Chapter 18   
“So wad’u think?” 
  
I looked across the table at Max and shook my head. “As good as it sounds, I don’t think so. If I go out again without her, my life will be hell for months.” I looked over at Three. The dumb shit was still grinning. It used to irritate the crap out of me that he almost always smiled. Now I knew why, and I couldn’t really blame him. “Besides, all you have is a very devoted, loving, Wife, with a big W. You don’t have a seven year old, with a big C, as in Child, hanging around all the time.” I held up my hands before he could say anything. “Don’t get me wrong, Three, I love her, like she was my own, but I’ve seen Evee three times in two weeks, and I’ve been to your house twice, plus all these lunches. Jen is about ready to eat nails over it. She thinks she’s being left out of something.” 
  
I didn’t know what was in his head, but I hoped it was a little understanding of my situation. “Just do a family thing then. Didn’t you say Evee had a boy about Jen’s age?” Well, a little was better than none.   
Finally, I had something to smile about. “I tried that, and you should have seen ‘Old Faithful’ blow when I suggested a simple picnic. It was fantastic. I didn’t think Jens face could get that red." Three just looked at me. I know it wasn’t fair to Jen, but there's this streak in everyone that likes to see someone else get theirs, every now and then. “She's been a real pain in the butt ever since Agnes left." I looked at Three, “Evee’s started calling me at work, ‘cause little Miss Wonderful has been hanging up on her, and not telling me.” 
  
Three let out a sharp bark, disturbing the people eating at next table. “You’re kidding, right? She hung up on your new girl?” 
  
Either I didn’t explain it right, or the guy across from me chose to ignore it. “I told you she’s not my girl. She’s a friend of Agnes’s that...” 
  
Three leaned over the table. “That ... I know ... you told me, you’ve banged her at least three times in three dates. You know your niece knows what you're doing?” 
  
Now it was my turn. “Fuck you; you’re really enjoying this aren’t you?  It ain’t none of your business, but it was, for your information, five times in three dates. Besides, I didn't just bang her, we had sex or made love, however you want to put it.” I was smiling now, and Three knew, just like him, that's the way I was. “Besides, you don’t have kids; all they know is what’s right in front of them.” 
  
Finally he leaned back in the little plastic chair, and smiled back. “Screw you back, Bubba. She does know, and do you know why?” 
  
“Tell me, oh master of the dark arts.” This ought to be good, I thought.
  
“You’re happy.” 
  
I waited for the rest of his wisdom, but he didn’t say another word. Max the Third just sat there and looked at me grinning. “That’s it? Jen knows about my sex life, and it boils down to I’m happy?” 
  
“Yup.” 
  
“You’re crazy Max. So what if I’m happy, I’m a happy kind’a guy. I’ve got to go back to work. Let’s go.” 
  
As we walked out to the parking lot, he looked at me. “I hate to burst your bubble, friend, but a happy guy you ain’t. Well, not as happy as you have been for the last two weeks anyway. I noticed it right off and so did Mary Beth. I’ll bet you a Krispy Kreme, Jennifer noticed before we did. Why don’t you ask that old prune in your office, what's her name? I’ll bet you she noticed.”

“You’re talking about Penny?” She was the only clerk in the office that had enough years under her belt to qualify as a prune. She was also the only one that would tell you to stick it where the sun didn't shine, if some special project came up and it threw her routine out of whack then there would be a no, somewhere towards the end of the conversation. “She won’t give anyone the time of day.”

“Yeah, that’s her.” Max confirmed. “I think she went to school with one of my uncles. Anyways, talk to her about work and see what happens. In the meantime would it be okay if I stop by the house and talk to Jen? This is kind of important.”

“I guess that would be okay. Not that I think it’ll make much difference to her royal pain-in the-butt. We’re still leaving for Myrtle Beach Wednesday. I gotta pack for the beach and then pack Jen for her trip to LA with Alice.”

Max leaned against his car looking at me. “Look if you’re that worried, come on by the house at seven on Saturday night and I promise you’ll be tucked in your own bed by two, okay? If you need help packing we can come over and help.”

“I think I’ve got it covered” I looked at my friend. “You’re not going to tell me what this is all about, are you?” Max still hadn’t told me what was going on Saturday night, but he made it sound very important.

“Nope,” I hated one word replies. 
“What time are you going to the beach next Wednesday?”

“We’re leaving in the morning. Agnes and Alice will be in Thursday morning some time.” The three of them will fly back to Miami Sunday evening and then I’m home for the week.” Suddenly I got, what I thought, a great idea. “Say, I got an idea. Why don’t we do this thing after I get back, I’ve got the whole week so we have plenty of time. Jen will be gone and I won’t have to hear her complaining.”

Max shook his head. “It really needs to be done before you go. Think about it, but let me know real soon. There are plans to make and things like that.”

“I’ll call you tonight, okay?”

Max didn’t seem too happy about the answer, but he just nodded.

When I got back to the work center, to my surprise, Penny was agreeable to a change in her plans for the afternoon. Normally she’d piss and moan about the unfairness of it all. Well, not really, actually she’d tell me about how backed up she was, but not this time. She agreed right off to it. In fact I thought I saw a smile cross her face as I tried to ask as politely as I could. Well just damn, maybe she was swapped with one of those pod people you see in the movies. I could live with that.

Before I left for the house I called Jen and told her supper would be at Chris’. There seemed to be something going on but I couldn’t put my finger on it. The last time she sounded that happy her and the Gardenia Gang had just whipped up on a group of Junior High boys on the basketball court. 
It got even more curious when I got home and found out someone tried, and I mean seriously tried, to straighten up the house. I knew it wasn’t Jennifer, because I’d tried to get in her room a couple of nights before. Ever since summer vacation her usually neat room had turned into a dump. The door barely opened with all the clothes on the floor. I swear I saw small animals making nests on top of what was suppose to be her desk. I asked if there was an alien invasion or something going on. When I asked, all I got was a laugh from her and she said that I was too funny. I really started to think maybe there were pod people after all.

