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Stranger Than Truth Ch. 01

By: dweaver999



Prologue:

Valerie Burbon and Sally Thatcher walked into the house they shared with Francine Traline. It was three weeks since their hand fasting ceremony and sally had been given a ride to and from work by Valerie since Sally's car was in the shop. Francine was sitting at the table that served as dining room table and general do what ever you want desk. The smile on her face was the biggest they had seen since the safe word incident so recently, yet so long ago.

"Francine? What's the occasion?" asked Valerie.

"Val, Sally, I've got good news."

Sally, in mock seriousness, demanded, "Well, don't keep us in suspence. Speak, lady."

She held up a small rectangular piece of paper. Valerie looked close and gasped when she recognized what it was. "Francine! That's a check for 1.5 million dollars!"

Sally was no less shocked. "It's from Hellfire Pictures. Why is a movie studio giving you that much money?"

Francine smiled. "They bought my house. The deal closed this afternoon and they cut the check right there. Now we can pay Fred and Daphne for the house and take possession of the title. Now, I know that my lawyer insisted you sign contracts to pay me back for your shares of the house, but I don't want to see a cent from either of you. I intend to give you two the house as a gift."

Valerie gasped. "Francine, you can't..."

"Oh yes I can. I will have over a million left from the sale of my house. I can easily afford to buy my own place with that. You two have been so kind to me, especially after what I did to you, Valerie."

A silence hung over the room as they all remembered the incident. Valerie hanging, back bloodied and raw from Francine's whip. Francine had been suffering from post traumatic stress, the result of her former boyfriend beating her up after she told him she was a dominant and wanted to play BDSM games with him. No one had realized it at the time and Valerie had been submitting to her friend, when Francine lost control and ignored Valerie's safe word. The resulting scars still covered Valerie's back and legs. The incident also resulted in both Francine and Valerie being publicly outed in the press as 'sexual deviants'. 

Valerie sat down next to Francine, putting her arms around her friend. "Francine, I forgave you and I still do. You don't have to do this."

With tears in her eyes, Francine nodded, saying, "Yes I do. Maybe not for you, but for me. I don't feel like I deserve your love and forgiveness. I may never feel like I do, but this will help. Anyway, I love you both, too. I want to do this."

Sally was thoughtful. "And you can, but not now. Mr. Moore was correct on one count." Franklin Moore was Francine's lawyer. "If you give us the house now, so soon after the crisis, it could be taken as an admission of guilt on your part. It might even give someone the ability to challenge the purchase of the house. Plus, you're not going anywhere until your psychiatrist says that you're full recovered from the ordeal. Neither of us is going to give you the chance to kill yourself. You tried once before, not again."

Valerie nodded vigorously in agreement. Francine saw love and firmness in both their faces and did not even try to talk them out of their stances. In truth, she didn't want to. Deep inside, she was afraid of being alone. She knew that her sanity was fragile right now. Nightmares still haunted her at times. Horrible dreams where Harv was beating her while she beat Valerie. She was seeing her psychiatrist, Dr. Gloush, twice a week.

"I know. I'm not ready to be on my own yet. But I will be, sometime. But, when the time is right, you are getting the house. I won't take no for an answer."

Valerie nodded her head. "You won't have to. You're my friend and friends allow their friends to show their love. I understand how important this is to you."

The three ladies hugged each other and went about the normal activities of the evening, little realizing that their relationship with Hellfire Pictures was only beginning.

*

Chapter one

The Experts

Six months later...

Valerie Burbon walked into the offices of Delgrasi Publications bright and early. Erica looked up and smiled as she snatched up the list she had just finished making. The two collared submissives had become good friends in the last several months.

"Good morning Valerie. You are looking delectable today. The temp cancelled, again. So you're stuck with me. Here's your day's appointment list."

"Thanks Erica. Anything I need to worry about right away?"

"Yeah. You've got three secretary interviews back to back."

"Great! I know how overworked I've kept you with all the temporary service secretaries quitting. As much as I enjoy working with you, I can't monopolize your time."

"I like working with you too. Take a look at the second appointment."

Valerie looked at the list and started. "June," she whispered. June Humbol had been Valerie's secretary at Bradford and Gashune when she had been outed as a player in the BDSM world. June had quit in protest when Valerie had been fired for "moral turpitude" but had also told Val that she could not see June's kids anymore. Their friendship had effectively ended that day.

"I see. She is a good candidate I just did not expect her to apply, not here."

"Why is that? It would seem that she thinks you're a good boss."

"After her reaction to my being a submissive, I would have thought that she would avoid this place like the plague. Well, I will have to see what she has to say for herself. It's not like she can avoid 'sexual deviancy' if she works for Delgrasi in any capacity. I notice that you're not on my schedule."

"No, Master has no special instructions for me today, at least not in advance."

Erica was also a submissive, though she preferred the term slave, and her Master, Damien, expected her to be in submission 24/7, including at work. Valerie would sometimes monitor Erica to see that she was appropriately obedient. Today, it seemed, there would be no need to do so.

Valerie was feeling very frustrated by the secretary hiring process so far. She had interviewed only nine people in the months she had been working at Delgrasi, and had found that eight of those people had little or no work experience in the field and seemed to think that being into kinky sex was all the qualification they needed for the job. The one with experience had ended the interview herself when she found out just what Delgrasi published. Every secretary from one of the temp services in town had quit within a week or had to be fired. What was it about an adult magazine company that made it so hard for people to be professional?

Delgrasi was the foremost publisher of high quality fetish magazines in the country. They currently published twelve titles dealing with subjects from leather, body art, and homosexuality to magazines on travel and cooking geared towards the sexually adventurous. They had hired Valerie as the advertising consultant to their advertising clients. The quality of ads has always been a sore point in the sexual magazine field and no less so at Delgrasi. Already, some product and service providers had responded to suggestions that Valerie had made and altered their ads to be more mature.

What Valerie needed was a secretary who was fully qualified and didn't mind being exposed to sexually themed material, both in ads and magazine content. So far, every applicant had satisfied only one of the two criteria. She was beginning to despair that one such person existed. Calvin Freshin, the editor of The Pony's Paddock, had solved the problem by hiring his personal submissive as his secretary though Susan was not happy doing it (Calvin was a dominant just like Valerie's Master, Charles Vanquil). Maybe June would work out.

She made some notes about her lunch appointment while she waited for the first applicant of the day. This was the first attempt on Valerie's part to lure a vanilla advertiser to one of their magazines. Global Travel was a premier international travel agency that was capable of arranging vacations and business trips for large and small groups with equal equanimity. Road Bound, Delgrasi's travel magazine, had no major travel agencies as advertisers, something Val considered to be a major reason for its low readership. Attracting Global Travel would be worth while in two ways. More readership, once it was learned that the only fetish travel magazine had a real agency as an advertiser, and once Global was on board, other agencies would have to advertise as well or eliminate themselves from a significant market of travelers.

There was a knock on the door and Erica cracked the door to announce, "Ms. Burbon, your first applicant, Brad Nunchez is here." Erica rolled her eyes to signal that this one would be a problem.

"Show him in, please."

Mr. Nunchez was not off to a great start. He seemed to think that he could apply for a secretary's position wearing jeans and a pull over shirt. Valerie had never seen someone who actually swaggered, but Brad did just that. The worst thing in this person's presentation of himself was the way he looked at his potential boss: open, undisguised lust.

Valerie stayed professional and rose to greet him. "Good morning Mr. Nunchez. Have a seat." 

She held her hand out to shake his. He took it, but instead of shaking, he gripped her hand hard and tried to force it downwards. Val held her ground and watched his face. She saw a flash of anger and then he released her hand and sat down. Valerie returned to her desk and opened his application. Erica had scribbled, "clearly unqualified," on the top.

Closing it again, she leaned back and asked, "Mr. Nunchez, tell me why you think I should hire you."

"Because I am a Master and you are a slave. You will do as I tell you."

For a moment, Valerie stared at him in shock, unable to believe that anyone would be that stupid. Then she chuckled once, set his file to the side and forced her face to take on a hard edge.

"I can see that this interview is over. You are clearly unqualified for the position. Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

His face went angry and he stood, putting his hands on her desk. "I said, you are a slave and you will do as I say. Now get on your knees!"

Valerie came to her feet as she saw the door to her office crack open. "Mr. Nunchez. Clearly you have no idea what D/s is all about. You should check out some of our publications. As for me, I am not your slave. I submit to a very small group of people and you are not on that short list. Your demands border on attempted criminal enslavement, a class A felony in this state. And don't even think of threatening me with some kind of punishment, because I will have your ass thrown in jail so fast that you will have road burns on your face. Now, get out of my office and this building."

Valerie could barely contain the laughter that was trying to get out as the look of utter shack filled his face. Erica opened the door and pointed towards the exit as he stumbled away. Once he was gone, Erica closed the door and the two submissives broke out laughing.

"I can't believe he tried to dominate you. What was he thinking?"

"I'm sure I do not know. Did you see that swagger. Not even Master swaggers like that. He doesn't have to."

"I loved the way you suggested he check out our magazines. He really does need to bone up on the lifestyle."

"Well, I'm oh for ten now. I may hire June just because I know she'll be professional."

"Well, you need a secretary, not a fetish expert. This company has plenty of those." Erica giggled at her little joke. "I better get back to the desk. Can I tell Master Damien about Brad?"

"Please do, everyone needs a good laugh. I'm telling Master Charles."

Valerie wrote Charles a quick note about the would-be dominant 'master Nunchez' in the time left over from the aborted interview. She found that there was a reminder that she was to report to the house after work. Like most of Charles' remote orders, there was no reason given or clue as to what was being planned. Her pussy was dampening in anticipation of submitting later today.

Erica showed June in and Valerie rose to greet her. "Welcome Mrs. Humbol."

June shook Valerie's hand while requesting, "Please, June."

Once they were both sitting, Valerie started the interview. "June, obviously I know your qualifications. You are an excellent secretary and have the added advantage of already being familiar with my needs as an advertising executive. What I need to know is, given how we parted last time, why do you want to work with me and for Delgrasi publications?"

"Fair question, Ms Burbon. I have never had a problem with you professionally. The issue that came between us was my fears for my children. Those fears are still there. I know that submissiveness is not contagious, but ideas are. That you may influence my children...," she held up a hand to forestall the Valerie's interruption. "whether you intend to or not, is not something I can take even the slightest risk of. It's not that I have a problem, personally, with the fact that you allow people to whip you and use you for a sexual toy. That's your private life. And I'm not so much a prude that I would be unable to work for this company. I just need to be paranoid about my children."

Valerie thought for a moment. She remembered the concern she had a certain Sunday afternoon about children in a park. Charles had made it clear that he would have been disappointed with her if she had not brought the subject up. Was it really unreasonable for June to take such draconian measures to protect hers? 

"That's fair. I won't say that it doesn't hurt that you could not trust me to keep your children safe, but it is your job as their mother. I don't expect that protectiveness to interfere with our professional relationship in any way. Since you're the first qualified applicant out of eleven that was willing to work for a publisher of fetish magazines, you're hired. I'll get the paperwork started right away. Erica can get you the forms you need to fill out. I'm not sure I can get you the same salary that you made at Bradford and Gashune, but I will try."

"Thank you Ms. Burbon. When shall I come in to start?"

"Tomorrow works. You'll be working with Erica for a couple of days to familiarize yourself with the company and our magazines. By Monday, you should be up to speed enough to start the real work for me."

"Thank you again, Ms. Burbon. I'm looking forward to working with you again."

June left to talk with Erica and Valerie started to fill out the paperwork to have June hired. She included a special note requesting a higher starting pay for June, based on her long work history with Valerie in the past and her competence. She was about halfway through the forms when Erica knocked and stuck her head in again.

"Val, your next applicant is here."

"Damn. I forgot about her. Send her in, I'll break the bad news to her myself."

Erica showed the redhead in, introducing her as, Mary Carstares. After greeting her and sitting down again, she opened the file that Erica had prepared for her. What she saw was an inexperienced young lady fresh out of school with a BA in business management. There were several glowing letters of recommendation from former teachers and from her employer during her internship. One line from the internship caught her eye. "Ms. Carstares has an uncanny ability to see the implications of future decisions that borders on psychic. Anyone in a position of having to plan for the future would do well to have this professional young lady on their staff."

Valerie thought a moment and then addressed the young lady whose nervousness was visibly increasing as she sat in the silence. "Ms. Carstares, I'm afraid that the position of secretary has been filled already. I do apologize for not calling you in advance to let you know. That said, your resume is very good for someone right out of college. I'm especially impressed by the comments that Mr. Silverman included. Are you willing to take another position with the company, even if it is a less paying position?"

"Yes I am, Ms. Burbon. I have been interested in both publishing and sexuality for some time. Working here would give me a wonderful addition to my resume, even if I don't stay with the firmin the long term. What position were you thinking of offering me?"

"I'm not certain yet. I'll have to talk with the vice president and see what we have available. Your secretarial qualifications are well represented. Tell me what your interest in sexuality is and why it qualifies you to work at Delgrasi."

"I have an incredible curiosity to understand sex in all it myriad forms. I am a subscriber to all your publications and find them incredibly fascinating. On a certain level, I want to experience everything about sex that I can, though I am aware that some things are impossible for me to experience and others I need to take great care in. This qualifies me to work here because I will not be embarrassed or insulted by exposure to any form of human sexuality. This means that I can discuss any ad or story without balking or being judgmental."

Part of what she had said rang alarm bells in Valerie's mind. "You said that you can talk about any form of human sexuality without balking. Does this include sex with children?"

The look of horror on Mary's face was enough, by itself, to allay Valerie's concerns. Her words reinforced that. "I'm afraid I will have to leave. Pedophilia is not human sexuality, it is monstrous. If you will excuse me?"

"There's no need to go. Delgrasi feels the same way. I just wanted to make sure that 'anything' did not include that. I've had to deal with the effects of sick people whose idea of sexuality crossed moral lines." Mary sat down, a look of relief clearly displayed on her face. "Would you mind waiting here while I check out an idea that just occurred to me?"

"Of course ma'am."

Valerie walked down the hall to Calvin's office. Susan was in the outer foyer working on the computer. While Susan was good at not showing her emotions on her face, Valerie had picked up on her unhappiness within a few days of starting at the company. Unlike Valerie, Susan lived in a 24/7 Master/slave relationship with Calvin. Prior to Mr. Freshin's need to replace an outgoing secretary, Susan had lived in her Master's home as a full time kept woman. Valerie had lunched with Susan a few times and she was open about how much she enjoyed being totally dependant on her Master for every part of her existence. Valerie did not think that she would ever want that level of total submission, yet she knew that for Susan, it was right.

"Susan. Is Mr. Freshin free right now?"

"Oh, Hi Valerie." Susan had permission to call the other submissives in the company, Val and Erica, by first names. "He's in a meeting right now, though it should be done in a matter of minutes. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Actually, it's something that I may be able to help you with. I just had two qualified secretarial applicants back to back. I hired one and the other is in my office right now. Do you want to go back to being His house slave?"

"Oh God, yes! You don't know how hard it is to be so forceful out here." Susan's eyes were brimming with tears. "I'm just not cut out for it. I'm not like you."

"I know. How does he feel about this arrangement?"

"I don't think he likes me out like this either. Things that are my responsibility don't get done around the house. We don't play as much as we used to. I think it weighs on Him."

At that point, Calvin was exiting his office with another gentleman.

"All right Mark. Get some new photos to go with the article and we should be able to include the article in the November issue." He noticed Valerie and smiled. "Valerie. It's good to see you. What brings you down to my little neck of the woods?"


Stranger Than Truth Ch. 01



"If you have a moment, I may have a solution to a problem of yours."

"I can give you 10 minutes, I think." He looked at Susan for confirmation.

"Yes, Master. Your next appointment is in 15 minutes."

He nodded and showed Valerie into his office. "So, which of my problems are you planning to solve? Have you managed to convince a tack manufacturer to advertise in The Pony's Paddock?"

"I'm afraid that will take even me a few weeks longer," Val said with a smile. In reality, that barrier could take years. Most equestrian supply houses were repulsed by the idea that their products would be used on people. "No, I think I've found you a secretary."

He perked up at her words. "Are you serious? I thought you were still looking for your own."

"I had two qualified applicants interview today. The one I didn't hire is sitting in my office. I think she would fit your needs perfectly. I know that Susan has been struggling with having to be non-submissive in the office."

"Yes, I spent years training her to be fully submissive and this secretarial position is undoing that. Tell me about this applicant."

"Mary Carstares is a fresh graduate with a BA in business administration. Her resume includes several glowing letters of recommendation, including one from her employer during her internship. In addition, she says that she has an intense curiosity about all things sexual and would not have issues with anything from our magazines. She, in fact, subscribes to all twelve, something I didn't think anyone would do. After all, there are not many people in need of both Sappho Digest and The Gay Gentleman."

"I see what you mean. Find out from Susan when my next opening is and have her come back then."

"You got it."

Back out in the foyer, she talked to Susan and found that Calvin would be free in an hour. On the way back to her own office, she passed a lady that Valerie assumed was Calvin's next appointment. Back at her own office, she found that Mary was still waiting, looking nervous.

"Mary, I can't go into details, but one of our editors could use a new secretary. He would like to interview you in an hour. Will that work for you?"

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you very much."

"Good. Erica will show you to Mr. Freshin's office in an hour."

"May I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"Which publication does he edit?"

"The Pony's Paddock."

"Oh. That's a very unusual magazine. I can't imagine wanting to be treated like an animal, a beast of burden."

"Have you ever had a chance to talk to a pony girl yourself?"

"No. I'd love to, though. I'm bursting with questions."

"Well, I don't know if you'll ever get the chance to talk with one of the ladies, but you will get to learn a lot more about the subject."

After Mary left, Valerie finished getting ready for her lunch meeting. By noon, she was at The Crystal Match enjoying lunch with Drusilla Gloch, Vice President in charge of advertising for Global Travel. Valerie had only been in the members only club once before, with her Master, on their second date. She had been wearing a collar that night too, though it had been a leather dog collar.

Her presentation went well, and while Ms. Gloch did not indicate that she would be placing any ads in Road Bound, Valerie was hopeful. The rest of her day went smoothly, though long and it was almost 6:00 when she left the office. On the way to Charles' mansion, Valerie called her lover, Sally, to let her know that she would not be home for dinner.

Charles Vanquil had been her Master for almost several months now. Her submission to him and the rest of his submissives had been the most fulfilling emotional and sexual experience of her life. She could no longer imagine going back to the vanilla woman she used to be. She was already becoming aroused at the thought of what he might do with her.

The mansion's gate opened for her as she approached and she drove to her usual parking space near the front door. Since she had received no special instructions, she walked up clothed as she was and knocked on the door. Herman, Charles' butler, answered the door.

"Ms. Valerie. Master Charles has instructed me to tell you that you are to go to play room three and disrobe. Once that is done, wait for him, doing nothing."

"Thank you Herman. I know the way."

Valerie went down the stairs that led to the basement and entered play room three. The room as familiar to her with it's padded table. She deftly removed her clothes and folded them on the bench that housed the drawers of equipment. The scars along her back had faded some in the four weeks since she had received them from her friend Francine Traline. Francine had been suffering from a form of post traumatic stress and had ignored Valerie's safe word for an hour.

Once nude, she knelt in the center of the room, next to the table with her head bowed. Of all the things that she had been commanded to do as a submissive, only whipping someone else was harder for her to endure than waiting. Every weekend in the last three weeks, Charles had made her wait, unmoving, for at least half an hour. It was a measure of her growth that she could last that long with only a minimum of tears. She used to sob uncontrollably after only fifteen minutes.

The waiting had not gotten any easier, she had just accepted that it was a part of her submission. Anticipation was something Valerie hated. Couple that with the uncertainty of knowing if she had been pleasing to her Master and you had pure hell. What got her through these times was the knowledge that He wished her to go through them. Valerie was one of those submissives who could endure much if she simply knew that it would please her dominant. The inability to tell time did not help. 

By the time the door opened 40 minutes later, tears were once again running down Valerie's face. She did not look up or say anything, determined as she was to obey her standing orders to remain silent until she was addressed. She could make out his feet as he walked past her as well as the sounds of his gathering the instruments he was intending to use on her tonight. When she felt his hand brush her hair, Valerie drew a breath in sharply. His hand caressed her cheek and she could not help but to lean into his touch. The chuckle from above her told her that he was pleased with her reaction.

"Valerie, how was your day?"

"It was a good day Master. I hired a secretary for myself and I may have found one for Calvin Freshin as well. There was one disappointing, yet humorous event as well."

"Oh, what was that."

"One of my applicants tried to dominate me in the interview. He seemed to think that since I was a submissive, that I would submit to anyone."

"I suspect he got the surprise of his life."

"Yes, Master. I don't think he expected to have me threaten him with legal action. I told him that he had just committed the crime of attempted enslavement, a class A felony."

Charles chuckled again. It was laced with a bit of sadness as well. He longed for the day when people would truly understand what BDSM was all about. Submissives did not want to submit to everyone, yet, even in the lifestyle, that misconception was not uncommon. It didn't help that there were some who would go to clubs so that they could submit to whomever they chose.

"Well, enough of the day, I have plans for you Valerie. Get up on the table and kneel."

With a spring in her step, Val climbed up onto the table with an enthusiastic, "Yes, Master." Once she was kneeling, Charles pulled her arms behind her back and began to tie her with ropes. He started with two short lengths that fastened her wrist cuffs to the elbows of the other arm. A longer length was wrapped around her two arms, locking them together. After checking to see that there was no tingling indicative of circulation being cut off, he positioned her on her side. With the middle of a short length between her knees, he wrapped yet another, longer length of rope around her legs, pinning her thighs and calves to each other. The rope pinched in her knees was looped through her collar's leash ring and pulled taut, forcing her legs against her chest and her head down towards her knees.

As Valerie felt each rope restrict her movement in some way, she became more fully aroused. She loved the feeling of being helpless under his attention and each restriction was like a lover's caress. Every loop of rope sent a tingle through her body that seemed to end up in her pussy. With each completed binding, she struggled against the ropes, feeling the security of their grip on her body. Once complete, she knew she would start to feel uncomfortable after a while. She looked forward to it as something she could give her Master.

Charles' final restriction was the blindfold he used to take away her sight. He stood back and watched as she struggled in her bonds, pulling against the ropes to see if they would give. He knew that she did not want to break free. Rather, she was seeking reassurance that she was truly helpless and at his mercy. He could see her body flush with arousal. Her cunt was leaking juice which ran down her ass cheek onto the table. He let her writhe there for several minutes as he walked around the table, letting her hear his presence. Her breathing was becoming labored as her body began to silently demand attention.

Valerie was in heaven. The sweet agony of unmet desire and lust paired with the helplessness of being unable to affect her own pleasure was a sensation that she craved with a deep dread. She knew that Master could choose to drive her to orgasm after orgasm, her body unable to react to the release of pleasure that would be inflicted on her. He could also tease her mercilessly to the brink of orgasm without ever letting her climax, letting her wallow in unreleased desire. Just the thought of either choice was driving her arousal to even greater heights. Finally, the suspense became more than she could stand.

"Master, please touch me. I need your touch so much. I beg you, touch me, tease me."

His hand touched her back and she tensed against the ropes, involuntarily this time. A moan escaped her lips. Charles caressed her body, driving her need forward. He ignored her pussy and breasts for the time being, concentrating on her back and face. Every time his fingers passed by her lips, she kissed them with a hunger. Every once in a while, he would let her take them into her mouth and suck them like they were a cock. 

After half an hour of this teasing caressing, Valerie was in constant motion to the limits of her bindings, striving to somehow draw more pleasure from His touch. She was moaning whenever her mouth was not filled with one or more fingers. A damp spot had formed under her hip from the juices she was leaking. Her pussy lips, engorged and tender, were protruding as much as possible given the position they were in, her legs clenched tightly together. The aching emptiness in her cunt had grown to near debilitating proportions and her erect nipples pressed almost painfully into the ropes around her legs.

"Master, please fuck me. I need to be fucked," Valerie gasped out between moans. "I need you so badly, Master. Please, I'm begging you, touch my cunt, fuck me, Master."

Charles ignored her pleas, neither answering her nor giving her what she begged for. His hands kept up their sensuous assault on her body, caressing her back, face, neck and feet. Valerie's breath was coming in ragged gasps and tears were leaking from underneath her blindfold. All she could do was twist and turn on her side as his ministrations continued with relentless slowness.

Charles thought that Valerie was at her most beautiful when she was desperate with need, writhing in arousal. Her pleas and begging took on a musical quality to his ears. He also knew that she loved being tortured in this way. So much so, that he doubted she had a safe word limit for sensual torture. He was tempted to see if he could find such a limit, but they both had to work in the morning.

He bought his fingers to her mouth one more time, letting her suck on them for several minutes. She moaned the whole time she treated the fingers like his cock, lavishing attention and tongue caresses on them. He added a second and a third finger, causing her mouth to open even wider and for her to drool a little on the table. When he took them out, they were dripping in her spit.

When he touched her asshole with those fingers, Valerie gasped, then cried out, "Yes. Fuck my ass, master. Take it, it's yours."

His finger entered her after a momentary resistance and a cry of pain at the penetration. He could feel her clenching against his finger, milking sensation from it. He slowly moved the finger in and out, fucking her ass with it. He could hear her grunting as she tried to press back against him. When he removed his finger, she let out a huge sob of despair.

"Valerie?"

"Yes, Master," she forced through her tears.

"I want you to be absolutely quiet. Do you understand?"

Valerie nodded her understanding. She didn't know if she could manage to be obedient, but she would try. When she felt herself being dragged through her own juices to the edge of the table, she steeled herself for what she suspected was coming. His cock's initial contact with her pussy caused her to suck in a great gasp of air. She fought against her need to respond to the blessed contact with her cunt. She started breathing hard and fast through her mouth in preparation for the massive increase in pleasure that was coming.

When Charles thrust into her pussy, it was all she could do to not cry out at the explosion of sensation that rocketed across her body. Her body strained painfully against the ropes that prevented her from giving into the feelings coursing through her body. Her tears still flowed, but now they were tears of pleasure. Her pussy was squished so tight that every thrust was magnified several times. She was on an express elevator towards her orgasm and she had no desire to stop or even slow down. Even knowing she would disobey and scream when it hit was not enough to create any desire for Master to stop.

As she reached the edge of orgasm, she heard Charles' voice. "Scream your orgasm, Val. Let the entire house know you came for your Master."

Then, Valerie exploded. Her body started to quiver and her head snapped back, leaving an impression in the back of her neck. A keening wail erupted from her mouth in response to the orgasmic charge that filled her cunt and overflowed into the rest of her body. She pulled so hard against the ropes that it felt like they had tightened against her. Through it all, Charles continued to fuck her, with increased speed and force. The tremors in her cunt were propelling him towards his own climax. As Valerie started to ease down from her cum, he grunted, thrust one last time into her and poured his cum deep into her pussy. He stayed in her through several pulses of his cock and beyond, removing himself only when he began to soften.

Once spent, he removed the ropes binding Valerie in the tight ball shape she had been in. With her legs weak from being in one position for so long, he had to help her to the shower room. There, they both spent several minutes under the showers before Charles massaged Valerie's legs and arms to restore circulation to normal.

"Thank you Master. That was a fantastic experience."

"You're welcome. You are a wonderful slave."

"Thank you. I love being your slave, Master. I love you."

"I love you Valerie. Now, we should get to our respective beds. Morning will come too early, I suspect."

"It always does, Master."

"This Friday, you are Sally's. She can use you any way she wishes."

"Thank you Master. I'm looking forward to a wonderfully frustrating time with her."

"I'm sure it will be." Charles' wicked smile told Valerie that Sally probably had special instructions for the Friday. She never knew what her partner would subject her to. Sometimes, Sally was capable of more cruelty than Master was. Not that she didn't like it. She enjoyed the act of submission itself, the allowing of whatever was to come to her, be it pleasure, frustration, humiliation or pain.

Valerie left Charles' place and drove home to the house that she shared with Sally and Francine. She walked in to find that both the other women were sitting at the dining room table. Sally looked up and saw Val.

"Valerie! Oh ho, looks like someone was used very well tonight. I'm officially jealous."

"Don't be, you'll be able to get some for yourself. Master says I'm yours Friday."

"Ooo. I can't wait. Are you ready for a hard weekend?"

"I'm always ready for you, lover."

By now, Valerie had reached Sally's place at the table and the two women were warmly embracing. They kissed, sharing their tongues with one another. Francine smiled at the lovers, knowing any attempt to engage them in conversation for the next few minutes would be pointless. She continued to scribble some notes on the paper in front of her.

The ladies spent time talking about the small things that friends talk about before going to bed. In bed, Sally and Valerie caressed each other while Val related everything that Charles had put her through earlier in the evening. By the time Valerie had finished her tale, both were worked up and the scent of female arousal hung in the air.

Sally kissed Val lightly on the cheek. "Val, honey. Can you wait for the weekend?"

Valerie shuddered slightly. Her need had reasserted itself under Sally's skilled hands and the remembrance of her submission. She drew a deep breath. "For you, anything. Do you want to tease me some more?"

"No, though I will on Friday." Val made a small whimpering sound in anticipation of the coming frustrations. "I know. It will be hard and you'll love it. Good night love."

"Good night Sally."

The next day, Wednesday, started well for Valerie. June, as efficient as ever, was picking up on the facts of life at Delgrasi quickly. She seemed unfazed by the fact that Erica wore a collar of her own, nor was she visibly bothered by the subject matter of the magazines. June made no comment when Erica disappeared into Val's office for an hour so that Valerie could witness and monitor Erica bringing herself to the edge of orgasm and back three times on orders from her Master.

Hellfire pictures reentered Valerie's life with the 2:00 appointment. June buzzed Valerie. "Ms. Burbon, Mr. Freeman is here for his appointment."

Val looked at the appointment list that had been prepared earlier. Milton Freeman did not have a company listed. "Send him in, June."

The man who walked in was loud. Not audibly, but visually. He was wearing a white pair of slacks with a lime green button down shirt. The top two buttons were open, showing his bare chest beneath. After a moment's hesitation, Valerie stood and greeted him.

"Good afternoon Mr. Freeman. I'm Valerie Burbon."

"Yes you are, indeed," he answered, shaking her hand with vigor. "I've heard so much about you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"I'm afraid that you have me at a disadvantage then, Mr. Freeman. Please, have a seat." Once they had both sat down, she continued. "Apparently there was no notation made concerning your company. So I suppose the first question is who do you represent and what can Delgrasi publications do for you?"

"Ah, I didn't tell the beautiful lady out front who I represent when I made my appointment. I needed to make sure that I was actually put on your schedule. You see, I represent Hellfire Pictures. We are making a movie about the events surrounding you and Francine several month ago."

Valerie's first response was quick and visceral. "Like hell you are! We haven't signed any rights away."

"And we don't need you to Valerie. May I call you Valerie?" He didn't wait for an answer. "The events were public and your statements to the police are a matter of public record now, thanks to there being no criminal charges filed. So yes, we can make a movie about you and Ms. Traline."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 01



"Wait, Hellfire Pictures. You bought Francine's house! You bastards tricked her into selling you the house where she whipped me."

"No, we did not trick her. She knew when she made the deal, just who we were and what we planned to do with the house. You should know that there are three different pictures being planned for your story."

"Well, why are you here? If you don't need my permission to make the film, why bother to talk to me?"

"Valerie, Fiasco Films is making an exploitation film. It will be an R rated titillation movie that intends to portray everyone involved as sexual perverts worthy of contempt or pity, all the while exploiting those very perversions for box office receipts. Infinity Productions is making a cautionary tale about spousal abuse and the dangers that your style of sexual play poses to women everywhere. We want to tell what actually happened. For that, our actors and production staff have to understand this, BDSM is just a lifestyle. The reason I'm here to see you, and my colleague is visiting your Francine, is to offer you a job as consultants. Help us show this so called 'perversion' as it really should be understood."

Valerie sat there, stunned. Never in a million years would she have expected this. Part of her wanted to kick him out. The advertising expert in her, however, saw an opportunity. If she could influence the movie to portray BDSM as it really is when practiced in a safe and sane manner, it could go a long way towards changing public attitudes towards the people in the lifestyle. She was, however, unsure of how much influence she could actually have. She could end up giving a seal of approval to something that ended up portraying the lifestyle in a bad light. She was also cognizant of the fact that, with two months experience in the scene, she hardly qualified as an expert.

"That's quite an offer, Mr. Freeman. I'm not sure what to think about it. There are a lot of aspects to being a movie consultant that I'm sure that I have no clue about. How much control in the creative process would Sally and I have? Are you looking for true advice or a stamp of approval? How much work are your actors and production people willing to put in to learn what they need to know to represent accurately those who are in BDSM? Do you have any idea how much you're asking of us and your people?"

"Those are all good questions. I want real advice and, if they know what's good for them, the people who are working for me will want that too, and will be willing to do whatever work is needed. As for creative control, that won't happen. When push comes to shove, the telling of the story will be more important than the perfect accuracy of the... scenes, I believe they are called? As for me, I don't really have a good idea what's involved in BDSM. That's why I want to hire expert consultants."

"Well, I have to admit, I'm tempted. I can't answer right now. I need to talk to Sally and to my superiors. I am an employee of Delgrasi and any work I do for you will cut into my ability to do the work I was hired for. I can tell you that their willingness would be positively affected by an already existing business relationship between Delgrasi and Hellfire. For example, have you ever thought of advertising your movies in our publications?"

"I'm not involved directly in distribution, but, is there a market for our pictures among your readership?

Valerie was now in her element. This was the very job she was hired for. "Mr. Freeman, please don't make the assumption that people involved in the fetish communities are one dimensional. I understand that you advertise your movies in those publications that would be read by potential viewers. So you would not advertise a slasher film in a Christian magazine. What most people don't understand about the fetish community is its diversity." Valerie called up a program on her computer and swung the monitor so that Milton could see it. "Take a look at these demographics on the subscribers to The Sensible Submissive. As you can see, this one publication reaches every demographic group except children, obviously. Have you made a chick flick? Plenty of women read this magazine. Have you made the latest Die Hard movie? Lots of 25-45 year old males are also readers. People in the fetish community watch movies just like vanilla people. If they saw you advertising in a magazine that was just for them, they would, even if it was on an unconscious level, be inclined to think more positively about your movies, since you are taking them seriously."

"That's some interesting data you have there. Can you prepare something that I can show to distribution? I can't make any guarantees, but they need to see this. Are the demographics similar for your other publications?"

"Very much so. The only exception is Kitchen Submissions, which has a readership similar to other housekeeping themed magazines. I can prepare something for your people. Would next Monday be good?"

"Excellent."

"Three other considerations. Francine is still dealing with the emotional ramifications of having whipped me so brutally. I doubt she could or would become a consultant for your movie."

"I'm sorry to hear about that. Not only would the perspective of both people involved be good, we'd like to have consultants from both sides of your lifestyle. I think you call them dominants and submissives?"

"Yes, that's right. It would be good to have a dominant's perspective. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding one. Now, you are making a movie about the fetish community, specifically the BDSM lifestyle. Several of our publications would be interested in doing a series of articles about the making of the movie. Reporter access to your sets and other production processes would influence the decision to allow me the time to work as your consultant. It would also give you lots of free advertising." 

"That is something I think I could swing. I will talk to publicity and pressure them to allow access."

"Finally, what are you doing this evening?"

"Are you asking me out on a date? I'm flattered."

"I'm afraid not, though we will be going to a club. You said you're not knowledgeable about what goes on in BDSM. I'd like to give you a taste by showing you around Mephisto's tonight. Give you a chance to see the sheer diversity in the lifestyle. I think you'll be surprised."

"I'm sure I will. I think I can be free tonight. Is 7:00 good?"

"That will be perfect. I can pick you up then. Where are you staying?"

"I have a room at the Davenport."

As she expected, a movie producer would be staying at the most expensive and elegant hotel in the city. "I'll come by the front at 7:00 then. Be sure to eat before then. Mephisto's doesn't serve food or alcohol on the premises. It was good to meet you, Mr. Freeman, and I hope we can work well together on the movie."

"I'm sure we can. I'll be looking for you after dinner."

Once he had left, Valerie had herself added to the president's schedule. He found the idea of a movie, showing a portion of the fetish community in a positive light, a worthwhile cause and authorized Val to set aside time to work with the production staff and actors. He did instruct her to insist on access for three reporters to follow the production of the movie as a condition of the approval. Since she did not have any appointments after 4:00, she left early. On the way home, she received a call from Sally.

"Valerie. Did you get a visit from someone about a movie?"

"Yes, I did. They want to hire Francine and I as consultants."

"I had one too. Apparently Francine turned them down and suggested they hire me. This is a big opportunity for us A movie that shows us in a positive light. Do you think it's possible?"

"I think we can't take the chance of refusing. Without expert help, they won't get it right."

"I agree. Can you get time off from work?"

"I think so, as long as they allow Delgrasi to cover the making of the movie."

"They should. It's free advertising."

"Right! I'm taking Mr. Freeman to Mephisto's tonight. I want him to see the pain free side of BDSM before we go very far. That's probably the biggest misconception about the scene."

"I can't come with you. I have a prior commitment. Have you talked to Master about the offer?"

"No, I haven't. We should though. Can you call him tonight?"

"Yes, I can do that. You know Lilly and Frank are putting on a demo tonight, don't you?"

"No, I didn't. She sure has come a long way since she was being torn up inside at the activities at Master's."

"Yes, she has. She has taken to bondage like a fish to water. I've got to go. See you tonight, love."

"Bye."

Valerie drove home and changed into something more casual for a night at Mephisto's. A short skirt that came down to just above her knees, stockings with garters, a pullover shirt that was tight against her breasts and three inch heels. Her collar and cuffs would identify her as a submissive, yet her clothing would indicate that she was not trolling for a Master. She was not expecting trouble along that line from any of the regulars, but No-Pain Wednesdays drew a large percentage of people who did not come on other nights and would, thus, be more likely to not know who she was.

She picked up dinner at the Mustard Seed and was in front of the Davenport at 7:00. Milton was there and let himself into the passenger's seat. She shared the President's conditions on her being allowed to work with him as a consultant and he indicated that they seemed fair. Mr. Freeman spent some time looking at Valerie as she drove. This was the first chance he had had to look closely at her cuffs and collar. He had still not seen her scars, though that would change as soon as they were out of the car.

When he did see them for the first time, he did the same thing everyone does when seeing them for the first time. He stared in shock at the scars that crossed the visible portions of her legs.

"Oh my God!"

"Yes, they are horrible. So was the way I received them. They are not indicative of BDSM in general. They are the result of something that went wrong, horribly wrong. I have no intention of holding anything back about the lifestyle. There are dangers involved. People can be hurt, like I was. But it can be safe. There are ways of making it safe. Our watch words are safe, sane and consensual. The people you're going to see inside are all consenting adults who are participating because they want to and because they enjoy it for one reason or another. Non-consent in BDSM is rape and torture. We may play games where we pretend to be taken unwillingly, but the lifestyle views forced participation as an anathema."

"I see. I do have a lot to learn."

"Shall we?"

After paying the cover fee the pair entered the club. As Valerie had expected, Milton was not fazed by the various levels of dress and undress that were visible. He was from Hollywood, after all. Several people, both on the staff and customers, greeted Val with friendly comments and waves. There was a voice audible over the speaker system and Valerie led Mr. Freeman towards the center stage. Except for the monthly salve auction and other special events, the main stage's speaker system was not hooked up to the club wide sound system.

Ax they worked their way forward, Val sensed the first hints of confusion from Mr. Freeman. His confusion reached full force when he noticed several people near the stage with pens and paper. On the stage, a man was tying ropes on a woman while explaining in some detail exactly what he was doing and why. The lady was in a hogtie position and there was a pulley suspended above her.

The dominant's voice was sure and calm. "Once you've finished the basic hogtie, you can start with the suspension. Remember, we can't suspend the submissive directly from the hogtie. That much weight pulling back on the shoulders like that will cause excruciating pain and dislocate both shoulders in short order. What we're going to do now is create a cradle of rope beneath the submissive that will actually take the weight. Once finished on my beautiful Debbie, here, it will feel like she is lying on a bed of narrow slats. Uncomfortable, perhaps, but safe."

His voice faded as Valerie led Milton away from the stage.

"This is not quite what I expected. I don't see any..."

"Whips?" Val finished with a smile.

"Yes. Where are the whips and paddles?"

"That's the first thing I wanted to get across to you. BDSM is not all about whipping people. Many players are so not into pain, either inflicting it or receiving it. This is Wednesday. Mephisto's reserves Wednesdays as No-pain nights. No whips, paddles, hot wax or other pain causing play is allowed tonight. Remember that BDSM stands for Bondage, Discipline, Sadism and Masochism. In fact, some players dislike that description and prefer D/s, which stands for Domination and submission. It's really two sides of the same coin. One describes what goes on and the other describes why it goes on."

"I'm not sure I follow."

"Everything that goes on here is about one person submitting their will to the will of someone else. The submissive consents to give up power over his/her fate to the Dominant. How much power is given up varies from person to person, couple to couple. It can be as small a transfer of power as, 'I'll let you tie me up and bring me to as many orgasms as I can stand, but nothing else,' to as much as, 'I will be your slave 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I will do anything you command without hesitation and no limits.' How much is up to the people participating."

"That is incredible. Some people let themselves become total slaves, all the time?"

"Yes. I've only met one person in a 24/7 Master/slave relationship so far. Personally, I'm not ready for that level of submission, and I may never be."

"If you don't mind, what level are you at."

"I'm available to my Master at any time that doesn't interfere with my health and livelihood. We have a contract that specifies various things that I won't submit to and I have safe words. Other than that, He can do anything he wishes and order me to do anything that he wants. He frequently lets/requires other people in his service to dominate me."

"And you do this because it's fun?"

"Yes and no. There are things he requires of me that I do not enjoy at all. Pain is one of them. I can't stand pain. But, I enjoy the submitting itself. Letting Him whip me until I'm sobbing and begging for mercy is one way I show that I am submitted to him."

"Are you frightened of him?"

"No. I can be nervous, embarrassed and incredibly aroused. But, I'm not frightened of Him. You see, I trust my Master completely. I know He will never truly hurt me or allow me to be injured. You can't fear someone you trust that much. This is not to say that the things He does are not frightening. It is always scary to know that there is a cat-o-nine-tails about to lash across your back numerous times. Frequently I'm fearful of failing Him, of being disobedient."

"How is that possible? If you've submitted, why would you disobey?"

"The most common way is to unknowingly disobey. Forgetfulness. Other times, it's a matter of the mind is willing but the flesh is weak. For example, He may order me to not make a sound and then start using the crop on my breasts. I will be fearful of not being able to hold my cries of pain inside."

"What happens when you are disobedient?"

"Then I'm punished. I hate punishment. Punishment is always harder to take than play. For me, knowing that he is not doing it for his pleasure makes me unable to take it as well. I've failed him in some way and my heart breaks at having done so."

"This is hard to fathom. You fail to follow an impossible order and you feel guilty?"

"No. Not impossible. If it was truly impossible, then it is all part of the play and the 'punishment' is part of the scene we are playing at. It's when I could have, but didn't when I feel the guilt."

"How do you know the difference?"

Valerie thought a minute. "I don't know. I just do. It's part of the relationship we've built up over the last couple of months. I think the tie is done. Let's go see what a suspended hogtie looks like."

The dominant had just finished tying off the rope to an anchor bolt in the floor. The lady was suspended one foot off of the floor, seemingly by her bound wrists and ankles. He was commenting to the audience.

"Notice how it appears that she is hanging by the hogtie itself. But, when I pull against this here, it's slack." He was pulling one finger against the length of rope that went between the wrists and the knot where the web was linked up at. "In reality, the web is supporting her, not her arms and legs. Of course, there's no end of what you can do with a beauty like this that is helplessly hanging above the ground, or bed, or whatever. You could try to bring her to an orgasm or two."

At that, he began to caress her through her clothes. A low moan was audible from the submissive as her body reacted to the stimulation. She began to struggle against the bindings and everyone could see her face flushing in arousal. Her breathing was becoming more rapid and Valerie could make out a small stain spreading in the crotch of her slacks.

"Is he going to bring her to a climax right here, in front of the whole crowd?"

"Maybe. That's part of the submission. She is the submissive and he is the dominant. Unless she safe words, He is in control of what happens, including when or if she cums."

"If?"

"Oh, yes. Orgasm denial is a classic game of domination. My Master and Sally are quite fond of it," she mentioned with a droll voice.

The dominant had stopped caressing his submissive and was addressing the crowd again. "This is where the second largest numbers of injuries may occur. You need to be careful of releasing the suspension. Clearly, if I simply let her loose, she will fall onto the floor. At the least, she will get a bloody nose, not my idea of an erotic look. The ladies need to be especially careful. If you don't have the upper body strength to take the submissive's weight down gently, you need to make sure there is padding, lots of padding under the suspended person."

As he was explaining this, two assistants brought up a large pillow and mattress. He had untied her from the floor and lifted her up another foot. The mattress was slipped under her and he continued. "Even with padding, it's best if you don't allow a drop of over a foot. Feathers can only stop so much. Remember, this dropping is only for those who can't take the weight off gently. It would be best if you never had to do this, but things happen. In fact, if I had, pulled a shoulder, for example, I would build the padding up to almost touching her and then let her loose. Anyway, bombs away! Are you ready Debbie?"

The girl nodded and he released the rope to allow her to drop onto the mattress. She bounced slightly with an audible, "oof." He took a few moments to untie the ropes holding her bound, then turned back to the crowd. 

"If you have the resources, it is even possible to suspend someone without the need for muscle power. There is a wide assortment of hand powered and motorized winches that will let even the most petite of dominants suspend the very big boned of submissives. Just be sure you have a good working knowledge of how your winch works. Try it out on a sack of potatoes first. If anyone wants to try their hand at suspending, Shelly and I have reserved rooms four and five so that we can observe your technique while you practice. Thank you all for being a good audience."

There were some scattered applause and a few couples were wandering over to the rooms he had mentioned. Valerie and Milton spent the next hour walking around the main floor, observing the people who were engaged in play as well as those who were just mingling. She pointed out various aspects of the things people were engaging in. Not every one was playing at bondage. One female dominant had her male submissive sitting in a chair, unbound. He was apparently under orders to not make any noise. She was giving him a full contact lap dance, bringing him to the edge of cumming and holding him there. His cock was rigid and the tip was almost a deep purple in color. His hands were gripping the chair so hard that his knuckles were white. He had locked his feet around the legs of the chair and his face was contorted in a clear effort to make no noise and to not cum. Milton audibly gulped at the sight.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 01



At another spot, a woman was bound at the wrists with her arms raised over her head. The smell of arousal was strong Another woman, clearly her dominant, was standing next to her, whispering in her ear while a third person was fingering her cunt. The submissive had tears running down her face and was whimpering softly. Valerie and Milton moved closer to hear what was being said.

"Don't cum now. Mistress doesn't want you to cum. Hold it in."

"Please Mistress. It's so hard. I can't hold off anymore."

"Yes you can. I know you can. Just one more minute. Can you give him one more minute?"

"I'll try, Mistress."

The young woman was breathing hard, holding each breath for several seconds before letting it out. Pussy juice was running down her legs. Her lips were engorged and protruding. The man in front of her was running his finger up and down her slit, passing over her clit with each pass. After the minute had passed, the dominant said, "Time," and the man pulled his finger away.

"Very good, Cynthia. I'm so proud of you. Only one more to go. Can you do it?"

"I'll try Mistress. God, I'm so close. I feel like I'll explode at the slightest touch."

"I know. You look like such a slut."

"You say the kindest things, Mistress."

The dominant looked over and noticed Valerie. "Valerie Burbon. I've wanted to meet you. Let me say how sorry I am that your safe word was ignored and you were hurt so badly."

"Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate the feelings."

"Would you like to play with Cynthia?"

"Perhaps. What is the game?"

"Cynthia has to survive an hour of stimulation by random strangers without cumming. Twelve people for five minutes each, one finger only. If she can do that, she gets to tie me up and torture me with pleasure for the entire day on Saturday. If she cums, she will spend Saturday in her cage, bound and unable to participate when I have another slave in to play with. She has one more person to endure. Would you like to play?"

"I'd love to."

"Excellent! I'm Mistress Dominique, by the way. If you would be so kind as to sanitize the hand you'll be using first?"

Valerie took the proffered baby wipe and wiped her right hand thoroughly. Once that was done, she stepped forward to Cynthia.

"Cynthia?"

The exhausted sub looked up.

"Would you like to cum tonight, or do you want to remain frustrated?"

"Please," Cynthia begged.

Valerie leaned in close. "Please what? What do you want from me?"

"Please don't make me cum. Please." Her voice was punctuated with sobs.

"Very well. I'll take you close, but you won't cum." Valerie ran her finger across Cynthia's lips and traced a line in the sweat and tears from lips to lips, from mouth the pussy. As her hand made contact with Cynthia's cunt, Val asked, "Are you allowed to speak?"

"Yes," she gasped, as Val's finger traced the edge of Cynthia's pussy.

Valerie rubbed her finger across Cynthia's lips with three quick strokes. "Let me hear you. Let the whole club hear you."

Cynthia cried out inarticulately in response to the sensations in her pussy. Val plunged her finger through those lips and into the aching cunt. Moans were flowing over the club as the bound girl writhed under the finger fuck she was receiving. Valerie felt the first quiver in the pussy and stopped all motion. Cynthia cried out in an agony of frustration. When she had settled, Val curled her finger inside Cynthia's cunt, twisting it inside, feeling the inner walls. She pulled out enough to brush across Cynthia's clit and stopped again at the scream. Panting, Cynthia forced the orgasm back from the brink. Then Val was stroking again. She used a slow stroke that barely touched Cynthia's pussy lips. For the last two minutes, she held Cynthia at the edge of climax, neither ebbing nor waxing.

Dominique called time and kissed Cynthia on the lips. "I'm so proud of you, little Cynthia. You get to torture your Mistress on Saturday. I expect to be in tears and begging for mercy by the time you're done. Now, one more thing tonight since you won the game. Now I want everyone here to see you cum."

The dominant dropped her hand to Cynthia's cunt and caressed it. Cynthia jumped at the touch and began to whimper. Dominique's relentless assault brought the already highly aroused woman to a mind numbing orgasm in under a minute. Her whole body shook as her Mistress gripped her in a tight embrace. The orgasm lasted for well over a minute as the pent up sexual energy finally found release.

Valerie and Milton left after that, mostly because Val was now highly aroused and did not want to frustrate herself too much. Mr. Freeman had been given much to think about. Valerie could see the wheels turning in his head as he processed the information he had just been deluged with. 

As they reached the hotel, Valerie asked, "Well, what do you think about what we saw?"

"There seemed to be a wide variety of things going on, as well as a variety of people. Is everyone there is into BDSM?"

"Actually, no, not likely. Most are. I'm sure that some people were there out of curiosity through. Vanilla people wanting to see what the big deal is. Mephisto's is not a member's only club. Others may be curious about the scene and considering playing themselves, but don't know how to start. That's why all the main stage presentations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays must be instructional in some way. We can all learn new techniques and novices need to have some way to learn how to be safe. It's too bad that Mephisto's can't advertise those days."

"How well known is the club?"

"Until recently, it was the best kept non-secret in town. Since Sally's and my handfasting, I think it's better known. But, you have to come to the club, or know someone who knows, to find out about No-pain Wednesday and instructional days. I suspect a lot of novices show up on weekends and get overwhelmed. It's all pretty haphazard, really."

"Well, I'll get in touch once I know about the reporter access. It was nice meeting you Valerie."

"I hope we can do business, Mr. Freeman."

Valerie did not hear back from Mr. Freeman by the time Friday evening had arrived. She didn't think much about it, being used to how corporate America made decisions. Sally had not engaged in any sex with Val since Charles had told her that Sally would be her Mistress on Friday, leaving Valerie incredibly horny. It was 4:00 when Sally called her on the direct line.

"This is Valerie. How can I help you?"

"Valerie, this is your Mistress."

"Yes, Mistress. What can I do for you?"

"When you arrive at the house, you are to strip before you come in. Then, go downstairs. There is a new toy there. Grasp it and await my arrival."

"Mistress, I don't understand."

"You will. Now do as you're told."

"Yes Mistress."

Valerie put the finishing touches on the presentation Milton had asked her to prepare, outlining the reader demographics for Delgrasi's twelve publications. She called the number he had left on a card and left a message that the presentation was ready and she could deliver it or he could pick it up on Monday. Her work week over, Val headed home for what she hoped would be a frustratingly pleasant night.

The house they lived in was set back into the lot, with a yard edged by numerous bushes. This made stripping on the porch less of a danger than it would be somewhere else. As long as no one was driving by, she would be unobserved. Entering naked, she saw Francine gathering her purse to leave.

"Evening, Val. You're Sally's tonight?"

"Yes. Going out?"

"Yes. I think I'll see the new Harry Potter film."

They parted awkwardly. Francine, ever since the safe word incident, could not stand being around when Valerie was submitting, especially to pain. Sally had apparently warned Francine that tonight would make a good night to go out. Val continued to the basement as Francine left.

The house had originally belonged to a dominant couple who had built the basement to handle BDSM activities. It was sound proofed and had numerous eyebolts for hanging things that were far more sturdy than a planter or picture would require. It was one of the things that had originally attracted Valerie and Francine to the house. When Val opened the door and turned on the lights, she saw what Sally had been talking about. A large wooden pillar had been placed in the center of the single room that made up the basement. It was a full foot in diameter and must have weighed a couple hundred pounds or more. Clearly Sally had arranged for it to be installed during the day. Valerie wondered just what story the workers had been told about why it was being installed.

When she got closer, she saw several rings hanging from the pillar on chains and a matching number of eyebolts along the bottom. One had a sticky note on it along with a plastic baggie. The note, written in Sally's hand, said, "Valerie, put the ear plugs in and hold onto this ring until I show up. Face the whipping post. Do not let go for any reason. I have a web cam watching you. Mistress." Valerie bit her lip. The ring she was to hold onto faced away from the door. The ear plugs, good quality foam plugs, would keep her from hearing anyone come in. How long would Sally make her wait?

Valerie followed her instructions. The ring was high enough that she had to stand on tip toes to reach it. As soon as the plugs were in, all sound outside her body vanished. Valerie could hear the pulsing of her blood and the rasp of her breathing. She rattled the chain in silence. A knot formed in her chest. She had never been deafened before and found the sensation unnerving. Her difficulty with waiting was magnified. With no watch and the room's clock behind her, she had no idea of how fast time was passing.

Her anxiety grew quickly. In only five minutes, she was crying. After ten minutes, her crying had become sobbing. Loneliness threatened to crush her. Her body craved touch, any touch. She tried to concentrate on the ache in her calves and shoulders. In her head, she clung to the knowledge that she was doing what her Mistress asked. She was being pleasing. Her inner pain was such that she had no idea that her nipples had become erect and her pussy had soaked itself. Sally, who had entered the basement just five minutes after Valerie had, was standing a mere five feet away, watching her lover bear the agony of silence and stillness with such courage.

Valerie never heard the horse hair flogger coming. When it struck her, it felt almost orgasmic and she cried out, barely holding onto the ring.

"Oh! Ah! Thank you Mistress."

The soft hair like strands of the flogger left no marks. In fact, without the build up of waiting, they would not have hurt at all. Sally lashed Valerie with the flogger another nine times, Valerie thanking her after each one. Then, Sally went up and hugged Val from behind, kissing the back of her neck. Valerie was still crying as Sally removed the earplugs.

"How are we doing my little slave?"

"It's so hard Mistress, the waiting is so hard."

"I know it is. But you bore it well. I'm proud of you."

"Thank you Mistress. How can I please you further, Mistress?"

"I'm going to torture you tonight. There will be pain and denial and you will be sobbing and begging for mercy by the night's end."

"Yes, Mistress," Val whispered in response. She shuddered at what was to come, but wanted with all her heart to give Sally what she wanted. "Mistress, please torture me."

"Of course dear. Let go of the ring."

Sally used a small length of chain to loop Valerie's cuffs through the ring so that she could stand on her feet while still bound in place. Valerie's feet were spread to either side of the pole and the ankle cuffs clipped to eye bolts. Sally's hand descended to between Valerie's legs. There, her fingers found Val's cunt and stroked it while Valerie moaned and bucked as much as she could. Waves of energy spread through her body as her arousal grew under her lover's talented fingers. With each bucking motion, Valerie's clit rubbed against the pole, adding its own fire to the heat growing inside her.

"If you cum, slave, you will be punished and the pain you will suffer will not please me. Don't cum, Valerie."

"Help me Mistress. Help me to obey. I don't want to disappoint you."

Sally pulled her hand away, causing Valerie to groan. Leather straps were wrapped around Valerie's waist and upper thighs. Once they were pulled tight, she was unable to move her crotch and ass in the slightest. Then another strap was wrapped around her chest, just below her armpits, immobilizing the rest of her torso.

"How is that, little one?"

"Thank you Mistress. I can't do anything to seek pleasure on my own. Mistress?"

"Yes, Valerie."

"I so want to cum. Please may I cum tonight?"

"No, you may not. I may even forbid you to cum all weekend."

"Oh. please Mistress. I don't know if I can take that much denial."

"Yes you can. You can because you love Master and you love your Mistress."

"Yes, Mistress, I do. It's so hard. Please help me."

"Of course dear, I'm right here."

Sally's hand returned to Valerie's pussy, stroking the folds and slipping a finger inside with every pass. Val was climbing again. Her tears flowed freely as she accepted the pleasure that she knew would be cut off too soon. As hard as it was to endure, Valerie loved giving Sally this more than anything. She had seen the rapture on her Mistress' face when she inflicted this torture on Valerie. Sally, who had come to know Valerie's body like a master violinist knew his Stradivarius, could take Val closer to the edge of orgasm than anyone, drawing that much more agony from the denial. Valerie bathed in the climbing arousal, determined to give every iota of pleasure up to her soul mate.

When Sally pulled away, Valerie cried out in anguish. She sobbed uncontrollably in both the agony of denial and the ecstasy of submitting so deeply. Sally came around to where Val could see her and smiled. Valerie was gasping and struggling against her bindings. Her body was trying to get the last little bit of stimulation it needed to cum, but the bindings rendered it a moot point, freeing Valerie to simply experience the denial instead of having to cooperate in it. Sally brushed her hands against Valerie's face, smoothing the hair back and wiping the tears away.

"How are you feeling Valerie?"

"Very horny, very needy Mistress."

"Good. You're right where I want you to be."

"I'm glad Mistress. Can I give you more Mistress?"

"Of course you can. Are you ready?"

Valerie nodded her head, unsure if she could answer without breaking down. Sally traced her fingers along Valerie's scars, causing the bound woman to twitch at the sensations. Valerie felt her arousal ebbing and her breathing returning to normal. She pulled against her bonds, soaking in the feelings of safety and comfort that being helpless before Sally always stirred in her.

When the horse hair flogger hit, Valerie sucked in a breath at the sting. This was her first time under the lash of the horse hair. Unlike the pure pain that came from a cat or a crop, there was only a sharp stinging sensation. As Sally moved the strokes up and down Valerie's body, she began to moan with little cries of, "Yes." For the first time in her submission, she was truly enjoying a whipping for its own sake and not just enjoying the knowledge that she was pleasing her Master or Mistress.

As the whipping went on, Valerie's back and legs became extraordinarily sensitive. The stinging increased in intensity, even though Sally was using no more force. In fact, Sally's blows eased up slightly over time so that, even with the increase in sensitivity that she knew Val was experiencing, she never experienced true pain, only really sharp stings. As her body became increasingly sensitive, Val realized that the whipping was actually arousing her. She could feel the aching emptiness in her cunt and the flow of juices down her leg.

"Ah, God, Mistress. Don't stop Mistress, please don't stop."

Sally continued flicking the hair thin strands of the flogger across Valerie's legs and back. "Do you like this, little one?"

"Oh yes!" Valerie purred as she jerked under the repeated stings. "Oh yes. My pussy. Mistress, whip my pussy, please."

"It might make you cum Val. Do you want to risk disappointing me?" The whole time, Sally kept up the strokes.

"Just once, Mistress. I promise I won't cum. Please."

Sally hesitated a moment then, saying, "Very well," she brought the flogger up against Val's pussy lips with a single upward stroke. Valerie screamed, jerking tight against her bonds in what Sally recognized as a fight to hold off an orgasm. Body tensed and breath panting, Valerie fought her climax with all her might, desperate to obey her Mistress. Finally the pleasure receded from the edge and Valerie was able to relax, at least as much as her position allowed her to.

"Thank you Mistress, thank you. I didn't cum Mistress."

"I know. You did very well. I'm proud of you." Val smiled at the praise she craved. "Would you like to cum to this whip sometime?"

"God, yes, Mistress. Please, soon."

"Not tonight, but soon." Sally was caressing Valerie's back, rubbing body oil into it. Slowly, she massaged the immobilized woman, soothing the tension out of her muscles. In spite of the ache in her shoulders, Valerie did not want down. She was reveling in her submission to her lover, and the oil massage wasn't bad either. 

Once the entirety of Val's back and legs were glistening with oil, Sally let her hands reach between Valerie's legs again. Valerie moaned in pleasure at the touch. Sally did not penetrate Val's cunt this time. She merely caressed the lips over and over with light strokes. Valerie's moans grew in volume as the buildup of pleasurable feelings continued relentlessly. As Val crept closer to climax, Sally leaned in.

"Do you want to cum?"

With a gulp and her eyes filling with tears, Val whispered, "No Mistress. I want to obey you."

"Good girl. You won't cum."

Sally kept the caresses going for several more minutes, stopping only when Valerie was on the edge and sobbing. It continued like this for another two hours. Sally would alternate fingering Val to the edge of climax with attacks on her body with the horse hair. In between, she would caress and hold Valerie until her arousal sank enough for the next step. At the end of the two hours, Valerie was sobbing and pleading unabashedly.

"Please, Mistress, I need to cum. I'll do anything, please let me cum. Punish me later, but I need to cum so badly."

Sally hugged her tight. "No, not tonight. I love to hear your beg. Beg some more while I hold you."

Valerie did just that. She begged and pleaded for an orgasm. She wept in her agony, yet there was a smile on her face from knowing that she was giving her Mistress what she wanted. After several more minutes, Sally took Val down, using the short length of chain to secure Val's wrists to her collar, preventing her hands from reaching her pussy or breasts. Once they were back upstairs, Valerie's ankles were fastened to the corners of the bed and the two lovers fell asleep, Valerie's more restless than Sally's.

Valerie woke up to the feeling of fingers caressing her pussy. She wriggled and moaned without opening her eyes. She could smell old and new sex in the air. Her hands and legs were still bound from the previous night.

"You know. The longer it takes you to wake up, the more frustrated you'll be when I stop." Sally's voice had a playful sarcastic lilt to it.

"You mean I still don't get to cum?"

"Nope, afraid not. Master's orders."

Valerie opened her eyes to see her lover lying next to her. Sally had a glow about her in the morning that made Valerie jealous at times. Her short cut hair was not the frazzle that Valerie's always was upon waking. Sally was that most dreaded of people; the morning person.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 01



"How can you be so ready to go so early?"

"Uh, Val, it's after 10:00 in the morning I've been waiting for you so we could take a shower together, hon."

"Oh. I guess I was a little out of it."

"Well, you did expend more energy last night than I did."

"You mean you took more from me," Val corrected with a smile.

"Just for that, you're hands are staying bound to your neck."

"Then I guess you'll have to wash me yourself."

"I guess I will." The look of lust in Sally's eyes gave Valerie a shudder.

The two took a long hot shower, luxuriating in the plentiful supply of hot water. Sally teased Val mercilessly while washing her. By the time the shower was over, Valerie was on the edge again and loving every minute of it. Once they were dressed, they joined Francine in the dining room.

"Valerie, you had a call while you were in the shower. What is Milton Freeman calling you about?"

"He wants to hire Sally and I as consultants on his movie."

"You're going to work on a movie about what happened? Why?"

"We can't stop it, so we might as well try to influence its accuracy. Wait a minute! How in the hell did he get our home number?"

The three ladies looked at one another. As each shrugged their shoulders, they realized that Mr. Freeman had chutzpah and connections. If he didn't seem so harmless, they would be frightened. As it was, they were concerned. Are they that easy to track down?

Francine's face took on a look of, "Children!" She exhaled and said, "You don't think it's easy to stay hidden? I could find anything out about anyone in an hour on the internet. You just have to want to."

"That doesn't make it any less irritating that he went and invaded our privacy. He is so close to not having an expert consultant. Give me the phone." Valerie dialed the phone with angry stabs at the keys. There was a wait of several seconds.

"Mr. Freeman!"

"Valerie. It's so good to hear from you."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Valerie's voice had a tone that only an idiot would miss the danger in.

"I'm not sure what you mean. Is there a problem?"

"Is there a problem? You go out of your way to find my private, unlisted, home phone number and don't think that's a problem? Are you a stalker of some sort, or just an insensitive prick?"

"That would be insensitive prick. Listen, it's how things are done in Hollywood. I needed to call and I did what needed to be done to get a hold of you."

"Well, that's not how things are done here. Don't you ever call this number again! Do you understand?"

"Yes, I do. I suppose I shouldn't call Charles Vanquil's home phone either?"

"That would fall under the definition of bad, as in he can break your company, bad. Just the fact that you know about him is bad. If this is how you treat the people you work with, I need to rethink my willingness to accept your offer."

"Please don't do that. The whole reason that I called was to tell you that I have approval for your magazines to have reporter access from start to finish on the movie."

Valerie took a deep breath and let it out. The fact was, she wanted to do this for reasons of her own. Making sure that the lifestyle received positive coverage in a motion picture was important; important enough to put up with movie mogul peccadilloes. "Mr. Freeman, if you will promise to respect the privacy of me and those I care about, I'll give you a pass on this one."

"Great. I appreciate that. I'd like to get you and Sally to start working with the screen writer as soon as possible. Can you see him today?"

"I don't know. My weekends are frequently Master's. I need to check with Him to see if I'm free."

"I understand, I think. He will need to see examples of submission. Maybe he could sit in and observe one of your...what are they called... scenes?"

Valerie's voice had that hard edge again. "Mr. Freeman?"

"I didn't mean today. I meant, if you should be planning on anything public, like at the Mephisto's club, it would be good if you could let him know so he could observe."

"He could do that without me. Mephisto's is open to the public."

"But, he could not get to know you and your submission that way. The story is about you and what happened to you."

Valerie sighed. "I'll see what I can do. I have to call my Master now. I'll be in touch, Mr. Freeman."

Sally came up behind Val and put her arms around her lover. Sally could feel the tension in Valerie's body. She massaged Val's shoulders and felt the kinks and stiffness ease out. Valerie leaned back with her eyes closed and let Sally put her at ease.

"Val, it will be okay. Working on this film will be good for us and the lifestyle. Master is okay with it."

"I know, it's just that man pushes my buttons so well. Is he doing things to get my goat on purpose or is he just that insensitive?"

"He's insensitive. I had to work with a studio once, getting a safety program into place. They really are that full of themselves and can't conceive that anyone else is not as taken with them as they are. Why do you think that celebrities think their opinions on politics matter to anyone else?"

"I suppose you're right. That feels so good. I don't suppose you can tease me some more this morning?"

"I'd love to, but we should see if Master has sent us any instructions."

"You're right."

Valerie and Sally moved to where their computers were and logged on to their e-mail servers. Both had messages from Charles instructing them to meet him at Mephisto's at four that afternoon. They were allowed to play with one another, but were not to cum.

Valerie looked over at Sally. Their eyes met, each melting into the other. Getting up from their computers, the embraced and kissed, their tongues wrestling in their mouths. Their hands roamed across each other's back, caressing with a loving gentleness that was far different, but no less passionate, than the caresses than Sally had inflicted upon Valerie the previous night.

"I love you so much," Sally whispered.

"I love you too. You are the center of my life, Sally."

"I'm not sure I want to get too worked up before seeing Master this afternoon."

"I know what you mean. Do expect to be kissed at every available opportunity, however."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Do you want to meet the screen writer with me?"

"I can do that. When?"

"I'll have to call Milton back."

Valerie made the call and set up a meeting with the screen writer at noon. Mr. Freeman would also be at The Texan, a local steakhouse. The two women spent the rest of the morning dealing with personal and house hold chores, broken up by the stolen kiss and embrace. Neither had any idea what they were in for when they would talk to the man who would take their story and put it on paper.

*

Thank you D. for another great editing job. To my readers, remember, I love feedback, both good and constructively critical.



Stranger Than Truth Ch. 02



Chapter Two: The Screenwriters

Before they left to meet the screenwriter at the Texan, Sally and Valerie packed a bag with clothes more appropriate for submitting to their Master. Both were lost in their thoughts on the drive. Valerie was still frustrated by how easily Milton Freeman, the producer, managed to make her mad. It wasn't going to help her deal with a screenwriter who, in all likelihood, held the same common misconceptions about BDSM and the people who participated in it. Sally, in spite of her earlier reassurances to Valerie, was worried that this whole project could hurt the lifestyle she loved so much. It certainly could not portray the incredible variety of ways that D/s was expressed.

The Texan was a popular steakhouse whose ads boasted that authentic Texas longhorn beef, grilled in true Texan fashion would make it impossible to enjoy steak cooked anywhere else. While it didn't have that effect, it was very good steak. Milton was waiting for them in the outer lobby.

"Valerie! How good to see you. And you must be Sally. You both look lovely. I have the table already, a private dining room, actually. That way we can speak freely. I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of ordering for the two of you. I hope neither of you is a vegetarian."

Sally squeezed Valerie's hand, sensing her lover's anger rising to boiling in a flash. "Not at all Mr. Freeman. It was very kind of you to buy us lunch."

He led them to one of the Texan's private dining rooms. Inside was a couple. The man was decidedly effeminate. He wore a blue satin shirt and designer jeans. There was something odd about the shirt, but neither Sally nor Valerie could place it right away. There were rings on four of the fingers of his two hands, one of which was entangled in the fingers of the woman. He had earring studs in both ears and a matching stud in the left side of his nose.

She exuded sensuality. Her tan evenly covered the entire exposed portion of her body. She wore an emerald green dress without looking garish. The low cleavage of the dress promised that a lover would probably find no tan lines on her body. Her brown hair fell in long locks, reaching to the small of her back. Her jade and emerald earrings matched her dress. Valerie was certain that if she walked onto the floor of the Gotham Club, she would be the cause of several male bruises from a girlfriend's fist. Heads would turn, and likely, roll later.

"Valerie, Sally, let me introduce our screenwriter, Sampson."

Sally reach a hand out towards the gentleman. "It's nice to meet you Sampson."

Mr. Freeman coughed gently. "I'm sorry, I must not have been clear. Sampson is the screenwriting team, not anyone's name. Caroline and Thomas are a team and insist on being billed as a single writer. They are expert at translating vision into pictures."

Valerie looked the two over. "Yes, I'm sure they are. Tell me Sampson, how good are you at translating reality to the big screen?"

The lady, Caroline, looked amused. "Oh my. We're not doing reality. We're going to write better than reality. Reality is so boring." The word so was drawn out to take a full two seconds to finish.

Valerie and Sally had sat down by now. "I see," Sally started, "Just how do you intend to improve on Valerie's and my lives? I can assure you, the first month we knew each other was not boring."

Thomas twisted one of his rings as he responded to the question. "Oh, We don't mean that your lives are boring, just the way that people tell the story of their lives. We will be making the telling exciting. Surely you don't think Terms of Endearment was exciting because of the story? It was the way it was told that made it so wonderful."

At this time, waiters carried in their food. After everything was situated and the waiters gone again, Caroline picked up where Thomas had left off. "You see, any story can be made captivating by telling it the right way. Our gift is in finding that perfect way. What we would like is for you to tell us what happened. It was, what, a month of time from when you discovered Francine was a... dominant, is it... until she attacked you and left you for dead?"

Valerie carefully put her fork down. In measured tones, she corrected Caroline. "Francine did not attack me. She lost control in a consensual BDSM scene. I was there because I wanted to be there. In fact, I asked to submit to her, not the other way around."

Thomas looked excited. "Yes, that's what we need from you two. What really happened that night and what led up to it. We can't tell the story right until we know what the story is."

"So, you want to know, and tell, the truth?"

"Exactly. We want to tell your story. We also want to get some of the details of this BDSM thing right. I'm not really comfortable with the masochism thing, but if it's part of the story, I need to understand it." Thomas did look uncomfortable when he spoke.

Sally, speaking around a bite of baked potato, tried to explain something to the two writers. "One of the first things you have to understand is that BDSM, or D/s, is not just about pain and those who like it. I doubt many in the lifestyle truly enjoy the pain and some don't use pain in their play at all."

"But, isn't the desire for pain what led Valerie to seek Francine out?" The confusion on both their faces was apparent as Caroline asked her question.

"No it wasn't. I don't like pain. It sucks. But, I do enjoy submitting to the will of my Master and/or Mistress. I sought out Francine that night because I wanted to express how much I loved her and cared for her. I didn't even know she wanted to whip me until I got there."

"But, what else could she have done?"

"Oh my," laughed Sally. "Almost anything. Francine could have tortured Val with near climaxes for hours, forced her to have climaxes unendingly for hours, or even just tied her up tightly and left her to sit in bondage. Submission is about letting someone else have their way with you. It is not all about pain. You two need to visit Mephisto's, a lot."

Milton interrupted. "Valerie, Sally, why don't you tell the story in your own words? We can worry about the details of bondage and such later."

Valerie looked into the air for a moment, a dreamy expression on her face, as the months rolled back in her mind. "I suppose it started with the week from hell at Bradford and Gashune. I had just finished a particularly difficult assignment and was in need of some serious unwinding. For me, that frequently included some serious, down to earth, sex. I had gone out to the Gotham Club for just that reason. I was looking for a man to fuck. It was there that I met..."

For the next hour and a half, Valerie and Sally related the events of those 37 days that transformed Valerie from the straight vanilla person she used to be to the submissive bisexual lady she was now. When they reached the crisis with Francine, Sally was narrating.

"Surmi and I burst in to see Francine whipping Val with all her strength. Both had blood running down their backs and were crying."

Caroline interrupted. "Wait. They both had bloody backs?"

Valerie answered. "Yes. Francine had become so numb to the world, from what she's been able to share, that she sought out the dregs of our lifestyle, people who torture and maim for fun. She had reopened wounds that a man called Painmaster had given her the day before.."

Thomas continued seeking understanding. "I can understand why you would have been crying, but why was she?"

"She was demanding that I hate her, that I stop loving her. In her mind, love brought all the pain she had felt and she wanted to be free of it."

Sally picked up the narrative again. "Surmi stopped the beating and I took Val down. Francine had rushed past us and slit her wrists. We had to call 911 to save her life. That's when the real crisis started."

Milton gaped in astonishment. "The real crisis? I would have thought what happened to your back was the crisis."

Valerie smiled. "Don't get me wrong. The whipping was terrible. But it did not destroy the life I had. It was the publicity. To keep Francine out of jail, I admitted to the police that I had come there willingly to be whipped. It was leaked to the press and everything fell apart. I was fired, evicted, lost friends and was generally ostracized by nearly everyone. If not for the steadfast friends that did stay with me," Valerie squeezed Sally's hand as her eyes watered, "I would have never been able to carry on."

Thomas put his hand to his chin. "I think I see. The whipping left wounds that were merely physical. The prejudice that followed left the more lasting mental damage. Much the way we gays were treated in decades past."

Sally slammed her hand on the table. "Yes! Exactly! BDSM is in the same place homosexuality was 30 years ago. Being outed could destroy your life. Mind you, there were some bright spots in it all. The police, even though you could tell they did not approve of what we did, were professionals through and through. The paramedics that responded to Valerie being shot didn't bat an eye at Valerie's collar."

Caroline dropped her fork. "Shot? Valerie was shot?"

"Yes, though Harv was aiming at Francine."

"Harv, Francine's boy friend?"

"Former boyfriend, yes. Sally and I were picking up Francine from the hospital, her injuries were actually worse than mine, and he met us on the steps and tried to shoot Francine. I stepped in between them and his bullet hit my slave collar. For a moment, I thought I was dying."

"I think you lost me. Slave collar?"

Sally tried to explain. "Yes, you see, after the whipping and suicide attempt, Surmi called 911 and..."

Sally and Valerie finished the narrative, explaining how Valerie came to have a permanent slave collar around her neck that saved her life. The trio of movie makers were fascinated by the collar and the reasons why Valerie would want to wear such a thing. The tale ended with their hand fasting ceremony and public auction.

Valerie was finishing. "And since then, my life has been pretty normal, or at lest as normal as someone who lets herself be tortured for sexual fun can be. I suspect that Wednesday marked the start of another period of time dominated by that ancient Chinese curse, 'May you live in interesting times.' Nothing about movie making sounds normal."

Milton smiled the smile of one who knows a secret. "It can be at times. There are interesting times scattered about, though."

By now, their lunches had been finished and the writing pair had been taking voluminous notes. Caroline and Thomas had long since stopped eating in favor of writing what was being revealed to them to supplement their recordings. Milton was pulling some papers out of his briefcase.

"Valerie, Sally, I have these contracts for you. They're the usual contracts that we offer consultants on our movies. Take these with you, look them over with your lawyers and sign them. That way, we can start paying you for your time. Valerie, this is a contract for Delgrasi. It spells out the details of reporter access and how we will reimburse Delgrasi for the time of yours that they will lose. I'm sure that your legal department will have no problem with it. Do you have any questions?"

Valerie and Sally looked at each other. Sally answered. "No, not that we can think of. If you want a chance to view some authentic BDSM play, you could come and visit Mephisto's tonight. Our Master has summoned us there at 4:00. In fact," she had looked at her watch, "we should be going if we're going to be on time."

Caroline looked up, hopefully. "Will we have a chance to see you in action?"

Valerie chuckled at the phrase. "Usually I'm in inaction, not action," She thought to herself. Out loud she answered with a shrug of her shoulders. "I don't know. If he has something public planned, yes. If we use one of the private rooms, probably not. Either way, what you will see publicly will be informative. Just remember, no pictures and, while there is no rule against it, I would avoid taking notes. Later, Sally and I can explain things that you don't fully understand."

With that, Valerie and Sally bid the three a good day and headed off to Mephisto's. Both were feeling good about the first meeting with Caroline and Thomas. Neither had seemed put off by the subject matter and were genuinely interested. The general lack of questions was a bit odd, but perhaps their style was listen, digest, then ask. The couple arrived at Mephisto's with ten minutes to spare. After changing into their play clothes, they locked the bags in a locker.

Sally had donned a leather bra and hot pants with no under wear. She added a matching leather collar and cuffs. Valerie had slipped into a full body dress that was translucent, leaving everyone able to see her charms. Both carried leashes for their Master to lead them by, if he so wished. As per Charles' instructions, they went over to the main stage and waited, watching the scene being played out while they did.

There was a naked woman on stage tied between the uprights of a basic square frame. She was not tied tightly, having some play in her bonds. The second woman, dressed in a leather body suit was attaching clothes pins to the bound woman's body. Valerie gasped at the sight of nearly two dozen pins on each of the submissive's breasts. They formed a double spiral from the center between her breasts to the nipples. Tears were running down her face as she panted and moaned at the little bursts of pain as each pin was attached.

Once the breasts were fully pinned, the dominant started a third curving line of pins down her belly until she reached the pussy. The line split at the clit and ended with four pins in each cunt lip. Then, the leather clad woman began to string a length of twine through the springs of the pins. After linking all the pins in the first breast spiral, another was started on the second.

Sally winced. "Oh my. She's doing a zipper."

Valerie looked over. "Zipper? What do you mean?"

"Watch. Master will probably want to do this to you sometime. It's very painful. Think of the equivalent pain of an hour of whipping in five seconds."

Valerie looked at her lover, looked at the stage, looked back at Sally. "Oh my God! She's not going to..."

Sally nodded. "Yes. All at once."

By now, the zipper had been completed. At the center clothes pin between her breasts, hung three loose ends of twine. The dominant woman had all three in her hand and was saying something to the bound woman. She was shaking her head and sobbing uncontrollably. Suddenly, the twine ends were pulled hard. In rapid succession, every clothes pin popped off the bound submissive. It seemed that there was the briefest of pauses, as if the pain had not fully registered yet, before a scream erupted from the throat of the submissive. The wail drowned out every other sound in the room, continuing for over a minute, as the simultaneous pain of six dozen clothes pins coming off made itself felt.

Valerie had turned away from the sight, eyes screwed shut, unable to watch, fearful of experiencing the same thing herself. A hand grasped her chin and her eyes flew open to see Charles Vanquil, her Master holding her and looking at her face.

"Master." Valerie could not think of anything to say.

"Valerie. Sally. It's good to see you. Valerie, what do you think of the zipper?"

"Master, I... It looked very painful. Is that what is going to happen to me tonight?"

"Do you want it to happen?"

"Master, I..." Valerie was unable to give an answer, unsure of what to say. Would a no be considered rebellious?

"Honest answer, Valerie. You can't go wrong with an honest answer."

"No, Master, I don't want that to happen. But if that is your wish..."

"I will zipper you sometime, Valerie, but not tonight. Tonight, we're going to start confronting one of your fears. Come, both of you. I have a room rented."

He led them to a room at the far end of the floor that Valerie had never been in before. Sally knew what was in the room and prepared herself to give Valerie all the support she could. Charles went in first, followed by Sally, with Val bringing up the rear. As soon as Valerie stepped into the room, she stopped, her breath catching. In the middle of the floor was a doctor's examination table, complete with stirrups.

Months ago, Valerie had suffered a safe word panic attack at being bound to such a table in Charles' basement. To this day, she had no idea why this particular item held such unreasoning fear for her. Yet it did, and that fear was back.

Charles took on his most commanding voice. "Valerie. Come in and close the door."

Moving like an automaton, Valerie stepped to the side and closed the door. "Master?" she whispered.

"I know Val. We won't go past your safe word limit. I want you to go up to the table and put your hands on it. Just stand there with your hands on the rail."

Valerie approached the table with baby steps. Her heart was beating a mile a minute and a cold sweat had broken out on her body. There was no arousal, just a nameless fear that threatened to force her to bolt for the door. Val was unaware of what was happening behind her. The blood pounding in her ears was louder than the voices of Sally and Charles. The stainless steel of the table was cold under her hands and felt... dangerous, somehow.

Sally's voice from beside her caused her to squeal in fright. "Val. It's okay. Master wants me on the table first. You're going to help him bind me. Okay?"

Valerie nodded her head, unable to get words out. Sally climbed on top of the table and lay down. Valerie felt a hand grip her arm and she jerked back from the table. Charles held her tight until she calmed down.

"Valerie. Use these ropes to tie Sally's arms to the rails. One at each wrist ad one at each elbow. Can you do that?"

"Y... Y... Yes Master. I'm sorry Master."

"There's nothing to be sorry for, Valerie. Every submissive has at least one major block to overcome. We will take it slowly and you will be able to overcome this one. Wait and see."

While Valerie was tying Sally's arms to the rails, Charles was securing her feet to the stirrups. Straps were then added to hold her body down. They strapped her at her waist, her chest and across her forehead (a pillow was placed under Sally's head). Her knees were pulled apart by ropes that were anchored to the poles of the stirrups. Sally struggled for a few minutes against the bindings. None gave any slack.

"Sally, tell Valerie how you feel right now."

"Yes, Master. Val, I feel very helpless. I can't move anything but my fingers and toes. I'm nervous too. I don't know what master has planned. He could be intending to tease me and leave me aroused and frustrated. I might find myself being spanked or whipped. If that happens, I won't be able to move away from the lashes at all. He could use the crop on the exact same place over and over again, making the pain so much more intense. I'm also excited. I'm Master's toy, to be used any way he wishes and I can't have any effect on what that is. I want him to touch me. You know how bad that can be."

By now, Sally was struggling against her bonds. She wasn't trying to get loose, she was simply feeling them, acknowledging their presence, their hold on her body. Valerie found that she was struggling too. She wanted to submit to Charles in every possible way. Here was Sally doing something that she could not bring herself to do. Tears started flowing from her eyes as she gripped the rail again. Her knuckles were white.

Charles put his hand on Valerie's shoulder. "Valerie, what are you feeling right now?"

"Master, I... I want so much to be in Sally's place, to submit to this. But I'm so scared. It's terrifying. I know I'll break if I try. It makes me sad, heartbroken."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 02



"Come here Valerie." Charles led her to the head of the table. "Take your clothes off." After she did, he attached D-rings to her cuffs and clipped them to the end of the rail. "Is the fear any worse?"

"No, Master."

He then attached Valerie's ankle cuffs to the legs of the table. Since they were partly under the table, Val had to hold herself with the rail or she would try to fall backwards.

"How about now, Valerie?"

"It's a little painful, but... I don't know. I think I feel safer, somehow. It's confusing."

"Good."

He extracted a double penis gag from his bag and gagged Sally with one side, fastened it around her head. Valerie was bent over and gagged with the other side. Her hands were slid forward on the rail and the D-rings refastened past the first cross bar. This freed Valerie's hands to hold one of the rubber balls that Charles placed in each of their hands.

Valerie's back was arched as she bent over the end of the table to reach Sally's head. Her legs were spread wide and she found that she could not clench her ass tight. Later, Sally would explain how having her feet turned inwards prevented her from doing that. The rattle of Valerie's cuffs against the stainless steel of the medical bed echoed in the room. Charles let them lie (and stand) in their bondage, enjoying the struggles they put up. Both gripped the balls tight.

The first caresses were made to Sally's belly. Charles' hands roamed over her with that light, teasing touch of his that could drive a woman's arousal to insane heights. Sally's struggles increased as her body sought to give voice to the pleasure it was enduring. Valerie could see every bead of sweat form on her lover's chest, every rise and fall of Sally's breasts, the increasing rigidity of her nipples. Every moan and muffled plea was intimately part of Valerie's connection to Sally. The groan of despair when Charles stopped echoed in Val's ears.

Then Sally was treated to a return performance, as Valerie was subjected to the same hands playing over her back and side. Like Sally, her breasts and cunt were ignored. Valerie's body was able to respond more to the caresses, not that it made any difference. Juice liberally coated her pussy. Sweat dripped form Valerie's forehead onto Sally's neck, where it rolled off the side to drip onto the table. Valerie groaned pitifully at the cessation of the touches.

Charles pulled a horse hair flogger out of his bag and started spinning it. He brought it between Sally's legs so that the strands hit her left leg repeatedly. At the first stings, Sally jerked. Then she started to moan. The lashes moved up and down her leg in a regular pattern, pulling the blush out of her skin. She tried to open her legs wider, but they were already as wide as she could move them. The sensations stopped abruptly. Then her right leg was under assault. Up and down the thigh, stinging repeatedly, the whip moved. Sally was trying to plead through her gag, to beg for the whip to move lower, just a little bit lower, down to her pussy.

Sally's gag barely restrained her scream when the whipping stopped a second time. Ignoring her cries, Charles moved around to the back of her improvised Siamese twin and started whipping Valerie. The sensations from Wednesday had returned. A constant barrage of stinging blows impacted Val's back and legs as Charles moved the focus of his attention up and down her body. Valerie, having more freedom of movement that Sally, was able to jerk and writhe under the impact of the flogger. Now Valerie was pleading incoherently through her gag for Charles to bring the lashes against her pussy. When he stopped, she groaned and sagged against the table.

"Valerie. I want to switch your and Sally's positions." Charles was undoing the gags as he told them what was going to happen. Once the gags were loose, he removed Sally's restraints first. "Valerie. Do you think you can lie on the table without restraint?"

There were tears in Valerie's eyes as she answered. "I don't know Master. I'll try."

"Good girl. We will try to restrain you, but very slowly to let you get used to it and recognize when it will be too much."

"Master, I'm so scared. I don't know if I can handle being bound on it."

"Don't worry about that. Just let me know when you've reached your limit. That's your job."

By now, Sally was free and helping Charles release the restraints on Val. "I'll be right here honey. You'll be safe. I'll be holding your hands the whole time, okay. I love you Val."

"I love you Sally. Help me, please."

"I will. Okay. Can you get up on the table?"

Val nodded and climbed on the table. Her whole body was tense, as if ready to bolt at the first sign of danger. Sally took her hands and held them, looking into Valerie's eyes and smiling. Charles was behind her, brushing his hands through her hair. It took ten minutes, but Val did relax and start to breathe more easily..

"Val, I'm going to place your feet in the stirrups. No restraint yet. Just let them rest there."

While her legs tensed again, she allowed her feet to be lifted into the stirrups. Charles and Sally waited again. Sally never let go of Val's hands and kept Val's gaze focuses on her eyes. Charles caressed her legs, almost a massage, until they relaxed again. Valerie's breathing remained excited, even after ten minutes.

"Val, Master's going to tie your feet to the stirrups. Will you be okay?"

Valerie's head shook no while her voice said, "Yes." When she felt the ropes go around her foot, she jerked it out. She whispered, "No, no, no," over and over again. When Charles took her foot firmly in his hand and replaced it in the stirrup, she whimpered. She couldn't make her leg relax, but she didn't pull it away again. There was less of a struggle with the second foot and her legs were soon raised up and spread apart.

"You're doing well, honey, really well. I know you're frightened out of your wits. Take your time. We have all night."

"Valerie. How are you feeling? Look inside and let us know."

"I'm so terrified, Master. Everything inside me wants to leap up and run away, far away. I... I'm also very aroused. I want to be fucked. I want to feel the horse hair against my pussy. But I'm not sure that I won't panic when it happens."

"I only have one more restraint I want to put on you tonight. I'm not going to make you submit to full restraint right now. That can come later."

With a quiver in her voice, Val asked, "Master, how? What?"

