Golden Wrists

5 Indigo

If this had been my first time, I couldn’t have handled it so well. But with Elizabeth watching through the port, my spine and sex responded in an excited approval of my surrender. As I stripped. I was further shamed to find myself fighting down the first stages of an orgasm. When I passed the bundle of coverings out beyond recall, I supposed I had reached a nadir of shame, but I’d forgotten the handcuffs. “Give me your left hand, darling,” Elizabeth commanded, her voice loaded with sexual excitement.

Once more I knew the futility of argument. That’s the trouble with being a lawyer, you see things too clearly. Without a word of protest, I stuck my arm out of the small, round window.

Elizabeth unlocked one cuff and tightened the other a single click. “There’s a box in there you can stand on, darling, so you can raise both your hands up in back so I can attend to them.” Her voice was sweetly soothing.

“Elizabeth, please! Not behind my back!”

“Yes, dear. They’d scarcely bother you in front at all, they’d just be pretty bracelets. Come along, you have to.”

My spine was dancing sarabands in the moonlight. My sex was juicy and telling me to do as I was told. Betrayed by my flesh. I stepped up on the box, leaned forward and thrust my hands as close to the porthole as I could contrive. Elizabeth reached inside and a moment later I felt the loss of freedom within cold, steel circles around my wrists. I stepped off the box and thrust it angrily aside with a bare foot.

The opening of the door got me back into sunlight where I could feel Elizabeth’s vibrations and her lush red lips upon mine. I was working busily against the handcuffs but knew this an instinctive act only. There was no real hope of gaining freedom. Without feeling the anger I should have, I said tonelessly, “You finally made it, you’ve got me helpless and naked so I’ll have to do whatever I’m told I hope you’re happy.”

There could be no doubt of Elizabeth’s happiness. I was clasped and kissed in more places than one, and fondled quite a bit. At that moment it was exactly as I would have wished. I needed a mistress dreadfully, and most certainly had one!

It took the two of us a long while to sort ourselves out. Our feelings were so intense we sought a patch of grass and there made love. It was quite the most beautiful moment. I no longer cared about being handcuffed and naked, all I knew was the feel of Elizabeth’s arms and Elizabeth’s lips. I don’t know how long it was we twisted and cavorted, gasping and moaning in pleasure, until a male voice inquired, in heavy sarcasm, “You two girls need help?”

It was Hugo Markham! I was consumed by shame. No lady lawyer wishes a client to see her naked, handcuffed, and making passionate love with the most beautiful girl in the world. But Hugo was seeing me now in all my glory and all my shame. We had missed seeing his tiny craft in our survey of the ocean, and he had cautiously drifted into the jetty in silence. No doubt he had used a telescope and seen Elizabeth and I at play. Automatically I exclaimed, “Hugo! Go away, leave us alone.”

Elizabeth helped me stand. She was as naked as I, for these games are not played while wearing clothes She had never met Hugo Markham and was busily striving to cover what could not be hidden, until she defiantly allowed her hands to hang passive at her side to provide our visitor with a full frontal view of all her charms. Hugo was not sure which one of us deserved his attention so his gaze flitted back and forth.

“Well, I’ll be damned!” he exclaimed happily. “I never expected this.” Sarcastically he gave me his full attention. “Would this come under the heading of ‘Torts’. Miss Durrant?”

I remember telling him to drop dead and making other, similar suggestions, to which he paid no heed. When Elizabeth hastily started to dress, his voice became imperiously male. “Drop it. No clothes for you, my girl. I want you both exactly as you are. Anyone got another pair of handcuffs?”

Elizabeth stopped dressing. I could be no help in a struggle in which male strength must prevail. Acidly, but with evident interest in our visitor, she snapped. “No, we don’t have another pair of handcuffs. The only ones we have are on Diane, and there they’ll stay.”

I could tell she was uncertain of Hugo’s status or possibilities. “Hugo, take us back to the mainland, and I’ll give you whatever you want,” I said urgently. “You’ve walked in on an unusual situation which I’ll explain on the way. Please stop looking between my legs.”

“What, sweetheart? I’ll look where I damn well please. I seem to have struck the jackpot. Who’s the glorious creature?”