Finally it started to come clear over fish and chips at Chris’. It seems that Max did come to the house for that little talk. My little roomie wouldn’t tell me what he said; after all he made her promise. As everyone knows, a promise is a promise. As Jen dove into her second order of chips, yes she ate double orders now; it seems that Mary Beth had also stopped by. That answered the cleaning frenzy. 
Then things turned to the strange. Well, as strange as living with a seven year old can get. Jen mumbled something about three taking the monkey’s suit. I figured, real quickly, we didn’t have a monkey, so it had to be that tuxedo Alice bought for me. Now why the hell would he want my tux? That was another reason for the phone call I had to make, before going to bed.

Ever since Agnes had left, Jennifer had stopped giving me a good night kiss. That wasn’t really so strange. Whenever something happened that affected both of us, like the kiss and maybe hand holding, stopped. After we confronted Tony Martin at his house the same thing happened. Now it was Agnes leaving in a huff. Only this time, after she left it was worse. She didn’t kiss me, which was fairly normal, but it seemed like I had some disease of something. At home she tried to avoid all physical contact. Our daily ritual of my combing and braiding her hair had stopped. I knew it had been only a couple of weeks but I was someone who likes a routine, and this wasn’t one of them.

This continued until we got home that night. I sat down and flicked on the TV and started to settle down for a serious nap before bedtime. Off to my left I heard a tiny voice. “Gene do you like my hair?”
I looked over and there stood Jennifer in her newest basketball jersey. I looked her up and down one time. “I love your hair, well except for the ponytail.”

She seemed to take her time digesting this. “Could you braid it for me, then?” 
I sensed something was going on. I wondered if Max and his wife had said something to Jen about Agnes. “Sure, got the tools?”

I saw a little smile on her lips as her hands came out from her back. The tools consisted of a brush, two combs and a red and white hair band that was around her wrist. “Will these do?”

I felt a small sense of relief as my world started to, slowly, come back together. Jennifer handed me the stuff and sat down on the coffee table. As I started brushing the snarls out of her hair, she stared at the television across the room. “What are we watching?”
“I don’t know. It was just on when I sat down, why?”

“Can I turn it off?”

I stopped brushing her hair for a second. “You want the TV off? I didn’t know you knew where the off switch was?”

Jen to her credit didn’t rise to the bait. “I know it’s the thingy that turns it on. Only you turn it the other way. So can I?”

“Sure.”

She slid off the table and turned it off. In that short walk back I saw something in my niece’s eyes. I wasn’t sure but her hazel eyes danced all over, looking everywhere but at me. 
As I combed the tangles out she finally said, “Mr. Max and Mary Beth stopped by.”

I kept on combing. “Yeah, they said they’d stop by. You told me at Chris’, remember?”

I guess she wanted me say something else, but what I wanted was for her to tell me without prompting.

“Gene?”

“Yeah Jen,” I said in a softer voice. “Am I pulling to hard?”

“Um-m, no, it’s just right. It’s just that Mr. Max said, this Saturday was real important and it would be the last time I wouldn’t be able to go with you guys.”

I wondered why I couldn’t just lay it out for my niece and let her handle it like he did. “He said that? Uh-huh,” I agreed.

“Did he happen to say where I’m going?” I missed talking to her back at night. It was, usually just before she went to bed. Tonight, she had washed the smell of a hard day playing basketball, or whatever else she did that day, off. What was left was pure Jennifer. Well that and the mix of Ivory soap and Prell shampoo. That was one of the reasons I liked to braid her hair. The clean fragrance came off of her body and made whatever had happened that day, just seemed to disappear. What came after was a kiss good night. Not that I expected that big of a change from her.

Jen seemed to think it over. “Nah, but he said they didn’t let miners in.”

I smiled remembering a similar discussion we had. “I think that’s minors but that’s what I think to. Aren’t you breaking the promise telling me this?”

“That was something else. So where are you going?” Jen was getting good at changing the subject.

“I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me either.”

Jen thought it over before she said, “Big secret, huh? I didn’t know Mr. Max had any secrets.”

If Jen only knew the secrets in that big house on the edge of town held. I wondered how I, so easily, let Max and Mary Beth come over without me being here. They’d been here before and they were good friends, even with this new lifestyle they introduced me to. “So who cleaned house today?”

“Me, Mary Beth and Mary,” was her quick reply. “I tried to get David to help but he had to do something for his mom.”

I looked at her back. I could see a little shake to her shoulders. It was the kind of thing people do when they’re listening to music in their head. “That’s Mrs. Max not Mary Beth.  What’s the song, Jen?”

Suddenly she stopped. “I’m not sure; Mr. Max was listening to it when he drove up. It sounded pretty cool. She said I could.”

“Cool, huh, Hair band please.”

Jen put her hand behind her and I slid the elastic off of it. A little twist and a shake there and it was done. I sat back and admired my handy work. Yup, it really was the little things that brought me pleasure.

Jen turned around and got off the table. Then she did something I didn’t expect. She sat next to me. As she snuggled close I could sense some big announcement coming. “Gene? If you want to go Saturday night, you can go. Max told me I was acting like a kid and not the woman of the house.”
I looked down and wondered if that was the big secret. “Like you pointed out not that long ago you are a kid. Now you’re the woman of the house?”

“Mr. Max said I needed to be 'sponsible who 'cause whoever you go out with, I'm the one that lives here. Besides, I’m going to be eight."  There was that certainty in her voice every child has.

With that she kissed my cheek and went to her room. Now my night was complete.

I watched her walk away wondering if I would ever find a woman that brought me such joy and aggravation. I knew one right off the top of my head but she was still a big question mark. Maybe it was Evee and then again maybe it wasn’t. After three dates I was starting to get the feeling that no matter how much we liked each other in or out of bed something was missing. It was like she was holding something back. I smiled as I thought of an old movie. As Captain Renau said in Casablanca, ‘I’m shocked, shocked to find out there is gambling going on in here,’ as he collected his winnings. 
Of course I took Mother Jen's approval. A couple of days later I was driving again to Max’s house. I had this really bad itch and I couldn't scratch it. Maybe it was the dry cleaning smell coming off of the tux. Then again it could have been the new shirt I was wearing, courtesy of MB. It could have been, but it wasn't. Something was going on that I couldn't put my finger on. Ever since Three and his wife came to the house, Jennifer had been the ideal child. Not just good, but damn near perfect.  I could actually get into her room and out again without the help of a compass. She helped with the dishes at night and to top it all off she actually told me about her day. I wondered when we'd get back to her mumbling, "Nothing much," or "I dunno." 
The other thing was where we were going tonight. It was a pretty high-class place if I needed a tuxedo. Both of them refused to tell me where we were having this date. All I was, finally, told was that it was a private club. Well, I'd find out soon enough. I was turning up the driveway to their house now.