"I'm going to strap your waist down so you can't move your hips."

"Yellow light."

"Do you need more time?"

"Yes, Master. Please."

"Of course, Valerie. I want you to hold Sally tight against you and not let her go. Okay?"

"Yes Master."

Valerie took Sally into a hug, embracing her against her chest. She pulled tight as Sally began to squirm. While she was restrained by her mate, Charles put a spreader bar on Sally's ankles, forcing her feet a full four feet apart. He then retrieved the flogger and started swirling it again.

Sally screamed as the first blow struck directly on her pussy. As the twirling strands hit her cunt lips repeatedly, she writhed and struggled in Valerie's grasp. Her struggles seemed at odds with her cries of, "Oh God! Oh God! Don't let go! Don't let Go! More Master! More Master!" Again and again the strands caressed Sally's pussy with harsh caresses that were sending her nerves into overdrive. Her body reeled under the assault of the painful pleasure that was being inflicted upon her. When her orgasm hit, it was made all the more intense by the unrelenting attention the whip gave her cunt.

Sally wailed in Valerie's grasp as her body shook in climax. Tears fell like rain upon Val's breast. Sally's arms broke loose and grabbed onto Valerie's arm. The first orgasm had barely passed before the continuing fogging touched off another. In the midst of her cries of pleasure, Sally was whispering, "Please, please." Not even she was able to determine if the pleas were for more or for less. Her eyes were screwed shut and her breath was ragged. When Sally's third orgasm started in the midst of her second, she wailed again and grunted, "Red light, Master, please, red light."

Charles stopped the flogger and stepped back. Valerie started to let go until Sally gripped her tight and begged Val to not let go. The orgasm continued for another minute. When it had run its course, Sally slumped against Valerie in exhaustion. Her body rose and lowered as she drew deep breaths in and out to satisfy her body's greedy demand for oxygen.

"Sally, do you need the spreaders off?"

"No Master. I'm okay. That was very intense."

"You took a third orgasm this time."

"I did? Fantastic!" Sally had felt orgasms from the horse hair before. Their intensity had always been so strong that she used her safe word after only two. "Val, do you want some of that?"

Valerie's intensity of desire matched sally's intensity of climax. "Oh God Yes! Please Master?"

"Valerie, it will be best if your hips are bound."

Valerie's sharp intake of breath sounded loud enough to be heard through the door to the room. fear and desire warred inside her, nearly evenly matched. "O... O... Okay. Can Sally hold me? I need her to hold me."

"Of course." Charles released Sally's feet. Then he pulled the strap back up and laid it across Val's hips. Val started to tremble at the feeling. Sally dropped the rail on one side and leaned over the top of Valerie, holding her tight and cradling Val's head against her shoulder.

As Valerie started to cry, Sally whispered reassuringly to her lover. "It's okay. I'm here. I'll never leave you. It will be wonderful. I bet you will cum four times my little slut." Valerie could not help but to smile through her tears at that last term of endearment. Then the strap was cinched tight. Valerie started to struggle and cry out.

"Oh God! I can't move. Please, I can't move. I'm scared. Please... I can't hold on. The waiting, please Master."

Charles, seeing that Valerie's fear had reduced her already low tolerance for waiting to almost nothing, started twirling the flogger against her cunt right away. Valerie screamed. The sound was one of desperate fear mixed with intense pleasure. Valerie struggled against Sally's grip, trying to escape and, at the same time, not wanting to. Slowly, the fear was being matched by arousal spreading from her pussy to encompass her entire body. Warmth from her pussy flowed across her body. Val was pleading, "Please," over and over again, for what, she wasn't sure. Sally whispered, "Almost, just a little more," in response.

Sally could tell, from many sexual encounters in the past, that Valerie was on the edge of orgasm. Yet, she seemed unable to cross the gulf that yawned before her. With Val holding on as tight as Sally was, Sally was able to let go with one hand and slip it down to Val's clit. Charles rarely flogged a woman's clit. It usually resulted in a safe word at the extreme levels of sensation. Sally ran her finger over Val's erect and slick clit, sending the trembling woman into orgasm.

Val bucked and screamed. Her back was hitting table again and again while her fingers clawed at Sally's back. Sally hissed as her back was scratched, but said nothing. When she heard the barest whisper of, "Red light," she repeated it loud enough for Charles to hear it. Valerie's body continued to shudder in her climax for several more seconds.

"Please, let me go," Valerie pleaded as her orgasm ebbed.

The strap loosened and came off. Her feet were released from the stirrups. Sally released her hold, sliding her hands to take Val's. She moved with her as Valerie rolled off the table and rushed to get away. As she drew Val back into an embrace, she congratulated her. "You did it Val. You survived the table."

"But, I was so scared and I didn't let Master restrain me completely."

Charles had walked up by now. "Valerie. A terror as bad as this will not be conquered in a single night. You did what you could. I'm proud of you. Give it time. I don't know what caused this phobia of yours, but you will be able to overcome it."

Sally was nodding in agreement. Slowly, Valerie relaxed from the intense scene. After she had calmed down enough, the pair of ladies headed for the showers while Charles returned home to spend time with Robert and Debbie, two more of his submissives. Once showered and dressed again, the two wandered about the main floor for a while. After a half hour of wandering, they ran into Calvin Freshin and Susan, his submissive, and former secretary. Calvin was in the street clothes he wore to the club when he won Val and Sally in the auction after their handfasting. Susan was on her hands and knees, naked and on a leash. Her ass had a plug in it that had a fur covered extension on it.

"Valerie! It's so good to see you here. I wanted to thank you for sending Ms. Carstares my way. She is working out splendidly. Do you know she knows more about Pony's Paddock than I do? She reads it, and all the others cover to cover every month."

"I'm glad to hear that. Are you and Susan celebrating her termination as your secretary?"

"Yes. I've decided that Susan will be spending the weekend as a dog."

"Well," Sally chuckled, "That would explain the tail."

Valerie crouched down to Susan's level. "So, is Susan a happy little puppy?" she asked with a smile.

Susan panted and shook her ass, causing the tail to wag. A mischievous look came to her face and she leaned forward and licked Val across the face, from chin to the top of Val's nose. Calvin jerked her back by the leash. His face smiled as well.

"Bad dog. I'm going to have to punish you now. I'm sorry about that Valerie. Sometimes Susan has impulse control problems."

Valerie patted Susan on the head. "Well, you will have to work on that. Be firm, Calvin. Dogs only understand firmness."

Susan indicated her agreement with more panting and tail wagging. The smile on her face was full of teeth as the full time submissive anticipated the playful discipline that was to come. Calvin promised that he would, indeed be firm. Remembering their scene with him months ago, Sally and Val were sure he would, much to the enjoyment of both parties.

Calvin and Susan spent about half an hour on stage while he had her demonstrate numerous tricks that his 'dog' had learned. Val and Sally were able to watch as Susan was made to sit up, beg, roll over, and heel. After obtaining a couple of volunteers, Susan demonstrated her responses to the commands of 'lick' and 'nuzzle' by licking a cock and cunt respectively. With cum still on her face, she then negotiated a small course of blocks and hoops. Valerie and Sally smiled at the ecstatic look on Susan's face as she was put through her 'humiliating' paces.

Afterwards, Sally and Val went home and spent the evening relaxing. Sunday saw Sally's pussy a bit too sore for sex. Instead the couple spent the day at the Metropolitan Museum, visiting the new Australian History exhibit. Monday was a busy work day for both. Valerie had Delgrasi's legal department look over all three contracts. The lawyers indicated that there were no traps in the documents, but that there was no explicit guarantee that Valerie's and Sally's privacy would be protected. At her request, they drafted an addition that would forbid Hellfire Pictures from selling or giving any of the information the women provided in the course of their consulting to any other party.

After work, they both met with Milton Freeman to go over the contracts and the requested addition. He had no problem with the additional language and the contracts were signed. It was now official. Valerie and Sally were expert consultants on a major motion picture. They didn't hear from Caroline or Thomas until Wednesday. Both received calls at their jobs that day, requesting a meeting with them to talk about an outline of the script.

The writing team that called themselves Sampson seemed taken by The Texan. They met with Sally and Valerie there for a dinner meeting. The two women arrived shortly before 6:00 and found that Sampson was already there. Joining them, the foursome ordered their food first and settled down to business.

Thomas started the discussion. "We've been going over your story and it's just too much to tell in its entirety. It would make a wonderful book, but we need to cut it down. In the long run, that will be our decision, but we wanted to get your input on what can be cut and what must stay to tell the story we want to tell."

Valerie asked, "Just what story do you want to tell? That will make a difference. I know what I want to tell the world through this movie."

Caroline smiled. "What would that be Valerie?"

"I want to tell a story of friendship and love. I want to show the world that BDSM players are just like everyone else. They have lives. They fall in love. They can be hurt. They can forgive. I don't want to paint a picture of us being sexual deviants whose entire life revolves around sex."

"If I may play devil's advocate?" Thomas started. "Isn't your life all about BDSM, sex? I mean, your chose to wear a collar 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. I would say that sex defines who you are."

Sally put her hand on Valerie's arm, silently telling Val to let her answer this one. "Val has made BDSM, her submission, the most visible part of her life. There is so much more. I've seen her in tears when she remembers Mike, her dead husband." Valerie's hand squeezed Sally's in pain, but she remained silent. "I've seen the pure joy when she is on the dance floor. She puts in long days in her job as an advertising consultant. She was the best advertising executive Branford and Gashune had before they went senile and fired her without cause. She has family. Valerie Burbon is a complete person. Yes, this movie will probably focus on the story of her transformation from, I believe she put it as, 'a straight vanilla lady to a bisexual submissive woman,' along with the joys and heartache that were found along that road."

Caroline nodded. "Exactly! We agree. Now, how do we tell this story? Where does it start? What happens along the way?"

Valerie looked down at the table for a minute. Then looked up. "It has to start with the day I met my Master. But don't start with me getting ready. Start with the end of my day at the agency. Show the hard working executive at the end of a week and a difficult project, desperately in need of relaxation."

Thomas was nodding and scribbling notes. "Yes. That's good. From there, you'll go out dancing and meet him for the first time. I think we need to condense those first two nights into one. There's only so much time. But will anyone believe that you would go that far with him the first time?"

Sally shook her head. "Not if we want to convince the audience that Valerie is vanilla at that time, being seduced by the wondrous orgasms she received."

"So what has to happen that first night?" Caroline asked.

"We just leave the second night out," Val answered. "The talk he had with me Sunday takes place Saturday instead."

"Is that the one where he insists that you find out if you can trust him?" Thomas asked.

"Yes. He could hint that there is so much more where Friday came from and that I need to be sure that it's what I want, and that I want it with him."

Caroline rubbed her hands together. "Great. We're on the same page so far. Now, all that research, it just won't fly on film and uses up too much time. The lesbians from the sex shop are good characters, but I think we don't need them. I was thinking that you do your internet research and find Mephisto's web site where they talk about the slave auction."

Sally asked, "Does Mephisto's have a web site?"

"Doesn't matter," Thomas answered. "The club in the movie will."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 02



"Don't forget, you will need to introduce Francine before the auction. And I have to find out about her BDSM involvement before I get her panic phone call on Sunday."

"Hmmm. We'll have to work on that. You even have to have a reason to know that she has been with him. Any chance that a club like this would have a 'wall of fame' with pictures of notable dominants and submissives for you to see?"

Sally shook her head. "People might want photos of themselves, but most would not want them posted publicly, especially in a club that is open to the public."

Val looked at Sally. "Why not? They play there. They could be recognized in person by anyone who knows them. Anyway, you have to be pretty outgoing to do a scene publicly in Mephisto's. I kind of wish our hand fasting gifts were up there for everyone to see." Valerie and Sally locked eyes, remembering the beauty of the ceremony and the gifts.

Thomas was still writing. "So we could have you see the two in a picture together, if nothing else comes to mind. Now, the beating by, Harv, was it?" Val nodded. "You get called, your arrive, the secret is shared and we're off to you committing to him."

"There has to be a scene with Francine afterwards. It establishes that my going to her place later is believable."

Valerie was interrupted by the arrival of dinner. The waitress put everyone's food in front of them and refilled their drinks. Once she was gone, the talking resumed, interrupted only by the chewing of food.

"One of the things we'll have to talk about later is these scenes you talk about. From what you described earlier, these alone could make a movie of two hours or more. If there are too many of them, we'll pull an NC-17 rating, the kiss of death." Caroline made a dramatic, across the throat motion, with the butter covered knife.

Sally looked at the writing team with raised eyebrows. "You do realize that you may not be able to avoid it? The meat of the story is Francine's bloody whipping of Valerie. That alone should earn an NC-17, let alone any of the truly sexual scenes."

Thomas shook his head. "Not a problem. Ever since Blind Instinct and Deadly Desires, showing people in blatantly sexual scenes and showing them tied up and whipped are R rated fair. We get around the bloody whipping by showing the start, cut to the rescuers scrambling to get there in time, and the results. Maybe a cut scene with a tortured Valerie pleading for a stop. You know, that safe word thing being ignored."

Valerie pointed a fork at the pair. "That's crucial. Without safe words, we'll paint the stereotype, not the truth." She stabbed a spear of broccoli and stuffed it into her mouth.

Sally added, "Yes. In fact, there needs to be a scene with a safe word being honored. Having it ignored won't hold any tension unless we establish that it has to be honored."

Caroline narrowed her eyes. "Is it really that important?"

"Absolutely. There are those that don't use them, but they are a minority. Not using a safe word is like sky diving without a back up parachute. It may never hurt you, but if it does, you're in deep shit." The intensity on Valerie's face made both writers lean back a little.

"You're really passionate about this."

"I should be. My back is testimony to what can go wrong. I was lucky. Francine's ignoring my safe word could have killed me. I don't ever want to have this happen to someone else."

Thomas nodded. "I see. Afterwards, we'll need to deal with the effects on your lives. Most can be mentioned in passing, but I think we need the showdown at the agency, Branford and Gashune. Make it plain that the firing was bigotry. That will mean letting the audience know how good you were."

Valerie and Sally were nodding. Sally added, "I would like to see the people who did right by us mentioned. The policemen who did their jobs and treated us no differently from anyone else, for example."

Caroline started to wrap up the meeting. "The end should be your hand fasting. The scene you had afterwards, even the gifts could be anti-climatic on screen. I know how much they meant to the both of you, but movies work differently. I also want to leave your lives in more disarray. It will take too much time to tell how you found the house and the new job. Those things can be done with an epilogue sequence telling what happened later, like at the end of Animal House."

Thomas had one more item. "We would like to get the BDSM scenes right. Clearly this movie will be popular with your crowd, even if with no one else. I'd like them to think we did right by them. Is there any chance that we can observe them being played out with the two of you?"

Valerie and Sally looked at one another. Sally answered. "I don't have a problem." Val nodded in agreement. The two had played publicly at Mephisto's on numerous occasions before, undoing much of the modesty she had. "We'll have to check with our Master to see if it's okay with Him. I suspect that the director and actors are going to need to see what they are trying to recreate as well."

Thomas nodded. "I suspect so. In fact, their seeing examples is probably more important than ours. We can just write, 'Sally whips Valerie's back until she uses her safe word,' and leave it up to the director to figure out what happens."

Valerie smiled. "I get the feeling that you two don't write that way."

Caroline shook her head with a smile. "No, our goal is to give the director nothing to do. Well, we have enough to start. It was good talking with the two of you. When can we get a demo?"

Valerie thought for a moment. "How about tomorrow? Unless Master has any objections, we can show you something in the evening."

"Sounds good. We'll wait for your call."

The two couples shook hands and went their separate ways. Once Sally and Valerie were in the car, Valerie turned to Sally.

"I want to go to Master's. I think we should ask for permission in person."

"Why? What makes this any different than other times we have played with each other?"

"We are asking Him to give up control of us for periods of time. We're probably going to need to be able to give demos with very little chance to consult Him."

"Do you think so? I mean, how much of a rush can they put on us?"

"I don't think Thomas and Caroline are going to be a problem. I'm worried about temperamental actors. I've had to work with them in ads before. One actor cost us $500,000 because of not having M&Ms in his trailer. Mark my words, someone is going to demand we meet his schedule and not ours. I want to be able to avoid serious complications."

Sally acknowledged the wisdom of Val's desire. Quickly verifying that Charles was at home and able to see them, they turned towards his mansion. 45 minutes later, Val's car pulled into the gated drive and drove up to the house. Herman answered the door.

"Lady Valerie, lady Sally. It's good to see you again. Master Charles is in the basement and asked that you join him there. No special preparations are needed."

"Thank you Herman."

The couple walked down to the basement, the location of the dungeon and the other playrooms. They saw Charles sitting at one of the toy benches doing something. When they were closer, they could see that he was using a soft rag to oil several of the leather items. All their equipment, from whips to restraining devices had to be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. Sally and Valerie knelt near Charles and waited for him to turn towards them.

After a few minutes, Charles put the harness he had been working on back on its hanger and turned towards the kneeling submissives.

"Valerie, Sally, what brings you to see me?"

"Master, we need to ask your permission. It's significant enough that I felt we should ask in person instead of by phone or email."

"Sounds serious. What is it you wish to do?"

Valerie took a deep breath. "We would like permission to play with each other and with others any time the movie people need a demonstration."

"I see. It is good that you came to ask in person. Do you realize that you're asking me to not place any restrictions on either of you for several months?"

"Yes, Master," Valerie answered. "It almost feels like asking you to not be Master for a while." As she gave voice to the concern she had, tears started to form in her eyes. "I don't want that Master. But the movie is a chance to tell the truth about our lifestyle."

"Sally. How do you feel about this?"

"Master, I hadn't thought of it the same way as Valerie has. Now that she has expressed it, though, I can see what she means. I don't want to do anything that would take back my gift to you." The three had exchanged gifts at the hand fasting ceremony months ago. Sally's gift to Charles had been a new slave contract with no limits besides a safe word.

"It's a good thing you asked for permission. If working on the movie required this much freedom for the two of you, then I would have to rescind my permission to be the consultants. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. So, you do not have permission to demonstrate BDSM play for the people working on the movie any time they ask. That said, I want this movie to be made as much as you two do. It is an opportunity that the lifestyle may not have again for years. So you will have to do what you need to do to get their facts straight. Does anyone with the movie want to see a demonstration yet?"

"Yes, Master. The screenwriters want to see something tomorrow. We did tell them that we would have to get your permission first."

"Good. Tell them they can have their demo. But, it will be here, under my hand. Have them arrive here by 5:00. You two are to be here at 6:00 precisely, not early, not late. Understood?"

"Yes, Master," the two submissives answered in unison.

"You are both to be naked when you knock on the door. Valerie's hands should be bound behind her. She should be blindfolded and led by you, Sally, on her leash. Sally will have clips on her nipples and pussy that are connected by chains. You are both to be gagged. Understood?"

"Yes, Master." Both spoke as one again.

"Okay. You can both go now. I will see you at 6:00. Oh, and no sex of any kind between now and then."

Charles laughed at the sighs that accompanied their last, "Yes, Master."

That last command made both wince as they drove home. Both had already become aroused by the thought of submitting together to their Master. Now they had no chance to seek relief. They drove home in silence. Once at home, they watched some TV to try to take their mind off of the sexual tension that had been created by Charles. It was only partially successful.

In the morning, they skipped a joint shower, figuring that would only make their frustration even greater. They agreed to meet for dinner after they left their respective work paces and packed the needed toys in a carry all bag. Valerie dropped Sally off at her job and drove to Delgrasi.

As she entered the outer area of her office, June caught her attention. "Ms. Burbon. There's been a change to your appointment schedule. Mr. Wilson had to cancel and reschedule for next week. Apparently his wife has appendicitis. Erica asked to be added. She'll see you at 10:00."

"That man has more reasons to cancel his appointment than anyone I have ever known. You would think that he didn't want to improve his ads. Thanks June. Any response from Hellfire Pictures on the report I sent them?"

"No, ma'am, not yet."

"Prepare a formal letter to the Whips'n'More company. Express that we will be unable to renew their advertising contract until such time as their ads meet the newly instituted quality controls at Delgrasi."

"Do we have new quality controls?"

"No. But their ads are some of the worst in terms of taste. I'm not going to see them in our magazines again. I can't believe that they believe the ads sell their products."

"I know. I've looked at them. I just don't understand why Mr. Wilson is being so recalcitrant. It's not like we charge for your services."

"This should get their attention. Just send Erica in when she shows up."

"Yes, ma'am."

Valerie spent the next couple of hours putting together some ideas for some of the companies that were trying to improve their presentations. Most companies made one common mistake. They used the same ad in every magazine that they bought space in. Yet, the simple fact was that the audience mattered. The one in front of her was from Bondage Frameworks. They made all manner of bondage frames, from simple square frames to rotating St. Andrew's crosses. Their ad ran in Mastering, The Sensible Submissive, and Bondage Monthly. Because of that fact, the advertisement did not reach out to anyone. What a dominant looks for in a bondage frame and what a submissive looks for are different. A Master wants ease of use, sturdy construction and a design that will enhance the appearance of the submissive he has bound to it. What a submissive wants most from a bondage frame is security (no submissive really want to be able to escape), safety (splinters=bad) and comfort (the discomfort should come from the dominant, not the equipment). The ads in those two magazines should be targeted, and different from the ones in Bondage Monthly. While both submissives and dominants read that third magazine, it also had a significant readership of switches and people who are neither, but simply into tying each other up.

By the time Erica walked into the office and locked the door, Valerie had just a few details to add to her presentation. Saving her work, she looked up and smiled at the young lady who was already taking her clothes off.

"My my, Erica. Is someone just a little excited?" Valerie asked, seeing Erica's wet pussy lips.

"I've got an egg in me. It's been going off randomly all morning," the naked submissive replied in a husky voice. "It's supposed to get 'better' right about n... Ahhhh, oh God!"

Erica stumbled and caught the back of a chair. Her eyes closed as she seemed to fight against something. Her arousal was quite noticeable to both Val's eyes and nose. Val took a look at her appointment schedule and saw that Erica was to be here for up to an hour.

"I suppose you're not allowed to cum?"

Erica, unable to speak, shook her head. Valerie stood up and walked around to Erica's side of her desk. Val grasped Erica's arms to help her stand.

"Can I help any?"

Erica let out a loud gasp. "No. I just need to fight off my orgasm. Oh God. Ahhhh. If I don't... ohhhh... I'll be punished tonight... Uhhhhh"

Valerie helped Erica sit down and took Erica's hands into her own. "You can do this, little one. Fight off the orgasm. Obey Master Damien."

Another gasp as the egg cycled off again. "I know. It's just, I haven't cum in a week. I want one so bad. Oh God!" The egg came on again.

"I know. I've been there too. But you love Master and will do anything for him, including never cum again, if that's what he wants."

Erica nodded, biting her lower lip. "Tie me please. Keep my hands and feet still."

"Of course." Valerie used Erica's clothes to tie her hands and feet to the armrests and legs of the chair.

For 35 minutes, they sat there, Erica fighting the increasing feelings of arousal that threatened to overwhelm her, Valerie holding her bound hands and whispering encouraging words. Then Valerie's cell phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, she saw that it was Damien, Erica's Master.

"This is Valerie."

"Valerie. Has Erica had an orgasm this morning?"

"No sir. She has been doing very well."

"Do not tell her anything, but, she now has permission to cum. I want you gag her, she should have one in her purse, and then to finger her clit until she cums, no matter how much she pleads with you to stop. You may not tell her she has permission. I want her to fight you. Call me back when she has cum and just say, 'Sir, I'm afraid Erica has cum.' Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." Valerie closed the phone. "Do you trust me, Erica?"

Erica, in the middle of a grimace, nodded her head.

"Good. Trust me now."

Val stood up and got the ball gag out of Erica's purse. Erica's face took a worried expression. Once it was attached, Valerie brought a finger to Erica's clit and began to massage it. Erica gasped and shook her head violently. She moaned as the direct touch to her clit sent her out of control. The panicking submissive writhed on the chair, trying desperately to escape the finger that was propelling her to what she thought was disobedience. Erica's eyes sought out Valerie and pleaded silently. Valerie simply smiled and mouthed, "Trust me."

She fought it off for another five minutes, but when Erica came, her whole body tensed, her arms and legs pulled against the bindings and she screamed into her gag. Valerie kept on fingering Erica's clit, propelling the orgasm to greater heights and duration. After she came down, Val picked her phone up and called Damien back.

"Sir, I'm afraid Erica has cum."

As Val spoke those words, Erica was in tears.

"Let me speak to her."

Valerie put the phone to Erica's ear. She could not hear what was said, but Erica stopped crying and her face brightened. She mumbled something that sounded vaguely like, "Thank you, Master," and nodded towards Valerie. Val put the phone back to her ear.

"Thank you Valerie. Erica can ungag herself and dress again. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, sir."

Val untied the clothes and removed the gag. While she as cleaning herself with some wipes, Erica gushed to Val.

"Master is so evil sometimes. He gave me permission without telling me. I was so afraid when you went for my clit. Did you know?"

"Yes, I did. He told me not to tell you."

The two women cleaned up the mess that Erica had left on the chair after she had dressed. Erica left for the front desk again, leaving Valerie suffering in her own need. Watching someone else in arousal and orgasm for almost an hour had made Valerie's own pussy wet. She spent the rest of the day a bit distracted. She left at 4:45 to pick up Sally. The couple had dinner at Burger King. They were able to time the drive to pull up to the gate at 5:55.

Sally looked at Valerie and inquired, "Are you nervous?"

"A little. This is the first time I've had to do a scene in front of non-players. I know the mansion staff has seen the after affects, but they never watched the actual whippings and sex."

"You'll do just fine. In fact, you might forget that Thomas and Caroline are there."

They stripped on the porch and put on the gear they had been instructed to wear. The knocker sounded louder than normal to Valerie's sightless ears.

An hour earlier, another couple had arrived at the gate to Charles' mansion. The writing team that called itself Samson had arrived precisely at 5:00. Once they had parked, they were shown by Herman to the sitting room. Charles rose and greeted them.

"Samson. It's a pleasure to meet the two of you. Please, have a seat."

Thomas and Caroline both shook his hand. "Thank you Mr. Vanquil for allowing us to observe tonight's activities."

"I wanted to talk to you about the script, as well as what's going to happen with the girls. Your movie has the potential of affecting everyone who is involved in BDSM in a significant way, be it for good or bad. Why do you wish to make this movie?"

Thomas looked briefly at Caroline. Charles had the impression that these two had an even better connection that Valerie and Sally had. "Mr. Vanquil, this is such a good story that we wanted to be able to tell it. It's being told already, in the press and on the streets. Other film makers are telling it and not bothering to talk to the people involved. Those stories won't be what actually happened, I'm sure of it. It took decades for my community, the gay community, to get its story told in film the way it should be. If the two of us have anything to say about it, our brothers and sisters in BDSM won't have to wait that long. That's why we hired Valerie and Sally as expert consultants. We wanted Francine Traline as well, but she doesn't feel mentally up to diving back into that world yet."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 02



"You said 'we hired.' I thought you were the writers."

"We are," Caroline answered. "However, for the first time, we are also associate producers. We wanted to have some control over what happened to our script. As you probably know, the best story in the world can be screwed up royally by an idiot director. Just look at Dune."

Charles smiled at the memory of the abomination that was the theatrical release of Herbert's sweeping novel. He was pleased with the reasons they had given. His lingering discomfort at his friends and submissives participating with the movie's production faded somewhat. He changed subjects to D/s itself.

"Good. I feel better. Let's talk about D/s. Domination and submission, also known as bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism is usually called a lifestyle, but that is a misnomer. There is actually an entire spectrum of lifestyles that comprise D/s. They can range from something as tame as a couple who ties one another up occasionally to people who live in a full time master slave relationship. It can include absolutely no painful activities at all to whippings so severe to leave bruises and injuries that last for weeks. It even includes activities that include no restraint or pain at all."

Thomas looked confused. "Bondage and discipline with no bondage and discipline. That doesn't make sense."

Charles took a deep breath. "That's one of the common misunderstandings that people have. Bondage and discipline are only two parts of the lifestyle of domination and submission. The lifestyle is about the taking and giving up of power and control. A submissive chooses to give the dominant power over him or her. The amount of power that is given up and for how long is up to the both of them. A submissive can put limits on what the dominant is allowed to do or none at all. It's as much submission to choose to obey whatever you were told to do without question as it is to allow oneself to be bound and/or whipped. I know a dominant and submissive couple that engage in 'dare' games. She will perform any sexual act with any person he commands her to. He has had her fucking multiple partners, other women, total strangers in a bar. No pain, no bondage, just the handing of the power to make choices from one person to another."

"What if she refuses?"

"For them, her refusal is her safe word. To my knowledge, she has never refused his dares. They agreed in advance that members of either of their families are off limits."

"Fascinating. That sounds harder than submitting to pain," marveled Caroline.

"Depending on who you are, that would be true. Valerie had a much harder time allowing lesbian sexual contact than she did at taking pain."

"But, Valerie and Sally..."

"Didn't start that way," Charles finished for Thomas. "You should ask about the first time that Sally had Valerie at her mercy. About tonight. I wanted to let you know what I'm planning to have happen so that you can concentrate on dynamics between us instead of wondering what is coming."

Charles spent the next half hour briefing the writing team on what he was planning for the evening. By the time Valerie and Sally had arrived, all three were waiting in the basement.

Herman answered the door and looked over the pair. Valerie was naked, blindfolded, with her wrist cuffs locked behind her back. Her mouth was plugged with a penis gag and the leash attached to her collar was being held by Sally. She was equally naked, a ball gag in her mouth. A ring was hanging from chains connected to clips on her nipples. Two additional chains were strung from the ring to clips on each of her pussy lips.

Herman handed Sally two red rubber balls while he passed on Charles' instructions. "Master Charles wishes you to take these and join him in the basement."

Sally nodded her thanks and pressed on of the balls into Valerie's hand. She led Valerie at a normal walking pace towards the basement. Valerie's breath was coming short and ragged as she put her trust in Sally to not let her trip or run into anything. The edge of fear always hovered near her when she was led blindfolded. She had heard of Masters and Mistresses who would lead submissives into objects on purpose. She knew that Charles and Sally would never do that, but it was always unnerving.

At the stairs, Sally took a short hold of the leash and stopped Val. Valerie slid her foot forward and felt the edge of the step. She nodded and the two lovers edged their way downstairs one step at a time, while Sally held Valerie's arm to guide her. Each step brought a moan from Sally as the chains pulled on her tits and cunt. In the basement they saw Charles standing near the stocks. She led Val there and both of them knelt before him. Sally saw a blindfold on the ground and, understanding what was required, put it on herself. Charles stepped forward and put leather cuffs on Sally, clipping the behind her back.

Charles then led Val to the stocks where her hands and head were pinned in the wooden restraints. Her legs were also locked into the foot portion.

"Are you okay, Valerie?"

Val nodded. Charles stroked her exposed pussy once, smiling at the wetness that coated his fingers and the moan from behind Valerie's gag. Charles went over to Sally and brought down two ends of a rope that was threaded through a pulley. One end was tied off to her cuffs behind her. He had her stand and attached the other end through a pulley on the floor and up to the ring connecting the chains to her clips. As he pulled on the other end, her arms were lifted behind her, forcing her to bend over. Once she was tied off to both ends of the rope, she discovered that standing pulled against all the clips, torturing her nipples and pussy. Relieving the tension on her clips could only be done by bending over, forcing her arms back painfully. She moved back and forth, looking for the non-existent comfortable medium.

Off to the side, Thomas and Caroline were watching the proceedings. They found the idea of Sally's predicament bondage fascinating. There was no way for her to avoid pain, but she had the choice from moment to moment of which pain to endure. Charles had picked up a cat and walked back over to Valerie. She jerked as the strands were drawn over her back. An unintelligible moaning sound was coming from her. The writers watch in awe as Valerie thrust her hips up, as if begging for the lashing to begin.

Charles brought the cat down on Valerie's back and she grunted at the impact. The next strike impacted her ass and she gave a muffled scream. The beating continued for 25 strokes. Valerie's muffled cries filled the basement. Yet she lifted herself towards the strokes each time and clenched the ball tightly in her fist. When he was finished, he motioned the two writers forward and showed them Valerie's cunt, coated in juice and engorged in arousal. She was slowly thrusting her hips back and forth, begging for attention of a different sort.

Charles left her there and moved over to Sally. She was still looking for that elusive sweet spot in her bondage. He moved behind her and stroked her pussy. Sally jerked, screaming into the gag at the pain she brought on herself. Charles continued to stroke her cunt, covering his hand with her juices and driving her to more movement as her body responded to Charles' skillful caresses. Higher and higher he drove her, moans of pleasure mixing with screams of pain. When her orgasm hit, her body jerked upright and screamed in agony as the clips were yanked off her nipples and her pussy lips were stretched obscenely.

Sally dropped the red ball and Charles immediately pulled the quick release knot at her wrists, ending the tension on her pussy lips. He caught her as she collapsed and set her down on the floor. Her cuffs were unclipped and he said, "You can take your gag and blindfold off."

He left her there to finish freeing herself and went over to release Valerie from her confinement. Soon Sally and Valerie were sitting together on the floor holding each other. Charles was crouched beside them, smiling and caressing their legs.

"How are you two doing?" Charles asked.

Sally, tears still escaping from her eyes, answered with a trembling voice. "That was very intense Master." Looking at the still crushed nipple she added, "I don't think I can take any more breast play, but I would like to go farther."

Valerie nodded. "I would as well Master. I want to give you more."

"Then more I shall have. Go over to the suspension chains and wait for me."

The two women went to where several chains hung from the ceiling while Charles detoured to the storage bench to retrieve some more toys. He carried the box over and set it down.

"Stand up, facing each other, hands extended towards one another."

He clipped their cuffs together, right hands and left hands joined so that their arms had to cross. Then he took a double dildo and inserted the end into their pussies. He moved them closer to each other, raising their hands as he did. Once their bodies were touching, her clipped their ankle cuffs together as well. Finally, they were suspended on a chain until they were standing on tip toes, only possible because they were close to the same height.

"It's time for a game. You are to fuck yourselves on each other until one of you cums. The one that cums will win. The loser will pay the penalty. That penalty will be three strokes from this." 

The pair gasped in unison as he held up a cane. Sally whispered, "Master. Please. Not a cane." Tears filled her eyes as she imagined the agony of being struck by the quarter inch thick length of bamboo.

"Yes, a cane. Valerie, if I think you're holding back from an orgasm to protect Sally, you both will be caned. You must both play the game to win. Do you understand?"

They both nodded and began to thrust against each other. Valerie's mouth sought out Sally and kissed her. Their tongues danced in the dark recess that was their joined mouths. They rubbed their breasts together scraping nipple against nipple. The dildos in their cunts twisted and rubbed against the insides of their pussies. Both sought to rub their clits against the other.

Valerie desperately wanted to lose the game but was terrified of Charles' threat to cane both if she played to lose. As her arousal grew and waves of pleasure radiated out from her breasts and cunt, she cried for her partner. Sally's tears mixed with her own and Val could only hope that the feelings of helplessness that Sally thrived on were enough to enable her to climax first.

Valerie broke the kiss and sobbed, "Please Sally, cum. You've got to cum first."

Sally whispered in her lover's ear, "I'm scared. Please, I'm so scared."

When Valerie came, she was in tears, unable to bear the thought of Sally suffering three strokes of the cane. "Please Master, cane me instead. Don't cane Sally."

Charles had come over to remove the dildo from their pussies. "Valerie. It does you credit that you are willing to take Sally's caning, but you will not. You need to accept that you cannot always be the one who takes the pain when there is a choice."

"I'm sorry Sally, I didn't want to win."

"I know. It's okay, I really tried to win too. He is Master."

"Sally, this is not a punishment. This is something to please me. Do you understand?"

"Yes Master. Let me please you, Master."

Sally cringed as Charles move behind her with the cane. Valerie tugged at her bonds, trying to lower her arms so she could hold Sally in a tight embrace. Val watched in horror as Charles pulled the cane back and swung it forward. Sally heard the swish and felt as if molten metal had splashed across her ass. She screamed in agony, the sound tearing at Valerie's heart.

Sally was whispering to herself, "I love Master. I want to please Master."

The second swish was heard as Val closed her eyes and tensed. Another line of fire crossed Sally's body, this time against her thighs. The wail of pain lasted well over a minute and Valerie's tears became sobs.

"Safe word, please Sally, safe word," Val begged.

Sally shook her head. Valerie's closeness to her was making it possible for her to suffer what was happening. Valerie was whispering, "No," to herself over and over. As the third swing came, Valerie twisted and spun, moving Sally out of the way of the cane. The spin had not completed when the cane hit and struck against Valerie's hip. The thinly covered hip bone met the bamboo and stopped it cold, at the price of searing agony. A high pitched squeal erupted from Valerie and she was dancing on her toes as the pain continued unabated.

Charles dropped the cane and grabbed the women. Twisting his leg around Val's, he immobilized her and looked at the mark on her hip. There was no blood, but the welt that was raising was ugly. He felt the spot and hoped that the damage did not extend to bruising the bone itself. under the skin. He reached up and released Valerie's cuffs from Sally's after he separated their ankles.

"Valerie," he barked, his voice coated in anger. "That was foolish and disobedient. You will be punished. Not only that, but you did not stop Sally from receiving a third stroke. Go to the St. Andrew's cross and wait for me." As Valerie limped to the cross, Charles turned to Sally. "Are you ready for your third stroke?"

"Master, please forgive her. She did it because she loves me so much."

"Sally, she defied me. She knew she was doing wrong and that must be punished. Be glad her punishment is not to see you get another three strokes, to know that she increased your pain instead of decreasing it."

Charles walked behind her and picked up the cane again. Taking a moment to calm his emotions, he gave Sally her third stroke. Once her scream had ended, her released her and helped her to the recovery room. He applied ointment to her marks and left her there to rest.

Valerie was waiting on her knees at the foot of the cross. He went to Caroline and Thomas and asked them to wait in the recovery room with Sally. He did not want them to see or hear what was coming. Charles picked up the cane on his way to join her. He stood over her for a few minutes. He was angry with her, very angry. He felt he needed to get across just how angry he was and why. He could see tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Valerie. Never before have you truly made me angry with your disobedience. You've been punished before. This is different. Your actions endangered both Sally and yourself. The cane cannot be safely used on any area of the body that is not protected by a think mass of flesh. I could have bruised your hip Valerie! I could have bruised Sally's hip. Is that what you wanted?"

In between her sobs, Valerie tried to answer. "No Master. I'm so sorry Master. I couldn't take seeing her in that much pain."

"Then you should have used your safe word. That is what it is for, when you can't stand any more. Stand up against the cross, facing it."

Valerie did as she was told. Her cuffs were clipped to rings on the sides of the cross. Additional straps took her from being restrained to being immobilized. Rope was strung through and knotted at the leash ring on her collar. The ends were tied to the arms of the cross. Every part of her body was incapable of movement.

"Valerie. Your punishment is to be five strokes from the cane."

Valerie gasped and started to beg. "Master. Please, not the cane. I'm so sorry, I won't do it again. Please don't punish me with the cane."

"Valerie, you need to understand. You could have caused yourself or Sally an injury that would take weeks to heal. Your act of compassion was no such thing." He put his hands on her shoulders. "I can't be lenient with this. It's too important. I don't want to simply prevent a serious injury in the future, but, if you do this again, I will expel you from my service. If you had caused serious injury to Sally, you would never forgive yourself. Do you understand?"

Valerie nodded her head. Her breath came in great heaves as she struggled to stifle her sobbing. "I'm so sorry Master. I don't know how to not care about Sally being in pain. Help me."

"Valerie. I don't want you to not care. I simply want you to not interfere. Do you want training in this?"

"Yes, Master, please. I couldn't bear it if I should hurt her at all."

"Then we will do that. Now, are you ready for your punishment?"

Valerie nodded. Charles stepped back and picked up the cane. The cane slashed at her ass and a wail of grief and pain was torn from her throat. She struggled against the straps, trying to escape what she knew was still to come. The second blow impacted and her wail seemed even louder, if that was possible. She began to plead with Charles, begging for mercy and saying how sorry she was. The third blow took her on the thighs. Her voice seemed gone, but she simply had no breath to scream with. She knew she would never make it and drew in a great breath as the fourth blow fell. As the fourth line of agony tore at her legs, she screamed her safe word, "Red Light! Oh God, Master, Red Light!"

Charles stopped, dropping the cane to the floor. He went up and put an arm around her waist, careful not to touch the welts he had left on her. His other hand reached up and stroked her face as Valerie sobbed. They stood there in silence, Charles' mere presence a comfort to Valerie in her pain. When her sobs had diminished to tears, she found her voice.

"Master, I'm so sorry. I didn't know I could hurt Sally so badly. It's so hard to see her in pain. I love her so much. I couldn't help myself. I had to do something. The cane is so painful, I would do anything to spare her that."

"I know. It warms my heart that you love her as much as you do. Love doesn't always interfere, sometimes it allows. I'm sure that Sally will have her own reasons for not wanting you to stop her pain. I want the two of you back on Saturday after next. We'll start training you to be able to watch Sally's submission. I should have started this earlier. I know that you have dominated her on occasion, and I have had the two of you submitting together, but you have never just watched her submission to me. It is time to rectify that omission."

"Yes, Master. Thank you Master."

"I'm going to treat your welts before I let you down."

Charles applied a generous coating of the famous antibiotic and anesthetic that players in the local scene had been using for years. While technically illegal, as one of the components was a prescription med, it was an ubiquitous presence in many a dungeon's toy storage. The pain faded from her welts and any bacteria contemplating an invasion of Valerie's body were stopped dead. Once she was treated, he took her down and helped her to the recovery room.

Sally was leaning up on her elbows, talking to Samson. She was in the middle of a sentence. "... is a love/hate thing. It feels great, obviously, but the shaking I go through when I cum pull at any pain inducing and restraining devices I have. So I experience the most painful orgasms when I cum in predicament bondage." She looked up and saw Charles half carrying Valerie. "Val! Are you okay?"

Sally got up and walked stiffly to where Val was laid down. She gasped when she saw the four cane produced welts on Val's body. Kneeling down, she hugged Valerie's back. Val's arm reach back to touch her lover.

"Val. How are you?"

"I'll be okay. I deserved it Sally. I could have seriously injured you."

"Forget me! You could have hurt yourself. You took a cane stroke to the hip. Those can shatter bones." Sally was underestimating the resilience of the hip. "Don't you ever scare me like that again."

"I know. I'll try not to. Master wants to start training me to watch without interfering."

"Good. I think it's easier for me, since I can inflict pain on you. In fact, it's kind of fun. So watching Master do it is not something the bothers me."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 02



"You don't mind being my object lesson?"

"Not at all. I'll be honored." Sally hesitated a moment before continuing. "Valerie. There's something else. You did hurt me."

Valerie started to sob again. Sally waited until she had recovered again. "Do you know how?" Val's head shook. "You took my submission away from me."

Val gasped as the realization hit her. Sally was continuing. "I submit to Master because I love him. You tried to stop me from showing him my love. You can't do that to me. It really hurt."

"God, Sally. I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I didn't think. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course you silly sub. Just don't do it again. Do you realize that I haven't used my safe word with Master since the hand fasting?"

"You haven't?"

"No. The new contract I gave him, the one with no limits. It has made my submission different somehow. I don't want to stop him from doing anything. I'm beginning to wonder if I have a safe word limit with him now."

"I wish I didn't. I don't want to stop him. Sometimes, it does get to be too much. I was supposed to take five strokes in punishment, but I couldn't."

"I know. I think you'll get there. Remember, I've been his submissive for over five years. You've been his for less than a year. You've come far in that time, but you'll go even further. I think that you may not have any limits at all in a few years. That's a frightening and exciting thought, isn't it?"

"Yes it is. I want that. I really do."

After an hour of recovering and holding one another, they dressed and went home. Thomas and Caroline had already left by then, thanking them profusely. Sally drove, not an easy task with painful welts on her ass and thigh. She took back roads and kept her speed down. When the entered the house, Francine was waiting for them.

"Okay you two. Off to bed. Charles called and told me that you had some intense pain. I called Helen at home. You both have an appointment with her at 2:30 to have your welts looked after. I've called your works and you're taking a sick day, both of you. Do you understand?"

Valerie, smiling at the mothering that her friend was giving them, quipped, "Yes, Mistress."

Francine froze and Valerie realized what she had done. "Francine, I'm so sorry."

Unhearing, Francine whispered, "NO. Not Mistress. I can't do that."

Sally took her shoulders. "No one is going to ask that. You don't have to be a Mistress, not now."

"You two go to bed. I... I can't do this. I'm sorry." Francine ran to her room, escaping the horrible memories that were crashing down on her. Her sobs were audible through the closed door.

Valerie started to go towards Francine's room. Sally grabbed Val's arm, shaking her head. Tears flowed from Valerie's eyes as she slammed her hand against the wall. "Can I screw this day up any more? What the fuck was I thinking?"

Sally embraced her. "You weren't. Yes, you hurt people today. It happens. I know you're sorry and so does Francine. She just needs to be alone right now. We need to get off our feet and let ourselves heal. I know you're going to beat yourself up over this, just remember to forgive yourself."

The couple undressed and went to bed, lying on their stomachs. Helen Waston, their gynecologist, looked over the welts and prescribed a salve and an antibiotic. Over the next week, they met several times with the writing team. The plot of the movie and the specifics on the D/s scenes were worked out. Thomas and Caroline were a joy to work with and truly wanted to portray the lifestyle in a good light. After just a week of being part of the writing process, both Sally and Valerie concluded that they never wanted to be screen writers themselves. The phone call the following Wednesday caught Valerie by surprise.

"Valerie! This is Milton. How are you and Samson getting along?"

"Mr. Freeman. Thomas, Caroline and I are getting along wonderfully. The script looks great."

"I know, I've seen it. They are great. That's why I hired them. The reason I called. I need you to meet with the actors today, maybe at dinner?"

"The actors? Shouldn't the script be finished first?"

"Oh good God no. The script will never be finished, not until we have actors on board. It likely won't be finished until the last shot is done. Who plays who will change things in the script. No, I need to have them hired as soon as possible. I have the major players covered and I'd like to have you and Sally meet with them and give them the 20 minute briefing on BDSM. So, can you two do dinner?"

"I can. You'll have to ask Sally about her schedule. I want to take them to Mephisto's after dinner as well. The best introduction will be to see things first hand."

"Isn't today one of those no pain nights?"

"Yes it is."

"Not tonight. They won't be portraying no pain play, so I'd like their first view to be something more like what they will have to do on screen."

"I'm not sure about that. It might scare them off."

"If that's going to happen, I want it to happen soon. The entire film could be derailed by an actress leaving in the middle of the filming."

"It's your film, so I will do it your way. I think it's a mistake though. Tell them to leave their evening open on Friday, then. If you want me to throw them into the deep end, then Friday is the best way to do that."

"Great. I'll see you tonight. I've reserved a private room at Gatsby's."

"Uh, Milton, you realize that Gatsby's is a gay establishment?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Not on my end. What about the actors?"

"I can't see them having a problem. Half of Hollywood is gay, or at least bi."

"Okay. We'll see you there."

Valerie had the feeling that her life just become weirder. A knot was forming in her stomach as she contemplated trying to teach several non-players about D/s. It was dawning on her just how ripe for disaster this whole project was. She wasn't sure how the actors and actresses would react when she explained how to best learn to portray BDSM in action. In fact, she was sure that some of them would not like it at all.

Thanks again to D. for a great editing job. Remember, I want your feedback, so leave or send me comments. Thanks for reading my stories.



Stranger Than Truth Ch. 03



Chapter Three: Meeting the Actors 

Valerie picked the phone back up and called Sally at her work place. "Sally, This is Val."

"Hi Val, what's up?"

"Are you free for dinner tonight?"

"Yeah. Have you got something planned?"

"Milton wants us to meet some of the actors tonight and then take them to Mephisto's on Friday."

"Friday? He wants us to take novices and non-players to Mephisto's on a Friday?"

"Yes. He says that, if they're going to baulk at portraying D/s, he wants it to happen soon, not halfway through the filming."

"Well, if they can survive a Friday, they will survive anything. Yes, I can meet with the actors tonight. Where?"

"Gatsby's at 6:00."

"I'll meet you there. Bye love."

"I love you, Sally."

At two in the afternoon, June stuck her head in the door. "Ms. Burbon? Mr. Wilson from Whips'n'More is here for his appointment."

Val looked up, her eyes rolling. "Finally!" she thought to herself. Out loud, Valerie simply asked, "Please show him in."

Valerie stood and met Fred Wilson as he came in. "Good afternoon Mr. Wilson. I'm glad you could finally make it. Won't you have a seat."

"Thank you Ms. Burbon. I was a little distressed at your latest communication. Would you really suspend our advertising?"

"Yes, I'm afraid to say. You know that Delgrasi had always prided itself on the high quality of its magazines. The one constant complaint we have had has been the advertisements. Last year, we decided to take on that complaint. That's why my position was created. Most advertising agencies will not take on blatantly sexual clientele. By providing an in house advertising consultant, our advertisers get the best of both worlds. They have access to professional advice in designing their ads and they don't have to pay for it."

"I can understand that. Our company likes the ads we have now. Why do they have to change?"

"Delgrasi has its own reasons for wanting the change, but I can understand how that is not a major concern of yours. I took the liberty of accessing your public sales records for the past 15 years." Valerie opened a notebook screen so that he could see what she had on her screen. "As you can see, and are no doubt aware of already, your sales have been steady for quite some time. It's actually quite impressive for any company to maintain consistent sales numbers for such a long time. Notice, however, the sales figures for the last three months. They've dropped 15%, the biggest short term drop in your sales in 15 years.

"This second chart shows the public sales figures for Pleasure's Pain, your chief competitor, I believe. They have trailed you in sales for the entire 15 years. Five months ago, they took advantage of our services for their ads. Look at their sales figures from three months ago. Their sales are up 13%. This is why you want to change you ads, Mr. Wilson. Pleasure's Pain is taking your business away and it can be tied directly to their new advertising campaign. If you don't adapt to the changing times, your stockholders will be, shall we say, unhappy?"

"I knew about the recent sales changes, but can you be sure that their new ads are the reason?"

"Obviously, we can't be totally sure, but, unless you're aware of another factor that has changed in the last six months, it is the most likely. Have you seen Pleasure's Pain's new ads?"

"Yes I have. Is it really no more expensive to have different ads in different magazines?"

"Oh, absolutely. If you were going through a traditional agency, it might cost more to have the additional ones developed, but, Delgrasi has just as much interest in helping you improve your ads' appearance to our readers as you do, so all the costs of using my services are covered by my salary. My bonuses come only from increases in our readership due to the better response to the ads. My incentive is to give our readers what they want to see in the advertisements they encounter when they read our publications."

"You're very convincing Ms. Burbon. I can't make any promises, but I can look at what you've got to offer and take it to my board."

"Excellent! I can't ask for anything more than that. Now, the first step is to target the ads at the specific readers of the magazines you advertise in. For example, in Bindings, we will want to emphasize your excellent restraint systems. Currently you're carrying three ads, a full page spread, a single block and an article embedded spot. They are, however, the same image simply repeated three times. What I'd like to propose is that we use the smaller spots to spotlight a specific product. I'll be honest, Mr. Wilson, I fell in love with your hogtie harness from the first I laid eyes on it. As a submissive, I can tell you that a harness that lets me be hogtied without the threat of rope burns is a godsend. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Let's showcase that harness in a single block ad."

"Actually, Ms. Burbon, if I were going to spotlight the harness, I'd use the full page ad. I take it you haven't been restrained in it yet?"

"No, I'm afraid not." Valerie blushed at the continuing self reference. "I was planning to get it for my Master for his birthday."

"We called it the hogtie harness because that is the most obvious use for it, but it can be used for a variety of binding positions. I think we should show a variety. A tool that can be used for multiple bindings will sell better. That's why we developed it the way we did and why some of the construction is stronger than it seems to need to be."

"Excellent! That's the type of thing I'm talking about. Do you have any photos of models, male and female, bound in the various positions?"

"Not with me, but I can email them to you."

"That will be great. I'll prepare a couple of different presentations and you can choose the one that you think best presents the harness. Now, about the embedded article ad. We should have a variety of ads available to use, depending on what the content is. I propose that we…"

The conversation continued for over an hour as Valerie walked Mr. Wilson through the changes she was proposing in all the publications his company advertised in, Bindings, Dominating, and Second Skin. She also suggested that they consider ads in The Sensible Sub, as, like herself, many submissives bought equipment to be used on them. Armed with several folders and a thumb drive full of data, Mr. Wilson promised to get back to her sometime next week.

Valerie was very pleased with the reception her presentation received and had no doubts that any competent board of directors would be ecstatic about reader targeted ads that cost no more to design than the ones they were already using. The extra costs associated with using different ads was minimal. By the time she was preparing to leave for dinner, Val was walking on the clouds. A quick good bye to June and Erica, and Valerie was on the road to Gatsby's. 

Valerie managed to hit all the holes in the traffic and found herself at Gatsby's 30 minutes early, 15 minutes earlier than she had planned. There was a mild attack of nervousness, this being the first time she had entered the gay establishment alone. While her discomfort with lesbian sex had faded quite a bit in the last several months, she was not totally at ease with it either. With Sally, it was as natural as can be, but with others, there was still, not so much discomfort, as embarrassment. She knew what she needed was to experience sex with a woman outside the confines of D/s.

Valerie entered the club, looking around to see if anyone she knew from the movie was already here. Not seeing anyone, she made her way around the dancers and ordered a whiskey sour from the bar. As it was delivered, a hand was placed on her shoulder.

"Valerie Burbon. It's so nice to see you here. Don't tell me you're trolling tonight?"

Valerie turned around and gave the taller woman a fierce hug. "Gwen! You're looking wonderful. No, I'm not trolling. I'm actually here for a business meeting and arrived early. How have you been?"

"I've been good." The woman she had grown fond of in the last six months was as direct as always. "So, are you still bothered by the thought of rolling in the hay with me?"

Valerie blushed, but maintained eye contact. "No, I don't think so. At least not beyond embarrassment. Is this your subtle way of asking me out?"

"Of course! I've wanted you by myself ever since we first danced. So, what do you say? Will you let me take you to dinner and then home for more?"

Valerie thought about it for a moment. Gwen was a sexy woman, large, confident and with a soft touch, if her dancing was any indication. "Okay. Yes, as long as it's okay with Sally."

"If what's okay with me?" Valerie's lover asked as she reached the bar.

Gwen looked at Sally and winked. "I want to take Valerie out and show her that you don't have to have been with a man in the past to be able to show a woman a good time."

Sally looked at Valerie. "And you said yes?"

Valerie nodded and looked down at her feet.

Sally embraced Val in big hug. "That's fabulous news! I'm happy and proud of you Val. Gwen will rock your socks off. So, when?"

"We haven't picked a day yet. I think weekends are pretty much Master's right now."

Gwen looked into the air for a moment. "How about next Monday? I know you get up early for work, but I do too on Tuesdays. If we make it an early dinner, we'll have plenty of time for whatever follows after that."

"That should work. I'll make sure I won't be on any restrictions that night and let you know. Oh, there he is." Val waved her hands at Milton Freeman, seeing him across the dance floor.

Gwen looked at whom she was waving and her jaw dropped open. "You're having a business meeting with Milton Freeman; the producer?"

Sally gave a sheepish smile. "Yes. He hired us as consultants."

"Val, Sally. It's so good of you to come. The crew will be here, or should be here, any minute now. Who is this lovely lady?" he asked, turning to Gwen.

Gwen stuck her hand out, stammering, "Gwen, Mr. Freeman, Gwen Pollock. I'm such a fan of your work, ever since Streetwise. It's an honor to meet you."

"Gwen, lovely name. It's a pleasure to meet you as well. Do you know Sally and Valerie?"

"Yes. I've known Sally for years. We were even steady for a while. I met Valerie shortly after the incident."

Mr. Freeman's attention was already wandering elsewhere. "Why don't we retire to the banquet room? Tasha will be here on time and won't be happy if we're not."

Sally and Valerie both gave Gwen a goodbye hug and followed Milton to the banquet room. No sooner had they taken seats around the large table, than a stunning woman in a deep red dress entered. The room was suddenly centered on her. She was not an imposing figure, but her aura drew everyone's attention to her and her alone.

"Valerie Burbon, Sally Fletcher, may I introduce Tasha Williams, the star of Valerie's Crisis."

Val and Sally both mumbled hellos as Tasha took her seat at the head of the table.

"So you're Valerie. I'm looking forward to hearing just how this horrible event happened to you. I can't imagine putting myself in the hands of anyone holding a whip."

"But Tasha," a voice called out from the door, "how do you explain working with Frankie in, not just one, but five, pictures? That man may not have a whip, but the damage he does to fragile actor egos is far worse than what happened to this lovely lady." Turning to the lovers, he bowed with a flourish and introduced himself. "I'm Stan Grevish. It's a pleasure to enter a room and see not just one, but three beautiful women, even if there is this male eyesore sitting next to them." The last comment was said with a wink towards Milton.

Milton shot him a dirty look then quickly smiled again. "I see Crystal and Melanie are being fashionably late as usual. Let's go ahead and order our food and they can catch up when they arrive. I don't want Valerie and Sally to have to repeat themselves, at least not more than absolutely necessary, so we'll delay the lesson until later."

From what she ordered, it was clear that Tasha was on a strict diet of some sort. Stan, on the other hand either wasn't on a diet or was breaking it. Val and Sally did what they usually did on the occasional dinner out and let themselves off the hook from their usual dietary limitations. As they were finishing their orders, a pair of ladies was escorted in. They were arm in arm and clearly a couple. Mr. Freeman gave the waitress a signal to wait until the two newcomers had ordered.

"Crystal, Melanie, it's nice of you to join us." Turning to Sally and Valerie, Milton made introductions. "Val, Sally, this is Crystal Hadron, she will be playing Francine. The lovely lady on her arm is Melanie White, who will be playing you, Sally. Have a seat you two and let our waitress know what you're eating tonight."

The two actresses took a few minutes to look over the menu and ordered the same thing. Once the waitress had left, Milton looked at Val and Sally and offered, "Valerie, Sally, why don't you go ahead and let our actors and actresses know what this whole BDSM thing is."

Sally looked at Val and nodded. "First, let's get an idea of what you do know. How many of you have heard of domination and submission?" When everyone indicated that they had, she continued. "How many have ever included D/s in their sexual activities?"

"I had a lover once that liked me to tie her up," Stan offered.

"Good. That's a form of BDSM play. Was it just bondage?"

"Yes. No whips or things like that."

"How about the rest of you? Any kinky sex games in your pasts?"

All three women looked at Sally like she had grown a second head. Inwardly, Sally winced. "This might be difficult," she thought to herself.

Valerie stepped into the silence. "I know that it's sometimes hard to talk about our sex lives, but this movie will have a lot of sexuality in it and we would like to see the parts that represent our lives portrayed accurately. Communication is paramount. So, open up, nothing's going past this room."

There were three visible sighs of relief. Crystal spoke up first. "We need to be careful with what we let others know. Our love lives are already front page fare for the Star and other rags. If our sex lives made it there, it could ruin careers, or at least type cast them."

Sally nodded reassuringly. "We know how important privacy is. Part of the crisis in our lives six months ago was Valerie and Francine being outed. There is no way that we will breathe a word of what you tell us to anyone." Looking around, she asked, "Who wants to go first?"

Crystal looked at Melanie. "Other than being bisexual, I'm not all that kinky. Crystal and I have been an item for quite a while, secretly for a few years and now publicly. Our sex is probably quite bland, compared to what you're used to."

"You'd be surprised. Yes, Sally and I play BDSM games frequently, but we also enjoy rather vanilla sex as well. Sometimes you just want to be passionate, not kinky."

Stan put a finger up. "I know what it means, but just wear did 'vanilla' come from?"

"Vanilla ice cream," Sally answered. "It's the most boring flavor and the most popular. So sex that's not kinky is 'boring'," she made little quote marks with her fingers, "and the most common type of sex."

Melanie looked a little embarrassed at Crystal before she shared. "I had a lover once who liked to spank me before sex. It was actually very arousing."

"Melanie! It was? You liked it? Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Crystal, you don't even like porn. I couldn't imagine you'd like spankings."

"I don't know. Honestly, the whole pain thing scares me."

Valerie brought them back on subject. "That's good to know. Not everyone likes submission to that level. Fortunately, you don't have to. As Francine, you'll only be giving pain in the movie, not receiving it."

Sally looked at Tasha. "You've been pretty quiet. Anything you'd like to share Tasha?"

"No, not really. Just assume that I know very little about the subject and go from there."

Sally and Valerie exchanged a look. Both thought the response a little evasive and wondered what was bothering the actress who had controlled the room so easily such a short while ago. Not pressing it, the pair started their presentation, flowing easily back and forth as speakers.

They explained how D/s was all about a voluntary exchange of control and power between two consenting adults. The vastly different levels and styles of play were explained along with the idea of limits and how different people approached them. They presented their own ideas of what was appropriate while readily acknowledging that others disagreed, sharply at times, and that those people were equally happy in the place where they played. Sometime during the presentation, dinner was brought in. After 20 minutes of explaining the lifestyle in brief, they stopped and Sally asked, "So, are there any questions?" Her smile let them know that she would be shocked if there weren't.

Tasha looked at Valerie. "Valerie, do you like pain? You seem to experience it a lot, if I'm following things right."

"No. Pain pretty much sucks. I do have a very high tolerance for it when I'm submitting. I think that's because I am so strongly submissive. When I am submitting to Master or to Sally, I experience such joy when I can take whatever they give me. One of the strongest signs that I am fully submitted to them is when I accept pain: intense burning pain. I'll scream, sob, fight to get away, but I will accept it and be so happy afterwards. I know I pleased them and that is such a wonderful feeling."

Sally added, "Before you ask, yes, I enjoy inflicting pain on Valerie. It's a rush, an incredible rush to know that I have that power, not because I took it, but because she loves and trusts me so much that she gave it to me. In return, I want to give her every chance to take her submission even farther than she has before."

"But, it's not all about pain, not even for us. My submission is to anything that she wishes me to experience. For my hand fasting gift, she drove me to orgasm in public nine times, in one hour, until I was so worn out that I couldn't take any more and used my safe word."

All three actresses stared open mouthed. Melanie spoke the question on all their minds. "You had nine orgasms in one hour? Is that even possible?"

Sally grinned. "Oh yes. I plan on trying for twelve sometime soon. I want to give her so many orgasms that she passes out from pleasure."

Val grinned. "What a way to go."

"When will we have a chance to see this stuff in action?"

Sally answered. "We plan on taking you to The Mephisto Club on Friday. I should warn you, it'll be a little like throwing you into the deep end of the pool. It could almost be called pain night. I suspect that a lot of couples who only play occasionally pull out all the stops on Fridays."

Valerie cleared her throat. "I'd also like to take you there on a Tuesday soon. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are instructional nights at Mephisto's. All the public demos will be done so that others can learn something from them."

"Why do we need to go on an instructional day?" Tasha asked. "Won't the actual movie scenes with whipping be done by stunt doubles?"

Milton interjected. "Not all of them. Some, the ones with close ups will have to be you in the scene directly."

Valerie shook her head. "There's more to it than that, Milton. I work in advertising. We hire actors for TV spots all the time. I insist that the actors use the product they are pitching at least once. They can't show believable enthusiasm for the product if they have never encountered it."

Tasha blanched. "Oh no! You can't mean…"

"Yes, I do. I am positive that each of you needs to be in a scene at least once to be able to present the lifestyle in a positive light. I'm not able to demand that you do, but I am convinced that the success of this movie hinges upon each of you being on both sides of the whip at least once."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 03



Valerie's bombshell left the table in stunned silence. Even Sally was shocked at the suggestion. She knew of Valerie's commitment to consent from Valerie's confrontation with Charles over Lilly's unwilling participation early in their relationship. This was as close to demanding that non-players participate that she had ever seen Valerie go.

Milton broke the silence first. "Val, are you sure about this?"

"Yes, Mr. Freeman, I am. People can freak out over BDSM. That's what happened to Harv. Frankly, if any of you are going to freak out, I think Milton here wants to know as soon as possible. If you can stand being in a minor scene, then you can pretend to be in one just fine. Also, I think it will help you portray being in one better if you have bactually experienced it. Honestly, do any of you believe that a virgin can act like she's experienced at great sex?"

Crystal piped up. "Actually, my first open mouthed kiss was on camera."

"And it was a real open mouthed kiss. Do you want to be whipped for real, on camera?" The actress blanched. "I thought not. Acting is calling upon past experience and imagination to present a new reality as being true. Other than Melanie, none of you has any idea what sexual pain is like. I doubt that you can imagine it, not properly. Remember, Milton and Samson want to portray BDSM as it really is, not as the caricature it has been shown as. Those bad movies were made by people who don't know what the real thing is. I want to see this as a good, honest, movie."

The table was silent again. Valerie could see in the faces that not everyone was convinced. Tasha was defiant. "She may quit if forced," Val thought to herself. Valerie also detected a hint of fear in her face. Fear of what, was unclear. It was clear that Stan thought the whole thing was humorous. Crystal was very thoughtful while Melanie seemed to look forward to the possibility. Milton was a sphinx: unreadable and enigmatic.

"We can talk more about this idea later. What would be a good time to be at The Mephisto Club on Friday night?"

"Be there at 7:00. That will give plenty of time to look around and observe. Something else you should be aware of, a week from Saturday is the monthly slave auction at Mephisto's. Each month, submissives allow themselves to be auctioned off to a dominant for charity. I plan on being sold myself, if Master approves. The auction is an important sequence in the movie, being able to watch one would be very helpful."

"Will I have to auction myself off as well?" Tasha's hostility was dripping like venom.

"No, I don't think that's necessary. Although, you could if you wanted to."

"Not likely!"

Milton stepped in. Seeing that most were finished eating, he looked at Valerie and Sally. "Thank you ladies for giving us an informative evening. We will look for you Friday and we'll talk about your ideas on method acting later."

Sally agreed with Milton's desire to for them to leave and practically dragged Valerie from the room.

"Val, I wish you'd said something to me earlier. That was quite a bombshell to drop on them the first time."

"Sally, it's important. They'll screw it up unless they know what they're doing."

"I'm not disagreeing with you. I think the timing was wrong, that's all. We should have let them see it first, then broached the idea of them participating."

"So I screwed up?"

"Maybe, but we'll see. Come on. Let's go home. You're tense and I want to help you relax."

"Can you be Mistress tonight?"

"I already am, dear. Give me your keys."

"Yes Mistress."

Valerie gave her keys to Sally. Sally had parked in a garage and knew that her car would be safe for the night. The drive home was in silence, Val sinking into her submissive space and Sally deciding what she was going to do to Valerie. Once they were in the house, Sally took charge.

"Valerie, go downstairs and undress. Kneel next to the post and wait for me. No sound and no moving once you are ready."

Valerie nodded and went into the soundproof basement. Sally could see Francine in her bedroom, laptop on her knees as she watched TV. Francine looked up as Sally knocked on the door.

"Francine? Will you be okay with us downstairs?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. It's only a problem now when I see and hear it, and the soundproofing is really good. If it bothers me, I'll go out for a drink. How long will you be?"

"I don't expect to be more than three hours, if that long. We do have to work in the morning."

Sally checked both their emails to make sure that Charles had sent no restrictions for either of them. Once assured that they had free reign to play, she changed into a leather halter that pulled tight against her chest, a leather micro-skirt that barely covered her pussy and four inch leather heels. With a practiced walk, she headed downstairs to their play area. Not well equipped yet, it had a single wooden whipping post, a hide-a-bed for post play relaxing, and a couple of cabinets for toy storage.

Valerie was kneeling in front of the post, her head facing the floor. She did not move as Sally made sure the thick door at the bottom of the stairs was shut tight. She walked over to the toys and put a few things into a gym bag. Joining Valerie at the post, Sally could see her lover's tense muscles. Valerie always had had a very low tolerance for what she took as failure on her own part. More than a few times, Sally had taken Valerie's submission to relax her.

"Honey, I'm putting ear plugs in you tonight," Sally warned as she rolled the foam plugs between her fingers. Once they were inserted into Valerie's ears, she would be unable to hear any but the loudest of sounds. Then Sally slipped a full face hood over Valerie's head. The hood had been purchased three months ago and had been especially fitted for Valerie's head. It fit snuggly against her and had the mouth and nose holes perfectly aligned. The eye covers were already on, adding blindness to Valerie's losses. The penis gag attachment plugged Val's mouth, leaving her speechless.

Sally pressed a rubber ball into Valerie's hand, which clasped it tightly. A leash was attached to her collar and pulled up, the signal to stand. Sally then led Valerie on a walk around the basement, taking a random route that easily caused the submissive woman to lose any sense of where she was. It always took Valerie's full concentration to follow the leash while blind. Sally preferred to lead at a normal walking pace, pushing Valerie's trust to the limit. It was very difficult to not slow down when you can't see where you are going. Knowing that numerous eyebolts had been added to the floor as tie downs didn't make it any easier.

Sally stopped under one of the ceiling eyebolts that Fred and Daphne, the original owners, had installed. She ran her finger through Val's cunt, coming away with damp fingers. Valerie was flushed and her nipples were beginning to stiffen. Sally smiled at the evidence that dinner was no longer on Val's mind.

"Val, honey? Can you breathe okay?" Valerie, of course, gave no reaction to the whispered question. Sally could see that Val was breathing just fine. Caressing Val's face through the leather, Sally let one finger cover one of Val's nose holes for several seconds. Valerie stiffened, a sharp intake of breath sucking the finger tight against her nostril. The finger pulled away, letting the breaths come easily again.

This time, after more caresses against the mask,, Sally made the plugging of one nose hole very deliberate, letting Val know that it was being done on purpose. She tensed again, clutching the ball tightly. Sally brought her other hand close and let Val feel a finger close to, but not plugging the hole. Valerie was moaning. Sally thought she could make out a, "please" through the gag. Gently, Sally tilted Val's head back and forth and then from side to side.

Valerie was familiar with breath play. She also knew that Charles did not approve of it. He rated it just this side of blood play. Fear burned in Valerie's breast. Her thoughts went to the mantra, "three minutes without air, three days without water, three weeks without food," as the list of things that would kill you. She recognized that Sally was giving her an explicit choice in this game. Her air would be cut off only if she gave her permission by nodding her head. She could sense the desire in her lover, the need to go to the edge, to experience that fear from Valerie.

Sally waited: patient, yet anxious. Over the months they had known one another, Valerie had given Sally that fear and trust cocktail in many forms. Each one was intoxicating for both of them. Never before had Sally had a submissive who could give her as much as Valerie did. When Val's head nodded, Sally's heart leapt with joy. Her second finger covered the second nose hole and both fingers were sucked in tight as Valerie struggled to take a breath.

Valerie's hands shot up, ball still firmly clenched, and grasped Sally's wrists. She wasn't trying to pull them away, but to hold onto them like a life line. Valerie collapsed to her knees and Sally stayed with her, keeping her air cut off. Valerie's body began to struggle against the lack of air. Her lungs heaved with increased force and her arms shook from the warring drives to pull those hands away and to trust Sally and not fight. Her lungs were burning. Her unseeing eyes saw multi-colored sparks.

Sally was counting and watching. 15 seconds. Valerie's hands grasped her wrists, not pulling, simply grasping. 30 seconds. Valerie sank to her knees. 60 seconds. Valerie struggled against the lack of air and against her own instincts. 90 seconds. Valerie began to pull at Sally's wrists, fighting to clear her air passage. 100 seconds. Sally moved her fingers out of the way and drew Val into a tight embrace as her lungs heaved repeatedly. Sally could feel the ball in Valerie's hand, clutched tightly. Val was sobbing behind the mask. Sally reached up and disconnected the gag.

"Oh God, I was so scared. I couldn't breathe and I wanted to trust you so much."

Sally caressed Valerie's back and hair. Holding her tightly, she gave Val all the reassurance that she had pleased her Mistress. Once Valerie's breathing was back to normal and the sobs had quieted, Sally took the mask and earplugs off.

"Val, I am so proud of you. You did wonderfully! How are you right now?"

"I'm excited Mistress. It was so terrifying and yet, I knew I could trust you. Would you…"

"What? What do you want me to do?" Sally smiled at what she knew was coming.

"Will you do it again?" she asked, as her body shuddered in fear.

Sally repositioned herself with her legs crossed. She sat Val on her lap, back against Sally's chest. Sally brought her hands close to Val's mouth and nose.

"Are you ready?"

Valerie put the ball down on the ground and nodded, tears in her eyes. Her hands grasped Sally's arms and help on.

"Are you giving me your safe word?"

"Yes Mistress. Is that okay."

"No, Master would have a fit if he knew. Your safe word will be to scratch my arms. I'm not ready to take you here without a safe word. Promise me you'll use it if you need to."

"I promise Mistress."

With that, Sally pinched Valerie's nose and cupped her hand tightly against her mouth. She could feel Valerie tense up, fighting her own body's reaction to the lack of air. At 30 seconds, Valerie's legs began to kick against the floor. At 60 seconds, Val's body began to struggle against the blockages. At 90 seconds, Val began to pull against the hands that blocked the precious air for her body. Still, no scratches, no safe word. At 105 seconds, 1 minute and 45 seconds, Valerie went limp, her hands simply caressing the hands that were suffocating her. At two minutes, Sally released Val's face, dropping her arms to embrace Valerie's chest, feeling it bellow as it sucked in great gulps of air.

"Thank you Mistress. Thank you so much."

"Thank you Valerie. You've given me so much in your submission. Would you like to cum?"

"Yes, Mistress. But more, I want to make you happy. It gives me such joy to let you please yourself with your use of me."

"I have every intention of enjoying myself. Go to the whipping post and grasp one of the rings, facing away from the post."

"Yes Mistress." Valerie stood up and trotted to the post to follow her orders. Sally also stood, but took more time getting there, letting some anticipation build in Valerie. Once she was there, she pulled Valerie's legs around the post, clipping them to rings along the bottom of the post. Valerie's hands were likewise clipped to elevated rings partway around the post. Finally, a four inch wide leather strap was used around Val's belly to pin it to the post.

Sally spent several minutes caressing the bound body before her. Her hands roamed over every exposed portion of Valerie's body, drawing the submissive into a completely relaxed and highly aroused state. Valerie had let her eyes close and soaked up the pleasant feelings that were being inflicted upon her. When the caresses stopped, she whimpered with need. By now, her pussy was well lubricated and her nipples were rock hard. She opened her eyes to see Sally standing back up, having pulled a cat out of the bag. This cat had short, broad leather lashes. She recognized it as one of the gentlest whips they had in their collection. Valerie was convinced that Sally was incapable of causing serious injury to any part of her body except the face and belly, the latter being protected by the wide strap holding her to the post.

Instead of striking with it, Sally twirled the lashed in a small circle and moved it into Val's body. As the lashes struck her legs, Val moaned. There was hardly any pain at all. The intensity was on par with that of a masseuse's slaps during a massage. The lashes slowly moved down the outside of one leg, only to reverse their spin and move up the inside. The entire process was repeated on the other leg. Through it all, Val felt like millions of little fingers were slapping against her legs, loosening the muscles, relaxing them. She was aware of a tingling being left behind as the whip left a part of the leg behind. 

Sally made three passes over each leg before she adjusted her strength. The spinning increased in speed and the lashed hit with more force. Valerie could tell that there was pain, but was amazed, in the back of her mind, that it didn't hurt. Each impact was more of a sharp stinging sensation. She could see red lines being left on her legs, yet there was no impetus to scream or cry out. The sensations hovered on that fine line between pleasure and pain and left Valerie's body unable to decide how to react. Her legs twitched at each impact, yet Val was moaning, not crying in pain. She could feel the moisture on her cunt become more pronounced and there was an ache from her lips for touch, any touch.

With each pass up and down Valerie's legs, Sally increased the force she was using. Slowly, the legs turned pink, then red, as the marks of the whip deepened and merged to become a solid mark from upper thigh to ankle. When she saw Valerie's eyes close and her head tilt back, Sally smiled. Val had found true subspace. In the past, Valerie had been able to reach a place where she could deal with the pain by concentrating on the pleasure she was giving her dominant. Now Val was in a new place. With a single practiced move, Sally switched from the spin to actual strikes, backed by the full power of her upper body.

Sally ignored the burn in her own arm and struck at each leg with full force, watching deep red marks erupt from the skin. If she had used these strokes on Valerie first, she would be crying in pain. But now, as they landed, Val groaned and moaned with pleasure. Her pussy was now dripping juice onto her thighs while the legs tried to reach out to the lash, eager for the painful caresses that subspace was transforming into pleasure. Watching her lover closely, she waited for the right moment.

It came as Valerie's body began to tremble against the bindings. Sally recognized her lover at a plateau of arousal, hovering close to climax but not there yet. In quick succession, she dropped the cat and pulled the horse hair from the waist of her skirt and twirled it in an upward motion; bringing it directly against Valerie's pussy. As the needy cunt was finally caressed, Valerie screamed in ecstasy. Her body shuddered in an orgasm, oblivious to any pain it was feeling. Sally kept up the gentle flogging of Valerie's pussy, drawing the orgasm out to almost a minute in length.

As the first climax faded, a second started. Val jerked against her restraints as the almost painfully intense orgasm rocked her body. The intensity was so strong that she tried unsuccessfully to pull away as twin impulses warred in her, escape and desire for more. Unable to escape, Val soaked up even more sensation from the horse hair flogger. Sally had slowed the spinning, letting Val's second orgasm pass.

"Please, Mistress, please."

"Please what?"

"Stop, more, I don't know. Please."

"Cum for me, cum hard Valerie."

Sally sped up the twirling again and Valerie screamed as her body was catapulted to new heights of arousal. Her clit had escaped its hood and each stroke against it sent a spasm of feeling, like a cramp that was paradoxically pleasurable, through her body. Over and over, Valerie jerked as her clit was tortured ecstatically. Tears were flowing freely as her confused body tried to find an appropriate response to the strange mish mash of feelings assaulting it. Her third orgasm was punctuated with sobs, her body overwhelmed. Sally stopped the flogging and hugged Valerie as her orgasm shook her.

Once her climax had passed, Valerie found herself out of subspace as well. She was suddenly aware of the pain that filled her legs. Groaning, Valerie sagged in her bonds and cried.

"How are you doing, love?"

"Oh God, my legs hurt and I'm exhausted. What… How…?"

"You were in subspace. Your body was experiencing the pain as a source of pleasure."

"I… I thought that was a porn myth."

"No, it can really happen. It's easier for some than for others. I've been waiting to see if you could reach it on your own."

"I didn't, did I?"

"No. That's very rare. It was the gradual increase in the pain."

"It was so wonderful. Do you require more service from me?" Val asked, looking down at Sally's skirt.

"As a matter of fact, yes I do. Let's get you down." Sally smiled in anticipation as she released Valerie from the post. She helped Val to the bed, her reddened legs barely able to support her weight. Once Val was lying on the bed, Sally climbed over her and settled her cunt over Valerie's face, pinning her hands to the bed. 

Valerie licked at the pussy that was covering her face, recognizing Sally's need for a hard, fast orgasm. Moaning at the taste she had come to love, Valerie swiped her tongue deeply into Sally's cunt. She explored the cavernous area just within the reach of her tongue while she pushed her nose against Sally's clit. The dominant bisexual was already highly aroused and reached orgasm quickly. Val felt the pussy lips quiver around her tongue as Sally's scream of pleasure to tried to make an echo in the soundproofed basement.

Sally kept herself pressed against her lover's face, soaking in the continuing sensations from that now talented tongue. By now, Val's face was covered in Sally's fluids. Still she licked, swiping her tongue from ass crack to clit, devouring every drop she could bring into her mouth. Soon, Sally collapsed as her second orgasm started. She could feel the heat from Valerie's legs against her cheek as she shuddered in her climax. With her hands free, Val used them to bring lubricant from pussy to ass and penetrated Sally's nether hole while she licked at her pussy once again.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 03



Sally cried out at the penetration, writhing on top of her partner. This time, Val teased Sally, bringing her to the edge of orgasm and holding her there. Alternating slow and gentle with fast and hard, Sally was taken to the brink several times before she yelled, "Make me cum! That's an order!" Val obeyed, plunging a second finger into her ass while she grazed Sally's clit with her teeth.

Sally bucked on top of Val, grasping the legs under her as her body shuddered so much it threatened to fall off the bed. Val planted her mouth over Sally's pussy, letting every iota of juice flow down her throat. As the body lying on her stopped shaking, Val gently licked at the edges of Sally's pussy, easing her lover down from the high she had been sent on. For several more minutes, the two women lay on the folding bed, regaining enough strength to make it back upstairs.

Valerie's legs were still sore, so she needed Sally's help getting to their bed. As they came up the stairs, they heard the now familiar sound of Francine's bedroom door closing. Neither begrudged her the privacy she needed to escape the evidence of Valerie having been whipped. The pain of having brutalized Valerie past her safe word was still too raw for Francine. Healing was coming, but it was coming slowly. They went to sleep after Sally rubbed ointment on Valerie's legs.

Thursday morning, Valerie walked into Delgrasi's offices a little slower than normal. Erica caught it and came around from her desk.

"Valerie! Looks like someone had a good time last night."

Val smiled at the memory. "Yes. Sally took me into subspace last night. My first time. I had no idea!" the last said with a dreamy expression on her face.

Erica squealed and gave Val a hug. "I'm so happy for you. How was it?"

"It was great. She was whipping me with a cat and I never noticed the pain until after I was coming down from my third orgasm."

"That's a great place to go, but sometimes Masters want us in pain, not pleasure."

"I know. I just want to please Him."

"Me too! Well, back to work."

Valerie found the photos that Mr. Wilson had promised in her email. Looking at them, she saw two things right away. They had not been taken by a professional photographer and would not be suitable for use in a quality ad. She also saw what Mr. Wilson had been talking about when he said that the harness was capable of so much more than a simple hogtie.

In addition to a very secure looking hogtie, the photos illustrated a reverse hogtie, a standing bind that pinned the subjects arms against her side, a suspension that looked like it took the weight of the model evenly across her entire back, and ball tie that forced the model to maintain a fetal position. As she stared at the photos, considering how to put better versions of them in an ad, she became aware of something else that would be a problem. Every submissive model was a woman. In her seven months in the lifestyle, Val had become aware that there were as many male submissives (if not more) as female submissives.

She prepared an email to send back to Mr. Wilson, explaining the need for new photos for the ad. She set a tone that did not disparage the ones he had sent, but instead, acknowledged that they had never been meant for use in advertising spots. She indicated that Delgrasi would handle the new shoots and the additional costs would be minimal. She included a request for several of the harnesses for use in the photo sessions. After forwarding the draft to June for polishing, she turned to her other work.

By the end of the day, she had a response to her email. Mr. Wilson sent his okay for a limited reshoot of the photos and indicated that the harnesses would arrive by courier sometime on Friday. With the go ahead, she had June schedule a photo session as soon as possible with Dutch's Photography. Dutch's was one of those rare finds that made life so much easier. While he looked like a hole in the wall photography studio, he put out quality work. More importantly, he had no problem with doing fetish and erotic photography.

Dutch did not have regular models and Valerie had to schedule them herself. Fortunately, she had, in the last few months, met several players who are photogenic and willing to do modeling as a way to make some extra cash. She put in calls to several to let them know that she would have a job sometime next week and that she would ring them tomorrow.

The evening was spent quietly at home. She and Sally confirmed with Charles that they were free to go to Mephisto's with the actors and even that they had permission to demonstrate a scene themselves, but that they were not to climax. Friday at work held no surprises. The shoot was scheduled for Tuesday and the models were lined up. The harnesses arrived as promised and Val had her own schedule blocked out so she could be at the session. She met Sally for dinner at Misuna's, a local vegetarian eatery. While neither woman was opposed to meat in their diet, the specialized diner had a menu that was mouth watering and did miracles with fruits and vegetables.

The couple arrived at Mephisto's half an hour early. Valerie felt a little weird, walking into the club dressed as normally as she was dressed. It wasn't that people didn't come to Mephisto's in street clothes; it was that she never seemed to. Now she was doing it for the second time in a short while. After reserving one of the private rooms, they made a short tour of the main floor, checking out what was happening in the club.

The main stage was being prepared by a dominant she had seen in action before. His two submissives were kneeling on the stage, awaiting his pleasure. There were a few scenes being played out in some of the other public play areas as well. There was the constant sound of people moaning and crying out, not always softly. Sexual tension filled the air and Val found that she was becoming aroused. Ten minutes before seven, they had made it back to the front entrance, finding that Stan was already there.

"Mr. Greyish," Sally called out. "It's good to see you. Have you been waiting long?"

"No, I just arrived a minute or two ago." Stan was wearing surprisingly casual clothes for an actor. A two tone blue striped polo shirt and brown slacks were visible. The slacks were tight enough that Sally and Valerie could tell that he was a briefs man. His feet were clad in black loafers that looked as if they had never been worn before.

"Are you looking forward to the movie, Stan?" Valerie asked.

"I always look forward to my movies. Frankly, real life is boring. Movies are where I live. Is there someplace to get a drink in here?"

"I'm afraid that Mephisto's is a dry establishment. Not only do state laws prohibit full nudity in places that have liquor licenses, being intoxicated during a scene is not the best idea. Both dominants and submissives need to be aware of how they are reacting. For the most part, people in the club drink water, lots of water. A heavy scene can lead to massive perspiration and dehydration can happen, though I have never heard of it occurring badly enough to threaten one's health."

A woman's voice came from behind them. "No alcohol? That's dreadfully boring." Melanie and Crystal had entered and heard Sally's explanation. Melanie continued, "If I had known that, I would have stopped off for a cocktail before I came."

Valerie smiled. "I've also wished I had had a drink before hand a time or two. If you want, we can go by The Gotham Club later, after you've seen enough."

Crystal nodded. "That would be nice. Lord knows that we'll not have time for enjoying this city once shooting starts. I've heard a rumor that Barry Gastin has signed on as director."

Stan shook his head. "Barry. Now there's a slave master if there ever was one. We'll be shooting fourteen hours days with him. He is good, though, and finishes films on time."

Melanie asked, "But has he ever done something as risqué as this one?"

Crystal thought for a moment. "Didn't he direct Feldar's Curse?"

Stan nodded. "Yes he did. His cinematography was brilliant. He managed to shoot sex scenes without blowing his R rating. I don't pretend to understand how. I heard from a reliable source that there was full nudity on the set, yet it stayed sensuous without going smutty."

"Hopefully, he can work that same magic on the whipping scenes." Melanie shook her head. "Being in a pornographic NC17 movie will not be a career enhancer for any of us."

Valerie looked around while they were all talking. She had heard similar banter while working on TV spots. Actors and actresses were always talking about their craft, unless they were talking about their latest cause. Her breath caught and she started to shake her head. Towards the center of the building, she saw Tasha Williams. The actress had either slipped past them or had been here for quite some time. Although that wasn't the problem, it was what she was wearing that caused Val concern.

Excusing herself and shooting Sally a, "Keep them occupied," look, she deftly maneuvered her way through the crowd, trying to reach Tasha before someone took her choice of attire in entirely the wrong way. The vain star had worn an emerald green, knee length, strapless dress that was very sheer and had enough cleavage to leave very little to the imagination. As Val closed the distance, she saw a man dressed in a skin tight leather pants and jacket walk up to her and say something.

Tasha's response was audible, very audible. "Who the hell do you think you are, you asshole?" Valerie was certain that every head in the club turned that way. It certainly sounded like every voice stopped. Valerie quickly crossed the remaining distance, arriving just in time to hear the man's response.

"If you don't want to be in a scene, you shouldn't dress the part of a submissive on the prowl."

As Tasha's mouth opened, Valerie grabbed her wrist and squeezed, hard. Turning to the man, she gave a small bow. "I'm so sorry sir. She's with me, and I'm afraid that I let her slip away from me." As Tasha opened her mouth again, Val squeezed harder and said, "Not now. You're making a scene."

The man, looking at Valerie, smiled. "Valerie Burbon! My apologies, I had no intention of poaching. Enjoy yourself she has quite a fiery spirit." He gave a small bow of his own and moved off.

Tasha yanked her hand from Valerie's hand. "Just what is going on here, Ms. Burbon. That… man, he propositioned me. He propositioned me in the vilest terms."

Valerie rolled her eyes. "Tasha, look around. Tell me what you see."

The actress started at the apparent non-sequitor. Looking around in confusion, she said, "I see men and women wearing all manner of clothing, at least most of them. Good grief, that woman is naked and crawling on her hands and knees! And the man, he's…"

"Leading her on a leash. Yes, I know. Tasha, this is a kinky sex club." Val used the coarse description on purpose. "What did you think you were going to see? Ballroom dancing?"

The light dawned in her eyes. "Oh My God! I'm dressed like one of… like a…"

"Like a submissive on the prowl. You're barely dressed. You've shown off what you have to offer and you're not showing any subtle signs of being a dominant. That confused look that vanillas have when they come here for the first time looks very submissive to less experienced Doms. Of course someone is going to make a move on you. The good news is that most of those who will do so, will take a polite 'no' with grace. As we explained on Wednesday evening, the number one watch word in this lifestyle is consent. No one here wants to rape anyone, though a few pretend rapes may be going on behind closed doors," Valerie said with a grin.

Most of the crowd who had been staring had returned to their own activities. Sally and the other actors were working their way to Valerie and Tasha. Two onlookers, however, walked up to the two women.

"Oh my God! It is you. Tasha Williams. I'm your biggest fan." Turning to her partner, she gushed, "Betty, this is Tasha Williams! She stared in Banderman's Folly." She turned back to Tasha. "I had no idea your were into BDSM. This is so cool. Are you a dominant or a submissive?"

