The rest of the drive passed mostly in silence. I felt Bettie making small circles on the back of my hand with her thumb, and it made things low in my body tighten.



I was settled back in my seat, blindfolded, riding in silence to a severely new experience with a woman for whom, up until a few minutes ago, my fear had been stronger than any other emotion, and I felt great; confused, but great. I felt a glib comment begin to well up in my throat and quelled it reminding myself of the rules of the game. Speak only when spoken too, and even then make it respectful. I had also gathered that some masters frowned on direct eye contact, but I had no idea how Bettie's other rules ran.

I realized the only way to find out would be to ask, but I couldn't ask without breaking the rules, and I didn't want to break the rules. Being good was the least I could do after the vulnerability she had shown me. But what if there was a rule I didn't know and couldn't ask about? My chest tightened and I started to breathe faster. I was not going to have a panic attack over something as simple as this, or was I? Just as I was about to think seriously about hyperventilating, Bettie saved me.

"What is it my slave?" Her voice was gentle and I could sense her leaning closer. My chest relaxed and I tried to word my questions quickly and clearly.

"Mistress, I don't know your rules, am I supposed to look you in the eye? What if I come up against something and I don't know what to do but I can't ask?" The words tumbled from my mouth, trying to leap over one another in order to be heard. "What if I don't know what to do and do something wrong, I don't want to-"

"Shh, shh my pet, it's Ok." Bettie soothed the words away with her fingertip and I fell silent waiting to hear what she had to say. "I will let you know when you may look me in the eye, either by gesture or by word, if there are other rules that come up, I will tell you. If you find yourself in a situation where not knowing what to do is causing you fear or discomfort, such as just now, you may stop what you are doing and quietly say 'Mistress' then you are to wait for me to respond. Do you understand?"

I nodded my head. "Yes Mistress." I whispered.

"Good, now settle back and just relax, we'll be there soon and then the fun will begin."

True to her word we arrived quickly and again she made me keep the blindfold on and led me from the car to the door. Her directions for where to put my feet and when to step up filled me with a sense of safety and the fact that she kept a firm grip on my hand filled me with something I couldn't identify. It wasn't lust or love, but something else entirely. I followed her lead and tried to poke this new emotion with my mind, but it was elusive, obvious only when I relaxed and just went with it.

We arrived in the foyer of the mansion and I could tell by the smell, woody like it was made entirely of cedar. I remembered thinking the smell was just there because it belonged, and this time, blinded and moving under another's direction, the feeling was stronger. I could feel a soft hush in the room, like age settled over antiquity. This room held so many stories, and from behind the blindfold I could feel them caressing my skin like old lovers and new.

Bettie stopped me and took me by the shoulders. "I am going to remove your blindfold now slave. Don't worry, I'll be right here, and when it comes off your eyes, you'll see me. You can look me in the eyes for the moment. Are you ready?"

I hesitated. "Please Mistress, I- I think it helps me relax, may I keep it on?" Even as I said it I realized how true it was. I didn't want to have to see. I wanted to continue in the dark and just feel, but it was not to be.

"I'm afraid not my slave. While I don't need to explain myself to you, I'll tell you my reasons because this seems so important. First, the stairs are too narrow for me to feel safe navigating you down them with the blindfold on. And second, you need to understand what it's like to be my slave while you can see your surroundings. I want you to see the world from your new point of view. I think you'll understand, but if you don't, you can ask in the morning, when you are again your own. Now once again, are you ready?"

I wasn't sure I was, but I nodded anyway and steeled myself. I felt her fingers on my temples; again, uncharacteristically gentle for the old mental image I had of her. She slowly lifted the blindfold from my eyes and true to her word, she was there. Her eyes were probing as she searched mine. I let myself melt into that gaze and tried to show her the trust I was feeling. A small smile lifted her lips and I think she saw something more in my eyes that I meant to show. When she was sure I wasn't going to stumble she straightened and took my leash in hand.

"Come, slave." And she led the way back through the library, down the hidden staircase, and back into the maelstrom that was the club.

