Their eyes had long been closed as she rested her head on His chest, her smile and cheek rubbing against His bare skin. His breathing made her head rise and fall with it, the tags on her collar softly clinking together amidst the quiet trickle of the flowing creek in the backyard. Even in His slumber, His hand gripped the handle of her leash, as it's length lightly lay next to her head. She belonged to Him, and was proud to be His.
Clothing scattered across the floor amongst the rope and chains finally lay quiet. Their previous cries of "no more, please" still echoed in the quiet corners of their bedroom. The soft rope remembered the stretching and pulling, the sheer tightness against Panda's skin as the un-giving and unforgiving chains bound her body to the door to the bedroom.
Panda was normally a good girl. A little mischievous at times, but knew that He would put her back into her place if need be. She didn't expect this particular punishment to be so stressful. Her words not only hurt Him, but they brought back His bad memories of women before. Though unintentional, He didn't want any part of it. She had to learn, then and there, just how much she had hurt Him through her careless choice of words.
The bathroom next to them echoed the sting that His hand placed on her naked rear. As her cries echoed against the pale white tiles, a tear lightly rolled down His cheek. With the stinging of His hand, he remembered just how much her words had hurt Him. The overwhelming thrust of His arm brought to His attention the wave and kick to His heart that she caused. He never wanted her to make Him feel that way again.
As her hands gripped the cold steel chains that bound her to the door, she thought to herself, "He could be using the whip. Thank god He's not using the whip," as His hand swiftly dropped on her backside with a snap. Her eyes clenched shut as ordered, she still could feel the tears that fell from His eyes, and knew that she was the reason they were falling. Her thick collar had been tightened to show her how much she had taken away His breath, and she almost choked with each swipe of His hand.
He never raised His voice. He never did. Never. Not even when he did use the whip. As Panda pulled on her chains to lessen the sting of His hand, she remembered the first time He used the whip on her, her sides and thighs stinging and burning, the time she took off her collar and walked out of the house in rage. She knew that walking back inside meant that sting. Being with Him was more important to her. Being by His side was worth whatever mark He laid on her.
When He paused, her eyes still shut, she felt His hand lay gently on her back, leaning over her as a tear fell onto her bare skin. She heard Him weep. His cry hurt her more than His hand ever could. He could have let her go. He could have locked her out. He could have pushed her onto the street to fend for herself, but didn't. Panda knew that He didn't like to punish. Not like this. To train or educate, maybe, but never with the intention to hurt.
Panda's eyes opened from her slumber, looking up His chest to His sleeping face, a face of relaxation and satisfaction. Her cheek brushed itself along the length of the leash, smiling more, knowing that no matter what He would not let her go. No matter how badly she hurt Him, there was always going to be that leash, that connection to Him, His guidance and love. She grabbed the leash with her teeth, giving it a playful tug, and His hand tightened further, pulling back, showing her that He still needed her by His side.
Once the sting of His hand had subsided, He dropped to His knees, leaning His wet face against her thighs. She finally let her tears fall down her face. Biting her lip, she tried the best she could to stop, His words making it all the more difficult. "Please," He said. "Please don't make Me do this again." His arms wrapped around her thighs, hugging her tightly, pulling her body tightly in her restraints.
She smiled against His bare chest, keeping the leash between her teeth. His hand in the loop of the leash was the only tense part of His body. Leaning her head to the side, she looked up at the curves of His chest, and at the cartoon tattoo of His panda on His shoulder, by His side where she belongs. Panda closed her eyes, softly kissing His bare belly, nuzzling against the dry, sweaty skin.
"No Sir, never again." Her words were broken between her breathing and her sobs. "I'll be a good girl. Just as you like. I never want to hurt my Master again." She pulled her arms tighter, pulling the chain to her collar, tightening it further as He stood. He leaned His chest against her back, His arms wrapping themselves around her breasts, His hands sliding up between them to loosen her collar for her to breathe.
Panda dropped to her knees beneath Him as her chains were unlocked. "Please forgive me, Sir," she begged. Sitting on her knees, her head hung low as the chain on her neck dangled before her. Her eyes closed tightly as her tears streamed down her face like the creek in the backyard, soaking the dark hair that fell on on either side of her face. "I'll be your good girl. I promise. I'm sorry."
She felt His hand swiftly fall on the top of her head, pushing her to the ground. "Down," He said. As she lay with her chest against the floor, her eyes opened to a glimpse of His clenched fist. He was angry. Rarely did He get angry. Panda knew her Master well, and remembered many of the things He tried to teach her. She knew Him well enough to know that when He used one word commands that He was trying to work through something. He was trying to heal. He had taught her the stages of grief: denial, pain, anger, depression, recovery, working through, and acceptance. Through being with Him for so long, she learned all of these emotions that He displayed, and what His end result would be.
"Stay," He commanded. She nodded and hugged her body to the floor, keeping still. The closer and more quickly she followed His orders meant the sooner He'd be willing to have her in His arms. Oh, how she longed to be in those strong arms, wrapped around her sore body. She wanted His firm hands to ease her pain, let her know that He still loved her, and with each moment she lay naked against the hardwood floor more thoughts of Him ran through her head.
Panda was His good girl. As her lips left His body, her eyes opened to His, looking down at her sleepily. His hand wrapped in the leash had opened, and she quickly pressed her face into His palm. Her hands slipped around His waist as she pulled her body further between His legs. Gently kissing His hand, she whispered, "Thank you, Master."