We sorted each other out in a nice, civilized sort of way which prompted me to innocently inquire, “Will somebody please unlock these handcuffs?”

It appeared both my companions were deaf. Hugo was surveying the two neat piles of clothes lying innocently on the jetty. From them he extracted a full length nylon and ordered Elizabeth, in a male authority, “Back up here and cross you wrists behind your back. And don’t argue:” I fully expected Elizabeth to slap his face or at least make a run for it. But there were still depths to Elizabeth Lord I did not know. With a strange little smile, she shrugged and did as ordered in a docile fashion. She winked at me. Before I could protest or utter a warning, the nylon had sealed her wrists and was then wound and knotted in a manner I knew for certain she could not break. Mrs. Elizabeth Lord and I were the prisoners of Mr. Hugo Markham.

It was an interesting situation, a pair of naked females with their hands securely fastened behind their backs, and a male. Testily. I demanded, “You’re being an idiot, Hugo. What do you intend to do with us.”

“Use you carnally, of course!” He cocked a sarcastic eyebrow. “I trust my terminology is legally correct?”

“So is the word rape.” I assured him. “Surely you’ve something more sensible in mind?”

“I’m thinking about it, sweetheart, but there’s the matter of my claim to a share of the Estate which you haven’t done too well with to date. Perhaps if I whipped you every day for a week, you might get down to the real nitty gritty, and produce results.” He turned to Elizabeth. “As for you, Mrs. Elizabeth Lord, I presume your husband would be happy to pay some fine, round sum to have you delivered back into his loving arms ... Or perhaps returned to Rockley?”

Hugo had seen instant possibilities, probably he would think up others. But at that moment, Elizabeth commanded, “Diane, you run one way and I’ll run the other. He can only catch one of us.”

We broke apart and fled in opposite direction. Hugo cursed and wasted two or three moment choosing his prey. I suppose formal association prompted his decision to pick me. But I ran towards what I hoped was freedom. I was following a path leading from the jetty towards the house. There was an exhilaration in flight such as I had not known in years. I loved every yard and gave it everything I had. But I suppose the result was inevitable. Hugo was a male and free, and I was female with hands locked behind my back. Within a hundred yards he had a handful of my hair to bring me to a pained and panting halt. I was quickly thrust against a sapling and my handcuffs tied to it with his necktie. Leaving me disgustedly conscious of female helplessness against the Male, he diverted his attention to Elizabeth.

At such times our minds become computers and we obey. I could help no one or nothing. Although captive to the little tree. I fought furiously against the knots in his necktie. It was not the least bit easy because the knots were behind the trunk while my hands were not. I lunged and pulled and strained and was still thus busily employed when Hugo returned to view, propelling Elizabeth forward by a handful of her hair. Failing to make me aware of any regrets she might be feeling, Elizabeth was smiling brightly as if this was all one really fun game.

“Don’t worry, darling, the men always win the first battle. But it’s us girls who win the last. Let’s do what he tells because he’s actually had the gall to threaten to cut a willow branch and whip my bottom ... Isn’t this fun!”

I had to discount Elizabeth’s help. I stood captive to my tree while Hugo looked around for some manner of making us even more captive. He untied his tie from my wrists and used it to join Elizabeth’s bound hands to mine, compelling us to walk awkwardly to his command. Thus we returned to Rockley.

Naomi was not pleased to see Hugo but was certainly pleased to see us, especially in the condition we now were. Had I not been well passed the tearful age, I would have wept in bitter chagrin. Nothing had gone right since we had landed on this damned island. In Naomi’s office, the authority of Hugo’s voice was slightly diminished. “I intend to take Miss Durrant back with me and whip her until she comes up with something constructive in the matter of my claim. I will use Mrs. Elizabeth Lord as a lever upon your Uncle Andrew, who must be shockingly embarrassed by her disappearance, to further press my demands. I refuse to be put off further.” He focused on Naomi. “Or would you, at the this time, be prepared to make me some sort of acceptable offer?”

“You’ll get no offer from me!” she countered. “These two females you appear to have captured provide no leverage whatsoever to the Estate. Do as you wish with them, I could care less.”

