by Cyan
Copyright 2005 by Cyan
All Rights Reserved; No Redistribution.
It was awkward. I just knew Kate's mind was on Gina, who was off in the kitchen cleaning up. "Are you sure we can't help?" Kate asked Carl, and knowing Kate as I do, I heard just a touch of dissatisfaction in her voice.
Carl smiled. "Gina will be all right, and done soon." I sensed Kate stiffen even more. She was clearly a bit peeved at Carl though Gina had been the one to chase Kate out of the kitchen. The idea that Carl would sit with us after dinner while Gina worked alone was so foreign to Kate and me that neither of us knew quite what to do. As their guests, we naturally felt some obligation to be gracious. "Besides," added Carl, "it happens I need to discuss something with you."
The gravity Carl gave the words seemed to capture Kate's attention, and we both clearly wondered what Carl might feel the need to talk about. "I see both of your reactions to the way Gina is working," said Carl, "which is quite natural. But you need to understand that Gina and I have a relationship which is not what you'd call conventional."
A throwback into the fifties, was how it struck me and I mentally considered whether Carl's word, conventional applied. Kate still didn't seem happy, but I had to believe she found satisfaction in the fact that Carl hadn't been oblivious to her concerns. "You see," continued Carl, "Gina is an extremely submissive woman. You no doubt think of her as my partner, but more accurately, she's my slave."
"Your slave," said Kate, suddenly speaking up, and it wasn't quite clear whether she was saying it as a question.
"Yes," said Carl with finality. I felt Kate's hackles up again, though I knew she had to feel some of the same confusion that I did. "Believe me, she's all for it. She was a slave before she came to be mine, and if she weren't mine, she'd be someone else's."
That seemed to confirm Carl wasn't merely speaking metaphorically. "Exactly what do you mean by slave?" said Kate, verbalizing the question that was also in my mind.
"Well," said Carl, "it's her choice, mind you, but what I mean is that she lives to serve me in every respect. That's her life." For a moment we just stared. "And she knows it," Carl added. "She considers herself to be Carl's slave."
I think Carl gave us time to digest this because the three of us simply sat there. Finally Kate gave a short, mirthless laugh. For myself, I was finding this hard to jibe with the Gina I knew, Kate's best friend, whom Kate had known for years. "This is bullshit," said Kate, finally. Strong words for her.
"If you are commenting on whether what I say is true, soon enough that will be confirmed. On the other hand, if you are expressing your attitude toward our relationship and my role in it, Gina and I respect your right to your opinion, but for the moment, there's something vital I need to explain. There's more."
What could be more? I wondered. Kate seemed far less than satisfied but apparently waited for whatever more Carl intended to add. We heard noises from the kitchen where Gina was still working. "I'm making some changes in my life," said Carl, "and it will no longer be convenient to me to own a female slave. Thus I have Gina's future to consider." I found myself trying to interpret his words. Was this his way of saying they were splitting? Or that he was dumping her? "I am giving her to you," he said.
For a moment you could hear a pin drop. "Good lord," said Kate, finally.
"I know I'm springing this on you," said Carl. "And I know you'll think of it as a responsibility, making it a bit much to saddle you with..."
"Just free her!" said Kate, raising her voice just a little. "That's what we'll do anyway," she added.
"Perhaps you will," said Carl, "but as I said, for the moment, it's important to hear me out, to deal with the present situation. You can talk to her lawyer about whatever future you have in mind." I felt Kate almost rise to the bait but she apparently held herself at bay. "I've let the apartment go, and Gina must move out tomorrow. I know this is a surprise and an immediate burden on your time, but there are resources to handle her future. Her income, of course."
I wondered what he was talking about. "As I said, I must apologize for springing this on you, but events moved quickly. The other vital matter is her whippings."
"What?" said Kate, obviously too amazed to speak her mind.
"She receives them about once a week," said Carl, perfectly matter-of-factly, "and though they frighten her terribly, she well knows she needs them, and it would be unnecessarily cruel to make her wait until she begs for one. The whip is in that bag," he said, indicating a knapsack on the floor that I hadn't noticed, "along with handcuffs and a gag. You probably want a strong swag hook sunk into a ceiling beam in a convenient location to facilitate matters."
"Bastard," said Kate, under her breath.
"And that's about it," said Carl, ignoring her comment. "She does soon become attached to whomever whips her. She imagines right now that she's in love with me. Oh, and I'll give you one piece of advice." He had turned specifically to talk to me. "Once Kate begins helping with the regular whipping, you'd better supervise. She'll tend to lose track of when to stop."
"What?" said Kate, aghast.
"Just keep it in mind," said Carl, still to me. Then he called to Gina.
"That's absurd," said Kate, but shut up when Gina came into the room. I think we both felt that if this were some odd fantasy or joke on Carl's part unbeknownst to Gina, that we should not be the ones to drag her into it.
"I'm almost done," said Gina, giving us a smile.
"Sit," said Carl.
There was indeed something slightly odd the way Gina immediately sat. I found myself trying to recall whether she'd acted in such an immediate and unthinking manner with him earlier in the evening. Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary. Gina looked at Carl expectantly. "You belong to Kate and Jim now," Carl said.
I felt a little uneasy that Gina might notice my stare, but I needed to watch her face. Her mouth went open in what looked like utter amazement. Then she lowered her eyes in a way that told me that everything Carl had said was true. Something about her looked completely obedient. "I am leaving now," continued Carl.