I rang the bell after noticing, that this time, there was no note. Before I could punch the button again Mary Beth opened the door. Again, I had that damn itch. Max's wife was in a floor length bathrobe. "I'm sorry MB I must be early."

I noticed that she dropped her eyes a little before looking at me. "That's all right Gene, you’re on time. All I have to do is slip on my dress and I'll be ready. I opened a bottle of that white wine you liked last Christmas. It's in the den. Could you pour me a glass while I finish dressing?"

While she was talking I just stood there looking at someone only a couple of years younger than me. The thing was the way she looked standing there, in her robe; she looked closer to Agnes's age. I guess I was concentrating a little too hard on my friends’ wife because the next thing I heard was, "Hello-o could you do that for me?"
I looked up and saw that Mary Beth had that gotcha look on her face. "I'm sorry MB but you look..." I really didn't want to say it to a married woman.

"Good?"  She filled in the blank.

Before my brain could catch up I said, "I was going to say fantastic."

That brought a blush to her face that makeup could not hide. "Well..." Now she seemed like the one at a loss for words. "You ought to see me with clothes on." With that she pulled the robe to one side to flash the top of her breast at me.

I was speechless. I was speechless, as she did it. I was speechless, as she reminded me about her glass of wine for the second and third time. I was speechless, as she walked back to the bedroom with a little more sway in her hips than I'd seen before.

Finally I turned to go and pour the wine, when I thought of something.  "Hey MB, would Max like one?" No answer. They were probably in the bedroom getting ready with the door closed. I'd see him soon enough. Besides it was his house and he could get his own damn wine.

I poured the wine and looked around the den. I always liked their house. I'd worked in a lot of houses before getting into management. Most were just big impersonal places. The rooms didn't match the owners. Max and MB's was a big place but somehow it was very homey. You could see all of the personal touches they put in it.  
I was looking at some of the books that they had on the shelf when Mary Beth’s voice interrupted. “Excuse me Sir, may I have my wine now?”

I turned with every intention of telling her that tonight I wasn’t this Sir, this Master, she thought I was. That thought was blown away as I saw her standing in front of me. Mary Beth had indeed dressed. The floor length sky blue dress however displayed more than it covered. All the curves where were they should be, as it clung to her body. She obviously wasn’t wearing a bra as her nipples were poking against the material. “What is this, MB?” I could be really brilliant at times.

I guess she thought she was talking to a first grader, and maybe I was. “It’s a dress, Sir. Do you approve?” She did a little twirl for me and I saw the lower half was actually three separate panels. And to my delight I saw that they lifted up in a most wonderful way. I tried to be cool about this, knowing that Three would be coming in at any moment. I saw no panties, if the brief flash of her backside, was any indication. It was very nice and very distracting. I handed her wine. I knew right about then Max would be coming in yelling gotcha.

“I’m glad you noticed, Sir.”   Mary Beth looked wonderful as she sipped her wine. Her eyes never left mine but we didn’t say a word. 

Do you remember that itch, I had before was back with a vengeance. “So where is your Husband, MB?” I tried to sound like Max did. I know it was a poor imitation of him but for a moment it seem right. The problem was in the next second I knew they would both be laughing at me.

She didn’t laugh. She didn’t even smile. Mary Beth, loving wife and submissive to my best friend, handed me her wine glass. She went to her knees in front of me. Her hands went behind her as she opened her thighs wide. The front panel split open and both sides were laying across the top her legs. I noticed I was wrong about her going commando. There was a small triangle of blue covering her vagina. I wondered where I had been all these years and never noticed thongs and g-strings before. Her back was as straight as an arrow as she bowed her head. “Max is not here, Sir. You are my Master tonight. I am for you, Sir.”

I looked down at the woman who, almost twenty-five years ago, wanted me to be where I was right now. This was no joke. Just like Evee that first time, I knew what she was feeling and what she wanted, even if she didn’t. That wasn’t the problem; Max the Third was the problem. What in the hell was he thinking? “Are you sure? You’re your husband’s submissive. Isn’t there some kind of rule or something, about this?”

Mary Beth looked up at me, and even her demeanor changed. “We talked it over and agreed that this was the only way you’re going to realize who you really are. I knew over twenty years ago you were Dominant. You keep stumbling around from relationship to relationship, but you refuse to see it.”

I looked down at my best friend’s wife and saw love, but it was the words that bothered me. “Isn’t that a little harsh coming from someone who’s on their knees?” 
Now she smiled, “Like I said, Max came up with the idea and I agreed to do this.” 
I felt something that I had tried to erase from my mind, or was it my soul? I bent down and placed a finger under her chin. It had a texture like Agnes’ but soft like Evees’. I applied a bit of pressure and I felt my best friend’s wife start to rise. I kept my finger under her chin till she was erect once more. I could feel the twitching in her neck. The air that escaped her lungs as she fought to regain her calmness vibrated through that finger.

“Where is he MB?”

She had the answer ready. “Tonight, he’s playing poker. He’s playing at Two’s house.” Suddenly she went quiet.

I placed my face close to hers. “I’m not going to play twenty questions with you all night. Explain now or I’ll walk out the door.”

I felt her swallow hard. “I can’t, he left you a note explaining, Sir.” The worry in her eyes now showed. “Believe me this was his idea. I tried to tell him no, but he is my Husband and the final decision was his.”

“Where’s it at?”

“It’s by the telephone, on the desk in the hall.”

Now I had my first decision to make. I could cut it off right here or continue to see what Three’s game was. “Look at me Mary Beth.” Her eyes came up to mine. I could see fear in them now. Was it fear that I would walk out the door? Or was it that I’d play this little game of his? “Follow me.” I didn’t wait to see if she did. Soon enough I could hear her high heels tapping out a beat on the hardwood floors. Let the game begin.

