Chapter 27

It was early the next morning when we finally got out of bed for any length of time. Believe it or not, I didn't have intercourse with Janey once during that time. It just didn't seem right, with her wearing the collar. I think both of us, and Sally, too, instinctively understood that her first time with me had to be with her full choice. That doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy her company, so to speak, to the fullest. To be honest, meeting Sally's immense build up of sexual needs took most of my attentions and energy. Having a second naked female body helped for stimulation, though.

Rousting my two disheveled bedmates out of bed, I gave serious consideration as to how to proceed. I didn't want to be a dictator, but the lifestyle we were headed into demanded that there be some clear guidelines - rules - for the two women to live by. For them to know what to expect, how to act, etc. Hell, I need them as much as they did.

If working for the government had taught me anything, it had taught me that Ralph Waldo Emerson was correct when he said 'That government governs best that governs least.' Or something like that. The point he was trying to make was to make as few hard and fast rules as possible. Just 10 Commandments. That's all. Just enough to show the intent, don't stifle the initiative.

Breakfast was a veritable feast. The two new 'slaves' tried to out-do each other in making my favorite dishes. I finally sat them down and told them they were my favorite dishes and to quit wasting good food. While I had them down and quiet, I decided to introduce the rules.

"Before I start, let me say that your participation in all of this, Cricket, is voluntary. However, you can't pick and chose what you will or won't do, if you decide to participate. It's all or nothing. Understood?"

I got a quiet, but definite nod in the affirmative.

"First, these rules I'm going to go over only apply when you have on the collars. Sally, I have the key to yours, so I decide when they apply to you. Janey, you can put yours on whenever you are ready to participate. After you put it on, though, it stays there until I take it off. Exceptions are for school or company or when you are truly overwhelmed."

I got two nods of understanding. Janey was a little wide-eyed at the concept she just couldn't back out after she was in. Sally didn't like it, but understood.

"Second, there will be special clothing you will wear. Slave garb, so to speak. Love, your first job is to design and sew up two sets of slave garb for you and Cricket. It should not be blatant, but it should make you aware of how exposed you are at all times. Your bodies should be totally available to me at all times. I expect to see those outfits by tonight. You both have permission to go to town to shop for materials." I quickly calculated distances and time. "You may be gone for 2 hours. For every minute over that limit, you will both receive one stroke of punishment."

They both gasped. The time I allotted would almost positively ensure at least a minimal punishment. How substantial it would actually be was up to them, however, and by the amount of time they spent shopping.

"Third, when not otherwise engaged in a productive activity, one of you will attend to me. Love, do you remember our bet?"

Sally nodded, her eyes widening.

"That will be the assumed position. Please take it now as a demonstration for Cricket."

She slowly slid to her knees to a position in between my legs. She parted my robe and slipped just the head of my flaccid cock into her mouth. I didn't stay limp for long as I was in one of my favorite places and she had to adjust the position of her head to accommodate my growth.

"Cricket, you will observe that she has just the head in her mouth. She is not moving, sucking, licking or humming. Nothing. This is what will be called 'Head Time.' You will have your own opportunity to do this."

Sally started to rise, having given her demonstration. I cleared my throat, and, when she looked at me, raised a questioning eyebrow. I nodded with my head, indicating to her to get back into the position. Realizing she had erred, she blushed deeply. God, she was beautiful. I resumed when she had my cockhead reseated in her fabulous mouth.

"Cricket, you have much to learn, and are really in a training position. I, not you, will determine your rate of progress. You have already begun giving me blowjobs, but need practice. Therefore, you will practice every morning, to start the day."

Janey cheered at that, and I saw Sally just about choke, but hey, what guy wouldn't want to start the day with a gorgeous teenager giving him a blowjob?

I continued with Janey's instructions. "Unless instructed otherwise, you will sleep in your own room. I don't want any unconscious accidents, clear?"

Sally relaxed a little at that. I wasn't going to push her little girl into a sex slave thing entirely. Janey wasn't as pleased, though. Tough.

"Love, you main duties will be the household, including the health of said household. You will run the house. What you say goes, even over Cricket, and to some extent, over me. You will determine the menu, any social events, and, most importantly, a rigorous exercise program..."

How she could smirk with her mouth full of cock, I don't know, but damned if she didn't.

