Chapter 14: Surrender

The old pick-up truck rattled and bumped over every rock in the uneven road, but J relished the fresh air that blew across her face through the open window.  She realized how much she had missed feeling the sun on her face and the smell of the fresh ocean air.  The blue eyed-man sat in the seat next to her with his attention focused on the road.  She studied his face.  He was young and handsome, but not so young that the boy he once was still remained visible.  His years of experience were written in the small creases beside his eyes and in the faint lines around his upturned lips.  She did not know what lay ahead but she liked the idea that she had been chosen by this gentle man.

They rode in near silence for a long time.  He hummed along quietly to the music on the radio while she watched as the waves crashed along the shore and stole quick glances at him when she thought he would not notice.  Just as the first gentle hues of sunset began to appear on the horizon the truck slowed and turned off the main road onto one that headed towards the center of the island.  All around her were rolling hills covered in long green prairie grass speckled with wild flowers growing around a vast network of vernal pools.  Scattered on the upper slopes of the hills were old gnarled olive trees.  At one time they would have been a fertile, abundant orchard.   Now, they stood unattended with no one to care for them.  The roots twisted up to the branches that were untrimmed and looked like the faces old men standing guard over the delicate wild flowers. 

When the truck finally turned onto a long gravel drive J’s breath caught in her throat.  Along both sides of the drive were fields of tulips in every color.  They swayed with the soft ocean breezes and disappeared far off into the distance as they danced into the night where darkness greeted the evening’s twilight.  The brakes squeaked as the old work truck rolled to a stop behind a two story gingerbread style farmhouse.  The blue-eyed man jumped out of the truck and circled around the back to J’s door where he opened it and offered her a hand down.

“Do you like it?” he asked gesturing to the house and the fields around it with a sweep of his hand.  J was so consumed with taking in every sight that she barely murmured her assent and nodded.

“Please, let me show you in,” and he guided her by the arm through the back porch and into a simple but warm kitchen.  He chuckled and said, “Well I guess you know this is the kitchen.  It is not much but anything you need just let me know and I will take care of it.  Until now I have always lived alone and I do not need much.”

He guided her past a formal dining room and into a large living room.  It was spacious and clearly masculine, but it had a grace and elegance that J appreciated.  She thought that it suited this mysterious man well.  He pointed out the lights, a book shelf, and an extra blanket on the back of the couch in case she got cold at night.  He stood by quietly amused while she scanned the room for some clues into who he was.  On the wall near the base of the stairs, where they entered the room from the kitchen there was a faded photograph of an older couple holding hands sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch of the home, but not much else decorated the walls.

He cleared his throat and offered, “Shall we?” but he did not wait as he took her elbow and led her through a set of doors and into a bedroom.  The bed took up most of the room and after the beds in the prison J could think of nothing else but jumping into it and burying herself in the oversized white eyelet quilt.  “Will this do for tonight?  It is not much but I did not have much time.  When I heard the rumor that you were going to be auctioned I converted my study for you to use.”

J’s response was a hearty nod of her head and a smile that lit up the room, but as soon as her smile reached the edges of her eyes she looked from the bed to the man beside her and wondered what this new found freedom would cost her.

He folded his hands behind his back and looked at the floor quietly for a moment gathering his thoughts.  “Look, I am sure you are tired and we can discuss more tomorrow.  I will say for this tonight; this house is not as large and fancy as some of the homes in Mystic Cove, but it is homey and you will want for nothing if you choose to stay here and serve me.  I will not keep you here against your will.”  He placed his finger under her chin and gently brought her eyes up to meet his, “Do you understand me?  If you want to leave you are to tell me and I will make sure you are taken care of?”

J nodded silently overwhelmed by the sudden austerity in his tone.

“I am sorry but this time that will not do.  You will have to speak to me clearly, so that I can hear that you wish to stay.”

“Yes, thank you.  It is lovely and I am so very grateful for your generosity.”  J blushed suddenly very aware of her nakedness with him standing so close.  Something in her stirred as his aroma drifted into her through her nose.  She closed her eyes and drank it in.  She wanted to kiss him.  She reached out to wrap her arms around his neck, but grasped only air.  He had moved one step out of her reach.

He was smiling at her when she finally opened her eyes again.  He seemed amused by her display.  With a chuckle he turned her around, swatted her once playfully, and pointed her in the direction of the bathroom, “I am sure you will want a warm bath to relax.  You should find everything you need through that door.”  And with his pronouncement he turned and left the room closing the door behind him.

J listened to the stairs creak and his footsteps cross the floor above her.  There were muffled sounds and she could tell he was preparing for bed.  The thought of a warm bath called to her and moments later she was soaking with warm water lapping across her shoulders.  He had been right a bath was just what she needed.  Before long she was curled up under the covers of the large bed drifting off into her dreams.

In the morning J awoke to the serene calm of the morning sun high in the sky.  She yawned and lazily stretched her arms over her head.  The view was breathtaking.  In the corner of the room was a Queen Ann style turret with windows to the ceiling.  Outside in the front yard grew an ancient olive tree.  Around the base it was surrounded by tulips of bright reds, pinks, and yellows.  In the shade of the tree was an old wooden style park bench.  Beyond the yard and as far as the hills beyond were the fields of tulips she had seen yesterday.  She rolled onto her belly, propped her chin in her hands and marveled at the beauty in front of her.

