Chapter 84
Various inquisitions

Helen left a voicemail at home, informing the girls of her plans and asking them to prepare to come up to McCormick's for dinner. When she and Rick got home and found it, Mandi called the restaurant to beg off, asking to go to Rick's instead. "Are sure that's a good idea, Dear?" Helen worried. "Don't the Nellis' want you to go home sometime?"

"Rick doesn't," Mandi replied, "and I'm working on the others!"

"Well, you'll certainly need to get a change of clothing. I think I need to talk to Rick's father - I want him to understand who is behind all this. I'm not just offing you onto them, no matter how infatuated with each other you two are!"

"Please, please don't screw us up, Momma! I need Rick!" Mandi wailed.

"I'll be gentle. Put Rick on." Helen assured her.

Mandi passed the phone to Rick as if it were the instrument of both their destruction. "Hello?" Rick said tentatively.

"Rick, what do your parents think of this wild scheme of yours?" Helen asked.

"Well, it's not a done deal, but I think we're going to bring it in," Rick replied.

"Dear, do YOU think it's a good idea? I understand that you have feelings for one another, but shouldn't you let reality in periodically?" Helen pressed gently. "What about college? Are you going to the same school? I love Mandi, but I'm not sure she's up to your mental attainments - not that it's an issue in your relationship. It's just that she's not going to CalTech, or anything, and you might sell yourself short if you stayed in the minors with her..."

"Um," said Rick, feeling the sandbag. Then he recovered, "We can work all of that out, if necessary. The point is that I want her with me. You know how she chose to give herself to me. My house is an environment where she can operate that way without stressing others - Mum's already doing it!"

Helen's voice firmed. "Rick, are you abusing Mandi?"

"What? Of course not! Pop isn't abusing Mum, either! If I was abusing her, do you think Mandi would be so hot to live with me?"

"No, Dear - it's just that I thought that this slavery thing would fall by the wayside - then I find out your parents have such an arrangement. I'm not so sure that it's an argument in your favor!" Helen disparaged.

"Okay, I see that. I expected the same thing. But it's not working out that way. And as for Mum and Pop - well, they weren't doing this, either, when we met. If anything, we've influenced them!"

Mandi had heard enough. She ran to the bedroom and picked up the extension, to hear Helen say, "You can understand why I have reservations about the environment..."

"Momma!" she declared hotly, "I'll not have you accusing Rick of anything bad! I love him - and we're not doing anything wrong!"

"Okay, okay! We're long past that! But this lifestyle you two want to live is bound to get you into trouble! Can't you see that?"

"Well," Rick allowed, "Pop's looking into the legal ramifications."

"Well, that's sensible!" Helen approved, "What about the interplay? Doesn't there have to be some kind of pecking order? Don't get me wrong, but with two slaves and two masters in the house, who rules the roost, and how far does it go?"

"That's a reasonable question. It HAS to be - it's been asked too many times!" Rick replied. "The best answer that I can give you is that from a domestic standpoint, Mandi defers to Mum. While I answer to Pop, he doesn't own my property. But I'm not going to lie to you - things could happen. Both of us have the right to do things that would otherwise be off the wall, and both of them have given up the right to argue."

"Thanks for your honesty," Helen responded. "You understand why I'm not comfortable, and you're not glossing over anything - I like that! But I'm still not sure..."

"Look, Pop wants to talk to you, probably with Mum present. I think it would be better if we all sat down together. You could bring Mr. McCormick, maybe..." Rick suggested.

"Okay," Helen replied. "For tonight, it's not an issue, as long as your father will put up with it. I have my hands full. Ask your father if we can meet tomorrow."

"I will." Rick promised solemnly.

"Mandi, keep things down to a suitcase until we can come to some kind of understanding. All right, Dear?"

"Okay, Momma." Mandi wasn't happy at all.

"All right, I'll see you tomorrow. Have Denise call me - we need to figure out where she is eating."

"Yes, Momma."

"Goodbye, Dears. I'll be at McCormick's, if anything comes up." They closed the call.

Rick locked eyes with the returning Mandi. "We're gonna need to grease things at my house as best we can. This isn't going to be easy!"

Denise came in with Eddie before Mandi was ready to leave for Nellis', so she got the full briefing. A call to Helen confirmed that Eddie would deliver her to dinner at 6:00. In the meantime, the Gianelli home provided them with a quiet place to do homework and neck.

Flossie let Helen burst out of McGinty's at 3:30, so she could get organized. "You're goin' to be cookin' for men again - best be ready!" Flossie advised, winking. She walked in the McCormick's front door promptly at 4:00.

She could barely keep from laughing aloud at what she found: Mike stretched out on the couch, fully dressed, with Jennifer stretched out atop him, wrapped in his arms, and drooling on his collar in her sleep. Helen tiptoed into the next room and telephoned Al. "Guess what I found!" she laughed after the call had been established.

"I hate to think!" was Al's growled rejoinder.

"They were sleeping together!"

"Figures..."