I saw something as I turned the corner but all I saw was  shiny. I should have recognized it from that first talk we had in their living room. MB even showed it to me and explained its purpose. I really didn’t understand why it was needed. After all it was heavy and just by the look, very uncomfortable. The collar was made of metal and would cover most of her neck, all the way to her chin. It was designed that way to keep the wearers head in an upright position and correct posture. Max assured me every new submissive should wear it if you wanted them to keep their head up. It was too bulky and heavy to wear all day but for a new submissive, in certain situations, it was perfect.  Even his wife had worn the same one for almost six months, while they were together in college. As I looked at it, I saw a piece of paper folded in half under it. I pulled out the chair by the desk and sat down. As I sat down I saw Mary Beth go, once again, to her knees. I looked at the woman kneeling at my feet. As I opened it a smaller piece of paper slid out and landed on my lap. All that was on it was a phone number. As I opened the larger piece, I looked once more at Mary Beth. “Do you know what’s written here?” I waved the paper in front of her.

Worry still showed in her eyes, but I could also see a growing confidence, “Some, Sir, but not everything.”

I looked at the tightly printed words. I wondered how long it took Max to write a note. It is normal and writing was quite large, and would have filledtwo pages. Even so, I still had to decipher his handwriting.

Hey Buddy, he started.
	As that old philosopher once said, it’s time to shit or get off the pot. I know you think this is about us trying to get you and Agnes together again and maybe it is. What I believe is, that this is about you finally being who you should be. And that is the person Mary Beth saw on the practice field almost thirty years ago and the person I knew before you went to Nam. I’ve seen a difference in you the past three weeks and part of it was Agnes’s doing and part was Evee’s. So now I’m entrusting you with the most precious thing in my life for one night. The collar on the table is for her. You are to remove mine and use this as yours. This is very important, because that will make her totally yours. Remember what we talked about before. It is very important when you claim someone.

I have arranged for you and Mary Beth to go out to a private club for dinner and dancing. We have been there many times before and they know us there. Only the owner knows about what’s going on, the other people, except for one or two, don’t. Everything has been taken care of including transportation. At this club you will meet others like us and some who will make your skin crawl. Such is this way of life. One word of warning though, do not interfere in any Dominant-submissive relationships there. No matter how strange or abusive you might think it is. That is not allowed.

Now let me tell you how this going to work. She is, and I repeat, she is yours for the night. Not only one to command and to do with as you please but to protect. You may ask her any question to guide you through the night. To make it easy you can, if you wish, use the same guidelines and rules we discussed, for tonight. Just remember you’ll have to claim her, just like we talked about. Words mean as much as actions in this, just like any relationship. You will have one chance to do it right. There are no do overs.

The car will bring you back here at one a.m.. I will be home around two. If for any reason you do not want to do this, call the number on the piece of paper and I will come and get her, where ever you are.

One other thing, Gene, by our mutual agreement what ever happens tonight will not be a subject for discussion between my Wife and I, ever. I will not ask my Wife what happened and she has promised not to tell me. The only condition I put on you is I do not want you to tell me either. That’s between you and your submissive, Mary Beth.

Max III

I reread the note twice and leaned back in the chair. “When is the car coming for us, MB?”

“Seven-thirty, Sir.”

I looked at my watch and the small piece of paper in my hand. I knew the exchange for this number was just north of us. So it would take him maybe forty minutes to get here, and we had fifteen minutes before the car arrived. I looked at my watch, again, and then at Mary Beth. Now she was really worried and I knew why. It wasn’t that I’d succeed. It was because I might fail and that sixteen-year-old boy she saw on the summer practice field, her first choice, would fail her as well.

“Open your mouth, Mary Beth.”

She looked at me not understanding what I was about to do, “Sir?”

“A simple command MB, open your mouth and leave it open.”

“Yes Sir.” She did just that.

“Close your eyes.”

I looked at the phone number in my hand. I guess it really was time to shit or get off the pot. I tore the paper into four small pieces. That should do it, I thought as I placed them, one by one, in Mary Beth’s mouth. I don’t know what she expected tonight but eating paper probably wasn’t one of them. 
“Open your eyes, MB.” As she did I noticed that the worry and fear had lessened. Stay where you are and chew and swallow.” I got up to get our wine. Mary Beth needed hers to help wash down the paper. I needed mine to calm my nerves.

When I returned I knew this wasn’t a dream. She was still there with the blue gown spread out around her. I seated myself and handed her, her glass. As we drank I thought about what came next. It all sounded so silly to me but Three said it was an important step in a Master/submissive relationship.

“Turn around MB.”

Suddenly there was panic in her voice, as she realized what was going to happen. “Sir, please no. Let me wear mine under the collar.” I saw everything in her eyes not just the words.  “I can’t take it off again. I promised my Husband I’d never do it again.”

“I have to MB. That’s the way Max wants it. That’s the way it’s going to be.” I read her the part of the letter about the claiming and to do it right.

Finally she said resignedly, “Yes Sir,” 
Mary Beth turned around and I found the clasp. It would of been impossible if Max hadn’t showed me how MB’s worked one night. Push here and slide there and pop, it was open. With that sound Mary Beth stiffened.

“Turn around again.”

As she knelt before me again I looked down in amazement. The woman I had talked to just moments ago was gone. Sure she looked like Mary Beth, and the same light blue gown clung to her body. The same smallish rounded breasts with her nipples rubbing against the material. They made their own little tents against the soft gown. But it wasn’t the same Mary Beth. I reached under her chin and lifted her face to mine. It was then I saw and recognized the person in front of me. She was a shy and retiring teenager. She wanted to blend into her surroundings and not be noticed. The woman two years younger than me was suddenly the same person I knew when I was sixteen, the bookworm, Mary Beth who wore glasses and was outside our circle of friends. She was fourteen again in her mind. What had I done?

“Mary Beth?” Her eyes wavered as I spoke to her. 

“Sir?”

“You can call me Gene, MB.” I smiled at her because suddenly it seemed a natural thing to do. I didn’t hear the theme from the Twilight Zone in my head or whips and echoes of dungeon doors closing. There were no doubts, like I had with Agnes.

“Yes Gene,” She on the other hand did.

With a finger under her chin I put my face close to hers. “I remember you now, a little skinny freshman. I think you were with another girl when you used to come to the summer practices.”

Her eyes came up and met mine. “I was with Tina Bryant, how do you...”