Getting out of bed she pulled the sheet from under the quilt and wrapped it around herself so that it flowed over her breasts and over her soft delicate skin giving her the look of a Grecian goddess.  She quietly opened the door and peeked out.  The house was still.  There was a large bay window with a seat that looked out from the living room, through the front porch, to the yard.  There was no one in the room.  She looked up the stairs and listened for any sounds, but heard nothing.  In the dining room she found a table with seating for ten, but the dust collected on the fine china place settings told her that no one had used it in a very long time.  Her futile search ended in the kitchen, but it was quiet too.  The only evidence that anyone had been there was a small pile of dishes soaking in a basin of what had once been hot soapy water.  Outside the back window J could see the truck was gone.    

Next to the sink was a small radio that J turned on so that the sounds of her footsteps on the floor would not echo through the isolated house.  She found some soap as she swayed along to the rhythm of the music and refilled the sink with fresh water.  Twisting the cloth at the top freed up her hands to scrub the dishes clean but by the time she finished the front of the sheet was saturated through to her bare skin.  Leaving the clean dishes on the side of the sink to dry she went back to her room to hang the sheet in the shower.

She was not accustomed to being in a strange man’s house alone without her clothes and it made J uncomfortable.  She climbed back into the soft bed and pulled the quilt up to her chin.  She looked around the room.  It had the faint smell of fresh paint.  She watched the tulips until she grew bored.  J decided she could not just lay in bed forever and then remembered she had seen an extensive collection of books on the shelves in the living room.  After looking both ways to be sure that no one would surprise her J tiptoed out of the room to the bookshelf.  None of the books were familiar to her so she picked the one that appeared to have the most wear on the cover and carried it back to her bed. 

Curled up under the covers reading she lost all track of time and did not realize how late in the day it was until she heard the crunch of the gravel compacted under the wheels of the truck.  It came to a creaking stop near the back door.  Heavy footsteps walked across the kitchen floor and they were followed by the clink of dishware being returned to its proper place.

“J?” he called to her from the kitchen.

She fought the tightness in her throat and barely whispered, “In…”  She cleared her throat and tried again, “In here,” she called out.  He was coming towards her and she pulled the quilt up around her and tucked it in under her.

He filled the door frame and looked weary. “Have you been in bed all day?” he asked, his voice was loud but he maintained control.

J bit her cheek and nodded. “I am afraid I lost track of time reading a little.”

He looked at the book and the placement of her finger as a bookmark.  “It would appear that you have done a bit more than a little reading.  Have you eaten anything all day?”

J felt like a scolded child as she shook her head no.

“I see.  So you have spent the whole day lounging in bed not taking care of even your basic needs?”

She snuck a quick glimpse of his stern face and lowered her gaze to the book in her lap and shook her head no again.

“Make that bed and join me into the kitchen, please.”  And with that he turned and left the room.

J quickly did as she was told and when she crept into the kitchen he was at the stove adding herbs and small vegetables to the pot simmering on the stove.  “Mm, that smells delicious,” she purred as her stomach let out a loud growl.  She walked over to him with her arms folded across her bare breasts and peered into the pot, but the green sludge made her recoil, “but it looks disgusting,” she announced sticking out her tongue and turning up her nose.

He smiled at her as he dropped another scoop into the pot, “So this is how you behave when you are a guest in someone’s home?  You sleep all day and then insult their cooking do you?”  He turned to her and picked her up by her waist and deposited her on the small wooden breakfast table as carelessly as he had put the vegetable slices into the stew.  “Well, then let me resolve that matter.”  He picked up a cloth napkin that had been folded neatly next to the plate and tied it over her eyes announcing; “Now you will not have to see it.”

J reached up and pulled the napkin down from one eyes, “If my eyes are covered how will I find my mouth?”

He looked over his shoulder, shook his head, and said, “You do not seem to have much trouble there little girl now put that blindfold back on.”

With a mischievous glare J smiled at him, but did not return the blindfold.

He shook his spoon at her and stated, “You, young lady, are not my first rodeo.”  He placed the spoon down and walked over to her, picked up the second napkin from the table and quickly tied both of her hands behind her back.  While he tied her he explained, “Yesterday I told you I would not keep you here against your wishes.  I have you tied up so from here forward if you are ever uncomfortable or fearful you will let me know by saying ‘yellow light’.  Do you understand this?”  He waited for her response.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good.  If you say ‘yellow light’ it does not mean that I will stop but lets me know you are uncomfortable and gives me the option to reconsider the direction I am taking you or to stop and discuss it with you.  At the point you are comfortable again you will let me know by saying ‘green light’.  You are never to defy me but if I do not stop or after discussing it I decide to continue and we reach a point where I ask you to do something you are unable to complete you are to immediately say ‘red light’ and everything I am doing will stop instantly.  Do you understand?”

She nodded yes from her perch on the table.

“For today since it is new tell me where you are on that scale.”

A grin spread across J’s face and she announced, “Green light.”

“Good, but I endeavor to keep you closer to yellow light” and he reached back up and replaced the blindfold over her eyes.

“And here I thought you were going to spank me,” J teased.

The blue-eyed man teased back, “Well then you better come over here.”

J sucked in her breath and her stomach tightened.  She realized her bluff had just been called.  She slowly stood from the table and timidly walked in the direction of his breathing.  She could hear as he lifted the spoon from the stove and his footsteps walked to meet hers.

