07

Chapter Six

It felt really strange to Zoe to go into work the next day and try to pretend that everything was exactly the same as it had been before. She could feel herself flush as soon as she walked in through the door as she wondered if her fellow workers knew about her new relationship with their boss. It was impossible for them to do so, she knew, and yet she still felt her throat go dry as she walked into the jewellery workshop behind the actual shop and sat down at her usual bench.

"Morning, Zoe," said Andrea as she hurried by, carrying a tray of rings out into the shop to be put on display. Zoe responded in kind then buried her head in her work, dragging out her sketch book of designs and adding some detail to a pair of earrings she had been working on the previous week.

So engrossed was Zoe in her work that it took a tap on her shoulder from Lydia to draw her attention.

"Dave has something he would like to say, Zoe," her boss and now mistress announced.

"I am very sorry for embarrassing you on Saturday evening, Zoe. What I did was really stupid," Dave stated, face flushing as he spoke.

"That's okay, Dave, and thank you for apologising," replied Zoe, knowing that her colour was rising as she knew that everyone was listening. She took a few deep breaths and pretended that she was working as Dave moved away and then she fought back a smile as she thought what Dave would say if he realised what his impulsive action had started. Would she have discovered how much she liked being spanked if he had not whipped her skirt up to bare her bottom? Would Lydia have ever invited her over and taught her how to be a good little slave girl? Perhaps she should thank him? She giggled softly at the memories then jumped as Lydia spoke to her and interrupted her little daydream.

"Don't forget you have the afternoon off to pack up your stuff, Zoe. I am leaving early and will pick you up from your flat at just before four o'clock. Make sure that you are ready or I might be very displeased!"

"Yes...mistress," Zoe whispered back after glancing round quickly to make sure that nobody was close enough to overhear. Lydia allowed her fingers to brush softly over the nape of the girl's neck before she moved away towards her office and all the paperwork that she had to complete while Zoe found her mind filled with dark fantasies about the future and how she would be able to serve her mistress with her body and soul.

"You coming to the café for lunch with us, Zoe?" inquired Andrea, the assistant manager as she came in from the shop counter and collected her coat from the stand.

"No, not today as I have the afternoon off," Zoe responded, looking up briefly from her sketch pad where she was trying to design a necklace to go with the earrings.

"Okay, have a good one and get some sleep, girl, as you look rather tired to say the least. Burning the candle at both ends maybe?" Andrea remarked as she headed back out.

If only you knew, thought Zoe with a sly, secretive smile as she cleared up her workspace. Would Andrea be shocked? Jealous maybe? She was always hanging around Lydia but then she was her deputy. What would the reactions of Dave and Steve be like? Zoe slipped her coat on and walked out into the drizzle, still smiling at the idea of Dave's face becoming like a beetroot if she ever told him that she was Lydia's slave girl.

The bus took an eternity to arrive and then the traffic was awful despite it being just after lunchtime. Sighing with frustration, Zoe stared out into the steadily falling rain as the bus manoeuvred through the other vehicles and finally edged into a bus lane. That sped things up considerably but it was still several more minutes before she rang the bell and alighted at her stop. Protecting herself under an umbrella that she dug out of her handbag, Zoe scurried along to her flat and opened the door. Lunch first, she decided, opening the tiny fridge and discovering that she had only the makings of a salad sandwich. Washing the slightly stale bread down with the remainder of a bottle of milk, she washed up quickly then started to pack, throwing her clothes into her suitcases as quickly as she could while the clock on the wall ticked round swiftly.

How did I acquire all this stuff? Zoe thought half an hour later as she rammed another armful of tops into the biggest case and then tried to shut the lid. She sat on top of the case and finally managed to close the zip securely before lugging the heavy bag to the door. The drawers of the wooden chest still needed emptying and she pulled out her underwear and deposited it into the bottom of her other case before adding in trousers which were hanging up in the wardrobe. Makeup and toiletries filled the rest of that bag and then it joined the other one by the front door while she hurried around to see what else she needed to take with her. A couple of ornaments, a few cuddly toys and her bedside alarm clock vanished into a holdall before she tackled the fridge, throwing out nearly everything as the contents proved to be well past their sell-by-date!

