CAVEAT
We all have choices in this world and it is not for any of us to judge another's.
This brief yarn is a study in love and where that can take us. Be warned however, gentle reader, that this is not your typical love story and its characters not your typical lovers. Some might legitimately feel that it should have been classed as BDSM. Perhaps so - the world of BDSM of course contains far more than just chains and whips. This story however contains no bondage or physical abuse of any kind.
On the other hand, a good definition of romance is 'an ardent emotional attachment or involvement between people'
. By that description, this tale fairly belongs here in Romance. Our protagonist would herself undoubtedly describe this as a love story and that certainly matters. Readers will however be hard-pressed to find roses, chocolates or lyrical poetry.
If this is not what you seek, pray move on. There are so many other good stories awaiting your attention.
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The clock on the shelf said quarter past five. It was time to prepare myself, for He was always punctual.
I went to the toilet, brushed my teeth again, checked my makeup. I noticed that I needed to touch up my lipstick and did so. I refreshed the perfume I had anointed myself with that morning, before He had left. I brushed my hair -- 100 times, as He liked.
I gave the girl in the mirror what I hoped was a brilliant and expectant smile. She smiled back, reassuringly, framed with long brown hair and soft, compassionate brown eyes. I hoped to live up to her confidence.
I checked my thigh-high stockings for ladders, pulled on their tops to even them out. My high-heels were properly polished, their colour matching the tie I had put on Him this morning, for nothing in His world was by coincidence. The earrings He had chosen for me were in place and hanging straight.
On my way through the study to the side door leading to the garage, I checked my cuffs and collar. The brown leather was shiny, rings shiny and centred. Their weight was a comforting reminder of His care and love.
A bottle of His favourite Beaujolais and a goblet were waiting for Him on a side table by the door. A brown riding crop lay beside them.
I'd polished that, too, this afternoon.
As I knelt beside them, careful not to damage the delicate silk over my knees, I wondered -- as I did almost every day at this time -- whether or not He was watching me on His way home. I knew He could, whenever He wished, call up the home security cameras in every room on His phone. Or on the monitor in the limo, if He chose not to drive Himself.
It was not my place to know His will.
I closed my eyes, tried to calm my racing heart. His going away every morning hurt, but never as much as His coming back every night brought me joy.
I heard the garage door rumble on the other side of the wall and suddenly realized that I had forgotten something important. I reached down, lifted my breasts, pinched my nipples, rolled them between my fingers. To my relief, they became hard, erect.
Distantly, I could hear the car door close. It would be another few seconds. I tried to compose myself, replace the relief and happiness I knew would be on my face now with the calm serenity He so liked.
I picked up the riding crop from its place beside the goblet and, hearing the door begin to open, bowed my head, at the same time raising my hands, palm upwards, offering the crop to Him across my open palms.
It was thus that I greeted Him each evening. Sometimes, not often but sometimes, He would lead me to the Playroom and make use of the crop, simply because it suited His mood. Usually however, He would merely accept it from me and lay it down on the table again before taking me by one hand and helping me to my feet.
Sometimes, sometimes, He would kiss me. I lived for those moments.
Today, for the first time in my memory, He did none of those things. Instead, He merely stepped past me without acknowledgement. Behind Him, to my surprise, followed two other sets of legs, one male and one definitely female.
I was shocked and, for just a moment, almost humiliated to be presented thus without any warning. Then I reminded myself that the house was His to invite anyone He wished to and that I myself was His to present to anyone He wished to and in any manner He thought fit.
"This is Dianne," His deep voice said above me. I did not move, for He had not given me either permission or direction to do so.
In a second, His hand lifted the crop out of mine. He tossed it almost casually onto the table. Uncertain as to what to do, I knelt up straighter, rested my hands on my thighs, raised my head upright but kept my eyes lowered. I could feel three sets of eyes on me as I knelt there, wondering what was going on.
"Stand up, Dianne," He commanded. In response, I rose as gracefully as I could. I looked at Him, saw Him smile and my heart flipped.
I had never seen the woman with Him before. Of course, I had but little idea of His social or business circles.
She was in her late 40s or early 50s, but very well preserved. Slender, with a trim but attractive figure, she had blue eyes so pale as to be almost grey.
They say that the eyes are a window to the soul. I was surprised at my reaction to hers; for some reason, they struck me as almost predatory. I shivered in spite of myself.
Her skin was firm and she wore her grey hair very short -- many men wear it shorter. Her hairstyle projected a remarkable strength of character while still being deeply feminine.
She was dressed in a perfectly-cut grey business suit, a black collarless blouse and high heels matching the suit to a T. Her makeup was understated yet exquisite in taste and execution. Her nails were perfect.
She wore a large diamond ring set, but on her right hand. A simple string of what I was sure were real pearls circled her neck and matching earrings hung from her lobes.
Her poise and attitude were patrician and I was instantly afraid of her. The expression on her face as she examined me was a mixture of confidence, arrogance and mild amusement. I trembled under her eyes; given choice, I would have hidden behind Him for protection.
Her companion was much younger, perhaps in his early 20s. Tall, clean-shaven with close-cropped pale blond hair, he was dressed in an expensive double-breasted suit and what looked like a silk tie, its colour matching the lady's eyes. While broad-shouldered and clearly very muscular, it was obvious that he was not yet out of his final growth spurt. He wore no jewellery that I could see.
His face too was expressionless and, to me, that spoke much of his status.
"And this is Aaron," the woman said. Neither of them bothered to introduce each other to the two lesser beings.
Apparently finished inspecting me, she turned away almost dismissively before looking at Him with a smile.