As I entered the library, all three girls looked up halting their quiet conversation. Amy had taken the remaining library chair, and the other two girls were in their usual spots.

Elizabeth spoke quietly, "I feel like were being taken to a firing squad. Please, can't you tell us what is happening? With us?"

Her face was tear streaked, and frightened. I considered, and then spoke to them.

"Girls. You know what is happening. I've told you. I'm letting you all go. And I'm giving you all a chance to do one last thing on this timeline. For yourselves. Not for me. Sheila had some fun outside. She hadn't been out in months. I'm not going to hurt you. You can relax."

Elizabeth considered for a moment. "Does it hurt?"

"Hurt?"

"Yeah, when you sent her ... us ... back?"

"Not at all. You shouldn't feel a thing. Maybe a slight tingle as time slows and then stops for you."

She didn't look convinced. "I guess we don't have a choice anyway. Probably easier than having your breasts whipped."

I smiled. "You got it." I turned to Amy. "Amy? You ready?"

She took a deep breath, and looked like she fought off some butterflies. She slowly nodded and climbed to her bare feet. She silently walked to the entranceway, a look of determination on her features. She didn't even turn as she walked out. She didn't look angry, just preoccupied.

I heard Elizabeth and Christi resume whatever their discussion was as the door softly closed behind me. Amy was waiting quietly in the hallway, unsure where we were going. She was twisting her wrists in her restraints, her face a mask. I motioned her up the stairs, and followed behind her as she climbed.

When we entered the room, I sat back down on the rumpled bed. Amy stood awkwardly in the middle of the room looking at me.

She spoke quietly. "Am I allowed to sit? Or do I have to join you on the bed?" Her voice trembled a little as she mentioned the bed. I reflected that I had never actually had intercourse with this girl either. I'd forced her to use her mouth, but only a couple of times. I looked at her, standing there, nude and handcuffed and felt a quick twinge of desire flow through me.  I pushed it away and spoke gently.

"I'd rather you kneel."

She shot me a look of disappointment, but obediently fell to her bare knees on the carpet. She had wanted the dignity of a chair. She pulled idly at her wrists and finally lowered them into her lap, resting on her thighs.

I lay back on the bed and just watched her for a moment. She shifted awkwardly. I couldn't tell what was flitting through her mind. I couldn't imagine what it felt like to have to kneel naked in front of someone who had complete control over you. I twinged again.

She finally spoke. "What do you want with me?"

"It's not about what I want. It's about what you want."

She considered, cocking her head to the side. I could almost see the thoughts burning across her mind. Wondering if I expected anything out of her, or whether she could actually ask for something and have a reasonable chance of getting it.

"It's alright, Amy. You aren't here to be hurt. You aren't here to be raped. You are here for whatever you want."

She hesitated then made up her mind. "I just want to go home. I don't want to be hurt any more, I don't want to be punished. I don't want to be constantly naked. I want to see my father. I want to forget that this ever happened to me. Please."

I smiled at her. "Amy, I will send you home. Soon. I promise. Think about it though ... you can do whatever you want. One last time. You won't remember it. You don't have to feel guilty."

"I just want to go home," she repeated softly.

"You sure?"

"I would like to say good-bye to the others. If you'll let me."

"I'll let you. Of course."

I rose off the bed and crouched in front of the kneeling girl. I cupped her face in my hands, and she stared out at me, her eyes unreadable. Her face was pretty, always had been. I couldn't help picturing her with that tongue clamp attached to her, screaming. She didn't have the stunning beauty of Jane or Christi or Sheila, but nevertheless she was beautiful. I lifting her hands and released her wrists. She knelt quietly, suffering my inspection of her and holding
my gaze.

I motioned for her to get to her feet. She started to rise and then sat back on her haunches. She looked up at me, tears beginning to shine in her eyes.

"You really are going to honour my wishes. Aren't you?"

I was confused. "Huh?" I grunted as I rose to my own feet leaving her on her knees.

"You will try your damnedest to give me whatever I want before you send me back."

I nodded slowly.

"Can a slave change her mind?" she looked up at me, her hardened demeanor completely gone.

I shrugged. I was going to give her whatever she wanted anyway. As long as it didn't take too long and wasn't dangerous.

"I ..." she hesitated. "I'd like to talk."

"Talk?"

I settled myself back onto my bed.

"Talk. I'd like to know about you, and I'd like to tell you about the girl that is kneeling here in front of you. If you'll let me."

"What do you want to know?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm just some guy that discovered the secrets to time. That's all."

"Are you married?"

I shook my head.

"What do you do? When you aren't creating new realities?

"I'm a research assistant at the local college."

"What field?"

"Quantum physics."

She looked a bit confused, but she nodded her pretty head anyway.

"Why do you do this? I mean take us? Women?"

"I really don't know. It. It excites me, I guess."

"Do you think it excites us?"

"It doesn't really matter to me," I lied, "but yes, I think that being under my control does excite some of you."

Amy took a deep breath. "Not me. But, I have to say that you could have done worse to me. I didn't think so at the time, when you had me in that tongue clamp, and were whipping me, but I know you could have tortured me a lot more. I want to thank-you for not putting me through
more."

"What about you?"

"Me? Christ. I can hardly remember myself. I'm a student. Second year. Art. I know ... it hardly compares to quantum physics, or time control, but I enjoy it. I enjoy music mostly. That's my major."

I smiled. "Amy, honey. Engineering and science isn't all there is in the world. It would be a really boring place without emotion and art. Believe me."

She smiled unexpectedly at that. "I work ... worked ... part time at a restaurant. Waitressing."

"Where?"

"A small pizza joint where I get pawed by the regulars. But it's harmless. And I don't mind. They'd love to see me now ..." her voice trailed off.

"You are a strong girl, you know that?"

"I begged. I couldn't take all that you did to me."

"Doesn't make you weak. The pain was designed to make you beg."

"I know. But I still feel weak. I couldn't get away. I'm dependent on you letting me go. My entire life is in your hands."

"I'll let you go. I swear it."

"I know. It's all I've been able to think about since you discovered me in the hotel suite. I did what I was told, but only because you'd hurt me. Not because I enjoyed it."

"Amy, honey. I know. You've never quite accepted captivity."

"I accepted it. I just didn't like it. You try being tied into a chair without your clothes for hours on end. Hell, add in a homosexual encounter or two without your consent and see how long you last."

I slipped off the bed and knelt beside the girl. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes. I kissed them gently away for her. I held her gently.

"I may have control here because I managed to find the secrets of the universe, but you are far stronger than I'll ever be. I'd have been a raving loon if I'd been put through half the things I've put you girls through. I recognize it."

She lifted her head, gazing at me, willing her tears to stop.

"You really do mean that."

"Of course, I do."

She leaned forward and kissed me gently on the lips, letting her lips linger for a moment. When she broke the kiss, I stared at her, confused.

She spoke softly. "You do horrible things. And I can't like you. But at least you have the courtesy of knowing us."

"What was the kiss for?" I wanted so much more from her, but I had promised not to take her. I could have anyway. She'd have forgotten it. But I couldn't. My mind wouldn't let me.

"Just because I know that you could have me, anyway you want me, and you never did. I may have been uncomfortable, but you never pushed me beyond my limits, even when I pissed you off. I hate you, and I love you. All at the same time. And I wanted to kiss you once, when you hadn't forced me to."

I smiled and rose to my feet. I extended my hand to her. She grasped me lightly and pulled her bare body to a standing position. She smiled at me.

"I'm going home now?"

I nodded slowly. I didn't want to let her go anymore than I wanted to let go Sheila, but I had to and she seemed to realize that.

"I'm ready," she slowly said as I took one last private look at her beautiful body. In response to my look, she sighed and lifted her arms above her head. She daintily pirouetted for me, her bare feet whispering across the carpet.

She grinned as she returned to an easy stance, I guess the open look of admiration flattered her.

"I know that I'm no beauty like Christi or Jane, but thank you. I think."

I smiled and guided her back out to the hallway. She walked easily, her step happy and looking forward to going home. I couldn't blame her.

She stopped herself just in front of the library. She turned and tilted her head up towards me.

"One last thing?"

"What's that?"

"Kiss me? I feel odd. Guilty. I mean, I have a boyfriend who I've tried to picture whenever you were around or you made me have sex. But it didn't always work. And I kissed you, I want to be kissed. Once. Before I leave and forget all this."

"You are a strange girl."

She smiled, obviously taking the comment as a compliment. I'd intended it as a nice thing, so I was glad to see that she could recognize it for what it was.

