Mastering the Virgin Box Set Five: A BDSM Ménage Erotic Romance novel Chapter 23

“What the fuck was that about? We agreed….”

“We agreed nothing,” he snaps. “I said to Beth that you wouldn’t punish her. But I did. It was deserved and appropriate. She understood what it was about, and she accepted it.” His colour is high, lips pressed white, but his eyes slide away from mine.

“That doesn’t mean it was a good idea. If it was going to be done, we should have decided it between us, and it should have come from me. I'm her Dom. If it was going to be done, then it was my place to do it.”

“What difference does it make? It had to come from someone, and I didn’t want her mixing it up in her head with your bedroom games.”

“Michael, believe me, if I set out to punish her, there would be no misunderstanding over what it was about. I would have delivered whatever was appropriate and you would have been there, so she knew it was both of us. I’m almost certain that’s what she was expecting. And it’s what she was ready to accept. Instead, you’ve simply hurt her.”

He tosses his head. “So? It hurt her? A punishment is meant to hurt.”

There is no give in his expression. I’m not getting through to him. Frustrated by his blindness, I continue. “I'd say you've done a lot of damage. She didn't expect this from you. It’s not your role in her life.”

Michael’s eyes widen and for the first time, some of his naked aggression falters. “You think I frightened her?”

I jab a finger at his chest. “You can't frighten Charlotte with pain. That's not the issue.”

“No? What is the issue then?”

“What would you have done if she’d safe-worded?”

He falls still. “I…. I…. don't know.”

“There you go, then. You've broken every rule in the book. She believes she didn't have the option, and you've more or less just admitted it.”

His arms are still folded, but now his hands run up and down between elbow and shoulder. His shoulders are hunched.

I continue. “Michael, it's not like you to get something of this sort so badly wrong. But I really believe you've damaged yourself in her eyes.”

“You think so?”

“Yes, I think so. You punished her inappropriately and, while I hesitate to use the word, you damn near raped her and you refused to listen when she was trying to tell you to use protection.”

He squeezes his eyes closed, rubbing at his forehead. “Christ…. How do I put this right?”

“Right now, Michael, I’m damned if I know.”

*****

Michael and Charlotte barely speak, skirting around, barely even acknowledging each other. At times I see him try to talk to her. A few words. Some attempt to connect. She nods and is polite, then her eyes slide away.

“I’m going for something to eat,” he says. “Want anything bringing back?”

“No, I’m fine. I’ll eat later.”

We both know it’s an excuse for him to get out of the apartment.

Her eyes follow him as he leaves, but she doesn’t comment.

Her gaze shifts to mine, but still she says nothing before standing to stare out of the window, hugging herself.

“Charlotte, talk to me. This can’t go on.”

She pins me with those great, green eyes. “Master, what if I’m pregnant?”

Is that what’s really worrying her?

I move to stand beside her, but I don’t try to touch. “If you were, would it be such an awful thing for you, to carry Michael’s baby?” She fiddles with trailing snakes of red hair. “You must have known it was a possibility. I know you have always been very careful, but you can’t avoid some risk. And it would have been fifty-fifty whether myself or Michael was the father.”

Long strands of red wind and unwind around a finger. “Yes, Master. Of course I realised. But I don't want it to have happened like this. He was punishing me….” Her voice cracks. “He was so angry. He wanted to hurt me. I didn't think he had that in him.…” The tears in her words bite at me.

How the fuck do I handle this?

Give her control….

“Charlotte, listen. If you are so worried about the possibility, we’ll get you tested and you can decide from there what you want to do.”

The lock of hair endlessly coils and uncoils as she stares out of the window.

Taking her by the shoulders, I turn her to face me. “Charlotte, please talk to me. Do you not want children at all? Does the idea upset you so much?”

And now her eyes, red-rimmed, rise to mine. “Not like this, Master….”

He punished her….

Took away her choices….