AN: Sorry we didn't get this posted last week as we had intended. It is our goal and our wish to post every Monday, but unfortunately life gets in the way sometimes. We do our best.
A special thanks to those of you who take a moment to favorite and/ or follow. A huge thank you to those of you who leave a review. We cherish them. They feed our muse and inspire us. We don't usually have time to respond, but we read every one of them and take them to heart.
See you next week! (hopefully ;)
Beta Lovelies: thebeebeegun, what_the_fawkes, dracoswhore17, & ladysnape89
Friday, August 24th
Hermione sat in her Muggle London office chair, staring out at the storm-darkened sky. The rain had not yet started, but appeared to be imminent. She was exhausted. Severus was exhausted. Draco was exhausted. And Lucius...Lucius was still gallivanting around Europe, oblivious to the pain he had left behind.
The sharp buzzing of her office telephone made her start and her eyes flew to the phone, a feeling of foreboding chilling her blood. The silence between rings seemed to stretch unnaturally long, and her hand darted out to pick up the receiver when the second trill started to sound.
"Hermione Granger, how can I help you?" Was it her imagination, or did her voice waiver?
"Miss Granger? My name is Johann Gunderson, I'm an inspector with the Ray Ban Rapist case?"
"Yes, Inspector Gunderson, I remember you," she answered.
"There has been a development."
An hour later, Hermione was standing at a window as the London coroner pulled a sheet back over the face of a lovely young woman. Her belly blossomed as bile crept up her throat. The woman's brown eyes were closed, her mass of dark curls surrounded her pale-in-death face, making her freckles stand out in sharp contrast.
Initially, she had been called over as a potential advocate for the victim's family, but once the new victim's name had dropped, along with the fact the woman had been strangled to death while she was being raped, her scope had shifted. Suddenly, she was being asked a multitude of questions. Inspector Gunderson and his partner had found it incredibly interesting that the newest victim had a tie to the high profile personal attorney who was representing the other victims…
"D-did you say Kate Lobner?"
Inspector Gunderson paused while rifling through his cluttered desktop. "I did - why?"
Hermione stared at him, wide-eyed as her blood ran cold. "She lives in my building. I wouldn't say we were friends, but definitely acquaintances. We've gone out for drinks together with a couple of other singles in the building a few times over the last couple of years."
There was a long pause before the Inspector spoke again, "I can't say that this doesn't have me a bit concerned, Miss Granger. It seems a little odd that you start representing the other victims and all of a sudden, someone you know has been murdered."
"Are you sure it was the same perp?" Hermione's heart was thundering in her throat.
He studied her closely for a minute before seeming to make a decision."Now that the family has hired you, I feel comfortable sharing more information. You know about the markings above the left breast. Plus there was no DNA evidence, just like with the others. No one outside of the investigators on the case and the legal team know about either of those things."
"What marking? I was never told about a marking on any of the other victims." The shock of new information pulled her eyes back to Gunderson.
Gunderson paused. "Let me get clearance from the chief before I say anything else. I don't know why you weren't told."
Hermione nodded slowly, still in shock. The inspector left the room. A few minutes later, Gunderson reentered. He tossed a photograph on the desk between them. The picture was of a woman's bare chest, a letter scrawled into her skin with a blade.
"Yes. That's definitely her." Hermione couldn't tear her eyes away from black marks on Kate's throat. She watched with horror as the coroner pulled down the sheet to reveal a very intricate letter 'M' carved into the skin of her upper left breast. "Oh, Gods." She turned her face away and Gunderson motioned for the coroner to cover the woman. The mark made her remember her own gruesome scar on her forearm. She swallowed hard. "No DNA evidence? You're sure?"
"That's right, and yes - we're sure," Gunderson confirmed for the second time in as many hours. There was a long, heavy silence, then, "I'll say it again, I think the perp is sending you a message, Miss Granger."
Wide eyes flicked to the Inspector's. "I have no idea," she said honestly. "This is….very unexpected." Her mind was whirling. Didn't she and Harry just question if the Muggle case and the wizarding Muggle-born cases were related? And what did that damn 'M' stand for if not 'Mudblood' or 'Muggle?' She'd have to ask Harry if the Muggle-born women were being marked, now that she had become privy to that information.
One thing was for certain, she wasn't saying a word about Kate's death to anyone in her personal life until she knew what the hell was going on. No need to make them all worry even more.
August 25th, 2007
Severus,
I hope my missive finds you and yours well.
