Duncan stepped back into the kitchen. He’d never really taken much notice of the décor of his house until Laken had mentioned the awful carpet. He could afford to do all the redecorating he wanted, but this place had never felt like home.
He took a moment to find his calm. He was going to push and push hard. After tonight they had three more nights. Three more nights to make her see again that this could be pleasurable, that she could enjoy the things that now scared her.
“Laken.” He waited until she looked up at him.
“I’ve placed some things on the bed. I want you to go in there and look at everything. Then I want you to make two piles. In the pile on the left, place all the things that you’re comfortable with. In the pile on the right should be the things you are most afraid of.”
She looked up at him with wide eyes. “Are you going to use the things I’m most afraid of?”
Poor baby.
“Do as you were ordered, baby.”
She nodded and got to her feet, moving slowly into the bedroom. He gave her butt a few pats as she went past him, unable to resist touching her. For five minutes he paced up and down the hallway. Finally, unable to stand it, he pushed the bedroom door open to find her staring down at the bed.
“Okay, sugar, have you finished?”
“Y-yes, Sir.”
“Look at me.”
Her pupils were dilated, but her breathing was okay. He ran his gaze over the row of implements. In the comfortable pile were the vibrator, paddle, feather and butt plug. Down the scary end were the flogger, a whip, a cane and nipple clamps.
Christ, he winced as he imagined that bastard using nipple clamps. She had particularly sensitive nipples and he’d only ever used the lightest of clamps on her.
“Okay, sugar. I want you to choose one thing you want me to use on you tonight.”
He fully expected her to go for the vibrator or feather. He was totally unprepared for what she did choose. He glared down at the flogger she held in her shaking hand.
“Baby, are you sure?”
“Y-yes. Yes,” she said more firmly, holding it out to him. “I’m sure, Sir.”
“Wouldn’t you rather go for the paddle or vibrator?” he said almost a little desperately.
“You said it was my choice. I want you to use the flogger. I trust you. We don’t have time to ease me into this. You need to push me. T-this will push me. It’s different that the one he used.”
“He would use a really hard, rough flogger. Then he would move on to the whip. I’m not, I can’t do the whip, I’m not sure I ever can, I—”
Duncan held a finger out, placing it on her lips. By this time she was shaking so hard, he couldn’t stand it. If he didn’t calm her down she was going to make herself sick.
He took her into his arms, chucking the flogger back onto the bed. Rocking gently, he held her until her shudders died. She was so delicate, so tiny against him.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. You have the power here. You can stop this at any time.”
“I can do this, Sir. I want to. With you.”
Christ, he was realizing now just how much more courageous she was than him.
“Did you notice what the flogger I chose was made of?”
He pulled back to look at her.
She glanced from him to the flogger nervously. “Velvet, Sir.”
“Laken, eyes on me,” he ordered, watching her carefully. She was nervous, worried, but the fear had lessened. Laken had always been strong, despite her fragile appearance and she’d pulled herself back from terror. She looked up at him with trust in her eyes. He wouldn’t let her down.
“Put everything but the flogger away in the chest in the wardrobe. That’s where all your toys will be kept. Then I want you to come back to me.”