I gently leaned down, feeling her bare arms encircling my neck. She raised her head, letting me gently kiss her lips. I briefly felt her tongue touching my lips. She kissed me until I broke the kiss. She looked flushed, and she smiled as she stood there. She was no longer
conscious of her nudity, she stood easily. Her small nipples were hardened and she was breathing heavily.

"Thank-you," she whispered. "That was my bit of naughtiness. That's what I really wanted."

I couldn't understand, had no hope of understanding. She was female, in a strange situation. There probably was no explanation. All I knew was that the kiss had ignited me, yet again, and I knew that she wasn't going to pull a last minute Sheila and ask for sex. I would never have her, but maybe that was alright.

She smiled, knowing what she'd done to my passions, she'd been pressed against me after all. I wondered how much of it she'd orchestrated, but I didn't mind. She deserved her small victories, and I was pretty sure that she'd managed to get herself into a bit of a state at the
same time. Not like she could hide the flush of her skin from her bare toes to her rosy cheeks.

She pushed open the doorway and fairly pranced into the library.

"Amy!" Elizabeth nearly shouted as she entered.

"Elizabeth. I'm going home," she seemed so happy as she spoke. I stepped into the room to watch the naked women embrace. Amy, with her hands free, wrapped her arms around Elizabeth. Elizabeth had tears in her eyes, though it was hard to tell if they were of happiness or melancholy. They remained in the embrace for some time, Elizabeth shaking slightly. Finally the girls separated and looked at each other.

"I can't believe you are leaving," Elizabeth whispered.

Amy's breath hitched but she managed to keep her control.

"Me neither."

"I'm going to miss you, kid," Elizabeth said.

Amy smiled and kissed Elizabeth.

"We've been through a hell of a lot together."

Elizabeth nodded. Probably remembering the recent trip to the neighbours. This girl in front of her had seen her first multiple orgasm. Had been there when she had asked me for sex the first time. They had been bound to each other, standing up all night, ropes running through their sex, each movement felt by the other. If that didn't make two women feel close to one another, I'm not sure what would. Both girls flushed at the memories.

"Take care of yourself," Amy whispered.

She turned to face Christi. Christi couldn't help herself, she practically leapt into an embrace, pressing herself against Amy, holding her as she cried.

"I'm going to miss you, too," Christi whispered.

She gave her a full hug again, kissing her cheek. Amy flushed a bit at the attention, but stood easily. Amy nodded, and an understanding passed between them. Something unspoken.

Amy whispered a quick "Good-bye" and turned back to me.

"Jane?" she whispered.

I nodded and took her small hand in mine. As we left, Amy turned to the other two girls.

She grinned. "I'm going to miss our showers," and she turned quickly and pulled me along behind her, before the other girls could say any further good-byes.

We entered the dining room and Jane was sitting again on the window sill, swinging her bare legs under her gown. She smiled as Amy walked in.

"Still didn't let you have clothes?"

Amy grinned and spread her arms outstretched. "I'm used to it, and what's the point in asking for them. I'm going home soon." She smiled widely at the words. Jane rose to her bare feet and embraced Amy. The girls hugged. As they separated, a single tear traced down Jane's
features.

"I'm sorry I had to whip you," Jane whispered.

"I know who to blame for that," Amy reassured her, shooting me a dirty look. "You helped me a lot more than you hurt me," she continued.

Jane smiled. "I only wish you the best. You. You are strong."

"Not as strong as you are," Amy smiled back. Then she whispered a quick "Good-bye."

She turned back towards me. I nodded to Jane as she turned to sit back in her sunshine. I guided the nude woman back out into the hallway. I led her through the front door and out onto the front porch.

I took a deep breath.

"You ready?" I asked the nude beauty.

"This is it?" she asked quietly.

I nodded gently. "Time to go home. Go watch some television with your father."

She took a deep breath, unsure if she actually wanted to say anything further. She opened her mouth and then re-closed it. Finally she spoke.

"I can't believe that I got used to it. All the things you made me do, I would never have imagined that I could. Even through all the pain, and the humiliation, you were fair. Even if I hate you, I have to respect you," she said haltingly. "I want to thank you for not hurting my father."

"You did that. By being good and not making my life hard."

"I made your life hard, and you could have hurt him just to get to me. You knew. I just wanted you to know I appreciated it. Even if you made me do things that I didn't like to ensure it. At least you kept your word."

"Can I ask for one last thing?" I asked her.

"Do I have a choice?"

"You have a choice. I'll let you go whether you indulge me or not."

"If it's sex and I have a choice ..."

"It's not sex."

She cocked her head to her bare shoulder, her face a mask of puzzlement.

"Ask me."

"Just one last hug?"

She smiled and moved quickly towards me. I felt her bare body as she pressed herself into me, holding me tight. I held her, rocked her, for a few minutes. She held me until I broke the embrace. She stepped back, then rose up on her bare toes and kissed my lips for the last
time.

I wasn't sure, but I thought I heard her breathe, "Good-bye, Master," as she settled herself back down onto her bare feet. She stepped backwards, her head tilted up, her hair catching the sunlight.

I took a deep breath and collapsed her bubble. She gasped slightly, and smiled as her body slipped into another plane of existence.

"Good-bye, Amy," I whispered to nobody in particular.

I swallowed heavily and turned back towards the house. My heart was heavy as I knew that I still had three more good-byes to get through in the next few hours. If they were all this hard, I wasn't going to last.

Elizabeth looked up from her book as I entered the library. Christi was curled up with her nose stuck in the Talisman. Christi didn't bother looking up at the intrusion.

"I guess I'm next?" Elizabeth took a deep breath and spoke gently from her seat behind the desk.

I nodded slowly. Elizabeth rose to her bare feet and carefully closed her book. She set it aside on the side of the desk and looked over at Christi. Christi had dropped her book to her lap and was looking at Elizabeth's bare form. Both Christi and I watched silently as Elizabeth looked up at me.

"I'm not going to finish it, am I?" Elizabeth was referring to her book.

I shook my head, unable to speak.

Tears formed in Elizabeth's eyes, though I wasn't sure if it was because she was uncertain of what was about to happen to her, or she was genuinely upset at not finishing the book. Slowly she picked back up Tale of Two Cities and withdrew the slip of paper that was marking her page. Almost reluctantly, she let it fall to the table. She slowly walked back to the bookcase behind herself and slipped the book between David Copperfield and Great Expectations. The sound of the book sliding home echoed through the still library. Elizabeth turned.

"I'm ready," she spoke quietly.

I extended my hand, reaching for the bare girl. She slowly walked over, the chain of her handcuffs rattling a little as she moved.

"Don't hurt her? Please?" Christi's smooth voice called out as I pushed open the door.

I turned back to the clothed girl still curled up on the chair. Tears were in her eyes as well.

"I won't."

"Bring her back to say good-bye?" Christi pleaded.

"I've brought all of them back. Don't worry about that."

"Can I go to Jane?"

"Of course, if you want to." I told her gently.

With that, I gently guided Elizabeth out into the hallway, guiding her up the stairs towards the master bedroom. She followed the soft commands of my fingers obediently and slowly climbed the stairs in front of me. I cherished the view of her bare body as she moved. I wasn't going to have her much longer.

I shut the door behind us. I wasn't afraid of Jane or Christi coming upstairs to eavesdrop, nor did we particularly require the privacy. But it felt cozy, just the two of us.

I turned and Elizabeth was standing awkwardly in the center of the room, much like Amy had. She looked over at me.

"Can you take these things off me?" she asked quietly, rattling the chain on her handcuffs.

I walked over to the bed and sat down, gazing over her nudity.

She sighed, and sank to her knees, knowing what was expected of her. "I guess not." She murmured mostly to herself, in reference to her wrists being joined.

I sat and gazed at her. She wasn't a ravishing beauty, but she exuded an inner beauty, and inner strength, a certain nobility. All despite her submissive posture on her knees in front of me. And she certainly wouldn't be out of place in a bikini on the beach. She lowered her head and suffered my last inspection of her without complaint.

"Elizabeth?"

"Yes, master?" she relied in deference.

"You don't ..." I began and then realized that she simply didn't have any other title or name by which to call me. I was going to tell her that the word "master" wasn't necessary. But I had created a situation where it couldn't be avoided.

"Why do you keep us?" she asked quietly. "If I can ask that."

"I don't know, Elizabeth. I really don't know. I'm letting you go, now."

"I know. I. I can hardly believe it. I'm. I'm sad in a way."

"Me too. I like you."

"I know. Can I ask why you won't let me out of the chains?"

"Because I like to watch you in them. Are they uncomfortable?"

"No. Beyond the humiliation of wearing them at all." She rattled the bonds on her wrists again to make her point.