You have my deepest and most heartfelt congratulations, my dear friend. I have no doubt that your question will be met with an enthusiastic and positive response. Hermione loves you, of this I have no doubt. However, Severus, I think you should tell her how you actually feel about her before asking such a life-changing question. I fear that if you were to ask the witch to marry you without first telling her how much she means to you, she might hesitate. Even if only for a moment.
The time away from home has been good for me. It's been nice to stretch my legs instead of being cooped up in one office or another. Draco has really spread his wings. His last letter was full of triumph and happiness. Did he tell you that he retrieved a ring from our family vaults? My heart is glad for him, he and Millicent make a wonderful couple. I am thrilled to see him finding love and joy in his life. He has come into his own. I am also very pleased with the work he has been doing at M.E. and the interest he has taken into finally settling into the role of an adult, instead of continuing to sow his wild oats.
I have not heard from Hermione in weeks. I've written to her once, but she did not return my correspondence. I do hope she is well. I have the Daily Telegraph as well as the Prophet being delivered to me while I've been away and see she took on a new pro bono case at her Muggle office. I trust you are not letting her bury herself at the office.
I am wrapping up in Russia. I will Portkey to France tomorrow and will spend a few days at the villa and checking the vineyards before taking two glorious days in Paris for some shopping and fine dining. I am planning to return home the weekend of September 1st. It would be nice to return to having our family dinners every Sunday evening starting the 9th. Please let me know if that will work. Speaking of dinner, I dined with Natalia and her bastard husband yesterday evening. She looks as well as always. I swear that woman hasn't aged a day in the last ten years.
You are missed, my dear friend. I can't wait to see your face again.
With affection,
Lucius
Saturday, August 25th
"Were you expecting someone?" Severus questioned, cocking a brow at Hermione as he finished buttoning up his shirt.
"No." Hermione's expression was confused as she pushed back from her desk and made for the living room where the floo had just activated. Severus followed her without a word.
"Draco?" Hermione came to a standstill in the entryway of her living area, taking in her obviously distressed friend. Draco had moved from the floo and was seated upon her couch, his head in both hands, bent over. Draco glanced at her from under his fringe before his gaze moved to his godfather behind her. As he raised his chin, Hermione took a startled step forward, heart thudding at the pain that marred his features. His eyes were wet and red-rimmed; his shoulders slumped. Something bad had happened.
"Draco?" She whispered his name the second time, heart starting to pound erratically. Something had happened - something bad. She couldn't help how Lucius' face filled her mind's eye until -
"Millie took the job." Draco's voice cracked halfway through the word job but his face was stoic, even though it was obvious that he had been crying. Hermione's stomach lurched, her terror instantly turning into grief for her friend.
"Draco." Severus' voice was low. The blond turned sorrowful eyes to his godfather, who crossed the room to settle a large hand on the younger man's shoulder. "I'm sorry." He glanced over his shoulder at Hermione before turning back to Draco. "I'll let you two have some privacy - I need to get to the Club, anyhow. You are welcome to stay here tonight, I know Hermione feels the same."
Draco gave Severus a jerky nod, not quite meeting his eyes. Severus crossed back to Hermione, kissing her lightly on the lips before whispering, "I know you'll help him, pet. Floo if you need anything." His eyes were sad.
Hermione nodded and forced a small smile to her lips. "I will," she promised. Both she and Draco watched in silence as Severus stepped into the floo and departed in a whirl of green flames.
The sob that came from her friend the moment the floo went quiet startled her. Hermione was across the room in moments as a second gasp of air left him and he broke down fully. He must have needed the hug she leaned over to give him because his arms wrapped around her so tightly she could barely breathe. Then he pulled her into his lap, burying his face in her neck as he started to sob in earnest.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's neck and pressed an affectionate kiss to his temple, letting him cry while she hummed soothing noises. She wasn't going to tell him things were okay; they very obviously were not. She knew that Draco was in love with M. What confused her was that she was certain M felt the same way - so why would the woman leave?
Hermione sighed softly as she gently played with the strands of Draco's silky, silver locks. He had exhausted himself in his grief and had fallen asleep about an hour prior with his head in her lap. They hadn't talked overly much, but she listened intently to his story.
Millicent had told him that the job was a dream come true for her. Had explained how their relationship was new and she didn't want to pass up a life-altering career choice for a relationship that might not last.
