A long-distance relationship is just difficult in general. The inability to see one's significant other, especially in times of sheer joy or utter distress, weighs heavily on both partners. When one is a very busy Ph.D. student and the other works in a job with a highly-demanding schedule, it is even more difficult for the lovers to see each other as often as they would like.
When a long-distance relationship also includes a BDSM component, there is one thing which is quite likely to occur first when the partners are able to be in the same geographical location: a punishment.
As the plane made its final approach to Oakland International Airport, My thoughts turned to loving slave's assignment since My last visit a few months earlier: she was to maintain a running tally of punishable offenses and present it to Me upon My arrival. As I watched the water creep closer and closer as the plane decreased in altitude, I wondered exactly what she would consider as punishable offenses - something neither she nor I had clarified - and considered various punishments for her, to have a selection of viable possibilities depending upon the punishable offenses she listed for Me.
At last, the rear wheels touched the tarmac. It felt good to be in California once again, especially in the Bay Area. Judging from the murmurs of the passengers around Me, many others felt the same way. The teenage girl sitting next to Me finally opened her eyes, glanced out the window, and gave a loud sigh of relief.
"Congratulations," I said softly to her, patting her sweat-covered hand as its iron grip on the armrest she and I shared finally began to loosen. "You just completed your first flight." She simply nodded and gave Me a weak smile.
Rookie. I wonder if John Madden would react the same way if he ever flies again.
I almost made a comment about how she just survived her first flight, only to be swallowed up by an earthquake in a few hours, but ultimately decided that she had been through enough anguish these past two hours.
Once off the plane, it took a moment to recognize the part of the terminal I was in and get My bearings. Seeing a small flower cart across the way, I made My way over to the young woman selling primarily roses. Never had I arrived and presented my slave with a rose before, so this would be a nice touch.
The agreement was that she would meet Me at the Terminal 2 baggage claim area, near where the passengers emerged into the public area of the terminal. So, I purposely made My way to Terminal 1 instead, ultimately stepping outside into the summer afternoon sunshine and relishing the cool ocean-scented breeze that I missed so desperately living in the Arizona desert. It was mid-afternoon, yet the temperature was cooler than it usually is when I leave to go to work at 6AM.
Taking My time and knowing that My slave's anticipation would be growing exponentially, I strolled along the sidewalk toward Terminal 2. A police officer noticed Me and the rose I carried and gave Me a smile and a wink. That was odd, as I did not remember having ever met him before, but I acknowledged him with a nod and continued on My way.
Entering Terminal 2, I stood amongst the ticket counters, drinking in the activity and the general noise around Me. I have always loved airports, especially the AirMall in Pittsburgh before 9/11, but for some reason, I particularly felt at "home" standing here.
Perhaps because I was back in the Bay Area, with the love of My life (unbeknownst to her) just a few hundred yards away.
After readjusting the strap of My lone carry-on, I made my way through the crowd, amazed that still there were so many people using the ticket counters and not the automated check-in kiosks. Passing the snaking line for the Security Checkpoint, I emerged into the baggage claim area itself, and saw her.
she stood amongst the other passengers from My flight at once of the baggage claim carousels, her back to Me. I noted her the strap of her favorite purse/bag crossed her body, the same way I wore My carry-on. As I approached her from behind, she seemed to be lost in thought.
There was no one standing immediately next to her, which was good, as neither of U/us really want the O/our Master-slave relationship to be public knowledge. So I walked silently up behind her, leaned close, and whispered into her right ear:
"Have you been a good slave in My absence?"
In one fluid motion, she spun and hugged Me fiercely - effectively, just another typical reunion scene played out repeatedly at airports around the world every day.
Once I finally extricated myself from her grasp and handed her the rose, W/we shared a brief kiss before making O/our way to the AirBART station. Fortunately, the shuttle was already waiting, and W/we found a quiet, secluded spot at the back of the bus. Once seated, she reached into her purse/bag and handed Me a small journal book with a gold inlay of the Golden Gate Bridge on the otherwise-black cover.
"What is this?" I asked.
"my list of punishable offenses, Master," she replied quietly, her eyes noticeably downcast.
"There are so many offenses that you needed an entire book to list them?" I queried, an accusatory edge to My voice.
"No, Sir," she replied, leaning against My shoulder and gently stroking My thigh. "i simply wanted to present them to You in a nice manner, instead of handing You a crumpled sheet of paper."
"Very thoughtful, princess," I praised her, placing a kiss at the crown of her head. "Thank you."
she held Me tightly in her grasp, and it was clear she had truly missed Me these past few months. With one arm around the young beauty, I simply held her close, My nose buried in her hair to inhale her sweet girly scent.
Eventually, the shuttle bus began to move, and My sweet beautiful girlfriend released her hold on Me. I then opened the journal book.
The title page stated simply, "Punishable Offenses," in her elegant handwriting. Beneath the title, she had taped a small photo of a bullwhip, apparently taken from a catalogue or fetish magazine. "Nice touch," I noted with a smile, squeezing her thigh briefly before turning the page.
Each following page was dedicated to a separate day, beginning with the day following My previous visit several months earlier. The date was beautifully written at the top of a page, with that day's punishable offenses listed underneath. These were mostly mundane things - overslept, stayed up too late watching TV, spent too long with PlayStation2 games, ate out too often in a given week - but also a few more serious offenses - drank too much at Colleen's (a friend's) birthday party, went to class without having fully read the assigned chapters, disobeyed one of My orders.
This last one really caught My eye, especially since there was no elaboration given on that page. I simply pointed to it and quietly asked which order she had refused to obey. "Your order to sleep on the floor for a week, Sir," she nearly whispered.