To the Edge (Hideaway) (3 page)

What
were the odds? She swallowed, and stepped into them. Slowly, he pulled the
smooth silk up over her calves, her knees, her thighs, and… Her breathing
deepened, softened, as he brought them into place, and caressed her bottom
through the slippery material.

She
looked him in the eyes, and saw the happiness and desire there, before he bent
his head down and captured her mouth with his.

She
moaned, and closed her eyes, matching his eagerness with her own. It was
so
good
to be here, with him.

*

The
public play area was large and well-designed, with discreet mood lighting, places
off to the side to play in semi-private, and a few brightly-lit showcase zones
for those who either enjoyed being watched, or had been given no choice.
Atmospheric music and sound provided just enough background noise to allow
conversations to be kept between two people.

Sam’s
eyes widened as they slowly approached a large, sturdy contraption with padded
rests obviously intended for various limbs. It looked like something they’d
picked up at a Spanish Inquisition estate sale. In front of it stood a large
mirrored panel that promised a great view of whomever happened to be in, or
near, the thing.

‘You
look puzzled,’ he said.

‘I’m
trying to find out how one would get on it.’

He
smiled. ‘The spanking bench intrigues you?’

She
nodded slowly, trying not to look
too
interested, in case he –

Too
late.

‘Well,
don’t fret. You’re going to find out exactly how it feels, because this is
where you’ll be taking your punishment from Master Jake and I in a few minutes.’

Master
Jake too? Sam drew into herself a little. This was going to be bad.

Around
them, a few ears had perked up. A Domme Sam didn’t recognize approached Master
Dan.

He
smiled. ‘Hey, Sinthia.’

‘Hey
yourself, Doc. With your permission, I’d like my sub to see this. Lately he’s
been trying to top from the bottom, and I’d like to put a scare into him.’

A
tall, African-American Dom appeared from the growing number of people gathering
to see what was going on. ‘Same here with my sub. Think you could put on a
little show for the benefit of the newbies?’

Master
Dan looked at her. ‘It’s up to you, Sam. I’m more than happy to teach everyone
a little lesson, but you don’t have to do this publicly. It’s up to you.’

Sam
looked from him to the Doms, to their subs, who gave her nervous smiles.

As
if from far away, she heard herself saying, ‘Okay.’ What she really wanted to
do was run for the door, but she knew from experience that wasn’t a good course
of action.

‘Only
if you’re really sure,’ said Master Dan.

‘I’m
sure.’

He
studied her face, pulled her close, and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
‘Brave girl.’

At
that moment, Master Jake arrived. He gave her a wink. ‘Ready for your
punishment, darlin’?’

‘Oh
my God, did you know Master Jake’s a sadist?’
one of the subs
whispered.

Sam’s
blood ran cold. ‘A sadist?’ His words from earlier that evening replayed in her
mind.
‘Don’t test me, Samantha. You don’t know me that well.’

Master
Dan’s hands ran down the length of her arms in a soothing gesture. ‘Not as far
as you’re concerned,’ he said, shooting the sub a warning look. ‘At least, not
right now. This is going to be a straightforward spanking.’

Still,
Sam’s wary gaze fell on Master Jake. He always seemed so sweet and laid back,
and he’d always been gentle with her; not her idea of someone who got off on
inflicting pain. A
sadist?
She was glad she hadn’t known that when his
cock was sliding up her backside.

Master
Jake gave her a reassuring smile. ‘I’m not going to hurt you beyond what your
Master and I have agreed is appropriate for your punishment, Sam.’

They
didn’t give her a chance to dwell on that for long.

‘Gather
round, people,’ said Master Dan. ‘This,’ he draped his arm around Sam, ‘is my
sub. She’s new here, and I know I can count on all of you to make her feel
welcome and comfortable. I care about her very deeply, but occasionally, like
all of us, she forgets how to behave. Now,’ he gestured to himself and the
other Doms, ‘we all understand how hard it can be to switch gears from how
you’ve been conditioned to behave in daily life to how you need to behave with
us. In my sub’s case…’

He
went on talking, but Sam didn’t hear much after
my sub
. She was too
warm, too happy, too relieved to have had her hopes confirmed. He’d made a commitment
to her, and announced it to everyone. Master Jake had already said that she was
Master Dan’s to punish, and had referred to him as
her Master
, but it
wasn’t until she heard it from his lips that it even began to feel real.

‘…As
you can tell, she’s
already
stopped listening,’ said Master Dan, amidst
a laugh from the small crowd that had gathered.

Her
stomach did a flip. ‘Sorry, Sir.’

‘You
will be,’ he said to her. He turned back to the crowd. ‘I want you all to know
that this is Sam’s first public punishment, and afterwards, depending on what I
decide, she may receive her first public fucking. I want those of you who’ve
been in her place before to remember how it felt, and show some empathy. And I
want those of you who’ve yet to experience these things, to watch and learn with
the utmost courtesy and respect for her feelings. I’ve given Sam the option of
having this done in private, but she’s bravely chosen to share this experience
with you. If
any one of you
,’ he cast a stern eye over the crowd, ‘makes
her regret that choice, you’ll be next, and you’ll be truly sorry.’

Everyone
nodded, and there was a small chorus of ‘Welcome, Sam’s that made her feel
slightly better about the fact that she was possibly crazy, and most definitely
about to surrender her very last shred of dignity.

Yet
strangely, that felt okay.

‘You
go, Sam,’ said an older lady with a strong Texan accent. ‘We’re right behind
you, honey.’

‘Thanks,’
she said, managing a grateful smile as a few others offered encouragement.

