PainLove - Bk. 03 - Ch. 01-06 (book 3 of 4)

Chapter 1

Very early Saturday morning Rob took the dogs for their usual walk. It had been a quiet week, alone. He wondered whether the women would return to face their punishment. He hadn't heard from any of them, although what he'd said could have discouraged them from trying. He was quite prepared that none of them would return; he had already decided he would move far from this part of the country, maybe even out of England entirely. Australia was nicely distant, but he'd easily found opportunities for a position in Ireland, even more on the Continent. He was fed up with their games and one way or another a change was required.

When he brought the dogs home, just a bit after eight o'clock, all four women were standing by the stair leading to his front door, shivering in the frost. After opening the front door, he gestured, they all silently climbed the stair to follow him in.

He led them into his living room. "Please, take a seat." Rob made a point of sitting in a chair rather than the couch so no one could sit beside him. Helena, Marion and Kim sat in a row on the couch, Cathy sat silently opposite him. She seemed more calm, less engaged than the other women.

Because of her reserve, he picked Cathy for his request. "Cathy, would you serve coffee please? This is one of the changes we must have. I own this flat, which makes me your host. But you decided to come live here. Everyone will take their fair turns serving drinks, cooking, washing up. I'll do my part and I expect each of you to do your part as well. When Cathy or Kim have been working during the day, they may ask to be excused. That goes the same for Helena when she has business to sort out. Is that clear?"

All four women nodded.

"Good, the same goes for making coffee, breakfast and so on, don't assume I'll do it. I'll do my part, but I expect each of us will do our part in turn. If you wait for me to make dinner, you'll be served every fifth day. Agreed?"

Again all four nodded their heads.

"Last week you said you would rape me and you all did." They started to protest, but Rob spoke over them. "It was a mind-fuck, wasn't it? A mental rape." They fell silent again.

"The original plan for last weekend was to do some shopping. The suggestion came from Helena. I've made some arrangements, we're going to do just that. I know your sizes, I bought dresses for the four of you. Each dress is different, but all of a similar look. We're going across to the big new mall at Birmingham. We'll spend the afternoon there. Helena, I know you're especially concerned about being recognized so I have four, identical wigs and sunglasses for each of you.

"I've added these details because we'll attract attention, so I've also arranged protection. People we trust will keep away anyone we consider a threat. Don't think for a moment you'll be unsafe, there will be four people circling around us. I have someone lined up to take care of Nicky and Inca so we've the whole day to do as I see fit. We'll have dinner in a nice restaurant, I booked nine seats, our guards will dine when we dine.

"Helena, our escort is drawn from your own security detail, people you know and trust. I'm paying them with cash. Your man Michael Haft knows all about this. He helped set it up. Officially you're here with me all day."

"I forgot to mention, you all must wear black stockings with your dresses, I insist on this."

Rob dismissed the ladies to dress, telling them the limousine would leave at half past ten. The women asked questions, but Rob made them no wiser.

A few minutes later Marion caught him alone in the kitchen and apologized for herself. "Rob, I am so glad we've made up." She tried to kiss him.

Rob took a step back. "We haven't made up yet. Let's see if you still want to kiss me tomorrow morning."

A puzzled Marion went back to tell the others what Rob said. Helena came to Rob asking for their dresses and the wigs. Rob opened a wardrobe and gave them each their dress. The dresses fit properly as Rob intended. The ladies understood what Rob meant by saying the dresses would attract attention. In back, the bold-colored dresses had a decent length, below the knee, but the front was as short as a miniskirt. It was likely their stocking tops would be visible when they were walking.

"This is my suit," said Rob as he looked back in to check on them. It was made of a deep black material, with quite a sheen, almost satin. He looked superb in it. When he moved, the color seemed to shift and flash.

"Now I see." Cathy had to laugh, in spite of her situation. "You, walking into the mall with four almost identical sexy women."

"Okay, you see the picture, but I didn't want Helena recognized so now you know what we're up to."

"So you had this all figured out Rob?" Helena tried to assert herself, challenging Rob. "You were pretty sure I'd come back to face my punishment, then?"

