Author's note:
Welcome to part four of six in this tale of an unusual relationship between consenting adults. I wish to express my gratitude for the generous feedback so far - your comments are really a boost, so thank you again. And thanks also to the author Karaline for her help with editing.
*****
Monica faced the Daemonic Voltometer, hands shaking. She didn't know if it was nervousness at having to take her reading again, or restlessness caused by two weeks of unsatisfied arousal.
Should she hope for a high measurement or a low one?
A high measurement would support her theory that strong arousal produced more Daemonic energy, and then what? Would her Master keep her in a state of denial even longer, hoping for greater gains?
Two weeks of frequent stimulation and heightened lust with no relief had changed her. It was hard to fall asleep at night after their erotic bed-time sessions together. She was tired in the mornings, which made it harder to do the tasks Master assigned her each day. Emotionally, going without release made her crave his contact even more and she followed him around like a puppy, eager for a warm hand on her arm, a hug or a familiar pat on her bare bum. Her hungry pussy made its presence known at all times, pulsing and aching, always wet. The orgasm she couldn't have was never far from her thoughts.
But a low measurement of her Daemonic energy might not be any better. Would it cause him to re-double his efforts to push her arousal higher? Or worse, would he back off and take his research in a different direction? As much as she longed for relief, she wouldn't trade it for the sexy, passionate nights she shared with her Master - nights that left both of them sweat-soaked and entwined in damp sheets scented by their lovemaking. His zealous attention to her arousal wasn't something she'd give up, at any price.
She took a breath and then grabbed the copper handles. The silver needle bounced, coming to rest on 'three'.
But when she thought about it, hadn't the needle spiked higher than that? Maybe 'three' was the resting state of the needle, but surely her Master wanted to know the highest number the needle had hit. And that had been...what? It was such a thin needle, and the white background of the Voltometer made it tricky to read, especially when the needle jumped around so quickly.
It was probably a 'seven' at it's highest point, at least. Maybe an 'eight'. Her previous reading had been a 'five', so 'eight' wasn't unreasonable. Yes, she'd definitely seen it hit an 'eight', when she thought about it a little more.
"Eight this time," she said, once Master had come back from outside. Again she was alert for any telltale sign that he was disappointed in the reading, and again his face revealed no particular reaction.
"It's going up," he said, patting her naked rear end affectionately. He'd been doing that a lot since they'd started sharing a bed, and it delighted her. She loved that he felt comfortable touching her so casually.
He used to be more reserved, more 'proper' around her. But just as she'd worked the last two weeks to discard her former 'human' inhibitions, he'd worked hard to grow into his role as her Knight-Observer, her Master. He was more assertive now and expressed his wishes more freely. It pleased her how easily the two of them were meshing; how well they complimented one another. The Pact had produced a truly remarkable bond between them.
He went to the living room to record the result and she followed.
"What do you think that means?" she said.
"Well, it went from 'five' to 'eight'. That's a sixty percent increase in just two weeks. It's clear we're doing something right, wouldn't you say?"
"I have been awfully aroused. Maybe there really IS a correlation."
"It's looking more likely, anyway. We'll keep testing for it."
She sighed, resigned. "So you want to stick with the 'no climax' rule?"
"Let me think about it," he said, sitting on the couch and pulling her down onto his lap. "I suppose I don't need to guess your opinion on the matter?"
She snugged into his body, enjoying his warmth against her bare skin. "Anything you decide is fine, Master. I know how important this is to you."
He reached around her and ran his palm over her erect nipple. The ever-present arousal spiked up a notch at his touch. "Is everything ready for tomorrow?"
"We've got all the groceries we need. The place is clean enough for company, and I made up the guest room just in case they'd rather not stay at a hotel," Monica said. "Gwen and Rikka should have a good visit."
Gwen was the daughter of the recently-departed Knight Samuelsson, a friend of Garnet's grandfather. And Rikka had been his Daemon Familiar. Having Rikka meet Garnet had been Samuelsson's final wish.
Daemon Monica didn't have any reason to suspect there would be a problem, although she couldn't shake the remnant of Human Monica's anxiety about the planned meeting - she'd never liked strangers or new experiences. Regardless, it was happening, and she was determined to be at her Master's side when it did.
"I'm sure it will be a great visit, with how hard you're worked," he said. His reassuring words brought a smile.
"How did you want me to dress?"
The idea of putting on clothes seemed almost novel after two weeks of nudity. She knew Master enjoyed the sight of her naked body and Daemons had no use for modesty so it had been an easy choice.
