Chapter 4

Rae.

When Edmund pulls back from me I whine, the massive erection he had pressed to my thigh has me hot and bothered. I never imagined before what he might be working with, but here, now, in this room full of half-naked people and equipment I can’t help but get the image of what is under his jeans out of my mind.

“Ropes?” he asks and I nod. I want to get tied up, want to learn the ropes. Want him to tie me up so badly it hurts. “Let’s go.”

I let Edmund lead me to the rope station, people are already milling around waiting for the first class to start. When the instructor hands him a rope, and Edmund motions for me to hold out my wrist, I do so without hesitation. I want him to tie me up. Here, now, later at home.

First, we learn, or rather I learn, because Edmund seems to not need the instruction at all, the single-column knot. Once he is finished, the rope is wrapped snuggly around my wrist. Not too tight, but tight enough to be leaving marks on my pale skin. I examine them, the look of the indents and smile.

“You mark-up beautifully,” Edmond whispers in my ear. I nod at him as he tugs on the other end of the rope around my wrist, pulling me to him, using the rope like a leash. He smacks my ass.

“Thank you, sir,” I tell him, not having answered him right away.

“Good girl,” he says and drops a kiss on top of my head. Then works on releasing my wrist. The next knot we practice is a double-column knot and it is wrapped around both of my wrists. Once they’re tied together Edmund lifts my arms above my head and bends my elbows, hands behind my head he takes the rope and twists it around my abdomen. Elbows in the air, hands tied down to my back between my shoulder blades I am led around by him. Displayed to the instructor who congratulates him on his tying skills.

Finally, Edmund frees me and I am left with mixed emotions, both happy to be moving on to the next station but sad to no longer be trussed up for him to do what he pleases with me. “What’s next?” he asks, pushing my curls behind my ear and dropping a kiss on the sensitive skin on the side of my neck.

A shiver runs through me. “Flogging,” I whisper in his ear before he steps back from me and straightens. I watch as his eyes flash deep amber and I know I was right to suggest this. Know this is what he wanted.

“You’re sure?” The look on his face softens. It warms my heart that he is still his concerned, caring self.

“Yes, sir,” I answer right away this time, his dutiful sub. He nods and leads me to the opposite end of the room. Two St. Andrew’s crosses are set up and a pair of instructors are positioned with a table of floggers between them. We stand in line and I watch as they flog those on the crosses and give instructions to the Doms or Tops who are interested in learning about technique. When it is our turn I step up to the front of the line and Edmund takes my hand and pulls me back to him.

“Do not for one second think that you are going to walk up there and take your clothes off in front of this room full of people.” His eyes darken, almost black and I nod. “Mine,” he says, smacks me on the ass and pushes me forward toward the cross.

I look back at him over my shoulder, the possessiveness in him is new and it is a huge turn-on. I can’t help what it is doing to me.

“Since this is your first time, we aren’t going to use restraints,” the instructor tells me as I step up onto the base of the cross. “Just wrap your arms under the X, here,” he points to the center of the cross. I do as I’m told. “Then wrap your hands over the top, here.” Again, I follow his instructions and look back at Edmund over my shoulder.

The man hands Edmund a flogger of his own and then they both step up behind me, one on each side. Taking turns swinging their floggers, the man shows Edmund his technique and I try to listen. But the buzzing moving through my body has me intensely distracted. “Ready?” Edmund asks in my ear and I nod.

The first strike comes from the instructor on my ass. I flinch, but it doesn’t hurt, it feels incredible. I want more, so much more. The next is stronger and it drives me close to the edge of a precipice I didn’t know existed inside me.

When they alternate flogging me over my back and ass I moan, then swallow hard, realizing what is happening. I’m going to come just from the impact scene if they don’t stop.

“Yellow,” I call out the word that lets them know I need to be checked-in with but am not in any danger.

“What’s wrong? Are you done with this? Don’t like it?” Edmund asks when he steps up to me, hand on my lower back head bent to my ear. I shake my head at him and blush.

“No, it’s not that. I’m going to…” I trail off. “Edmund, you guys have to stop. I’m going to come.” I spit the words out and he smiles an evil smile at me.

“You dirty girl,” he tells me, winking, and then steps back. Before he continues, he steps closer to me again, lips pressed to my ear. “You do not come without my permission. You’re mine, remember?” Shit! He isn’t going to stop. I know I can make him, know I can call red or safe word and it will all stop right here, but I don’t want it to. I want this, want more of this Edmund.

I hear the two men behind me exchange a few words that I can’t make out and then Edmund calls to me. “Ready?”

“Yes, sir.” I swallow hard, not knowing if I will be able to hold back, but knowing I have to try.

When he brings the flogger down on me again I flinch, it sends a shock through me, this time it was harder. Much harder, the falls against my ass through my pants stung and I bite my lower lip. Again and again Edmund flogs me, no time between strikes, I am panting by the time he is done. When he steps up to me and puts his hand on my lower back I have all of my weight leaning forward on the cross. Using it to hold me up.

“I hate you,” I growl at him.

“No you don’t.” He runs his hand down my back, over my ass, and to the crotch of my pants, they are soaked through and I know it. “You want me,” he whispers in my ear as he grabs my sex and I grind against him. “Don’t worry. I won’t leave you hanging all night.” He kisses me on the cheek and helps me off the cross.

“Do you need to sit down? Need some water and time to recuperate before we move on?” I nod. Knowing this is what they referred to in the beginning as aftercare. We head to a sofa in the social area and I sit down. “I’ll be right back, stay here,” Edmund tells me as he heads to the bar and gets us two bottles of water. I can see him the entire time and he keeps looking at me, not taking his eyes off me once. No doubt making sure no one is trying to abscond with his sub for the night.

The thought stops me. For the night. I sigh, only the night. I don’t know what this is. Still don’t know why he is showing me this. But he promised to tell me later and now, a big part of me hopes that he doesn’t intend to tell me that this was for fun, but that’s all it was. Because the longer I spend with this version of Edmund, the real version of him, the more I want to do it again, and again.

“I’m back.” He interrupts my thoughts, my eyes had drifted closed. I was picturing things that I had no business picturing while thinking about more time with Edmund. When I open them now he smiles at me. Bending toward me, he lifts me off of the couch, turns and sits down with me on his lap. “Drink your water.” He hands me the bottle as he cradles me against his chest and rubs my back softly. I rest my head on his shoulder and listen to his heart.

“Thank you, sir,” I whisper.

“What for?” he asks me, bending his head and looking into my eyes.

“For tonight,” I smile at him, “for showing me the real you.”

“Ah, well we aren’t done yet,” Edmund tells me. “But you need to rest before we play more. We have all night, it is still early. Close your eyes again. It’s okay. You need to rest.” I listen to his heart again as he rubs my hair and then get lost in listening to his voice as he starts a conversation with someone he knows. Another Dom who is here with their sub. I listen to them speak but eventually I drift off in Edmund's arms.