Minutes later, Sebastian led Christy through a doorway she hadn't noticed the night before inside the secret passageway.
«Where are we going?»
«There are still a few hours before sunrise. I plan to make good use of them.» The look on Sebastian's face was downright wicked.
The passageway branched off to the left. Sebastian led her down the dark corridor to another door, well secured against casual invasion.
«There's a whole network of chambers and passageways down here, isn't there?»
«Very astute, my sweet.» Sebastian unlocked the door and motioned her through, hitting a switch that brought honest-to-goodness torches flickering to life. «I had this place built a century ago with lots of little secret rooms, clever air vents and many ways out so I could never be caught down here without an escape route. The torches are gas powered. Nice effect, don't you think?» He seemed to consider the flickering flames as she noted for the first time the sparse furnishings of the room. «I haven't been down here in years, but I'm especially glad I had this room put in now that I have you.»
«What is this place?» Christy turned in a circle, taking in the strange furniture, eventually coming back to face Sebastian. He had a mischievous glint in his eye as he watched her.
«Why, it's my dungeon, of course.»
«Dungeon?» she repeated. It didn't look scary at all. She gazed at the strange furnishings with new eyes, but the padded table in one corner didn't look like a torture device. Nor did the horse-like bench in another nook. There were other things she didn't understand, and then she noticed the wall display filled with whips and paddles of different kinds. Still, none of them looked as if they could cause serious injury.
«I see you're confused. Have you never been spanked or tied up by a lover? Have you never been driven to the edge of madness by a loving, slightly rough touch, then allowed to catapult over only at the command of your man?»
«With Jeff?» She snorted. «Not likely. The only kind of sex we ever had was plain missionary and when he started getting violent, there was nothing sexy about it.
«Did you never have a lover besides him?»
She shook her head. «I was a virgin when I met him. Actually, I stayed a virgin until we were married.»
«Ah, an old-fashioned girl. I like that.» Sebastian moved closer to her. «It just so happens, I'm an old-fashioned man.» He tickled her waist with teasing fingers, lightening the mood. «Did the unimaginative clod never tie you up for pleasure?»
She shook her head, titillated by the idea.
Sebastian grinned like a pirate.
«I think we'll start with that. I know he struck you, my love. I don't ever want you to be afraid of what you and I do together. I've never beaten a woman and I never will. But I have been known to spank, even tease with the lash, but never to hurt. Only to tantalize. Still, I don't think you're ready for that yet. Perhaps you never will be.» His gentle expression reassured her. «And that's all right with me. I want only your pleasure.»
«You think tying me up will bring me pleasure?»
«Don't tell me you've never thought about it. Before you met your boring husband, perhaps? Didn't you ever wonder what it would be like to be at the mercy of your lover, tied up for his convenience?»
She had to admit, there'd been times she'd wondered about it when she was younger. Sebastian saw the truth in her mind and grinned like the Cheshire cat.
«There is one big difference now though.» Sebastian led her to the padded bench in one torch-lit corner. «With your new strength, there's little in this world that can hold you if you do not wish to be held. The bindings are merely decorative. You'll submit to me by choice, not because you're unable to do other than what I ask. You have free will in this, my love, and you always will.» He helped her sit on the high table and kept his hands at her waist as they gazed into each other's eyes. «Will you submit to me? Will you at least try?»
Licking her lips, she gathered her courage. «I want to try, Sebastian. I want to do whatever you want. If I can.»
He leaned in and kissed her. «That's all I can ask of you, my love.» He settled her so she lay flat against the soft padding. Tugging the gown off her shoulders and down her arms, he pushed it downward until it was off her body, leaving her bare to his gaze. The soft silk slid over her skin, tantalizing each and every nerve ending on its way down.
He grasped her wrists and raised her arms above her head, positioning them at the corners of the table. Padded, mechanical restraints popped up from the edges of the table to encircle her wrists when he hit a lever with his foot. He checked the fit by slipping one large finger between her skin and the padded cuff. She had room to move without chafing her skin and he seemed satisfied. Skimming his big hands down her bare body, he repeated the process with her ankles, binding her to the devilish table, smiling all the while.
«Comfy?» he asked. She nodded, then gasped as the lower part of the table began to separate, drawing her legs apart. When they were spread wide, Sebastian stood between her legs. «Now the fun begins.» He moved his foot on the levers near the floor. A motor activated, lifting the table until her hips canted toward Sebastian, her legs bent and spread as wide as they'd go.
It was decadent. It was heady. It was incredibly erotic to be displayed before him in such a way.
She was confident enough in her new strength and abilities to know she could easily escape the slender cuffs and table contraption if she wanted. She also knew Sebastian would let her up the moment she asked. But she wanted to stay. She wanted to see where his little game would lead, where his passion would take them. She trusted him and she wanted to please him, and in so doing, please herself.
Spread before him, her pussy grew damp. It was an amazing feeling to have the circulating air of the dungeon wafting against her most sensitive folds. She also felt the impact of Sebastian's gaze like a soft caress. His fingers stroked over her folds and into her core, testing her, measuring her readiness for what he planned next.
«You know,» he spoke almost conversationally as he explored her most private place at his leisure, «back in my day, some medical men made a specialty of bringing women to orgasm. I've heard some of them employed special machines to excite the woman in question, or some of them would use their fingers.» He leaned closer and she felt his hot breath whisper over her exposed folds. «We could pretend you're a society wife with a feeble husband who can't see to your needs. They often called these doctors in for nervous disorders. Tell me, my lady, are you of a nervous disposition?»
Christy gasped as he filled her with two fingers, stroking deep.
«What was that, my lady? I didn't quite hear you?» Sebastian chuckled as he pumped into her. «I asked if you were of a nervous disposition. Given to swoons and jitters, are you?» Christy nodded, unable to speak as she neared a peak of pleasure. «Ah, well, I have a solution for that, my lady. My, how much moisture you have here. That's a very good sign.» He winked at her as she writhed on the table, his fingers pulsing in her core. Sebastian brought his other hand up to tease her clit and she went over the edge without once looking back.
«That's it, my dear. You come beautifully for me.» His hands rode her throughout the climax, pulling out only when she'd quieted, to pet her damp curls. He placed a soft kiss on the top of her mound and moved away while she recovered, her eyes closed in pleasure.
Drifting in bliss, Christy felt a teasing sensation on her arm. Her eyes flew open to find Sebastian smiling down at her, a large, fluffy ostrich feather in one hand, a strip of black cloth in the other. It was the feather that had brushed her arm, she realized, raising gooseflesh with its tingling touch.