During the excited run of words, Tasha smiled and then frowned. "Neither. I'm not into these weird sex games. I'm researching for a movie."

"Oh, I'm so sorry Ms. Williams. I'll bet you'd be a dominant if you were though."

Valerie could tell that Tasha was out of her depth. The actress had probably never had to deal with fans outside of an organized event. In fact, it occurred to Val that she had seen none of the retainers that normally accompanied actors and actresses with any of the four.

"Tasha, if we're going to do everything we need to do tonight, we should start." She turned towards the couple. "It was nice meeting you two. Enjoy yourselves." Valerie pulled Tasha towards the other actors, smiling at the resigned expression on Betty, the silent partner's face.

Once the group was together, Valerie and Sally led them to the center stage. The Dominant who had been setting things up was now pacing around his two submissives. They had their feet tied together and were leaning back against wooden bars that were three feet up. Each woman had her hands bound behind her back, the bar sliding between their arms and their backs. Each had a pair of clover clamps on her nipples that were attached to the other submissive's clamps by a chain. The chain was short enough that their breasts were pulled tight, distended under the tension. Both women had tears running down their faces and were panting against the pain. Valerie heard several gasps from behind her.

Turning, she saw all three actresses cringing at the sight before them. Valerie could see Melanie's nipples hardening under her blouse. At another visible cringe from the women, Val turned around and saw that the same clamp set up was being placed on their pussy lips. Soon, four clamps pulled their lips out from their bodies just like their breasts were being pulled. They were left in that predicament for several minutes before the dominant started the next phase of his show. Pulling a pair of crops out, he flicked them against the bellies of the two submissives, causing them to jerk against the connections, inflicting yet more pain on each other.

"Why do they put up with it?" Crystal's voice was low and had a slight tremor.

Valerie turned back around to explain. "I can't tell you the exact reason each of them allows this to happen. What it boils down to is that they are submissives and he is their Dominant. They've made a choice to let him do what he wishes. You see, D/s is all about consent. Nothing that you're going to see tonight is happening without the willing participation of all parties."

Sally joined in. "There's an acronym that many use in the lifestyle: 'SSC'. It stands for Safe, Sane , and Consensual. I'm a firm believer in it myself, but it is easily misunderstood."

Stan raised his hand. "Wait. How can that," pointing to the two women, "be safe?"

"How can bungee jumping be safe? Safe doesn't mean risk free. It means that the players have taken whatever steps they feel are needed to make the play they engage in as safe as they need it to be. Different people need different levels of safety. It's just like circus acts. Some trapeze artists use a net and others don't. Both groups are at the level of safety they need. While most submissives use safe words, there are people in this club right now who don't use them. They either don't want them of don't feel the need for them. Neither group is 'wrong' in their choice."

"It's much the same way with sane," Valerie added. "I'm not even sure I like that term. It implies that there is an insane type of play. I know two submissives who let their dominants cut them, real cuts with real knives. Part of me thinks they're crazy. But, they are clearly happy with and proud of their cutting scars. I've never seen them infected and, to my knowledge, they've never been cut enough to require a trip to the hospital. Are they insane? I don't want anyone telling them they are, because the next step would be to tell me that I'm insane. We're all sane. Let's leave the realm of insanity for those who hear voices telling them they have to kill."

Sally took over again. "In some ways, 'RACK' is a better term. It stands for Risk Aware Consensual Kink. We all know what the risks are in the games we play, or we should know. Life is not safe, but we do make ourselves aware of the risks living poses and take steps to minimize them to the extent that it doesn't take us away from living our lives. Valerie and I both know that being tied up and whipped hard is potentially dangerous. We have done what we can to be as safe as possible. We keep ourselves in good health. We found a dominant we trust. We're open about how things feel. Most importantly, we are doing something we love with people we love and care about. Are we making sense?"

All four of the actors nodded, Tasha hesitantly. Valerie and Sally led them around the floor, stopping to observe several scenes playing out. As expected, they were able to see a wide variety of styles and groupings. Males dominating females; females dominating males; lesbian and gay domination; whippings; body part torture (cocks, balls, pussies, clits, breasts, feet); heavy bondage; light bondage; no bondage. An hour later, they were back at the front entrance.

"So, what do you all think?"

Tasha shook her head. "I think there are a lot of daft people in here. I would never do the things that these people are doing, no insult intended."

Valerie smiled. "No insult taken. The important question is, 'Can you do what is needed for your part in the movie?' If you can't, you need to quit now and let Milton find someone else."

"It would help if I could see just what that was. Could you two re-enact one of the scenes that I need to be in? Let me see what I'm in for."

Sally looked at Val, and after a nod from her, nodded herself. "Yes, we rented a room where we can do so in private. What scene did you want to see?"

"The worst one, the one where Francine whips you bloody."

Valerie tensed, her breath becoming ragged as memories flooded her. Naked, bound helpless in the doorway, the lash falling over and over again, her cries of "Red light," ignored. Her hand gripped Sally's and trembled. Everyone stared at her, not grasping the sudden change in her.

"Val, honey. Are you okay?"

Valerie shook her head, unable to find her voice.

"It's not going to happen again. I will never hurt you like that, ever. No one will. Look at me Val." Sally took Valerie's head in her hands and turned it to look at Sally's eyes. "I. Will. Never. Hurt. You. Like. That." Each word was slowly uttered, as its own distinct sentence. Sally then took Val in an embrace, holding her tight against her fear.

"What's wrong with her? If this scene is so bad for her, someone who is used to being hurt, I don't want anything to do with it."

The other three actors stepped back from Tasha as Sally turned, fire in her eyes. "You fucking bitch! Valerie lived through that 'scene' as you called it. Not for a few minutes on camera, then, 'Cut! Make up!' to place the injuries. She was whipped by a crazy woman for two solid hours, one hour more than she was able to take in her submission. You just asked her to relive that terror, to re-enact the event that gave her these!" Sally turned Val around and lifted her shirt, revealing the scars that covered her back. Tasha gasped, her hands clasped to her face. "These aren't make up! These are the real thing. Yes, Valerie's a little emotional right now. It's been less than a year since the incident. She shares her house with the woman who did this. I've seen the script. Hell! I helped write it, for all practical purposes. There is nothing in that script that you won't be able to handle." Sally stopped as Valerie put her hand on Sally's shoulder.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 03



"Thanks Sally." Valerie straightened her shirt. Around them, people made a pointed effort to pretend that they had not heard what had happened. Val turned to Tasha. "Ms. Williams. Francine's brutalization of me was the second worst thing to happen to me, ever. The first was Mike's death." She squeezed Sally's shoulder. "It's very hard to remember. But, yes, we'll give you a demo. I want you, however, to experience a single stroke to your arm. Seeing me whipped will not tell you how much pain there will be. Feeling it on you will." She saw Tasha tense and pull back. "I know it frightens you. That's good. It should be frightening. I understand your reluctance, that's why I'm not asking for what you should really experience, a five to ten minute session with your back being whipped."

"I don't understand. How can you let this happen?"

"For me, submission is a part of me; as much a part of me as being a woman. I can't not submit. I'm so fortunate to have found a man - Master and a woman," Val hugged Sally close, "whom I love and trust so much that I can submit fully, without reservation. If you're not submissive, that's okay. You don't have to be. You only have to act the part, not live it. Come on, let's get to the room and show you what my story is about."

The group walked over to room seven, the one Valerie had rented. Inside, there was a St. Andrew's cross, a whipping post and several chains hanging from the ceiling, connected to a winch system. Sally set down the gym bag she had been carrying and extracted a cat. Turning to the actors, she held it up.

"This is what was used on Valerie that night. It's called a cat-o-nine-tails. Ironically, this one has thirteen lashes, not nine. Notice how the lashes themselves are thin and of a harder leather? That's what made it possible for Francine to scar Valerie. This one," Sally pulled another cat out, "is made with wider, softer lashes. I used this on Valerie Wednesday night and left no lasting marks."

Sally looked around, her gaze stopping on Melanie. "Melanie, would you hold your arm out and take hold of the ring right here?" Melanie did so. "May I whip your arm once with this one?" Sally held up the softer whip. Melanie had a gleam in her eye as she nodded. Sally struck the arm with the cat and Melanie moaned, her eyes closed. Crystal looked on, horror and excitement mixed together on her face. "May I use the other one?" Melanie nodded, taking a deep breath. The cat flew and Melanie cried out. Crystal leapt forward and eyed the red marks that appeared on Melanie's arm.

"Mel! Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I just… I had forgotten how intense it could be."

Sally gently took Melanie's hand from the ring. "How did the first one feel, Melanie?"

"It was… You know how a lover will scratch your back in passion and it hurts but feels good at the same time? It was like that. There was pain. But it felt good too."

"How about the second whip?"

"It hurt, a lot. Not much enjoyment there." Crystal looked at Melanie with a puzzled look on her face.

"Now, let's show you what a whipping looks like." Sally took Val close. "Are you ready for this?"

"I think so. I need you to be Mistress. I can't do it vanilla."

"That's fine," she whispered. Out loud, she said, "Valerie, take you clothes off and stand under the chains."

A calm came over Valerie as she sank into her submission. She undressed and stood under the chains. Sally clipped her wrist cuffs to the chains above her and locked her feet to covered attachments in the floor. Sally could sense fear in the passive appearing body of her lover.

"Valerie. Are you going to be okay with this? We can stop."

"I'm okay Mistress. I don't have much in the way of limits right now, but I'll be able to take a little."

"You safe word as soon as you need to. They don't need a long demo."

"Yes Mistress."

Crystal, a puzzled look on her face, asked, "What just changed? She's treating you differently."

"When Valerie submits, she becomes my slave, for all practical purposes. To signify that change, she calls me Mistress and accedes to my will. Until she uses her safe word, I can do anything I wish to her and with her." Noticing that Valerie was trembling with anticipation, Sally cut the explanation short and raised the whip.

Valerie cried out in pain with every stroke. Sally could tell that Val was already on the edge. Her tolerance for pain was visibly less than normal. The head space of the violation was still strongly embedded in her, magnifying her perception of the strokes. It took only ten lashes for Valerie to cry out her safe word. Sally immediately stopped and took her down, holding her as she cried her pain out.

Once Val had settled down and dressed, Sally asked her to wait outside the room while she talked with the actors. "Folks, I need to explain something. We all have limits and they are not always based on pain. Valerie was nowhere close to her limits in pain. Remember, when the incident actually happened, she did not safe word for an hour. Tonight, you saw an emotional limit. Reenacting the violation that occurred to her that night was rough. Remember this. You are telling the story of a strong and courageous woman who has suffered a lot and remains to this day, the most loving and giving woman I know. I want each of you to have a taste of what Valerie was feeling, physically tonight. Melanie, you already felt the cats. Now, the rest of you. I can't make you, but Val is right. You can't tell our story if you don't know what we go through."

Stan strode up and grasped a ring. Sally struck his arm and he bore it with macho perseverance. Melanie held Crystal's hand as the other hand grasped the ring. When the lashes struck her, she jerked her hand away and fell into Melanie's arms, crying. Everyone looked at Tasha. Under the weight of all those eyes, the actress walked to the ring, trembling, and grasped it. The cat struck and she howled in pain. Tasha collapsed to her knees, tears flowing from her eyes.

"I can't do this. I just can't do this," she sobbed.

Of all the people there, only Sally understood what was going on. The other three stars had felt the lash and knew it didn't hurt that much. Sally knew that for Tasha there was fear, a deep seated fear that magnified the sensations, making them far worse than they actually were.

"Would all of you wait outside with Val?"

They left, leaving Sally and Tasha alone.

"Ms. Williams? " Sally knelt beside her. "What is making this so hard for you? I've been in the lifestyle for years and I can see immense fear in you, more than the pain itself can account for."

"How can she let you do that? How can she believe that you love her? You abused her in front of us and she acted like it was right and proper. What have you done to her?"

Sally nodded her head. This explained much. "Who hurt you? Who abused you and left you so scarred?" Tasha shook her head, unwilling to talk about it. Sally continued. "I know it looks like I'm abusing her, but I'm not. Valerie would not stand still for it if I was. She is giving me a wonderful gift every time she submits to me. Val wants to: no, needs to give herself in this way. It's what makes her Valerie. It's not about the pain. It's about the submission. She will accept what I do because she needs to, and because she loves me.

"But the pain? How can she want the pain?"

"She doesn't want the pain itself. As she has put it so many times, 'pain sucks.' What she wants is to surrender herself to me, and to Master. She lets us inflict pain on her as evidence of her submission. What makes it not abuse is; first, it's consensual. She agrees to this in advance. Two, she is having her needs met. Do you know where Valerie wants to be right now? In bed with me, cuddling and being protected by my embrace. That's where we will be in an hour. Let's go. You are going to have to think about what will happen on the set and either find a way to deal with it, or leave this movie before it destroys you."

The group went their separate ways. Valerie and Sally drove home. True to her word, Sally spent the night lying with Valerie, holding her tight as she cried the remainder of the pain away. Sally was worried about her lover. For months since the crisis, Val had refused to have counseling. The violation that she had experienced was on par with that of rape, and Sally knew from personal experience that such trauma did not heal on its own. Until Valerie took steps to heal her heart and soul, she would repeatedly experience these memory attacks.

They fell asleep in each other's arms, not waking until late in the morning. Valerie woke first, jerking to alertness, fear knotting her stomach. In the back of her mind was something formless, something terrifying. Her body was covered in sweat and she felt like she had been shaking. Somehow, during the night, she had become separated from Sally, a very unusual occurrence for the couple. Beside her, Sally stirred. Sally's eyes opened and her head turned towards Valerie.

"Valerie. What's wrong? You look terrified."

"I am, Sally, but I don't know what I'm frightened of. I just woke up scared. I think I had a nightmare, but I can't remember it."

"Val, I'm worried about you. This isn't the first time. You've had eight unexplained nightmares in the last seven months. It's the incident. Francine violated you that night." She put her hand on Valerie's to forestall the complaint. "I know she was hurting and you've forgiven her. However, it was still a violation. In D/s terms, it was almost as bad as rape. You can't just walk away from that and expect to not be affected. You need to see a therapist."

"No I don't. I'll be okay. It doesn't affect me, except for an occasional night's sleep. Really Sally, I'll be fine."

Sally sighed. This was not the first time she had broached the subject with Valerie. The result was always the same. Valerie always refused. Sally suspected that it was in reaction to the near destruction of her life in the wake of being outed as a submissive and a masochist. Valerie wasn't a true masochist, but that's what the general public thought. It was going to take something more than an unremembered nightmare to push Val into therapy.

The two had a date at Charles' mansion. A quick check of their email showed no specific instructions. They did know that Sally would be submitting and Valerie was to observe. After Valerie's disobedience in trying to take a cane stroke meant for Sally, Charles had decided to have Valerie watch a scene with Sally. He wanted to see how she reacted.

Sally, knowing she would be submitting, dressed in a minimum of clothing. A low cut tank top with, "If you can read this, then you're staring at my boobs," written on it, was joined by a pair of polyester shorts that came down a mere two inches below her crotch. Her favorite sandals with the up-the-calf straps finished her look. Valerie, who was not expecting to be in a scene directly, dressed in t-shirt and jeans with sneakers. They had a light brunch and left for Charles' place.

"Valerie, Sally. Master Charles is waiting for you in the lounge." Herman, Charles' butler was not the person who greeted them at the door. Instead, it was Marcia, one of Charles' other submissives. She was dressed in a classic French maid's outfit. Not the outfit a maid in France might wear, but the fetish version that consisted of a tiny apron, a push up bra piece and five inch stiletto heels.

"Marcia! Are you serving this weekend?" Valerie asked.

"Yes, it's my weekend." Charles' submissives were taking the place of the weekend staff who had been lost several months ago, when it had been discovered many of them were uncomfortable being around the activities that they engaged in on the weekends. It ended up being a win-win situation, as all of the submissives found that serving Charles in mundane things was deeply satisfying. "You'd better go. Master is expecting you."

Charles was waiting in his favorite chair. The room that was referred to alternately as a study, a lounge and a living room had not changed much in the months Valerie had known him. Valerie gave a fond look at the sofa on which Charles had fucked her with his hand the first time they had met. Of course, he had made her suck his cock and beg to be fucked. Sally and Valerie knelt in front of him.

"Welcome slaves. Are you ready to submit this afternoon?"

Together, they answered, "Yes Master."

"Valerie, I suspect you will have the harder submission. I have only one order for you right now. You are to watch every aspect of Sally's submission and not interfere in any way. Do you understand?"

"Yes Master. Watch and do not interfere."

"Sally, I have an afternoon of pain planned for you."

"Thank you Master." Sally's breathing was becoming shorter as her nervousness increased. In the last few months, her level of anxiety in submitting to Charles had steadily increased. It never seemed to interfere with her submission. In fact, she had submitted to more and to a deeper level since the hand fasting.

"Follow me ladies."

Charles rose and headed downstairs, leading the couple to the dungeon. Once there, he led them to a device that looked very much like a carpenter's horse. There were differences, however. The cross piece had a partially pointed top, rounded for the last quarter inch of width. It was also adjustable, capable of rising and lowering. Charles pointed to a spot five feet from the end of the 'horse', as it was called.

"Valerie, stand there and watch. You are not to move from that spot until I say so."

"Yes Master."

Valerie moved to the spot, Charles said to Sally, "Sally, strip."

With a gulp, Sally began removing her clothes. While she did, Charles used a hand crank to lower the horse so that it was easy for Sally to straddle. Sally knew what was coming and her pussy was already experiencing anticipatory pain sensations. It had been over a year since she had ridden the horse. The last time, she had safe worded after fifteen minutes.

Knowing what was required of her, Sally straddled the horse so that her legs were on either side. Charles bound her hands and hooked them to a chain that was hanging above the device. He pulled the chain just tight enough so that her arms were fully extended, taking most of her weight, yet she could still stand flat on her feet. She could take the weight off her arms by standing on tip toe. Then Charles reversed the hand crank, raising the top piece up until it was touching Sally's pussy.

He stopped for a moment and spread Sally's pussy lips so that the top piece fit into her cunt. The crank was turned again and the top piece started to force its way deeper into Sally's cunt. Instinctively, Sally raised up on her toes to avoid the penetration. When he thought he was at the right point, Charles locked the top bar in place.

"Sally, let yourself down."

Slowly, she dropped to her feet, forcing the edge of the horse deeper into her cunt. Sally groaned in pain as the edge forced her lips apart and itself deeper into her. Her pussy was in pain, spread wide with a massive intruder trying to force itself in even deeper. She knew her arms would begin to ache soon from the strain of holding her weight.

"Master?"

"Yes, Sally?"

"It hurts Master. How long?"

"Until I want to stop. You are free to ride the horse."

"Yes Master."

Sally raised herself onto her toes, relieving the pain in her cunt, somewhat. As she stood, her legs began to feel the burn. It didn't take long before the burn became an ache. Soon, she was damp all over her body from the perspiration her exertions caused. With no breeze in the basement, all the moisture could do was run down her body, each drop's trail a tickle across her skin. Her breathing was ragged and she was moaning almost constantly.

Valerie watched her lover suspended and the bar raised up into her pussy. Her stomach began to develop a knot as she watched the pain clearly grow in Sally. Tears ran down her face as her heart was torn at watching Sally's steadily increasing agony. It felt very much like the first time she had been ordered to whip Sally, during Val's initiation. Valerie was sure that little pieces of her heart were slipping away.

After fifteen minutes, Sally's legs could no longer support her weight. Trembling, she lowered herself to her feet and the pain in her cunt spiked, drawing a cry from her. It was echoed by a cry from Valerie. Sally, who had been keeping her eyes closed in concentration, opened them to see Valerie crying freely, her hands making jerking motions towards Sally as she fought to not interfere. Valerie was acting as if she was in greater pain than Sally was, and maybe she was, on an emotional level.

Sally's pussy was soon in agony and she was forced to go back on her toes. Her legs had not had anywhere near enough time to recover and were instantly in pain again. It only took ten minutes this time before she was forced to drop to her feet again. This time, the pain in her cunt was so bad she cried out.

"Oh God! Master, it hurts. Please Master, I need off."

"No Sally. Keep riding."

Valerie cried out, "Please Master, let her go, take me instead. I can't take it, Master. It's hurting her so much."

"Valerie, do not interfere."

Valerie, sobbing uncontrollably, dropped to her knees and crawled to Charles. Her head at his feet, she begged. "Master, please. Don't do this to her. It's too much. She'll be maimed. Stop please Master. Don't let her be scarred like I was, please Master."

Charles' voice was hard. "Valerie! Go back to your position and watch."

Sobbing even harder, Valerie went back to her position and, unable to stand, looked up at Sally. Sally was going from toes to feet almost constantly now, unable to find a position that was pain free. She had begun to sob in pain as well, though her pain was physical. Having Sally where he wanted her, Charles pulled out a long lashed cat and struck Sally on the back. The sudden pain from her back caused Sally to lose her footing and her entire weight was dropped onto her cunt. She screamed in agony and pulled up with her arms.

Valerie lost it. She jumped up, ran forward and grabbed the whip, screaming, "Red light Master, dear God, Red light. Sally's dying, Master, don't let her die! Red light Master, Red light."

As she dropped to the ground, dragging the whip from the surprised dominant's hands, she continued to mutter, "Red light," over and over again. Charles quickly recovered and lowered the bar until Sally could stand clear of it.

Sally, whimpering, begged, "No Master, I can take more, Master."

"I know you can, but Valerie cannot. Remember, this was for Valerie's training." He unbound her hands and told her, "Go to recovery. Take care of your pussy. I need some time with Valerie."

"Yes Master. Is she going to be all right?"

"I don't know. There's more here than a low tolerance for witnessing pain."

Sally went to the recovery room where she could rest her muscles and sooth her aching cunt. Charles lifted Valerie to her feet and helped her to the elevator, not trusting that she could deal with stairs in her current emotional state. Instead of taking her to the lounge, he took her to his private bedroom. Large and opulent enough to put many five star hotels to shame, Charles' bedroom was furnished to allow him to never have to leave. A California king sized bed dominated the room. There was a vanity, an armoire, two separate dressers, a love seat, a desk and chair and an ensuite bathroom. The one unusual feature of the room was a largish dog kennel sitting next to the bed. Charles did not own any pets. He guided Valerie to the love seat and sat with her, arms holding her tight, until she recovered enough to talk.

"Valerie. We need to talk."





Stranger Than Truth Ch. 03



"Master, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. There is something going on, something more than your sensitivity to the pain of others. You said that Sally was dying. Did you believe that?"

"No Master, I know she wasn't dying."

"Not now, but when you said it, did you believe she was dying. Think about your answer. Go back to when you broke down. What were you thinking?"

"Master, please. I don't want to think about it."

"Valerie. I did not ask if you wanted to remember, I told you to. That's an order, slave."

A huge sob punctuated her answer. "Yes, Master, I did think she was dying. I couldn't bear to lose her."

"Are you having nightmares?"

Her eyes downcast, Valerie nodded. "I can't remember them, but I wake up terrified, in a cold sweat."

"Valerie, this sounds much like post traumatic stress syndrome. I want you to see a psychologist. I can't train you in accepting Sally's and other's pain until we know that you're not going to overreact to things. Thinking Sally was dying was clearly an overreaction."

"Master, I don't want to see one. I'm not weak, I can handle this."

"Valerie, this is not about being weak. Is Francine weak because she sees Dr. Gloush?"

"No Master! She was hurt. She needs help."

"Valerie, you were hurt even worse than she was, by someone you were closer to and trusted more than Francine trusted Harv. What Francine did to you was the BDSM equivalent of rape. You should have gone in for counseling when she did."

"Master? Please?"

"Valerie. If you don't seek help, you won't be safe in play. Do you want to give up submitting?"

"No! I can't go back to being vanilla."

"Then seek help! It's only a matter of time before you start reacting to the pain of people other than Sally. Do you want to be in such a bad way that going to Mephisto's is a trip to hell? I'll make it easy on you. Seek help, that's an order. Or else, leave my service."

Valerie's eyes widened. Never before had Charles given her an order the disobedience of which was subject to such a harsh penalty. It dawned on her at that moment, how serious this was. According to Sally, the only other expulsion had been for a willful safe word violation. "Master, is it really that serious?"

Yes, Valerie. I like to play with my submissives in groups. Already, you can't play with Sally. Eventually you could be unable to play with anyone else at all. I won't be a party to you being hurt that badly. Seek help. It's not the end of the world, and unlike Francine, you will still be able to submit while you're in treatment."

Sighing, recognizing the possible truth to Charles' words, Valerie replied, "Yes Master. I'll make an appointment with Dr. Gloush on Monday."

"Good. Now, find Sally and bring her here."

"Yes Master."

Valerie went back downstairs and found Sally in the recovery room. She was lying on one of the benches with her legs splayed. As Val got closer, she could see that Sally's cunt lips were a fiery red and a little swollen. Valerie sat down next to her and caressed her leg.

"Careful love, I'm fairly tender down there."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Val. I wasn't close to my limits. This will be healed by morning, provided I give it plenty of rest."

"I'm not sure how much rest you'll get. Master wants you up in his bedroom."

"Okay. Help me up, will you?"

Valerie helped Sally to her feet and led her to the elevator. Once on the main floor, they went to Charles' room. They knelt before him again.

"Sally, you'll be submitting for the rest of the weekend. Valerie, I want you to go home. Come back at 7:00 Sunday evening to pick Sally back up. Bring her some clothes."

Yes, Master," answered Val. She rose to her feet and left, recognizing her dismissal. She spent the rest of the weekend at home, relaxing and trying not to think of what Sally was going through. Francine was able to distract her on Saturday night with a trio of movies, enjoyed with an appropriate mix of junk food.

Once Valerie had left, Charles turned back towards Sally. The young submissive was kneeling with her legs spread and her hands at her side. Her breath was coming short and Charles could detect a slight tremor in her torso.

"How long have you been submitting to me?"

"Five years, I think, Master."

"Sally, I have noticed a change in your submission in the last several months."

"Master?" she asked, a trace of concern in her voice.

"Yes. Ever since the hand fasting, I've detected a bit of dissatisfaction from you when I require you to submit."

"Master. I love submitting to you."

"I know you do. I'm not saying that you dislike submitting to me. I think instead, you want more from your submission. Do you want to go deeper, to give me more than you ever have before?"

As he asked the question, something inside Sally leapt. She had continued to enjoy her times with Him and the demands He put on her outside of his presence. Yet, there seemed to be something missing. His question was just what she needed.

"Yes, Master. I think I do. I want to give you so much more than I have been, but I don't know how."

"This weekend, we will start exploring how deeply you need to be taken. Stand up and grasp the bedpost." When she had done as he instructed, he continued. "Spread your legs. For the rest of the weekend, you are denied orgasms and speech. You are to remain in this position until I tell you otherwise. Do you understand?"

Sally nodded her head. Charles left her there and exited. Sally's mind was a blur of thoughts and emotions. There was fear. She knew in her heart that going deeper did not mean moving from the three foot end of the pool to the four foot end. She was going to be plunged into the deep end of the pool. That was frightening, not because she was afraid of what would happen, but because she was frightened of failing Him. She thought of Valerie and how far her love had come in submission in the first seven months. She felt great desire for Val, a desire to take her places, deeper places. She wondered if she would be allowed to.

Sally's back was to the door, so she did not see who had entered at first. As the hands began to caress her, she recognized the very familiar hands of Marcia. They roamed over her body, pulling arousal from her, even as she fought it. Her nipples were hardening and moisture was forming on her cunt. As her pussy lips engorged, the effects of the horse were brought back to the forefront. She drew in hissing breaths as the pain between her legs was resurrected. Her body began to writhe of its own accord as she drew closer to the now forbidden climax.

Marcia leaned in close, her barely covered breasts rubbing against Sally's back. "Remember, Sally, no climax, no speech. Master has given me half an hour to make you cum, using only my hands. If I fail, I'll lose clothing privileges for the rest of the weekend."

Sally shuddered at this announcement. Marcia hated losing clothing privileges. Master had played these types of games before, yet this time it felt different. Her orgasm restriction did not feel like a game. Master would be truly disappointed if Sally came. Steeling herself, Sally fought the advances of her fellow submissive. Unable to beg, or even cry out, she used every tool she had to avoid the climax that was being forced upon her.

Marcia played with ever inch of Sally's body. Her touches were feather light at times, forcing Sally to swallow giggles and peels of laughter. At other times, the caresses were hard and forceful, pinching and pulling at the naked woman's breasts, ass and face. Towards the end, Marcia's hand reached down and fucked Sally with enough force to raise her to her toes repeatedly. The pain in her swollen pussy was agonizing, causing Sally to whimper and cry. The pain, however, kept her away from her climax for just long enough.

Charles' voice was a reprieve as he instructed, "Marcia, that's enough. Did she climax?"

"No Master."

"Did she speak?"

"No Master."

"Then you failed. Remove your clothes and return to your duties."

"Yes Master."

Sally heard the sound of clothes being removed and someone moving away. When the door closed again, Charles spoke.

"Sally, I'm proud of you. You were obedient. Now, I desire to whip you. Stay in position and do not speak."

Sally nodded. Charles went to one of the dressers and removed a wide leather strap similar to a razor strop, the kind frequently seen on barber chairs in old movies. With a calm detachment, Charles struck at Sally's ass and thighs repeatedly. Each blow was an explosion of pain that caused Sally to gasp and cry. Over and over the blows landed, quickly turning her skin a deep red. Sally soon lost count of how many times the strap landed on her, but she was aware of the burning pain that continued to build, until she was trembling in agony and weakness. Her hands were griping the bedpost tight enough to turn her knuckles white and her arms were aching with the increasing strain of holding herself up as her legs lost the ability to support her.

By the time Charles stopped, Sally was sobbing, her body shaking from the convulsive breaths she was taking and the inability of her legs to support her. When Charles ordered, "Let go, lie on the floor," Sally gave a sigh of relief and practically dropped to the floor. As she laid there, her legs and ass burning, she felt His hand brushing through her hair and caressing her back.

"Very good, Sally. I am very pleased with you."

Never before had those words meant so much to Sally. She knew that she had never submitted to such a beating before and there was a corner of her mind that was worried about it. That little voice in the back, however, was silenced by the larger and louder voice that reveled in the ability to give and take so much.

While he caressed her, Charles took stock of the condition of her skin. There was a deep red coloration to her ass and thighs that was not fading quickly. He suspected that she would be sporting bruises for a few days. He could not see any breaks in the skin, one of the things he liked about the strap. His hand could feel heat radiating from her punished skin, even without actually touching it. He was surprised by the fact that she did not use her safe word. He had intended to strap her until she used it, but had to stop before he caused potentially permanent injury. He pondered quitting, but Charles had come to trust implicitly Sally's willingness to use her safe word. If she had not used it; that meant that she had not reached her limits. He found himself wondering if Sally had any limits now. He had known other submissives that seemed to have no limits. All of them were now living in a 24/7 slave relationship.

"Sally. I want you to crawl into the kennel over there, facing out. You're to stay there until I come for you."

Sally raised herself to her hands and knees and crawled into the kennel. It was not an overly large kennel, being only four feet long, three wide and tall. Once she had cleared the doorway of the kennel, it was shut in her face. She watched him walk away without so much as a backwards glance. The door to the bedroom closed and Sally was alone.

Sally saw that, if she wished, she could open the door to her cage since Charles had not locked it. She, however, felt no desire to leave. She tried to find a position that kept her sore ass and thighs from touching anything and ended up on her knees with her ass raised up and her head against the floor. Her knees were soon sore from kneeing on hard plastic and the throbbing of her marks contributed to ensuring she could not sleep. In spite of the fact that she was crying softly, Sally found herself feeling safe in the kennel.

It felt like hours passed. She had no way of telling time. She just knew that she had been there long enough that lying on her side, her ass and thighs occasionally bumping something, was more comfortable than kneeling. In truth, more time had passed than she thought. She started when the door to the room opened. A naked Marcia walked in and set something on one of the dressers. Then Marcia walked over to the kennel.

"Remember, no speaking, Sally." Marcia opened the kennel door. "Master says this is the only chance you will have to use the toilet. Hurry."

Sally rolled onto her hands and knees again and crawled to the bathroom. She had become aware of the pressure at both ends as soon as Marcia had said anything about it. She quickly finished and crawled back out to the bedroom.

"Go back into the kennel, Sally." Once Sally had backed in again, Marcia knelt in front. "Sally. Are you okay? Is this what you want?"

Sally looked up and smiled. She nodded as she realized that she did, indeed, want to serve her Master like this. Her fear was not gone. She was afraid of what was happening and that she was allowing it. But, there was a calm as well. There was something on the other side of where she was now, of what she was being subjected to, that called to her. She had no idea what or who she would be after this new journey with her Master, and that frightened her. She also knew she wanted to become this new person, whoever she was.

"I don't know if I could ever go through this." Marcia reached out and caressed Sally's face. "Are you sure?" Sally nodded again. "I have your dinner. Master said that you cannot use your hands and that you must eat in the kennel." Marcia retrieved the tray from the dresser and put the plate of food and a bowl of water in the front of the cage. "If your hands show any signs of food on them when I get back in half an hour, you will suffer 25 cane strokes." Marcia's voice caught. It was only Sally's serene gaze and firm nod of the head that kept the submissive teacher from breaking out in tears.

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans. Sally ate everything, her hands clasped behind her back. Her hair kept falling into her food. To drink, she had to lower her face into the water and suck it in. As she ate, her feelings of humiliation grew. She knew she was being watched. She had, in the past, used the closed circuit security system to monitor bound submissives in this room herself. By the time Marcia had returned, Sally was a mess. Food and water mixed to plaster her face.

Sally noticed that Marcia was walking stiffly and gasped when she knelt down. The tray was removed in silence and a wet cloth used to clean Sally's face. The kennel was closed again and Marcia walked away. Sally saw that Marcia had been whipped since she had brought dinner and wondered if it was a punishment or play. Sally curled up again and waited.

The entire night was spent in the kennel. Charles had brought Marcia to his bed and Sally had to listen to their love making for over an hour. Eventually she slept, her tears of frustration tiring her out. She was woken up by the sounds of Marcia's moans. Peeking through the door, she saw that Marcia was tied to the end of the bed and Master was caressing her. By the time Charles had relented and fucked Marcia in the ass, she had been begging for relief for over 15 minutes.

When he had cum, Charles let Sally out and ordered, "Sally, clean Marcia up with you tongue. Retrieve every drop of cum, both hers and mine."

Sally crawled over to the still bound submissive and set to licking every bit of fluid off her legs, ass and pussy. She drew the process out, trying to give Marcia as much pleasure as she could. Finally, after bringing Marcia to another orgasm, Sally pulled back, her face covered in semen and pussy juice.

"Sally, use the toilet now. Don't clean your face."

While Sally was taking care of business, Marcia was released and told to begin fixing breakfast. Sally crawled back out into the room. Her ass and thighs had cleared for the most part, but there were several deep purple bruises visible. She knelt in front of Charles and waited.

Charles looked at his longest serving submissive. Something had definitely changed in Sally. She had born up under pain that would have triggered her safe word a few months ago. She had submitted to humiliation that he had never before subjected a submissive to. He could see the fear on her face, as well as the peaceful calm. A new part of her submissiveness had been uncovered, a part that had depths that neither of them had suspected could exist. He was sure it came from the deep love that Sally and Valerie had for one another. This had to be nurtured.

"Sally. Until further notice, you are not to dominate anyone, not even Valerie. In fact, whenever you're in Valerie's presence, you are to be in submission to her. She will have complete freedom with you to extract any service and subject you to anything her will desires. Essentially, you are in submission to myself or Valerie 24/7, until I tell you otherwise. Do you understand?"

Sally nodded her head as her breathing increased in pace. Her fear was growing, threatening to overwhelm her.

"Sally, speak to me. What is frightening you?"

"Master, I don't know what it is. I'm frightened of where I'm going. This is not something that I've ever considered before and I should be begging to escape it. But I'm not. It's calling to me. I want this so much, but I'm afraid that I'll never come back from it."

"I'm not sure where we are going either. I've never put a submissive into 24/7 before, yet I know that you need this. You might not come back from this. You may have grown in your submission to the level that only 24/7 will be enough. What I do know is that if this is what you need: to become fully a slave, I will see to it that you have the perfect Master or Mistress. It might be me, it might be Valerie, or it might be someone else. I will guide you on this journey of discovery and keep you as safe as possible."

"Thank you Master. I know I need this, but it is so frightening. Would you hold me please, hold me so I can't get loose?"

Charles picked Sally up and laid her across his knees. One leg wrapped itself around her legs and his hands grasped hers and held them tight against her back. Her head reached almost to the floor. Stroking her ass with his other hand, he waited, feeling her calming under his restraint of her. After several minutes, her head turned up to look at him.

"Master. Will you spank me? You haven't just spanked me in so long."

"You're right, I haven't. I think sometimes I forget the little things in the quest for more intensity. How many would you like?"

"Until I'm bawling, Master: I need a really long spanking, though it doesn't need to be really hard."

Charles started spanking Sally with his hand. They were no where near as hard as they could have been. They were steady and seemingly unending. Her sensitive ass felt them acutely. As they came down upon her, she felt the fear melting away. Secure and safe in her Master's grip, the repeated impacts to her ass were a soothing balm to her emotions. She embraced the unplumbed depths that loomed before her and allowed the pain of the spanking to wash through her, drawing out tears of pain and uncertainty, leaving the bawling woman at the end whole again.

Binding her hands behind her, Charles instructed Sally, "Crawl back into the kennel, Sally. You're going to spend the rest of the day there. You'll be watched of course, but I'm locking it this time. Unless you use a safe word, you won't see anyone until Valerie picks you up. Remember, once she's here, you're under her domination. Again, no speaking until someone gives you permission. You are still on orgasm denial too."

Sally crawled as best she could with only her knees and huddled inside the kennel. She heard the lock click in place and jerked at the sound. She pushed against the door with her feet, finding its lack of give reassuring. Lying on her side, she settled in for the long confinement. The room was silent but for her own noises when she move about in her kennel. Slowly, Sally unaware of it happening, started thinking of herself as more than a submissive, though maybe 'different' was a better term. She began to think that she had no right to deny her Master or Mistress anything. The thought of using her safe word began to feel painful. By the time Valerie entered the room, fully briefed by Charles on what she would find and how Sally was to be treated, Sally was not capable of using her safe word. Initially, she would not have been able to tell anyone what they were.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 03



Valerie showed up at the mansion at 7:00. Marcia, still naked, led her to the lounge where Charles waited for her. The small overnight bag with Sally's clothes hung from her hand.

"Good evening Master. How is Sally?"

"Sally has entered a new stage of submission, one I've never encountered personally before. It's very important that nothing gets in the way of her exploration of this new dimension. I have instructed her that she will be in submission 24/7 until further notice."

"24/7, Master? Does that mean that she is not coming home?"

"No, she will be going home with you. I need you to be her dominant whenever she is with you. She is not to dominate anyone for any reason."

"Master, I'm not sure I can do that. You know what happens when I try to punish."

"I'm not asking you to punish her. I doubt she will need it. She is in a very compliant place right now. What she needs from you is a focus for her submission. Demand service from her. Deny her. Humiliate her. Treat her like she was your slave. Can you do that for Sally?"

Valerie took a deep breath. "I'll try Master. I don't know though. I'm not very dominant. I mean, I've dominated her a few times, but those were only for short periods of time. I don't know if I can keep it up for the long term. Plus, we have the consulting job. If they need a whipping demo, I can't do it."

"I think you'll do fine. As for the consulting gig, she should still be able to participate. You can order her to do a demo of whipping you and maintain being dominant. In fact, you should try that tonight when you get home. Have her whip you as your submissive. You'll need to be very forceful to have her use enough force, but it can be done. It will help her grow. Anytime you have doubts about continuing, remember that. This will help the woman you love."

"I understand Master. Can I come over on short notice if I need help from you, either with Sally or to feel my own submission again?"

"Of course you can. By the way, do you still want to be auctioned next Saturday?"

"Oh yes, Master. I love being sold and used like that."

"Drop Sally off Friday night so I can take over and you can spend the weekend submitting to anyone you wish, who we know of course, and being auctioned on Saturday. You'll pick her up again on Sunday night."

"Thank you Master. Will you be at Mephisto's any time this weekend?"

"No, I want to move Sally to a safe place before I take her out in public. She's very vulnerable right now and could be easily hurt by someone who simply doesn't understand where she is. You two have such a good level of communication that I know you won't hurt her. Go ahead and fetch her from my room. You'll need this key. She's locked in the kennel."

Valerie looked at the key, uneasily holding it and finding herself in a position of dominating Sally for such a long time. It would be hard, but she trusted Charles and loved Sally. If Sally needed this from her, Valerie would give her the best she could. Resolutely, she headed for Charles' bedroom and her new full time submissive.

*

Thanks again to D. for the great editing job. This story is writing itself again, just like the original Valerie stories did. Again, I love getting feedback, so let me know what you think.



Stranger Than Truth Ch. 04



Chapter Four

Training the Actors

Valerie Burbon walked down the hallway of Charles' mansion until she reached the door to his private bedroom. Behind the door, she would find her life partner and fellow submissive, Sally Thatcher, locked in a dog kennel. Valerie was not looking forward to the next few weeks. Sally Thatcher was at a Rubicon in her submission to Charles. For the last six months, ever since the couple's hand fasting ceremony, Sally had not used her safe words at all. Her gift to their Master, Charles Vanquil, had been a new slave contract with no limits beyond her safe words. It seemed now, that even those were not limits since she would not use them.

Valerie trembled at the door. She was entering a new phase in her relationship with her lover. Sally had always been the switch, the dominant submissive who took Valerie's submission in addition to that which Val gave to Charles. Once Val opened the door, all that would change. Sally would be her submissive 24/7, plumbing depths of submission that none of them had dealt with before. Valerie was afraid that she would screw something up and hurt Sally in some yet to be defined way. Only her deep and abiding love for the woman beyond the door enabled her to take on this unaccustomed task.

Stepping through the door, Val saw Sally curled up in the kennel. She was not asleep, but merely resting. Sally looked up at the sound of the door opening and smiled when she saw Valerie. Valerie walked over and crouched next to the door, while Sally rose to her hands and knees. Val stuck her fingers through the grate, watching Sally rub her face against them, kissing each finger with an open mouth.

"Sally?"

Sally looked up into Val's eyes. The love and trust that emanated from them was a palatable presence in the room. Sally continued to rub her cheek against the fingers in the door.

"Do you know where you are going?" Both women understood that this was not about a car ride. 

Sally shook her head, letting the fear in her heart show to the woman she trusted more than life itself.

"Do you want to make the journey?"

Sally nodded her head vigorously.

"Very well. I will try to be as good a Mistress to you as you were ever to me. You are still restricted from orgasms and speech. Once we get home, you are to be naked and on all fours until I tell you otherwise. The only exception is working. You can sit on the floor to use your laptop to work from. First thing tomorrow, e-mail your boss and tell him that you need to work from home. Will that cause any problems?"

Sally shook her head.

"Good. I intend to make things very hard for you. Master has told me that you need a deep submission, deeper than we've ever gone before. I don't know yet what that entails, but I will do my best to give you what you need. Remember your safe words."

The look on Sally's face struck terror in Val's heart. Sally looked confused, as if she had encountered a foreign word. "Sally, do you remember your safe words?" Sally shook her head, still confused. Valerie bolted from the room, racing to the lounge where Charles was still sitting.

"Master! We have a problem."

"What is it Valerie?"

"Sally doesn't seem to know what I mean when I mention safe words."

Charles looked grim, but not shocked. "Valerie, Sally may not have the ability to use safe words right now. That's why I've limited her submission to you and myself. I've been her dominant for five years and you two have a love and level of communication that is unparalleled. No one else can dominate her safely."

"I'm frightened Master. No safe words? I will hurt her."

"You won't. Your love won't let you. It will make you extra cautious, exactly what we need right now."

"Are you sure Master?"

"Yes. Partly because you won't be inflicting pain on her. She will let someone injure her in play, that's why no one else can whip her, or anything else painful. I don't believe that there is anything you could do right now that will hurt her emotionally. Anything you do will be taken as an act of love. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I think so Master. I'll do my best."

Valerie returned to the bedroom to find that Sally had not moved from where she was or the position she was in. She looked up expectantly. Val walked over to the cage and unlocked the door, opening it and setting the key on top.

"Sally, come on out." Valerie walked over to Charles' bed and sat on it. "Come over here, lay across my lap."

Sally did as she was told, draping herself over Valerie's knees so that her ass pointed up at Val's face. Valerie saw the bruising from the brutal whipping Sally had endured earlier. There would be no scars, but the bruises would last for several days.

"Sally, I need you to talk to me. Help me to understand what's happening."

Sally hesitated for a few seconds. "Mistress, I'm not sure what it is. I do know that I need so much more from my submission. Something's happened. I've changed. I am changing. It scares me. Do you remember how scared you were that first month when so much changed in your life, even before Francine and the incident?"

"Yes, I do. I didn't know what I was going to become from day to day. You told me that whatever it was, You would always be there for me and with me. You reassured me that I would not become some thing that you would not want."

"Yes." Sally sobbed convulsively. "I don't know what I'm becoming, Val, and I may never be able to dominate you again. Will you still want me, even if I have to be your slave all the time?"

Valerie picked Sally up and clenched her tightly. "I will never leave you, never! If you need to be a slave for the rest of our lives, then I will be the most demanding Mistress you ever could hope for. It will work, whatever it is."

"Thank you Mistress. I so needed to hear that. I love you so much. I would rather become vanilla than lose you."

"You will never have to make that choice." Valerie remembered something Charles had said she should do. "Come with me, slave. There is something you need to do for your Mistress in the dungeon."

Sally dropped to all fours again and followed Valerie downstairs. Valerie led her to the whipping post, after a stop at the toy bench to pick up a cat. This one had long thin lashes that would hurt like hell and leave deep marks.

"Sally, stand up and undress me."

Sally did so, removing each article of clothing with a delicate hand. As each piece came off, Sally kissed Val's newly revealed body. Once she was naked, Val handed Sally the whip, grasped one of the rings on the post and looked over her shoulder.

"Whip me Sally. Whip me hard and fast until I use my safe word."

Sally looked at Val in horror. The strands of the whip dropped to the ground and Sally started to back up.

"Stop, slave! You do what you were told. I want you to whip me and whip me now. Make me scream and weep in pain. Do you understand me?"

Sally flicked the whip against Valerie's back, barely making contact.

"Harder you stupid bitch! I want to feel it." It tore Val up inside to use such language towards Sally, but she needed Sally to be able to do this as a submissive.

The next blow landed with a loud slap, but was still not as hard as Val wanted.

"Harder slut! If I'm not screaming in 60 seconds, you will be severely punished!"

Sally finally accepted that this is what her Mistress wanted. Letting her muscles do what they knew to do, she whipped Valerie, hard and fast. Red stripes appeared with each blow. Valerie was quickly in tears from the pain. Counting them silently, she let Sally whip her 50 times before she cried out her safe word. Again, instinct took over where thought failed. Sally did not consciously recognize the safe word, "Red light," but her muscle memory knew to stop whenever she heard those words.

Normally, Valerie, while not enjoying pain, was able to enjoy letting it happen. This time, however, that was not true. There was no dominant behind the whip, enjoying the taking of her submission. The pain was all there was and Valerie called upon every reserve of strength she had to not collapse once it was over.

"Take me to the recovery room, slave."

Sally preceded Valerie there, where she was instructed to provide after care to Val's back. Half an hour later, Both ladies were dressed and upstairs. Val instructed Sally to wait by the front door and went back to Charles.

"Master. I'm heading home now."

"How did the whipping go."

"It's not as fun when I know there is no enjoyment on the other end."

"That's frequently the case. I called Francine while you were downstairs and let her know what was going on. She's decided to leave you two in the house alone. I don't think she feels up to being around such intense submission. I've arranged for her to have a room at the Davenport for as long as she needs it."

"Thank you Master. I was worried about her. Master, I have a date tomorrow with one of Sally's old friends, and mine as well. Should I cancel?"

"No. I think it will do her good to understand that deep submission involves being ignored. Just be sure she has orders for the night."

"I've given her standing orders that in the house, she is to be naked and on all fours, unless she is working from home. Do you have any suggestions for when I'm planning to be gone the entire day?"

"I'll think on it and send you an e-mail tonight. Be sure to check it before you go out in the morning."

"Yes Master. Thank you. I'll bring her back on Friday. If nothing comes up, can I come by Wednesday to submit?"

"Of course. I'll have instructions for you that morning."

"Until then, Master."

Valerie returned to the front door and drove Sally home. Sally did not talk during the trip and Valerie was not inclined to press any harder about what was happening. In some respects, that was unneeded information. What was important was that Sally was in a deeply submissive place and she needed Val to be dominant. As soon as the pair were in the house, Sally stripped off her clothes and went down on her hands and knees, looking up at Valerie with expectation on her face.

Valerie had waited until after she picked Sally up to have dinner. She had not realized what state Sally would be in. Looking into her lover's eyes, she saw incredible trust. Sally's fear had subsided on the ride home. The younger woman had come to realize just how much Valerie loved her and was convinced that nothing could hurt her while Valerie was with her. Sally would do anything for Valerie and accept anything that Val chose to do to her.

Valerie had seen such trust in Sally's eyes before. They had, after all, played BDSM games before, including those with Valerie as the dominant, though those were rarer than the reverse. It was the extent that gave her butterflies. Sally was trusting her in domination both for far longer than the one or two hours that was the norm for Valerie, but for a journey into unknown waters. Even Charles was untested in this type of domination. Valerie felt an incredible weight on her shoulders. It was dawning on her that 24/7 submission, sometimes referred to as voluntary slavery, was harder on the dominant than on the submissive.

"Come with me, Sally."

Valerie led Sally to the bedroom. Over the last few months, they had installed steel rings as on their bed as tie downs for those times when they wanted to play with bondage in the bedroom. Val retrieved a collar and leash from their collection of toys. The collar was placed on Sally's neck with the leash clipped on. Placing an unused comforter on the floor at the foot of their bed, Val clipped the other end of the leash to a tie down at the foot of the bed, making it impossible for Sally to rise to her feet or move more than three feet from the end of the bed.

"Stay here while I make dinner." Unable to keep herself from asking, she added, "Are you going to be okay?"

Sally nodded, a smile on her face. Then she lay down on the blanket with her hands under her head. Valerie went into the kitchen and fixed the dinner she had planned, garlic shrimp over rice with an Asian blend of vegetables. She made one change and shelled the shrimp so they could be eaten without hands. Once done, she put her plate on the table and Sally's on the floor, glad there was no one else to witness her mate's humiliation.

Valerie missed the conversation that the three housemates normally engaged in at meals. Sally did not react strongly one way or the other to eating off the floor, but merely accepted it as part of her new submission. When she was done, she knelt back on her heels, her face covered with food residue, and waited for Valerie to finish.

After she was done, Val led Sally to the bathroom, washed her face and made her use the toilet in front of Val. Sally showed the first signs of struggle at this. While the two had seen each other on the toilet in the past (an unavoidable occurrence when you live together), they did not make a habit of ignoring this area of privacy. Tears came to Sally's eyes when Val would not allow her to clean herself off. Instead, Valerie wiped Sally off.

Valerie watch TV for a couple of hours with Sally lying on the couch with her, Sally's head in Valerie's lap. They both caressed each other absentmindedly, not so much as to arouse, but to simply be in contact with one another. After the shows were over, they retired to the bedroom. Sally was clipped to the bedpost again, to spend the night on the blanket instead of the bed. She looked up longingly at Valerie, pleading with her eyes to be allowed to cuddle with Val.

Instead, Valerie cuffed her hands to her collar and spent 30 minutes fondling Sally's breasts and cunt, arousing her to near orgasm. When Val stopped, Sally whimpered and tried to reach for Valerie. Valerie put her hands over Sally's, holding them closed.

"No, Sally. I want you frustrated." Orgasm denial was one of Valerie's favorite methods of dominating Sally, seeing as how Val had no tolerance for causing pain. "I know it's hard. Master did not let you orgasm either, did he?"

Sally shook her head, her tears flowing freely now. She was no stranger to sexual frustration. It was a regular part of their play times. She had, however, never faced the prospect of such a long denial at the same time as a prolonged submission. It was occurring to Sally that Val may well deny her all week, since she did not have pain in her repertoire of domination tools. Biting her lip, Sally nodded, still crying.

"I'm so proud of you, Sally. Do you know that I've dreamed of going where you're going?" Sally looked up, surprised. "Yes. I want to much so give of myself to you and Master. I've wanted to be able to submit 24/7, but it frightens me and I can't work from home like you can I would be in the same boat at Susan was, having to put my submission on hold while I worked. I envy her sometimes." Shaking her head, Val continued. "I'm going to make this the most intense submission for you that I can. Can I do that?"

Sally nodded her head through her tears. She wanted everything Val had to offer her, but was frightened of it as well. She knew from past experience that Valerie was quite capable of turning her into a quivering wreck. The thought of being in that place for an extended period of time was daunting. In many ways, pain was the easier part of submission.

Valerie brought Sally to the edge of orgasm again before covering her with a light blanket and going to bed herself. If anyone had been watching, they would have been hard pressed to tell which woman was having the harder night. Sally struggled with a burning arousal that did not seem to want to ease and a hard floor that made itself felt in far too short a time. Valerie struggled with being alone in bed for the first time in many months. Sally and Valerie had not slept alone at night for some time. And when they had done, it was something they accepted and enjoyed as part of their submission to Charles. This time, Valerie had, in effect, kicked Sally out of her bed. It was not something she found enjoyable.

Valerie woke up before her alarm. Looking over, she saw that she had an hour left. Recognizing that it would be impossible to get back to sleep, she rose, slipped a robe on and checked her e-mail. As promised, there was a message from Charles via his your_Master e-mail address. Anxiously, she opened the letter.

"Valerie, I've given some thought to how to handle your date Monday night. I can think of two things that might work for you. First, you can give her things to do. I've read some slave blogs online and 'tasks' are a frequent substitute for a Master's or Mistress' presence, especially in long distance submissions. The other possibility is to give her to one of your fellow submissives for the night. They would not have to know about her 24/7 status, but could be required to maintain any standing orders you have given her. Both of these have the advantage of letting Sally experience pain in her submission without you having to inflict it. I will leave it up to you which option to choose. I have decided I want you two to come by the mansion on Wednesday. I suspect you will want a break by then, anyway. Enjoy your date. Master."

Valerie sighed in relief. She had not had any ideas of her own for tonight and was afraid she would have to cancel on Gwen. Valerie had become close to Gwen over the last few months and was looking forward to her date. Sally always spoke highly of Gwen, both as a person and a lover. She fired an e-mail back to Charles, thanking him for the suggestions and the time for her on Wednesday. Then she called Steven, one of the people she had played with at Charles' place. She knew that Steven owned his own bar and would still be up. Even better, he took full advantage of his position as owner and didn't work weekends or Mondays, even though he kept bar hours.

"Hi, it's your dime."

"Steven, this is Valerie. I didn't wake you up, did I?"

"No, Val, not yet. You would have in one minute. Why are you up this early."

"I woke up early. Steven, I need a favor."

"Shoot."

"I have a date with Gwen, do you know her?"

"I think so. Isn't she one of Sally's lesbian friends?"

"Yeah. She asked me out and, with Sally's encouragement, I accepted,. Anyway, Sally really needs to submit to someone tonight. I can't explain the reasons right now, but I was wondering if..."

"Say no more. As long as Sally's okay, I'm game. When should I come over?"

"Anytime after 6:00 tonight. She'll be waiting for you. The only thing you should know is that she has been on orgasm restriction."

"So she can't cum. Okay. Have her dressed in that black corset of hers with a hobble chain on. I'll show up sometime after 6:00, but won't let her know when."

"I'll do that. Thanks a bunch, Steven. I owe you."

"I'd love to collect on that sometime soon."

Valerie blushed. "Let me get back to you on that."

"You're on!"

"Bye, Steven."

"Bye Val. Take care."

Seeing that it was almost 5:00 AM, Valerie went back to her room and gently shook Sally. Her eyes opened and slowly focused on Valerie. She rolled over onto her hands and knees and started kissing Valerie's feet. Valerie ran her hands through Sally's hair, conveying her love for Sally.

"Sally, you can talk for a bit. How are you doing?"

"Mistress. I'm feeling so needy right now. Can you hold me please?"

"Of course, dear."

Val sat on the edge of the bed, taking Sally onto her lap. Sally held onto Valerie like she was a life line in a raging ocean. Sally was experiencing feelings she was not familiar with. She felt the need to not have to make decisions. If she had been asked to describe her feelings, the best she could have managed would have been, "adrift."

"Mistress?"

"Yes Sally."

"I know it's hard for you, but could you hurt me please? I need to feel you be harsh with me. I need to know you care enough to be."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 04



"Sally, that's... really unusual. Can you explain why you need the harshness?"

"I don't know if I can. The denials, the animalization, they are all things that make me feel like a slave. But they are things I enjoy, too. I need to know that you'll do things for yourself, that I don't enjoy. I need to know that you're using me, not just pleasing me."

"I see. You know I can't do pain well. It tears me up. Hell! After a point, I can't even watch you being hurt."

"Mistress, please! I need this, I really do. I need to know that I'm your slave, not just your lover." Sally was in tears, the salty drops dropping onto Val's chest.

Valerie held Sally tight, trying to comfort the weeping woman. Her stomach knotted as she considered her options. In the end, she went with love instead of comfort. She knew she could push herself if she had to, though it would leave her physically sick. Sally, however, was worth it.

"Sally. Go downstairs and wait for me."

"Yes Mistress."

After Sally went downstairs, Valerie called her office and left a massage for June that she would be in late. It was fortunate that she had no early appointments. She hung up, wistfully wishing she could call Surmi and ask her to whip Sally. Surmi truly enjoyed both sides of pain. Then it hit her. There was something she could do, and Surmi was the reason she knew she could.

Valerie walked downstairs with a lightness in her step. Sally was next to the whipping post, on her knees. Val strode over to her with determination. Grabbing her hair, she dragged the stumbling submissive to one of the ceiling mounted eye bolts.

"Stand!" she ordered, pulling on Sally's hair. Sally whimpered in pain as she scrambled to her feet. "Stay there. Don't move!"

Valerie retrieved some chains from their toy drawers as well a reaching pole and some antibiotic ointment. She used the pole to feed one of the chains through the eyebolt. One end was attached to Sally's cuffs. Val then pulled the chains tight, until they had lifted Sally to her toes. The end was clipped to a floor connector. The other chain was attached to one ankle cuff, pulled through a floor bolt, back past Sally, through another floor bolt and tied of to the other ankle cuff. She made sure to pull it tight enough to stretch Sally's legs far apart.

Valerie walked around Sally, letting her stew in anticipation. Then, quick as a snake, she dropped her head towards sally's breast and bit down on it, hard. Sally cried out in shock. They had used biting for erotic purposes, but never enough to cause great pain, but this time Valerie was biting for the pain only. She had discovered, months ago with Surmi, that bite play did not trigger her pain inflicting sensitivity. So she bit Sally and kept increasing the pressure, feeling her teeth sink into Sally's breast.

"Oh God, Mistress! Please stop. I didn't mean this. Please, not this. It's too much!"

Valerie ignored the pleas for mercy, continuing to increase the pressure until she felt something give. Taking her mouth away, she saw tooth impressions that were leaking drops of blood. Val smeared a little ointment on the bite marks, recalling Surmi's comment, "Nothing infects as easily and as badly as a human bite."

Then she bit the other breast, going even harder, forcing Sally into convulsive sobs from the pain and fear. The second bite bled a little more and she treated it as well. Val played with Sally's nipples, looking up at the fearful woman with a wide, tooth showing grin.

Sally shook her head, pleading, "No, please, not my nipples. Please don't Mistress. I can't take it."

"Too bad," Val said and latched her front teeth onto one nipple. Sally screamed in terror, fearful that her nipple would be bitten off. Val, however, carefully monitored this bite, not letting it break the skin. When she was clamped on as hard as she dared, she pulled her head back, stretching the nipple with her. Sally's pleas were incoherent and she was shaking her head and twisting her body. Val had to release the nipple early to avoid Sally hurting herself.

Then Val knelt down with her face right next to Sally's pussy. Her finger pulled he hood off of Sally's clit, causing the woman to start babbling and shaking. One hand held Sally still, not letting her move while the other kept the hood pulled back. Valerie's mouth reached up and she brought her teeth down on Sally's sensitive organ. This scream was even louder, enough to make Val happy the basement was soundproofed, and it was accompanied by racking sobs.

She released Sally and stood back, licking her lips, tasting Sally's juices. It occurred to Val that Sally might not even know how aroused her cunt was. Once Sally had settled down a bit, Val let her down and took her to the hide-a-bed. She clipped Sally's cuffs to the bed, spread eagling her.

"Sally."

Tears still in her eyes, she answered, "Yes, Mistress."

"You are mine, woman. I can do with you as I please. Do you really think that pain is the worst way I can use you?"

Sally's eyes widened. She had never heard this side of Val before and it scared her. She had no clue about the emotional turmoil that Valerie was going through to be so harsh and prepare for what she planned to do.

"Your very life is mine, slave!"

With that, Valerie pinched Sally's nose shut and cupped her hand over Sally's mouth tight enough to form a seal. Terror filled Sally's eyes and she began to struggle against her bonds. Val could feel the suction on her hands from the frantic attempts to breathe in. Soon, Sally was pleading with her eyes, begging for air, precious air. In Sally's mind, she had lost the assuredness that she was safe with Valerie. Val could take her life and there was nothing she could do about it. Tears began to flow and her struggles redoubled.

Valerie's outward calm was a mask over her pain. It was in the middle of the last bite that she realized what Sally needed. Sally needed to know that it wasn't safe. That's what the safe word issue was all about. Sally had not used her safe word in six months because her submission had become too safe, too predictable. The edge was gone and she was desperate to get it back, any way she could. So Valerie was taking her as far into unsafe as she could. Val knew that Charles would be livid when he found out, but this was for Sally.

Sally's struggles weakened. The eyes looking back at Valerie lost the pleading and showed acceptance. In her head, she knew that Val could very well kill her and she made the conscious choice to let it happen. Valerie saw that in her eyes and smiled. Without letting go, she leaned down and kissed Sally just as her eyes started to close. Waiting ten more seconds, Val released her hands and listened at Sally's nose. A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she heard the faint whistle of air moving in and out of her nostrils.

While Sally was passed out, Val released her limbs and pulled Sally onto her lap. When Sally's eyes opened again, she gasped, gave a sob and clutched Val close. Valerie held her close as well, letting the tension ease out of both their bodies. Both cried softly for several minutes. Sally spoke first.

"Mistress. How did you know?"

"I don't know. We've always been able to sense what each other needs. You needed to fly without a net."

"I didn't even know that was what I needed. I was so scared. I didn't know if you were going to let me breathe again. I should have trusted you."

"No. You needed to not trust me, just this once. You needed to know that I would take you past what is considered safe. I hope you never need to go that far again. It's very hard on both of us."

"Thank you Mistress. Is there anything else you require of me?"

"Not right now. Tonight, I'm giving you to Steven to use any way he wishes. He has been told you're on orgasm restriction, but nothing else."

"I understand Mistress."

"Sally. This is important. Do you have a safe word limit right now?"

Sally shuddered. "I don't think so. I only remembered that I have safe words when I couldn't breathe, and I didn't want to use them. Mistress, I'm really scared. I won't stop anyone from doing anything to me. What is happening to me?"

"I don't know, baby, I don't know. Master and I will keep you safe, though. You know how Steven dominates. He likes the role playing. He won't take you too far. That's why I called him. You're to be whatever he wants you to be tonight."

"Why are you... Oh, that's right. You're going out with Gwen." Sally smiled at the thought. "You'll have a wonderful time. Just let Gwen seduce you and take you. It won't be a real domination, but it will be close. She so likes to lead in sex."

"That's good. I think I've used up my leading quota this morning."

"I'm sorry I was so demanding."

"Don't be. You're worth it. Now, go upstairs and fix me breakfast, Slave. And no more talking. You're back on speech restriction."

Sally smiled and bounced off the bed to race upstairs. Valerie followed more slowly. She took her shower and got ready for work. At the table, she made Sally eat from the floor again, informing her that she could not speak until Steven showed up to use her. Then she headed to work.

"Morning, June. Did I miss anything?"

"No Ms. Burbon. There is an e-mail from Dutch, confirming the shoot for tomorrow. I also contacted the models and confirmed that they would be there."

"Thanks June. I'll want you there too. Lord knows I'll never keep everything straight on my own. Will that be a problem?"

"No, ma'am. I'll be fine."

"Could you ask Calvin if he's available for a meeting. No more than half an hour I would guess."

"Right away."

Valerie checked her e-mail (she used a different account for her work related contacts) while she waited for a confirmation from June. Nothing was pressing, just some inquiries from editors about the ads in upcoming issues and from advertisers asking for minor changes to the ads they already had. June buzzed her just a few minutes later.

"Ms. Burbon, Mr. Freshin says he can spare you a few minutes right now."

"Thanks, June. I'll be in his office if anything comes up."

Val walked down the hall to Calvin's office, finding Mary, his new secretary in her usual spot. Mary looked up from her typing, smiled and indicated that she should go right in. Valerie went in, closing the door behind her.

"Morning Calvin. How is Mary working out?"

"I think I got the better deal on the secretaries. Mary is phenomenal. I almost don't have to tell her what needs to be done. It's like she reads my mind. Even better, she is someone I can bounce ideas off of with no fear that she will cry harassment."

"I'm glad she's working out. Is Susan back to her usual submissive self?"

"Yes, thank God! She has asked if you could come over for a play date with her. I wasn't sure if I should ask you or Charles..

"I can pass the request on to Master. I would love to play with you and her." Valerie still remembered the intense time she had under Calvin's hands at the handfasting, when he won Sally and her at the auction. From the look on his face, so did Calvin.

"I know you didn't come down to chat. What can I do for you?"

"I need some domination advice?"

Calvin's eyebrow rose. "I wasn't aware you were dominant."

"Not usually. I've dominated Sally a few times, very short times. But there's been a change. Sally is experiencing a new phase of her submission. She hasn't used her safe word since the handfasting, even in the face of pain many times worse than what she has usually gone red light on in the past. Master has her in 24/7 submission to Him and myself. I'm at a loss on how to proceed. I can't handle inflicting pain, other than bite play. Sally needs depth. I think she needs to feel unsafe at times. I know that Susan has no safe word and is 24/7. How can I give Sally what she needs?"

"Let me correct you on one thing. Susan is not 24/7, at least not just 24/7. She is my slave. I know many people in the lifestyle use the word slave when describing their submission, but for Susan, it is something much greater."

"How do you mean?"

"Susan does not have the option of leaving me, ever."

Valerie's mouth hung open. Calvin's claim did not make sense to her. Of course Susan could leave, couldn't she? "What do you mean? How would you stop her?"

Calvin took a minute to gather his thoughts. He could see the utter confusion in Valerie's face and wanted to explain it right. "Val, I'm not the one keeping Susan from leaving, yet she can't leave. She did not come into our relationship looking for a dominant. She came looking for an owner. I really should have her talk to you about this, but for now, I'll try to explain her thoughts. Susan needs to be possessed. When she has to make decisions for herself, she falls apart. She craves total control, total, unwavering, no questions asked, no quarter given, control. She wants her body, her entire life to be someone else's. She needs to be given only two choices at any time, obey or be punished. I give her that. I can be very harsh when she displeases me. I have whipped her back as raw as Ms. Traline did to yours. There are no lasting scars because I know how to avoid them."

"Oh my God!" the horror in Valerie's face was matched only by her desire to escape the room. She fought to control herself, trying to repeat that Calvin was not a danger to her over and over again. "Calvin, that's...that's..."

"...sadistic?"

Valerie nodded her head.

"Yes it is. It is also what Susan needs and wants. She would tell you that in a heartbeat, if she were here."

"It's... hard to fathom. You say she came to you looking for this?"

"Not at first. We connected to simply play. But that first time, we were perfectly matched. She pleaded for more and harder, for intensity and control. I gave her everything she asked for and she asked for more. Afterwards we talked. It had been a fantastic session, but she felt unfulfilled. She confessed that it was the knowledge that it would end, either by her stopping it, or by being over. She told me that she longed for an endless scene, one that would go on until the dominant stopped it, and would start again when the dominant wanted it to, regardless of what she wanted. She was between jobs at the time and I offered to pay her a monthly salary if she would live with me under those very conditions that she would be submitting 24/7, that I could ask for anything I wanted of her, that she had no choices, only obedience. She accepted with two reservations. She did not want to be paid. She had enough in savings to get back on her feet if it didn't work out."

Calvin paused, leaving Valerie to ask, "What was the second reservation?"

"That only I knew how long the trial would last. She did not want to be able to 'last until the time was up.' She told me that I had to choose a duration and hold to it, without her ever knowing. She even said that I could make it forever, if I wanted."

"How long did you make it?"

"There has been no break. I determined to make it last until she or I no longer wanted it. That has never happened. I think there were a couple of times when she would have left if she had not set it in her mind that she had no choice. Valerie, I believe that Susan would accept mutilation and death at my hands if I demanded that of her."

"But, she seems so happy. I don't understand that."

"That may be why you're having trouble with Sally. She sounds like she may be in the same place Susan was at when I met her." He held up a hand to forestall a complaint. "I'm not saying that she will become, or even need to become, a true slave. But it does sound like she needs to taste it; to know that, for a while at least, she has no choices, that she will be used, abused, and expected to obey without question or safe words. You need to take her safe word away, and her choice of becoming dominant again. I can't say for how long, but it needs to happen."

"No safe words. Master will never allow that. Other than consent, safe words are the bible of our style of play."

"Then Sally may have to leave Charles' service for a time."

Valerie thought for a minute, remembering the breath play from earlier. "I think I may have started down that path. I tied her up and suffocated her with no safety ball. I kept it up until she passed out."

"Very good. I saw, when I had you two six months ago, that the two of you had a level of understanding that bordered on psychic. You perceived what she needed and gave it to her. In your case, I think you simply need to trust your instincts. If you think she needs something, or if you simply want it for yourself, do it. Susan needs the knowledge that she is a toy for my pleasure, whatever that may be. Sally needs that from you and from Charles. Mostly from you, I suspect. Tell me, do you love Sally enough to use her mercilessly?"

"I don't know. I do love her more than life itself."

"Think of this as her life being on the line, or at least, this life of hers. Fail her and she will be diminished. She will become less than she is. Make Sally your total slave. I'm not talking just sex and pain. Take over her whole life. Control her job, who she communicates with, who she sees and plays with, when and if she eats, how she eats, how she goes to the toilet, everything. Leave her absolutely nothing that she has any choices about."

"Master won't do that. I know Him."

"Then convince him to give up Sally for a time. It's in her best interests."

"I'll see what I can do. He does love her and wants what's best for her. It's just a question of whether he sees this as what's best for her. Can I count on your help?"

"What kind of help?"

"Advice, for one. Also, I'm still a submissive. I can't keep it up for her 24/7. I will need to take time off, submit to Master. Would you be willing to slave sit for me at those times?"

"If you are truly owning her, yes. I can't take a submissive into the house that is not owned. That's why I don't play with others and Susan at Mephisto's. It disturbs her to be put back into a safe word environment."

"If Master does not let me own her, then it won't be an issue. Thanks Calvin. I'd better be going."

Valerie spent the rest of the morning going over routine ad work for the magazines, making sure that what was contracted for was what they were providing. Just before lunch, she received a call from Crystal Hadren.

"Is this Valerie Burbon?"

"Yes, this is Valerie. How are you this morning, Ms. Hadren?"

"I'm fine. Would you have time to meet with me. There's some stuff I need to talk about."

"I think so. I'm just getting ready to take my lunch. Do you want to meet somewhere?"

"That would be great. Do you have anyplace in mind?"

"I was planning on going to a place called Dolly's. It's on 34th and Vine. Can you find that?"

"As long as the cab knows where it is."

"Great. I'll meet you there in 30 minutes."

Valerie finished a few more details and then left for her lunch. Dolly's was a small diner she had discovered near Degrasi's. They had a fantastic, if somewhat basic menu. In the months she had been working at the publishing house, she had yet to be served a bad meal. However, it did require a little more exercise to keep the wonderful food off her hips.

Crystal was only five minutes behind her. When she climbed out of the cab, she looked at the small diner with a quizzical look. Val smiled, thinking that Crystal may never have eaten in a restaurant that charged less than $20 for a lunch. The actress was in for a surprise.

"Ms. Hadren. It's so good to see you. If you'll step inside, I think you'll find Dolly's is a rare treat."

Once they were settled and a waitress had brought them a menu, they started to talk.

"Ms. Burbon. God, that sounds so formal. Can I call you Valerie?"




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 04



"Of course. Thank you for asking."

"Valerie, how did you become involved with this pain stuff?"

"It's actually pretty much like the script. I let my Master take me home and he controlled me, gave me a taste. I wanted more and pursued it, investigated it. Is this about Melanie?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"That you two are an item? Yes, very clear. That you are uncomfortable with BDSM? Yes, that's pretty clear too. Melanie has experienced BDSM and we've reminded her that she likes it."

"Valerie. I find myself in a quandary. Melanie seemed to like the feel of that whip on her arm. What do I do if she wants to add something like that to our love life?"

"I'm not sure what to say. BDSM is about consent. If she loves and respects you, she will not force you. She may ask. From what I've seen, she will likely ask you to whip her, not to whip you. How do you feel about inflicting pain on Melanie?"

"It... I really don't know. I think I should be repulsed. But she looked so... rapturous when that whip hit her arm. Is that really possible?"

"Yes it is. That does not mean that she likes pain, though she might. She could enjoy letting it happen. In fact, the lighter blows can sensitize the nerve endings, making them even more receptive to any feelings, including pleasurable ones."

"So she may really enjoy it?"

"Absolutely."

"But, what if I hurt her?"

"The fact that you're worried about that is the best sign I've seen that you'll be fine. You just need to practice."

"How can I practice?"

"If you're serious, I can get you in touch with someone who can train you. She's what we call a pain slut. She truly enjoys the pain itself and has trained other dominants in proper use of the various types of whips."

"That would be so cool. Please."

"I'll give her a call and see if she's willing. I have your number."

"Thank you so much, I think. What if I can't do it?"

"Then you can't. It's not the end of the world, Crystal. Does Melanie love you?"

"Yes, very much." Anticipating skepticism, she added, "I know that Hollywood love affairs are notoriously fickle, but we have been in love for years. It was secretly for a while, to avoid the tabloids. Now we're open about it."

"I understand. If she loves you, it won't make a difference. I can't inflict pain on Sally, not very well. But that doesn't stop her from staying with me. Love will get you through a lot. Anyway, you may find that you can do it, or even like it."

"I suppose so. Thanks for meeting with me. I'm just so nervous about this whole situation."

"It's normal to be nervous, even a little scared. I know I was, frequently. Not just of the pain, but of the changes that were happening to me. It's a wild ride, but quite worth it. Don't let the fear keep you from embracing life at its fullest."

The two women went their separate ways, Valerie heading back to work. There, she called Dr. Gloush and made an appointment for Thursday. It seems that he had been expecting her to call for some time. Val was also able to contact Surmi. The pain loving submissive was agreeable to training Crystal in the safe use of whips, crops and paddles. Towards the end of her day, Milton Freeman called.

"Valerie! What are you doing this Wednesday?"

"I have a date with my Master in the evening. Is there something you need?"

"Yes there is. We will be starting to film in a week or so, a week from next Monday, to be specific. I'd like the actors to be up on giving good BDSM by then. I was hoping that you and Sally could give some lessons on making their acting look more real."

"I see. Can you hold for a minute?"

"Sure."

Valerie put Milton on hold and buzzed June.

"Yes Ms. Burbon?"

"June, are there any empty spots in my schedule for Wednesday?"

"You have two blocks. One between nine and eleven in the morning and the entire afternoon after three."

"Thanks June. Put Hellfire Pictures down for three until six, will you. I'll be consulting with them."

"Right away Ms. Burbon."

Back on the phone, "Milton. I can see them at Mephisto's at 3:30 until 6:00."

"Isn't Wednesday a no pain day?"

"Only for public displays. In the private rooms, we'll be free to do what we want. I don't expect a lot of intense pain anyway. Your actors are supposed to simulate BDSM, not portray the reality."

"I see. Good. I'll let everyone know and they'll meet you there."

"I'll be there Milton. Have a good evening."

After that call, Val packed up her things and headed home to prepare for her date. At home, she found Sally sitting on the floor, naked. She looked up and smiled when she saw Valerie.

"Mistress! I'm so glad you're home. Do you need help preparing for your date?"

Valerie caught the hopeful look in Sally's eyes. She wanted to be of use, even in this. "Yes, I think you can. Prepare me a bath and set out some clothes for me. I want to look sexy and available for Gwen."

"Yes, Mistress."

Sally leapt up and rushed to the bathroom. The sound of running water was soon heard. Valerie stripped her clothes off and checked her personal e-mail. There was a reminder from Charles that she and Sally were to be at his mansion Wednesday evening. When the water could no longer be heard, she walked to the bathroom and stepped into the bubble bath Sally had prepared.

"Sally, bathe me."

Valerie found that she loved the sensation of being cleansed by someone else. Sally's touch was firm, yet erotic, putting Val in the mood for an evening of romance and sex. Val was not kidding herself about how the night would go. Both Gwen and Valerie had been clear what they wanted to do tonight. After Val was out and drying herself off, she gave Sally new orders.

"I'll need an overnight bag ready. I expect to sleep overnight at Gwen's. Make sure I have everything I will need to prepare for work in the morning as well as any sex toys that Gwen would enjoy having me bring along."

"Mistress, Gwen has everything you will need in that respect. She enjoys being very butch in bed. I'll prepare your bag. Will you want any help with your make up?"

"No, just make sure I have everything. I will have some instructions for you about tonight and tomorrow before I go."

"Yes, Mistress."

Valerie took extra time with her appearance, wanting to look her best for Gwen. Butterflies were starting to hit her stomach as she worried about her reactions. Seven months ago, sex with a woman was very disturbing to Valerie. While she had grown to love and crave her sexual experiences with Sally and the other women that submitted to Charles, this would be the first time she would have sex with another woman outside that small circle of players. What if she panicked or showed revulsion? She could not stand the thought that she might hurt Gwen, especially after she had been so understanding and patient (Gwen had wanted to sleep with Valerie from the first they met).

Sally had set out a lovely outfit. Like everything they wore these days, there was no panties or bra (Master's orders). The dress was a deep burgundy, backless down to her waist and with a neckline that plunged to just below her breasts. The dress's design supported her breasts without the need for the bra she wasn't wearing. It came down to her ankles with slits on the side that rose to her knees, allowing plenty of freedom for dancing, something that both Gwen and Valerie enjoyed immensely. The low black heels accented the dress and allowed for dancing as well. The accessories were light, just a pair of earrings. Valerie's collar and cuffs, of course, were ever present.

"Sally. This is lovely. Thank you."

"It was my pleasure Mistress. How are you feeling?"

"Nervous. What if it's too soon and I reject her?"

"If you do, she'll understand. Mistress, you are ready. You will do just fine and the sex will be fabulous."

"Are you sure you won't be jealous?"

"Never. I love you, Valerie. I want you to experience life to the fullest. Gwen is part of the fullest. I want you to be able to be with her, as often as the two of you want to be. Have you been jealous when I've gone out with her?"

"No, of course not!" Valerie looked chagrined. "I see what you mean. I want you to be happy and fulfilled, just like you want that for me as well." Valerie took Sally in a tight embrace. "I love you so much. Thank you for being in my life."

"I love you too. Mistress, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"I need more from you. I don't know what it is. I can't put it into words. I just know I need more. I need to be your slave more fully than I am now. Is there anyway you can give me that?"

"I think there might be. I talked with Calvin today. I needed advice from someone who is a Master 24/7. He gave me some suggestions." Valerie hesitated for a few seconds. "Sally, do you want me to take your safe words away?"

Sally fell to her knees, tears in her eyes. "Mistress. I... I... I never thought of that. Master would be so mad, but, it calls to me. I think I need it, I need it so badly. Take them from me. Take them from me and take me past them." Sally was shivering as she pleaded with Valerie.

"What's wrong Sally?"

"I'm frightened, so frightened. I want to be helpless to stop anything you and Master do to me, and I'm terrified of wanting it. What's wrong with me?"

Val picked her up, holding her close on her lap. "There's nothing wrong with you. Your heart needs more, that's all. This may be temporary or it might be forever. Either way, you are the woman I love and I will do whatever I need to do in order to meet your needs. If that means becoming a cruel Mistress who will use you in the harshest ways, driving you to tears of pain and anguish, I will find a way to do it. For now, I will do this." Valerie steeled her voice, forcing herself into the harshest dominant place she could. "Slave, you have no safe words. I am taking them from you. They are mine now, and until I give them back to you, you may not refuse anyone I give you to anything at all. Do you understand?"

Trembling, Sally slipped back to her knees and kissed Valerie's feet. "Yes, Mistress. I am a slave, not a submissive. I have no right to say no and no recourse if I am taken farther than I think I can take."

"Tonight, you are Steven's. You will give him anything he wants. He knows that you are on orgasm restriction, so you will end up frustrated. You are under his orders until he leaves. If he doesn't spend the night, chain yourself to the foot of the bed, but do not lock it. Unless Steven wants you to, you are denied clothes and walking. Now, come up here."

"Yes Mistress."

"I have one more thing for you. Lie down, head on my lap. That's right. Remember, no safe words."

Valerie put her hands on Sally's mouth and nose, closing her air off. Sally's eyes widened in shock and her hands shot to Val's arms. Valerie shook her head. Sally gripped Valerie's arms, holding tight, but not pulling. Sally's chest was trying to heave and Val could feel the pressure from her attempts to breathe.

"You know I love you, right?" Sally nodded, her eyes pleading for mercy. "This is for you. You need this, don't you?" Sally nodded again. Her legs started to kick as the inevitable panic set in. Still, her hands did not pull against Valerie's arms. Instead, they pulled them tighter, pulling Valerie closer. "Yes, that's it. You want this, the fear, the danger. You need to not know if I will let you go. Will this be the last?" Sally's pupils were widening as her need to breathe increased. Her hands gripped Valerie's arms tighter, the nails pressing in, almost drawing blood. Her moan was a mixture of desire, fear and relief. Just as her eyes started to roll, Val released her, smiling at the great heaving gulps of air that Sally sucked in.

Once she had her breath back, Sally whispered, "Thank you Mistress. You're right, I need this, and more. I wish you could whip me. Not just the playful whipping you gave me seven months ago, but a brutal whipping, one that leaves me sobbing in misery on the floor, unable to stand any touch on my body."

Val hugged her close. "I wish I could do that too, love, I really do. Anyway, I need to dress and you need to help me. Gwen and Steven will be here soon."

"Yes Mistress."

Valerie was just slipping her shoes on, the last thing she had to put on when the knock sounded at the door.

"Sally!" she called out, "Answer the door, love."

Sally peeked out the window and saw Steven. She opened the door, her head bowed.

"Good evening Master. How may I please you?"

Steven stepped into the house, closing the door behind him. He grabbed a handful of Sally's hair, pulling her head up to look at him. "I want you whimpering in need tonight. Valerie will not have to punish you if you cum tonight, because I will do it myself."

"But I will punish you as well," Val added, stepping out of the bedroom. "How are you this evening, Steven?"

"I'm well. You look delicious Val. What's the occasion?"

"I have a date with Gwen."

"Isn't she Sally's lesbian friend?"

"Yes. We've grown close and I told her just before the hand fasting to ask me out again in a few months."

"So, have you overcome your fear of sex with a woman?"

"I hope so, or this will be a disappointing date. Most of our toys are in the basement, though we have a few in the dresser. Sally can show you where they are."

"Thanks. Sally, stand up and show me your dungeon."

The pair walked off to the basement, Sally trembling and smiling at the same time. Five minutes later, Gwen was at the door to pick Val up.

"Gwen! You look fabulous."

Gwen had dressed, as was her usual want, in an overtly masculine way. Yet, her womanly figure was accented and displayed, letting no one mistake just who she was. Her leather jacket was loosely worn over a purple cotton long sleeve shirt. Valerie could detect a hint of a dark colored shelf bra under the shirt. Tight fitting blue slacks highlighted her legs and ass. The lack of visible lines told Valerie that something light and wispy would be revealed later that night. Black dress shoes finished the look that used no jewelry, at least none that was visible.

"Valerie. You are beautiful. Did Sally give you pointers on what I liked?"

"Of course. I wanted to look my best for you." Valerie was blushing, realizing that she really did want to please Gwen.

Gwen drew her into a hug, smiling at the lack of any flinching on Valerie's part. "You did. I'm glad you want to do that. I want to make this a great night for you as well. Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, let me grab my bag. I packed work clothes for tomorrow."

"I like the way you think." As they walked down the path to Gwen's car, she inquired, "How is Sally doing?"

"She's doing just fine. She's spending the night with a friend, Steven."

"Is she in charge?" Gwen had known Sally long enough to know just what might be going on.

"No. I suspect that right now, she's a little tied up." Both chuckled at the kinky humor.

Gwen was a consummate driver, a testimony to over a decade of driving cabs in the city. They arrived at Gatsby's shortly before 7:00. The talk on the way was pure girl talk, guaranteed to send any man screaming for the hills, or at least the escape of the radio. Once they had been shown their table and ordered, Gwen took Val's hand.

"Would you like to dance?"

"I'd love to."

Valerie had always been an excellent dancer. While she never let it deter her, few people could match her on the dance floor. Gwen was one of those people. They had dispensed with an appetizer so that they could spend more time on the floor. 30 minutes later, seeing the waiter setting up their orders, they moved to their table again.

Dinner lived up to Gatsby's usual standards of excellence. Valerie's chicken cordon bleu had her moaning in sensual pleasure. Gwen tried something she had never had before, chicken Kiev. Both dishes came with steamed vegetables, broccoli for Valerie and asparagus for Gwen. Conversation during dinner was light and of no particular consequence. After dinner, Gwen looked into Val's eyes.

"Val. How are you feeling about tonight?"

"A little nervous. Part of it is just first date jitters." Gwen nodded understandingly. "But, there's more. I'm a little worried about how I'll react. I don't want my fears, if they're still there, to ruin everything."

Gwen smiled and shook her head. "You can't ruin everything, Valerie, not by a long shot. I've known you now for months. I've learned many things about you. The two most important for tonight are: your fears of lesbian sex are irrational ones that you desperately wish were not there; and you are one of the kindest, gentlest souls it has been my pleasure to know. If those unwanted feelings rear their ugly head, then we will have had a wonderful night of dancing and dinner. I'll miss the sex, but I've had dates without sex before. Eventually, you will be free of those old feelings of what is right and wrong, and I'll be there to cheer you on, and take full advantage of them," she finished with a lustful grin.

Valerie could not help but laugh. She knew that there were others in the gay community that would not be so understanding, just as there were ignoramuses in the straight world. She hoped that Gwen was the norm, not the bigots. "Gwen, you're a good friend. I want tonight to work and be great. I think I'm ready."

"Gwen, Valerie. my two favorite ladies together." They looked up to see the smiling face of Frank, the best dancer either had ever met. "Now I have to choose which lovely lady to ask onto the floor. It's not an easy call."

"Why limit yourself to only one? I'm sure three grown adults, such as ourselves can manage to take turns." Valerie's laugh was infectious. "Gwen, why don't you see if you can tire Frank out, and I'll spell you in a little while. I'm sure he is no match for the two of us."

"Oh ho! A challenge? Well, little lady," Valerie snorted at the idea of a man two inches shorter than herself calling her, "little." "I'll take that bet, and you're going to regret, because I'm the best there ever was." His voice did a passable imitation of Charlie Daniels as he paraphrased the words to The Devil Went Down to Georgia.

Gwen winked at Valerie and stood, letting Frank twirl her onto the dance floor. The band had just started up a tango, letting the couple show off their skill. Few people these days knew how to tango, so there were only a couple of other couples on the floor during this dance. Valerie marveled at Gwen's ability to follow so naturally with Frank and lead equally well with Valerie. Few people could lead and follow with equal skill. Half an hour and five songs later, they were back at the table, a breathless Gwen handing Frank off to Valerie. Val's stamina was greater than Gwen's, but to no avail. She found herself just as worn out with Frank barely breathing hard.

"Well, ladies, do you concede?"

Panting, Valerie nodded her head. "I guess we have to. You're the only one still standing. If we keep this up, Gwen's and my plans for the rest of the night will fail from lack of energy."

"It's nice to know I've still got it. Thank you both for a wonderful time on the floor. Think about me when you're in the throes of passion."

"Frank," Gwen stated in mock incredibility, "the last thing I'll be thinking of in the heat of the moment is a man, not even you."

"I suppose that's fair, since I won't be thinking of you either tonight." He looked suggestively towards a young blond man at the bar, winked at the ladies, and wandered off.

Gwen and Valerie rose themselves and headed out. Once in the car, Valerie looked at Gwen.

"Where does he get all that energy? Is it a guy thing or a gay thing?"

Gwen chuckled. "I suspect it's a Frank thing. I don't know anyone with his ability and stamina."

On the drive to her apartment, Gwen let her hand rest on Valerie's leg. Valerie rested her hand on Gwen's hand, and let her desire build. Val felt no trace of nerves or unpleasantness and breathed a sigh of relief while giving in to the feelings rising in herself. She let her hand drift towards Gwen's leg. There, she made little caressing moves, smiling at the soft moans from Gwen. Thankfully, the drive was short and they soon found themselves just inside the door to Gwen's place.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 04



Their hands came together, clasping in mid air. Gwen leaned in and kissed Val, tongue probing and finding a warm invitation. Gwen pushed harder, forcing Val against the wall so that her mouth could take more of Valerie's, her tongue able to take pleasure in Valerie's mouth. Valerie broke the kiss.