Feeling hot and sweaty after rushing around so much, Zoe sat down in the living room-cum kitchen-cum dining room and relaxed for a few moments as the hands of the clock slipped round to half past three. All done at last, she thought, settling back in the armchair then going red in the face as she suddenly remembered being spanked over its arm the previous night. Would Lydia show her the pictures? What would her red bum look like with the white spunk decorating it? She closed her eyes and visualised the scene again, shivering with shame and excitement at her memories.

A peremptory knock on the door woke Zoe up from her doze and she jumped out of the chair and rushed to answer.

"Are you ready?" inquired Lydia, stepping inside past the suitcases and looking round the interior of the poky flat.

"Oh yes, I think so," replied Zoe, a little flustered after falling asleep even if it had been only for a few minutes. Lydia frowned and raised one eyebrow thoughtfully as she stared down at Zoe in annoyance.

"Yes, mistress, I am ready...apart from stripping the bed!" gasped Zoe, suddenly remembering that the sheet and duvet were still on it.

"So in other words you are not ready!" stated Lydia, tapping her booted foot impatiently. "Go and finish what you need to do then come back here, slave, where I will be considering how to punish you! The longer it takes then the more time I will have to think of something evil and cruel!"

Zoe found that she was all fingers and thumbs as she tried to strip the bed as quickly as possible. More haste, less speed, a mantra she had often heard from her mother, passed through her brain as she tore off the pillow covers and shoved them into a massive shopping bag with the duvet and sheet. She picked up the bag and rushed back into the other room and stood there panting as Lydia eyed her thoughtfully before remarking with a sly smile, "You could, of course, have left those here as I have provided some of far better quality in the annex, girl. Perhaps you need to be more observant! Now take off your blouse and remove your brassiere as well."

Zoe swallowed hard and obeyed, conscious of Lydia watching as she fumbled at the small buttons on her cream blouse. She slipped the garment off her shoulders and placed it on the back of the armchair then reached behind her and unclipped her bra, blushing as it fell away to reveal her small breasts and the delightful coral tips.

"Fortunately, I am quite observant as, while you were stripping the bed, I discovered a drawer full of interesting and useful objects in your kitchen, girl. Shut your eyes tightly and then see if you can work out what they are," remarked Lydia, waiting until Zoe complied before she added, "I think I will use each one half a dozen times on these lovely soft breasts before I let you have a go at guessing what it is. If you get it wrong then I will use it six more times and so on until you work it out! Put your hands on top of your head and do not move them down to protect yourself or I will take you home and cane your bottom until you cannot sit down for a week!"

Zoe shivered as she waited to be struck. It was so tempting to open her eyes and look at the objects that Lydia had found in the drawer but she knew that if she did so then she would be punished severely. She tried to recollect what was inside the drawer when she had opened it earlier but nothing surfaced in her memory. It had just appeared to be things she did not need and which had already been in there when she had arrived to rent the flat a few months earlier. Zoe let out a little gasp as she felt something cold and hard rest against her soft breast for an instant and then she squealed as it whipped across the sensitive skin swiftly, striking her six times and making her flesh sting.

"So what was that?" inquired Lydia, resting the implement against Zoe's breast gently and using the tip to toy with her nipple.

"A knife of some sort, mistress?" hazarded Zoe hopefully.

"Not a million miles away, slave, but not close enough either. I will give you a little clue after the next half a dozen strokes," responded Lydia just a fraction of a second before she resumed tormenting the girl's soft flesh.

Zoe eventually worked out that it was a palette knife for icing cakes and then she identified a fork as it scraped over her skin, tines teasing her nipples into swelling. A single chopstick had her fooled for a while and she had to endure a full two dozen strokes before she managed to work it out whilst a wooden spatula was fairly easy but made her breasts sting like mad. Then something bit into her sore nipples and she shrieked as pain flowed through her body.

"You can wear these all the way home," announced Lydia, flicking gently at the plastic clamps which were designed to keep opened bags of cereal together. "Put your blouse back on and then follow me to the car with your cases, girl!"