Gina looked up, startled. Then, as Carl stood, she stood also, but appeared uncertain. "What do you mean?" she asked. She definitely looked like she was about to fly into his arms.
"Sit," Carl said. Before Gina actually sat, she hesitated just a touch. "Your behavior is now Kate and Jim's concern," Carl said, and I sensed he referred to her hesitation, and perhaps even to her question.
"You mean you're--leaving?" she said, seemingly unable to remain quiet, though her eyes were downcast.
"Yes."
"For good?" He didn't answer, apparently simply not bothering to. He stepped toward the front door. I could see that she sensed the answer to her own question. "May I--approach you?" she said. Her voice was pleading.
"No," Carl said, and opening the front door, walked out.
Gina remained seated. Kate and I were in shock, and for moments all was utterly quiet. That is, until the sound of Gina's weeping became evident.
* * *
"You approve?" said Kate, obviously incredulous. We sat in the office of Anne Maxwell, attorney. It had been amazing to find out exactly who was Gina's attorney, who apparently handled legal aspects of whatever this arrangement Gina had had with Carl. Anne Maxwell was known as a liberal crusader and it hadn't been all that long since she'd been president of the local NOW chapter.
"That's really immaterial," said Anne. "The important thing is for you to understand Gina's situation. And your own."
"We know what we're going to do," said Kate.
"Ah, yes," said Anne. "But what you need to understand is that if you set Gina free, that an online auction will take place, for complete interest in her, to the highest bidder. And she will voluntarily go with whomever pays for her, even if it's to send her to a third-world brothel to labor for the rest of her days. Under conditions that you can hardly imagine."
"What?" said Kate, obviously startled. "If she is aware..." She paused. "You wouldn't just let her walk into something like that."
"Gina is totally dedicated to this," said Anne, "and won't back out under any circumstances."
"That's crazy," said Kate. "How can she do that to herself?"
"To Gina, it's merely part of a promise she made to whatever lover it was that she first gifted herself to. She wanted it to be total ownership, that the rest of her life was his to do with as he pleased. She is still fulfilling that promise to him and herself." We just stared at this bit of insane logic. "It will all happen, with or without me," added Anne. "There is a trust you must sign for," said Anne, apparently changing the subject. "Gina's income goes into it, and her owner or owners are empowered to withdraw any amount at any time for any purpose."
"And Carl is just allowing this to happen?" said Kate.
Kate was apparently still not accepting this and Anne seemed to take a minute to gather her thoughts. "How Carl came by Gina is another story," Anne said, "and he has his own life to live. But the truth his, Carl did very good by Gina. He could have simply sold her for whatever he could get, after draining the trust for his own ends. Those are the rights she gave him, and she clearly intends that power to be in the hands of whomever owns her. Instead, he left money in the trust to assist with her future upkeep, and gave her to friends to whom she is, um, quite attached." She paused for a moment. "He could have done far worse, and made out like a bandit with very little effort."
I glanced at Kate. She still looked upset, but I think Anne had brought her up short. I also thought about what Anne had said about Gina. "Why do you do this?" said Kate quietly.
Anne smiled, yet looked serious. "I am supporting Gina's own freely-made choices," Anne said. "I support women in the choices they make. Period."
* * *
Gina was doing the dishes. It's funny how she managed to get us to let her do them every evening after dinner, despite our efforts to treat her as a third member of the household in good standing. Kate had eventually given up on attempting to help her, and as usual, sat with me in the living room. Gina was efficient and would be done in minutes. I glanced at Kate, noticing that she wasn't reading. Something was on her mind.
She turned her eyes to me. "I've got something to ask you," she said.
I tried to think what this could be about. "OK?" I said, perhaps not sounding sure of this.
Kate seemed to swallow. "I've been whipping Gina," she said. That got my attention, and I looked at her more closely. Whipping Gina? Kate appeared quite serious, and it wouldn't be like her to joke about such a thing in any case. Her eyes met mine briefly. "I need you to--oversee."
"Kate..."
She smiled very briefly, then attempted to hold my eyes. "I know," she said. "I never thought this would happen." After another pause during which she seemed to swallow again, she said, "I need you to make sure I don't go too far. To stop me if..."
"Kate, there's no way you would..."
She held my eyes steadily. "Yes there is," she said. For moments, we simply looked at each other. I wondered what was happening. "I've come to realize that women need to be whipped," she said.
I thought about what Kate might be telling me. She smiled ruefully. "Now you're wondering whether I'm suggesting that you whip me, aren't you?"
"Well..." I started, but not knowing what to say.
"The truth is," continued Kate, "that I've found that idea very tempting, to have it be you that I would become so helplessly attached to. But the problem is that you would be concerned about whether you hurt me, and there is no way I could achieve the feeling that you were simply going to continue whipping me longer and harder no matter what I said, felt, or wished for."
I stared at Kate. Exactly what was she saying? "I'm going to ask Anne," she said.
"Anne?"
Kate seemed to study me. "She understands all this," she said at last. That made no sense. "Oh, she talked about how she was simply supporting Gina's choice, but she would never involve herself unless--she felt something about all this. She'll definitely do it. And she'll know how. She won't hold back."
"Are you certain?" I wondered at myself for such an inane response.
Kate smiled, seeming to look past me again. "The one thing I wonder," she mused, "is who's whipping Anne?"
Cyan Stories
Erotic fiction, sex stories, for erotica lovers.