Release
Oasis stood in front of her mirror examining the fading marks left by the many attending her trial. Caressing them softly with her fingertips, she really only wanted them to stay. It had been two weeks since she had returned home.
The punishment’s final ten of the cane landed from Philippe’s own hand. He took his turn very slowly, drawing out the remainder, often times tracing his fingers along her back, or between her legs before each stroke. He wanted more and more to hear her deepening cries, could almost feel them, touching her skin. In his mind he kept hearing her say "Je t’aime Philippe" over and over. The last he delivered with no measured force, but knew it to be terrible, hearing her cries of agony.
The giant, with the last, took the cane from Philippe not expressing a word. Oasis lay very limp across the bent table, whimpering from the pain. She tried very hard to control this, but could not. When Philippe released her bindings, and held her close to him, she could only cry uncontrollably.
"Je t’aime Oasis," he whispered softly, slowly rocking her back and forth, stroking her hair and face gently. His desire was to have her away from all of this. Helping her, he let Marcus guide them to his car. Entering the car, he laid her across the seat, her head in his lap, continuously stroking her. He could feel her slowly emerge from her state of release, as she responded to his touch.
Oasis tried to speak, but could only entwine her fingers with his, gripping them as tightly as she could. When she released them, he pulled her more tightly to him in a suffocating embrace. She could feel his need to posses her through it. It occurred to her right then, if she never took another breath, it would not matter, as long as she was held by him.
"I love you Philippe," she whispered pulling away from him slightly, and searching his face. As he kissed her deeply, she could feel the parts of herself become one with him. When he only held her again, she could not feel any difference in their breath, or heartbeat. Her bottom hurt terribly, but even the throb coursing through her there, seemed in time with the rhythm they shared.
Lost in her thoughts she did not hear Philippe come in. When she felt him caress these same marks, she jumped slightly in surprise. In his other arm he held a foiled box to him. It was oblong and fairly wide, and looked like a gift. Seeing this reflection in the mirror, Oasis turned quickly to look up at him with eyes full of anticipation. Gifts were not a rarity, but each time he brought her one, she felt an immense pleasure in his thoughtfulness. Looking at him, she felt a little uncertain with his gaze. Usually there was an expression of his own pleasure seeing her excitement, but today his face bore only a thoughtful questioning glance.
"Open it my love. I found it on your doorstep when I came in," he said, with a touch of reproach in his voice.
She took the box from him tentatively, and kneeled on the floor to open it. Intrigued as she was, she was still unnerved by his expression. Carefully she untied the bow binding the foil lid to the box. Pushing the lid away, Oasis gasped in surprise , as the contents revealed an incredible evening gown. Oasis stared dumbfound at the beautiful contents. The olive green color, the silky material, the design, all in perfect line with her tastes. She knew just by looking, the gown would fit perfectly. Raising her eyes to Philippe, she sought to find the words to tell him what an exquisite gift this was. Any words forthcoming were lost, as he strode out of the room.
Oasis followed his back out the door with her eyes. There was no question in her mind now, this gift was not from him. Though for practicality this was not something she would buy, but the perfection of her taste being so represented, she had to wonder who else would know her well enough to send her such a thing.
Impatient to try the dress on, Oasis knew it would be better to wait. Taking one more greedy glance in the box, regrettably, she returned the foil lid, and put the gift aside to find Philippe. She found him at the front door signing for another delivery. Stopping just short of the door, she tried to see what it was. Had she been clothed, there would have been no hesitation at all. She almost laughed imagining the expression from this delivery person were she just to walk up and nonchalantly take the package. She could imagine him to be a very young and naïve boy, maybe just out of school. His expression would be complete shock at first, but then something else. Desire, interest, pure lust of her? Knowing it would most likely be all three, she felt a twinge of satisfaction, and an arousal of her own. Seeing Philippe’s rigid stance, head bowed slightly from behind, she decided to head for the shower. Give him a chance to calm from these surprise gifts, and give her a chance to cool this arousal from her imagination. Surprise encounters would just have to wait, at least she thought.
Closing the door, Philippe opened the jeweler’s box. He traced his finger along the delicate lines of the choker. Though the mixture of stones were cool to his touch, inside he felt an alarming heat rise, thoughtfully spreading through his entire body. He pulled the choker from the box, holding it at each end, eyeing it like an enemy, trying to reason the attack. Imagining this around Oasis’ neck, he could envision it being a jeweled collar, a perfect accessory for the evening gown, an elegant but quiet reminder of her ownership. Rational thought wanted to know the origination of these gifts, irrational jealousy brought the spreading heat to a central point. Oasis had gained the admiration of another, his conclusion, she would also gain the feel of his jealousy. Choker in hand, he followed her path to the shower.
Oasis did not just shower, she bathed in the caresses of the water over her body. Her soft expressions, and exhaled breathes of contentment were always enough to arouse him, even just to hear. He knew by the sound she was making, she was rinsing her hair. In his mind, he could see the water, the soap, cascading down the curve of her back, between the soft mounds of her marked bottom. He had not meant to shower with her, but to even see this image in his mind, he wanted to have his hands amidst his waterfall.
Oasis knew he was in the room with her. She had thought many times, he could be thousands of miles away from her, and she would still feel his presence. The water was soothing to her, but she burned with curiosity about what was delivered. Knowing better than to ask, she continued her shower ritual. Hearing the slight swish of the curtain, she smiled, eyes closed against any renegade soap falling around her. She felt a cool hardness brush against her nipple, forcing her eyes to open, to see what it was. Glancing down, she saw the choker wrapped in his fingers brushing one, then the other of her nipples, bringing them even more erect from the sensation. The rose gold contrasted in winking bleeps with the water and his skin. Even more striking were the alternating colors of green, red, and amber. No longer burning with curiosity, she tilted her head back against the water, enjoying the way he used this gift on her body. Feeling him trace the stones up to her neck, with eyes closed, she lifted her hair to allow him access. She felt him attach the clasp securely, the metal lay against her skin, warm, but not too tightly. Softly, she felt him trace the choker along her neck with his fingertips. She burned to move against him, her desire, the anticipation of his touch, brought her to madness sometimes. Raising her own hands to caress along his arm, she felt them pushed back abruptly.