Chapter Seven

Zoe spent the rest of the afternoon sorting out her things and arranging them in her new dwelling. The built in wardrobes in the bedroom swallowed up her clothes easily and there were drawers and shelves inside for her make up and lingerie too. Even her suitcases fitted nicely in a small cupboard built into the eaves and she found a docking station for her iPod by the bed and filled the room with music as she worked. Having finished in the bedroom, she headed downstairs and sorted out the kitchen, putting the few items she had brought with her away swiftly before she walked over to the main house and slipped in through the kitchen.

"Glad to see that you are punctual, Zoe," stated Lydia with a smile as the girl took in the fact that Jack was naked apart from an apron and busy stirring something which smelt delicious in a saucepan on the hob. "You can make yourself useful by setting the table in the dining room. All the cutlery and table mats are in the dresser."

"Yes, mistress," replied Zoe before she made her way out of the kitchen to begin her task. Setting the table reminded her of home as it had always been one of her jobs to do and she soon had everything ready.

"Wine glasses," observed her mistress after popping her head round the door. "Bring three glasses and the bottle of white from the fridge please."

When Zoe returned with the glasses and bottle, Lydia poured the chilled liquid into one crystal glass and set it at the head of the table as she stated, "That is my place naturally. You and Jack can sit opposite each other. Now come and kneel in front of me and hold one of those other glasses in the right position!"

Zoe gulped as Lydia pulled up her skirt then eased her knickers to one side to reveal the delicate pinkness of her slit. Zoe's mistress grabbed her hand and pulled the wine glass up until it nestled against her soft folds then stared down at her slave's wide green eyes and remarked, "The most delicious wine that you could possibly have, slave. You are honoured to be drinking my golden offering at dinner, aren't you?"

"Yes, mistress," agreed Zoe, watching on in fascination as a steady trickle of pee flowed into the large glass, bubbling gently and glistening gold in the light from the chandelier overhead.

Eventually, the crystal glass was nearly filled to the brim and Lydia set it on a table mat before handing the second glass to Zoe and telling her to fill it up for Jack.

"What do you mean, mistress?" stammered Zoe uncertainly and Lydia sighed in displeasure and slapped her slave twice round the cheek, making the soft flesh redden.

"I want your golden offering for my husband, girl. Another time and you might end up drinking his. Come on, fill up the glass!"

Zoe, face flaming red with shame, lifted her skirt, slipped her lace panties to one side and placed the cold circumference of the glass against her pussy lips. It seemed to take ages before the first gush of liquid slithered out of her quim and into the glass and she was all too conscious of Lydia looking avidly down at her groin. The embarrassment remained acute as the level in the glass slowly rose until her mistress announced that there was enough. At the same time, Jack's voice echoed through from the kitchen saying that dinner was ready to be served. Lydia sat down after placing the glass full of Zoe's amber nectar carefully on another mat then coolly told her slave to go and help her husband in bringing in the plates.

Zoe found it strange sitting at the table and trying to make polite conversation. First of all, Jack was naked and that was disconcerting enough but secondly she could not stop staring at the wine glasses and their golden contents shimmering slightly in the overhead light. The third thing, one really inconsequential in comparison, was that she was just not used to dining so formally. Living on her own in her tiny flat, she had grown used to eating her meals on her lap whilst watching the television. It was almost like a return to the days of her childhood when her parents, mainly her mum, had insisted on dining properly and instilling good manners such as not resting her elbows on the tablecloth!

"A toast, slaves! To a long and happy life obeying your mistress!" announced Lydia with a smile, holding up her wine glass. Her husband grasped his and clinked it gently against Lydia's, sending an echoing chime round the room and they both looked at Zoe. Nervously, she picked up her crystal glass and touched theirs before she sipped daintily at the warm liquid inside, blushing as she caught the gleaming green eyes of Lydia watching her intently. It was odd how the flavour of Lydia's fine wine seemed to complement the lamb stew, she decided as she set her glass back down and ate another mouthful of Jack's tasty cooking. Would her own be as good? She shot a glance over at Jack and noticed that he had gulped down a good half of his glass already. Zoe picked up her own glass and drank some more, savouring the slight bitterness that lingered in the back of her throat after she had swallowed. Would she get used to doing such perverted things after a while? She puzzled over that as she steadily consumed the rest of her meal and the golden liquid in the crystal glass.

