as he shouldered it open. Dahlia stepped inside, her breath catching in her throat as her eyes scanned the large room. In the center, suspended from the ceiling, was a large wooden X adorned with large eyehooks, several footrests, straps, and an intricate pulley system.
“I ’ ve never seen a real saltire before,” Dahlia whispered, running her fingers along the smooth edges. “It ’s beautiful. ”
Blake raised his eyebrows. “What? No fear?! This is a professional dungeon, Dahlia. A place of pain and repentance.”
“It is my dream. My deepest need,” Dahlia responded, running both her hands over the spanking bench. “Will you beat me if I don ’ t cooperate with your rules?” she asked hopefully.
“Are you trying to convince me that you are a masochist? You get off on pain?” he asked as she lifted a cane off the implement rack and struck it sharply against her own thigh. She quickly returned it and replaced it with a short leather strap.
“My first therapist said I was wired ‘wrong, ’” she giggled, venturing to the stocks and slipping her head and wrists between the padded planks.
“Wrong or differently?”
“He specifically used the term wrong . Daddy sent me to him after I was busted stabbing myself with a pin. He put me on drugs to ‘curb my desires. ’ They didn ’ t work,” Dahlia grinned. “Daddy then sent me to another therapist who specialized in alternative lifestyles. She convinced me to stop self-inflicting and explore my needs. Come spank me, Blake. I have been a bad girl, you know.”
“You certainly waste no time in making demands, do you? I have been a master for eighteen years and I have never encountered someone quite like you,” Blake commented, his voice thick with both arousal and sadness. “Your punishments will not be for pleasure, Dahlia. And certainly not because you demand them. You would have been better off not sharing your desires so quickly. You have given me a means to truly discipline you.”
“Wait a minute! Are you saying you won ’ t spank me? How sadistic can you be?”
“You would be surprised, my dear,” Blake chuckled, securing the stock bar and locking her in place. He ran his hand down her back and cupped her firm bottom in his large hand. “We can work out a reward system though. Spanking for your cooperation…”
“But that would mean I actually did some real work around here!”
“Yes, and brought your grades up. Would you like me to spank you? To take your jeans down and leave them at your ankles?” His hands ran down the length of her long, slender legs, then up the inside while forcing her to spread her legs. “Does pulling your panties past your bottom and leaving these cheeks defenseless excite you?”
“Yes. It all excites me. Please.”
“Do I have your permission to direct you as I see fit?”
“ Yes! Just don’ t tease me,” Dahlia begged, wiggling her bottom.
“I ’ m a complete stranger to you. Why would you allow me this control? Don ’ t you have any self-preservation instincts?”
“No. I only want what I want. How I get it doesn ’ t matter.”
Blake shook his head, seemingly in genuine concern. “Let ’ s make a deal. I will provide you with what you need under the condition that you do not seek relief from any strangers. I also want the names and addresses of any play partners you have. You are never to lie to me about where you have been, either. I do not want to have to worry about your safety.”
“Are you telling me that if I agree, you will play with me as hard as I want?”
“Within reason. We will explore your limits.”
Dahlia wobbled as shivers pricked her skin. His low, solid voice vibrated against her protruding buttocks and she moaned. He lifted a slender rattan cane from the implement rack and made a swishing sound in the air.
“Are you a virgin?” he asked bluntly, tracing the backs of her knees with the tip of the instrument.
“Not really. I have lots of toys that I have