Chapter 8 #3
“Oui.” Drake looked around, then led them to a quiet corner scene area.
It had an odd, padded bench in the shape of a half-barrel on its side.
Two tall, padded blocks of wood were positioned in front of it.
“Ray is new to the scene. I want her to experience how different paddles feel when she’s using them—and then how they feel on her ass.
Could we borrow your slave for some fun? ”
Ray stared at him in shock. He expected her to hit a strange man?
“Obviously, you heard I sprained my wrist.” Jasira touched the brace on her arm. “Hey, minion, want to get your masochism beat out of you today?”
“Yes, please, Mistress.” Casper turned to Ray, his tone eager. Needy. “Please.”
Ray blinked. Now she’d feel guilty if she didn’t beat the man.
“I’d say we’re good to go.” Jasira waved Casper to the stand. “Do you have paddles, Drake, or should I send someone for mine?”
“I’ve already gathered a sampling for Ray.” He fetched a large leather bag from a nearby bench.
Down to only a G-string, Casper knelt with a knee on each of the padded blocks and bent forward over the spanking barrel.
His butt was at the highest part of the curve with his upper torso angled downward on the other side.
To her relief, his closed thighs kept his package all in front.
She wouldn’t have to worry about accidentally hitting his balls. Whew.
As Jasira pulled a strap over her slave’s waist to secure him in place, Drake laid out a line of paddles on a table.
“I had no idea they came in so many shapes.” Ray ran a finger down a long, rectangular one with a narrower handle. Maybe a foot and a half long, two inches wide. Carved from one piece of maple, sanded smooth, and polyurethaned.
He chuckled. “These are only the wooden paddles. There are other materials like silicone—or the classic leather.” Drake turned to Jasira. “Would you instruct Ray where to hit, how hard, and any specifics for your slave.”
“Of course.”
Drake smiled at Ray. “As you work, I want your impressions on how the paddle feels in your hand, how it hits, and whether you like it. Later you will share how it feels from the other side.”
As it hits my ass, he means. She tried for a sour expression yet couldn’t suppress a shiver of excitement.
The two Dominants exchanged smiles.
Damn them.
“Girl,” Jasira said. “Never be shamed by or afraid to express your needs. We all have them. To find someone who wants to receive what we want to give—it’s a blessing.”
At the sound of agreement from her slave, the Mistress smiled and ran her hand up and down his naked back. “You, my sweet slave, are my blessing, and I never forget that.”
Awww. At the sting in her eyes, Ray blinked hard.
Somehow, when she considered submission and kink, she hadn’t thought love was included. But the love between this Mistress and slave was plain for anyone to see.
“In Chains, red is the universal safeword. If he uses it, you stop the scene completely.” Drake pursed his lips thoughtfully. “However, he is a pain slut. I believe your arm will give out before he does.”
Head still down, Casper snickered.
Biting her lip, Ray went over to the table. One of Faj’s favorite proverbs was “The sooner begun, the sooner done.” She picked up a well-carved paddle of prettily-shined, lightweight pine. She slapped it against her hand to test how it felt.
Ow. It had a bite.
“Unless the goal is punishment, it’s best to warm up the play zone…
which is the meaty part of the buttocks from here to here.
” Jasira indicated a line from Casper’s upper buttocks to the lower cheeks.
She started rubbing and lightly spanking the designated area with her uninjured hand.
“Stay below the tailbone and inside the hip bones. The upper thighs are valid targets, but stick to his ass for now. When the area is a pretty pink, you know you’ve got a nice blood supply going. ”
Stepping back, she motioned for Ray to begin.
Ray felt her breathing speed up. Am I really going to hit this man? She couldn’t seem to move.
“Aralia.” Drake put an arm around her. “Being injured, Jasira hasn’t been able to give Casper this kind of pain—something he enjoys—and needs. You’ll be doing them both a favor.”
Right. She pulled in a hard breath and nodded.
“Stand to one side so you can swing easily,” Drake said, “and take light swats to check your positioning.”
“Got it.” Ray edged to the left of Casper’s butt, swung, landed an easy blow—and quickly checked his face. Had she hurt him?
Head turned so his Mistress couldn’t see, he rolled his eyes and mouthed: harder. Much harder.
Drake could see, and his cut-off laugh wasn’t nearly silent enough.
She shot him a dirty look, lined up, and gave Casper a firm swat. The sound was appalling, but his pleased sigh made up for it.
Okay then. Honestly, if she had to go to a two-handed swing, she was calling it all off.
“Very nice.” Drake pulled out a notebook and pad. “How does the paddle feel in your hand? How is the weight? Does it make you happy?”