“Sh-h-h, MB. I can call you MB can’t I?”

“Yes Gene.”

“You had those glasses that the other people made fun of. You walked bent over so you wouldn’t be taller than the rest. Did I ever make fun of you?”

I saw the truth in her eyes, “Never, Gene. Max told me you thought I was a nice girl just someone who was a little shy. You said that I was perfect for him.”

That last part I didn't remember. “It wasn’t shyness was it.”

“No I had these feelings for a long time and when I got to high school they started going crazy and I needed someone to control them.” It was subtle but I could detect a faint odor in the air and it was coming off of Mary Beth.

“And I was your first choice?”

“Yes Gene.” I could feel her confidence slowly coming back.

“And here I am, a little late, and here you are.” I looked down at Mary Beth. She said, she always wanted me to be her Master, Dom or whatever you want to call it.  That was even before she even knew what it was. The trouble was, I wasn’t. She truly belonged to Max. I saw his imprint all over her. How she walked, talked and even acted. “How do you feel, MB.”

There was no hesitation. “Naked. I've been a collared submissive for twenty years. This is the second time I’ve been naked, like this, and I don’t like the feeling, Gene.”

I didn’t have to tell her the why, because she knew better than I did. She said she was an un-collared submissive. She was naked, vulnerable to being approached by anyone, maybe someone she had doubts about, or even didn’t like. Agnes was un-collared as well and she was very approachable. Three weeks is a long time. I wondered how she was handling it. I wondered if Alex had already tried to claim her, again.

I reached for the training collar. “You won’t be for long.”

I held it out in front of me and looked at Mary Beth. As I looked at Mary Beth I wished Max had given me time to rehearse all of this. “Do you Mary Beth accept out of love and devotion my authority as your Master? And do you submit yourself to me in all things?”

In that same small little girl voice she used, when I removed her old one, she said, “Yes Sir.”

“The hair MB.”

She reached back and lifted her brown hair. I removed the key to the solid metal collar and placed it around her neck without locking it. ”Mary Beth with your yes do you accept this as a symbol of your devotion? Do you agree to wear it until such time as I remove it and release you from your promise?” This was her final chance to walk away.

“Yes Gene, I agree to wear it until you release me.” There was a flicker of something in her eyes that spoke volumes. Now it was my turn to be scared. It wasn’t a teenage flirtation. I truly was her first choice. I knew if I wanted to keep her now I could. The collar could stay right where it was forever, Max be damned. Words meant something. The three of us were trapped.

The click of the lock echoed through the house then I pocketed the key.

We looked at each other before I spoke. “What are the hard and fast rules you and your Husband had?”

I wondered if she caught my meaning, the true meaning. “They are,” she recited, “do not speak to other Doms unless spoken to. Be respectful always.  Walk on your right and slightly behind when possible. I will not interrupt you in public or when we’re alone. I will defer to you in all things. Your word is my law. I will look at you always. I will not look down or away, but at you.” When she came to the end she remained motionless looking at me.   
“Those are my rules as well. Do you agree, MB?”

“Yes Gene.” I noticed that the little fourteen year old was gone and the full size, all grown up Mary Beth now stood in front of me. Her excitement grew as she continued to get excited.

"Do you need to do anything else before we leave?"

Just as she was about to say something we heard a car pulled up outside. She looked at me, "I'm ready. You will find a real submissive is always ready.” She gave me a questioning look. “You, however, need a little work, Master.”

I wondered what she was talking about when she started fussing with my clothes. It seems that my tie wasn’t straight enough and my jacket collar needed to be rearranged. MB took one step back and gave me the once over. “You look like the perfect Dom now,” she said. “Well except for one thing.”

I looked at this vision in front of me. Should I, I thought. Hell why not. “Okay what is that one thing?”

Mary Beth looked very comfortable standing there in front of me. Was she trying to smile? “There is some lipstick on your cheek.”

Automatically I reached across my body and put my hand on my left cheek. I know Jen didn’t kiss me and besides she never wore lipstick. How in the hell did I...

Right then MB struck. She leaned into me and planted a big kiss on my right cheek. As quick as she kissed me, she pulled back. I knew that was something she had wanted to do for a long time.

“So was that what you expected?”

“Sort of Sir.” Now her smile brightened the room. “A woman has to get what she can, when she can. Here let me wipe it off.” Mary Beth reached for a tissue on the desk and proceeded to wipe away the kiss she had given me. “I wouldn’t want any of the other Doms spreading any rumors to Max. There are going to be enough questions about tonight anyway.” 

“And you don’t mind?”

Mary Beth was looking at me as she smiled. “That’s the last thing you should ask a submissive. Max is the person I married. Even if I never had this,” she waved her left hand in front of me. The gold band of her wedding ring flashed in front of my eyes. “I still would be his because of what’s around my neck and in my heart. Now, tonight he is Max the third, my husband. Tonight you are my Master and my everything. I will not say no to you no matter what others might say. Tomorrow,” she gave a little shrug to go along with the smile. It was her eyes that gave it all away though. They were bright and flashed at me, as she said it.

There it was all laid out for me. All I had to do was take what I wanted. I looked into Mary Beth’s brown eyes, “We have a car to catch and dinner waiting,”

Almost imperceptibly Mary Beth changed. “Of course Sir. I’m sorry for talking to long.” She gathered herself together and looked at me, waiting for me to lead, so she could follow.

Before I turned to the door I had this urge, call it a desire. I reached up and touched her under her chin. I knew she wasn’t expecting it but then again why should she have all the fun. Her eyes widened and I heard a little gasp as I pressed my lips against hers. They were soft and tasted sweet. I broke the kiss as fast as I gave it to her. “The car?”

“It took a fraction of a second longer than it should have but she finally said, “Of course, Gene.” The ragged breath she took told me one thing, I'd done good, and I could have more.

I turned to the front door and opened it. I heard Mary Beths’ heels clicking on the floor as she followed. I held it open for her and as she passed she whispered, “The drivers name is Edward.”

There he was holding the door open. He reminded me a lot of Gunnery Sergeant Hill. Same build and he even had the high and tight haircut. As I helped MB into the limousine I looked at Edward. “Good evening Edward.” He looked like I had hit him but he didn’t say a word in reply.