______________________

When we reached the floor, she turned and I looked down, studying her pointed boots to avoid accidental eye contact. "Kneel slave." Her voice was full of command and it was a voice used to being obeyed. I did so with only the slightest hesitation. I knelt with my hands on my thighs and my eyes on the leash that dangled from her hand to my collar. "Hands behind your back." I complied instantly this time and she made a pleased noise above me. I swelled, happy to have done well. I was startled to realize that it was more than my ego that swelled.

"Well done slave, while we move about the room I will allow you to stand and walk, but when I stop for any reason, you will kneel to me in this position. Do you understand?" I nodded and she gently tugged my collar. "Good, now up. I want a drink. And I want to show you off a bit."

I stood in one fluid motion and out of the corner of my eye I saw her eyes widen. I concealed a smile of pleasure, but just barely.

We made our way through the crowd slowly, and it was an entirely different experience from the end of the leash. No one spoke to me or in any way acknowledged my existence, at least not to me directly. I was, however, aware of eyes on me in a way I had never before experienced. If I had thought I was being appraised last night, it was nothing like tonight. I was on display, and in these tight clothes, everything I had was up for observation. My first thought startled me; I hoped I was looking good enough for Bettie. My second thought, though not necessarily startling, did make me blush. I had always enjoyed a certain amount attention, and this attention was of a decidedly heated nature. I could feel myself responding and began to wonder whether my rising erection or the soft leather of my pants would win the battle. I was glad I kept myself mostly shaved, because I could just imagine the pain of trying to push between the skintight leather and pubic hair. I shifted my hips and tugged the waistband enough to allow my dick to straighten out and stop poking myself in the thigh.

We arrived at the bar and when I didn't kneel immediately, Bettie tugged sharply down on my leash. I caught the hint and went down as smoothly as I had risen, my face passing within inches of her breast on the way down. I ended admiring the side of her thigh, but when she finished ordering her drink she turned to slouch on the bar and I was suddenly face to face with her crotch. I kept my eyes low, but there was no mistaking the actual heat I could feel rising from her. I caught a faint scent of arousal, but in this club I couldn't tell where it was coming from. She shifted slightly and the slit in her skirt shifted with her. I caught the barest flash of thigh and felt the heat rise in my cheeks. I heard her laugh and felt her hand on the back of my head as she pressed my face to her thigh. I lay my cheek along that slit and felt the heat from her skin coming through the silk. I knew she was playing with me and I planned to enjoy every minute of it.

Someone stepped up to the bar next to Bettie, and she pressed my face further between her legs, so my eyes were hidden between her thighs. I felt her sharp intake of breath as I exhaled, hot and hard between her legs, but she didn't let me out to see who it was. I could hear a feminine voice, muffled by her hand, but that was all, so I amused myself with my position. I took the continued pressure on the back of my head as permission to explore, and pressed my nose to the cleft between her legs. She shuddered softly against me, and her hips thrust into my face. I felt the seam of her wrap catch against my skin, and it took the slightest twitch to catch the edge with my nose. I could hear her trying to maintain a steady conversation as she felt my bare skin touch her inner thigh, but a second later my ears filled with the roaring of my own blood; she shifted her hips again and suddenly my head was wrapped in her skirt and I was presented with the bare shaven fact that she wore no underwear. I was surrounded by the smell of her arousal and the only thought on my mind was to feel her shuddering against me. I kissed her thigh again and this time let my tongue trail the short distance to the taut tendon between leg and pubis.

I bit, lightly at first, but when she clenched her hand in my hair and pressed, I bit deeply. I could taste the warm salty flavor of her skin as I sucked tight flesh between my teeth and marked it. I couldn't see in the darkness, but I knew the bite would leave bruises. I kissed that beautiful tendon again and then kissed the edge of her labia. She was smooth and soft under my mouth and I was soon licking my way up the seam between her outer lips until I could catch the nub of her clit between my lips.

I spread her with my tongue and lashed her clit with my mouth. At first I was gentle, as though licking honey from the wings of a butterfly, but remembering her reaction to my teeth I thrummed my lips against her and felt her vibrate under my touch. My hands were still trapped behind me and I could no more bring them under her skirt without permission than I could have stopped breathing, so I was encouraged to get creative. When I felt her become used to my beating tongue, I caught her lips between my teeth and bit, softly this time, but firmly. I heard a catch in her muffled conversation and nipped my way back up her quivering mound until I was again sucking and toying with her clit.

