Chapter 39: THIRTY NINE

RAFFAELE

You have got to be kidding me.

The small commotion outside the door piqued my interest, and when I wrenched open the door, the first thing I saw was her face.

The last face I wanted to see right now. Not because she was abhorrent, not even by a long shot, but because my control was the most vulnerable around her.

Celestia Donovan, you do know how to push my buttons and how.

“I got this,” I told the guard who promptly nodded and left.

Slowly, really slowly, I turned to Celestia, who was trapped between me and the wall. Even though she was frozen in her spot, the silent tremors coursing her body through were evident.

Yes, she was frightened, and she had every reason to be. There were only so many times she could test my patience and get away with it.

Whatever littlest distance we had, I crossed and flattened my palms against the wall on either side of her head while my body caged hers.

Celestia was trapped - literally and figuratively.

I let the silence stretch between us, glaring down until she caved.

“I…Raffaele... I—”

She snapped the eye contact, looking down and biting her lips.

“Think, Celestia,” I said. “Come up with a really good excuse that should sound convincing.”

She closed her eyes, with lips trembling and her head shaking.

“I just…” The unfinished sentence hung in the air and disappeared like a cloud of smoke.

“Look at me,” I ordered gravelly. She wasn’t getting away without meeting my eyes.

As stubborn as she was, her eyes were affixed to the floor.

“I said, look at me!” The sound boomed around, jolting her senses. Instantly, her eyes found mine.

“I am…sorry.” It came as a faintest of a whisper, barely audible but sincere.

But right now, I didn’t need her apology.

Celestia saw things she shouldn’t have, particularly when I have forbidden her from the place. For her sanity and mine, I pushed her away to keep her safe. And this stupid girl couldn’t pick up the hint.

Well, then so be it, I decided.

Fuck control.

Fuck decency.

Fuck the right thing.

She has chosen to walk into my dungeon, discreetly, and I was prepared to show her the things that would not be able to handle well. Or not.

“I’ll... I’ll just go.” She tried to duck out, but I grabbed her waist and pinned back.

“You came back to snoop around when I expressly send you away.” With the other hand, I tucked the start hairs behind her ear.

“Why should I let you go now?”

Celestia kept shaking her head, pleading with her eyes, but I gave her no quarter. She saw the things...the secrets I have been keeping away for years at her own peril.

“Seriously, I’ll leave this time...promise.” Big brown eyes dilated more and more. “Please…Raffaele.”

“It’s too late now, Celestia.” Grabbing her elbow, I dragged her in my wake and strode into the room. The audible gasp was too loud to ignore as I closed the door.

Esme, who was now slipped into a silk robe, obediently stood by the couch-chair and gazed between us. Her cheeks were still flushed from the arousal, but I believe her ass would be redder. After all, the cane has its magic. She studied Celestia, more intrigued than puzzled, and squirmed at the same time in trepidation.

There was some insane dynamic in the room that made me heady with dominance and strained the cock in my pants. Esme was dying to receive the remaining ten strikes with the tawse, and Celestia, whose nosiness led her here, was packed with edginess.

Was it jealousy or curiosity?

And why the hell would she care who I fuck?

“We still have ten more to go,” I told Esme, moving a little away from Celestia. “Do you wish to continue or safeword out? I would totally understand if that’s the case and won’t hold anything against you.”

Her eyes flitted to Celestia before fixing on me. “I’d like to continue, if it’s okay with you, sir,” she answered softly, submissively, and with the protocol.

“I hope you understand that we’d have…” My eyes swung to Celestia and back to her again. “…company. Is that something you are okay with, Esme?”

I was aware that Esme often indulged in public scenes at the Club and that she has no qualms on exhibitionism. But as a dominant, I wanted to be one hundred per cent sure.

“Yes, sir. I am okay with it,” she permitted.

“Very well, then,” I nodded, pointing at the equipment left to her, “bend over the stool.”