I felt like a nothing. Even Elizabeth’s radiance was diminished.

She inquired instantly, “Don’t you want to keep Diane and I to play with, darling. Weren’t you going to whip us?”

Naomi waved the question of whipping a pair of innocent and naked young women into limbo. “Of course I’ll whip you both, but that has nothing to do with the question Mr. Markham raises now.” She turned her full attention to the waiting male. “I am indebted to you for bringing the two of them to me in this condition. But you didn’t come to Plessious for that. What did you have in mind?”

“I came to tell you I’ve become aware of what you Uncle Andrew is doing in that big house of his in Dorset. I was wondering if you would care to help my cause if I keep quiet about something that would create a major scandal if disclosed.” Hugo was certainly feeling his oats. “I know Uncle Andrew is not a beneficiary but he has tremendous influence on everyone and on the Estate, itself. My source of information tells me your Uncle Andrew was mainly concerned with these two ladies who stand naked before us now. I’m not sure of the connection but it’s there, and I suspect he would be glad to have them back. Think about that, Miss Samis.”

I actually felt sorry for Naomi. The poor girl had to cope with too many unknown factors to make a reasonable judgment. Irritably she suggested, “If you’re in the kidnap and ransom business, Mr. Markham, I would suggest that you take these two naked and pretty young ladies back to where ever you came from. Do as you please with them, they have no interest for me at all.”

It was now Hugo’s turn to have me feel sorry for him. He stood there deflated and angry while I computed possibilities. I would be whipped for sure regardless, but I figured Hugo Markham offered my best changes of escape. I had not the least idea where he would keep us safe, but at least it would not be on an island. I was pretty sure Naomi would keep me heavily chained. I could feel Elizabeth’s heart beat against my bare skin as we stood so closely bound, and I could feel pretty sure her fate would be as painful as mine. Even without motive, people do seem to enjoy whipping pretty girls. It would be easy for Naomi to keep us captive forever, but with Hugo we would be a burden. Excitedly I told him, “Hugo, I want to be back in New York just as much as you. If you’ll take me there, I’ll give you my promise to go with you willingly and won’t make a fuss on the plane, and I’ll allow you to make me prisoner again on our arrival. Take me with you now.”

“Me, too.” Elizabeth added quickly, taking her cue from me. “There you are, Mr. Markham, you’ve got everything on a plate,” Naomi said cheerfully. “Let me wish you a pleasant journey and goodbye.”

Hugo was baffled, his tone was sour. “I’m not falling for this promise stuff. You’d kiss me goodbye whenever it took your fancy. And, as for you Mrs. Lord, you’re too hot to handle.” His tone became flippant as he looked at Naomi. “They’re all yours. Miss Samis. Aren’t you lucky!”

Hugo Markham was half way to the door when I called after him.

“Hugo, stop. Don’t leave us here. If you’ll forget this prisoner business and simply take us back to New York with you, I’ll fight your case forever, and pay all expenses.”

Hugo halted and turned. “All right. I’ll take you but you alone. I can’t afford Mrs. Lord.”

“I won’t go anywhere without Elizabeth ... Please, Hugo!”

Hugo left and slammed the door. Elizabeth and I stood there, still tightly bound with Hugo’s necktie and very nude. Mainly I thought of our clothes back on the jetty and wondered if Hugo would throw them in the water out of pique. Naomi was very much in charge. “It seems I’ve inherited you,” she conceded without concern. “I’ve come to rather like the idea. A pair such as you will give the girls some fresh interest. I’ll keep you heavily ironed, of course, until Uncle Andrew makes up his mind. I really must phone him and break the news.”

Elizabeth was intrigued. “And ... You mean like hundreds of years ago?”

“More or less, dear, except what you’ll get now won’t be rusty.”

I was instantly alarmed. “Look, for heaven’s sake, don’t turn me over to Uncle Andrew!” I pleaded. “He’ll whip me to death, and toss me in that rotten dungeon.”

