“I still don’t see how all of this seduction provides a teachable moment,” she said.

“No, I don’t suppose it would seem like that,” Declan agreed. “The oil is necessary for two reasons. It heats as the wax is applied, increasing the sensation. It also serves to ensure the wax comes off more easily.” His fingers slid down Charlie’s body, dancing down to her slit, and carefully spreading her open. “Especially when it comes to this.” He gripped what little trace of pubic hair she had left in the thin strip.

Charlie gasped aloud, her hands gripping the edges of the table as Declan pushed a finger inside her. “Apparently not all of you needs to be oiled. You seem quite slippery here already.” Declan kept going, pushing all the way inside her, his finger exploring her depths. “I like this,” he said, brushing his thumb over the strip of hair.

“Master,” Charlie panted. She wanted to let him know that she was enjoying this far too much for it to be some sort of punishment or lesson, but then she thought better of it. If he wants to teach me something this way, who am I to complain?

He grinned at her, almost as if he knew her every thought. “As I was saying, the oil acts as a barrier to the melted wax.”

Charlie tensed at the pleasant feeling of his finger rubbing inside her. Her mind was a mess, distracted by his finger. Wait, what was he saying? “Melted wax? Ummm … ”

“Yes, Ms. Flynn, melted wax.”

“Will it be very painful?”

“I promise you it won’t hurt. It might become somewhat uncomfortable at times, but that is fleeting.”

“I … ” Charlie wanted to believe him, to trust him, but this was candle wax, melted and hot.

Declan picked up one of the candles and held it alongside the table next to Charlie. She stared at the flame as it danced, moving like a belly dancer to and fro. A pool of wax had formed beneath the engulfed wick as they talked, expanding outward toward the candle’s glass confines.

“Trust me, Charlotte.” He moved the candle closer. “Dip the tip of your finger in the wax quickly and remove it.”

Charlie wanted to prove she trusted him, but she wasn’t sure. She didn’t need to continue. She could ask him to stop and he would. Declan promised he wouldn’t hurt her, and so far he hadn’t. Why should this moment prove otherwise?

She carefully dipped the tip of her index finger into the melted wax and pulled it out. It was warm, but nothing too intense. She marveled as the wax slowly solidified on her fingertip, the warmth dissipating as it hardened. It left a soft, smooth casing on her skin, but no lingering pain.

“See?” Declan smirked.

Charlie nodded. Declan still had his finger inside her, but now his play was more focused on her G-spot. Distracted by the wax demonstration momentarily, her focus soon returned to her previous point of distraction.

“I’m going to begin, Charlotte, but I promise not to hurt you. Are you ready?”

“Master, I … ”

Declan moved the red candle over Charlie’s chest, hovering it above her breasts, near her right nipple. He tipped the candle sideways until the pool of wax gathered along the opening of the candle jar, and then tipped it so it would spill out a stream of melted wax onto her nipple.

The wax kept dripping and the pleasant warmth became warmer still, almost hot. Declan moved the candle away, setting it on the table. Charlie’s nipple tingled and burned, but not in a painful way. The wax dripped along her sensitive skin, leaving a warm path down her breast. Declan grabbed Charlie’s wax covered nipple between two fingers, tugging and pulling at it. She moaned, arching her back at the sensation. He had one finger inside her, and the others pulling at her. She was very close to her climax, and then Declan stopped suddenly.

“Why did you stop, Master?” Charlie pouted in frustration. She was tempted to finish what Declan had started, but knew that move would displease him.

“Part lesson, part punishment, remember?”

Charlie mumbled and complained under her breath.

Declan laughed. “I think we can end this punishment with a reward if you continue to trust me and do as I say. Would you like to know what your reward will be, Charlotte?”

Charlie looked over at him and nodded.

Declan leaned in and whispered. “After I finishing covering your beautiful body, I’m going to fuck every thought out of that exceptionally complicated mind of yours.”

Did he really just say that? Charlie loved how he could sound both so dirty and so incredibly intelligent in the same thought. “Master, um?”

“I am not asking, Charlotte. I want to control you and command you. I want you to be mine fully. Do you wish for me to continue?”

Charlie didn’t feel like she had a choice in the matter, not at this point. She nodded quickly. “Yes, I do.”

“This will not hurt, Charlotte. If you wish to stop for whatever reason, tell me immediately. No safe word this time. Just tell me to stop, and I will.”

Charlie nodded. She knew Declan took this seriously. He was above all interested in her protection and safety, and he didn’t want to hurt her. He smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I am going to begin. Usually I would demand complete silence, but I know your mind will be full of questions, so if you must, you may ask them.”

“Yes, Master.” Charlie realized something in that moment. It was a shift in thinking. Yes, he did want to punish her, and this was somewhat that, but he also wanted her to know that his fetish interests were nothing like Griffin’s. She couldn’t know for certain that this was what Declan had intended, but it’s what Charlie chose to believe.

***

With Declan next to her, now shirtless and rubbing oil all over her, Charlie found it somewhat difficult to find that tranquil transcendence the faux massage should have provided. She presumed he wanted her to relax, but how was she supposed to do that with him rubbing her down?

He worked his way down her body, starting at her neck, wrapping his fingers around the sides of her throat, pushing down gently along the sides. He moved to her shoulders, squeezing and pressing near her collarbone and back up to her armpits. Charlie laughed as he unearthed one of her most ticklish spots.

“Ms. Flynn,” Declan growled, his face displaying a devilish grin. “Be still.”

“I can’t help it. You’re tickling me!” she said in protest.

“Shall I break out the restraints, Charlotte?”

Charlie stopped squirming. Declan moved onto her chest after slathering more oil into his hands. He teased her, rolling her breasts around in his hands, moving in and out, tweaking her nipples. Bending low, he squeezed one of her breasts roughly for a moment. He grabbed her well-oiled nipple between his teeth and bit gently. Charlie’s body bucked up but Declan held her in place with his hands.

“Tsk, tsk,” Declan teased. “You are having trouble staying put, aren’t you?”

He resumed dispersing the oil over her body. Declan moved faster now toward Charlie’s stomach. Her body tensed and tightened under his fingertips. He poured the oil directly onto her sex. His fingers spread the oil toward her hips and then back again. Rubbing it into her skin, smoothing it around, Declan traced a path toward her clit.

He used one finger, tracing a circular path around the hood of her clit, over and over again. Declan teased and spread away the soft covering of skin, and then with a feather light touch, he placed his finger on her slippery, swollen clit. She wanted him to never stop his finger orbiting around the blazing bud of her desire, over and over, but he had other plans. Declan continued on the path to complete lubrication, making certain he had some amount of glistening moisture on every inch of her.

“I have plenty of wax to get started. Are you ready?”