They
were – literally – right behind her as Master Dan and Master Jake helped her
onto the spanking bench. Face down, ass up, it was an incredibly exposed and
vulnerable position to be in, but actually not at all uncomfortable. The padded
bench supported her perfectly. In front of her was the mirror. She could see
her audience shifting around in the dim light, trying to find the best place to
stand to watch whatever the Doms were about to do to her.

Suddenly,
a bright light came directly down on her creating a circle of light so intense
it cast everything beyond it into darkness, and it was difficult for her to
make out the crowd. Not seeing them was just fine with her, but they… well,
they could see her just fine.

She
couldn’t believe she’d agreed to this.

She
looked down, so that all she could see was the floor tiles, which was
infinitely preferable to looking into the eyes of her audience.

‘How’s
that feel?’ said Master Dan.

‘Not
bad, Sir. I’m okay.’

‘Are
you sure? You’re frowning. Frowning usually indicates ‘not okay’.’

‘It’s
the mirror,’ she admitted.

He
looked into it, seeing what she saw, and nodded. ‘Some people like to watch
themselves, or to watch other people watching
them
. But in your case,
the mirror is going to help Master Jake and I keep an eye on you while you take
your punishment.’

She
nodded. Knowing it was there for her safety as much as anything else made it
easier to bear.

‘Are
you comfortable enough?’ he asked.

‘Yes,
thank you, Sir,’ she said.

He
stroked a hand down the back of her head. ‘Good. Master Jake and I don’t want
you in any pain besides that which we choose to inflict.’

‘Absolutely,’
said Master Jake. ‘We’re gonna restrain you now, darlin’. Just relax.’

She
almost laughed at the clash of concepts there, but this wasn’t the time to
annoy the two of them. She was jostled around a bit while they adjusted the leg
and arm rests to their satisfaction.

Master
Dan crouched in front of her again, and she felt herself grow wet just from the
simple gesture. He smiled, and turned to Master Jake. ‘Give me the monitor,
please.’

Master
Jake passed him a square box about the size of an alarm clock, with large,
blinking, red digital zeros. She blinked at it, uncomprehending.

Master
Dan shifted his grip on it, and she saw that a curly length of electrical cord
connected a long black probe to the box.

‘This
is a rectal temperature monitor,’ he said, ignoring the curious murmurs of the
crowd. ‘Apart from the fact that I don’t think it’ll be too much of a hardship
for you to take the thermometer, it’ll be a useful indicator of how you’re
responding to your punishment. It’s quite likely your temperature will rise a
degree or two if you get very turned on. If you
do
get very turned on,
one of two things may happen, depending on what I decide. I may feel that the
punishment is too pleasurable for you, and increase the amount of discomfort
accordingly. Or, if we’re satisfied that your punishment has served its purpose,
I may decide that you deserve to be thoroughly fucked right here in front of
everyone. Do you understand?’

‘Yes,
Sir.’ She was already turned on, yet dreading all of this taking place in front
of an audience.

He
showed her a folded length of dark blue cloth. ‘I’m going to blindfold you,’ he
said, gently. ‘I think that will make this a little easier for you,
psychologically. If at
any
time you need it to come off, or for us to
stop for
any
reason, you can safeword. As I’ve told you before, always
safeword sooner rather than later. There’s no shame in it, and we’ll be
extremely displeased if you don’t. Understood?’

‘Understood,’
she said, in a small voice.

‘All
right, then,’ he said. ‘Remind me and Master Jake of your safeword.’

‘Ocean.’

He
smiled, and patted the back of her hand. ‘Good. Let’s get started.’ He stood,
and fastened the soft fabric blindfold in place. He’d been right about her
response; she felt her body relax almost immediately. It was such a primal
illusion; if she couldn’t see anyone, then they couldn’t see her.

Sightless,
the scene came alive in her mind.

The
crowd of nervously turned-on subs, and their Doms. The two Masters, exclusively
focused on her, about to do God alone knew what to her.

‘Quiet
now,’ said Master Jake.

All
whispers ceased as Sam’s leather skirt was slowly folded back, showcasing her
new red panties.

‘I
see you compensated Sam for her loss,’ said Master Jake.

Master
Dan grunted, amused. ‘Sam will never lose out if I have anything to do with
it.’ His hand cupped her bottom through the silk, and rubbed soothing circles.

‘Brace
yourself, Sam; I’m going to expose you now,’ said Master Dan.

There
would
never
be enough time to brace herself for this.

A
moment later, fingers hooked into the silk and slowly pulled them down her
thighs. A sigh rippled through the crowd. Far from perfect though she knew her
body to be, Sam detected no judgement from them. If anything, they actually
sounded friendly and appreciative. That was kind of nice, but she suspected
they wouldn’t want to be in her generously buckled boots much longer.

A
cap popped open.

‘What’s
that in his hand?’ a young man whispered.

‘I’m
using a temperature probe to help monitor our sub’s responses,’ said Master
Dan. ‘I’ve got medical qualifications, and occasionally put them to use here.’

‘Oh
my
God
,’ a woman breathed, enviously. Everyone laughed.

‘Silence!’
snapped Master Dan. ‘Sam needs to be able to concentrate on what she’s feeling,
and reflect on the need to follow a Dom’s instructions without question. You
all should do the same. The next person who makes a noise, leaves.’

Silence
fell.

A
reassuring hand was placed on her lower back as her buttocks were touched, and parted
with the kind of no-nonsense attitude he must have cultivated when he was doing
emergency medicine. A moment later, the only sound in the room was the wet
squelch of the lubricated probe entering her body, and the chorus of sighs –
her own included – that followed as it was slowly and carefully inserted to
full depth. Finally, she held her breath through the brief pain as the wide
ball at the end was forced just inside her anus, preventing it from slipping
out.

She
knew she was wet, and everyone had to be able to see it.