Chapter 11--A Fleury of Activity.
I woke to sunshine on my face. Silk sheets beneath me and a feeling of having been hugged in the night. There were signs that Dennis had been in the bed earlier, but had since gone.
I felt both wonderful. Satisfied. But still partly drained.
Whatever that was last night, it was both amazing and hell.
After a long stretch to get myself moving, I surveyed the bed. It was huge. I could stretch in any direction and not reach an edge.
For some reason I started mangling the Sophie-Ellis-Bextor song "The Party in my bed." You could have a party. I did consider, briefly, how many people had been in the bed at the same time.
However, needs drove me in search of a bathroom.
The one attached to the bedroom was way better than my own. On a par with the huge wet-room at the hall.
One look in the mirror though, was a horror story.
My work make-up was always fairly basic. But I had not had a chance to wash after leaving work and then being whisked across the country. That session in the rubber bed had left my face like a leftover froma halloween party.
I spent hours in the shower, luxuriating in the mass flow of hot water from all directions.
It was like a warm massage.
Ages later I felt really clean and fully recovered.
The towels on the rail by the door were big and fluffy. I considered walking around with one wrapped around me. But once I was dry, I decided that maybe I shouldn't.
The only thing of mine I had, was my toothbrush placed on a table nearby, which I used.
Then I went in search of food.
I was a bit disappointed to find the big kitchen was empty, so I looked around for something.
I was just checking the fridge when there was a knock on the door and it opened.
"Bonjour Dennis. Es-tu là ?" A pretty lady with long, brown, hair poked her head round the door.
She looked surprised as I looked round the edge of the fridge door.
"Ooh La." She put her hand to her mouth. "Une moment." She turned. "Enfants. Rentrer à la maison. Chercher papa."
There was the sound of scampering, little, feet disappearing into the distance.
"Hi." I said. A bit sheepishly as she turned back towards me. I was still completely naked.
"Bonjour. Dennis is here?" The lady said when she had returned from shooing the children away.
"Yes. No. I don't know where he is at the moment. I'm sorry. I'm errr... I'm Julie." I said, still trying to partly hide myself behind the fridge door.
"You come with him yesterday?" She asked.
"Yes. We flew in late last night. I'm sorry. Who are you?" Indeed, who was she?
"I am Sandrine. I was wife to Dennis until 5 year ago. I live next door."
The ex-wife eh? This could be difficult.
"Hi. Err. Nice to meet you." I offered.
"You have no clothes?" She asked simply, coming fully into the kitchen.
"Ermm. No. I had a dress, but Remy took it with her. I'm err..." Yes? And what was I doing?
"This is from Dennis? He make you do this?" She asked, as she casually sat in the large, wooden, chair at the head of the kitchen table. IT seemed almost a statement rather than a question.
"Yeah. Sort of." I admitted. There was no point hiding anymore. I closed the fridge door.
"He has not changed much. I see why he like you. You very pretty." She looked me up and down. "He like hurting you too?" She asked.
Well that was a bit blunt. I looked down at myself wondering what bruises or red patches were visible. Ok. Yes. There were a few marks visible.
"Yeah. Errm We found out that I kinda like it."
"Yes. He like that. Me too. He is good. He very nice man. But he like control. He like giving pain."
"Is that why you separated?" I asked. Well, if she could be blunt, so could I. And I really did want to know.
"Oh No. No. I like pain. I'm masochist, same as you. But I wanted children. Dennis very much not want children."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"No. He is good man. He let me go. I married nice man. Very nice man. But Dennis still look after me. He look after our children. He pay for many things for children. He like Godfather. We still good friends." She patted the chair next to her. "Come sit. Tell me. How you meet? What he do to you?"
Rather reluctantly I sat and told her. I tried to skirt over some bits, but she insisted on details. The spanking stool she knew about though she had not been over it herself. She seemed amused when I told her that I had orgasmed on it. That made her laugh. It was a light cheerful laugh.
"That sound like fun. You very suited for Dennis. I see why you together. Very good. Would love to see that."
"Yeah. He does like showing me off too. It's like he gets a thrill out of me being naked and other people looking at me. I hate it and enjoy it. It's so embarrassing. Yet so much fun at the same time."
"Yes. You his prize. He very proud of pretty girl. He display you. When we together, he like to display me. But I not enjoy it. Not like that. If you enjoy it, go for it." She patted my hand. She seemed amused. I was surprised and glad that she seemed to show no jealousy.
Just then the door flew open. Dennis had arrived. He stopped suddenly when he saw us.
"Sandrine. Julie." (Only it sounded more like 'Son-Dreen' and 'Jooo-Leee,' the way he said it.). Dennis closed the door, and approached Sandrine, as she was nearest.
"Sandrine. Bonjour." He bent to kiss her on both cheeks.
"You have met Julie.?" He did lean over to kiss me. On one cheek. I felt hard done by.
"You hungry?" he asked me, standing behind me with his big, strong, hands on my shoulders.
"Ravenous." I admitted.
"You sit. I cook something." Sandrine leapt from her chair and immediately set about cooking. She seemed to know where everything was; the food, the dishes, pots and pans.
Dennis sat and simply held my hand. I was glad of his companionship.
"You Ok?" He asked quietly.
"Yes." I answered.
"Nothing hurting?"
"No. Not really. I think i recover pretty quickly. All good I think."
"That is good." He smiled his melting smile. God! He was so gorgeous when he smiled like that.
In minutes Sandrine served up two crêpes with ham and cheese. It was amazing. Not like the one in the fancy restaurant, but still excellent. An English Pancake only better.
"Thank you. Merci." I managed, whilst tucking in.
"Sandrine, my love, are you free? Are you up to play? Is Eric free?" Dennis asked. He had his mischievous smile on.
"Hah. You have not changed." Sandrine laughed and slapped Dennis, gently on the shoulder. "I will ask Mama to have the children. Eric may be free later. What do you have planned?"
"Nothing planned. Not much planned. Today I show Julie my home. My Fleury. My family. This afternoon, we play. This evening we play some more. Samedi, err... Saturday, we go into Fontainebleu. I show Julie the town. I have a little business. Le Dimanche... Sunday, Remy et Amelie join us for a walk, dans le Bois... The woods. And we all play. I know the place. You remember the place?"
Sandrine nodded. "Oui. Le grand vieux chêne?"
Did she look a bit... Whistfull? Jealous? Certainly she looked down at her hands for a moment.
"Lundi... Monday we fly back to England." Dennis continued.
Well that was news to me. Sounded like a lot of playing. And I could guess what Dennis would mean by playing. I wondered where the others fitted in.
"And business?" Sandrine asked.
"A little business. There is always Business. I arrange for repairs to house. There are things always need business." Dennis said.
As we emptied our plates Sandrine whisked them away and washed them. Then she headed for the door.
"je rentre à trois heures cet après-midi?" She said as she waved goodbye.
"Bon. Three Of the clock. Perfait." Dennis said to her retreating face, as she closed the door.
"And now. My little one, you are recovered?"
"Oui." I said. "A little sore. But happy."
"You like my special bed and machine?" Dennis asked.
"Yes. A lot. But perhaps not too often." I admitted. "I'm still drained. It feels like I have exercised too much."
"I have many machines. I have many toys." He grabbed my hand. "Come."
Dennis led me back to that room.