"Gwen, You feel so right. I want you! I want you to ravish me. Will you ravish me?"

"Girl, it's been on my to do list for six months."

With that, Gwen embraced Val tightly, one hand against the small of her back, the other at the back of her head. Pulled in close, Valerie had no choice but to return the fervent kisses that Gwen was lavishing upon her. Not satisfied with Val's mouth, the aggressive woman took Valerie's throat, cheeks, ears, even her eyes with deep, passionate kisses. Val responded by holding tonight's lover close like a life line, unwilling to let go. She kissed back when she could, but for the most part, Valerie was merely able to accept the lovemaking being bestowed upon her.

Gwen's hands were just as aggressive. While one started at the small of Valerie's back, it was soon exploring, testing with pressure and gentleness for those secret places that drove a woman mad with lust. Soon, Gwen had filed them in her mind for later use. As she ravished Val with mouth and hands through her clothes, Gwen maneuvered Valerie deeper into the apartment. Somewhere along the line, Valerie's shoes had been discarded. Before she knew it, the edge of Gwen's bed made itself felt along the back of Valerie's legs.

Valerie pulled back, slipping her hands between the two of them, fingers undoing buttons on Gwen's shirt. Gwen, in return, slipped the straps of Val's dress off her shoulders, letting it fall and catch itself on her arms. With every button Val undid, Valerie's arms, and the dress with them, lowered, revealing more of the hidden delights of that submissive woman. As she waited patiently, Gwen stroked Val's shoulders and neck, keeping Valerie at a low boil. Val's open dress and lack of panties allowed her aroma to fill the room.

Once the buttons were open, Valerie slid the shirt off Gwen, her own dress falling to the floor at the same time. Valerie gasped at the sight of Gwen's breasts. While not overly large, just large enough to be noticeable under a tight shirt, the areolas and nipples were seemingly huge. Hesitantly, Valerie brought her hands to Gwen's breasts, touching them for the first time. Gwen hissed as her sensitive organs stiffened at the barest touch, tinglings of arousal spreading rapidly throughout her body. Gwen's hands reached for Valerie's breasts, caressing them and rolling the nipples between her fingers.

Gwen eased Valerie down onto the bed, her still half clothed body following Valerie. Her mouth came to rest next to Valerie's breasts. Taking full advantage of the fortuitous arrangement, Gwen took a nipple into her mouth and sucked on it, much like a baby suckling for milk. Valerie moaned and pulled Gwen closer. Gwen's hands continued to roam across Valerie's body, making use of that previously filed information, and using those secret erogenous zones to drive Valerie wild.

"Oh God! Take me Gwen! Take me now!

"Not yet. You're not ready. I like my lovers to be writhing with desire, feeling more than they ever thought they could."

Valerie moaned in pleasure, feeling her cunt ache with the need to be filled and taken. Gwen had returned to her breasts, lavishing them with a seemingly unending series of suckles and licks. Twenty more minutes passed, enough time for Valerie to be in such arousal so as to bring tears to her eyes. Gwen lifted herself on her elbows.

"What do you want Val? What do you need?"

"My pussy. Eat my pussy, please!"

Gwen slid down and flicked her tongue at the protruding lips of Valerie's cunt. Val screamed at the touch, her hands clawing at the sheets. As Gwen continued to tease Val with the lightest of caresses from her tongue, Valerie found herself climbing to heights of arousal she thought only possible under restraint and domination. She wanted to cum with a desperation that was normally a result of denial, yet she had yet to reach her orgasmic plateau. Gwen was making the trip a long torturous one, but one with no retreats or pauses.

It was as Val was whimpering that Gwen took the first full swipe at Valerie's cunt with her tongue. Valerie gasped a breath in, unable to vocalize her feelings as Gwen licked from ass to clit over and over again. Pressure built up in Valerie's pussy until she was convinced she would explode. Her orgasm, when it hit, had her screaming at the top of her lungs and lifting her hips up, along with Gwen's face. Gwen's hands pressed Val back into the bed so that she could bury her face deeper, drinking in every drop of Valerie's climax. When she felt Valerie come down from her intense release, Gwen eased off a little and gently lapped at the edges of Valerie's cunt.

Valerie found herself panting. The immediate need between her legs had been sated, but a different need made itself felt. "Gwen, I need to taste you. Let me taste you, eat you."

"Of course, Val. Would you help me with this?"

Valerie sat up and loosened Gwen's pants do they could be pulled down (nothing that tight would slip down on its own). Gwen's pussy was revealed, covered by a satin panty that was soaked and transparent. Her aroma was released and Valerie inhaled deeply, savoring the deep musky odor that was starting to fill the room. She pulled Gwen onto the bed while she knelt at the edge, bringing her head between Gwen's legs. When Gwen went to slip her panties off, Valerie stopped her, holding her hands away from the satin sheath covering that wonderful pussy.

Valerie's tongue reached out and licked at the panties, pressing them to squeeze the juice in them out and into her mouth. Gwen shuddered at the feeling of her own satin being used to caress her cunt. Repeatedly, Valerie forced that liquid into her mouth, savoring the taste that was much stronger than Sally's. It seemed that Gwen lubricated heavily, as there was no end to the juice that Val could force from those panties. Patience finally at an end, Valerie slipped her fingers under the waist band and pulled them down, revealing a neatly trimmed pussy that was open wide, inviting Valerie's tongue inside.

Valerie accepted the invitation and took a long hard swipe, one that forced her tongue deep into the folds and that drew a cry of pleasure from Gwen's lips. When Gwen's hands reached to grab Valerie's head, she let herself be pulled into Gwen's cunt, fucking it with her mouth. Valerie's hands came up and found the largest clit she had ever felt. It felt like a small prick, sticking out from Gwen almost lewdly. When she rubbed it, Gwen screamed and came, shuddering, legs squeezing Val's head tight. Valerie's mouth was flooded as a stream of liquid shot out of Gwen's pussy. Her initial fear, that Gwen had urinated, was quickly allayed by the lack of acrid taste. Val realized that Gwen was a squirter, someone she had not believed really existed. She swallowed by instinct, just as she would with a spurting cock.

When Gwen had finished and Valerie had lapped up all the juice she could, she looked up, her face covered in fluid, a smile wide on her face. Gwen looked back at Val, her face equally radiant. Extending a hand, she pulled Valerie up and the two lay together.

"Valerie, I think that problem of yours is over."

"Yes, I do believe you're right. Do you have more in you?"

"What more are you looking for?"

"I have an empty ache in my pussy. Do you have a strap on?"

Gwen looked at Valerie with a feral look of lust. "I'm in heaven. You like being fucked by a woman?"

"I like being fucked. Sally took me repeatedly with her strap on at our hand fasting."

"That's right. You two gave a public sex performance then. Did you know I was there?"

"You were? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Please don't be offended, but a lot of what happened turned me off. I just don't understand the attraction of bondage and pain."

"It's okay, Gwen. I know BDSM is not for everyone. It's really lovely that you attended, even when you knew it could include things that made you uncomfortable. That means a whole lot to me." Valerie lightly caressed Gwen's breasts. I think I love you Gwen. I know I lust after you."

"I love you too. I would never try to take you from Sally, but I do love you in my own way."

The two continued to fondle each other, light touches over their bodies that started the resurrection of their mutual arousal. They leaned into one another, kissing. It was lightly at first, little pecks on the lips, cheeks, neck. Soon, though, they were propelled by lust into more passionate exchanges. Their tongues intertwined as they drew each other closer, the need to feel one another increasing. Both their breathing had become frantic, almost panting. Eventually, caresses were not enough. Valerie pulled her lips away from Gwen's.

"Would you fuck me, please?"

"I'd love to." Gwen rolled off the bed, opening a drawer under it. While she pulled the toy from its storage place, she looked up at Valerie. "Can I have you doggie style?"

"You can have me any way you want," Valerie answered, rolling onto her hands and knees as she did. Valerie had long since discovered that doggie style was a very submissive style for her and was reveling in the knowledge that she could give Gwen just a little submission, even if Gwen never realized she was being gifted with it.

Valerie shuddered when she felt Gwen's weight on the bed and the length of the dildo against her back. The butch woman lay on Val's back, her hands reaching below and fondling Valerie's breasts. Val started to breathe harder, her arousal climbing again. Her arms trembled at the extra weight they had to support. Soon, though, Valerie's cunt was aching in need again, her juices dripping down her legs. Gwen slid back and the tip of the fake cock poised itself at the entrance to her cunt.

"Do it. Fuck me now. Fuck me hard!"

Gwen slammed the dildo in and Valerie screamed, "Yes!" Her cunt full, she slammed herself back against Gwen with every stroke into her that Gwen made. Gwen was crying out wordlessly as well, both women racing towards another orgasm. As Val reveled in being taken, she suddenly realized what she really wanted.

"Gwen, please."

"What?"

"My ass. Fuck my ass."

Gwen stopped, holding herself perfectly still. "Are you sure? I would never ask..."

"You don't have to. I want you to. Take my ass, it's yours."

"Val. This is a huge one. Are you sure?"

"Yes. I want to give you this. I can handle it. Sally has taken me there, so it's ready."

"Val, thank you. I never dreamed you would..."

Gwen stopped talking, pulling out and repositioning against Valerie's nether hole. Valerie gasped as Gwen pressed against her. She bit her lip against that inevitable first pain of penetration, pushing out to let the massive cock in. Grunting, Valerie pushed back and felt the intruder violate her ass, sliding in deeper than anything she had taken there before. When Gwen's hips finally touched Val's butt, Valerie was panting.

Gwen began to rock inside Valerie. Unlike Charles and Sally, Gwen did not piston in and out, but rocked and twisted inside Val. The sensation was altogether different and actually more pleasant than a true fucking. Valerie began to rotate her hips with Gwen, adding to the sensations. She could hear Gwen's arousal increasing, realizing that Gwen's large clit must be under constant stimulation from the base of the dildo. Valerie's motions became more frantic, the desire to send Gwen over the top increasing in intensity. Gwen pulled Valerie tighter and her own gyrations became frantic. 

When Gwen came, she collapsed onto Valerie's back and Val's arms gave under the weight. Gwen grasped Valerie's body, holding on through the spasms that rocked her body. As Gwen shuddered, the dildo was being thrust in and out of Valerie's ass. The dildo's presence was felt even more by Valerie. The angle of entry had changed during the fucking and her ass was clenching tighter at the phallus lodged inside her ass.

Gwen came to her senses and reached for Valerie's pussy, rubbing Val's clit. The intense sensations the sensitive organ experienced propelled Val to her own climax in a matter of seconds. Valerie lost any remaining strength and finished her collapse onto the bed, Gwen's weight on her a reassuring and erotic force. Gwen's hand, trapped beneath Valerie, continued to rub the clit it was in contact with, prolonging Valerie's orgasm significantly.

When Valerie's orgasm had played itself out, Gwen started to pull out, provoking a cry of desire from Val.

"Ahhh! It feels so empty!"

"Sorry. I'll wait a minute."

The removal, once Gwen finished, left Val sighing as her ass tried to return to its normal proportions. Gwen lay down next to Valerie, gently stroking her back. Valerie reached over and returned to affections and the two women relaxed in the partial embrace of the other, their energies spent.

Val could feel something cooling all over her legs and lower back. Reaching to feel it, she realized it was more fluid from Gwen's orgasm, sprayed on her during the last climax.

"Do you always squirt when you cum?"

"Yes. The first time it happened, I was so scared that I had hurt myself somehow. I ran to my mom in tears. That was not the way my mom wanted to discover that I was sexually active."

"I can just picture the look on her face," Val said with a smile.

"Looking back, it was so precious. She had no idea that it was normal and I was into see her gynecologist the next day. After that, I was able to talk to her about anything sexual. I think it might have helped her deal with my lesbianism when I finally told her."

"When did you know?"

"Consciously, I was 16. Every date I went on was a disaster. Guys fondling me always felt like ants all over. It just made me sick to my stomach. The last guy I dated, when I was in tears, asked if I had ever considered that I might be homosexual. I never had, but as soon as he asked, I knew it was true. Martin ended up being a really close friend. He still is. Not many guys can say they helped a lesbian discover herself and even fewer would be proud to have been. We're on the same bowling team."

"I'm happy for you. Platonic friends can be so rare for those of us who are different."

"Don't I know it. Are you a morning or evening shower?"

"Mornings, usually, but I think I'd better clean up before we fall asleep. There's a lot more mess than usual," she added with a smile.

"Go ahead. I'll change the sheets while you're in there and take one after you."

Half an hour later, the two were in bed, asleep. The next morning, Valerie discovered the joys of a morning that did not need time for a shower. In her mind's eye, she could see her alarm going off half an hour later, 30 more blessed minutes of sleep. Gwen dropped her off at Delgrasi and Val started another day at work.

She discovered that her day had filled up. June had rearranged her schedule to maximize her free time on Wednesday. Once again, June was demonstrating why she complemented Valerie so well. She had anticipated Val's needs for time on Wednesday and moved some of her appointments one day earlier. While Val would spend most of the day running around like a chicken with her head cut off, it was manageable (it's amazing how much you can handle after a good night of great sex).

Lunch was taken in the office and June had a cab waiting for Val in time to make the photo shoot. The shoot was a learning experience. The representative from Whips'n'more put the models into their hogtie harness, each in a different pose. The harness was truly versatile. In addition to a standard hogtie, there was a position that was just like a hogtie, but left the submissive's hands totally free. Straps that came with the harness tied the wrist and ankle cuffs together, allowing the hands themselves full mobility, enabling the bound person to use their hands to please someone in the midst of being totally restrained.

The harness also allowed for safe suspension, in both the hogtie and when tied more loosely. It seemed a web of strong fibers, similar to those in ballistic cloth, were webbed through the harness, spreading out the weight of the victim. Numerous hooks were located along the sides for tying ropes or clipping chains to. The suspension could be horizontal or vertical without any trouble. Those same rings could be used to fasten the arm and wrist cuffs to the body web, pinning the arms to the side without restraining the sub any further. The straps could be used to pull the legs out, simulating a spreader bar but allowing more movement than a bar would.

By the time the shoot was over, Valerie had a dozen good poses to choose from. Several of the models were showing signs of arousal and whispered conversations that Valerie saw were, undoubtedly, making plans to release some of that tension. The representative, Gene Halberson, presented Valerie, Dutch and the models with a complimentary harness of their own. Val smiled at the good instincts someone was showing, as the word of mouth from the gifts alone would increase local sales.

Valerie in fact, detoured on her way home to stop in at Castle. Giggy was on duty with another employee Val had come to know as Henry. Giggy walked over to embrace Val when she entered.

"Valerie! It's so good to see you. How was you night last night?" The leer in Giggy's eyes told Val that Giggy knew just where she had been.

"It was great. There was no discomfort and Gwen is an amazing person and lover."

"So I've heard. Congratulations. Will you be seeing her more?"

"I hope so."

"Enough of that. I'm sure you came here for another purpose altogether."

"Yes, or at least, an additional one. Do you carry Whips'n'More's bondage harness?"

"Yes we do. We only have one. It's pretty pricey and most people opt for something a little less expensive."

"That may change," Val said as they walked to the display. "I just finished an advertising shoot for this harness and Mr. Halberson gave all the models a complimentary one. This harness is incredible. It can be used for so many things that I expect that as soon as Tom and Angela start gushing their praises, you'll be swamped."

"That would be wonderful. I'll let the Sylvia know." Sylvia was the manager of this Castle Superstore. "Here it is. Didn't you receive one too?"

"Yes. But I've been wondering what to get Lilly for her birthday and this will be perfect." Lilly had been Valerie's friend since the early days of her submission. While not into pain or humiliation, Lilly and her boyfriend enjoyed bondage and could frequently be found at Mephisto's on no pain Wednesdays.

"I'm sure she will love it. Is there anything else?"

Valerie thought for a moment. While she wanted to get something that could help her give Sally a deeper experience, she had no idea what she could use. Valerie was not used to dominating as thoroughly as she was having to now.

"I don't think so. I may need something later, but I can't think of what just now."

Valerie paid for her purchase and headed home. Inside the door, she was struck by the quiet. A little bit of panic hit her as she strained to hear any sound from Sally. Walking briskly to the bedroom, she saw Sally, kneeling on the hardwood floor of their bedroom, bent over at the waist, cuffed to the foot of their bed.

"Sally! What are you doing!"

Valerie rushed over, dropping to her knees. Sally's head lifted, faced streaked with tears. Valerie could see her trembling, no, not trembling, straining. It dawned on Val that Sally needed to use the toilet and was holding it. The clips holding her in place were not locked and it took the work of only seconds to release them. She carried Sally to the bathroom, realizing that any movement by Sally would result in a mess as she lost control. Once she was on the toilet, Val stepped out and waited. Sally exited several minutes later.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 04



"Sally. What happened?"

"Steven clipped me to the bed last night Mistress."

"Why didn't you go when you had to?"

"He ordered me to stay there until you came home."

"Oh my God," Valerie thought. "She thought she had to obey, that she had no safe word or outlet."

"Sally. I don't want you hurting yourself. I'm not into scat or piss. Denying you toilet privileges is not what I intended. You should have released yourself, went, and rebound yourself."

"I'm sorry Mistress. I didn't know."

"It's as much my fault as yours. I did not think of what might happen. I took your safe word and gave you to someone who thought you still had one. That was wrong of me. My only excuse is that I'm new to this."

"Please Mistress. Don't blame yourself."

Valerie knelt down to be at the same level as Sally. "Sally. You taught me that dominants have more responsibility than submissives. When I take you so fully, I have the duty to see that you are not seriously injured. I didn't do that, and I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?"

"Yes Mistress. I love you, How could I not?"

"I suppose you haven't eaten?"

"No Mistress."

"Then get up and get dressed. We're going out to dinner." Val saw that Sally was about to complain and she held her hand up. "No. You are my slave and must do my will. I want to have dinner with my lover and tell her all about my date."

"Yes Mistress. Will you restrain me in some way, though?"

"Yes, I think we can do something in that respect. Go to the bathroom again. you won't get another chance for several hours."

While Sally was in the bathroom, Val pulled a butt plug and a remote controlled vibrator from their toy drawer. When Sally was done, Valerie inserted both into her and used a leather crotch rope to force them in. Reminding Sally that she was still on orgasm restriction (which brought a moan from the woman), they went out to the Gotham Club for dinner. Valerie kept Sally on edge all night with the remote, driving her to near climax during dinner several times. By the time they returned home, Sally was almost incoherent with need. Valerie denied Sally any orgasm, knowing it was one of the best things she could do to establish in Sally's mind that Val truly owned her. Sally spent the night in bed, hands tied to the headboard, while Valerie cuddled with her.

The next morning, Val let Sally know that they were meeting the actors at Mephisto's in the afternoon and instructed her to be there. Her day at work passed quickly. A meeting on Friday was set up with Mr. Wilson to discuss which photos to use in the new ads. Before she knew it, Valerie was on her way to Mephisto's to meet with the actors. Five minutes after she arrived, Sally showed up.

Inside, she saw that Stan Greyish was already there, watching a bondage demo on the main stage. Joining him, Val saw that Lilly was being tied up by her boyfriend. He was explaining the knots he was using as he went, but he was going fast enough that no one had any chance to follow him. Sighing, Valerie lamented that this was all too normal for instructional scenes. The instruction talk was too little, too fast and the teaching part was lost. She made a mental note to talk to Lilly about ways they could improve their presentation..

The rest of the actors arrived over the next half hour and soon, all seven people were in one of the private rooms. Valerie started her talk.

"Our long range goal is to enable all of you to portray BDSM on screen accurately. This is different from doing it safely, as I don't think anyone, neither you nor your producer, want any of you to have real welts or marks. What Sally and I want to show you is how to pretend to whip and be whipped. I should warn you that being on rhe receiving end of a pretend whipping, one that will look real on camera, will involve some discomfort. The lashes will still be hitting you."

Tasha crossed her arms in that pose that everyone understood to be one of hostility. "Just how much pain are we talking about here?"

Valerie considered for several seconds. "Think of it as being the equivalent of clapping your hands hard, but on your back and ass."

"That doesn't sound so bad," Stan commented. "So how does this pretend whipping work? We've seen the real thing on the earlier visit."

Valerie looked at Sally. There eyes locked, and Sally understood that Valerie did not want to tell the actors about the changes in Sally's status. "Sally, would you do the honors. Be sure to explain just what is going on."

"Of course. You'll need to be naked."

Valerie, long used to undressing in front of others, stripped her clothes off and grabbed two rings on the wall. Sally started her explanation.

"The first thing that will be working for us is the whip we'll be using. If you look at these strands, they are very soft and wide. This is the softest cat you can use in BDSM. It takes a lot of power to leave significant marks on one's back or butt. Now, watch the difference between these two strokes."

Sally lifted the whip and gave Valerie a normal stroke against her upper back. Valerie hissed at the stroke, glad that Sally was able to do this while deep in her submission. The second stroke looked, on the surface, just the same as the first. However, Sally's stroke was different. The lashes stayed behind her arm until the last second and then they flicked forward. The stroke lost most of its power, yet still made a satisfying slap, thanks to the wideness of the lashes. After the two were delivered, Sally and Valerie turned to the four actors.

"Can anyone tell me how the two strokes were different?"

The four looked at one another and at the couple. Crystal spoke up. "It looked like the lashes weren't swinging on the second one, at least not right away."

Sally smiled. "Yes, exactly!"

Valerie took over. "Crystal, you, Melanie and Stan will have to be able inflict these types of strokes. Tasha and Melanie will need to be able to act like they are being really hurt. Crystal, will you take the whip and try to whip me? Don't worry about hurting me. You can't swing that cat hard enough to go past my limits."

Crystal took the whip, holding it like it was a snake that would bite her. "Valerie? What are these limits you talk about?"

"Everyone has limits. Limits are what you can stand before it becomes too much to take. It's really hard to explain, mostly because they change all the time and they are very specific to different stimuli. For example, I can take a lot of pain. Early in my submission, I was being punished for failing to obey my Master's orders and I didn't use my safe word for an hour. On the other hand, I can't handle being on an OBGyn table for any length of time."

"An exam table?" Tasha was incredulous.

"Yes. The first time my Master tried to strap me down on one, I had a full blown panic attack."

"Yet, you can stand an hour under a whip? What kind of person are you?"

"I'm a submissive. That is a person who gets pleasure from putting herself in the hands and the control of another person. That includes allowing that person to inflict pain on me."

Tasha looked at her, a strange expression on her face. "You're serious, aren't you? You really enjoy letting people hurt you?"

"Not anyone, but yes, I do. It's not always pain either. There's the sex," she responded with a smile.

"I... I don't understand you. It's so freaking weird."

"That may be. I think the public exposure that you actors subject yourselves to is weird. One person's weird is another person's normal. Tasha, you don't have to understand or approve, you just have to portray me."

Sally piped up. "Tasha, do you remember Penny's for Gretchen, where you played the abusive mom? Did you understand how a mother could do that to her child?" Tasha shook her head. "Exactly. yet, you still played her with consummate skill. You are capable of this. Don't focus on the understanding, focus on the acting."

Tasha shook her head. "You're right. I am a great actress. Okay, show us what you've got."

Valerie smiled at Sally's clever use of typical actress arrogance. Normally irritating, this time it would work for them. The next two hours, the actors practiced giving and receiving the blows. While Tasha was leery at first, seeing Melanie take strokes from Sally with no reaction reassured her. Valerie was pleased to find that there was no teaching needed to have the actors pretend to be in pain and agony. It took more work to get the fake strokes down. Stan consistently used too much force and wasn't keeping the lashes back long enough. By the end of the two hours, Valerie knew that Stan would have to have more training. Crystal was the fastest learner and was mastering fake whippings in less than an hour. Melanie seemed to have them down after the two hours, though Valerie wanted her to practice more.

As they were departing, Valerie set up another appointment with all the actors for Saturday before the auction. Leaving Mephisto's, the two submissives drove to Charles' mansion. Valerie was nervous because she knew she had to tell Charles what she had done with Sally. She knew He would not be pleased and her time of submission would likely end in punishment, not play. She also knew she could have done nothing else. Herman answered the door and directed the two of them to the study.

Valerie looked at Sally. "Sally, strip your clothes off and follow me on your hands and knees."

"Yes Mistress."

Val led Sally to the study, kneeling before Charles once they were both there.

"Valerie. How has the week been so far."

"Very hard Master. I think I need tonight. There is something I need to tell you, Master."

"That doesn't sound very good."

"It is, Master, but you will not like it. I took Sally's safe word away."

"Valerie! What made you think you had the authority to initiate unsafe domination with Sally?"

"She needs it Master. You gave me domination over her. I can't let her down."

Sally grabbed Charles' legs, tears pouring down her face. "Master! Please don't make me have a safe word. Please Master."

Charles looked down at the two women, aghast at what he saw. Charles knew that there were people in the lifestyle who played without safe words. He had always considered them reckless and dangerous. His submissives were always trained to view consent and safe words as the key stones of their BDSM play. Now he was faced with one of his submissives begging to not be safe.

"Sally. Why?"

"I don't know Master." She was still in tears. "I need so much more. I need to be owned, not just dominated. I need no choice. Please don't make me have a choice."

Charles looked at the two women for several minutes, contemplating what to do. There was no denying Sally's feelings of need. He could see the love in Valerie's eyes, laced with fear. He realized that Valerie's willingness to do this to Sally came from the same place her willingness to engage in bite play with Surmi came from. Valerie was committed to giving her partners the best BDSM and sexual experience she could. He also knew that, if anyone was to take Sally on this journey, Valerie was the person who could do it the safest.

"Tell me everything you did with Sally, Valerie."

Valerie related everything, from the severe bite play and breath play to asking Calvin for advice. Charles frowned at the problem that occurred with Steven's orders. By the time Valerie had finished, he knew there was only one thing he could do. Valerie would not obey an order to give Sally's safe word back. Like a good leader, he refrained from giving a command that he knew would not be followed.

"I won't dominate someone without a safe word. I think where you are going is too dangerous. However, it is clear that Sally needs something like this, at least for the time being. Sally?" She looked up. "You are not released from my service. You are, however, given to Valerie for the indefinite future, until such time as she or I determine otherwise. You are under her domination and must obey her in all things. Do you understand that you will not be able to take back control? That Valerie alone will determine what happens to you and for how long?"

"Yes, Master. I want that. Even if she never lets me be free again. Even if she gives me to someone else forever."

"Sally, that is... incredible. Valerie. I am putting no restrictions on your use of Sally. All decisions about safe words, play, punishment and Sally's fate are yours and yours alone. You are still in submission to me and will be expected to answer to me in your submission."

"Thank you Master."

"Valerie, Sally. I can't help you in this. It is beyond what I am familiar or capable of. Valerie. You need to be extremely careful. The potential for truly hurting the woman you love is very great. It's good that the two of you have such a strong bond. You will need every iota of communication between the two of you. If you trust Sir Calvin, seek his advice. You might also seek advice from Master Damien. He tends towards submissives that never use their safe words."

"Yes, Master. I'm sorry you can't participate with Sally and I, Master."

"I am too. Tonight, however, you, Valerie, are to be punished. Not for taking Sally's safe word away, but for not consulting me first. Be downstairs, naked, in 15 minutes."

Charles rose and left. Valerie looked down at Sally. "Are you sure you want this Sally?"

"Yes, Mistress, with every fiber of my being. What do you wish of me while you're with Master?"

"Come with me."

Valerie and Sally went down to Charles' basement. There were several play rooms and a central dungeon there. Valerie took Sally to one of the play rooms. This room had, among other features, numerous hooks for binding people to the walls. She clipped Sally's cuffs together and hooked her to the wall. The hook Valerie used was low enough that sally could slip off it if she wished. Once Sally was in place, she retrieved several clothes pins from one of the storage drawers that were against one wall. She stood in front of Sally. Valerie rolled and pinched at Sally's nipples, causing them to become erect. Using her mouth, she lavished attention on them, drawing moans from Sally. When the first clothes pin snapped onto Sally's tit, Sally cried out.

"Oh, Mistress. Please. It hurts."

"I know. I want it to."

Sally looked up in surprise. "Mistress? Are you going to be okay?"

Valerie smiled. Sally's caring nature was one of the many things Val loved about Sally. "Yes and no. It will bother me, but I can deal with this. I want to give you all I can."

"Thank you Mistress."

Valerie attached the second pin to the other nipple, drawing another gasp of pain. Valerie knelt and licked at Sally's cunt, provoking Sally to lubricate. Her clit poked out from under its hood, desperate for attention, unaware of what was in store for it. Four pins were then clipped to Sally's pussy lips and the final one clamped directly to the erect clit. Sally screamed in pain.

"Mistress! It's too much. Please take it off."

"No. These will stay until Master is done with me. You can release yourself if need be, but getting down for anything other than an emergency that requires leaving the room will be punished. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mistress."

Valerie turned to go when Sally called out again. "Mistress, enjoy yourself."

"Thank you, Sally. I will."

Valerie wasn't sure how much she really would enjoy her time. Her stomach was in knots over what she had forced herself to do. Add to that, the upcoming punishment and you did not have a recipe for an enjoyable time. Valerie hurried, having used up 12 of the 15 minutes Charles had given her. She was setting the last folded article of clothing on a bench when her Master entered the dungeon.

"Valerie. Where is Sally?"

"I have her in an easily escapable bondage in play room three."

"Very well, go over to the cross."

Valerie walked over to the St. Andrew's Cross and knelt on the floor. Charles picked up a wooden paddle from the storage area before he joined her there.

"Stand at the cross, facing it."

"Yes, Master."

Charles bound her to the cross, using the rings on her cuffs to hold her into place. Additional straps were used to further immobilize her limbs and hips. Standing back, Charles took a moment to bring his feelings under control. He firmly believed that punishment should not be done while angry, and while he had not let it show, he was angry with Valerie. Time wasn't helping, however.

"Valerie. I'm angry with you," he said, deciding that he needed to let Val know where this punishment was coming from. "You are choosing to violate every item of safety that I've taught you. Sally is not, in my opinion, in a place where she can accurately know what she needs. You should be protecting her from herself. Instead, you are letting her poor judgment guide you. Potentially, you will hurt both of you, possibly worse than Francine hurt you. Is that what you want?"

Valerie felt tears running down her face. It hurt to have Charles so mad at her, but she knew she was right and He was wrong in this case. "No Master. I don't. But you're wrong, Master. I can't explain it, but you're wrong. Sally is more sure of what she wants, and needs, now than at any time in the past."

"I hope, for both your sakes, that I am wrong, Val." Valerie stiffened at Charles' use of her shortened name, something He had never done in the past. Her sadness eased, just a little. He cared. He was wrong, but it was His caring that He was coming from. "You are being punished for hiding your unsafe play from me. Your punishment will last until you use your safe word."

Valerie gasped at the harshness of the punishment. Before she could finish, the first blow struck and she screamed. Charles was not easing up the force or intensity of the punishment, but starting at full strength. In no time, the pain had become a single mass of sensation, reinforced by each successive blow. Valerie didn't even try to count, but simply endured the pain. As was normal for Valerie when she was being punished, there was no pleasure or joy. When she was being whipped in play, she could lose herself in the joy of pleasing her Master. Now, she knew he was displeased and that knowledge hurt more than the blows themselves. Even the knowledge that she would be forgiven once the punishment was over did not help, for she wasn't sure this time that she would be. She had gone off the reservation, so to speak, crossed a line that Charles would never condone. He allowed it, but only because He knew that he could not stop it.

When Valerie finally cried out, "Red Light!" she was sobbing uncontrollably. Her ass was a deep red with touches of purple, radiating tangible heat. When Charles applied ointment to the bruises (that's what they were), Valerie cried out in pain again.

"Valerie. It's just the ointment."

"Master?"

"Yes, Valerie?"

"Master, am I forgiven?"

Charles choked up before he answered. "Of course you are, Valerie. Why would you think otherwise?"

"I've done something you think is really bad, worse than anything before. Maybe it can't be forgiven?"

"Valerie, there is nothing that can't be forgiven. There are very few things that would cause me to send you away and even those would be forgiven. Yes, you are choosing to be very unsafe. But I can see that you truly believe that it is needed. I can respect that, even if I can't accept it. I want to talk about you, now. Let's get you down."

Charles took Valerie down and helped her to the recovery room. Laying her on a bench, he sat next to her as her face turned towards him.

"Can you do this, Valerie? I mean, being dominant for such a long period of time?"

"I don't know Master, I just don't know. I've never dominated Sally, or anyone else, for more than a couple of hours. There's no one else, that I feel I can trust, who can. I have to see her through this."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 04



"How can I help?" Seeing the look of surprise on her face, Charles chuckled. "Don't be so surprised. Sally is one of mine and I want you to prove me wrong. I can't... no, that's wrong. I won't dominate without safe words. But if I can help you succeed, than I will."

"There is something that will help, I hope. Use me hard when you do. Take me to my limits, push them with everything you've got. I need to really feel my submission to survive being dominant so long."

"I will do what I can. Unfortunately, I have a series of business trips coming up in the next several weeks. I may not be able to take submission from anyone very often."

Valerie moaned with disappointment. She needed to be taken hard and frequently to survive this, she knew it in the core of her being. Then Charles snapped his fingers.

"I think I know what I can do. It's earlier than I had planned on, but it should work. Your progress has been faster than most." Patting her on the back, he reassured her. "Take heart Valerie. You will be used hard. This weekend, of course, you will be auctioned off. It's no longer a choice for you. You will be auctioned off. Furthermore, you will only mark things as fully yes, or totally no."

"Master?"

"No rating activities. If it is not a hard limit, then mark it totally yes."

Valerie cringed. This would open her up for things that she normally didn't like, but could not bring herself to say a firm no to. "I understand Master. This will result in possibly harder use for me. Thank you. What do you have planned for after?"

"That will be a surprise. I'll give you a couple of days notice so you can make arrangements for Sally when it will happen. You will be going places you've not gone before, used in ways that you have not thought of."

"Thank you so much Master. That will help. Master, can I suck your cock?"

"Yes, but you have to sit up, with your hands behind your back, to do it."

Valerie smiled, at least until she sat and her butt issued its complaints. Charles stood and pulled his cock out. Valerie, cringing, leaned forward and licked at the flaccid prick. The first touches had the effect she wanted and he started to harden. Once he was hard enough to be easy to move about, she took him into her mouth, rolling her tongue about the head of the cock. He quickly reached full size, poking at the entrance to her throat.

Charles took her head in his hands and began to thrust against her. Valerie struggled to keep her hands behind her and to loosen her throat so as not to gag. His thrusts became harder and harder, practically slamming himself against her face. Several times he held himself against the back of her throat, blocking her air and letting her suck on him again. Valerie struggled to take in breaths when she had a chance. She felt his cock start to tense then Charles pulled out and sprayed cum all over her face.

"Wait," Charles said. "let it dry."

Valerie waited, her ass aching from sitting on the bruises. She could feel it cooling on her skin, turning into a gross tasting goop (or more gross than it normally tasted). Valerie had never developed a liking for the taste of a man's cum. Congealed cum was even worse. She did enjoy the feelings of humiliation and subjugation when she had to, however. Once he felt it had congealed enough, Charles scooped it off of her face and fed it to her.

"Thank you Master for using me for your pleasure."

"My pleasure Valerie. You should collect Sally and head home. Do you need any help?"

"No, Master. I'll be fine."

Valerie dressed and went back to the play room where Sally was bound. Sally was breathing deeply with tear stains on her face. She looked up at Val with a look of need and fear. Valerie felt her heart clench. She did not like seeing Sally afraid, least of all, of her. Val walked up to Sally.

"Sally. What are you feeling?"

"I'm happy to see you. I'm afraid of what will come next."

"Is this what you wanted?"

"I think so. I want you to be happy, Mistress. I want to feel owned by you. I feel that way right now. Being left alone, in pain, makes me feel owned."

Valerie stroked Sally's face. She leaned in and kissed Sally. While she had Sally's mouth captured, she took the clips off, capturing Sally's screams of pain in her mouth. Valerie's stomach clenched and she groaned inwardly. She could feel Sally's tears running down her cheek. When the shudders of pain faded, Valerie took her down.

"Come on. Let's get you dressed and go home."

"May I cum, Mistress?"

"No, Sally. Not today."

Valerie had Sally drive home, as Val could not sit still with the current condition of her butt. They slept together, the slave in the embrace of the Mistress. The next morning, Valerie went into work early, stopping by Calvin Freshin's office.

"Hi, Mary. Is he in?"

"Morning Ms. Burbon. Yes he is. Let me see if he can see you." Mary stepped in the office and was back out in a matter of seconds. "Go right in. He has Susan with him."

"Thanks Mary." Valerie wondered why Calvin had brought Susan with him. The whole point of hiring Mary had been to let Susan go back into full time slavery.

The scene that greeted her took Valerie aback. Susan was stretched out on Calvin's couch, legs tied to the legs of the sofa and her arms tied to something on the other side. She had a full mouth gag that covered her mouth completely. She was, of course, naked.

"Valerie, come on in."

"Calvin? What is this all about?"

"I brought my slave to work with me. I do that occasionally. Come over here. I have a space fitted in the closet for her when I am seeing clients. I was just getting ready to give her a morning whipping."

"Mary didn't seem very put out by the sight."

"She is the perfect secretary for me. Aces at her job and not put off by my sexual antics. What brings you into the office early? I don't recall you being an early person."

"I'm not, I wanted to ask if you were still willing to take care of Sally for me on occasion."

"If she's a slave and not a submissive, sure."

"I took her safe word away Monday. She needed it."

"I see. She's lucky to have you. Many lovers, even BDSM lovers would not be able or willing to go that far. When do you need me to take care of her?"

"This Saturday. I'm auctioning myself off at Mephisto's and I was hoping you would be able to take care of her."

"What parameters would I be under."

Valerie took a deep breath. She knew she was about to put a lot of trust in Calvin. She had known him for seven months and felt she could trust him, but this was big. "No limits. While you are watching her, from 6:00 Saturday until noon Sunday, she is your slave, subject to whatever you wish to use her for."

"Valerie. Are you sure? I can be extremely harsh and cruel. I believe I fit the definition of a sadist."

Susan was nodding in her bonds, confirming the assessment. Valerie took another breath. "Yes. Monday, Sally expressed the wish that I was able to whip her so badly that she would be a sobbing wreck, unable to think or speak coherently. She wants, needs to know if I love her enough to be cruel to her. I can't do that myself, but I can hand her over to someone who can."

"Before I say yes, I want you to watch what I am capable of." Calvin walked over to his closet and pulled out a cane. The thin bamboo rod flexed with a swish when he gave it a slash through the air. Susan began to struggle, tugging at her bonds and moaning into her gag. Terror shone in her eyes as Calvin raised the cane and brought it down on her ass. A red stripe appeared, accompanied by a muffled scream. He hit her again and Valerie staggered back until she hit the desk, grasping it for support.

Tears streamed down Valerie's face as she forced herself to watch every blow, to see what she was planning to subject Sally, the woman she loved, to. Calvin struck at Susan's ass and thighs 50 times, leaving a mass of welts and bruises that seemed to blend into one massive one. Susan was sobbing into her gag and hanging loosely in her bonds. Blood trickled from a few spots.

Valerie walked over to Susan, stiff as a robot. Bending down, she whispered, "Susan?"

The slave lifted her head, red eyes and streaked face taking in Valerie's face.

"Would you stop this if you could?"

The slave's eyes widened and she shook her head vehemently.

"This is what you want? To be used and beaten and subjected to a sadist's whims?"

Her head nodded just as vigorously.

"Has your Master told you about Sally?"

Another nod.

"Do you think this is what Sally wants?"

Susan shrugged her shoulders.

"Calvin, may I ungag Susan?"

"Yes, go ahead."

Valerie took the gag off, noting that it was a large penis gag which would have left only a little room in Susan's throat for breathing and been very uncomfortable.

"Susan, will you share your slavery with Sally on Saturday, telling her what and why you are?"

"Yes, Mistress. Is Sally okay?"

"Maybe. She's changing and we don't know how. She might need a slavery like yours. She might need something else. I need you and your master's help in finding out what is happening. I do know she wants me to be able to beat her like this, she said so. Will you help her?"

"I'd be honored, Mistress."

"As would I, Valerie. Leave her in our hands. We'll help her find herself."

"Thank you, both of you. Some day I hope to be able to repay you both."

"I'd settle for a day of you, no rules, just like with Sally."

Valerie shivered, remembering the intensity of the one time he won her and Sally on auction. "Maybe, we'll see."

Valerie went back to her office and spent the rest of the day doing the normal activities that came with it. She left at 3:00 to keep her appointment with Dr. Gloush. Valerie was still uncertain what she would gain from seeing a psychiatrist, though she had admitted to herself that her reactions at seeing Sally whipped were not normal. After a 5 minute wait, she was shown into the doctor's office.

"Valerie. I'm glad you came. Have a seat."

"Did you think I wouldn't?"

"There is a high percentage of people who don't keep their first appointment. It's always pleasant to have someone who is serious about their healing and therapy."

"Honestly, I don't know what you can do. It's all up here," she said, pointing at her head.

"Actually, that's not always the case. Depression is a chemical imbalance. It can start out, 'up there,' as you put it, but our heads can interfere with out biochemistry, which in turn messed with our heads. It can be a pretty vicious feedback loop. In your case..., well, let's talk about you. I know that you are into BDSM and that is not a mental health issue, in my opinion. Many colleagues don't agree, but that's between them and their patients. I also know that you were savaged by Francine Traline during a scene, taken past your safe word. What brings you to see me now, seven months later?"

"I guess it's my out of proportion reactions to things, at least certain things. I've always had issues with inflicting pain on others. I guess that makes me very submissive. Since the incident, I've developed panic attacks when I see my lover, Sally, put into pain. The last one had me thinking that she was dying when she wasn't even close to dying."

"How about when you see others in pain?"

"Nothing unusual. I'm fearful that it might start with others. I also have nightmares, though I can't remember them. I just wake up in a cold sweat, panicked."

"All these are symptoms of post traumatic stress. Given what happened, that's to be expected. The good news is that, since it stems from a single instance, it should be easy to treat. Let's talk about the, 'incident.' Why do you call it an incident?"

"That's what it was. It was a scene where something went wrong."

"So you maintain that it was not an attack?"

"Of course not. I went there willingly. Francine's mental state made her unable to respect my safe word."

"So she has no responsibility for what happened? It was all your fault?"

"Yes..." Valerie stopped, unbelieving of what she started to say. "When did I start thinking like that?" She had not realized she had spoken aloud.

"Exactly! When did you start to think that it was your fault instead of Francine's?"

"I...I don't know."

"The key to ending the traumatic stress is to properly process the emotions that were precipitated by it. Did you know that the incident of post traumatic stress among rescue workers can be predicted by the frequency that they lose control of their emotions immediately after a bad rescue, one where people die? The more they break down right away, the less post stress they deal with. Have you ever let yourself be mad about the attack?"

"It wasn't an..." Valerie paused. The statement sounded wrong for the first time. "Was it an attack?"

"Yes it was, in more ways than you know. Francine has given me permission to share with you some of her statements in therapy, if there was ever a need for you to know. Specifically, that night, when you showed up, she planned to beat the love out of you. She started the whipping with the intent to ignore your safe words and force you to hate her."

Valerie sat there, stunned by the revelation. In an instant, her whole perception of the incident changed. Her mind tried to deny it. "No, it can't be true!" Dr. Gloush was nodding his head. Unable to deny the truth, Valerie broke down in tears. An aching pain surfaced, vile and ugly, spilling out of her. Her emotions were exposed, raw and, to her mind, disgusting.

"I hate her! I hate that evil bitch! She ruined me! She took my life and destroyed it! How could she do that to me? She should have said something! Anything! I will be scarred forever because of that witch!"

Valerie sank to her knees, sliding off the chair she had been sitting on. Her sobs came pouring out of her, the accumulated pain of months, held in check by fear, the fear of having already lost her best friend. Dr. Gloush waited for the outburst, the much needed outburst, to pass. He knew there would be others, one was never enough. But now the healing could begin. When Valerie had finished her tears, he helped her back into her seat.

"Valerie, this is an important first step. Until you acknowledged that Francine did wrong to you and that you hated what she did, you could not heal. Now we can begin."

"But, I forgave her. How can I still feel so much hate towards her?"

"Tell me, if she did nothing wrong, what did you forgive?"

"I guess that makes no sense, does it? Sally told me that forgiveness is for the forgiver more than for the offender."

"She's right. But how it helps us differs from day to day and person to person. In your case it helps you realize that there was an evil done to you. Everything you screamed was correct. She should have asked for help before it went that far. What she did was evil. Not that she was evil, but what happened was. Your life was destroyed by the attack. You and Sally have done a masterful job of putting it back together, but what you had was ruined. Keep in mind that forgiveness is not a feel good pill. The emotions that the attack spawned do not just vanish. They still need to be processed and felt. For seven months, you've kept that from happening by strength of will and self delusion. That ended today."

"I'm frightened doctor. What if I can't like Francine again?"

"Then you can't. It isn't the end of the world, though it will hurt and be yet another thing the attack took from you. I don't think it will come to that. Just your ability to forgive, even if you had a mistaken idea of what it was, tells me that you and Francine will be friends again. Living with you and Sally has helped her tremendously in her own healing."

"So where do I go from here?"

"Two things, firstly, I want to see you once a week. We'll look at the issues and emotions and deal with them. Secondly, I need to know if there is anything in your life that may aggravate or be aggravated by the issues we're dealing with."

Valerie looked down, not wanting to share, but knowing that the person who lies to their doctor is an idiot. "My relationship with Sally has changed. She is experiencing a deepening of her submission and needs more than Charles can give her. I took full domination of her this week and took her safe word away on Monday."

Dr, Gloush looked at Valerie through steepled hands. His face gave no betrayal of his thoughts. "How far have you taken this?" he asked.

"I've kept her from orgasm for over a week. I've drawn blood from biting her and I've taken breath play to the point where she passed out. Will my issues cause me to hurt her?"

"I don't think so. If this was Francine, that would be different. Is she craving hard use, to the point of being perceivable as abuse?"

"Yes, she wishes I could whip her so badly that she is reduced to abject sobbing and unable to rise."

"I see. You need to be careful. I've seen a couple of submissives undergo such a transformation. They become incapable of denying their dominants anything, to the point of accepting death at their hands. You need to be very careful about what she allows to happen to herself. Be extremely aware of her and what she needs. She will not be able to judge that herself."

"I understand. Is there anywhere I can find advice on this sort of thing?"

"Not that could be considered reliable. You could check slave blogs on the net, but be aware that they are not always legitimate."

"I'll see what I can find. I do know one couple in a total slave relationship that I trust."

"That would be your best bet then. We're about out of time. Have Nancy set you up a regular appointment."

"Thanks doctor. How long does this sort of healing take?"

"If you're still seeing me in a year, I will consider the therapy a failure."

That night, Valerie continued her relatively harsh treatment of Sally, giving her friend what both were convinced she needed. Sally spent an hour being driven to the brink of orgasm without release. She fell asleep in Valerie's arms, smiling and in tears, secure in her lover's affection. Friday, Valerie chained Sally, sitting on a blanket on the floor, to the bed with unlocked chains, telling her that she could only release herself to use the bathroom and to escape the house in an emergency. When Valerie returned home that night, Sally was crying softly, still chained to the bed.

"Sally. Why the tears?"

"I don't know. I've been crying all day, feeling sad and happy, hurting and aroused, scared and at peace. I've had nothing to do but think about things. But I'm not sure what to think about anything."

Valerie could smell arousal from Sally. Growling from Sally's stomach was very audible. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay, I guess. I so badly want to cum. Master has made me go weeks without cumming, but did not keep me aroused so much. I want to be used too. I mean, really hard use, the kind that ignores my wants and just pleases you."

"I'm going to leave you tied here all night. I'm going to torture you with need some more. I'm going to whip you tonight."

"Mistress? Will you be okay?" Sally, more than anyone else, knew of Valerie's aversion to inflicting pain.

"Yes, I think so. It won't be easy, but I want to see you begging for mercy. Afterwards, you are going to tease me with arousal. I want to be needy tomorrow when I'm auctioned."

"Yes, Mistress. What will I be doing while you're being used?"

"I'm giving you to Calvin Freshin for the night. He has permission to do anything he wants with you. He knows you don't have a safe word and will be taking advantage of that."

Sally's breath caught in her throat. "Mistress, I don't think I'm ready for him. Please don't do this."

"No, you are mine, to do with as I please, and I wish to lend you to Calvin for the entire night. You will obey his orders as if they were mine. If he has to punish you for disobedience, I will be punishing you for it as well when you return on Sunday. Is that clear?"




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 04



Sally bit her lip. Fear filled her heart, yet, she was shocked that she felt herself welcoming it. At that moment, she felt more owned than she ever had in the past. She knew Saturday would be hard on her and she may well hate it, but she reached out to hug her Mistress. "Thank you Mistress. I'll hate every minute of it, but I love that you can be this harsh with me. I'll obey Sir Calvin," Sally fell into thinking of Calvin as he preferred to be called by submissives, "just as if you were there with me."

Valerie fixed dinner, feeding Sally by hand while she sat in her chains. Afterwards, she went down on Sally for an hour, keeping her on the brink of cumming the entire time, leaving her weeping with need in the end. This was followed by some time with the cat, turning Sally's back a lovely shade of pink. By the time Valerie had finished whipping Sally, both were crying, Sally from the pain of the whip and Valerie from the inner pain she suffered whenever she inflicted pain on another submissive.

Valerie took half an hour to give them both a chance to recover before she released Sally. She retrieved the kitchen timer from the stove and set it for three hours.

"Sally, you are to bind me to the bed and keep me on the verge of cumming until the timer goes off. If either of us cums, you will be punished. If you stop early, no matter what I say, you will be punished. In other words, you are under orders to ignore my commands while I am bound and the timer is running." With that, Valerie lay on the bed and spread herself spread eagle.

Sally had teased Valerie with orgasm denial on numerous occasions and was a master at it. She quickly bound Val tightly to the bed, blindfolded and gagged her. For three hours, Valerie writhed to the limit of her bonds, aching with desire and need that she knew would not be satisfied. Long before it was over, she was convinced that she had overestimated her ability to last under Sally's expert ministrations. When the timer went off, Val was in tears, sobbing uncontrollably with frustration. Sally stopped her teasing and took the gag out.

"Mistress, you should stay bound for a little longer so you don't bring yourself off too soon."

"You're right, Sally. Wait another half hour. Take this time to use the bathroom before I chain you again."

"Yes Mistress."

Neither woman slept well that night. One in need that was self imposed, the other in enforced agony. Both were happy.

Saturday afternoon, the actors met with Sally and Valerie at Mephisto's for their next lesson in pretend whippings. This session went much better. It seemed that they had been practicing on their own. Sally was able to introduce them to some flourishes that would look cinematic without detracting from the realism. All too soon, it was closing on 6:00 and they parted ways again. Calvin and Susan were not hard to find.

"Valerie. It's good to see you again. I assume that it's time?"

"Yes, Calvin. From now until noon tomorrow, Sally is yours to do with as you please." Turning to Sally, Val instructed, "Sally, Sir Calvin is your Master for the next 18 hours. What ever he commands is my command, whatever he does is my doing. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mistress." Sally trembled as she spoke, fear displayed on her face.

"Sally, are you frightened?" Calvin asked.

"Yes Sir."

"Of me?"

"Yes Sir."

"Good. You should be." Calvin turned to Val. "Is she permitted orgasms?"

"That's in your hands. She has been on orgasm restriction and torture for a week."

"Thank you, Valerie. Sally, Susan, come with me. We'll be playing at home." The three walked away as the two slaves replied with, "Yes Sir."

Valerie walked to the auction desk.

"I would like to enter myself in the auction."

"Valerie Burbon. Back for another night of fun?" The guide, Betty, had helped Valerie on her first auction and a few of the subsequent ones.

"Yes. I'm hoping for a long one tonight."

"Well, I know you know what to do, so I'll leave you to fill out the form. Give me a wave when you're ready to be displayed. I'd like to display you myself, if you don't mind?"

"I'd be honored. This won't take more than a few minutes."

Valerie filled the waiver and guidelines with practiced ease. Following her orders, she rated everything as either yes or no. The activities that she normally marked between a full yes and a full no, were upgraded to a full yes. Five minutes later, she caught Betty's eye and the red headed woman in the vinyl cat suit joined her again.

"Are you ready?"

"I just need to undress. Can you handle these restraints?"

Betty looked in Valerie's bag. "Wow! You've never gone this heavy before. Is there anything wrong?"

"No," Val smiled at her, "I just need an intense experience from beginning to end." Valerie had started removing her clothes as she spoke.

"So how do you want to be posed?"

Valerie gave Betty the specifics as they walked over to the display cages. The auctioneer saw Valerie coming over and met the two women at the cage.

"Valerie. I was hoping to see you again this month." Valerie saw that she had a bull whip at her side and a crop in her hand.

"Hi, Mistress Angela. Do you mind a request?"

"You requests are always enjoyable, Val. What would you like?" Valerie told her and she raised her eyebrows. "Are you sure about that, Valerie? Once you're bound, you won't be able to change your mind."

"Yes, very sure. I know how good you are, so I'm not worried about serious injury."

"This will be quite a crowd pleaser. No one's had me do this for over a year, since before your first time. I remember you asking to be humiliated."

"And you did a wonderful job too, if memory serves. Yes, I'm sure about it. In a way, I need it."

"I think I understand that. I'm not sure why, but I understand the need. It will be intense. Have you ever had this done before?"

"No. This will be the first time."

"I'm honored that you would trust me for your first. I'll make it good and very painful."

"Thank you." Turning to Betty, she said, "I'm ready now."

Betty slipped Val's arms into a binder glove behind her back. The laces pulled her arms together until Valerie's elbows were touching. Valerie was knelt on the floor and a spreader bar placed between her knees, forcing them two feet apart while her ankles were clipped together. A full coverage hood was slipped onto her head, blinding her and forcing a gag into her mouth. Valerie was forced to arch back so that her wrists could be fastened to her ankles. Then her head was pulled back and tied off to the glove. The effect was to leave her arched back, spread out and unable to see or speak. Her hearing was muffled by the hood.

For the next two and a half hours, Valerie's body ached under the tension she had had herself put in. She could make out movement near her and the occasional comment from those who looked at her. Her pussy was juicing as she allowed herself to sink, mentally, into the submissive head space she craved. It did not take long for the aching need in her pussy to be filled to make itself felt. The three hours of denial she had made Sally inflict upon her was doing its job, and soon, she was moaning in arousal and tugging against her bonds.

The sudden release of pressure from her head startled her. Valerie felt her head being taken out of the hood and the binder gloves released from one another. The bright light of the spot as it illuminated her brought tears to her eyes and had her blinking furiously. The spreader bar was removed and her ankle cuffs were released from one another and connected by a hobble chain. The men handling her treated her roughly, as she had asked the auctioneer. One pinched at her breasts and the other copped a feel deep into her pussy, bringing a squeal from her. She started to pull back against them, but they grabbed on and hauled her to the stage. The crowd near her cage hollered at her and the men, encouraging the show.

When she reached the stage, Valerie followed through with her role play and broke free of the "guards" and ran for the far side of the stage as fast as her one foot wide feet could carry her.

"Stop slave!" Angela yelled. There was a loud crack as the bull whip's tip broke the sound barrier near Valerie's face. Valerie, putting a fearful expression on her face (not difficult since the bull whip did frighten her), backed away from Angela with her hands up. The bull whip snaked out again, wrapping itself around her waist, the tip flicking against her back, leaving a red welt. Angela pulled hard and Valerie stumbled to her knees.

"It seems, ladies and gentlemen that we have a reluctant slave on our hands. Lot number 17 is supposed to be well trained, but I think she might need a refresher course." Angela was enjoying the show that Valerie had asked her to give. Few submissives went this far into the role play of the slave auction.

Valerie started to crawl away on her hands and knees, only to feel the whip grab at her hair as it cracked again. Valerie screamed in pain as the whip, now tangled in her hair, pulled tight, yanking her head back.

"I think this slave needs a strong Master or Mistress to teach her the value of obedience. Is there anyone out there that thinks they can contain this hellfire?"

The bids started pouring in. The show, along with the unusually large number of activities that were marked as okay on her guide form drove the bidding up. Valerie, head held by the whip in her hair, was sprawled on the stage, open for all to see. Soon, the bidding came to a close.

"Sold to the couple in the fourth row for $2700. Be sure to beat some sense into her."

Angela walked up and deftly removed her whip from Valerie's hair. Turning her mike off, she whispered, "Val, are you okay?" Valerie nodded, her breath coming too fast to answer with words. "Great show. Have a good time."

Come slave, we have plans for you."

Valerie recognized the voice of Fred. Looking up, she saw his face and that of Daphne, his wife looking down on her. Valerie rose to her feet. Daphne blindfolded Valerie and attached a leash to her collar. Val followed the couple to one of the private rooms.

Once inside the room, the outer noise cut off, Fred asked Valerie, "Val, what's with the form. You've moved everything that was iffy to yes. And, I assume you asked to have the bull whip used on you."

Valerie dropped to her knees and felt for Fred's legs with her gloved hands. "Master, I need to be used hard tonight. I want to know I am a submissive deep in my core when you are finished with me."

"Val, what's wrong? I've never seen you like this before," Daphne asked, worry in her voice.

"I've been dominating Sally all week. It's so hard."

"Val, you're not a dominant."

"I know. She needed it. Please, use me hard, make me suffer. I need this tonight."

"It will be our pleasure," Fred reassured her. Dropping into his dominant role, he yelled at Valerie. "Stand up slave. You need to be taught a lesson about obedience tonight."

Valerie shivered as she scrambled to her feet. Hands grabbed at her and dragged her to a whipping post. Her hands were bound over her head, forcing her on the tips of her toes. Her shoulders ached from the strain. Her legs were pulled apart, putting her weight on her shoulders alone. When her legs were released, Val found that they had been bound apart. She moaned in pain.

The first lash against her back drew a scream form her throat. The force pressed her breasts into the post. A second lash struck and Val cried in pain again. In spite of the pain, Valerie was sinking into the familiar comfort of submissiveness, letting Master and Mistress have their way with her. Again and again, blows landed on her back and ass. Fred and Daphne were alternating strokes with a cat and a flogger. Fred's cat was striking at her back and Daphne's flogger was turning Val's ass a deep red. Soon, Valerie was sobbing at the pain, yet she felt no desire to stop the beating or use a safe word.

The couple stopped whipping her after they had each given Valerie 25 blows. A hand reached between her legs and thrust into her cunt. Valerie gasped at the rough treatment and the surge of pleasure that rolled through her. Fred kept up his hand rape of her pussy until he felt her at the edge of orgasm. When he pulled away, Valerie cried out.

"No! Please, finish me, let me cum. I need to cum, please let me cum."

Hair brushed across her back as she heard Daphne whisper into her ear, "No. You will not cum tonight. You tried to take control up on the stage and now you will have none. Denial and pain, that's all you can expect tonight."

Valerie shuddered at the prospect. Orgasm denial was second only to pain in its ability to drive the reality of her submission home. Valerie moaned in frustration, smiling inside her head. For the next few hours, she knew she would not have to make any decisions, but simply accept what was done to her. The tension of the last week faded and Valerie embraced her lack of control as the relief it was.

Val felt Daphne pull away and her hands released from the pole. The binder gloves she was still wearing were reconnected behind her back. This time they were laced even tighter, pulling her shoulders back mercilessly. Her legs were released and she was pulled across the room. Her ass pressed up against something padded, causing her to moan in pain as the now tender flesh was pressed on. Once again her legs were spread and bound apart. Her arms were lifted over the object she was against (a vaulting horse) and tied in place by ropes that went between the gloves and her ankle cuffs.

"Val." Fred was talking to her. "We know you put extreme pain as a yes, but I want to check. Can we bruise you?"

"Yes, anything you want."

"Okay. This is really going to hurt."

Valerie could not see what Fred had in his hand, but it was a short plastic stick about a quarter inch in diameter. He bent it back, holding it over her left breast. When he released it, it sank into her flesh. For an instant, nothing, then Valerie wailed at the top of her lungs. She had never felt such pain before, not even under Francine's lashing.

"No!. Please, not again. It's too much. I can't take it!"

The stick, which Daphne had named a "misery stick," struck the right breast. Valerie struggled in her bonds, desperate to get away from the agonizing pain. Two deep purple bruises had appeared on her tits. The stick struck again, another bruise appeared and Valerie shrieked even louder. Fred paused between each strike with the stick, giving Valerie a chance to use her safe word. When she had taken a dozen strokes between the two breasts, Daphne put her hand on Fred's, shaking her head.

"Val?" she asked, leaning in close, "do you want to safe word?"

"No!" Val sobbed. Valerie wanted the pain to stop, but she needed to not be the one to stop it. Sobs continued to rack her body as the throbbing in her tits continued. 

Taking her at her word, Fred and Daphne continued their assault on Valerie's breasts. Daphne speared the nipples with two clover clamps and lifted them up, giving Fred access to the undersides. Again, the misery stick thwacked against Valerie's sensitive flesh, drawing renewed wails of agony from her. Another dozen strikes of the stick later and they stopped. Valerie was beyond tears, drawing great gulps of air into her body as she heaved with dry sobs. Even with the beating on her breasts stopped, they burned in agony. The flesh on her tits was a mixture of purple and dark red.

A hand once again entered Val's pussy, this one softer and more delicate than the last. With slow, gentle strokes, Daphne turned Valerie's groans of pain into moans of pleasure. Val humped against the hand that was caressing her, trying to bring her clit into contact with it. Daphne was too skilled to be taken in and Val was denied that intensity of pleasure. Soon, however, she was at her orgasmic plateau and the hand vanished once again, leaving Val to wail in misery at yet another lost climax.

No one touched her for several minutes, though Val could hear activity in the room. Zippers were opening and closing, the clatter of leather, metal and wood could be heard. Valerie assumed, correctly, that new toys were being brought out and that she would soon be subjected to some new torment. Of course, the steady pressure on her shoulders and residual pain in her breasts was torment enough, she thought. What she did not understand was why one of the two seemed to leave the room and return a few minutes later.

Valerie felt someone probing her ass, applying lube to it. She thought it odd since no one could fuck her ass, it was pretty much up against the leather surface of the horse. Then a tube pressed in and she clenched on instinct. That brought a slap on her still reddened ass, renewing the pain. Forcing herself to relax, she felt whatever it was penetrate deep, deeper than she had ever felt a cock or dildo reach. When a pumping sound was heard as the tube increased in width, she realized what was going to happen. She pressed against it, but the bardex nozzle was already too large to force out of her.

The pumping stopped and she felt the pressure on her arms and legs ease. She had been released and was pulled to her knees and bent over so that her face was on the floor, her ass sticking up with its obscene enema tail. Then the water entered her. It was not warm water, but hot! Val moaned in pain.

"Please, it's too hot. Please stop."

"No Valerie. We want this and you will take it. Have you ever had an enema before?" Fred asked.

"Once Master, at the hand fasting."

Her belly was beginning to expand and the first cramps were hitting her. Val whimpered in pain. Hands would reach down and massage her belly, relieving the pain for a short while, but it always returned. More and more water entered her body and she could feel the progression inside by the warming of her insides. Only when her belly was distended more than any pregnant woman she had seen, did the flow stop.

"You need to hold that for 15 minutes, Valerie."

Valerie groaned at the comment, sure that she was on the verge of exploding already. The cramping was getting worse, sending shudders through her and driving her to tears again. Time seemed to slow down, causing the agony of stretching and cramping to go on forever.

"Val, you need to stand up, dear."

Trembling with weakness, Valerie rose to her feet, hands on either side helping. Once she was standing, she felt something pushed between her legs and then the hands guiding her to a squatting position. The air was released from the bardex and the nozzle pulled out. Water gushed out of Valerie, landing in a wide bucket with a gross splashing noise. The release of pressure and cramps was almost orgasmic and Val moaned, her knees almost buckling. When the flow had slowed to a trickle and stopped, She was laid down on the floor and a pair if hands cleaned her off with a damp cloth that stung her welts. She could hear someone straining and using the door, she assumed Fred was removing the results of the enema.

"You're doing so well, Valerie. Do you want more?"

"Yes, please. Don't stop Mistress. You haven't even had any orgasms yet."

"Oh, we'll get those, I can assure you. Fred's cock is almost purple with need. I'm sure a sound fucking is in store."

"Use me for your pleasure Mistress."

The door opened and Fred returned. "Stand up," the man's voice growled. Valerie stood and was dragged to the center of the room where her cuffs were hooked to chains hanging from the ceiling. Lube was once again being rubbed into her asshole, a lone finger pressing in again and again. Then there was a woman's body pressing against her front, a solid cock against her crotch. Valerie moaned in pleasure, relishing the chance to be fucked, orgasm or no. Fred's cock pressed against her butt and she forced herself to relax, letting him in. The strap on entered her pussy and she felt that blessed feeling of fullness.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05a



Chapter Five

Lights, Camera, Action!

Valerie's alarm went off at 6:00 in the morning. Its beeping was instantly accompanied by moans of pain from the two women it had awoken. The sore muscles and bruises from their respective Saturday nights made themselves felt with a vengeance. Valerie put her own concerns in the back of her mind to look at Sally. She knew that Sally's body had suffered harder use than her own.

Once the light on the bedside table was turned on, she looked at her lover's body. The numerous bruises were turning a deep shade of purple, a color that Val found strangely attractive. The clamp marks that had been so clear the previous afternoon had faded to near invisibility. Most of the welts were still red and Painful looking. It was a testament to Calvin's skill that none showed signs of having bled at all. upon closer inspection a couple of them looked like blood blisters, something she had experienced herself in the past.

"Sally, how are you doing?"

"It hurts, Mistress, but I think it will be okay."

"I want to take you in to see Helen. Some of your welts look like blood blisters."

"I'll be okay."

"I'm not taking no for an answer. You experienced a lot more than you've ever gone through before. I'll make the appointment from the office. Now get up, I want to shower with my slave."

"Yes, Mistress," Sally said with a smile.

The warm water of the shower eased both their sets of aches and the caresses they traded satisfied other needs. Valerie dressed for the office, once again smiling at the differences from when she first started submitting. After her first weekend with Charles, she had had to buy new clothes to wear to her former work place, Branford and Gashune Advertising. The management there was far less forgiving of her sexuality. They had, in fact, fired her when her participation in BDSM sex was made public. At Degrasi, if she showed up sporting bruises from a hard weekend, she was as likely to be congratulated as be ignored.

Val left Sally at the house, as naked as she had been since she entered this deeper level of submission. The drive to the office was not the most pleasant she had made. Her bruises complained about being sat on, with promises to keep complaining if she insisted on sitting at her desk. Erika looked up as she entered the building.

"Oh my! Did someone have a good time this weekend?"

"No, someone had," Valerie's voice took on a Hollywood Egyptian accent as she finished her reply with a line from The Mummy, "a very good time."

"I saw you on stage at the auction, Val. Did you ask for Angela to use the bullwhip on you?"

"Yes. I needed Saturday so badly. I'd been dominating Sally all week and it was getting to me."

"I heard about that. You look very nice in red and purple," Erica said with a smile.

"Thanks, I think. Have you ever been this bruised?"

"Yes, a couple of times."

"How long does it take for them to fade?"

"Gosh, it's pretty dependant on the person. When I'm that well used, it takes about five or six days. Michelle," Erica continued, talking about one of her fellow submissives, "can heal her bruises in two or three days. Of course, that's partly because she doesn't bruise as easily."

"So there's no telling when mine will fade?"

"Not until you go through it once. I take it you've never been bruised before?"

"No, not really. Certainly not this much. It's been more red stripes and welts, not so much bruises."

"I'm sure you'll be fine. Lord knows the strongest response you'll get around here is friendly jealousy that you had such a good time."

"Thanks Erica. I'd better get to my desk. Mondays are always so busy."

Valerie's secretary, June, was already at her desk and looked up in shock when Valerie entered. This was the first time that June had seen the after effects of a night of play so dramatically displayed.

"Valerie?" came the uncharacteristic use of her first name.

"It's okay, June. This was very enjoyable."

"Oh. I see."

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes. You just caught me by surprise. I guess I haven't really understood what BDSM can mean until now. Do you really enjoy having this done to you?"

"Yes and no. I don't enjoy the pain itself. I do enjoy letting it happen. Being able to be submissive like this is important to me."

June looked thoughtful. After almost a minute, she replied. "I guess it's a lot like bungee jumping. I could never do it, but I can accept that people get their jollies from it."

"I suppose that's one way to look at it. Would you call Helen Waston's office and make a joint appointment for Sally and me? Today would be best."

"Sure, Ms. Burbon. Are you having yourselves checked out?"

"Yes. Some may think we are crazy, but we're not stupid. One has to be healthy to enjoy BDSM play to its fullest."

"God help me, but that actually made sense." Shaking her head, June passed a sheet of paper to Valerie. "Here's your appointment list. I'll get those doctor appointments made right away."

"If they can, back to back would be great."

Valerie looked over her schedule as she sat at her desk. Calvin had put himself on her list for a lunch meeting and she was scheduled to go over the proofs of the new Whips'n'More ad later in the afternoon. With an hour before her first meeting, she spent the time composing a letter to Yara's Leather Emporium. Charles bought all his leather care products there, claiming that there wasn't any better source for good leather maintenance products. Over the last few months, Valerie had become quite good at cold calls, or cold letters if you will. She needed to, as very few businesses outside of the fetish community would think of Degrasi's publications without a small nudge. The local business had just launched an internet business and, with the right selection of ads, was poised to expand their markets tremendously. She included the results of a reader poll that indicated that fully 45% of the readership of The Sensible Sub, Mastering and Bondage Monthly purchased all of their equipment online.

Her first meeting was with Boris Branigan, Editor of Mastering magazine, to discuss whether to allow one of his regular advertisers to sponsor a contest. The contest idea was not a bad one, but Valerie had some concerns about the prizes that were being planned. The San Francisco SM Club advertised their web site in all of Degrasi's BDSM publications. They made videos of actual scenes available for a monthly fee. The scenes were run by a handful of the club's dominants and featured a wide variety of submissives, both professional and amateur.

Valerie's concern was that the top prize in the contest was a personal scene at the club, from whichever side of the whip the winner preferred. The danger, however remote, of someone like Painmaster, a man who equated true torture with play, winning the contest and having someone put into his hands, unknowing of his proclivities for dangerous play, raised potential moral and legal issues. After much discussion, Boris and Valerie decided that they could let the contest proceed if the club assured them that one of their own dominants would be on scene to monitor safety issues.

Finishing the draft of her letter to Yara's before lunch, she headed over to Rocky Rococo's Pizza, a popular lunch eatery near the offices. Calvin chose it for their meeting because it had semi-private booths, allowing businessmen to talk about business in a light, yet secure environment. Calvin Freshin and Valerie had eaten together there before. The staff was used to the collared lady that dropped in on occasion.

"Valerie. It's good to see you. I hope you don't mind, I ordered already so we could have plenty of time to talk."

"That's fine Calvin. While Saturday night refreshed my batteries, so to speak, I'm still struggling with just what to do with Sally." She paused while the waitress brought the pizza. The discussion continued, interrupted only by the need to actually eat their lunch. "I want to be there for her. I'm scared that I won't be able to do what is needed for her. Hell, I'm not even sure what is needed."

"I can understand that. Susan struggled with that while she was acting as my secretary. She was able to do the work, but it was tearing her up. When you are submitting, you are as submissive as she is. You are simply able to deal with work and such outside of submission where she can't. By the way, are you planning to take Sally to a doctor?"

"Yes, I have an appointment with Helen Waston this afternoon."

"Good. I thought that some of the welts looked like they might need to be watched carefully. Now, about how to be Sally's owner. First, being her owner is different from being a Mistress during a scene."

"Owner? That sounds very draconian."

Calvin raised an eyebrow. "That's a very good word for it. Ownership is draconian, both for her and for you. That is what you are right now, Sally's owner. She is your slave, your full time slave, just as much as Susan is mine. You have some heavy responsibilities towards her. For example, have you talked about Sally's work with her?"

"Not really. She doesn't go into the office right now. She's working from home."

"It's tearing her up inside. She's been experiencing pressure from her boss to come back into the office. She hasn't said anything because she feels a responsibility to pay for her share of the expenses."

"That's silly! We live in a fully paid off house. Francine has refused any payments from us. She's going to give us the house outright as soon as it's reasonable to do so. I've been putting over $1000 a month into savings for the last six months. I could pay all the bills myself."

"This is your first lesson. Slaves, especially ones experiencing the need for total ownership for the first time, are unable to judge what their responsibilities should be. You need to tell her, firmly, what her duties are. If you can afford it, order her to quit work. Make her more than your sex slave, make her your total slave. Put all the household chores in her hands and punish her when they are not done to a very exacting standard. She will blossom under that lack of freedom and outside responsibilities."

"I never would have thought that she needed to not work. Her work has defined who she is just as much as our relationship and that with Charles."

"She's undergoing a fundamental change in who she is. She will always be your lover. That much was obvious from the way she was begging for you Saturday. Everything else may change. Part of what you need to do for her is to spot those changes as they need to happen and enforce them. It's not easy. You'll make mistakes at first. But, as you learn, she will learn as well, learn to trust that you do have her best interests at heart. As that happens, she will bring things to your attention. Listen to her, then make the decision that you think is best."

"My God! Calvin, you're scaring me even more than I was."

"Good. Ownership of another person is not to be taken lightly. You have an advantage over me, at least at the start. I didn't love Susan when we started. We were just play buddies who wanted to try something more. You love Sally right now. I know it's clichéd, but love will help you through this. I think your love will also enable you to punish and discipline Sally physically when you need to."

Valerie had tears forming in her eyes. "That's so frightening. I go into a panic when she's being put into pain in my presence. How can I inflict pain on her myself?"

"Because it's what she needs. You'll do it, even if it tears you apart, because you know she needs it. That's why you gave her to me for a day. That's why you'll be able to overcome this phobia of yours."

"I hope you're right, Calvin. One thing, you said punishment and discipline. What's the difference? I thought they were different words for the same thing."

"Some people do use them interchangeably. I don't. Punishment is the price a slave pays for being disobedient or for failing to be pleasing. For example, you may have Sally mop the floors. If she does a poor job, you will punish her for failing you. Discipline, on the other hand, is a form of training. It can be as simple as a regular whipping session to build her endurance. It could be long term orgasm denial to reinforce that she is yours in all ways. Both, by the way, are different from the things you do because it is something you desire for yourself."

"I think I see what you're talking about. Punishment is designed to correct wrong behavior. Discipline is designed to encourage and shape desired behavior. Play is simply for the enjoyment of the owner and the slave."

"Exactly! Good ownership has all three components. Without punishment, slaves become rebellious and disobedient. In many ways, slaves are like young children who will push limits to make sure they are there. Without discipline, you and your slave do not grow and boredom will settle in. I don't need to tell you what an absence of play would mean. Every slave need to feel that they are being of service to their owner."

"No," she said, shaking her head with a smile. "Knowing I'm giving Master pleasure is what keeps me going. Without that knowledge, I'd fall into a funk. I still remember the first time I failed him and he denied me contact for the rest of the week. I was heartbroken."

"Yes, I can imagine. Do you have any specific questions for me?"

Valerie looked thoughtful for a while. They both took advantage of the silence to finish eating. "Orgasm denial: Sally hasn't had a climax since I took ownership of her. How long can one keep a slave in that state?"

"It varies from slave to slave. I think it will depend on how much you want her suffering with her need."

"It's been my favorite method of torture for her in the past. However, I've never before personally denied her for so long,."

"Do you enjoy seeing her struggle with unmet desire?"

"Yes," Val answered with a smile. "She is so lovely when she is desperate. Her body writhing; yet unable to cum; her voice crying out pitifully for relief."

"Then I would say that you could keep it up for as long as you want. Unlike a whipping or other painful stimuli, lack of climax does not carry any risk of hurting her. As long as she knows that you are receiving pleasure from her suffering, she will be able to take as much as you want to give her. I know a male slave that went three years without an orgasm, simply because his Master liked seeing him in tears, begging for what he could not have."

"I don't think Id go that far. I also enjoy seeing Sally in the throes of pleasure, her voice crying out inarticulately."

"If I may suggest," Valerie nodded during his pause, "when you let her cum, force her to have a plethora of them. Forced orgasms are just as wonderful a torture as denied ones are."

Valerie's only response was a huge grin. They finished the rest of their meal and went their separate ways. Valerie called Sally and instructed her to be ready to go to the doctor's office. Valerie was home in 20 minutes, finding Sally dressed. As they drove to Helen's office, Val reflected on one of the few blessings from the public outing of her submissiveness. Helen's partner and staff were universally incensed when Dr. Karen Moore had dropped Valerie as a patient simply based on her sexual preferences. The entire office staff had pitched in and purchased Valerie a miniature whip, their way of saying they knew and did not care. Ever since, Valerie had been able to feel comfortable showing up for appointments in her collar and not worry about any marks that might show.

Valerie and Sally usually sat in on each other's appointments and this was no exception. The back to back times meant that there was really only one appointment for the couple. After the nurse took the usual preliminary readings; temperature, blood pressure and pulse, she left and Helen entered five minutes later.

"Good afternoon you two," Seeing the visible bruises, she asked, "do we need to have an after play exam?"

"Yes, Helen. We both had an extreme scene, Sally's more so than mine, and I wanted you to check her over. I think there are some blood blisters."

Helen was one of those doctors who preferred her patients to tell her what they thought was happening, based on the idea that no one knew their bodies more than the patient themselves. "Good idea. Go ahead and strip Sally and we'll take a look at your markings."

As Sally stripped, Helen observed the bruises being revealed with a little trepidation. Sally had been her patient for several years and she had never seen this level of bruising on her before. Her trained eye noted the incredible skill behind the bruises and welts. Everything pushed the edge of safety without crossing it. She picked up on the blood blisters right away.

"You're right, Valerie, there are blood blisters. Let's drain them to prevent scarring." She retrieved a syringe from a cabinet. While she injected a local anesthetic, she asked questions. "Girls, what happened. Something has changed in your relationship with Charles."

Valerie cleared her throat. "Sally's submission is deepening. She is currently in submission to me 24/7, without safe words." Valerie did not even think of lying to Helen. Her mom had always taught her that only an idiot and a fool lies to their doctor.

"I see. I know you are aware of my feelings on safe words." Helen was a safe word fanatic. The only subject she was more passionate about was the use of drugs during scenes. "Sally. Why no safe words?"

"I need to not have them. I don't know if I can explain it. I wasn't using them anyway."

"I see, I don't like it. The potential for serious injury is just so much higher without them. You are not, however, my first patient to choose to enter a safe word free relationship. I know a lady who submits to a man who can only be described as cruel. She has sported bruises that have taken weeks to clear up entirely. Have you two given any thought to where this may go?"

Sally looked at Valerie, who nodded. "Yes, I know I have. I want to, no, need, to be Valerie's slave, her total slave. No choices, no time off, no mercy. I don't know why this has happened and I'm not sure where it will go, but I know I want it."

Valerie answered for herself. "I'm frightened, Helen. I'm not a dominant, not really. I always thought I would be on the submissive side of any 24/7 relationship Sally and I went into. I can feel a heavy burden of responsibility that I'm not ready for, not really. But, I love her and will give her what she needs, no matter what that is."

"Valerie, you're the most submissive person I know. I didn't think you had a dominant bone in your body. Are you up to this, mentally?"

"I hope so. It helps that I can still submit to Master. These," she held up her arm and it's bruises, " are from the auction. I took my limits farther than I ever had before because I needed to really feel my submission."

"That explains why I'm seeing both of you today. Go ahead and strip, Val. Let's see what you have been up to."

Valerie took her clothes off, revealing bruising that was as extensive, if not as severe, as Sally's. Helen gave them the same thorough look that Sally's had received.

"Well Valerie, you were in the hands of an experienced dominant, two in fact, if I'm reading these marks correctly."

"Yes, Fred and Daphne."

"Ah. How much pain are you two in?"

"I'm just sore," Valerie replied. "I think Sally is in more pain than I am."

"It hurts, I can't deny that. But, I like that I can feel them."

"Do you want a prescription for the pain? Remember that you can't play at all while you're on it."

"No!" Sally's refusal had unexpected strength. "I need to know that I can be taken for any reason at any time. Being on pain meds will give me a period of time when I can't be. I can live with the pain."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05a



"I see. It's your call, in the end. I won't force it. I'm giving you a prescription, just in case you change your mind."

Sally started to protest, "Please…"

"No Sally," Valerie interrupted. "If you're my slave, then this is my call. I want them available so that I can put you on them if I decide you need them."

"Yes, Mistress."

"I also want to see the two of you in here every month, for as long as you are in this no safe word situation. It's best if we can catch any problems before they become serious."

Valerie heard the buzzing of her phone on vibrate. She made a mental note to check it after they were out of the office. After they had made another appointment and were walking through the parking structure, she checked her calls. Milton had just rung her. Val accessed her voice mail.

"Val, this is Milton. Can you meet with the director tonight? I want you working closely with Barry. It's his job to bring this vision to life and I want you two to make sure that he knows what the vision is."

Valerie took Sally home and then returned to the office. The proofs from the Whips'n'More shoot were in her inbox. The shots were fantastic. She spent some time putting the photos together with the copy and soon had what she was looking for. She saved it and sent a copy to the company for final approval. That finished, she called Milton back.

"Milton, this is Valerie."

"Val, honey," Milton's familiarity had finally stopped grating on Valerie's nerves. Once she realized that he treated everyone that way, there seemed little point in being put out by it. "Barry Gastin is our director. I've set up a meeting with you two and him at The Crystal Match. Can you make 7:00 tonight?"

Valerie realized that she would have to change first, the member's only club requiring a much more dignified outfit, but knew she could make it. "I think I can make it. Sally might not be there though." Valerie suspected that Sally's emotional state would not be up to such a meeting.

"That's fine, as long as one of you can be there. I'll let him know. You're a doll, Val."

Valerie left the office at 5:00. At the house, she found Sally lying on the floor, trying to find a position that did not aggravate her bruises. Sally quickly rose to her knees as she realized her Mistress was home. Valerie could see her wince as she rose.

"Sally. How has your day been?"

Valerie saw a look of worry cross Sally's face before the submissive answered. "It was fine, Mistress."

"Sally. You know we can't lie to one another. We're too close. What's wrong?"

Sally sighed. "My boss wants me back in the office. He said my work is suffering."

"Do you want to go back to the office?"

"I…No Mistress, I don't. In fact…" Sally could not finish the thought. Valerie could see the tension in her shoulders as she fought off tears and guilt.

"In fact, you wish you didn't have to work at all, do you?"

"Yes, Mistress. I want to be your slave full time. I can't do that when I have to spend so much time thinking about work."

Valerie knelt down next to her friend and lover. Reaching out, she brushed a hand against Sally's face, feeling her lean into the contact. "You don't have to, Sally. With the house paid for, I make enough to support us all by myself. I know how much you love your job and it never occurred to me that that had changed."

"Oh, it hasn't changed. I just can't do it and be yours at the same time right now. Maybe later, when we know what is happening with me, but not right now. Would you…"

"Say no more. Sally, I am ordering you to quit your job. From now on, you are my house slave. It is your responsibility to take care of all the household chores. I'm warning you though, I expect a superb job. If they're not up to my standards, you will be punished."

"I understand, Mistress. Thank you, Mistress. Mistress, will you use me tonight?"

"I may not have time. Milton wants us to meet with Barry Gastin, the director. Are you up to it?"

"If you need me to be there, yes."

"But, you'd rather not?"

"No Mistress. I'm so tired of being the one to tell others what they need to do."

"Then you stay here. I want the front room spotless when I get back."

"Yes, Mistress. Do you need help changing?"

"Yes. Dinner is at The Crystal Match. Find something appropriate from my clothes while I get out of these things."

Valerie stripped off her work clothes. Looking at herself, she could not help but admire the markings from Saturday. Running her hand over the welts and bruises brought back memories of where they came from. The time with Fred and Daphne had truly been refreshing for her.

Sally had picked out an elegant floor length evening dress with long sleeves. The modest gown covered her marks from prying eyes while showing off her figure. The dark blue color kept anything from showing through. Laying the dress aside for a moment, she turned to Sally.

"Bend over the edge of the bed."

"Yes, Mistress." Sally's smile was broad as she anticipated being used by her Mistress.

Valerie turned to their toy drawer and pulled out a butt plug and lube. She lubed the plug and added more to Sally's puckered hole. Sally gasped at the sensation and the knowledge of what was to come. Valerie forced the plug against her ass, using one hand to spread Sally's cheeks. Sally's groans were quite audible as she tried to relax and minimize the pain of penetration. Val, using a constant pressure with a twisting and turning motion, forced the plastic plug into Sally's ass. When the plug finally penetrated with a "plop" sound, Sally let lose the breath she had been holding. The pain faded as her ass let the plug settle into place, leaving a full sensation that Sally always had trouble deciding whether it was unpleasant or erotic.

"That stays in until I return."

"Yes, Mistress."

Valerie reached down and stroked Sally's pussy lips. They were already damp with desire as Val's fingers rubbed the swollen lips. Sally leaned back against Val's hand, trying to maximize her pleasure. Valerie's other hand pressed Sally's back, stopping her.

"Mistress, may I cum?"

"No, not tonight."

Sally bit her lip and whimpered. Valerie had been teasing her for over a week with no release. She feared she would give in and bring herself off. In a matter of minutes, Val had Sally on the edge of orgasm, only to stop. Sally was crying by then, her need practically unbearable.

"I know it's hard, baby. But, I love seeing you like this."

"Then I like it when you do, Mistress. I want whatever makes you happy."

"Bring yourself to the edge three times while I'm gone, okay?"

"Yes, Mistress, it's so hard Mistress."

"I know. But remember, you're doing it for me."

"I'll remember Mistress."

Valerie washed her hands of the lube and Sally's fluids, dressed and left for the club. The first time she had been to The Crystal Match, Charles had made her wear a leather dog collar. Looking back, she found it amusing and reassuring that the staff of the club did not bat an eye at the accoutrements she had been forced to wear. That wasn't to say that she was not ogled when Charles bound her in the car afterwards. Men are men, after all. Valerie had no worries about her treatment tonight.

The valet opened the door for her as she brought the car to a stop. "Ms. Burbon. it's nice to see you again." Val smiled at his remembering her name after a total of three visits to the club. "Will Mr. Vanquil be joining you tonight?"

"No, I'm meeting someone else here. Thank you for asking."

Valerie moved clear so that he could seat himself and drive her car to its parking place. Inside, she let the concierge know who she was meeting and was escorted to a private dining area. A tall, thin man was already sitting at the cozy table. His suit matched the elegance of the club's décor. He stood and offered his hand.

"Ms. Burbon, I presume. It's nice to meet you. I'm sorry that Ms. Thatcher was unable to make it."

The words, while polite and formal were delivered in a condescending tone. Valerie was immediately put off, not liking the man. His next words reinforced that feeling.

"I, of course, ordered for you. While we wait, what can I do for you?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You asked for a meeting. What did you need to meet for?"

"I didn't ask for this meeting Mr. Gaskin. Milton Freeman did. He has asked for me to meet every significant member of the production team; writers, actors and now the director."

"I don't see why I need to meet with you. I don't need to know anything about this BDSM stuff."

Valerie's eyebrows rose as she felt a rock forming in the pit of her stomach. "How, pray tell, are you going to direct scenes of BDSM play is you don't know anything about it?"

"There are enough movies that feature this perversion that I can draw from. I don't need experts to tell me how to do my job."

Valerie bristled at the word 'perversion.' "Mr. Gaskin, one of the reasons Milton wants to make this movie is to do something outside the stereotypes that Hollywood has put out in the past. I think that relying on those stereotypes to guide you will defeat that purpose. In addition, I take offence at your use of the word perversion. It's a lifestyle, not a perversion."

"Ms. Burbon," the venom dripping from his voice was practically visible. "I have no intention of putting out a propaganda piece for a bunch of sexual deviants. If you want to let others beat you into a pulp to get your thrills, fine, but don't expect me to help you brainwash America that what you do is normal."

Valerie's mouth hung open in shock. After the enthusiasm and support she had received from Milton, Sampson and the actors, to find the director so blatantly hostile was unbelievable. She wondered just what Mr. Freeman was thinking to have hired such an ass as his director. The food arrived at that time, giving her precious minutes to gather her thoughts. She tried to reason in a last ditch effort to salvage the movie.

"Mr. Gaskin. my understanding of how things work is, that you, the director, bring the vision of the writers and producer to the screen. It isn't your movie."

"That's where you're wrong. Have you ever read the credits at the beginning of the movie? These credits will say, 'A Barry Gaskin Film.' My film, Ms. Burbon. It will be what I want it to be. What I want is a cautionary tale. The world will know that this BDSM sex 'play'," the sarcasm in the word 'play' was palpable, "is the stuff of nightmares. That you can, as a matter of course, stay in this lifestyle after what happened, is evidence of your poor mental health. It's no wonder you're seeing a shrink."

The sound of Valerie's hand on the table was like a thunderclap. Barry looked up from his steak. "How dare you? What gives you the right to pry into my private life? What gives you the right to pass judgment on me?"

"Why, you did, Valerie." His voice continued to express his contempt for her. "When you agree to let someone make a movie about your private life, you agree to let them judge you. When this movie comes out, you will be an object of pity or ridicule to everyone. Surely you knew this?"

Valerie stood, her chef's salad untouched. "Over my dead body."

