"Kara?"

"Oh my God. Please."

"You know what I want you to do."

"I. I can't."

"You can't?"

"I can't do that. Not in front of you."

"Why not?"

"You have to ask why not?"

"Well. The way I see it, is either you learn to strip in front of me, or I can start making holes in Julie here. Maybe she'd like a new hole in her breast." I stepped over to the terrified girl and pressed the barrel of the gun into the side of her right breast. She gasped and began to pray. "And if the sight of all her blood doesn't convince you to take off that suit, perhaps the sight of your own blood might."

Julie was almost hysterical in fear. Tears were running down her face, falling onto her naked chest in rivers. She was gasping for breath. Trying not to move. Not to make any threatening gestures.

"Please, Jane. He's going to sh-shoot me. If I could do it, you can. Please. I don't want to die."

Gently I corrected her. "Kara."

"Oh God." Julie lips moved in silent prayers again.

"You son-of-a-bitch. You wouldn't shoot her because I refused to strip."

"Try me?"

"Alright, you bastard. I'll do it. Calm down. Move away from her."

I shrugged and returned to my post against the wall. Julie collapsed. Bending at her waist. Sobbing uncontrollably.

I watched as Kara began to strip. She slowly pulled her clothes from her body. Her face beet red. To her credit she didn't whine at the underwear and soon she was standing naked behind her desk. She lightly held her hands to her sides. She had a passable body. Looked like it had gone through a couple of children, but it also looked like she worked out. Her short blonde hair was really blonde, I idly noticed. She suffered my gaze.

She spoke. "Can I go to her?" Meaning Julie still crying hysterically in the chair. "Without you freaking out with that thing?"

I nodded and Kara moved slowly around the desk and knelt beside Julie. She tried to comfort the sobbing girl.

"Julie. You have to be strong here. He's not going to hurt us. Come on. I need you here."

Julie managed to control her shaking. She sat back up, tears still rolling down her cheeks.

"Why me? God. He's going to kill us."

Kara whispered to her urgently. "He's not going to kill us. We'll do whatever it is he wants. He'll rape us. And then he'll go. We'll call the police. You have to stay with me here."

"I don't want to be raped."

"Neither do I sweetheart. Neither do I."

"This is a dream, right?"

"I wish it was. I've pinched myself three times already. And every time I keep waking up without my clothes, here with you."

I finally intervened. "Ladies?"

They both swiveled their heads and looked up at me.

"See how Kara is? On her knees? Julie. I want you like that."

"Oh God."

Kara tugged at Julie's arm and she slipped off the chair. Ending up kneeling beside Kara. Still tears falling down her face.

I tossed them a pair of handcuffs each. They looked at them. Frightened.

"Put them on. Behind your back."

"Oh God. Why?" Julie implored.

"Because I don't want you to have any bright ideas of attacking me."

"Just let us go then." Kara interjected logically.

"Not yet, my pretty ones."

Julie hesitantly picked up the cuffs and looked at them. "Please. You don't need to do this."

Kara spoke as well. "Really. You walk out of here. You've had your show. You've had your cheap thrill. Us naked for you. You walk out of the store. And that's it. We don't call the cops. We never even mention it happened. Period. You don't get caught. Everyone wins."

"Sorry ladies. Have other plans. And I doubt very much if I'll get caught. And besides. As soon as I'm out that door, you'd be on the phone to the police. You probably wouldn't even bother getting dressed first."

"Please don't make us do this."

"Put them on."

Kara reached for her pair of handcuffs. She closed her eyes and snapped the first side around her left wrist. She wound her hands behind her and I heard the ratchet close. I watched as she made some kind of eye gesture at Julie and Julie did the same thing. I wasn't sure what Kara was trying to tell the frightened girl.

I casually walked behind the women. They stayed on their knees, Kara looking decidedly nervous. Watching me. Her head turning on her long neck.

I crouched down behind them and ran my fingers around Julie's left wrist. Tight. Same with her right wrist. She wasn't getting out of the steel until I released her. I moved to Kara. Her left wrist was tight. I rattled her right arm and the cuff fell off her wrist, dangling.

She immediately sprang to her feet and dashed towards the door. The handcuff still dangling from her left wrist.

"Kara?"

She turned just before she got to the door. I could have frozen her, but that wasn't necessary.

"My name is not Kara. It's Jane."

"You open that door, Kara, and Julie here is going to be very uncomfortable."

"You wouldn't shoot her."

"I wouldn't? Care to try me?"

"No."

"How about if I shoot you instead?"

"Shit."

"Come back here."

The naked woman walked back on her bare feet.

"What are you going to do to me?"

"Turn around."

Shaking she did.

"Hands."

She reluctantly put her hands behind her. I closed the handcuff tightly around her right wrist. Pressing it deeply into her skin.

She cried out. "Oh shit. That hurts. God. You didn't need to make it that tight."

"Kara? Last time it appears to have fallen off. I just wanted to make sure that it didn't happen again." I pressed on her shoulders and pushed her hard to her knees. Tears welled up as she pulled against her restraints. Trying in vain to get her right wrist into a comfortable position.

Kara glared at me with determination in her eyes.

I left the women on their knees and walked back over to the window. Gazed out. Christi, Jane and Amy were just finishing up the last row.

"You got an intercom in this store, Kara?"

"Of course." The sullen voice floated up from the other side of the desk.

"How?"

"You dial 9-1-4 on the phone and then just speak, you fucking bastard."

"Such language from such a beautiful woman."

Kara muttered something, but I didn't quite catch it. I walked over to the phone on her desk. I picked it up. Dialed the magic numbers.

I heard the intercom system announce itself with a soft bell. The naked women shopping in the store looked up in surprise.

"Christi?" I thought I saw her lips move. But from where I was standing I couldn't make out her words. It was probably just an
acknowledgment.

"Christi. When you finish down there, take it all to the front and wait for me. Read a National Equirer or something."

I saw her speaking and nodding.

I turned back to the women on the floor. I sat up on Kara's desk and gazed down at them.

"Who was that you were talking to? Who the hell is Christi?" Kara asked.

"None of your business. Yet."

"It is my fucking business. It's my fucking store."

I reached down and casually slapped her. Her head snapped back and she cried out at the blow. I hadn't hit her hard.

I crouched down, my face centimeters from hers.

"You listen to me. It's your *fucking* business and your *fucking* store when I tell you it is. You are nothing right now. You don't even have a name anymore. You are mine. You understand? And I don't want to hear any more unladylike language emerging from that mouth of yours. Or I'll gag it. Understand?"

She nodded. But she didn't understand. Julie was in tears again.

I pulled her to her feet. Painfully, the cuffs digging into her wrists, she stumbled to her bare feet. I dragged her around her desk
and practically threw her into her chair. Involuntary tears of pain surfaced in her eyes as she fell against the cuffs. A faint "ooof"
sound escaped her lips.

I knelt in front of her chair. It was not one of the new comfortable reclining chairs, but one of the classroom chairs with four sturdy legs. Cheap store.

"Feet."

The frightened woman allowed me to guide her bare foot to the chair legs. I lashed it securely there. Her other foot followed. I could see her wincing at the tightness of the bonds. She was secured to the chair. She wasn't going anywhere fast.

"Please," she gasped out.

"Please what?" I hitched myself up on the desk in front of her. Facing her. Her short hair was messed up and terror was across her face. I wasn't used to treating women this rough. I swung my legs.

"Please."

"You want to beg?"

"I just want to be left alone."

"Kara. Let me explain ..."

"My name isn't Kara," she softly protested.

"It will be Kara until I tell you otherwise."

"Alright. Just don't hurt me."

"Kara. How are you feeling right now?"

"Sore. Please."

"Please what?"

"Please. If you have to tie me up. Alright. But please. My feet are already falling asleep. They don't have to be that tight. And my wrist. Please. I'll do whatever you want."

"Kara. I thought you wanted them tight?"

"Wanted them tight?" she said incredulously. "I don't even want to be here. You fucking insane psychopath."

I ignored her language for the time being. She'd slip again. "Well. I did give you the chance to put the handcuffs on yourself. And you did a pretty lousy job." She began to cry. "So I naturally assumed that you wanted me to tie you up instead."

"You can't treat me like this. I demand to be let go."

I laughed. "You demand? That's cool." I casually reached forward and slapped her face again. She cried out. "You demand that I stop that as well?"

I heard a soft voice from behind me. I turned. Julie, tears still streaming down her face was talking to me.

"Please. I don't even know what your name is. Please don't hurt her anymore. She didn't do anything wrong."

"Julie. Do you really want to get involved with this?"

"No please. Please just stop slapping her. I'll be quiet back here. Please just let us go."

I turned back to Kara, seated naked and bound in front of me. I reached out and began to lightly fondle Kara's bare breasts. She twisted and tried to get away. She screamed at me.

"Leave me alone. You fucked up bastard."

I gripped her right nipple. I began to apply pressure. In gradients. I watched her face intently. Her face beginning to register the pain emanating from her breast. Finally, as I began to twist the nipple she cried out.

"Argh. No. Please stop. I'll do whatever you want. Just stop hurting me."

I released her. She sat breathing hard. Gasping for breath. Struggling with the handcuffs.

"You'll do what I say?"

"Yes." Resigned. "You'll make me fuck you anyway." She thought I wanted to rape her. She was in for a surprise.

"What if I don't want you to fuck me?"

"What?"

"What if I don't want you to fuck me?"

"What the hell do you want then."

"First I want you to listen to me. I want you to put handcuffs on properly when I tell you to. I want you to stop using unladylike
language when I tell you to. And after you've learned that lesson, I'll let you know what else I want."

"Oh God."

"Just sit there and be quiet while I take care of your friend. Then we'll decide what to do with you."

She nodded. Not wanting to feel the nipple torment again.

I hopped off the desk and approached the cowering girl on the floor. I crouched in front of her.

"Julie?"

She looked at me through her tears.

"Julie. I want to tie you into that chair. We can do it the hard way. Like Kara. Or you can just let me do it. You can be in pain, like her. Or you can be a bit more comfortable. Ask her which is better."

I looked at Kara.

"Julie. Just let him tie you up. He's going to do it anyway. And my feet are already asleep from his fucking ropes. You don't have to go through that."

"You going to do this the easy way?" I asked the terror-stricken girl.

She nodded dumbly and I helped her climb to her feet. She placed herself into the other chair with her cuffed hands on the other side of the backrest. I knelt in front of her and lashed her slender ankles to the chair legs. I was careful of her skin and made sure it was just tight enough to hold her. She wouldn't have the same circulation problems that Kara had.

