Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
Michael
Jazz lives with her doctor in their dream house on the beach. Do you all think he is aware of her past flings? How is it a famous psychiatrist would be okay shacking up with a woman known for getting her kicks on the floor of a club bathroom? What does that say about him?
What in the hell had she been thinking? When he woke up and saw that Pixie was not in the room, he hadn’t worried, because she’d always been an early riser, especially when she was stressed. But when he saw the door to the wardrobe ajar, he knew something was off.
What he hadn’t expected was the call he’d gotten from Derek before he’d even gotten dressed. It seemed his Pixie had taken it upon herself to take off in one of the Ranch’s work trucks. The GPS indicated that the truck was in town parked outside of the diner, so now he and Derek were getting ready to go pick up his wayward sub.
“I didn’t take your sub for a car thief,” Derek said as he drove toward town. “This is a first for the Ranch. I suppose we will need to be more careful in the future about locking up our vehicles. We’ve never had to worry about something like this before.”
“I don’t know what she was thinking. I apologize on her behalf, and no worries, I promise that I will make sure to deal with this.” No matter what had motivated her actions, she wouldn’t be sitting comfortably for days once he got her back to the Ranch.
“I know she’s been going through a lot lately, but you wouldn’t be doing her any favors by going light on her.”
Derek said out loud what Michael had been thinking about all along. He’d been so worried about how to help her through her stress related to all the bad press she’d been receiving, but things were getting out of control, and they needed to get a handle on them the sooner the better.
“You’re not wrong.” He was just glad the other man wasn’t talking about pressing charges against her. The last thing she needed was a court case for grand theft auto.
“I just want to get her back to the Ranch. Will you require her punishment to be public?” he asked Derek. He would do so if it was required, but though he loved to put on a show, he’d always felt that true punishment was something that needed to be handled in a more private setting.
“I trust you to take care of your sub. Just make sure you send home the seriousness of the situation,” Master Derek responded.
They pulled up in front of the diner right next to the missing truck, and both men entered together. Michael looked around and found his Pixie in a back corner booth, and he could see even from across the room that she had tears running down her face.
“It seems something is going on with your sub, and by the looks of it, whatever it is can’t be anything good,” Master Derek said from behind him.
“I don’t know who those people are, but you’re right about that. Let’s go get my woman.” Michael moved toward the table to retrieve his Pixie and get out of there.
To see her crying nearly did him in. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and tell her everything was going to be okay, but he couldn’t do that, because at this point he didn’t have enough information to make that promise. All he could do was get her someplace to make sure she was safe and figure out where to go from there.
He held out his hand. “Keys.” He held firm. He would let his emotions free later when he was safe to do so, right now he couldn’t. “Let’s go.”
When she dropped the keys in his hand, he turned his attention to Derek. As they were talking, the woman across from Jazz spoke, and though he didn’t hear exactly what she’d said, he did hear the threatening tone in her voice. Once they got back to the Ranch, they would have lots to talk about, but for the moment he needed to calm down before dealing with her. It would be unfair to them both to approach her while he was in this headspace.
He made his way from the restaurant and waited beside the truck for Jazz to follow. Once she was outside, he opened the passenger door for her and helped her into the truck. After she was settled, he made his way around to the driver’s side and adjusted the seat so he could fit and started the vehicle. He knew she was waiting for him to say something, but he just didn’t know how to begin.
The ride back to the Ranch was a quiet one, the air thick with tension. As they turned down the tree-lined path, Jazz turned to him. “Look, Michael, I know you are angry with me, but I have some things I need to tell you. I am sorry I took the truck without permission, but I needed some time to myself.”
Michael brought the truck to a stop in front of the main entrance and put the vehicle in park before turning off the ignition.
“Stole. Isn’t that what you mean, because that is really what you did. When you take something that doesn’t belong to you, that is theft, and in case you were not aware, is also against the law.”
“I know that, but if you will just hear me out, I think you will understand.” She reached out and tried to take his hand which was sitting on his knee.
“There will be a time for you to explain your actions, and I have no doubt that in the moment you felt justified, but right now, I honestly don’t want to talk about it. In the last three years we have known each other, you have never given me a reason to be as angry at you as I am right now. Do you understand the risk you took this morning?” He turned his hand over, taking her hand in his.
“I know.”
The sight of tears starting to flow down her face nearly did him in.
“So, this is what we’re going to do. Master Derek was able to keep what happened this morning quiet from the other guests, so he is not requiring your punishment to be public, but I think this will require more than just a private spanking which you and I both know you would enjoy way too much.” She nodded back at him as he’d never had to have a serious punishment scene with her before.
“I want you to go to the room and kneel on the floor beside the bed for fifteen minutes. During that time, I want you to think about our relationship. Think if this is what you want long term, because we have had it easy, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t punish you when needed as per the terms we agreed on.”
He took a deep breath and squeezed her hand before continuing. “You decide if this is what you really want to move forward, because if it is, then I want you to go to the armoire and pull out the single tail and take it to the Dungeon. Once you are there, I want you to strip and kneel before the St. Andrew’s Cross and wait for me. Do you understand what I am asking of you?”
“You’ve never used the whip on me before,” she whispered.
“I know. You have never given me a reason to, and you have to decide if you trust me to do so. I have had practice with it over the years, and I promise I’d never do anything to harm you, but it is your choice, and your safe words will be honored. Do you understand the instructions I provided?” he asked again.