"I'll let you out of them soon. After we talk."

She nodded slowly, her mind processing that she wouldn't be restrained much longer. A smile almost graced her features.

"Amy. I miss her," she spoke slowly.

"I do too."

"I'd like to know her in real life. And the others."

I slowly shook my head. "I'm really sorry. Unless you meet by chance, and that would be unlikely, I fear."

"You could ..." Elizabeth began.

"Do you really want me meddling in your real lives?"

She closed her mouth and thought about it, unsure of herself suddenly. Finally, she closed her eyes and shook her head. I had no intention of meddling in their real lives, even had she agreed now to it. That would make me as bad as Mayer.

"What did Amy want?" she asked quietly.

I was thrown by the unexpected turn of the conversation. Females were good at that. I answered with a very intelligent "Huh?"

She wore an exasperated expression, like I should have followed her leap of connectivity. She explained patiently, "Amy. You were going to give us something we all wanted. What did she want?"

I couldn't see any harm in telling the girl. "She didn't want anything. She wanted a kiss, and to say good-bye, but mostly she wanted to just go home."

Elizabeth thought about that for a moment. "I can see that. She really wanted out."

I nodded as Elizabeth lapsed into silence kneeling there quietly and thinking. I watched her, but she showed no signs of continuing the conversation.

"Elizabeth?" I asked gently. "What do you want?"

She looked up as though wakened from a dream. She began to say something. Something I couldn't make out then she took a breath and spoke.

"I can have anything? Anything at all?"

"No. You can have anything reasonable. Anything that isn't going to take a lot of time. And nothing that will hurt me or any of the other girls."

She snorted. "You think I'd want to hurt one of the other girls?"

I looked at her. "No, but I just wanted to be clear."

She thought for a moment. I was sure she'd known what she was going to ask for since I'd mentioned it. But now the time was here, and she was getting cold feet. Perhaps it was her lack of socks.

"I'm not going to remember any of this, am I?"

I shook my head.

She took a deep breath. She began slowly, and built up momentum, her words beginning to tumble from her lips near the end.

"You. You know that I'm not exactly the most ... um ... experienced girl that you took. Right? I mean, I may be the oldest, but that doesn't necessarily make me the most sexually active. I. I've always been shy, and I've always avoided sexual contact. I. I masturbated. A lot. But that's it. I mean, I've had partners in real life. But nothing like you've shown me. I didn't even know that some people get turned on by these." She rattled her hands. "I didn't even know that I got turned on by these," she whispered. "You've opened my eyes. I've never felt any of these things before, and I'm afraid of losing them when you send me back. I've never had a multiple orgasm, never been with women, never felt the rush of being in bondage. Even the whipping. I can't say I liked that, but I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. Oh God. You are going to think I'm the biggest slut ever."

She collapsed into crying gently, her bound hands rising to her face.

I slipped off the bed and crouched in front of the bare girl, letting her cry for a few minutes. Finally she sniffled and looked up at me, surprised that I was so close to her.

"I. I wanted you to take me to the neighbours again. Let Karen ... oh Christ ... I can't do this. Let her pleasure me again."

I looked into her teary eyes, not quite believing my ears. She continued swiftly.

"You can tie me up. To the chair again. Whip me if you want. Have Karen lick me. Down there. Please don't think I'm weird. I just want to feel that again."

I swallowed. We could do that, and I certainly didn't have any objections to it. I'd love to see it again. I couldn't believe that she wanted to do it, but I suppose I could understand. However, it would take far too much time. We would have to take Karen again, take the time to walk over there.

I controlled my impulses and slowly shook my head. "I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. I want to do it too, but time ... doesn't permit. Is there anything else?"

Her face was a mask of disappointment, but she managed to control herself.

"Christi is going to hate me. I know it. But what about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah. Make love to me?"

That threw me. The girl wanting to make love to me. Offering herself, as her last wish on this timeline.

I sat there stunned. I actually thought I saw her grin slowly, proud of herself that she'd managed to shock me.

She spoke gently. "If I let you tie me to the bed, could you make me feel that multiple orgasm thing again?"

I had no idea. I only knew that last time, I'd whipped her while she was being licked. I wasn't sure I could raise her to the right level of stimulation on my own. And I didn't want to involve Christi and Jane at this time. Not without their consent. And I had a funny feeling that they wouldn't consent, given a true choice.

I took a deep breath. "Elizabeth. I really don't know if I can take you there. I can try, but you'll have to accept whatever I do to you. And I still can't guarantee that you'll have a multiple climax."

"What other choice do I have?"

I shrugged. "Will you be disappointed if you don't have a multiple orgasm?" I asked her gently.

She thought about it for a moment then shook her pretty head. "As long as it's interesting and pleasurable. That's all I can ask, isn't it?"

"That's all you can ask in real life as well."

She took another deep breath. "I wish I could remember that advice in real life." She leaned forward, her bound hands resting on my thigh. She kissed me gently.

Without releasing her hands, I guided her to her bare feet and onto the bed. I lay her back, stretching her out, gently guiding her bound hands above her head, spreading her ankles to the sides of the bed. She shivered, but held the position.

"You sure you want to do this?" I asked her gently.

She nodded.

I fished around in the pack, finding some soft cord which I used to gently secure her to the bed posts. I pulled her bare body taut, watching as she tested each restraint by pulling gently against it.

"I can't move," she remarked unnecessarily.

I sat cross legged between her spread thighs and looked her over. She flushed, but didn't have much choice but to lay there and accept my gaze. It wasn't as though she'd never been tied down before, it was just that this time it was by her permission and desire. Not mine.

Don't get me wrong. I desired it as well. It was unrealistic, I knew, but I sort of wished that they all would choose a bit of fun in bondage as their last wish on this time line. I smiled to her.

"Elizabeth. I want you to listen carefully. This isn't my game. This is yours. I'm going to do things to you, that I think are going to make you feel good, and perhaps raise you up high enough to really orgasm. I might hurt you," I spoke quietly.

She flushed deeply at the words, getting a very frightened look on her face. She hadn't expected that I might hurt her after she allowed herself to be rendered helpless. She began to protest, but I leaned forward and touched her lips, urging her to be quiet.

"If it were my game," I continued, "I'd hurt you as long and as hard as I liked. It wouldn't matter how much you think you can take." I paused to let that sink in. She paled even further. "But, this isn't my game. We're doing this for you, this time. Understand?"

She nodded, still pale. She didn't want to be hurt unbearably. And I couldn't blame her. But I knew that she needed some extra stimulation if she wanted to orgasm as heavily as she wanted.

"I'm going to give you a safeword. Do you know what that is?"

She shook her pretty head, afraid to speak. She was pulling again at her ropes.

"I want you to be able to protest, scream, do whatever you want to do, but not stop me. Okay?"

She looked confused but I continued on.

"A safeword is something that will stop the play. I will stop when you use it. But a word of caution. I'll try to keep things within your limits, this time. For you. But if you stop it ... then we both have to decide to continue. You might not get to continue if I stop. Okay?"

Understanding finally lit her eyes. She nodded silently. Still not wanting to interrupt. The concept was fascinating to her. She'd be able to scream, and protest but I wouldn't stop. But she still could stop if she wanted. This was so unlike anything else I'd ever done to her. She had never had the option of stopping me before, no matter how uncomfortable she was.

"Do you have any suggestions for safeword?"

"How about 'safeword'," she replied unimaginatively. It would have worked, but I preferred something with more flair.

"Try again," I prodded her thigh with a finger.

She swallowed. "How about 'Lazarus'"

That had a nice ring to it, and she was unlikely to use it in any cursing I might wring from her vocal chords. At least not accidentally.

"Alright. Are you ready?"

She nodded, a smile playing about her lips. Those lips that with any luck I'd have begging soon enough. And by her request.

One word emerged from her lips, "Please."

I had her begging already.

She closed her eyes to better feel the soft gentle touches over her silken skin.

Abruptly I stopped and stepped off the bed. She cried out as the stimulation left her soft skin. I rummaged in the pack as she watched, not saying a word.

I carefully slipped a blindfold over her eyes, which she allowed without complaint. I couldn't gag her, because the safeword was verbal. I didn't want her gagged anyway.

I picked up the crop, realizing that I hadn't used it on one of the women in a long time. I let it fall gently into my palm, feeling the sting of the leather. This was going to hurt her. I hoped that she wouldn't safeword out. I wanted this to work for her.

"What are you doing?" she asked quietly, unable to see the crop but hearing it.

"I'm going to whip you," I spoke gently to her.

"Oh God," I watched as she shuddered in her restraints at the words. "Not too hard. Okay?"