Draco had debased himself in front of her, fallen to his knees. Told her again how he loved her. He had even shown her the ring and told her he'd had every intention of asking her when the time was right. Apparently, M had been horrified and had told him that no one got engaged that fast anymore, and relationships that moved too quickly were doomed to fail. Then she had left him without a backward glance, on his knees holding an ancient family heirloom of an engagement ring in an ornate box.
Devastated.
She had left him devastated.
As much as Hermione liked and admired M, as both a woman and a Domme, she didn't understand how she could have been so frigid. Not when Draco had been obvious in his affection for her from the very beginning of their relationship. Not with how close they had seemed to become.
She reached and picked up her cold cup of tea before rewarming it with her wand and taking a sip. Draco had needed something stronger, but she had gotten him to stop after his third double shot of her Muggle tequila. It was likely he'd have a headache in the morning. Draining her tea, Hermione returned the cup to the end table before tilting her head back into the couch cushions. She summoned a puffy foot stool, so she could rest her feet.
The next thing she knew, the floo activating startled her awake. Draco had obviously woken at some point, because he had rearranged himself on the opposite end of the couch with one of her throw pillows and the quilt from the guest room. He was curled into an impossibly small ball for a man of his size. She found he had draped a blanket over her lap, as well. Severus murmuring a quiet greeting refocused her gaze.
"Hello, Hermione," Severus murmured, reaching out to brush an errant curl from her eyes. "Tired?"
"Hey, love," she whispered back, "Yes, it's been a long night."
"Coming to bed?" He needed her presence. Not that the night had been bad by any means. Severus had just come to the point in their relationship that he wanted her with him, all the time. It was as exciting as it was awkward for him.
"Yes," she agreed and he held out a hand in relief to help her off the couch.
They went through their ablutions discussing what had happened between M and Draco in soft tones. "I feel so bad for him, Severus. He really does love her."
Severus wrapped an arm around her and pulled her gently into his chest, nuzzling the fuzzy curls at the top of her head. "We cannot make their decisions for them, as much as we would like to. M has the right to choose her path in life as much as Draco has the right to make his feelings known. He will be okay, Mine. It will hurt for a while, but he will find a way to move on." He paused and pressed his lips gently to her forehead, two then three times. He felt so much affection at this moment. It was consuming and was greater than he had ever felt for any other woman. His mind drifted to Lucius and it suddenly occurred to him his best friend would want to know what had happened with Draco and M. "Perhaps she will change her mind and come back to him. All we can do is wait and see."
Hermione pulled back slightly and Severus felt his heart constrict at the adoration in her eyes. He would never tire of the way she looked at him. "I just don't understand people who stay in relationships if they don't see a future in them," she told him solemnly. "I would never date someone seriously for longer than a couple of months if I didn't see myself with them forever. Not at this point in my life, anyway. Maybe when I was younger. I swear she loves him, Severus. I think there's more to the story."
While Severus heard every word she had told him, his heart had started to race. Her words about not staying with someone for longer than a couple of months if she knew there was no future left him believing that he could ask her to marry him now, and she would say yes.
He wanted his proposal to be perfect, however, so it would have to wait.
Monday, August 27th
"Hello, Sir," Hermoine approached Etan and Rose. It had been too long since she'd seen them last.
"Well, Doll." Etan smiled and gestured for her to sit across from them in their four-top booth. "How are you, lovely?"
She smiled shyly, taking the seat. Etan always made her feel warm and welcome. "I'm good, thank you for asking. Rose?"
"You may speak with Doll, my English flower," Etan said, leaning to press a kiss to Rose's flushed cheek.
"May I tell her?" Rose's eyes were glimmering excitedly and Etan brushed his lips across her cheek again.
"You may."
Rose turned brilliant eyes on Hermione, and she couldn't help being as excited as her friend. "We're pregnant!"
Hermione was startled for a moment before a large grin split her lips. "Oh, Rose!" She reached across the table for the younger girl's hand. "How wonderful!" she exclaimed, squeezing her fingers. "And Etan - are you excited?"
"It was a surprise - "
"It wasn't planned. We're not sure what happened," Rose broke in, but paused with a smirk on her lips when Etan gave her an exasperated smirk.
"We are very excited, now that we've had some time to get used to the news," he finished.
"When are you due?"
"April 1st!" Rose grinned. "I'm just about to the 12-week mark!"
Rose and Hermione chatted about babies and all the things she would need as Etan watched them with lit eyes. After a while, the topic of conversation changed to the environment at hand.