Her movements began to take on urgency, and I renewed my attack. I caught my tongue between her hood and clit, pressed down and then up so that with each motion of my tongue her stomach contracted. I was barely breathing so intense was my concentration on her pleasure, and just when I thought I had somehow failed, she clenched her hand into a fist and rode my face where she stood. I heard her moan above the roaring in my ears and continued with my stimulation while she pressed herself to me and convulsed. Her fist nearly ripped the hair from my head, but I barely noticed as she finally slumped against the bar and pulled my head from between her legs.

"Good...good slave, that was very good. Now let me rest for a moment. Just sit there while I catch my breath." I kept my face to her thighs and looked down so she couldn't have seen the pleased grin on my face, but I tried to sigh happily so she would know I had enjoyed the experience as well.

"Well well, it looks like you are adjusting well to holding the whip. Perhaps this one will prove more interesting than my last." I felt Bettie stiffen next to me and risked a sideways glance at the new visitor. It was a man I had seen the previous night, he had been one of the few who had made me feel like meat when he checked me out. His goatee and snide voice reminded me of the way I had last seen him, bound to a cross and daring the whip bearer to make him flinch.

"Hello Rogue, I thought Devon told you to keep your distance." I heard the pain in her voice and restrained myself from going for his throat. This, then, must be the Master who had so ill-treated her before. Where moments before my blood had been at a high sexual boil, I suddenly found myself seeing red and ready to go for this one's throat. But I was on the leash tonight, and I resolved to be good for her, and to make her look good in front of this cad.

"He said I was to release your leash, he never said anything about a friendly word or three over a drink. Tell me Bettie, has he been properly broken in yet? Would you like a hand?" I bristled at his words. Where before I had merely felt protective towards my Mistress, now, at the tone in his voice I feared for my own safety. I stared at his polished cowboy boots and wished I could make them burst into flame. I considered attempting to bite his dick off, but somehow that didn't seem well behaved to me, and I could feel the leash digging into my throat as if Bettie could sense my anger and was sending me a silent signal to be calm. I turned completely away from Rogue and buried my face in her crotch. This time it was more for comfort that sexual stimulus, but the moment I smelled her arousal I was again distracted from the world and tried to tell her by gently rubbing against her thigh with my face.

She released my hair and began to stroke my face, softly brushing the hair back over my ear and running her thumb along the line of my jaw. Her voice, however, was cold as ice. "That may be true, but these days I can choose my own company, and I think I see a few enemies I'd like to get reacquainted with. Enjoy your drink."

With that she turned on her heel and pulled me to my feet. I rose and followed behind her as she cut through the crowd. About halfway across the room we stopped for no apparent reason. When she came to a full stop I started to kneel, but she stopped me with a gentle hand under my chin. "No slave, come to me, hold me. He was the last person I wanted to speak to tonight, and his timing was particularly, invasive." She lifted my face until I could see the sad smile in her eyes. "Hold me slave, right now I want the comfort of arms that I can trust."

Without a word, I enfolded her in my arms. My leash dropped to hang between us and I held her tight. Her head came to rest on my shoulder and I could feel her body tremble as the tears broke through that hardened surface. These tears had been a long time in the coming, and when I tightened my arms around her, she slumped fully against me and began to weep in earnest. My heart pounded with sympathy but I could do nothing but lift one hand to lightly caress her hair and whisper softly, "It's Ok, let it go. I'm right here, it's Ok." She pressed on my body enough that we stumbled back until I had a pillar against my back and she was pressed against me so firmly it felt like she was trying to hide inside my skin.

Her tears and the sobs went on while I held her and tried to give her whatever love she would take. Soon her shoulders began to relax and her cries softened to little mewls, and then to silence. For a bit longer she just relaxed into my body, her head slumped until it rested on my chest, and I had my chin resting on the top of her head. I brushed the back of her neck softly with my fingers and kept my breathing slow and gentle so she would have a calm heartbeat to listen to.

