Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Dean Anderson
N ormally, initiation night stirs something in me, gives me something to look forward to. Right now, I just wish it was over. It’s not a lack of interest, not really. It’s far more subtle than that. It’s an itch just below the surface that I just can’t scratch.
It’s Ashleigh. Pure and simple. Even if I don’t want to admit it out loud, I know deep down she’s the cause. She’s my affliction and my cure. I’m sure of it.
As I sit there in one of the play spaces, I stare at the Saint Andrew’s cross bathed in red from the lights. How pretty would she look strapped on there? Even now, I can feel her ass under my hand as I spank her hard for some infraction or another.
It’s not meant to be. I can never allow it to be. To bring her into our fold would mean the possible devastation and ruination of something I’ve built from the ground up with my two bare hands. More than that, it would put every member and every student at risk.
I can’t justify it. As much as I want her, crave her, lose sleep over picturing her lithe body stretched out over my desk just waiting for me to fuck her pretty little pussy, it’s imprudent. Though it pains me, I can’t allow my needs to outweigh the needs of everyone else.
At some point, I’m going to have to just suck it up and find someone else, someone suitable. Unfortunately, none of the other submissives call to me like she does. They know who I am and what I’m capable of. Except for the few break-me’s in the group, they don’t ever want to be at the end of my ire.
Ashleigh isn’t scared of me. In fact, the more I discipline her, the wetter she becomes. But she’s definitely not a break me. She’s far too tender for that. It’s a fine line, one that has me dreaming about her, thinking about her, consumed with her.
It’s why I’ve distanced myself. Thankfully, she must have gotten the message across since her latest Lantern issues haven’t been all that inflammatory. Just a few tweaks here and there, and that’s all that was needed.
Maybe I just imagined the whole thing. Though Doctor Andrew never told me what was discussed at their session, he did mention having her computer monitored. Dirty bastard practically tossed her on my lap, but she never bit.
With the daily communiques from Todd, she has definitely done her fair of searching for the most salacious things. At first, I thought it would make her act out all the more. When she didn’t, I thought maybe she just realized she didn’t actually want those things.
A soft ding permeates my thoughts, drawing my attention to my phone.
Todd
You’re going to want to see this. So sorry I didn’t send it earlier. Tech glitch in the computer lab.
What now?
It was from earlier this afternoon. Around 4:45pm?
Website query: Is it illegal to have sex with the dean of your university?
Well, I’ll be damned. Maybe it’s not so far out of the realm as I thought. My cock pulses against my boxers as my balls draw up.
John Anderson
Thanks. Keep me updated.
Will do.
What do you plan to do about it?
What indeed? I suppose that’s the real question.
Just keep monitoring the situation. I need to think about this.
“Ahhh John. I was expecting you to already be out on the main floor. Why are you holed up back here?” Doctor Andrew’s voice slithers down my spine like ice dripping onto my skin.
“Even gods need to take a breather now and then. How can I help you?”
“Oh, there’s nothing to help me with. Just making sure you were still planning on doing the initiation. You’ve been acting rather odd lately. So I just wanted to check in with you.”
“He’s fine, Rayne,” Grigori booms out as he, too, slides into the room. “Not everyone needs to be shrunk by you.”
“And yet,” he replies, “they seem to be all the better for it. Tell me, how is your Chelsea doing?”
“Please keep my slave’s name out of your mouth unless I’ve asked for your assistance,” he nearly growls as Sergei steps in closer.
“I keep bitch safe. She is okay as waterfall.” The bodyguard replies as he rolls his shoulders.
“I mean your slave no harm,” he chuckles, rocking back on his heels. “There is no ill will between us.” Doctor Andrew’s voice softens a touch, as if cajoling the Bratva enforcer. “Besides, I am forever in my debt for your assistance with my own precious Chastity.”
Next to Grigori, Sergei snorts and shakes his head. “I told you not to put all eggs in titty basket. But you never listened to me.”
Normally, their back and forth is fine. In fact, I draw great amusement with how they size each other up. Unfortunately, my head is far too full with a brat of my own to keep allowing this to continue much longer. “Enough of all this posturing. Please, gentlemen. I’d like to keep things civil.”
A heavy sigh slips from Grigori’s lips as he turns to me. “I apologize. I am just out of sorts tonight. Chelsea has been in a rare mood, and so I’ve had to handle her harder than usual lately.”
Shaking my head, I clap my hand against his shoulder. Not that I’m surprised. It’s very close to a break and most of the students are anxious to be free of their scholastic obligations—even the bratty ones.
Either way, we can’t stay here hidden away from the world much longer. “Perhaps after the initiation, you should avail yourself to a private dungeon,” I offer. “Maybe get some of the steam out?”
“We have our own, but I appreciate the offer. I just wish to get this over with.”
“Yes,” I murmur in agreement. “As would I.”
Ever perceptive, Doctor Andrew turns to me, a rare smile curving his lips into a sinister grin. “Have plans we don’t know about?”
The last thing I need is for him to suspect he was right all along about my desire for Ashleigh. Bastard will never let me live it down.
“Despite all you do for the university, some of us are entitled to our own thoughts and plans.”
“Mmmmhmmmm. Very well. Enjoy the initiation then.” The eat-shit, know-it-all smile he gives as he leaves the room makes me pause.
