Chapter 12
Twelve
Laci had been to several community events since Eric had begun to stay at the house, and she’d enjoyed them all, especially the sex-themed ones. She wasn’t sure if it was the artist in her that loved to watch people at various moments of vulnerability or if she was just a kinky little freak.
She’d gotten some new outfits. Eric had taken her shopping at a couple of exclusive boutiques in the city.
She’d been hesitant to try things on, until she started.
And he was right. She wasn’t going to wear the outfits she’d worn for Colin out to community parties, so she needed to update her wardrobe.
It was fun to shop with Eric because he had strong opinions and took it all seriously, which made teasing him irresistible. In public, surrounded by vanilla salespeople and shoppers, he couldn’t flip up her skirt and spank her bottom, so she could be as sarcastic as she liked.
Of course they had to come home eventually, as they just had from their latest trip to the city.
“I know we have dinner out tonight, but we missed lunch. Want me to make us some egg and avocado sandwiches?” she asked sweetly.
“No. Go upstairs and hang up your new clothes, then meet me in my room.”
“Why, Sir?” she asked lightly. Eric did not normally punish her in either of the bedrooms. It was by unspoken agreement since they didn’t let the punishments turn sexual.
He cocked a brow. “Now it’s Sir? For you to use that word without prompting means you know why.”
“I was just teasing. You smiled and joked with me. You can’t pretend you’re mad.”
“I never fake emotions.”
“So, are you mad?” she asked.
“No,” he said.
“Then why do I need to meet you in your room?”
“Because you argued with me in public and put back the red dress after I told you to get it.”
“For the last time, that wasn’t a dress! I’m five-three. If something barely covers my butt, it’s not a dress. It’s a tall girl’s shirt.”
“When it comes to attire, the master’s opinion always trumps the submissive’s. I wouldn’t be taking my responsibility to take you in hand seriously if I let you get away with ignoring my commands in public.”
“But you’re only supposed to be in charge of me here in this house.”
“No. Anywhere I take you, I’m in charge.”
“Is that in the agreement?” she challenged.
“It’s implied.”
“Well I didn’t know that. I teased you when we were at Saks and you didn’t punish me when we got home.”
“At Saks, you did everything I told you to do.”
She tapped her foot absently, nervously. “I don’t know that I’m actually going to stay a submissive when this agreement is over.”
The corner of Eric’s mouth curved up. “I’d love to see you after a month in a vanilla relationship.”
She pursed her lips. “Why? I can take charge of my own life. I don’t have to have someone telling me what to do and wear. Especially not someone who doesn’t know the difference between a dress and a shirt!”
He smirked.
“Admit it. I’m barely a submissive now.”
“Laci,” Eric said, shaking his head.
“What?” she snapped.
“Half the time the only reason you fight and misbehave is because you want me to force you into submission.”
Her cheeks heated. “That’s not true,” she said, but she thought it might be.
“Go hang up your clothes before I change your punishment to include the cane. You know if I use that, you won’t be able to sit down through dinner and people will guess why.”
She grabbed the hanging bag of new clothes and marched up the stairs. When she finished putting them away, she stood in the closet, chewing on her lip. Why did he need her to come into the guest room for this punishment? And why—
“That’s enough time. Come in here,” Eric called.
She pursed her lips and scowled. He was so ridiculously heavy-handed. She’d never actually officially agreed that he was her master in all things. He was just supposed to keep her in line when it came to her health, not her—
“Laci! Right now!”
She jumped and then rushed out of the room. She did not want to be caned on the night of a dinner party. Or ever. The cane hurt too much.
She entered the guest room. Eric stood next to a box on the dresser. Curious, she started toward him, but he held out a hand.
“Take off your clothes and lie on the bed.”
She sucked in a breath. Was he going to make sex part of her punishment? If so, would she use her safeword? Yes, of course, she would. Only maybe not right away, because she wanted to know what he had planned.
She stripped out of her shirt and skirt. She was used to taking her punishments with her panties pulled down or off, but she wasn’t usually completely topless. She left her bra and panties on.
“I’ll take the panties off right when the punishment starts.”
“You’ll take them off now because I said so.”
She felt like she’d stuck her face in a fireplace and flames were licking her cheeks.
She gave him a rebellious look, but pushed her panties down over her hips and let them drop all the way to the floor.