“Eager are you?” He asked as he scooped her up and turned her around; facing the table he bent her over at the waist.  She felt his hips push hard against her bare thighs, and his hand pressed on her back holding her down as he leaned over her to move the plates to the other end of the table.  He took a step back, was slow and relaxed, but J’s heart raced.  He brushed the wooden spoon over her bare upturned cheeks in a slow swirl.  J braced herself; she had not considered that he might use the large spoon.  He slid the spoon down her thighs and up between her legs barely skimming the skin.  He gently tapped her legs until she spread them open and her feet were braced outside the table legs.  “I really should have done this sooner for your not eating all day.”  J was about to open her mouth with another impudent comment when his palm connected with her bare skin.  “One word and I will use the spoon,” he said emphasizing the word “will” with another strike.  At first all that J felt was the quick sting, but it radiated heat deep into her skin.   His palm was large and covered most of her delicate skin with each strike.  He started slow and hard, but covered a new area with each slap.  The sound of his flesh meeting hers sent tingles through her body and while she felt the stinging sensation she longed for the warmth of his flesh on hers. 

Suddenly he stopped.  J whimpered not wanting it to end.  She was confused.  “Why would she enjoy this so much?”

“I said not a word but your begging stirs me to sympathy.”  She could hear his smile but his voice had changed.

Several vigorous swats came quickly and then he rubbed her burning flesh with his course hand.  The callouses tenderly grazing over the small raised areas of her reddened flesh.  He leaned over her pressing his hips to the back of her thigh.  She felt the large bulge through his thick work pants.  He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “You are a lovely shade of pink.  Did you enjoy that J?”

Breathlessly she nodded, her hips betrayed her; tilting up to meet him and was only able to mumble her appreciation to which he smiled and replied, “Good.  I did too.  We will have to try that again.”

He stood and walked back to the stove and stirred the spoon back in the pot as J gulped in fresh air and enjoyed the warm sensation on her skin and the moisture that revealed her growing desire for this blue-eyed man.  She listened as he ladled up a plate of food.  He brought the plate to the table and carefully helped J back to her original sitting position with his free hand.

“Open your mouth, but be careful.  It is hot,” he warned as he brought the spoon to her lips.  She carefully let him place it into her mouth and the delightful flavor floated over her tongue.  He patiently spooned every bite into her mouth as she sat blind and helpless before him.  When she could eat no more he filled another plate for himself and brought it to the table.  He wedged the plate between her legs balancing it precariously on the edge of the table before lifting her back slightly and spreading her legs to make more room.  She sat before him; blinded, with her arms bound tightly behind her back, her flesh still stinging from the spanking, her legs spread wide, and in awe that he sat calmly eating his meal.

He took two bites and began to chuckle, “I guess I did not need to ask if you enjoyed yourself,” he teased.  He then licked his spoon clean, blew on it, and pressed the cool arched metal against her moist labia.  J shuttered and she bit her tongue to keep from crying out.  She wanted to beg for more but hesitated.  He licked the spoon again and continued his meal.

When he had finished the remainder of his meal in silence he leaned back in his chair.  He took in a deep breath and let it out satisfied, then walked over to the sink and rinsed the dirty dishes, before he turned to her, “You are beautiful,” he declared.  “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

J blushed, grateful for the blindfold that hid her eyes, but did not know how to respond.

He continued, “When I first came upon you at the tree it was clear you needed a protector, in the pub your spirit amused me, when I heard that you were to be auctioned I was drawn to you, and seeing you on the stand I was mesmerized by your grace, but it was not until this moment that I realized just how beautiful you are. Come to me and kneel for me please.”  He took her by the arm and led her to the living room.

In the living room he guided her to the floor and helped her to kneel on a soft cushion before he sat in a chair facing her.  He sat quietly for some time and J listened to his breathing.  It was not his normal relaxed mood.  He spoke thoughtfully, “J you bewilder me.  I have never owned a vessel before.  I have never seen the need for one.”  He stopped still gathering his thoughts, “Let me be clear,” he continued.  “You will call me Sir.  I am not your Master nor am I your lover.  I will not use you as a vessel and I will not whip you but I will spank you on occasion so that you will know whom you serve.  Do you still consent?”

“Yes Sir,” she replied sweetly.

“I will remove the blindfold now but from this moment forward your sole focus will be to see and serve no one but me.”

J nodded and replied, “Yes Sir.  I promise.”

He untied the blindfold and removed it from J’s eyes.  She blinked letting the light back in.  He was looking down on her and she beamed back up into his face.  He patted her on the head, leaving his fingers entwined in her hair, picked up a book from the small table beside him, and began reading to himself, looking down at her from time to time.

J was surprised to see the sun had gone down while she was blindfolded and wondered how long it had all taken.  She had gone from an independent college graduate to blissfully agreeing to serve this blue-eyed man’s every whim in the short span that it took the sun to change the day to night.  She wanted with all her being to be free to hug his leg but she waited, watching him, studying the way he moved.  She was happier than she had been in a very long time, maybe ever.

He did not take his eyes off the page, but his foot snaked between her knees, “A good girl would be more welcoming.”

J parted her knees without taking her eyes off of his, but he did not move.  She waited.

“Are you trying to please me to just doing the bare minimum?  I asked for you to be open to me and I want your best effort please.”