"An excellent meal, Jack! I will leave you to clear up while I take Zoe upstairs. You may join us in an hour exactly."

"Yes, mistress," replied Jack, standing up and collecting some of the dishes before he headed back out into the kitchen.

"Finish your wine then follow me, Zoe," stated Lydia, smiling as her slave drank down the remaining liquid swiftly and got up eagerly out of her chair. Would the girl be quite so keen if she knew what Lydia had planned for her? Smiling to herself secretively, she led the way up the oak-panelled staircase, turned left at the top and walked slowly along until she came to the door that led into her playroom. She unlocked the door and pushed it open with a flourish before she ordered Zoe inside, whispering in the girl's ear as she walked by, "Come into my playroom said the mistress to her slave!"

Zoe stood still after taking the first pace into the large room as her eyes widened at the strange array of paraphernalia that filled it. A little push in her back made her move forward another pace and then she shivered as she heard the door slam shut behind her and the key click the lock shut. She swallowed hard and fast as she scanned the shelves lining one wall and saw canes and whips along with paddles and leather straps. Her bottom seemed to tingle in horrified anticipation then her eyes swept on and she tried to make some sort of sense out of the wooden frames and benches that almost filled the room.

"In time, I think I might try out every one of these on you, slave girl," announced her mistress, smiling cruelly as she noticed the look of fear in Zoe's eyes. "Today though, I believe it would be a gentle introduction if I used a simple box!"

Zoe looked in the direction that Lydia was gesturing and did, in fact, see a large wooden box, strongly made with brass reinforcing the corners. It looked innocuous: something one would see in an antique shop judging from its lustrous sheen and the expensive fittings but certainly nothing to be scared of. Lydia read her slave's thoughts and smiled again then went over and opened the lid before ordering Zoe to come and get in. Zoe obeyed, stepping over the wooden side which was about three feet high then crouching down when told to do so.

"Hands behind your back, slave!" snapped Lydia and Zoe complied then waited as her mistress went over to a tall chest by the far wall and extracted a pair of cuffs. They were soon fitted snugly around Zoe's wrists, trapping her arms behind her before a chain was added then threaded through a small hole in the back of the box and tightened to pull her wrists back even further. Next, Lydia went and got a steel collar which she clipped into place round her slave's slim neck before another chain was attached to a ring at the front before it was pulled taut through a hole in the front of the box and tightened until Zoe's mouth was pressed firmly against an inset brass tube which stuck out an inch or so into the interior of the box.

"Open wide and take the tube into your mouth, girl," ordered Lydia and again Zoe obeyed despite the discomfort it caused as the cold metal touched her warm tongue. Immediately afterwards, the chain was tightened again and Zoe found that she could not withdraw her mouth from the tube as Lydia bent down and stared into her submissive's fearful, pale green eyes and remarked, "I am going to leave you now and let you worry about for how long. Maybe just a few minutes, maybe a few hours or perhaps even a day or more...if I so wish because I am your owner, aren't I? As you stay inside this box in the dark, you might hear me playing with my other slave and you can dream of me teasing and tormenting you. Perhaps I will let you drink through this tube but you won't know what you are drinking until it flows down into your mouth and there is nothing you will be able to do to prevent it! Sweet dreams, little slave girl!"

The lid slammed shut then Zoe heard a key turn and knew that she was locked into the darkness for however long her mistress wanted.

Zoe counted for a while, trying to keep track of the seconds and then the minutes but soon she lost track and just stared into the all-encompassing darkness as she wondered what was happening outside of the box. Discomfort nagged at her constantly because her jaw ached as her mouth was forced open around the tube and due to the fact that her hands were cuffed behind her back thus hurting her shoulders. She tried shutting her eyes and trying to blank out everything but her mind remained far too active for her to go into a doze. Time meant nothing whilst she was trapped in the box and she could not stop a tiny worm of fear wriggling away in her belly as she wondered if her mistress had forgotten all about her.