Three Strikes (Desire Island 3)

“I remember,” Abbie said, grinning. “You weren’t even sure if you were a sub, much less slave material.”

“Yeah,” Skylar agreed. “Thank goodness Master Caelan took me in hand. He taught me to trust myself.”

“That’s super important,” Maya added. “Always trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, tell him so. I don’t mean if something is tough or scary—that comes with the territory. But if it’s not right for you, pay attention. And tell him. He’s not a mind reader. Remember, though you’re giving yourself over to him, the ultimate choice is yours.”

“Yeah,” Skylar agreed. “That’s the beauty of a total power exchange. You give him that power over you, and by the same token, you can withdraw it if it’s not working for you. And there’s always your safeword if you really need to stop a scene.”

“Have either of you ever used your safeword?” Abbie asked.

“I have, a few times. Though not for years,” Maya said. “Mistress Ella never takes me further than I have the inner strength to go. I trust her implicitly.”

Abbie turned to Skylar. “What about you? Have you ever had to use your safeword?”

“Not lately,” Skylar said with a wry grin. “Not since Master Caelan taught me that safewords aren’t just a way to get out of something you don’t want to do.”

“That’s where the trust comes in,” Maya added. “You need to trust your Master to take you not necessarily where you want to go at that moment, but to where you ultimately need to go.”

“That’s when it’s the best,” Skylar agreed with a happy sigh. “The harder the trial, the sweeter the reward.”

Early that evening as the sun was setting in brilliant shades of gold and purple over the water, Abbie brought her yoga mat to the beach. Setting it on the sand, she did a few stretching exercises to get her jitters out.

She’d been agitated all day, in a frenzy of nervous excitement. She was ninety-nine percent sure she wanted to engage in a total power exchange with Master Ryan, but she hadn’t been able to find that inner peace that usually preceded a correct, if difficult decision.

Her muscles pleasantly loose, she settled herself in a lotus pose on the mat, back straight, knees touching the ground, hands on her thighs with palms facing up. Closing her eyes, she brought her hands into Gyan Mudra—the yoga hand gesture she used when seeking calm and spiritual awakening—by making a circle with each index finger and thumb, keeping the rest of the fingers extended.

She stared out at the ocean. At first, her thoughts skittered and careened every which way, all her excitement, anxiety and insecurities coming to the fore. Was she slave material? Did she have what it took? What if she disappointed Master Ryan? What if he wasn’t as into her as she was into him?

She didn’t try to control her thoughts, but instead focused on her body position and her breathing. Closing her eyes, she turned her awareness inward, letting her breath guide her. As she centered herself, her thoughts quieted.

She settled into the peace, letting life flow over her. When she eventually opened her eyes, the sun had dipped below the horizon and a single star glittered in the indigo sky.

“Yes,” she said softly to the universe. “I want this. I need this. I’m ready.” She smiled, eager to face whatever challenges awaited her.

Chapter 4

Ryan looked down at the lovely girl kneeling up on the yoga mat in the dungeon of the Master’s cottage. The newly renovated stone cottage was located on the far side of the island and was available by reservation to VIP guests and staff Masters. Being an owner definitely had its perks. Ryan had been able to juggle the schedule to secure the cottage for his vacation and to allow Abbie to take the same week off. Ella, as always, had been accommodating—happy, in her words, to further the cause of a possible M/s connection.

Taking his own advice, Ryan had talked extensively with Ella and Caelan about the challenges and pitfalls of total power exchanges. Though he trained submissives for a living on the island, he’d never allowed himself to become emotionally involved.

But the scene with Abbie had changed everything. Somehow, she’d effortlessly stripped away the layers of careful control that had become second nature to him. He was ready—even eager—to explore this total power exchange with Abbie.

He had instructed her to leave her staff slave collar behind. He pulled the black sash that would serve as her first collar from his pocket and held it out for Abbie to see.

“You will wear this collar to start,” he explained. He had her lift her heavy hair from her neck. As he tied the sash in place, a small shudder moved through her frame.

Desire?

Fear?

Was there anything sexier than that powerful combination of longing and trepidation in a sub’s eyes? That awareness that he held the power in his hands to give her exquisite pleasure or dark, delicious erotic pain?