The last thing he placed in her hand was something leather. She could smell it even before he handed it to her. She felt it with her fingers, instantly identifying it as a glove. She wondered at its significance.
Marquis Gray took it from her and left her side again. When he returned, she heard him chuckling under his breath. Brie held out her hand, but he lifted her other hand and placed the item in both. She was worried when she felt something heavy that also smelled of leather. She caressed it with her fingers and a cold chill gripped her heart. One end was a hard handle, and the other had numerous leather tendrils. A flogger.
He leaned in close to her ear, his warm breath on her neck. “I am an expert at what I do. By the time I finish, you will be begging me for more.” She felt her loins contract in fear and excitement. She remembered how contented Lea had looked after spending time with Marquis. Maybe it would be enjoyable for her, too.
“Are you ready, pearl?”
“Yes, Marquis Gray.”
“No… I think for today’s session I would prefer that you call me Master.”
She remembered when she’d slipped up and called him Master in class. It had been embarrassing then, but now the name held power. She was almost afraid to call him by it. “Yes…” She paused, then added, “Master.”
“Good.” He took the flogger, and she heard him move the small chest beside her. She heard the thuds as he dropped the items back into it. “Put your hands behind your head.”
Brie crossed her hands behind her neck and he quickly bound her wrists together. She felt the ends of the long, silk ribbon tease the small of her back. Then she heard him slide something across the floor. “Kneel.” She slowly knelt down and felt the give of a mat beneath her. She held her back straight, her feet tucked under her ass.
“Do you realize how beautiful you are right now?” he murmured. “Black lace covering your eyes, the black silk cascading down your back from your wrists and those delectable nipples hard with anticipation for what is yet to come…”
He leaned in even closer and said, in a barely audible whisper, “Clark and Coen wanted to dismiss you after they learned of Thane’s breach of protocol last night.” Marquis Gray had given her a gift by confirming Sir’s first name, but the joy of that was tempered by the knowledge that all of the trainers knew the nature of her intimate encounter with Sir. He continued, “But Gallant and I don’t believe such obvious talent should suffer for Thane’s little indiscretion.” He moved to her other ear. “Prove those two wrong, my little pearl. Show them that you are more than Thane’s plaything.”
He stood up and said in a commanding voice, for everyone to hear, “Lean forward more.”
Brie did as she was told and held her breath while she waited for the sting of the flogger. Instead, Marquis Gray’s touch was light as he rubbed the lace against her skin. The roughness of it felt like a gentle scratch, and Brie relaxed. He rubbed her upper back just under the shoulder blades on both sides of her spine. When there was a pleasant warmness to the area, he began gently slapping her skin with the flat of his palm. It reminded her of a doctor tapping the vein just before the poke of a needle.
She sighed nervously. Her body was starting to tingle in anticipation of her first real flogging, but this wasn’t punishment. It was somehow sensual—a completely different animal.
She heard him rifle through the chest. “We are warming up, pearl. To make this a pleasurable experience, I need to get your endorphins flowing.” With that, she heard and felt the stinging slap of the leather glove. She gasped out of surprise, although it didn’t exactly hurt. “What is your color?” he asked.
Brie realized he was asking how she was doing and answered immediately, “Green.”
“Fine.” He brushed her hair to the side so he had free access to her back. His touch suddenly had a different feel. Her body was attuned to it, hungry for it.
He addressed the other girls when he spoke. “Never let an amateur practice flogging on you. It can be a harmful activity if a novice attempts it. Understand that there are only certain areas on the human body that can be flogged without causing damage. Choose an experienced Dom or have your Dominant study and practice on inanimate objects before he or she ever lays a hand on you. Am I making myself perfectly clear?”
The girls must have nodded because Marquis Gray turned his attention back to Brie, tracing a circle on her back before slapping the area with the glove. The tingling in her body increased as he continued to strike her with the glove with a constant, rhythmic pattern. It gave her body the chance to anticipate each hit, making the little electrical shockwaves of each contact more enjoyable.
“Color, pearl?” he said in a low, lustful tone.
“Green.”
“Are you ready for more?”
Her heart quickened. “Yes, Master.”
His baritone laugh caused her juices to flow. “Ah, I like hearing that word come out of your mouth.” She heard him discard the glove and assumed he was picking up the flogger. In her mind, it was a jet black one with fifty tails. She could just imagine how she looked, her hands still at her neck bound by the black silk, her eyes covered in lace, her chest panting rapidly, the skin on her back red from the leather. Then there was Marquis Gray, poised behind her, ready to lash her with the menacing-looking flogger. What were the other girls thinking? How did it make Sir feel?
Brie cleared her mind and readied herself for the first hit. She had thought she was ready, but she was not. The multiple tails hit the right side of her back with a loud thud, and she yelped.
“Color?” he asked.
“Yellow.”
“Perfect.” Her Dom stroked her hair with his free hand, causing a river of tender sensations. “Your endorphins are starting to flow now. Do you feel it?”