"No, I wasn't sure at all. I decided to take the risk. I had options ready against not everyone coming this morning."

Helena kept silent. She had her own thoughts about how Rob had handled things. She was uncomfortable with someone else pulling all the strings, giving her the surprises.

Inca and Nicky barked, the door-bell rang and Rob went to the front door to open it. It was Sylvia, who had agreed to take care of his dogs until they came back from their long day. Rob saw Nicky and Inca were in good hands with her. He gave her the keys to his flat and also an envelope with her money. She opened it and peeked quickly inside. "Rob, this is far too much."

"Sylvia, everyone is getting the same amount and you don't have the fun of going shopping. If you want something to eat or drink, just look in the kitchen and help yourself. You can read, watch TV or whatever, just take care of the dogs. It might be as late as midnight when we return."

Kim and Cathy came out in their dresses, one cobalt blue, the other bright yellow. Sylvia's mouth felt open at the sight of them, identically clothed and showing their legs in stockings.

"Not to offend, Rob, but you look like a pimp out with his girlfriends." Sylvia had a smile on her face. She wasn't willing to make eye contact with the women, but they all knew what she meant.

Rob simply smiled. "Could that the purpose of all this?" The women didn't say much.

Rob opened the door when the bell rang again. The driver of the limo said he was ready to leave. Rob saw Neil beside the cars, who waved to him and gave him a thumbs-up. It was a sight for passers-by, the large white limousine and two black Mercedes sedans parked behind it, men and women in gray or black suits. Helena was right behind Rob, taking in the scene with disbelief. "You've made quite a production of this." Her dress was purple.

Rob turned to her. "It's my intent we attract attention. At the same time I want you to be perfectly safe. You'll have the opportunity to shop undisturbed. They're your people, they'll watch over you."

"Thank you dear, but next time let's not shop in these striking outfits." Helena sighed, thinking what a long day it was going to be. She led the four women straight to the limo. Rob gave the security detail and the limo driver their envelopes of cash.

Birmingham was a long drive, well over an hour. They all settled in a bit. It wasn't easy to remain ladylike in the dresses he'd chosen for them. Rob closed the window between the driver and themselves, allowing the women to be less careful with where their legs went. Less guarded, their stocking and garters were visible at least part of the time. In the privacy of the limo, they didn't mind at all. In fact they teased him with occasional glimpses of their knickers, openly looking for evidence of tension in his trousers.

Rob's tone turned sharp, he'd had enough of their teasing. "If you want, I can go sit next to the driver. It wasn't my plan for the day to start out unpleasant, but if a reminder is required I can easily make the entire day less pleasant."

The driver's voice came on the intercom to report they were a few minutes from their destination. "Where do you want to be dropped, sir?" Rob lowered the screen between the driver and his passengers. Fully prepared, he knew which entry would have fewer people present and helped the driver find it.

Rob opened the door of the limo and helped the women, one after another, step out of the limousine. Few were nearby, even so some stopped to look at them. Rob smiled, inside the mall they would surely get the attention of many more people.

Chapter 2

Rob and the four women spent some hours shopping, breaking into smaller groups to attract less attention. They saw each other occasionally, the women sometimes changing who they walked with. They gathered briefly for a light lunch in one of the mall's cafes.

There were minor incidents of staring to embarrass the women. In the late afternoon they headed for the exit. On the way out, a group of younger men stopped to stare, whistle and make lewd comments as they passed. Rob had hoped this would happen, just enough to make all four of them uneasy and embarrassed. Helena's face got quite serious, Rob couldn't tell if it was out of excitement or out of shame.

Their limousine driver had pulled up, ready for his passengers. The boot stood open, the driver stowed all their purchases there. The women took their places in the car. Rob boarded last after confirming the destination with their driver.

Once they were driving, Rob had a question. "So ladies, did you have a good time, in spite of some inconvenience of showing your lovely legs?" His intent was to be provocative.

Immediately Kim spoke up. "Yes, let's plan another trip. I had great fun. I like to embarrass strangers."