Satisfied, I let myself out of the office. I ran down the stairs and walked briskly to the front of the store. The three girls were waiting as instructed by the cashiers. Jane as reading the National Equirer aloud to the other two. Laughing at some two headed baby from Mars tripe.

I moved to release Christi from her bonds holding her to the cart. As soon as her hands were free she held them up. Knowing that I was going to recuff her. I slipped the steel over her wrists and then led them all back into the store.

"Clothespins. Where?"

Jane thought about it. "I think I remember seeing packages of them with the cleaning stuff. Please. What do you need them for?" Knowing full well what I needed them for.

"Don't worry. Your nipples are safe for now. Run and get me a package."

Jane scampered away, her bare body doing delightful things as she ran down the main aisle. Her bare feet flawlessly gripping the tile as she turned into the cleaning aisle. She returned seconds later, completely out of breath but holding a package of like three hundred clothespins between her bound hands.

"Enough?" she managed to gasp out. When I told these girls to run, they ran. I shook my head. I wasn't really intending for her to run a marathon.

"You didn't have to bring me enough to sink Titanic." I stepped back. Briefly pictured Jane, bound and naked with three hundred clothespins pinching her body. All over. I smiled to myself.

"I'll get you a smaller package if you want," she replied breathlessly. Missing my smile.

"It's fine," I told the nude beauty.

We began to walk back to the employee's stairs.

"Okay girls. I don't want any shocked women here. I have a couple more women upstairs."

"Oh no." Amy groaned.

"What?"

"We only shopped for six."

I actually laughed, expecting another diatribe about me subjugating women. "I'm not keeping them, bozo."

She flushed, but grinned.

"Now. We are going up there. I don't want to hear a peep out of any of you. No matter what you see. What you hear. Got it? If I hear you sneeze, I'll gag you for the rest of the afternoon. You stay where I put you. Jane? You understand?"

"I understand." She flashed me a mischievous grin. "Why are you picking on me?"

"You know full well why I'm picking on you. I'm serious here. You won't enjoy the punishment. I'm not kidding. I have half a mind to gag you right now and avoid the trouble later."

She paled a bit. "I'll be good. I promise."

The girls stopped out of habit as I guided them towards the door marked Private. I almost laughed.

"Since when is anything private around me?"

The girls smiled ruefully and waited for me to open the door for them. We all climbed the short flight of steps together. Christi and Jane ahead. Me and Amy trailing. Their bare feet scuffing at the stairs.

"Remember. Not a peep." We approached the manager's office door.

I opened the door and the girls filed silently into the now crowded office. I gently took the clothespins from Jane and the three nude beauties sank to their knees on the threadbare carpet just behind Julie's chair.

I was immediately faced with questions from Kara.

"What the fuck is going on here?" She was beginning to recognize that this wasn't your average hold up, break and enter, or rape scenario.

"I thought I told you to watch your language."

"I want to know who the hell they are? And how the fuck you managed to get them in here like that?"

I could see the desire burning in Jane's eyes. Wanting to explain to this woman what was going on. Make her understand not to disobey. Help her. She managed to keep her tongue. I glanced around the room. Christi and Amy were sitting back on their calves trying to be impassive. Not really succeeding, but trying. Julie was just staring over her shoulder at the now passive women. Frightened out of her mind. Realizing suddenly that events had passed far beyond her ability to understand and control them. Beginning to realize that rape might be the least of her concerns.

I sighed. I sat back on the desk in front of Kara.

"Kara. Kara. Kara."

"That isn't my fucking name. Are you going to answer me? Who are they?"

"Kara. Each time you swear, you get another one of these on you. Eventually, you aren't going to care about cursing anymore."

"What?"

I reached forward and grasped a small pinch of flesh on her right breast. Just above her budding nipple. I snapped a clothespin over the patch of skin. It stood up from her flesh like a small tower.

She cried out. "What the fuck do you think you're doing? That hurts."

"I know it hurts. What does that make? Seven? Or eight?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Patiently I looked into her frightened eyes. "Kara. I told you. Unladylike language."

Her eyes teared up. "Please? What do you expect from me?"

It was Amy that broke the silence. Surprised the hell out of me. I was sure it was going to be Jane if any of them.

"Ma'am. Please. You have to listen to him. Believe me. I'm going to be punished horribly for even opening my mouth. But. He's going to hurt you like you've never been hurt before if you don't listen. If he told you not to curse, you can't. No matter how much you want to. Please."

I dropped off the desk and rummaged through the pack. I picked up a red ball gag and walked over to Amy. She closed her eyes. Shaking her head.

"Please. Master. I was only trying to help."

"Do you know why you are being gagged?"

"Yes." Tears were running down her face.

"Why?"

"Because I was ordered not to speak. But. Please. I couldn't help it."

"I know. And you are a brave girl. Silly. But brave. She won't listen to you, you know?"

Tears just rolled down her cheeks and she opened her mouth.

"You are just going to let him gag you? Just like that?" Kara asked incredulously.

Amy opened her eyes. "Please. I knew what I was getting into when I opened my mouth. If I don't let him, he'll just gag me more painfully and then whip me or something. Something I won't like. Easier just to take my punishment. Please don't let it go to waste. Listen to him."

Her words were cut off as I pressed the gag gently into her accepting mouth behind her white teeth. Her eyes still trying to express her earnestness over top of her stretched mouth. She held it easily in her mouth as I moved to the back of her neck. I buckled it behind her head but didn't wrench it into her. She'd be uncomfortable, but as long as I didn't leave it in for hours on end, she'd be alright. She'd end up with a slightly sore jaw. Nothing worse. No more outbursts out of her.

"Hands."

The glum girl just obediently raised her cuffed wrists. I removed the left cuff and she unconsciously touched her lips, stretched around the ball. She moaned and then realized that I hadn't given her permission to move her free hand. She paled a bit and placed her left hand back into position with her right. I grasped her wrists and moved them behind her. I could hear her protesting behind the gag, but couldn't understand her words. I clipped her wrists back together behind her and then rose.

I returned to the desk and sat back in from of Kara.

"Now. Where were we?"

"Please don't do this."

"Clothespins, right?"

"You were placing eight clothespins on my tits for my swearing." Kara's attitude seemed to have changed with the appeal from Amy. Maybe she was beginning to realize that she was in some real trouble and she better start cooperating if she expected to get out without some real pain. Perhaps realizing that Amy had taken punishment for her to try and warn her.

I began to systematically attach the clothespins to the firm flesh of her bare breasts. She squirmed against he ropes holding her, but not significantly. Twisting her body probably was painful in itself with the tight bonds. She cried out as the sixth one settled into her left breast. Julie was still softly crying behind me. Not being able to stop.

"Now. The hard part."

"Please. Not the nipples."

I nodded. "You ready?"

"Please. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'll never swear again. As long as I live. I'll do whatever you want. God. Please. You don't have any idea how much that is going to hurt. These hurt enough. I'm begging you."

I reached out and touched her right nipple. I could see the concentration across her face. Trying not to squirm. Trying not to
twist away. Trying not to react to my gentle caresses. She lost. Her nipple hardened involuntarily and she screamed as the clamp squeezed the tip. She thrashed in her bonds. Shaking herself. Trying to dislodge the pain.

"Ahhhh. Noooooooo. Oh my god. Oh my god. It hurts. Please take it off me. I'll do anything you want. I'll fu ... make love to you. Any way you want it. Please."

I waited for her to calm. The pain to subside to a dull throbbing in her nipple.

"Kara?"

She turned her head. Looking at me through bleary eyes.

"If you mean love making, you can say fuck. That's acceptable. It's only when you embellish with it. 'Fucking bastard' doesn't really sound very ladylike. Unless you are in pain, like now, in which case I can sort of understand losing your composure."

"You fu ... bastard."

"See. You are getting the idea."

I reached out and lightly touched her left nipple.

"Please no. I'll do anything you want. I'll fuck you. I'll crawl for you. I'll do anything you want. I'll degrade myself. But please. Don't clamp my other nipple. It hurts so much."

She didn't even try beyond the begging. Her nipple slowly tightened to my touch. Again she screamed out her pain as the clothespin closed on her.

"Argh. No. No. Please. Oh God. My tits. It hurts so goddamn much. Please take them off me. I'll do anything."

I leaned back on my hands and watched the woman as she hurt and pleaded. Finally the pain peaked and descended into that dull throbbing. She was breathing hard. Her clothespin decorated breasts rising and falling with her distress.

I hopped off the table. Done tormenting her for the moment. I looked out the window. I had a fine view of the front of the store. Cashiers. Front doors. The works.

I turned around. Jane and Christi looked pained. Having to watch Kara sitting there naked as she had to watch her breasts being tortured. Wanting to comfort her. Wanting to at least say something. But somehow holding their tongues. All they had to do was look at Amy. Head hung, gagged. Hands cuffed behind her back instead of in front. Actually I was proud of them. It must have been near impossible for Jane to keep quiet.

Julie just sat and cried in her chair. Trying to pretend that she wasn't handcuffed naked in some interviewer's office. Waiting to be tortured.

"Ladies?"

All the heads in the room perked up as I addressed them.

"Kara and Julie. I want you to think about something. Okay? I have a few other things to do. When I get back, I expect you both to be ready to have sex."

Julie looked up at me. I was surprised after all she'd seen that she'd care. "I thought you said you wouldn't rape me."

"And I'm not going to. I meant have sex with each other."

"You have to be joking."

I turned back to the window. "Just be prepared. I am going to ask you to do it. Ask Kara what the price of disobedience is. Hell just look at her chest."

I concentrated. I isolated their body masses from the vicinity in space-time. Seeing them made it easier, but they were a fair distance away. And there was a plate of smoked glass between us. I felt their space assert itself onto this timeline and I groaned at the effort. Dizziness washed over me. Kara gasped as I leaned on her bare shoulder shaking her tightly bound body and the clothespins.

I glanced over at Christi, who was struggling to get to her bare feet. She paled at my look, falling back to her knees. She looked like she was desperate to say something, knowing that she wasn't allowed.

I shook my head and the dizziness cleared to be replaced with a very faint nausea. I straightened.

Looking out the window, I watched as the two stunned girls excitedly spoke to each other downstairs. I couldn't hear their words, but I was willing to put money on that they were trying to sort out why their old friend Mr. Gramps wasn't moving. And neither was his grandson. Kathleen carefully stepped out from her cage. Both girls looking around desperately. Frightened.