"No, I mean SLEEPING together! She's draped all over him on the couch, and they're both out like lights, fully dressed!" Helen couldn't suppress a giggle.

"Well, I'll be damned! I don't know which one of them is slower!" Al joined the laugh. "Could be a lot worse, I suppose..."

"I'll have them up in time for dinner," Helen assured him.

"Well, tease 'em once for me!" Al directed.

"I will, no problem." Helen hung up.

Just then a phone rang in the living room. Helen stalked in just in time to see Jennifer gingerly rise up and wipe her face with the back of her hand as she answered the phone, "H'lo?"

It was Jackie, calling from home, concerned because she hadn't found her mother there. "Mama, where are you?"

"I'm," Jennifer hesitated before continuing, "at McCormick's."

"Is Mike there?" Jackie demanded.

Another pregnant pause, while Jennifer tried to assess the effects of her answer. "Yes."

"Anyone else?"

"Helen."

"Will you be home for dinner?"

"I... don't think so."

"Will you be home later?"

"Uh...Yes."

A wry chuckle came across the connection. "Tough being on that end of the conversation, isn't it?"

"Uh huh. Never really thought I would be," Jennifer agreed.

"Well, I'm going to invite myself to dinner at Terry's, then. I'll be home later. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Jackie exhorted gaily.

Jennifer gathered her wits for a sally. "Judging from this morning, that isn't much in the way of a limitation!" she retorted.

Jackie's voice turned serious. "Mama, where Terry is concerned, there aren't any! You need to understand that!"

"I do sweetheart, and I'm beginning to appreciate it. Terry's sweet. I'm okay with it." Jennifer assured her daughter.

"Okay. I'll see you later?" Jackie asked.

"Yes, I'll be home later tonight. Bye!" Jennifer hung up, and locked eyes with Helen. "Hi!"

"Hi, yourself! How was your nap?" Helen couldn't contain her amusement.

"It was quite nice," Jennifer replied, abstracted as she shifted her attention to the still-sleeping Mike. "Hospitals are terrible places to sleep," she murmured while absently stroking his cheek.

"Why didn't you find a bed?" Helen queried.

"We were... necking...." Jennifer took a moment to remember the term. "It sort of just happened."

"Well, I'm sure it was good for both of you. You look like YOU could use some more..." Helen added.

Jennifer's fuzzy state allowed the next comment to leak out: "I don't know if I'll ever sleep well alone again..." She blushed with the realization that she's said it aloud, but did nothing to retract the statement.

Helen blinked with surprise as she reflected that she might well have the same problem! Instead, she changed the subject. "Want to help with dinner?"

"Sure." Jennifer rose and collected her crutches.

Bobby arrived a few minutes later, trailing Dina. "Hi, Auntie Helen. Here again, or still?"

"Again." Helen was unperturbed.

Bobby turned to Jennifer, "So, you're Jackie's mom."

"And you're the irrepressible Bobby McCormick that I've heard so many awful things about!" Jennifer responded.

Dina laughed, "In the flesh!"

Bobby leered, "You'd better be on your best behavior if you plan on dating MY brother!" he announced.

Dina chortled, "Better work at staying in your panties more like!"

"Dina..." Helen cautioned.

Dina shut up, but continued to grin at the puzzled Jennifer, who responded, "We haven't gotten THAT far, yet!"

"Well, Mike's a gentleman. I take more after Dad!" Bobby waggled his eyebrows, "It works for me!"

"Well, why don't you two go do your homework and stay out of trouble?" Helen remonstrated. "Dina, will you be staying for dinner?"

"Gee, I dunno." Dina peered sharply at Helen. "Is Mandi taking my seat at the table at home?"

"That's your brother's plan," Helen responded, unperturbed, "but Denise will be here."

"Well! If Neesy is going to be here, I gotta make a phone call!" Dina made for the next room.

Bobby looked Jennifer up and down and nodded, once. "You'd better like to diddle. Mike's overdue for a steady supply." He turned and walked out before Jennifer could formulate a reply.

"God!" Jennifer burst out, "He's as bad as they say!"

Helen laughed. "He's just very direct. Dina's working on him; pretty soon, he'll be just fresh. He won't get any better than that, though - Dina's as fresh as they come!" The two women continued working on dinner.

Rick and Mandi arrived at Nellis' in a somber mood, and went directly upstairs so that Mandi could drop her clothing - both those in the suitcase and the ones she was wearing. Then they came downstairs and went to work on their various homework assignments. The distraction of their problem was constantly with them, however. "I can't figure out how we could stack the deck over this!" Rick worried.

"I can't either," Mandi replied, "Everybody seems to be worried about whether I'll be sleeping with your father - and I don't have an answer for that, since it's totally dependent upon the two of you! Maybe I should just do it and get it over with..."

"No, I don't think so. It'd buy us a lot of trouble, rather than fixing things. Mum's a little insecure, but she'll come around - she's getting better daily. Pop's like me - he can't honestly rule the whole thing out, but it's nowhere on his list of priorities. Mum's a handful, and despite his role, he loves her too much to hurt her. We need to defuse this thing for Mum and for outsiders. Then we have to handle the basic objections: You're too young, you can't support her, I can't support her, you need to develop a tolerance, etc., etc. Mostly bullshit." Rick worried at the problem.