"I'll hit you as hard as necessary. Now I want you to do something for me."

"What?" she asked breathlessly.

"I want you to concentrate on turning the pain into arousal. Alright? And I want you to count."

"Count?"

"Everytime the crop touches your skin, I want you to count for me."

"How high?"

I was thrown again by this helpless girl. She switched tracks so quickly.

"What?"

"How many times are you going to hit me?"

"How many do you deserve? You pick."

"I can't. Don't ..." she began.

I relented. "Ten."

"Only ten?" she spoke mischievously.

"Would you rather have fifteen?"

She shook her head. She inquired quietly. "Where?"

"Where am I going to hit you?" I asked her for clarification.

"Yes. Please not on the breasts. Please?" She began to beg, even before the first blow fell on her helpless body.

"You have a safeword. I'll hit you where I think you need it," I reminded her. "If it's too much, safeword."

"I. I don't want to."

"I don't want you to either."

I took a deep breath and let a soft stroke fall onto her stretched belly. A red stripe appeared contrasting against her pale skin.

"Arrrrghhhhhhhh," she screamed into the room, twisting in the bonds. Her fingers twitched as she struggled with the steel bands. All she wanted in the whole world was to get her hands to her bare belly, to protect it and comfort it.

I waited until she calmed herself. The stroke had been light, not anything to cause her too much trouble. I'd increase the strength as she could take it, but I was more interested in getting her to feel her helplessness, her vulnerability than to actually hurt her. This was nothing compared to what Jane, or even Amy, had endured at my hands. And they hadn't had a safeword.

"Concentrate," I whispered to her.

"Christ. That was a light one, wasn't it?" she spoke in ragged breath.

"Yes."

"Oh God. Nine more?"

"Nine more."

The numerals she had spoken reminded her.

"Christ. One," she spoke without further hesitation. "I can't take ten. Even like that."

I let the crop fall against her right thigh, marking it as well. She screamed again, not expecting the pain. I watched as she struggled to control her voice, her pain. Her face contorted with the effort. That blow was slightly harder. Finally, after some incoherent gasps, she managed to remember to say, "Two."

I wasn't in this to punish her. I wasn't going to restart the count or anything if she forgot to count. This was her game, and she'd remember on her own time.

Her bare body was sheened in perspiration as my sixth stroke fell onto her bare left foot. The third had graced her left thigh. The fourth had kissed her right calf. Five and six had caressed the bottoms of her bare feet. Each blow was slightly harder than the last.

Eventually she gasped out the word, "Six."

She didn't stop there. She began to beg coherently.

"Please. I need you. Please stop hitting me. I. I'm so turned on. Just touch me. You don't need to hit me anymore. Please? I'll do whatever you want. I'll fuck you. I'll suck you. Anything. You can make me do anything anyway."

Her lips formed the words in a tumbled rush, her teeth gritting against the pain.

"Elizabeth?" I ventured.

"Yes, master?" she was breathing heavily. I still hadn't touched any of her obvious erogenous zones. I had purposely avoided her breasts and between her legs. She was pulling rhythmically against the ropes holding her.

"Are you ready for something else?"

"If you don't hit my feet again, I swear, I'll do whatever you want."

"Beg me."

"Beg for what?" she asked, slightly confused. I didn't answer her right away. After a moment, the blind bare girl tried something. Anything was better than lying there not knowing what I was going to do to her. "Please. Master. This slave begs to be fucked. Fuck me. Please?"

Well, that certainly increased my arousal. If it was possible.

"Beg me to hit your breasts," I whispered to her gently.

"Oh Christ. I can't. No," she responded, fear reflecting in the set of her lip. She had probably been wondering why I'd avoided her breasts up until this point. They were beautiful there, protruding from her chest, heaving with her breathing. Bare breasts, just aching to be touched with the crop. No defenses.

"Beg me."

"I can't. Don't make me do that."

"Concentrate, Elizabeth. Concentrate on turning the pain into pleasure."

"It's hard. It hurts."

"I know it does. Concentrate."

I could see the concentration flow across her lower features. Her eyes still hidden by the blindfold.

"Hit my breasts? Please, master?"

I nodded to myself, she was ready. I lifted the crop and let it fall against the tops of her sensitive and helpless breasts. The cry far outstripped any other I'd wrung from her.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Oh God. Oh God. It hurts. Fuck. Please no more. Fuck me. While I'm hot. Please. You'll kill me. Argh. Bastard." But she remembered to count. "Seven. Fuck. Only seven."

I waited patiently for her heaving body to settle. I could see her tears running down her face, leaking from beneath the strip of cloth covering her eyes.

When she had managed to get her breathing back down to a somewhat normal voice, she squeaked out a request.

"Please, sir. I. I don't think I can take another one, but hit my breasts again. Please?"

I smiled at that one, but I gently swung the crop up at the tender undersides of her small breasts. Again, the response was instantaneous as the red stripe appeared. She screamed out her pain, pulling in futility against the ropes holding her. I was sure that she was going
to bruise herself. I could see all her desires to stop this pain. She wanted to cradle her breasts that had become the center of her world. She softly sobbed after counting out the eighth stroke.

She swallowed heavily and spoke again.

"Please. My breasts hurt. Hit me somewhere else? I can't take it again. Please? Why are you hitting me? I'm ready for you. I've never been more ready. Touch me."

I obliged her. True to her word, she was sopping wet. I could feel her heat before I even ventured a finger between her lower lips. She was lubricated beyond belief. She tensed and screamed as my finger lightly stroked her swollen clit. I withdrew, determined to finish this
properly.

She cried out in frustration as the sensations left her clit.

I waited patiently, and finally her small voice spoke again.

"Hit me again. My breasts. Please. Make me hurt."

I smiled, an evil thought crossing my mind.

"Your nipples?"

"Oh God. No."

"Beg me."

"No. I can't. Not anymore. I'll safeword."

"No, you won't. You won't climax if you do."

She struggled in vain with her restraints. Frustrated. Wanting to touch herself even if I wouldn't. She didn't care.

"You bastard. Okay. Hit my nipples. Please."

I took a deep breath, watching her tense. When she finally relaxed her muscles, I let the crop fall against her swollen nipples. She wasn't expecting it and she opened her mouth and screamed soundlessly into the room. Her entire body tensed thrashing against the ropes. Her ankles nearly pulled the bedposts from their sockets. Her wrists were bright red from fighting the steel trapping them.

Then her voice finally made it down to normal human hearing range she sounded like a wounded animal. I hadn't softened the stroke, leaving her with the ever increasing power of the crop. I couldn't imagine the pain that she must be in.

"Ieeeeeeeieeeeeeeee. Ow. Please God. Make him stop. Fuck. Nine. One more. I can't do it. Oh God it hurts. Not my tits. Anything but that."

She collapsed into hysterical crying, constantly pulling at her wrists. I could tell that all she wanted was to curl up into a ball and alleviate the pain washing over her. After a few minutes she slowed her breathing. I gently kissed at her red and swollen nipples, caressing them as best I could, trying to help her turn that agony into pleasure.

"Lazarus," she spoke with a shudder in her voice.

I immediately pulled away from her, honouring our agreement. She was still in tears, but she must have been in serious pain to use the safeword. Perhaps I was being too rough with her. I reached for the blindfold, but she spoke as she felt my fingers at her face.

"Please. Leave it on me."

"Alright. What's the matter?"

"Fuck me. I need you now. I can't take anymore pain to my breasts. Please understand."

"I understand. But I'm not going to fuck you."

"Please? Oh my God. Why?"

"Because you stopped. I told you that we both had to agree to continue. And I'm not sure I want to."

"Oh God. I went through that for nothing?" she cried out pitifully.

"I will continue if you like," I spoke gently to her, stroking her face with my fingers. "You can finish." I wasn't sure of that. She wasn't the type of girl to call safeword for no reason. She was nearly beat.

"Please. I can't take anymore on the tits."

"I know."

"You won't hit me there?"

"I'll tell you what. You can safeword back in by saying 'Lazarus' again. If you immediately beg me to hit you between the legs for the last stroke, I'll play," I said to her with a grin on my face. I was curious what she'd do. Stop. Or continue.

"You can't be serious. Not there. Hit my thighs. My feet again. You liked that." She swallowed. "Hit my breasts again. I'll take it somehow."

"You have your options. You can say 'Free me', or you can say 'Lazarus'."

I shut my mouth, determined to play this out properly. She lay quietly in her bonds, pulling against them, crying softly at her predicament. She was still highly aroused, I could tell. I could scent her musk from sitting beside her. And I wanted her.

"Will you fuck me?" she asked into the room, not being able to turn her head accurately towards me. I fought down my urge to answer her.