My slow breathing was no help though when I felt the back of her hand brush along the length of my side and continue down my leg to trace its way back up my inner thigh. I stopped breathing for a moment and only began again when she whispered in my ear. "Tell me I'm beautiful, take the hurt out of his lies!" The last hissed between clenched teeth as her fists balled at my sides. "Make me believe I'm not just his ugly whore any more, please." It was the pleading in her voice that finally broke the spell that held me and I pulled her to me tighter still.

"Bettie, Mistress, even before I saw you in the shower this morning," Had it only been this morning? "I couldn't believe how beautiful you were. I thought I'd never get close enough to talk to you because you were so beautiful. You have a strength about you that is all your own, and no one, No-One could ever turn you into a whore. Today I saw a gentleness that I had no idea existed in the world, much less in your heart. You have been kind to me since you learned my name and I will never forget this night; never." I pressed my lips to her forehead and let her feel the tremble in my lips. "You hold the light of the sun in your eyes and the beauty of the moon in your skin."

I waxed poetic, and then, because I still couldn't think of the right thing to say, "I have wanted to do this since I saw you outside the club, and once will never be enough." I gathered her hair in my hand and pulled her face to me. Our lips met in a bruising collision of passion and desperation. Her lips tried to devour mine and mine hers in turn. Our tongues danced and twined in an attempt to communicate like no words ever could.

I came up for air when I felt her skip anything resembling foreplay and yank my pants open in one frantic motion. I sprang free hard and ready and she wasted no time spreading her skirt and mounting me right there against the pillar.

The music pounded around us, Garbage pealed from hidden speakers everywhere and I could feel it in my blood as Bettie flexed her hips against mine and used her knees against the pillar to lift herself nearly free before falling back to engulf me in her heat. One arm she wrapped around my neck and the other she braced against the pillar. He moans came quick and fast in my ear as she rode me to the beat of the music.

I lifted on my toes and pressed into her as deeply as her grip on me would allow. She gasped as I bottomed out and then threw her head back and screamed to the night. I felt her coming around me, but neither of us was ready to stop. She quickened her tempo and I felt her tighten around me, swollen from one orgasm, and another swiftly following on its tail. Her muscles wrapped around my length like no fingers ever could and I gasped and sunk my teeth into her neck as she came down hard against my pelvis.

Our inarticulate cries of pleasure joined with the music and something with a furious beat came through the speakers, spurring us on to greater heights. I could feel her getting close and the pressure began to build inside me. Things in my groin tightened and spasmed as we neared peaks of pleasure I had previously only read about.

Her desperation metamorphosed to determination and she wrapped both hands around my neck. Her lips sealed to mine and again our tongues twined and our breath became one. She moaned into my lungs and I breathed her arousal back into her. We became a closed cycle of rising lust and I felt something in the pillar behind me crack as we broke the lip-lock and cried out in unison. She came screaming and I joined her, feeling the pulsing burn through my entire body as I tried to hammer a hole through her back with my thrusts.

Eventually we slowed and came back to the world amid the sound of applause. We had gathered a crowd and they had obviously enjoyed the show. Bettie dismounted and I let her feet down until they touched the ground. Her skirt fell back into place and she slipped my softening cock, wet with our combined juices back into my pants with a pat. The zipper had miraculously survived her abrupt opening, but the snap was gone; the pants gaped a bit just under my shirt. I was so beyond worrying about it.

Bettie turned, grasped my hand, and showing remarkable aplomb, bowed. I followed her lead and the applause rose for a moment, accompanied by laughter and a few catcalls. Then the crowd dispersed and we were left nearly alone. I guessed that while we may have made a pretty hot show, it was not the most explicit scene they had seen in these rarified circles. I broke the rules and looked Bettie in the eye for a moment, what I saw there was reassuring; she smiled, and meant it. I got a quick hug, and then felt her pressure on my shoulder as I was silently directed back to my knees.

This time the voices that joined us were familiar and I was unsure how to react. RG, Raven and Rose greeted Bettie and congratulated her on her good luck. I blushed and kept my eyes on the ground. It hadn't occured to me that I would end up near people I knew while I was Bettie's slave, and my first reaction was to try and hide behind her legs. The leash caught me before I could make good my get-away, but Bettie reached down and ran her fingers through my hair, soothing me and making it all OK. I leaned my cheek against her thigh and curled my body around her legs, there was safety in this position and I felt calm enough to listen in on their conversation after a minute or two. They were talking about me.