"... other than sexual exercises, Love. I will determine that area. Clear? I don't want flabby slaves. Oh, by the way. I will be doing the exercise program with you. I expect it to challenge me, as well."

I saw her face pale when I said that. She knew I exercised hard every morning. If it was to be challenging to me, she and Janey would be hard pressed to keep up. There were going to be some sore muscles for a few weeks.

"Cricket, your main duty is to see to your education and any related activities. The collar comes off in a heartbeat for those things. Understood?"

"Lastly, the small room off of the living room, now the den, will be a 'Free Room.' None of the slave rules apply when you are in that room, for either of you, collar or no collar. That is your refuge, your sanctuary, should you ever need it. To be sure that the sanctity of that room in enforceable, I give you my word. That, and I will put a loaded pistol in the drawer of the desk in that room, readily accessible."

Sally lost it at that. Her head jerked up and she almost blurted out her objections.

Before she could object, I went on. "This is going to be our lifestyle in our own home, and is not for public display. Unless specifically instructed to do so, you will act 'normal' in public. On occasion you may be bound in public, but it will not be visible, and it will be your primary job not to allow it to become visible or obvious to the public. You will never be publicly displayed or humiliated. Above all, you will be expected to act with dignity and respect, both towards each other and me. I will tolerate no disrespect."

"Oh, one other thing. You will always speak the truth to me and to each other. Always. Your true thoughts, your true feelings. You do not need to be in the Free Room for that. I cherish your minds more than your bodies. I will gag you as little as possible, and only with your consent or for special punishments or playtimes. I want you to be able to express yourselves, understood? I will not demand silence.

"If this lifestyle limits your freedom to be who you are in any noticeable way, it will not continue. It will be difficult for you, knowing where that line is, but we will find it together." I turned to look at Sally. "Now, Love, I understand you wanted to say something?"

"Master, the gun. There is no need. Your word is enough."

"Love, suppose I am punishing you. Suppose I go too far, push you past your limits. I am still new at this. It would never be my intent to harm you, but in the heat of passion, in the contest of wills to be a true master to you, I might not recognize when I have gone too far. A doorway won't stop me. A loaded gun will. I want you to know - know! - that you are safe in that room, even from me. However, if you can think of a better way, I will listen."

She sat silently, stunned at the seriousness with which I was taking this new lifestyle. I had always heard you should be careful what you wish for, that you just might get it. Well, Sally was now faced with having her fondest wishes coming true. And there was a loaded gun involved. Not quite what she had expected.

There didn't seem to be anymore comments, so I took Sally's hand and lifted her to her feet. With instructions for Janey to clean up the kitchen, I lead Sally into our bedroom and from there to the bathroom.

I looked around at the clutter on the counter, mostly hers, got the wastebasket, and swept it all in. Turning her with her back to the counter, I lifted her up and sat her down, her back to the mirror. She had a bemused smile on her face until I lifted her feet so they rested on the counter.

"What are you going to do, Master? Uh, if I can ask, that is."

Grinning, I answered her. "I am going to attend to you. And, yes, you may ask anything, any time. I already told you that."

"Master? You are going to attend to what?"

"Well, I noticed last night that there was a bit of stubble growing down around your pubic area. I thought I would clean it up for you."

"But, Master, I can do that myself."

I leaned in to kiss her gently. "I know you can. But would you deny me the pleasure of doing this for you? Remember the last time?"

She groaned erotically. It had been a most enjoyable time for us both, but especially her.

"Every morning, after Janey finishes her 'practice,' you and I will shave and shower together. You will shave me, I will shave you. Then we will shower together. I will wash you, you will wash me. Any more questions?"

Her eyes widened. She knew I used a straight razor, my great-great grandfather's, that was deadly sharp. Now I was asking, no, telling her she would use it on me. My face, my neck would be at her mercy. It was another way of my telling her how deadly serious I was about this new way of life.

"But I won't need shaving every morning, Master."

"You would question my instructions so soon, slave?" With that, grinning, I picked up the brush and whipped up a good head of foam. I applied it much more thoroughly to her nether regions than necessary. Her eyes never left the razor as I sharpened it on the thick leather strop.

A well-placed thumb told me she not only remembered the last time I had shaved her, she was looking forward to it now, as well. When I heard her straining and moaning as if in pain, I asked her what the problem was.

"You haven't given me permission to cum, Master. It is very difficult to hold back."