"Should I dress?" Mandi asked.

"No," Rick replied, "My gut tells me that the benefits outweigh the risks, especially in-house. Strangers - or your mom - might be a different issue, but it's an exercise in honest presentation. Maybe..."

"What?"

"Well, this stuff can happen whether you live here or not - therefore it's irrelevant, right? At least, we can present it that way..."

"No, you're right. Any time I come here, I'm under your father's authority. So what? You could lend me out to Tim! Or Bobby, and give him 30 minutes to draw a crowd! As for nudity, well, that housecoat Momma wears around is a sop to propriety; you've seen everything she's got by now - not once, but several times! And that night on the staircase..." Mandi was getting up some steam.

"Let's not bring that up unless we need big guns. No need to make enemies. Besides, she was highly susceptible and we were a serious temptation." Rick cautioned

"And there's Bobby..." Mandi began.

"Noooo... I started that; I won't hit her with it."

"You're too honorable. You've got to play dirty - we do!" Mandi was reluctant to give up any edge.

"If we can't do this fairly, there will be hard feelings, and we'll lose out in the long run. I can't stop you from bracing your mother in private, but I won't beat her with such things in public." Rick affirmed.

Mandi shut up. Rick had left the door open for her to resort to dirty tricks if necessary, but he obviously didn't want them on his conscience. Best to play it his way.

Merry found them working at the table, petting distractedly while they studied. It made a cute picture - one that she would have had less tolerance for before her new status and its implied permission to grope with impunity had freshened her relationship with Robert. She had literally had no idea that Robert liked to just touch her; he seemed to get a real kick out of just caressing her back and sides while she knelt before him as they watched TV. And now that she was no longer in denial, she was free to enjoy the touch, too. That made a big difference.

She went on about her business, picking up here and there and getting ready to start dinner. After a bit, Mandi closed her books, locked eyes momentarily with Rick, and rose to help. "Only if your homework's done, Dear," Merry reproved. "That comes before domestic issues." On Mandi's assurance that it was, she put her on salad preparation. Moments later, the phone rang. It was Dina, asking to have dinner with Bobby and Denise at McCormick's. Merry authorized it, setting a return time of 8:30.

The discovery that she was missing a number of items put Merry in a quandary. One look at Rick, and she knew he wasn't available; he had his head down, punching keys on his laptop, a physics problem in longhand on the paper before him. Mandi didn't drive, so... Merry ran upstairs and slipped into a skirt and a blouse, asked Mandi to hold the fort, and took off for the store.

When Robert entered and made his ritual announcement 20 minutes later, there occurred a flashing glance between Rick and Mandi. Rick nodded toward the door, and murmured "Be careful!" and Mandi dashed out.

Robert observed her arrival with some surprise. "What's this?" he demanded.

"Merry is out," Mandi thought quickly before adding, "Sir. My master has instructed that I make myself available to substitute for her to handle your normal domestic needs, as necessary."

Robert grinned sardonically, "He did, did he? Just like that?"

Mandi blanched, then replied, "I am interpreting things a bit as I go along, but I am confident that my master will approve the result."

Robert smiled. "You are an intelligent young woman, Mandi. Tell me, what does 'Sir' mean, as you used it a moment ago?"

"I substituted the honorific for 'Father of my master'. Would you prefer to be addressed by the longer version, Sir?" Mandi responded carefully.

Robert continued to smile, "Again, I am impressed. What rights and privileges does that title incur?"

Mandi took a breath. This could make or break Rick's grand plan, and she knew it. "One to be accorded the amount of respect and obedience normally afforded an adult, modified by the circumstance that he is a person that my master must answer to - but without certain ownership privileges," she recited.

"Excellent!" Robert was delighted. "Completely within the guidelines as I understand them! Okay, change of subject: What was Merry wearing when she left?"

Mandi, caught flat-footed by the change of subject, squinched up her face as she pulled up the image. "Uh, a skirt and blouse, Sir. And a coat."

"Braless?" Robert demanded.

"I believe so, Sir."

"Sorry. This is a pivotal event; I need to know how she handles it." Robert mused.

"Yes, Sir. I understand. I cannot guarantee it, but I believe that she followed instructions," Mandi temporized.

"Well, I'll have to inspect, I guess," Robert mused. "I'll be in the den."

"Yes, Sir. Will you need anything, Sir?" Mandi asked.

"Hmmm. Take it easy on the form of address. Once per communication is adequate. Perhaps a glass of the white wine in the refrigerator," Robert directed, eyes dancing in a serious face.

"Yes, Sir." Mandi rose and left for the kitchen. Robert chuckled to himself as he entered the den.

Forty minutes later, Merry rushed in carrying two grocery bags. Mandi heard the commotion of her entry and arrived in the living room to warn her seconds too late; Robert arrived from the den simultaneously. "Merry?" he queried.