As she proceeded to comply, I turned back to Celestia, who was clearly squirming. In other circumstances, I would have granted a little mercy, but not right now. The cat and mouse game has stretched a bit too far with her. I inched closer, whispering only for her ears.

“Since you were dying to interrupt my evening, watch and take note.” My voice hardened in a warning. “Celestia, if you turn away or close your eyes, or even make the slightest attempt to run off, I will give you a taste of my leather belt.”

Her gazed turned to mine with a mix of fear and thrill. “You wouldn’t dare!”

She tried to glare but was too nervous. It was classic of Celestia. She would lash out more in angst than anger.

I traced a finger down her cheeks. “Try me, sweetheart, and you will find out.”

With that, I went across the room and plucked the tawse from the wall. This thick leather whip, a little short of a belt, with one split into two tails was always my go-to. I wielded it more comfortably than a belt.

When Esme carefully draped herself over the wooden stool, her stomach resting against the padded leather while her hands braced the polished legs for support, Celestia gawked in shocked.

The little she knew that she was in for an explicit visual treat.

In long strides, I moved to Esme and flipped the silk robe over her back and exposed her ass cheeks. The red from earlier spanking has faded into a pink blush with traces of welts from the cane. When Jay told me that she needed a firm session, I readily agreed because I badly needed to do a scene too.

“Let me hear the safe word now,” I asked, patting her hips.

The baritone was much higher because I wanted Celestia to be a part of this conversation in a passively way.

“Red, sir.”

I caught a glimpse of Celestia, struggling to keep her calm.

She crossed her in front haughtily, but the way she fisted her fingers gave away to her uneasiness. I could only imagine how wildly her pulse raced.

My hand pressed over the small of Esme’s back, bracing her.

“Spread your legs. These ten will be quick and smart. No need to count.”

Before she could garner a reply, the tawse stung her ass cheeks. Hard. A squeaky yelp reached my ears, but I knew very well that it didn’t come from Esme.

The smirk stretched wider, knowing Celestia couldn’t see me.

The next four strikes were swifter, catching her globes alternatively and over the wicked welts.

“Turn your toes in,” I ordered.

Esme responded as bidden, revealing a glimpse of her glistening folds. I finished off the last six on her five spots and inner thighs and made me sting as much as possible. Still, as far as scenes go, it was a little bland. But it was impactful enough for Celestia’s first encounter with BDSM and the way I dispense punishment.

“Do you think you can remember to follow the protocol at the club now?” I asked.

“Yes, sir, I will remember.” She groaned a bit, belatedly adding, “Thank you, sir.”

“Since we have an audience, Esme, it would be helpful if you would narrate how you are feeling, especially your backside.”

I looked at Celestia, noting her reactions as Esme described, “Well, umm, it burns, sir. But it also feels good,” her admittance was soft, sparking Celestia’s interest.

“Thank you, Esme. You are now finished.” I helped Esme rise and find a balanced footing on the floor, resulting in the gentle slide of the silk over her throbbing ass. She hissed a bit, quickly adjusting her stance.

“May I leave now, sir?”

I nodded curtly as she gathered her clothes. “I have a car and chauffeur waiting for you downstairs. He will take you wherever you need to be. But as soon as you reach, you have to call Jay and let him know that you have safely reached.”

“I understand, sir.”

My voice edged a little harder. “If you fail to inform him, Esme, I can assure you that Jay wouldn’t take it kindly.”

My closest friend was an experienced sadist and has been into this lifestyle long before it was commercialised. But the way Esme smiled and nodded, it told me otherwise.

Perhaps, she was a little too eager to taste his discipline.

The door softly closed behind her as focus returned to Celestia.

“So, Miss Curious-little-cat did you like what you saw?”

I slowly approached her until we were inches apart and clamped down my hands over her shoulders.

Her teeth bared, hissing. “If you are done with your Christian Grey shit, can I go back to the villa?”

What the fuck?

I was stupefied for a second.

And then broke out into a burst of rumbling laughter.

“Celestia Donovan, you never fail to surprise me!”

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