"How did it go with your new submissive, Etan? If you don't mind my asking?" Hermione inquired.
Etan hesitated briefly, exchanging a loaded look with his wife. "It started out okay."
"She was the jealous type," Rose continued after a long pause. "She tried to cause issues. As much as we liked her, it just wasn't meant to be. Then we found out about the pregnancy, so we cancelled our contract."
"Speaking of cancelled contracts." Etan's eyebrows rose and Hermione shifted in her seat to see where he was looking.
Her mouth popped open slightly in surprise when she caught sight of Lexie and Lizzie chattering up a large, muscled brute of a Dom that Hermione always stayed clear of - he just seemed intense. Neither witch was wearing their signature Malfoy collar.
"I heard through the Club grapevine that they received an owl with a formal apology and a cancelled contract from Master Lucius," Rose said quietly. Hermione quickly turned around when one of the women, Lexie - she thought, caught her eye and frowned at her.
"Is that so?" she murmured, trying to seem unaffected. Inside, however, her heart rate rose to triple time. Lucius had ended things with them. Thank Merlin!
In the next breath, she scolded herself. That doesn't matter...he's left us all.
The knowing looks from the couple in front of her didn't startle her. Now that she had finally admitted to herself her feelings for both Severus and Lucius, she was no longer unaware that everyone else around them had known what she had denied all along.
You can't have them both, Hermione. Stop being selfish.
Thursday, August 30th
"Your instructions are clear to you?"
"Yes, Master."
"You understand how imperative it is to be on your best behavior?"
"Yes, Master."
"Then we shall prepare you to leave; you may stand."
Hermione pushed herself into a shaky stand from her kneeling position, grasping Severus' offered hand as she did so.
"Strip." It was a succinct command, and Hermione complied immediately, pulling her dress over her head. She had purchased a surprise for him tonight and was rewarded with a low growl as the black lace with iridescent green bra, panty, and garter belt set came into his view. The belt strapped to thigh-high black silk stockings.
"Christ!" Severus took an eager step forward, cupping one breast in his large hand before covering her mouth in a deep, hard kiss. He pulled back and indicated she turn around. Hermione turned slowly, unable to keep the sassy smirk off her face.
"I can definitely work with this," he murmured. "I'll just need to change a couple of things, if you'll allow it."
Hermione smiled up at him happily as she finished her pirouette. "Of course, Sir," she agreed, watching him slide his wand from the sleeve of his white dress shirt. With a flick, her knickers were gone, she gasped at the sudden coolness of the air against her heated skin.
"Just need to make this a little lower." He motioned towards the balconette style brassiere. Gently, he smoothed the tip of his wand to magic the cup fabric lower, so her nipples were visible. Instantly, they pebbled into hardened points. "Perfection."
Brandishing his wand again, a silent Accio brought a set of nipple clamps zooming from the bedroom. Hermione's bottom lip disappeared into her mouth. She said not a word but breathed deeply through her nose as he pinched one nipple between his thumb and forefinger, pulling it away from her body so he could fasten first one, then the second clip. Severus smirked down at her as he gave the chain connecting them a light tug, causing her lip to finally pop out of her mouth on a gasp. Then he slipped his hand into his own pocket, withdrawing…
Hermione's eyes darted from the implement in his hand to his face and back again, her cheeks flooding with heat. It was a leash. "I know what you're thinking, Mine. No – no animal play. Simply a lead." Hermione let her shoulders relax as Severus clipped the leash to the center of the chain dangling from her nipples. The leash added weight, causing a low moan to move through Hermione's throat.
"A few more things," he told her before moving out of her sight line. He came back with a pair of stilettos in black, a red ball gag, and a Velcro strap. "Hands behind your back." Ever the good girl, Hermione placed her hands at the base of her spine, unsurprised when the strap was looped around them and fastened in place. Then Severus tapped her chin, and she opened her mouth to receive the ball gag, loving the feel of his fingers as he fastened it around her skull. Once that implement was in place, he pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. "Sit."
Carefully, Hermione perched on the edge of the couch, wincing slightly as the leash and chain tugged on her already screaming nipples. "Foot." Then he slipped the shoes on and buckled them into place, adding charms for comfort and balance.
Sternly, Severus said, "How do you safeword?" Quickly, Hermione shook her head from side to side in three quick successions. "Good girl. What color are you?" The second question was asked with a leer, knowing how it embarrassed her to speak with a gag in her mouth.
Her eyebrows drew down and an odd clicking noise left her throat. "Eeng."
