Liam chose the snake, a tightly braided single cowhide whip with a knot at the end. That particular whip delivered an especially brutal sting as Alex knew from her own experience. She heard the whistle just before contact and then Daniel’s gasp and cry. She winced in sympathy.
Like most masochists, just watching another sub be punished was thrilling in itself. Therein lay her true punishment. She lay curled on her side, locked in a cage like an animal, blindfolded, ignored and relegated to non-status while Daniel took his whipping.
Afterward, she heard Liam’s muted sighs and groans of pleasure and knew Daniel was sucking his cock. She squirmed in her cage, her cunt reignited despite the incredible orgasm Daniel had given her.
Even then, she’d held out hope they’d release her and take her to bed with them. But when the cage was opened, only Daniel was there. He told her to go to bed and be ready for inspection by six thirty the next morning.
She’d opened her mouth, very nearly begging to be allowed to sleep with them. A look from Daniel silenced the words before they were uttered. Glumly, she followed him out of the playroom and down the hall to her bedroom.
Once alone, she stood before the large mirror on the outer door of the armoire and examined the long, flat stripes of pink still showing on her bottom. Though they would be gone by morning, she was pleased with these badges of submissive courage. Though she had to admit she hadn’t been particularly courageous at the time, squirming and yelping like an untrained novice.
She lay now looking out the window at the sky, colored pale lavender with streaks of gold from the rising sun. She snuggled down into the comfortable bed, so much nicer than the lumpy mattress on which she slept in the garage apartment.
She looked around the room with its antique mahogany bureau, matching armoire and the small writing desk that sat beneath the large window. She smiled at the vase of fresh flowers Daniel had placed there for her. Framed watercolors of garden scenes were hung on each wall against faded floral wallpaper. The room enchanted her, as it had from the moment she’d seen it.
But she’d have given anything to be in the master bedroom with them.
“Hey, you awake?”
Alex turned toward her door, which was ajar. She was never to close any door on her Masters, not even the bathroom door when using the toilet. Nor was she to close her legs in their presence, or her lips.
“I’m not late, am I?” Alex sat abruptly, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Had she forgotten some new instruction?
“No. No, you’re fine. I just wanted to see how you’re doing before I go down to start breakfast. It was a pretty intense first night back for you.”
Daniel was wearing denim cutoffs and a red T-shirt that accented his strong, broad chest and shoulders. His hair was still wet from his shower and his eyes, an unusual silvery blue, were smiling at her.
“Oh. I’m good. I’m fine, thanks.” She stood, hugging her naked body.
“Why don’t you go ahead and shower and groom. That way Liam can inspect you sooner and we can give you your present before he leaves for work.” Something shifted in the smiling eyes and Alex was at once on her guard.
“Present?”
“You’ll see. Part of your training.”
Alex loved presents—who didn’t? She ignored the niggling warning sparked by the dark flash in Daniel’s expression. Her mind rolled over the possibilities—a beautifully tooled slave collar of soft, supple leather? A satin corset that cinched in her already narrow waist and made her breasts look bigger, spilling over its boned edges? “What? What is it? What did you get me? Come on, you can tell me.”
Daniel laughed, shaking his head. “You’ll see soon enough, though I’m not sure present is really the right word. Liam’s up early too, so be ready in fifteen minutes.”
Not sure present is the right word… That didn’t bode well, though Alex had no idea now what the thing might be. She decided to put it from her mind and just wait and see.
She showered, using the mirrored shower door while grooming to make sure she didn’t miss any spots. She dried herself quickly and applied a rich lotion that gave her skin a silky-soft feel.
Returning to the bedroom, she made the bed and glanced at the clock. Liam was very punctual, which meant she had about two minutes to wait. She positioned herself with her hands laced loosely behind her head, her eyes fixed on the pendulum swinging rhythmically in the clock mounted on the wall beside the door.
It was surprising how quickly she had become used to being naked or nearly naked around the two men. She was permitted clothing when working outside in the gardens, of course. But other than that, she rarely wore more than a simple sundress with nothing beneath while doing house chores. When being trained, exercising or during play, she was kept completely naked except for the silver cuffs at her wrists.