They crept down the front aisle between the cases of pop and the cash registers. They stopped in front of lane four. Pointing at the middle aged woman. Finally, Nicole, at least I think it was Nicole, got braver and opened the enclosure. Reaching out tentatively with her hand and touching the frozen woman's face. I heard the scream faintly as she pulled her hand back from the frozen cold flesh.

She scrambled out of the cashier enclosure and desperately hugged the other girl. Trembling. Her lips moving soundlessly. Probably trying to make sense of all this. The girls carefully crept around other frozen people. Frightened to touch them. Staying together.

Finally, panicked, they began to run for the door. I had long ago ensured that all the entrance doors were frozen on the prime time line. No matter what they did, they couldn't have opened them.

Kathleen actually ran into the doors. Expecting them to open automatically. She fell backwards onto her bottom and began to shake. Nicole tried to pry the frozen door open with her fingers. Finally, after a few minutes they gave up and sank to the floor. I couldn't tell, but it was looking like Nicole was crying as well. The girls shifted until their backs were to the door and just waited. For what, I have no idea.

I turned to my other captives. "Girls? I want you all to stay here. Quietly. You can talk together. But quietly."

I stepped around Kara and the desk. I petted Julie's head as I passed her. She cringed.

I crouched in front of Jane and Christi. I whispered to them.

"I don't want you telling them about the time thing. But explaining the rules is alright. Get them ready for the sex. I don't want either one of you off your knees while I'm gone. Understand?"

They both mutely nodded. I rose to my feet and slipped out of the room. I silently made my way down the stairs. As soon as I opened the door into the store, I could faintly hear the girls through the silence. I carefully closed the door and made my way towards the front of the store. As I approached them, I began to be able to make out their individual voices and the odd word.

"... Nicole ..."

"... trapped ... Ms. Orton ..."

I waited just out of their sight. Curious what they would do. I could barely see them. They were definitely in tears. Trying to make sense out of the messed up world.

"We have to get out. Get help," the girl named Kathleen was speaking.

"How? We can't even open the damn doors."

"We'll break the glass or something. Find a phone that works."

"Come on. Maybe there is someone alive upstairs."

I watched as they got to their feet and began to walk towards me. I stood stock still. Trying to look like one of the frozen people. Kathleen and Nicole walked past me. Carefully moving around my body to avoid touching me. Touching the frozen people, must have really spooked Nicole earlier. I let them get ten meters or so towards the back of the store, before I made any sound.

I softly spoke. "Going somewhere ladies?"

I think you probably could have heard the double scream at the South Pole. Nicole almost fainted. Her eyes actually rolled back but she managed to catch herself and hold onto consciousness.

Kathleen whispered. "Goddamn you scared us. Thank God. You're alive. We aren't the only ones."

I let Nicole regain her composure before I continued.

"The others aren't dead exactly. They just can't hear you."

"Excuse me? Do you know what is going on here?" Kathleen's face had lit up. "Who are you?"

"The people are frozen. They aren't dead."

"Why aren't we?"

"Because I let you free."

"You?"

"Kind of."

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to understand."

"What the hell is going on here?" Her tears had dried up. Anger replacing them. Then plaintively, "Are you going to help us?"

"Girls. You are currently on a separate time line. The others are frozen on the original one. Does that help?"

"No."

"I doubted it would."

"So, how do we get back to the original timeline? Back to normal?"

"I start it up again."

"You. Start it up again? So why don't you?"

"I like it here at the moment."

"So where do we fit in?" She was still mighty calm. I could see it in her eyes. A conscious decision to remain cool and calm. Similar to Jane the first time I met her.

"It's actually very simple. If you do whatever I say, then you don't get hurt."

"This is some elaborate robbery? I don't have any money." Still calm. But I noticed her eyes darting around.

"Kathleen. Nicole. You look like smart girls. Right?"

They both nodded.

"Were you able to get out of here?"

"No. What have you done to the doors?"

"Believe me. You can't open them. You can't break them. You can't get out of this store unless I let you."

Nicole moaned. Despite the fact that Kathleen was doing most of the talking, she caught on quicker.

"You want us. Don't you?" Nicole moaned.

"Kind of. Kathleen. I see your eyes. You can't escape. Believe me. Save yourself the trouble."

"What do you want with us?"

Nicole answered the question for me. "He wants *us*, Kath. He's going to r-rape us. Or something." She had begun to cry and her body was shaking.

Kathleen absorbed the assertion. Nodding. Not panicking.

"What if we just turned and ran?"

"I wouldn't if I were you. You don't want to piss me off."

"Oh God. Tell me why we shouldn't just attack you. Right here. You couldn't stop us both." I saw her begin to tense her muscles.

"Kathleen. You look like a smart girl. What if I have a gun? A knife? You willing to risk your pretty body for a futile attack? And what if you don't succeed? What if it just makes me angry? What if I have that gun and I decide to shoot you? And not to kill you? Bullets can be really painful."

Both girls had paled. Kathleen was shifting her weight from foot to foot.

Kathleen spoke again. "What do you want us to do?"

"Are you two sisters?"

Kathleen answered. "We actually get that a lot. No. We aren't."

I just watched them for a few minutes. Considering what I wanted them to do. They stood uncomfortably. Frightened, but not crying any longer.

"Girls? I know you aren't going to like this. But I need you out of the way for a little while. Okay?"

"Please. Just let us go."

"I need to tie you up for a while. Okay?"

"Please. You don't need to tie us up. Why?"

"Got other things to take care of." I lied.

"If we let you tie us up, will you leave us alone? You can do whatever it is you want to do, and then leave. You can just call someone to come untie us."

"Perhaps."

"Okay. Just don't go ballistic here. Nobody wants to get hurt. We'll do whatever you want. You want to tie us up. You can. I've been tied up before. I have brothers. Where do you want us?" Kathleen was still calm. Nicole was beginning to cry again. Kathleen threw her arm around Nicole's shoulders and tried to comfort her.

"Nicole. Calm down. It's just a bit of rope. He'll tie us up for a while. No big deal. Better than being raped or shot. Okay? Honey?"

Nicole snuffled but managed to control her crying. "You aren't going to hurt us?"

I considered the question. I really didn't know what I was going to do with these two. I wanted to see them nude. That almost went without saying. And I was picturing them screaming.

"I'm not going to hurt you," I lied again to them.

I had the girls walk ahead of me back towards the front of the store. As we walked, I watched their bodies as they moved beneath the uniforms. So soon to be removed uniforms.

I glanced up. The ceiling in this store was very high. A good six meters up. I wanted their hands above them. Somehow, I'd have to get a connection up into the rafters.

I moved towards the women. They had stopped by the second cash line. Waiting quietly for my instructions. I produced another couple of pairs of handcuffs. I could have frozen them again while I prepared, but the dizziness had scared me a bit earlier. Last thing I needed was to pass out trying to refreeze them. Kathleen would have me in knots, if not dead, in a matter of seconds.

"This won't hurt you. Hold out your right hand Kathleen. Left for you Nicole." Nicole was standing to Kathleen's right.

I walked up to the girls and carefully slipped the first pair of cuffs over their extended wrists. Nicole began to cry again as she watched her left wrist encircled by the steel. I double checked since I hadn't tightened the cuffs into their skin. Nicole shuddered at my touches. The cuff was secure between them. I connected another cuff to Kathleen's left wrist and led them together to the second cash. There was a convenient red railing marking the lanes. I slipped the cuff around the railing securing them to it temporarily.

"You are just going to leave us here?" Kathleen asked.

"For now."

"How long? Shush Nicole." Nicole struggled to control herself.

"I need to work out a few things. I'll be back for you in a little while."

"Take your time," Kathleen told me. She pulled a bit against the handcuff holding her to the railing. Realizing that she wasn't going anywhere.

I wandered back towards the rear of the store. The store had advertisements swinging from the rafters. There must be a maintenance area somewhere. A big ladder for putting up those signs. After a brief search I located a long stepladder. It was a bit of a struggle, but I managed to drag it to the front of the store.

Kathleen and Nicole had dropped and were sitting quietly on the floor. Cross-legged. Kathleen's left wrist was extended up, dangling from her tether.

"Sir? Can I ask who you are? And why you need that ladder?" Her eyes betrayed her confusion. But it hadn't settled into worry yet. She was a cool customer. By now, she had to have figured out that if I really only wanted to tie them up, I could have just left them cuffed to the railing. I could see the knowledge burning behind her bright blue eyes. I was sure that she hadn't voiced her concerns because of Nicole.

I set up the ladder and called down to her as I climbed it. "Kathleen, I don't really have a name. Not really. Sir will do." I didn't want to frighten her by suggesting that Master would also be acceptable. "Who I am is really unimportant."

"I just feel odd, you knowing my name and me not knowing yours. After all, I let you restrain me. That should put us on a first name basis don't you think?"

I considered telling her my real name. I wanted her off balance a bit so I just decided to wait. I'd tell her if the time was right. Until I had complete control of her. I was almost sure that she was just stalling for time. Waiting for an opportunity to either try an escape or incapacitate me. She was a smart girl. She'd go along with whatever I wanted to do to her, and she'd just wait for the right time. I'd have to watch her.

"I don't have a first name. You want to make one up?"

She considered it. "You'll hurt me if I come up with one you don't like."

Pretty bright girl. "Uh-huh." I'd reached the top of the ladder. I reached up and touched the rafter above me. Idly I wondered if any of the girls could see me up here through the private window in the manager's office. I glanced down. Damn good thing I wasn't afraid of heights. I idly considered what would happen if I fell off this thing. Perhaps I should have made Christi or Jane do this. Too late now.

I fished a length of rope out of my pocket and looped it over the rafter. It was one of those warehouse steel beams. Strong as hell. It would need to be.

I let the end of the rope fall to the floor, six meters down. I gripped the other end and descended the ladder, pulling the rope down with me. After I reached the bottom, I retrieved a can of apple juice from the shelves and tied it off. Didn't want the rope slipping back up. I gathered up the ladder and moved it off to the side.

Kathleen looked up at me from her seated position.

"What's the rope for?"

"You are a smart girl. What do you think it is for?"

"Us."

"Uh-huh."

She glanced at Nicole who was pulling gently at her cuffed wrist. By extension pulling at Kathleen. Kathleen just suffered the motion in her right hand quietly. Thinking. Probably wanting to ask more, but afraid of frightening Nicole further. Knowing that this wasn't as innocent as it appeared.