Grigori looks between the two of us and shrugs, as if to say to not involve him in any of this. But what I’d be involving him in, I haven’t a clue. It’s as if the psych doc knows something I don’t. It’s not out of the ordinary, but it is very aggravating.
Stepping into the main room, I scan the heads of the dominants and submissives scattered about. Those wishing to initiate the newcomer mill back and forth, their faces fully concealed by their masks. But I know them. I know each and every one of them as well as I know the back of my hand.
Those with claimed submissives stand off to the side, their half masks showing the sadistic smirks I’ve come to expect from them. No doubt, Grigori will use this as yet another teaching moment for Chelsea. Despite his firm hand, she still has a wild streak in her no one but him seems to be able to control. Even now, as he stands there, his hand twitches as if he wishes to grasp her by the hair and drag her off to parts unknown.
Next to him, Luke rubs his hands together, his lips twisting up in glee as he looks about the room and feeds of the frenetic energy swirling about. At his feet, Shelaine kneels, ever graceful, ever the dutiful submissive. Seems as if I trained her well, and Luke merely added on his finishing polish.
Next to them, Professor Richards and Doctor Andrew converse softly while the submissive sisters hang their heads low in quiet repose. Was it really a year or so ago that Chastity came into our fold as an initiate? Weariness runs through me as I resist the urge to take off my mask and rub my face.
A frown pulls down my brows as I scan the room for Professor Douglas. No doubt he’s still in the honeymoon phase with his submissive. I’ve never seen someone disappear so fast after an initiation or claiming. I can’t fault the man, though. From what I’ve seen and heard, the brat will need some time under his tutelage before coming fully into our fold.
For a moment, my heart squeezes in my chest as I look about the rest of the room, seeking something that I can’t seem to find. Submissives come and go, but none of them call out to me. None of them grip me in a way these other dominants seem to find.
To know them would know they’d destroy the world, destroy me even, if it meant keeping their submissives safely by their side. I thought by now, I’d feel the same. Unfortunately, I’ve been so stuck in the role of leader and taskmaster that I haven’t been able to find someone I can call mine.
At least someone I’m allowed to have. And I guess that’s the point, isn’t it? I can have pretty much anyone I choose except the one I want with every fiber of my being.
Yes, I’ve sampled the various submissives here, but other than Shelaine when she was my secretary, nothing really lasted. And even with her, it was more about keeping her safe and hidden from the people following her and seeking her out more than undying carnal lust.
As the rest of the submissives file in, their masks and robes in place, I let my gaze touch on them, reciting their names as they kneel on a pillow. All of them have a face in my mind. All but one.
A slim, slip of a girl follows in behind, her movements erratic as opposed to gentle and smooth like the practiced submissives. Odd. The only new initiate, other than the one coming tonight, was Misty. And she’s not here. Squinting my eyes, I watch her movements, studying her as she makes her way behind the others.
There’s something very familiar about her, something I can’t quite put my finger on. With the cloak concealing her hair and body, I only have her eyes to go by. Ice blue flickers in the low candlelight, making them appear almost silver. Where have I seen those eyes before?
She looks up at me, locking our gaze together. For a moment, my brain struggles as I try to place her, but then she fidgets with the cowl of her robe, revealing a mass of curly blonde hair. Ashleigh. I’ll bet both of my nuts on it.
What the fuck is she doing here?
I do my best to remain calm, to not alert the others that an intruder is in our midst. Meddlesome little brat. It’s bad enough that I’ve allowed her to start a damned newspaper at this school, but seeing as its number one reporter, well, only reporter since Marnie’s ‘emergency absence,’ is here to lay witness to everything going on in The Society, I might as well put a fucking ad out for others to find us.
This ends now. After tonight, I will have to make her one of us officially. The secrecy of our society depends on it. Glancing over at the others, I catch Doctor Andrew’s gaze. With his half mask, I can see the frown turning down his lips as he looks about the room.
Observant bastard. Clearing my throat, I divert everyone’s attention back where it needs to be. Ashleigh finally kneels on a pillow, blending in a bit better with the others. To me, however, she still sticks out like a sore thumb. Probably because I know she doesn’t belong. Not yet.
“Lia Harris has been brought forth for initiation.”
At my words, the double doors open, revealing the girl in question. She hangs between the two football players dragging her in, her feet sliding on the floor as if she’s changing her mind. It’s too late now.
“She was caught cheating on her exams and chose to join us and take whatever punishment I see fit.”
A smile teases at my lips as I look down at Melody. She squirms on her pillow, no doubt remembering her own punishment for the very same crimes. Professor Richards places his hand on her shoulder and squeezes as his cock presses against pants under his parted robe. We all remember, it seems.
The players take her over to the St. Andrew’s Cross and tug at her robe, making it fall to the floor in a puddle at her feet. Ashleigh has the audacity to crane her neck, showing far more interest than any other submissive here. Then again, they’re used to it by now. This is all new to her.
“As this is her first offense,” I continue, “she will be flogged no less than twenty times, which she will count out loud and thank her punisher. Who will take the honor?”
Am I seeing things or is this girl scribbling away in a goddamn notebook? Where the hell did she even keep it? Must have been her underwear. Dammit. This is not good.
Of all the fucking… For the first time since I can recall, all rational words leave as I do my best to stay rooted to the spot and not draw any extra attention. But she will pay. Oh, but she will pay.