Chapter 7: Not Just Lip Service

Chapter 7: Not Just Lip Service

Ayden stands in the hall, eager to go to Master Hunter but unsure of herself.  She tugs on her freshly combed pigtails and resolutely steps out of the hall and into the light of the bedroom, baring herself fully to Master Hunter.  He is seated in a pink wing back chair.  It is one of a pair that is situated on either side to the balcony doors.  Ayden thinks how peculiar he appears sitting in such a feminine chair and she smiles.  He has changed into a dark green robe that has the logo of the inn emblazoned across his chest in gold thread. 

Ayden stands waiting.  She shifts her feet nervously and pulls at her pigtail.  She stands barely in the room watching Master Hunter tie and untie the belt of his robe into a loose knot.

Without looking up Master Hunter asks, “What are you waiting for Babygirl?”

“You have already been told to come to me and I am waiting,” he reminds her.

With faltering footsteps Ayden steps forward.  The walk across the room feels like it takes hours but she finally finds she is standing before Master Hunter; exposed and anxious, but prepared to give herself over to him.

“You are more stunning that I could have imagined,” he tells her breathlessly.

“Please turn and face away from me with your hands behind your back,” he instructs.

Spinning carefully on her heels Ayden turns to face the mass of lace that covers the bed.  She clasps her hands behind her back.  A shiver runs down her spine as she feels Master Hunter’s hand reach up and press against her back gliding gradually down to her where her hands lay trembling.  She hears the sound of the belt being removed from his robe but does not comprehend what she has heard until she feels the soft fabric being secured around her hands and wrists binding them in place; powerless, dependent.

Laothoe binds her hands tightly with the soft fabric so that she will not have use of them for the evening and steps back to admire his creation.  “Beautiful,” he exclaims.

“Please face me now,” he says, “and kneel.”

The bindings have had the precise effect he was hoping for.  Ayden lowers herself to the floor to kneel before him.  Her skin still shows a slight glistening from the moisture of her bath and the fire light shines on her giving her a delicate glow.  Her legs are open wide and he hungers to claim her, but he will savor her and take his time in claiming her for his own.  Her arms are pulled back by the bindings making her breast arch up to welcome him.  They looked divine as she bathed and he determines that they will be his tonight.

He steps to the fire, his robe falling unrestricted around his knees.  He leans on the mantle trying to subdue his enthusiasm for this girl.  Thoughtfully he turns to her and orders her to come to him on her knees and delights in her delicious struggle to please him.  When she is kneeling before him he rubs his toe against her firm thighs and leans an elbow on the mantle for support.

Ayden watches curious as Master Hunter seems to falter.  She waits; the intensity building in her belly.

Finally he speaks, “Tonight you will serve me using only your mouth.”  He pulls back his robe and holds it behind him with his free hand.

Ayden’s eyes instantly go to Master Hunter’s groin.  Sprouting from a mass of curly hair Master Hunter’s penis rises up to greet her.  She looks up to him for reassurance but he does not return her entreaty.  His eyes are fixed straight ahead.  She returns her gaze to greet her new master.  She hesitantly leans in and kisses it gently on the head and it jumps beneath her lips.

Gingerly she touches her tongue to the folds of skin as they rapidly spring to life.  Ayden guides her tongue around the pulsing fold at the base of the tip, wetting it before letting the tip burst through her lips into the waiting warmth of her mouth.  She hears Master Hunter let out a moan and the feeling is intoxicating.

She can no longer hold herself back.  She recklessly plunges her mouth over the shaft and it jumps to life inside her; pulsing against the roof of her mouth as it because rigid at her touch.  Master Hunter gasps above her but his voice is less pleasurable than the acclaim he shows her mouth.

She slides her mouth up and down the length, grinding deep against the curly hair that threatens to tickle her nose.  She feels Master Hunter pressing back forcing himself deep into her throat.  His breathing is quickening and she is not prepared to release her newfound plaything.  She slides her mouth to the tip holding it softly between her teeth.  Pausing, panting, she looks up to see Master Hunter is looking down on her and she smiles up at him despite her full mouth.

Sucking she pulls off the tip and kisses it once more while holding Master Hunter’s watchful scrutiny.  He opens his mouth to say something to her but she gives him and impish smile and drops under letting the wet shaft rub across her cheek.  Before he can utter a word she has popped the nearest testicle into her mouth and careful tugs at it.  She lets her tongue explore as Master Hunter’s rebuke comes out as a deep sigh.  A smile spreads across his face and he closes his eyes.

Ayden smiles knowing she has made Master Hunter very happy.  With her lips she slides the orb from her mouth and kisses it, returning her attention to the shaft bouncing off her cheek begging to be recognized again.

She slides her mouth over it letting it fall to the back of her throat and the imagine of the man who rescued her earlier in the day pops into her mind.  She tries to chase it out, but it refuses to leave.  She pictures herself kneeling for him and pleasing him with her mouth.

