185
Damien was enraged at the suggestion. No other man was touching me. The idea they would put me up there was repulsive.
“Then punish me yourself. You said I had packed the things you could use to discipline me. Use what you have. I’d prefer a lashing from you to being groped by every man on the compound.”
I remembered the erotic pain Damien had inflicted when he had flogged me in the mountains. They said they had lots of other ways to torture me gently. It seemed probable they could do that.
“You did like it,” Evan said calming down.
“It made you ready,” Bane added remembering and smirking.Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.
I called him a nasty name and he grinned wider.
Christof spoke quickly while pacing, “We take her to the posts and put her up, but we leave her cuffs on. Damien makes an announcement this is how it is done in the red mountains.”
Damien came to stand in front of me and ran a finger down my cheek. “I will bring you pleasure later,” he promised simply.
Damien turned and walked toward their closet. I wondered what he would choose to use on me. Try as I might I couldn’t remember packing anything.
The men striped me of my ornamentation, except my collar and cuffs. No one else was going to touch me while we were down there. Their protection stayed on me. Only my family would be involved in this discipline.
“The men are going to fight it,” Kein said quietly. “We were always told we could not do this. They will find it odd.”
Evan spoke up, “We can tell them we’ve already done it once…”
“We tell the truth. This is how men from the red mountains discipline a trained slave that has misbehaved. Discipline like this cannot be done on a new slave. Ciara has been here long enough. They can be made to understand,” Damien said coming out of the closet.
In his hand he held a thin firm rod. It reminded me of a riding crop the way it got flatter and wider at the end. I shuddered and passed a hand over my breast. That thing was going to sting like crazy.
“Not there,” Christof said, “we all enjoyed that last time. Those are only for us. We will put the marks here,” he finished brushing his fingers over my bottom.
We walked downstairs and over to the posts. The men tied me naked with only my metal bands for protection. My hands were stretched up and separated. Unlike last time my legs were tied together at the ankles. Before they left me, Bane whispered in my ear. He told me he didn’t want anyone to see me get excited, so they let my thighs shield my sex. I had to bite my tongue to keep the scathing retort inside.
I stayed still and kept my eyes closed. Damien had told me he had to go tell the General what was happening. While they were gone I was to stand quietly and not look around.
I started when I heard Damien’s voice beside me. He announced my crimes to the yard. I peeked between my lashes and saw there were quite a few families gathering. The numbers seemed to be growing as Damien’s proclamation rang out.
Damien told the assembled this was how things were done in the red mountains. He said it would be very effective. A murmur went through the crowd; it sounded like disbelief.
The first hit snapped across my buttocks and stung like crazy. I wanted to move away, but my bound ankles stopped me. I was going to stand still and take this.
“A repentant slave would thank it’s owner for each mark,” Damien pronounced. “I would also recommend having the slave count, if it is able. The lesson is reinforced as the slave does this.”
“One, thank you, Master Damien,” I said quickly.
The stinging blows continued in a slow measured stream. He started on my right and after sixteen; he moved to my left. Damien covered my butt, upper legs, and lower back. It burned and ached, but I had to concentrate on counting and thanking him.
Tears mixed with sweat and ran down the front of my body. This hurt more than last time, but it was still a strangely sensual experience. My bound form hummed in synchrony with the blows and it was all for Damien.
Without peeking I knew what he looked like, powerful and focused. He would plan each mark and then make it with precision. My flesh was his canvas and it would look exactly as he planned once he finished.
The rain of blows ceased at thirty two.
“Will you speak in the village again?” Damien asked.
The tenor of his voice was different and I almost opened my eyes. He sounded aroused.
“No, Master Damien.”
My arms were released and Damien picked me up. I cringed as the fabric of his shirts rubbed against the places he’d lashed me. From the feel of it my ass was glowing red from his attention.
He jumped from the platform and I threw my arms around him as I tried to contain the yelp. I hated the feeling of falling. It was worse with my eyes closed.
“Do I make you feel safe, Ciara?” he asked pointedly as he carried me.
“Yes, Master Damien,” I answered pressing akissto his salty neck.
“Open your eyes,” he commanded.
It was creepy how quiet the men could be. The other families surrounded us on every side and I jerked my head down.
“Look at me,” Evan commanded standing by my feet. “Do you fear Damien now?”
“No, Master Evan,” I answered honestly.
The men surrounding us were watching my eyes. Apparently they saw the truth of the statement and were amazed. According to their training a human would fear someone that brought it pain.
Damien carried me to one of those amazing floating tables. I arched as the cool surface of the table made contact with my heated flesh. Bane told me to roll onto my stomach, which I did gladly. I folded my arms under my head and rested.
The marks must have been heavy and red. The men stood talking all around me. How I did not fear Damien amazed the men. Humans hated pain, we would hate anyone that brought us pain.
I lay still on the table and felt my ass throb with every heartbeat. Still it was a huge improvement over being fondled and invaded by strangers. I’d take a controlled lashing from Damien over that anytime.
“I have brought this slave pleasure before,” Damien announced stroking my hair. “I will do so again. Human slaves are intelligent. It understood it broke the rules in the village. I am a gracious man and allowed the slave to choose its punishment.”
The other Warriors didn’t understand, so Damien explained. I had the option of taking a whipping from him or letting them touch me. My choice was to take my punishment at his hands.