"No," I reply, knowing the longer she fights it, the more intense it'll be for her. Plus, Blakely needs to see what's possible...what she has to learn to do.
I flog her three more times, and Aria shrieks, "Please, Sir!" Her tears drip on the wood floor, pooling under the bench. Sweat coats her skin in tiny beads.
Blakely studies it all, her eyes darting between us like she can't decide where to focus.
"Pet, watch Flower's face," I demand.
Her jealousy flares again.
"That's an order, and I expect a response," I bark, my crazed feeling beginning to brew.
Blakely jumps but can't go very far since she's still restrained to the cross. She blurts out, "Yes, Sir."
I point to Aria.
Blakely refocuses on Aria.
I hit the button on the remote, so the vibrations intensify, and continue flogging Aria, denying her requests until her "Sirs" are barely audible with her broken voice. I finally crack the leather over her red ass and demand, "Come."
Her body erupts in a spasm, convulsing against the bench, and I rub my hand over her ass cheeks to soothe the sting.
And then it happens. Aria's whimpers turn to sobs, and I know I made an error. I unlatch her from the bench, tug her into my arms, and stroke her hair. I tell her, "Shh. It'll be okay."
She becomes hysterical, and I silently curse her. I warned her she couldn't go back. We've had plenty of conversations. This is what happens when you try to deny your needs after getting in tune with them. When she told me she was head over heels for a guy who isn't in the life, I shouldn't have had her come here. I should have known she'd be too fragile.
Now, I've really messed up.
Aria's so distraught, there's no doubt she's having a breakdown. I leave Blakely on the cross, carrying Aria out of the room.
I take her to the guest bedroom and sit on the bed with her crying on my lap.
She finally calms enough to look up. "I-I'm sorry," she cries out, and fresh tears fall.
"Shh. Everything's fine."
"Riggs, I don't know what I'm doing," she chokes out.
I tug her head to my chest, letting her sob until she calms again. In a firm voice, I say, "We'll talk about this tomorrow. But you have to let me speak to him. He needs to come into the life, or you have to let him go."
"But I love him," she cries out.
"Shh. We'll talk tomorrow," I order, wait until she's sniffling, put her on her feet, and pull back the covers.
She slides onto the bed, and I pull the blankets over her. She says, "I'm sorry, Riggs."
I shake my head. "No sorry. You did well."
"I shouldn't have—" I put my fingers over her lips.
"You were perfect. We'll talk in the morning. Go to sleep." I leave the room, grab my phone out of my pants, and return to the playroom.
"Is she okay?" Blakely asks.
My thoughts spin out of control. My worries and fears take hold. I shouldn't have let so much time pass without checking in on Aria. I should have known something was up when I hadn't heard from her in a while. But most of all, I'm two steps away from losing my pet. There's too much to do and not enough time. It's clear Aria isn't in any frame of mind to properly train Blakely.
I step closer, stating, "What did you learn tonight?"
Horror fills her expression.