I sat back, dumbfounded. "Sally, Love. You always have permission to cum, unless I specifically tell you not to. Furthermore, during this special time every morning, I will expect you to cum as often as possible. This is our time, just you and I. Do, say what you want in here. OK?"

With a sob of relief, she drowned my thumb with her juices. I heard a faint, "Hey, what's going on in there" from Janey's room or the kitchen as she sensed her Mom's orgasm, but we both ignored it for the moment. There were more important matters to attend to.

Much, much later, with shaky hands, she only nicked me once with the razor. That was probably my fault for making her shave me while impaled on my cock.

So what if the shave was a little ragged? We had many mornings ahead of us for her to practice.

Chapter 28

My two slave girls were a flurry of activity the rest of the morning. Around noon or so, Janey slipped in to my office where I was working, and stood there, shyly waiting for me to say something to her. Finally, after ignoring her for several long minutes I looked up at her.

"Are you supposed to be doing something?"

"Uh, Mom said I should do some Head Time while she makes lunch."

"And...?"

"Well, I didn't want to bother you, and, well, uh..."

I stared at her. She got nervous and started to cry. Damn. I motioned her over to me and took her on my lap. When she settled down I kissed her gently on the cheek and then urged her down between my legs, under the desk. Let me tell you, life doesn't get much better than that!

Janey loosened my belt, unsnapped my jeans and pulled down the zipper. I was pleased she had some difficulty doing that, as if she had never done this before. I hoped not.

"Can I use my hands?"

"Huh?"

"Can I use my hands to, you know, get it out?"

I laughed. "Yes, you may, though I might just tie them behind your back sometime for the fun of it!"

Blushing, she reached in and freed my semi-stiff cock. She took the opportunity to examine it closely until I cleared my throat to remind her why she was there. With an impish little giggle, she slipped the swollen purplish head into her mouth.

Not knowing how long she could stay there, or how long I could last in that hot steaming cauldron, I busied myself with some of the financial reports that needed to be reviewed. It must have been 10 minutes later when I sensed her arousal building. It was amazing. I could literally 'see' the lights and colors of the aura around her body shifting and changing, building to a swirling kaleidoscope of feelings. Her hands were resting on my thighs and she wasn't moving, so I knew she wasn't bringing herself off. I was getting better at this sensing stuff, so it wasn't totally unexpected when she released me from her mouth.

"Sensei? What's happening? I'm going to, to, Oh, God! I'm cummmmming!"

I could feel her climax rolling through her, kind of, and I focused on it without touching her. Actually, I focused on some of the brighter colors of her emotions. Maybe I focused a bit too much because suddenly her eyes rolled up into her head and she sort of slumped down onto the floor.

I leaned down and picked her up, settling her comfortably on my lap. For being so relaxed, I could still feel the sexual tremors coursing through her body. She was purring, too. I rocked her back and forth like she was a little girl.

I looked up to see Sally propped up in the doorway, a wild expression on her face. "What in the Hell was that?" Her breathing was ragged as if she had just finished running a race.

"Janey was doing some Head Time and had an orgasm."

"But you helped, didn't you?

"Huh? No, not really. I didn't touch her at all."

"No. I mean with your link. You helped."

"Oh, yeah, I guess. Is she alright?"

"Alright? God, I should feel so good. I want one of those, too..." As an afterthought almost, she added, "...please, Master."

It was the first time I had intentionally helped one of them with an orgasm. This link thing I had seemed to be different, much more powerful than the ones they had and I still had a long way to go in learning to control it.

Sally stood watching us for a bit. I sensed a bit of jealousy - not much, but a bit. Then she, too, focused on Janey and she relaxed. She glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Lunch is ready. Would you like it served in here, Master?"

"I'll bring her out to the kitchen. I like it when we all eat together. Like a family."

It must have been the right answer as I saw her smile contentedly as she turned and walked down the hall.

After lunch the two of them changed into jeans, tennies and t-shirts for their shopping trip. They presented themselves to me before leaving. I motioned Janey over to me, had her turn around and I unsnapped her collar. I hung it from a special peg underneath the clock on the wall. I motioned Sally over, and unlocked her collar and put it on another peg.

As soon as she was free, Sally threw her body up against mine, forcing me back against a bookcase. Her arms went around my neck and she drew my lips to hers in a fierce, passionate and long kiss. Both of us were breathing raggedly when she finally broke it off.