She closes her eyes and hungrily feeds on the shaft.  Surprised by her own desire Ayden sucks greedily on the throbbing mass in her mouth.  She feels Master Hunter’s hand on her head pressing her to him but in her mind she can see only her rescuer.  Her panting begins to match that of Master Hunter and they fall into a swift rhythm.  His hips rise up to meet her lips as they slide over the glistening skin.  Master Hunter’s moans turn to grunting and he thrusts deep into her hungry mouth.  Ayden runs her tongue around in her mouth chasing, but never catching the head that slides across the roof of her mouth pounding deeper with every plunge.

Just as Ayden is succumbing to Master Hunter’s probing he thrusts his hips forward, balls a handful of her hair in his fist, and presses her mouth deep onto him.  Abruptly there is a powerful surge that runs through Master Hunter and it is released into her waiting mouth.  For a flash she cannot breathe but as the hot liquid pulses against the back of her throat she swallows frantically.  Liquid seeps from the edge of her mouth and she sucks the convulsing mass while Master Hunter cries out with each rush of salty fluid that fills her appreciative mouth.

She kisses the softening mass when Master Hunter pulls her mouth away.  Ayden listens as his breathing slows while her tongue licks at the last of the liquid that remains.  She teases and toys with the flaccid flesh giving Master Hunter time to catch his breath. 

Suddenly, Master Hunter’s hands are under her arms, lifting her, and she lands on her back in a billow of fluffy white quilts.  Ayden gasps.

He crawls up the length of her body reaching her nipple he sucks it harshly into his mouth.  Ayden squirms.  He nibbles at the vulnerable mound of flesh making Ayden moan.  Rising up on his knees, straddling her hips, he pinches both of her nipples and she cries out in pain that is gone as quickly as it came.  “I will hear you beg tonight,” He mandates, “You will not orgasm until I have given my permission.”

He slides back off the end of the bed and grabs her legs, lifting them straight into the air and pulls her down to the edge of the bed.  She is hanging slightly off the end of the bed but her bound hands and upper body hold her in place.  She looks up at him standing between her knees, not knowing what is about to happen to her and barely chirps, “Yes Master Hunter.”

He kneels at the end of the bed and opens her legs wide inspecting her before touching her further.  “I am always pleased to find a wet vessel,” he announces.

Master Hunter disappears between her legs and lets them drape over his shoulders and down his back.  Ayden tries to raise her head to see where he has gone but bound hands prevent her from seeing anything.

She is not kept in suspense long as a sudden shot of fire seizes her body when his teeth graze across her clit.  She is caught by surprise and immediately balls her fists around the quilt beneath her, bucking her hips, and crying out.

Laothoe laughs in delight at the sudden violent reaction from Ayden.  He knows it is going to be sweet torture and he will enjoy every moment of her delectable torment.  She earned it he decides.

He lets his tongue explore the folds of her skin, listening to her breathing quicken to short soft pants.  He nibbles at her labia and is rewarded with soft whimpers.  He smiles with delight and sucks it in between his teeth, teasing it, listening to her soft appeals,

Ayden’s mind races.  The fire in her belly makes it impossible for her to think.  She tries to remember if he told her to be silent, but his tongue traces circles around her labia making it impossible to remember.  He sucks it between his teeth and she cannot breath.  She whimpers balling the quilts beneath her into a ball.  He told her to beg she remembers at the very moment his tongue slips inside of her.   “Oh, Please,” she moans triumphantly, but his head shakes from side to side, his tongue following behind and setting off fireworks between her legs with every movement.

She tightens her thighs on his head and raises her hips and he rewards her by punishing her little clit, teasing it mercilessly with his tongue.  She does not hold back but cries out in wonderful agony.  She dare not move or the delightful anguish might end.  Her mind races back trying to remember and again her beautiful rescuer with his deep blue eyes is standing before her in her mind.  Again Master Hunter’s tongue dances across her tortured clit and she moans forgetting what she was trying to remember.

She spreads her legs wider welcoming the wonderful agony.  She moves her feet to his shoulders and lifts herself up to find his gifted tongue.  She remembers.  Master Hunters brushes his teeth over her begging clit and the air is sucked from her lungs.  She feels the muscles in her belly tighten and she knows she cannot hold back for long.  She tries to clear her mind of the tongue that has so skillfully mounted her. “May I orgasm, please?” she gasps with her failing breath and again the tongue races from side to side.  She claws at the quilts.  Her heart is pounding and every part of her cries out for release.

She hears her own voice crying out in rasping pants.  Her hips buck against her will.  The tongue darts inside of her again and her legs begin to shake, but her hips thrust up to meet it.  She desperately wants to please him, but does not understand the directions he has given her.  In desperation she implores, “Master Hunter I cannot hold back much longer.  May I please orgasm now?” 

Unexpectedly, Master Hunter stops the circular motions that are holding her captive and he meets her thrusts with a nod of his head.  His tongue wiggles from her clit down the length of her labia and darts inside of her only to return again to her obedient clit begging for punishment.  He nods his permission in perfect unison to her thrusts.