As I settled into the seat facing forward I felt the car pulling away I looked at MB. “Edward isn’t much of a talker, is he?”

Mary Beth smiled from the seat across from me. “He’s been told not to speak to the passengers. His Mistress would not like it.”

Now it was my turn to do the double take. “He’s a submissive?”

“He’s pledged to Angelique, the owner of the club we’re going to. The collar is a little hard to see in the dark but he is.”

“Angelique, sounds French?”

As the streetlights flashed over MB’s face she said, “She’s from Belgium actually. She came to the United States after the war. Her husband was shot by the Nazi’s.”

“She had a tough life.”

MB smiled back at me, “I suppose, but she says it all has a purpose. Would you like a drink? We have about fifty minutes before we get there.”

I nodded but I wondered what the purpose was in seeing you husband murdered by a bunch of thugs and then going to a place you didn’t know, and a language you didn’t speak? That’s what my dad called the Nazi’s, thugs, among other things. He had been in the Army during World War Two in the Screaming Eagles. He used to tell Gary and I about a long cold winter he spent in Belgium, in a town called Bastogne.

The pop of the cork broke me out of my reverie. I watched as Mary Beth poured two glasses of Champaign in the bouncing car. She handed me mine then looked at me, waiting.

I held out mine and she took the cue. As our glasses touched in a toast I said. “To tonight.”

“To tonight, Sir.”

We drank in silence until I said, “Tell me what I can expect at this place.”

It’s called Angeliques’. It is a D and S club. It’s the only real club for us around here, so a lot of different types of Doms and their submissives go there.”

“Max said something about some like us and some who would make my skin crawl. What did he mean?” I didn’t care for the us reference, but I let it pass.

Mary Beth nodded. “Some are like us. In fact most are, that come to the club. A few are heavy into BDSM and try to bring the worst of it there. Normally they get together at someone's house or go to DC to party. Do you know what BDSM is?”

“Bondage, Discipline and Sado Masochism.” I suddenly realized I had remembered more of Three’s teaching than I thought. “I take it that the club doesn’t allow whips and chains? Is it bad for the carpet?” I needed to lighten up. This was way too serious for me. 

“That’s one definition. Actually it’s bad for they’re health. The bouncer there is named Abe. He really likes his work, if you know what I mean. He’ll be more than happy to bounce anyone that Charles tells him to.”

I took another sip before I said, ”And Charles is?”

“The host of Angeliques’. Charles and Abe are employees and not collared submissives or Dominates. So the rules about Doms rule don’t apply to them.”  I saw Mary Beth looking at me while she sipped at her glass. “Did Max say anything about the rules?” That was the third time she had said it. 

“Just to protect what was mine.” If she wanted to throw out signals so could I, catch this woman.

Mary Beth smiled back at me.  It wasn’t very subtle but then again I found out subtlety led to mistakes. Yeah she caught that one. “There are others but the most important one right now, besides that one, is the leash law.”

From the time Agnes walked off the plane three weeks ago till now everything had been a surprise. Surprises I could barely handle, being new to all this, but this had me scratching my head. “Okay explain the leash law to me, MB.”

“All submissives are required to wear a leash attached to their collar or some part of their body. One end goes on the collar, or where ever, and the other end the Dom holds.” MB seemed to be taking this a lot better than I was. “Actually in my case that would be a bitch leash, I’m female after all.”

I was getting a little dizzy with all this. “I know what a female dog is called, MB,” I growled at her. “Is it going to be like this all night?”

MB dropped her head for a second, “I’m sorry Gene, but what are you talking about?” Somehow she didn’t sound too sorry. In fact she sounded perfectly happy doing what she was doing.

“You being a smart ass.” Like I said I had given up subtlety for Lent. 

She didn’t even blink. “If you would like to make it a hard and fast rule I could try be a naive fourteen year old again.” Fuck, she was smiling.

I looked across from me as we sipped champagne. “I don’t think that would work, MB. I don’t do virgins any more. It’s bad for the heart.” She actually was smiling through the blush on her cheeks. Now we both knew the whole night was going to be exactly like this. The smell coming off of her was filling the enclosed limo. It was a smell hard to describe, except for the fact the longer we sat here the more turned on she got. “I love your perfume, MB.”

As I took another sip I nearly choked as she slid off of the seat facing mine and kneeled in front of me. Slowly she opened my legs then knee-walked between them. Her hands were resting on top of my thighs. I had the perfect view of her breasts as she tried to get as close to me as she could. 
“Is there something I can do for you?” I asked.

Her smile got even bigger, if that’s possible. “That’s something you should never say to a submissive, Gene.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Mary Beth seemed to be settling down and getting comfortable kneeling there. “First, Master, tonight I’d like to talk a little more freely. You know express myself a little more.”

I didn’t know what she was getting at so I did the next best thing, I asked. “Explain, MB.”

Evidently she knew exactly what she wanted because the answer was right there. “I want to be able to cuss, you know swear. Over the years Max had this rule that when we went out I never said a bad word. I was always the quiet little subbie, never disrespectful or loud.” I could hear the passion in her voice. “I’d hear them talking in the bathroom at the club. They were talking about us. The perfect couple, big bad Max and his door mouse Wife. Then they’d grind it in with some comment before they’d have a laugh at our expense, well, it was mine. A submissive should always reflect their Master. It gets to me sometimes, though, not being able to tell them where to get off.”

“I thought you weren’t allowed to speak to other Doms. Isn’t that one of the rules?”

Mary Beth looked up at me. “Don’t get me wrong, Gene. I’d never say or do anything to another Dominant. Like I said, a submissive is an extension of their Master. Those were the ones I was thinking about.”

I listened to this woman, on her knees, in front of me. I heard conviction in her voice and I believed it. After all the years living with the man that worshiped the ground she walked on, I never heard her use a single bad word. If fact I never heard a single damn or shit. Jennifer, at seven, on the other hand didn’t seem to have any problem with those words, even if I did.

Now I wanted to play again, “So let me get this straight. Your Husband is quiet when you’re out. When you’re at home or when we’re together he’s the life of the party?”

Mary Beth nodded. 

“And now you’re telling me because I cuss, sometimes like the sailor I used to be, you think it’s you’re right to do it?”