By all the old gods in all the oceans. She hadn’t thought about anything except trying to strike Casper.
She glared at the Chains cop.
“Such a face, and no, you can’t gag me.” Drake’s dark eyes held laughter. “Answers, bébé.”
Ray growled under her breath. Hefting the paddle, she checked the balance and the feel. Her next swat hit Casper’s other cheek.
And he made a happy sound.
I don’t want to be the one hitting someone. Being the…the Top. Not comfortable! But Casper wants it so I’ll focus on making him happy. And checking out the paddles. Oh, right… “Um, the balance isn’t great. Minus two points. The curve of the blade is pleasing, but the weight feels too light, and…”
When she was finished with her evaluation, she picked up the next paddle in the line. It was black walnut—a lovely wood—and startlingly heavy.
Mouth firm, she settled down to deal out the swats and dictate her evaluations.
This is not what I thought I’d be doing this evening.
A while later, Drake helped Jasira unbuckle her slave. Casper’s ass was a nice red. And the way the masochist glowed with satisfaction was a delight to a Dom’s heart.
“Thank you both for helping with Ray’s lesson,” Drake said, with Ray murmuring her thanks as well.
“You’re quite welcome.” Jasira gripped Casper’s hair. “Come along, minion.” From her heightened color, she’d undoubtedly drag him to a quiet room and satisfy them both.
Since Drake had cleaned the paddles as used, they were ready to go again. However…
He considered the worry furrowing Ray’s brow. “You did a fine job with Casper. Tell me, did you enjoy giving out pain?”
She scowled. “No, not at all. Only…he loved it, and I liked seeing him smile. I’m so confused. Does this mean I’m a sadist?”
“You’re not a sadist, no.” At her relieved sigh, Drake grinned. Setting two fingers under her sweetly pointed chin, he kissed her lightly. “To give someone what they want, but not take pleasure in the pain, indicates you’re more of a service submissive. Making someone happy makes you happy.”
“Oh.” Her thoughtful expression was delightful. Smart submissives—hell, smart people—made his day.
“Now it’s your turn to be on the receiving end.” He ran a finger over his goatee, trying to decide how to phrase the next question. “So. Since for you to evaluate the feel of different paddles, I can simply duplicate what you did with Casper. However…”
“However what?”
“You aren’t a masochist, Ray Lanigan.” He slapped a paddle against his hand. “If I hit you with this, it will hurt, and I doubt you’ll enjoy it.”
“Oh.” Turning right and left, she studied the scenes around them—many with impact play. “Are all of those bottoms masochists?”
“No, bébé. At one end, some people hate pain—no matter what kind. At the opposite end, some need pain.” He motioned toward the scenes. “And many of those are in the middle.
“The middle.”
“Oui. Within a sexual context, pain and pleasure can be indistinguishable—and pain can heighten pleasure to a remarkable degree.” He studied her face. “I get the impression your previous experience with BDSM was limited?”
“It was.” She folded her arms around herself in a self-comforting motion.
It was a shame she didn’t trust him enough to let him wrap her in reassurance. Too soon. He could be patient.
After a moment, she added, “I tried bondage and D/s. Not pain.”
Whereupon her bondage experience had apparently turned into a nonconsensual assault of some kind.
Suppressing rage at the thought, he kept his voice soft.
“When it comes to spanking—especially with wooden paddles—most spankees who aren’t masochists either want a disciplinary type of scene for an emotional outlet or an erotic scene which may or may not end in physical release. ”
Her cheeks turned a pretty pink. “Oh. Um, huh.”
“Ray, it’s your choice which we will do.” He held up a finger for each option. “1: an uninvolved evaluation of each paddle. 2: a roleplay discipline scene. Or 3: an erotic paddling which would include being touched and aroused.”
“Touched, like last time?” She bit her lip. “That’d be extra work for you.”
So sweet. He moved closer and smiled into eyes the color found in high mountain lakes at the foot of a glacier. Wide eyes, right now. “Work is not the word I’d use. Touching you is a pleasure. One I’d like to enjoy again.”
Color rose in her cheeks, and she swayed toward him slightly. “Oh.”
“Ray. It’s your decision.” He paused before adding, “Until the scene begins. Then—within what we have negotiated—the decisions are mine. My preference is erotic. I would like to touch you…everywhere…with my hands. To put my fingers inside you. To arouse you.”
Her pupils dilated. Her lips parted. Then she took a step away and turned slightly so he couldn’t see her face.
He waited. It truly was her choice, and he’d do his best to give her what she wanted. He wasn’t her Dom so giving her what she needed instead wasn’t within his purview.