Master Hunter’s permission opens her flood gates and Ayden’s body begins to thrash and heave below this lips.  Her desperate cries pour from her mouth as wave after wave courses through her body obtaining glorious release from Master Hunter’s tongue.

Moments later still panting and trying to calm the explosions still going off in her head Master Hunter is beside her whispering in her ear.  He tells her, “You were amazing and I could not be more proud to be your Lord and Master.”  He rests his head on her heaving chest and his tongue plays across her hardened nipple.  Gently he tugs the hardened little ball into his mouth and Ayden lets her body relax under his soothing kisses that only moments ago held her prisoner.

Ayden is drifting.  Her body feels heavy and the bed feels so soothing.  She must have drifted off because Master Hunter is at her feet again and has her by the ankles.  She panics and is instantly awake.  Her mind screams out, “No!”  She cannot suffer that magnificent punishment again.  She is about to open her mouth in protest when he flips her over on her belly.  He kisses the back of her knees. He spreads her legs wide and lets out and appreciative moan while running his fingers along the wet remains at her apex.  He kisses each of her firm cheeks and announces, “Soon I will claim this too.”  He unties her hands and lifts her from the bed.

He carries her naked, exhausted body to the side of the bed, pulls back the covers, and gently settles her on the pillow.  “Tonight you sleep here,” he tells her.  Master Hunter pulls up the blankets and tucks her into bed.  His lips brush her forehead as she drifts off to sleep and he tells her he is going downstairs for a drink of ale and to make his delivery.

*  *  *  *  *

Ayden wakes feeling refreshed.  The smells of ocean air and fresh cotton linens mingle together in her nose.  She stretches and drops an arm over her face to shield her eyes from the morning sun that is shining through the windows.  She rolls lazily onto her side, turning her back on the particles of dust that are dancing Swan Lake through the cheery sunbeams.  Sitting up she realizes Master Hunter is not in the room and she wonders where he has gone.  The morning air draws her to the balcony.  She grabs a quilt off the bed and steps out into the light of a brand new day.

Down below all is quiet.  The staff is not there to haul the luggage.  There are no carriages taking visitors to destinations in town.  There are no lovers collecting stolen kisses in the garden.  There is only the silent chill of the morning fog rolling in with the ocean breezes.  Ayden wraps the blanket tighter around her and sits down in an Adirondack chair, pulling her knees up to her chin.  Wishing she had a warm cup of tea to hold in her cold hands she watches as the fog summersaults over itself rolling towards the shore.  She knows she should go inside but she breathes in deep and relishes the peace she is feeling.

Ayden sits there, braced against the chilled air; day-dreaming and listening to the birds sing their morning melodies.  She smiles remembering her rescuer in the garden with the deep blue eyes.  She is reveling in her serenity when she sees a solitary figure struggling to climb up the hill from the private cove.  She watches through the mist as the figure grows closer and there is something familiar about the way it moves.  The figure reaches the crest of the hill and ducks behind the corner of the inn.  Ayden realizes it is the old hag that visited Master Hunter’s shop just a few days ago.  She raises her hand to wave to the old woman but the hag is already out of sight.

The chill has seeped under the quilt.  Ayden moves back into the room and closes the doors behind her.  She takes another long luxurious bath in the enormous tub.  The hot water chases away the chill of the morning air.  She feels like a kid again holding her breath under the water for as long as she can.  She lays there soaking in the calming waters until she has leeched every last drop of the warmth from her little swimming pool.

She finds her bikini and shirt where she left them to dry and puts them back on, making a mental note to ask Master Hunter about finding something new to wear.  With her teeth brushed she combs out her hair and pulls it up in a single ponytail, hoping that Master Hunter will not mind for today.

Based on the sun flickering into the room, through the light fog outside, Ayden guesses it is still very early in the morning.  When she gets back in the bedroom she looks around for a clock.  She wonders how long Master Hunter will be gone.  Unsure of how she could have missed it earlier Ayden discovers the lace covered table in the turret has been set and wonders if someone has snuck in while she was in the bath.  It is beautiful.  Small china teacups, with pink roses and the delicate handles trimmed in gold, sitting on matching saucers.  There is even a tall teapot as part of the set and Ayden sends up a silent, “Thank you,” into the sky for Master Hunter, where ever he has gone. On a silver tray beside the tea set is a bowl of fresh fruit and a plate of small sandwiches.  Ayden grabs at a sandwich, suddenly realizing how hungry she is, and inhales the quarter slice in three bites. 

In the center of the table is a crystal vase containing a single pink tulip.  How could Master Hunter have known that the Angelique tulip is her favorite?  Leaning against the crystal vase is a small envelope with, “BabyGirl,” scrawled on the front in tiny letters.  Ayden opens the envelope and finds a hand-written note left for her from Master Hunter.  The note reads:

“Thank you, you served me well this evening.  Unfortunately I will not be back in time for dinner due to the jewelry delivery, but I have sent up something that I hope you will enjoy.  Do not wait up for me.  I will be in very late and will see you in the morning.  Sleep well Babygirl.”