“No he won’t, Diane. Uncle Andrew won’t whip you any more than I’m going to. And he won’t make you any more a prisoner than you’ll be with me. You know, dear, you really are the most irritating female I’ve ever met. I hate lawyers, and ever since I first met you I’ve been longing to give you a course of treatment.”

I tried not to show how scared I was. Except for the girl to whom I was tied, I seemed to have no friends at all. With more feeling that I should have, I demanded. “Very well, I know I’m in for it but, Naomi, you don’t have to be mean to Elizabeth. If you’re going to have her husband take her back, you need only keep her handcuffed. You can give her the run of the island with the other girls.”

“Whatever you get, Diane, I get too.” Elizabeth said firmly.

“That takes care of that.” Naomi said instantly. “You’re both of an age I’ll enjoy punishing. It will be a pleasant change to my darling girls who I hardly ever punish at all. They’ll love watching you whipped.”

I could think of bitter things to say but what was the use?

Elizabeth was shinning eyed and curious about everything. I could sense her eagerness as we stood skin to skin, and realized that for her, Plessious was infinitely preferable to the Gothic imprisonment at Rockley. But I wished we had never come to Plessious.

I am in the much hated little hut or little prison or little box, or whatever you wish to call it. I know about it from previous acquaintance, it holds me now. Naomi has given instructions that its door be left open to admit light and air. But a metal collar is snug upon my neck and from it a lengthy chain trails to its ring bolt in the wall. Elizabeth’s handcuffs are still on my wrists in the manner in which she clasped them when achieving her heart’s desire. I am very helpless. Often I stand up and take the several steps my chain permits towards the open door and sunlight. It is nice to know it’s out there and that someday, I am to be out there too. Good gosh, what a spot to be in!

Naomi visits me. At first I thought she came to gloat and keep my hyped up with promises of things to come, But now I realize her lonely authority on this island makes her glad to have an adult like me to talk to. She is with me now. “I’ve decided to have you whipped tomorrow, Diane dear I’ve kept you in suspense long enough. Elizabeth has asked to be whipped at the same time and I see no reason to refuse. Okay by you?”

It is as though she speaks of walking in the woods. The ‘okay’ business is a touch of sarcasm at which I nod in mute agreement. Damn it, she doesn’t need my agreement about anything. She can do whatever she likes with Elizabeth and I, and I suppose the other girls, too. Naomi is queen on Plessious and can hand out her royal sentences as she may please. She sentenced me to be chained in this little hut with its open door. I expect she would like me to beg and plead but this I have not done even though I am scared of being whipped. The pain will do things to me I will not like. She makes me kneel while she stands and we talk. The kneeling is symbolic to emphasise my new condition. If my legal clients could see me now, I’d die.

Reflectively. Naomi says, “You’ve got the most beautiful breasts, Diane. Aren’t you scared I’ll whip them?”

“Of course I’m scared. I’m scared of everything you’ll do to me, and then, when you’ve done your worst, I’ll have Uncle Andrew to contend with. I don’t have much of a future.”

The stone floor was hard on my knees but I dared not ask permission to sit. Everything now carries a penalty. Naomi was interested in Uncle Andrew. “I don’t know what he’ll do to you, Diane. I never knew what he wanted you for in the first place. Except maybe as companion to Elizabeth. I suppose her husband’s a friend of his and they hashed the whole thing up together. You may both be very sorry girls by the time they’re through with you.” She added, “Elizabeth’s breasts are gorgeous, too. I’d almost be willing to keep the two of you prisoners permanently if Uncle Andrew would allow”

“Would you! I wish you would. Naomi, I really am frightened of being taken back to England, drugged in a box, and waking up in a dungeon. Or a rotten little cell. Please, Naomi, keep Elizabeth here if you can.”

“You prefer being chained in here like this? You’re crazy.”

“Well, at least you leave the door open so I can see the sunlight. When you’re taken downstairs at Rockley, there isn’t any sunlight and you know you’re in trouble.”

“But you’re in trouble here, darling. I’m going to have you whipped!”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake. Naomi, don’t harp on it. I know it’s coming and I’m trying not to plead or beg or be silly about it. But if you think I’m not frightened, you’re nuts. Being whipped is awful!”