Severus' smirk deepened into his sexy half-smile. "Good girl." He leaned forward and cupped her face with both of his hands. "I know you'll be exceptional tonight, Hermione," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before running his nose along hers. Goose-pimples broke out across her arms and torso, and she shivered at the affection that flooded her. Oddly enough, she wasn't feeling nervous.
"Just a quick refresher," he told her quietly. "It is a Muggle club, so everything will take longer. I won't be able to suspend you using magic. You say nothing outside of answering direct questions. The gag is to help you remember, but once I set the scene in motion, I will be removing it. It will be intense - I will not be surprised if you slip deep into subspace. I will keep an eye out, but you need to communicate with me properly using our words and signals. Oh - you will ask permission to come. All night." Hermione nodded, her eyes locked to his. She was already insanely turned on. "We're going by floo to my acquaintance's apartment above the building. We will take the elevator down – they are looking forward to us, love. This is the first time they've had a Master of the whip do a demonstration."
Hermione couldn't help it, she shivered again, goosebumps spreading once more across her body. The last time she had been at the mercy of his whip had been one of the most intense scenes from the last year. "You're ready?" He brushed another sweet kiss to her forehead and Hermione allowed her eyes to close, letting the feeling of being cherished wash over her. She nodded as he pulled back.
He cupped her under one elbow and helped her stand. She felt unsteady for just a moment on the heels, but quickly gained her footing as Severus reached for the lead. "Follow, Mine." She watched as her Master's persona changed from all business and safety to Dominant. His shoulders straightened, he seemed to grow a few inches, and a sheen of heat entered his eyes. Then, he was leading her toward the floo.
Severus' acquaintance was talking a mile a minute, and it wasn't until they were descending in an elevator that Hermione became one hundred percent sure that the only reason the man hadn't even acknowledged her presence was because he only had eyes for Severus. It took everything in Hermione's power to stop herself from growling when Kiaan patted Severus on his leather clad behind.
With more grace and charisma Hermione had ever seen from her Dom, Severus grasped Kiaan's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. He smirked at the younger man kindly and said, "We've discussed your need to touch what doesn't belong to you before, my friend. I can't imagine you need a reminder, even if it has been a couple of years."
Hermione felt that she could actually feel the heat seep from Kiaan's dark face as he clasped his hands in front of himself and ducked his head. "You are right, Severus," he agreed in a light Indian accent, "I do forget myself. It has just been too long since I have seen you."
Not once since they arrived had Severus even looked at her, let alone addressed or introduced her. He only clasped the lead and led her along by her now screaming nipples. Though her anticipation for this unprecedented scene tonight was high, she found herself longing for the intimacy of a private interlude. Lies, her subconscious hissed. If that was the truth, why is your excitement dripping down your thighs? She muffled her small snort of amusement at herself. It was true, intimate scenes were heavy in their life. Severus didn't often love to be the center of attention, but boy when he did…
It tended to be an all-out affair.
A few minutes later, Hermione found herself standing on an old, rickety stage. The heavy, red velvet curtains were pulled shut in front of Severus, Kiaan, and herself. "We have been advertising for a month, I am expecting a good turn out."
"I will give them a show; that I can promise," Severus answered.
"You can use magic until the curtains go up, after that only your muscles can you use, Severus." Kiaan had reached out to lay a touch on one of Severus' biceps, but caught himself at Severus' dark stare. Hermione had to move her eyes to the floor and bite down on the ball gag to keep from laughing. It was obvious that Kiaan had one hell of a crush on Severus.
"Thank you, Kiaan," Severus' silky baritone rumbled through the quiet space, "I appreciate your invitation for tonight. As far as I can see, everything I need is here."
"Do you need any assistance in stringing up the girl?" Kiaan sent a look in Hermione's direction, giving her a tight smile when their eyes met.
"I will be fine on my own," Severus replied assuredly, "I prefer to work alone with my witch."
"Yes, I remember." Kiaan folded his hands in front of himself and gave her Dom a slight bow. "Namaste, Professor." Hermione watched in slight surprise as Severus returned the formal gesture before Kiaan exited stage left, back the way they had come.
Hermione knew better than to make a sound, but she couldn't help the way her eyes followed his lithe figure as he perused the BDSM instruments that were placed on a large folding table on the side of the stage. After a few minutes, he made a pleased gesture and his fingers moved to unbutton his shirt.