"Master!" Merry couldn't kneel with the burden she was carrying, and Robert knew it. Fortunately, a solution presented itself.

"Mandi, would you take Merry's bags to the kitchen?" Robert asked mildly. At her nod of assent, he turned to Merry. "I need to see what you went out in. Please strip."

"Yes, Master." Merry started shrugging out of her coat. "Uh, Master? There are still groceries in the car, and it's behind yours in the driveway..."

"Richard!" Robert roared.

"Pop?" Rick stuck his head around the kitchen door.

"Here," Robert directed, tossing Rick his car keys, "Rearrange the cars in the driveway and bring Merry's into the garage so that she and Mandi can unload it without ridiculous contortions or exposure."

"Okay, Pop!" Rick headed for the door.

Merry started on her blouse. Very quickly, it became apparent that she was braless. "Very good," Robert approved, "It appears that you remembered my instructions."

Merry stepped out of her flats and undid her skirt. There were no panties. Robert nodded, pleased. "You did well."

"Master?" Merry asked.

"Yes?" Robert responded mildly.

"A slave requires guidance. Is it necessary to shed clothing the moment one enters the house, or is it permissible to disrobe upstairs where the clothing can be put away?"

Robert regarded Merry suspiciously. "Efficiency and good sense should dictate. You may disrobe upstairs. Errands such as unloading the car may occur first. This was an exceptional incident - I needed to ensure that you understood and complied with my general guidance in the matter of public dress."

"Yes, Master. Thank you, Master. I had been concerned for some days over how to handle this situation." Merry's obvious sincerity dispelled Robert's suspicion.

"Run along, store your clothing, and continue with the unloading." Robert waved his hand. Merry rose and gathered her things, then turned for the stairs, where Robert halted her with a word: "How long did Bert examine you?"

"Only a moment, Master. We had other priorities," Merry responded. Robert nodded and waved a second dismissal.

Rick came back in. "Mum's car is in the garage, Pop."

"Thanks, Rick. Let her know, will you? Then... why don't you come back here? We need to talk," Robert directed.

"Sure, Pop." Rick's tone belied his tension. He could guess the subject of the conversation. He entered the kitchen, and announced "Car's in the garage, Mum," turned, and walked out, preoccupied.

Merry made for the door, and Mandi followed, automatically.

In a moment, he was back in the den. "Okay, Pop, they're all set," he announced, and awaited the drop of the other shoe.

It wasn't long in coming. "So, what's with you and Mandi?" Robert asked.

"What are you asking, exactly? We're..." The inability to formulate just exactly where they were in the face of his earnest expression spoke volumes to Robert. Obviously, the ultimate response was NOT going to be "We're just friends." Rick struggled for a moment, and broke it into bite-sized chunks. "I love her. She loves me. We're not happy any time we're apart." After a moment, he continued, "She's given herself to me unconditionally, and I've accepted that gift. I don't think we SHOULD be apart!"

Robert responded gently, "I'll pass on the obvious - you can't support her. What about school? Children? And this unique relationship WILL cause you trouble..."

Rick sucked in a breath. "School isn't urgent to Mandi. She can follow me, and go where I go - or go to another school - or go after; she doesn't seem to care. Children will wait until school is handled. Mandi's on the Pill, and she's diligent about it. As to the relationship, well, that's one reason we want to live here - we can operate comfortably here."

Robert nodded, "Rick, motherhood slips up on young women. She could start to 'forget' to take her pills..."

"I could beat her, too!"

"True enough, but the authorities take a dim view of some of the prerogatives of our special relationships. I've been really stupid once, already!" Robert replied. "Have the pair of you discussed marriage?"

Rick frowned. "Only peripherally. Mandi is in no hurry, as long as we're together. She doesn't want to prejudice my chances at a scholarship. Otherwise, I'd marry her tomorrow. She's wonderful, Pop!"

"Aside from the fact that she's into being chattel, she's pretty smart, too! She's gone to some effort to define OUR relationship, and I approve of the setup!" Robert approved.

"Well, it's a sticking point. Mandi's mom wants to talk to you, tomorrow or so. She, too, has concerns. We're scared to death somebody's going to put up a serious fight over this," Rick admitted.

"Son, you're asking quite a bit of us all."

"Would you want to be away from Mum any more than necessary?" Rick countered.

Robert smiled wryly, "There was a time, recently, when it didn't seem to matter, but now? No. But I have 20 years invested in your mother. You have - what? - 2 weeks? - in Mandi."

"Its love, nonetheless, Pop. I love her, and I'll do just about anything to keep her!"

"I'm going to hold you to that. You'll work during the summer - something approaching full-time - and you'll pay me a stipend against her support! Now frankly, I'm going to bank that money to give back to you for a nest egg, but...That's IF we can get past all of the objections everybody is going to throw. Although I cannot admit it to her, your mother's opinion carries weight, and the jury's still out. Obviously, Mandi's mother has powerful objections, too, one of which is how far will I go with Mandi?"