Naomi laughed, amused by my dejection. “Have you forgotten, darling, both of us were whipped a long time ago, strung up by our wrists, if I remember correctly. I thought you handled yourself rather well.”

Naomi has a gift for making the incredible seem entirely possible. Having a practicing female lawyer whipped naked didn’t seem anything out of the way or worthy of discussion. “I think we should stop worrying about what’s going to happen to you tomorrow,” she said cheerfully. “There’s a lot of other things I’d like to do to you, if I have the time, before Uncle Andrew shows up. You mentioned being hung by your wrists. I’ll try and fit it in someplace.”

It was just that simple for Naomi, just make a list of tortures and then do them to the helpless girl. But she was as much a part of Plessious as the sunshine or Ivory and Thea. And, of course, the girl with all the blonde hair. If she actually did succeed in keeping Elizabeth and I captive on the island, she had a herd of girls, a group of beauties that would drive any man wild, to say nothing of a woman! Here I was chained in a condition no one could possibly believe. I even stayed kneeling long after she had gone. Sure it hurt my knees, but pain can also be a companion in the awful boredom of imprisonment.

I didn’t sleep well on the cold stone of the floor. In trying to avoid thinking about being whipped, my mind dwelled instead on Elizabeth. I wanted her terribly but I was pretty sure I’d never be given her again. It was ironic that at the very moment of capturing me and making me helpless as she did, we both lost our freedom, and now were thrust into a condition in which we might never love again. It was the story of me and Ivory all over again, I actually shed a few tears in this contemplation of my lot.

In the morning it was darling Ivory who brought me the breakfast I could not eat. Without words, we clung together, in remembered love and said nothing about anything except ourselves. I knew I would never get Ivory back, any more than I would ever get Elizabeth, and I wondered if Naomi had sent her just to tease me. Ivory said she had only five minutes and then must report back to the house. She carried my breakfast away and that was that! I had even forgotten to ask her the time I would be whipped.

Alone I stood and leaned against the wall. My hands were still fastened behind my back and I was shivering with fear at the sentence I had yet to serve, the punishment still to mark my skin. It was a horrible impotence with the open door and sunshine beyond mocking me, In anger at myself and everything else, I sought what relief I could find in motion, gathering my chain in handcuffed hands. I clutched it’s links and lunged back and forth in a futile hope of finding a weakness in the tether. It was quite useless, there was no liberty for Miss Diane Durrant. Panting, I finally desisted and resumed a pose of dejection to await my summons to the whip.

It is so easy to control a naked girl. Naomi unlocked my collar and she and Honey each took one of my bare arms and led me to the place of execution. I could do nothing, my hands were still handcuffed behind my back as I stumbled forward on the path I had no wish to travel. The two of them spoke brightly of the weather and the dinner menu for that evening. Our destination turned out to be the big tree with wide spread boughs most suitable for the tethering of girls. Darling Elizabeth was already standing naked with her hands roped high above her head. She greeted me cheerfully enough but I could tell she was also scared. It is easy to make fun of being whipped but another thing when the moment comes and you stand helpless and naked, knowing yourself about to be hurt, your courage leaves you. Ivory and Thea had handled Elizabeth, and in a few minutes I, too, was relieved of handcuffs, my wrists corded, and my arms drawn hard until I stood ten feet from Elizabeth to share her agony. Our eyes sought each other’s constantly, but in love and not in hope.

“Come along, girls, we’ll let them stand a while. Suspense will do them as much good as the whip,” Naomi said cheerfully as she gathered her girls and led them from the place of punishment to leave my love and I in a fearful isolation.

Our arms were spread wide as well as high, but Elizabeth and I were not really stretched. Our heels were still upon the soil. Our punishment was to be the leather thongs and not the pains of suspension. “Well, anyway, once we get this over, we can enjoy the island and the girls,” Elizabeth said bravely, “But, gosh, I never thought I’d be this scared. It’s creepy being tied like this, I seem to be all armpits and breasts.”

Poor darling Elizabeth! She was dreaming if she thought good times were ahead. Remorsefully I reminded, “Even after we’ve been whipped, we’ll still be prisoners, darling. Naomi will never give us any freedom. She will simply amuse herself with us as a pleasant change from the teenagers she owns. I’m tied tight, I can’t get loose, How about you?”