She nodded, hoping he would continue stroking her hair, but he pulled back and announced, “I am going to flog you on the other side now. Give in to the sensation. Embrace it.” She heard the movement in the air before she felt the impact. A loud thud echoed in her head. This time, she whimpered softly. Although his swing had been a little harder, it left her feeling warm.
“Color?”
“Yellowish green.”
He chuckled. “I think you are properly warmed up, pearl.”
He moved away from her and then the sound of Mozart suddenly filled the auditorium. He placed something in front of her and said, “Lean against it. You’ll need the support when you enter subspace.” She leaned her chest against what must have been a stool.
He stood behind her and said soothingly, “Enjoy the ride.”
She took a deep breath, feeling almost lightheaded. There was no fear, only excitement for what was about to happen. The rain of blows began in steady rhythm with the music. Each thud of contact sent waves of electricity through her body. The sensation started at the point of contact, but grew as it flowed through her. It reminded her of a drop of rain landing in still water. Tears of pleasure squeezed themselves through the blindfold as she let the music and sensations carry her.
Brie was disappointed when he stopped. He lightly brushed the curve of her neck with his fingers. She moaned softly at the intimate contact. Then he took the silk hanging from her wrists and teased her skin with the ends of it. She purred as the cool silk trailed over her warm back. Her whole body focused on the erotic feel of it.
“Color?” he growled lustfully. It was obvious from the tone of his voice that he found his role sexually exciting.
“Green, Master. Oh, so very green.”
“More then?”
“Please…”
She readjusted herself against the stool, biting her lower lip as she waited. The music had changed to a slower melody, and Marquis Gray adjusted his lashes accordingly. They were coming harder now, bringing with them jolts of electrical sensation. A tingling started in her toes, then slowly rose through her body until it seemed to burst from her head. She moaned in spiritual ecstasy. It was intense, like an orgasm.
&
nbsp; She was barely aware when he stopped and tried talking to her. Brie had to concentrate to make out his words. “Nod if you are still green.”
With great effort, she nodded slightly.
“Good, pearl. I think that is enough for your first time.”
Brie slowly shook her head.
“You are going to have to trust me that you’ve had enough.”
“Please, Master,” she managed to whisper.
He chuckled lustfully. “Begging for it, are we?”
A Cuddle & Dismissal
She heard him throw the flogger in the chest, and then he gently untied her wrists. She put them down, but her arms felt like foreign objects. Marquis Gray picked her up in his thin but deceptively strong arms and carried her from the stage. Instead of returning Brie to her seat, he carried her to the back of the auditorium, where she heard an assistant open a door.
He put her down on a soft bed and then lay beside her, pulling her close to him. She could feel the rigidness of his cock through his thick jeans as it rested against her buttocks. Marquis untied the blindfold, and she saw they were in a small room lit by soft candlelight. He used the lace of her blindfold to caress her skin, starting with her shoulder, moving over her breasts, lingering near her bellybutton. She lay there with her eyes closed in total bliss, focusing on the delicious sensation.
He nuzzled her neck as he let go of the lace and trailed his fingers to her bare mound. “Your pussy is gorgeous. Spread it open for me.” She did so without thinking.
His fingers swirled over her clit and she pressed against him, moaning softly. She felt his cock twitch in response. It didn’t take much before she was squirming against his hand, ready to come.
“Would you do another session of your own free will, pearl?”
“Of course,” she answered dreamily.
“What’s my name?”
“Master.”
He flicked her clit rapidly until she tensed. Her wet pussy pulsed rhythmically against his hand as her orgasm crashed over her. The pleasant feeling of the climax lingered long after it was over. She expected him to take her, but he didn’t move. She turned her head and whispered, “I would like to please you.”
Marquis frowned. “Copulating outside of the stage is not allowed for a trainer. That’s where Thane made his mistake.”
“But he runs the school. Can’t he bend his own rules?”
“Not if he wants this school to maintain its reputation.”
Brie turned to face him and gazed longingly into his dark eyes. “I won’t tell. I want to please you.”
He turned her back around and pressed up against her. “No. Not tonight.”
Brie started to shiver uncontrollably. Marquis Gray wrapped his arms tighter around her. “Why I am so cold?” she asked, snuggling closer to him.
“You’re coming down from the high. It’s a natural part of the experience.” He nuzzled her neck again. Brie felt completely safe in his arms. She would never have suspected the frightening ghost-man had such a soft side to him.
The door opened and Sir entered the room. Brie looked up at him dreamily and smiled, forgetting that she was naked, all cuddled up in Marquis Gray’s arms. He averted his eyes and spoke to Marquis. “The panel is ready to explain tomorrow’s auction to the group.”
“She still has another fifteen minutes or so. Don’t worry. I’ll explain it to her.”
Sir nodded and left the room, slowly closing the door behind him. If she hadn’t been so relaxed, Brie might have worried about the expression on his face. But the way she was feeling, nothing could touch her bliss. “What about the auction?”
“Tomorrow the three of you will meet in the commons, where a short auction will be held. The Doms in attendance have been apprised of your fantasy and the Dom with the winning bid will act it out with you.”
“What fantasy?”
“The one you wrote in your journal today.”
Brie shook her head. “What? I thought that was private.”