"Why?" She finally asked.

I considered my answer. This could go two ways. If I managed to frighten Nicole, then Kathleen was going to become uncooperative. She was being cooperative to spare Nicole and thinking that doing what I told her would prevent her from being hurt, or raped. In that she was correct. At least, she wasn't going to get punished if she cooperated. She was sparing herself a lot of agony. She didn't know that though. She would still hurt, but not like she would if she actively resisted. But if Nicole got spooked, then she really had no reason to cooperate and she might become a little more dangerous. I'd probably have to use
my gun. At least as a threat.

"You are going to be in the way if I leave you here." I made something up on the spot. Not particularly plausible, but Nicole wasn't really in any shape to notice.

She nodded. Not understanding, but realizing that she wasn't ever likely to understand why some strange guy could freeze people and wanted to unfreeze her and tie her up.

She raised her right arm, carrying Nicole's wrist with her. I carefully released the cuff from Kathleen and guided the free end to
the railing. I cuffed Nicole directly to the railing. I then released Kathleen from the rail and recuffed her hands in front of her. Her blue eyes held a questioning look, but she didn't complain. She just accepted the bonds.

I guided the girl to the shorter end of the rope. The end I'd protected from escaping from the rafter with the can of apple juice. I slipped the rope from the can and attached the end to the chain between Kathleen's wrists. She squirmed a bit.

She glanced over her shoulder at Nicole and then turned back. Nicole was crying, not really paying attention to the restraint of her friend.

Kathleen whispered to me as I attached her.

"Please. What are you going to do with us? You aren't just going to tie us up are you?"

"I'm not sure exactly."

"You are going to hurt us? Rape us? Aren't you?" Calmly.

"Kathleen. If you cooperate, I'll try to go easy on you." She didn't really deserve full fledged lies. I hedged around the truth a bit to keep her calm. "And I'm not going to rape you."

She nodded. "I'll do whatever you want. Please. You don't have to hurt us. And, I'll. I'll do *whatever* you want. Please just leave Nicole alone. She. She can't take this. Can't you see her crying?"

Girls always seemed to come in pairs. The strong one. And the weak one. Must be something in pairing. One always felt protective of the other. Kathleen and Nicole. Jane and Elaine. Lynn and Janet. Catherine and Elizabeth. Even Evelyn versus Ashley and Lisa. Kara and Julie. Always a stronger one.

"Who is she? You look too similar to be friends."

"We are friends. But she's also a cousin. A distant one. That's why there is a resemblance. Please. Don't hurt her. I'll do whatever it is you want. You want me? I'll let you have me. I'll give you whatever you want willingly. Just let her go. Please?"

"I'll try not to hurt her, but I need her secured as well."

"She is secured." Perceptive. No fright in her eyes anymore. "I'll start to resist you if you don't let her go."

"Kathleen. Be smart. You don't want to resist. And how do you know that I'm not turned on by a girl resisting? Huh?"

"Shit. You are a bastard. What are you going to do to us? Me?"

"Right now, I'm serious. I just want to have you both bound. Easy. A little embarrassing. But I'm trying to make sure that you aren't really uncomfortable. You are somewhat comfortable because you've been behaving so far."

"Actually, I noticed. My brothers used to tie my up worse than this." She knew I wasn't lying about making her uncomfortable at least.

"I'm going to move Nicole over. Alright? I won't hurt her. I promise."

"Please. Just let us go. You don't have to do this."

I smiled at her, but ignored her plea. I returned to Nicole who looked up at me with frightened eyes. Her eyes, I noticed, were brown. Matched her hair.

"Nicole. Honey. I'm just going to move you over there with Kathleen. Okay? You aren't going to do anything dumb are you?"

"N-n-no. I'll do what you want. Please. Just don't hurt me."

"You'll be comfortable enough. Okay?"

I released the cuff from the railing and coaxed the upset girl to her feet. I handcuffed her like Kathleen. Hands in front of her. I walked her over by her cousin. I gently pulled on the other end of the rope. The rafter working like a pulley. Kathleen's hands rose and though I could feel the weight of her arms, she didn't resist.

"Nicole? Raise your hands above your head. High. Reach for the ceiling."

She just stood there crying.

"Nicole? Sweety?" Kathleen spoke to her friend. "You have to do what he says. Or he's going to hurt me. Please? It's just me that you are going to be attached to. Please? For me?"

Nicole looked up and raised her hands above her head. Fingers outstretched towards the ceiling.

I wrapped the rope around the short chain between her wrists and tied it off. I had to reach up a little, but neither girl was all that tall. I was able to secure the knot adequately. I stepped back from the bound women to check the scene. The women just stood quietly with their arms bound above them. Their cashier uniforms pulled tight
across their chests with the arms high position. Breasts flattened against their jerseys. There was slack in the tethering rope, but the women couldn't move very far apart. Any movement on the part of one was transferred through the tether to the other girl. I nodded. It would do.

Kathleen spoke. "Don't make me regret letting you do this to me."

Kara's voice floated through the door. "You are freer than I am. Please."

Jane's quiet voice. "I can't. I wish I could. God how I wish that I could."

"But, he's not here. I'm not suggesting that we attack him. I know it won't work. But, I could get out of here. Get help."

"Didn't you say that you yelled earlier?"

"I don't understand why the police aren't here yet. God, this hurts."

"It looks like it. Jane? Kara? Whatever your name is? You have to listen to him. You have to obey him. I know it is hard. I know you are an independent woman. So am I. I know it doesn't look like it. But I was. You aren't going to like what he wants you to do. But believe me, you have to do it. It will be over soon. I promise. I know that he doesn't want to keep you. You'll be freed if you cooperate." Jane spoke soothingly to the other woman.

"Oh God. I can't take this much longer. Just. Please. If you won't untie me, please get these things off my nipples. Please?"

"I can't. I'm so sorry. I feel for you. I really do. I know how much that hurts. Having clamps on your nipples. But he could be outside the door listening right now. I'm not allowed to move."

"He's not here, goddammit. Why are you so afraid of him?"

"Kara. Listen to yourself. Your feet are blue. Your breasts have a half dozen clothespins on them that you can't remove. You've been slapped. My God. Aren't you afraid of him?" Jane reasoned.

"I just want out of this."

"I know you do, sweety. I know." It sounded strange this teenager calling a woman twice her age 'sweety', but Jane managed to pull it off. Strange situation. "He'll let you out if you cooperate and don't go out of your way to piss him off."

There was a pause. I was about to walk in, I had my hand on the doorknob when I heard Julie's soft voice begin.

"He's. He's not really going to make us do that is he?"

Christi's voice floated through the thin door. "Honey? Julie? You have to try and get used to the idea. He is going to make you two have sex together. Honestly."

"I can't do it."

"Sweetheart. That's what I thought as well, the first time he made me have sex with a woman. God. I hated it. I still do."

"Then why?"

"Why do I do it for him? I don't have a choice. The alternative is so much worse. Jane. She's been through it. I've seen her screaming. I couldn't do that. So I just close my eyes and make love to whoever he tells me to. I just try to forget it's a woman. It's just skin. I know it's hard to think that way, but you are going to have to try. It won't kill you. But the alternative might. I don't want to watch if you can't do it."

"What. What will he do to me? What did he do to Jane?"

"Honey, he'll probably whip you. If you are lucky."

"Wh-whip me? I. I think I can do that. It would be better than having sex with Kara. I mean Jane. I don't even know what I mean, I'm so scared."

"You don't know what it feels like. Look at Kara ... Jane. Now imagine that ten times worse and ten times longer."

"I. I can't have sex with her. I can't."

"Yes you can. Believe me, he'll keep whipping you until you either pass out or beg to make love to her. You will do what he asks. You can't take that pain."

"I can."

"Honey. He'll whip you on your breasts. Between your legs. Your face. You can't take that very long. I've seen much stronger women than you begging to be raped by a dog rather than take another stroke across the nipples. You'll do anything to avoid another stroke. Trust me. It hurts."

There was another pause here. I thought I could hear the bound girl quietly weeping. I heard Christi mutter, "God. I wish I could move."

"I know," Jane's voice filtered through. "Me too."

I slowly opened the door and peeked in. Julie was hanging in her ropes. Pulling weakly at them. Crying softly. Kara just glared at me in hate as I walked in. Jane and Christi turned their heads.

Christi spoke first. "Sir? Permission to go to Julie?"

I nodded. Christi scrambled to her bare feet, her handcuffs jangling. She knelt again near Julie's bound feet and stroked the girl's thigh. Whispering to her. Trying to calm her. Julie wept, but seemed to be reacting to the female comfort. Calming a little.

Amy just looked over her gag. Trying to speak through it to get my attention. Wanting it out. I'd remove it for her, but I had some other things to take care of first.

I walked over and sat in front of Kara again.

"Well? How's the breasts?"

"They fucking hurt, you son-of-a-bitch."

"I see. You want me to take them off you?"

"What do you think?"

"I think you actually look pretty in them," I remarked casually.

"Bastard."

"Do you want me to take them off you?"

"Yes."

"Beg."

"Beg? You fucked up maniac. Never."

I slapped her. Not hard, but enough to remind her that she was the one tied into her chair, not able to move away. Tears sprang to her eyes as the blow settled into her face. She looked up at me again with loathing.

I reached forward and grasped the two clothespins attached to her sore nipples. I gently pulled them out from her bare breasts. Her face registered disbelief at the level of the pain, seconds before her mouth opened and she screamed.

"Argh. Please. Oh fuck. My nipples. Please. Please. Please. That hurts. Oh God. Let me go. I'll do what you want. I'll beg. I'll beg. Please. No. Stop."

I released her nipples and her breasts snapped back against her chest. She sagged in her ropes. Moaning.

I left her there and hopped off her desk. I walked to her window, waiting for her pain to subside. Kathleen was standing close to Nicole. I had a perfect view of the two bound girls on the store floor. Kathleen was on her tiptoes trying to reach the knots holding her hands. Her fingers scrabbling at the tether holding her arms up and to her cousin. Nicole was trying to give her as much slack as she could. With the handcuffs interfering and the way I'd tied the knots in the tether, Kathleen was going to have a hell of a time even reaching the knots, much less loosening them. For now, I'd let her try.

I turned back to Kara. Stroking her hair from behind. She just sat still and suffered the touch.

I hopped back up on the desk. Facing her. Her eyes were still tearing but she had gotten the old defiance back again. She opened her mouth to say something. I slapped her again before she could get the words out.

