Little Boy Blue

31

‘I knew it was time for a change. I mean, no one needs that abuse, do they?’

Sanderson was deep into her tale about a violent and neglectful boyfriend. Despite the fact that she had actually been single for nearly eighteen months, she was doing rather well, sprinkling her tale with lots of choice details.

‘So what did you do, flower?’ Dennis replied, his eyes still glued to her.

‘I cleaned him out and moved on. He’d saved up nearly ten grand for some souped-up Mazda and I took every penny of it.’

One of those present whistled, earning a smile from Sanderson.

‘You should have seen the texts he sent. Vile, they were. I replied a few times, then when I hit the M25 I threw my phone out the window.’

‘A new life,’ the PVC enthusiast said.

‘Exactly.’

‘And how long have you been doing this?’ Dennis gestured at the dungeon they now sat in.

‘Most of my adult life.’

‘Why?’

‘What’s the point of walking in a straight line? Life’s more fun if you deviate.’

‘So what are you – top or bottom?’

‘Bottom. I like to be disciplined.’

‘Then you’ve come to the right place.’

Dennis rose now and crossed to the wall, running his finger over the heavy chains attached to the wall.

‘Why don’t I give you a little test drive, then? See how you like the Southampton touch…’

There were low chuckles from the group, as they turned their attention from Dennis to Sanderson. Was this what they’d come to see? Maybe Dennis hadn’t been joking about his ‘fresh meat’.

‘All in good time. I’d need to know you a little better first.’

‘What you see is what you get,’ Dennis said, opening his arms to her.

‘Uh uh,’ Sanderson said. ‘You’re still holding out on me, Dennis. You were about to give me a cautionary tale before.’

‘That’s one way of putting it,’ the satyr chuckled.

‘You had someone in mind when you were talking,’ Sanderson said, ignoring the joke. ‘Someone I should steer clear of.’

‘Why are you so interested in her anyway?’

‘Because she obviously got to you.’

‘Perhaps.’

‘Why won’t you talk about her? Are you scared of her?’

‘Of course not,’ Dennis responded sharply, but Sanderson didn’t believe him.

‘Well then?’

Dennis hesitated. Was he intimidated by this mystery person? Or was it just not the done thing to name names?

‘Her name is Samantha. She’s a mid-op she-male.’

‘What did she do to you?’ Sanderson enquired, banking the name.

‘Half killed me is what she did,’ Dennis replied tersely.

Sanderson nodded sympathetically, but said nothing. Dennis was going to elaborate – he just needed a moment to collect himself.

‘She put me in hog ties and a deprivation hood. You shouldn’t wear those things for more than an hour unless you want to go gaga, but she left me in it for five. I was panicking, couldn’t breathe, but she just seemed to enjoy it. She abused me, told me I deserved it, she even laughed at one point.’

Dennis’s voice shook as he said it. He was no longer the cheeky figure of fun he purported to be. It was clear that he had genuinely thought he was going to die during the experience.

‘Is she likely to have gone to the Annual Ball?’ Sanderson asked.

‘Never missed it.’

‘And where do you normally find her? Where does she live?’

‘Well, that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?’

‘Do you know?’

‘Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. But I think I’ve said more than enough already. I’ve got no love for Samantha, believe me, but I’ve got even less love for the police. So I think it’s time you were going.’

As he said it, fourteen pairs of eyes swivelled towards her. Sanderson opened her mouth to respond, but Dennis quickly went on:

‘You’re going to have to work on your act a little, Rose. The look of terror in your eyes when I suggested a bit of slap and tickle was a dead giveaway. Missionary all the way with you, is it?’

Now he was looking at her with open hostility. The atmosphere had suddenly turned and Sanderson wanted to be out of this basement as quickly as possible. She had overplayed her hand, pushed too hard. There was nothing to do now but retreat, so Sanderson stood up and scurried towards the exit, watched all the way by thirty accusing eyes.