"So how is he working out?" RG asked. His voice was light, curious without being too pressing.

"So far, very well. I don't want to go into too much detail before the night is over, he should get to hear the whole critique in private first. That and I kind of like the way things are progressing so far, I don't want to change things by pointing out differences between him and others I've been with." Bettie's voice was even and she leaned over to plant a kiss on the top of my head. I purred under my breath and closed my eyes so I could feel the silk against my cheek that much better.

"Tact? Out of you Bettie? You must be enamored." Raven sounded shocked when he spoke. I heard Rose whisper something to him but couldn't quite make it out. Raven laughed and told Rose he was just having a bit of fun.

They all fell to talking and the subject shifted as it usually does in conversation. I peeked around the corners of Bettie's skirt and watched them interact. Raven was stiff, almost like a caricature of ye olde British, but there was that grace about him that said it was all an adopted pose to make himself more acceptable. Rose was silent as ever, dressed in a peasant blouse and one of those skirts that make you want to watch in case she walks in front of a light. RG was jovial and irreverent. I heard the conversation turn to his crisis for a moment and listened carefully, I was still curious to find out how his date had turned out.

"So I decided to go through with it." He was saying. "I got all psyched up and we met at the Secret Garden, it's a posh restaurant chosen specifically because none of you know the place, and don't bother asking. I'm keeping it secret for a reason!" He laughed, lit a cigarette and continued.

"The girl showed up on time, her name by the way is Allyson, not that I'll be introducing you lot to her. I know how you operate and I want this one all for myself." He laughed again and drinks arrived in the form of a waitress dressed, at least from my point of view, in nothing but fishnet. Bettie offered me one, but I shook my head, I wanted to stay as clear headed for the night as possible.

Finally RG continued. "Where was I? Oh of course, so there I was being classically conflicted over my urges and in walks Alyssa, she was wearing this slinky black dress that left very little to the imagination and for a moment I thought my libido would win out over my intellectual interest, but then she sat down and her purse spilled on the floor. Out spills Foucault's Pendulum, you know, by Umberto Eco? So we start talking about Eco, and then about books in general, and before I know it, it's three in the morning and the restaurant owner is sitting in the corner smoking a cigarette and shooting us dirty looks. We left and she invited me over to her house for a drink, so we could finish the conversation."

"Oh, of course." Interjected Raven. I think RG hit him in the shoulder, but I could only hear, as I was busy nuzzling Bettie's thigh by then.

"If I may continue?" RG paused as if to let Raven try for another, and then he went on. "We adjourned to her home and the conversation continued until the sun was at least thinking about rising for the day. I had it in mind to make a point of not taking advantage of her rather under slept state when she looked at the clock and evicted me!" He huffed.

"She said I had to go and shuffled me out the door with a promise to meet me again tonight. Actually, I should most likely be on my way in a moment. However you must see my dilemma. She is by far the most beautiful woman I have spent the night with, and yet..." He trailed off and Francis arrived in a cloud of giggles.

"Still caught in her web of intrigue are you? Best you fly before the light of day chases her away." Francis was almost coherent tonight. He must have had something on his mind.

"And on that note I shall take my leave of you dear ladies." He kissed Bettie and Rose on the hand and passed into the crowds.

Francis cavorted causing the voluminous cloak he wore to swirl around him like a dark cyclone. "And how have we all been? Raven? Are you behaving yourself? Not standing to close to the storm today I hope. Rose, when will you blossom my dear, it can't be winter forever." He danced closer to us. "Bettie, and pet. How are you handling yourself my dear? I hear you made quite a spectacle of yourselves this eve. Brava!" He clapped and looked to be making his getaway when he turned and asked permission to address me. Apparently even he was not immune to the rules of the club. Bettie allowed that he could and he dropped to one knee in front of me.

"Your night has just begun lad, it may seem to be all fun and games now, but just wait. There is much to be learned this night if you watch and listen. Much can be gained. And in your case, there is someone else who wishes to bend your ear." He rose and danced away, his last words filtered back through the music. "But it's not for me on bended knee!" And with that he was gone.