This time J spread her legs wide and his foot skimmed the vee that her body formed, from one knee to the other, “You please me greatly J, but we have an early day tomorrow.  I will take you into town for supplies.  I think maybe we should get you a coverlet.  Starting tomorrow I want you to cook dinner since you are not a fan of my cooking and a cover will offer some protection.  I am sure you are in need of a few other items, so be thinking of what you need.  But I think you had better get some sleep now.  Please say goodnight, girl.”

“Goodnight Sir,” J blurted obediently and struggled to her feet.  He sat watching her with amusement. 

He cleared his throat drawing her attention back to him, “I believe you have forgotten something,” he said simply.  J smiled and kissed him quickly.  While her lips were still on his cheek he reached up and pinched her nipple making her jump.  “Turn around child.”  She obeyed and he freed her hands before she scampered off to her room to the echoes of his laughter.

There was a knock at her door.  Drowsily she pushed up on her elbows and mumbled, “Yes?”  She was not sure how long she had been asleep but sunlight was streaming through her windows. He opened the door and stepped into her room. 

“Are you still sleeping?” he prodded.  He walked to her and placed a large glass of water in her hands. “Drink.  After last night you need to stay hydrated.”  Once she had taken a sip he continued, “I am not sure how it has been with your previous Masters but you will not sleep the day away in this house.  I lead a busy life and you have things to get done.”  He looked at her with a disapproving eye and she took another large swig and swallowed hard.  “I will be back in thirty minutes for breakfast.  I expect you to be ready to go as soon as we finish eating.  You will go with me for my deliveries and we can pick up the things you need on the way home.”  He shook his head at her, turned, and left the room.  J sipped the water watching him walk away and smiled to herself.  He was tall and lean with broad shoulders.  Just watching the way he moved made her shutter and run as wet as a river.  J set the water aside and got out of bed slowly.  She could not get him out of her mind.  She took a quick shower, because she did not have time to linger, but when she got out she wondered what she could use for clothing until she got some of her own.  She wandered out and found the laundry room just off the kitchen.  She found a soft wool work shirt and slipped it on.  It smelled like her blue-eyed rescuer and she hungered to be near him.  It obscured her curves and the sleeves hung past her fingertips, but after rolling them up a couple times she thought she looked pretty good or at least she was covered. 

She popped some bread into the toaster and was looking for eggs.  She had been lost in her memories of last night and twirling to the music on the radio when he walked through the back door.  She did not hear him come in.  He leaned against the doorframe and watched her.  There was something about this strange girl that captivated him, even if she was wearing his clothes.  “Girl, what are you wearing?” he snickered.

“I hope you do not mind, but I did not have anything to wear,” she blurted out.  She felt nervous under his scrutiny and added, “I found it in the laundry.”

“Well, you do look adorable, but I cannot take you to town wearing men’s clothing.”

“But….”

He cut her off, “No, and not another word out of you.  Now where is that breakfast?”

Just then the toast popped up as if on cue, “How does eggs and toast sound?” she asked searching for a lifeline.

“It sounds great.  Let’s quit dancing and get moving.”

Over breakfast she tried to find a way to ask him what she should wear to town but every time she tried he would point to her food with his fork and tell her, “Eat your breakfast.  We are late.”

When they were through, and he told her to give the shirt back, she complained, “But I have nothing to wear.”

He smiled at her sweetly and said, “That’s okay.  You look wonderful like this.  Now get in the truck.”  He opened the back door and pointed her out the door with a swat of encouragement.

They had already turned onto the road that led back to Mystic Cove before J got the nerve to bring the subject up again, “Forgive me Sir, but I am naked.”

“What is to forgive girl?”

“We are going into town and there are people there.”

“Why yes there are.  Is this a problem?” he asked his voice shifted from a tone of amusement to one of impatience.

“Yes,” J emphasized somewhat louder than she meant it to come out. “I cannot walk around in front of all those people with no clothes on.”

“Why not?  Are you thinking of your own vanity or of pleasing me?”  He paused taking his eyes off the road to look at her momentarily, “I like to look upon you and it pleases me to see you like this.  Is that not enough for you?”

J swallowed hard, “Well, I do want to please you,” she stammered.

“Well good.  Then it is settled.  Naked it is.  Besides, what good is a vessel with clothing?” He laughed, but J did not know what he found so amusing.

They made several stops to drop off bundles of flowers that had been loaded into the back of the truck.  At each stop J carefully made excuses to stay in the truck.  He always parked the truck behind the shops and J had slid down low in the seat.  He did not seem to notice or did not say if he did.  After one such stop he hopped back into the truck and announced, “One more stop and we can get you a coverlet, so you will feel more comfortable.”

J nodded, “Thank you, Sir”

The truck turned up a road that was familiar to J.  They were headed to the Squeeze Inn.  His hand was draped over the steering wheel and he seemed more relaxed than earlier, “I am sure you remember this place,” he remarked.  J nodded.  They pulled up to the back door, where J had once tried to venture out on an ill-fated quest.  There by the door were twenty-five of the Squeeze Girls she had seen before, in five neat rows.  There was one man standing with them.  She knew him.  J smiled when she realized it was Richard.  He had tied her to the cross and helped Tracker Jenkins bind her for transportation to the Detention Center.  J stole a quick look over at the man sitting in the driver’s seat next to her and wondered if he was going to leave her here like Master Hunter had.  She looked at the ordered rows of Squeeze Girls and she knew she did not want to be in a small room like them; having to entertain any man that came to the tavern. “I,” she started to think of another excuse, but this time he stopped her.

