Author's note: My thanks to my editor for her perceptive insights.
*****
- I've found the ideal spot darling.
She looked in his eyes and shivered. She hadn't been jesting when she told him she'd disobeyed him. But she was humouring him when she said that he'd have to beat her, before she'd tell him the details of her disobedience.
That had been weeks ago. Now his face had a hard edge she hadn't seen in a long time. She wanted to kiss him, love the hardness away, but it was impossible. Her mother couldn't see anything compromising. Which was why he had to find somewhere away from the house to do this to her.
- Darling mine. You really intend to hurt me?
She flinched at his expression.
- You told me I had to beat you.
- I did.
Too late now to tell him it had been a bit of online banter:
- When do you want to do this, master?
- Tonight. We can go for a walk after dinner, before it gets too dark. Looks like a fine evening.
- Yes.
He touched her shoulder lightly. She looked in his face again:
- I love you my darling master.
- As I love you, my soulmate, my slave. How do you feel about what we're going to do?
- Terrified.
- Good. This will be a new step for us. You know I have to push you, find your boundaries. -- he smiled -- If you have any that is. Your depraved needs are a bottomless pit.
- Every pit has a bottom.
- As my slave has. You know I love your arse.
She was nervy over dinner, but he seemed unfazed about what was about to happen; chatting in his usual way with her family. Presenting his lovely smile to her when their eyes met. He knew she was wet, with fear and excitement.
They touched sometimes, lightly, innocently, as they washed and dried the dinner dishes. Then there was no escape, no further procrastination. They kissed her family goodnight and walked into the sunset bush. She shivered as she considered the contents of his rucsac.
He'd found the clearing when he'd taken her bairns on an adventure walk earlier, whilst she was bent over her computer working. It was perfect. A single lightning-ravaged gum trunk, with one stout horizontal branch remaining a few feet above grassy ground. He'd tested the branch, it would take her suspended weight. Surrounded by dense brush: he didn't yet know the names of the plants. Or the names of the birds calling through the evening. He turned to her:
- Strip, slave.
She removed her tshirt and shorts. At least she'd obeyed him in this: she was naked beneath them. She looked in his lust-laden eyes:
- What's your pleasure master? Your slave is ready for anything.