"You know, you don't have to wait for me to take off the collar to give me another one of those," I whispered to her. "I could get to like those really well..."

Sally sighed and tried to meld her body to mine, purring contentedly. "I know. I just wanted to let you know, when I was free, how much I love you." She looked up at me and smiled. "And to say 'Thank You,' too."

"I love you, too. Listen, if the collar is too much of a restriction on you expressing how you feel ..."

"Oh, no! I'll get used to it. It's just that,well, before, I wasn't allowed to have likes or dislikes."

"Am I doing this wrong?"

Again she smiled. "No, you're wonderful. But old habits die hard. I will change. You are the Master, my Master."

I looked over at the clock. "Well, as much as I love you, and this little touching moment, you now have 1 hour 57 minutes to get those collars back on. You'd better get a move on."

With faux screams of terror, the two lovelies dashed to Sally's car and headed for the Mall. I knew when they went the wrong direction down the highway that Sally intended to push the envelope of their punishment as far as she could. I hoped she wouldn't make it too hard on Janey.

I had some modifications to make on the furniture while they were gone, adding eyebolts and straps to the bed frames, headboards and footboards at regular intervals. I did both Janey's bed and ours. When I was done, the new fixtures were hidden from sight. I was pleased with my handiwork.

The proximity alarm in the driveway sounded and I looked out the window. I saw Sally's car sitting at the end of the driveway, almost out of sight. I wasn't sure if she knew about the alarm I had had installed during that media nightmare, but regardless, I wasn't pleased that she was so flagrantly extending their return time. I stood and watched for about 10 minutes before the car started up and the two girls came back in the house.

Janey came tearing into my office and knelt down in front of me. She scooped her hair forward to expose her neck. When I didn't move she gave a worried look at the clock and, as another ticked off, gave a tiny squeal of fear.

"Dad?"

"Yes, Janey?"

"Aren't you, uh, um, going to put the collar back on?"

"What? It's my job to fetch your collar?"

The look of horrified realization on her face was priceless. She dashed up and snatched her collar and tried to hand it to me. When I wouldn't take it, she began shaking it urgently.

"Daaaad. Here it is. Take it." She paused. "Oh! Please?"

"Present it to me properly, Janey."

"Huh?"

"Kneel down, yes, like that. Now take the collar in both hands, put them together with the palms up. Good. Bow your head down. Right. Now, that's the proper way to present your collar to me. As a gift of your whole being." Sally had come into the room and was standing quietly at the doorway. I don't think Janey knew she was there.

"Oh. OK. Sorry."

"That's OK, Janey. You're learning, remember?"

I sat and watched her squirm.

"Uh, Dad. Was there anything else?"

"No. I was just wondering if you had anything to tell me." I was looking directly at Sally when I said that.

Janey quit squirming. Sally stood deathly still. They both knew that I knew they had delayed their return intentionally. "No," came the quiet reply.

I grinned. Good. She wouldn't tattle on her Mother just to lessen her punishment. "So, whose idea was it to delay getting back?"

She just knelt there, silent. I could sense desperation in her aura, coloring my sense of her. She was torn between fear of the pain and punishment and of betraying her Mother. I'm glad she stayed silent.

Taking pity on her, I bent over, took her collar and fastened it around that slim neck. "Twenty minutes late. For you."

She looked over at the clock and back at me with big eyes. The clock showed that they had been over 30 minutes late, even before I delayed getting her collar back on her.

"It wasn't all Mom's fault, Sensei. Please don't be mad at her."

I took her into my arms and held her while she worked out her tears. "I could never be mad at your Mom, Cricket. Don't you worry about it. You just focus on you. You let your Mom and me worry about us, OK?"

She hugged me and dashed out of the room. I don't know if she even saw Sally standing there. I halfway think she thought she was escaping without her punishment. Oh, well. She would learn.

Sally, having had the benefit of Janey's example went and retrieved her collar from its peg on the wall. With the grace of an angel, she knelt in front of me and gave me her gift. The way it was done made me feel honored to accept it. I know I cherished her, but she made it seem special. Even so, there was an issue between us. I locked the collar around her neck.

As she tried to rise, I placed my foot on the back of her head. She froze. I sensed dread spreading through her. She knew I was displeased. Not angry. Disappointed.