"You can't stop it, my dear. Your part in this movie is done. We start shooting in two days, on a closed set. You won't even be allowed to see the production before it is released into the theaters."

"We'll see about that."

Valerie stormed out of the room and the club. If the staff was surprised at her early departure, they did not show it. Her car was retrieved in short order and Valerie soon found herself on the road, hungry and angry. She hit the Kentucky Fried Chicken drive through on her way home. When she walked in the door, she found Sally kneeling on the floor, a vibrator against her clit, whimpering. The toy dropped to the floor as Sally pulled herself up.

"Mistress! I didn't expect you back so soon. I'm only on my first teasing."

Valerie walked over to the dining room table. "I expected to be gone longer as well."

"Mistress, have I angered you?"

"No, not you, the director, Barry Gaskin, is going to ruin the movie. God! I wanted to strap him down and beat some sense into him." She took a bite of chicken and threw it back into the bucket. "Fuck! I'm so mad I can't even eat."

Sally looked up at her Mistress. Valerie noticed, in the back of her mind, fear and longing in her face. "Mistress, perhaps you could release some of that anger on me. It might help to settle you down."

"Sally! I would…" Valerie's indignant voice stopped cold. Her mind reached back to lunch. Calvin had said, "Every slave needs to feel that they are being of service to their owner." Was this one of those times when Sally needed to be of service? Valerie knelt down to see eye to eye with her lover. "Are you sure, Sally? There won't be any pleasure in it for you."

Sally reached out and grasped Valerie tight. "It scares me, that's true. But you're hurting and I want to help. Let me help, please."

"Very well, go and kneel by the whipping post."

Valerie watched her slave leap to her feet and run downstairs. Her haste belied the pain she must have been feeling from the bruises covering her body. Valerie's anger was still running hot. She suspected that whipping Sally would not put a dent into it and might even make it worse. Yet, the need that was so plain in Sally's voice would not let her turn away from what she was going to do.

Valerie stripped out of her dress, choosing to enter the play room that was their basement as naked as her friend. As she sealed the soundproof door, she made her choice of tool. Most of what they used would pose too great a danger of aggravating Sally's current injuries. The solid wooden paddle, while more painful than several of the other toys, left the least of markings.

Valerie joined Sally at the post, motioning for her to stand. She clipped Sally's wrist cuffs to a high ring, forcing her on to the tips of her toes. Then she pulled her legs around the post, clipping the ankle cuffs to opposite sides of it. A leather strap pulled Sally tight against the post, taking a little of the strain off her arms. The final touches were a gag and blindfold, rendering Sally totally helpless, unable to even ask for mercy in the face of what was to come.

Valerie spent a few minutes stroking Sally's hair and back, basking in the love that would offer itself up for her in this way. Sally was shivering, though Val could not tell if it was in fear or from the coolness of the room. Reaching down to her ass, Val pulled the butt plug out of Sally, causing a long groan. Once she had pulled the paddle down off the peg board it was stored on, she lined up behind Sally and reared back. Val was aware of a knot forming in her stomach and knew that this might be as hard on her as it was on Sally.

As she let the first blow swing out, Valerie rejected controlling her anger. The purpose was to let Val vent, and she allowed her anger at Barry flow into the stroke. A muffled wail escaped Sally's gagged mouth as her tender ass exploded in pain. The paddle fell again and again, with a force that Sally had never suspected Valerie would ever be able to use on her. Each blow, in addition to the direct pain on her ass, forced her pussy against the post. Part way through, Sally desperately wanted the paddling to stop, to be able to plead for it to end. She could not get the words out past the gag. Deep wracking sobs shook her body as she tried to grasp onto the fact that she was serving her Mistress.

When Valerie stopped, she realized that she was breathing hard and was holding the paddle in both hands. She looked at Sally's ass and saw deep purple bruises, almost black in color. She gasped in horror at the pain she had caused. Her anger, however, was now manageable, though still there. Sally was still heaving with sobs and she flinched at Valerie's touch when she went to release the gag. "This was not worth it," she thought to herself, "I can't do this. There has to be another way."

"Mistress, please, no more. It hurts so much. Please don't, Mistress, no more."

Valerie put on a brave front, not letting Sally see how much it cost Val to spank her with such force. "Sally, I'm so proud of you. It did help, it really did."

"Is it over, Mistress?"

"Yes, no more spanking today. I need to check your ass. It may hurt some when I do."

"Okay, Mistress."

Valerie inspected the results of her paddling. Relief flooded her as she saw that the black appearance was from the shadow she had cast onto Sally's back. The bruises were a deep purple, but not dangerous in and of themselves. There was also no sign of welts opening up and bleeding. Val breathed a silent prayer of thanks that the infamous "gluteus maximus" was as tough and resilient as it was.

She took Sally down and helped her to the bed they kept in the basement. Her front side had suffered little, thanks tom the tightness of the binding to the post. Val had decided that Sally had earned a reward tonight. She tied Sally to the bed, face down, in a tight spread eagle. When her hand slipped beneath Sally's hips to brush against her pussy, Sally gasped and began to cry.

"Sally?"

"Yes Mistress?"

"Do you want to cum?"

"Oh, yes Mistress. May I, please?"

"Yes. Cum as many times as you can in the next 30 minutes."

With that, Valerie plunged her fingers into Sally's cunt and fucked her with a hand for 30 solid minutes. Her other hand reach under from the side and found Sally's engorged clit to play with. Six times a scream of ecstasy filled the basement as Sally's week long build up of need burst loose under her Mistress' ministrations.

"Thank you, thank you so much Mistress."

"It was my pleasure, slave. Are you hungry?"

"Starved, Mistress. I'm not going to be able to sit for a while though."

"You won't have to. Wait here," she said with a chuckle.

Valerie returned with the bucket of cooling chicken and fed both herself and Sally. As they ate, Valerie shared what had happened with Barry. As they talked, the knot in Valerie's belly faded. Sally was appalled that someone like that was the director on the movie.

"Mistress, you need to call Milton, tell him what is going on."

"I know. Now that I'm not spitting mad, I can see that. He won't put up with this, I'm sure. Finding a new director will set the project back. I know from past experience that these kind of setbacks can derail a production." Valerie had worked on TV spots before and had had more than one spot ruined by the need to find a new actor or director. Of course, ads were more time sensitive than movies, but cost overruns were still cost overruns. Once hired, film crews were paid whether they were working or not.

The ladies spent the rest of the night snuggling together. Sally spent the night sleeping on her stomach, bound, as much for her peace of mind as it was to emphasize her submission. Her ass was incredibly sensitive to any touch and an inadvertent roll onto it would have brought her to a moaning wakefulness.

The next morning, after instructing Sally to clean the house and set the meat for dinner to marinate, Valerie stopped by Calvin's office before going to her own.

"Mary, does he have a few minutes?"

"Let me check, Ms. Burbon. He's in there with Susan right now." Mary peeked in and mentioned Valerie's name. Turning back she responded, "Go right in."

Valerie walked in, closing the door behind her. Calvin was at the closet, binding Susan into a taut arm suspension. Her arms were raised above her head, bound by rope that was tied to a ring hanging from the ceiling. Her legs, bound tightly together, were able to barely stand flat.

"Good morning Valerie. What can I help you with?"

"I have a question about ownership."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05a



"Fire away."

"Have you ever used Susan to release your feelings towards someone else?"

"Yes, usually anger. Why do you ask?"

"I came home madder than a hornet last night. Sally's first thought was to offer herself as a release mechanism. I was going to chastise her for it, but there was need in her voice, like she had to be that release."

"Susan, why don't you tell Valerie how you feel about being my whipping post."

"Yes, Master. Mistress, I hate it when he does, because I'm being punished for someone else's infractions. But I would never want him to not use me that way."

"Why not?"

"I want to serve him. I need to serve him. That's one way to do it. I'm not sure I can explain it better than that. Sometimes I wish he would make me into a true object, something that he simply uses and then puts away. It's not what he wants, though. Master wants a slave that will find ways to please him"

"So, you think that even though Sally was pleading for the paddling to stop, she wanted to be used that way?"

"Oh, yes Mistress. If she's feeling anything like I do, she was happy to be used by you to vent. It's so hard when Master does, but I feel so fulfilled by it."

Valerie thought to herself, "I just can't see Sally and I going this way. I'm not Calvin. I need to find my own way in this ownership thing." Out loud she asked, "So, what's happening here today?"

Calvin smiled. "Discipline. Susan will be here all day with this in her cunt." He held up a vibrator. It had an attachment that would stimulate her clit as well as her pussy. "She can cum as much as she wants, in fact more times than she wants, but she can't make any noise. Eight hours of repeated orgasms with no noise."

"Oh my God! I could never do that."

"Susan's made it to six hours in the past. She asked for this today. I think she's feeling a little cocky."

"Yes, Master, I am. I think I can do it. Plus, the orgasms will be incredible. Even if I fail and am punished, Mistress, all those climaxes will be worth it."

"See what I mean? Cocky little slave. I love it."

Calvin inserted the vibrator into her already wet cunt and turned it on. Valerie saw that this was no mild mannered battery powered toy, but a full strength AC model. There would be no slow down later in the day as the batteries died, but full power vibrations for the entire day. Valerie was feeling both envy and relief that she was not in a similar position.

"May I check in on her progress sometime?"

"Be my guest. I will be taking her down at 5:00. Now," he chuckled as he reached into his pocket to pull out a blindfold, "the last preparation. No fair peeking." Calvin put the blindfold on Susan and closed the door.

"A blindfold in a dark room?"

"Oh, I will be opening the door occasionally and she won't know who is watching. A little mind fuck."

Valerie chuckled to herself, remembering how insidious Calvin's mind fucks could be. The one he pulled on Sally and Valerie at their hand fasting was notorious for the couple. Sally had endured over half an hour of spring loaded clover clamp tension on her breasts out of fear that giving in because givng in before that would leave Valerie with singed nipples. Valerie found herself fantasizing about being under Calvin's control again. The dichotomy between knowing she could not be him and wanting to be under him did not escape her.

Valerie's morning was packed with appointments, forcing her to delay making her call to Milton. As the morning progressed, she realized that she needed to talk with Francine. With Sally's deepening submission having no end in sight, the temporary arrangement that Charles had set up was not going to be enough. After her third meeting was over, she buzzed June.

"June, will you call Francine Traline at her work place and ask for a meeting, lunch maybe, in the next day or two?"

"Yes, Ms. Burbon. But isn't Francine your roommate?"

"Not right now. Long story."

While June was making the call, Val dialed Milton Freeman's number.

"Hi, you've reached Milton Freeman. I'm busy right now. Leave your message and I'll get back to you. Beep"

"Milton, this is Valerie. Barry Gaskin is a jerk. He plans on making a cautionary tale to reveal the evil that is BDSM. He is planning to lock me off the set. Do something!"

Valerie took a few deep breaths to calm herself. It shocked her, how much just talking about the director angered her. She tried to focus on just why this seemed so personal. Then it came to her. "Of course, I ordered for you," he had said. He had taken submission from her! This wasn't like Calvin ordering the pizza to save time. Barry had assumed that he had the right to order for her because of her being a submissive. He took submission from her without her consent and was a hypocrite.

Pushing the issue to the back of her mind until Milton had time to deal with it, she returned to work. June reported that Francine could see her for lunch tomorrow. The rest of her day was mostly normal. As she was preparing to leave, she remembered Susan. With a smile, she walked down the corridor to Calvin's office. Mary looked up and smiled.

"He said to send you in if you showed up. She is looking very beautiful right now."

"You've taken a peek?"

"Oh yes. I find everything about their relationship fascinating."

"Yes it is, even for me. Thanks."

Valerie walked in. Calvin stood, smiling with his finger on his lips. Pointing to the closet, he walked over to the closetand opened the door. Inside, Susan was still hanging. Her body was shuddering, though Valerie could not tell if it was in pleasure or pain. Val could see the muscles in her arms twitching from the strain of supporting her weight. Sweat was pouring down her body. Her mouth was hanging open and she was breathing deeply. Her legs were soaked in a mixture of pussy juice and sweat. The buzz of the vibrator droned on. While Val watched, Susan jerked as an orgasm hit her body.

Valerie turned to Calvin and mouthed, "Wow! How much more?"

Calvin held up two fingers and pointed to the clock. It was two minutes before five. The pair watched the slave writhe slowly as she recovered from her last orgasm only to start heading for the next. 5:00 arrived to find Susan on the verge of another orgasm. Calvin reached down and pulled the vibrator out of Susan's cunt.

"Oh. Master, not yet, please, I'm almost there. Let me cum, please Master."

"No, I will not. Mistress Valerie is here. Perhaps if you beg nicely, she will let you have an orgasm."

"Mistress, please let me cum. I was so close, I need another one so badly. Please Mistress, let me cum again."

Valerie looked at Calvin who nodded in return. She walked up to Susan and brushed her hands against the woman's slick breast. She shuddered and moaned.

"Please, let me cum Mistress."

Val looked back at Calvin, pointed at her own mouth and Susan's cunt. Calvin nodded with a smile. Valerie knelt beside the bound submissive and pressed her face against Susan's hairless pussy. Her tongue snaked out and licked at the sopping cunt in front of her. Susan moaned at the contact, shuddering and bucking her hips. Val sucked Susan's clit between her lips and the girl cried softly and tensed. When Val brushed her teeth across the clit, Susan's mouth opened and Calvin's hand covered it, stifling the scream of her last orgasm of the day. Valerie stood up and licked her lips, using her fingers to gather the fluids on her face.

"Thank you Mistress, thank you so much."

"It was my pleasure Susan. You are quite a slave. How are you feeling?"

"I hurt a lot. My arms feel like they are being pulled out of their sockets."

Calvin spoke up. "It feels that way, but I've put her at just the right height to avoid injury. There's just pain. Susan loves it, don't you, you little slut."

"Yes, Master. I love everything you do to me. I just don't like everything you do to me."

Calvin laughed. He reached up and released the ropes holding her suspended. The sore and exhausted submissive collapsed into his arms. Valerie turned towards the door.

"I'll leave you two to recover. I have a slave of my own to see."

Valerie left and headed home. When she entered the house, Sally was lying on the couch, her ass raised up. She started to climb down from the couch.

"No, Sally. Stay right there. I want to look you over."

"Yes, Mistress."

Valerie gave Sally a thorough going over. Her ass had turned a deep purple with dark red stripes beneath . The marks on the rest of her body had started to fade. When Valerie prodded the purple, Sally could not help but cry out in pain.

"You, young lady, are on restriction. I want you off this ass until it heals."

"But, Mistress, I want to serve you."

"Sally, you silly slave. You don't need your ass to serve me. Have you done your chores?"

"Yes, Mistress. The house is clean and the chicken is marinating in the fridge."

"Good. I want you masturbating while I cook dinner, but no climaxes."

"Yes, Mistress. Mistress, will I be able to cum later?"

"Maybe. I haven't decided. I, however, will be. Several times."

Once dinner was finished, Valerie sat on the floor and fed both herself and Sally. They spent the evening cuddling on the couch, Sally's head resting in Valerie's lap, gently licking at her pussy. Valerie let Sally bring her to three orgasms before they went to bed, Sally chained on her stomach.

* * *

Sally was strung up by her wrists, thin cord cutting cruelly into her flesh. Her feet could not reach the ground and Valerie could see the muscles in her arms and shoulders twitching in agony. Tears were running down her face and her mouth was trying, unsuccessfully, to form words to plead for mercy. Her back was red with marks from the whip that was repeatedly striking her.

As the next blows hit, cuts appeared, made by the shards of metal that had appeared in the strands of the whip. Soon, blood was dripping down Sally's back, making small puddles of red on the floor below her. Valerie's voice was crying out in heart rending despair. "Stop! You're killing her! Take me instead. Please don't hurt her any more."

Valerie looked around, desperate to find the fiend who was killing the woman she loved. There was no one else present, yet the blows continued to land with increasing fury. Ribbons of flesh were being torn loose, hanging off the muscle and bone. Sally was gasping, barely able to fill her lungs. As her breathing stopped, Valerie reached for the whip, only to see that it was already in her hands, the very hands that were bringing it crashing upon Sally. Val screamed in terror.

* * *

Valerie woke with a scream, a heart rending scream of terror. Sweat was covering her body and her breath was coming in short gasps. Sally, beside her, woke too, and rose to her elbows.

"Valerie! What's wrong?"

"The nightmare. It happened again."

"It's okay. It was only a nightmare. Dreams can't hurt you."

"I remembered it this time. My God! Sally, I was doing to you what Francine did to me, only worse."

Sally's hand slipped to grasp Valerie's. She squeezed it tight. "Val, Mistress, you would never do that to me for real. That's why the dream is so horrifying to you. I trust you, Mistress. I trust you with my entire being. Are you seeing Dr. Gloush today?"

Valerie nodded.

"Good. Tell him about the dream. Tell him about being my Mistress 24/7. He will be able to help and the nightmares will go away. I'm certain that you're being able to remember is a good thing, a healing thing."

"God, Sally, I hope you're right. What if my owning you is making things worse?"

"Then we will do what it takes to make things stop getting worse. If you can't own me, then we will find someone who can. Sir Calvin, perhaps?" Sir Calvin was Calvin's dominant name.

"I…I don't want to give you up. I want to do this for you. I managed to spank you hard Monday. I felt like shit afterwards, but I was able to do it." She left unsaid that she was beginning to doubt that it was the right thing to do.

"I know and I was so happy you were able to. The spanking, it was the pits. I wanted it to stop from the first blow. But, I was so happy that you could. We've still got three hours. May I cuddle with you the rest of the night?"

"I'd like that."

Valerie unchained Sally and the two fell back to sleep in each other's arms. There were no more nightmares and the usual beeping of the alarm woke them at 6:00 the next morning. They showered together, Valerie teasing Sally a little. After giving Sally orders for the day, Valerie left for work. June gave her the abbreviated appointment list when she arrived (between lunch with Francine and her appointment with Dr. Gloush, she would not return to the office after lunch). Midway through the morning, Milton Freeman called.

"Valerie. What's this I hear about you and Barry getting into an argument?"

"I wouldn't call it an argument. He went out of his way to antagonize me. He told me to my face that I and everyone else who plays BDSM are sick perverts and he intends to use the movie to warn the world of the dangers of our kind of people. He's going to ruin the film, Milton."

"That's not what he told me. His story is that you told him that you were going to do the directing through him, that creative control was in your hands, not his."

"That lying, two faced, sack of shit! That's not true Milton. I don't want to direct. I've seen what directors have to put up with. I have been responsible for TV spots. You couldn't pay me enough to take on that job. He's trying to get me out of the way."

"Listen, Val, I don't have time to sort through who is lying about what. I'll tell him the same thing I'm telling you. You two are to work together, each in their own capacity. I don't want to hear of this kind of fight again. You will have access to the set. In fact, I want you there tomorrow for the initial rehearsals. I'm having a pass sent over to your office."

Valerie sighed. Barry had covered himself well. With no witnesses, Milton had no reason to trust Valerie over Barry. In fact, Milton had worked with Barry more than he had with Valerie. "As long as he doesn't turn this into a propaganda piece, I'll be fine"

"That's not going to happen. It is my film, after all."

Valerie arranged for her work calls to be forwarded to her cell phone for the next several days. She knew that she would not be in the office while she was on the set of the film. She let the president of Degrasi know that was happening. Originally, Val had planned to be on the set for only the BDSM scenes, but with Barry's hostility, she felt she needed to be there the entire time to prevent him from painting a bad picture of the lifestyle.

Just before she was to leave for her lunch with Francine, June buzzed her.

"Ms. Burbon. There's a Charles Vanquil on line one for you."

"Thanks June." She picked up the phone. "Master, what can I do for you?"

"Valerie. Come to the mansion tonight, no later than 6:00."

"Yes, Master. Should I dress in any particular way?"

"Not beyond the usual requirements. I hope you're feeling particularly submissive tonight."

"I want that more than anything, Master. I look forward to serving you tonight."

Valerie dialed her home, where Sally answered on the second ring.

"Hello, this is Sally."

"Sally, this is your Mistress."

"Mistress! It's so good to hear from you. How can I serve you?"

"Master requires my presence tonight, so I won't be home until late. Will you be okay for the day?"

"I should be Mistress. Do you want me to save you any dinner?"

"No, I'll grab something on the way to the mansion. I do want you to shut yourself into the kennel at 9:00 and stay there until I return. Don't lock it though."

Valerie could hear a hint of excitement in Sally's reply of, "Yes, Mistress."

"I love you, slave."

"I love you, Mistress."

Valerie packed up her office and headed out to meet Francine. The two ladies met at Carlos' Place, a local Greek eatery that was midway between their respective offices.

"Francine! It's so good to see you again."

"Val. How have you been?"

"It's been hard the last week or so, with Sally's changes and all."

"Come on, we can talk over lunch."

They asked for, and were given, a small booth in the corner of the restaurant. After ordering, Francine looked into Valerie's eyes.

"So, how are you handling being a dominant full time?"

"I think I'm doing okay, but it's really hard. I had no idea how much effort you and Master put into being in charge."

"Yes, it is hard. It's also very fulfilling, if you are inclined towards domination. I didn't think you were. Has that changed?"

"Maybe it has, I've always been able to dominate Sally for short times, though there was no pain involved. Now? It's even more than Master told you when he warned you I would be dominating Sally full time."

"More? How so?"

"I've taken her safe word away and ordered her to quit her job."

"Valerie! That's…Why?"

"Short version? She needed me to. Something has changed in her. Did you know that she has not used a safe word since the hand fasting?" Francine shook her head. "She begged me to take it away. Having one frightened her."

"I'm not sure this is a good idea, Valerie. You could hurt her, hurt her badly."

"I know. I'm being very careful. I know it's what she needs. I'm still struggling with the pain stuff but I don't want to let her down. In fact, that's part of what I needed to talk to you about."

"This is going to go on for quite some time, isn't it?"

"Yes, I think so. It might even be permanent. Are you up to being around intense submission these days?"

Francine teared up and shook her head. "No, I just can't handle it. I tried visiting Mephisto's last night to sort of put my toe in the water, as it were. I had a panic attack."

"That's what I was afraid of. I know the house is yours and I feel bad that we are essentially keeping you from living in it."

"Don't be. I have every intention of giving it to the two of you eventually. I think that time is now. It's been long enough that it won't cause any problems."

"Francine? Are you sure? Can you handle living by yourself?"

"Yes. That much has improved in the last six months. I have hope and a reason to live, several in fact. More important, can you two afford to live there on just one salary?"

"Yes. I've been putting a lot of money away each month with there being no rent or house payment. That's not a worry. My worry has been for you. I don't want to kick you out."

"You won't be. I was always planning to move out and let you two have your own place. This just tells us that now is the time."

"You've been a good friend for so long. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you. Have you looked for a place yet?"

"No, not yet. I'll start next week. I'm a little busy at work right now. I've even thought about having my own house built from the ground up, though that would take longer than buying one."

"If you need any help looking, let me know."

"I will." After a hesitation, Francine asked, "Can I give you some advice?"

"Yes, please."

"Don't let yourself confuse intensity with depth."

"What do you mean?"

"Deep submission doesn't need extreme intensity."

Val wanted to ask her to explain, but needed to leave if she was to be on time to her appointment. After lunch, Valerie drove to Dr. Gloush's office. While she was waiting, June called her from the office.

"Ms. Burbon, this is June. Harmony Anders from Yara's Leather Emporium called in response to your letter. She would like to see you presentation as soon as possible."

"That's great, June. I should be done here by 3:30 at the latest. Call her back and see if she has an opening at 4:00. Otherwise, fit her into my schedule for the rest of this week. If she can see me at 4:00, text me. Also, e-mail the Yara folder on my desktop to my personal e-mail address so I can put it on my laptop."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05a



"Yes, ma'am, I'll take care of it right away."

Ten minutes later, at 2:00, she was shown into the doctor's office.

"Come in Valerie. Have a seat. Do you have any pressing issues that we need to talk about?"

"I think so. Things have changed at home with Sally and me. Also, I remembered the nightmare last night."

"Interesting. Do you think the two events are related?"

"I don't know. I'm hoping you do." In reality, Valerie suspected that the two issues were, in fact, related. Her harsh spanking of Sally on Monday was likely the cause of the nightmare and her remembering it on Tuesday. She told the doctor about the safe word situation with Sally and the details of the nightmare. Like many psychiatrists, Dr. Gloush had mastered the art of listening without visible expression. When she had finished, he had some questions.

"Valerie, how did you feel during the spanking? What were you thinking while you were doing it?"

"I guess I was angry. I don't remember much of the spanking itself. I remember thinking that I would do as Sally suggested and let my anger out. After that, the next clear memory I had was stopping, breathless and seeing her butt," Valerie modified her language with the doctor. "I felt horrible. The anger had eased off, but I was appalled at what I had done. My stomach was in knots and I felt like I was going to throw up. I could have hurt her very much."

"Yes, you could have. First, let me assure you that playing without safe words is not inherently wrong, or even dangerous. It does, however, require much more from you. What happened Monday night is not something that you should allow to happen again. You must be in control of yourself, both for your own sake as well as your submissive's. Now, why do you think you felt so horrible about the spanking?"

"I guess I'm really submissive. You know, not much of a dominant."

"That's not the case. Oh, you may well be extremely submissive, but that is not the reason you felt that way. You felt that way because you are a very empathic human being. Tell me, have you ever seen someone being whipped and felt happy for them?"

"Oh yes. Surmi, for example. I think she's a textbook masochist. It's like she craves pain. There have been other times as well. I feel that way frequently at Mephisto's."

"You feel that way because you can empathize with the submissives that you are seeing. I doubt you have any conscious recognition of what is happening. That same empathy seems to be working when you try to inflict pain in BDSM situations. I think that, when you are whipping or spanking someone, you are very in touch with what they are feeling, or at least with what you think they are feeling. Tell me, have you ever been brought to orgasm from a caning?"

Valerie started to say, "No," when she remembered last Saturday. "As a matter of fact, I did, just this Saturday. Do you know about Mephisto's monthly slave auction?" When he nodded, she continued. "The couple that won me did just that. They used a pair of canes on me, only it was so different from what my Master does. It's not that they didn't hurt, but they were not agonizing like they are with Master. In fact, they were both a little painful and very arousing. Fred and Daphne pushed me over the edge with simultaneous strokes on my pussy and my butt."

"That's what I thought. For the most part, you've never experienced the pleasurable side of pain. It's there. You need to experience that more. If you had a good grasp, inside yourself, that pain can be pleasurable, then that would also trigger your empathy. You mentioned last week that bite play doesn't bother you. Why is that?"

"Mike and I used to use erotic biting when we had sex. I don't even think of bite play as BDSM."

"That's what I suspected. You have pleasurable memories associated with that kind of pain, so you empathize with the pleasure that others experience from it. What you need is to experience more pleasurably painful experiences and to draw more fully on those you have had. Have you had any other experiences with pain that were pleasurable?"

"Just the horse hair flogger."

"I'm not familiar with that item."

"It's a short whip with strands that seem made of hair. It is twirled in a circle and when it hits, it stings like the blazes, yet it turns me on. The orgasms it gives are to die for."

"I would bet that if you used one on Sally, you would not have issues with it. I think you might enjoy it. You might also enjoy using a cane the way it was used on you last Saturday. I understand that the technique is difficult to master, however. You might want to seek out training in using it that way. Inflicting any sort of pain pleasurably is a skill that needs to be learned. There are some other things you can do that might help as well, but we can talk about those at a later date. Let's talk about Francine's attack on you and your feelings around it."

The rest of the session focused on those difficult issues of emotions and hurts that she had been trying to avoid for months. By the end of the meeting, Valerie felt exhausted. Dr. Gloush assured her, however, that they had made progress. It may be hard for her to see it at first, but the progress was there.

As Valerie left the office, she checked her phone and saw that June had texted her. Mrs. Anders was able to see her at 4:00. Val spent several minutes making sure the presentation she had prepared was ready and then headed off to the offices of Yara's Leather Emporium.

Harmony Anders rose to greet Valerie as she entered the office. "Ms. Burbon. Thank you for coming in today." As she returned to her seat, she continued. "I have to admit, I was a little surprised to receive your letter. I don't think I've ever heard of a publication engaging in cold calls for advertisers."

"It's good to be able to see you Mrs. Anders. As for my letter, drastic changes require drastic measures. Degrasi wants to change its image. I know, she said with a smile, "we are the premier publisher of fetish magazines in the country and will continue to be so. The image we wish to change is our advertising image. I don't know if you've had any exposure to the typical ad that appears in 'adult magazines,' but they are shoddy at best and insulting to the reader at worst. We want, not only to change the quality of the ads our current advertisers place, but we wish to expand our advertising base."

"And Yara's is a company that is appropriate for your publications?"

"Yes it is. In fact, we believe that a wide variety of companies, not just companies that traditionally offer sexual products are so. In your case, Yara's is a perfect fit. You may not realize this, but our local readers already use your products."

"They do? We don't sell any fetish gear, so they must be buying our leather care products. Why would your readers come to us when, no doubt, they have sources for all their needs?"

"Two words: price, quality. Let me show you something." Valerie pulled her laptop out and called up her presentation. "This is an ad placed in another company's publication for leather care products." She swung the screen of her laptop around (it was a notebook) so that Harmony could see the ad. The executive's mouth dropped open.

"Is that price for real?"

"Yes, ma'am. Not only is it real, it is the lowest advertised price for a care kit."

"That's four times what we charge. How can they hope to make sales at that price?"

"They believe that the readers have no other options. Most sex shops carry only the most basic of equipment, much of it low quality. The fetish aficionado learns quickly that the best products are available online. Your company has the chance to break into an entirely new market. The initial sales that will result from your vastly lower prices will establish brand loyalty on the basis of your exceptional quality."

"I take it you use our products yourself?"

"Yes I do. They were recommended by my dominant. I find them to be exceptional products. I recommend them to everyone I know."

"Thank you. You make a good case. If it was solely up to me, I would place with your publications today. I have to convince my partners. At least two of them will object to advertising in a sex magazine. Can you prepare a presentation that will address those objections as well as show the advantages of advertising with you?"

"Yes, I can do that. Let me check with my secretary tomorrow and call you back with a time, sometime next week."

"That will be good. I'm looking forward to working with you."

"As do I, Mrs. Anders. Thank you for seeing me."

Valerie left the office and picked up a light dinner before she headed to Charles' mansion. She removed her bra and panties in the restaurant restroom before she left. As she pulled into her usual spot in front of the mansion, she experienced a bout of nervousness. She sat in her car, trying to figure where the nervousness came from. She had not been nervous with her Master for months. She could find no reason, but with it nearing 6:00, she put the thought aside and walked up to the door.

Herman answered the door. "Miss Valerie. Master Charles is waiting in the study."

"Thank you Herman."

"Miss, he is not alone."

Valerie's breath caught. "Thank you Herman. Were there any special instructions?"

"No miss."

Valerie walked to the room that was called a variety of names: study, lounge, anteroom. Charles Vanquil was sitting in his favorite chair. Four other men were also in the room, sitting in some of the other chairs in the room. After a brief hesitation, Val walked over to Charles and knelt at his feet.

"How may I serve you Master?"

"You will be serving me downstairs. First, however, I want to introduce my friends." He pointed out each man as he introduced them. "This is Sir Tom. The gentleman to his right is Frank. This is Harry and the man on the end is Master Hugh. They are all dominants, Masters."

Valerie bowed her head towards each in turn. "Masters," she greeted them.

Charles continued. "Valerie, I will be leaving on a business trip tomorrow and will be gone for two weeks. We've talked about your increased need for dominance. My friends have agreed to help you with that."

"Master, will I be submitting to them while you are gone?"

"Yes. This Saturday, you are to meet the four of them at Mephisto's and obey their orders and accept whatever they do to you."

"Yes, Master. Thank you Master."

"Now, undress, Valerie."

"Yes, Master."

Val stood and removed her clothes. She was conscious of the five pairs of eyes watching her. It took all her control to resist looking at the other men, to not try to gauge their reactions to her body. Once she was naked, she knelt again, her legs spread, allowing anyone to see her pussy. Her breath was short and rapid as the feelings of submission started to grow. She could feel the first drops of moisture forming on her cunt lips.

Charles let her kneel there, exposed and silent for several minutes. He could see her arousal increasing. He noted that Valerie's ability to stand waiting had improved. Five minutes had passed and she was showing no signs of distress. He wondered if Sally's need for her to be dominant was having an effect on Valerie's needs or limits. Tonight might prove interesting.

"Valerie, go downstairs and wait for me in play room three."

Valerie's breath caught. Room three was the room with the medical exam table. She could feel fear trying to rise. It wasn't panic yet, but she was worried that it would become that.

"Master, may I wait for you outside the door?"

Charles reached out and lifted her head up by the chin. "Valerie, you can do this. Wait for me just inside the door."

"Yes, Master."

Valerie rose and walked down to the basement. She paused at the door to play room three. She could feel her heart racing. She took several slow, deep breaths. Valerie opened the door and took two steps into the room. She froze, staring at the stainless steel table. She was still standing there when Charles' hand touched her shoulder.

"Master, I'm frightened."

"Do you know what of?"

"No, it's just that the table; when I see it, I'm frightened. Are you going to tie me to it?"

"Yes, I am. Are you ready?"

"If we wait for me to be ready, it will never happen. I'll try, Master, I really will."

"I know you will. Go ahead and climb up on the table." 

Charles took her hand and led her to it. She climbed up, trembling as she did. Once she was on her back, Charles took one wrist and lashed the cuff between the two bars on that side. Valerie's eyes were squeezed tight and she was forcing her breathing to not go fast. After the arm was immobilized, Charles stroked Valerie's chest with light touches. Her free hand reached up and grasped his hand, squeezing tight. The bound hand clawed at the air and tugged at the bindings. Her struggles were stronger than she normally did when bound.

Charles held her hand as he walked around to the other side. He lashed her other wrist to the bars, hearing her whimper softly as he did. He caressed her body again once he was finished, letting her feel his presence. For fifteen minutes, he played her body like a master violinist, drawing arousal from her. Charles smiled as her breasts perked up and moisture returned to her cunt. He could tell she was still scared, but she was also feeling desire as well.

He moved to the foot of the table and took one of her feet in hand. He could feel it tense against his grip, but he lifted it to the stirrup, setting the heel in place. Charles threaded a length of rope through the ring on her ankle cuff and started lashing the foot in place.

"Please Master. I'm frightened Master."

"I know Valerie. Do you want to use a safe word?"

As tears ran down her cheeks, Valerie whispered, "No."

Charles did not delay between binding her two feet. As the reality of her being bound hit her, Valerie started to struggle wildly against her bonds. As she thrashed and pulled against them, she cried, "Master, please. I need to get down. I'm so scared. Please, Master."

Charles listened carefully for Valerie to use a safe word, but she didn't. He started caressing her again. These caresses were not to arouse her more, but to let her feel his presence. Slowly, Val settled down. Her fear was still visible, but she had it under control again. He leaned in and kissed her. The kiss lingered and Val responded after a short wait, opening her mouth to allow him in.

"Master, is there going to be more?"

"Yes, Valerie. I'm going to torture your breasts and whip your pussy."

"I don't know how much I'm going to be able to take. I feel like I'm on the edge."

"I know. Does it help to know that your pussy will be feeling the horse hair flogger?"

Val gasped, remembering the intense arousal and stinging that that particular whip elicited from her. She nodded her head, feeling her pussy lubricate at the thought of the orgasms that such an attack on her cunt would produce. "May I cum tonight Master?"

"As much as you want."

Charles reached under the table and extracted a device from the storage drawers there. Valerie looked askance at it, trying to figure what it was intended to do. It looked, for all purposes, to be a balance scale with the pans missing. The cross bar was also immobile. Clover clamps hung from the ends and there was some sort of screw mechanism at the top of the center post.

Charles set the device on her chest, between her breasts and worked the screw device. The clamps lowered until the just touched her nipples. As Charles began to caress and tweak her nipples, Valerie moaned in dread, the function of the device becoming clear to her. The oddest thing about the contraption was the homemade look to it.

"Master, where did you find this?"

Charles chuckled as he put one of the clamps on her breast, pinching the nipple and causing her to squeal. "From a web site called Kaya's Kinky Kraft Korner. It is run by a submissive who builds them herself. Her Master tests all of her products on her as well. She calls this the Pillar of Pain." Valerie squealed again as the second nipple was clamped.

Charles then started adjusting the screw, turning it in the opposite direction to what he had been doing. The clamps started to pull up on her nipples. She could feel the device bracing against her breast bone as it lifted her nipples with increasing levels of pain. Soon she was crying and her hands were trying to jerk towards her tits. When he finally stopped turning what she began to think of as, "the damned screw," her breasts were distended and her nipples were in agony.

"Oh God, Master. This really hurts. How long?"

"Until you've had an orgasm."

Valerie moaned, not having expected that her pussy would be whipped while her breasts were being tortured. She saw the horse hair come out and started to struggle. Panic was welling up and threatening to overwhelm her.

"Yellow light."

Charles stopped. "What do you need Valerie?"

"I don't know. I'm feeling panicked. The pain, the table, the whipping, it just feels like so much."

"I know. You've done great. I can tell how frightened you are. Will waiting a few minutes help?"

"I don't know. Maybe. I want to trust you, but I'm so frightened."

"Let's try this." Charles pulled a blindfold out of the storage drawers and put it on Valerie. As her sight left her, she felt a kernel of calm form in her. Unable to see, she focused on what she was feeling. There was pain, yes, but there was also arousal under the surface of the pain. Val realized that she wanted to reverse them, to feel arousal with pain under the surface. She also felt the fear, but with no sight, it had become unfocused.

"Green light," she whispered.

She heard him move about her for a few seconds. Then there was a second or two of a whirling noise before the first lashes of the whip hit her thighs. As soon as they landed, Valerie began to struggle against her bindings. The struggling motions set the pain in her nipples even higher as they swung in the clamps. She was soon in tears and pleading with Charles, but not for anything specific.

Charles walked the whip up and down her thigh, watching the flesh turn pink under the assault of the fine lashes. In spite of her struggles and pleading, Valerie did not use a safe word. Charles deftly switched sides and lashed the other thigh to the same level of pink. He spent the next half hour going back and forth between the thighs, until he saw that a small puddle of her pussy juice had formed on the table.

He flipped the whip and brought the lashes against her pussy. As the first stroke hit her cunt, Val screamed and went into her first orgasm. She tensed against the bonds and started to shudder in ecstasy. The horse hair flogger continued to strike at her cunt, forcing the climax to continue even longer. When it did start to fade, it was unable to retreat very far. It took very little time for Val's second orgasm to hit her. This scream was even louder and her back arched off the table.

Valerie was sure she couldn't take anymore, yet Charles kept the whip spinning against her pussy. Her breath was coming in ragged gasps and her struggles were now less an attempt to get away from the lash, but more an inability to hold still. Sensations were colliding in her body. Fear, pain, immobility, intense pleasure; they all coursed through her, leaving Valerie incapable of responding properly to any of them. When her third orgasm hit her, she felt the fear break and gave herself over to sheer, unadulterated bliss.

Charles whipped her pussy through that last orgasm. When he stopped, she moaned at the cessation of the feelings. She drew in deep breaths, hardly able to fathom that she was still conscious. The pain in her tits reasserted itself and she whimpered against it. Charles' hand rubbed against her legs, feeling the heat they radiated. She was so sensitive that she jerked at the contact.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05a



"Easy Valerie. Let yourself relax."

"Master, that was so incredible! And I'm not afraid!"

Valerie started to shed tears of joy. Charles smiled as he continued to caress Valerie's legs and ass. Slowly, Val came back down to earth. When her breathing had returned to normal, she asked, "Master, may I ask for something?"

"Of course Valerie. Of course, I may say no."

"That goes without saying, Master. Will you fuck me? I want to feel you inside me while I'm helpless to take part in it."

"It's already on the agenda, slave."

Charles released her from the table and led her to the stocks. Over the past few months, the stocks had become her favorite form of bondage. She had fallen in love with the helpless exposure that being locked into that ancient punishment device gave her. The result was Valerie bent over at the waist, her hands and head locked into the frame of the device, while her legs were spread far apart by the foot locks. The anticipation of feeling his cock sliding deep into one of her openings had Val juicing up again.

What she felt instead was Charles' hands. Her Master caressed her helpless body with soft, slow strokes. The arousal that had begun to reassert itself was given a jump start. Tingles ran across her skin as the talented fingers played with her nerve endings like a cat playing with its prey. Her hands grasped at the air and her body writhed towards his hands, trying desperately to increase the sensations that were driving her wild.

"Master, please fuck me. I need to be fucked."

"Not yet, slave. You're not ready yet."

As the ache in her cunt grew, she thought, "Not ready yet! What does he want?" Val realized that he intended to tease her to the brink of her ability to stand it. It was a teasing that she both craved and dreaded. When it was followed by a climax, the orgasm was spectacular, an event that left her weak from pleasure. When the orgasm did not follow, she felt the most intense frustration ever. Val had yet to be able to predict which would happen.

Knowing she was completely out of control, she let herself sink into the pleasure that was building inside her. Soon she could feel fluid dripping down her legs, matched by the sweat dripping from her forehead. She could not control the whimpering that escaped from her lips. Tears of need filled her eyes, effectively blinding her. When the touches stopped, she cried out, "Master, please!"

"Who are you, Valerie?"

Valerie gasped her response. "Your slave, Master. Your plaything."

"What do you want?"

"To be fucked. Please fuck me Master."

"What does that make you?"

"Your slut, Master. Your helpless and needy slut." The humiliation of being forced to admit her status drove her arousal even higher.

Charles stroked her face. Valerie kissed his hand when it came into range of her lips.

"What if I want to spend the rest of the night teasing you?"

Val cried at the thought, yet lowered her head, whispering, "Then that's what I want from you, Master. I want to please you, to make you happy. If my unmet need is what you want, then I will suffer under your hands."

Charles did not respond to that answer. The next thing Valerie knew, his cock brushed against her cheek. She turned her head enough to take it into her mouth, running her tongue over the head. She smiled at the jerk that it made in response. Val sucked on it, letting him push deep into her mouth. He grasped her hands and began to thrust against her, fucking her mouth with increasing speed. Valerie tried to relax her throat to give him full access. Occasionally, he would push in and hold it, blocking her throat until she started to gag.

After five minutes, he pulled out, leaving Valerie panting. She groaned when his hands returned to her body, driving the arousal that had begun to subside back up. This time, her breasts and pussy received the occasional fleeting caress, sending her on a roller coaster of sensation. Soon, she was whispering, "Please Master," over and over.

"Hold perfectly still, Valerie."

"Yes, Master," she gasped. Her body resisted her attempts to still its motions. When she felt his cock press against her pussy lips, she tensed, fearful of moving and causing him to pull away. Tears of joy flowed from her eyes as she felt his tip press against her cunt lips. She held herself tense, not letting any movement spoil the fucking that was coming her way.

Slowly, the prick at her gate pressed inward, filling the aching emptiness that had come to define her cunt. Her fists were balled up and her face scrunched in the effort to hold still. Soon, but not soon enough, in her opinion, she felt his body against hers, holding itself still as well. She risked a plea. "Master?"

"Don't cum, Valerie."

Valerie moaned in response. Charles started to thrust against her with long, slow strokes. Her pussy lips grabbed at the cock in her, ignoring his order to not cum. She could feel every inch as it passed through her opening, driving her crazy with lust. She was aware that her ability to hold off her own orgasm was simply not there. It was coming and she could not stop it.

When she felt the first pre-orgasmic quivers, she wept and cried out, "Master, please stop. I'm going to cum. Please don't make me cum. Don't make me disobedient."

Charles thrust into her and held himself there. "You don't want to have an orgasm?"

"Oh God, Master. I want it, I really do. But I want to be obedient too."

"Obedience is more important than your pleasure?"

"Yes Master!" she cried out. "I want to obey more than anything."

"Then obey me."

With that, he reached under her and pressed her clit, rubbing his fingers over the slick pleasure organ. With long slow strokes against it, he drove Valerie wild with pleasure and fear. She could feel the tension building up in her pussy, the verge of an orgasm starting to build.

"Please Master, I can't stop it. Don't make me disobey you. I want to obey. Please help me to obey!" Valerie wept.

Just when she was sure she would fail, the sensations stopped. A wail of happiness and frustration burst forth from her. As she started to come down from her high, an almost painful process. Her body was covered in a sheen of sweat, pussy juice and tears. Her hair was plastered against her face.

"You are mine, Valerie.

"Yes, yours Master."

"You receive pleasure at my whim."

"Yes, Master."

His hand stroked her clit again as he said, "You cum when I say, not when you want it."

"Ahhh! Yes, Master."

"What do you want, Valerie?"

Unable to think of anything else, she cried out, "To please you, Master."

"Then take my cock and cum under its attention."

With that, he started thrusting against her again. His strokes were fast and powerful, slamming into Valerie. Val thrust back against Charles, a growl of need growing in her throat. In short order, her scream filled the basement as her body shook in a climax. Charles kept at her, pushing through her orgasm and sending her to another. In the midst of her second cum, Charles erupted into her pussy. She felt his cum pour into her and growled, "Yes!"

When he had spent himself, he brought his cock to her mouth and had her clean him off. Valerie had come to love that act of submission, using her tongue to clean the results of his use of her off of himself. She had even grown to like the taste. Once he was clean, Charles released her from the stocks and led her to the recovery room.

"Valerie, you'll drive home wearing only your jacket. I also want to you to sleep in the evidence of your use."

"Yes, Master. Thank you Master, for taking my submission tonight."

"It was my pleasure, Valerie."

The tired woman slipped her jacket on, blushing when she saw that it came down to the level of her cunt, just barely covering it. If she dropped her keys, she would have to flash someone. On the drive, she could feel cum leaking out of her pussy. The enclosed space of the car trapped Master's and her scents. She felt as used and submissive now as she had when Fred and Daphne had taken her. It would only be when she woke, when she would realize that she had felt such deep submission without any real pain.

At the house, she found Sally right where she should be, in the kennel. Sally had put a leash on her collar and draped the handle over the door where Valerie could take it easily. Valerie took the leash and opened the door.

"Come with me, Sally. I have something special for you."

Following, Sally asked, "Did you enjoy yourself Mistress?" The aroma of sex was heavy in the air.

"Yes, very much. Kneel down."

Sally knelt. Valerie slipped her jacket off, throwing it to one side. Charles' cum was plainly visible on Val's legs and pussy.

Sally smiled. "Mistress, is that…"

"Yes, Master's cum in and on me." Valerie pressed against the back of Sally's head. "Drink up, little one."

Sally licked and sucked at the cum that was presented to her. Sometime during the process, Valerie lay down on the bed and let her slave's attempts to reach every last drop of Charles' cum bring her to another orgasm. The couple fell asleep, each in the arms of the other. Sally's head was buried in Valerie's hair, the scent of her Mistress and lover a soothing sleep aid.

*

I want to apologize for how long I've made everyone wait. I won't bore you with details, but between my life and D's life, it took this long to write and proof this latest chapter. In fact, this is only half of chapter 5. I decided to post it now instead of making you wait another week or two. I expect to have the second half of chapter 5 up in a couple of weeks and the final chapter of Island Slave a couple of weeks after that. The good news is that I expect to be back to a more regular schedule again. Remember, I look forward to your comments.



Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05b



Valerie's alarm went off at 6:00 with its usual beeping noise. Val's eyes opened to see the face of her lover up close and personal. She smiled at the face looking back at her.

"Rise and shine, sleepy head. We have a date with a movie set."

"Am I going with you, Mistress?"

"Yes, I don't want to have to face Barry on my own. We'll pick up something for breakfast on the way."

They showered together, sharing a few moments of intimacy as a promise of things to come. Half an hour later, they were out the door and on the road for Francine's old place. Valerie found that her nerves were on edge, the return to the site of the attack affecting her more than she had anticipated.

They pulled into a driveway that was overflowing with vehicles of all types. A fence had been erected and a security guard was at the gate. Valerie showed her pass and was waved towards some free space for parking. Even at a distance, it was plain that much renovation had been, and was still being done, to the house. Scaffolding was visible on all sides and scores of people were milling about, the vast majority of whom seemed to have a lot of things they were trying to do.

"Have you ever been on a movie set before, Sally?"

"No, Mistress, I've never had the pleasure."

"It's not as much of a pleasure as you might think. While we're here, I want you to call me Val. Mr. Gaskin is already hostile enough towards us without rubbing his face in the idea of slavery."

"Are you sure that's the best way to handle him?"

"No, not really, it's just the best I can think of right now. They'll put me in jail if I tie him up and whip him."

Sally chuckled at the thought of her friend whipping someone against their will.

Valerie continued. "There will be an awful lot of activity going on, with all the noise, distraction and bother that goes with it. Today is supposed to be merely rehearsals, but there will still be calls for quiet. The fastest way to be kicked off the set is to make noise during a scene. There will also be some horse play. Don't be surprised if some of it is directed at us. That will be a good thing. It means that the crew accepts us as part of the team."

"I understand. Sort of like initiating new people into a club."

"Exactly. By the way, we're probably late. Movies can start shooting as early as 4 AM unless they need the natural light. They can also go very late, especially when night scenes are needed. Let's get going."

They couple locked the car and walked towards the house. Once she was here, Valerie found that the place looked so different, on the outside at least, that her nervousness was subsiding. As they approached, they could see that some of the work going on was literally adding new rooms to the house. Since she had only worked with TV ads before, she had never seen this done, but had heard of it. With a location that they owned in a non-movie city, the producers had chosen to build all or most of the needed sets on site. She was sure that these new additions would be such locations as her offices at Bradford and Gashune, the dining hall at the Crystal Match, and her own former apartment.

"Valerie, Sally, over here!" a voice called out.

Val and Sally looked towards it and saw half of Samson waving at them. They waved back and moved towards her. Her partner became visible as they neared and soon the four were next to each other.

"You two are going to have to get used to movie time. They've been rehearsing on and off for two hours now." The smile on the man's face let them know that the criticism was not serious.

Val asked, "Have they started with any of the BDSM scenes?"

"No, I think Barry is putting those off until the construction is done. They will have the actors naked, after all."

"Yes, I can see that. Tell me, Samson, did you hear about Barry's and my, disagreement, earlier?"

They pair looked at each other. It was obvious that they were uncomfortable. Caroline broke the uncomfortable silence. "Barry has let everyone know his side. I've worked with Barry several times before, and he can be a vindictive little shit. Why don't you tell us what really happened."

"There's not much to tell. Mr. Gaskin was rude from the get go. He made it clear that he found D/s to be an evil perversion and that he had every intention of making a cautionary tale. He claimed he was going to have me barred from the set. Then he called Milton and made up a cock and bull story about me trying to take directorial control of the movie. I'm not sure where things stand right now. Milton made it clear that the two of us are to cooperate with each other."

Thomas made a, "Hmm," sound. "That's what we were afraid of. I don't suppose either of you follow the tabloids?" Both women shook their heads. "Four years ago, Barry's third wife divorced him. That's not a big story, especially out of Hollywood. What made it big was that she left him for a lesbian lover who was also a dominatrix."

"Oh my!" replied Sally.

"Oh my, indeed," Caroline sneered. "The irony is that I don't think the wife was into BDSM. The other woman was a professional dominatrix, works out of one of those houses, you know, like Lady Heather from CSI."

Sally rolled her eyes. "I know the type. They are part of the scene, but not really. Most are in it for the money, being paid by men who can't or won't take the time to find a real partner. That's where most of the stereotyping comes from."

"Exactly," added Thomas. "Since Barry's on his fifth wife now, I'm certain there was no love lost, but it had to be a hit to the old male ego to have the woman you were sleeping with dump you for a 'strong' woman."

Val snorted. "So that's what this is all about; jealousy?"

Sampson nodded their heads in unison. Thomas added, "Yes, that's it. The good news is that everyone of importance on the set knows that. Please, try to take his hostility with a grain of salt."

"I'll try, though he doesn't make it easy."

"He never makes anything easy. That's part of what makes him such a good director. In the movies, easy is cheesy." Caroline chuckled with everyone else at her little joke.

At the house, Val and Sally found they had been assigned an official assistant, though "gopher" was a more accurate term. Mitch Wallace was a cinema major from UCLA doing an internship over the summer. In exchange for being the virtual slave of whomever they pawned him off on, he had full access to the set. He seemed very enthusiastic. He was also very knowledgeable about the production and the set.

Mitch gave the ladies a tour of the house, including the unfinished additions, explaining what each room would be used for in the picture. Several times, his rapid fire travelogue was interrupted by the harsh cry of, "Quiet on the set!" Amazingly, every sound stopped cold within fifteen seconds of the cry and its accompanying bell. Anywhere from five to ten minutes would pass before another bell would go off and the cacophony around them would resume.

Valerie asked Mitch a question that had been puzzling her. "Mitch, isn't it unusual for a movie to have so much time devoted to simple rehearsals? I thought that they would just rehearse each scene several times, the director telling everyone how things were to go, and then shoot enough times to get a perfect shot."

"You're right. However, the construction work is behind schedule, so Mr. Gaskin is trying to save time by rehearsing in toto, hoping to make up the time by being able to shoot scenes without rehearsals later."

"Mitch, are you keeping us away from the action on purpose?" Sally asked, after the tour had gone on for an hour.

Mitch looked pleased and sheepish at the same time, something both women wondered how he pulled off. "Yes, ma'am. Mr. Gaskin told me to keep you away from 'his actors'."

Val gave the college student a stern look. She could see that he was not happy with what he had been ordered to do. Valerie recalled an intern or two at Bradford and Gashune who were far more perceptive than most gave them credit for. She wondered just how good this kid was. "In that case, Mr. Wallace, I'm going to have to be an ass and demand that you take us to where the rehearsals are going on."

"I was hoping you might do that," he muttered under his breath. Louder, he said, with a heavy sigh, "If you'll come this way, then?"

Mitch led them through the house. The trip ended out back. The back of the house had been redone to look like the parking lot of a motel. While it looked nothing like the place she had rescued Francine from, Val knew that was the purpose for the scene. They arrived just as another call for quiet rang out.

"Okay, Tasha, remember, your best friend just called to say she was attacked and you don't know how badly. You're in a hurry, but, because of the wounds on your back, unable to risk being pulled over by the police." The actress, standing beside a BMW, nodded her head and climbed into the car. "Action!"

Tasha drove the car swiftly to the parking space in front of the only working door on the back of the house. As the engine was dying, she had leapt out of the car, a gym bag in hand, and ran to the door where she knocked. 

A voice from the other side called out, "Who is it?"

"Francine, It's me, Valerie."

The door opened and Tasha slipped into the darkened room. Barry made a circling motion with his hand and the all clear bell sounded. "That was great! Now, let's set up for the exit. Valerie and Francine will come out of the motel room, get into the car and drive off. Francine's feet are a mess, so Valerie will have to practically carry her."

Barry moved towards the two actresses to talk with them in more detail. Stan and Melanie saw Valerie and Sally and walked over to see them. The two actors looked relaxed and seemed to be having a good time.

"Sally, Valerie, I'm glad you could make it," Stan called out with more volume than was needed. Both women could see Barry's head turn their way for a short while. "What do you think of your first visit to a movie set?"

"It's not what I expected," Sally answered. "It's so busy."

"That's a common response," Melanie replied. "Most people have no idea how busy a set can be. Even when the construction work is done, this place will look like a beehive, with little worker drones scurrying about making the rest of us look like geniuses." The relaxed smile on her face gave lie to the idea that she actually thought of the crew as drones.

"And yet, there's never any evidence of all this work on the screen."

"Actually, I've made a couple of low budget numbers where that couldn't be said," Stan quipped. "I remember a scene in Dangerous Crossing where a worker had left a hammer on the bed and we didn't have enough budget to reshoot the scene, so they left it in, hoping no one would notice. Of course, everyone did."

Sally's eyes brightened. "I remember that scene. Everyone I saw it with thought it was some literary thing the director was doing. That was an accident?"

Stan chuckled. "Yes, an accident. You'd be amazed at how many things in a movie are there by accident. Remember the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Harrison Ford shot the swordsman instead of fighting him with a whip?" Val and Sally nodded. "It was supposed to be the sword against whip fight, but they had so much trouble getting it right that Ford just drew the gun and fired. The stunt man played along and keeled over dead. Everyone thought it was so cool that they left it in."

Val and Sally both broke into laughter. Both could remember similar times in their own lives when the tension was in need of that kind of fracturing. Once the laughter had subsided, Melanie's face took on a serious mien.

"Valerie, Sally, there's something I need you to do."

"Sure, what is it, Melanie?"

"I'm not in any scenes for the next hour, and we're not doing any scenes that need your input today. Could you take some time with one of the makeup artists?"

"I suppose. How can we help with makeup?"

"This man is in charge of all the injury effects. He has worked on several slasher and horror films before and is really good at making realistic looking wounds. I'm concerned that he will go too far with the whip markings."

"Ah. I see what you mean."

Stan added, "I have to be in a few scenes coming up, so I'll leave you ladies to make sure our gore artist understands how little gore is needed."

Melanie and the lovers wandered off, heading around the front of the house where several trailers were parked. One had a hand painted sign saying, "Make up." Melanie led them to that trailer. On the way, she used the relative privacy to talk with Valerie.

"Valerie, I want to thank you for what you've done. Not just with the movie, but with Crystal."

"It was the least I could do. She seems to really care about you and wants to make you happy."

"Yes, I want that for her as well. The woman you told her about is a fantastic teacher."

"I take it you and Crystal…"

"Yes. We played. I've missed that part of my sex life. Crystal's not sure how much she can enjoy, but she is willing to give it a try. It helps, I think, that I've never been into as deep a submission as you seem to be."

Valerie stopped. Francine's words from earlier came back to her. "Don't confuse intensity with depth." She also realized that last night was an incredibly deep submission to Charles, yet the only pain she had disliked had been the pillar of pain used on her tits. The sensations from the horse hair flogger had been very enjoyable.

"Val, are you all right?" Sally had a look of concern on her face.

"Yeah. I just had a thought. I'm not quite sure where it's going yet, but it's a thought. I'll tell you about it later." She turned to Melanie. "I'm happy for the two of you. Don't belittle what the two of you have by comparing it to Master and myself. I'm sure that the two of you will find the balance that is right for you."

"Thank you Valerie. Here we are." She opened the door and called out. "Harvey! Are you in there?"

A deep voice called back. "Yep. I'm trying a few things out. Come on in."

The ladies entered the trailer to find something that looked like an assembly line beauty salon. The large owner of the deep voice was applying something to a mannequin head with a fine brush. It seemed odd to see such large hands move with such delicate motions.

"I've been working out just what these marks I'm supposed to create look like. Oh," he said, seeing Val and Sally for the first time. "Who are these lovely ladies? Extras for the SM club scenes?"

"No, Harvey. These are our technical experts, Valerie Burbon and Sally Thatcher. If anyone can tell you whether you've got the welts right, it's these two."

"Ah! A godsend. Come over here. Is this the effect we are looking for?"

He showed them the work he had been doing on the head. There were three wounds on the head, all oozing fake blood. Compared to some of the things Sally had seen in horror movies, they were quite tame. She cringed at the thought of being on the receiving end of those marks for real.

"Not really. Those, will be good for the wounds Valerie, uh, Tasha, will have after the crisis scene, where Francine, uh, Crystal, beats her bloody."

"What's wrong with them? These are the lightest wounds I can imagine whips inflicting."

"That's part of the problem," Valerie replied. "You're thinking of them as wounds. In most cases, if they're wounds, then something has gone wrong. What you're looking for is redness, perhaps in a pattern from the implement, but just redness."

"I've seen pictures of sailors put to the lash. There's more than just redness."

"I see." Sally looked thoughtful for a minute. "Have you ever seen a cat in use, either a 'real' one or one that is used by people like us?" Harvey shook his head. "You should. Would you be willing to do some on site research?"

"You mean I can actually see these marks that I have to create?"

"Of course. There are always public scenes and demonstrations at Mephisto's. You might not be able to take pictures. In fact, I would be shocked if you could, but observing will be fine. Anyone doing something out in the open intends to be watched, or at least, the dominant intends for it," she amended with a smile.

"Will I need one of you ladies to escort me?" It was clear that, for whatever reason, he had no desire to be accompanied.

"No, not really. Just be careful how you dress. The wrong clothes and someone will think you're trolling for a dominant of your own."

"Jeans and a flannel shirt?"

"That will be fine. If you want us to look over your work again, after you've had some time to perfect it, let us know," Valerie concluded.

Melanie had let the ladies do their job while she stood in the background. As the conversation was winding down, she asked, "Harvey, why have you been calling the marks wounds? I know I haven't called them that around you, or anyone else, for that matter."

"Mr. Gaskin calls them wounds all the time. In fact, he told me that my horror film experience would be invaluable on this film."

"He's right about that. You know what deadly wounds look like. Remember, what you will need to portray are things that people walk away from smiling and looking forward to more."

Harvey looked introspective as the three ladies walked out of the make up trailer. As they walked back to the house, Melanie forestalled any comments from the others. "This is the sort of thing we have to watch out for. Everyone knows about Barry's third wife. He will be subtly trying to sabotage Milton's vision for the movie. When I had the chance to work on a movie that would portray us in a positive light, I was ecstatic, especially when I realized how serious Milton was. The idea of Barry screwing that up just nauseates me."

"That doesn't thrill us much, either," Sally responded. "I don't know how much anyone besides Master and myself realizes how the publicity and the repercussions affected Valerie." Valerie blushed at the reference to her emotional agony during the week that her life started to fall apart. There were occasional reminders of that pain as well. "I won't see this movie reopen those hurts."

Valerie looked at Sally. The sudden forcefulness in her voice was surprising, given the extremes she had taken in the last week or two to avoid showing that side of herself. Even the most submissive person could be riled to vehemence in the right circumstances. For Sally, those were a perceived attack on her Mistress and lover.

For Sally and Valerie, the rest of the day was an exercise in boredom. Watching a movie being made reminded one of an old soldier's definition of being a soldier. "Long hours of dull tedium interspersed with moments of gut wrenching terror." In the case of watching movies being made, lots of repetitive stuff was going on that started with varying levels of excitement and universally dropping to mind numbing tedium as they were repeated ad nauseam.

The people actually working on the movie were a little better off. They, at least, had something to do. The only thing that the ladies picked up on was an undercurrent of resentment from Gaskin and some of the other crew. Sally, with her experience in crisis management could see the crew on the set polarizing into two camps; those who supported Barry Gaskin for whatever reason, and those who seemed to dislike him. The reasons were not clear, but the potential for trouble was. Sally was sure that she would see evidence of the two factions subtly sabotaging each other's efforts. Most of them would not even be conscious of what they were doing.

They took lunch with the crew on the set, finding the catered fare very good. Valerie was surprised at that, having only experienced the take out meals that ad shooting crews subjected themselves to. However, after some thought, it made sense. Ads, at least most of them, did not include big names. A movie set, with the bigger egos, would have to cater to those egos and would find it cheaper to cater everyone's food. The remote location of Francine's former home also contributed to that decision.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05b



At 6:00, the crew left for their respective homes, leaving only the second shift of construction workers working like ants in a nest. Val and Sally left with the others.

"Mistress?"

"Yes, Sally."

"Can we play tonight?"

"I'd like that very much. Let's grab a quick bite at the house and head out to Mephisto's"

"Thank you, Mistress."

The couple threw together some meatloaf sandwiches from leftovers, changed clothes, grabbed their bag of toys, and headed back out. Valerie had dressed Sally in a tight corset beneath a white satin dress that was cut "Roisery" style from The Story of O. The fading remnants of Sally's weekend at Calvin's were visible in places and the slits in the front and back would offer hints of what was beneath every once in a while. Valerie was wearing a tight leather jacket over her naked torso and a wrap around miniskirt around her waist. Sally was barefoot while Val wore three inch heels.

Once inside, Valerie put a blindfold on Sally and cuffed her hands behind her back. Instead of renting a private room, Valerie checked the main stage's schedule and saw that there would be an hour long opening beginning soon. She signed them up for that hour and time in a private room afterwards, and spent the preceeding time leading Sally around the floor, letting her sense the activity going on around them with her ears and nose. Val also kept up a constant series of caresses through the dress, enjoying the moans from her slave and the visible evidence of her growing arousal.

Valerie's own excitement level was rising, the knowledge of what was coming playing on her just as she herself was playing on Sally. As the time approached, Val slipped her hand inside the dress and gave Sally a couple of playful slaps on her ass. Sally groaned at the contact and whispered, "Yes!"

"Do you want more of that?"

"Yes, Mistress, please."

Valerie slapped her a couple of more times. None could ever be mistaken for a spanking. Not even the slightest impression was left visible on Sally's behind. Valerie brought her hands to Sally's breasts, touching them so lightly that Sally could only feel the fabric ripple across her nipples. 

The stage coordinator motioned to Valerie that the stage was free. Valerie led Sally up the stairs to find that the pair of vaulting horses she had asked for were being fastened down with quick bolts. She led Sally around the edge of the stage, letting the crowd see Sally, pulling the dress open at the slits every once in a while to expose her even more. Val could hear her lover's breaths becoming faster and deeper, responding to the tension of knowing she was on display, yet unable to see who she was revealed to.

After completing the circuit, Sally was led to the horses. Val clipped her legs to the legs of one of the vaulting devices, forcing them apart, exposing her ass and cunt to everyone behind her. Sally blushed and moaned at the applause and whistles that came with the action. Her arms were unclipped from behind her and stretched apart to the ends of the second horse, fastened there. This left her bent over at the waist and stretched. As the final touch, Val flipped the dress over Sally, exposing her back and legs while covering her head completely.

"Slave?" Valerie called out.

"Yes, Mistress?"

"You are not to cum, nor are you to beg for one. Do you understand?"

Sally groaned at the command, knowing she would be hard pressed to avoid an orgasm for an hour. "Yes, Mistress, no cumming, no begging."

With that, Valerie began to caress her lover. Val's fingers traced random patterns along Sally's back and legs, slipping around to her belly at times. From beneath the fabric of her dress, Sally moaned with desire, giving herself over to feelings that would soon become torturous. Her hands clawed at the air, desperate to respond to the attention she was receiving. For fifteen minutes, Valerie played with Sally, teasing her and driving her arousal higher without ever contacting her breasts or pussy.

When Val touched Sally's tits for the first time, it was by way of her nipple rings. Valerie flicked them, eliciting a gasp from her lover. Valerie continued to rock them back and forth while Sally groaned and whispered, "Yes, please, more." This was followed by light touches from Val's fingers. Sally tried to lean into the contact she had been waiting for, but found that she could not move enough to have an effect. Valerie smiled at the whimpers of need coming from Sally.

By the time another fifteen minutes had passed, Sally was struggling against her bonds, not because she wanted to free herself, but simply because her body could not remain still any longer. Valerie could see subs in the audience being caressed by their Masters and Mistresses. It seemed Valerie was setting the pace for several others. She chuckled at the thought of being responsible for frustrating so many people.

Valerie leaned over and whispered, "You are not alone in your frustration. I see submissives being driven to distraction all around us."

"Mistress? Am I pleasing you, Mistress?"

"Yes, love, very much. Are you ready for worse?"

"Yes, please, use me Mistress." Sally stifled a sob as she asked to have her sensuous torture made even worse. The feeling of helplessness, a powerful aphrodisiac for Sally, was strong and growing. Sally knew that, in the long run, her ability to obey the no cumming order was totally in Valerie's hands. Her Mistress could take an orgasm from her at will, then punish Sally for disobeying. That knowledge made her submitting to this assault of unmet need all the more powerful for her.

Sally cried out and lifted her head when Valerie's fingers brushed across her cunt lips for the first time. Her long ignored pussy was wet and protruding. Little rivulets of juice were beginning to mix with the sweat on her legs. A single finger caressed Sally's folds while she bucked against the vaulting horses. Sally's cunt began to quiver and waves of pleasure were washing through her body.

"Please, Mistress, don't make me cum!"

"You don't want to cum?"

"No Mistress, I want to obey you. Let me be obedient. Let me not cum."

"Trust me."

Valerie continued to stroke her finger along the folds of Sally's pussy. She could feel her own arousal building as well. She loved seeing her partner writhing in pleasure. She could hear Sally's sobs as her slave struggled against the orgasm that was racing towards her. The aroma of Sally's arousal was washing over Valerie, causing her to lick her lips. Val felt the first quivers of release in the cunt she was stroking and pulled her hand away. Sally tensed her body and fought off the climax at her door.

"Oh God, oh God, oh God!" Her cries were audible across the floor as she drove away the one thing she wanted more than almost anything else. As she succeeded, Sally wept unabashedly at the loss and the desire that was aflame in her body. Behind the tears was joy, joy at being obedient and pleasing her Mistress. She knew more was coming and welcomed it with a dreading desire.

Several minutes passed while Valerie simply caressed Sally's back and ass. The tension faded some. Valerie saw the stage manager indicating that she had ten minutes left. "Just enough time," Valerie thought to herself. She moved behind Sally and knelt down. Her tongue snaked out and flicked at Sally's wet lips. Sally screamed, partly in fear and partly in pleasure. Valerie had become quite skilled at pleasing Sally with her tongue in the seven or eight months they had been together. If she put her mind to it, Sally would be writhing in an orgasm in minutes. Instead, Valerie used her tongue to tease. She brought Sally to the edge of orgasm and held her there for five minutes of agonizingly pleasurable torture. Several times, Sally thought she would lose it, only to have her lover back off just enough to keep her on the edge.

Five minutes later, Valerie was releasing Sally from her bindings. The slave, weak and trembling, had to be helped off the stage.

"Mistress?" came the whispered and unspoken request.

"Patience," Valerie replied as she slipped little caresses in while she helped Sally to the room.

Once they were in the room and the door was closed, Val asked, "Do you want to cum, Sally?"

"Yes, Mistress. May I?"

"Eventually. Come with me."

Valerie led Sally to a low, padded bar, a mere two feet long. After having the dress removed, Sally was laid on it on her stomach. Her legs were pulled in and lashed to the bar's support posts, leaving her ass and cunt open and exposed. Sally's arms were lashed to the front supports and a brace forced her head up. Valerie decided not to place the ring gag tethered to the head brace in Sally's mouth. Instead, she fitted a ball gag on her. The result was a bound slave whose ass, cunt and mouth were at the level of a standing man's cock.

Valerie reached into her tote bag and strapped the dildo it carried onto her waist. When she stroked the tip against the pussy in front of her, Sally tried to scream her desire through the gag. She bucked and struggled to force herself against the hard, plastic cock at her entrance, but could not move enough to do so. Valerie teased her with the promise of penetration for several minutes before she pushed into her lover with an agonizing slowness.

Once she was fully inside Sally, she leaned over and caressed her partner's face while slowly pumping in and out of her. Valerie reveled in the pleasure she was giving Sally. It wasn't just the physical pleasure, though she loved being able to give Sally that as well. It was the submission she was able to take from her. Val could sense the depths to which Sally was submitting and it gave Valerie an indefinable joy to be able to do that without tearing herself up inside. She knew the other would be needed as well and looked on it with a feeling of dread.

When she felt Sally trying to tense against her orgasm, Valerie leaned in closer and whispered, "Cum for me, love, cum hard."

As Sally screamed into her gag and started to shake in her climax, Val continued to pump the dildo into her cunt. Sally's orgasm faded and Valerie continued to fuck her, driving a new climax to her gate. Soon this orgasm was washing over her as well. Valerie could feel her lover's body tensing against its bonds as it tried to give vent to the feelings exploding from within.

Sally's muscles were beginning to tire, yet she did not want to have Valerie stop. She could sense that Valerie wanted as much from her at this end of the spectrum that she had taken on stage from the other. When her third orgasm washed over her, she gave up all resistance and let herself sink into the experience. By now, her pussy lips were becoming tender and she was struggling to take enough air in due to the gag and corset. Still, Valerie continued the fucking, using the same long slow strokes.

When the fourth orgasm hit her, Sally dissolved into sobs again. She wanted to give more, yet was fearful that her body had no more to give. Valerie, seeing the sobs, whispered, "Sally, do you want me to stop?"

Sally shook her head.

""Do you have more in you?"

Sally shook and nodded her head, their mutual way of indicating that they didn't know.

"One more, love, one more special one."

Valerie sped up her fucking, driving Sally headlong to a fifth orgasm. Five minutes later it hit, and Valerie reached around and covered Sally's mouth and nose, cutting off her air. Caught by surprise, Sally started to buck against the breath play while her body shuddered in climax. The lack of air seemed to amplify the sensations coursing through her, giving her an orgasm that was the most powerful she had ever experienced.

Just before she blacked out, the hands pulled away and Sally gulped in immense gasps of air. Her chest throbbed as the corset pressed painfully against her breaths. Valerie released her arms and legs, letting them hang loose. The head brace loosened and Sally's neck was able to relax. Valerie caressed and massaged Sally's back and neck while she recovered from the forced series of orgasms she had been subjected to.

When the tension had faded from Sally's muscles, Val removed her gag and blindfold.

"Mistress, thank you so much. That was incredible."

"I know. I enjoyed taking so much from you."

"Mistress, you didn't cum."

"I'm fine. Your submission was my pleasure."

"Really?"

"Really, I had several orgasms yesterday. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of chances to have me writhing in pleasure. Sometimes, a Mistress wants to give pleasure instead of pain."

"I should know that. I don't think I've felt more submissive to you than this, ever."

"That's the impression I had as well."

The two women cleaned up in the showers and went home. Six in the morning came far too soon. By 7:30 they were back on the set of the movie.

Both women were shocked at the changes that had happened over night. Half the scaffolding had been taken down and that which was still up, was in front of new construction. The security guard waved them through, speaking into his shoulder mike as he did.

By the time they had parked, Mitch was at their car, ready to lead them on. He gave them a short tour of the new additions, but did not try to keep them away from the rehearsals. Both women noticed that there was nothing in the sets that could be used to simulate the inside of Mephisto's.

Val asked, "Where are the sets for the inside of the Mephisto Club?"

"Oh, didn't you hear? Mr. Freeman managed to arrange for two days of shoots inside the club itself."

"That's great! Are any of the scenes being shot while the club is open?"

"I think the second day includes some night time shots with the club goers in the back ground. Have you received a shooting schedule?"

"No, we haven't. Is there one already?"

"Oh yes, Mr. Gaskin runs a tight ship. He expects shots to be done on time and well. The entire two weeks of shooting is laid out and ready to go. I'll make sure a copy gets faxed to your office, Ms. Burbon. Where do you want yours sent to Ms. Thatcher?"

"We don't have a fax at the house. I'll just have Valerie make a copy for me. Thanks."

"My pleasure, Ms. White asked me to show you some of the props they will be using."

Val and Sally exchanged knowing looks. Melanie White seemed to be trying to make sure they saw every attempt by Gaskin to sabotage the picture's integrity. They followed Mitch to the prop storage. A young lady was, not so much talking to a couple of men, as lecturing them.

"…believe the utter stupidity. Do you really expect Stan to use this," she waved an ugly looking cat in the air. Valerie and Sally could see, even at a distance, that it had hard leather strands that would rip flesh. Her tirade continued with, "on Tasha? Do you want to send the woman to the hospital? Go out and find me something we can safely use."

"But Cynthia, that's exactly what Barry told us to buy."

"Get this straight. Barry is the director, not the key grip. I, Cynthia Forstal, am the person who decides if you have a job tomorrow. That job is dependant on you finding me something that will not kill the actresses!"

The two men withered under her glare. It was clear that they were caught between a rock and a hard place. Valerie knew that directors had almost God like powers on the set and could have anyone fired. Obviously the two men had followed the orders of the director and now found themselves with conflicting orders.

Valerie cleared her throat. "Excuse me?" Mitch looked relieved at not having to make the introductions.

Cynthia's fiery response was clearly the reason why. "Who the hell are you and why are you bothering me?"

Valerie, calling on years of advertising skills that allowed her to put a friendly face forward under the most trying of circumstances, put her hand out. "I'm Valerie Burbon and this is Sally Thatcher. We're the BDSM experts that Mr. Freeman hired. You're absolutely right. That whip will leave Mrs. Williams in agonizing pain, possibly bedridden for weeks."

"Finally, someone with some sense! Do you know what I'm looking for?"

"Yes, I know exactly what you need. You need a cat with soft, wide leather strands. They will not injure anyone." Val turned to the two men. "I would suggest going to the Castle Superstore on Sprague. It will have what you need." Seeing their looks, she added, "Don't give me that. It's clear that Cynthia is your boss. You've done what Barry told you to do, now do what she is telling you. Did the director order you to ignore your boss?" When they shook their heads, she continued. "I'll call ahead and make sure that they have what you need."

The two men, being given the out they needed, left. Valerie called Castle.

"Rachael, this is Valerie. I've sent a couple of guys to your store to pick up a cat. Make sure they buy the softest one there. That's right, the novice cat. It's being used by novices in a movie. Yes, that movie. Thanks Rachael. You're a doll. I know, not really. Bye."

Cynthia looked at Valerie and Sally with a discerning eye. "You two seem to know your stuff. Would you mind taking a look at some of the other props?"

Sally, looking towards the shelves, replied, "Yes, We'd love to. Are these all of them?"

"Yes, except for the whip, of course."

"I don't see a small caliber pistol."

"The script doesn't specify the calibers used in the shooting."

"That could be a problem, though not many would notice. You see, Valerie is alive because Harv used a .22, which did not go through her collar. Take a look, the slug is still there."

Cynthia looked at Valerie's collar, noting the small lead slug lodged in the f of the word of. "I see what you mean. The guns I have would have gone right through this. That's easily fixed. What was the cop using? A Gloch?"

"I'm not sure. I don't know much about guns. Do you Val?" Valerie shook her head. "It looked like this one, though. Everything about those few seconds is still embedded in my memory." The sadness in her voice tugged at Valerie's heart.

"Yeah, that's a Gloch. Good thing this Harv person wasn't using that. This movie would have a much sadder ending."

While they had been talking about guns, Valerie had been looking over the fetish gear on the shelves. She noted that there were several sets of police issue handcuffs.

"These could be a problem as well," she said, picking one set up.

"Why? I've seen them for sale in sex shops."

"It's not that no one uses them, it's that my Master doesn't use them. He says that they are actually quite dangerous and can injure the wrists if struggled against. Much of what we do in BDSM play involves struggling. That's why many players use wrist cuffs like these," she held up her hands, "or like what Sally is wearing right now. They won't make the movie unbelievable, but they will paint the characters as inexperienced."

"I see. Can you get these at that castle place?" When Val nodded, Cynthia added, "Could you make sure the guys pick up several pairs while they are there?"

Valerie called Rachael back and added to what the men were buying. They spent more time looking at the props. Cynthia seemed to be one of those people who knew lots of facts in a lot of subjects; an invaluable skill for someone in charge of the props on a movie. She also had a mind like a steel trap. Nothing that Sally or Valerie told her had to be repeated. Before Cynthia was finished with the couple, she had called Steven Putnam, the set carpenter, over to talk about bondage frames. During that time, the two gofers had returned with the proper whip and cuffs. The talks would have gone on much longer except that Mitch reminded the ladies that the first of the BDSM scenes was scheduled to start rehearsing soon.

Valerie was particularly interested in seeing how they planned to shoot these scenes and still maintain a rating that was not adults only. While any given BDSM scene did not have to include overt sexual activity, Valerie's always did, though sometimes it was frustrated sexuality. She knew from movies she had watched that it was possible to include sexual activity in a movie and maintain an R rating. You simply had to not show genitalia or penetration.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05b



Sally had some curiosity about a related subject. She had traveled out of the country on occasion as part of her job and knew that the foreign version of a movie could be quite different from the US version. In general, at least in the countries she had visited, the foreign version tended to be racier. Sally found herself wondering what extra shots would be made for those racier bits. Just how far would the director and the actors be willing to go?

They arrived at the set to find Stan and Tasha standing around while some members of the crew were arranging the furniture in the room. Although somewhat smaller, the room was a passable imitation of the lounge in Charles' mansion, Val could tell from the things being moved out that the set had just been the front room of her old apartment. Neither Stan nor Tasha were dressed like Charles or Val had been during that first night, but Valerie didn't think that was terribly important.

Barry walked over to the two actors and began explaining what he wanted in the scene.

"Tasha, you've just been teased mercilessly in the car and are ready to be soundly fucked. Stan, you're enjoying the frustration and excitement that you've created and intend to draw it out. To that end, you'll hold Tasha's hands behind her and fondle her through her clothes. Tasha, this will drive you wild and have you pleading for more direct contact. Stan won't do that; instead, he'll demand that you give him a blowjob first. Are you up to simulating that?"

"Yes. Just like Michael Douglass in Basic Instinct."

"Stan, we'll be relying on your reactions for much of the effect at this point. Unless we want to change this to a porno, we can't show the sex itself. Okay, let's run through this much." Barry gave a wave of his hand and the now familiar, "Quiet on the set!" rang out, accompanied by the warning bell.

It took several tries to get through that much of the scene. Barry stopped them frequently to make adjustments to how they presented themselves and delivered their lines. The blowjob section took five tries all by itself, before the director was satisfied with Stan's reactions. Personally, Valerie thought that all of the reactions he tried were believable, but Val had the advantage of having watched numerous men enjoy her own efforts of sucking their cocks.

Much less attention was given Tasha's technique, probably because she was so good at it. Both Sally and Valerie had trouble believing that there wasn't anything in her mouth during the takes; that was how realistic her motions and face looked. Both women had had several opportunities, since entering Charles' service, to watch others give head and Tasha had the look of giving head down pat.

After Barry was satisfied with the scene to that point, they continued on to the part where Charles had held Val against the love seat and hand fucked her. This time Tasha's reactions were the center of attention. Valerie had to admit that Gaskin was good. By the time he was done, Tasha was showing all the frustration, desire and orgasmic pleasure that Valerie had felt that night. Both submissives were impressed by the apparent lack of self consciousness on Tasha's part at the repeated exposures of her ass and pussy.

Valerie also noticed that Barry kept two lines of sight open from the wings to Tasha's rear end and Stan's hand. Clearly he was intending to take some shots of the hand fuck itself from angles that would refrain from showing just enough. She wordlessly pointed it out to Sally, who smiled as she recognized what was happening. She mouthed, "director's cut" and stifled a giggle.

Once that scene was rehearsed to death (it seemed), Barry started to address the mob that had gathered. "Okay folks. Set up for scene 73. If you don't have to be here for this scene, then get the hell off the set!" As he continued to give more detailed orders, Sally turned to scene 73 and saw that it was the beginning of the initiation weekend. Sally would lead the naked Valerie into the lounge and tie her to the chair for the first question and answer session.

The ladies had gone into some detail with Sampson about this scene. While the blindfolded fondling that had taken place in real life had been scratched, the exploration of Valerie's motives had been viewed as vital to making the audience understand what the lifestyle was about. Caroline had expressed concern that it would be easy for the producer or director to decide to cut the scene for length. If there was a choice of cutting, exposition almost always lost.

"Excuse me ladies," came the stern voice behind them. "You'll have to leave. All nude scenes are closed."

The security guard looked friendly, yet was clearly not going to take no for an answer. While Valerie was searching for a response that would allow them to stay, Melanie White ran up to them.

"Hold on, Bob. They can stay. This is one of the scenes we hired them to be experts about."

"Just a minute Mel." Barry Gaskin was walking over also. "They do not need to be here. They were hired to make sure the whipping scenes were done realistically. None of that is going on. I don't want Tasha subjected to more potential humiliation than she needs to be."

"Barry, this scene is about the essence of what makes a person a submissive. I'd think you'd want the input of a real submissive."

"I don't want their input at all. I have to take it for some things, but this is not one of them."

Sally had been nervously fingering her pass during the exchange, wondering what she could do, if anything. She looked down and noticed the wording.

"Excuse me."

What?" yelled Barry.

"This pass that Milton sent us says, 'full access,' does it not?"

"Yes, it does," Melanie replied, a smile on her face.

"That means that we can't be kicked off the set, not even by you, Mr. Gaskin."

The security guard spoke up. "She's right, sir. She has a producer's pass. She can stay if she wants."

Barry literally threw his hands up into the air. "Fine! Stay if you want. Just keep your mouths closed. It's still my movie."

As he walked away, Melanie whispered, "I for one would welcome your input. I've never been a fan of the domination and submission part of the scene. I was… am… in it for the bondage and spankings. You watch he's going to try to change the dialogue."

As if Melanie was prescient, Barry's voice rang out. "Copy! We need to change some of the dialogue. No one's going to believe this claptrap."

A young lady with a laptop ran up. Valerie and Sally moved closer to hear what Barry was dictating. "Here, when Charles asks why she went out that first night, change her response to, 'I like being fucked and felt I deserved one.'"

Valerie couldn't help herself. "Just a minute. That's not even close."

"Listen bitch, I said you were to keep quiet on this set. I neither need nor want your input."

"Barry, Valerie, what's going on?" Tasha had walked over, looking between the two irate combatants.

Valerie spoke up quickly. "He's changing your lines, making me out to be a sex maniac."

"She's getting in the way. I'm the director, changing lines is what I do."

"Let me see that." Tasha grabbed the laptop from the copy girl and looked at the change Shaking her head, Tasha actually chuckled. "Barry, no one is going to believe that." Before he could object, she held a hand up. "I don't mean no one will believe a woman wants to be fucked and feels she deserves it. They won't believe that this character would say that. For God's sake, Barry, Valerie was oblivious to the existence of BDSM before she met Charles. In many ways she was very naïve." She looked at the copy girl, instructing, "Change it back. Any dialogue changes for me have to be approved by me. It's in my contract."

Barry was fuming. He glared at Tasha and Valerie before he stormed off. Tasha looked at Valerie with a look of pity.

"You do know how to make enemies, don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've questioned the great Barry Gaskin. There is no chance in hell that he will listen to anything you have to say from now on. I certainly won't be running interference for you on a regular basis. I have to work with the man in the future."

"Tasha, he wants to ruin the film, Milton's vision for the film."

"I'm not sure that's a bad thing. Milton wants to portray BDSM as some normal thing that everyone is irrationally prejudiced against. But you people are not normal, are you. It's not normal to want to be beaten as part of your sex. I don't have anything against you all, but please don't try to foist your lifestyle off as anything but weird."

"Tasha, we don't expect people to look at our sex lives as normal. I think we all know how not normal we are. But we don't want to be seen as abnormal people because of our sex lives. Outside of sex, we are as normal as anyone else. We just want to be viewed as normal people with an unusual pastime."

"I can see that. Barry never will. He thinks your kind stole his third wife from him. Lord knows he's wrong. She left him because of him, just like numbers one, two, and four. Five's on the verge of leaving as well. I'm just saying that you need to pick your battles. You're going to have to fight tooth and nail to save Milton's vision in the slightest."

The scene, once Barry's attempt to change it had been squashed, went off without a problem. There were no other problems encountered the rest of the day. None of the scenes with actual whipping were rehearsed. Valerie learned that was at the request of the actors and actresses themselves. Most were uncomfortable enough with the whips that they wanted to limit how much they had to deal with them.

The construction crews were still working when the shooting crews left the site. Sally and Valerie spent a quiet night at home, cuddling on the couch. The bruises that each had received the previous weekend had, for the most part, faded. A few of Sally's were still visible, especially on her ass. One phone call interrupted their night.

"Valerie, this is Gwen. Is Sally there?"

"Yes, she is. Sally, it's Gwen."

Sally uncurled from Valerie's lap, against which she had been relaxing. "Hi Gwen. Just a minute." Sally covered the phone. "Mistress, Gwen wants to go out with me tomorrow."

"That's wonderful. Now I won't have to find someone to look after you. You may have a free night with her."

"Thank you, Mistress." Sally turned back to the phone. "It seems I'm free and Valerie has plans already, so I'd love to go out with you. Six will be fine. That sounds like fun. So does that. Bye."

"So, what does Gwen want with my little slave?"

"She wants to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie."

"Is that all?"

"No, she also wants to fuck my brains out, but you already knew that, Mistress."

"Yes, I did. I have one command for you when you're out tomorrow. Make sure Gwen cums at least five times and more times than you do."

An edge of desire crept into Sally's voice as she acknowledged the command with a, "Yes, Mistress."

The couple slept soundly that night. Saturday morning and afternoon, Valerie relaxed while Sally did a number of household chores. They both found that the unequal division of household duties was a very easy way to sink into their roles as owner and slave. Sally found it a challenge to meet Valerie's exacting standards and had to redo the bathroom three times before she had it right. The threat to have her lick it clean the fourth time was never tested as to whether Valerie was serious (she wasn't).

Soon the evening was approaching and both women found themselves preparing for dates of a radically different nature. With no prior instructions as to attire, Valerie dressed in a dark red dress that came down to her knees and showed a generous amount of cleavage. She wore no bra or panties, but slipped her legs into a pair of black lace stockings held up by matching garters. Her feet were placed into 5 inch heels, the highest she could manage to walk in.

Sally was dressed to kill with a short skirt that one could reach under to find the unclad pussy it covered. Her blouse was translucent, letting the lace of her bra show through. She wore comfortable and easy to dispense with sneakers on her feet. Her make up accentuated her youthfulness, making her seem to be just barely legal.

Valerie took a cab to Mephisto's, not being sure the condition she would be in on her way home. When she arrived, Betty waved her over to the side.

"Val, are you submitting to a Sir Tom tonight?"

"Yes, that's one of my Masters tonight."

"He left a bag and instructions for you. Have you ever been to the upstairs rooms before?"

"No. Is there anything I should know?"

"Not really. They're just designed for more specific fantasies. Anyway, Sir Tom asked that you change into the outfit in the bag, the instant I give it to you, and that you go upstairs to room 204 and await further instructions."

"I see. Thank you Betty."

"Here's your uniform."