"Ow. Please. What was that for?"

"I felt like it."

"God. Please. I was just going to tell you ..."

I slapped her again. Tears began to fall down her cheeks. Not understanding why she was being hit.

"Owowow. Please. Stop slapping me. I'll do whatever it is you want."

I slapped her again. This time she tensed for it and her face flipped to the side. Slowly she brought her face back around. I wasn't hitting her that hard. Her face would sting for a while, but there wouldn't be any lasting damage. Couple of red hand prints. I'm sure it wasn't comfortable but overall she'd be fine.

"Please?" she implored me. Not having a clue what I wanted. How shecould stop me from slapping her.

I slapped her other cheek. Her head rocked. She turned back towards me. Hate burning in her eyes, but this time she kept her mouth closed. She just waited for the next slap.

I leaned back on the desk and just regarded her. Her pinned breasts heaving as she softly cried.

"Have you been thinking about Julie?" I asked her.

"Please."

I slapped her again. Her left cheek again. Her cheeks were getting really red. Tears were free flowing down the reddened cheeks. Her head rocked to the right and she wept there for a moment. Finally she turned her head back towards me. Beginning to understand that she wasn't to speak.

I waited a few moments and then repeated the question.

"Have you been thinking about Julie?"

This time, Kara just shook her head in the negative. I stroked her face instead of slapping it this time.

"You realize that you two are going to have sex for me?"

A confused look on her face. So wanting to talk to me about this. Wanting to somehow persuade me not to play this perverse game.

She shook her head. Wrong answer. I slapped her face again. Right cheek. Her head rocked to the left. Weeping. She didn't turn her face back this time. She spoke, turned away from me.

"I can't. Please. I'll do whatever else you ... aahhhhhhh. Please. No more. Fuck. That hurts. Oh God. Please. My nipples. My poor nipples. Fuck. Stop. No more. Please. For the love of Christ. Stop."

I released her nipple pins. As soon as the pain faded she managed to turn her face back towards me. The spark of defiance still showed through her pain. I slapped her. Harder this time. Still not telling her why. I think she was beginning to make the connections. She speaks, she gets slapped. If she tries to avoid it, her nipples get my attention and she gets slapped anyway. Harder.

After she managed to get control of herself, she slowly turned herface back towards me. Begging with her eyes.

"You realize that you two are going to have sex for me, right?"

She took a deep breath. Still wanting desperately to protest. She slowly nodded.

"Because you are going to sit there and get slapped unless you do as you are told. Right?"

She nodded again.

"So. Don't you think that you should be thinking about that nude woman currently tied to that chair over there?"

Another look of confusion crossed her face. Not wanting to answer but knowing she had to. She nodded again.

I stroked her short blonde hair. "Good girl."

Her face flushed. I could see her wanting to turn her face away in shame, but knew the consequences. Her nipples knew the consequences.

"Now. Do you want those clothespins off your breasts?"

A big nod. Easy to tell the truth here.

"How about having your ankles loosened?"

Another huge nod.

"Do you want to make love to Julie?"

A look of confusion crossed her face. Tears welling up again. She slowly nodded. Thinking that this was the answer I wanted. I knew that she was lying. I gave her a light slap. Not even enough to really feel compared to the others, but enough for her to know that she had done something wrong. Tears welled up in her eyes again. Afraid. Not knowing what the hell I wanted from her. Not being able to ask.

She slowly shook her head. Negative.

"Kara. I just want the truth. I know that you don't want to make love to her. I still am going to enjoy watching you do it, but I know that you don't want to."

She nodded. Slowly. Tears falling. She understood. She understood the pain of the slaps.

"Now. I gave you a chance to get those clothespins off your breasts once before. By begging. And you messed it up. So I guess that you'll have to live with them for a while. You want to beg to have your ankles loosened?"

She closed her eyes and nodded.

"You can speak now."

No hesitation this time. "Oh God. Please. I'm begging you. I can't feel my toes. They're numb. I don't want to lose them. I'm afraid. There's no circulation at all. I'll get down on my knees if you'll let me."

"Beg Jane. Not me."

Confusion crossed her face. But she was beginning to see that disobedience caused discomfort and punishment. Whether it made any sense to her or not. And she really was worried about her feet. That I could see. She was trying desperately to twist in her ankle ropes, trying to find somewhere to allow some circulation. There simply wasn't any position because of the tightness of the ropes. She could barely even twist her ankles.

"Jane? Please? I'm begging for my feet. Please? The ropes on my ankles. They are too tight. Oh God. I'm going to lose my feet. I don't want to lose them. Please. Have mercy on me. I'm not asking to be released. Just loosened. Just a bit. Please? Let me have circulation? I'm begging you."

I turned to Jane. Still on her knees behind Julie.

"Jane? You think that you can loosen these things with your hands cuffed?"

"It will take me a while. But if she cooperates ..." Jane's voice trailed off.

"You going to cooperate?" I turned to Kara.

"Yes, sir."

"Come here, Jane."

She rose to her bare feet and padded over to the desk. I had her raise her hands and I released her handcuffs letting them dangle from her left wrist. She immediately knelt and gasped as she saw the pair of blue bare feet in front of her. Her fingers immediately began to work at the knots. They were my knots so she didn't have as much trouble as if she'd tied them. In a few minutes, Kara's right foot was free of  the chair leg. I watched as the pink colour returned to her lower extremity. Tears of relief dripped down her face. Jane worked on her left foot while I talked to her.

"Kara?"

She looked at me. Almost defeated.

"Are you sorry about the handcuffs?"

She slowly nodded. I actually believed that she was.

Her left foot came free of the ropes. She flexed her toes. The colour returning to her left foot as well.

Suddenly she gasped. Pain crossing her face. Pulling at her handcuffs. Tears of pain crawling down her cheeks again.

"Please. Oh God," she gasped out. "My feet. Oh my God. My feet."

"What's the matter?"

"Tingling. Pins and needles. Oh God. I can't take it." Trying to hold her bare feet still against the floor.

"Janey? Massage her feet."

"Sir? That will hurt her."

"I know. Kara? You keep your feet still for Jane. Okay?"

"Oh God. Please don't touch .... God. Oh God. Please. I'll do anything you want. They fucking hurt. Please make her stop. Oooowwwwwww."

I let the woman suffer, eventually Jane's fingers massaging the blood back into the poor woman's feet. I could see the relief flow into her features as the pain faded.

"Jane. Retie them. But not as tight. Okay?"

Jane nodded and I hopped off the desk, leaving the tormented women to finish. I crouched in front of Julie. My forearms easily rested on her bare thighs. Christi was still kneeling there, stroking the girl.She'd raised up on her knees and was stroking the girl's long brown hair with her cuffed hands.

"Julie?"

She was still quietly sobbing. Probably scared by what I'd done to Kara.

Christ whispered in the girls ear. "Julie, honey? You have to answer him. You don't want to feel what Kara felt, do you?"

"Please? Don't hurt me. I'll do whatever you want."

"That's good. So you'll make love to Kara for me?"

"I. I'm not sure I can."

"But you'll try?"

"I'm not a lesbian. Please don't make me do that."

Christi spoke up. "Remember what we talked about, Julie? You have to
try."

"I'll try. Just don't slap me. Please?"

I ran my fingertips down her bare exposed breasts and she cringed. I rose.

Jane had finished re-tying Kara's ankles. I crouched and double checked the knots. I'd never caught her not tying up a girl to the best of her ability. Kara wasn't going anywhere but her feet wouldn't fall asleep due to lack of circulation again. I ran my finger along Kara's right instep and up her calf. She shuddered but was smart enough not to make a complaint.

"Thanks, Jane."

She just smiled. Knowing that she was damn good at knots. She crawled out from the foot of Kara's chair. Knelt by Julie's chair.

"Christi? Jane? On your feet."

The girls obediently rose to their feet with me. I recuffed Jane's hands. She made no complaint. I guided them towards the doorway. Their bare feet moving ahead of me. As we passed the door, I turned back to the remaining women.

"Amy?"

She turned towards me hopefully. Forced to remain voluntarily immobile. Her hands still cuffed behind her. The ball gag still
stretching her mouth.

"I'll let you out of that gag when I get back."

Her face fell. Hoping for the use of her mouth again. But silently accepting her punishment. Not having much choice. Not as though she could take it out of her own mouth.

"Julie and Kara? When I get back, you should be ready to have sex. Okay?"

Kara defeated, nodded. Julie shook her head. Neither was very enthusiastic about it. Julie pulled once more at the ropes holding her bare body and gave up. Slumping in the bonds.

I picked up the pack and I closed the door as I walked out with the girls.

"You didn't have to slap her that hard, you know." Christi spoke to me as we made our way out of the employee area and back down the stairs. Tugging a bit against the leash.

"She was not being obedient."

"She's new. She doesn't even know what is expected of her. You didn't even tell her why you were slapping her. Torturing her."

"She figured it out."

"Sometimes you are such a bastard."

I put my hand on her shoulder and stopped her. Jane stopped as well, gazing at us. We'd almost made it to the bottom of the stairs. The cuffed blonde in front of me was shaking a bit. I couldn't tell if it was anger or fright.

"Christi. Do you want to be the next one being slapped?"

She paled. Suddenly really frightened. I couldn't blame her.

"No sir. Please. I'm sorry. Truly I am," she managed to get out shakily. "You don't have to hurt me."

"I don't want to hear anymore about how I'm treating them. I'm not in the mood to put up with it. Alright?"

Tears had begun to form in Christi's eyes and she clamped her mouth shut and nodded slowly. Not understanding. Frightened. Jane looked like she was about to say something but decided not to. Her mouth set in a grim line.

I opened the door and let the girls walk out into the store again. They padded out and stood waiting for me to join them. I walked them along the back of the store, and finally down the aisle leading to the front of the store. As we approached, Kathleen and Nicole both stared at us. Not quite believing that I was leading a pair of nude women by their throats, their hands in handcuffs down the store aisle towards them. Along the way, I picked up some broom handles as we passed.

Kathleen found her tongue first. "Oh God. Is that our fate too?"

Christi and Jane just sank to their knees on the store tiles. Keeping their mouths shut. I walked over to the bound cashiers.

"Kathleen, that isn't your fate. I promise you. We are just going to have some fun and then I'll release you. If you cooperate."

"By fun, you mean rape. And I let you tie me up. I have been cooperating. I thought that you weren't going to hurt us. Why should I believe that you'll let us go after raping us."

Nicole was almost incoherent in fright. Tears running down her pretty face.

