Lowering herself to her hands and knees felt much different than it had the other times she’d lowered herself thus far.
As she followed Holly into the corridor, her heart raced. Anyone walking by or standing at one of the glass doors would see her bare backside and might even be able to spot the petals of her sex between her legs.
She kept her head down, to hide her face as much as possible. She concentrated on maintaining slow steady breathing, to remain calm in the way that Lord Evston himself had taught her was best to do in stressful situations. Thinking of the advice he’d given her over the years and the way she’d so innocently solicited it brought her up short. She’d considered him a friend. Did he consider her one? Or had he considered her a silly child? One that had to be indulged because of her status?
She recalled the terrible sting of the commander’s words when he’d said that Evston didn’t want to see her. What did it mean that he was here now? Had he only come to oversee things? To be sure that her identity was protected? No, there must be more to this than that. He hadn’t bundled her up and forced her out of the center. He had put decorative clamps on her nipples. He’d ordered her collared and leashed. And he’d done it quite definitively, as though he knew how to handle rebellious girls like her. He’d proven that before now. It was a thing she’d always liked about him. He had been warmly affectionate with her when she’d been younger, but he was also the only one who kept her in check. He never failed to lecture or reprimand her when he became aware that her behavior warranted it. Had he learned to handle young women by keeping them as pets? The idea both startled and intrigued her.
They stopped at a door, and Holly opened it. Brandese didn’t look up until Holly paused inside. Then Brandese glanced around at the expansive room. The colors were sand, white, gold, and pale yellow. There were benches and crosses with dangling straps and two large cabinets. In one corner near a large window that looked out on the dunes, there was an arrangement of two sofas and a covered mattress on the floor with several rather flattened stuffed toys. How incredibly odd.
“The adjustable bench, Holly. Fully secured.”
Brande’s head jerked to the side, and she spotted Lord Evston reclining against a wall, watching her.
“Yes, Sir. This way, Layda.”
Brande responded to the tug on her leash. She jerked forward and felt one of the ornaments fall. She inhaled sharply and reached back to try to snatch it, but stopping jerked the leash taut and it fell from Holly’s hand, clattering to the cool stone.
“I’m sorry,” Brande said immediately and sincerely.
Holly looked down at her. “You must attend to what you’re doing.”
“She was distracted. She lost something and was trying to retrieve it,” Evston said.
Dead realms. Did the man’s eyes miss nothing?
“What could she—? Oh, no. Sit back on your heels.”
Brande reluctantly obeyed.
“You loosened them,” Holly said, frowning.
“Did you warn her not to?”
Holly was silent as Brandese gave her an imploring look.
“I did instruct her not to touch them. Knowing they were uncomfortable and that she might disobey and loosen them, I should have checked them when I returned with her collar. I was remiss as the headmistress submissive of the center.”
“Present yourself to Master A for punishment.”
Holly swallowed and nodded. “As soon as I’m not needed here, I will. Immediately.”
“It was my fault. Surely only my punishment should be doubled,” Brande blurted, seeing Holly’s drooping shoulders and her clear distress at disappointing the lord.
“Quiet, Layda. Holly, you’re not needed here. Go now.”
Holly’s gaze shifted sharply to Lord Evston’s. “Sir, I don’t think—”
“Go now,” he said in a low voice.
“Yes, Sir.” Holly fled the room without delay.
Lord Evston walked over and looked down at her.
Her heart thumped wildly.
“You have been extremely naughty. Do you know how long it’s been since Holly had to present herself for a punishment?”
“Obviously not, Sir,” she said, unable to keep the sauciness out of her tone.
