Kath kept her pace steady and sniffed the air. Summer was coming to an end, and the smells of autumn were already hinting of shorter days, and dew-draped cobwebs. As much as she loved the long, hot days of summer, Kath appreciated the turning leaves and misty dawns. In fact, she mused, as she began to walk along an old deer track through the trees, each and every season had its pluses.
It was quiet under the canopy of leaves. The light was filtered and shadows moved as the breeze shifted the branches. Suddenly Kath was glad she’d chosen to walk. She hadn’t realized how much this hour of fresh air had come to mean. Even though she and Jeff had always been active, both in and out of the playroom, since her bout of toilet hogging, the chance to stretch her legs and fill her lungs had become ever more precious. Especially as the playroom activities were nil.
The track turned sharply as it reached the stream, which could be crossed by stepping-stones. Even if she hadn’t told Jeff she was taking the short cut, Kath would have had no intention of using them by herself. They weren’t that level and she wasn’t as nimble as she had been. She bent to twist her hand under the tiny waterfall, no more than where three or four rocks made the stream burble and flow in waves, and enjoyed the sensation of the water on her skin. Then she stood, and turned to walk along the bank. A few hundred yards farther on she’d cross another, wider track, and before long she would soon be back at the field that ran alongside the drive.
Kath began to whistle to herself. Tunelessly, but oh so satisfying. Her mind was full of what she had to do when she got back to her office, whether she’d have a chance to show her new underwear off and if she could persuade Jeff to take her into the club to watch the wax play demonstration that evening. As wax play was a big turn on for her, she really wanted to see it. The down side would be that she couldn’t participate. However maybe she could play a little with Jeff afterwards? Their evening protocol was perfect and whilst she had that, it didn’t matter that everything else was off limits. Kath was content. Their child was growing inside her, her lusty appetite attended to and her partner perfect. All was well in her world.
A clock chimed in the distance and Kath looked at her watch. Ten a.m., perfect timing to be back and working before eleven. That was the hour she tried to make her workday starting goal.
She slipped out of the trees and started to walk across the wider track at an angle. Instead of starting directly opposite from where she exited the trees, the other pathway was several yards down it. The brightness after the shadows was a shock, and Kath narrowed her eyes, at the same time as she heard the noise of an engine, revving at high speed.
The track turned a corner a few yards ahead, and Kath frowned. Whoever it was shouldn’t even be on that track, surely, let alone driving like a maniac? She moved faster to get out of the way, and stumbled over a branch that was lying over the uneven ground.
Swearing wasn’t the best option. Scared beyond anything she’d ever felt before, Kath rolled as best she could to one side, covered her tummy with her hands and wondered if she’d ever get up again. The screech of brakes made her close her eyes and pray.
There was the sound of a door opening, a blast of Tchaikovsky then someone touched her shoulder.
“Hen, are you okay?” The voice was low and Kath was certain it was disguised. She couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman.
Hen? Oh, God, what’s going on? No one, but no one, says that these days, surely?
“I’m a woman not a bloody chicken.”
“You’re okay then.”
Kath opened her eyes to squint at whoever it was that loomed over her. “Maybe. What asshole drives like a lunatic along a track with little visibility? Sheesh, what if I was a party of school kids or something?”
The person laughed. Although the body seemed bulky, something about it didn’t ring true. He-she had a hat pulled well down and a scarf pulled well up over his-her face. “In the grounds of a BDSM club? Not much likelihood of that. And I wasn’t going fast, I was revving to get up the bloody track. It’s as slippery as a greasy pole. No one ever comes down here.”
“You did,” Kath said. “I am.”
Why am I stating the obvious?
“And this is not public land.”
The person ignored the second half of Kath’s statement. “Okay, usually then. So you’re winded and pissed, nothing else?”
There was relief, and something she couldn’t decipher in the tone. Kath did a quick mental tally of how she felt. “Yeah, though God help me if you’d harmed my baby you’d have paid. This is private property, you’re trespassing.”
The other person laughed. “I know, and I would have deserved it, however there was no chance. You’re on the ground because of your clumsiness, and I’m going to have to do what I have to do because you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. And trespassing? No such thing in Scotland. So if you’re okay, then sorry I have to do this.”
