“You need to get dressed, and cleaned up. Your clothing is laid out on the bed.”
“There’s a bed on this plane? Why the hell didn’t we use it?”
“Because I wanted your humiliation, Pet.”Sorry I asked. “Besides, the next bed I have you in will be my own.”
My brows knit together, and I swallow hard. I don’t know what to make of that. I’m not used to sweetness from Ares. I’m used to insults and sound lashings and more pleasure and pain than I can fathom. I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything at all. I stand and make my way to the room at the back of the plane.
I enter the small suite. The bed is large for such a cramped space, and the bathroom is no bigger than the average amenities you use when flying coach, but it is a lot nicer. I clean myself up using the basin and a stack of neatly rolled washcloths.
When I exit the bathroom, I pick the floral dress off the bed, and put it on. It’s pretty, made from sheer fabric with a bohemian vibe, and it has a long thigh split, and three-quarter-length sleeves with smocked cuffs. It’s beautiful, but not something I would ever pick out for myself.
I glance at my hair, which has come lose from its bun thanks to Ares’ rough treatment, and I decide to leave it disheveled. My cheeks are pink, my eyes glassy, and my pupils dilated. A different woman stands in the mirror than the one I saw this morning. That girl was miserable, starved of her Master. Her purpose was going through life just wishing for death, but this girl? She’s different, new, and brave, and perhaps even a little bit more in control.
Ares fills the space behind me and presses a tender kiss to my nape, sliding the sleeves off my shoulder and tugging my dress down until the fabric protests with a sharp sound of the stitching snapping. My breasts are exposed, and I stare at them in the mirror as he slips his fingers into my bun and yanks my head back. “What have you been doing in here all this time, little one?”
“I-I freshened up just as you ordered, Sir.”
“And the rest of the time?”
“I was making myself presentable.”
“Presentable?” He arches one perfect black brow.Where is he going with this? “Then why aren’t you presenting?”
He steps back and allows me to move in the tiny space. I fall to my knees with as much grace as I can muster with this dress. It billows out around the floor. With the thigh slit, my legs are exposed right to my bare pussy.
Ares watches me like prey. I’ve never been more willing to be the hunted. To be caught between the wickedly sharp teeth of a predator.
He sits on the bed and points to his knee. I scramble closer, practically throwing myself over his lap because I have missed his maintenance as much as his disciplinary spankings.
Ares lifts the skirt over my hips, exposing my bare bottom. His hand smooths circles over my flesh. He delivers a series of small smacks all over it. They don’t hurt, but what he’s about to do next will, no doubt. He only tenderizes my rump when he intends to play rough.
“So pink already. I see Atticus and Violet went easy on you.” He pokes at one of the bruises Violet left with her cane. I wriggle on his lap, trying my best to escape his prodding fingers without drawing attention to it. “Too fucking easy. Amateurs.”
Heat scalds my cheeks. I don’t know if I’ll be punished for seeking out another Master in my Sir’s absence.
“I bet you liked that, didn’t you, Pet? You liked the fact that Atticus was a sucker for your pretty face, and this beautiful ass.” He grips my cheek hard. I yelp and resist the urge to squirm. “Did he fuck you in this perfect ass? Did you come for him?”
I don’t say a word. I’m too afraid my voice will betray me. I have my Sir back. He came for me. He took me because he wants me. I should be deliriously happy, but the shame and humiliation he brings to the forefront tortures me as surely as his hands do. Tears spring up in my eyes. A hard slap on my ass has it stinging. I cry out.
“Answer me, Pet.”
“Yes, Sir. He fucked my ass. Yes, I came for him, and her. Always.”
“How many times?”
“I don’t know, Sir.”
“You don’t know?” His tone is disapproving.
“No.”
“Then how will I know how many times to punish you?”
“I didn’t want anyone else. I didn’t want anyone but you. But you left me!” Tears stream down my face, thick and fast, as if a dam has broken and now, I’ll never be able to stop it.
He rains down blow after blow on my tender flesh. My skin is hot, my body on fire with both the need to come and the desire for him to stop. I put my hand back to protect myself, but he grabs it and hooks it behind my back, threading my fingers with his.
“I let you go, Pet. Because I couldn’t stand to see you sold. Not for you to go and find the first fucking Dom in a five-mile radius and offer upmypussy to him.”