Free Uncollared by Nona Raines Page B

swallowed hard at the serious expression on his face. “Was the wineglass expensive?”
    Chess arched a brow and gave her a grin. “Priceless. No, it doesn’t matter. Glasses can be replaced.”
    He sat down and pulled her to a sitting position beside him, then let the chenille cover slip down to reveal her breasts. He circled a nipple with his forefinger. “The orgasm, on the other hand, is a different story. You disobeyed my orders.”
    He leaned close to her, his warm breath tickling her ear. “ That’s gonna cost you.”
    * * * *
    He helped her walk, on jelly legs, to his bedroom. “Do you trust me, Ruffles?”
    How to answer? She was here, wasn’t she? Submitting to him. Yet there was a part of her that was still unsure…
    Chess read her expression. “Not completely.” He cracked a half smile. “It’s all right. I prefer an honest ‘I don’t know’ to an ambivalent ‘Yes, Sir.’ We have to be completely honest with each other at all times.” He stroked the hair back from her forehead. “I have to be able to trust you too. Shall we work on that? Learning to trust each other?”
    At his command, Mia maneuvered herself to the middle of the bed and lay back. The beige comforter felt silky against her skin.
    “Sometime I might want to tie I want you up, Ruffles. Bind you to the bed or to a St. Andrew’s cross. Blindfold you. But not now. Now I want you to keep your arms at your sides and close your eyes. Keep them closed. The ropes are invisible, but they’re still there. Created by my voice. And the blindfold is there. You won’t open your eyes. Because you know everything I do will make us both feel good.”
    Behind her closed eyelids, Mia saw only darkness. There was the sound of soft footsteps, of blinds being closed, curtains drawn. The hairs on her arms prickled.
    “That’s right. Keep your eyes closed…” His voice drifted away, and silence followed. Mia grew anxious as seconds ticked by, then started as something brushed her arm. Something soft and light. It drifted down the length of her arm, then over to her belly, circling her belly button. A feather.
    It trailed up between her breasts. Mia was a bit disappointed that her breasts received no attention, but smiled when the feather brushed her lips, then tickled her nose.
    This was the first test. The feather touched her nose again and again. She wiggled it in response. He told her not to move her arms, but never said anything about her nose. And though it tickled at first, now it itched. She wanted to scratch it.
    She must have moved. “Arms at your sides,” he reminded her. “What’s the matter, Ruffles? Talk to me.”
    “My nose, Sir. It itches.”
    Mia sighed as he rubbed the tip between his fingers. “Is that better?”
    “Yes, thank you, Sir.”
    “Tell me if something feels bad. Or when it feels good. We can’t have trust without communication.”
    She felt the feather softly sweep her collarbone. Then the sensation disappeared. A fragrance wafted past her nostrils. Roses. Her favorite flower. She inhaled deeply, then sighed in pleasure on the exhale.
    She was wrapped in a cotton-soft cloud of contentment. That feeling dissipated as something else touched her skin that was scratchy, prickly. Mia couldn’t identify it. It traveled along her side, scooted down her thigh, then grazed her nipples. She felt them spring to attention.
    Master Chess slid something smooth across her lips. “Open.”
    She obeyed, and he slipped a small disc into her mouth. It was hard at first, but soon liquefied into the bright flavor of wintergreen. A mint patty.
    Just as she was savoring the taste, he pressed something hot against her nipple. She flinched. “Oh!”
    “What is it, Ruffles?”
    “It burns.”
    “Burns? Really? Try again.”
    He skimmed it against her lips, and they tingled with cold. She laughed softly. “Ice.”
    “That’s right.” The frigid sensation circled her breasts, slid down the center of her torso, and prodded her