"You can't. But I can't keep you like I'm keeping them."

"Why not?"

Jane spoke from her kneeling position on the floor. "Honey. You'll end up doing what he wants anyway. Trust me. It doesn't much matter if he's telling the truth or not. I've been with him long enough to know that it is always just better to cooperate with him."

"Who are you?" Kathleen asked the naked kneeling girl.

"I'm Jane. And I have no idea if he's even going to punish me for talking to you. I'm frightened like hell, and I just don't want to see you hurt more than necessary. Please. Just listen to him."

Kathleen nodded. "You'll let us go after you've had your fun?"

I nodded. "I can't keep you."

She looked a bit confused, but didn't question it again. "If I willingly have sex with you, will you let Nicole go? Spare her at
least?"

"I can take whatever I want from you. And from her."

The first tears began to form in her eyes. "I swear. I'll give you the best time of your life. I don't. Have much experience, but I'll make it up in effort. I'll try my best. You won't regret it. Please." She tried to move towards me, but the tether stopped her short.

"Kathleen. You don't really want to do that."

"Of course, I don't. But I don't have much else to bargain with, now do I?"

I picked up the scissors from the pack. Kathleen's face went ashen. Her mouth moved, but no sound came out.

"Oh God. You know I'll do whatever you want. Please. Don't hurt us. I don't want to die," she finally managed to gasp out. She thought that I was going to use the scissors on her body.

"Relax. You'll be fine if you don't move. I'm just going to relieve you of those pretty uniforms."

"You are going to cut our clothes off. You don't have to do that. I'll take them off if you just release me for a moment. I'll let you tie me back up. Please."

I ignored her and moved to her bound body. She aimed a kick at me, but her body was stretched upwards by the ropes and she wasn't able to get it to land with any force. Just glanced harmlessly off my hip.

I stepped towards her. Cutting off any further kicks. I grabbed herlower jaw and held her face. Staring into her frightened eyes.

"Kathleen, you don't want to do this. You don't want to resist. Listen to Jane," I hissed.

"You are going to rape me anyway. What the hell do I have to lose?"

"This." I slapped her hard across the face. Her head rocked to the side and involuntary tears formed in her eyes. Defiance burned in them. She struggled not to cry out.

"I don't care. Slap me all you want. I'll still kick you whenever you give me a chance. And god help you if you ever let me out of these." Meaning the handcuffs.

"Kathleen. Honey. I'm not going to slap you. I just wanted you to feelhow much it hurts. I know you can take it. I just wanted you to know that for every kick you aim at me, Nicole gets a slap like the one Ijust gave you. Understand?"

"You are a bastard."

"Now, you are going to let me cut your clothes off, right?"

She nodded. Hate burning in her eyes.

I slipped the sharp shears into the throat of her uniform. She shuddered at the touch of the cold steel against her bare skin. In one quick motion I tore the material down her front. I snipped out the straps of her bra, cutting it between her breasts. A few more cuts and the garments lay crumpled on the floor. I stepped back. She was well built. High firm breasts. Small nipples becoming erect at their exposure. She was shaking, but still managed to glare at me. Probably beginning to feel more vulnerable being topless.

I repeated the procedure on Nicole. Nicole was far more cooperative. Just standing still while her top was removed. Same build. Almost the same nipples.

I walked back to Christi and Jane. I crouched and released their hands. They remained on their knees idly rubbing their wrists. Afraid to speak.

"Jane. I know you don't want to do it, but I want you to tie their feet apart. To those broomsticks."

Without a word, Jane scrambled to her feet and obeyed. Taking some rope from the pack and approaching the girls. Whispering to Kathleen. Trying to calm her. Both girls allowed the spreaders on their ankles without need of coaxing. Jane was pretty persuasive when she had to be.

She returned and knelt back beside Christi.

"Now. Both of you. I want to hear them scream."

Christi spoke up. "Please don't make us do this. They'll do whatever you want."

"Christi. Honey. What I want is to hear them scream."

"They'll have sex with you if you want. Wouldn't that be better than making us make them scream?"

"Perhaps after they've screamed."

"You don't have to do this."

"I know."

"But you can. What's up with you today? You are scaring me. Scaring the hell out of everyone," Christi finally broke down and raged a little at me.

"Not sure. Just do what I ask, and you can avoid punishment."

"Yes sir," Christi's face fell, not understanding, but knowing that she couldn't take the punishment that I would give her for disobeying.

I reached into the pack and withdrew the crop and a small stranded whip I'd picked up in the adult store before snatching Jane. Their eyes widened at the sight of the implements.

Jane moaned. "I. I don't think I can."

"Janey. You have to. I want to see them both across the breasts."

"They aren't ready for it. They can't. I can't."

"Remember what this feels like across your breasts? Want to feel it again? I'm in the mood."

"If it will get me out of hitting them. They. Don't deserve it. They haven't done anything but obey you."

"Jane. Listen to me. I know that you can take the pain. And that you'd gladly let me whip you until you passed out to avoid this. But eventually you'd break. I'd make you beg to whip them to make it stop. Believe me. It won't get you out of it. Remember Amy?"

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You bastard. Which one do I have to hit?"

"Nicole. Christi, you get Kathleen."

"Why? What did they do to deserve a breast cropping?" Christi tried to reason with me.

"Nothing. I just want to see it."

"Hit me instead. I deserve it more than they do. They're just frightened girls trying to do what you want. It's not fair," Christi
choked out the offer.

"Christi. Darling. I'm going to hurt them, and then just return them. They won't remember a thing. Remember the time thing? I wouldn't do this to them if I was going to keep them."

The two nude girls nodded. Not quite understanding why I was making them do this, but realizing that the other women's pain would be temporary at least.

I settled myself to the floor to watch. Kathleen's eyes widened as she watched Christi and Jane approach with the whips.

She questioned them silently, begging with her eyes for them to release her.

"Please. What are you going to do to us?" she finally asked.

Jane closed her eyes.

"Kathleen. Honey. He's going to make us hurt you. A lot."

"Oh God. Please. I haven't done anything. Please just let us go. I. I'm not good with pain."

"I'm so sorry. I tried everything to make him not do this to you. I even offered myself in your place. He wants to hear you scream. I don't know why."

"You are going to whip us? God. How can you do that?"

"I. I don't have a choice. He'll. Punish me if I don't. Andeventually, I'll do it anyway. Please don't make it harder than it
already is."

Jane moved towards Kathleen and hugged her fiercely. I could hear her soft voice whispering. "Kathleen. It's going to hurt. A lot. Don't hold back. Just scream your heart out. It helps."

"You've been whipped?"

"Yes."

The girls separated.

"I really don't want to do this. But. I just have no choice," Christi spoke to the bound woman in front of her.

"I know."

"You ready?"

Kathleen nodded her head. Bracing herself.

Christi stepped forward with the crop. I heard her whisper, either to herself or Kathleen, "Forgive me."

I heard the whistle of the crop through the air. Watched as the tip crashed heavily into Kathleen's chest. Catching her just above the nipples. A red line appearing immediately. Her bare breasts dancing on her chest. The look of complete shock on her face as she realized that she really wasn't ready for this kind of pain. Her mouth opened and cried out her pain in one long sound.

"Aiiieieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee," she screamed wonderfully.

I heard the smaller whip land on Nicole's breasts. She followed her cousin's wail of despair as the pain settled into her body.

Kathleen was crying and pulling at her bound feet and hands. Jane had closed her eyes. Wobbly on her bare feet. Looking decidedly sick about this.

Christi let another fall onto the still crying girl. Kathleen tensed and cried out again.

"Aiiiieeeeee. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. Please no more. It hurts. Mercy. I'll do whatever you want. Please."

Nicole was simply hysterical as her breasts were caught again by Jane's strands. She was already broken. Screaming incoherently and crying. Sagging against her handcuffs, pulling Kathleen's arms up painfully through the tether. Not even having the energy to beg.

Kathleen began to beg. "Please. Whoever you are. God. You have tits. You know what this feels like. Please no more. I'm begging you. I can't take it."

Christi closed her eyes, bring the crop down against the bound woman's nipples.

She arched backwards and her mouth opened in a soundless scream. Incoherent. Tears falling unheeded down her face. Struggling against the steel and the ropes holding her body helpless.

She finally caught her breath. Crying.

"God. Please. Stop. No more. I can't take any more. If you have to hit me hit me somewhere else. Not the tits. You are going to kill me. Please," she whispered. "I'm going to pass out if you hit me again."

Christi closed her eyes and raised her bare arm again. Having to hit her until I told her to stop. I watched as Jane whipped Nicole's breasts again. The girl arched with the blow and screamed. But her voice was already getting hoarse. Her eyes were closed and she would pass out with another blow. Both girls. I could tell.

"Hold." I spoke to the nude women. I rose to my feet and approached Christi.

"Thank God," she whispered. "She was going to pass out. You fucking bastard. Are you fucking happy?"

Kathleen was slumped in her bonds, hanging from her wrists. Breathing heavily, sobbing at the pain radiating from her chest. I ignored Christi and stood by Kathleen.

"Had enough?"

"Good Christ," she gasped out. "You have no fucking idea how much this hurts. I want to die."

"You won't die."

"Please. No more. I'll do anything you want. I would have before. You don't have to keep hitting me. Please."

"So, you don't want any more crops to your breasts?"

"Please. I'm going to pass out. I almost did on the last one. What do you want from me? I'll fuck you. I'll let you do anything to me. Anything. You can have me anyway you want me. Just. Stop. Hitting. Me. And Nicole. Please."

"How about your pussy?"

"You can have sex with me. I don't care."

"I meant, instead of your breasts."

"You want to hit me between the legs? Good God. Why? Please no more."

I turned to Christi. "Cut her pants off."

Christi just looked at me. "You can't be serious. She'll faint. If you don't destroy her forever."

"Forever isn't very long for her."

"Please. Don't kill me. I swear. I'll be your sex slave forever. I don't want to die." Kathleen interrupted. Probably misinterpreting my forever isn't very long for her comment. Christi had begun to cut the green uniform pants from Kathleen's body. Her long legs were exposed. Her bound feet still encased in white socks and running shoes. Christi took a deep breath and cut the panties off Kathleen in two quick strokes. Kathleen shuddered and begged quietly.

Jane had walked over and put her small hand on my shoulder. She whispered in my ear.

"Please. I'll take her place. You can whip me between my legs."

I turned to her. "Whip?"

She handed it to me.

"Will you stand still while I do it?"