Kathy didn’t have a chance to ask what, before a soft pressure on her neck made her world spin. The pressure increased, so she wasn’t sure if she heard the words, “I’m so sorry, it won’t last long,” or if she imagined it.
* * * *
She woke up to more swearing. Definitely masculine, definitely familiar and very definitely pissed.
“Wash your mouth out,” she mumbled and blinked. “Sheesh, you sound like a navvy who’s had a hammer dropped on his cock. Bump’s fine, and I’ve got a headache, that’s all.”
I hope.
“Hmm. Don’t move. I need to tell Emma where we are. She’s on her way. Thank goodness for a friend who’s your doctor.”
“Emma says five minutes and don’t move her.” David came over with an old blanket and a pillow, and handed them to Jeff before going back to the car. He tucked them under and around Kath who smiled wanly.
“That’s the outdoors subbie blanket. This is a bit of a different use for it.”
“Not at all, pet, you’re my sub and you need warmth, care and comfort.” Jeff held her hand, and she felt the tremor that ran through him. “Are you sure you don’t have pain?”
“In my ankle where I caught it under the branch I tripped over, that’s all. Seriously it wasn’t the van, it was me thinking on my feet, or not thinking and trying to hurry in case it was coming too fast to stop.” Kath squeezed his hand as best she could. “It wasn’t, and whoever it was who thumped me said it was revving cos it’s all boggy. Boggy?”
“Thumped?”
Kath swore she heard his teeth gnash.
“Figure of speech,” she said hurriedly. Jeff’s face still hadn’t regained his color, and his skin had that fine sheen of perspiration he got when he was worried. “I don’t think I was hit, I just greeted the ground with a bit too much enthusiasm when I tripped. And don’t change the subject. Boggy?”
“Ah, well, we created that in the hope we’d catch whoever seems to be floating around.” Jeff stroked her hair off her face.
Kath had the feeling that he had to touch her to reassure himself she was there in the flesh, and alive.
“But if I’d thought anyone would be out here during the day,” he continued, “there would have been no way I’d have let you walk.”
He looked so contrite, that Kath got goosebumps. “Hey, no one knew okay, Sir? Maybe I need to punish you then for not being omnipotent?” She grinned and he gave a shamefaced laugh.
“Maybe. Oh, Kath, I was so fucking worried.” His voice broke.
“Yeah.” She lifted her head and kissed him hard. “Love you.”
He returned the kiss. “And back.” He held her tight and Kath relaxed into his embrace. His hair tickled her skin, and his own unique male scent filled her with comfort. This was her partner, her Master and her completion. She let his presence surround her, content to wait in his arms.
It was no more than that the said five minutes when a top of the range, large, luxurious, off road vehicle swung round the corner to park next to the other car. Emma Lynn climbed out and walked briskly over to Kath and Jeff.
“Only you could get done over in the grounds of a BDSM club, and it not be a scene.”
Kath laughed. “True enough.”
“Okay, let’s see if I’m moving you home, the surgery or the hospital.”
After a thorough check over, or as thorough as Emma said was practicable on the bumpy ground, Emma stood up. “Hospital overnight, and we’ll do the scan in the morning.”
Jeff nodded to Emma. “See you there.”
She turned and got into her car. They watched as she reversed and drove away. Jeff swung Kath up into his arms.
“Hold on love.” He walked across to where the white van had been slewed across the track, and where his car now stood, with its engine idling over. David sat behind the wheel, and Ross, who Kath realized must be the Dom with a crisis of confidence, sat next to him.
“Emma’s organized a bed in the Grange.” Jeff named the local private hospital. “Can we go straight there? I’ll come back and get everything that’s needed.”
“No problem, how do you feel, Kath?”
“Shaken not stirred.”
Ross sniggered, and Kath thought back to why they were there en masse.
“Oh hell, you were busy, and how did you find me?”
“A phone call to Jess at uni. Then she kept ringing the office phone and each of our mobiles until one of us answered,” Jeff said as he got into the back seat and fastened her seat belt. “We never leave the phone unattended during the day, and we won’t again. Jess was beside herself and about to ring the police and walk out on her students.”
Kath struggled to follow his convoluted sentences.
Never have no… Oh, I get it.
“Why… Oh fuck, I never even thought about that. Lucy’s on holiday. I set it to silent answerphone.”