"Pop, you and I can't sugar-coat this, but Mandi and I are convinced that we're looking at it the wrong way!" Rick declared.

"Huh?"

"It started when Mandi suggested that you just get it over with - make it a 'done deal'," Rick continued, "but that led us to understand that living here isn't any different than spending a night 3 or 4 times a week. The only way Mandi is totally 'safe' from your clutches is if she never sees you - which is unacceptable to both of us. The potential exists any time we're all together. So it's irrelevant."

Robert grinned wryly again. "Have you considered the flip side?"

"Huh?"

"Your mother."

"I have no claim on Mum." Rick declared.

"...Unless I authorize it." Robert's smile continued. "Would you turn it down?"

"Uh, no..." Rick colored.

"And, frankly, when it comes up with Merry, well, 'the lady doth protest too much'," Robert continued. "I have no claim on Mandi, either - I particularly like Mandi's definition of my status - but I'm now convinced that both of these combinations are going to occur, and soon. It's like we're being dared to do it and can't back down. Fortunately, neither of us has dismissed the possibility or lied about it. Okay, I like your response. Let's see how it plays." Robert clapped Rick on the back and they went to look in on the dinner preparations.

Stopping in the kitchen doorway, the pair observed Merry and Mandi working diligently, each wearing an apron that covered them fairly well from the front, but not from the rear - which was the view the men had. "Mmmm, sweet isn't it?" Rick murmured, "Makes me want to bend her over..."

"But dinner has already been delayed," Robert interjected, "and we're expecting guests. Let's allow them to work..." He turned away, returning to the den.

Merry and Mandi hadn't noticed he men; they were concentrating on their work and the conversation going on between themselves. "Thanks for backstopping me earlier," Merry murmured, "Did my master give you any trouble?"

"Oh, no!" Mandi replied, "He quizzed me on my understanding of my status where he is concerned, and was pleased with my answers. I just brought him some wine."

"Oh? What did you say?" Merry asked, her interest piqued.

"That he is to be afforded the respect and obedience normally granted an adult, modified by the fact that my master must answer to him, but that he was denied certain privileges of ownership. He seemed very satisfied with that," Mandi parroted her earlier response.

"Hmmm. That IS pretty good. Honey, how are things between you and Rick?" Merry asked, changing the subject.

"I'm very happy, any time we're together. I love him very much," Mandi declared.

"I'm glad to hear that, but I'm concerned. Why did YOU insist upon slavery? You're very different than I am; I can't believe that you can't function as an independent person. Why give yourself away?" Merry asked.

"Almost as soon as I met Rick, I knew that he was a jewel beyond price. When he trapped me that Sunday morning, I knew that I would do ANYTHING to keep him. This was the answer that worked for me," Mandi affirmed.

"But, Honey, as a master he can put you aside. It's not marriage!" Merry pointed out.

"No, it's not," Mandi agreed, "but I don't have to tell you that masters have responsibilities. To that extent, it's better than marriage. Besides, I've made my gamble. If he marries another, she'll have to put up with me sleeping at the foot of the bed. I'd do that to be a part of his life!"

"He loves you. There won't be another," Merry stated.

"I hope not - but things change. Still, I feel pretty comfortable about it," Mandi stated matter of factly.

"Boys will be boys, though. I expect Robert to push the envelope, and you should expect the same from Rick. Neither of them is used to being waited on hand and foot. Things could change when they are..." Merry pointed out.

"Uh huh," Mandi responded, "They're going to want to keep us off balance - especially you. Rick's more or less humoring me, I think, but Robert knows he has to maintain the upper hand where you're concerned. That will almost certainly mean that there will be sex outside of your relationship, at some point - and I'm a natural candidate. Likewise, Robert knows if he gives you to Rick, it will shake you up. Are you ready for that?"

"I - I think so. I can't decide whether I'm horrified, or I'm looking forward to it!" Merry admitted.

"Well, it could be a stranger, too. Look what happened the other night! If Bobby had caught you, I GUARANTEE you'd have had sex with him!" Mandi laughed, remembering.

"Funny thing - I was horrified at the time, but I was also aroused. If he'd have caught me, I'd have had a good time!" Merry admitted.

"Well, things will probably never be dull around here!" Mandi laughed. "That's one reason I want to be here all of the time!"

"Well, I was worried before, but I'm not so worried now. I'll let Master know that I think it's a good idea."

"Great!" Mandi enthused. "Rick and I thought about it some today, and frankly, the big issue of Master Robert and I isn't..."

"Huh?" Merry was lost.

"Everyone is freaked about Master Robert deciding to take me at some point if I move in. Well, if I'm not safe living here, I'm not safe just visiting, either - and I'm NOT staying away! So it's not an issue..." Mandi amplified.

"Oh, I see - if you're NEVER safe, what's the difference? Besides, we've already covered that ground, anyway... It's going to happen - the only question is 'When?'" Merry nodded, satisfied. "Well, then I guess you're right - it's not an issue. Let's worry about other things. How are the potatoes coming?"