A hum of contentment filled her as she watched Severus shed the white garment before turning to face her. The corded muscles in his back and torso flexed with the movement. "Come." He crooked a finger at her, and Hermione confidently complied.
"Stand on the 'X'," he pointed to where a large X was on the stage floor in blue painter's tape. A few swishes of his wand, and five minutes later, numerous items around the stage had settled beside her. To each side of her were heavy metal poles that would normally hold a volleyball net. They were connected at the top to what resembled a chin up bar. On the bar, two large, heavy D-ring carabiners dangled.
"We have approximately thirty-minutes until the curtain opens. Choice one – I suspend you before it opens; choice two – after it opens. Decide. Nod your head when I say the number you wish." Severus paused for just a moment while Hermione decided. "One." When she didn't move her head, Severus' grin became cat-like. "Two, then?" She nodded.
"You are such a delightful little exhibitionist, Mine," he murmured, stalking up to her. Placing his lips at her ear, he continued, "And I love getting to show the world my perfect little slut." Hermione's eyes slid closed at the demeaning endearment. She wasn't sure what it was about dirty talk, about the derogatory terminology – but it made her so fucking hot.
"I will have you sit, then, while I prepare a few more items. You might as well rest now." He removed the strap that was keeping her wrists pinned behind her back and, tossing it aside, he used his thumbs to smooth the tension out of her shoulders. Picking up the lead, he tugged on it, a cruel half-smile crossing his face at her whimper.
Hermione felt relieved when he let her settle onto a soft stool, stretching her legs out in front of her while massaging her own wrists gently. She smiled around the red ball in her mouth when Severus placed a kiss on the top of her curly head.
Twenty-five minutes later, Severus had Hermione trussed and positioned for his pleasure and the pleasure of the audience. She was completely naked now, with the exception of her silk stockings. Numerous mirrors were positioned all over the stage, allowing a variety of vantage points. Depending on where he looked, he could see every angle of his witch's delectable little body. She was standing in all her heeled, stocking-clad beauty. He had released her hair from the two, tight French plaits. Usually, he preferred to keep her hair back, and out of the way, but tonight he wanted to show her off to the nth degree – and her hair was one of her sexiest bedroom features.
She had cuffs on her ankles, which a spreader bar would be attached to after she was in the air. Rope wrapped around her elbows, crisscrossing her forearms to encircle her wrists. A two-foot step stool was in front of her, so he could tie her by hand to the pole above her head. He had removed the clamps about ten minutes prior, but her nipples were still ruddy from their torment. Though the ball gag was gone, her already bee-stung lips were even more swollen. She looked positively debauched, and he had barely touched her. Kiaan gave him a nod from stage left as he tapped the curtain pull with his wand, magically parting the curtains – the last magic that would be performed until they shut in an hour.
Kiaan had been a First Year the first year Severus had taught at Hogwarts. He was approximately eight years Severus' junior. He had also been the first student to make a pass at him. It was a moment that was burned into Severus' psyche – as he had been half flattered, half thoroughly horrified. Severus had shut him down, none too kindly as he was wont to do.
They had become reacquainted after the war – when he and Lucius had taken over and revamped The Dungeon. It occurred to him that he had never shared his and Kiaan's past with Hermione, but it felt awkward to bring up (at the moment) that the Indian man had been his on-and-off submissive for a few years following the war. One thing was for certain, however, Hermione never made him feel poorly about his past.
As Kiaan introduced them to the audience, Severus moved so he was standing in front of Hermione, blocking her view of the packed auditorium. Kiaan had apparently not been lying when he had said he expected a good turnout. He found himself fingering the handle of the bullwhip that was secured to his belt.
"Color?" he whispered as he turned, running his hands down each forearm, double-checking his knot work.
"Green," she whispered, eyes wide with a combination of fear and excitement.
"You look stunning, pet," he told her.
"Thank you, Master."
It was then that the audience broke into applause, indicating that Kiaan's greeting and explanations were through. Severus took a step back from his curly haired woman and gave her a tight nod.
"Meet my pet!" he said loudly, gesturing to Hermione with a full sweep of his arm. "Her name is Doll – or Mine – as that is what she is – MINE." There was tittering and catcalling from the audience and Severus felt a familiar half-smile of pride pull at his lips. She was a lovely creature.
"Doll is fairly new to the scene, only joining our deviant world last November – but she is one of the most capable and natural submissives I have met in the last twenty years. I expect you will all be very pleased with her performance tonight." More hoots, more whistles, and even clapping.