He growled in her ear, “What better way to introduce you to the submissive lifestyle than to have your most cherished fantasy lived out in real life?”
Delightful tremors coursed through her. “I never thought of experiencing it in real life.”
“You are in for quite an experience. The Dom who wins the bid will take you to his place of residence and play with you throughout the day. Afterwards, he will return you to the school for a short debriefing.”
She turned to him again. “I’m going to leave the school?”
“Of course. We want you to have a real-life experience. Every Saturday you will spend time with a different Dom, living out your fantasies or his.”
Brie shivered again at the chill attacking her body. She nestled into Marquis’ embrace, needing his warmth. “Is there anything special I should do?”
“Remember what you have been taught. The Doms understand that you have had only three days of training.”
“It sounds like tomorrow will be an interesting day.” She sighed gleefully.
“I promise it will be an eye-opener for you.”
“Can trainers bid?” she asked, half joking.
“No, but I’m curious. Who would you choose?” he growled in her ear.
“You and Sir for a little DP.”
He snorted. “Will never happen, I guarantee it.”
“Why not?”
“Never mind why not.” He moved away from her, gathering Brie’s clothes from a chair and handing them to her. “Get dressed. You’ll have a long day tomorrow.”
She knew she had said something wrong, but was too content to question him further. She slipped on her hose and skirt, then asked Marquis for help when she couldn’t get her corset tight enough. “Sting said I should wear it tighter.”
He came over to her and helped her with the ties, almost taking her breath away when he pulled the cords. “Yes,” she squeaked, “that’s good.”
“Do you do everything we suggest?”
“Of course—that’s why I’m here, isn’t it?”
“A natural sub through and through.” He tucked a curl behind her ear before opening the door to the auditorium.
Their private time was over and his countenance instantly changed. He returned to being distant and menacing. She walked away from him, feeling a little shell-shocked by the change in him after their tender moment together.
Brie could see that the other girls were getting set to leave. Lea looked in her direction and gave her a thumbs-up. She returned it with a little grin. Mary completely ignored her, standing up to leave with a self-satisfied look on her face.
“Miss Wilson and Ms. Taylor, remember to get here early. The auction starts promptly at three in the afternoon, and you will return here at eleven for an hour-long debriefing. Get plenty of sleep. You should be fully rested for tomorrow’s event,” Mr. Gallant encouraged.
Brie wondered what he was doing there. Were they planning to kick her out of the program tonight? The possibility frightened her.
Ms. Clark confirmed her worst fears when she stated, “Miss Bennett, you will stay after class.”
Lea looked her way and put her hands together in a sign of prayer before she left. Mary smiled knowingly and sauntered out of the auditorium as if she owned the place.
Brie looked at the ground to appease Ms. Clark and asked, “Where would you like me to sit?”
“You are expected to stand before the panel,” the Dominatrix ordered.
She walked before them, her heart beating wildly. To find her calling and then have it snatched from her seemed incredibly unfair. She wasn’t going to stand for it!
Brie looked up and stared each of them in the eye. “I have done nothing wrong. You have no reason to expel me from the Training Center.” Brie looked down once she had finished speaking, but not before she noticed the look of disgust on Ms. Clark’s face.
“You have been called here tonight because of Mr. Davis’ indiscretion. In the twenty-five years this
school has been running, we have never had such a breach of decorum,” Mr. Gallant informed her. “Such an act threatens the integrity of the program.”
“It was my mistake,” Sir asserted. “Miss Bennett should not be made to pay.”
Master Coen sounded displeased and snapped, “Maybe you should resign as headmaster.”
“If you feel it is necessary.”
Ms. Clark interjected, “We cannot afford to lose Mr. Davis. The school has been extremely successful under his leadership. I say the sub must go!”
“Miss Bennett shows promise,” Marquis Gray said with conviction. “It would be irresponsible for this school to allow her talent to be wasted because of a trainer’s misstep.”
Master Coen countered, “I have reason to suspect you have also fallen under the spell of this student. I believe she is a detriment to the school, not an asset.”
“How can grown men talk about this woman as if she has mystical powers?” Mr. Gallant asked. “Miss Bennett is a hardworking, dedicated student who has done nothing but attempt to meet our rigorous standards. If we have trainers who lack restraint, that does not reflect badly on her. Miss Bennett is not the one to blame in this situation.”
“Which brings me back to my original suggestion,” Master Coen stated. “I believe Thane should step down as headmaster.”
There were several grunts on the panel. Brie could stay silent no longer. “Do I have permission to speak?”
Several of the Doms answered at the same time. Most were yes, but one or two voices said no. Sir answered for them all. “Yes, Miss Bennett.”
She looked him in the eye, willing herself not to cry. “I refuse to be the reason you resign from this school. As much as I want my training to continue, it is not worth that.” She held her head up and announced to the panel, “I willingly quit the program.” She turned away from them and started towards the door.
You can cry later, she reminded herself. She heard furious whispering behind her. Before she made it to the door, Master Coen called out, “Return before the panel, Miss Bennett.”
She held her breath as she walked back to them.