“J I want you to stay in the truck again, please,” he asked before stepping out the door to greet Richard. 

They greeted each other with a vigorous handshake and a hearty, “Good Morning.”  However, Richard added, “Mr. Eder, you are late.  Is that fine new vessel of yours keeping you busy at home?” and he laughed lasciviously.

“She is quite a handful, but we are managing.”

Richard moved towards J’s open window.  His eyes were on her but he was talking over his shoulder.  “Well anytime she gets to be too much I would be willing to take her off your hands.”  Remembering his duties he added, “Girls get this truck unloaded or Miss Avishag will have us all whipped.”  He reached her door, folded his arms on the lowered glass, and leaned in. “Yes, as lovely as I remember. J, is it now?”

J nodded and dropped one hand, into her lap, to cover her shaved patch of bare skin and folded the other arm over her breasts in a vain attempt to hide from his gaze.

“The last time we spoke you were all covered up.  This is a much better look,” he smiled and turned back to survey the girls emptying the flowers from the truck.

“Yes, Mr. Eder, a very fine vessel.  It’s too bad you beat me out in the auction, but I am willing to pay handsomely if you ever change your mind.”  He leaned back on the window and spoke to J again, “You will have to convince your new Master to hold a levee and tasting party if he has not already claimed you.”  He smiled and added, “But a ceremonial party is fun too.”  He gently lifted the hand that was gripping her arm.  As he lifted it to his mouth his eyes dropped to admire J’s exposed breasts.  Kissing her hand he added, “I would be honored to attend.  Would you like that, J?”

J did not understand what he meant, but a party sounded fun so she smiled and nodded back at him.  She would, of course, want him to attend as he had been so kind to her that day at the Inn when Master Hunter had disappeared and the boys had chased her through the garden.  He had watched while they spanked her and then taken her away when the Inn’s owner had demanded she be arrested.

Once the Squeeze Girls had emptied the truck of all of the flowers and Richard had handed over the next day’s order the blue-eyed Sir Eder had climbed back into the driver’s seat, next to J, and started the engine with a roar.  He pulled a watch out of his pocket and looked at the time before putting the truck into gear and backing away from the Inn.  Richard still stood outside watching as they pulled away.  “Sir?  What is a levee and tasting party?” She asked him.

He laughed uproariously, “Is that what he was whispering in your ear?”

J sunk down in her seat and nodded quietly saying, “Yes.”

“And what did you tell that ol’ fox?”

“He asked me to ask you to have the party, so I told him I would,” she replied slightly bewildered.

“Well, I am sure he asked to be the first on the guest list too,” Sir Eder chortled.  “As if I would let him near you,” he added with an edge in his voice.

“Sir?”

As they drove Sir Eder explained to her that a levee and tasting party is a party held when a new vessel has been purchased.  All of the man’s friends are invited to gather at the home. The vessel is, first, prepared by the women, with oils and perfumes.  Once she is ready she is brought blindfolded into the room where the men are waiting, silently.  If it is the first claiming the vessel may not even be aware that anyone else is in the room.  Her upper body is draped on a table. The women stay with her and hold her hands and tie her feet to supports.  The guests gather around to watch as the vessel is claimed for the first time by her new Master.  Then, with the blindfold still in place, each man steps forward to taste her.  She is then licked and prodded by each man, in turn, until the girl is able to recognize the touch of her Master.  The guests then declare him her one and true Master and the blindfold can be removed.  They then celebrate well into the night and she is often shared with the men in attendance.

J sat silently and listened to the explanation before she whispered, “He asked me to invite him to do that?”   When she realized what she had agreed to her face flushed before she covered her mouth and exclaimed, “Oh no, I told him yes.”

“Well then if that is what you want, I guess you better start planning,” Sir Eder said looking at her laughing uproariously.

“Oh no.  That is not what I want Sir,” she told him; her words rushing out of her in a panic.

He smiled calmly and touched his palm to her cheek, “Neither do I girl.”

She smiled, let out a deep sigh, turned her head and kissed his palm.  She closed her eyes and kissed him again.  He tasted divine on her lips.  She opened her mouth, brushed her lips against his palm once more and let her tongue delicately sweep across his skin.

He coughed, pulled his hand away, and cleared his throat before stating, “It is late and the shop I was going to take you to will be closed for lunch.  Let’s go to the market and see what the farmers have in fresh today.”

She looked down at herself and back to him before she slowly nodded.  Her hands twisted and she chewed her lip relentlessly until the truck pulled to a stop near a row of little shops facing the beach.  Silently she encouraged herself.  She wanted more than anything to please Sir Eder.  Wearing a bikini on the beach was one thing, but even she had almost always worn a shirt over her swimsuit.  He stood at her door holding it open for her and she had to force her legs to move.  Timidly she let her body slide off the seat until her feet hit solid ground.  He closed the truck door and she stood exposed to the world.  She fought the panic rising in her and moved closer to Sir Eder. 

The two stood beside the truck parked near of a long row of small shops.  The shops along the esplanade faced the water and a wide cobblestone walk divided them from the sandy beach full of sun bathers.  They looked like the shops at the edge of the beach; near the bungalow she had rented with Meg.  “Sir, have you ever seen a record shop on a corner near here?  It has bongo drums hanging from the awnings.”

