Page 15 of Becoming

“Since this is your first time, I’ll compromise with you.” You’ll what? She couldn’t believe she just said that. Mistress did not compromise. What the hell? I seem to want to do a lot of things with Cassidy that I haven’t before. With a confidence she didn’t fully feel, Mistress looked Cassidy in the eyes. Extraordinary eyes. “Let me bind you, and I will take off the mask.”

“Take the mask off first.”

Ah, yes, you are a defiant one. That will have to be dealt with. With a stern but delicate hand, of course.

“You don’t like authority. If you want to learn, Cassidy, you’re going to have to knock that chip off your shoulder. Or I can do it for you.” Mistress made sure to emphasize Cassidy’s full name. It was clear that Cassidy was used to getting her way. She would have to learn that not everything is negotiable.

Cassidy slowly put her arms behind her back and, essentially submitted to Mistress. It was a small victory, but it definitely had the desire coming back ten-fold. Mistress stood and walked behind Cassidy’s chair. She slipped a long piece of silk out of her cleavage and bound Cassidy’s hands together. She made sure the silk would hold, but not hurt. Too much.

Mistress leaned close to Cassidy’s ear. “That wasn’t so hard now, was it?” she whispered. She closed her eyes and silently breathed in the handsome woman’s scent. It was a woody/citrus combination that ramped up Mistress’s arousal even more. Cassidy turned her head and Mistress nearly kissed her. Unnerved, she moved away quickly and sat down.

“Now the mask.”

The husky, low octave of Cassidy’s voice made Mistress want to give into anything she asked. Even take off her mask. She lifted her blonde hair away from her neck and grabbed the ribbon that kept the mask in place. Holding the mask to her face, she pulls the ribbon to untie it. She closed her eyes and thought about what she was about to do. Not even her staff had seen her without a mask firmly in place. What was it about this woman that made her give in to her desires so easily? With both hands, she lowered the mask from her face.

There was a small gasp in the room. When silver eyes met bicolored ones, Mistress could see the hunger in Cassidy’s gaze. It filled her with a confidence she had lacked behind the mask. With the mask, clients had to use their imagination as to what Mistress looked like. She could be anyone they wanted her to be. Most importantly, she didn’t have to be herself. As beautiful as people always told her she was, years with Samantha had chipped away at her self-esteem. She no longer saw the beauty everyone else did. Refuge behind the mask became her salvation.

“Are you ready for your next lesson?”

“What’s your name?”

“You may call me Mistress.”

“You know my name.”

Mistress wasn’t sure whether to laugh or leave. Cassidy was perilously close to whining, and the pout was beyond cute. But this was a lesson. If Mistress was going to keep any semblance of control, she would have to make Cassidy understand who the boss was.

“I’ve given you the mask, Cassidy. That’s all I’m willing to give you. Stand.” Cassidy didn’t hesitate this time, and Mistress smiled. Progress. God, she’s tall. And, oh so damned sexy, she thought as she stood as well. “Walk to the edge of the bed.” When Cassidy reached her destination, Mistress spoke again. “Face me, Cassidy.”

The sexual tension in the room was palpable. There was an animalistic magnetism between the two that had them leaning into each other. No kissing! It was Mistress’s one unbreakable rule. Kissing meant emotions. Emotions meant the possibility of heartache. Not to mention, she’s way too young for you! Play and then step away. She pressed a hand firmly to Cassidy’s chest.

“No touching. Not with your hands, not with your mouth.” Mistress started to unbutton Cassidy’s shirt. “What’s your favorite word, Cassidy?”

Mistress stopped her task when Cassidy didn’t answer. Her lips twitched as she realized Cassidy was focused on her breasts. She waited until cheeky woman realized she seriously wanted to know the answer.

“Um. Platypus.”

The answer was so out of left field, it caused Mistress to laugh. “Platypus?” Cassidy nodded earnestly. Cute. “All right then. That is your safe word. Should be easy for you to remember. If I do anything that you’re not comfortable with, or you want me to stop, all you have to say is your safe word. I will stop without hesitation. Without question. Understand?”

Cassidy nodded again. Mistress found the speechlessness endearing. In a move purely born out of a need to feel Cassidy’s body, Mistress wrapped her arms around her. Of course, she could have used a different tactic to untether Cassidy’s hands, but where was the fun in that? Once her task was done, she stepped back.

“Remove your shirt.” Interest turned into surprise when it was revealed that Cassidy wasn’t wearing a bra. Nice. Mistress allowed her eyes to roam further down. The six-pack abs caused her sex to clench almost painfully. Very nice! She couldn’t resist feathering her fingers down that hard stomach.

Hell, if she didn’t get Cassidy inside her soon, she may just implode. Such a visceral reaction nearly brought Mistress to her knees.

“Unbutton your jeans, but leave them on.” If you take them off right now, I may lose control. Cassidy did as she was told, and Mistress continued. “Now get on the bed. Lay down in the middle, with your hands above your head.”

Cassidy hopped up on the bed—not quite the arduous task as it was for Mistress—and assumed the position. Mistress’s hands itched to touch Cassidy. Everywhere. She forced herself to maintain control. To stretch this experience out for both of them.

“Grab ahold of this bar,” Mistress demanded, pleased when Cassidy obliged. She wrapped the attached ropes around Cassidy’s wrists, again making them tight enough to feel the bite of the rope on the skin. After completing her task on both hands, Mistress allowed herself a moment to take in all that was Cassidy Giles, bound and at her mercy. As marvelous as the view was, she needed to see the rest. Hooking her fingers into the waistband of Cassidy’s jeans and boxer briefs, she tugged.

“Lift.”

Cassidy complied and grinned when Mistress hit a “snag.” She let out a small gasp when she saw what had impeded her progress. There, in all its wonderful glory, was an impressive dildo. Cassidy Giles packs and that made Mistress very happy. She had used them on herself in the past. A very enjoyable experience. One that Samantha never gave her. She was all about using instruments to torture Rebecca, but never that. If Rebecca wanted a dick, she could find a man. It looked as though Cassidy didn’t have the same hang-ups.

She lifted a brow at Cassidy’s arrogant smirk. It’s not often she was surprised by people these days. This surprise had her mouth watering. As did the multitude of tattoos that painted Cassidy’s body. Tiny works of art that Mistress would love to trace with her tongue. She licked her lips at the thought.

“Spread your legs.”