“We all forgot,” Jeff said as David put the car into gear. “Ross was going to do it, but we got chatting instead.”
“Diplomatic but inaccurate.” Ross swiveled in his seat to look at Kath and Jeff. “What Jeff means is I lost the plot, and had a big girl’s blouse moment. So he and David had to pull up my boxers and tell me to man up.”
Kath giggled as she reckoned he’d meant her to. It was a sign of a true Dom to own up to his shortcomings and face them head on.
“I’m so sorry, and I’m so blooming cross with myself for this. I hope I didn’t,” she hesitated how could she put it delicately, “Mess up your chat.”
Ross shook his head. “No, you gave me a breathing space, and I’ll happily feel the crop later.” He looked at Jeff who gave a quick nod of the head. “I asked Master Jeff if I could talk to you as well. He agreed, but I don’t think I’ll bother you now.”
“Well if Sir says it’s okay, it is. What’s up?”
“After you’ve been checked up and get home,” Jeff said firmly. “While I get your stuff and bring it to you, David and Ross are going sleuthing. Can you remember anything about the vehicle or the guy who attacked you?”
Kath stirred and leaned against him. “The van was white, like a transit. Him? Well he might have been a she.”
Chapter Seven
The car jerked as David missed a gear and swore. Jeff tightened his arm around Kath.
“Say that again? No, hold on until we get off the track and onto the lane. Then we can all concentrate. Or even better when we get back. No, as soon as it’s safe. Then you can concentrate on Emma.” Jeff’s gut was twisted, and his mouth dry as he ran through every what-if scenario and a few more besides. He had never felt as helpless as he had earlier when David had finally realized his phone was vibrating constantly and had taken the call.
The snarled ‘This better be good, pet’, would have scared the shit out of Jeff if he was a sub, and he’d wondered what Jess had said to make David lose color and snap a terse ‘Yes, yes, got it, no, yes, love you’.
Both Jeff and a half naked Ross had looked up. Ross because he’d just asked to feel the crop he was learning to use properly, and thought he’d missed something important. Jeff because he’d never seen David so agitated since he’d been trying to persuade Jess she was a sub, and his.
“Kath, message to Jess from some unknown. Come on.” He dropped the crop he’d been swinging onto a padded bolster to show his arm movement and grabbed Ross’ shirt to throw it at him. “Both of you. The Keepers Cottage track. Someone phoned Jess to say she—Kath, that is, needs help.”
The three of them moved toward the door and along the passage to the stairs. Afterwards, Jeff was amazed he’d even thought to lock all the doors. He threw his car keys to David. “You drive,” he said tersely. “Ross get in, we might need you. I’m sorry about the lesson.”
“It’ll keep.” Ross swung up next to David as Jeff scrambled into the back, and the car shot off. “What are we looking for apart from Kath?”
“No idea.” David ignored the two wheel tracks that curved around the field and drove in a straight line, with scant regard to the chassis or springs. Jeff couldn’t have cared less. It was meant to go off road, now was its chance.
Now as David drove so carefully, Jeff wanted to shout at him to hurry up, which he knew was neither rational, nor sensible. After what seemed like hours but was probably around ten minutes, the car left the track and turned onto the main drive. David stopped the vehicle to let Ross out, as it had been decided he’d get his car and bring David back from the hospital. That way Jeff would have transport.
“Bloody potholes,” David swore as he weaved the vehicle around the worst of them. “I thought we had them all sorted.” His phone buzzed and he groaned. “I bet that’s Jess in a tizzy. Here.” He handed it to Jeff. “Can you tell her one of us will let her know more when we do? If you don’t mind, that is.”
“I will.” Kath put out her hand.
“No.” Jeff gave her his, ‘I’m your Master and I know what’s best’ look, and Kath sighed. “Don’t do that, pet, you’re white and wincing and if you think Jess wouldn’t know that, you’re more out of it than you say.”
“Yeah, I guess. Tell her I’m okay though and so’s her godchild.”
Hell, I hope so
. The metallic taste of fear hit Jeff again, and his skin crawled. He had to swallow hard before he could press the return call button.
“Hold on, here’s another one.” David slowed the car to a crawl as Jeff spoke briefly into the phone.