Thoughtfully he answered, “No I do not think that I have.  Why do you ask?”

“Well, Meg and I rented a small bungalow just a half block up from that shop and she does not know where I am.  I would not want her to worry.”

“Well, if we have time we can look for it later if you like,” he offered.  Then he strode off towards the third shop in the row and J ducked in behind him as closely as she dared.  She knew that she could not hide but it still gave her some small comfort to be so close.

Inside the shelter of the shop J began to relax a little.  She still hid behind Sir Eder, but there were only a few shoppers and they were all women.  The shop was full of bins overloaded with fresh fruits and vegetables so they concealed her from watchful eyes.  Sir Eder looked over his shoulder at her cowering behind him and smirked, “Why so timid today?”

J looked up at his smiling face and forced herself to stand up straight and return his smile.

“Shoulders back and smile.  You are beautiful,” he encouraged and she rewarded his praise by doing as he asked.  She was surprised that his simple words kindled her desire to please him.

He returned to examining the bright red fruit. J looked around and for the first time was aware that no one was looking at her.  They were consumed with their own tasks and the knot in her stomach began to untwist.  Her smile felt more natural.  She concentrated on the way he examined the fruit and how he moved.  There was a quiet confident power in his effort to find perfection. 

Moments later she was watching him so intently that she did not hear the woman approach the bin beside her.  However, when J caught a slight movement out of the corner of her eye it made her jump.  She blushed, quickly pressed one arm over her breasts, and waved sheepishly, “Hello,” she offered in quiet greeting, “Oh! I am sorry I did not see you there.”

One woman nearby gasped, dropped her vegetables which rolled across the floor when she hastily fled from the shop.  The stunned woman next to J just looked from J to Sir Eder.  Her eyes darting around the store looking for some unseen answer and her mouth dropped open and closed, in silent shock.  Women throughout the shop gasped in disbelief and stood staring at J.  J tried to cover herself, but Sir Eder grabbed her arm and shook it forcing her to her knees, on the floor, while offering his apologizes to the speechless woman, “I am so very sorry Ma’am.  She will be reprimanded appropriately.”

 “Well I should hope so” was the only response from the now indignant woman who dropped her basket on the floor in front of J.  She then huffed, turned on her heels, and left the shop.

“My apologizes to all of you fine ladies,” he announced before he hoisted J up by her arm until she was standing on tiptoe beside him.  In her ear he hissed, “I am doing this to save your reputation in this town so you had better handle this as well as you did in the tavern.”  He then turned to the shop owner and asked, “Sir, she will make amends but do you have a taw that I might borrow?” 

The shop owner shook his head and spoke hushed tones of comfort to the women standing next to him.  Still holding her on tiptoe Sir Eder hauled J out of the shop and onto the esplanade. 

“Sir, I did not think I should have gotten out,” she started but did not finish her sentence.

“Silence!  You foolish girl,” he shouted loudly.

On the side of the walkway, opposite the shop, was a large wooden column that reached nearly to J’s waist.  Attached to the top was an aging metal ring with layers of black paint.  He marched directly to the column and stood J in front of it.  “You do not have a collar so bend over and hold on tightly to the post.”  Bewildered J did as she was told, but was met by his scorn, “and for heaven’s sake spread your legs!  Have you no training at all, Girl?”  J waited for him to spank her like he had the night before but instead he stood silently beside her with his arms folded watching the crowd.  Soon a coin dropped into a small basket that hung from a hook on the side of the pillar.

“Fine specimen you have here Sir,” a strange voice offered in greeting. 

Sir Eder only grunted. 

J flinched when she felt a strange hand touch her exhibited posterior.  She looked up to Sir Eder whose raised eyebrow warned her not to move.  The stranger struck three blows across her bare cheeks. His hand brushed over her skin declaring, “What a lovely shade of pink. I think I shall have three more please.”  He dropped another coin in the basket and took three more passes at J.  A tear ran down J’s nose and dropped to the pavement below. 

She bit her cheek and was still struggling to compose herself when she heard a young voice ask, “Mother may I try?”

A woman replied, “Jeremy you have a foster of your own.  Why would this girl interest you?”

He answered, “Because father says that I am too young to discipline my girl and until I am older he has forbidden me to touch her.”

Thoughtfully she replied, “Well I suppose that you need to learn somewhere and better here than on one of our girls.  Alright.”  Several coins dropped into the basket. 

He swatted at her three times, but it inflicted little pain.  “Mother look how lovely the handprints look on her skin,” he said with wonder.  “Sir, I would like another go,” he spoke to Sir Eder this time. 

“I am sure your father would never approve,” came his mother’s quick reprimand. 

“Hmm, what father does not know…” and several coins were drawn from his own pocket and deposited in the basket. 

“Jeremy, where did you get that money?” the mother scolded.

“Oh mother.  I am the son of the Aide to the Mayor.  Do you really think I have no access to funds?” the young man replied in a whiney nasally voice. 

This time the blows were harder, but they were over quickly.  His hand rested on her skin, “The heat feels lovely,” he commented and his hand began to slowly fumble lower searching for J’s exposed slit. 

J looked to Sir Eder; her eyes begging for release but his eyes were on the young man.  The bold young man slipped his pinkie finger between the separation of her cheeks and his hand slid towards her thighs.  When J reached a point where she was about to cry out Sir Eder’s hand shot out wrenching the young man’s hand away.  “You have paid for a privilege that you have already taken and I will thank you not to take more than you have paid for.” 