The others looked at Kim with some displeasure, as if they were seeing her for the first time. Helena shook her head. "Our doctor can become quite a different person when opportunity presents."

Cathy spoke up. "It was more fun than I thought it would be, but dressing like that in public was more than I'm ready to take. I'll wear the dress again, Rob, but in private, just for ourselves."

Marion agreed. "I had fun this afternoon, more than I expected. I don't care if people are looking at me when I dress provocatively. I might be a bit like Kim, I can like being startling now and then."

Rob wasn't going to let Helena get away. "What about you? Did you like it, or not?"

"To be honest, I was very afraid someone might recognize me or some other thing that would embarrass me." Helena held up a hand as if fending someone off. "When those dreadful boys whistled at us, I could feel the color rushing up my face. So, no, not another time dressed like this."

The hour driving to Northampton was uneventful. The restaurant Rob had arranged was known for its wine cellar and inventive chef, also for customers who tended to be less conventional. Rob had arranged for a table in the back, nearly out of sight. When he and his company made their entrance, the host greeted him and immediately escorted them to their tables.

After they had wine in their glasses and ordered their meals, Rob leaned into the table and said, "Ladies, time to continue the punishment."

"Oh, please." Marion was instantly exasperated. "Point taken. All is forgiven now, how can you possibly have more punishment for us. Do stop being so full of yourself." She went on for a bit. Rob just let her talk, not really listening to what she said.

Rob left a little silence before speaking after she finished. "Marion, if you haven't seen the cane brought back out, can the punishment be over?" The ladies at the table instantly went silent and looked to Rob. "You have a choice, right here and now. You can go along with the entire punishment, all the way to the end, even though I'm 'so full of myself.' If you don't intend to do that, one of the security detail will put you in one of the cars and take you wherever you wish to be taken. I'll take care to assure I never see you again.

"Our security people traveled in two cars, to keep a car is free to take someone away, should it become necessary."

He gave the four a pleasant smile. "So, who's leaving now, who's staying to take their punishment?"

Helena responded by putting her hand over his hand and squeezing gently.

"Good. This part of the punishment is a lecture. You'll be judged by your participation. The waiter won't bring out our meals until I give a signal.

"Tell me what you learned, being on display like that? Kim, I doubt you learnt a thing, I'll let you out. Cathy?"

She took a few seconds to gather her thoughts before speaking. "I didn't like being told what to wear. No, I liked what you told me to wear, I didn't like being taken out where I'd be seen by strangers wearing it. Intimacy should be... intimate."

Rob was impressed when Marion was next to answer. "I value the difference between my life out in the world and my life in the playroom. There are playroom things that don't belong in my real life. In the same sense, there are things from my life that shouldn't come into the playroom."

It was Helena's turn. "I was reminded of how cautious I am about my public image. I would do a great deal to not be embarrassed like that again. Even the thought I might be noticed or worse, identified out there with you made my day difficult."

Kim had something to add. "Rob, I'm not as flighty as you think, I did learn something worth mentioning. I didn't mind shocking people, hell, I'd have been happy walking through the mall in nothing but stockings. But I could also see my friends, the people dearest to me not only didn't like themselves on display, they didn't like my drawing more attention to us as a group. I learned sometimes what's good for our group, our family, is more important than my own impulses of the moment."

Rob sat thinking for a moment, the ladies waiting for him to speak.

"Two things I wanted you to learn and I thank you for naming them both.

"First, I want you to be more considerate of how I might feel when you do things. Cathy, you've tricked me into going for a public walk in that stupid sissy dress. It was a terror for me. I managed to look calm that day, that evening, the next day, the next week, but inside I was seething, constantly holding back the impulse to make certain you would never again do something like that to me."

Cathy's face shifted from calm, to defiant, to sorrow as he spoke.

"I managed not to run away, but that was the beginning of quite a series of big challenges for me in the past few months. That's my second point. I've crammed all manner of things into today, from foolish to pleasant. Would you feel differently about each of these events, shopping, dressing provocatively, lunch in a cafe, dinner in a restaurant, a caning, if they were further apart, not all bunched together in a single day?