Severus' eyes roamed over their intended audience. The crowd was eclectic. The seats were not that of a normal auditorium. There was a variety of seating: couches, love seats, stools for groups or couples in the left third of the space, down the center were tables and chairs, and on the right was a variety of implements their "kind" liked to use. Taller items like St. Andrew's Crosses in the back, while spanking benches, kneeling pads, and the like spilled into the middle and front. The auditorium was tiered, with large, flat spaces on four different levels, and stairs going up each side of the center. It was truly a marvelous club for the Muggle world.
Severus turned his eyes back to Hermione, who was taking in the space with a deer-in-the-headlights look. Noting that she was trembling, Severus decided it was from excitement, but he would check with her after he had her suspended.
"Up, Mine," he commanded and watched with satisfaction as Hermione climbed the step stool without hesitation. A second step was next to her, and he climbed it himself, indicating for her to raise her arms above her head. He carefully hooked each prepared wrist to the carabiners that were fastened to the pole, double and triple checking her circulation and positioning before he jumped off the stool and moved it off the side of the stage.
At the last minute, he decided to leave the spreader bar behind in exchange for two small piles of twine. He returned to his witch, who was watching him avidly. "Are you ready for me to remove the stool, love?"
Her eyes had taken on a glazed quality, but she nodded with a whispered, "Yes, Master." Carefully, Severus took away her support, leaving her dangling from her arms, her heeled feet about six inches from the stage floor. He moved quickly to entwine the rope through the rings on each ankle cuff, before tying them securely, one to each post, pulling Hermione's body into a full X shape hanging from the pole system.
He stepped back to survey his work, oblivious to the hum of the crowd. Many people were watching avidly, but others were playing, themselves. His focus was on his submissive and his submissive only, but that didn't mean he wouldn't engage the crowd.
"Color?" He asked loudly, watching Hermione's chest heave with her accelerated respirations.
"Green, Master." Hermione answered him audibly, her eyes smoldering with her arousal.
He turned his back to her and grabbed a leather flogger off the table. "I'm going to warm her skin before I start with the whip," he addressed the audience while he fingered the strands of supple leather. Severus met a few sets of eyes before giving his attention back to the trembling brunette. As he would be whipping her chest, abdomen, and upper thighs, Severus positioned himself slightly to her right, making sure the front of her was in full view. He gave her a curt nod while erecting his body to full height and planting his feet firmly. He was not a master with the flogger, not like Lucius, but he was no novice.
He twisted his upper body and gathered the tendrils of the instrument in his hand. He made eye contact with Hermione one last time before letting go, the strike landed perfectly across the tip of her right breast, he immediately switched it to the left. Moving back and forth at a steady pace, he registered her crying out with each firm stroke. Slowly, he started to work the flogger from right to left down her belly and across her quads, warming the skin as he said he would. Severus watched her tan skin grow pinker, continuing until the ruddy hue spread across all the skin he intended to whip. Smirking at calls from the audience of – "Make her cry!" or "C'mon – old man, isn't she supposed to scream?"
He had no intention of making her cry – she had done nothing wrong. However, it seemed he had a rough crowd to please this night. He could definitely make her scream – with pleasure. Pausing momentarily so he could reposition his stance, he angled for a new position and struck her firmly across her nether lips. Severus reveled in the way Hermione's head dropped back, a long, loud moan bubbling out of her – her thick, bouncing curls splaying over her back. He lightened the next strike, aiming more for frenzied pleasure than pain.
Twenty seconds later, his witch was screaming, "May I come, Master? Please?!"
"I'll allow it," he called over the more energized sounds of the crowd. He continued to stroke her clit with the lick of the flogger. "Come, Mine!"
"Nnnnggghh! Oh, gods!" Her beautiful lips were parted as her body started shaking from head to toe, rattling the metal clips attached to her ankle cuffs. He noted her pink-painted toes curling in her stilettos. He whipped her gently through her orgasm, prolonging her cries of ecstasy and making her fingers clench into fists in their bindings. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she chanted.
The crowd erupted, making Severus grin as he watched his witch trembling violently in her bindings. "Mine enjoys an audience, folks - show her how much you appreciate her," he cried loudly over the din. The noise swelled.
He backed off, stroking her more gently as she started coming down from her high. A low chuckle slipped out of his lips as she jerked with each stroke until he stopped completely.