Ayden reads the note two more times.  She tucks it back in the envelope thinking how odd it sounds, but so much of the past few days have been peculiar and she shrugs it off.  Could the note have been here all along she wonders, but decides to ask Master Hunter when he returns.  She is excited about the prospect of having the whole day to relax and enjoy this beautiful room with a view.

She hurriedly sits down, shakes out a napkin in her lap, and pours a large cup of tea.  She takes a sip without even blowing on it, but it is cold.  It is ice cold, however it not an unpleasant flavor.  She sets the cup down deflated and scoops some of the fruit onto her plate.  There are grapes, raspberries, strawberries, and small slices of what look like apples.  She eats three more of the sandwich pieces and almost the entire bowl of fruit before her hunger is satisfied. 

With her hunger abated Ayden is more optimistic about the tea.  She prefers her tea warm, but Ayden takes the porcelain cup to the book shelf and looks for something to read.  She finally finds a book on the bottom shelf.  She drags one of the pink chairs over near the fire, stirs the coals, and crosses her fingers as she throws another log onto the glowing embers.  She curls up in the chair and begins to thumb through the first few pages.  The primary character is a college student who is romanced by a sexy executive and then proceeds to whine and complain about everything he asks her to do.  Ayden does not get far into the book before she gives up.  She sips her tea and stares into the flames as they begin to flicker.

Ayden wanders around the room, nibbling on the remaining sandwiches and trying to coax the fire to life.  It is suborn and refuses to burn.  She contemplates tossing the book in to get it started but decides that might not be a good idea.  It turns into a lovely day and she spends several hours just sitting on the balcony watching the few visitors that are moving down below.  She finds the girls that pull the carriages interesting and studies how they move.  There is something regal about them.  Ayden hopes that Master Hunter will take her home in one of those if she is very good.  There really is not much to keep her amused.  It seems very quiet compared to the day before when carriages were lining up and moving people continually.  After waiting an interminable amount of time for the next carriage her eyes begin to study the patterns in the garden.  The colors of the flowers make a design.  It appears to be some sort of maze, but after Ayden makes several attempts to work her way through only to find herself back at the fruit tree she gives up.  If Master Hunter would ever come back to the room she might be able to convince him to walk her down there for a closer look.

It is as she is sitting there trying to crack the code to the maze that her stomach begins to rumble.  She goes inside, but she has snacked on what little of the food that was left after breakfast and there is not a bite left on the tray.  Depositing herself back in the Adirondack chair on the balcony Ayden is beginning to feel rather grumbly, but most of all she is bored.  Her fire would not start.  She cannot find a book that interests her.  The maze is impossible to solve and now she is famish again.  She looks down at the garden.  There is not a single person milling around.  There are no girls chained to the posts below the tree.  She wonders if Master Hunter would mind her going down to stretch her legs and to pick a few pieces of the fruit she so enjoys.  It would at least fill her stomach and Ayden delights in the idea that it might also give her something to do. 

Chapter 5: The Leash (Rewritten)

As I grew near the end of chapter 7 I realized I had a fairly major timeline issue.  I have rewritten sections of this chapter.  My apologizes for the mistake and I will try to be more careful.  I am sure this will need more corrections, but I hope that it makes a bit more sense now.

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Chapter 5: The Leash

Ayden is startled awake from a dream by voices all around her.  She momentarily forgets where she is and bolts straight up in bed, her head smashing against the cold metal cage.  Her eyes pop open and there, standing before her, is a woman and two small children.  Ayden squeals.  The younger girl is startled and begins to cry; clutching at her mother’s leg.  Ayden’s mind begins to clear waking from the deep sleep.  Feeling her hands still bound above her head she starts to remember where she is and what has happened to her.  The blush rises in her cheeks.  She mutters her feeble apologies and pleads with the small girl not to cry.  Suddenly, Laothoe’s smiling face appears above her.  “Good morning, Babygirl.  Did you sleep well?”

She cautiously looks from Laothoe, to the frightened child and her mother, and back to Laothoe again.  She worries what the mother will think of her bound and caged, calling this kindly old man her Master.  She murmurs, “Yes, Master Hunter,” while watching carefully for the mother’s reaction, but to Ayden’s surprise the mother simply smiles politely.

The older girl whispers to her mother, “She is very pretty.  Can we get her?”

Laothoe pats the child on the head and answers before the mother has a chance to reply, “No dear, she is not for sale or loan.  I am sorry.”  The child pouts, sticks her out tongue at Ayden, and sulks off to a man who is standing near the work bench.

The mother does her best to apologize to Laothoe making excuses for children being head strong and impulsive.  She compliments Laothoe on his fine vessel submissive and gathers the small crying child into her arms to sooth her. 

Laothoe nods, agreeing with the mother, commenting on how pleased he is to have Ayden for his own.  Ayden knows that she should not be, but hearing Master Hunter and the mother’s words makes her suddenly aware of how proud she is of her place in the cage.  Shielding her head with her hand she sits up a little taller.  Careful this time not to hit her head.  