"Will you at least let me masturbate myself if you let me go?"

Again I had to fight with myself to force her to make the decision on the information she had. Truthfully, I wouldn't deny her the climax in whatever form she wanted. This truly was her show. But she didn't know that. She'd almost fallen completely into the submissive role for
this. It was part of her game, even after she'd safeworded out.

She shuddered and took a deep breath. Obviously she had arrived at some decision.

"Free. Free. Free," she stuttered. "Fuck. Lazarus," she said in a strong clear voice.

I stepped back from the bed and waited beside her bound form. Within fifteen seconds her small voice issued forth.

"Please? I'm begging you to reconsider. Talk to me."

"Beg me."

"Please. You don't have to hurt me like that. I can't."

"Why did you safeword back in, if you can't take it."

She thought about it for a moment, tears beginning to form beneath the blindfold again.

"I. I don't know. You wouldn't talk to me," she admitted.

I refused to answer her, letting her think. I could see her desires warring across the features of her face that I could see. She wanted the experience, but the pain was so intense. I couldn't pretend to understand what she was going through, but I knew it wasn't easy. Finally, after a few minutes of thinking, her voice began again, soft and pleading.

"Please. Hit my pussy. I can't take it, but I need you. I want you. Hit me this one last time. Why couldn't you have picked 'nine'. My poor body. Please don't hit me hard." I let the crop fall one last time between her legs. I still had never figured out how hard to hit a girl there, despite practicing on Amy so often. I was a gentle as I could, but I suspect even the most gentle tap on such sensitive skin is exceptionally painful for them. The tip of the crop sank deeply between her puffy lips, I felt it connect squarely on the rigidness of her pubic bone. I was sure that I'd connected with her clitoris. It took a moment for the reality of the pain to hit her.

She nearly sat up, nearly wrenching her shoulders from their sockets. She screamed loud enough to make the windows rattle. She cried and begged for minutes, sobbing incoherently, trying to curl her restrained body into a ball, wanting to close her legs, bruising herself in her struggles. I felt like I was forcing this on her, when she'd chosen it herself. I cringed at her obvious distress and pain. I hadn't meant to hurt her quite to that extent. I felt like I did when
I punished Jane, or Amy and accidentally went too far. Only Jane and Amy had never had any options for safeword.

She finally collapsed against the bed, her bare body wracked with sobs. After a while of watching her, she finally whispered a coherent word, breathlessly.

"Ten. Thank God. Ten."

I let her cry for a few moments, inspecting her body as she struggled. There was no blood, except where she'd cut her wrist on the handcuff on that last blow. The blood at her wrists wasn't serious. I was sure she'd be tender, her breasts and clitoris, but there would be no
lasting damage. Even if I was keeping her, I wouldn't have worried. She'd be fine after a rest.

I almost returned the crop to the pack, but then decided on something more interesting. I took the instrument of her pain, and held it to her face. I gently touched her lips with it.

Misunderstanding my intent, she gently kissed the crop, as though to thank it for her pain. Very erotic, but not what I'd intended.

"Elizabeth. I know you hurt. I'm going to try and make it better. Alright?"

She nodded, exhausted.

I pressed the leather against her lips again. "Open," I commanded her. With only a slight hesitation, she opened her mouth. I settled the crop between her teeth and she obediently held it. She was still crying inconsolably around it, her whole body shaking.

I knelt between her still outstretched thighs and slowly ran my tongue from her bare toes, up her leg, tracing the welts on her thigh. She squirmed at the touch to the welts, but forced herself to accept the tease.

I finally lay easily between her thighs, letting my tongue stroke gently across her swollen lips. Her sobbing slowly turned to gasps that I could easily hear around the crop. She whimpered as I purposely avoided slipping my tongue between the lips. I tasted her, smelled her. Her wet course hair felt delicious against my roving tongue. She was ready, had been for some time.

She murmured something around the gagging crop in her mouth. I was quite sure she was unashamedly begging for relief, for me to delve between her soft folds and lick her, let her finally get some pleasure amongst the torment. Allow her to climax as she had wanted from the beginning.

Acquiescing, I let my tongue dart between her lips. Her clit felt twice as large as it had last time I gave her oral sex, oh so long ago. I wasn't sure if it was due to the crop on it, or just her extended state of arousal. She moaned deep in her throat at she felt the soft contact of my tongue against her. She squirmed, trying to get more contact, but I insisted on teasing her. Nothing she could do about it.

I plunged one finger deep into her vagina, pumping slowly with my purposely slow rhythm. I could feel her frustration as she pulsed her vagina, wanting more, and faster. After teasing her for a few more minutes, I relented, letting my tongue trace around her clitoris in a faster circle, finding her natural rhythms within moments and feeling her body tense.

The crop fell out of her mouth as she screamed into the room. I could feel her body tensing beneath me, her vagina gripping and spasming around my inserted finger. I felt her peak, and I gently sucked at her again, plunging another finger into her. I felt her explode again, reaching a high plateau. Her cries filled my senses, as did her tensing. I flicked her clitoris again with the tip of my tongue, plunging into her with my fingers again. She climaxed again, for the
final time. Soon, I felt the pulses within her body recede and her muscles stopped straining at her restraints.

"I'm done," she murmured. "I'm done."

Her bare body stretched out in front of me was flushed from her forehead to her bare toes. She was pulling again at the restraints, whispering to herself.

I lay beside her and released her eyes from the blindfold. Her deep eyes looked up at me. I could see wonder, pain and perhaps love in them as she looked up at me.

"Three. Thank you."

"Don't thank me," I smiled at her. "Thank yourself. You did it too."

She rattled her handcuffs held above her head.

"Can your slave ask for the use of her body back?" she asked almost shyly.

I smiled at her and moved down her body. As I was releasing her ankles from the ropes, she spoke quietly.

"That was the most wonderful thing that I've ever felt."

"Glad I could help."

"I hurt like hell, but it was worth every second of it. Christ. My tits are on fire. Please, let my hands go."

"Legs first. Then I'll let your hands go."

She lay back quietly accepting my decision. As her ankles were freed, she instinctively moved her sore legs together. Probably trying to ease the ache that must still be settled between her thighs.

I moved back up the bed to lie beside her. I reached up and slipped the ropes free that held her hands to the headboard. They remained handcuffed, but she was essentially free of the bed.

I'd expected her to immediately cradle her breasts or her pussy, but she didn't. She immediately reached down and touched me through the material of my jeans.

She whispered quietly to me. "Let me suck you? I want to have intercourse with you, but I think I'm too sore."

I considered refusing her offer. I didn't know what I'd be up to with Jane and Christi, but I had some ideas. And I'd already had sex with Sheila this afternoon. I wasn't sure I'd be able to perform later if I indulged with Elizabeth. I wasn't Superman.

But she'd already managed to release my jeans and unzipped my zipper. Even with her hands in handcuffs. She urged me to my feet standing on the bed. With an obvious effort, she rose to her knees, and knelt in front of me. Her small hands pulled at my jeans and underwear, baring me to her.

I closed my eyes, and felt as her fingers teased me. I was harder than a rock, my erection insistent and throbbing. Hurting her and then pleasuring her had turned me on far more than I cared to admit. But she knew that. Now.
 

I just about exploded as I felt her warm lips engulf me. Her soft fingers toyed gently with my pubic hair and my scrotum. I thought I heard her sigh as I entered her mouth. I willed myself to wait, to enjoy the sensations she was giving to me. But I knew I wouldn't last long.

I felt my hands circle to touch her bobbing head. Her hair was like soft velvet, as I guided her rhythm. As I knew it would, her soft mouth quickly coaxed me to the point of no return.

Groaning, I exploded into her. She didn't hesitate, or withdraw. I could feel her mouth still working on me as I climaxed, shooting my fluids into her mouth. She gagged a bit, but didn't complain as she swallowed my ejaculate. When I'd finished, she finally released my penis from her mouth, her tongue still lapping at me, cleaning me. She looked up at me with those deep eyes. I was going to miss her. Unbearably.

I sank to my knees, not bothering to dress. I hugged her tightly into me, feeling her feminine body against mine, her softness against my shirt, against my lower nudity.

"I don't want to go," she said softly into my ear.

"I don't want you to go. If there was any way ..." I began before she shushed me.

"I understand," she whispered.

I reluctantly broke the embrace and rose to my feet on the floor this time. I replaced my clothing. She knelt quietly on the bed, tears falling from her eyes. She looked on almost wistfully. She didn't have any clothing to replace, a fact that she was aware of at times like
these. Her bound hands twisted into her lap. She looked up at me, and forced a smile to grace her lips. I couldn't help admiring her one last time. She was so feminine, so desirable kneeling there.

