Then the driver called that they were ready to resume their drive. “Got the new one on,” he said. “Should be good to go.”
Madeline blinked and looked away first, brushing her hands on her shorts. “Guess the universe wants us back at base camp after all.”
Kel nodded, her chest still tight. “Guess so,” she murmured as the engine rumbled to life, and the road stretched ahead, winding through the trees. Kel stared straight ahead, trying not to think too hard about Madeline.Like about how close we are sitting right now, thigh to thigh, and how natural it feels.She stifled a groan.She’s my boss.I need to remember that.Closing her eyes, Kel couldn’t lie to herself.But God, she’s also the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And I’m not sure how much longer I can pretend that doesn’t matter.
7
With trepidation, Ruthi approached the small rustic cottage nestled among the tropical trees and shrubs, quietly secluded in the rear of the resort. A light gray flagstone path wound through the foliage, dappled sunlight breaking through leaves in golden bursts of color, with an occasional flash of colorful feathers as a bird streaked through the greenery. Painted a soft verdant green, the cottage and its weathered porch, complete with carved spindle railings, blended effortlessly into the atmosphere. It was not at all hard to imagine that a grandmotherly woman, wreathed in welcoming smiles, would bustle onto the front porch at any moment to offer tea and freshly baked cookies to any visitor who stopped by.
Looks, however, can be deceiving, Ruthi mused, taking a deep, nervous breath. Behind that innocent wood-paneled front door apparently dwelled Mistress Eve Mondragon’s island dungeon, a place whose existence scared Ruthi even as it excited her.
After that shitshow start of a location scout with Madeline Whitley, her troublesome assistant, and the film crew, which had aggravated Ruthi beyond all reason, her heart had almostthundered out of her chest when she had received a text from Eve.
“Meet me at my cottage in the rear of the property immediately after you are finished with your meeting. Knock and wait for further instruction,” was the only thing it said. Not bothering to take the time to drop off her personal belongings, Ruthi had asked for directions and then hurried directly to the cottage, not wanting to delay, and wondered what to expect.
Ruthi climbed the porch stairs, taking another cleansing breath as she reached the front door, then hesitantly raised her hand and knocked. Almost instantly, the door swung open. Ruthi stifling a gasp at the sight of Mistress Eve. This was not the woman clad in a maid’s uniform and high heels who had come to her room to issue a few directions. This was a Domme, a powerful, dominant force of nature who was everything Ruthi had wanted in her secret soul for as long as she could remember.
Along with her black stilettos, Mistress Eve wore a tailored black suit that still managed to hug mouthwatering curves, a short leather flogger hanging from the wide studded belt wrapped around her waist. Her light brown hair had been pulled back into a severe bun and her vibrant, piercing green eyes had been expertly made up. Scarlet lipstick glistened on her full mouth. Ruthi didn’t think she had ever been in the presence of a woman with so much tangible power before, inadvertently trembling from her authority.
She’s, she’s, she’s… MORE, Ruthi’s mind shivered, trying not to outwardly display her nervousness.Just more. More than human. More than mortal. An omnipotent being who holds the strength of one thousand suns in the palm of her hand. And I am about to submit to her in any way she pleases, no matter how I beg or plead for her mercy. What in the hell have I done?
Eve flicked her eyes down at the possessions in Ruthi’s arms and at the bag slung over her shoulder, before raising her eyes and quirking an inquisitive brow.
“You—you said to come immediately af—after my meeting,” stammered Ruthi, wondering if she was in trouble already. “Should I go back to my room and put these things away, then come back?”
“I’m pleased you obeyed my summons so promptly, Ruthi. That will not be necessary,” said the Domme, to Ruthi’s relief. “In the future, you need only ask my wishes in a situation such as this, and I will tell you what I require. Come.” Swinging open the door, Eve stepped back so Ruthi could enter a more frightening BDSM dungeon than she ever imagined.
Wall sconces lit the red walls, lending an eerie yet intimate feel to the chamber. Near the far wall, a padded St. Andrew’s cross rested, a spanking bench and a steel cage flanking it on either side. Implements of all types—floggers, whips, restraints—were mounted on the left wall, with what appeared to be a high gymnastics bar residing in the middle. “Shibari,” Mistress Eve stated casually, referring to the ancient practice of suspension bondage. “I will have you in my ropes before much time has passed, little sub.” A four-poster bed with restraints hanging from the four posts sat beside it. Closer to the front door, on the far-right side, was a closed entrance that all but blended into the red walls.
