Little Boy Blue

53

‘There, that didn’t hurt now, did it?’

Her voice was soft, but had an edge. Max could tell she was excited by what they’d done. And what was still to come.

He had stripped for her – much to her evident pleasure – then slipped on the Zentai suit that she’d brought with her. It was a snug fit – she was clearly far more experienced than she let on – and it covered him from head to toe. Max hadn’t done much Zentai before, the oriental stuff wasn’t really his bag, but he liked the way he looked. He was like a kind of depraved Spiderman, every inch of him covered in black spandex.

It was an odd thing to be inside. You could still hear, but the sound was muffled, you could still see, but everything was a little darker. You felt different, not like yourself, the strangeness of the situation underlined for Max by the fact that he was the one taking the beating, rather than handing it out. This was not the norm and given recent events he had been tempted to refuse. But she seemed in control of herself and the blows she was giving him were mild. Besides, he wasn’t inclined to believe the fevered tabloid speculation about there being a killer at large in their community. He wouldn’t be at all surprised if Jake Elder’s death turned out to be an accident with the press turning it into something it wasn’t.

Max suddenly realized that she had stopped. He was still bent over the wooden horse and, straightening up, he saw that she had retreated to her little bag of tricks once more.

‘Hog ties,’ she said, holding up the leather and chain contraption triumphantly. ‘I think we’ve both had enough of the nursery slopes, don’t you?’

Max crossed the room to where she was now pointing.

‘No more talking from now on. Just do as I say,’ she ordered.

Max nodded, enjoying the game.

‘Get down on your knees. Good, now arms behind your back.’

Max did as he was told. He felt her secure his ankles in the leather restraints then, pulling his arms sharply down and back until his fingers were almost touching the upturned soles of his feet, she secured those too. All four restraints – two wrists, two ankles – were joined by a series of short, metal chains, making it virtually impossible for him to move.

He was on his knees now and utterly at her mercy. His mouth was dry and he could feel his heart beating fast. She’d said she was into Edge Play – he suspected he was about to find out exactly what her version of that was. He heard her move towards him and seconds later she lowered herself to his level. Her cheek brushed against his and he couldn’t conceal his growing excitement when she finally whispered:

‘Let the games begin.’