Obviously she didn’t want to play. “A submissive is a reflection of her Master.  I should be a reflection of you.” I could tell this was too important to her. 

“Okay MB, I agree, if I can do the same. Just don’t get carried away, okay?” Mistake number two million and one.

Her face lit up like the fourth of July. “I promise! Oh thank you Sir!”

I shook my head. "You don't understand, MB, I'm talking about you. What would happen if I called you a slut or my bitch in public?"

Mary Beth closed her eyes for a second as those words went from her ears straight to her pussy. I noticed her stomach muscles tightened up as she moaned. Did she just have an orgasm? Finally she opened them. "I'd probably cum right then and there, if there were people around to hear it."

"I'll take that as a yes, then." I looked to MB for confirmation and she nodded her head.

“Agreed Sir.”

“Anything else?” I was feeling very gracious after finishing my second glass of wine and having a beautiful woman at my feet.

What she said woke me out of my pleasant reverie, “I would like to give you another kiss, Gene.” 
“That’s easy to do.” I held out my arms. “Come here, Mary Beth.”

“Yes Master.” Without another word she rose up off of her knees and into my lap. My hands went to her waist, as her knees settled against my hips. The panels on the dress had opened to the side and the little blue scrap of cloth between her legs was there for me to see. It was one hell of a fight with my self as I struggled to stop my hands from wandering down over her thighs and across her abdomen. I tried to explain later about the look on Mary Beth’s face as she sat there on my lap. It was one of joy, mixed with an unknown feeling. What ever it was I loved it.

Instead of dropping my hands into her lap, I lifted them. I stopped where her brassiere strap would have been, if she had been wearing one. I gave her a little squeeze and traced the invisible line around her back. Once my fingers touched I dragged them back again. When I got to her sides again I kept on going.

I could hear the little catch in her breath as she felt my palms stroking the sides of her breasts. “You are a magnificent woman, Mary Beth.” She moaned again as I brushed my thumbs across her nipples. They hardened under my touch. "Fourteen or thirty-five, you are beautiful."

Her breathing was getting a little erratic as I palmed her breasts. Thirty-six, I'm thirty-six." Suddenly she moaned as I took each spiked nipple in my fingers and twisted them, through her dress. "Oh, fuck!" She gasped.

I leaned forward a little so I could whisper in her ear. "Ask me if I care how old you are." I ordered.

Her eyes were a little glassy as she looked at me, "Do you care, Sir?" Her mind was somewhere else so she didn't feel one hand leaving her breasts and dipping between her legs. That was until I cupped her covered sex and squeezed. You would have thought I hit her with an electric shock, as she started to whimper and groan. I continued to palm her vagina feeling the accumulated moisture seeping through the material and on to my hand. I could feel her push herself down on my hand a little harder with each squeeze.

Finally, I guess she had to say something. "I guess that's a no." I felt her tremble as I touched her. “I am yours, Gene,” she moaned, “No questions and no recriminations. If you want Max's princess or a slut for tonight...” As if I needed convincing she ground herself against my lap. “...I won’t tell ever.”

I felt the car slowing down as she looked at me. “I think we’re here, MB.”

“Yes Sir.” With that she brought her face towards mine. I tried to compare Mary Beth’s kiss with Evee’s or even Agnes as our lips touched. I knew there was a difference and it wasn’t subtle. That first date with Evee, she wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Once we started, though, there was no stopping her. When Agnes kissed it was like a contest. She matched kiss for kiss, touch for touch everything I did to her, she tried harder. My passion stoked hers and she gave as good as she got. Sometimes better.   Mary Beth gave me a chaste kiss on the lips then pulled away and waited. I remembered the joke that Three told me the first night at his house. ‘What happens when two submissives make love? The answer, nothing, they’re waiting for the other person to start.’ 

Even though I laughed then, I didn’t know how true it was. She said she wanted to kiss me. She did, and accomplished her task. From the look I was getting it wasn’t what she wanted.

“Satisfied Mary Beth?”  My hands went down to her hips.

“Yes, Sir.” That clinched it. It was the same tone Jen used when I told her to go to bed on a school night. She’d do it but she wasn’t happy to about it.

I looked at MB and smiled to myself. “Mary Beth? I have a new rule.” I saw a questioning in her eye but she never said a word. “No lying. It is totally unacceptable, agreed?”

“Yes Sir.” Hum-m, I thought, same tone.

I guess this was what Three called the learning curve. “Now I’ll ask again, was that kiss satisfactory?”

“No Sir.” Mary Beth had that busted look now. On her, it looked cute.

“Why?” I repeated myself. Now I suddenly I got that someone in this car is an idiot look. I tried really hard not to laugh, as I saw that look on her face. “I asked a question, MB.”

I loved the confusion all over her face. Was I so uninformed after all these weeks that I didn’t know? “You were supposed to kiss me back and you didn’t.”

I wrapped my arms around her, as the car came to a complete stop. “You asked to kiss me. I said yes and you did. What don’t you understand?” I loved the look on her face, as she finally understood. “Care to restate your request?” I asked.

“Gene, can we kiss?” For some reason, maybe just for a moment, she looked like she was fourteen again. Well, except that she was taller, she had contacts on, had a body that had more curves than a Western North Carolina back road and she was a lot better looking. You get the idea, though.

I placed two fingers under her chin, as I heard Edward open his door. I directed her face towards mine with just the slightest effort. As our lips touched she kissed me again and this time it wasn’t the kind of kiss you’d give your grandfather.  Her lips sought mine and when they found their mark they went crazy. She kissed the upper lip, bottom lip the side of my mouth. Mary Beth nipped my bottom lip a little and when I opened my mouth in surprise, she shoved her tongue inside.  I fended off her tongue the best I could but defense wasn’t really what I was interested in.

My hands went back up to her breasts as she kissed me. This time I squeezed, not hard, mind you, but the throaty moan that she gave me was encouraging. I played with her breasts and nipples through her dress. Her nips were at attention and didn’t seem to want to go down. I wondered what Agnes small diamond hard nipples with her larger breasts would look like in that same blue gown.

Finally she guided her lips to the side of my face again and gave me another kiss on the cheek.  She pulled back a little as I held onto her breasts. “So how was that?” I asked.