"Almost done." Mandi replied.

Dinner was a quiet affair; the women served, then knelt next to their men while they ate. Neither Robert nor Rick had seen fit to put any feeding rituals in place - the girls just waited by their masters. After a few moments, Robert indicated that Merry should go ahead and eat, which put her somewhat in a quandary. Robert resolved it by placing her plate on a chair, which allowed her to eat while kneeling. Rick shrugged and did the same for Mandi. "We'll need to look into this," Robert observed, "It requires different furniture." Rick nodded.

After he was finished eating, Rick started playing in the mashed potatoes and then presenting Mandi his fingers to lick. Robert looked over and grinned. "We'll need fewer napkins..." Rick smiled back. Mandi was making the finger cleaning into a sensual exercise, the minx.

Robert rose, motioning Merry to follow. "Rick, can you handle the cleanup?" His wave obviously included Mandi.

"Sure," Rick took the hint. Mandi did, too - she rose and started scraping dishes.

"Master? Permission to speak?" Merry asked diffidently when they were settled in the den. Robert nodded while continuing to fondle her breasts. He did a lot of that lately... "I think that Mandi would make a nice addition to the family, after all."

"No worries about displacement?" Robert countered.

"Well, they're under control. I understand that some working rules have been laid down. I realize that they mean little or nothing, but the intent is clear. You will do what you will do - and I will live with it. In the meantime, she loves her master, and it's stressful for them to have to be apart."

"That's sweet," Robert replied. "I'd about decided to go ahead, anyway. This makes it easier. We'll still have one free woman in the house - can the pair of you handle that?"

"Dina? She's AWFUL!" Merry tittered. "Where did she get that evil mind? Any time she is around, things heat up - because she can think of thirteen ways to make it happen, and delights in doing so!"

"My pet theory is that she gets it from your mother!" Robert laughed. "In any case, she still answers to you for disciplinary purposes - something I'll be sure to enforce. Mandi's position is less clear, but I intend that Dina not be an active participant in our relationships."

"Well, the good news is that she'll have her hands full with Bobby!" Merry laughed. "No telling who would end up the slave in THAT pair!"

Robert grinned back, "I think Dina's got him on the run, despite the age difference - which reminds me: they're going to the prom, right?"

"Uh huh."

"And they're staying in the hotel after?" Robert continued.

"Uh huh."

"Are you okay with that?"

Merry smiled, "Do you think we could REALLY stop her? Besides, it's got to be a better place than most for it to happen. From what I can tell, they've already handled most of the preliminaries."

"But Dina's a sophomore!" Robert exclaimed.

"With the mind of a thirty year old whorehouse madam. Give it up!" Merry answered. "Besides, I kind of like Bobby. You always know what he's thinking..."

At that moment, the doorbell rang. Robert looked up his face a mask of innocence. "Run along and get that, Wench."

Merry's insides tightened. No matter who it was, it would be someone who had not seen her nude. Robert was apparently content to have her expose herself. In fact... Merry looked back to see Robert watching her expectantly from the den. Merry looked through the peephole and discovered Ann Newton from work! "Master, its Ann!"

"Good. You may admit her," Robert directed mildly.

In a flash of understanding, Merry realized that Robert had been expecting her! "Yes, Master," she responded meekly.

Ann was standing on the porch fidgeting, just about to ring the bell again, when Merry opened the door. "Hello, Ann, won't you come in?" she asked, attempting a serene expression.

Ann was dumbfounded. There Marilyn stood, naked! She couldn't take her eyes off of Merry as she backed up and waved toward the den. "Um, thanks!" she murmured, gathering her wits about her and entering the house. "Did I catch you at a bad time?"

Robert answered for Merry. "No, everything is about as normal as it gets around here. Merry is required to go nude in the house - I appreciate the female form."

"Oh," Ann really didn't know quite how to respond to that. Turning to Merry, she asked, "What do you think of that?"

Merry looked at Robert, got his nod, and responded, "My opinion really doesn't matter; I'm a slave. However, I've discovered that being nude has its benefits."

"Oh?" Ann awaited amplification.

Merry provided it, "My master likes to touch the female form, too. Our relationship is a lot more physical than it once was." Merry smiled. She was beginning to hit her stride, recovering from the shock and humiliation - even turning the tables!

Robert interjected smoothly, "Merry, Ann was concerned after the nature of our relationship. I invited her here so that she could see for herself. I deliberately withheld this information in order that your reactions would be genuine. Shall we retire to the den? Merry, take Ann's coat. Would you like a drink? Some wine perhaps?"

Ann nodded with a glazed expression as Merry took her coat, then disappeared into the kitchen. She returned with two glasses. Handing one to Robert and one to Ann where she had seated herself across the coffee table from Robert, she knelt on her pillow before Robert's chair. Ann opened up the next round, "None for yourself?"

"My master did not grant me any," Merry replied serenely. Robert dipped a finger into his glass, and held it out for Merry to suck, an inspiration he owed to Rick's dinner activity. Merry took it into her mouth immediately.