“That’s the aftercare area,” the Domme informed her, her face growing stern. “I’m quite aware this is all new to you, Ruthi. One of the most important things you need to be aware of, however, that it is yourrightas a submissive to be properly taken care of when your scene has ended. In the aftercare area is a private bathroom with a toilet, sink, and a large shower as well as blankets, a fully stocked refrigerator, microwave, and plenty of snacks.Any good Domme will ensure her submissive is warm,has been suitably hydrated, and her glucose levels are stable when play is over.”
Feeling marginally better, Ruthi nonetheless froze at Mistress Eve’s words, her stomach bottoming out as she thought, “There is no way I will survive this.”
The corner of the Domme’s scarlet-slicked mouth had lifted. “I am going to use you hard, little one, therefore your health and welfare is my responsibility.” Ruthi gasped for air. “At times, when our scene has ended, you will be incapable of doing anything more than breathing.”
Oh, my God. Oh, my GOD. She did not just say that!Ruthi thought. Deep inside, however, a tremor of excitement coursed through her as Ruthi was struck by the knowledge that she hadn’t felt this alive for a very long time.
Eve gestured to the front door. “Close the door, then place your belongings next to it, Ruthi. Then I would like you to come and stand directly in front of me. You do not, at any time, have my permission to speak unless I have granted you leave. Should you wish to ask me anything, saying “May I have permission to speak, Mistress?” is appropriate, but wait until you are given leave to do so. Speaking without permission is a good way for your bottom to feel the sting of my flogger. Do you understand? You may answer.”
Whimpering, Ruthi whispered, “Yes, Mistress.”
“Quickly now. Follow my command.”
Hastily, Ruthi shut the front door and placed her belongings beside it, then darted to stand in front of the Domme, unsure of what to do with her hands or where she should look. “While you should always keep your eyes lowered in my presence, Ruthi, we are going to suspend that rule for the moment,” Eve told her. “We need to discuss protocol while I teach you the proper way to kneel, neither of which will be successful with your eyes cast down to the floor.”
Eve directed Ruthi to kneel in front of her with her knees spread wide, her bottom resting on her heels, then told her to lower her eyes for a moment as she rested her upturned hands, palms open, on her thighs. “Sit tall with a straight spine, little sub. Be aware there will be times you will be naked while in this position, so it is important nothing is hidden from my view.” Ruthi’s cheeks flamed as Eve chuckled. “I own this body now, Ruthi. While we won’t have any penetrative sex, as per dungeon rules, that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy seeing the arousal between your thighs from our play.”
To her shock, a small trickle of moisture escaped Ruthi’s body as she imagined herself in the pose, naked, head bowed, kneeling at the feet of her Mistress in perfect submission as Eve watched her arousal leak from her.
When Ruthi was in the proper position, Eve stepped back, nodding in satisfaction. “Good girl. You’ve done well.” Ruthi felt an unfamiliar glow of pleasure at the Domme’s words. “Now, raise your eyes and look at me, little sub.” Obeying, Ruthi fixed her gray eyes on Eve’s green ones. “In the fantasy you requested from Ms. Leighton, I heard nothing out of the ordinary in your desire to become a submissive. You are not interested in any form of extreme play, such as breath play or torture, which we don’t do here in any case.” Shuddering, Ruthi shook her head no emphatically.
“On my end, you should understand there are two things I prefer not to do. Dominating a brat is one of them. I am not a brat tamer, which demands a specific skill set, one in which I am not well-versed nor do I enjoy. While there is nothing wrong with bratting or handling a brat, it is simply not my kink. Based on what I have observed thus far, being a brat is not in your personality, though, so I doubt very much we will have any issues there.”
Hardly, Ruthi thought contemptuously.I’ll leave the bratting to the spoiled Hollywood actresses of the world.
“The second thing, however.” Those vibrant eyes went frosty as Eve continued. “Again, based on my observations, you have a very strong, very forceful personality, Ruthi. I’ll even go so far as to say that your manners are somewhat lacking, shall we say, when dealing with others. The behavior you have displayed so far with Madeline Whitley and Kel Lehman, from all reports, has been surprisingly obnoxious and disrespectful.” Ruthi’s face drained of color.Who said that? Ms. Leighton? Antonia?“However, that’s neither here nor there. I am not on set with you, so how you behave with the film crew is not my concern nor my responsibility. But Ruthi?” Mistress Eve’s voice became pure ice.
“Within these dungeon walls, your behavior is my concern. Defiance and disobedience are two things I will not tolerate. While missteps and mistakes are quite common and understandable, especially with a new submissive, blatantly deliberate insubordination is totally unacceptable. Be advised you will find yourself face-down and strapped to my spanking bench with your bottom in the air as you learn how heavy wooden paddle strokes can feel like the flames of hell if you ever disrespect me.” Ruthi’s face whitened even further, a frisson of fear running down her spine.
