Protege(38)
“I know, sweetheart. You’re doing a beautiful job. We’re almost finished.”
She nodded and closed her eyes. After testing the temperature of the wax, he pulled the tray closer and applied a small smear at the delta of her sex. He worked quickly, knowing hesitation would only require more application and a longer time being tender afterward.
When the first strip ripped away she cursed. “Holy f*cking Hades!”
He didn’t allow her much time for her to process as he rapidly applied the next smear of wax and pressed a strip of fabric over her skin. She gasped with the second pull.
Adjusting the stirrups, he guided her heels closer to her ass and pressed her knees down, opening her gate. Stretching her lips tight, he stripped away the last of her hair. “Almost finished. How are you holding up, peach?”
She whimpered.
He covered her taint and quickly ripped the fabric away to the sound of her shriek. Reaching for the cooling oil, he rubbed a generous dollop over her tenderized flesh. “There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“No comment,” she said through gritted teeth.
He admired his work. Beautiful. Clearing away his supplies, he left her there for a moment to adjust. Once everything was tidied up, he leaned over and teased her nipple. Her lashes lifted. “You’ll enjoy being waxed, Collette. Once the sting wears off, it’s quite pleasant.”
She remained silent.
His hand slid down her belly and she sucked in a breath as he grazed her clit. “Last question. What am I touching?”
“My clitoris.”
“Very good.” With an extremely gentle touch, he strummed the tiny bud. “I look forward to spending some time here, but I think your body needs to recover.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Sliding his hand over her knee, he cupped her heel and lifted it out of the stirrup. Repeating the process with her other foot, he gently took her arm. “You may sit up. You did very well.”
She eased upward, her hair a bit more wild than usual and her eyes wide with knowledge of new experiences. When she didn’t rush to close her robe, he inwardly grinned. Stepping forward, he slipped his hand under the lapel and cupped her breast. He massaged gently as he whispered into her ear.
“You’ve pleased me once again, peach. You should be proud of how well you’re doing. Tonight we’ll have dinner with friends and I’ll introduce you to the others.”
Her nipple beaded against his palm and his body hardened. Visions of her deep-throating him flooded his mind. The sudden urge to kiss her took hold and he pulled his hand away, taking a step back, the unintentional thought coming without relevant purpose. He should be thinking in terms of objectives, not his personal desires. “You should get ready for the evening. Wear a dress, no panties.”
“Yes, Sir.”
He missed hearing his name on her lips, but perhaps the formality was better. When they’d worked out earlier, he found it difficult not to watch her, a strange urge to flirt with her like he was a goddamn kid. He was there to teach her and prepare her. Nothing more.
Part of him wished she would act out so he could move things along. Without just cause, he couldn’t provide certain experiences. Some of her objectives were not his favorite as far as D/s activities went, and he’d prefer to check them off her list sooner rather than later. The anticipation of tasks he personally found unpleasant was irritating, but so long as she submitted and abided his rules, the waiting would continue.
Did she have to be so damn . . . perfect? He cleared his throat and took another step back, the room suddenly shrinking. No one was perfect. He was simply out of practice and forgetting the joy of a submissive. She wasn’t any different from the others. Although she did seem more obedient and loyal than some women from his past.
It was in everyone’s best interest for him to remain detached. Sooner or later an annoying habit of hers would present and his objective would once again be impersonal. A job that needed to be done. “Go to your room and get ready.”
Her brow creased for a split second and she slid off the table, closing the robe. “Yes, Sir.”
Jude. He wanted to hear her say it.
“Collette?”
She turned and swallowed but remained silent. Shit. He needed to get his act together before he confused her with mixed signals. Nodding, he said, “You did well.”
***
Collette handled herself better at dinner than he’d anticipated. He could have warned her what to expect, but he wanted to see how quickly she’d adapt to an unexpected environment. Suffice it to say, he was impressed.
Her tolerance was impeccable, or more importantly, her manners. Not once did she raise an eyebrow at the atypical behavior she witnessed. It was as though she often saw subs bowing at their master’s feet or people dining stark naked.
He and Collette were clothed, of course, but Ezra always opened his home to all proclivities, which Lea appreciated, since she had a wild spirit and loved to play with others. The women were notably curious about Collette, as were the men—especially Bryson.
“And what are her hard limits?” Bryson asked as they sipped drinks in the den while the subs tidied up from dinner.
Hiding his irritation at the man’s persistence, he calmly stated, “She hasn’t established all of them yet. That’s why I’ve taken her in as my charge.”