“Not a hope, Diane, I’m fixed for sure. There’s butterflies in my tummy and something crawling up and down my spine. Oh, damn, I wish we could talk our way out of this!”

“All you need, girls, is a good, sharp knife.” The male voice was laughing.

Hugo Markham stood surveying our nakedness with masculine approval. Hugo had never been my idea of a knight in shinning armor but that’s the way I saw him now. I did not know or care how he had come, but he could not fail to know my thankfulness. “Oh, Hugo, thank you. I’m so glad you came. Cut us down quick.”

Hugo did nothing except provide an even wider male smirk.

“Give me time to look at you.”

“We’re going to be whipped. Please hurry before they come back.”

“How much will you pay?”

“Hugo, don’t joke. This isn’t funny, if you don’t hurry up, you’ll have four young women to deal with, and they might just happen to get the best of you. You won’t be welcome.”

Hugo was making no pretense of being a gentlemen. Casually he went back and forth between Elizabeth and I, and, without shame, enjoyed what men call ‘feeling us up.’ He gave careful attention to everything female we possessed. Standing while playing with my breasts, he reminded, “Lawyers charge a pretty penny for everything they do. You can’t expect me to rescue you for nothing.” He pinched my nipples to emphasis his point.

“All right, anything you want! But cut us down!”

“Does that ‘anything I want’ include total obedience, doing anything I want, being a humble little slavegirl?”

“Yes. Yes! I really will be anything you want if only you’ll free us. And get us off this damned island.” I was desperate.

“My, my! You don’t look the least bit like a lawyer, Diane, And aren’t you forgetting I’m going to whip that nice skin of yours the same as you’re waiting for here. If I take you away, you can’t be the least bit sure I’m doing you a favor. I want to be fair.”

I went into a frenzy of tugging and pulling and kicking, “I don’t care, I don’t care about anything except you cutting these ropes and taking me away. Hugo, can’t you see that I’m frightened? You wouldn’t want this to happen to you! Stop being so beastly and smug.”

Hugo’s knife was sharp, I was suddenly free, While he went to obtain rope, I rubbed my chaffed skin and then, on his return, turned my back and crossed my wrists as commanded, With the prospect of getting off Plessious I wasn’t arguing, Even when he used the quite thick rope to bind my elbows as well as my wrists, I made no complaint. He grasped my bound arms and was suddenly deadly serious. “Come on, we had better make a run for it.” His grasp was commandingly male.

“But you haven’t freed Elizabeth!” I was suddenly afraid.

“And I’m not going to, dear girl. Your precious little friend can stay right where she is, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not setting myself up against that rich husband of hers or Uncle Andrew. Diane, don’t start giving me trouble.”

I, was helpless. Hugo transferred his grasp from my arm to my hair and shook my head vigorously to remind me what I had become. As we started to run, I could manage only a quick glance back at the still-bound beauty under the big tree. Hugo savagely tugged my hair again and I had to concentrate upon running.

It was the strangest flight! I was leaving the woman I adored and running as hard as I could towards a fate unknown. It is difficult and strange to run with your elbows roped hard behind your back and I was conscious of out-thrust breasts bouncing in unison with my pounding feet. Reaching the jetty. I saw the boat Hugo had used before. Saw, also, the pathetic little piles of clothing Elizabeth and I had shed. Hugo picked up the one to which I pointed with a bare foot and a moment later I was in the little boat and we were speeding out of the only harbor on Plessious.

I sat where I was told and Hugo surveyed his prize in evident satisfaction. “You know, Diane, a couple of years ago I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing this. But there is something about that island, and that Rockley place, that gets to a man. I’m not a bit sure that the way girls get handled on that island isn’t a damned sight more sensible than the rest of the world.” He gave me a grin. “Look at you now, I’ve got you and there’s no way you’re getting loose. That damned Estate is giving me a dividend without even knowing.”

“Congratulations.” My voice was cold.

