Author's note:
This is the fourth part of a six-chapter story. I recommend reading the previous instalments if you haven't done so yet.
+
As usual my thanks go to my editors, Stattion and Joffa. Everything that's right is their work. Everything that's wrong is my fault.
+++
Chapter 04: A Rewarding Punishment
When the alarm went off in the morning I felt Alicia rush out of bed before I had the chance to open my eyes or turn it off. While I grouchily sat up and tried to get my brain to boot I heard her working in the kitchen. I got up to take my morning wood to the bathroom when the coffee machine started making its familiar noise. I smiled. Kind of. I wasn't an early morning person. When I came out of the bathroom, dressed in my bathrobe, my beautiful and nude ebony sub was standing next to the door, holding a cup of steaming coffee in her hands.
"Thank you," I croaked while I took it from her and walked over to my office to check my Facebook and my standard news pages. Alicia followed closely behind to be ready to act on any command and waited patiently behind me. Her nude presence made it difficult for me to concentrate so I occupied her by asking her to remove the bandage. After taking a look at my hand, I decided that I didn't need to rewrap it as the bleeding had already stopped on Saturday and the swelling was mostly gone and it had the advantage that I wouldn't need to reply to questions about how I had injured it.
Fifteen minutes later I had drunk my coffee, I smiled when I noticed it took a conscious effort not to clean away the cup, and went to shower. I did so efficiently and was greeted by Alicia holding my towel ready. When I was dry and shaved I handed her the towel and went to dress. From the corner of my eyes, I could see how she quickly folded it neatly before I had even left the bathroom. I thought it was safe to assume that she was also hanging it on the rack and noticed that she entered the bedroom before I had finished to pull up my boxers. I dressed in my clean business suit and walked to the entrance to slip into my shoes.
"Remind me tonight when I'm home that I want to select some clothes for you to wear in the morning while I get ready. You are way too sexy and distracting," I said after I placed a lingering kiss on her lips. "Have a nice day, Beautiful."
The morning in the office was a bit dull and I found it difficult to concentrate, with my thoughts returning to Alicia as soon as I didn't focus on a specific problem. I used the lunch hour to go and buy the pepper sprays and the gun. I resisted the urge to buy a big revolver but settled for a small but handy pistol. I really hoped I wouldn't need it but I could not assume that the looming danger of Justin would take care of itself. I also took a short detour to buy a reading lamp for Alicia and walked through a bookstore in the search of books Alicia could study in future to complete her high school diploma.
I had just returned to my desk and was about to go to a meeting with the CFO and the owner of the company when a text came in.
'MN, I'm done with everything. Any further suggestions? Alicia'
Unsure what did she meant with MN, I answered 'MN?'
'Are you alone?'
'Yes.'
'Master Nick or My Nick, depending on if you're alone or not. Ok?
'Ok. The bed linen could be washed and replaced. Otherwise just relax. You will need every bit of energy you can preserve ;)'
'Mmmh.'
'Got to go. See you later.' I resisted the instinct to shorten the words to act as a role model for Alicia.
The meeting with the owner and the CFO, which I had expected to be about some new project, turned out to be the job interview for my promotion. The CFO would retire in a year and the board had decided to offer the position to me as I seemed to have impressed literally everybody, from the part-time cleaning lady to Matt, the owner and CEO, with my commitment and drive to solve problems instead of turning them over and over. Of course, I accepted the offer which included a substantial pay rise and a seat on the executive board, as it had been my ambition to become CFO since I moved here but I had expected that I would have to change jobs which in turn had bugged me as I really enjoyed working here and also liked my co-workers a lot.
At six in the evening, when my work day was over, I sent her another text.
'On my way home.'
I had to seriously caution myself to drive carefully and not rush home. I stuck the key into the lock, unlocked and opened. Alicia was standing at attention, head bowed, arms folded behind her back, her hands holding her elbows, her legs slightly spread. She wore the apron but nothing else. I entered and locked the door.
"Hi, Beautiful."
"Welcome home, Master. How can I be of service?"
"How about a kiss?" I asked playfully.
"With pleasure, Master."
She scudded closer, looked up and leaned forward to kiss me. I came down to meet her, kissed her on the lips and then affectionately invaded her mouth with my tongue. She melted against me, groaning.
I slipped out of my shoes and walked to the bedroom.
"Follow me," I prompted her with a soft voice.
Once there, I ordered her to remove one piece of my clothing after the other and either hang it up or put it in the hamper until I stood in my boxers. Then I had her redress me in my tracksuit pants and a comfortable T-shirt. Her disappointment that I didn't take advantage of the fact that we were both almost nude in the bedroom was virtually tangible.
"We have to talk about that base pose you use. I assume Justin made it up for you?"
"Yes, Master."
I didn't like that pose. It looked uncomfortable and demeaning and that was unacceptable from my point of view. Alicia wanted me to dominate and I was convinced, and proven right over time, that I could do that without needing to degrade her.
"Ok. I think I want to make a few adjustments. Take the pose, please."
"Yes, Master," she replied as she quickly complied.
"Raise your head. I want you to look at me and I want to see your lovely face."
I took the opportunity to gently caress her cheek and her jaw.
"Now, let go of your elbows and let your hands hang down."
She stood there like a bag of flour which didn't do justice to her beauty at all.
"That won't do. Try to look as if you're proud of yourself."
She straightened up but I saw a sad look wash over her face.
"What should I be proud of?"