Quietly the mother offered her apologizes and dropped several more coins into the basket before hurrying the sniggering young man away.

This process continued with J accepting coins while Sir Eder stood careful guard.  She learned quickly that she could trust that he would keep her safe.  He did not stop the punishing blows but they were never more than she could bear.  J could not see what was happening behind her, but she watched his face for any sign of approval.  She savored those few appreciative glances.  Eventually the crowd that had gathered grew large enough that it spread to the sides and into her view.  She lowered her gaze to the ground and held the post so tightly her knuckles turned white.  Bits of conversation drifted into her ears; most of it reproachful.  She closed her eyes and stood still.  The sun was hot and her back ached, but she was determined to see this task completed admirably. 

A gravelly voice behind her startled her.  She had been unaware anyone had stepped so close.  He announced, “I was on my way to the pier to use a cage girl, but this hole will do nicely and I will not have to walk so far.” 

Sir Eder cleared his throat protectively, “Sir, it seems we are done for the day.” 

“What?  I will pay and when I have used her you can be on your way.” 

“No Sir I said we are done.” 

“Do you think you are too good for me to use your vessel?” 

“She is not a common vessel to be used on the street like a cage girl.  She is far too valuable and will be used by no one but me.” 

A harsh hand reached out and rested on her waist.  “I wonder if this girl has even been claimed.  Maybe I will claim her for my own.” 

“Remove your hand,” Sir Eder directed at the gravelly voice.  Then he added, “J pick up the basket and take it inside.”  J was stiff and moved slowly to the basket.  He raised his voice and added a stern, “Move!”

J scrambled for the basket and dashed inside the shop without looking back until she was safely hidden behind the tables of vegetables.  The two men stood toe to toe and nose to nose glaring at each other, but with nothing to fight over the gruff man stormed off in the direction of the pier. 

Sir Eder entered the shop grumbling, “… more trouble than she is worth.” 

Once his eyes adjusted to the light in the shop Sir Eder spotted J’s hiding place, “There you are.  Come here.” 

He sounded relieved but he grabbed her arm unforgivingly and marched her to the shop owner where he again pushed her to her knees on the floor.  “J, speak,” he ordered. 

J looked up at the shop owner.  She flinched and turned to Sir Eder and back to the shop owner again.  She stumbled over words, unsure of what she was to say, “I,” she halted not knowing how to proceed. 

“J, give the man his money, apologize, and hope that it is enough to cover all the troubles you have caused today.”  J heard his level of impatience rise as she stalled.

J turned to the shop keeper still unsure of what she had done but meekly offered a simple, “I am very sorry.  Here,” she said offering up the basket to him. 

He took the basket and fingered through the coins before he said, “It will do.”  He dumped the coins into his pocket and handed the empty basket back to Sir Eder.  Without another word he turned his back on them and walked through a doorway, behind the counter.

Sir Eder instructed, “Come J we will have to buy our supplies at another shop, but I may leave you in the truck this time.”  She lowered her head and quietly followed his feet back to where they had parked.  He held the door while she crawled back into her seat.  The door slammed shut and his frustration vibrated through the entire metal frame.  J stared down at her hands while he trudged back to the post to return the basket.

When he climbed into the truck he had walked off much of his frustration, but J sat silently listening to him fume.  Unable to bear the silence tears trickled down her face and pooled in her hands that lay clasped in her lap.  Finding her voice she whispered, “I am really sorry.”

He slipped the key into the ignition and turned towards her.  Compassion washed over his face, “If I never have cause to offer an apology for you we will not speak of again.”  J sniffed, swiped at a new tear that had emerged, and nodded.

He turned the key and the truck roared to life. 

They turned up a quiet back street and parked.  He jumped out and as was now the custom he opened her door and waited for her to lower herself to the smooth cobblestones.  Her head was lowered, but he reached out and lifted her chin.  She struggled to keep her eyes on his.  She would hold his gaze for a moment and then hers would sink to the ground again.  He waited patiently for her to maintain her focus and when he had her full attention. With one hand still supporting her chin he raised the other and held up his pointer finger to his mouth.  When she nodded he took her hand and without a word led her up the street to a plain door with a simple hand-painted sign hanging above it.  The sign was pink and in bold white letters it said, “COVERLETS”. 

Inside the room was well lit.  There was a plump woman seated behind a high counter that served as a desk.  She stood to greet them.  “Good morning,” she said in a feigned cheery voice, “How may I help you?”

He squeezed her hand.  It was firm but not painful.  Reassured J looked up at Sir Eder and smiled.  He smiled back and her feelings of shame were soothed.

“I would like to outfit her completely.  We will need several coverlets with matching bustiers,” he stated is a very pragmatic voice.

The woman nodded and dragged herself out of her chair.  “I see.  For the young lady?” she asked.

Sir Eder replied simply, “Yes.”

“Very well; let’s put her up on the riser,” the woman said pulling out her long yellow measuring tape.  She trudged to the middle of the room where under bright lights was a large step and in the middle was a slightly smaller raised circle.

J reluctantly stepped into the spotlight.  Her hands folded in front of her she kept her eyes lowered to the floor as the woman prattled on to Sir Eder about fabric quality and design patterns.  It was decided that J would have a simple design coverlet for working around the house and the woman disappeared into a back room through a curtain in the wall.

