?”

“Yes, Master, I understand.” She nodded quietly.

“Excellent.” Declan stood and walked behind Charlotte. She kept her head facing forward. He picked up the ginger and spread her ass cheeks apart before carefully pushing the ginger inside her. Once it was inside, Declan came back around and sat on the couch in front of her, smiling as he waited for the fiery pain to invade her senses.

“Oh my God! Owww! What the hell is this, Master?” she screamed out in pain. “Take it out. Please. Please, Master! ’I’ll do anything, just please get this out of me.”

“Shush, pet. Remember your rules. All in good time.” Declan watched as she squirmed, trying to abide by his last rule of remaining still, but the pain the ginger gave off was making it a nearly impossible task. “Just another moment or two, my pet.” He listened to her screams and rewarded her with a smile each time the screams turned into moans of pleasure. “You see Charlotte. Ginger is a good torture item, as you are quickly learning, but it is also a powerful aphrodisiac. You can be in excruciating pain one moment, and the next be begging me to fuck you.” He leaned closer so he would be face to face with her. Her moans were intensifying as she bucked her hips against the couch trying to find quiet relief from the painful pleasure the ginger was providing. “Do you want to be fucked, Charlotte?” he whispered. “Would you like to be given at least some relief?”

She nodded, and then spoke through her moans. “Yes … Master.”

Declan smiled. She was broken. Now for the next part of the phase. He rose from the couch, walked behind her, and gently touched the ginger root, pushing it further inside her. She cried out in pain.

With his free hand, Declan reached down to her pussy, and gently rubbed her swollen clit. Her screaming transformed into a moan of pure bliss. He removed his finger quickly. Declan assaulted her clit once more, but a little longer this time, drawing her moans out. He removed it, sensing her closeness. He bent over her ass, pressing his growing hard-on against her thighs, as he asked, “Do you want to come, Charlotte?”

She nodded furiously. He slapped her ass, leaving a hand mark. “Rule number one, Charlotte,” he spoke to her as his brushed his fingers against her clit once more.

“Yes, Master,” she screamed.

“Beg for it,” he commanded. He began to tease her. He placed his finger on her clit for a moment, and then withdrew it just as quickly. He repeated this until she couldn’t take it any longer.

“Please, please Master. Let me come, please,” she called out in complete anguish. “I need to come so badly, Master. Please stop teasing me!”

***

He ignored her plea for release. His hands slid over her, and she flinched as he traced the warm marks the paddle left in its wake. Declan removed the ginger root and quickly turned her over onto her back on the couch, sliding into her with a smooth, harsh thrust. The cool fabric of the cushions was welcome relief to the burning welts from the paddle. Her legs were up over his shoulders, his gaze locked on hers. As he rode her hard, never breaking the stare, she began to cry. She clutched his forearms tightly, almost afraid to let go. Charlie’s ascent to orgasm began again, and her rhythm quickened. Her breathing had changed, bringing Declan to utter one word. “No.”

Charlie swallowed, trembling, and the moment passed. The rising pleasure she felt ebbed away into nothing more than a soft tremor, no more ecstatic than the minor pleasure she felt from his gentle caress in her hair during a tender moment. She was shocked at his denial of her pleasure. Declan’s form of Mastery had so far been lush and generous, but today was about punishment, not pleasure.

“Who do you belong to?”

She shuddered around him. “You, Master.”

“Who protects you, fucks you, owns you?”

“You, Master.”

“Good girl,” Declan acknowledged between rough thrusts. The pleasure of hearing those words became an ecstasy all its own. His pace quickened, and she felt him as he came, his concentration on her gaze never wavering.

Afterward, he sat Charlie on the edge of the bed, and he massaged some soothing cream into her wounded flesh. Declan ran his hands over her delicately, careful not to hurt her tender spots. He brushed her hair until it was dry as though she were a fragile, precious doll. He picked her up and tenderly placed her into his bed. She took comfort in knowing there would be other orgasms, full and overwhelming on other nights, pleasures untold that they would experience together. Tonight though, it was necessary to withhold. It was necessary for him to bring her to this place where she was primal, female, and submissive. Tamed.

As she drifted off to sleep snuggled close to her Master, Charlie heard him whisper, “Here endeth the lesson.”

Chapter Nine

Charlie was a bundle of nerves as she pulled up to Ann Taylor on Sunday. This could go one of two ways. If I’m lucky, I’m walking into an episode of “Say Yes to the Dress.” If I’m not I’m heading into Maid of Honor hell and an afternoon that would make an episode of “Bridezillas” pale in comparison. She shuddered at the thought and took another sip of her latte. With Mikki, one could never tell if it would be smooth sailing or the perfect storm. She nursed what was left of her Starbucks and decided it was more likely the latter given that Mikki had chosen a wedding date near Christmas. Visions of tacky plaid bow ties in green and red, poinsettia bouquets, and bridesmaid dresses in red and green velvet danced through her head.