I tried to focus on that disappointment and project it to her. She gasped as I succeeded, then she dissolved into a sobbing heap. I was aware of Janey outside the door, listening. I tried to send her a reassurance that it was OK. I would not hurt her Mom. I was surprised to feel her calm down.

I let Sally stay down. I did not try to comfort her as I had her daughter. I did relax the displeasure I was focussing on her and when she finally got her sobbing under control, I spoke to her.

"I expect to see the slave garb by tonight, 10:00. No delays, understood?"

"Yes, Master." Her voice was quiet.

"Do Janey's outfit first and have her wear it in when she is ready for her punishment." I felt the fear surge through the trim body listening outside the door. She really had been hoping I had forgotten.

"Yes, Master."

"Your punishment is 45 minutes." I had tacked the remaining time from Janey's punishment to hers.

"Yes, Master. Thank you, Master." I didn't sense that she really was thankful, but I didn't want to push it.

Dinner, as you can imagine, was a quiet affair. I was rather amused that they were both so somber. I was also amused, and pleased, that neither was afraid. Janey was anxious, not knowing what to expect. Sally was sad, sorry she had displeased me. I had already decided on Janey's punishment. I also had a plan forming for Sally's. I hoped it would make my point.

Sally had had Janey working on the outfits while she prepared dinner. Janey wasn't happy about that as getting her outfit done sooner would have accelerated the time of her date with destiny. She cleverly got around that by doing all the prep work on her Mom's outfit first, so that after dinner, when Sally went in to sew them together, all of Janey's pattern still needed to be cut out. I heard them discussing it, with Sally telling Janey I had wanted hers done first. Janey very correctly pointed out that I had told Sally to do Janey's first, not Janey. Since Sally hadn't passed that on to her, she had been free to do what she wanted. Damn, I knew she was a smart girl!

As a result, it was nearly 9:00 when Janey slipped into my office. I let her stand there a moment, then looked up. I think I gasped, because she blushed a deep, deep red.

Janey was wearing a vest of shiny dark blue satin. The lapels of the vest came to, but didn't cover her nipples, thus exposing her charms to my view. A broad sturdy belt of the same color with several pairs of D-rings on the sides and in the back was cinched around her tiny waist. Her skirt, also dark blue, ended before her legs began, leaving her exposed in every position. With her collar, that was all she wore. It was exquisite.

I admired her for several minutes, having her turn around and pose for me. I felt her getting more and more aroused as she paraded herself, nearly naked, in front of me. I kept her moving and posing for a while longer, then indicated for her to kneel in front of me.

When she knelt, I pulled open the robe I had slipped into after dinner. My appreciation of her beauty was evident. "Head Time," was all I said to her.

Without the slightest hesitation she slipped her mouth over the head of my cock. This time, however, it seemed to calm her down from her aroused state. I began to sense softer hues in the colors of her aura, still with the occasional bright flashes of arousal but more organized and rhythmic.

I sat stroking her hair gently for the longest time. It was a kind of bonding time for us. I wanted her to know that the punishment to follow was not done in anger. I think she understood.

When I lifted her up from her knees, she kissed me. Not exactly an unchaste kiss, either. Undeterred, I positioned her over my knees. Sally had provided straps that were attached to the belt and I understood their purpose immediately. Capturing Janey's wrists, I looped the soft straps around them and then fed the ends through the double-D rings in the back of the belt that went around her waist.

Janey struggled for a bit, and then giggled nervously, "Oh! That's what those are for. Mom said you'd probably know."

"Yeah, she's pretty smart. You'd have figured it out eventually, too."

I rubbed my hand all over the target she presented to me. This wasn't part of the punishment. I just enjoyed rubbing her bare ass. It was just so perfect. The perfect shape, the perfect size, perfect texture, and almost the perfect color. Well, I was going to make it the perfect color, and right now.

WHAP!

"OH!"

WHAP!

"OH!"

WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!

Oooooohhhhh, God. I'm cummmmmmmming!

I knew she had been primed. I hadn't wanted to focus on her and accentuate her arousal, I was still too clumsy with it. So I was glad when she went over after just five firm swats. I think the Rosen's gadgets helped, but I swear she would have started just as fast on her own.