Ann was again taken aback - and aroused. The wine dip had to be one of the most sensual things she had ever seen! "I need to understand all of this, Mari - Merry," she began.

Robert held up a hand. "You know, when I agreed to this, I wasn't really thinking. Perhaps I should leave, so that you two can speak candidly." He made to rise.

"No! Uh, sorry, Master - but if I am allowed a preference, I ask that you not leave." Merry realized that she might have earned a punishment for her outburst, but she felt it important.

Robert frowned, "I will leave the issue in Ann's hands. Ann?"

"Merry appears to feel strongly about this, so I'm fine with it," Ann replied. "But I don't necessarily understand why?"

"I think that it might prove to be of interest to my master," Merry responded.

"Well, you may speak freely, Merry. I will not punish you for anything you might say during this interview," Robert announced.

'Aha!' Ann thought, and pounced, "So, you punish her?"

"Well, yes," Robert replied, "I have to maintain discipline."

"Only when I deserve it!" Merry burst out.

Ann shifted her regard to Merry, "Does he beat you?"

"He has, on one or two occasions. But my master no more enjoys inflicting pain than I do absorbing it. Many times, his punishments are more mental than physical."

Ann turned to Robert with a raised eyebrow. Robert amplified, "Merry responds well to object lessons and a bit of humiliation. The nudity around the house is a prime example." He frowned, thinking. "As I said, I wasn't thinking when I agreed to this meeting - I have seriously humiliated Merry without intending to punish her when I directed her to admit you. In fact, any exercise of my authority over her in your presence is further humiliation. While the strictures of our relationship do not allow me to apologize for this, I can prevent it from continuing..." He made to rise again.

Merry whirled on her pillow, and draped herself across his lap, "Master, I beg you to allow us to continue normally! Please stay! I need your support!"

Robert looked to Ann, who nodded. "Very well," he replied, again seating himself, "But I do so under protest." He settled back. Merry captured a hand and held it to her side until it began to stroke.

Ann watched this activity intently. "I guess perhaps you should begin at the beginning," she invited.

Merry smiled, "I know that this is hard to understand, but the truth is that I do not enjoy being independent, and answering largely only to myself. Robert has always been kind to me, but I am a little fool. For years, I have done outrageous things, attempting to force Robert to put his foot down, but he loved me and put up with my foibles. For my part, I mistook his loving forbearance as weakness and cowardice, and resolved to trample him even harder under my feet, not because I wanted him to be there, but to punish him for being weak and not controlling me as he should. If you had asked me about this two weeks ago, I could not have told you why I was unhappy - but I knew it was so."

Merry stopped for a moment, and turned tearful eyes on Robert. "You should beat me, Master! I'm a foolish bitch who has hurt you on many, many occasions! I can never be punished enough!"

Robert merely smiled gently, "I'll take it under advisement. For now, I'm content to look to the future. Continue - I AM learning from this!"

Merry turned back to Ann, and composed herself. "A couple of weeks ago," she continued, "events occurred that caused me to understand that I had been foolish. In an attempt to counsel our children about sex, I revealed the wasteland that was our sex life. My children upbraided me for my foolishness, then called my mother, who confirmed their opinion. My daughter, wily little demon that she is, managed to trick me into getting tied to the bed, and told Robert that he should have his way with me."

Robert leaned forward and interjected, "I'd have never been able to do it, but for the fact that Dina - our daughter - gave me some details of her conversation with her grandmother. Apparently, Merry's parents were stern disciplinarians, and Merry equates love with a firm hand controlling her impulses. I was encouraged to assume control - and told that if I didn't, there probably wouldn't be another opportunity!"

Merry took up the tale, "Nobody is stupid enough to get herself tied to the bed - except possibly me! I didn't discover what Dina was doing until she was about 3/4 finished, and I probably could have weaseled out - but it was the first time in years that the issue had come up, and I was hoping that lightning would strike - and, Boy, did it!"

"You should know that what resulted was NOT rape! I saw something that I had never seen before in my husband, and I responded to it, powerfully. It was the most fulfilling sex I had ever had! And Robert demonstrated that he could indeed be uncompromising and dominant with me. I saw something in his eyes that night that turned me into jelly, and I couldn't get enough!"

Ann took this declaration with some surprise. Even more surprising was the fact that Merry was unconsciously writhing against Robert's hands as she told the tale, her skin flushed with arousal at the memory! Ann couldn't help but respond.

"The next time," Merry continued, "I brought HIM the binders and ASKED to be bound! And he did so, only after he had set HIS conditions! Soon, I understood that to be happy, I needed to place myself totally under his dominance - and I did so, willingly. In fact, I begged him, and he was reluctant!"

Ann was still confused, "Why do you need to be dominated? And what does this all have to do with sex?"