The older girl whispers in the ear of her father who is bent over listening to her carefully.  Ayden watches her warily and wonders what the little imp could be plotting.  The gentleman looks at Ayden and nods to his daughter.  He straightens and turning back to the bench he picks up a beautiful pocket watch rolling it over in his hands, examining it.  It has an intricate gold chain and the cover depicts an ancient sailing ship being lured into the rough sea by a beautiful siren.  He looks to Laothoe and in a smooth clear voice says, “This will do very nicely.”  He looks at his feet and clears his throat fumbling for the words, “My daughter tells me you do not wish to part with your vessel sub, but I am prepared to double your pay for this fine piece of craftsmanship if you will include the girl.  It is more than a fair offer.”

Laothoe nods at the man, “It is indeed, more than a fair offer, but as I have told your lovely wife and young daughter the girl is not for sale and I will not be putting her out for lease either.  You have a lovely family and I am sure that you could care for her very well, but she is staying right here.”  Turning in Ayden’s direction, Master Hunter continues, “Tell the nice family who owns you please.”

Dipping her head and lowering her gaze she demurely answers, “You do, Master Hunter.”  And he rewards her with a broad smile.

“You see Sir, my girl knows her place,” Laothoe says smugly and somewhat pointedly to the man while watching the older daughter reach across the work bench for the green gem that has been encased in scrolls of delicate gold and is laying out awaiting delivery. He quickly scolds her, “Young lady I will have to ask you to leave that where it is.” The girl snatches her hand away quickly hiding the sticky fingers behind her back as she smiles innocently up at her father who is already rolling his eyes.

“Triple it,” implores the gentleman with determination.

“No, I am sorry Sir,” Laothoe says firmly as he unties Ayden’s hands and opens the door to the cage, motioning for her to step out.  Ayden slides both of her feet out before her and lands between Laothoe and the mother.  Laothoe leans in and kisses her on the cheek wishing her a good morning, again, and whispers almost silently in her ear, “I want you to show this family how respectful you are by crawling today.”

His words in her ear bring her great delight.  Only a few days ago if someone had asked her to crawl they would have needed a very good reason, but suddenly hearing it is his desire to see her crawl makes Ayden elated. She immediately bends forward and drops to the floor at his feet.  His smile broadens as the little girl is placed on the floor beside her and she begins to squeal.  The toddler suddenly leans in and licks Ayden on the arm before the mother can snatch her back up into her arms again.

“Mom,” the older girl begins to whine, “why does Pearl get to lick her.  I did not get to.”

“Hush, dear, come outside with me and let your father finish his business, “ the mother quickly scolds as she takes the girl’s hand and guides both children out of the shop and back onto the pier.

With his family out of the shop the gentleman grows a bit more bold and moves closer to Ayden.  Letting the pocket watch sway slowly on the end of the chain until it is resting on the small of Ayden’s back.  She fights the urge to flinch against the sudden cold moving across her skin.  Slowly the watch slides down her spine and over her bikini bottom.  He lets the watch play over the fabric, circling the firm bundles hidden below the fabric.  Ayden holds her breath looking up at Laothoe for guidance, but he is standing in front of her with his arms folded and is smiling contentedly down at her.  She does not move as the cold metal of the watch drops down and brushes against the soft flesh of her inner thigh.  The gentleman lets out a low throaty sound that seems to be a moan as he asks Laothoe one more time, “Will you please reconsider?  Name your price.”

“I am sorry but you will have to settle for taking home just the pocket watch today,” Laothoe replies with clear resolve.

The man nods to Laothoe and pays for the new watch.  He looks back pensively at Ayden before reluctantly leaving the shop and joining his family where they have wandered down to play on the beach.

Laothoe looks down to Ayden and asks, “Do you think you are ready to go for a little walk to see the sights of our lovely town?”

Feeling a little bewildered by the morning’s visitors Ayden merely nods absently as she watches the gentleman retreat across the sand.  When she finally turns her attention back she sees Laothoe, piqued, watching her silently.  He is standing near the work bench with his arms crossed and is tapping his foot impatiently.  She quickly gulps out, “Yes, Master Hunter, that sounds like a lovely idea.”  She steals one last glance at the peculiar family on the beach and then crawls over to Master Hunter.  She leans in and gently kisses the toe of his tapping foot, which stills.  She sits at his feet, the way he taught her to kneel the day before.  She positions herself on her heels with her palms facing up, slightly resting on her knees.  She makes sure her legs are spread open wide before relaxing and smiling up at Master Hunter.  He reaches down and rumples her pigtails; the smile returning to his face.

Laothoe tucks the newly designed piece of jewelry, with the green gem, in a gold foil gift box and takes down a long chain that is hanging from a hook on the wall.  The chain is a perfectly matches the beautiful collar Ayden received two days before.  On one end of the chain is a black leather loop that he wraps around his hand.  On the other end is a small gold clip.  Laothoe attaches the clip to a hidden loop at the front of her collar and with a gentle tug of the chain he commands, “Come on, Babygirl.”