I picked up the pace and the hardness now that she was on her way. I don't know how high she went or how many times. She just kept going on and on and on. Her hands clenched and unclenched over and over as she struggled against her bonds. My leg under her crotch was dripping with her fluids.

After the last blow, I rested my hand on the now ruby orbs. The heat from them was astounding. I dipped my finger into her dripping slit and touched her button. That set her off anew. I was busy watching the colors of her aura and how they changed as I touched her. When I brought the tip of my dripping finger to her tightly clenched anal rosebud, the intensity of the colors dimmed. All except one. That light seemed to gather all the other light into itself. I circled my finger, carefully and easily rimming her asshole. The light followed my movements and glowed brighter still as she became accustomed to the unfamiliar touch.

Taking a chance, I slipped the marauding digit into her back hole to the first knuckle. The flash of light almost blinded me as her entire bodily aura seemed to come alive with colors and hues of happiness. Janey arched her back, bowing her body so tight her ankles almost touched the back of her head. With a final shudder, she collapsed across my knees.

I loosened her wrists from the convenient restraints. I lifted her limp body in my arms and carried my treasure into her room. I sat her on her bed and carefully stripped off the slave garb from the passive girl. I noticed that Sally had provided Velcro closures in strategic places so that the clothing could be removed without releasing the slave from bondage. She had put a lot of thought into the garments.

I reached behind Janey's neck and removed her collar. She stifled a sob when I did. I tipped the naked girl back and put her under the covers, then pulled them up to her chin. She gave me a little pout, but she knew what was coming. We both knew. We had both sensed it.

"Janey? We need to talk."

"Do we have to?"

I just looked at her and smiled. Then nodded my head.

"I'm going to hold on to your collar for a while. You like this too much, and you want it for the wrong reason. But, you know that, don't you?"

She nodded, a single tear slipping down her cheek.

"I am going to let you wear it, though ..." she looked up quickly, surprised, "...on two weekends a month, but never two in a row." She frowned, thinking, calculating. "And on special occasions, of course. Fair enough?"

She nodded, agreeing that it was fair.

"You want this too much. A big reason is because you think it will get me to fuck you sooner, right?" She gave me a wry grin. "Well, kiddo, you're probably right. If you were tied up and naked, the Pope would have trouble resisting you." I got a wrinkled nose as she pictured that gentle elderly statesman leering at her, but she got the general idea.

"There is so much out there you have yet to experience. If you were locked up in here, literally, you would always wonder what you had missed. There is plenty of time for you to embrace this life later, when you know for absolute that this is what you want.

"You should know, too, that I love you very much. I could never bear to hurt you."

"The spanking didn't hurt me, Daddy."

"I know, Janey. I know. God, I thought you were going to explode!"

She was giggling as I leaned over to kiss her goodnight. She caught me around my neck and hugged me fiercely.

"Dad? Mom's afraid."

"Afraid? Of what? That I will punish her?"

"Oh, no! She accepts that. I'm not real sure, but I think she knows she did something kind of stupid. She feels like she disappointed you and is afraid that you won't forgive her." All in one breath.

"Well, Janey, not that it's any of your business, but she did screw up pretty badly. And I am disappointed. But I have already forgiven her. I won't, I can't hold it against her. I love her too much." I paused and got real serious. "I will try to help her remember, though. Uh, do you want me to try to turn down your link with her? It might get pretty intense."

That last question sent a surge of terror through the teen, the response I was looking for. I felt a corresponding echo of that terror from outside the door mixed with panic. I quickly cut their link, then winked at Janey. Her eyes widened in surprise and laughter when she realized the trick I had pulled on the eavesdropping woman. She was also terribly relieved, an emotion I did not allow her mother to sense.

I left her snuggling in her bed, trying to follow us with her link. I knew it wouldn't be hard for her, as I planned to mete out her Mom's punishment in the room over her bedroom. I hoped she would understand. I hoped they both would.

I met up with Sally outside my office. If I had stared at Janey's outfit, I was google-eyed at Sally's. Her outfit was made up of light tan leather with emerald satin trim. Instead of a vest, Sally wore a halter-like top. A tight strap went around her chest snug under her breasts. Two more went around the outsides of her breasts, up and behind her neck. I assumed it tied there. There was very little other material and leather. The effect was to lift and compress her tits, putting those glorious orbs on a type of tray. The welts I had placed there the night before were proudly displayed.