Sir Eder took a seat near the door and watched her carefully.  When she finally peeked up at him from the corner of her eye he was grinning.  She blushed and returned his smile. With his finger he beckoned her to him and as she stepped down from her perch he patted his knee.  She crept across the carpet and curled up in his waiting arms.  She buried her face in his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck.  “Better,” he asked and she nodded rubbing her face into his neck.

He kissed her forehead and set her on the floor at his feet, “I think you need more than just work clothes.  I want to see you in something nice.  Would you like that?”  She nodded cheerfully and the light returned to her eyes.  “Okay then get back up there and make me proud to call you mine.”  She struggled to her feet and he patted her still rosy posterior. 

Back on her perch J waited until the woman returned laden with garments in every color.  J tried on the blue one first.  The coverlets were a long piece of fabric with a hole in the center so that it would slide over her head.  It draped over her figure clinging to her curves, but was open from her shoulders to the bottom, that just skimmed the top of her thighs.  The only stitching was a fabric trim and shoestring style ties, which hung loose, on each side at her waist.

The women stood back, with one arm folded across her middle and her other arm propped up supporting her chin, she studied J.  She walked from one side to the other and then around to J’s back.  She finally announced, “I think we have a perfect fit on the very first try.” 

“I would like to see it with the bustier first,” Sir Eder corrected.

“Oh yes, yes, of course,” she proclaimed waving her arms in the air before lifting the fabric back off of J.  “With her coloring I brought out a royal bustier that I hope you will like,” she explained while she dug through the pile until she found the piece she wanted.  She brought the silk fabric and pressed it to J’s back and wrapped it around to the front while she explained its functionality.  It was snug around J’s ribs and pushed her breasts up so that she felt like a coquettish tavern wench from a Dickens novel.

Sir Eder shook his head thoughtfully, “No.  The bottom is nice but there is far too much fabric on the top.”  He stepped up to J and tugged at the fabric covering her breasts.  “This should be lower.  I want support, but not complete concealment.”

They tried on three more before he was content with one that was made of sheer white lace.  It held J snuggly in place but just skirted below her nipples.  She felt sensual and when he asked her to turn she gladly complied.  He ordered eight of the bustiers and eight of the simple coverlets in various colors.  Then he asked the woman to bring out some formal wear for J to try.

The woman disappeared behind the curtain and soon returned with a silver rack full of flowing floor length gowns.  The fabrics were silk, satin, and lace.   J picked a deep blue with white lace trim.  The sales woman helped her put it on.  It too was open on both sides from her shoulders to the floor, but J had never felt more elegant.  She fell in love with the first one and found another just like it in red.  Her measurements were taken and it was decided that the dresses would be ready in one week’s time.

While Sir Eder paid the woman J put on one of the bustiers and a soft pink coverlet.  She felt grateful to have clothes again so that she would not offend the ladies in the market.  She did not want to make that mistake again and have to endure having strangers torment her again.  She gladly gathered up her packages and told the sales woman, “Thank you,” as they left the shop.

Before the door closed Sir Eder turned on her and growled, “Girl have you learned nothing today?”

“What?” J asked in horror.

“You do not speak unless you are spoken to.  Do you have no training at all?” Sir Eder bellowed.  He quickly turned to the sales woman and offered her an apology and a promise that she would be properly punished.

The stricken woman fanned herself with some papers from the desk and gasped, “Just do not ever bring her back here.”

J nearly dropped her packages when Sir Eder grabbed her arm and rushed her towards the truck.  She pleaded, “Sir, I did not know.  I am sorry.”  When he did not respond she continued to beg, “I just wanted to thank her for being so nice.  I did not mean to do anything wrong.  Really.”

When he finally replied it was through gritted teeth, “You expect me to believe that you did not know you were trampling on the most basic fundamentals of etiquette, not once but twice in one day?”  He stopped and turned her until she was facing him.  In a controlled lowered voice with his anger still apparent he asked, “What did you think all of that spanking was about?”

“I,” she hesitated.  “I thought I offended those women by being naked,” she mumbled in a vain attempt at explanation.

“You what?”  He yelled, but confusion seeped into his wrath.

“I thought you were angry because the women saw me naked,” she replied blinking at her own candor.

“But I told you to leave the shirt at home,” he added flatly.

J shrugged and bit her lip.

The simple concept began to formulate in his mind, “Just how much training do you have?”

J shrugged again, “Just what Master Hunter taught me and what I learned in the prison.”

“Detention Center,” he corrected.  “Okay, so what did this Master Hunter teach you?”  She told him about the collar that controlled her movements and about holding up her arms when they tapped her with the stick in the Detention Center.  “And that is all?” he asked with an air of skepticism.

J nodded and could not fight the tear that slid down her cheek.  “I am really sorry.  You have been so nice I did not mean to cause any trouble.  You can take me back to the Detention Center if you want.”

Sir Eder stood up to his full height and squared his shoulders, “Let’s get one thing straight.  You do not tell me what I can do and I will not be taking you back to the Detention Center.”  Hearing his words J could not fight the slightest twinge of a smile as it fought its way to her lips. “However, before I bring you into town again we need to go over the basics.”

He turned and headed for the truck.  “Come on.  We,” he cleared his throat before correcting himself, “I need to make one more stop.”