His quick gait to the door makes Ayden struggle to keep up as she hastily crawls over the rough floor, bruising her knees as she does her best to follow.  At the door he pauses, stretches and takes in a deep breath of fresh morning air.  “Have you ever been walked before?” he asks glancing down at her waiting by his feet.

She looks up to Master Hunter with all the eagerness and curiosity of a young child, “No Master Hunter.”

Laothoe nods.  Glancing out at the ocean he pulls at his beard, stroking it, watching the waves crash onto shore, ”Rough day at sea today,” he comments mindlessly.  “We are not going far but where we are going you will need to walk rather than crawl.  You must also know that it is forbidden to speak a word unless I give my direct permission for you to do so and if I do you will speak to no one but me.  Do you understand?”

Ayden swallows hard and utters a weak, “Yes, Master Hunter.”

Master Hunter gives her a curt nod and says, “Please stand now and follow me.”  Ayden barely has time to scramble to her feet before they are off down the pier towards the row of small shops that line the boardwalk.  Ayden’s eyes immediately begin scanning the shops again in hopes of finding something familiar even as Master Hunter’s words, “The place you came from does not exist here,” rings in her ears.  He pauses his forward march, momentarily, and Ayden is so caught up in her search that she nearly collides with him. 

“Mind you stay at least one step behind, Babygirl,” he commands without even looking in her direction.  “Eyes down and remember not a word,” he says and he resumes his march up the esplanade.

Ayden instantly becomes more attentive of keeping her head low and her eyes turned down, but she is not sure why it is so important.  Stealing glances around she watches the shops.  They are heading away from the area of the beach where she first awoke two days ago.  She is slightly disappointed because she sees that this end of the beach was completely unfamiliar and had hoped that she might find Meg again if she looked back in the opposite direction from where she had come.  They have only walked a few blocks when Ayden notices the crowds on the path seem to be growing.  She moves in slightly closer to Master Hunter being mindful to keep a full pace behind his steps.

Laothoe slows his pace and Ayden is grateful for the opportunity to catch her breath.  The crowd seems to be gathered on either side of the path.  It is mostly young men about Ayden’s age.  Ayden can hear murmuring among the gathered crowd.  In front of them, holding a drink of some sort Ayden sees a cocky young man who has just been pushed into their path by his boisterous friends.  The young men are elbowing each other and snickering at their friend now standing in the middle of the path. 

The young man is dressed in a relaxed manner and Ayden wonders why he is not wearing a bathing suit.  “That is one fine looking vessel you have there, old man.  Did you just reclaim her from the beach?” he hoots.

Laothoe walks up to the young man, stops directly in front of him, straightens to his full height, and squares his shoulders.  As Master Hunter confronts the young man Ayden feels suddenly and unexpectedly timid.  Not knowing what she should do Ayden drops to her knees and kneels beside his feet.  Ayden’s arms snake round his leg until she is completely coiled around it, her cheek resting against his lower thigh.  Feeling safe at his feet she feels his hand gently tap her head in approval and Master Hunter’s fingers twist into her hair and grasp it tightly in his fist.  Ayden relaxes knowing that she is protected.  “She was not posted for Reclaiming Day,” he emphasizes.  Laothoe’s deep voice booms in response to the young man, “We are merely out on business and enjoying this fine day.”

The young man steps sideways around Laothoe until he is standing directly in front of Ayden.  He grasps his trousers at the knee and pulls them up slightly as he squats down in front of her and she wonders why men do that, but she is mindful to keep her eyes glued to the ground.  She is studying the scuffed brown shoes that tell her he is not a man of leisure when his finger hooks under her chin raising her face to his.  She looks up coyly but quickly lowers her gaze.  “I only ask because I would be willing to take her home and punish her if she has been naughty,” the young man says leering at Ayden.

“That will not be necessary young man.  She is in training and doing quite well and I will ask you all to step back,” Master Hunter says in a clear loud voice.

“Too bad,” mutters the young man as he slowly stands, never taking his eyes off of Ayden, and backs away to where his friends are standing silently.

Laothoe releases his protective grip on Ayden’s hair and smooths it gently as he watches the young man back away.

“Ayden please stand for inspection as you were shown yesterday,” Master Hunter directs quietly.

“Ye…,” Ayden begins, but quickly remembers Master Hunter’s directions and cuts off her words.  His eyebrow arches in warning but he says nothing of her blunder.  She makes a discerning effort to stand gracefully.  She elegantly intertwines her fingers behind her head, spreads her feet slightly, and turns her face proudly skyward.  Immediately she feels the cool breeze catch in the moisture between her legs.  She had not even been aware of her awakening until now.