"I ask you to pay attention to how frequently you propose something new with me. What's happened to me recently, all in rapid succession, has been quite a challenge. Think about the impact on you, then consider recent events and their cumulative impact on me. This is an example of what I most need from you, all four of you: empathy."

Pausing, Rob noted Marion treating him as he had when she was talking: displaying little interest. "What I'm calling on you to do is stop relying on your impulses of the moment. As Kim said, stop assuming what you want is good for our circle."

His look to each of the women around the table ended with his eyes on Helena. The next question was hers alone. "I understand it's common for a mistress to drop a sub after a few years, observing there is nothing left for the two of them to do together. Is this where you expect your relationship with me to go?"

Helena was shocked by the question but didn't hesitate to respond. "I intend a long term relationship. For life. I'll personally hurt anyone who messes it up."

Rob nodded in agreement with Helena. "So, look at the nature of what you want to do and think about how I might take it. Will it help or hurt our relationship, our friendship, our family as Kim styled it, in the long term? Start from the assumption what we do together cannot be on a whim, being part of a long-term relationship. Look to the future. Too many things all at once is a problem. Surprising me is a problem. Don't do it." He held out his hands, spread in invitation. "Have you any questions?"

He was greeted with silence. "Good, then. I hope you've all learned your lesson. This trip is the only event like this. There will be no next time."

Kim was surprised. "You won't go shopping with us any more?"

"You don't understand what I am saying. The next time I feel really hurt or humiliated - I don't mean a little chaff - there won't be a punishment. I will simply leave."

"So, do you still want to reconsider our marriage?" Helena's face showed Rob he'd been too plain-spoken with his words.

He took her hand. "I want a lifetime of marriage with a wife I love and adore. I'd prefer a wife who loves and adores me, too. What you can help me with is fewer reasons to question my judgment on who my wife should be. You know I hate these surprises. You saw how angry I was a week ago. You know I hate being expected to join in the instant, no notice, no discussion. It's simply too much for me, I'm uneasy with no idea what's coming and you offering no choice but to participate. That is why I insist on consent, not just consent in general: consent each time we begin. We will, each time, agree on what will happen, at least the general form and the limits.

"Listen, I take these things seriously, you call them games but they aren't games with me, not the way you've been doing these things. You think it's all innocent and you don't see I can't handle it. No, I could handle it, but I have no reason to tolerate this kind of stress.

"Call me overreacting, but the next time my impulse is to leave, I shall. I am ready to move away from the Midlands, leave England if I must, exit your lives completely."

Helena looked as if he had hit her. She had tears in her eyes, but said nothing. Marion comforted her by taking her hands in her hands and giving Rob an angry look.

Rob's softened his voice. "I'm sorry Helena. My words may seem extreme, but what I experience can be extreme. I'm cautioning you, all four of you, to think of this."

His voice grew more stern. "Marion, you've been giving me angry looks. You know exactly what I am talking about. If I leave, rest assure I have been pushed. I won't leave because I jumped." Rob turned looked around the circle, making direct eye contact with each of Kim, Cathy, Marion and Helena. "So, ladies: no more games. Especially no more surprises. No secrets. Do I make myself very clear?" He had an unmistakable threat in his voice.

Helena answered for all of them. "Yes, Rob, no more surprises, no secrets."

Rob leaned over and kissed her. "I take your word on this. If I'm to be your husband, we should talk more often, really talk." Helena leaned over, an arm around his neck, her head on his shoulder. He smoothed back a hair which had fallen near her eyes.

Rob decided to break the mood. He raised his glass. "To love and friendship!" They all joined in the toast. Their meal was served and the atmosphere lightened.

As the limousine stopped before Rob's house, the door opened and Sylvia came outside, both dogs on the leash.

Sylvia walked the dogs then left to go home. The ladies were chatting in his living room. Rob knew it was time for the final part of the punishment. This was the part that had to go just right.

He called for the women to gather in the first bedroom on the hallway. He picked up the cane from behind the door room, swishing it experimentally as they came in.

Helena looked at him, her eyes large. She whispered, "Are you really going to cane us?"