Severus let the noise die down as he returned the flogger to the table. To the side of the table, he had opened a first aid kit, along with antibacterial wipes and medical gloves. He had already prepared the whip, but planned on doing a demonstration of what to do. Essentially, he was here as an instructor tonight. While the scene with Hermione would be a true one, the main purpose of the invitation had been a beginners guide to learning how to wield a whip.
He had discussed his opener with her, so she was surprised when he pulled the stool over and unhooked her feet so she could take the tension off of her arms and shoulders. "Beautiful start, love," he told her, nuzzling his face against her after making sure she was steady. "Do you need a drink?"
"Yes, please," she murmured back, a faint smile on her lips.
Five minutes later, Severus was back in front of the audience. Many eyes were on him, he had definitely caught their attention. Even more focused on him while he unhooked the bull-whip from his belt. He planted his feet firmly on the ground and let it fly, the crack! silencing the crowd completely. "What is this? Shout out your answers."
"A whip!"
"What kind of a whip?"
"A bull-whip!" The voice was distinctly feminine.
"Correct."
Severus looped the whip over the step stool his submissive was on, winking at her before gathering a few more implements from the table. "Does anyone know what this one is?"
He went through the various forms of whips, letting each of them crack the air as he demonstrated a few swings. He showed the audience a stock whip, a pocket snake, a flicker whip, signal whip, and a dragon tail. While talking about each whip, Severus discussed the benefits of each being made of nylon, leather, or rubber.
He stopped for a while on the dragon tail. "This is the best whip for a beginner. As you can see, the design is simple - just the handle and the thong. It makes an incredibly satisfying crack because of how the tail tapers into this sharp point." He slid his fingers down the leather until he held the point between his thumb and forefinger. "It's the easiest whip to control - so for all you beginners out there, this is your best choice." He suddenly stopped and focused hard on the audience. His eyes scanned the crowd and in a deadly voice Hermione recognized from her youth, added, "Do not, under any circumstance, attempt this on a living creature before practicing on an inanimate one. Experiment on different types of objects that are various sizes, heights, and densities. Only when you are capable of delivering precise, delicate strikes should you even contemplate using a whip on another person."
The crowd was silent as the gravity of his words sunk in, but within seconds they were vocal again. "Do you offer private instruction? How long did it take you to learn?" as well as a multitude of other enquiries.
"I want to add that, while I will be whipping my submissive on her front today, that it is impertinent that you start all live-whipping on the backside, with the bum being your main target. That is the safest area of the body. Never strike the kidney area or the spine. Only when you have mastered whipping the bum, should you venture to other areas of the body. More questions?"
Severus finished answering questions before moving back to Hermione. He traced her breasts with the wooden handle. "Should we show them, Mine?"
"Yes, Master."
"Color?" he asked loudly.
"Green, Master!" She raised her voice accordingly.
He left her feet down, the full demonstration would be with her suspended with the bull whip. Fixing his feet, he drew attention to the width of his feet, "...always shoulder width apart. Relax your knees and arse - the tighter these muscles are, the more likely you will make a mistake. You need to keep your feet flat on the ground. Obviously, you should be within striking distance of your target - and you need to position the arm and shoulder that are handling the whip toward them."
He paused. "Questions?" None were immediately forthcoming. Therefore, Severus wrenched his whole body into the throw and flipped the switch forward, striking Hermione across her abdomen. She gasped and the crowd reacted with applause and whistles.
Severus strode forward and checked her skin, the strike had been perfect. He rubbed the mark gently, making his submissive arch into him. "More please, Master," she panted, her eyes wild with heat.
"A few more minutes," he promised her.
He answered a few questions, keeping one eye on his toy while doing so. Finally, the questions slowed. "Would you like to see a full demonstration of the bull-whip?"
There was a resounding chorus of positive answers.
"Yes!"
"That's why we're here, mate!"
"Duh!"
"Get on with it!"
He chortled as he returned to Hermione, adjusting her shoulders before refixing her feet. "You've been the best girl, tonight, mi mascota," he whispered. "I will reward you well for this."
"Thank you, Master."
After a few more adjustments, Severus was ready. "I will be striking her a total of twenty-five times. After the full demonstration, I will provide her aftercare before I am able to answer questions. My understanding is that Kiaan has a small reception room setup for anyone who would like to discuss the demo in more depth. I will be there for an hour after." Severus gave the audience a genuine smile.
"You will count, Mine," he instructed loudly, once again taking his stance.
"Yes, Master."
"One last time - tell me your color."
"Green, Master."