“Yes, Sir. I do.”
He pulled back in surprise. She’d never called him Sir before, but maybe she needed the change more than he’d realized.
“Good. Now, go to the room. Do as I have asked and reflect on the things we have talked about, and I will see you in the Dungeon.” He leaned across and kissed her on the top of the head before letting go of her hand and allowing her to exit the truck.
Michael sat for a few more moments before getting out and going in search of Master Derek to let him know his truck was back and return his keys.
He found Derek in his office. “I left the truck parked in front and locked it up.” He reached out to hand him the keys.
“Please, have a seat.” Derek took the offered keys and nodded to the chair across from his desk.
Michael fell into the chair, feeling like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He knew what he needed to do, but for the first time in a long time wasn’t looking forward to what was coming. He would be glad to have a clean slate so they could start fresh. He was not a Dom who liked to punish his sub, even if it was needed.
“How is Jazz? She didn’t look very good in the diner.”
“She and I will work things out, I’m sure. First, I have decided to do a punishment scene in the Dungeon, and I wanted to make you aware, because it might get intense. I will be using the single tail on her, so if any of your Littles might be sensitive to it, we will be in there this morning.”
“Most of the Littles would be busy this time of the morning and aren’t allowed in the Dungeon unescorted by their Bigs, so it should be a safe time, but thank you for letting me know.”
“I know her actions affected you and the Ranch, and I will not go easy on her. I hope when we are finished that you will allow her to apologize, and all will be forgiven. If not, then we will pack, and I will arrange to leave as soon as we can get our transportation sorted.” Michael respected what Derek had built here and wouldn’t make a fuss.
“Of course not. It’s clear that your sub is struggling with something. Just take care of her and make sure she’s safe. Once her punishment is doled out, then all is forgiven.”
“I cannot express my gratitude. If there is anything at all Jazz or I can do, then all you ever need to do is ask.” Michael stood to leave. He knew his time was up and he had a sub waiting for him. It was time to take care of her so they could move on.
Michael walked into the Dungeon, and he noticed Derek was right, there was no-one in it with the single exception of his Pixie who was kneeling naked facing the St. Andrew’s Cross with her head down. She was a sight to behold.
He moved silently toward her and when he reached her side, he placed his hand on her head. “You look beautiful, my love. I am going to ask you to only speak when I ask you a direct question, otherwise, for the time you are being punished, you are to remain silent. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir,” she answered, her voice trembling.
Michael knelt down on one knee beside her. “Pixie, look at me.”
She raised her head and met his gaze. “This morning, you decided to leave the Ranch, and instead of waking me up and telling me that you needed help, you snuck out while I was asleep. You found a work truck that had the keys in it, and you took it without permission. Even though you may have had every intention of bringing it back, that was tantamount to stealing. Do you understand that?” he asked, his voice quiet but stern.
“Yes, Sir. I do.” She nodded her head.
“And though that bothers me, what upsets me more is that something could have happened to you, and who knows how long it would have taken us to find you to get you help. What if something had gone wrong and nobody even knew you had left the property?” He realized while asking the questions that part of why he’d been so angry with her, was that he was scared for her safety all along.
Her gaze dropped back to the floor.
“Look at me, Pixie. Don’t look away.” She brought her eyes back up to meet his. “And also, you’d snuck off to meet with those two women whom I don’t know. Since when do we do things like that?” And how had she been in touch to let them know where she was? He had many questions that she was going to need to answer before the day was out.
“Sir, I know I have a lot to answer for, but I promise I did not sneak out to meet those two. They ambushed me at the diner this morning. I had no idea they were going to be there, I give you my word.”
He reached out and brushed away the tear that had fallen from her eye. One thing that broke Michael’s heart was his Pixie’s tears. “I believe you. Now, I am going to have you face the cross, and you are going to take eight lashes. I will cuff your wrists, because I worry that you will reach back, and I don’t want you to injure yourself. Do you feel that we need to cuff your ankles as well, or would you rather keep them free?” He gave her the option.
With her shorter frame, the cross was tough for her if her ankles were cuffed, so they generally didn’t cuff her ankles when they used it for play.
“If it’s okay, I would like to keep my feet on the floor, Sir,” she answered. It was obvious by her tone that she was taking this as seriously as he was.
“Of course. Do you have any questions before we start?”
“No questions, Sir. But I do need you to know something before you punish me, if that is okay.” She looked at him and waited for his permission to continue.
“Of course, Pixie. Tell me what is on your mind.” He knew if anyone was watching, they may not understand, but they did not practice a high protocol, and rarely if ever had punishment scenes. In fact, they were almost exclusively of the “funishment” variety, so if she felt she needed to say something before they started, he was going to let her get it off her chest.
“I need you to know that I love you, and this does not change anything. I am sorry. Yes, of course I will apologize for taking the truck without permission, because I wasn’t thinking, but what I am truly sorry for is that I think on some level I took us for granted.”
He looked at his sub and wondered for a moment what had happened in that diner before he arrived. He’d been so wrapped up in his own feelings with the situation that though he’d seen her tears, he hadn’t taken the time to really think about what they might have meant.
“I love you too. We will finish your punishment for running off this morning, and then later you and I have a lot to talk about. But know that whatever it is, nothing will change how I feel about you. And once this punishment is over, then it is over. We will not bring up what happened this morning ever again.”