Tears had sprung into her eyes. She slowly spread her legs apart, bare feet gripping the tile. She held her hands easily behind her back. She nodded. Tears running down her cheeks. Waiting for the pain. She closed her eyes.

I casually flicked the strands up between Kathleen's bare legs. She was intently watching, expecting me to hit Jane instead. Her head rocked back and her screech echoed around the store.

"Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. It hurts. Please not another one. I'll do anything. Argh. No. No. No. No. Ahhhhhhhhhhh. Argh. Shit. Please. Whip my tits. Not my pussy anymore. Oh God. I'm going to die. I can't take this. Please. Oh God. Please. The pain."

Jane stood in her stance. Tears rolling down her cheeks. Knowing that she failed. And not being able to look.

I knelt down. There were faint red marks running across Kathleen's thighs, her lips and through her light pubic hair. She was moaning and trying to ease the terrible pain. I hadn't even hit her very hard. Still not really knowing how hard I could hit her without causing damage. It didn't look like any strands had penetrated the protection of her outer lips.

I let her rest. Jane had returned to her feet. "You are such a bastard."

All the girls were in pain. I didn't pay any mind to the name calling.

Finally, Kathleen turned her red eyes towards me. Pleading. A hurt expression on her tear streaked face.

"Please?" she whispered.

"Please what?"

"Please stop hitting me. I swear I'll do whatever you want. I don't even know what you want."

"What if I told you I wanted you to orgasm for me?"

"I'll masturbate for you. I'll fuck myself. I swear it. Just let my hands free. I'll do it however you want me. On my knees? On my back? I don't care."

"What if I had Christi rub you instead?"

"You'll stop whipping me? Having them whip me?"

"For now."

"Yes. I'll do my best to climax for you. I can't believe I'm doing this."

"Christi? Care to give your tongue a work out?"

"Not really."

I turned to her. The blonde woman was standing there crying. Shaking.

"Come on," said a little more gently. "After she climaxes, I'll let them both go."

"You promise?"

I nodded. I fully intended to let the girls go after this. I'd just about gotten as much out of them as I could. Without one of them going insane.

"Don't hit her while I'm doing this. Okay? She'll pass out. Please, I don't want to be punished for not being fast enough. Please?"

I nodded again. I'd lay off Kathleen. She did look like she couldn't take much more. She seemed to have a low pain tolerance. The only reason the girl hadn't passed out was sheer will power which simply wasn't going to last much longer. Jane would have been able to take three times as much before she even started to beg.

Christi sank to her knees in front of Kathleen. I saw Kathleen try to close her legs instinctively. Tears running down her face.

Christi gazed up at the frightened girl above her.

"Kathleen? Honey? I don't want to do this any more than you want it done to you. He's not going to hurt you while I'm down here. You just try and relax and enjoy it. Okay?"

"It's okay. I understand. I'll do my best to hurry."

Christi's head tilted up and she ran her tongue down the lips in front of her. Spreading them with her fingers. I watched as her tongue darted inside and flicked at Kathleen's clitoris. Within moments, Kathleen was pressing her bound body into Christi's mouth and tongue. Flushing. Within minutes, she had tensed, holding her breath, and climaxed heavily. The fastest that I'd ever seen a woman climax. Especially a woman in pain. Her pussy had to still be tender from my kisses with the whip.

Christi rocked back on her bare heels. A self satisfied smile on her lips. Working her tongue back and forth. Happy that she hadn't had to spend a half hour between the other girl's legs.

"You getting better at that?" I asked her.

She blushed. "Maybe. But she was really wet. Didn't take much."

Kathleen blushed bright red in her bonds. I idly wondered if she just liked girls, or whether she was yet another one that got excited by the pain.

I walked up to Kathleen. "You alright?"

"No. I hurt like I've been run over by a truck. Are you going to let us go now? Please? Haven't I done enough for you?"

"I don't know. Weren't you going to fuck me?"

"I will. If it will get me closer to getting out of here. God my tits hurt."

"Christi. Jane. Come here."

The nude women padded over. I reached up and released Kathleen's right wrist. She immediately dropped her hand to her bare breasts. Cradling them. Tears still falling down her face. I placed Christi's left wrist into the cuff I'd just released. I released Kathleen's left wrist and placed Jane's right hand into it. Christi and Jane stood quietly with their arms extended above them. Wondering what I was up to.

"I have to cuff you," I spoke a little more gently to Kathleen.

Kathleen, with an effort, held her arms out in front of her. I was surprised that she was even able to stand. I gently turned her around. Slipping the cuffs on her behind her back. She kicked off her shoes, using her toes. Not bothering with the socks. I had no idea why sh' had done that. Anticipating getting raped, perhaps she thought she'd be more comfortable without her shoes.

I guided her off to the side. Her stocking feet swishing ahead of me. A little distance from Nicole, Jane and Christi, I stopped her.

She looked into my eyes. Tears still falling down her face.

"Please. I don't want to do this."

"That's alright. I won't force you to. I can put you back on the tether line. I can always have sex, whenever I want. I don't have to force you."

"Are you going to hurt me more, if I choose to go back? Are you going to hurt me until I have sex with you?"

"No."

"You'll just leave me alone?" Her face registered incomprehension. At last, her eyes lit up with understanding. "You'll hurt Nicole until I have sex with you?"

"I won't hurt her anymore either. I told you. Jane or Christi are there if I need release."

"I said I'd fuck you and I will. I don't go back on my promises. If you want it, I'm here." She looked at me defiantly. Her hands pulling at the cuffs behind her.

"Kathleen. Sweetheart. You can go back on this one. I just whipped the hell out of you. Forced you into lesbian acts. Hurt you. Threatened you. You would have said anything to make it stop."

"I would have done anything to avoid it in the first place. You didn't have to whip me," she said accusingly.

"I know. You are a smart girl."

"Why did you whip me?"

"Because I enjoyed it."

"You enjoyed me hurting? Screaming?"

"Yes. I enjoyed watching you naked and squirming and begging."

"At least it wasn't for nothing," she remarked caustically. "Why? Why does hurting a defenseless, vulnerable girl turn you on?"

"I don't know. Just in my nature."

"Is it possible to like being hurt? And abused?" she asked quietly.

"I think so. But I imagine it's rare. Christi said you were ready for her."

"You mean the sex afterwards?"

"Yeah."

"I was wet."

"Why?"

"Maybe my body just reacted to the pain. Found some way of turning it into something more pleasurable. I didn't like the whipping if that is what you are thinking. I'd even fuck you to avoid it again. Please. Just fuck me and get it over with."

"How about Christi?"

"She's very attractive. You want me to do her as well?"

"You don't mind sex with girls." A statement.

"Not really. I liked it then. I climaxed. It wasn't a fake. But I was pretty screwed up. The pain. It still hurts. I've never been with a girl before, if that's what you are asking. I just want this to end. Please." This girl had regained her calm. Almost distant. Distancing herself from the things happening to her.

One mystery solved. In the very least she was bisexual. And not embarrassed about it.

"Come on. I'll take you back. Release you."

"You don't want sex?"

"Sure I do. But you really don't. I'll get my relief later."

"Thank you. I would have fucked you, you know. Even without the cuffs and the threats." She rattled the chain behind her. "I promised and I would have. I wouldn't have tried to kill you until after we'd finished." She actually managed to flash me a smile.

I led her back to the tether. I reached up and released Christi and Jane. They both wore big expressions of confusion. Not having a clue what had just happened. Not understanding why I hadn't forced her to have sex with me. I wasn't quite sure why I hadn't either.

I moved Christi and Jane off to the side where they stood quietly. Shifting their weight a bit uncomfortably.

I turned to Kathleen. I released her wrists. I watched as a quick thought of escape or revenge flashed past her blue eyes. She took a deep breath and lowered her eyes.

"What do you want me to do now?" she inquired quietly.

"Just go give Nicole a hug."

"Excuse me?"

"Just go give your cousin a hug. She's pretty upset over there."

Wonder crossed her delicate features as she limped over to where Nicole was still standing. Her topless body slumped in her bonds, but she hadn't quite fallen yet. Her feet bound apart. Her marked breasts heaving as she sobbed. Her handcuffed wrists hung in front of her. With the weight of Jane and Christi removed from the other end of the tether, Nicole had lowered her arms, raising the other pair of handcuffs a few extra feet in the air at the other end of the rope.

Kathleen wrapped her free arms around Nicole. Hugging her. Breast to breast. Not caring about her nudity. Stroking Nicole's hair and whispering to her. The two girls crying together.

I turned to Christi and Jane, gathering up their swinging leashes.

"You are going to let them go aren't you?" Christi asked softly.

I nodded. Still lightly holding the nude girls by their leashes, I turned to the two cashiers.

"Good-bye Kathleen."

The nearly naked girl turned her head, still holding her friend and cousin. Tears still tracked down her cheeks. A brief look of confusion crossed her features.

"Good-bye," she whispered. Perhaps expecting to be shot.

I narrowed the time continuum around her and her cousin. Joining them together in their embrace. Allowing them to fall out of time, rematerializing back by their cash registers. Their bodies undamaged. Their uniforms back on them. Completely unaware of the torture that they had endured.

I released Christi's leash. Not even needing to tell her what to do. She slowly moved around the area, picking up the stray cuffs, ropes and whips. Returning them to the pack.

Her eyes lowered, she finally picked up the pack and walked back over to Jane and I. Pressing her leash back into my hand.

I guided the quiet girls back upstairs. They walked ahead of me, free except for their collars. Their bare bodies looking almost dejected.

As we reached the top of the stairs I stopped their motion with a quick tug on the leashes. They stopped, slowly turning towards me. Their faces silently questioning me.

"You two look like you are about to get shot."

Jane spoke quietly. "I feel like I'm about to be shot."

"Too much excitement for one day?"

She nodded glumly. I gently guided the naked women into the lunchroom instead of the office. The two guys were still sitting in the corner smoking. The white smoke hanging around their heads. I guided Christi and Jane to a side table away from the smokers.

I sat on the table, leaving them to stand in front of me. I unhooked the leashes from their collars, folding the leather up in my hands.

"What's the matter?" I asked them.

"I honestly don't know," Jane spoke for both of them. Christi just stood awkwardly, shifting her weight from bare foot to bare foot.

"Was it the cruelty?"

"I guess. I know I should be used to it by now, and you did return them."

"But it was unfair. I know. Kathleen was ... different."

"Please. Can I speak freely? Will you punish me? I know you are in a weird mood."

