Page 113 of Masters of Secrets

Connor felt his cheeks heat. This was what he got for trying to be clever when he was thinking of a safeword.

“Like the band,” he mumbled. “You know… help, I need somebody?”

Mistress Julie cracked up, and his blush receded as warmth filled his chest. That was the reaction he’d been hoping for.

“That’s one I haven’t heard before.” She chuckled again, and the warmth expanded to his whole body as a sense of pride filled him.

Was it that big a deal that he’d used a safeword she’d never heard? Probably not, but he liked knowing that he’d done something first with her when she was going to be his first for so many things.

“Beatles it is. Though my goal is to make sure you don’t need to call for help.”

“I’m sure I won’t.”

As far as he knew, Mistress Julie had never pushed anyone to their limit, much less past it. He didn’t think she was suddenly going to start with him, but he knew that having the safeword made everyone feel better. It certainly had him when he’d been the one in charge. Maybe it was different for real Doms, but she had asked for one, and he knew most of his friends preferred having one.

A safeword wasn’t a guarantee, especially if a submissive was stubborn or was too out of their head in the scene to truly be able to understand and consent to what was going on, but it was still a good thing to have. Especially when scening with a new partner, even one as experienced as Mistress Julie.

The little slap she gave his shoulder was slightly reproving.

“But you’ll use it if you need it?” There was a hint of warning in her voice.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

No, he didn’t think he’d need it when this was literally his dream come true, and he had full trust in her to not push him too far, but he knew better than to argue with a dominant. Especially one about to flog him. She didn’t need to hurt him to torture him. His dick and balls were already aching—he really, really, really hoped he was going to get an orgasm tonight, but he also knew better than to expect one, especially if he started behaving badly.

With the promise of being cuffed to the bed, he would much rather continue being her good boy.

She patted his shoulder and stepped away. His muscles tensed, and Connor rolled them again, forcing himself to relax. It was the anticipation making him tense, not fear.

As soon as the flogger thudded against his skin for the first time, all the tension fled in a rush, and his shoulders came down. The thud was just as good as he remembered, like tapping against his skin but harder and better. Connor closed his eyes, letting himself lean against the frame and enjoy the sensation as the leather falls came down again and again.

A moment later, Mistress Julie touched his back again.

“How are you doing, Connor?”

He didn’t open his eyes. He didn’t want a break. He just wanted her to keep going, and with his eyes closed, it felt like that moment in a dream when he might be able to drop right back into the spot where it had paused.

“Good, Ma’am. Very green.”

Green was the stoplight color for doing well—green means go, go, go. And he didn’t want her to stop.

“Good.”

She stepped back, the spot on his back where her hand had been suddenly feeling a little cold. He didn’t have very long to miss it before the flogger was coming down again.

Thudding against his skin.

A rainfall of sensation drawing him deeper.

The wooden frame creaked as he leaned more of his weight on it. His knees weren’t exactly buckling, but he needed more support.

The leather rain stopped.

His dick throbbed.

A warm hand touched his sensitized skin, making it feel hot, and he groaned.

It moved across his shoulders and down his back, rubbing over all the spots that had just been flogged, sending sensation tingling through him. His cock jerked in response, bouncing off his groin as his muscles flexed.