"Maybe a dress? Something a little fancy but still human-appropriate. Everyone might be more comfortable that way."
She nodded. His attention to her nipple was driving her to distraction. Human Monica had never been so lusty.
"Will you want to take her measurements? Rikka's, I mean?"
He chuckled. "That might be a little intense for a first meeting. I don't have a specific agenda. We'll see what Gwen and Rikka want to discuss and go from there. If nothing else, I'm hoping it will be a pleasant lunch and a chance to meet another Daemon - and the daughter of one of grandfather's friends."
"I doubt they're driving four hours just for lunch. They must want something."
"Maybe. But Gwen wouldn't get into it over the phone, so we don't have any choice other than to be good hosts and see what they want."
She nodded and let the matter drop. She'd have her answers soon enough.
*
Master went to the gym that afternoon, leaving her with a brief schedule for his absence. One o'clock, Yoga. Two o'clock, an internet cooking show she enjoyed. Two-thirty, clean the oven. He'd be home shortly after that.
Far from being put off by the assignments, she was happy to know how he wanted her to spend her afternoon. It gave structure to an otherwise empty time. The alternative - lifeless, meaningless hours without him - was far worse.
Even with the work he suggested, she found his absence painful. When he was with her, his energy shimmered and rippled through the house, infusing it with life and filling her with vigour and happiness. When he was gone, the empty house was a void that leeched away her essence and filled her up with an existential dread. A few times he'd returned home to find her huddled on the loveseat in tears; the result of staring too long into the abyss.
His tasks didn't make the time more pleasant, but did hurry it along. Without distraction, each moment dragged on for an eternity. With his wishes to focus on, though, there was a chance he'd be back before his absence became debilitating.
Gym days weren't too awful - just two, maybe three hours. Manageable, if torturous. But his shifts at the Big Deal grocery store were the worst. A single shift was seven hours, and sometimes he had to double-shift to cover short-staffing. Fourteen hours without his presence was a marathon of despair.
She wished he would quit his job. Bill's pension could support them both, albeit modestly. But Garnet was making payments on his late grandfather's condo as well, and that required a more substantial income. She didn't understand why Master still needed the condo - she was happy to share her house, and he spent most nights there anyway. Sentimental reasons, perhaps. A few times she'd raised the idea of selling the condo but he hadn't seemed enthusiastic about it and she didn't want to drive him away with endless nagging.
For now, she'd have to endure the time without him, and keeping her mind and body occupied the whole time was vital. She hurried to set out the Yoga mats and switched on the TV. Time to get busy.
*
That night she climbed into bed, naked as always, and lay on her back. Her legs parted automatically, making her newly-shaven sex more accessible to his fingers. He was already there, lying on his side with his head propped up by his hand, looking down at her with hungry, attentive eyes. She gazed back, ready and eager for whatever his wishes might be. Her heart was already racing in anticipation.
She felt his fingertips between her labia, gathering wetness that he applied to her swollen clit with gentle, skillful caresses. He'd become a virtuoso in just two weeks, knowing where to touch her, and how hard, and for how long.
"Eight," she whispered. Counting off her rising arousal had become second-nature by this point.
"I was thinking of changing how we test the relationship between arousal and Daemonic energy," he said in a low voice. His fingers continued their magic as he spoke. "If all we do is push your arousal higher, we really won't be able to tell if your increases in Daemonic energy are arousal-related or if they're rising for some other reason. We need a control to be sure we're measuring the right thing."
"Nine, Master," she said as her hips squirmed under his touch. "What...did you have in mind?" It was hard to breathe and talk and think all at the same time.
"I'm proposing we have a two-week window where we aggressively build your arousal. Call it a 'build' phase, and then a one-week period where we allow that pent-up arousal to release. Call it a 'control' phase. We'll take energy measurements at the end of each week. If we see higher readings after your 'build' phase and lower readings after your 'control' phase, we can be more confident in a correlation."
"What...do you mean by...release?" She was panting now, losing herself to the sensations cascading through her sex, but that one word had jumped out at her.
He smiled down at her. "I mean climax." His grin turned mischievous. "Of course, if you're not interested in that sort of thing..."
"Ahhh...pause...pause Master," she gasped and his fingers left her clit and stroked her labia and thighs with feather touches as she fought for control. "Oh, that would feel SO good. When can I start my 'control' phase?"
"Why not tonight?"
Her eyes widened. It was too good to be true! She'd never had an orgasm with him before, despite her near-constant, urgent desire to do so.
"So tonight you'll let me..."
His smile broadened and he nodded. "And every night this week."