Her skirt was similar to Janey's with a sturdy waist belt, D-rings and convenient straps for binding her wrists. Her skirt, though, was composed of alternating narrow leather and emerald thongs. The thongs all ended at different lengths, and they were weighted at the ends, like they had fishing weights sewn into them. I noticed the ones in the front were designed to bump up against her clit and slit when she moved, keeping her aroused. Clever girl!

Without a word I took her hand and led her upstairs, to the room where we had entertained Amud and Bala. The Arabian motif was still in place. I pointed to the other room, the women's quarters without a word. She emerged several minutes later in her veils and gauze outfit I had laid out for her.

She came and stood before me, wondering what to do next. I clicked the remote of the stereo. The 'cling-cling' sounds of Eastern music filled the room.

"Dance."

I could sense her indecision and her despair. I could also tell she wanted so badly to please me.

She began to move. I was prepared to love any effort she made, but even I have to admit she performed awkwardly. Her heart was in it, she gave it her all, but she did not have the training necessary to make it right. She danced with every fiber of her being and I loved her for it. I made her dance the entire 45 minutes. When I clicked off the music, she collapsed in a sweating, sobbing heap in the middle of the floor.

I let her sob. I was careful not to convey my displeasure. If she had tried to reach out to me with her link, she would have felt how proud I was of her for her effort, for not quitting, for her desire to please me regardless of her lack of skill. Eventually she quieted down and did reach out to me. And she knew.

I think it made her feel worse. She finally sat back on her heels, her face a puffy, teary mess. Her hair was plastered to her head with sweat. I had never seen her look so beautiful.

I took her two hands and held them in mine. She almost broke down again. She knew a 'we have to talk' moment when she saw one.

"Did you dance well, Sally?" I used her name. That shook her, too.

"N-n-no. But I tried, ... Master?" She ended with a question, not knowing how to address me. I gave her a wan smile, not much comfort, even less help.

"Are you capable of dancing better?"

"Oh, yes! I just need to learn, and to practice. Maybe Bala...?" Her voice trailed off as she couldn't see where this was going.

"Do you think your dance pleased me?"

"I, I don't know. I tried to please you. I sensed you were pleased, but I also felt that you were trying very hard not be displeased. I danced so badly, though, how could you have liked it?"

"I liked it very much because it came from your heart, the heart of the one I love."

"But why...?" There were so many questions, she didn't know where to start. I decided to let her off the hook.

"Sally. I am a new Master. I can't 'dance' very well yet, either, but I willing to learn. Unlike you, I don't have Bala to teach me. I have to rely on you to help me. I am trying very hard, with all my heart, to be the Master you want me to be, to be the best Master I can be for you, and for Janey. I may do things awkwardly at first, but you must know my heart is always there for you.

"Please do not ever purposefully seek to extend a punishment again. I will try to provide you with ample discipline, if that is what you seek, what you need. I need to learn what I can give you first, how to 'dance' to please you, before I can do the fancy steps. Agreed?"

Sally's eyes were closed, trying to hold back the tears. She nodded her heartfelt agreement.

"I will change so you can punish me now."

"The dance was your punishment."

"But...?"

"My Love, ..." she breathed a sigh of relief at her slave name, "... we both know you would enjoy a spanking at my hand as much as your daughter did, if not more. Not to make you feel worse than you do right now, but I think you need to know what I had planned before you decided to lengthen your return time. What I wanted to do was to warm your bottom to a sufficiently rosy hue, and then take you savagely over and over again until you cried 'Uncle'. That is still something I plan to do every night, or as often as possible. But not tonight."

With a tiny wail, she brought her hand to her mouth to cut off her cry. She knew she had lost something special by trying to do it on her own. Failing to still her cries, she threw herself at my feet, her hair covering them. I could feel her tears of loss, remorse and sorrow dripping over them, washing over them. I let her cry herself out. Then I helped her up and led her down to our room.

I stripped her as I had Janey, gently and with worshipful adoration of her glorious body. I led her to the bathroom and left her to her nightly preparations. When she came back to bed, I laid her softly back against the pillows. I took her wrists and, with a single simple loop, tied them to the headboard. It was tied tight, but it was more symbolic than functional. A firm tug would loosen her wrists in the night, if necessary.

We cried together and came together as I made love to her that night, passionately, slowly and with ardor. Over and over.

We both knew it would have been better the other way.