She slowly rose to her own feet, bare against the carpet of the bedroom. I wondered at the freedom of being barefoot for so long. No shoes. No socks. No clothing at all. I abruptly realized that this girl had not been allowed coverings for as long as I'd had her. And I don't think she ever had complained about it.

"Time to go?" she spoke softly and with regret.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. This was getting harder and harder.

I reached for her handcuffs, intending to finally release her from the bondage. She took a step back, slowly shaking her head.

"I don't mind. Leave them on me. Until I'm gone. Please?"

I nodded again, marveling at this woman. I opened the door for her and held it as she walked her bare body out and into the hallway. Together we walked down to the main floor. I cringed as I watched her move, the welts somehow seeming too deep and angry for this delicate creature. She didn't seem bothered by them, beyond an initial cringe as her bare soles touched the tile in the main hallway. The bottom of her feet would have been tender; I remembered hitting them harder than I'd originally intended as well.

She hesitated outside the library. She turned to me. "A private good-bye? Afterwards?"

"You got me," I spoke with a joviality I didn't feel.

She solemnly reached for the doorknob and swung open the door into the empty room. She glanced around confused. I had this fleeting vision of Christi running from the house as quickly as she could as I made violent love to Elizabeth. But then I remembered her request as I'd left her last time.

I touched Elizabeth and guided her to the dining room where we'd had the nice dinner a few days ago. Jane was perched on her window ledge quietly talking to Christi. Christi had dragged a chair over to the window and was sitting on it backwards, her chin resting on the
backrest, her hands encircling the back of the chair. Jane stopped speaking as Elizabeth entered the room. Christi turned, her eyes closing as she took in the fresh welts on Elizabeth's bare body.

She rose out of the chair, her joined wrists hindering her.

Christi fixed me with her soulful eyes and spoke quietly. No anger or blame in her voice.

"You couldn't help it, could you. We heard her down here. I. I thought you were torturing her to death up there," she just sounded mournful. There was no accusing in her voice, just acceptance and perhaps disappointment. All the girls were still mine, no matter how much they knew I was releasing them soon. One look at any female's wrists and the bondage still holding them would verify that. They still were ultimately under my control.

Elizabeth stepped forward and hugged Christi, pressing her bare body into Christi's clothes, her still bound hands encircling Christi's neck.

"Sweety, I wanted him to do it. It was my last request. I wanted him to hurt me. It's okay. I won't feel it soon. But I wanted to feel it. My choice, for once."

Christi's eyes widened, and Jane nodded in understanding.

Christi took a deep breath and turned her face to gaze at Elizabeth. She spoke softly.

"I was jealous of you. And I still am. A little. But I love you too. I'm going to miss you." Tears began to run down her face.

"I'm. I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

"I know," Christi spoke truthfully. "I got used to sharing. Took a while, but I did."

To prove her point, Christi leaned forward and gently kissed Elizabeth's lips, her only way of convincing the girl that she was forgiven for whatever had happened. Truthfully, I think that Christi always had understood.

Jane had lowered herself to her bare feet, walking over to the other embracing girls.

"I'm going to miss you too. A lot. You always tried to protect us. You always cared," Jane spoke softly as she struggled to embrace both Christi and Elizabeth. The girls remained together, crying softly and hugging each other for a few minutes.

Eventually, Elizabeth broke the embrace. She kissed both Christi and Jane on the lips.

"I have to go. I'm going to miss both of you terribly," Elizabeth spoke quietly.

I watched as Elizabeth turned away from the remaining two women, tears falling uncontrollably down her face. She lifted her hands to try and wipe them away, but wasn't very successful. As I guided her from the dining room, she turned and whispered one last "Good-bye", to the others, who were watching her leave silently through teary eyes.

We walked slowly to the entertainment room. I settled into the sofa. Elizabeth stood in the center of the room, watching me watch her.

"I remember that night, when you fed us that Italian food. And allowed us to use cutlery and shared your dessert. And then we watched movies. That was the most romantic thing I've ever done. So I was nude and I was tied up for the night. I didn't care. You know that?"

I nodded slowly. I wasn't sure what she was trying to say, but it seemed important to her. I'd enjoyed that night as well. The girls had all been happy.

"I wish that I'd be able to remember this."

"No, you don't," I admonished the girl.

She knelt easily on the carpet.

"Actually I do," she said quietly and I believed her. "If I had a choice, I'd stay with you. Even though I know you'd hurt me, I know that I ... that I don't mind it here. I. I feel wanted. I'm not sure I can explain it."

She waited there on her knees for a few minutes, thoughts of her captivity and her adventures flitting through her mind. Finally she rose to her bare feet again and stood in front of me.

She bent at her waist and kissed me passionately on the lips, her fingers caressing my face.

"Despite all the things I didn't like, there was more that I did. I hope that I can find them in real life."

"Perhaps you can," I spoke to her quietly.

She bent again, and I thought that I was going to feel her soft lips again. Instead she whispered in my ear.

"If you do this again, find me," she whispered in a voice that I wasn't even sure was hers.

She straightened back up, thrusting out her bare breasts almost proudly one last time. I swallowed heavily, tears forming in my eyes.

"Remember me," she whispered as she felt her time bubble begin to collapse around her. A moment later, she was gone, returned to her seat in that BMW with Catherine. I'd never found out what their relationship was. I regretted not knowing her better.

The handcuffs that she had worn clattered to the carpet, probably still warm from her. The necklace and the anklet that I'd given to her a day ago fell to the floor as well. I couldn't bear to pick them up as I rose heavily to my feet.

"Good-bye, my noble one," I whispered into the space where her beauty had just graced. It was getting harder. I missed her already.

I mutely nodded, still missing the other girls and unable to hide it. I carefully pulled a chair from below the table and reversed it, straddling the chair as Christi was. I faced the girls, my chin
resting on the wood of the backrest.

Christi spoke gently from her seat. Her hands still encircled the back of the chair, but she turned her body to face me.

"Do you want us to kneel?" she asked even as she began to struggle to her feet and out of the chair. Jane was making motions as if to drop to her feet from the window sill.

"You don't have to kneel for me anymore. Stay comfortable."

A mischievous smile broke across Christi's lips. "Will you let us out of the handcuffs as well, then?" she asked lightly, obviously not expecting a positive answer.

"Nice try," I actually managed to smile back at her. Silence descended into the room for a moment before Jane broke it.

"What happens now?" she spoke so softly it was almost a whisper.

"I'm not quite sure."

"I'm sorry," Jane was still speaking in soft tones.

I looked up at her, confused. "Sorry for what?"

"Sorry that you have to let us go. Let them go. It's obviously hard on you."

I nodded. It had been a lot harder than I'd expected. Originally I'd just picked up these girls as playthings. As sexual objects. As slaves for my pleasure and my pleasure alone. But they were more than that, now. Perhaps, I'd kept them too long. Perhaps they had just become
more than just pretty girls walking down the street, available for my games. Despite what I did to them, they were thinking, breathing, feeling human beings. Women. This was harder than I'd ever expected.

"How much time do we have?" Jane asked, breaking my train of thought.

I really didn't know. It might be days, it might be minutes. I wouldn't know until that cursed black spider began its journey across my mind. And I had no idea if it would be the last one, or the first in a procession of little spiders. I was hoping to hold onto the timeline long enough to give the girls whatever they wanted. I hoped that the spiders weren't hungry.

After a moment I answered her. "I really don't know, honey. I really don't know."

I gazed at the girl, resplendent in her black evening gown andhandcuffs. Even though I knew that was all she wore, and she still would look more natural in jeans and a sweater, she was beautiful. She was beautiful as only a seventeen year old girl can be, nonchalantly swinging her bare legs and feet, gently twisting her wrists against her fetters, her face strong and sure. Her dark hair curled around her shoulders as soft as a downy comforter. Her lips curled into a gentle smile.

"Do you want me?" Jane asked softly, knowing what the answer was. But I had promised myself that I wouldn't force myself on any of them. It wasn't necessary. I had already made love twice this afternoon. Three times today if you counted Christi in the morning.

I continued to gaze at her, not answering her simple question.

"You do. You can have me, if you want. You know that," her perception had always been correct.

"Janey. Of course, I want you. But this isn't about me. It is about you. It's about what *you* want. I'll do whatever I can to make it happen for you. But there isn't much time left. I'm sorry for that."

She swallowed heavily. "Does that mean that I'm the next one?"

I nodded slowly at her. I so much didn't want to let this girl go.