The murmuring returns to the crowd and she struggles for a glimpse of what is happening, but the crowd’s attention seems to have shifted their focus away from Ayden.  There is a loud commotion behind her and she is very tempted to turn her head for the smallest satisfaction of her curiosity, but she maintains her concentration.  A girl’s cries for help are met with laughter from the crowd.  There is a loud scuffle that mixes with the crowd’s uproarious cheers.  Then Ayden can she her.  She is a young girl about the same age as Ayden.  She is naked and thrashing to pull free of two large men who are struggling to head her in the direction of the beach.  Before Ayden can even flinch to turn to help the girl she sees the look Master Hunter is giving her that tells her not to move an inch.  The men quickly get the girl under control and she is carted away without much more turmoil.

With the commotion quieted and the girl carried away the crowd’s attention returns to Ayden.  She is surprised that she enjoys their attentiveness so much and hopes that she is pleasing Master Hunter with her actions.  She worries what will happen to the girl and what she has done.  Ayden is abruptly mindful of the attention she is drawing and it serves to heighten her desire to please not only Master Hunter and bring him satisfaction, but is keenly aware that she now wishes to please all in his presence.

Ayden feels her belly tighten as she hears Master Hunter’s voice offer, “Young man, you may touch her now, but be mindful that she is mine and only mine and is still in training.”  Out of the corner of her eye Ayden can see his friends laughing and shoving the young man.  One friend slaps him on the back as the bold young man steps forward again.

He circles around behind her until he is out of view, scrutinizing her like a tiger in the wild stalks its prey.  Ayden does not move.  Suddenly the heat of his breath is on her neck.  He leans in and inhales deeply behind her ear.  She wants to hold very still and she can just glimpse the smile of pride on Master Hunter’s face.  He is watching her reaction.  The man moans and she can almost feel a vibration run down her body to her belly.  His hands are on her ribs.  They have found their way under her shirt.  Concealed they slide forward cautiously moving in on their target.  She does not move.  Her eyes stay fixed on Master Hunter, who is gleaming with pride.  The young man’s thumbs trail under her bikini top, allowing his hands access to their goal.  His hands are soft as they seize her breasts in their grip.  He holds her firmly and he presses his body against her back.  She can feel the ripple of his muscles pressing against hers.  He captures her nipples between his thumb and forefinger and conquers them in a vice like pinch, holding them, rolling them over and savoring them between his fingers.  Again he moans but the look on Master Hunter’s face makes it very clear that she is not to move.  He releases her nipples and Ayden bites her lower lip not wanting to make a sound. 

Slowly he trails his nail down her arm.  Ayden hears rather than sees him putting the finger in his mouth licking at the tasty morsel Master Hunter has extended to him.  “She tastes better with no flavoring than any girl we have had on the beach today,” he practically purrs.  “I do want to thank you for that lovely taste of your delicious vessel, Sir,” he finishes and steps away returning to his friends that are now standing silent.

Laothoe gives the leash a slight tug and says simply, “Manners Sweetie.”

She does not move her body or relax her pose but does let her eyes shift to Master Hunter who gives her a quick nod and says, “You may speak, Babygirl.”

Ayden lowers her arms and drops her eyes to the ground, she politely responds, “Thank you, Master Hunter for allowing me to serve this kind young man,” and she means it.

With a second quick tug on the leash Laothoe turns and continues on their trek down the path and Ayden scurries to keep up.  Ayden blushes, in surprise, when she sees the size of the crowd that has gathered during the encounter with the young man.  She likes it and wonders if Master Hunter is proud of her.  They move further down the beach, without a word, and the crowd gradually fads behind them.

When they have gone a few more blocks, clear of the crowd, and the beach is quiet, Master Hunter stops and faces her.  He looks down at her, “You did very well.  I never would have brought you out if I had known it was Reclaiming Day.”  Ayden can hear a twinge of regret in his voice.

It is as they are standing there that Ayden notices the struggling girl from the crowd.  Despite the nearly perfect weather this section of the beach is practically empty, so she stands out against the vast desolate sand.  She is chained to a post, like the ones Ayden saw her first day.  These posts are arranged around another blue lifeguard tower, exactly like the one where she stopped for help, except these are not derelict or rusty.  The sturdy metal ring holding the girl in place reflects the rays from the sun.  She is positioned in such a way that she is kneeling with her back arched and the post against her spine.  The post behind her holds her firmly in place.  Her hands are bound behind her back so that the post sprouts up between her arms like a bouquet that has just been handed to a young girl on her very first date, close to her body.  There are two solid chains that link from the bindings on her wrists, through a metal ring at the base of the post.  It is nearly hidden beneath the sand.  Each chain then connects to bindings affixed to each of her ankles.  Her legs straddle the post and there is no slack in the chains.  It is clear, without much study that she is nearly immobile.  But for added measure she is wearing a simple collar, not nearly as pretty as the one Ayden has received. The girl’s collar is a plain metal band wrapped around her delicate neck.  Ayden can see that a small lock, like the one Master Hunter uses, has been inserted around the collar and locked to the ring at the top of the post.  The lock holds the young girls head tipped backwards resting on the top of the post.  In this position her mouth is forced open so that she looks like a baby bird waiting to be fed.