Valerie looked inside and saw a traditional French maid's uniform (the fetish version, not the realistic version). Following her instructions, she stripped in front of Betty and everyone else and put the uniform on. There was a corset, that Betty helped her tighten, that fit underneath the uniform. Little of importance was covered by the short skirt and top. Her breasts were merely supported, not protected. The corset forced them up and together, creating a deep cleavage. The skirt covered the very top of her ass and pussy, leaving the bulk of both exposed. The heels were going to be a problem. Two inches taller than the ones she wore to the club, they had her feeling like she was about to fall over onto her face.

Betty helped her walk to the elevators to the second floor, giving Valerie enough time to learn to walk with her ankles and toes on a straight line with her knees (or so it seemed). Room 204 was, irritatingly, at the end of the hall. Valerie had to balance against the wall to remain standing while she crossed the distance. Inside, she found a classic sitting room. Several large, comfortable looking chairs were in the room, each with a small table beside them and a padded footrest in front of them. Several heavy drapes hung against the walls. Somehow, Valerie could tell that they covered spaces, not just walls.

In one corner was a fully functional bar. An envelope with her name on it was propped up against a glass. She walked, carefully, over to the bar and took a sheet of paper from the envelope. "Slave, have a sex on the beach, a long island ice tea, a tom Collins and a screwdriver ready be the time we arrive. You will also need to prepare a selection of punishment devices on the platter beneath the bar. Be sure to include at least one item that Master Charles would never use on you."

Valerie took in a sharp breath. A device that Charles would never use on her. She could think of only one: the bullwhip. Putting her fear to the side, she started on the drinks, grateful for the bartending job that had seen her through college. In the process of mixing them, she found the drawer with the whips and other implements. With the drinks finished, she looked at the array of pain inflicting devices. In addition to the usual assortment of whips, floggers and paddles, there was a wand that looked much like a cattle prod. She blanched at the thought of being jolted with that much power. 

However, examining it closer, she saw that it was powered by a single nine volt battery. She turned it on and tapped it gently against her arm. There was a sharp shock, though not extremely painful, and a flare from a purple colored spark. She imagined that, if you didn't know what was coming, the visible flash would be terrifying. She placed the wand, along with a selection of whips and the like on the large silver serving tray. She included a bull whip as the item her Master would never use on her.

Laughter and voices preceded the men's entrance into the room. The four Masters she had met on Wednesday night walked in, each trailing a young girl on a leash. All four men were in high spirits, as were two of the submissives. The other two women, one a short natural blond and the other a medium height Latino, looked nervous, perhaps even a little scared.

Harry looked over and saw Valerie standing there. "Ah, Valerie, very good. Set the drinks on the tables next to the chairs. Then fill the water bottles in the third drawer for the girls, will you?"

"Yes, Master."

Valerie, walking carefully in the high heels, brought each of the drinks to one of the chairs in the room. As each drink was placed, one of the men led his slave and took a seat, the girl kneeling beside him. While she was filling each of the sports bottles with tap water, Master Hugh spoke up.

"Suzette, it seems that Karen and Melody are quite nervous. Let's show them a little of what they're in for, shall we?"

"Of course Master. Where would you like me?"

"On the foot rest, face up."

Suzette lay on the oversized footrest with her arms and legs draped over the side. Her Master pulled several lengths of rope from the pouch on the side of his chair and bound her to it. Her elbows were lashed to the feet near her head, while her knees were lashed to the other feet. Her wrists and ankles were brought together and lashed. Suzette's head hung over the side in a position that Valerie recognized would facilitate her taking cocks deep in her throat. Her ass rested on the edge of the foot rest so that her pussy was free of the piece of furniture and spread open.

"Come, come, Valerie. You'll have to do better than this. The implements, now girl!"

Valerie picked up the platter and hurried as best she could to his side. He examined the implements as if he had never seen them before. He selected a crop and with no warning, slapped it against Valerie's thigh, causing her to give a yelp.

"You are serving us, tonight, Valerie. Anticipate! If we have to ask you to do something, you will be punished."

"Yes, Master. I'm sorry, Master."

Valerie looked around and saw that the other Masters were watching Hugh and Suzette while sipping their drinks. Harry was close to finishing his Tom Collins, so Val walked back to the bar and mixed him another. When she carried it over to him, he smiled and pointed to the table. She set it down and kept watch.

While this was going on, Hugh had started speaking to Suzette. "Slave, what is your purpose here tonight?"

"To provide my Masters with entertainment."

"How will you do that?"

"By submitting to whatever they wish to inflict on me."

"Is your pain pleasing to me?"

"That is my fervent wish, Master."

"Pick a number, Suzette."

She seemed to think for a moment, and then answered with, "25, Master."

"Very well, 25 to each of your breasts and your pussy."

Suzette bit back a groan and replied, "Thank you, Master."

He then flicked the crop against her left nipple with slow, measured strokes. Suzette counted each one as it landed. None of the strokes was particularly hard, but they all hit the precise same point. By the time she reached 25, her eyes were filled with tears. Without missing a beat, Hugh switched to the right nipple and the count restarted. Suzette was barely able to get the last 25 out over her tears and cries. Her eyes tried to make contact with Valerie, pleading for something.

Valerie, taking a chance, spoke up. "Master, would you like me to count for Suzette?"

"Very good, slave. Yes, please count for her, just as she did."

With that, he brought the crop down on Suzette's pussy, right in the middle. As Valerie counted from 1 to 25, she could see that, again, the strokes were not terribly hard, but were all striking the same place. Freed from the burden of counting, Suzette sobbed softly in her pain, tugging at her bonds with each blow. Once the 25th blow had landed, Suzette thanked Master Hugh for his pain.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05b



Valerie looked around and saw that everyone's drinks were still good. Hugh was praising Suzette.

"Very well done, slave. That was a good demonstration. You rest there and take a drink."

Valerie responded to the cue and brought one of the bottles to Suzette, holding the straw in her mouth. The tear streaked submissive sucked at the water greedily. Valerie could see Suzette's eyes jerking towards the left. When she glanced that way, Harry was tying Karen face down to his own foot rest. Valerie mouthed a, "Thank you," and hurried to have the tray ready for Harry by the time he had finished with his lashings.

Before he chose an instrument, he looked down on Karen. "Pick a number, Karen."

Karen had to make three tries before she could speak the number, "Three," through her trembling voice.

"Very well. Three strokes with the bull whip."

Karen started to struggle wildly against her bonds, pleading, "No, please Master, not the whip, anything but the whip."

"Quiet! Any more of that and I will double the count."

"Master, do you wish me to count for her?" Valerie asked. Tears were filling Valerie's eyes at the thought of the beautiful flesh before her being marked by the bull whip.

"Yes, I think she will be unable to count for herself."

With that, he stepped back and uncoiled the ten foot long strand of braided leather. Off to one side, he flicked the whip, forcing the tip to crack as it broke the sound barrier. Karen screamed at the sound and jerked against the ropes several times. Then, unbelievably, Harry looked at Valerie and winked with a smile. With an over hand motion, one totally different from what he had just used, he brought the length of the whip down across her ass. As Valerie's stunned voice said, "One," she realized that there was no crack at all and that the mark on Karen's ass was barely visible.

"Oh my God! A mind fuck! He got her with a mind fuck!" Val thought to herself.

Not only had he "gotten" her, he "got" her good. Karen, seemingly oblivious to the lack of pain in her body, was screaming incoherently and struggling like a trapped tiger. Twice more the whip came down in what could only be described as love taps while Karen reacted to what she expected to feel instead of what was actually felt.

"Master, may I comfort Karen?"

"If your other duties are caught up on, yes."

Valerie looked around and saw that no one was close to finishing a drink. She knelt down next to Karen's head.

"Karen, it's all right. It wasn't that bad."

Through her tears, she gasped, "But, it hurt, so much."

"Stop, feel. How much pain is there, really?"

Karen seemed taken aback by the question. She started to say something and stopped. "It doesn't. Why?"

"It was a mind fuck. He hit you with the length, not the tip. You only expected it to hurt a lot."

"I'm not marred?"

"There's not even a mark left."

"Thank you."

A flash of pain hit Valerie's ass as a crop smacked into her.

"Slave, my drink's empty. Fetch me another."

Valerie smiled at what she knew was done on purpose, a part of the game they were playing. With a parting whisper to Karen of, "Let yourself enjoy the submission, dear," Valerie rose and fixed Frank another screwdriver, thinking to herself, "Master would never drink and play at the same time. I hope nothing goes wrong later on."

As she handed Frank his drink, Sir Tom took his slave, the other newcomer, Val assumed, to one of the tapestries. Pulling it aside, he revealed a St. Andrew's Cross. As he bound Melody to the cross, Valerie brought the whip tray up for Sir Tom to make a selection from.

Without selecting, Sir Tom looked up at Melody and asked, "Which implement?" Melody looked horrified at having to choose her own instrument of pain. With a trembling lip, she looked at the tray and the assortment of devices laid out on it. Her eyes flashed frantically from one to another. Valerie, thinking she had figured the game the Masters were playing, tapped her thumb against the short cane. When Melody looked up, Val gave an almost imperceptible nod.

"The…the cane, Master."

"Very well. Five strokes of the cane, one against each inner thigh, one on each breast and one on your pussy."

Melody looked terrified as he picked up the two foot long length of bamboo and swished it through the air with a powerful stroke. While his back was turned, Val winked at Melody, trying to reassure her. Sir Tom spun around and brought the cane down against the inside of her left thigh.

"Ow! Ow, ow, ow! One! Oh my God!"

Valerie could see the mark forming as she struggled against the pain. The stroke, while not the soft ones that Fred and Daphne had used the previous weekend, was not the strong one that Charles used either. Valerie suspected that Melody had a sensitive system or was over reacting. The four remaining strokes followed in quick succession, each at the same level as the first. By the fall of the last one on her pussy, Valerie knew that Melody, like Surmi, was a pain slut. She was dripping pussy juice down her legs and Valerie could actually see drops forming on her cunt lips.

The rest of the night continued in a similar vein, with Valerie playing the servant girl while the four submissives that the Masters had brought with them were subjected to a variety of torments. On numerous occasions, Valerie experienced a stray lash or slap when she did not anticipate a need soon enough. All four submissives were brought to orgasm from some form of pain stimulus at some point during the evening. Valerie, however, was not permitted to experience any pleasurable sensations and was feeling extremely horny by the end of the night.

"Valerie," Master Hugh started, "You are to be at this address at 6:00 next Wednesday. You will serve whoever is there as their slave. You'll have someone drop you off there and pick you up three hours later. Arrive and leave naked. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master."

"One more thing. You are on orgasm restriction until then."

"Yes, Master. May I ask who I will be serving?"

"No, you may not."

"I understand. Thank you, Master, for allowing me to serve tonight."

"Clean up the room before you leave."

"Yes, Master."

As Valerie cleaned up the room, she reflected back on her time in submission. It was very different from what she was used to, yet she felt no less submissive tonight than she did when she was being whipped or used sexually. She was also intrigued by the idea that a slave could climax from pain alone. None of the four looked like they were in subspace, though Valerie wasn't sure what that looked like. Granted, none of the pain that brought on the orgasms was severe looking, yet Valerie had only encountered one other person who could cum from pain, her fellow submissive, Surmi. She wasn't sure what to make of it.

As she pulled into her space in front of her house, she recognized Gwen's car out front. She thought that was odd, as she did not expect Gwen to bring Sally home, but to take her to Gwen's house. Valerie let herself in quietly, only to be shocked by the sound of crying, Sally's crying. Valerie walked over to the bedroom door. Gwen was holding Sally in her arms while Sally cried.

"What happened?"

They both looked up. Gwen smiled thinly. "I'm glad you're here. We encountered a little problem."

"What?"

Gwen looked at Sally. "Honey?" Sally shook her head. Gwen looked back at Valerie. "When we started to make love, Sally could not respond to my caresses. I wasn't arousing her."

"Oh my."

"Right. She is heartbroken about it. I had brought her here because I wanted to surprise you and invite you for a three way when you got in. I don't suppose that will work now."

Valerie sat on the other side of Sally. "Dear, it's all right. What happened?"

Sally tried to speak around her sobs. "I don't know. Not dominated enough?"

"Oh. You think vanilla won't do it anymore?"

Sally nodded her head.

"I don't know, Sally. Does that actually happen?"

Sally shrugged her shoulders.

Valerie looked at Gwen, who was looking a little uncomfortable. "Gwen, I know that BDSM is not your thing, but would you be willing to try something?"

"I suppose. What?"

"Make love to Sally while she's tied to the bed."

"That's all? Just make love while she's tied? No whipping or stuff like that?"

"No, nothing like that."

"Okay. I don't know the first thing about tying people up, though."

"That's okay, I've got that covered."

Valerie stripped her and tied Sally's cuffs to the corners of the bed in a loose spread eagle, giving her enough slack to respond to her lovers, but not enough to do anything about what she was experiencing. Sally tugged at the ropes when Val was done, finding she was unable to bring her hands or feet together. She looked up at Gwen, nervousness showing in her eyes.

"Gwen?"

"Is this what you want, Sally?"

Biting her lip, Sally nodded her head.

Gwen ran a hand across one of Sally's nipples, causing the bound woman to breathe in sharply. "What should I do, Val?"

"There's not much to it, really. Just be the one in control. If you want something from her, tell her and make her do it. She will do anything you ask, even something you've never done with her before, even something she's said no to in the past. Won't you Sally?"

Sally nodded her head nervously.

"That's all she needs, for me to be the alpha female?"

"Yes, that's it. D/s is not all about pain and humiliation. Those can play a part, but it's really about control, who has it and who has given it up freely. Sally wants you to be in control."

"Yes, Gwen, I do. I want to make you happy tonight, but was afraid you would be repulsed by my needs."

"I thought your needs were for pain and being hurt. I can be in charge. That's not a problem." Gwen turned towards Val. "Do you want to make it a threesome?"

"Not tonight. My Master put me on restriction. Maybe next time?"

"You can count on it."

"If you want to position her differently, the ropes have clips on the ends that you can snap on and off. I'm going to sleep in the spare bedroom. You two have fun."

Valerie left as Gwen climbed on the bed, kneeling above Sally's head. She walked to the spare bedroom upstairs and climbed in for a restless night. Between being close to all the submission earlier in the evening to knowing what was going on below her, Valerie found herself horny and wide awake. It was over an hour before she fell asleep, and the sleep that came was not the most restful she had ever had.

Valerie woke to find Sally cuddled up against her in the spare bed. Valerie could smell sex in the air and figured that Gwen and Sally had enjoyed themselves the previous night, after all. Val rolled onto her side and began to caress Sally's sleeping form. Her lover instinctively spread her arms and legs in response. The sleeping body started to flush and her nipples hardened. Valerie could tell that Sally was climbing out of sleep, but was not there yet.

Valerie sat up and started to use two hands on the slave lying before her. Sally started to moan and wiggle.

"Don't move, Sally," Valerie whispered.

Sally's eyes flew open and she stopped moving. "Mistress?"

"Shhh. Don't move. Don't speak. I want to tease you this morning."

Valerie continued with her erotic assault on Sally, keeping her highly aroused for over an hour without release. By that time her nipples were hard enough that they looked like they should be hurting. Her eyes were leaking silent tears from the frustration and a wet spot had formed beneath her ass from all the pussy juice that had leaked out. Only then did she lean over and start to lick at Sally's breasts. She could see the tension in Sally's arms as she fought the impulse to grab Valerie's head and pull it tight. Val pressed down against Sally's tummy, reminding her to not move, then let her teeth softly graz Sally's nipple.

Sally's whole body was trembling with the effort to not react, with either motion or sound, to the pleasure being given her. Her cunt was crying silently for attention and Sally was convinced that she could not last more than another few minutes. Her breath was ragged and sweat was poring off her body, mixing with her tears and cunt fluids.

Valerie's hand reached down and stroked Sally's engorged pussy lips, evoking a whimper that was quickly cut off. After a few seconds of that exquisite torture, Val turned her head and whispered, "Cum for me, dear, cum hard and long."

Before she had finished, Sally let out a cry and started to buck against Valerie. Val brought her hand against Sally's erect and exposed clit and to coin a phrase, 'that was all she wrote'. Sally's body convulsed repeatedly and she wailed with relief, her body freed to react to the euphoric feelings washing through it. Her arms came up and grasped Valerie's head tightly to her breast until the orgasm passed.

"Thank you, Mistress, thank you so much."

"It was my pleasure. I love seeing you struggle and then cum hard."

"Mistress, may I pleasure you?"

"I'm on orgasm restriction. If I wasn't, I would have you pleasing me all day. How did it go with Gwen last night?"

"It was so wonderful. Once she realized that I just needed her to take control, she was fine with everything. She has never done bondage before, but liked the way you had me tied up last night."

"I thought something loose, yet confining would not be too overwhelming."

"I was even able to obey your orders. When she realized that I wanted to be her sex servant, she had me take her to climax several different ways. She even took advantage of my having to do anything she wanted and made me deep throat her strap on, something I've always begged off on before. She said that she has always wanted to see what it looked like from the guy's point of view."

"I'm glad it went well. We should clean up. I have some work to do and I want you to clean the entire house from top to bottom. You're not to dress at all today."

Valerie spent part of Sunday catching up on work that had gone by the way-side as a result of her time with the movie. Among other things, she put together a presentation for Yara's Leather Emporium that, she hoped, would address both the monetary and puritanical aspects of their advertising in Degrasi's publications. After a quick check on the production schedule that June had Fedexed to her house, she fired off an email to her secretary instructing June to set up a late afternoon appointment to give the presentation.

Once her work was done, she went online and checked a couple of slave blogs. First she checked out Kaya's Kinky Krafts. The slave apparently made the toys by hand and sold them by mail order. In addition to the Pillar of Pain that Charles had used on her earlier, Kaya sold a circle of pain, designed to torture pussies with clothes pins that pulled in every direction. There was a large selection of designer decorated clothes pins as well, with various words or pictures on them. Some were so cute that Val could not help but to order some.

With the new toys ordered (including a pillar) Valerie went to the web page for Master's Sex Toy. This submissive was the slave for a married man who would occasionally visit her and engage in what could only be described as extreme BDSM. Her sessions always left her with intense bruising and marking on her ass, breasts and legs. Her past entries included a few time lapsed views of the results of a session. The bruising, in some cases, was severe enough to take over two weeks to heal to invisibility. Valerie found herself unable to believe that anyone could accept such treatment, yet was also struck by how much the marks on Toy resembled what had happened to Sally under Sir Calvin's hands. She sent Toy a private email explaining that she was a submissive who found herself having to dominate her partner without safe words for the first time. She asked for help in understanding what it is that makes a person, such as Toy herself, seek out such harsh use. Val explained that her partner was experiencing desires that seemed similar to what Toy herself seemed to have and that she was desperate to understand those desires and how to minister to them. Val wasn't sure if she would receive a response, but hoped for the best.

The next morning saw the two lovers up earlier than they normally would have risen. Both wanted to be on the set when actual shooting started. They arrived at Francine's old house by 6:00 in the morning, only to find that the place was swarming with cast and crew. Valerie was discovering that movie crews started work even earlier than crews for advertising shoots. Just as amazing was the incredible difference to the house itself. The scaffolding was gone, the outer work finished. Inside, there was still construction going on, mostly in the final stages; painting and the like.

The two arrived just in time to see the scene where Valerie was meeting with Giggy and Rachael at Luigi's. Valerie remembered how lucky she felt at that time to have found a D/s couple so willing to talk openly about their lifestyle to someone they did not know. The scene was interrupted several times with minor problems in the shot. After Marlena Williams had giggle attacks three times in a row, Barry called a five minute break.

Tasha noticed Valerie nearby and walked over. "Valerie, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure Tasha. What would you like to know?"

"Samson has written, 'Valerie acts torn by the thought of a slave auction.' Just what were you torn about? What was going through your mind right then?"

Valerie thought back to those early days, days when she was not sure what it was she wanted. "I recall feeling both fear and longing. I was frightened of what could happen if I let myself be literally bought for someone else's sexual use. Yet, I was longing for it at the same time. It called to me. I needed to feel the helplessness of being someone else's property. Does that make sense?"

"I think so. Is it like wanting to ride the roller coaster and being afraid of it at the same time?"

"Yes, that is a great analogy. Some people choose to be safe and not ride, others choose to experience the thrill that terrifies them. Both want to and are afraid to."

"I see. You know, I'm beginning to understand what it is you're feeling with this stuff. I don't find it a turn on, but I think I know what you're feeling when you want it, a little at least."

"That's wonderful, Tasha. I never expected that any of you actors would embrace the lifestyle, but I had hoped that you could see where we are coming from."

"All right folks, let's try to wrap this scene up. Time is money!" Barry strode back into the set, his voice a loud, obnoxious presence.

The rest of the scene went well. Marlena had overcome her giggles and Tasha's portrayal of Valerie's inner struggle, sitting there contemplating the slave auction, was masterful. While the actress may well be full of herself, she was very good at her craft. Valerie thought she caught a trace of frustration on Barry's face when Tasha nailed the scene, but could not be sure.

They spent the rest of the day bouncing between two rooms of the house. Each time they returned to a room, it was a different location. Sally, not used to the speed that a shooting set ran, at found herself amazed each time she saw the depth of change in the short period of time that it took place. The scenes being shot were, for the most part, some of the more mundane scenes in the film; shots of Valerie at work, Valerie and Sally's first date (that brought tears to both their eyes), and the like.

The day was a long one. Barry Gaskin had a schedule of shots he wanted to finish that day, and he made sure that they were, indeed, finished. It was 7:00 that evening when they wrapped up. The ladies learned that the actors and actresses showed up for make up at 4:00 in the morning. Valerie could now understand how they intended to film in a mere nine days. Both women were ready for sleep by the time they had eaten dinner. June had left a voice message on Valerie's cell phone that she was scheduled to give her presentation at Yara's at 3:00 on Wednesday.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05b



The second day of shooting focused on several of the outdoor scenes. They seemed to take forever to film. Not only were there the delays caused by trying to get the scene just right, but outside noises seemed to intrude at just the wrong times. Their first major confrontation with Barry occurred this day.

A two block section of city street had been constructed in the mammoth backyard that had once belonged to Francine. It was here that Tasha was to recreate Valerie's "whore walk" that was part of her second weekend with Charles. The walk and the safe word transfer were the only two parts of that weekend's submission that Samson had felt needed to be included. Barry was telling Tasha how to make the walk.

"Okay Tasha. Your Master has dressed you like a cheap whore and ordered you to walk several blocks through prostitute row to a seedy dive. You're turned on. You like the idea of being taken for a hooker, that every man that sees you is driven wild with lust for you."

"Barry, that's not what the script says. I'm supposed to be mortified, ashamed of how I look and how people are reacting to me."

"I don't care. We need to be believable. Remember, you're a pervert who gets off on being humiliated and degraded. What's one more degradation?"

Valerie lost it. "That's a pretty asinine thing to say."

"I don't recall asking for your opinion, Ms. Burbon."

"You still need to hear it. This is me you're talking about. I was mortified by the way I was dressed and how I was being reacted to."

"Do you actually expect me to believe that you have no problem letting yourself be used as a sex toy by your 'Master'," Barry quipped, venom dripping off the word 'Master,' "yet you are horrified at the thought that total strangers might think of you as a whore? Give me a break!"

Every eye was focused on Valerie and Barry, waiting to see how the fight would end. Valerie felt Sally's hand on her shoulder, a reminder to hold her temper. "I appreciate the compliment," Val responded after a few seconds of thought. "It's nice to know that you think I'm incapable of hypocrisy. After all, that's what it was. I thought there was something wrong with selling one's body for money while I was giving myself fully to someone for free."

Barry looked at Valerie with a smoldering anger. He turned away, ignoring her. "Tasha! We'll go with how it's written. Let's see some fear and humiliation." He turned back to his chair. "Places everyone! Let's shoot this thing!"

Valerie knew that things would only get worse. Barry Gaskin's prejudices were making themselves felt in the production. Not every disagreement would be solved with a clever turning around of his meaning. Valerie's stomach began to knot up at the thought of what he would do to this film. Val knew that she had to talk to Milton Freeman again.

The shooting day went long again and the two lovers did not arrive home until after 9:00. She left a message with Milton, letting him know that Barry was actively trying to change the focus of the film. Noticing signs of nervousness in Sally, Valerie had Sally sleep with her hands bound to the headboard of their bed. For her own part, Valerie tried to ignore the ever increasing need she was feeling. The next morning came all too soon.

After making sure she had what she needed for her presentation that afternoon, Valerie, along with Sally, left for the house. This day's shooting schedule was probably one of the ones most prone to Barry's hostility. Many of the morning shots were expositional scenes where the nature of BDSM was discussed on screen. These included two of Valerie's interviews during her initiation and her talks with Lilly both within the mansion and outside it.

The first of Valerie's interviews went well. Of the scenes, this was one of the most straight forward, being primarily Valerie explaining to Charles and the others how and why she came to be there that weekend. There were some dialogue changes, but the effect was minimal enough that Valerie did not feel like challenging them. She decided to limit her battles to ones that were critical.

During that scene, her cell phone vibrated and the caller ID indicated Milton was on the line. Valerie left Sally on the set and walked to a private place to return his call.

"Milton, this is Valerie."

"Val darling, what have you done to upset Barry so much?"

"Me upset Barry? Milton, he is trying to ruin the film, change its focus so that the entire D/s community is shown to be deviants that any rational person would avoid like the plague."

Valerie could hear the exasperation in his sigh. "Tell me what you think he's done this time."

Val did not like the sound of his request. She explained the change Barry tried to make yesterday and how it changed the very nature of the scene. She emphasized the condescension and venom in Barry's voice whenever he talked to her.

Milton's response was not encouraging. "Val, Val, Val. You're overreacting. The change you described would not have a significant impact on how the film, or your character was perceived. There are lots of women who fantasize about being prostitutes. That's why Pretty Woman was so popular. I've worked with Barry Gaskin on several films and he is a master at translating a writer's and producer's vision to film. He will do the same for this film."

"Damn it, Milton! He flat out told me that he intends to make a cautionary film about the dangers in BDSM and the people who are part of it. You have to do something to stop him."

"Valerie Burbon, I have known Barry for years and the man you're describing is not the man that I know. If you can't work with Barry then maybe I need to replace you."

"Then you don't know him as well as you think. He's sabotaging the film. He had two of his goons buy the wrong whip for the whipping scenes. It would have left your actresses a bleeding wreck." Valerie interrupted his attempt to answer with, "And I know it was deliberate because he gave specific instructions about which whip to buy without telling your prop person what he was doing. If you don't believe me, just ask Melanie White. She was there."

"All right! I still think you're overreacting, but I will talk to Barry and remind him that this movie will be to my and Samson's vision or it will be reshot."

"Thanks Milton, that's all I'm asking."

By the time Valerie had returned to the set, shooting had stopped and Barry was on his phone. From the look on his face, the director was livid. Valerie smiled as one of his responses was a little too loud.

"She's a lying bitch cunt!"

His voice dropped in volume as heads swiveled to look at him. Soon, he was off the phone and stomping back towards the set. He made no attempt to hide his anger towards Valerie. Tension filled the set for the rest of the morning. Valerie, with her experience in filming ads, could see that something had to give. Barry, whether on purpose, or simply as a result of his anger, was not putting any effort into his directing.

Many people do not realize how important a director is to a film. It was the director who made sure that all of the cast and crew were on the same page during a scene. He provided vital feedback to the actors. Without that feedback, they could never be certain if they were achieving the affects they were shooting for. If Barry Gaskin's refusal to actually direct continued for very long, the movie would suffer.

Tasha came over to the couple during the break between two of the scenes.

"Valerie, do you know what that phone call was? Why is Barry so mad at you?"

"The call was probably from Milton. He called me and I told him how Barry is trying to ruin the film."

"Ruin the film? What are you talking about?"

"Tasha, he is trying to make changes that will change the entire focus of the movie. Do you realize that he sent two guys out to specifically buy a whip that would have bloodied you?"

"Oh my God! Why would he do that?"

"He wants this movie to be a cautionary tale, warning against the dangers of D/s."

"It's his third wife, isn't it?"

"Maybe, I couldn't say for sure."

"Whatever, if he doesn't start taking hand in things again, this picture will be ruined anyway. It seems like his anger is focused on you. Can Sally handle things today?"

"Sally? Can you keep an eye on things, push when Barry gets it wrong?"

"I don't know, Mistress. I'm not sure I'm up to confrontations right now."

"Actually," Tasha interrupted with a raised eyebrow at the honorific Sally used towards Val, "it would be best if she didn't push. We need Barry to calm down and any push from either of you will prevent that."

"Then what do you want me to do?" Sally asked.

"Brief us. I've seen Barry like this before. We'll be breaking for an early lunch soon. Sally, can you give us an idea of how to present the scenes for today?"

"I think so. Valerie and I have talked about the events in them enough times: I know how she was feeling and thinking." Sally's relief at not having to be forceful was palpable.

"I guess that will work. I'll head to the office and see if I can catch up on some work there. I'll leave you the car, Sally. I have to submit tonight and will not be able to give you a ride home. I'll take cabs. Wait up for me, okay?"

"Yes Mistress."

"Has something changed between you two? I thought Sally was the dominant partner."

"Yes, though it's hard to explain. Suffice it to say that Sally is my submissive right now."

"I had no idea that these relationships could be so fluid."

"D/s relationships are just that: relationships. They are defined by different dynamics than a vanilla relationship, but they have all the qualities of any relationship, including the mutability. It does keep things from being boring."

"I see. You'd better go, Valerie. The sooner Barry cools off the better."

"Okay. I'll see you tonight, Sally."

"I'm looking forward to it, Mistress."

Valerie left with four hours before her meeting at Yara's Leather Emporium. When she walked into the Delgrasi building, Erika looked up with surprise.

"Valerie! I thought you were going to be out of the office all week."

"I was. The director and I are so not getting along. He wants to turn the movie into some sort of warning about how sick and dangerous D/s is. That's not the movie that Milton Freeman and I talked about."

"That sucks. So you were kicked off the set?"

"Not exactly, I called the producer on him and now he's so mad at me that his anger is affecting the movie. I'm letting Sally watch over things while I give him a chance to cool off."

"Sally? Aren't you dominating her right now?"

"Yes. It's tough, not what I'm used to."

"Master Damien has us dominate each other all the time. Would you like some help sometime?"

"Maybe, I'll keep it in mind. It's made more difficult now that she doesn't have a safe word."

"You know I don't have a safe word, right?"

"I know. In fact, I should pick your brain about that."

"How about lunch tomorrow?"

"Sounds great. I'll pick you up at noon."

Valerie spent the next three hours going over an accumulation of correspondence. Fortunately, all of it was routine and had not suffered from the delay in her responses. Included was an ad from Hellfire Pictures promoting one of their new movies. Valerie nodded to herself, pleased that her association with the film was having at least one benefit.

At 2:30, Val took a cab to Yara's and was shown into the meeting room ten minutes before her presentation was scheduled to start. She went over her material one more time and verified that the interface in the room was online and talking to her computer. Harmony Anders led five other people into the room precisely at 3:00.

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce Valerie Burbon of Delgrasi Publications. Ms. Burbon?"

"Thank you Mrs. Anders. Ladies and gentlemen, Delgrasi publications represents access to a vast untapped market for Yara's leather care products. Leather products of various types are a staple in the fetish world. Naturally, like leather enthusiasts everywhere, the leather fetishist wants to take the best possible care of his or her leather. So far, however, the sexual leather enthusiast has had to deal with the twin demons of restricted availability and predatory pricing.

"There are very few businesses that a person can walk into and find sensual products for sale. Additionally, most of the stores that do carry, and let's be honest about what we're talking about here, sex toys, are not places that most people, not even most fetishists would want to walk into. I know I would not want to. That means that the vast majority of fetishists buy most or all of their products online. If I can bring your attention to the survey data on the screen?" Valerie called up the first of her graphics.

"Delgrasi conducts periodic surveys of its readership in an ongoing attempt to make our magazines just what the readership wants. These include determining their buying habits. I've included data from six of our magazines; Second Skin, Leather Digest, The Sensible Submissive, Mastering, Bondage Monthly, and The Pony's Paddock. As you can see, Leather Digest readers have the lowest percentage of readers who buy all of their leather care products online at 47%. The over all percentage is 67% including 90% of the readers of The Sensible Submissive. The next screen translates these percentages into actual numbers of readers. These six magazines represent a potential market of 560,000 customers for your products, and this is only the readers who buy all of their care products online. If we add the readers who buy some of their care products online, as is shown by this graphic, the potential customer base is well over 1,000,000 people.

"Yara's is poised to snatch up these customers and make them a committed clientele. Take a look at this next graphic. Here we have a closer look at a subset of the survey data, specifically, for this city alone. Notice that less than 25% of the combined readership in our city buys their leather care products online. Instead, they use a local business, and list both price and quality as the reasons. The store they list is overwhelmingly Yara's Leather Emporium. The fetish community has already sampled your products and voted with their money." Valerie was especially proud of suggesting that the survey data include zip codes and written in sites/stores. Changing the online survey to include those fields may well have been worth it, if she could land this contract.

"Let's look at the reasons why this might be. This is an ad for leather care products in a competitor's magazine. I'm sure the incredibly poor quality and taste of the ad is glaringly apparent to you. More importantly, notice the prices." 

Valerie paused as the board members reacted just as Harmony Anders had. Expressions of disbelief abounded and one of the men asked, "Ms. Burbon, do you expect us to believe that anyone would charge such a price?"

"No sir, I don't expect you to believe me. I have brought copies of the magazine in question. I've blacked out the cover and marked the page with the ad with a paper clip." Valerie handed out the copies of the magazine to the members of the board. She smiled (with her back turned) when she saw the male members of the board perusing the other pages of the magazine, several pictorial bondage spreads.

After giving them a chance to view the ad and comment among themselves, Valerie continued with her presentation. "The last question to answer is whether Delgrasi's readership is the kind of customer that Yara's wants to attract. The simple answer is that they already are your customers. As I've already shown you, when Yara's is a choice, it is overwhelmingly the choice of fetishists. I dare say that they have not been noticeably distinct from your other customers.

"Even given that you already cater to fetishists, does Yara's Leather Emporium want to seek these customers out. I contend that not only do you want to, but you have a moral obligation to do so." Valerie pulled two whips out of her briefcase. "These two whips are typical of those used in Bondage, Discipline, Sadism and Masochism or BDSM. One has been treated with Yara's signature leather oil. The other has been treated with the leather oil that was advertised in the magazine I showed you. Examine the strands of both whips."

Valerie passed the whips around. She watched as looks of disgust appeared on faces at the rough and cracked leather on the whip treated with the competitor's product. Once all the board members had had a chance to make their comparisons, she went back into her presentation.

"If these were leather jackets, the condition of the one would simply be sad. With whips, on the other hand, the poor condition could very well lead to injury to the person being whipped. Trust me when I say that no submissive is looking to be injured by our dominants. Yes, there is some pain involved and some marking, but we are not looking to be permanently scarred. There are an untold number of fetishists out there for which this," Val held up the ill kept whip, "is the best leather care they have available. By advertising in our publications, you stand able to make the fetish lifestyle that much safer than it already is. That you can make a profit while doing so is just so much better. Are there any questions?"

"Ms. Burbon," asked an elderly gentleman at the end of the table, "can you address the moral issues involved with seeking out people involved in perversion for our products?"

Valerie cringed inside at the word perversion. She took a deep breath and gave the response she had prepared. "No, I cannot. Simply put, the moral issues are not clear, not for fetishes. If someone chooses to view the private sexual activities of consenting adults, activities that endanger no one else in any way, as immoral, there is nothing I can say that will dissuade them. The simple fact is that none of the readers of our publications are any more predatory than those most people in our society consider normal. Those of us who choose to live a fetish lifestyle are no different than anyone else. We go to church as often as so called 'normal' people. We have families. We run the political spectrum from flaming liberal to stuck in the mud conservative. We eat out, go to movies, take walks in the park, fall in love, and yes, we have sex. The only problem the moralists have with us is how we choose to express our sexuality. If this company's corporate judgment is that there is something inherently evil in those choices, then perhaps I was wrong, and Delgrasi does not wish to seek out your advertising business after all. Does Yara's ask its customers if they're adulterers, or if they've broke any law? No, you would never do so, and it would be inappropriate for you to do so. Yara's is in the business of selling leather goods, not policing morals and lifestyles."

The man who asked the question had his lips pressed firmly together, his hostility and anger obvious to any onlooker. The other people around the table showed varying degrees of firmness and thoughtfulness. Valerie knew that the decision would be close. There were several other questions about advertising rates and the like. Valerie was able to answer those questions easily, but could not shake the nervousness. While she had invested months of preparation in this pitch, she could do nothing but stand by what she had said. If Yara's chose to reject advertising with Delgrasi on moral grounds, then good riddance.

"Ms. Burbon," Mrs. Andres said, "thank you for your presentation. The board will take your request under advisement and let you know of our decision by the early next week. Let me show you out."

Harmony led Val out of the room. Once they were out of earshot, she added, "Valerie, that was an excellent presentation. Your answer to the morals question was gutsy, but I can see how it would be the only answer that would be honest. The vote will be close, but I think you will have your contracts. I'll be in touch."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 05b



"Thank you Mrs. Anders. I hope you're right. As you can tell, I've been preparing for this for some time. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you."

Valerie had not felt this worn out by a presentation since her job interview with Delgrasi six months ago. She looked at her watch and saw that she had been speaking for 90 minutes. With only that much time to be at where she had been ordered to be, she called Sally's cell. She was pleasantly surprised when Sally answered.

"Sally, this is Val."

"Mistress, it's good to hear your voice."

"How has the movie been going?"

"The director seems to be okay now. The scenes have gone okay. Samson showed up to watch some of them. I guess Gaskin wasn't willing to cross them."

"That's a relief. I'm not going to be back on the set tonight. Are you going to be okay on your own?"

"I don't know, Mistress. Can you use me tonight?"

"Probably not. I have to submit myself tonight."

Sally's sigh was full of sadness. Valerie felt her heart breaking. Then she remembered something that Charles had mentioned, and that she had seen described on the Master's Sex Toy blog. "Sally, there is something I want you to do."

"Yes, Mistress?" The excitement in Sally's voice was evident.

"You're to put a dozen clothes pins on each of your breasts, along with a thirteenth on the nipple itself. Leave them there until you have brought yourself to four orgasms. Then remove them all within one minute."

Sally's breath drew in with a gasp. "Yes, Mistress."

"Oh, and Sally, use the video camera to record it all so I can see it, every pin going on, every orgasm and every pin coming off."

"Yes. Mistress. Thank you, Mistress."

"I love you, Sally."

"I love you, Mistress."

Valerie hung up and caught a quick meal at a nearby Denny's. Afterwards, she pulled out the business card she had received eight months ago after her initiation. Harry Driscol was one of the few people outside the BDSM lifestyle who knew of her participation before she had been outed. The discreet cab driver had provided a safe ride to and from sessions she was unable to drive herself to on several occasions.

"Harry, this is Valerie Burbon. Are you available for a ride?"

"Ms. Burbon. I should clear in 10 minutes. Where should I pick you up?"

"I'm at the Denny's on 32nd. Do you know that one?"

"I'm a cab driver. We live at Denny's and 7-11. I'll be there in 20 minutes. Is that soon enough?"

"Yeah, I'll be inside."

Twenty minutes later Valerie was climbing into the blue and red cab. He pulled in front of the house with five minutes to spare.

"Do you mind if I strip first? I'm supposed to be at the door naked."

"That's fine. Do you want me to pick you up later?"

"Yes, I'll need you at 10:00. Can you hang onto the clothes for me?"

"Sure thing, try not to have too much fun."

"In these cases, I don't have much of a choice. Thanks a lot, Harry. You don't know how much easier this makes life. I'll see you in three hours."

Valerie climbed out of the cab and walked towards the house. The house was fairly small, though still two stories and a basement. She looked around and saw that there were hedges that would allow her some semblance of privacy. As per her orders, she walked naked up to the door and knocked.

*

Thanks to D. for the wonderful editing job. Remember, I do want your feedback, especially the constructive criticism. It helps, however, if you include examples. For instance, several people have commented on my dialogue being overly formal. If you could give me examples, I could see what to change to improve it. Thanks for reading my stories. I hope to have new chapters up in a couple of weeks.



Stranger Than Truth Ch. 06



Chapter Six

Confrontation

The door opened to reveal a younger woman dressed in a leather skin suit. Valerie fought to control her facial expressions as the tight garment pressed the far too large a body out of the available spaces. The woman was wearing something at least two sizes too small and Val wasn't sure how she was able to breathe.

"Hi, you must be our submissive for the night. Come on in." The woman turned her head as Valerie walked through the doorway. "Tom! She's here!" she yelled back into the house. Turning back to Val, she smiled and pointed with her hand, "If you'll go this way, Sir Tom is in the main room."

Valerie walked down the entranceway, entering a living room with six other people in it. She recognized Sir Tom, but the rest of the people were strangers. She had a feeling she had seen a couple of them somewhere else, but could not place them. She knelt in front of Sir Tom and bowed her head.

"Master, I am here to serve you."

"Very good, Valerie." Turning to the rest of the assembled people, he introduced her. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Valerie. She will be our submissive tonight. You will not, however, be able to request anything of her beyond tonight's training."

The men and women in the room nodded their heads. Val found herself wondering just what was going on. It sounded very much like some kind of dominant training seminar. She smiled at the thought. She knew that Surmi sometimes trained dominants in specific techniques, usually in inflicting pain.

One of the men spoke up. "Tom, what's with the marks on her back? Is she a real masochist?"

"That's a question best answered by Valerie herself. Val?"

"No, Master, I don't think of myself as a masochist. I don't enjoy pain for it's own sake. The scars are the result of my safe word being violated several months ago. You might have read about it in the news."

"Oh, you're that Valerie. I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you."

"That's all right. It's nice to not be recognized every once in a while."

The woman who let her in asked, "Valerie, are you going to truly submit to all of us?"

"I don't know. I wasn't told what would be the order of the night. My orders are to submit to whomever was here, but, like any submissive, I reserve the option to refuse if I feel that what's happening is unsafe or beyond my or my Master's limits."

"Perhaps I should explain what is going to happen," Tom interjected. "This is a training session for people who have a desire to be dominants. Some of them already have submissives of their own that they don't feel comfortable bringing here for everyone to see, while others are still looking for a partner." Val nodded her head at the confirmation of her suspicion. "Tonight, I'll be showing them how to bring a submissive that allows pain to orgasm from just pain. You, Valerie, should expect to be on the receiving end to a wide number of instruments, and to have quite a few orgasms. That's why you weren't to drive. You were obedient, weren't you?"

"Yes, Master, I took a cab and will be picked up in three hours, as per your instructions."

"Good. Okay, folks, let's head downstairs."

Once the group was in the basement, Valerie saw that Sir Tom had set up a small dungeon there. It was the size of one of the play rooms at Charles' mansion, plenty big enough for the planned activities. In addition to anchor points on two of the walls, there was a padded bench over which submissives could be bent; a St. Andrew's Cross; and a set of chains suspended from the ceiling.

Tom turned to Val, asking, "Valerie, as a formality, will you submit to being the training slave for my students?"

"Yes, Master, I would be honored to assist in their training."

"Step up to the cross." While he bound her in place, he continued with his instructions to both Valerie and the trainees. "Valerie, you may cum as often as you can. I expect you're happy to hear that order." Val nodded, smiling at the chance to finally cum. "The first thing to remember when trying to deliver a pain orgasm is that it will be easier when the submissive is bound firmly. If he or she has to concentrate on holding still, they will have a harder time climaxing."

He had finished binding Valerie. Her arms and legs were tied down at the joints, though not directly on them. Her waist was also bound to the cross, leaving her head as the only part of her that she could move. He took a crop and, using it as a pointer, continued. "As you can see, Valerie is very ready for tonight's activities. She has been on orgasm restriction for about a week and, I suspect, a little desperate." Val's nod confirmed his suspicions. "Notice how her body is already showing signs of arousal, before she has been touched. Valerie, is this a normal response for you?"

"Yes, Master. I'm usually aroused by the prospect of serving and being used by my Master. This happens even when I don't know if I'll be allowed to cum."

"It's possible to tease the slave for a while, caressing her body before the more vigorous stimulation begins, but in this case, she is well and truly ready for us to start. Now, I'm going to start with the easiest instrument for provoking a paingasm," he said, using the term one of the trainees had come up with in an earlier training session. "Do you remember what that is?"

One of the men answered, "That would be the horse hair flogger."

At the mention of that particular instrument, Valerie moaned in anticipation.

"It seems our little slave has experienced this one before. Like a man, there are numerous areas that can stimulate arousal under the whip's attention: for example, the thighs."

With that, he started swirling the instrument and brought it against the inside of Valerie's thighs. The stings of the horse hair brought another moan form Valerie's lips. Tom's lashes were gentler than those that Sally and Charles had used. Val could feel her legs warming and the tingles from the strokes were almost a tickle. Val's legs twitched at the blows, her nerves being prompted to activity.

Tom changed the types of strokes, lashing the whip back and forth against the thighs from one to another. Valerie's excitement grew and she could feel the moisture forming on and dripping from her cunt. When he stopped after several minutes, Valerie groaned at the loss and whispered, "Please Master."

Tom ignored her and handed the whip to one of the women. "Go ahead and try it yourself. Be sure to leave her pussy untouched for now."

The woman flicked the lashes against Valerie's thighs. Her technique was less precise and Valerie let out a couple of cries of pain as the lashes struck harder than she had felt in the past. The dominant responded to the cries by easing up her strokes.

"No, don't do that. A few cries of pain should not dissuade you from what you are doing unless it was not your intention to cause any pain. Remember, we will be giving her orgasms from pain itself."

The lashes increased in strength again, causing more cries of pain. She kept up the whipping for several minutes before turning the whip over to the next dominant. By the time all six had taken a turn at whipping her legs, Valerie was trembling and tears were running down her face. She felt like an intense heat was concentrated between her legs and she was moaning and crying at the same time. When the sensations stopped, Valerie found herself begging, "Masters, Mistresses, please don't stop. More please, may I have more please?"

Tom took up his commentary again. "Notice that Valerie, while highly aroused, has not cum. Every slave is different, and you will need to use those differences in your approach. In spite of the deep coloration and intense pain that Valerie is no doubt feeling, she is begging for more. This is a sign that you're on the right track. I have it on good authority that Valerie does not enjoy pain in and of itself." He turned to Valerie. "Slave, have you ever begged for pain before?"

Through her gasps, she managed to answer, "No Master. I've asked for hard use, but never pain directly."

"Do you want more pain?"

"Yes, Master, please."

"Very well, our next tool is a cat, though not the one most submissives are used to." He held up a small cat with lashes that were no more than four inches long. "This is sometimes called a pussy whip, though it can be used on just about any part of the body. Last week, I showed you how to use it on a man's cock to provoke an orgasm. Tonight, I'm going to use it on Valerie's breasts."

With that, he made a figure eight motion across Valerie's breasts. The pussy whip struck the tops and undersides of her mounds, but left her nipples untouched for now. Valerie could not believe the sensations she was experiencing, so different from what she encountered under Charles, yet neither better nor worse. Her body was reacting with even greater arousal, each stroke of the small whip acting like a rough caress from a lover. She was moaning with desire, her nipples rock hard points desperate for their own attention. Her pussy was empty and complaining mightily about that unwelcome state. Knowing that it was not to be filled any time soon did not make it easy to bear.

When he changed his attack and brought the small whip down on her nipples, moving back and forth between the two, she shrieked and tugged at her bonds. Her body convulsed and her breathing became ragged.

"Do you want me to stop, slave?"

"No! Please, don't stop," she screamed, pleading for the time to reach her goal. 

Tom kept up his strokes as he talked to the watching dominants. "Our subject is on the edge of climax. If I were to stop now, she would promise anything for me to start again." Val's nod confirmed his statement. "Today, however, I will force an orgasm form her without ever touching her pussy." His strokes increased in intensity, but not enough to break the pleasures building in Valerie's body. A few minutes later, Valerie screamed with long wail as her body shook within its bindings. Everyone could see her cunt lips quivering in her climax, fluid leaking to run down her legs.

Tom stopped whipping her breasts and stood back to observe Val's body. Her breasts were red with hundreds of little whip marks. The rest of her body was fading from the redness it had taken on from the flush of orgasm. When her climax started to fade, Valerie's head hung down in exhaustion, sweat providing a sheen for her body. As she caught her breath, she was aware of the ache in her cunt, the need for attention at the center of her sexual being.

"Master, that was so good. That's never happened before."

"I know. Would you like more?"

"Oh God, yes I would love more Master. My pussy, can I have touch on my pussy?"

"That's up to my students." Turning to the six dominants, he instructed, "Each of you will be bringing Valerie to an orgasm. You can use any of the instruments in the room and you may whip any part of her body, except the head of course. Remember, the secret is to keep the pain levels at that borderline between pain and pleasure, enough to sting and hurt a little, but light enough to allow the arousal she is feeling to grow. Remember what you wanted when you were practicing on one another. Shelly, you go first."

The overweight woman who had answered the door picked up a horse hair flogger and stood in front of Val. She started the instrument spinning and brought it within range of Valerie's belly. Shelly had superb control over the distances she was using. Only the very tips of the strands were touching Val's belly, each contact a rough caress that lasted for far too short a time. The straps on her waist and under her breasts prevented Val from reaching for more contact.

Valerie felt her body flushing again as the light, yet painful, strokes were driving her mad with lust. Her tears were flowing, more from the need to climax again than from the pain itself. She found herself begging unabashedly for more, for her pussy to be whipped, for her orgasm. Shelly kept her below the threshold for ten minutes, then, with a flick of her wrist, brought the hairs of the whip up against her cunt, setting off Valerie's second orgasm of the night.

Between each student, Val was given a five minute rest and water to drink. Her aroma filled the room with the smell of lust and sex. The second person to take her to that wonderful place was a man named Steven (not the same Steven that served Charles with her). He used the pussy whip on her pussy directly, sending Val's body into arousal overload. He seemed to be able to balance the pain and pleasure perfectly, denying her an orgasm for quite some time. In the back of her mind, she wondered just how novice these six dominants really were. They certainly had enough skill to torture her exquisitely.

The next woman, Cynthia, selected a cat with 18 inch strands. With her wits about her again, thanks to the break, Valerie found herself wondering how such a large whip could give her an orgasm. Cynthia started to twirl the larger cat just like the pussy whip had been spun. Valerie had felt the weight of such a cat before and was shocked that anyone of Cynthia's small stature (she stood just under five feet) could have the strength to control the whip so well.

When the whip hit Val, she cried out in pain. The ends of the strands hit her left side from her waist to her armpit, and then trailed across her torso with some speed. The effect was a scratching sensation across her belly and breast. The whip's spin brought the lashes against Valerie's body once every couple of seconds. Valerie was not conscious of the impacts being pleasurable, yet she soon realized that her pussy was aching for touch again. When her entire left side had turned beet red, Cynthia reversed the spin and started on her right side.

It was then that Valerie's left breast felt a craving for touch. The pain was letting up on that side and Val realized that she missed it. Soon the feelings on her left were merely tingles as the pain on the right increased with each lash. Valerie's pussy was dripping and she started to beg to be fucked. Her cries were ignored and the whipping continued.

When Cynthia changed her strokes again, it was to lash back and forth. By this time, Val was delirious from the combined pain and arousal and could not see the muscles in Cynthia's arm rippling from her effort to keep the strokes from being harsh. These new strokes were actually softer than the ones from the spinning, but Valerie's nerves were more sensitive now, and they felt more intense. That intensity sent Val's arousal soaring until she was on the edge, sobbing and pleading for her orgasm.

With a single upward stroke, the lashes struck Valerie's cunt directly, though with almost no force at all, and the bound submissive came, her body straining against the ropes holding her in place. Her cries were almost inaudible, her lungs unable to find enough breath for a loud scream. When she came out of the climax, she whispered, "Yellow light."

"What is it, Valerie?" Tom asked.

"May I have a longer break, unbound. I'm sore and close to my limit. A longer break and being able to move will allow me cope with more."

"Of course. I think Bob wants you bound backwards anyway. Let's take a 15 minute break, give our submissive a chance to get the kinks out, use the facilities and maybe have a snack."

They took Valerie down and let her relax on a sofa that was against one wall. As Val relaxed and nibbled on some cheese and crackers with lots of water, Shelly joined her.

"It's Valerie, isn't it?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"I have to admit, I'm impressed. We started our training in paingasms on ourselves and I could not handle more than one, it was so intense. How do you do it?"

"I honestly don't know. I've always enjoyed sex and have lots of stamina. My Mistress, Sally, gave me nine orgasms in an hour at our hand fasting several months ago. It was sheer exhaustion that caused me to red light."

"I want to thank you for being willing to let us use you tonight. It's not easy to find a submissive who is willing to let several people use her at the same time, especially when she doesn't know any of us. This is kind of our final exam on giving orgasms through pain."

"It's an honor. I thought you seemed more experienced than a beginner. I wish this kind of training was available to every new dominant. Of course, I agreed because my Master trusts Sir Tom, so I do as well. How long have you known you have dominant leanings?"

"I've had the feelings for as long as I remember. I've only had the chance to act on them in the last year or so. Ironically, it was my boyfriend's idea, one he tried to hide from me. I found his collection of sex magazines and almost all of them were about people being submissive. He thought he had lost me when he came home and found me going through them. Instead, that night, we had the best sex we had ever had."

"I'm so glad it worked out for you. A friend of mine was not as lucky. Her boyfriend beat her up when he found out she was a dominant." Valerie's face was pained at the memory of Harv's cruelty and the resultant safe word violation it had caused for her.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. You must have cared for her a lot. I can see how much it hurts you to remember what happened to her."

"Yes, I do care about her. I love her like a sister."

Sir Tom returned, asking, "Valerie, are you ready for some more paingasms?"

"Yes, Master. I'm looking forward to them."

They bound Valerie again, this time with her back facing the crowd and her face against the wall. Bob, the next to use her, selected a paddle, much like a ping pong paddle and started working over Valerie's ass. The swats he inflicted were quite light, as paddles are capable of very high levels of pain. At first, Val felt only a warming in her ass cheeks that spread slowly to encompass her legs and pussy. As they continued, the pain of repeated blows started to make itself felt. By then, however, her cunt was well and truly aroused and the pain only egged those feelings on.

When he picked up the force a little, Val's pussy started to be forced against the wood of the cross. Each blow caused her cunt and clit to be stimulated a little. The build up was slow, but eventually, there was a blow that sent her over the edge, her clit rubbed against the smooth wood one last time. She cried out as the pleasure washed over her body in slow waves. For all the pain in her ass, the orgasm was one of the gentlest she had felt while under submission.

The third man, Gerald, wanted her turned around again, so she was rebound. Her breath caught as she saw him select a rattan cane for his turn. If not for her recent auction experience with Fred and Daphne, Val would have used her safe word right then. That earlier experience had showed her that canes did not have to be the severe pain inducer that they were in Charles' hand.

Gerald saw her tense up and asked, "Are you okay, Valerie?"

"A little frightened, Master. Under my Master, canes are extremely painful."

"I know they can be, but I think you're in for a pleasant surprise."

"Thank you for reassuring me."

With that, Gerald placed the cane between her legs and started to tap it back and forth between her thighs in a slow, steady pace. Each of the strokes, coming five seconds apart, stung and caused her muscles in her legs to twitch. The long gap allowed Val to feel the full effect of each stroke individually; a sharp tingle, followed by a surge of mild pain that faded to warmth. The warmth from each stroke added to that of the previous strokes, allowing the heat to spread out from her thighs to encompass her legs and pussy.

Slowly, the strength of each stroke increased, yet Valerie didn't seem to notice the greater pain levels that were being inflicted on her. Her eyes closed and Val grimaced at each stroke, all the while the euphoric smile on her face grew. 




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 06



Off to the side, Shelly whispered to Bob, "He's going to do it again. She's on the verge of subspace."

In fact, Val had entered subspace for the second time in her life. The steadily increasing levels of sensation sent her body into a euphoric state where every touch was a source of pleasure. Valerie was still aware of the pain from each stroke, but her nervous system lumped those sensations in with the sexual ones, resulting in the pain itself pushing her arousal higher.

By the time Valerie had reached her orgasm, each strike from the cane was leaving a near welt on her flesh that would take days to fade. At the moment of climax, Gerald struck her pussy lightly and the incipient cum exploded from her. Val wailed in ecstasy, tugging against her ropes with her head thrown back. It took over a minute for the last vestiges of the climax to fade. When they did, she felt the pain again.

"Ow! Oh God, my legs hurt."

"Will you be okay?"

"Yes, it's a shock to come out of an orgasm and feel the pain again."

By the end of the last break, the pain had faded to a dull ache, though Val knew that walking would be an experience for the next day or so. The last woman, Betsy, approached Valerie carrying a small box with wires leading out of it. She recognized the battery powered device and the TENS pads at the ends of the wires.

"Mistress, please?" she pleaded.

"Are you using a safe word?"

With a gulp, Val shook her head. Electrical play was not one of Valerie's favorites. The only pleasure she ever experienced from electricity was the joy of accepting what she did not like. She had ended every previous electrical game unaroused and crying. Betsy attached the conductive pads to the sides of Val's cunt and just above her clit. Val held her breath as Betsy turned on the unit and a small current started to flow.

Valerie cried softly and jerked a little. Betsy turned the dial up and the current increased. Valerie's crying became more intense and she was tensing against the shocks that the unit was sending through her pussy. When Betsy pushed another button and a series of random increases and decreases in current started, Valerie started to plead, sobbing while she did.

"Please Mistress, no more. It hurts too much. Please stop, I can't take it."

The shocks continued for a few more minutes, until Tom noticed that Valerie was no longer producing lubrication in her pussy. He walked up and put his hand on Betsy's shoulder, shaking his head. She turned the unit off and Val sagged in her restraints.

"Valerie, were you experiencing any pleasurable sensations at all?"

Through her tears, Val answered, "No Master, just pain, horrible pain."

Turning to the others, Tom explained, "This is something we should always be aware of. Every submissive is different. Valerie apparently does not receive any pleasure from electrical stimulation. There will be others that you will encounter who cannot find pleasure in other types of sensations. Not every submissive can be given paingasms, though I think more can than believe they can." Turning back to Valerie, he asked, "Valerie, if you knew that shocking you would bring Betsy joy, would you accept it?"

Valerie gasped, then answered, through her tears, "Yes, Master. I love to please my dominant and would be willing to suffer for her pleasure. I'm afraid I would use my safe word fairly quickly, though."

"That's not going to happen tonight. There's a half hour before your ride should return. Take that time to clean up and then join us upstairs."

"Yes, Master."

Valerie lounged in the shower, letting the hot water massage the aches from her muscles and the sting out of her skin. Her pussy still ached for penetration and she considered using her hand, but wasn't sure if she was still on restriction. She went upstairs and joined the seven people she had been submitting to as they snacked.

"Valerie, help yourself to some food. How are you feeling?"

"Like I need to be fucked. All those orgasms and not once was I penetrated. Am I still on restriction, Master?"

Tom smiled at the question and the hint of desperation in her voice. "You are back on restriction as of midnight tonight."

"Thank you Master," Val replied with a smile of her own.

"On Saturday, bring Sally with you to this house. Expect to be here all day."

"Yes, sir."

Val spent a few minutes eating until there was a knock on the door. Several seconds later, a voice called out, "Val, your ride is here!"

As she rose to leave, Valerie added, "Thank you all for a wonderful night. Let my Master know if you ever need another practice dummy." She walked to the door amid several chuckles. Harry was waiting at the door with Valerie's coat.

"Here you go, miss. Heading straight home tonight?"

"Yeah. Thanks for being understanding Harry."

"It's all part of the service."

"I don't think every cab driver would allow his fare to strip before she leaves."

"You'd be surprised, though most would not be as polite about it." 

He opened the back door for Val, her clothes sitting on the far side of the seat. She dressed in the cab as he drove. Val smiled when she noticed his eyes flicking up to the rear view mirror several times. "He may be polite, but he is still a man," she though to herself. Val made sure to take her time, letting him enjoy the sights, as it were. With her fare paid, she went into her house, her eyes lighting up when she saw Sally on the couch. Sally slid onto the floor, kneeling with her head bowed. The impressions from the clothes pins were still visible on her tits.

"Mistress, did you have a good time?"

"Oh yes. Sir Tom was training dominants in giving paingasms."

Sally rubbed her face against Valerie's leg, moaning in remembered pleasure. "Those are so intense."

"Yes, but do you know what I want now?"

"No, Mistress."

"I need to be fucked. I've had six orgasms and nothing has been inside me. You, my little slave, are going to fuck your Mistress silly."

"May I…"

Laughing, Valerie nodded her head. "Yes, you may cum as often as you can while I enjoy your attention."

"Thank you Mistress."

"Now, get your ass to the bedroom and put a cock on!" Val ordered, her need to feel herself filled adding emphasis to her words.

Sally leapt to her feet and sprinted to the bedroom. Valerie followed at a slightly slower pace and found Sally strapping on the harness. While Sally was finishing her preparations, Valerie attached straps to the far side of the bed. Kneeling at the side of the bed, her hips folded over the edge, she clipped her cuffs to the ends of the straps, binding herself in place.

"Mistress?" Sally asked.

"I want to be helpless when you fuck me."

"I'm not sure I can…"

"Sally," came the stern reply, "you are not dominating me. You are doing as you Mistress wishes. Now, bind my knees apart and fuck me for at least half an hour. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mistress."

Valerie felt the straps being fastened to her thighs, just above her knees. They were pulled tight, forcing her legs apart, rendering Val truly helpless to whatever Sally wanted to do. Once she could not move, Valerie felt Sally's hand brush her pussy lips. Her arousal, which had faded some on the ride home, soared again. Her cunt moistened again in the hopes that a cock would soon be there.

Sally teased Val for almost ten minutes, bringing her Mistress to a frenzy of desire. Her aroma permeated the air and her juices coated Sally's hand. The hand left and something hard pressed against Val's lips. She moaned with need, the ache in her body growing at the nearness of penetration. Sally rubbed the dildo against Valerie, liberally coating it with her essence.

Valerie was whispering, pleading for penetration, yet unwilling to command it, reveling in the helplessness. When the tip of the silicon cock pressed into her cunt, Valerie moaned and tried to thrust back. She pulled against the bindings frustrating her motions. Sally thrust in just an inch or so, then pulled out. The tease caused Val to groan with tears forming in her eyes. Sally kept up this minimal intrusion for several minutes, until Valerie could not take it any more.

"Fuck me! Fuck me now!" she yelled.

Sally chuckled and whispered, "Yes, Mistress."

The fake cock plunged into Valerie, burying itself deep in her cunt. Valerie cried out in pleasure. As Sally pistoned in and out, the cries grew louder. One of Sally's hands pressed against Val's back, holding her in place. The other went to her own clit, rubbing it with a frenzy that matched the fucking she was giving her lover and Mistress. Sally reached her orgasm first, the unmet need in her finally being released.

With her own immediate desires satiated, Sally slowed the fuck, going to long, slow strokes, letting Val feel every inch of the cock move past her pussy lips. Valerie moaned at the slow strokes, embracing the filled feeling that lingered as the dildo in her lingered. With six orgasms already under her belt, Val's climb to climax was slow, as if her cunt did not want there to be any excuse to end the penetration it had been craving the whole night. Sally was able to bring herself to three more climaxes before Val came, the orgasm itself as slow as the fucking she was experiencing. 

They were preparing to go to bed when the phone rang. Valerie answered.

"Hi, this is Val."

"Valerie, this is Melanie White."

"Melanie? I thought you'd be in bed by now. It's after 10:00."

"I know, I'm going to pay for this tomorrow, but I had to call. Barry has changed the shooting schedule and left explicit instructions that no one tell you. We're shooting at The Mephisto Club tomorrow."

An exasperated sigh echoed on the phone. "I suppose I should have expected something like this. What scenes are scheduled?"

"Half of the BDSM scenes, including the auction"

"I see. We'll be there. You won't be in any trouble will you?"

"Probably, if he finds out it was me, but there's not much he can do to me. Val, there's something else."

"What?" The dread in Valerie's voice was palpable.

"Barry took charge of the prop box himself."

"Oh my God! He wouldn't dare!"

"He wouldn't dare what?"

"If he changes what whips are there, someone could be seriously hurt. Which scene is the first on the schedule?"

"The scene where you are supposed to punish Sally and find that you can't handle it."

"He's going to do it. The little prick is going to actually do it."

"Valerie, you're scaring me."

"You should be. Tasha will be expecting to be using a safe whip. How will she react if you draw blood in the first whipping scene of the movie?"

"She'll freak. She may refuse to finish the movie. My God! I don't want to be scarred like you were." There was a pause, then, "Oh God, I'm sorry, that came out wrong."

"It's okay, Melanie, I understand. No one should have to suffer that. Don't you worry. I'll make sure there is a safe whip there when the scene starts. Thanks for calling, I'll see you in the morning."

Valerie hung up the phone. Sally was standing next to Valerie.

"Mistress, he wouldn't do that, would he?"

"I don't know. I hope not. I'm afraid, though. What happened after I left?"

"He was increasingly unpleasant as the day went on. He tried to make changes to the script all day. The actors resisted him each time. At least the women did. They seemed to want to make Samson's movie. I don't think Stan cared one way or another. I think the integrity is still intact, but Barry was as mad as hornets."

"That's what I'm afraid of. He wants to change this film. If he can't, he may try to kill it. A serious injury to one of the actresses could very well do that. The helicopter crash almost did it to The Twilight Zone Movie. You go to sleep. I need to run to Castle and make sure we have safe toys for the scenes. Whatever you do, don't let me oversleep."

"Yes, Mistress, it's a good thing that Castle has the typically late hours of an adult bookstore."

Castle was on the other side of town from Valerie's house. It was half an hour for each leg of the trip and another 15 minutes to make sure she had the things they would need on the set. By the time Valerie was in bed, she was exhausted.

The alarm beeped mercilessly and Val could not reach it to turn it off. Sitting up, she saw that Sally had moved it to the other side of the bed. Her lover was waking herself. The dial of the clock showed 4:00.

"Mistress, are you awake?"

"I am now, though I don't want to be. Turn it off, I'm taking a shower and I want you to clean me."

An hour later, the couple was on the road, arriving at Mephisto's by 5:00 with bags of fast food breakfast. The parking lot at the club was uncharacteristically full for this early hour. Val spotted the makeup trailer and wandered over, letting herself in while Sally went in search of Cynthia, the prop master. Harvey and his assistants were working on the Melanie and Tasha. Melanie, her face under the brush, waved a couple of fingers at Val.

Valerie watched Harvey work on the two women, realizing she was watching a master artist at work. Slowly, before her eyes, the lovely ladies were transformed into women of incredible beauty. When the artistry moved from their faces to their bodies, Melanie greeted Valerie.

"Valerie, you were able to get here?"

"Yes. I wouldn't miss these scenes for the world."

"Where's Sally?"

"She's looking for Cynthia, to check on the toys one last time." A knowing glance passed between Melanie and Valerie.

"Toys? You call those things toys?" Tasha asked.

Val giggled. "What would you call something that is fun to use and brings you pleasure."

"A man!" the star barked.

"Okay, you got me there. But, seriously, we do call them toys and we call what we do play."

"Knock, knock," came a voice from the door. Mitch Wallace stuck his head in. "Ms. Burbon? Are you in here?"

"Yes, Mitch, come on in."

"Actually, I need to speak with you in private."

"Okay, I'll be right out." Turning back to Melanie, she added, "Just remember everything we showed you and that you practiced. Okay?"

"We will mother," Tasha replied. "Stop worrying. We're professionals."

Valerie left the trailer, shaking her head. Mitch was waiting outside.

"What is it, Mitch?"

"I wanted to apologize for not letting you know about the change of plans. Mr. Gaskin had me running errands until midnight and it just slipped my mind."

"That's okay Mitch. Honestly, I think Barry was trying to keep me away."

"How did you find out?"

"A little bird told me, can we leave it at that?"

"Sure thing. Sally wanted me to tell you that she's sticking with Cynthia, something about the prop box not being here yet."

"Good. Let's head inside and see how the sets look."

Inside, the usual calm of the early morning in the club was nowhere to be found. Movie people were everywhere while the staff of the club watched with nervous eyes. Betty, one of the women who ran the auction, saw Valerie and trotted over.

"Val! Do you have a minute?"

"Sure Betty. What's up?"

"Are we going to be able to open on time tonight? These…people are making a mess in here. We don't have the staff to clean up after them on short notice."

"You'd be surprised. These are people who are used to having to change the entire appearance of a room in a matter of a few minutes. Cleaning up will be a snap for them. I've seen it on ad shoots. One time, there was a city street scene involving a couple of tons of confetti, and they had the street spotless in thirty minutes."

"That's reassuring. Now if someone could explain to that director person that we are not the enemy."

"Barry's being a pain?"

"Pain is the pleasant feeling a whip gives. Mr. Gaskin is beyond a pain. He has his people treating my people like they're trespassers."

"I'm sorry about that, Betty. Barry doesn't like us, I'll explain why later. Just try not to give him reason to complain. He's looking for a reason to ruin the film."

"But, he's the director. Why would he ruin his own film?"

"That's just it. The movie is Milton Freeman's film, not Barry's. Milton wants to show the human side of BDSM and Barry wants to warn the world about the deviant perverts that we represent."

"Oh. I'll pass the word. We'll try to bend over backwards, as long as the scene isn't besmirched. Mephisto's has invested too much into creating a good image to let ourselves be used to defile that image."

"I'm with you on that one. Thanks Betty, I owe you."

"I should collect on that sometime," Betty responded with a leer.

"I'd enjoy that," came Valerie's lustful response.

Valerie and Mitch wandered the club, looking over the spaces that were being set up for the upcoming scenes. Valerie could feel tension in the air. The clash between the director and the actors was spilling over to the production staff. Much more of this and the film would be ruined by simple inertia. Try as she might, Val could not think of anything that she could do to fix it. Knowing the first scene involved stocks, Val headed for the private room that contained the club's set of stocks.

Melanie and Tasha had finished makeup and were waiting for the preparations to finish. Harvey was standing, looking nervous, waiting for the inevitable need to touch up. Into this controlled chaos walked Barry Gaskin. As his face swept the room, Valerie could see his smile fade, replaced by anger, as he saw her. His voice cut through the noise, bringing the entire room to silence.

"Who told this bitch where we would be this morning?"

There was silence. Melanie was looking at her feet, seemingly working up the nerve to admit the deed.

"I asked, who let this slut know the revised schedule? I gave explicit orders that she not be told. Someone's head will roll!"

Valerie was startled to hear Mitch's voice pipe up. "That was me, Mr. Gaskin."

"What gives you the right to disobey my orders? Out!" He pointed towards the door as he yelled, "I want you off this production."

Mitch turned and walked out, with, of all things, a smile on his face. Valerie lost track of him as Barry turned his vitriol on her.

"As for you, bitch…"

"Valerie cut him off. "Shut the hell up, Barry. Being here for these scenes is the reason I was hired. Milton wants me here and I will not leave. Further more, I will not stand for any more of your verbal abuse. My name is not bitch or slut, it's Valerie, or, if you prefer, Ms. Burbon. I'll thank you for using it."

Barry gaped in shock, apparently unused to anyone standing up to him, especially a lowly technical expert. Before he could respond, Tasha piped up.

"Can we get on with the movie? We only have this club until one. That is unless you want to tank the movie, Barry?"

The director, his face red with rage, turned away. "Clear the set of all unneeded people. Cynthia! Are the props ready?"

"We've got them right here, Mr. Gaskin."

Valerie noticed that the bag Sally was carrying was much lighter. They shared a smile as the actors set up for the shot. They made several dry runs, getting the positions and dialogue down before the cameras started rolling. Like many movie scenes, this one was shot in numerous shorter shots that would be spliced together in post production. Barry's assistant seemed to have an infallible memory for people's positions between shots, able to repose the actors right where they were three shots earlier for the continuity shots.

Tasha went through the abbreviated motions of binding Melanie for the aborted punishment. The clamps that were placed on her nipples were loose ones, not capable of causing real pain, held on by body glue instead of pressure. The pivotal shot began as Tasha took the whip and brought it down on Melanie's ass.

"Cut! What the hell was that? How can we convince the public that these people are into being hurt if your whip strokes leave no marks." Barry had walked over to Tasha while he was talking. "What the fuck? Cynthia, this is not the whip from the prop box."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 06



"Of course it isn't. That whip would have cut into Melanie's flesh, leaving a bleeding wound." The prop master had intentionally overstated the potential effects of a single stroke, but it had the desired effect of attracting everyone's attention. "It's a good thing Sally, one of our experts, spotted the problem and had a suitable replacement. I don't know what happened, Mr. Gaskin." The sarcasm in her voice let everyone know what she believed had happened.

Harvey, recovering from his surprise, laid into Barry as well. "What in the hell do you mean, the whip was supposed to leave marks? Melanie is not a stunt double. The only marks she's supposed to have on her are the ones I put there, with this." He held up his portable make up kit. "Just what kind of stunt are you trying to pull Mr. Gaskin?"

"Bite your tongue, Harvey! I can fire you just as easily as I hired you. Slander me again and I'll do just that." Turning to the rest of the people in the room, he challenged, "Anyone else want to volunteer to be fired?" Hearing no one speak, he continued, "No? Good. Then we will shoot this my way. Cynthia, give Tasha the original whip. Now!"

"No sir. I will not be a party to injuring one of the actresses."

"Wait!" Melanie's voice stopped Barry's retort. "I'll do it. You can use the whip you planned on using. But I need to use the restroom first. Someone get me out of this thing."

Tasha cried out, "No, Melanie, I won't mark you like that."

"Tasha, it will be okay. Trust me, please."

"I need a drink." Tasha stormed out of the room.

One of the crewmen was already releasing Melanie from the stocks. Once free, she walked towards the door, whispering to Valerie as she passed, "Help Tasha get it right." Valerie nodded and caught Sally's attention, motioning towards the door with her eyes. The couple exited and caught up with Tasha.

"Tasha, wait."

"No. I will not abuse Melanie, or anyone else like that."

"You don't have to," Valerie said. "Melanie should be able to buy us ten or fifteen minutes. We can teach you to use the whip safely."

"Safely? You heard Cynthia."

"She exaggerated," Sally said. "The whip in question wouldn't draw blood used the way we taught you, though it would hurt like a mother fucker. It will only take a slight change in technique to keep the pain to a minimum."

"Are you sure? I don't want to hurt her."

"Don't get me wrong. They will hurt, there's no getting around that. But we can keep it from being overwhelming for someone like Melanie who doesn't get off on pain, I promise. If you refuse, Barry wins and the film dies."

"I used to respect that man. Show me what to do."

The three women went into an unused private room where Sally pulled out the whip in question. Valerie had already slipped her blouse and bra off.

"Sally, you've had more practice, use me to demonstrate."

"Yes Mistress." 

Turning to Tasha, Sally proceeded to demonstrate how to flick the harsher whip so that, while red marks appeared, the pain was not very strong. The effect was achieved by dragging the whip across the back, letting the friction create the marks, much like a fingernail lightly scratching at the back. The determination on Tasha'a face was intense, as she struggled to master the technique in a very short time. Both Valerie and Sally were impressed at how quickly she picked it up and were surprised when tears formed in Tasha's eyes.

"Tasha, what's wrong?"

"It's so hard. I feel evil and dirty, hurting you like this. I know you say it's not much pain, but it's still me causing it."

Val turned around. "Tasha, I feel similarly when I'm whipping Sally. A knot forms in my belly and it feels like I'm doing something horribly wrong. I've always struggled with that."

"Why do you do it, then?"

"Because she loves me," Sally answered. "Right now, I need her to do this. I know how much it tears her up inside and when she whips me in spite of that, it's a declaration of her love that I cherish. Melanie will be so grateful when you do this, even if it is painful for her. She wants this movie to be a success, to tell our story as real people, as much as Valerie and I do. She's a part of our world and wants to see it shine in a positive light."

"I will never understand why you people love being treated like this. But, I can understand the need to be respected. I've always tried to bring respect to my characters, well except for Melinda Mays, she was totally evil and that's how I played her. If this will do good, I'll do it. I'm still frightened of messing up."

"The worst that will happen if you mess up, is that the marks will last a little longer and Melanie will not have to act much to show the pain."

They all chuckled nervously at the little joke and returned to the filming room. Melanie was not there yet and Barry's look when they walked in together was venomous. Valerie had to smile when Melanie walked in a minute later. She must have had her assistant watching for their return. Soon the scene was set up again and the filming started. Ironically, the intensity on Tasha's face, as she worked hard on getting her form right, made the pain at hurting Melanie that she had to portray that much more realistic.

Tasha's form was not perfect, and both Sally and Valerie could see Melanie gasp with pain as the occasional stroke hit harder than Tasha intended. Valerie saw the smile on Barry's face and felt her anger rise, threatening to overwhelm her. "He's enjoying this," she thought to herself. "He thinks Melanie or Tasha will quit. If they do, I'll ruin him. He will never work again. I'll have him put away, if I can." Sally's hand gripped Val's tightly, reassuring her that it would be okay.

The scene ended with Barry's cry of, "Cut! That's a print." Valerie and Sally ran forward. Valerie took Tasha aside to comfort her, seeing the actress on the verge of breaking down. Sally grabbed a bottle from her bag and went to Melanie as she was being released from the stocks. Crystal was there, holding the crying woman.

"Here, this will help," Sally offered, showing a bottle of the infamous soothing ointment used in the local scene. "It has an antibiotic and a topical anesthetic. Just rub it into the red areas, Crystal. The pain will fade and she will be protected from infection."

"Thanks, Sally. I swear, I'll never work with that man again."

Valerie brought a tearful Tasha over. None of the women noticed that the room had emptied. Except for them, all the crew ushered out by Harvey and Cynthia. Melanie had been lowered to a bench and Tasha knelt at her head.

"Melanie, I'm so sorry. I tried, I really did. I just lost control a few times. Please don't hate me."

"Tasha, you did great. You had to and you did your best. It was the only way to beat that bastard. I expected worse. But you were always a quick study."

"Not quick enough this time. That looks so bad," she said, pointing at the marks.

"Whatever that stuff is, it seems to work miracles. It just feels warm. Really, Tasha, I'll be okay. I knew what was going to happen when I agreed to do it. I want the movie that Samson wrote. This was worth it. Valerie, how long will the marks be visible?"

"That depends a lot on your body. On me, those would fade by the morning. It really was a light whipping. Tasha did an excellent job at keeping the strokes safe. There's not a single welt."

"Excuse me, will you ladies stand back, I need to check Melanie's injuries. Just what happened here?" The set physician, Dr. Jones, had entered the room. Valerie wondered why he had not been on the set in the first place.

Tasha answered before anyone else could. "We were filming a whipping scene and some of the strikes were harder than they were supposed to be."

"I was assured that a safe prop had been obtained, one that would cause no injury."

"Barry insisted on a prop change. He was concerned that it would not be believable if the strokes did not cause visible marks when they hit. I guess I needed more practice with the new prop."

"I see," he replied with an ominous tone. "What's in this ointment?" When Sally told him, he nodded approvingly. "Do you have a prescription?" At her shake, he pulled out a pad and wrote a perscription, dated for a week earlier. "That should cover the legal angles. The good news is that some of the marks have already begun to fade. I expect the rest to be gone by morning. Now, where is this new prop?"

Sally handed him the whip, which he examined with surprising skill. As he did, his brow arched and he looked perplexed .

"This should have caused much deeper damage. Just how were you using this thing?"

"Sally here," Tasha explained, pointing at the submissive, "showed me this method." Tasha demonstrated on the wood of the stocks. The doctor's eyes widened.

"Ah, our experts. I'm glad someone listened to you and that you actually knew you're stuff. Too many 'experts' don't these days."

We're lucky to have the two of you on board, miss. Now, where is the original prop?" Cynthia handed him the softer whip. "Yes, this is a much safer instrument. I'm going to have a word with Mr. Gaskin. I don't want this thing," he sneered, pointing at the stiffer cat, "used in any more scenes. We have makeup experts for a reason."

With that, the doctor stalked out of the room, leaving the five women alone once more. Val cocked her eye at Sally and the two left the actresses alone. Outside, they heard Barry's voice raised over the din.

"Watch yourself doctor, you can be replaced. I am in charge of making this film and if I want a prop change, then we will have a prop change. This film needs to be as realistic as possible."

"I'm warning you, Mr. Gaskin, if I have to, I will shut this film down. I don't want to have to treat another whipping. You're on notice!"

As Dr. Jones stalked off, Barry was grinning like the proverbial cat. The two lovers looked at one another, worry in their eyes. They couldn't blame the doctor as he was just doing his job. They walked over to the room the next scene was to be shot in. One of the main themes in the script was the love between Sally and Valerie that grew from a fear of sex with a woman to a deep love between the two. The initial domination of Valerie by Sally was an integral part of the romance.

The technicians were preparing the private room with a cross and whipping post in it for the scene. The couple were asked for details on just how the cross was used and what would be needed. Val and Sally were able to add details that the script lacked. They also found out that the scene would not start for another 30 minutes on the doctor's orders. They decided to grab a latte from the stand across the street.

Outside, they saw that Mitch was hanging around. They went over to him.

"Mitch," Valerie started, "You didn't have to do that. Won't this hurt your schooling?"

"Oh no, Ms. Burbon. I'll be fine. Someone had to take the heat for Ms. White. I was expendable."

"You knew who called us?"

"Of course, Ms. Burbon, if you want to know what's really going on on a set, ask the gophers. I heard her calling you while I was on one of those errands. Anyway, this will boost my career in the long run."

"How so?"

"Ms. White's assistant has already offered me another intern position. Actors appreciate loyalty and Ms. White will remember this for quite a while. I won't have any trouble finding a job after I graduate."

Taking their leave, the couple fortified themselves with double shot mochas and returned to the set with five minutes to spare. Melanie and Tasha were in their robes, waiting for the call to go nude again. Barry was hovering in the background as the final preparations were made to the set. The tension in the air was palpable: thick and acidic. Sally could see the telltale signs of tempers on the edge, as the conflict between the director and the actors was spilling over.

The characters' entrance had been filmed at the house, so the scene started with Melanie and Tasha taking positions at the door. Again, the room was cleared of all non-essential personnel and the filming began. Melanie bound Tasha to the whipping post with the sure hands of experience and made as if she was looking for the right instrument to start with. When she selected the soft whip, Barry yelled, "Cut!"

Everything stopped. The silence in the room lingered like a deadly gas until Barry stomped over to the wall Melanie was facing.

"This is the whip you are to use," he ordered in a soft voice.

"No, I will not. It's not safe. Dr. Jones…"

"I don't give a fuck what the good Doctor says. I am the director and you will use this whip."

"Then let me practice with Valerie first."

"Fuck that bitch. She's not interfering with my film again."

No one noticed the figure who had silently slipped into the room.

"That! Is! Enough!" Valerie's temper had finally snapped. Each word was clipped and terse. She stormed over to Barry. "I have put up with your insults and disrespect for weeks, and it stops now. I was hired by your boss, Milton Freeman, to make sure that the BDSM elements in this movie were accurate and safe. You will not keep me from doing my job. That whip," pointing to the stiff whip Barry wanted used, "is not safe. I will not see it used on Tasha'a back."

SLAP

There was a gasp from Melanie as Barry's hand hit Valerie's cheek, leaving a red imprint of his hand. Valerie staggered back under the force and shock of being hit. She could feel a drop of something trickling down her chin. Wiping at it, her hand came away with a red stain, blood. Something inside Valerie broke and fear filled her face. She took another step back in the silence that had filled the room. In her head, Valerie was bound and helpless in Francine's dining room, Barry whipping her repeatedly, drawing blood.

Barry's sneer filled Valerie's vision until someone stepped in front of her. Sally's finger poked Barry in the chest. "You sanctimonious little shit!" Each word was punctuated by another poke in exactly the same spot. "Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you?" Barry's chest was beginning to hurt as he backed away from the hellcat bracing him with a fury he had never encountered in five divorces. "That is the woman I love! She's already been savaged by one person, I will not let another one do it again. Do you hear me? If you touch her or yell at her or disrespect her again, I will personally kill you! Do you understand?" Every word saw her finger poke the same spot. The bruise that was now forming would last for days.

Barry's back was against the wall and his face was burning in anger. He raised his hand again, only to hear his name.

"Barry!" Milton Freeman's voice was hard, harder than Valerie had ever heard before. Gone was the happy go lucky friend to all.

Barry froze in place. He turned his head to look at the producer. It looked as if his eyes were truly bugging out.

"Would you care to explain yourself?"

"Your so called experts are trying to ruin this movie."

Milton held up his hand to interrupt Sally's defense. "No, they are doing what I hired them to do. Would you care to explain why Melanie has real whip marks on her back"

"It was just an accident."

"So your changing the props was accidental? Even after the experts told you not to?"

"They never…"

"Barry, we've been friends too long for you to lie to me. Don't ruin what's left of it. If you couldn't accept the vision for this film, you should have refused the job."

"Milton, these people are degenerate perverts. You're trying to make them seem normal."

"They said the same thing about homosexuals in the 60s." Milton was shaking his head sadly. "Are you going to quit, or do I have to fire you. If you quit, we'll tell the press that another project needed you and no one will say anything differently, if they know what's good for them."

Barry seemed to collapse in on himself. "These people stole Angela from me. They're evil."

Milton took his friend's arm. "Barry, we'll talk later. For now, you need to go. Fly to Vancouver. We'll tell everyone that I needed you to scout locations for Dinner at Midnight."

"Thanks Milton. This film is wrong. It will ruin your career."

"It's mine to ruin. Later Barry."

The director walked away, every eye following him except Sally's and Valerie's. Valerie had backed up to the far wall, in shock. Sally joined her, worried for her lover.

"Val, talk to me. What's wrong?"

"I was back there, helpless."

"Francine's?" Val nodded her head. "That wasn't going to happen. I won't let that happen. Do you hear me? You will never go through that again."

Valerie collapsed into Sally's arms, crying softly. As Sally held her partner, Milton gave orders to clean up the place, postponing any further shooting until Monday. He walked over to the couple.

"Is Valerie going to be okay?"

"I think so. She had a flashback to the incident. Some time off will help. Is the film going to survive the loss of director?"

"Oh yes. I've directed before, I'll be able to finish up the last few bits. There's only three days of shooting left. Can I count on you two to not speak about Barry's conduct?"

"We'll think about it. Val could press assault charges if she wanted to. She's not in any condition to make that call right now. How did you come to be here?"

"Oh," he replied sheepishly, "My nephew called me."

"Your nephew works on the movie?"

"Oh yes. Nepotism is alive and well in Hollywood, Sally, dear. He wanted a start in the film business so I had him hired as 4th grip. He called me when Barry and Dr. Jones had their confrontation. You take care of Valerie, you hear?"  

"I will. Come on Valerie, we're going home."

Valerie did not say anything on the ride home. Slowly, she climbed out of her flashback. As Sally led her to the door, Val started crying. Once they were inside, Sally held Valerie close.

"It's okay, Mistress, it's okay. He's gone."

"I was back there, Sally. He was whipping me bloody, Barry was there. I was bleeding."

"I know. I saw it. But you're not helpless, not to him. Only Master can have your helplessness, only our Master."

"Master?"

"Yes, Master. We are helpless before him because we love him. All others can take a flying fuck."

Valerie held Sally tighter. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Sally. I have to meet Erica for lunch. She's going to give me some pointers on being dominant. I also have my appointment with Dr. Gloush. I certainly have lots to talk about."  

"Mistress, may I join you and Erica for lunch?"

"I think that would be a good idea. First, however, I need to punish you."

"Mistress?" Sally asked nervously.

"Yes, you called me by name earlier."

"Oh no! I'm sorry Mistress. Please forgive me."

"Of course I will forgive you. But you still need to be punished. You need me to punish you, don't you?"

Sally's breath caught. "Yes, Mistress," she whispered. "Are you going to be okay with it."

"I'll do what you need because, as you so wonderfully put it, I love you so much."

"Thank you Mistress," Sally answered.

"Go downstairs and strip."

Sally leapt up and ran to the basement. Valerie spent a few minutes bracing herself for what she was going to do. She wanted to be sure she was up to it, given that she had just had the flashback. Deciding that she was going to act in love, where the flashback was from hate, she gathered a couple of things and joined Sally in the soundproof room that made up their basement.

Sally had stripped, her clothes folded neatly beside her. Valerie walked over to her and ran her fingers through Sally's hair. Sally's breath was deep as she waited to be punished. Valerie clipped the leash to Sally's collar and put a blindfold over her eyes. Pulling on the leash, Valerie led her to the chains they had hanging from the ceiling. Sally's legs were spread and clipped to rings in the floor. Her hands were bound behind her back and then connected to a chain, forcing her to bend over with her arms pulled up and back.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 06



"Sally, for addressing me by name, you will receive 15 strokes with a crop. You must count and ask for the next one. Also, you are denied orgasms for the rest of the day and will have to wear a butt plug until you wake in the morning."

"Yes, Mistress. I'm sorry Mistress."

"I know you are. I know it was only your concern for me. That's why the punishment is not any worse."

"Thank you Mistress."

The first blow from the crop landed on Sally's right ass cheek. It left a small red mark behind as Sally gasped, "One. Mistress, may I have another?"

When Val struck the second time, she was aware of the discomfort starting in reaction to causing Sally pain. She continued as Sally counted, noting in the back of her mind that the knot that she experienced was not quite as bad as it had been in the past. Knowing that Sally wanted and needed her punishment to be hard, Val did not go lightly on the strokes. By the sixth one, Sally was crying from the combined pain in her shoulders and her ass. By the twelfth, Sally was struggling to get the count out. After Sally's count of "Fifteen. Mistress, may I have another," Valerie noticed that Sally was struggling to take deep breaths.

