Preston waited impatiently for Sharae to respond. After a moment, he slammed the riding crop on the table next to the bound woman's face. She screeched and pulled her head back.
“Let's go, bitch! The next one won't miss."
“Please, don't make me do this,” pleaded Sharae. “It's as if I'm beating her myself."
Preston patted Sharae's head. “You don't understand. Angel knows she's been bad and she wants to be punished. She needs it. You heard her ask for it."
“I don't know… I… I-"
Smack! Smack! Smack! The riding crop landed forcefully on Sharae's exposed bottom. “Every second you hesitate means more for Angel, and more for you. I've got all day."
Sharae looked at Angel's tightly stretched, straining body. She didn't want to be part of her punishment, but she realized the longer she waited, the longer Angel would have to endure that painful bondage.
Smack! Smack! Smack! Again Preston let fly a barrage of blows. “Oww!” cried Sharae. “Okay, okay! I'll do it. Hit her, um, on the ass."
Smiling, Preston approached Angel. “Which cheek?"
Sharae rolled her eyes. “The… left one."
“How many strokes?"
“Five… I guess."
“Good. We'll start with five on the left cheek.” The five strokes landed hard. From Angel's gasps, Sharae could tell they hurt. Preston waited after each for Angel to count it off. After the fifth, she added something. It took a moment to register with Sharae due to the gag, but she understood Angel to say, “Thank you, Master. More, please."
Grinning, Preston turned to Sharae again. “You heard her. She wants more. What's your choice."
“How about five more on the right cheek?"
Preston frowned. “Pick another spot. Someplace in front."
Sharae swallowed nervously. “Maybe… her right breast? Six strokes."
Preston smiled pleasantly. “Very good, Slave Sharae. You see, this isn't so difficult.” Soon the six strokes fell upon Angel's breast. She moaned in pain, counting each stroke as she had before, and again, asked for more.
The process repeated over and over. Angel was beaten on both breasts, and ass cheeks. She felt the sting of the crop on her back, her belly, and her thighs. Finally, Preston announced the punishment was almost over. “One more spot, Sharae, but it must be someplace that has yet to taste the crop."
Sharae stared at Angel, uncertain what to do. Hadn't he already hit every spot on her body? She tried to think what Preston might be after. She just wanted this to be over with.
Suddenly a thought came to her. She didn't know where it came from, but she felt it was the “right” answer. It sent a shiver through her. She looked up at Preston and said deliberately, “The last… five strokes should be on her… pussy."
Preston smiled. “Excellent. You're learning the art of punishing a girl quite well."
Sharae hung her head, unable to watch. But she couldn't help hearing as the strokes found their mark on Angel's most sensitive place. She could tell Preston wasn't holding back either, as Angel cried pitifully after each one, barely able to mumble the count.
After the final blow, Angel thanked her Master, but she did not ask for more. Instead, she raised her voice, saying the gagged equivalent of, “Thank you too, Slave Sharae."
Sharae sagged in shame at the realization of what she'd been a party to. She watched as Preston released Angel from her suspension and removed her gag. The slavegirl tried to press herself into his arms, but he held her off.
“No hugs for you now,” he scolded. “What you did today wasn't just playful naughtiness. If Sharae hadn't fallen asleep, if she had escaped, we could be on our way to jail right now. Now, go kneel in the corner and try to imagine how you might get back into my good graces."
Sharae caught her breath as she watched Angel react to the tongue lashing. It seemed Preston's words hurt the slave girl more than any whipping could. She ran to the corner and sobbed bitterly.
Sharae glanced back at Preston as he regarded Angel weeping. A flood of emotions passed over his face. Anger, sadness, anguish, pity, love. He took a step toward Angel, then stopped, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, he turned to Sharae, meeting her gaze.
His eyes misted over and he struggled visibly to control himself. “You look surprised,” he said at last. “I'm not always the cold cruel monster you think I am. I happen to love that girl. When I hurt her, I hurt myself. And vice versa."
As he began to release Sharae from her ball-tie, he gradually returned to his usual self. Leaving her arms tightly bound, he stood her up and guided her toward the poles from which Angel had just dangled.
“Time for your punishment, Sharae.” She struggled at his words. “Didn't you realize?” he chuckled. “When you chose Angel's punishment, you also chose your own."
“No!” Sharae's protest was cut short as he forced the inflatable gag into her mouth.
Yes, my dear. Oh, yes."