Hugo shook a finger at me. “And I don’t want sarcasm. As of this minute, you’ll stop being the bitch you’ve always been, and instead you’ll treat me with respect and a touch of humility. Understand?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!”

Once more the warning finger. “And I don’t want any of that stuff, either.”

“All right, Hugo, I’ll try and be what I promised,” I said as sincerely as I could. “None of this is easy for me and I’m sure you know that. Please untie my elbows.”

“Why would I do that!”

“Because they’re hurting and because it’s not serving any useful purpose in this boat. I’m certainly not going to jump overboard.”

“They’ll stay tied, Diane, it has a damned nice effect to your frontal view. I’ll untie you and let you dress after a while so we can arrive in civilization more or less respectable. Are you going to run away immediately we land?”

“No. I won’t run away. I’m dependent on you, Hugo, regardless whether you’ve got me tied or free. I made a promise. I’ll keep it.”

Hugo’s every word and motion told me what I had become. Bound or free. I was his prisoner and would remain so until I was once more established in my office and apartment in New York - if that ever happened! In the meantime, my best bet was to be nice to him and do as I was told. I knew myself a very different girl from the woman who had come to Plessious for the first time long ago. My roped elbows were hurting horribly but I made up my mind not to nag at this man. In any case, I did not wish to humiliate myself with pleading. Trying to give my captor his money’s worth. I carelessly allowed my knees to fall apart to provide a view I was certain he would enjoy. Hugo found a pleasure in everything girls had.

I could not avoid elation when I was untied and told to dress. It was the first time I’d been free since Elizabeth had put her handcuffs on my wrists. And every motion I now made had the delicious warmth of normalcy. The handcuffs had thoughtful been clasp upon my arm above one elbow, more or less in storage to be available when needed. I had expected Hugo to use them in place of the ropes. But when I was dressed and he discovered the metal circlets were covered by my sleeve, he said they could stay where they were unless I preferred to wear them as a bracelet on my left wrist. I chose the wrist and was thankful to discover he had a key. Soon the metal bracelets were upon my wrist and, from most angles, actually had the appearance of a bracelet. I doubted they would cause either of us embarrassment. Thus I stepped from the boat onto the soil of Greece.

Hugo was not a brute. He blandly pointed out the hazard of leaving me alone where I would have too much opportunity to think and maybe panic. He gave me the option of being handcuffed in the hotel room or going around with him on his errands. I chose the errands. I was beginning to enjoy myself. Hugo knew his way around. We purchased the plane tickets and he then took me to lunch at one of those cute little places a girl loves. I got the tiniest of thrills in knowing he did it to please me. Back in the hotel room I started to pay my dues but I had expected to part my legs for piercing and played the whore with much skill and abandon. I enjoyed it all myself. I would not have returned to Plessious for anything. I continued to pay my dues through most of the night. Hugo was young and very vigorous. Had I been a bride, I would have been pleased at my bargain. But as it was. I counted the pleasure I received as an unexpected dividend. I slept with one wrist handcuffed to the bed.

The plane was so beautifully normal I could have cried with joy.

The stewardess admired my bracelet and asked where she could get one. The effect of clothes and freedom was wonderful! I was soon animatedly talking with Hugo about his claim on the Estate. For the first time I found myself truly interested in getting him at least a small portion of all those millions and billions of dollars. Normally I would have suggested I visit Uncle Andrew and discuss the whole thing with him anew. But I was pretty sure Uncle Andrew would love to get a hold of me, and it wasn’t to discuss a law suit. I’d end up in a dungeon and would probably stay there in chains for a long, long time. I told Hugo I would explore every legal possibility. Perhaps the courts would respond far more favorably than Uncle Andrew. It was in this bit of friendship and a great thankfulness for the familiar sights and sounds of my home town that Hugo and I signaled a taxi. But it was Hugo’s address, not mine, to which the driver took us. I never said a word.

I have to admit to quivering with excitement as we stood in the little hallway of Hugo’s modest house. Our journey was done and whatever Hugo intended for me I would now find out. If he had told me to undress or hold out my hands to be handcuffed. I would obey without demure. Instead of that he took me to bed and, what with jet lag and my payment of some more dues, we slept late into the following morning. Hugo even forgot to handcuff my wrist to the bed rail, an omission for which he apologized as though it really mattered. At breakfast he was businesslike.