She interlaced her fingers and lowered her clasped hands to block his few of her pussy.
She wasn’t sure why she felt the need. Maybe it was because usually he was behind her and saw her bare bottom, but not the rest of her. Normally Eric didn’t inspect her.
“Shy?” he asked.
“No,” she said.
“Then take off your bra and put your hands on the back of your neck.”
She swallowed against her dry throat. “Tell me why.”
“Because you need to remember what you are, and this will help remind you.”
She shivered, but unclasped her bra and then when she was topless put her hands behind her head.
Colin had inspected her often. He’d studied every inch of her, but the way he’d been while doing it was totally different.
His voice had been sweet and cajoling, like he was sweet- talking her into it.
Of course, if he’d found something that wasn’t to his liking she’d end up punished for it, but there was never harshness to anything.
Eric had a way of making her feel like theirs was a battle of wills. One that she had no chance of winning. Her heart thumped in her chest and her shivering worsened. She was cold, which made her nipples tight points.
Eric looked her over.
“I let the hair grow out,” she said. It was silly to say that since he could plainly see that she had hair between her legs.
Eric nodded.
“Do you let your girlfriends keep some hair down there? Or do you make them shave?”
“What girlfriends?” Eric said, crooking a finger.
“You must have girlfriends.”
“These days, I have play partners and pets. I haven’t had girlfriends since right after college.”
“How about your pets? Bare?”
“Usually.”
“I’ll make an appointment to be waxed,” she said, not sure why it suddenly felt important to do that.
“No.”
“How come?”
“Because I like the way that looks. Dark hair against fair skin. Also, you’re not a doll anymore. Your pussy doesn’t have to be bare.”
She shrugged, not sure what to say to that. She couldn’t object to him saying that, since she’d been the one to stop grooming herself the way Colin had liked.
“Lie down and put these inside you,” he said, holding out a pair of smoky gray glass balls on a string.
“Where?” she asked, taking a step back. She’d never put things inside herself. That had been strictly Colin’s domain.
“They’re Ben Wa,” he said.
“Ben what?”
He smiled. “They go in front. You’re going to hold them inside while I punish you.”
“Why?”
“A million questions always,” he said, amused. “You might make a good kitten some day. You’re certainly curious enough.”
She sighed and took the balls from him. They were slightly slippery with lube and felt heavy in her hand. Would they just fall out?
As if he could read her mind, he said, “If you let them slip out, the paddle gets swapped for the cane.”
“I don’t see the point of this,” she said, frowning at him. Suddenly impatient to get it over with, she sat on the bed and scooted back. She laid back on the bed, aware of his dark blue gaze on her. If they’d been having sex would he have put them inside her? She’d never know.
She pushed the balls in one at a time, leaving the end of the string with its small weight outside. The balls inside were a little heavy, but not too large. She could feel them, which was kind of sexy and nice. She never bothered with toys normally, so it was a special level of sexual stimulation.
“Good girl. Now come over here.”
She got up and stood very carefully. She had to tighten her muscles and that made the sensation inside her stronger. Her heart beat more quickly. This would make it hard to concentrate on keeping it together during the punishment.
“Hands on top of the dresser and arch your back. That’s it, push that pretty ass out, offering it for punishment.”
She swallowed. She wasn’t exactly offering. He was making her do this.
“Legs a little farther apart.”
“I can’t!” she said.
“Yes, you can,” he said, tapping her cheek with the edge of the paddle.
She inched her feet apart very carefully, tightening all her inner muscles to hold the balls in place.
“Just like that. See what a good, obedient girl you can be when you put your mind to it?”
She wanted to contradict him, but she couldn’t afford to get distracted.
“Brace yourself, Lace. It’s time to start.”
She took a breath, glad he’d warned her.
The paddle landed with its usually hard thump. The balls inside her shifted and vibrated, sending a shockwave of pleasure through her with the pain. The combined sensations were so startling her knees almost buckled.
“Oh my God,” she said with a gasp. “Eric—I—”
The blows kept coming, and the heat engulfed her from buttocks to clit. She clenched and wiggled, her breasts swaying and wobbling like she was having sex.
She panted and moaned, her arms shaking from the effort of keeping herself steady. She lowered her head to rest it against the dresser, just trying to hold on.
Eric paused.
“Let me lie down for the rest,” she pleaded, sucking in air.
“Why?” he asked.
“Please?”