Valerie released the tension on her arms, asking, "Are you okay? Can you breathe?"

Sally collapsed into Valerie's arms. "Yes, I'm okay," she forced out between the sobs. "Each blow forced my breath out, making it seem hard to get enough."

"Go over to the couch, then."

Valerie followed her slave, bringing the butt plug and lube with her. Sally had draped herself over the arm of the couch, exposing her ass to her Mistress. Val applied plenty of lube to and around Sally's asshole and to the plug itself. Sally gasped in pain as Val pulled her tender ass cheeks apart to make room for the plug to enter her. Unlike the whipping, Valerie took her time and tried to make the anal penetration as gentle as possible.

"How does that feel?"

"Very full Mistress. Mistress, thank you for punishing me."

"It was my pleasure, slave. I love you so much."

"I love you Mistress. When are we meeting Erica?"

"At 1:00. We should have just enough time to shower, dress and drive over."

The couple showered together, Val taking time to soothe Sally's ass, as well as wash the sweat and sexual fluids from her body (the cropping had left Sally aroused). Once they were dressed, Val drove to Delgrasi's office, arriving ten minutes before one. Erica looked up from her desk, phone to her ear. She waved and held up five fingers. Valerie nodded and led Sally back to her office.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Burbon, Ms. Fletcher. Is the movie shoot already finished?"

"Yes and no. They quit early and won't be starting again until Monday. We're meeting Erica for lunch."

"I see. Lifestyle things to talk about?"

"Yeah. Anything I need to know about?"

"Just some routine correspondence. I've forwarded the things that I couldn't deal with to your e-mail."

"Thanks, June. I'll be in tomorrow to look them over. Come on Sally. Let's go eat."

Back at reception, Erica was coming around her desk.

"Hi Valerie, I'm looking forward to our talk." The effusive submissive took Sally into a big hug. "Sally, it's been too long. I hear you're not switching right now."

"No. It's hard to explain."

"No need to. As we grow, we change." As the three women exited the building, Erica looked down at Sally's legs and ass. "I know that walk, little slave. You've been plugged, haven't you?"

"Yes, Mistress put it in as part of my punishment for addressing her by name."

"Tsk. Tsk. You know better than that. I'll bet you're on orgasm restriction too."

"God, is it that obvious?"

"No, it's just what I would have done. How many swats?"

"Fifteen," Sally whispered.

Valerie looked at the mortification in Sally's face. She started to say something when Erica shook her head and mouthed, "Later." The drive to Louigi's took 20 minutes. Carl, the maitre'd, recognized Valerie and showed the ladies to a table ahead of the small line that was forming. They took a few minutes looking over the menus, until Erica reached over and gently took Sally's from her.

"Sally, don't you think that Val should order for you?"

Valerie could literally see Sally becoming aroused at the question. She looked back and forth between Erica and Sally.

"Yes, I…I think I would like that."

"Why Sally," Val asked.

"I'm not really sure. I know that it makes me feel more submissive, more like a slave, to have that choice taken from me."

"Do you want me to take even more choices from you?"

"Please," came the breathless answer. "I so need to be controlled, to not have choices."

Erica responded to Valerie's look of confusion and fear.

"It's part of being a slave. I don't think that Sally wants to become a mindless creature, unable to do anything without input from you." Sally's nod confirmed this. "But, like myself and Master Damien's other slaves, too much freedom is actually stifling. Master tells me what to wear, or at least how to look, every day. Sometimes he gives me a list for the week. Every time I put on what He has told me to wear, I feel submissive. My entire day can be a testament to Him and his ownership of me because He has chosen for me."

"It sounds like you are describing 24/7."

"No, or rather, not exactly. Submission 24/7 is not quite the same as slavery." Erica paused as they gave their orders to the waitress. She raised an eyebrow when Valerie ordered for Sally. Erica picked up where she left off after they were alone again. "24/7 is still submission. There are still limits. I don't mean what you will submit to and what you won't. You can be a slave with limits. "No limits" is almost unheard of. What I mean is that, even in 24/7 submission, there are entire areas of our lives that are not so much off limits as, not even thought about. Tell me Val, does Master Charles have any say on your job?"

"No. In fact, I am allowed to refuse anything that could threaten my livelihood."

"Master Damien has full control over where and when I work. I work at Delgrasi because He told me to quit my last job and take one here. There is no element of my life that He was not taken control over. He may not exercise that control on a daily basis in every area, but he has it."

Valerie's breath caught. "Erica, would you work as a prostitute if he ordered it?"

"Yes." She paused to let that answer, given without hesitation, sink in. Sally's breath came fast, her eyes brimming with tears. "In fact, he did once. He was with me, protecting me and making sure that the johns used a condom, but I was ordered to please several men for money."

Valerie turned to Sally. "Do you want this, this level of control from me?"

Sally nodded her head, afraid of what she would sound like if she tried to speak.

"Would you go to Murphey's and turn tricks if I ordered it," Valerie asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Sally nodded her head again, her eyes overflowing. Valerie reached over and hugged Sally tightly. She could feel Sally's fear, unsure if it was a fear of what Valerie would ask or a fear of what Sally herself would be willing to do. The depth of what Sally was going through was beginning to make itself felt to Valerie. She remembered Francine's words, "Don't confuse intensity for depth."

"Sally, when you've begged me for pain, for abusive pain, is that what you really wanted?" Sally shrugged her shoulders, nodding and shaking her head at the same time. The waitress returned with their food. The ladies fell quiet, except for Sally's gentle sobs, until she had left again.

Erica took over again. "I think, if she could see it, Sally would say no, she doesn't necessarily want lots of pain. She wants no control. In some ways, I think she will have a hard time of it, at least at first, a harder time than Michelle and I had."

"Why is that?"

"Michelle and I have never been anything but slaves. There has never been a part of our lives that wasn't under Master's control. Sally has been a submissive and a dominant for years. There has always been a part of her life, much of it actually, that has been just hers. Now she doesn't want what she's always had and doesn't know how not to have it. It's a big change that goes against everything her dominant has taught her, and I suspect it's terrifying her."

Sally nodded vigorously, her tears returning with a vengeance. Erica had put into words the very thing that had eaten at her for weeks. Knowing what was so hard for her didn't make the difficulty go away, but it gave her the ability to look it in the face and admit her fear.

"Mistress, I don't know what's going to happen to me. I feel like the coyote, standing on thin air, waiting to fall. I need you to pull me back. Please pull me back."

"No." At Sally crestfallen look, Valerie pulled her tighter. "Not back, up. I will hold you up, let you dangle over the edge you want. You will not fall, I promise. You're mine, Sally, and I will not lose you. So I will hold you over the edge, letting you dangle there, and I will not let go. Do you trust me to do that?"

Sally nodded her head, holding onto Valerie for dear life. The fear had not left, it might never leave, given how big a change in her life this represented. But she was able to believe that she would be able to do it. Her Mistress loved her, loved her enough to go to where Valerie was uncomfortable, and she understood now. She found the unpleasant pressure from the butt plug strangely reassuring.

"There's something else Valerie." Erica turned to Sally. "Sally, were you embarrassed when I asked about your punishment?"

"Yes, it's a little humiliating for people to know I've been punished."

"I remember," Val said, "I was going to comfort her and you stopped me."

"Yes, that's something important. Do you remember that first public punishment of yours, the one at Mephisto's?" Val nodded her head. "How did you feel when you were telling everyone about your failure and being punished?"

"I was so devastated and humiliated. I thought I was going to die."

"Think. What would have been different if you had been protected from the humiliation and the devastated feelings, if it had just been the pain of the whippings?"

Valerie thought back to that horrible week, the one right after her initiation. She had forgotten to check her e-mail for orders and thus had not slept with her hands bound in front of her that night. She remembered the mortification she had felt at failing Charles so quickly. When she tried to imagine being told that it was okay, that it was no big deal, she blanched.

"It would have cheapened the punishment. I would have still felt guilty about my failure."

"Exactly! That horrible feeling of failure, that is part of the punishment. That's what makes real punishment different from play punishment. One's fun and the other is horrible. That's why I stopped you. Feeling embarrassed about having been punished, especially if the punishment wasn't public, is part of what allows it to cleanse us. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that comfort afterwards is not appropriate, it is. The caresses and soft words letting me know that I'm forgiven, that's important. It's how I know that it's over."

The conversation continued as they ate their lunches. Erica had little to offer to Valerie on the subject of inflicting pain. Erica, it turned out, enjoyed the infliction of pain itself, as well as being dominant over her fellow slaves when it was required of her. Sally and Valerie were able to talk about other areas of Sally's life that Valerie could, and needed to, take control of. As each area was turned over to Val, Sally's comfort visibly increased.

Valerie and Sally dropped Erica off at Delgrasi and headed home. Valerie had to be at her appointment with Dr. Gloush in an hour, but took the time to settle Sally in. Valerie's lover was still emotionally overwrought as a result of the revelations and decisions made at lunch. Val could see that Sally needed some grounding right now and left her with explicit instructions for the next few hours.

"Sally, while I'm gone, I want you to clean the bathroom, from floor to ceiling. If it's not spotless, I'll spank you. If you finish before I return, go into your kennel and masturbate without stopping until I do return. Remember, no cumming. Tonight, we're going out to dinner. I want a date with my lover. I haven't decided if I want to go to Gatsby's or the Gotham Club yet."

With that, Valerie left for her psychiatrist's office. She arrived ten minutes early, waiting impatiently to be called in. Entering his office twelve minutes later, the doctor greeted her at the door.

"Valerie. How are you today?"

"Not so good. I had a flashback."

Dr. Gloush took his seat, pointing to the one that Val usually sat in. "Tell me about it. What do you think brought it on? What were you feeling at the time?"

"I…I'm working, or was working, with someone I just can't stand. He's been trying to sabotage the film I've been consulting on; the one about the incident." The doctor nodded and Valerie continued. "It came to a head when he tried to insist the actresses use an unsafe whip. I got in his face about it and he slapped me. There was blood on my lip and suddenly, I was there again, being whipped to death. Only it wasn't Francine this time, it was Barry."

Valerie stopped, shivering in her seat, the feelings coming back. Valerie's breath caught in her throat and she gripped the arms of her chair tightly. Dr. Gloush leaned forward.

"Valerie, where are you right now?"

"I'm in your office. God! I'm so scared."

"That's normal. You're not being hurt right now, you're body and mind are simply remembering. Let them remember, but stay right here, don't go back to the house on that day."

Valerie was starting to cry, her eyes scrunched shut, trying to block the images that were flooding her mind

"What are you feeling right now, Valerie?"

"Fear, I'm so scared. It's not the good fear either, like when…"

The doctor finished what Valerie could not. "…not like the fear you feel when your Master whips you."

"No, not like that. I'm afraid for my life, not just of what will happen next. There's something missing from it."

"What's missing?"

"I…I…I'm afraid and I'm not…trust! There's no trust!"

"Very good, Valerie, very good."

"How can it be good? I can't trust."

"No, that's not true. You've submitted regularly, felt the good fear, the kind that comes with trust since it happened. There was no trust, or rather the trust was violated then, and you're remembering that in the flashback. What's good is that you can separate the trusting fear and the trustless fear. They haven't blended for you."

"That's a good thing?"

"Very good! That means that your ability to trust has not been destroyed just damaged. There will be far less work involved in rebuilding it. What happened on the set was normal, perfectly normal. An attack like that, from someone as angry as he sounded, should make you scared. Your flashback is simply because that is such a strong and recent memory of fear and anger for you."

The session continued with Valerie experiencing an emotional roller coaster for much of the hour. The slap from Barry had brought Valerie's feelings to the surface where they were raw and exposed. Dr. Gloush led her through them, letting Valerie experience them in a safe environment and in carefully measured doses. Val was forced to face, once again, the severe levels of anger and hurt that she felt towards her friend, Francine. Dr. Gloush assured her that these were capable of passing and being replaced by trust and love again, if she wanted to.

Valerie clung to those reassurances like they were a life raft. She wasn't sure if she could take knowing or thinking that she would always feel such intense anger for her best friend. The hatred she felt, when she allowed herself to feel it, towards Francine made Valerie feel dirty and evil. Over the next couple of months, Valerie would notice the intensity of those feelings fading a little with each session, giving her hope that they would eventually pass.

As the end of the session was approaching, Dr. Gloush broached another subject. "How is your domination of Sally going?"

"I think it's going well. It still painful to punish her with pain, but I can do it more easily. We've also figured out that she needs choice taken from her more than just intense pain. I'm still not sure where this will go."

"Good. If the removal of choices causes her to crave less harshness towards her, it will be easier for you. Can you tell when she needs that harshness, or if she does?"

"I think so. She's also good about asking if she gets really desperate."

"Have you been able to experience pleasure from pain yet?"

"Yes, just last night. I was being used as practice for several dominants to give paingasms, they were calling them."

"Excellent! Now, see if you can learn how to give them. That will go a long way towards letting you give what Sally and you think she needs."

"I'll ask about being trained with that. I would love to be able to give Sally that kind of pleasure. Doctor, am I really improving? I feel like things are worse, less settled."

"Yes, Valerie, you are improving. That settled feeling you've had since the attack? That was an illusion. You were holding together with raw willpower, and that, when it failed, would have led to a breakdown that would have made today's flashback seem like a theme park ride. For some that would not be true, but for you, since you were going to repeatedly place yourself into the very situations that were the backdrop for Francine's attack on you, it was inevitable. Your mind transferred the fear you were feeling to Sally, letting you know it was there."

"I'll have to take your word for it, because it sure doesn't feel like improvement."

On her way to the car, Val called Castle to see if Giggy or Rachael were working.

"Castle Superstore, where your dreams come true. How may I help you?"

"Rachael, this is Val."

"Val! It's good to hear your voice. What can I do for you?"

"Will you have a few minutes to talk if I come in?"

"I think so, let me check." Rachael's voice could be heard talking to someone else. "Do you mind if I take a long break in a while, Henry?" Val could not hear the answer, but Rachael soon returned to the phone. "Sure thing. I can talk in about 30 minutes. Will you be able to be here by then?"

"Yeah, I'm on the south hill now and should be there in 20."

"See you then."

Valerie's desire to talk with Rachael was spur of the moment. The thought had come to her that Rachael seemed to be very good with psychological domination, giving harshness without pain. She recalled how deep Rachael was able to humiliate Val when the dominant had taken her to Divine's Devils for her collar. Val knew that she was supposed to be given to Rachael for a much longer period of time in the future and wasn't sure she was looking forward to the experience.

When she entered the store, Rachael saw Val and put up one and then five fingers while she was showing someone some of the restraint systems the store carried. Valerie wandered over to the lingerie section and browsed, thinking about buying Sally something new, maybe to wear to dinner. Val brought to bear a skill she used often in planning ads and pictured several of the outfits and how they would look under Sally's clothes. As she was imagining what an emerald green teddy would look like under one of Sally's evening dresses, it hit her.

"If I want to control what she wears, I should make sure she has things I would love to see her in."

It was only as Rachael asked, "Make sure who has what?" that Val realized she had spoken aloud.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 06



"Hi Rachael. I was thinking about Sally. Are you on break now?"

"Yep. If you want that teddy, go ahead and put it behind the counter. We can talk in the back room."

Once they were away from the bustle in the store, Rachael sat Val down.

"So, what's up? I assume you're not here for a social call."

"No, though I wouldn't mind one of those either. Did you know I'm dominating Sally 24/7 right now?

"Yeah, I heard. It was a little surprising. I didn't think you were that strong a switch."

"I'm not, but it's what Sally needs right now. It's more than that. Sally doesn't have a safe word right now. She asked me to take it away and I did."

Rachael whistled softly. "I'll bet Charles is not very happy with that."

"No, not really. In fact, he won't dominate her without it, so I'm her sole dominant. Rach, it's so hard, especially since she needs such deep submission right now."

"And with your pain problem, you're having trouble doing that, am I right?" She continued at Valerie's nod. She could tell that Val was on the verge of tears. "Do you know that a sub can go deep with no pain at all?"

"Yeah, but I'm not sure I know how to do that. I've tried to make her slavery intense. No, that's not the right word. I've tried to make it complete, take her far into a slavery…I'm not sure how to put it."

"Tell me what you've actually done, both what she's asked you to do and what she hasn't."

"We've been playing it by the seat of our pants. I've taken her job away, given her sole responsibility for keeping the house clean, kept her on orgasm denial for extended periods of time, and engaged in some pretty intense play. This afternoon, we realized that she wants, no, needs, less choices, less freedom. We've talked about me taking so much away from her. It's a little frightening, Rach. How do I do it? How do I give her depth without hurting her? Early on, I gave her to Sir Calvin for an entire day and she came home with bruising over her entire body."

Rachael took Valerie's hand while the tears started to slip out, waiting for the woman before her to catch up with herself. "Valerie, you're not the novice that walked into this store eight months ago, desperate for information about what this whole BDSM thing was. Your growth has been incredible, especially in light of what happened seven months ago. I don't think you are capable of really hurting Sally, not in any way that is bad. Painful and visible bruising, yeah, that might happen. Has Sally given any sign that her time with Calvin was something she regrets?"

"No, in fact, she said, 'He is so hard. He is so cruel. I hurt so much. I feel so good.' She asked me to treat her that way."

"See what I mean. She wasn't hurt. Bruised and battered, yes. I've seen Susan after one of his hard scenes with her, so I can imagine what Sally looked like. I've seen this happen a couple of times in the past. Val, Sally needs to have one and only one focus in her life right now, you. Make everything be about you. Has she made you happy? Has she met your standards? Are you the first thing she thinks of as she makes every decision? To that end, yes, you have to take choice away from her. Decide what she wears, what she eats, when and where she sleeps, when she has sex and with whom. It won't have to stay this way, but it needs to start this way."

"I think we realized that earlier. I'm just frightened of going too far. You don't think I can go too far?"

"Not in this, no. There's something else, Valerie. When was the last time you submitted without receiving anything at all for yourself?"

Valerie thought back to her scenes in the last few weeks and realized that there was only one. "It was a couple of weeks ago, I think. I wasn't even receiving Master's attention directly. He wanted to gauge how well I could witness Sally in pain. It didn't go well."

"That's what I thought. Tell me, what do you want from your submission more than anything else?"

"To know that I was pleasing, that Master enjoyed using me." The answer came easily and naturally.

"Is that more important than an orgasm or even being aroused?"

"Oh yes. It's the most important thing for me. I can handle long denials if I know that my suffering makes Him happy."

"It sounds like you've been having your needs met a lot. That's not bad, per se. But, for you, especially now, I think you need some time under someone that has nothing to do with you, but is entirely about pleasing Him or Her. There are lots of ways to do that, and it's not important what actually happens, just that you know by the end of it, that it was all you pleasing someone else."

As Valerie listened, she felt a longing in her heart. She recalled being given a choice between pain and pleasure once and choosing pain because pleasure felt like a temptation. Fred and Daphne had come close. Other than the one orgasm from the caning, they had used her for their pleasure, extracting submission out of her. It had, ironically, left her fuller and more able to dominate Sally afterwards.

"Rachael, I think you're right. But Master is out of town. He can't do that for me."

"Val, would you like me to take you like that?"

Valerie felt fear. The one time Rachael had dominated her, Valerie had been subjected to, for her, extreme humiliation and objectification. Valerie had let it go past her limits and was hurt, emotionally. Later, Rachael and Valerie promised each other to not let that happen again. But, the fear of that happening again was still there. There was trust too, but Valerie could not help but shudder at the thought of Rachael having her way.

"You frighten me Rachael. Since that day at Divine's Devils, I've feared the day when I was to be given to you again." Val was not surprised at the smile on Rachael's face, nor at the way the dominant woman licked her lips. "I think I need that, though. I want to let you, but I don't have permission."

Rachael leaned over and grabbed a fistful of Val's hair, pulling her head close. "Then you need to e-mail Charles and ask."

"Yes, Mistress." Rachael let go and Val shook her head. "That felt so wonderful and scary. Thank you. I'll ask as soon as I get home. How did you know?"

"Valerie, the scenes you gush about the most are the ones I just described, ones in which you received nothing for yourself. I've seen you before and after some of them and the change in you is simply lovely. Right now, you look like a classic before picture. Come on, my break's over. Get permission from your Master and we'll schedule something."

"Thanks Rach. You're a good, but terrifying friend."

"Flattery will get you nowhere."

Val picked up the teddy and several more articles before she left. Valerie knew that by now, Sally would be masturbating and fighting off her orgasm. She smiled at the thought. Orgasm denial had always been a favorite ploy when she dominated Sally. This was the first time, however, she had forced Sally to do it to herself continually. As she opened the door to the house, she could hear moans from the bedroom, desperate moans of pleasure. She looked into the room and saw Sally in the kennel, her fingers stroking her pussy. The aroma of sex filled the air. Sally's eyes were closed and it appeared that she was unaware of Valerie's presence. Sally's eyes flew open when Val grabbed her hands, pulling them away from her cunt.

"Mistress! I'm so sorry. I tried to…"

Val interrupted her plea with a shake of her head. She sat down on the bed and pulled her lover onto her lap, cradling her like a child. "Did you cum?" Sally nodded her head and started to cry. "It's okay, dear. I'm not disappointed." When Sally looked up in surprise, Val continued, "I told you to do something incredibly hard. I know you wanted to obey with all your heart. You would have stopped if I had not told you that you couldn't. Do you want me to spank you?" Sally nodded. "Good girl. I'm so proud of you."

"Mistress, would you hold me so I can't get loose?"

"Of course, love. Fetch the cuffs."

Sally slipped of Valerie's lap and retrieved the leather cuffs from their toy drawer. She handed them to her Mistress and turned around, holding her hands behind her. Her sigh, as they were wrapped around each wrist, was one of release. Her tears dried up as she put herself into the hands of the woman she trusted more than any other person in the world. Valerie bent Sally over her legs, locking her own leg over Sally's to hold her in place. Val pulled the butt plug out and set it to the side.

"How many should I give you, slave?"

"As many as you wish. Please give me as many as make you happy."

"Just let yourself cry as much as you need."

With that, Valerie held Sally's bound hands against her back and started to slap her ass. Valerie did not use much force, just enough to bring a momentary pink to the skin that started to fade right away. Sally gasped with each slap, jerking slightly with the impact. Valerie ignored the knot in her stomach, beyond noting that it seemed to take more time to become seriously unpleasant.

Sally felt the pain, more of a sting really, of each slap as an expression of Valerie's love for her. She knew how much this must be hurting Val inside, yet Valerie did not stop. The tears she was shedding were not from the pain, but were a sign of the joy she felt to be loved so deeply. Sally found that she was looking forward to the tenderness she was going to feel whenever she sat tonight.

Neither lady counted the swats, not caring to know. When Valerie stopped, she pulled Sally back up and cradled her for several minutes, relaxing in her presence. Sally tugged a few times at her cuffs, smiling when they did not give.

"Thank you, Mistress."

Taking the cuffs off again, Val instructed, "It was my pleasure. Run me a bubble bath. We need to wash up before we go out. I'll be in shortly. I need to send Master an e-mail."

"Yes, Mistress."

Valerie logged onto her computer and sent the request for Rachael to dominate her in the near future. She joined Sally for a shared bath, each bathing the other. Leaving Sally to clean the tub out again, Valerie picked out clothes for the two of them. Sally would be wearing the new emerald green teddy beneath a darker green dress that came down to the slave's knees. The dress was one of Sally's more modest gowns. It would only reveal what was within to someone willing to make an obvious gesture of peeking from above. Tan stockings held up with garters would cover her legs. Black two inch pumps finished the selection.

Valerie dressed in a burgundy floor length skirt and turquoise blouse with a moderate cleavage. Blue heels over silk socks finished her outfit. She set aside one of her special purchases next to the butt plug. Sally came back out.

"Mistress, may I use the toilet?"

Val looked up in surprise. It took a few seconds to catch that Sally wanted Valerie to take control of this basic function as well. She nodded with a smile on her face, accepting the gift Sally offered. Valerie knew that she would never actually deny her that privilege. "Yes. Very good for asking."

"Thank you Mistress."

After she returned, Valerie instructed, "Lie down on the bed. I have something special for you."

"Yes, Mistress?"

Valerie held up a package of four very small, key alike padlocks and looked at the rings in Sally's pussy lips. Sally gasped as she took Val's meaning.

"More punishment, Mistress?"

"No, this is not punishment. This is because I wish to."

Sally tensed. She did not want what Valerie was intending to do. When Valerie had first met Sally, Sally was being punished by having her cunt locked up to prevent anything from penetrating her. Charles had kept her that way for three weeks. It wasn't just the closure that made the locks so terrible, it was the constant rubbing against the folds of her pussy, making sure she was aroused all the time. By themselves, the locks would not send her into a climax, but they would keep her on edge as long as she was moving.

"Mistress, please," she begged, shaking her head.

Valerie knelt down between Sally's feet and brushed a finger along the surface of Sally's pussy, enticing a bead of moisture. Slowly, Val flipped the eight rings so that each pair lay looped one on top of the other.

"It will give me pleasure to lock you, my dear. Will you beg for me to be denied pleasure?"

Her low whisper of, "No," was almost inaudible over the deep breaths that Sally was taking.

As each small lock snapped shut, Sally gave a convulsive sob. When all the rings were locked together, Valerie brought her mouth close and licked lightly at the pussy before her. She savored the beads of cunt juice that formed, as well as the small cries of pleasure from her lover. Val stopped well short of Sally's climax and sat next to her.

"Mistress," Sally whispered.

"Slave, whose cunt is this," Val asked, tracing a finger across the closed pussy.

"Yours Mistress."

"Yes, mine. You gave it to me. Can I lock it if I wish?"

"Yes, Mistress. Mistress, being locked is so hard. How long?"

"Until I decide it comes off. I know it's hard. I remember how desperate you were the last time. You can feel the emptiness already, can't you?"

"Yes, Mistress. Knowing it can't be filled makes it so much more present."

"Do you want me to open you back up?"

Sally gave a single sob before replying, "Only if you want to Mistress."

"Not right now. Roll over, I want to replace the plug and then we'll dress you."

Valerie made sure that Sally was wearing a collar and cuffs in addition to her outfit. They went to the Gotham Club, the dance club where Valerie met Charles for the first time. Every time Valerie returned here, she felt her eyes tear up at the thought of how much that fateful trip, in search of a good fucking, changed her life. She never regretted that change, even when the changes were frightening in their breadth and depth. If the Valerie of now and the Valerie of then were to meet, they would be complete strangers.

One advantage to having been publicly outed as a submissive is that, over time, the stares grow less intense and less frequent. The Gotham Club was the premier dance club in the city and Valerie came here fairly often, at least a couple of times a month. The regulars and the staff were well used to the collared lady who frequented their establishment. Sally's collar and cuffs drew a few looks, but nothing that was rude or overbearing. The couple enjoyed an evening of dancing and drinking (they had used a cab), pairing up with themselves (which drew more stares than the collars) and willing single men of various skill levels. Most of the people there had no clue that the pretty ladies were a slave and her Mistress, or at least which lady was which.

Once they were home again, several hours later, Valerie removed the butt plug and the couple went to bed. Valerie held Sally close, lightly caressing her breasts and belly.

"What are you feeling Sally?"

"I love you Mistress. I feel so close to you, and horny."

"Me too," Val chuckled. "Orgasm restriction sucks. Am I owning you enough?"

"I don't know. Probably, because I feel very dependant on you, yet very safe with you too. Are you going to be okay, Mistress?"

"Yes. Dr. Gloush said that I'm improving with each appointment. The flashback is supposed to be a normal reaction. If that's so, I'm not sure I want to be normal. I asked Master if Rachael could dominate me sometime soon."

"Rachael? Mistress, she went too far last time. You were hurt. You were a basket case for over an hour."

"I know, but I didn't use my safe word like I should have. She promised to watch me closer and I promised not to let her go too far. I think I need what she's going to take from me."

"That's an interesting way of putting it. Are you sure you don't mean, 'give you'?"

"Definitely take. It's been a long time since I've submitted to just please my dominant. There has been something in it for me."

"I see what you want. You want someone to just have fun with you and use you."

"Yeah. I may end up feeling miserable and desperate in the end, but it will be joyous to know that I made Master, or in this case, Mistress, happy. I like the pleasure, the orgasms, but it's really about being pleasing. I know that's what Master Tom and the others are trying to do, but there's an intensity that just isn't there."

"I know what you mean." Sally paused for a minute. In a soft voice, she asked, "Will you use me that way?"

Valerie hugged her tightly. "Is that what this deeper slavery is about, the need to be pleasing?"

"Partly, Mistress, but I'm sure there's more. If there wasn't, I could just ask for it like you did. I don't know what will happen in the long run and I'm scared."

"I know, love, I know. You won't go through it alone. I'll be with you for the entire journey. We should go to Mephisto's tomorrow night."

"I'd like that. What will you do with me?"

"That's a surprise." In reality, Valerie had no idea what she wanted to do. Sally's request stuck with her though. If Val herself needed times when her submission was all about pleasing someone else, how much more would Sally need that? Yes, there was sure to be more to it, a need for depth, for change, but to have those needs manifest as 24/7 full slavery meant that the need to be pleasing to a dominant, to a Mistress or Master was there as well. She made a mental note to ask Rachael how to balance pleasuring a submissive and taking pleasure form one. She recalled a conversation with Calvin. Calvin had been talking about the difference between discipline and punishment. Valerie was beginning to see that there was a difference between training, play and use as well. As she fell asleep with Sally in her arms, it dawned on Valerie that Sally needed all three from Val.

The next morning, Valerie woke to find Sally no longer beside her. The flash of worry was quickly put aside by the smell of bacon wafting in from the kitchen. Throwing a robe on, Val found Sally in front of the stove cooking breakfast.

"Good morning Mistress. Would you like breakfast?"

"Yes, that smells great." Val ran her hand along Sally's butt. "Do you remember how I like my eggs?"

"Yes, Mistress. Sunny side up with lemon pepper. I'm looking forward to tonight."

"I am too. I'm supposed to bring you with me when I submit to Sir Tom tomorrow. I don't know why."

"Okay. I'm sure it will make sense."

An hour later, Valerie was in her office, going over correspondence that had piled up. Fortunately, nothing was critical. Val had not worried, knowing that June would have brought anything that was to her attention right away. There was nothing from Yara's Leather Emporium yet, though Valerie was not expecting anything before Monday. The quiet routine of the publishing house was a pleasant break from the tension and bustle of the movie set.

Val checked her personal e-mail and found that not only had Charles sent her an answer, but there was a response to the e-mail she had sent to Master's Fuck Toy, a slave she had written the previous week. Val's Master gave her permission to submit to Rachael, so long as it did not interfere with her duties towards his four friends. The e-mail from Fuck Toy was very interesting.

"Valerie, I want to apologize for not responding sooner, but I thought your questions and concerns needed more than a passing answer. I've tried to come up with explanations that will help you. I'll start with motivation. Why do I allow my Owner to treat me with such harsh cruelty? Understand that I am not a weak woman. I won't let just anyone treat me this way. In fact, I believe that it takes a strong woman to choose to allow someone to be so cruel. If you could ask anyone I work with, they would not use the words weak or timid to describe me. I let Him treat me the way he does because the desire to belong wholly to another person is a deeply ingrained part of who I am. Until I met Him and gave myself to Him, I was less than whole. I don't know your lover, but I suspect that she has felt the need for domination most, if not all of her adult life, and that need has been slowly growing. That's the way it was with me. It sounds like, from what you wrote, that she experienced a quantum leap in her needs.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 06



"You didn't ask this specifically, but I suspect it is something you are desperate to know. Yes, you can love someone who is doing such things to you and you can be loved by the person who does them. I love Him deeply, that's why I allow him to own me. He loves me as well. It's not just that he loves being able to treat me like dirt. He loves me as a person. I look on his willingness to find new and unusual ways to subjugate me as a sign of His love for me. He takes the time to find ways to use me well. If you love her as deeply as your letter indicates, be willing to find ways to treat her more and more like a toy for your pleasure. I'm not saying never be tender, I am saying be sure to not be tender as well.

"I'm not sure how much help I can be with how to meet these new needs of hers. Everyone is different. I follow several other slave blogs and none of us are slaves in the same way. You, unfortunately, will have to find your own way. You know how my owner treats me. He beats me bloody and bruised. He fucks all my holes with no sign of gentleness. He uses me for his personal urinal. He demands that I torture myself in various ways and send Him the pictures. He has denied me masturbation and orgasm rights for up to five months at a time. I've included some links to other blogs that are all fundamentally different from myself. Troll them for ideas and pick the ones from each that work for you and your slave/lover.

"I hope I've helped in some way. I would love to know how things work out between you two, if you're willing to share. Feel free to write me anytime. With the love you've demonstrated, I'm sure you'll find a way to make this new period of your lives work. All the best, Toy."

There were tears in Valerie's eyes as she finished the letter. She felt immense relief at the assurance that the deep ownership that she was engaging in was not incompatible with loving Sally. She clicked on the links and found that, yes, every one was a slave blog, and each was different from the others in a very basic way. There were 24/7 slaves, part time slaves, slaves with safe words, slaves without safe words, live in slaves, living close slaves, long distance slaves, slaves that experienced severe levels of pain, slaves that had almost no pain in their relationships, slaveries that were entirely private, slaveries that were publicly displayed at some level, slaves that worked outside the home and slaves who did not. There was only one thing each had in common with the others; each slave described at some point, just how much fuller their lives were being owned. Toy's links all went to an entry in the respective blogs that talked about how much being owned meant to them, how much less their lives would be if they weren't owned. Valerie bookmarked each blog, promising herself to visit them often.

After a full day's work, Valerie found herself in her car. Dialing Charles' mansion, she reacher Herman.

"Herman, this is Valerie."

"Good evening Ms. Valerie. Master Charles is not here right now and won't be for several days yet."

"That's okay. I was just calling to ask if I could borrow some toys this weekend."

"I'm sure that will be fine. Are you on your way over now?"

"Yeah. I should be there in about 30 minutes."

"I'll look for you then."

As she drove, she used her voice dialing feature and called Rachael.

"Castle Superstore, where all your dreams come true."

"Mistress, this is Valerie."

"Ah, I assume you have permission?"

"Yes, Mistress. As long as it doesn't interfere with the men he's already given me to, I can submit to you."

"Are you submitting to them on Sunday?"

"Not as far as I know Mistress."

"Good. Come to my house Sunday morning at 9:00. Wear nothing at all, bring nothing with you. You may wear a coat over your nakedness when you drive over. Better yet, take a cab."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Valerie, I will be very hard on you. I will be shocked if you don't use a safe word at least twice."

There was a tremor in her voice as Val answered, "I understand, Mistress. Will Giggy be with us?"

"No, she will be working. You will have my undivided attention."

"Yes, Mistress," Valerie whispered.

Valerie could feel that kernel of fear form. She knew she needed what Rachael would take from her, but the dominant lesbian was capable of far more cruelty, mentally, than Charles was. She tried to remind herself that she had asked for this.

At the mansion, Valerie picked up several items that she needed to implement the idea she had come up with for Sally at the club. Friday night was the second busiest night at Mephisto's and she intended to use Sally publicly. In short order, she was back at her house. Inside, Sally had dinner cooking.

"Mmm that smells good. How much longer?"

"Ten minutes, Mistress. Did you buy some new toys?"

"No, I stopped by Master's place and borrowed a few things for tonight."

Valerie ran her hand along Sally's back, smiling as her lover leaned back into it and sighed.

"Mistress, how will I be serving you tonight?"

"Patience, little one. I want to surprise you. I'm going to change. Set the table for one, only."

Sally sucked in a breath. "Yes, Mistress." Her voice was soft and low.

Valerie went into the bedroom and selected her outfit for the evening. She chose a leather top that was little more than a bra with a wide back. This was joined by a leather mini-skirt that came down to the top of her thighs, leaving a hint of her crotch visible to those willing to take the time to look. Black stockings came up to just above her knees and were held up by garters. She had to practice walking on the 4 inch stilettos (something she had to do every time she wore them). In addition to a selection of toys to be added to those she borrowed from Charles, she put a half face mask in her toy bag.

"Mistress, you look very fuckable," Sally commented as she put the last of dinner on the table.

"Thank you, Sally. Too bad I can't let anyone do that. Fetch your pillow and kneel beside me while I eat."

"Yes, Mistress."

Val ate her dinner while Sally looked on. Sally felt her submission stronger as she was forced to wait on her Mistress for permission to eat. Valerie snuck an occasional peek at her slave, noting that Sally did not look up at all during the meal. Sally's pussy glistened with traces of moisture, as she became aroused by the position she had been put in. After Valerie had finished, she cuffed Sally's hands behind her back and fed her by hand.

The only clothing Valerie allowed Sally was a long coat to cover her nude body on the drive to Mephisto's. That was checked at the door, leaving Sally unclad except for her cuffs and collar. Led on a leash, Sally followed Valerie around the main floor, aware of the stares they were receiving. The regulars knew that Sally was normally the dominant woman and were interested in just what was to transpire tonight.

On the main stage, a woman had a man tied down to a low table, canted at an angle, and was dripping wax onto his body. His upper chest was already covered in wax and drops were hitting his belly from a height of 6 inches. Valerie stopped her tour at a station against one wall that had several eye bolts in the wall and a shelf off to one side.

"Sally, turn around and put your arms behind you."

Sally did so and Val fastened a second pair of cuffs just above each of Sally's elbows. Her arms were pulled up and each wrist was clipped to the opposite elbow. Leather straps finished binding Sally's forearms together. The tight arm bondage forced Sally's tits forward. Turning Sally back around, Valerie clipped her collar to a wall bolt and tied the bound arms to a lower one. Sally could not move either up or down, nor to the left or right. Cuffs were added to her ankles and these were clipped to a four foot spreader bar, which was in turn clipped to a floor level bolt in the wall.

Valerie made a point of unpacking a variety of clamps, crops, whips, floggers and canes from her bag, taking time to arrange them neatly on the shelf at the station. On top of these, she placed a hood, a full mouth coverage penis gag and a pair of foam earplugs. Only then did she turn to really look at Sally.

Sally's eyes were on the shelf. Her mouth was parted slightly and her breath was coming in short pants. She looked at Valerie and Val could see some fear in Sally's eyes. Sally gave a small whisper, "Mistress?"

"Sally?"

"Mistress, I'm frightened."

"I know love. I'm going to let any one who wishes use any of these toys on you. I'll be here the whole time."

"So many people. There's never been so many before."

"I know. This will make me very happy."

Sally's voice caught as she whispered, "I'm yours Mistress."

Valerie took the two ear plugs and rolled them between her fingers. She grabbed Sally's head and kissed her deeply. As the kiss continued, Valerie inserted the plugs into Sally's ears. As the ambient noise of the club faded, the foam expanding in her ear canals, Sally tensed, knowing that Valerie would not stop. Sally increased the intensity of the kiss, wanting Val to be there forever. When Valerie broke the connection, Sally looked into Val's eyes with pleading, her lips trembling with the unsaid plea on her lips.

As Valerie slipped the hood over Sally's head, the last thing she saw was Val's lips mouthing, "I love you." The hood had been specially made for Sally by Charles, fitting snuggly without pinching. The eye covers were already on and Val zipped up the back. This left Sally's mouth as the only exposed part of her head. A thin film of perspiration was covering Sally's body. Val took the last restraint, the gag, and pressed it against Sally's mouth. In spite of her trembling, Sally opened readily to have her voice taken from her. For several minutes, Val fucked Sally's mouth gently with the cock shaped gag, watching the tension ease a little as she performed that familiar act.

Once she had buckled the gag around Sally's head, Val let one hand slide down Sally's back, creating a contact she would maintain all night. The hand would stay there, gently caressing or holding Sally's arms and back, while others inflicted various pains on Sally's front side. With her slave prepared, Valerie turned to the small crowd that had gathered to watch the loving bondage.

A tall man, dressed in leather tights and vest, asked, "Were you serious? Any of us can do whatever we want to her?"

"Let me explain more fully. Anyone can use any of these implements on her once. One stroke, one clamp, one caress. You can use as much or as little force as you wish. You can't use your hands or any other body part, nor any of your own toys. What would you like to use, sir?"

The man did not say a word, but simply picked up a slapper and struck Sally's left breast hard. Sally groaned, her knees partially buckling. A red stripe showed on the top of her tit. Her arms being clipped to the wall prevented her from falling and Valerie's hand supported her, preventing her shoulders from being overly stressed.

A naked woman looked at the face of the man beside her and received a nod. She picked up the crop and ran it up Sally's pussy, causing the bound slave to moan and try to thrust her hips against the crop. When the woman finished, her Master picked up the cane and struck the inside of Sally's leg hard enough to generate a muffled squeal and leave a dark red stripe.

As the first few people availed themselves of the opportunity to play with someone else's submissive, the word began to filter through the club. Soon there was a constant stream of people wandering over. Many simply wanted to look at the scene, but enough chose to participate that Sally was receiving strokes or caresses on the average of every few minutes or so. Through all of this, Valerie's hand kept contact with Sally, reassuring her that her Mistress was still there, watching over her.

30 minutes into the game, two familiar figures showed up.

"Hi there, Melanie, Crystal. Would you like to play with Sally?"

Crystal looked at Sally with a little trepidation. "You want me to hit her with one of those?"

"It's up to you. You don't have to do anything, or you can use one with a stroke as soft or as hard as you want."

"So I can give her pleasure instead of pain?"

"Of course. Several have already made that choice."

Tentatively, Crystal picked up the cat and pulled the strands up Sally's body, starting at one foot and continuing until they caressed the hood. Through it all, Sally moaned and shuddered, thrusting herself out as much as possible. Melanie had picked up the crop and, when Crystal had finished, brushed it against Sally's foot, tickling her for a few seconds.

"Does she really not know who is playing with her?" the submissive actress asked.

"That's right. She can't hear or see anything. I suppose if you yelled loud enough, your voice would make it through her ear plugs."

"I don't understand how she can let this happen," Crystal asked. "It's one thing to have your lover tie you up and such, but total strangers hitting you? Why?"

"The short answer is because I wanted her to." While Valerie was talking, another man picked up the cane and struck Sally across her left nipple, bringing another muffled shriek from her. "Sally trusts me and wants to please me. She knows I'm here and loves me enough to allow me to share her in this way. She is frightened and, I'm sure wants it to stop. She won't ask me to because she has agreed that I'm in control, not her. Look at her pussy."

The actresses did and saw that Sally was wet, fluids dripping down her legs. Her pussy lips were trying to protrude past the rings that were holding them in.

"Oh my God! She's aroused. She's sopping wet down there. She's really turned on by being beaten like this."

"Pretty much. That's not to say that she likes being beaten. She's much like me, and doesn't like the pain itself. What she craves is the giving of herself. She wants the lack of choice in her destiny. That's the turn on for both of us."

"So it's like Melanie. She wants the mystery of not knowing when and how the pleasure will come. In your case, it's not knowing or controlling when, how, or even if the pleasure comes."

"Exactly! We want the lack of control, the inability to know for sure. That's just so hot."

A large woman approached and picked up the cane. She reared back with it, much like a baseball batter, causing Valerie to put her hand out.

"Excuse me, please don't use that much force."

"I thought you said we could hit her as hard as we wanted?"

"I did, and now I'm saying, I don't want you to beat her that hard. If you can't follow my guidelines, then you can put the cane back down and leave. I will not have my slave actually injured."

"Fine! Change the rules. Hardly seems fair."

"You know, I think you're done here." Val put her hand out. "Give me the cane please. You're not striking her."

Anger suffused the woman's face and she slapped the cane into Val's hand hard enough to make her wince. A red stripe appeared on Valerie's palm. Betsy was watching from a few feet away and approached.

"Val, are you okay?"

"Yeah, though this is going to leave a mark. Do you know that bitch?"

"Unfortunately, she's the owner's sister. We've had problems with her before. She trolls for these kind of scenes and then tries to go beyond what the dominants allow. She always stays just short of the line so that people don't feel like they are justified in filling out a complaint."

"Well, she picked the wrong scene tonight. I most certainly will fill out a complaint. She was aiming for Sally's clit and could have maimed it. She did strike me without my consent." Valerie opened her hand to show the deep red stripe that was already showing some purple. "I'll stop by the main desk on the way out."

"I'll have one filled out." Looking at Sally, she asked, "May I?"

"Of course."

Betsy picked up the cane and slapped it against Sally's crotch, hitting the clit directly. Sally howled and jerked at the pain. Her head turned towards where she could feel Val standing and made pleading noises. Valerie could tell that Sally was begging to stop. Valerie brought her other hand to Sally's face, caressing it through the hood. Sally leaned into the touch, letting Valerie feel the sobs that were taking place under the gag. Valerie felt the discomfort at Sally's pain start and knew she was going to have to stop soon. She waited just long enough for the couple she saw in the distance to approach.

"Good evening, Valerie," came Fred's greeting. "Interesting scene you have going here."

"Thanks Fred. Would you care to play? I would ask that you not touch her clit, it just suffered a pretty hard hit."

"Of course."

Fred picked up the crop while Daphne chose the slapper. She made an upward stroke with the slapper, catching Sally's breast on the underside. Fred's crop caught the very tip of the nipple on the same breast a moment later. Sally tried to scream and started shaking her head vigorously. Her whole body convulsed with unheard tears and Valerie knew she herself was at the end of her limits for witnessing Sally's pain.

Without breaking contact, Val released Sally's legs from the spreader and freed her arms and neck from the wall. Sally fell into Val's arms, her body shaking from the sobs that could not fully escape. Val opened the catch on the gag and pulled it out of Sally's mouth.

"Please Mistress, no more. Can we go home, Mistress? No more, I'm begging you."

Valerie silenced her with a kiss, forcing her own mouth onto that of her lover's. While they kissed, Valerie released the straps and clips holding Sally's arms back. Sally grabbed onto Val with all her might, as if terrified that Val might leave her.

"Fred, Daphne, would you let the front desk know I'd like a private room for half an hour. Sally's not in any condition to travel right now."

"Of course, dear. Fred, if you'll take care of that, I'll help Val pick up so she can keep comforting Sally."

"I'll be right back."

Daphne put a hand on Valerie's shoulder. "Just hold her. I'll pick up for you. You put on a great scene, pushed her well."

As Daphne packed Valerie's bag, Valerie held Sally tight, letting her calm down, sure now that no more pain was coming. By the time Fred had returned, they were ready to move. Inside the room, Daphne put her hand on Valerie's shoulder again.

"Valerie, are you dominating her without a safe word?"

"Yes."

"I thought so. There was no ball in her hand. Are you okay?"

"Daphne, I'm terrified of making a mistake. She needs this though. This could be very long term. Something has changed for her since the hand fasting ceremony."

Fred tried to reassure Valerie. "You did very well out there. The constant contact was good thing. She took strength from you during the entire scene. For someone as submissive as you are, you show great promise as a dominant."

"If it was anyone else, Fred, I wouldn't be able to do it."

"I understand. We'd better leave you two alone. She's going to need some alone time with you."

"Thanks, both of you. I hope you win me next auction."

"Only a couple of weeks away."

The couple left and Valerie removed the hood from Sally's head. Sally's sweat and tear stained face radiated fear and longing. Valerie gently removed the ear plugs, letting Sally hear the world once again.

"I love you Sally."

Sally clutched at Val even harder, her tears returning. "Mistress, it was so hard. I wanted to beg you to stop, to take me home."

"I know, love. I could see it. I didn't want you to beg. I wanted you to endure. You did. I'm so proud of you, Sally. I can't express how proud I was."

"It…it…it wasn't the pain. It…"

"I know, it was the waiting, the not knowing what or when. I know how hard that is for you."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 06



"It was more than that. It wasn't you. I knew it wasn't you."

"It was for me, dear. You endured for me."

"But…but…I'm asking too much from you. I feel so guilty."

Val gave Sally's ass a light swat. "Don't be silly. You don't ask too much of me. I could have done all that myself without too much difficulty. Remember, if it's spaced out, like it was at the hand fasting, I'm fine. It's getting better as well." Valerie ran her fingers over Sally's cunt, finding plentiful moisture there. "And I love doing this to you."

Sally gasped at the touch. She arched forward, trying to press against Val's hand. "Mistress, may I?"

"Yes, cum for me."

Valerie pressed her hand harder, sending Sally's arousal climbing. Sally groaned as Valerie rubbed against her aching clit. The empty ache in her pussy was driving her crazy, but the locks made sure any hopes for penetration would be unrealized. It took very little time for Sally to shudder and cry out, her pussy clenching with her orgasm.

Valerie kept her stimulation up rather than easing off. Sally whimpered at the continued contact with her now overly sensitive clit. Her climax ended without her arousal easing off much. Within minutes, she climaxed again, crying out in an exquisitely pleasurable pain. Her breath was coming in short, panting gasps as Valerie kept stroking her cunt.

"Mistress, please, too much."

"No, I want you to cum again. Cum again slave."

Sally whimpered, her arousal not descending at all, but rather, climbing even higher. Val's hand pressed against Sally's ass, preventing her from pulling away from the stimulation that was becoming unpleasant in its intensity. At her third orgasm, Sally's knees tried to buckle. Valerie lowered Sally to the ground, hand on her cunt the entire time.

"Please, no more. I…" Sally's voice failed her, reduced to a high pitched squeal as her body was trembling constantly. Her eyes opened wide, matched by her mouth as she was propelled to a fourth climax. Valerie saw Sally's eyes start to roll up in her head and stopped stimulating her. Val held Sally close as she came down and regained coherence. Sally's first sensation after the intense series of orgasms was soft caresses on her face. Her eyes focused and she saw Val smiling down at her.

"Mistress, where did you learn about forced orgasms?"

"Calvin told me about them. I've been looking for a good time. How are you feeling?"

"Very satisfied. Very tender. May I pleasure you?"

"I'm still on restriction, I'm afraid. Are you ready to go home?"

Sally smiled and nodded. Valerie filled out her complaint, explaining to Sally what had happened. The couple relaxed in each other's arms for the rest of the night. For the first time since Sally's deepening, Valerie felt she might be able to do this; own Sally without hurting either of them. Sally sensed this new confidence and relaxed in it, reveling in the safety a confident dominant gave her. Barry was gone and the film back on track. Unbeknownst to either of them though, someone was about to try Valerie's confidence to its limits. The strength of their love and trust, for each other and for Charles, would be tested as never before.

*

Thanks again to D. for the timely and great editing job. Let me know what you think, I love getting feedback. 



Stranger Than Truth Ch. 07



 Chapter seven: That's a wrap!

Sally woke up first. The room was bathed in a soft light that eased its way through the curtains on the window. She smiled and draped her hand over the side of her lover and Mistress. Valerie stirred without waking. Sally fingered the collar around her neck and the chain that connected it to the headboard. It would be a simple matter to release it and hit the shower, but Valerie had said that she wanted Sally in bed until Val had woken up. Even the slight tension on her pussy lips from the locked rings could not dampen her joy.

"She's my Mistress. She owns me and it's so right," she thought to herself. "Last night was so hard, but it showed me she can take pleasure from me, even when I don't like what she's doing."

Sally was realizing that she had been afraid of Valerie being unable to dominate her 24/7. When they had first met, Valerie was one of the most submissive people Sally had ever met, at least to those she chose to submit to (towards others, Valerie could be a force to be reckoned with). Valerie had, however, thrown herself into being a full time dominant with the same vigor that she approached her work. Drawing on the experience and knowledge of practiced dominants and submissives, Valerie had been able to give Sally the ownership she needed and craved.

Valerie rolled over and opened her eyes. "Morning, lover."

"Good morning Mistress.

Valerie trailed her fingers across Sally's naked body. Sally moaned lightly at the attention. Her legs spread a little, inviting attention between them. Valerie brushed Sally's locked cunt before she rolled back over to climb out of bed.

"We have to get ready to go. We need to be at Sir Tom's house in an hour." Valerie thought for a moment, wondering why she was supposed to bring Sally with her. Tom had given neither a reason, nor specific instructions. A strange feeling of protectiveness came over her. "I'm going to unlock your pussy for this trip, slave. I may lock it again later."

Valerie opened the locks as she spoke. Since she had not been instructed to show up in any specific outfit (or lack there of) Valerie dressed both of them in casual clothes that showed their respective charms. Once showered and dressed, they headed out to the house Val had been at earlier in the week. Valerie clipped a leash to Sally's collar and led her to the door. Val was surprised when Master Hugh answered the door instead of Sir Tom.

"Valerie. Sir Tom was called away unexpectedly and asked me to fill in."

"Of course, Master. What service do you wish of me?"

"I'm to train you with your slave. Take her downstairs, strip both of you and bind her to the cross."

"Yes, Master. Come with me Sally."

Sally was led to the basement where both women removed their clothes. Valerie bound Sally to the St. Andrew's cross, her back facing out.

"I think I'm to receive training in giving you pain."

"Don't worry about me Mistress, practice as much as you need. Will you be okay?"

"Yes, my limits are expanding, I think."

Hugh joined them and examined the bindings.

"You have a good handle on how to bind. Tell me, why did you bind her torso tightly to the cross? You only needed to bind her wrists and ankles."

"I didn't want to have her actions as she was being whipped to injure her, Master. Much like one holds a rifle tight to your shoulder when you shoot it."

Hugh nodded. "What experiences have you had with whipping a submissive?"

"Very little, Master. In my first weekend with my Master, I safe worded at having to whip Sally. Since then, I've only given what I refer to slow motion whippings, ones that have several minutes between strokes. Since she has become submissive to me 24/7, I have lost control during a paddling once and have done a little bit of spanking. I am still very uncomfortable with inflicting pain outside of bite play."

"Bite play? I thought Charles did not approve of bite play?"

"In general, he doesn't. He hasn't specifically forbidden it though. Surmi enjoys it immensely and I enjoy giving her that pleasure."

"If you were my slave, I would punish you for that. A Master's preferences are as good as commands."

Valerie was shocked by the implied criticism of Charles. She thought this man was a friend of her Master. "I understand, Master," she replied. Valerie tried to keep the displeasure out of her voice.

Hugh looked at Valerie with scorn. "You should rethink how you serve your Master. Is there anything else you're doing with your Master's slave that he would not approve of?"

Valerie took a deep breath. "She has no safe word."

"What! How dare you! Place yourself over the bench."

Valerie moved to the padded bench, trying to explain as she did. "Master, my…"

The interruption was harsh. "Quiet. Do not speak. If you do, the punishment will be that much worse."

He pushed her over the bench and clipped her cuffs to the attachment points. He pulled a cat from a drawer and stood behind Valerie. Sally looked on in shock. She had wanted to warn Val, but Valerie had been looking the wrong way. Sally knew Hugh. His belief in safe words and safe, sane, consensual was even more extreme than Charles' views.

"Valerie, play without safe words is abuse, plain and simple. Charles did not give you use of this slave so you could abuse her. I will punish you now, and don't be surprised if your Master does so again when he finds out what you have done. Count the strokes."

With that, the first blow landed and Valerie cried out, "One!" Tears came to her eyes. Valerie realized that Hugh was not going to listen to any excuses and figured that she would simply bear up under the unfair punishment and let Charles sort it out later. She let herself cry and writhe under the whip. After 25 blows, her legs and ass were a mass of red stripes and hurting like the dickens. Hugh released her.

"Let's continue with your training. I want you to whip Sally with the cat ten times. You can use as light or as hard of strokes as you wish, but you must give her ten. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master."

"Sally, you have your safe words back: red light for stop and yellow light for slow."

"Master, I don't…"

"Sally! You, of all people, should know better." Charles had had Hugh train Sally in the use of whips and crops. "A slave under bondage does not speak except when commanded to or to use a safe word."

Sally bit her lip, knowing she would not be permitted to explain the circumstances. So intent on not wanting a safe word, it never occurred to Sally to use a safe word to explain that she still did not have one. She reasoned that since she wasn't planning on using one, it wouldn't make much difference today. Sally realized that there had been a breakdown in communication. Charles would never have put Hugh in charge of Val's pain training, knowing his feelings about safe words.

Valerie walked over, gingerly, so as to not aggravate the lingering pain in her legs and ass. Taking the cat from Hugh, she flicked it against Sally's back. Valerie's strokes were so light that there was no pain involved at all. Sally smiled, thinking that she could have predicted such blows, or non-blows from her lover. Sally did not so much as flinch.

"That's lighter than I would have had you start at, but we can work with this. I've been told that whipping is a safe word issue for you. Is that still the case?"

"Not exactly Master. Inflicting pain other than with bite play makes me very uncomfortable. If I inflict enough, I have to stop, use my safe word if I'm submitting. If the pain is light enough or spaced enough, like at our hand fasting, I can do it."

"That's good to know. Now, whip the slave once, with all the strength you can bring to bear."

"Valerie tensed, but recognized something similar to what Surmi had her do when Val was preparing for the hand fasting gift she gave to Sally. The whip flew and Sally gave a yelp, red stripes appearing on her ass and legs.

"How do you feel?"

"There's a million butterflies tap dancing in my stomach. I really don't want to do that again."

"You are, however, going to do so. I want you to strike her with the same strength as many times as you can. Go until you reach your safe word limit."

Valerie gulped. "Yes, Master."

Five times Val's arm shot forward, leaving stripes on Sally's back side. Five times Sally cried out softly at the pain. Tears ran down Sally's face. She hoped Val could not see them. Sally, more than anyone else, knew how hard this was for Valerie. Sally's tears were as much in sympathy for Val as they were from the pain. After the fifth blow struck, Valerie gave a sob and stepped back.

"Oh God! No more please, Master." The look of anguish was plain on her face.

"I didn't believe Charles at first. You are on the verge of being physically ill at the thought of inflicting more pain on Sally, aren't you?"

"Yes, Master. It hurts inside to do this."

"How can you take submission from someone you can't punish?"

"I can punish her, Master. Just not this brutally, not for long. I love her more than anything. I can dominate her because I love her."

"No, love won't be enough. Without effective discipline, you'll be cheating her, hurting her actually. Submissives need structure. They need to know that disobedience will have consequences, and those consequences must be sufficient to create a desire to avoid them. What I'm seeing from you will leave Sally floundering and without a center. Only her dominant can give her the grounding needed to be a fulfilled submissive."

"You're saying that if I can't shake this aversion to giving pain that I'll hurt Sally. I'm sorry, Master, I'm not sure I buy that. I know couples that are in a D/s relationship where pain isn't a part of it at all."

"Those people are in a different type of relationship, not a true D/s relationship. I can assure you that Sally needs you to be able to give her pain, both in play and in punishment. Anything less will be harmful to her."

While Hugh talked, Sally was shaking her head. "Master, you're…"

"Sally! You will be quiet!" His crop lashed out and struck Sally between her legs, causing her to squeal. As he started to swing the crop a second time, Valerie grabbed it.

"No! Stop!"

"Valerie, just what do you think you're doing? How dare you stop the punishment of another submissive. Sally is under bondage and knows to remain silent. This is her second violation. She must be punished."

"Not by you. She is submitted to me, not to you."

"Charles instructed you to submit to the four of us. Sally submits to us through you. Now, if you don't have an objection, slave…" He left the reminder of her position hanging as he raised the crop again.

"I said no, Master. Sally is my slave and no one punishes her without my permission."

"You insolent…Fine, you punish her."

"She has not disobeyed me, Master. She isn't deserving of any punishment at my hands."

"Valerie, I'm ordering you to punish your slave. Use the crop on her until she uses her safe word."

Both Val and Sally started at the command. Valerie looked at Sally and saw her trembling in fear. Val knew that her lover, in spite of Hugh's command, still had no safe word and would submit to what Valerie inflicted on her. She walked over to Sally and caressed her back.

"It's okay, Sally." Valerie turned back to Master Hugh. "No, I will not. If you try, I'll make sure you're arrested for assault." Valerie blanched at the fury filling Hugh's face. She turned to Sally again and began to release the bindings holding her to the cross. "Sally, you are to take no orders from anyone but me. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mistress." Sally's whisper of, "Thank you," was barely audible to Valerie and Hugh missed it completely.

"Valerie, stop what you are doing and present yourself over the horse."

Valerie ignored him long enough to finish freeing Sally. "Sally, dress and wait for me upstairs." Turning to Hugh, she lowered her gaze. "Do you wish to punish me, Master?"

She caught his gaze as Sally grabbed both their clothes and retreated to the upstairs. It gave credence to the old saying, "If looks could kill." She raised her head and met his gaze head on.

"Master, I defied your order. Do you wish to punish me?"

"Yes I do." Spit flew from his lips as he spoke through clenched teeth. "On the horse, now."

Valerie draped herself across the padded saw horse and waited silently as her ankles and wrists were once again bound to the feet of the device, leaving her ass sticking up invitingly. Valerie's gut clenched in dreadful anticipation.

"Fifty lashes with the cat. Count them. If you falter, they restart."

Valerie gasped in horror. Only once had she been able to count so many strokes, her first public punishment. She had craved that punishment, having failed Charles in a most basic way. This was effectively a safe word punishment. The first blow struck, raining fire across her ass. Valerie cried out, barely getting the count of, "one," out before the second blow struck. For 24 lashes, she kept the count, but the blows were worse than any Charles had ever given her. When she missed 25, he ordered her to restart.

Valerie was, however, in too much pain to count. All she could do was scream in pain. It took her five more blows before she could scream, "Red light!" Blessedly, the beating stopped. She felt the restraints being released.

"Get out. You'll be contacted with new orders."

Hugh left her, storming upstairs. Valerie followed at a much slower pace. By the time she had reached the bottom of the stairs, Sally had joined her.

"Mistress, let me help you."

With Sally's help, Val made it up to her clothes and dressed. She promised herself that she would never leave the soothing ointment behind again as her clothes sent waves of fresh pain through her body. Sally drove them home. Inside the safety of their house, Sally bathed Val and applied the combination antiseptic and antibiotic to the welts Hugh had raised on Valerie's ass and legs.

"How bad is it, Sally?"

"You've had worse consensually. Mistress, what's going to happen? Master Hugh does not take open defiance well."

"I don't know. I should e-mail Master, once I can sit down, that is. Sally, was he right? Am I hurting you by not being able to inflict pain on you?"

Sally hugged Val tightly. "Don't worry about that. I don't have an answer, but I do know I trust you with my life. You will give me what I need, when I need it, no matter what that is. Master Hugh has very strong opinions on what BDSM is all about. He doesn't waste his time with submissives that won't or can't play with pain. Master is his friend, but they don't see eye to eye on the nature of D/s"

"Why in God's name did Master have me submit to him?"

"Don't get me wrong. He can be a good dominant for the most part. Angela is the only person I know who is better at whip control that he is. He is a better teacher. I didn't expect you to tell him that I had no safe word. That just made him mad."

"He wasn't supposed to be there, Sir Tom was."

"I know. That wouldn't have been a problem. Sir Tom has played with and without safe words. He leaves that up to the submissive."

"What am I going to do, Sally? I don't want to hurt you in any way. What if he's right? What if you need what I can't give you?"

"You're doing what you need to do. Look at how you've gone after good advice. You've punished me yourself. I know how much that had to tear you up inside, but you did it because it was needed. You've found inventive ways to get around your limits on pain. You do all this because you love me. I love you even more for it."

Valerie did not respond to Sally's words. She still worried at failing the woman she loved She remembered Sally, bruised over her entire body, commenting on how cruel Calvin was and how good she felt because of it. Valerie remembered Calvin telling her how much Sally begged to have Valerie treating her as Calvin was. Was Val depriving Sally of some level of fulfillment? Valerie didn't know anymore.

Once her body was in less pain, Valerie accessed her e-mail to send Charles a message explaining what had happened. A message from Charles was already there. The subject line of, "disobedience," chilled her bones. When she read it, she gasped. Staring at the words on the screen, she started to cry softly. Sally came over to see what was the matter and followed Valerie's stunned gaze.

"Valerie, Master Hugh has informed me that you openly defied him and refused his training. He further informed me that you have been abusing Sally while she is under your care. This doesn't sound like you, but I have no time to sort out just what happened. I know that Master Hugh's ideas of defiance and abuse are not always the same as my own, but I must put Sally's safety first. Until I return a week from tomorrow, Sally is no longer your submissive. Furthermore, you are not to give submission to anyone other than myself until I'm able to resolve this. If you were, in fact, defiant and refused his training, expect to be punished severely. In the unlikely event that you have been abusing Sally, I will expel you from my service. Valerie, I don't understand what has happened, but rest assured that I will once I return. Do not attempt to explain anything by e-mail. My duties here will prevent me from giving the matter the attention it deserves. Come to the mansion at 7PM in eight days. I'll deal with this then."

Sally whispered, "Master, no."

Valerie continued to look on, stunned into immobility. Tears rolled down her face, her heart breaking at the thought that she could be asked to leave her Master. "What have I done?" she asked of no one in particular.

"Mistress, don't…"

"No, Sally, not Mistress. Master has taken you away from me."

"Please, don't do this. I can't…I need to be your slave. Please don't reject me."

Valerie was shaken from her stupor by the anguish in Sally's voice. Looking over at Sally's face, Val saw terror. She clasped Sally tight.

"No. I won't give you up. You're the love of my life and my slave. No one can take that from me. As long as you need to be a slave, I'll be your owner. Master may punish me, but I will not leave you hanging."

"Thank you, Mistress. I'm so sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"I feel like it's my fault. I should have kept my safe words."

"No! I was there, remember? You need to be without them. I don't understand why, but I do know that you needed them taken away. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine." Valerie held up a finger to stop Sally. "No, I'm serious. I should have made him understand what's going on between us. I need to call Rachael, let her know that I can't submit to her tomorrow. I was so looking forward to that."

Sally winced inside. She understood that Valerie needed to submit if she was to dominate Sally with less anguish. She wished she could dominate Val a little, but this change she had yet to understand left her a quivering wreck when she thought of dominating anyone. Softly, her tears flowed, the pain of knowing Valerie's struggles becoming too much for her.

Valerie hung up the phone and knelt down beside Sally. "What is it love? Why are you crying?"

"Mistress, I'm hurting you. I know you're struggling to be my Mistress. I know how hard it is for you to be dominant for so long."

"Shhh. You need to not worry about this. It's only for eight days. Once Master knows what really happened, things will be back to normal."

"But, He took me away from you. He denied you any submission."

"Because he loves you. Protecting you is the most important thing right now. He did the right thing, given what he knows."

"But, you'll be punished, punished severely."

"I know. Punishment is part of being a submissive. You taught me that. I hate it when I disappoint Master, but this is necessary. You'll get the ownership you need, I'll accept my punishment and we will get through this."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 07



"I'm scared Mistress. I don't want to lose you."

"You won't. I'm not going anywhere." Val let a leer cross her face. "I want to play with you."

"How may I serve you Mistress?"

"Come with me. I think someone needs to be tortured with pleasure."

"May I cum, Mistress?"

"Eventually, but not for some time."

Sally shuddered with a combination of pleasure and dread. "You pleasure is my will, Mistress."

Val led Sally to their basement playroom. Inside the door, Valerie grabbed her lover in a hug and kissed her deeply. Hand behind Sally's head, Val held her slave captive as her tongue probed very familiar territory. Valerie's other hand gathered up Sally's hands so they could be pinned against the door. Teeth closed playfully on Sally's lips and tongue, drawing small whimpers from her.

Valerie came up for air, whispering, "God, I love how you taste."

Val's return to Sally's lips was even more aggressive. She forced Sally's head back against the door. Valerie grasped a handful of hair, pulling Sally's head back, exposing her neck to Val's advances. Val's mouth closed over Sally's windpipe, teeth scraping lightly over the vulnerable and tender spot. Valerie stopped there, teeth resting against the skin, tongue lapping at the flowing of air underneath.

"Oh God! Please? Please, Mistress?"

As Val slowly increased the pressure in her jaws and sucked the delicate skin deeper into her mouth, her hand slid down the front of Sally's skirt to find her cunt damp, fresh lubricant forming on Val's fingers. Sally was rigid with a lust tinged with a hint of fear, a primal fear of the mouth poised at her throat. When Val increased the pressure a little more, Sally whimpered and thrust her hip against Valerie's hand.

Another minute passed, the only sounds being that of Sally's fear tinged need and the movement of her cunt across Valerie's hand. Valerie's tongue could feel every breath's round trip, every anxious swallow, every pulse of blood through Sally's arteries. The hand at her cunt bent its fingers and Sally's thrusts started fucking herself. Sally propelled herself onward, fearful of what she was sure Val intended.

As Sally started to crest into her orgasm, the hand pulled up to her belly, pressing her back, stopping Sally from finishing. Val pulled her head back.

"Not yet, little one, I want you much randier than this. Come, let's put you in an appropriate position."

Val led Sally by the hand until they were beneath a set of chains hanging from the ceiling. With her slave ordered to immobility, Val retrieved several toys from the shelves in their laundry room. Sally's ankles were locked into a spreader bar. The bar forced her legs four full feet apart, straining her hips to just under uncomfortable. Her arms were clipped together behind her and a short chain tied the clipped cuffs to a ring on her collar. The upward pull on her shoulders and elbows was again, just short of uncomfortable.

Valerie looped a rope around Sally's chest, under her armpits and above her breasts. The knot was non-slip (all of Charles' submissives were required to take a knot tying course offered by a local community college's outdoor program). The loose end was strung up and tied off to a chain. Val tested her bindings by pulling Sally back, off her feet, and was pleased that the rope kept Sally from falling without undue pressure or binding.

Once Sally was back on her feet, Val started her sensuous torture. Her hands lightly caressed the bound woman's body, leaving no part lacking for attention. Sally's arousal responded like bread dough, slowly rising until it was brought back down. Sally's eyes were closed and she was sinking into the sensations, giving full reign to her reactions. Her moans, whimpers, and gyrations were a musical accompaniment to the artistry of Valerie's attention. When Val caressed her breasts, Sally thrust them forward, begging without words for more. Sally thrust herself against Valerie's hand each time it closed on her pussy.

The fire in Sally was stoked for 30 minutes before Valerie stopped. As Sally cried out softly at the cessation, Valerie put a blindfold over the closed eyes. A thin string was tied to Sally's nipple rings and the center lifted up to Sally's mouth.

"Dear, if you drop this or bite through it, you won't be allowed to cum. Do you understand?"

Sally nodded, wincing at the small sliver of pain the tug on her rings caused. Valerie returned to her caresses, rescuing Sally's arousal from its plunge. This time, Val did not take Sally on a roller coaster ride, but on a rocket ship. Val brought Sally to the brink of cumming and then held her there, keeping her attention just enough to maintain Sally's level of lust, but insufficient to reach climax. Sally was trembling with need and from trying to keep the string in her mouth, but not pulling too tightly. After nearly an hour of arousal, her body shimmered with a light coating of sweat and several drips of pussy juice were running down her legs.

Having Sally where she wanted her to be, Valerie stopped using her hands and proceeded to give Sally a slow tongue bath, licking at every exposed bit of skin, drinking in all the salty moisture on her body. Sally was in tears from need, yet loving the attention from her Mistress and reveling in the helplessness she was experiencing. Her pussy was aching from the near orgasms it had already suffered as well as the emptiness that she had lived with for days.

Of course, Valerie saved the now sopping pussy for last. When her tongue touched against Sally's outer folds, the bound slave gave a little shriek and thrust her hips forward. Val took her time, using slow, delicate strokes, just firm enough to collect the fluids being produced by Sally's cunt. These frustratingly soft licks drove Sally to the brink again, but were not, in and of themselves enough to bring the orgasm she so desperately craved. When Val stopped, Sally wept unabashedly.

Val stood and ran her hand along Sally's cheek. She leaned into the caress, her tears flowing onto Valerie's fingers. Sally's entire body trembled with desire. Val plucked at the string, tweaking Sally's nipples, causing her to gasp in the midst of her sobs. Val pulled the string out of Sally's mouth. Letting it hang loosely between her tits.

"Do you want to cum?"

"Yes! Please, Mistress, let me cum."

Sally could not help but struggle, her arms tugging at her collar. Valerie put her hand on Sally's hands and squeezed gently. Sally stilled herself.

"That's better. You are so lovely like this. I could keep you in this state for hours and never tire of it." 

Sally whimpered and moaned at the thought of being on the verge of cumming for hours on end. Val rubbed a hand through her own cunt and brushed a finger against Sally's lips, letting Sally embrace it with her mouth, suckling on Valerie's own juices. Three more fingers sought the cleaning that Sally's mouth brought.

Val stepped back and brought out the last of the toys she had collected earlier. The strap on fit snuggly around her waist, its phallic end sticking out lewdly. Turning to Sally again, Val smiled with lust. She rubbed the tip of the dildo against Sally's pussy. Sally gasped and thrust back. Valerie pulled back. Three more times, Val brought the tip within reach, only to pull away as Sally thrust herself forward. On the fourth approach, Val could see the strain in Sally's muscles as she fought herself to remain motionless.

"Very good, hold still."

Val slowly slid the fake cock into the needy cunt before her. Sally was gasping as she felt the slow, agonizing penetration she had been craving for days. Fifteen torturous seconds passed before Valerie was breast to breast with her lover, the strap on fully in. She held herself still, letting Sally stew for another few seconds.

"Fuck yourself, Sally! Fuck this cock until I cum."

Released, Sally swung her hips back and forth, plunging herself again and again onto the cock her lover wore. Sally's first orgasm took mere minutes to break through. She shuddered in her helpless state as waves of fiery pleasure washed over her body. Her scream rent the air and would have caused the neighbors to call 911 if not for the soundproofing in the basement. Valerie thrust as well, her own arousal making it well nigh impossible for her to hold still. The base of the harness rubbed against her pussy and clit, sending waves of pleasure through her body. Val bit her lip, straining to hold off her own climax as long as possible, ensuring that her orgasm would be mind blowing and letting Sally achieve at least one more cum.

Val's orgasm broke over her, causing her to clasp at Sally's bound body as she shook and cried out in ecstasy. Val could feel Sally writhing in her grasp as well, the slave's second orgasm cresting in response to Valerie's own climax. As Val started to come down from her high, she realized that she wanted more, much more. She started fucking her lover's cunt herself, using deep, hard thrusts. Val's lips squashed against Sally's, her tongue probing and raping the willing mouth before her. Sally cried out at the pain in her shoulder as Valerie's tight clasping pulled the bound arms even tighter.

"Fuck me slave, fuck me like the slut you are!"

Sally obeyed, pounding her hips against Valerie, forcing the dildo deep inside her own pussy, pressing the base even harder against her Mistress' clit. Both women were breathing hard, their lungs feeling the strain of trying to meet needs for air that they were unable to fulfill completely. Sally screamed as her third orgasm hit her, her quivering body pulling at the tightly bound shoulders. The pain in the midst of the pleasure prolonged her climax, allowing Valerie to cum again while her lover was still cumming.

As Val came out of her orgasm, her hand released the clip holding Sally's hands against her neck. The release of tension felt like another mini-orgasm to Sally's aching shoulders. Their lips sought each other and the lovers kissed with soft, slow oral caresses.

"I love you Mistress. Thank you for everything."

"I love you too, slave. It was a pleasure to give you everything I did. You were very pleasing today." Valerie started to undo the remainder of Sally's bindings. "I think we need a shower and then some lunch. Do you feel like a movie tonight?"  

"Oh yes, Mistress. I've been looking forward to a chance to see Pan's Labyrinth. Can we see that one?"

"That sounds like a fascinating movie. I like the way you think. Come on."

The two ladies enjoyed a night out, following the movie with dinner. They both came to the conclusion that Pan's Labyrinth was the best movie they never wanted to see again. The powerfully moving film drew on their emotions with a bittersweetness that hurt. Sally compared the painful happiness at the ending to cumming under a lash, a type of heartrending joy. They slept soundly in each other's arms.

Sunday was relaxed and event free. While Valerie kept Sally naked the entire day, she made no special demands of her slave beyond that of keeping up with the household chores. Milton called in the afternoon, confirming that they would be shooting at Mephisto's again on Monday. Sensing that Sally was feeling a need for grounding, Val had her sleep in the kennel that night. The smile on Sally's face as she settled in on her blanket confirmed the need for this reminder of Sally's position. Val set her alarm for the ungodly hour of 4:00 and slept herself.

The beeping of the alarm forced the sleep from Valerie's eyes. She groaned as she sat up in bed and turned the light on. She could make out Sally's form in the kennel as she responded to the alarm as well. Val went over and opened the door, letting Sally crawl out. Valerie stroked Sally's face as her lover and slave pulled herself to her knees.

"Mistress, did you have a good night's sleep?"

"Yes, though I missed your body being next to mine. How are you feeling?"

"A little stiff as I can't stretch out in my kennel."

"Sally, that's the first time you've called it your kennel."

"It is? I know it feels like mine, like I should spend time in it regularly."

Val hugged Sally close. "I think that's a breakthrough. You're feeling more like a slave, aren't you?"

Sally's eyes teared up at the realization. "I do, Mistress, I really do. Never stop owning me. Please own me forever."

"I will, slave, I always will. Wait here." 

Valerie retrieved Sally's leash from their toy drawer and clipped it to Sally's collar. Without words, Val led Sally to the basement and the whipping post. She did not, however, restrain Sally to it.

"Sally, I'm going to spank you. Do you know why?"

"No, Mistress."

"Because I can."

A light wave of energy passed through Sally's body at the declaration. Valerie was exerting herself as Sally's owner. Even while Sally moaned at the thought of an early morning spanking, she felt reassured by Val's willingness and ability to do so.

"I want you to stand still while I spank you. I will be disappointed if you move away from my hand. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mistress, I'll be still."

"Ask for it."

"Miss…" Sally's voice caught once. "Mistress, will you please spank me?"

Valerie gave a swift swat, leaving a light pink mark on Sally's left ass cheek. Sally gasped, surprised as much by how hard it wasn't as by the fact that a second swat came right on the heels of the first, this one landing on the right cheek. Eight more swats came, four to each cheek, leaving Sally's ass with a tingling sensation and a pretty redness.

"Hold your breasts up."

Sally held her tits in her hands, taking up the small slackness they had without a bra to support them. Her nipple rings rested against a finger. Valerie slapped each once with a brisk motion. Sally sucked her breath in sharply, but did not let her tits go. Valerie reached down and found Sally's cunt beginning to moisten.

"My, aren't we the little slut today?"

"Yes, Mistress and not just any slut. I'm your slut."

"That's right. Sally, I have good news."

"Yes, Mistress?"

"There aren't any butterflies."

"Mistress!" Sally almost let her breasts go. "Really? That's so wonderful. Are you over it completely?"

"I doubt it, but this much is not giving me any trouble. Even better, I really feel like I own you, that I can and should do what I want with you."

Valerie clasped Sally in a hug that was returned with equal ferocity. Valerie was still worried about what Hugh had told her. Would Val be enough Mistress for Sally? Was her inability to punish severely going to hurt Sally in the long run? There was also the worry about Charles. Val still trusted Charles deeply. But Val was a submissive and Hugh was a Master. She had openly defied him, one of her Master's friends. How would Charles Vanquil react to that? Having known Charles for less than a year, Val knew there may well be things she didn't know about the man. She tried to put the worry away, knowing that worry was interest paid on a debt that mat never come due. She would find out in eight days.

"Come on. We have to be at Mephisto's before too long."

An hour later, Valerie and Sally pulled into the parking lot of Mephisto's. Valerie turned towards Sally.

"I want to take you into the makeup trailer cuffed and on the leash."

"Mistress, I…If it pleases you Mistress." Sally blushed, her face becoming even redder than her ass did after the spanking.

"Would you rather I didn't?"

"I only want to please you."

"I know you do, but I asked a question and you shouldn't evade it. Now, would you rather I didn't?"

Sally bowed her head in embarrassment. "Yes, Mistress. It will be so humiliating."

"I know it will. I'm still going to do it." Val caressed Sally's cheek. "It won't be for long and the actors already know what we are. Hands behind your back."

Sally turned her back towards her Mistress and placed her hands behind her. Val clipped the cuffs together and used a short chain to connect the cuffs to Sally's collar, holding her hands just below her shoulder blades.

"Is the tension blocking your windpipe?"

"No, Mistress."

Valerie exited and clipped the leash before leading Sally out of the car. They covered the 100 feet to the make up trailer and entered. The actors all looked at them, eyes going wide. Harvey glanced back briefly, then returned to working on Tasha's bare back.

"Ah, Valerie, Sally, just the people I was looking for. What do you think of these?"

Valerie led Sally over, smiling at the total lack of awareness that Harvey demonstrated to what was going on around him. When she looked down, she gasped.

"That's makeup?"

Harvey turned around. "I am the best…" Harvey stopped as he took in the leash and bound hands on Sally. Sally blushed even deeper at the attention focused on her. Harvey's voice returned. "Oh my! Did someone do something wrong?"

Valerie's eyebrow rose at the question. "No, I just wanted to bind her. Those stripes are very realistic. I take it your on site research was successful?"

"Very successful. very eye opening as well. I was even able to take pictures."

"You were? That's surprising."

"I just explained what I wanted them for and some couples volunteered to let me take close ups of various activities and the results. I've got them here on my blackberry."

He brought the small electronic device to where the women could see it, flicking through the pictures. He had managed to obtain photos of marks from whips, crops, floggers, single tails and canes. There were also pictures of clamps and clothes pins, as well as waxings and some needle play.

"That's impressive, Harvey, I surprised that you were able to convince so many."

"Actually, it wasn't very many people. A couple of, Masters I think they called themselves, created most of the stripings on their slaves. Once I get back to my office in Hollywood, I can enter them into my database." He looked at Val for a moment and asked, "Say, would there be any chance of taking pictures of the scars on your back?"

"I'll have to think about that. Can I let you know?"

"That's fine. If you're uncomfortable with me taking the pictures, you could take them yourself and send them to me."

Thanks. I may do that. Have you tried asking the hospital if you could have copies of the photos they took of my back right after the attack? I don't know if it's possible, but I would be willing to sign a release if it was needed."

"I hadn't thought of that. I'll ask."

He turned back to Tasha and put the finishing touches on her back. When he finished, Tasha looked like she had received a couple of dozen strokes with a cat. The actress stood and looked at Val and Sally. Her front side showed even more whip marks, just as realistic, across her breasts and legs.

"Morning you two, do you do this often?"

"Not in public. I figured everyone here knew about us and if they didn't, they would assume we were part of the movie. Sally, tell Tasha how you're feeling right now."

"Mistress?" When she saw that Valerie was not going to let her off the hook, Sally took a deep breath. "I feel very owned. I didn't want to be displayed like this, but Mistress gave me no choice. It's very humiliating and helpless. I crave both of those feelings."

"How could I make you even more helpless and embarrassed?"

Sally bowed her head so she didn't have to look at anyone. "You…you could blindfold me or strip me."

"You mean like this?" Val started to open the top buttons on Sally's blouse, releasing the tension her breasts were causing from being thrust forward by the arm bindings.

"Please, Mistress."

"It's okay Sally. Just the top two."

Crystal had joined them and whispered, "Sally, would you let her strip you if she wished, in front of all of us?" Sally nodded her head, biting her lower lip. "Why?" Crystal asked.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 07



"She's my Mistress. I would let her do anything to me. I trust her."

"Valerie, you are one lucky lady to be loved and trusted that much." Crystal turned back to Sally. "I think I understand why you do the things you do. Melanie trusts me too. I don't always feel like I deserve that much trust."

"I struggle with that myself," Val commented. "We have to trust our partners as well, trust that they aren't trusting us too much. It makes me very careful."

"Valerie, may I stay in contact with you, ask for advice when I need it?"

"Of course Crystal, I'd be honored."

A head stuck itself through the door. "Come on folks, time is money." Milton paused for a moment. "Sally honey, you must tell our physical therapist how you managed to get your hands back like that. Very impressive."

"I had help Milton." Sally tugged at the chain holding her hands up.

"It's time to release you, Sally."

Sally turned around and Val undid the bindings on her wrists. When Sally went to button her blouse back up, Val put her hand on Sally's and shook her head. They followed the actors into the club and to one of the private rooms. Crewmen were bustling about, preparing the room for the shoot. Val turned to Milton.

"Milton, I'm a little confused. You've had Tasha made up like it was the end of a scene. Shouldn't you have started with her unmarked and then added marks as the scene progressed?"

"Ah, that's why I'm directing and not you. It's easier and takes less time to take effects off than to put them on. So we'll be shooting things in reverse, for all practical purposes. Each scene in the movie with whipping is broken up into one to two minutes shots. We film each in reverse order and take a little of the markings off after each one. Our first shot will be Tasha being released after being subjected to unwanted sexual attention from Melanie.

Val and Sally smiled at the remembrance of Val's first scene with Sally, back when Val was still repulsed by lesbian sex. Their hands clasped and squeezed. The preparations were ready in a matter of minutes and the room was cleared of anyone not needed for the scene.

"All right, places everyone!" The shot supervisor's voice was loud enough to belong to a marine drill sergeant. "Valerie's Crisis, scene 57, take 1."

Milton looked for and received a nod from the cameramen and called out, "Action!"

Tasha's visage changed in an instant. Her face was drawn in pain and her breath was coming short. "Mistress, is it allowed for a slave to ask for a specific punishment?"

Melanie looked up with a wicked grin that made both Val and Sally shudder. "As long as they ask for permission too. What would you like?"

Tasha looked down sheepishly. "Would you tease me with pleasure?"

"You know you can't climax, don't you?"

"Yes, Mistress, but, this is about your pleasure."

"Very well, sensual torture it is."

Melanie reached up and kissed Tasha. Sally, long experienced with kisses between women, could see that the two actresses were not acting much. She marveled that the heterosexual Tasha could so readily act out a same sex kiss on screen. Melanie's hands started moving towards Tasha's breasts, simulating caresses and pinches. Val could see that real contact was kept to a minimum. Glancing over, she saw that the camera angles would make up for much of what wasn't being done for real. Tasha was begging for Melanie to stop, just as Valerie had done in the real encounter. Several minutes passed.

"Cut! Great job folks. Okay, it's been 30 minutes of sex without orgasm for you, Tasha. Harvey, a little sweat and blushing if you would? Tasha, Melanie will be giving you head and you will suddenly cry out your safe word. Melanie, pull away immediately. This is one of our two chances to show a safe word being honored. From there, let Tasha loose and comfort her from a distance. Tasha will be too high strung by the unwanted contact to handle physical comfort. Tasha, when you're crouching, fear and longing at the same time."

Melanie dropped to her knees. A costume lady brought over a flesh colored skirt and wrapped it around Tasha's crotch, preventing actual physical contact between Melanie and Tasha. It was extremely realistic and molded against Tasha's skin so that it looked like it wasn't there.

"Valerie's crisis, scene 58, take 1!"

"And…action!"

Tasha's face showed that blend of terror and arousal that Sally so loved to see in Valerie when Sally was the Mistress. Melanie was simulating a slow, sensuous oral sex while smiling up at Tasha. The action continued for a few minutes when Milton made a hand motion and Tasha screamed, "Red, Light. Oh God, please, red light!" Like a whip shot, Melanie backed off and stood. The scene played out much the way Val and Sally remembered it, including the, "Drop of a word," joke that had the two ladies rolling in laughter when Charles had walked in on them so many months ago.

From there, the whippings that Sally had given Valerie were reenacted in small thirty second snippets. After each, Harvey took a minute to remove some of the whip marks. As they watched his work, Valerie noticed that each removal was practically a second skin, transparent where there were no marks. It took two hours to work their way through the whippings, ending with Melanie and Tasha entering the room and binding the actress playing Valerie to the whipping post.

When they had finished, Valerie walked over to Tasha, who had slipped a robe on. "Tasha, just how long were you in makeup?"

"Let's see. I arrived at three and we came here at seven, so…four hours."

"Oh my God!" Sally exclaimed. "I can't imagine being trapped in a chair for that long."

"This was nothing. I've seen seven hour make up sessions. If Harvey hadn't had those second skins ready in advance, it would have been twice as long. I've got three more of these scenes to shoot, one tomorrow and two on Wednesday. At least I can eat in my makeup. Some of the full body jobs require the actor to go without solids for the entire time they're in makeup. It takes too long to fix. CGI is helping with that, but live actors still need real make up."

The rest of the morning was spent filming the auction scene. The workers had taken advantage of the soundproofing in Mephisto's and constructed a circle of green screen around the stage so that the auction crowd could be added in post production. Val and Sally learned that recruiters would be on site the next couple of days to hire a crowd for the auction. Milton's financial team had negotiated an arrangement with Mephisto's owners to allow anyone who participated in the crowd scene to be given free cover charge on Wednesday night when the filming would be done.

To Valerie and Sally, the sight of the auction going off with no one in the crowd seemed almost surreal. The one change to what actually happened was that Tasha did not have her bra or panties pulled off during the auction. By 1:00, everyone was starving and the cast retired to the house and the catered food. The afternoon and evening were spent shooting more non-BDSM scenes. With Milton in control, the atmosphere on the set was light and things ran smoothly. As they were breaking for the evening, Milton waved the two over.

"Valerie, Sally, I want to apologize. I should have taken your calls about Barry more seriously. Barry's been a good friend for over a decade and I've never known him to try to ruin a film before."

"I'm just glad it's going to work out in the end. I have to admit, I was shocked when he slapped Mistress. I want to thank you, Milton, for making this movie. It seems that those into BDSM are always portrayed as fools or evil in the movies. At least people will be able to see us for who we are for once."

"It's my pleasure Sally. See you in the morning."

That night, Val had Sally sleep in the kennel again, this time with her hands bound to her collar. Tuesday was much like Monday, with a whipping scene in the morning and more vanilla scenes in the afternoon. Valerie kept Sally in her bed, cuddling through the night. On both nights, Val caught up on vital work from the office. During lunch on Wednesday, June phoned Valerie.