I nodded. I felt a bit drained myself. I was curious what was going through that pretty head. Sometimes I had to remind myself that this beautiful nude teenager actually did have a head on her shoulders. She was usually far more perceptive than I. That her captivity must be just about killing her.

"Kathleen didn't deserve that."

"I know. She was doing everything she could to avoid pain. And I whipped her silly anyway. I let her off in the end."

"I know. Why didn't you rape her?"

"I couldn't."

"You couldn't?"

"No. She was. Different. She was willing, you know. She would have. To save herself any more pain. Or to save Nicole."

"I see. You know if you want, that Christi or I will take care of you. I'm sure even Elizabeth or Amy would, as well. You didn't have to rape her."

"I didn't."

"You didn't have to torture her either."

I nodded slowly. "Jane. I know you can't understand this. I don't expect you to. I. Just wanted to. That's all. I knew that I was going to return her. She'll never remember it."

"It just seems wrong. That's all."

"I know it does, sweety. I know."

"I just feel drained. I wish you hadn't made me hit that poor girl. She was in such pain. She was screaming. And crying. She couldn't even beg, she hurt that much. I wish you'd done it yourself."

I took a deep breath. "She's fine now."

"What if I'm not?"

"You'll be alright. Try not to think about it. Christi? You feel the same way?"

She nodded. Tears were brimming in her eyes.

"How about if I let you two just relax in here while I deal with our office ladies?"

"I. I'd like that. If you'll let us," Jane spoke softly.

"You promise not to move? To behave?"

She nodded.

"Do I have to tie you into the chairs?"

"Please no. You can if you want, of course. But we'll stay where you put us. We promise. Where would we go?"

"Alright. Sit here." I indicated the chairs beside the table. I hopped down. The nude women slowly moved to the chair and lowered themselves into them. Both clasping their hands on the table.

"Wrists."

The girls just raised their hands. Out towards the middle of the table. They didn't even seem to mind that they were going to wear cuffs again. Handcuffs were better than being tied up, hand and foot, to the chairs they were seated in. I slipped handcuffs over their slender wrists, connecting Christi's right hand to Jane's left. They were facing each other. They let their hands fall to the table with a soft jingle of chain.

"You want a snack? A drink?"

Christi's eyes lit up. "Chips? Oh God. I'd do anything for a bag of sour cream and onion flavoured chips. I'd crawl for a bag of chips. Please. Please. Please?"

"Jane?"

"A muffin, maybe. If there is any."

Leaving the girls at the table, I walked over to the smokers. I wrinkled my nose at the smell as my time bubble intersected with the air around them. I hated the smell of smoke. I briefly entertained the idea of having the girls shove the smoker's lit cigarettes into less comfortable orifices. The smokers had some change strewn about the table. I freed the change from the time block and gathered it up. A couple of bucks. They were probably headed for the vending machines themselves in a few minutes.

I walked over to the machines. Bought a bag of Hostess chips for Christi. I turned to the girls. They were just whispering together.

"Janey?" She looked up. "Blueberry, or chocolate chip?" I asked her. Betting that I knew the answer.

Her soft voice floated across the silent lunchroom. "Chocolate chip. If you are giving me a choice." She smiled. She looked beautiful when she smiled. I won the bet with myself.

I grabbed a couple of cans of cokes from the beverage machine and carried the food over to the table. I distributed the snacks to the girls.

Jane looked at the junk food and I could almost hear her stomach growl. I dropped the remainder of the change on the table with the food. There really wasn't that much left.

"Go on. Enjoy yourselves. You haven't had a break in a long time. If you want anything else, feel free to go buy it. Just there isn't a lot more change."

"Your slaves thank you, Master," Jane said softly, her face flushing.

"Just enjoy the time. I'll be back for you soon."

"Thank you for not making us go back in there, and for the treats," Christi whispered.

I nodded to her. Watching her as she tore into the bag of chips. A look of happiness gracing her face for the first time in a while. She picked up a curled chip and closing her eyes let it fall between her perfect teeth. Sighing.

I turned from the naked beauties and made my way back to the office door. I could hear faint voices behind the door. Kara's voice. Very faint.

"One last time. Okay? I don't know which of us he'll free, but if you get a chance. Kick him in the balls. And run. Don't worry about the rest of us. Okay?"

I heard Julie make a non-committal answer. Mumbling something. I waited a few more minutes and opened the door. Amy was still on her knees, gagged behind Julie's chair. Julie still hung in her ropes. Kara was defiant again. Her face a little worried that I had heard her. I gave her no indication that I had.

I walked over to Amy. I knelt behind her and unbuckled the gag from behind her head. I felt her bare body tense as she held the gag in on her own. Waiting. I placed my hand below her jaw and she pushed the intrusion out of her mouth with her tongue, letting the wet ball drop into my hand.

She swallowed a couple of times heavily. She had been drooling around the gag. She worked her jaw back and forth. Sighing.

"Oh God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

"Did I give you permission to speak?"

Her face registered fright. Thinking that her instinctive gratitude would be punished by the gag going back in. She shook her head. Closing her eyes.

"It's alright. You can speak. Just not to them. Yet."

She let her breath out. Relief. The gag was going to stay out. For now.

"Please. This slave wants to say she is sorry for earlier. Very very sorry. She'll do anything not to be gagged anymore."

"Apology accepted. Just remember. No speaking to the women here. Got it?"

She nodded her head. "Thank you for taking it out. It hurts when it has been in that long."

"I know it does. Had to teach you a lesson though, didn't I."

"I learned."

"I doubt that very much. But for now, I'm almost sure that you'll behave."

She hadn't told me about the plan yet. I didn't even know if she was involved. I doubted it. But I expected her to tell me about it, at least. Perhaps, she was just being passive. Letting the kicking plan play out. If it worked it might be in her benefit, even if she didn't help in it directly. I'd find out later what the heck she was thinking. Maybe she just forgot about it, in the relief of having the gag out. Maybe she'd still let me know about it.

I rose to my feet. Glancing at Kara and Julie.

I sat on the desk in front of Kara again. She glared at me. I didn't particularly like that look of defiance on her face.

"You want those pins off?"

"You know I do," she almost hissed at me.

"Ready to beg to have them off?"

"You pig. Yes."

I waited.

She swallowed. Her face turning bright red. "Please? Take them off me?"

She was having real trouble with the begging. Sounded about as sincere as your average politician.

"Kara. You can do better than that. Do I have to hurt you some more."

"I can't beg. It's not in my nature."

"You begged to have your feet loosened."

"That was different."

"What? The clothespins don't hurt enough?"

"They hurt. But not like my feet did." The initial pain of the pins had probably dulled to an annoying ache. Not really painful until they were removed. I smiled at her.

"I can make them hurt more if that would help."

"You don't have to hurt me. Why are you treating me like this?"

"Because I can, Kara. Haven't you figured that out yet?"

I casually reached forward and gave her nipple pins a quick sharp twist.

"Oh shit. Not again. Ow. Please. That hurts."

I hadn't really given them a really painful pull. Just a twist. Her nipples just had rolled with the pressure. It hurt, I'm sure, but not
like the torment I'd put her through before.

"There. See. You can beg."

"You bastard. Just let us go."

This time I pulled the nipple clamps, and gave them a sharp twist at the end. Stretching her bare breasts by their nipples. Holding them like that. Her face twisted in agony. She screamed.

"Ahhhhhhh. God. Please. Stop. No more. I'll do what you want. I'll beg. Please. Oh God. Please take them off me. Jesus Christ. My tits. My nipples. They hurt. Oh Jesus. Stop. Stop. Please stop."

I released the pins from my fingers. Letting her breasts fall naturally. She gasped as the pain reduced again. Her trapped nipples throbbing.

"Well?"

"Oh God. Okay. Please. I'm begging you. Take them off me."

"No."

"Why? What have I ever done to you? I'm sitting here, in pain. Please. I'll do anything you want. Just take the damn things off my tits. Please."

That sounded a bit better. I reached forward and flicked one of the clips on her left breast. Enough to dislodge it. The clip snapped over her pinched skin and fell to the floor.

"Oh God." She gasped as the pain of the removal hit her.

I continued in this way with all the clips except the ones clamping her by now very sensitive and sore nipples. She cried out as each clip left her skin.

She looked up at me. All traces of defiance gone. She knew what was about to happen to her. Realizing that the ones on her nipples were really going to hurt coming off. If I flicked them off, like the others.

"Please?" she asked plaintively. "Please just remove them normally. I'm begging you. You have no idea how much it hurts."

I casually flicked the left clothespin off her nipple. She screamed.

"Argh. Ah. Ah. AH. God. Worse than I thought. My nipple. God, you tore it from my tit. Shit. Please let me go. Arghhhhhh."

She screamed twice as the clip snapped off her nipple and again as the circulation returned to the sensitive mound.

We repeated the procedure on her right breast. Her screaming. Me watching her. Finally, she calmed as her nipples fell into a dull ache rather than the burning agony of before. Her breathing falling back to normal slowly.

"You ready to make love to Julie?" I asked her as she recovered.

"Fuck you."

"You really want those pins back?"

She ignored me. I gently slapped her face. Reminding her that she had to answer.

"Please no. I can't take that again. Please. I'm sorry. I really am. Don't slap me." She babbled in her bonds.

"You ready to make love to Julie?"

"Not really."

I turned my body and looked at Julie. Bound to her chair. "You ready?"

"Please. I. Can't. I'm not a lesbian. I've never even thought about
making love to a woman. Please don't make me do this."

I turned back to Kara. "Alright."  I rubbed my hands together.

"Now. I don't want any funny business here. I'm going to release you from the chair. You are going to fall to your knees and crawl out to Julie. I'm going to leave her in the chair. You are going to make love to her. Until she orgasms. Then you are going to wait for further instructions."

She paled. Realizing that she was going have to do this. Like it or not.

"If either one of you look like you aren't trying. I have this." I held up the crop. "It's really nasty on bare skin. Here." I flicked it
lightly across Kara's sore breasts. She cried out at the light blow. "Imagine that but harder. Across whatever I can reach. On Julie. On you. Trust me, making love is far more comfortable. Do you both understand?" Kara nodded and looking over my shoulder, Julie was just crying. I knew that they didn't understand. That they would both need some convincing. I'd try to keep the pain to a minimum. I really did want to see Julie climax to Kara's attentions. And she didn't look like the strong type that could concentrate to an orgasm while being whipped. The applicant applying for more than she bargained for.

to be continued