She took a deep breath, raising her breasts beneath the dress. She let it out in a long steady stream through her nose. Her breasts fell again beneath the fabric. I thought I could detect the points of her nipples. The nipples that I knew so intimately.

"You are going to let me do whatever I want?"

"Almost anything."

"I'm going to assume that the 'anything' doesn't include letting me try out that crop of yours on *your* hide? Let you know what you put us through."

I considered it for about half a second. "I don't think so. Nice try though."

She smiled radiantly. She knew that I wasn't going to agree to that, no matter how fair it might seem. But she was just trying to make a point. I knew that. I let her have her small victory.

She tilted her head down, staring at her toes. She took a deep breath and spoke quietly.

"Do you remember the night that you let us free to teach the Judge a lesson?"

I didn't know where she was going with this, but I wasn't about to let her at that asshole again. Even if she deserved it. No. I didn't particularly want to spend my last time on this timeline dealing with him. I didn't even want to think about him.

"Yes ..." I replied cautiously.

She continued, lowering her voice even further, almost to the point of inaudibility. "Do you remember what happened that night?"

I let my mind wander back, trying to find what she was driving at. I glanced over at Christi who was also staring downwards, suddenly fascinated with her own small toes. The sight of Christi brought it home to me. I still wasn't sure where she was going, but I knew what she was referring to.

"You. And Christi. Yes." I spoke carefully, not wanting to dissuade her from speaking whatever was on her mind.

Jane finally raised her eyes. I watched as she fought her discomfort and embarrassment that it had even happened in the first place. Her toes curled against the air as she continued in her soft voice, her eyes capturing and holding mine.

"Christi and I talked about it. We can't say good-bye. We just can't," her voice cracked a bit and tears began to form in her eyes. "We. We would like to use one of our wishes, it doesn't matter whose, to ... to leave together. So we don't have to say good-bye. We would like to
spend our last time together. As long as we have. Please? And if we can't do that. If you won't let us. Then don't make us say good-bye to each other. I'm begging you," Jane was crying softly by the time she'd finished.

I leaned back a little, surprised by her request. I had honestly thought that they had worked it out, that their feelings for each other, if they even existed, had been resolved. Christi had tears in her eyes as well as she sat there, twisting her hands against the steel holding her wrists. I thought I understood. If they did have any feeling for one another, then the good-bye would even be harder than anything I'd felt so far letting the other women go. And they had
recognized it.

I spoke quietly. "Janey? Christi? You don't have to use up your last requests. You won't have to say good-bye to one another if you don't want. I won't force you."

"Thank-you," Jane whispered into the quiet room.

I let them sit there for a while with their thoughts, not wanting to interrupt them.

Eventually, I turned my attention back to Jane. She was staring at her bare feet again as they swung back and forth.

"Jane?"

She looked up, unsure of what else I might want from her.

"What do you want, truly? You can include Christi if you want. If she wants."

Jane took a deep breath. It looked as though she'd made a decision that she wasn't sure that she wouldn't regret. She let her breath out slowly and spoke.

"You know what I'm like. Right?"

I thought about it. "Stubborn. Strong willed. Caring." I smiled at her.

"And masochistic. No matter how much I hate it," she continued.

I nodded slowly.

"I might never get another chance to experience this. Being completely in someone else's control. Let's face it, I'm unlikely to discover this on the real timeline. Right? Not safely anyway."

I nodded again, slowly. I was getting aroused just anticipating her request. I had a feeling I knew what it was going to be, though not the specifics.

She turned slowly to Christi. "Christi? Honey? I know how you feel about him. I won't ask if you don't want me to."

Christi lowered her blonde head and stared at the floorboards for a moment. She took a deep breath. She obviously knew what Jane was talking about, even if I hadn't figured it out yet.

"It's alright. I don't mind," she attempted a smile, not completely succeeding, but close enough.

Jane nodded her thanks to Christi and turned back to me. She pulled against the handcuffs on her wrists.

"I. I want to be your slave. One last time. I want to put myself in your hands. I want to be taken," she shivered slightly at the words coming from her pretty lips. "I. I don't care what you do to me, but I only ask not to hurt me more than I can take. You know where that is better than I."

Tears began to form in her eyes. I watched as she struggled to will them away. Her strength prevailed as I watched the tears recede. Her mind was at war with her body again. But she knew that her mind had lots of time to win on the main timeline. She might never experience
what her body wanted ever again.

It took me a moment to respond. I have to admit that I wasn't completely surprised by this, but nevertheless I had never been sure if she would ever accept this part of herself that I saw so clearly.

"Are you sure, Jane?"

"I'm sure," her voice became a little stronger.

"Do you want sex to be involved?" I just wanted to be clear what her intent was.

"I ... if you want it, I am going to be your willing slave. I'm not sure I have a choice."

I swallowed. This wasn't the answer I wanted.

"No. Do you want sex to be involved?" I asked her again.

She thought about it for a moment. I had never taken her, never forced her into sex. At least with me.

She licked her lips. "Yes," she answered simply. When I didn't say anything she continued softly. "What is the point of being all hot and bothered if I don't get to climax?"

I nodded slowly.

She whispered again, "You can't tell right now, but I already am. Hot and bothered."

I looked up at her. Her breathing was heavier than normal, but with the dress between her skin and I, I couldn't see the other outward signs of her arousal. If they were even there. I took her word for it. For now.

"Would you like Christi to be involved in this?" I asked slowly.

Jane nodded slowly, almost shyly.

I didn't want to offer Christi's services if she had an objection. I had a funny feeling that she wouldn't, especially considering the circumstances. I turned to Christi, a look of questioning on my face. Christi nodded slowly, giving her permission for me to include her. If I ordered her, she wouldn't have a choice. She knew that. But this was no longer about my control over them, and I think that Christi sensed that. If she'd objected, I wouldn't have forced the issue.

"Who am I?" I gently asked Jane.

Her eyes clouded for a moment as she considered her answer. Then, as naturally as if she was in church, she slipped off the windowsill and sank to her knees on the hardwood, the black fabric of her gown flowing around her feminine form. Her bound hands rested easily between her kneeling thighs; she was no longer twisting in her restraints.

She spoke clearly but quietly, looking up at me.

"You ... are my Master."

She remained seated, so I ended up towering over her. She held my eyes with her own and licked her lips.

"Just because I've agreed to help you with Jane doesn't mean I've given up my wish."

I was aware of that, but I thought that given her position, her words were a bit spunky.

"You would have helped if I'd told you to anyway. I haven't let you go yet."

She flushed a little, but lowered her eyes at my words.

I smiled, having gotten the desired effect. I continued more gently. "I haven't forgotten you. I'm still going to give you whatever you want. Just tell me when the time is right. Fair enough?"

She looked back up, a smile curling her lips. She had a secret. She knew exactly what she wanted, and I didn't. And she didn't have to tell me. I wasn't going to punish her until she told me her secret. Her life was changing, and even I was finding it difficult to keep her in the slave role. Especially as she sat there, looking up at me with those irresistible eyes. She was still wearing that sweater and the tight jeans that would have looked more at home on Jane. The only concession to her role as mine was the handcuffs adorning her wrists, that she couldn't remove. Nevertheless, she looked spectacular. She should have been a model.

"What?" she asked in confusion, not understanding why I was staring at her.

I decided to tell her. "You should be a model."

She flushed. "You never asked ... but I am. Or at least I was." She tossed her blonde hair about her shoulders and gave me one of those sexy pouty glances that she might throw at a camera. My heart caught for a moment at the sheer beauty of the pose.

I swallowed hard. I hadn't expected that. She smiled as she realized that she'd somehow surprised me. Though I'm not sure that she knew the reason. The girls seemed to revel in that. Surprising me. Or shocking me. Even if they didn't mean to.

Because I couldn't move my tongue anymore, I crouched down and fitted the chrome handcuff key into her restraints. She sat still as I released her wrists. I watched in fascination as her fingers gently massaged the skin of her wrists where the metal had held her. The
handcuffs were still warm from her body heat. I placed them on the ground and looked up at her. She remained in the seat simply letting me regard her in silence.

Christi surprised me again when she spoke.

"Let's take her outside," she said.

I was confused, not quite understanding what she was saying. I suppose I'd dropped into her beauty, unaware of the other girl still kneeling quietly beside us.

Christi saw my confusion, and I could tell that she wasn't sure why I hadn't understood her. Only that I hadn't.

She continued. "Jane. Remember her? Your other slave? She and I were talking earlier. She wanted to go outside for this."

I turned slowly to Jane who was completely flushed. She nodded her head nearly imperceptibly. Christi was telling the truth.

Christi's voice continued on behind me. I felt almost intoxicated by the girls.