"Ms. Burbon. You received a call from Mrs. Anders of Yara's Leather Emporium. She would like you to come in for a meeting tomorrow at 11:00. I took the liberty of saying yes for you."

"Excellent! The filming is just about wrapped up and I should be able to slip out for a couple of hours. If it's a yes, I'll be in to start any ad work we need to do."

"How's the movie going, Ms. Burbon?"

"Really well, it should show this lifestyle in a good light for the first time."

"I'm glad to hear that. I'll look for you tomorrow."

That afternoon, returning from Mephisto's, they entered the house to find the front room and connecting dining room looking eerily familiar. Sally placed it first and gripped Valerie's hand for the inevitable. Then Valerie saw it as well. The room had been returned to its original appearance. Valerie's breath came in ragged gasps as the past crashed in on her and she was once again stretched in the dining room entrance, her back being savaged by a friend driven over the edge.

"I…I…I don't think I can do this. It's too much."

"You don't have to, Mistress. I can deal with anything that comes up."

People were staring at Valerie, wondering what was happening. Tasha glared at people, backing them off through force of personality. Tasha walked over as the crowd found other places to be, putting her hand on Sally's shoulder.

"Sally, could I have a minute or two with Valerie?"

Sally looked up, ready to deny the request and saw something in Tasha's face that stopped her. There was empathy, true empathy, and pain. "Sure, but be gentle, she's on the edge. Last Thursday she had a flashback."

"I will."

The actress led Valerie to another room, one with less memory attached.

"Valerie, look at me." Val looked up, her face trying to hide the horror she was feeling. "If you can't do this, I'll understand. You were hurt badly, but it would be good for you and me if you could find it in you to stay." At the questioning in Val's eyes, Tasha continued. "I have a confession to make. There's a reason I had so much trouble with what you were training us to do. I've experienced what you did. My back looked like a miniature version of yours at one point in time."

"But, your back is lovely, unmarked."

"Plastic surgery. When you have money, a multitude of sins can be covered up. When I was 12, a man, and I use the term loosely, punished me for stealing apples from his orchard. He dragged me to a barn and beat me with a switch until my back was bloody. I guess you would say I was past my limits from the first blow." The dour voice and humorless expression belied the lightness of her statement. "It took a year of hospital visits to erase the scars on my body. It has taken this movie to erase the scars from my mind. I don't know if I can film this. It would help if someone who understands what I went through would be there. Will you stand by me in case I flash back?"

Valerie looked at the actress in awe. She had had no idea that Tasha was dealing with her own demons. She gave a sob and clasped the actress in a tight hug. "Yes, if you can hold me when mine happen."

"Deal, we'll be two of the wounded, facing the darkness together." When they broke their embrace, Tasha smiled, saying, "I still don't understand how you can let people whip you after what happened."

"I'm not sure I could explain it. I think it helps that Francine was not acting out of malice, like the man did with you, but out of pain. If it had been Harv who attacked me that way, who knows how I would have reacted."

"Let's get this shot out of the way."

"Tasha, thank you for understanding. It's helped, I think."

The two women walked back to the living room of the house where Val stopped short. She stifled a cry as she took in the scene of Sally, upper body bared, strung up in the doorway while Crystal whipped her back with a cat. She started to lunge forward when Tasha grabbed her arm.

"Sally!" Val gasped in horror.

"Valerie, it's practice," came Tasha's reassuring whisper.

Valerie gulped and trembled. Her nightmare flashed through her mind, the bloody and dying vision of Sally superimposing itself over the unharmed form of her lover. Tasha grabbed Valerie in a hug, holding her tight and turning Val away from the sight. Several heads turned with quizzical looks until Tasha's fearsome glare had them cowered and looking away. As Tasha watched, she saw Crystal's form improve with every stroke, the muscle memory of the training sessions two weeks past returning. Milton's voice was heard over the sound of the whips slapping flesh.

"Great Crystal, I love that look," he commented about the intense concentration she showed. "Give us the same look when we film with Tasha. Sally, how's she doing?"

Crystal stopped in response to the question so Sally could answer. "Fine Milton, she's got the technique down pat. The last dozen blows were not painful at all. Could someone let me down?"

A stage hand release Sally from the ropes. By then, Valerie had turned back towards Sally, letting Sally see her tear streaked face. Sally rushed over and took Valerie's hands into her own.

"Mistress, are you okay?"

Val nodded her head. "Yeah, I saw you and had a nightmare flashback. This isn't going to be easy."

"Do you want to wait somewhere else?"

"No," Val shook her head. "I think I need to be here, to face the demon I've been avoiding for the last few months. I'm seeing Dr, Gloush tomorrow, so if it's too bad, he'll help me deal with it."

"I'm sorry about frightening you, but Crystal was unsure about being safe, having not had any practice since the shooting started."

"You did well. I'm sure that Tasha will be grateful for any practice Crystal has had."

The actress in question was now nude and being roped into place in the doorway. The scenes leading up to the whipping had been filmed early in the previous week. Unlike the previous whipping scenes, this one would be filmed in forward time progression. Harvey had prepared a series of second skins with differing levels of wounds on them. The plan was to take the rest of the afternoon to shoot the entire whipping scene. There would be more time spent on changing the second skins than actually shooting the shots.

The first two hours were not very hard on Valerie, as they covered the time period before she had used the ignored safe word. While she hid it well, Tasha was struggling with the whole scene. She had to struggle with holding the flashbacks to her own incident at bay. Valerie was there, comforting and reassuring Tasha between each shot. It actually helped both women when Valerie talked about the feelings she had experienced during the shots that were coming up.

"Are you going to be ready for this one?" Val asked, knowing the crucial safe word scene was the next shot.

"I don't know. This is where it stopped being consensual."

"Right, until now I was accepting everything. I thought Francine wanted a safe word scene, and I was okay with that."

"What were you feeling when she didn't stop?"

"At first: confusion. It never occurred to me that someone would not stop at a safe word. I suppose I should have known it could happen. Lord knows Master and the others had mentioned it enough, if only as a never thing. After a time, I was panicked and pleading for Francine to stop, trying to understand amid the haze of sheer agony I was feeling. It was only as I invoked her love for me and she became increasingly frantic that I realized, at least subconsciously, that she was in as much pain as I was."

"Every time I think about it, it just seems so horrible."

"I won't sugar coat it, it was horrible. It's my hope that this film will make sure that nothing like this ever has to happen again. I don't mean safe word violations, but what happened to Francine. Harv's reaction, his intense revulsion at Francine's kink came as much from being shocked, I think, as it did from a hatred of it. It doesn't excuse what he did, but if the world at large understood BDSM better, maybe they wouldn't react so harshly when confronted by it."

"I'll try to hold onto that thought. Never again has been a good motivator for other things as well."

Tasha was strung back up and the filming started anew. Valerie held Sally's hand as the crucial scene approached. When Tasha screamed, "Red light!" with a realistic cry of pain and agony, Valerie squeezed, her breath coming short and fast, her mind on the verge of panic. Sally winced in pain as her hand was crushed by her unaware partner. She squeezed back, gently, letting Valerie know that Sally was there, ready to be whatever she needed. When Milton cried out, "Cut!" Val ran forward, embracing the bound actress, both ladies crying with emotional pain.

Five more makeup changes, each bloodier and looking more wicked than the last, took place between shots of a woman in pain and terror, beaten beyond endurance. Five more times, Tasha and Valerie embraced, with Sally beside them, and cried as their individual flashbacks knocked at their minds' doors, threatening to overwhelm them. Five times the combined strength of the two former victims and the woman who loved one and respected the other pushed the horror back just enough for their fragile grip on coherence to remain intact. 

Milton Freeman knew that this scene was the heart of the movie. It was here that people would see the results of prejudice and intolerance and, perhaps, feel a little guilt for their own less than pure thoughts. Whatever was affecting Tasha so strongly was also making the scene more powerful than he could imagine. He knew that they were going overtime with the extra time needed to comfort Tasha between each take, but he did not begrudge them that time. He wanted the best for his movie and Tasha was giving him that. If that meant overtime pay, so be it.

The final take was the rescue by Sally and Surmi. Milton went over the scene again, hoping to shoot it in one take.

"Okay, Crystal is whipping Tasha when Melanie and Ursala," mentioning the name of the actress playing Surmi, "rush in. Ursala grabs the whip and Melanie lets Tasha down. Crystal, you run into the kitchen. Cynthia, are the blood bags ready in the kitchen?" Cynthia nodded and Milton continued. "When Tasha is down, she will crawl to Crystal, with the camera following her, to find Crystal with slashed wrists and try to stop the bleeding, yelling for Melanie and Ursala to call 911."

The scenes of the paramedics showing up and treating Valerie had been cut and the outside scenes with the police had already been shot. After today, the only scenes left were the handfasting ceremony and the final confrontation with Harv on the steps of the hospital. Everyone was in their places and the shot started with Milton's "Action!"

As the scene played out, Valerie had to put her hand to her mouth to keep the convulsive sob from being picked up by the sound system. Valerie's emotions clashed as the incredible love and anguish she recalled having felt at Francine's near death met the anger Dr. Gloush had brought to the surface. She faced the conflict of loving and hating her friend at the same time with tremendous force. Sally held her close, trying to absorb some of the pain her Mistress was feeling.

The shot went perfectly. When Milton cried "Cut! Print it," Tasha rushed to Sally and Val, embracing for one more balm to her emotions. The three did not hear Milton telling everyone they were done for the day or that the next day would be the last day of filming. Valerie and Tasha let go finally, letting themselves break down into tears. They had taken themselves through an emotional wringer to finish the shot, and the release was almost more than they could bear.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 07



"Tasha, do you have someone to stay with tonight?" Sally asked. The actress shook her head. "Mistress, I think she should come home with us. She shouldn't be alone tonight."

"I don't want to impose…"

"It's not imposing. It'll help me as well. We have a spare bedroom you can use."

Tasha gave up her perfunctory objections, not wanting to be alone with her memories tonight. "Yes, I'd like that."

Sally led the other two to the car and drove them home. At the house, Val and Tasha spent some time just sitting together, recovering their emotional stability. Sally took time to fix a wonderful dinner, having it ready by the time they were ready. During dinner, the women talked.

"You know, Valerie, Sally, you're not what I expected."

Sally smiled, having heard such sentiments before "In what way?"

"I know this will sound horrible, but I thought you were perverts, deviants."

Sally laughed. "I've never had anyone be so…honest about what they thought of us. It's actually quite refreshing. What do you think of us now?"

"You're still perverts." Val chuckled, recalling Charles confirming to someone else that he was a pervert. "But you're more than that. You're people, with lives, loves, foibles and fears. I can't seem to hold you in contempt like I once could."  

Val's eyes squinted. "Why would you hold us in contempt? I don't deny that by the standards of society, we are perverts. Are perverts only deserving of contempt?"

"No, it's not that. You…I believed that anyone who seeks enjoyment from beatings, they…it…doing that means that what happened to me was not wrong. If beating women for fun is just an alternative lifestyle, then what happened to me was just another lifestyle."

"Oh my," Sally looked incredulous. "Tasha, it's not…"

"I know, please don't make me feel any worse. What happened to Valerie, that was wrong, and everyone of…you, I guess, believe that as strongly as I do. I don't think I will ever understand why you want to let people beat you, but I do understand that it is what you want. What you do still frightens me. What I enacted today could happen again. Doesn't that scare you?"

Val pursed her lips. "Yes, I guess it does. No more, however, than a skydiver fears his chute failing. Yes, I could have my safe word violated again, be savaged and possibly maimed. I minimize that danger by being careful who I submit to. I know this may freak you out, but there is another type of fear that is something I crave."

"Fear! You crave fear?"

"Mistress, if I may?" Sally continued when Val nodded her head. "You've noticed that things have changed between Val and I. I'm submitting to her 24/7. That's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even more, I have no safe word. She can do anything to me, order me to do anything at all."

"But I thought safe words were…"

Sally nodded. "Yes, our Master teaches that safe words are inviolate. He's not happy with the situation, but he understands why we're at this juncture. Anyway, knowing that Valerie can do anything, even things that I don't like, is frightening. That fear is paired with trust. I'm afraid of what she might do, yet I trust her completely. I know she will not hurt me. She will make me uncomfortable, give me pain; force me to do things I don't like or want to do. She will also care for me, love me; give me great joy and pleasure."

"Do you really trust her that much?"

"Yes. Have you heard of breath play?"

Tasha shook her head, eyes wide at the implications of the words themselves.

"In breath play, the dominant takes away the ability to breathe in some way. There's perhaps no greater display of trust for a submissive than to allow breath play. It's very dangerous. Have you heard of the rule of three?"

"Yes, three minutes without air, three days with out water, three weeks without food are what it takes to kill you. You let Valerie suffocate you?"

"Yes." Sally paused to let that sink in, watching the shock on Tasha's face. "Obviously it's incredibly dangerous. Even before death, there's the possibility of brain damage."

Valerie picked up the thread of the conversation. "That's why I will never use anything but my hands. Any device, such as a rope, could jam. In fact, Master would probably freak if he knew. The fear and trust that roll off her are an intense high."

"Aren't you scared you might make a mistake?"

"Yes, that's why I won't use it very often. Early on, Sally needed to know I would take her deeper into submission than she has ever been before. It will never be a big part of our play."

Tasha shook her head in wonder. "You're thrill junkies, aren't you?"

"I suppose that's one way of looking at it," Sally answered. "It's more than that, but we are a type of thrill junkie. It's a lot more than that, though. Submission, or willing slavery if you will, is about deep seated needs, about who we are at the core of our being. I can't imagine not being Valerie's slave, of giving her my complete trust and adoration. When she uses me and leaves me weeping in agony, be it physical or emotional agony, I am so thankful for that. I'm thankful because she has allowed, even made me to be who I am in my heart." Sally slid off the couch to kneel at Valerie's feet. She put her head down, bowing. "I am owned by my Mistress and I would kiss her feet if she demanded it of me." Sally then did just that, started kissing Valerie's feet as both Valerie and Tasha looked on in surprise.

"I don't know what to say. I could never do this, no matter how much I loved someone."

"That's because this is not who you are," Valerie replied with a choked voice.

Inside, Val was terrified. Sally entrusted so much to her and Val was not convinced she deserved it. Master Hugh's words still resonated in her head. "Love is not enough. You'll hurt Sally." Charles' reaction seemed to confirm that Hugh's fear was justified. Val knew she would not be able to live with the guilt if she brought true harm to her lover. A tear started to roll down her cheek which she quickly wiped away.

"Tasha, you probably need to hit the sack soon. I suppose you have to be at make up at some ridiculously early hour."

"No, not really, just 4:00."

"Morning people!" Val exclaimed. "Sally, wait for me in the bedroom while I see to Tasha."

"Yes, Mistress."

Valerie led Tasha to Francine's bedroom. "This is Francine's old room, you can sleep here."

"Francine? Not the same…"

"Yes, the same Francine."

"But she savaged you, ruined your life. How could you share a house with her?"

"Francine was…is my best friend. Yes, she hurt me, hurt me badly. I still love her." Tears started to fill Valerie's eyes. "I hate the fact that I hate her right now too. It tears me up inside. I don't want to hate her."

"Where is she now?"

"Since it happened, she hasn't been able to be in the presence of domination. Seeing someone dominating provokes her own flashbacks. She's looking for another place, maybe a place she can have built for her. She can't come back here because Sally is my slave 24/7."

"Valerie, if you didn't hate her right now, you wouldn't be human. She hurt you, and she did it on purpose." Tasha held up her hand to forestall Valerie's defense. "Losing control doesn't last for an hour. I've read the script notes. Maybe she did act out of pain, but she did what she did with intent. That you still love her make you a stronger person than I am. That you would live with her, even for a mere six months makes you a saint. Go be with Sally. You both need each other right now."  

When Val entered her bedroom, Sally was lying in her kennel, the door shut but not locked. Valerie knelt beside the cage, opening the door and cupping Sally's chin.

"Why the kennel?"

"It felt right. I started to crawl into bed and I felt disobedient."

"Because I didn't tell you otherwise?"

Sally nodded her head. Her face held a look of longing.

"Sally, do you want me to treat you this way, to banish you to the kennel unless I want to have you in my bed?" Sally nodded her head. "How far do you want me to take this?"

"I…I don't know. I want to sleep with you, to cuddle with you and feel you next to me when I wake up. I also want to be as much a slave as you can make me. I want what Erica talked about. I want you to be the first thing I think of whenever I do something. I want everything I do to be for you, first and foremost."

"Sally, if that's what you want from your slavery, then that's what I want from you. What do you think I want tonight?"

"Do you want me with you?"

"Yes! In fact, that's what I want all the time. I will put you in the kennel at night, at least on occasion. But unless I do, I want you in my bed. You're not just my slave. You're the woman I love, that I want to spend my life with. Yes, I'm going to give you pain, anguish, humiliation and frustration. I'm also going to give you tenderness, loving, pleasure and joy. I would give you my life. But I'm so scared that I will hurt you. What if I can't give you the ownership you need, if I leave you wanting and you wither somehow?"

"Mistress, please, that could never happen. I trust you with everything; my life, my health, my heart, my happiness. I know you won't hurt me, not on purpose. Accidents will happen, but you will make them right and we will go on. Master Hugh is wrong."

Sally had crawled out and embraced Valerie while she was talking. She released and took Val's hands in her own, bringing them to her face, one over her mouth and one over her nose. Valerie's eyes widened.

"Sally?"

"Mistress, I trust you with my life. Go ahead, take me until I pass out. I know you won't hurt me."

"Sally, this is so dangerous."

"I know. For yourself, do it for yourself. Even if you never do it again, I want to show you just how much I trust you, how impossible it is for you to hurt me. This once, take me breath until I pass out."

Valerie took Sally's hand and led her to the bed. Valerie sat against the headboard and cradled Sally between her legs.

"What if I screw up?"

"You won't. If anything, you'll let up sooner than I asked."

Before she could chicken out, Val cupped Sally's mouth and pinched her nose. Sally's hands shot up to grab Valerie's arms, holding on without pulling away. Val could feel the suction against her hand as Sally's lungs tried to suck in more air. Seconds passed, seeming like minutes. Sally's grip tightened as she fought the urge to pull Val's hands away from her face. Legs kicked on the bed, the struggle manifesting where it could.

Valerie felt her own fear increase. Watching Sally struggle against suffocation was harder than she had thought it would be. There was something different this time. She had used breath play earlier and had not felt the panic that Sally was feeling. This time she was. She felt Sally's grip loosen, her hands simply caressing the hands that were preventing her from breathing. When they fell away, limp, Valerie pulled her hands down to Sally's chest, breathing a sigh of relief as the chest rose and fell slowly.

Sally stirred and took a large breath. "I knew you wouldn't hurt me. I love you so much."

Val bent her head and kissed Sally's neck. "I love you too. I don't think I want to do that again. I'm so humbled by your trust in me, and it helps that you showed me this, but part of why I won't hurt you must be that I won't take unneeded chances. I don't need to beat you like Calvin. I don't need to take your breath away, at least not literally. I'm still learning how to own you, but those two I've figured out. Do you mind?"

"I'm yours, Mistress. It's up to you how to use me and own me. It's not my place to decide."

"I do want you to tell me when I slack off. If I do it on purpose, that's fine. If you're feeling adrift, not owned, let me know and we'll figure something out."

"Mistress?"

"Yes, Sally."

"I've been pretty dominant for most of the day. I think that's why I felt the need to kiss your feet earlier."

"So you need to be put back in your place?"

"Could you, please?"

"Go get the locks for your pussy and close yourself."

Sally stifled a sob, trembling at the thought of being closed again, yet heartened by her Mistress' willingness to take such control. She padded over to the drawers and slowly locked each pair of pussy rings in place, preventing her cunt from being penetrated by anything larger than a pen. She returned to the bed to find Valerie sitting on the edge, her finger to her lips.

"I don't want you to ask for them to be removed or how long they will stay on. Turn around."

Sally did so and Val clipped her cuffs together behind her back. Val wrapped Sally's legs with straps on the ankles, above and below the knees and at the top of the thighs. The straps were not tight, but kept Sally from being able to use her legs. Laying Sally down on the bed, Val spooned behind her and lightly touched Sally's cunt lips. The helpless slave gasped at the contact, her already moist pussy producing even more fluid. Sally whimpered as the feather light touches had her wiggling in Valerie's arms. When Sally tried to beg, Val put a finger to her lips with a, "Shh." Silently, Sally allowed her Mistress to drive her arousal to great heights. Occasionally, Val would bring a wet hand to Sally's lips, letting her taste her own desperate arousal.

"I'm not going to let you cum, you know that, don't you?"

"Yes, Mistress. It's so hard Mistress."

"I know. I wouldn't do this if I didn't think you could handle it." Val inhaled, breathing in Sally's aroused aroma. "You smell so nice, so fuckable, so needy. I love seeing you this way."

Valerie teased Sally another 15 minutes before pulling away from her cunt, clipping her hands to her collar, and enveloping her in a hug, hands resting on tits.

"Good night, Sally."

Sally, replied with a sob, "Good night, Mistress. Mistress?"

"No you may not. Quiet. Sleep."

Sally snuggled closer to her lover, moaning softly with unsatisfied desire, yet comforted by her Mistress' firmness. It took some time for her to fall asleep.

The alarm went off at 3:00 in the morning. Valerie caressed Sally's arm as the slave woke to the alarm as well. Sally groaned as she tried to stretch, only to discover that she was still bound.

"How are we feeling?"

"Stiff, horny, owned."

"In other words, just the way I intended. You're going to have to cover the film for me part of the day. I'm meeting with Mrs. Anders at Yara's and Dr. Gloush. Will you be up to it? They're doing the shooting."

"It won't be easy. I almost lost you that day," she whispered.

Valerie fingered her collar. "If not for this, I would have died." Valerie's voice choked as she continued. "I love her so much, Sally. I don't want to hate her."

"It won't be forever. You don't hate her, you hate what she's done. Eventually you'll be able to separate her and what happened."

There was a knock on their door, followed by Tasha's voice. "Hey you two, we need to leave soon. Are you up yet?"

"Yes! We'll be out right after a quick shower. Will they have breakfast on the set?"

"Yeah! Buffet style."

Val released Sally and the two shared a quick shower. Sally's rings were left locked, much to her frustration. By 3:30, the three women were on the road heading towards Francine's old house. The catered breakfast buffet was as good as the lunches had been. Tasha took hers into the makeup trailer. The couple realized why actresses seemed obsessed with fitness routines. Their diets while filming were atrocious, as far as weight was concerned. Tasha had loaded a plate with a generous helping of scrambled eggs smothered in melted cheese, half a dozen link sausages, thick Texas style toast lathered with real butter and a twenty four ounce cup of rich hot chocolate. If this was what she had every morning, it was a miracle she didn't put on ten pounds of weight.

An hour later, a gopher asked Valerie and Sally to come to the makeup trailer. It seemed that Harvey wanted to consult with them.

"Valerie, I need to put the scars on Tasha. Unfortunately, the hospital would not consider releasing the photos. I know this is a bit abrupt, but, can I take a look at your scars, take some pictures?"

Valerie laughed. "Harvey, people have been staring at my scars for months. At least you have a good reason for it. I don't mind at all."

Valerie stripped off her top, revealing her back and the scars. They had faded some in the last few months, but were still quite visible.

"I assume they've faded a bit?"

"Yes they have. I'd say they were about twice as noticeable, wouldn't you Sally?"

"Yes, that would be right. Right after you were out of the hospital, they were redder as well, fresh."

Harvey finished his digital picture and brought them up on his laptop. He punched a few keys and the picture morphed, the scars becoming more prominent.

"Is this what we're talking about?"

"Almost," Sally said. "A little more definition along the edges and redder in the center."

"How's this," he asked after some more changes.

"Good, that's good."

"Fantastic! I can work from these. You might as well go, I'll be a couple of hours putting these on her back."

"Tasha, you're unbelievable. I have a hard enough time spending half an hour at the hairdresser's place and you're going to be in make up for over three hours."

"It's not all that bad. I'll even catch a few winks while I'm waiting. Thanks for last night. I needed it."

"Our pleasure, see you on the set."

When they exited the trailer, Mitch was waiting for them.

"Ms. Burbon, Ms. Thatcher, Mr. Freeman would like to see you on set four. He said it was important."

"Lead on, Mitch, and welcome back."

"Thanks, it's right this way."

Mitch led them through the house to the place the crew had been calling set four, the dining room entrance. At the entrance, Mitch held the door open, letting Valerie and Sally into the surprisingly dark room. Valerie started to turn at a sound and found herself grabbed by several strong hands and dragged to a wall. Sally's yelp of surprise confirmed that she was being assaulted as well. Before they could react, both women had been clipped by their cuffs to the walls and blindfolds put on their faces.

Val felt her top being lifted and she screamed, "What the hell are you doing? Who are you? Help!"

Both women felt something wet and sticky hit their backs. Sally screamed, "What the fuck was that?"

Through the blindfolds, Valerie could tell the lights had come on. Milton's voice answered, "Why, we're whipping you with a wet noodle, of course. This has been a long time coming."

Laughter sounded, the laughs of a large number of people. The blindfolds were taken off and Valerie could see, over her shoulder, almost the entire crew watching as Crystal and Melanie took strands of cooked ramen noodles and whipped them across the backs of the Sally and Valerie.

Sally chuckled and cried out, "Oh no! Not the wet noodle! Please no, I'll do anything, just not the wet noodle."

The cries went unheeded, unless you counted the increase in laugh levels as the noodle strands stuck to their backs. Soon, Valerie and Sally had their backs covered in wet and drying pasta. Fifteen minutes later, they were let loose and the assembled crew applauded. Cynthia came up and offered her hand.

"On behalf of the crew and cast of Valerie's Crisis, I welcome you to the ranks of IMCC, Initiated Movie Cast and Crew. Personally, this has been long in coming. Everyone agrees that you two are the reason this movie will be as successful as we anticipate."

"Guys, I don't know what to say. This is an honor. Thank you."

"We have something for you. We know your time here hasn't been the happiest, with all that's gone on and the memories that have been dredged up. We all pitched in and had a couple of gifts made for you two. They're right over here."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 07



"Uh, can we get the pasta off first? It's getting itchy."

Once cleaned of the noodles, the girls were led to an adjacent room. In the middle of the room stood a leather covered vaulting horse with eye bolts attached at several places and a St. Andrew's Cross. Val and Sally looked at each other and then back at the crew members. Seeing them speechless, the applause started again.

When the noise had died down again, Valerie tried to express their thanks. "I don't know what to say. This is just so wonderful. I can't express how much this means that you would do something like this for us. It's truly an inspiring gift."

Cynthia explained. "We asked around and found out that your own play room was lacking in equipment. Betty, from Mephisto's, said these are the two you like to use the most when you play, so the construction guys built them and the rest of us chipped in to cover the material costs."

Sally wiped away a tear. "They're great. I almost can't wait to try them out. After everything that's happened, this means a lot."

"Hank, why don't you show the ladies the features of their new toys?"

The head of the build gang came forward. With callused hands, he led them to the two restraint devices. "We made the horse adjustable. This flywheel here will raise and lower it so that it will work for any size person. The covering is 100% real leather, soft, kinky and durable. We mounted a storage bin in the underside so you wouldn't have to go far for whatever you wanted to play with. The wood is sanded mahogany, strong, beautiful and no splinters. 

"The cross is adjustable." He showed them two levers. "This one releases it so that you can swing it out to horizontal or any angle in between. This one," he released it, "lets it spin on its axis so that you can turn your…sub, is it…to any orientation. There's even an attachment in the back that you could attach a small motor to and have it spin continuously. The straps for binding the limbs move on these slides and can be locked into place."

"Hank, is this why you had so many questions that first day at the club?"

"Yes, ma'am. I wanted to be sure that we built you something you would enjoy. I can have a gang install these in your basement tomorrow, if you'd like."

"That would be great, Hank."

"Mistress, I can't wait to try them out."

"Me too. Everyone, again, thank you so much. We're overwhelmed."

"Well folks, we need to get back to work. There's still a few scenes left to film before this movie's in the can." Turning back to Valerie, Cynthia asked, "Val, would you take a look at one more prop for me?"

"Sure thing."

The prop master led them to her small trailer and opened a box. Inside was a replica of Valerie's collar and cuffs. The engraving was different, though.

"Does that say what I think it does?" Val asked.

"Yes, Milton had it made. Tasha suggested the inscription. He wants you to have it after the production is done."

Valerie picked up the collar and showed Sally the inscription, "Sally, Valerie's slave." 

"It, it's just like yours, Mistress. Do you want me in it, Mistress?" 

The question was asked with longing. Valerie could see the desire for such a mark in Sally's eyes.

"Yes, I do want you to wear them. I want everyone to know that you're mine, that you've given yourself to me." Val held it against Sally's neck, admiring the view. A quick glance confirmed that the key was in the box. Val snapped it shut, watching Sally start at the click of the lock. Sally brought her hands up and felt the silver around her neck. She tugged at it a little, smiling when it wouldn't come loose.

"It feels right. I'm looking forward to when it goes on for the last time."

"Me too." Valerie unlocked the collar, smiling at the sigh from her slave. "Soon, little one, soon." Turning to Cynthia, she added, "This means a lot to both of us. How will you handle the inscription in the movie?"

"We'll use post production editing to replace that inscription with the one on yours. We even have this for after the shooting at the hospital." Cynthia held up a small piece of metal. It looked like a smashed bullet. "This will stick onto the collar and look like the bullet you've got in yours."

"Nice, very realistic. I really appreciate the work you've put into trying to make everything as accurate as possible."

"I couldn't have done it without your input. I should probably head out to the set, make sure everything is ready for the last few scenes. Will you be at the hospital for the shooting scene?"

"Sally will, I have a couple of obligations that will keep me away."

The morning saw the shooting of the aftereffects of the attack and the outing of Valerie as a submissive. While emotional for Sally and Val, they were nowhere near as gut wrenching as the shoot yesterday. Valerie slipped off the set at 10:00 and drove to Yara's, picking up an early lunch on the way. Mrs. Anders was smiling when her secretary showed Valerie in.

"Ms. Burbon, I'm happy to say that we will be advertising in your publications."

"I'm glad to hear it. I hope the vote wasn't too acrimonious."

The smile turned sheepish as Mrs. Anders replied. "It was actually. Three board members resigned in protest at the decision. It was the right choice, however, and I want to work closely with you to design ads that will reach your readers and present our products in the best light."

"That's what I'm here for. Why don't we start with a look at the ads you use now. Some of them may well be what is needed, at least for some of our publications."

"I figured that's where you'd want to start. We currently run seven different ads in two dozen publications." Harmony pulled up the ads on her computer, projecting them to the large smart board on her wall. The two women discussed the pros and cons of each ad with regard to each of the publications Valerie had discussed in her initial presentation. Both ladies made copious notes as they talked. Three hours later, Valerie had ideas for a dozen ads down on paper, so to speak, designed to showcase five different care products and four different leather goods lines. This was on top of three of their existing ads that would be quite suitable for Delgrasi publications (Mrs. Anders was a little surprised that the ad they normally ran in Quarter horse Quarterly was eminently suitable for Pony's Paddock).

"I'll take these sketches and have something for you to look at by the end of next week. That will give us just enough time to place them in the next publishing cycle."

"Great! I look forward to it."

Valerie left the offices and called Sally's cell phone.

"This is Sally."

"How's the shooting going?"

"Mistress! It's good to hear from you. We're at the hospital now. We should be done in an hour or so. How is it with you?"

"The meeting went well. I have to be at Dr. Gloush's office in an hour, so I won't be home until after 4:30. When you finish there, go home and make sure the basement is ready for the gifts from the crew. Clean it thoroughly and mark the spots where they are going to be placed."

"Yes, Mistress. Where do you want them?"

"You mark where the best places will be. You've had more experience with them that I have. Be sure to allow for the swing of the cross. I'm really looking forward to trying them out."

"Me too, Mistress." Sally's voice was lust filled and breathless.

Valerie spent most of the next hour shopping for clothes. If Val was going to be choosing the clothes Sally was to wear, she wanted to choose clothes that she would enjoy seeing Sally in. Much of what Sally wore was attractive and stylish, but the difference in their ages (Val was 11 years older than Sally) led to differences in their choices in clothes. Val knew her lover's sizes and had no trouble finding things that she would relish seeing Sally in.

Dr. Gloush's office was in the downtown center, a mere three blocks from the store Val had been shopping at. After a ten minute wait, she was shown in.

"Valerie, how has the last week been?"

"It could have gone better, though I guess I shouldn't be surprised at some of it."

"Start with whatever relates to your therapy directly."

"It's the movie. They filmed the whipping scene yesterday. I was a basket case through the entire scene, and it took them hours to film it, with all the make up pauses."

"I'm not surprised. In fact, the surprise is that you're not doing any worse."

"I have Tasha Williams to thank for that. She confessed to having experienced something similar to my attack and we sort of supported each other during the breaks."

"Tell me what, exactly, you were feeling during the action."

"Pain. Heartache. Fear. Horror. Hate. The flashback was threatening to overwhelm me the whole time. Doctor, will I ever stop hating Francine? It tears me up to be hating her and loving her at the same time."

"Yes, I think it will pass. You're going to have to confront her."

"Tell her? In person? That I hate her? Doctor, I can't, I just can't."

"Valerie, Francine asked me to make sure you know that she wants to hear everything. She needs to be confronted by you just as much as you need to confront her. Both of you will stagnate in your healing without it. She also needs to confront you as well."

"Confront me? With what?"

"Her own anger and her guilt."

"Anger? What over? I didn't do anything to her?"

"I can't say. It's best if you hear it from her yourself."

"When?"

"I think you're both ready. I know you've only been seeing me for a month or so, but your progress has been impressive. If you're feeling up to it, I'd like to schedule your next session to be a joint one."

Valerie started to tremble. "Doc, I'm afraid of what I'll do. When the hate…when I let the hate out, it is so overwhelming. I'm afraid I'll hurt her. I don't want to hurt her."

"You won't Valerie. I'll be here, mediating. Some of the things you'll say may hurt in the short run, but they will, over time, be healing for both of you."

Valerie thought for several minutes. Dr. Gloush was used to clients needing time to process feelings and gave no indication of impatience or worry at the time Valerie took.

"Okay, I'll do it. If only to bring this to a close as soon as possible. Don't take this wrong, but I really don't like having to be in counseling."

The doctor chuckled. No offense taken. Like I said our first time, I prefer to have clients needing therapy as little as possible. Endless therapy is failed therapy. That's not to say there aren't those who need long term therapy, but you're not one of them."

Valerie found herself missing the chance to submit to someone as she made her way to her car. As she was pulling out of the parking structure, her phone rang.

"You've got Valerie."

"Val, this is Rachael. Are you free for a while?"

"I suppose. I was just heading home. What's up?"

"I'd like to talk for a bit. Actually, I'd like to talk with both you and Sally. Do you mind if I come over tonight?"

"Not at all, we'd love to have you over. Will Giggy be with you?"

"Great! Yes, we'll be together. I'll be over around 7:00."

"We'll see you then. Plan on eating dinner."

Valerie was home within the half hour. She found Sally downstairs with a tape measure and a roll of masking tape. She was marking out spots on the basement floor.

"Mistress, welcome home," she said, running over and kneeling before Valerie.

Valerie took a look around, seeing no sign of mess or dirt. "You've done well, Sally. What have you planned for dinner?"

"Lasagna, Mistress, with salad and garlic bread."

"Will there be enough for four?"

"Yes, Mistress, though there won't be any leftovers."

"That's fine. Rachael and Giggy are coming over around 7:00. You should probably get started." As Sally rose to her feet, Valerie wrapped an arm around her waist. "But first…"

Valerie held Sally still with one hand while the other caressed her closed pussy. Light touches brushed across the locks and lips, drawing moisture from Sally's folds. Sally moaned and leaned her head back, shaking as her Mistress drove her arousal to high levels.

"Please?" Sally whispered.

"Not tonight, little one. I want you needy tonight and tomorrow when we try out the new toys."

"Yes, Mistress. Are you going to tease me all night?"

"Yes, I'm looking forward to hearing you suffer in your kennel tonight."

"Will that bring you pleasure?"

"Oh, yes."

"Then I look forward to it, Mistress."

"I know you do. Run along and finish dinner."

While Sally was busy in the kitchen, Valerie checked her e-mail and took a look at the blogs that Toy had sent her. She made mental notes of a couple of things she wanted to talk with Sally about. There was no word from Charles and she was beginning to experience anxiety at the prolonged lack of communication. The only time she had been out of contact with her Master for this long in the past had been as a punishment. She was feeling punished now as well, even though she believed she had done the right thing. Val had to fight her tears, being unwilling to let Sally see how much she was struggling.

When the doorbell rang, Valerie called out, "Sally, answer the door!"

A few seconds later, the door opened and Giggy's effusive voice was heard, "Sally, You look ravishing. Oh, I see you've been locked up again. Punishment?"

Val entered the room, answering, "No, not a punishment. I just felt like closing her for a while."

"Hi Val. How have you been?"

"Not too bad. It's been hard with the movie shooting the attack yesterday."

"I can imagine. I brought some wine to go with dinner."

"Thanks, Rach. That was very thoughtful. Come into the living room while Sally finishes dinner. Sally, set the table for…Giggy, are you submitting tonight?"

"No, not tonight. We're just two girls visiting friends."

"Make that three at the table and your pillow beside my chair."

Sally reddened slightly as she realized that she would be kneeling to be fed in front of someone tonight. "Yes, Mistress, dinner should be another 15 minutes."

Valerie and her guests took seats in the living room.

"Valerie, I asked to talk because I'm worried. You canceled your submission to me rather abruptly. I thought you needed it."

"I did, and I still do. Master, however, forbid me to submit to anyone."

"My God! What made him change his mind?"

"Master had me submitting to four of his friends while he's been away. One of them, Master Hugh, reported to him that I defied his orders and that I was abusing Sally."

"Hah! You could no more abuse Sally than Charles could abuse you. Who is this ass and what the fuck got in his bonnet?"

"It's complicated, Rachael. Master Hugh wasn't even supposed to be there."

"Be where? What do you mean?"

"Sir Tom, another of the four, was supposed to be training me in giving Sally pain. I guess he was called away and Master Hugh took his place. I guess Master Hugh is more of a safe word fanatic than my Master is. He found out that I had taken her safe word away."

"Ah. I think I can see where this is going."

"Yeah, he punished me and told Sally she had her safe word back. I knew that wasn't going to do anything, but neither of us had the chance to explain. He wouldn't let us. I think we both just wanted to get through the lesson without angering him anymore."

"Mistress, dinner is on the table."

"Thank you, Sally."

The story was delayed while they moved to the dining room table and let Sally serve them. While they ate, Valerie continued.

"Unfortunately, it got worse. When he realized how strong my reaction to causing pain was, he told me I was incapable of dominating Sally without hurting her. I guess D/s without pain is not true domination in his eyes. Sally tried to explain and he tried to punish her. It seems he has a rule about bound submissives not being allowed to speak. I stopped him, threatening to have him arrested if he tried. I refused to punish her when he ordered me to."

"Hence, you defied him. The man's an ass. I can't believe Charles put you under submission to someone with a 'true way' obsession.

"Obviously, Master Hugh did not tell my side of things, he didn't even know my side. Master ordered me to not submit to anyone and to not dominate Sally until he returned."

"But, Val, you are dominating Sally."

Valerie reached down and caressed her slave's shoulder. Sally leaned against Val's leg. "I know. I've not only defied Master Hugh, I've intentionally disobeyed my own Master."

"Val, I had no idea. You need to be used even more than before, not less."

"It's only another three days, Rach. I can make it. I'm going to be punished already, I don't want to make it any worse."

"Why did you disobey?"

"Sally needed to be owned. She was beginning to panic at the thought of being bereft like that. I couldn't hurt her like that."

Valerie pulled Sally onto her lap. One hand played with Sally's nipple rings while the other fed her dinner. Sally basked in her Mistress' love, even while suffering the embarrassment of being played with at the table. Dinner continued silently for a while longer.

"Val, can I talk with you privately?"

"Sure, I think that's a good idea."

"Giggy, will you help Sally clean up?"

"Yeah, no problem."

"Let's go into Francine's old room, Rach. Sally, if we're still in there when you two finish, why don't you show Giggy your kennel?"

"I will, Mistress."

Once they were alone, Rachael took Valerie's hands. "Val, there's more to this. I pride myself on being a good judge of where people are with regards to limits, the Divine's Devils problem not with standing. What's really bothering you?"

All of Valerie's insecurities came rushing to the surface. "Rachael, what if he's right? What if I am hurting Sally by my inability to punish her? She came home from a night with Sir Calvin all bruised and battered and she loved that it happened. Calvin said that her only pleading was that I would be the one to be treating her like that. I love her so much. I want to give her everything she needs."

Rachael drew Valerie into a fierce hug. "You're not hurting Sally. The only one being hurt is you. You need to submit for someone else's pleasure. You need to know that you've been pleasing. I want you to still come over Saturday."

"I can't Rach, I just can't. I've disobeyed too much already. I don't want Master to send me away."

"Do you trust me, Val?"

"Of course."

"I have a confession to make."

"Confession?"

"Do you remember when we first met?"

"Of course, I went to castle looking for my first toys. You were so helpful and Giggy interceded with Duke."

"What else?"

"You both agreed to talk with me about BDSM, even though you knew nothing about me. And you weren't offended with my lesbian sex problem then."

"Well, I hear you're over that now. But, I lied to you that night."

"Lied? About what?"

"I told you we didn't know Charles."

"You mean…of course, you wouldn't have said anything. I was a stranger."

"Yes, exactly, Charles and I have known each other for over ten years. We have both sent submissives to each other for training. From the moment you agreed to be Charles' submissive, you were going to be mine for a time."

"I still find the thought frighteningly arousing."

"I know," Rachael said with a lustful smile. "My point is that I know that I can clear it with Charles. He trusts my judgment enough to entrust his slaves with me for training without setting limits on me. I promise, you won't be in trouble for submitting to me, not once I explain how needed it was for you, and for Sally."

Valerie looked up and saw rock solid surety in Rachael's face. She felt hope flow into her. Valerie became aware of just how much she was out of kilter. "Rach, I need that so much. I feel like I'm adrift. I'm doing so well with Sally, as far as I can tell, but it is so hard. I was buoyed by my use at the auction. Fred and Daphne gave me nothing besides one paingasm. The next day, I was energized and better able to dominate Sally. Please, use me hard. I need to feel submissive to my core."




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 07



"I promise you will be. You need to start now. On your knees slave." Rachael gently pushed Val to the floor, her voice soft and reassuring.

Valerie sank to her knees, tears filling her eyes. "Yes, Mistress. What do you require of me?"

"I want you at my house Saturday as originally planned. Do you remember the instructions?"

"Yes, Mistress. I'm to be naked, bringing nothing, except for a jacket that I can wear on the way."

"Yes, very good. Between now and then, no sex, no cumming, no pain play with Sally. I want you hot and bothered."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Valerie, look at me." Valerie looked up and saw the hard eyes of a Mistress. "You will not be cumming while you're with me. I intend to break you, in a good way. You will cry, plead, beg, and suffer, but you will experience no physical pleasure Saturday. Everything that happens will be because it pleases me in some way."

Valerie's breath came in quick gasps as she felt Rachael's control already starting. She was frightened of what would happen under Rachael's domination, yet she also craved it with her entire being. Need overcame her and she bent down and kisses Rachael's feet. "Thank you Mistress. Please force me to please you, take me to my limits and beyond them."

"I will, love, rest assured that I will. I plan on taking you to your safe word at least twice. I want you to fight using it for as long as possible. The longer you put it off, the more pleased I will be."

Valerie trembled at the promise Rachael was making her. The only other time Rachael had dominated her, Valerie had been a miserable wreck. Val had ignored her safe word and Rachael had not noticed it. This time, she would use her safe word, but not until she was sure she was past her previous limits. Valerie recognized that this was what she needed, to be thoroughly used for someone else's pleasure. 

"I'm frightened, Mistress."

"Good, I love your fear, just as Sally did when she dominated you. One more thing, Val, I won't be whipping, spanking or otherwise inflicting pain on you Saturday. In addition to recharging your batteries, I'll be showing you how to extract deep submission without pain."

"Thank you Mistress."

"Let's join the others."

"Mistress? Will you…will you command me tonight?"

Rachael saw the need in Valerie's face. "Strip! You are denied clothes until after our time Saturday."

"Yes, Mistress."

Valerie stripped her clothes off, sinking into her submission. Rachael took a leash from her handbag and clipped it to Valerie's collar. Pulling up, she silently led Val into her bedroom. Sally was in her kennel while Giggy was stroking her through the bars. Both looked up.

"She agreed?" Giggy asked.

"Did you have any doubts? Yes, she is under me for now. I've denied her clothing until after Saturday night."

Sally looked up. "Mistress, what about Master's orders?"

"Rachael assured me it would be okay. I trust her." Val turned to Rachael. "Mistress, thank you for all you're doing. Will you contact Master, or should I?"

"I'll take care of it. You just do what you're told. You should make arrangements for Sally. She will be alone for the entire day."

"I will. I was thinking about asking Fred and Daphne to look after her and enjoy her."

"As long as they're okay with her safe word free status, that'll be fine. Come on Giggy, we need to be going. Valerie has made me hot and bothered and I need my little slave to please me."

Giggy smiled, replying, "Yes, Mistress. I look forward to it."

The couple left, leaving Sally and Valerie alone for the night. They relaxed in front of the TV and retired early. Valerie placed Sally in the kennel for the night, binding her hands in front of her and her legs together. They slept soundly, each secure in the comfort that they were dominated.

Rachael called Charles as soon as she was home. She was one of the few who knew the number to his cell phone.

"Charles, this is Rachael. We need to talk."

"Rachael, every time you say that, it's because you think I've screwed up. Is it about Valerie?"

"Yes it is. I'm planning on dominating her Saturday."

"You know I've ordered her to not submit to anyone until I've returned, don't you?"

"Yes, but hear me out. I was with her tonight, dinner. She's on the edge, Charles. I don't know who this Hugh fellow is, but he has her doubting her ability to own Sally. I think something would have gone terribly wrong if I hadn't taken action tonight."

"There's not much that can go wrong. She's not dominating Sally any more."

"Actually, she is."

"Damn! I ordered her not to."

"I know. She felt she had no choice, that Sally was in a panic at the thought of not being owned."

Rachael could almost hear Charles rub his temples. "I see. That would explain it. I suppose I should have anticipated this. All right, she has permission to submit to you. She will be punished for disobeying me on the Sally issue."

"She's expecting it. I think she considers it a small price to pay. Did you really think Valerie would abuse Sally?"

"No, but I'm up to my eyeballs in negotiations out here and didn't have time to sort it through. Knowing Hugh, I suppose I should be able to guess what the issue is. He found out Sally has no safe word, didn't he."

"Yep, got it in one."

"Damn! He wasn't even supposed to be there that day. I guess I'll sort it out when I get back. What are you planning with Valerie?"

"A taste of what's in store for her in a few months."

"Is she up to it now?"

"I think so. More importantly, she's craving something like it. Don't worry, I'll take good care of her."

"I know you will, Rachael. Thanks for being there for her. Call me when you're done."

"I will. One more thing, I want to do something special, a mind fuck." Rachael explained what it was and Charles gave his permission. "Thanks Charles. Bye."

Rachael hung up the phone and sat in thought. Valerie was one of the most submissive people she had ever encountered. That she could dominate Sally at all was a surprise. To see her as a 24/7 owner was astounding. Val needed this, even if she wasn't ready. Rachael was determined to help her friend. Thus, she planned to break Valerie, to make her a better dominant. It was quite simple really.

*

Thank you D. for another fine job of editing. Remember, I love to get feedback, so let me know what you think. I hope to have the final chapter up in a couple of weeks.



Stranger Than Truth Ch. 08







Stranger Than Truth Ch. 08



"Giggy does this on a regular basis?" she wondered.

When the last preparation had been completed, Rachael walked out and zipped up the gloves. Valerie looked up with tear filled eyes. The look on Rachael's face told Val that she should not speak right now. Several moments passed as the two, dominant and submissive, looked at one another.

"Valerie, you're a dog right now. Dogs don't speak, they whine and bark. Will you be a good dog for me?"

Valerie moaned in despair. She nodded her head, only to have it grabbed by Rachael.

"Dogs don't nod their heads. They wag their tails when they're agreeable."

Valerie didn't think she could have been embarrassed any worse, but now she felt just that. She wiggled her ass, causing the tail in her butt to wag back and forth.

"Good girl." Rachael unclipped the chain and clipped the leash. "Come on Valerie, we're going for walkies."

Rachael led Valerie on a walk about the yard. The pace wasn't too fast and even on all fours, Valerie was able to keep up. The gloves and knee pads protected her knees and hands from the occasional rock or section of concrete that they traveled over. Every once in a while, Rachael would reach down and scratch the ears or pet Val's back, muttering how good a girl she was. Rachael seemed to be extremely patient, the walk lasting for just over an hour. Rachael then clipped Val back on the chain and went inside.

When Rachael came out, she was carrying a dog's food dish. She set it in front of Valerie.

"Here you go, Valerie. Eat your breakfast."

The dish was the normal two compartment type, one for water and one for food. There was some sort of meaty food, covered in a gravy in the food side. Valerie felt her stomach try to rise at the though of eating dog food. She looked up at Rachael with pleading eyes and whined.

"Don't give me that, you bad dog. I'm not changing food for you again. You will eat what I've given you."

The harsh words were accompanied by a harsh smile. Valerie could see that Rachael was truly enjoying what she was doing. Knowing that the only way out was to use her safe word, Val bent her head down and sniffed at the food. It smelled much like beef and gravy. She started to pull her head up again, when Rachael's hand pushed her face into the bowl. Cold gravy smeared her face.

"I said eat!"

Tears flowing freely, Valerie opened her mouth and took a bite. The cold piece of meat was hard to chew, but the taste was not totally revolting (the cold was worse than the taste). Slowly, Valerie consumed the entire can, she assumed, of dog food. The water was a relief, something she could wash the taste out with and rinse the gravy off her face with.

"Very good, Valerie. I'm so proud of you. Let's play."

With that, Rachael went back inside and came out with a plastic bone. She unclipped the chain again and gave the bone a toss. Valerie did not need a command to know what to do and she moved after it, picking it up with her teeth. When she turned around to bring it back, she heard the click at the same time she saw the flash. Rachael had just taken her picture!

The shame that had started to fade returned with a vengeance as she realized that others would see her like this. Valerie wondered if Rachael had taken any pictures of her eating the dog food. The morning went on like this, Valerie acting the part of a dog in any number of ways while Rachael was the strict, yet attentive owner. Valerie felt a twinge of pressure in her bowels and looked up in alarm.

Valerie rubbed her head against Rachael's leg, getting her attention.

"What is it girl?"

Valerie made a squatting motion and tried to mimic crossing her legs.

"Oh, you need to go potty. Well, over here girl."

Rachael, to Valerie's horror, led her by the leash to a corner of the yard and pulled the butt plug out. Valerie looked up, shaking her head.

"Valerie, I'm not going to let you crap in the living room floor. Do your duty right here. I don't want to have to wait all day."

Valerie was sobbing. With the plug out, she was struggling to keep from soiling herself. She looked up, pleading with her eyes. Rachael crouched down.

"Valerie, you're a dog. Dogs shit outside. Do you understand?" Rachael's face was hard, showing no emotion. She met Valerie's eyes and held them with her own.

Valerie could not make herself do it. "Red light," she whispered.

Immediately, Rachael released the chains holding her legs bent.

"Can you make it to the bathroom?"

"I think so. I just couldn't do it, Rach, I just couldn't."

"I know, it's okay. I expected you to red light at this." 

Rachael helped Valerie to the bathroom, setting her down with seconds to spare. Valerie was embarrassed to have Rachael watch her on the toilet, but found her relief at not having to go like a dog more than compensating. The gloves were removed while she sat there. Once finished, Rachael led her to the front room and removed the rest of the dog costume.

"Does Giggy do this often?"

"Yes, at least once a week. I've had her as a dog for a full day, including sleeping in the dog house. I want more from you, Valerie."

"I'm yours Mistress. What do you wish?"

"Come with me."

Rachael led Valerie to her bedroom. The room practically screamed, "dominant." The bed was an old fashioned brass bed and had leather straps attached to the metal frame in several places, allowing for any number of bondage positions. In one corner, ropes hung from the ceiling with clips at the ends. There were two dressers, the one Rachael went to seemed to have nothing but toys. Rachael was pulling out several items, all of which looked like some form of restraint.

"Our employee discount is very nice, including the chance to field test something new in exchange for a review of the item. I certainly couldn't afford all this on my salary alone. Come over to the bed, Valerie."

Valerie walked over to where Rachael had pointed. With her armful of devices, Rachael joined her. Motioning Val to turn around, Rachael brought Valerie's arms behind her, arranging them wrist to elbow, then wrapping leather straps to bind the two forearms together. Valerie flexed her arms, sighing contentedly when she couldn't pull loose.

"So, you like being bound?"

"Yes, Mistress, it's very erotic and makes me feel safe."

"Has Charles put you in his iron maiden?"

"Yes, on the night before national nude day. It was somewhat frightening."

"I can imagine. Giggy loves that thing. I'd like to get one myself, but they have to be custom made; way out of my budget. Bring your legs closer together."

Valerie did so and watched Rachael attach a short hobble chain between her ankle cuffs. Additional cuffs were fastened just above her knees and a shorter chain linked them.

"Try to walk."

Valerie found that she could walk, as long as she didn't try to take steps longer than a shuffle. "Mistress, I won't be able to handle stairs very well."

"You're right. You'll just have to trust me. Can you do that?"

"Yes, Mistress. Are we going out?"

"No questions."

A hood was slipped over Valerie's head. This hood had a zippered opening for her mouth and no eye holes. The mouth was currently closed. The nose was open, in fact more open than other hoods Val had been in. Valerie's hair was pulled through a hole in the back. She felt a garment of some sort pulled over her body. She thought it was some type of dress (it was), but it had to be pulled down with some force, as it was a very tight fit. By the time the hem had reached her feet, Valerie realized that it was so tight around her legs that her steps would be even shorter than the hobble chains forced on her. The last items were shoes, from the feel of them, high heels, very high heels.

"Valerie, can you speak?

Valerie's muffled, yet clear voice replied with, "Yes, Mistress."

Valerie heard the snap of a leach being attached to her collar. A tug started her moving, her steps very short, through the house. Rachael once again demonstrated how patient she was capable of being. They seemed to wander the house for an inordinate length of time as Valerie became used to walking in the heels, hobbles and hobble dress she was wearing.

"Valerie, until I say otherwise, no speaking, not even to answer a question. We're going out. Just follow the leash signals like you did in the house. Do you understand?" While she spoke, Rachael put Val's coat over her shoulders and buttoned it up.

Valerie nodded her head, thinking that she would never be able to handle the steps outside. She followed Rachael out to the porch, stopping when Rachael indicated she should. Several seconds later, the leash tugged and Val, suspecting what was coming, stepped forward onto thin air. With a shriek, Valerie toppled off the steps to find herself in the arms of Rachael, unhurt.

"Very good, I'm proud of you. I will not let you be hurt, Valerie. I will frighten you, but you will come through this outing unscathed."

Valerie was back on her feet and led to the car. Rachael buckled her in the back seat, much to Valerie's relief (Rachael had tinted windows), and drove away. The hood was hot and Val started sweating, drops of salty liquid running into her eyes and lips. The drive seemed to last forever, though it was only 30 minutes. The car stopped, the engine silent and shortly, Rachael opened Val's door.

"Remember, no talking at all. I can't stress how unhappy I will be if you make even a sound."

Valerie nodded her head while Rachael undid her seat belt. The leash was attached again and Valerie was following with her short steps, this time with no coat on. There was a gentle incline (a wheel chair ramp) and then they stopped. Rachael rang a doorbell and several seconds later the door opened.

"Rachael, dahling!" The deep southern accent grated on Valerie's nerves. "So this is your new toy. It looks so lovely, dahling."

"Doesn't it though. I've already had so much fun with it. I'm so looking forward to showing it off to the girls."

"Well, don't just stand there, come on in, dahling. You're the first to arrive. Oh my, look at that." A hand touched Valerie's pussy, causing her to jump slightly. "It's wet! I do believe it likes being a toy."

"Steph, I do believe you're right." Another hand touched her. "It tastes so lovely as well."

"Dahling, you just have to let the girls have a taste. It would make an excellent addition to the hors d'oeuvres."

"So the plans for the party are still on?"

"Of course, dahling, y'all are going to simply love what I've planned. Come on, I'll show you the play room."

Tears formed under the hood as Valerie struggled with accepting being referred to as an object. It was this that made submitting to Rachael so hard, yet so fulfilling in the long run. She knew that her Misress for the day was in heaven, having a living thing to play with and Val took heart in that knowledge, subsuming herself in the pleasure of her Mistress. Valerie followed Rachael's lead, listening to the two women talk about nothing of seeming importance. After passing through a doorway, Valerie heard the sounds of moaning nearby. Then her nose detected the smell of sweat and sex.

"Stephanie! I love what you've done with her. That's a beautiful pose. How long can she keep it up?"

"Oh, Clarice can stay like that for hours."

The two women were referring to Stephanie's slave, Clarice. She was bound to a set of uneven parallel bars, one bar two feet above the ground and the other four feet up and two feet away from the first. Intricate rope work bound Clarice's feet to the lower bars, legs spread four feet apart. She was bent over the upper bar at the small of her back and lashed there. Her hands were linked to the support to the upper bar by lengths of rope. She was blindfolded, but not gagged. Below her were several stair steppers.

"The steps are a nice touch. She should be able to please anyone."

"That's the plan dahling. Clarice, how are you holding up?"

"I'm thirsty, Mistress, other than that, I'm fine. Will you be playing with me today?"

"Of course, of course, and not just me. You're the main entertainment. I've got all the floggers and whips freshly oiled. Doesn't that sound mahvalous?"

"Yes, Mistress." Clarice's voice was heavy with desire and Valerie knew she was hearing a pain slut anticipating a hard day's play. Under her hood, Valerie smiled, thinking how much Surmi would love to be here.

"Clarice is such a doll." Stephanie let her slave drink from a sport's bottle.

"Do you mind if I give her a little taste?"

"Oh, that's a wonderful idea." Just then the doorbell rang again. "Go ahead and make my little slave happy while I greet my next guest."

Stephanie walked away Rachael as went over to the bound slave. Her hands reached out and grasped Clarice's nipples, squeezing hard.

"Oh yes! Please, more, harder."

Rachael smiled, watching Clarice's cunt moisten while she squeezed harder, bringing her finger nails against the nipples.

"Do you have permission to cum?"

"No!" she gasped, the pain momentarily stealing her voice.

"Then you're in for a hard day, aren't you?"

"Yes! Oh, that hurts so much."

"Shall I stop?"

"No, please, don't."

"Rachael, you little slut!" came a loud voice from the doorway. "Can't you wait until the party starts?"

"What's the fun in that?" Rachael let go the nipples she was squeezing, Clarice moaning in disappointment. "Heather, this is my new toy. I call it Valerie."

"I was wondering what the new piece was? Will we be playing with it as well?"

"Not exactly, though we do have plans for it. It's to receive no pain and no pleasure today."

Heather nodded knowingly. "One of those games, eh?"

Rachael nodded with an evil grin. Valerie felt another hand at her cunt.

"Here, have a taste."

"Mmmm. Simply delightful. You will be sharing, right?"

"Of course, it would be horribly rude of me to hog all this for myself. In fact, I should probably get it set up in the sitting room. Come with me Valerie."

The leash tugged and Valerie followed. The trip was short. When she stopped, Valerie felt the dress being removed. Her arms were unstrapped and she was prompted to lie back on a table, one with a glass top. The table stood three feet above the ground with four legs. Valerie was surprised when her limbs were not tied to the table legs. Instead her arms were stretched out at the shoulder with elbows bent back so that her wrists were against her side, hands pointing back out. Similarly, her legs were splayed with her knees out to the side and her feet together at the base of her ass. Ropes pulled her legs flat, forcing them to stay in place.

"Valerie, we're going to place some things on you. If they fall or spill, I will be very unhappy with you. Do you understand?"

Valerie nodded her head, wondering just what was going to happen.

"Rach dear, no threat of punishment? Where's the fun in that?"

"Sandra, I don't need to threaten anything. The simple knowledge that she's failed will be plenty, isn't that right Valerie?" Valerie nodded her head. "In fact, a punishment would ease her suffering if she were to fail me, isn't that right?" Valerie nodded again, knowing what Rachael said was true; a failure without being punished for it would mortify her.

"Oh, I'm going to love to watch this one fail."

"Don't get your hopes up. This toy is the most submissive thing I've ever encountered. It begged me for a no pleasure day to really feel it's place. So far, it has been perfectly pleasing."

"We'll see, we'll see."

There was sounds of movement as people moved away in response to Stephanie's call for play time. A few minutes later, Rachael returned alone.

"Valerie, Sandra's going to do her best to cause you to fail. Just remember, you have only two orders right now; don't speak and don't spill anything we put on you. I won't let her pleasure you or give you pain, but anything else she does is fair game. Are you up for this?"

Valerie nodded and shook her head, not sure what to answer.

"I know, this is hard. I know how much you struggle with objectification." Rachael's hand stroked Valerie's tummy. "I wouldn't do this if I didn't think you were up to it. Make me proud, girl."

Valerie nodded her head, wishing she could see Rachael's eyes for reassurance. She felt like she was alone for quite some time, though there was someone in the room with her, watching for signs of distress. In the play room, Clarice was in heaven, a very painful heaven. One of the visiting dominants was standing at her head, pussy over Clarice's mouth while two others took turns whipping her breasts with straps. Tears were running from under the blindfold as Clarice licked the cunt at her mouth, delving her tongue deep into the folds.

Stephanie approached Clarice's spread legs, cat in hand. Clarice's glistening pussy was open and inviting. Stephanie brought the cat down on the soft, exposed tissues with a light stroke. Clarice screamed into the cunt she was pleasuring, the vibrations of her voice sending the woman into an orgasm. Clarice's head was squeezed as the climaxing woman clenched in ecstasy. Another stroke of the cat brought another scream and the orgasm continued. When the third cat strike hit, Clarice's entire body tensed in pain. Stephanie actually watched the lower bar bend a little at the force of Clarice's pull. The assembled dominants watched in awe as the woman whose orgasm finished stepped back to reveal the smiling face of the bound pain slut.

Through her tears, gasping in pain, Clarice asked, "More please, Mistress. May I have more?"

Rachael, holding two clover clamps, stepped up to place her pussy at Clarice's mouth. She bent over and attached the clamps, pulling on the short chains as she stood erect again. Clarice moaned in pain and started licking at Rachael's cunt. Two other dominants picked up single tails (more like switches) and started using them on Clarice's inner legs. While Clarice was licking at her, Rachael rubbed her pussy over the slut's face, smearing copious quantities of pussy juice on her. The sensation of Clarice's groans and yelps against her sex drove Rachael crazy. As she was sent to erotic heights, she pulled harder at the clamps, increasing the sensations in a lurid type of feedback. When Rachael's orgasm hit, she jerked her hands up, snapping the clamps off Clarice's tits. The intense pain caused by the violent removal caused Clarice to scream loud enough for Valerie to hear it in the room across the hall.

Valerie was now being adorned with platters of snacks carried in by the submissives of the visiting dominants. She didn't recognize what they were, but knew she had to be perfectly still, as some were obviously perched in a less than fully stable way. It was the smells that eventually told her what was on her. Pungent cheeses, aromatic fruits and the warm aroma of chocolate. Curiously, her pussy was left bare and she had a good suspicion as to the reason.

Every once in a while, someone would stroke her cunt lips briefly, just enough to entice moisture out of her, but not enough to bring her any pleasure. Her suspicions were confirmed half an hour later when the women came in to enjoy the snack buffet that was Valerie. Repeatedly, something was dipped into Valerie's cunt, followed by comments on how splendid the "dip" was. Valerie was grateful for the tight bondage on her arms and legs, relieving her of the need to try to hold them still. After a dozen or so dips into her honey pot, as one woman insisted on calling her cunt, someone dipped something into her and started caressing her pussy lips with it. Valerie stifled a gasp as her body responded.

"Sandra! I think I made it clear, no pleasure, no pain. I expect to have my property respected."

"Rach, dear, you're such a spoil sport. How can I get her to disobey you if I can't hurt her or have her writhing with need?"




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 08



"I'm sure a talented Domme such as yourself can think of something, or are you really a submissive in disguise?"

The gasps from around the room filled what would have been a deathly silence otherwise. Valerie felt Rachael's leg on one side of her head and hand on the other. Their presence was reassuring.

"No pain? No pleasure? Okay, how about this?"

Valerie stiffened as she felt a light touch to her foot. Biting her lips to keep quiet and still, Valerie's toes twitched as Sandra started to tickle her foot. Val breathed in the chuckles threatening to burst forth, her inhalations and exhalations becoming staccato as she fought to keep silent. Val knew that without the tight bondage on her legs, she would have kicked them, dislodging the trays placed there. Rachael's hand stroked the side of her face. The torture continued for almost a minute before Stephanie called out.

"Sandra, dahling, stop hogging the buffet. Give someone else a chance. I'm sure that if she was going to fail, she would have done so already."

"Yes, Steph, I suppose you're right." The voice moved away slightly. "Rachael, this is a much better toy than that slut Giggy. Would you consider selling her to me?"

Valerie stiffened at the question, her mouth almost opening in protest. Rachael's hand pressed firmly against her head.

"I'm afraid that isn't in the cards. She's on loan, not mine for good. Anyway, I like this toy too much to sell her, at least not to you." The acid in Rachael's voice was more corrosive than concentrated hydrochloric. The sharp intake of breath was enough to let Valerie know that this was an ongoing feud between the two.

"That slut's nothing special. It certainly can't be trusted with anything. Look how you had to tie it in place. You certainly don't trust it."

"I trust Valerie with my life. Even more important, Valerie trusts me."

"A loaner? Loaners don't trust."

"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?

"Fine, I'll wager $1000 that I can think of an order it won't follow."

Rachael smiled as she stroked Valerie's face through the hood. "You're on. What's the order?"

"Come outside, I don't want it to be able to psych itself up."

There was movement and the murmur of excited voices. A couple of minutes later, Rachael and Sondra returned.

"You ladies, clear the buffet tray." Rachael's voice did not betray the nervousness she felt. When Valerie was cleared of snacks, Rachael untied her bonds, helping her stand. "Remember your orders." Val nodded as she stretched her stiff muscles.

The crowd moved to the back of the house and the expansive yard there. Dominating the back yard was a gorgeous pool. Rachael led Valerie to the edge of the pool. Without a word, Rachael strapped Valerie's legs together, rendering them useless. Valerie felt something being added, something that pulled down on the straps a bit. Standing next to the bound woman, her Mistress stroked her face through the leather of the hood.

"Do you feel where you are?" Val, feeling the water slosh against her feet as she stood in the edge drain of the pool, nodded. "Valerie, I won't be disappointed if you safe word. This is what I want you to do. You're facing the deep end of the pool. Throw yourself in."

Valerie stiffened, fear and trust warring in her mind. While she struggled with her choice, she heard Sandra's derisive laughter. Without another second's thought, she took a deep breath and tilted herself into the pool. She was enveloped in water and sank to the bottom, dragged down by the weights on her straps. Rachael, who had stripped earlier, plunged in right after her. Rachael stood Valerie up in the three feet of water in the shallow end of the pool and unzipped the mouth of the gag, letting the water pour out.

"Sandra, I expect a check before you leave. Stephanie, I've had enough fun for one day. If I can borrow your changing room for a few minutes, I'll be on my way. It was a great party, in spite of Sondra."

Several people were applauding. One could be heard stomping across the concrete of the pool's edge.

"I'll have your legs free in a moment Val. Then we'll dry off and go."

Rachael dove under again and released the straps. Able to walk again, Valerie was led to the changing room. Rachael pulled the hood off and dried Valerie with a tenderness that Val did not expect.

"I'm so proud of you Val. You're free to talk if you want."

"Today is so hard, Mistress."

"I know. It's going to stay hard. I'm going to use you for what I want all day. There still won't be any pleasure for you other than knowing you've pleased me."

"Have I pleased you so far?"

"Yes, very much so."

"Even though I used my safe word this morning?"

"Even then. I want to take you to your safe word without pain. I want to see you trembling with fear and humiliation. I want you in tears, aching for a kind word that doesn't come. Can I have that?"

Valerie shuddered, fearful that Rachael was a person quite capable of bringing her to just that point. It was only the thought of Rachael's enjoyment that enabled her to respond, "Yes, Mistress, anything that pleases you."

"You're frightened of me." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes, but I trust you too."

"I know. Let's blow this joint."

Rachael put the hood back on Val's head and led her to the car, buckling her into the back seat again. From there, it was another half hour drive. The car stopped at a cheap motel that Rachael had, earlier, rented for the day. She put Val's coat on her again and led her into the room. The smell of stale sex and cheap cigarettes, overlaid with the pungent odor of pine cleaner, permeated the room.

"Keep your eyes closed." The hood came off, to be replaced by a blindfold. "Kneel here. Don't move until I come back."

Rachael stepped outside where the people she had arranged to be here were gathering. If Valerie could see, she would have recognized every one of them. There was Steven and Robert, her fellow submissives under Charles, along with Marcia, the black teacher that served with them. Calvin and his slave, Susan, were there as was Fred (Daphne was watching Sally).

"I'm glad you could all make it. It's important that no one speaks, or the impact will be lost. Marcia, are you up to this? You had the hardest time with it when it was your turn, two years ago."

"I'm okay, Rachael. This is going to be so hard on her. Are you sure she's ready for this?"

"I'm sure she will use her safe word if she isn't. She did use it when she was my dog."

"Okay, I trust you."

"Right, no talking. Let's go and use this slut whore."

Valerie heard the door open and the movement of numerous pairs of feet on the cheap carpeting. She struggled to not react at the presence of who knew how many witnesses, strangers, to her submission.

"Valerie, There are four men and two women here who have paid $50 each to receive a blow job from you. Please them or I will be disappointed."

Valerie gasped in horror. Rachael had sold her like a cheap whore. Seven months ago, Valerie had been almost broken by simply being mistook for a prostitute and had to face the knowledge that she held a bigoted attitude towards that class of people. Now she was to actually be one, to perform sex for money. Tears streamed from under her blindfold.

"Mistress, please, no?"

"Valerie! That mouth has only one purpose right now, whore, to bring these people off." Rachael turned to the crowd and asked, "Who's first?"

Calvin walked up first and grabbed Valerie's head. As she sobbed, he thrust his erect cock into her mouth. Valerie was given no chance to use her skills at giving head, he simply fucked her mouth with a viciousness that overwhelmed Valerie. Rachael knelt beside Valerie.

"That's right, make your Mistress happy, let this ugly creep fuck your throat. I love seeing you belittled and used like the cheap slut you are."

Valerie sobbed in humiliation and grief. She didn't know how she could endure this six times. She tried to focus on Rachael's words, on how happy her Mistress was to see her demeaned like this. Hanging on by an emotional thread, Valerie sobbed through Calvin, Marcia, Steven, Robert and Fred. Calvin had insisted that Susan be last. On his orders, his slave had not cleaned her cunt all day and the stench of dried urine and pussy juice assaulted Valerie's nose as Susan came forward. Valerie gagged at the smell and pulled back without thinking. Rachael's hand pressed her forward while Valerie fought to stay away.

"Valerie, get in there and lick."

Valerie tried to make herself stop fighting, but felt, for the first time in months, the old revolt towards lesbian sex. "Yellow light," she cried.

Everything stopped. There was silence, except for Valerie's tears.

"What do you need, Val?"

"She's not clean. Please Mistress, clean her first."

Rachael bent down and sniffed, gagging herself. She shot Calvin a look of anger. This was not part of her plan. Rachael was no fan of water sports or scat and considered dirty cunts as equal to those games.

"You're done, Valerie. I'll refund her money. Just one more thing to do."

The others gathered around Valerie so that Rachael could take a picture of the group. She ushered them out, instructing Valerie not to move. Once outside, she lay into Calvin.

"Calvin, just what kind of shit were you pulling in there?"

"I thought it would make the experience more memorable."

"You ass! The plan was to humiliate her with the belief that she had been whored out, not to gross her out so she threw up. I trusted you Calvin and you betrayed that trust. You interfered with another dominant's scene. You know better than that. Get out of here before I do something we'll both regret."

Rachael stormed back into the room, calming herself before she interacted with Valerie again. Making sure the drapes were closed, she took Valerie's blindfold off. The tear streaked face underneath caused Rachael to smile.

Still sobbing a little, Valerie looked up at her Mistress. "Did I please you, Mistress?"

"Yes Val, very much. How are your arms?"

"Very sore, Mistress. I think a couple of fingers are starting to go to sleep."

"Let's give them a break, shall we?"

Rachael took the straps off her arms, letting Val move them for the first time in several hours. Rachael sat in a chair and Valerie just rested her head on Rachael's lap, letting her tension ease. Valerie knew there was more to come and dreaded it all the while craving the chance to please Rachael even more. Rachael had known, ever since watching Valerie's first auction, that she would be an exceptional submissive, driven by the need to please. The depths to which Valerie was subjecting herself warmed Rachael's heart and drew out her sadistic side. She almost regretted her commitment to a pain free domination.

After half an hour, Valerie's tears were dried up and Rachael motioned her to her feet. Coat back on, Valerie was blindfolded and buckled into the back seat. Once they were back in Rachael's house, Valerie was led to the bedroom again.

"I want to dress you up for our next outing. Let's start with this corset."

Valerie turned around and let Rachael lace the black corset up, squeezing her waist three inches smaller. By the time the lacing was done, Valerie's breasts were pushed up and together, creating a deep, tight cleavage. An equally black shift was snapped to the bottom of the corset, covering her waist area down to her mid-thighs. The heels from earlier were back in place and Rachael stood back to admire her minimally dressed submissive.

"Yes, that will do just fine."

The two items on her body were opaque enough that she would pass muster for being decent (barely) yet draw stares at how much was revealed. However, the shift could be flipped up, revealing the enticements hidden behind it.

"Come dear, we have an appointment."

Valerie, not bound this time, followed Rachael to the car again. Soon, however, she realized where they were going. She turned to Rachael.

"Mistress?"

"Yes, Valerie?"

"Divine's Devils?"

"Yes."

"Please, don't do anything to me there."

"Are you using a safe word?"

With a quiver in her voice, Valerie replied, "No Mistress. It's just that they make me feel so small there."

"I know, that's the point."

"Yes, Mistress."

Valerie was glad this was not a repeat of the experience she had the first time. Rachael had gone out of her way to arrange for Valerie to be humiliated in front of the workers in the auto shop across the street. This time, Valerie had enough modesty allowed to handle getting to the door. Once inside, Valerie cringed inside herself. Dominance oozed from the walls, the residue of hundreds of Doms and Dommes exerting their personalities on the site.

"Rachael, how wonderful to see you again. What can we do for you?"

"I'd like to have this toy marked with a tattoo."

Valerie gasped in shock. Charles had forbidden her to get a tattoo for Sally for months. What was Rachael playing at?

"Mistress, Master has forbidden…"

"I have his permission, Valerie. Keep quiet."

Just like the last time, Rachael had become even harsher than she normally was while inside the store. Divine's Devils was a BDSM fetish shop that catered to the most extreme of dominants. In addition to a wide selection of bondage and discipline tools, the shop would provide services for marking slaves and submissives. These services ranged from permanent collars and cuffs, such as what Valerie wore now, to tattooing and branding. Since her last visit, Valerie had learned that Divine's Devils also provided slave training services. They were reputed to be able to train anyone to perform any service and enjoy it.

"Come on back, Rachael, we have a table open right now. Do you have a design in mind?"

As they walked to the back, Rachael handed a folded up piece of paper over to the clerk. "It's a surprise, so don't let it see the picture."

"Of course. We'll blindfold her before we start."

He took a look at the design, whistling as he did. "Do you want this done all at once?"

"Yes, it has to be finished tonight."

"This will take about three hours, I think. We'll check with Chuck. Chuck, we've got a job for you!"

A small man, covered in tattoos, looked up from a book of designs. "Rachael! Who's the meat?"

"This is my toy for the day. It's name is Valerie. I'm giving it a surprise tattoo."

"Well, let's get it strapped in and then we'll take a look at the design."

Valerie climbed onto the table and let Chuck fasten the straps to hold her down. Divine's never operated on unrestrained slaves. By the time she was fully bound, Valerie's head, fingers and toes were the only parts of her body capable of movement. Her shift was flipped up and she was blindfolded.

"Ah, this is quite complex. I hope you have about four hours."

"I've got all night." Rachael braced herself for the reaction that was to come. "I'd like it right here."

Rachael placed her hand on the mound of flesh just above Valerie's pussy. When Val felt that, she cried out in panic.

"No! Mistress, please not there, that's for Sally!"

"Valerie, that is where I want my tattoo. What do you mean that's for Sally? You are not in control of your body, your Master is."

"Please Mistress, I want to put Sally's picture there, to show my love for her. Please don't take that away from her."

Valerie was in tears, her heart being rended by the upcoming loss.

"Who's your Mistress right now?"

"You are," Val sobbed.

"Who's your Master?"

"Charles." Tears flowed freely.

"Then this will happen."

"Please Mistress, I love her so much. I want to show her forever. Please don't take this away."

"Can I have some time alone with her?"

The men left Valerie and Rachael alone. Rachael stroked Valerie's hair and held her hand.

"Valerie, I'm going to do this. It will please me. Don't you want to please me?"

"Yes, Mistress," Val gasped, trying to hold her tears in. "But it's for Sally."

"I know. She will understand that it wasn't your choice."

Valerie could only sob with grief. Rachael watched as the emotional wringer she had put Valerie through reached its peak. Her plan to break Valerie, to give her the ultimate submission was almost complete. One more straw was needed to break this camel's back.

"Valerie, only your safe word will stop this. Do you want to please me enough to not use your safe word? Do you trust me enough to not use your safe word?"

Inside, Valerie felt her choices leaving her. Not being taken away, but leaving of their own accord. As she sobbed in grief, she felt something snap and knew she could not safe word to stop this. She trusted Master and Mistress too much. She trusted that they knew best. She felt what Sally felt when Sally had given up her safe word, the need and ability to trust so completely that she would dive, helpless, into a pool. She trusted so much that she would let herself be sold to strangers for sex in a cheap hotel room. She needed to trust enough to give up her special tattoo for her lover.

Choking back a sob, Valerie nodded her head, saying, "Yes, Mistress. Mistress, would you gag me so I can't change my mind?"

"No, dear. You must tell Chuck that you approve. I'll be right here, holding your hand. You can cry as much as you want. I know how hard this must be. You're making me so happy, pleasing me so much."

"Thank you Rachael, I need to know that. Can we start now?"

"Of course."

Rachael waved Chuck over. He set his tools out and started the long process of transferring a work of art from paper to flesh. Valerie's tears flowed slowly as she felt each poke of the needle leave its dye in Valerie's skin, taking away that precious spot. For four hours, Rachael held Valerie's hand and whispered how proud she was, how pleased she was in Valerie's obedience. Valerie was fed during this time, taking dinner from Rachael's hand while blind and bound.

When it was done, Val's shift was put back into place and she was released. Valerie reached to look and Rachael's hand took hers.

"Not until you're back at your house."

Rachael took Valerie back to her house, where Giggy was waiting, having gotten home form work while they were out. Inside, Valerie collapsed at Rachael's feet, feeling the need to be submitted just a little longer. With her head resting on Rachael's lap, Valerie tried to recover from her day long ordeal.

"How did it go, Rach?" Giggy asked.

"Valerie was very pleasing. She let me take her to a depth she has never had before, didn't you Val?"

Valerie nodded her head. "It was…I feel…I don't know what I want to say. It hurt so much, all of it. Being just a thing, a pet. But I wouldn't trade today for anything."

Giggy knelt beside Valerie. She stroked Valerie's back with comforting pressure. "Did you safe word?"

Valerie nodded, tears flowing at the remembrances of the two times. "I wish I hadn't."

"Don't, Valerie. I expected you to use them. Both times, it pleased me when you did use them. It was a pleasant surprise when you didn't at Divine's."

"She didn't? You mean she let you…"

"Yes, she gave it up. That broke you, didn't it Val?"

Val nodded, her sobs returning. "What will I tell Sally?"

"That you were obedient. She'll understand, she really will."

"I hope so. She's been looking forward to her tattoo for so long. Mistress?"

"Yes, Val?"

"Can I please you one more time?" Valerie rested her hand on Rachael's leg, partway under the leather skirt.

"Of course you may, Valerie."

Rachael pulled the skirt up, revealing her pantiless pussy. She spread her legs and scooted out where Valerie could reach her. Valerie bent her head forward and licked at the edges of Rachael's pussy with tender kisses. Giggy stroked Valerie's hair as Val brought Giggy's Mistress to a slow arousal.




Stranger Than Truth Ch. 08



"You're doing wonderfully, Val. That's just what Rachael loves, slow, tender caresses from a soft, woman's tongue. Doesn't she taste so wonderful? I'm a little jealous. Look at that, she's opening up, inviting your tongue in. Not yet, let her stew a little. She loves to be teased. Drink your fill, she produces plenty."

Valerie felt warmth fill her as Giggy kept the running commentary/instructions, letting Valerie know that she approved of Rachael receiving pleasure form someone else. Valerie's own cunt was juicing, responding to the incredible eroticism of having her ministrations being watched and directed by her Mistress' lover.

"Oh, you've coaxed it out. See her clit. It's so much smaller than mine, but incredibly sensitive. Give it a lick." Rachael bucked, crying out. "See, so sensitive. Tease it, make it plead for another touch of your wonderful tongue. Don't miss a drop of her nectar. She loves to feed us herself. Can you hear her moan? That's such a lovely sound. Just wait until she cums. But that's a while off, yet. Take your time, enjoy pleasing your Mistress."

Giggy coaxed Valerie for an hour, directing her how to best tease and please their mutual, for tonight, Mistress. Rachael was writhing on the couch, her hips doing a slow buck as Valerie held her just below her orgasm for nearly the entire hour. Rachael's hands clawed at the cushions while she fought the urge to command an end to the sensual torture. Rachael loved to let her submissives have this power over her, to deny her for seemingly endless periods of time while her body strained to reach the peak that was just out of reach. She knew Giggy would know the perfect moment to send her over the top and how to keep her there for a blissfully long time.

"It's getting close now, love. See how her clit is wagging at us, bouncing up and down, trying to attract our attention? Rachael's so close, so needy. I hope your thirsty. Mistress really squirts and she'll want her cum to last until there's nothing to squirt anymore. Let her clit know what's coming, give it a flick."

Val did and Rachael screamed, the edge of orgasm right there. Valerie's tongue delved once again between Rachael's folds, drinking one last drink, teasing one last time.

"Now, bite her clit and don't let go until she stops covering your face with her girl cum."

Valerie took pushed her face in and clamped her teeth onto the small clit. Valerie felt Rachael's entire cunt spasm and warm fluid poured over Valerie's chin and down her chest. Rachael screamed and gripped the couch, her body shaking. The pressure on Rachael's clit sent wave after wave of pleasure, mind numbing, overwhelming pleasure through her body.

"Keep it up, she's not done yet. Suck in her juice, taste that cum. Isn't the most wonderful flavor? I love to drink from her. It's better than the finest wine. I go to sleep with her aroma on me. She's almost done, there's just a little left. There, let go, let her clit escape. Lick her folds again, bring her down gently."

Valerie, face and chest soaked with fragrant fluids, lapped at the pussy in front of her, the caresses from her tongue now soothing rather than arousing. As Valerie cleaned up the last of the liquid from between Rachael's legs, Rachael came back to earth, her breathing returning to normal. When she stopped licking at the pussy, Val rested her head between Rachael's legs, breathing in the smells of a satisfied lover.

Rachael ran her hand through Valerie's hair and along her face. "How do you feel?"

"Contented, Mistress. Thank you for letting me please you."

"You've come a long way from that night in the restaurant when you were mortified at us finding that you were revolted by lesbian sex."

"Yes, I'm glad too. Am I spending the night?"

"No dear. We're taking you home. Giggy will drive your car back and you'll travel with me. Giggy, will you make sure Sally's home?"

"Sure thing." Giggy returned from the kitchen a minute later. "She's home, anxious to have her Mistress back."

"Are you up to owning Sally again?"

Valerie thought for a moment. "Yes, I am. I feel revitalized. Rachael, you broke me today, yet I feel stronger, more able now than I have before. How is that possible?"

"That's part of the paradox that is domination and submission. A submissive is her strongest when she's broken."

"So when is a dominant strongest?"

Giggy laughed out loud. "When her submissive is broken, of course. We're two different species, with different needs. I am so mortified and humiliated when I'm forced to shit outside as a dog. But, both of us are so turned on and empowered by her breaking me that way. I still safe word at that sometimes."

"I'm impressed that you've ever not safe worded at that. I suppose I should get home to Sally." Sadness passed over Valerie's face.

Rachael reached down, caressing Valerie's face. "It will be okay. Trust me, Sally will understand. Grab your coat, we're taking you home to your lover."

Valerie leaned against Rachael for comfort on the ride home. As she was climbing out of the car, she said, "I'll bring the corset and shift by the store tomorrow. I'll need to clean them."

"That's fine, Valerie. Go cuddle with your slave." Handing Valerie an envelope, Rachael added, "Here, open this when you're with her. Let her know everything."

Sally was sitting on a cushion next to the couch. She leapt to her feet when she saw Valerie, embracing her Mistress and lover in a tight hug. Her body was covered in stripes and she cringed at the return hug.

"How bad was it?" she asked, knowing that time with Rachael was never anything but that wonderful badness that subs dreaded and craved.

"She broke me, Sally. Sally, I have bad news."

"What? Did she violate a safe word?"

"No, not that kind of bad news. Sally, she took me to Divine's Devils."

"Oh no! What did she do?"

"Master gave her permission to give me a tattoo. She put it in your spot."

Sally gasped, realizing how horrified Valerie must be feeling.

"It's okay, Mistress! You were being obedient. We'll find another place. It's okay."

"I'm so sorry. I couldn't bring myself to use a safe word, I just couldn't. I wanted, needed to trust her so much, to please her so much. I think I would have let her brand me then. Is that how you feel about me?"

"Yes, Mistress," Sally answered, awe in her voice. She had never hoped to make Valerie understand where the need to be safe word free came from. "I would do anything for you, anything at all. I can't bear the thought of denying you anything, of not trusting you, of displeasing you."

"Sally, I will never force your safe words on you. Do you understand, you never have to take them back, ever."

"Thank you so much. I've been so afraid that you would be unable to keep me this way. She really helped you, didn't she?"

"Yes, I feel so much more able to own you. Are you up for it?"

"Yes! Bring it on, make me please you. Take me places I've never dreamed of."

"I will, I promise. Tomorrow, I'm going to spank you until you can't cry any more."

"That sounds so scary, so wonderful. What did Rachael give you for a tattoo?"

"I don't know, she wouldn't let me look. Will you? I'm frightened."

Sally lifted the shift, gasping in shock. She grabbed Valerie's hand, dragging her to the bedroom mirror.

"You have to see this. Look, it's wonderful."

Sally ripped the shift off and revealed the picture of a black panther, it's eyes glowing yellow, staring from out of the jungle around it.

"Sally, it's your…"

"She mind fucked you, Mistress. She broke you while giving us an incredible gift."

"Oh my God!"

Valerie opened the envelope Rachael had given her. Inside were two pictures. The first showed a dog dish and a hand upending a can of food into one side. The label on the can read, "Dinty Moore Beef Stew." The second was the group shot of Valerie and her johns, every one a familiar face. Valerie dropped to her knees, crying and laughing at the same time.

Sally looked at the pictures and realized that there had been more than one mind fuck this day. Eventually Valerie was able to tell Sally the course of her day, every detail, every emotion Rachael pulled out of her in one long day of submission. Sally told Valerie about her time with Fred and Daphne. She experienced heavy use. The marks did not come in a short session, but over the length of the day as Caroline learned to use every instrument in the couple's collection. Sally was of the opinion that Caroline was going to make an excellent switch, seemingly capable of dishing out as much as she could take.

"Sally, I should probably hold off on that spanking."

"No, please don't. I want you to use me whenever you want, not to let me determine when you do or don't. I know you're concerned about my health, but I trust you to stop short of harm. Let me feel you enjoy my pain."

"Let's see how you are in the morning. It is my choice, not yours. Let's go to bed, I want to cuddle with you."





Stranger Than Truth Ch. 08



"Valerie. What happened?"

"I wanted it Master. You said you wanted to give me five with the cane and I needed to let you. What's happening to me?"

"I think you've become my slave instead of my submissive. Do you still have a safe word?"

Valerie thought for a minute. "I think so, Master, but it's a safety thing only, not a limit thing. I can tell you when I'm in trouble, but I'm not sure I can deny you anything. I'm frightened."

"Don't be. Do you know how may submissives crave this level? We'll explore this together. As we do, you'll be better at owning Sally and I'll learn how to dominate someone without a safe word."

As he talked, he released Valerie from the rack. He helped her to the recovery room where she soaked in the hot tub to take the aches out of her stretched muscles. Charles joined her and they talked about where her submission would go from here.

"Valerie, I've never had a submissive who felt she could not deny me anything. It makes me a little nervous. I have, however, suspected that this might happen after your time with Rachael. That's why I've put it off so long. Are you sure you want to go where this leads?"

"Yes, Master. I feel more alive now than ever. I gave Sally a fairly severe spanking this morning without difficulty. This is where I need to go. I trust you. I know you'll take me where I need to go and you'll do it safely."

"Very well. The next year should be very interesting."