This time there was fire in her eyes. “Very, very, nice, Master. I think you’ve practiced since High School.” Mary Beth looked around the car. “I guess we’re here, Gene.” With that she moved off my lap and back to the floor. She reached behind her and took something off of the jump seat. She handed me what was, I guessed, her leash, but it looked more decorative than functional. She also had some more tissues. 
She handed me the leash as she started to wipe the lipstick off of my cheek.  “The hook goes through that little ring under the throat.” Her fingers stroked the side of my cheek as the lipstick came off.

I ran my fingers along the length of the lead as she continued to clean me up. It was stronger than it appeared. It was made, probably, out of brass and even the small interconnecting links were engraved with a design that matched the high collar. I clipped the lead through the little eye just under Mary Beth’s chin and let it hang there. I looked at Mary Beth as she now worked on my lips.

As Mary Beth wiped away, I had a thought. I remembered Three had told me that his wife had this one kink. Well she had more than one but one that was particularly fun. Mary Beth didn’t like to be embarrassed. In fact she hated it. Not because it was, well embarrassing, but because it would literally drench her pussy. Know I knew why he told me that if it was really embarrassing his wife would literally collapse as she came. I started to smile as the tissue ran under my lip. “Edward is waiting, MB.” I reached up and gave one of her nipples a little twist. “Do we really have to do all this?”

She looked into my eyes as she pulled back and she saw what I wanted her to see. “You’re being a very bad Master. I’m just trying to make you presentable for your entrance.” Now she was wondering what I was up to.

“You could just leave it alone. After all, the woman that put it there went to a lot of trouble to mess my face up. There must have been a reason for it. Besides I don’t get embarrassed to easy, do you?”

I looked at her and noticed a little red in her cheeks that wasn’t there before. “What about your hand?" She looked down at her wetness that covered my palm.

I looked at the woman in front of me and I knew what she wanted, just like I knew what Evee wanted.  "You're worried about a little bit of cum on my hand when it's probably running down your thighs right now? It is, isn't it?"

She closed her eyes for a split second as she took a deep breath. Mary Beth had just figured my game. "Yes Sir." I'm so turned on I can even smell myself." Her face was so red I thought she was going to stroke out. 

“And if I told you to play with yourself, you would?" I saw a small nod of her head. "And if I said stop you’d stop it, right? It’s not like you have any say, being a subbie and all.” I smiled because I suddenly sounded like my father, accent and all.

As Mary Beth looked at me I noticed the redness had spread under her gown. “No Sir, none ’tall.” She whispered, slipping into her own brand of drawl. Gods, she was so much fun, I thought. Slowly I brought the hand I’d had between her legs, up to her face. As I stoked my palm against her face she moaned.

After I’d caressed both cheeks I looked at her. “Seeing as you said, you were a bitch, I thought I’d mark my territory.” I wondered what was going on in her head right now. “Do you have a problem with that?”

She gave me a glassy stare. “No Sir, I don’t.” MB smiled a little smile as she said, “And Sir? I’m not wearing any perfume, tonight.”

“I smiled back, “You are now. Let’s go.” I reached for the door handle but the driver must have felt the movement and pulled it open for me.

I stepped out and reached into the car. Mary Beth took the offered hand and slid out of the car. I kept one eye on her and the other on Edward. I wondered how he chauffeured couples to Angelique’s night after night, seeing what the Doms and their submissives wore or didn’t wear. 
I was anything but calm inside. The cool evening air did a good enough job at keeping my erection down but as MB came out of the car I started hardening again.  Even though the dress brushed the tops of her heels it was made of very light material. The weight pulled the dress tight against her body and hugged her curves. The same nipples I had played with minutes ago were still tenting hard against the dress. If anything the cool weather made them harder. Mary Beth looked at Edward and her face reddened even more.   Still holding her hand I reached out with my other hand, “Do y'all have something for me, MB?”

I know she was looking at me but what I asked went right over her head. “Sir?”
“The lead, Mary Beth. No leash no dinner, remember?”

Suddenly she realized what I had said. She reached down the front of her dress and took the loop on the end of the lead and presented it “I’m sorry Gene.”

Instead of taking the end I grasped the middle of the chain and tugged. I pulled lightly and she came close to me. “MB you’re supposed to be the pro here.” I didn’t feel any anger but something had to be said. “You’ve done this before and I haven’t.” I looked her in the eyes. “What do you mean you forgot?” the look I gave her had it effect. “You are supposed to guide me through this.”

She looked a little upset and confused and I didn’t blame her. One minute we were playing in the limo and she was in the beginnings of a niece orgasm and the next I was telling her she messed up. “I'm really sorry, it’s just I’m use to Max being here and you do things different, that’s all.”

I looked at her and saw that she really wanted this night to be a success. Her husband had put more than money into tonight. As he had written, he had given me the most valuable thing in his life.  “Accepted, so tell me what I can expect inside.”

As I walked to the door, Mary Beth followed. Actually she had no choice, seeing as there was only about a foot of chain between us. It seemed the correction had little effect on her attitude, though. Mary Beth had reassumed her new role, smart-ass. “It’s just your typical restaurant, Gene.  Well except some of the patrons may be naked and all the gold collars chains and nipple rings will probably blind you. It’s Saturday, so there will be a three-piece band for atmosphere and even dancing after, if you want. Before the meal, several Doms and their submissives will probably come up to the table to say hello. When they do I will go to my position a long with their submissives. During the meal we will be uninterrupted, Mistress Angelique insists on it.  Max already selected the meal for us, so you can spend the time observing what’s going on. After dinner, it’ll be up to you. ”

“Observing?” I looked behind at MB as I reached for the door. I went for the obvious “I don’t think this is going to make me want to claim Agnes, no matter what your Husband thinks.” I wondered if she would bite.

She didn't take the bait, “I don’t know what Max had in mind, Gene.  Maybe it’s just as simple as fitting in.” For some reason she said it a little too quick. As the door opened I took a quick glance at Mary Beth. From the look on her face she knew more than she was letting on. I told her not to lie to me, but then again I didn’t tell her to tell me the whole truth. It was a very fast learning curve.

I looked at the door in front of me. It didn’t seem like much, considering what Mary Beth said was behind it. It wasn’t even very well lit. There was only a single light on either side of the door.  I took a breath and took one step into the fire.