"Maybe we should use the front yard? If you agree? Then we wouldn't have to see Mayer? Or have you put him back already?"

I shook my head, clearing it. The spider crawled along the base of my head at the back. I felt the world closing in, but again it receded. I was grateful. Although the danger here was minimal, Christi and Jane would take care of me if I fell into unconsciousness, there was no
guarantee I would wake up. If I was smart, I would let them go now. Forget their requests, and hightail it back to the prime time line. But I wasn't smart. I truly wanted to give them something. They had been so good to me. They deserved something. A small voice at the back of my brain was shouting that they didn't deserve to be trapped on this timeline forever or some unknown limbo, but I carefully ignored it. I was reasonably sure that we could get through this.

"Are you alright?" Jane asked worriedly from her kneeling position in front of me.

I nodded. "It didn't get me."

Jane still looked worried. "We don't have to do this. We can just go back. We aren't going to remember anyway. Are we?"

"You won't remember. But I'm fine now. Really."

I felt fine. As though nothing had happened at all. I just hoped that the next close call would happen after I'd had my time with Jane and Christi. Preferably while I wasn't on this timeline. Of course, the spiders would disappear once I regained the prime timeline.

After a moment, I moved over to Jane. I removed her handcuffs quickly, dropping them beside Christi's.

"Is crawling going to ruin your dress?" I asked her.

She looked puzzled. I understood. She couldn't imagine why I'd care if the dress was ruined. She'd figured out that she was going back as soon as this last scene was played out, and the dress was useless at that point. And I'm sure she never expected to have it covering her much longer in any case. She was probably surprised that she was still wearing it at the moment.

She shook her head and nodded at the same time. Quite a sight actually.

"Yes, Master," she breathed. "Crawling will ruin it. I can remove it if you like."

She hadn't even blinked an eye at the prospect of crawling. She'd done it for me before, though it had been a long time ago. But she was determined to play her role, accepting whatever I asked of her.

"You may keep the dress. Try not to ruin it."

"Master? Can a slave ask if she'll be punished if she ruins the dress?" Jane slipped easily into slave talk. I was surprised. I hadn't heard it from her lips for a while. I wasn't even sure she'd
remembered how to speak that way. She was full of surprises.

"I'll decide that when you are outside."

"Yes, sir," she responded. "But, your slave begs to remove it first if she is going to get punished for ruining it. She knows that she is being punished anyway, but she doesn't want to make it worse."

Her words struck a chord in me. I was aroused simply by her manner and her words. I had to adjust my jeans. I couldn't believe that I could react so soon after Elizabeth. Jane's mouth curled into a quick grin as she watched me adjust myself before she caught herself and forced a straight face. I was going to have to punish her for that.

I answered her slowly, "Crawl with the dress. I'll decide later what you will be punished for."

"Yes, Master," she spoke with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Despite her own willingness to be in this role, she was unable to completely discard her normal strong will and defiance. I loved that about her.

She carefully fell to her hands and knees, waiting for a command to begin crawling for me. I motioned Christi to her feet and then to Jane's left side. I strode to Jane's right. Jane looked up at us towering over her diminutive and vulnerable form with a look of worry on her face.

I smiled to her reassuringly. I wasn't going to hurt her yet. I carefully gathered up a handful of her full brown hair in my fingers, indicating for Christi to do the same. Christi hesitated, but reached down and gathered up some of Jane's hair in her hand as well.

We began walking slowly, gently tugging at Jane's hair as a leash. Jane cried out a little at the initial tug, but fell into a rhythm, moving her hands and legs in the unfamiliar and slow motion, relieving the pressure on her scalp. Christi and I moved along beside Jane matching her slow pace, not trying to hurt her. It would have been a simple matter to increase the pace to the point where Jane couldn't keep up, her scalp in agony. But I didn't. She would be uncomfortable enough, soon enough. Neither girl complained about the procession.

We moved slowly from the dining room, and down the main hall. The only sounds were Jane's laboured breathing and the whisk of her dress as it touched the tile. I looked back as we crossed the front door threshold. The mansion that had been our home. The mansion with Sheila and Mayer and all the good times and the bad. I felt that I'd lived there forever, when it had only been a few days at most. I couldn't believe that this was the last time I'd ever set foot in the place. It seemed so odd to be leading this girl outside using her hair as a guide. The tender soles of her bare feet upturned beneath the elegance of the evening gown. It all seemed so surreal and so erotic. The former occupants of the house would probablybe shocked at the display, well most of them anyway.

I took a deep breath.

"Christi?"

She turned to me, waiting for instructions.

"Run upstairs and gather up the pack. Be quick, or you are going to join miss slave, here."

Christi flushed, remembering that essentially she was still a slave as well. She dropped Jane's hair that she had been gently holding. I watched as it fluttered back to Jane's shoulder. As Christi turned and quickly walked towards the stairs, I admonished her. "Run."

The denim clad girl threw a withering look over her shoulder but decided it was still in her best interests to do as asked, and jogged the last few steps. Her free breasts bounced beautifully under the top and her bare feet thundered as she ran up the stairs.

"You didn't have to make her run, we have time," Jane spoke from her hands and knees.

"I don't remember anyone asking you." I spoke half jokingly to the elegant girl at my feet.

Jane twisted her head as best she could, pulling her own hair in her attempt to find out how serious I was. When she managed to see that I was smiling at her, she returned to looking at the floor.

"Bastard," she mumbled.

"That earned you another couple of strokes."

"Bastard," she said more loudly.

"Hmmmm. She wants more, huh?" I speculated out loud. "Little one. You don't have to be defiant. All you have to do is ask, and I'll make sure you can't sit down for a week."

We both knew that she wouldn't feel anything at all from this in a week's time, but she shivered nevertheless.

"I'm sorry, Master," she apologized. It sounded sincere enough.

I heard Christi's feet thundering down the steps as she ran back. I suspected that she had probably dropped to a fast walk as soon as she was out of sight, and I could have punished her. But I wanted to save my creativity for Jane, who actually did want it.

Christi was out of breath, even from the short run. She was dotted with sweat. I liked the effect, and especially liked the effect of her breasts beneath the sweater still heaving as she fought for breath. She smiled at me as she showed me the pack in her fingers.

Without being told, she shifted the bag to her left hand and picked back up Jane's soft hair with her free hand. Together, the three of us stepped out for the last time. I took note of the address as I looked back. I was going to need it.

As we reached the steps to the front porch, Jane halted as Christi and I stepped down onto the first step.

"M-master?" Jane spoke.

"Yes slave?"

"I. I don't think I can crawl down. I'll fall."

I knew that she could do it. It would take some concentration and some balance. But I didn't force her.

"If you like, you can suggest an alternate."

"Add some to my punishment, instead? For not being able to do this?"

I nodded as she looked up at me, her hair still extending from her head to my fingers. And Christi's.

"I'll try not to scream the first two times you hit me."

A challenge. Could I make her scream anyway? I was betting I could.

"Alright, slave. On your feet."

Christi and I both released her hair at the same time and Jane struggled to get to her bare feet. The evening gown had worn where her knees had pressed into the fabric against the tile. I was quite sure that it had never been meant for this type of activity. I couldn't imagine most women crawling in that thing. Jane smiled, glad that she hadn't been forced to crawl down the steps. She was well aware that I could have forced the issue and she would have had to at least attempt the crawl down the steps. She was happy even if it meant making her later punishment harder. I could imagine that it would have been very painful on her unprotected knees to have to climb down. Either way, she was up for extra discomfort, she'd simply chosen her route.

I took Jane's hand and led her down the steps. As we reached the bottom, the girl automatically fell back to her knees. She rocked forward ready to crawl again, without being asked. I left her there, not taking her hair.

"Jane?"

"Yes, Master."

"Pick a tree."

"Master?"

"Just pick one."

She carefully balanced herself on one hand, centering her weight. She pointed to a thick trunked oak tree just off the front path.

"On your feet. You don't have to crawl."

She gave me a dirty look as she rose to her feet. One of those, then-why-did-you-let-me-make-a-fool-of-myself looks. She sighed and climbed back to her bare feet, not quite daring to voice a complaint.  The dress was now quite dirty around her knees from her kneeling on the earthen path, but I had no intention of having it on her body much longer anyway. She knew that as well.

I took her right hand, and Christi lightly grasped her left. Jane shivered slightly. Probably anticipating her upcoming punishment and pleasures. We slowly walked towards the tree. I felt like singing something right out of Wizard of Oz. We made an odd sight, I would imagine, walking slowly hand in hand together.

Lions and tigers and bears. Oh my.

I smiled at my inner thoughts, but neither girl noticed.

to be continued.......