“Look, Diane, I have your word and I suppose you’ll keep it. I have work to do and so have you, so I want you to spend the day opening your office and doing whatever else you have to do. We will have an early dinner at Donatelli’s and then come back here. Fair enough?”

It was more than fair but I had to ask, “What about my apartment?”

“Keep it. Make sure the rent is paid.” Hugo say the uncertainty on my face. “I’m giving you a day’s freedom,” he said jauntily. “We have to look after business and I can’t send you to your office chained or with your hands tied behind your back.” He gazed at me searchingly and held my arms to emphasis his point. “This freedom changes nothing, I’ll still expect the obedience you promised before I cut you down from that tree.”

“I will do as I promised. Hugo, I really am grateful. If it wasn’t for you, I’d still be chained somewhere on Naomi’s island. I’ll be a good girl for you, and a good lawyer, too”

We went our separate ways. It was a joyous day of fresh discovery, of a realization of possessions and of purpose. I paid accumulated bills and disposed of phone calls. I knew business would be pending but forget to ask Hugo’s wishes. Yet I knew I would come by a better understanding of my new condition by the time we had finished dinner in the evening. I constantly spread my arms out wide in joy that they were not joined. The shinning, heavy bracelet on my left wrist was a reminder, but that was all. It was a normal and very happy day, and New York embraced me lovingly. I completely forgot Uncle Andrew’s promise to have me kidnapped.

I had to wonder if Hugo was rich enough to afford Donatelli’s but was grateful for being thus wined and dined. I was positively seething with feminine curiosity and thrill Hugo and I had reached a sufficient rapport to excuse me being female. I broke in on his lectures about the stock market. “Never mind the market, Hugo, but, for Heaven’s sake, tell me what you’re going to do to me. The suspense is killing me.”

It must be wonderful to be a male and have total ownership of a girl. Hugo oozed total power in a way to make me cringe. “Tomorrow you belong to me, you sweetheart,” he affirmed grandly. “But I guess you knew this, or guessed it. There are those vows you made.”

“For instance?”

“I’m going to take you downstairs, tie you, and cane your bottom. There’s also a nice riding crop I’ll try on you. Why not try the lobster bisque?”

I ordered the lobster bisque. I also wondered if I’d gain anything by having Hugo whip my bottom as opposed to Naomi whipping my back. I decided I had to be a bit ahead and then made myself feel a lot better by looking around Donatelli’s and comparing it to being collared and chained in Naomi’s little hut. Holy cow!

“I’m becoming quite fond of you,” Hugo confessed, offhandedly.

“You’re quite good in bed, and I do have to admire the way you adjust from hard authority to soft obedience. As a slavegirl you’ll make an interesting study. Looking forward to the crop?”

“No, I’m not. I won’t ever pretend I like being whipped or that I’m not scared of it. I don’t care if It’s a cane or a crop or some leather thonged horror, I abhor them all. Now you’ve explained what I can expect in the morning, could we please go on to some other topic?”

“You’ll spend the day in bondage.” I took a deep breath but bondage might not hurt.

Hating to spoil our dinner. I inquired no more. Hugo was in a reflective mood. “You really did introduce me to a strange new world,” he confided warmly. “I mean, take us right now. Look around the restaurant and who is there who could perceive the relationship we share. If you told anyone of them that tomorrow you’d get your bottom caned, they’d suppose that either you were vulgar, or they might want your phone number. Our waiter has taken note of your bracelet.”

I did not care who saw my handcuffs. They were the only part left of the girl I loved. I’d made up my mind to go alone with Hugo with everything he wanted. He was a client who had a lot of money and a justifiable claim. If he gave me enough freedom. I could re-establish my law practice. Perhaps he would only demand my surrender on alternate days. On those days I would be his prisoner and I would do as he told me. I had a wry memory of him promising to whip me everyday until I made some progress with his case in court. I wondered what the judge would say if he knew I had a striped bottom that burned every time I sat down. I would not be bored.

I wondered about that crop.