Merry's eyes bored into Ann's. "You must understand - I grew up with all kinds of stupid preconceptions about sex, and I cannot get away from them on my own. We tried, and I fell back into the old stupid patterns. I just didn't have the courage to indulge my fantasies or my imagination, and I couldn't overcome my embarrassment at even thinking about them! But my Master controls me sexually, and I am required to do whatever he demands! As a result I am free to enjoy anything he does to me without shame, because instead of trying to comply with other people's concept of proper sexual behavior, I have only one guiding principle: Am I obeying my master? My life is much fuller and richer and more pleasurable than it was, and I will never go back, even if he beats me daily!"

Sometime in the process of this declaration, Merry grasped Robert's hand and moved it to her breast. Robert shrugged and began to manipulate it. Ann watched mesmerized. "All this," she croaked, "for sex?"

"Oh, no! Sex is just part of it! For me to feel loved, I need to know I'm being supervised and limited. Someone else needs to set bounds for me, then enforce them, because I cannot do it myself! My master tells me what he expects of me, and I strive to meet his standards. And whether he is pleased with me or punishes me, I know that he is watching over me and that I bask in the glow of his attention! I know that I am loved! Silly, isn't it?"

"Um, yes..." Ann croaked. Merry was now luxuriating in the caresses of both Robert's hands. Her nostrils were dilated, and her skin was flushed. Both her nipples stood out like bullets. Ann was soaking wet in response, and her nipples ached where they pressed against her bra. She shifted uncomfortably, rubbing her thighs together.

Robert caught the motion. "Oops! Sorry!"

"Don't be!" Ann declared. "I was just fascinated by Merry's descriptions, and even more so by her obvious enjoyment!"

Merry leaned forward and a new look lit her eye. "I think you were also... aroused!"

"Uh," Ann stuttered, taken aback.

"Master," Merry said, whirling to Robert, "Ann has... needs..."

"I see that," Robert said quietly, locking eyes with Ann. "Perhaps you should return some time with your husband..."

Ann was rooted in the chair, pinned by Robert's regard. "I'm... divorced."

"A significant other, perhaps?" Robert queried.

"Uh, not right now."

"I see," Robert continued, "Well, I'm not prepared to start something that you might regret, so we will pass on it for this evening. I want you to be able to think on what you have seen and heard and decide what its effect upon your relationship with Merry will be before I provide further hospitality. However, if in the future you desire to pursue the roots of this arousal, we might be happy to facilitate your satisfaction."

Ann thought on this. Was he saying what she THOUGHT he was saying? "How?" she croaked.

"Well, first we might need to discover the exact source of your arousal. Then we would do whatever was necessary to bring you to completion. You might wish to merely watch us, or you may wish to participate in some way. If you wished merely to watch and masturbate, we keep certain toys that might assist. If you decided that you needed to participate... I don't think we need go into further description."

"Ohhh," Ann was beginning to feel faint.

"More wine, Dear? Or have you gotten what you came for?" Robert's solicitude was difficult to maintain. Ann was VERY aroused, and he could take her - but he probably couldn't navigate the aftermath safely. He was careful not to allow his amusement to show.

Ann sensed that she was being toyed with, nonetheless. "I think I have," she affirmed, getting up. "Perhaps I'll go and let you enjoy your evening." Merry rose and retrieved her coat, helping her into it in the entryway. "Thank you so much for this evening," Ann confided, "I just didn't understand. Now, maybe I do..."

"That's okay. It helped for me to get some of it out! Come back any time!" Merry kissed her on the cheek as she let her out the door. That was the last straw; Ann stumbled to her car on watery knees, and sat there for several moments, gathering her wits about her. What had happened? And what was she going to do about it?

Merry returned to the den to confront an amused Robert, "What was THAT all about?"

Robert smiled. "I'm not sure, but one thing is certain: Ann got more than she bargained for!"

"I guess so, Master," Merry replied, grinning, as she again settled into Robert's embrace. "She was becoming extremely aroused. What do you think set her off?"

"Well, I noticed some agitation even as she entered the room. It's quite possible that she found your nudity arousing. Has she evinced any... lesbian... leanings?" Robert asked.

"I never noticed - but I'm not sophisticated in these things," Merry admitted, "Perhaps, but if she is, I doubt that she is aware of it."

"If she returns, you may have to become so..." Robert observed.

"Master?"

"If she is brave enough to return, I think we should follow through and give her her fantasy - whatever it is!"

"I - I don't..." Merry's voice trailed off as she met Robert's uncompromising gaze.

He waited for her to dig herself a hole, but Merry, as usual, was quick on the uptake, and went silent - so he confirmed her suspicions, "If it IS what she wants, it will be a valuable addition to your sexual education. If it isn't, you will at a minimum be engaging in sexual activity in front of her. And I really think that she will participate - which means that one or both of us WILL have sex with her. Does this disturb you?"

"Mmmm, yes, Master - but in a good way!" Merry melted against him, surrendering to his caresses.

"I will NOT have you freezing up and ruining her experience - will you need to practice?" Robert queried.

Merry prevaricated a bit with her response, figuring that the hypothetical incident would never occur, "No, Master - I think I'll be fine." Robert detected nothing, and let it lie.