Ayden lets out a nearly inaudible gasp when she watches a man approach the tethered girl and begin to use the girl’s mouth as a urinal.  The girl tries to escape the stream but she is bound so tightly that she is unable to move her head to either side and cannot fully close her mouth.  She sputters and curses at the man who just laughs.  He finishes his duty with a small shake and a flourish and leaves her without a word. 

Laothoe following Ayden’s look of horror, sees the scene on the beach and chuckles, “Don’t worry, Babygirl.  She’ll be fine.  It’s early in the day and there’s still plenty of time.”

“Come now.  I will not give that unruly upstart the satisfaction of seeing us watching,” Master Hunter commands.

While they are walking Ayden listens carefully to Master Hunter explain, “Today is Reclaiming Day.  She was sent here to be punished by her Master or more likely she is probably an unclaimed runaway based on the commotion she caused this morning.  But, whatever the reason she will be left there to be punished until sundown and it is best not to encourage her bad behavior by gawking.”

Laothoe goes into great detail explaining what happens leading up to Reclaiming Day.  He tells Ayden that Masters can bring their unmanageable vessels to the beach and have them chained around the guard stations.  That sometimes if a runaway submissive is left unclaimed and is not marketable then they are brought to the beach, as well.  During the Reclaiming Days most families stay away from these sections of the beach which is why there are mostly just men down here drinking and spending all of their money on crate girls.  

When a vessel is brought to the beach, on the first day of The Reclaiming Days, she is strapped to the posts and left virtually unattended.  They are cared for by a solidary beach guard, who is there to see to the vessel’s basic needs and to ensure that she is not damaged.  Since she needs little attention the guard spends most of his day inside the hut.  There is no chance for the vessel to escape because the bindings are extremely sturdy.  She is to be treated in the worst possible way so that she will have no desire to return.  Her punishments will include anything that a passerby may desire.  If the beach is too abandoned and the vessel is not being adequately abused the guard will take on the duties of punishing her sufficiently.  She cannot move and can therefore not resist.  She must learn to submit willingly.  At sundown the beach guard, usually with some assistance from a nearby guard, releases her from the post, cares for any wounds, and locks her in the cage that is under the tower.  She will spend the night there with the vessel submissives that have been assigned to that tower.  After sundown and throughout the second day, which is Reclaiming Day, her Master may come for her.  If he deems her penance acceptable he may take her home.  However, if her contrition is not sufficient she will be left for The Reclaiming.

He tells Ayden stories about how years earlier the vessel submissives were not so securely strapped to the posts and when the high tide came in their delicate bodies were no match for the rising surf.  They had been beaten and battered in the rough waters.  Ayden thinks back to her bout with the tide and sympathizes with those poor girls.  Laothoe explains that now they can be left on the post during the high tide, but the post are designed to keep her head safely above the water level.  Their body is fastened securely so that it is not tossed around so violently.

If no Master comes to collect the vessel, by mid-day on the second day, they are usually chained prostrate to the lowest link on the post.  The link that now holds the girl’s chain for her wrists and ankles.  Master Hunter speculates that this girl is incorrigible and would never lie still if chained prostrate, possibly injuring herself.  He tells Ayden it happens on rare occasions that girls are left chained to the top ring on the second day, but it is a disgrace on the girl and an embarrassment to her former Master and she will be the focus of extreme degradation throughout the day.  She will be moved to the lower ring at sunset if she is still there.

The vessel submissives are often very distraught, when it gets to be late on this final day, and their screams can often be heard over long distances.  On Reclaiming Day most people will not acknowledge the vessels for any reason.  They are attended to by the beach guards.  The only exception would be if there is anyone in town willing to take on the task of trying to train her.  This is rarely ever done.  Master Hunter tells her, “I have never heard of a vessel being rescued by anyone in our town once mid-day on Reclaiming Day has begun.  Once she reaches this point she is really of no value to anyone.”

At sunset the beaches are cleared and no one is allowed to enter them.  With a tone of remorse in his voice Laothoe explains, “The day after The Reclaiming is a very quiet time in town.  We take great pride in our girls here and if we are not able to salvage her on Reclaiming Day with the vilest abuse we can think of it reflects badly on all of us.”  During that day the beach guards are the only ones allowed to enter the beaches.  The beaches are cleaned and readied for reopening at sunrise the following morning.

“It may appear a time of great excitement and parties today, but I guarantee that everyone takes their duties very seriously,” he assures Ayden as they turn a corner and head up a slight incline away from the beach.  “I will see about getting a room for the night at the Inn so that we do not have to return to the beach until it is over.”

Laothoe looks over his shoulder at the very somber Ayden walking closely behind him.  She is very beautiful and he is proud to have her on the end of his leash.  It is then that he forms a plan to continue her training and take advantage of the excitements of the day.  “How would you like that, Babygirl?”

Ayden looks deep into Master Hunter’s eyes digesting all that he has told her and nods silently.