Elle was unaware of his presence until his reflection came into focus in the mirror behind her, brooding in the dark corner. A startled gasp escaped her lips and the hairbrush fell from her grip and onto the floor with a clatter. Heat rose in her cheeks. She quickly scrambled to retrieve the brush off the floor.
"Stay down." He instructed as He approached her. The soles of his shoes clicked against the floor like a conductor rapping his baton on a music stand.
"Yes Master." She bowed her head and obediently knelt before him. The hard wood planks pressed painfully against her knees, but she dared not show any discomfort. One would be foolish to do so.
He cupped her chin in his hand and tipped her face up towards His. She kept her eyes lowered. At a time like this she knew better then to look Him directly in the eye without permission. She had made that mistake before, but only once; He made sure of that.
The pillar candles burned patiently on the nearby buffet, painting a spectral array of yellows and oranges across her face. He lightly brushed her cheek with the back of His hand. She loved His hands. They were soft and only slightly callused, but stronger then any other hands that had ever touched her. He kept His nails clean and neatly trimmed, even better then she kept her own. She wondered if anyone who greeted Him with a handshake could ever guess what those perfectly manicured hands were capable of.
"I have something special for you." A wry smile curled at the corners of his lips. "A gift."