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Chapter 105: Suitors, Part 14
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Mastering Charlotte Chapter 106: Penitents, Part 1
MichaelI wake to find Charlotte's face pushed against my chest. Her breathing wheezes a little from having her nose pressed hard into my flesh. It's not the world's romantic sound, but I couldn't care less.Her red hair is a tumble of copper over her pale skin. Her green eyes… well, they are closed now and a part of me longs for them to open........ but another part revels in the moment, knowing that she has given herself to me…..... to us....One hand rests under her cheek, supporting her head against the pillow. The other lies outside the blankets and rests on my hips in an almost-embrace. And on that hand are displayed the two rings of twisted gold, lying so closely together that, to the unknowing eye, they would appear as one. One is of strands of white and yellow gold. One of red and yellow…I gave her the white and gold. And after, James gave her the red and gold. She accepted both, slipping them on to her ring finger, to sit together as a matched pair, a symbol
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 107: Penitents, Part 2
MichaelCharlotte and I wait together in the reception. "They're still in the meeting," says the secretary. "But do take a seat. Help yourselves to refreshments." She waves us across to a waiting area, with coffee machine, biscuits and a heap of glossy magazines.I pour two coffees, then taking a seat, I drink mine, flipping through a magazine. Charlotte wanders off, examining something at the other side of the room.James and a stranger, Haswell I presume, are visible in the next office through a large internal window.The stranger glances up at us, then double-takes back to Charlotte. His eyes widen before, seeing me watching, he looks away. James glances up and, seeing us, taps his watch then holds up five fingers.Charlotte is paying rapt attention to some kind of model in a case. She circles the display, chewing on her lower lip, her expression strange, almost predatory."Is this the big project they're working on?" she asks the receptionist."Yes, that's right. A
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 108: Penitents, Part 3
MichaelJames' eyes narrow in a way that I've not seen before, but which clearly spells trouble....Oh, shit....Charlotte's gaze flicks to his and then breaks away. She releases Haswell's hand as though it might bite her, looking to me. I give her a long glance and then I look away.The whole thing happens in under a second, but....His voice curt, "Shall we go?" says James. "I'm all done here today." He spins and exits.I nod politely to Haswell, then, "Thanks for the coffee, Francis, was it?"She smiles. "You're welcome."Charlotte and I trail behind in James' wake.Out of earshot of others, I murmur, "Never thought I'd see that…""What?" Her voice is low and.... .... Does she realise yet that she's got trouble coming…?"James showing jealousy over you. Didn't think he had it in him."She wrinkles her nose. At any other time, it would look charming, but now my stomach clenches........ Fuck… It's me too.... "Jealous? Why would he be jealous?" she asks
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 109: Penitents, Part 4
Michael"Please, Master, stop. Red, Master. Red."James lashes again....Fuck! She's already safe-worded........ and she jerks against her restraints, trying to escape the burn of the flogger as it bites.... "Red, Master! Red. Please."His hand raises once more to deliver another strike. "That's enough," I say. "She's given you her safety words. That's what they're for. Now stop."Unheeding, James brings the lash across her again. Charlotte shrieks, writhing and weeping.What the fuck's he playing at…?.... But finally, he throws the flogger to one side and spins her round to face him.And the expression on his face....I always knew that James had some dark edges, but this.... This is new....His expression is a bewildering array of emotions: jealousy, loss, anger, fear....Fear…?And he's out of control....But at least he's put the flogger down....Just for a moment, he seems more normal, stroking Charlotte's face as he stares down into her eyes, th
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 110: Penitents, Part 5
MichaelCharlotte stirs, rubbing her neck and grumbling under her breath. Eyes still closed, she groans and straightens up, then blinking open, she startles before........ What's that expression?.... It's not pleasure at seeing us...."Sleep well?" I ask, not troubling to hide my irritation.She's still kneading at her stiff neck. "No, not really. What are you two doing here?""What are we doing here?" says James. "What are you doing here? You scared the hell out of us this morning. Where d'you think you're going?""Home. Well, back to college anyway.""Like this? Walking?""Only to the station." She drips sarcasm. "They have trains there, you know.""For God's sake," he snaps. "Get in the car. We can talk back at the house."She huffs. "No, we can't. I'm done with talking.""Charlotte," hisses James. "I'm telling you. Get in the car, and we'll talk about last night, back at the house, where we have some privacy." Her face blanks, but there's steel in her e
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 111: Penitents, Part 6
MichaelI've nothing better to do with my time, so I join her on the next machine, jogging along to keep her company. I'm out of condition. Five minutes and I'm tired, with a weariness that penetrates through to the bone. Nonetheless, I keep going, staying with her.After a few minutes, panting and sweating, she knocks down to a cool-off sequence, dropping from a hard cross-country pounding to a jog, to a walk and then, done. Grabbing a bottle of water, she splashes a handful over her face, then glugs down a dozen swallows.Leaning against the wall, she looks up, peering into my face. "Michael. You look like hell. What's wrong?"Where do I begin…?Lost for words. I shake my head."Come on," she says, "We're old friends, aren't we? What's the matter?" She gulps down some more water, waiting for my reply, then, "Is it that girl you got involved with last year?"Sick at heart, I simply nod.Her head tilts, her expression softening. "Want to talk about it?" she offers. "C'm
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 112: Penitents, Part 7
JamesMichael's right. In my room I regard the image in the mirror, trying to be honest with myself. I'm okay looking; nothing spectacular, not compared to a man like Michael, blessed with spectacular good looks.But good looks per se were what never drew women to me. Always they were attracted to what they could read in my face. Those who were interested, always knew when they saw me. I'm a thorough going Dom. I never had problems getting women of the right inclinations....But now....I've not bathed or showered in weeks or changed my clothes in almost as long. Unshaven, dirty........ and Michael was dropping some heavy hints that I don't smell too good either… I disgust myself....This is no way for a man to behave.Michael has the right of it........ Let's go find her....We'll settle anything else between ourselves later....Standing under the shower, I set the temperature way up beyond what I normally would, as hot as I can bear it. The shower is an ex
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 113: Penitents, Part 8
MichaelThe cafe stinks. A miasma of rancid grease hangs in the air, and as we sit at a table, my hand sticks to the vinyl surface.The customers aren't much better. They're not the addicts and the drunks we passed along the way, but they are the poorest of the poor, the lost and the lonely. The have-nots and the never-hads. Louts and boors who think that a girl who serves coffee might deliver more.What the fuck's she doing working in a place like this?Then I realise I spoke out loud. James nods, his lips pressed white.We take a table, and now closer to her, we can see. Charlotte moves slowly, with a weary air that speaks of exhaustion and hopelessness. She's lost weight. Her skin is sallow and her hair dark with grease. There are deep shadows under her eyes, but more than that, her sparkle is gone.... When did you last have a good night's sleep?.... and I don't care for the way some of the clientele are looking at her.She wipes down a counter. As we sit, glancing
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