Author's Note: No excuses about the delay. We're really sorry. Jamie has not had a computer for months and it makes talking to her nearly impossible and trying to write on LTK even more impossible. I was also pretty fail about the reviews this go around and I'm deeply sorry for that as well. Again, no excuses, just my baby has been sick for a month and running a bunch of tests etc took it out of me. I promise to try and do better this time!
Disclaimer: We do not own, merely puppeteer.
"One must do violence to the object of one's desire; when it surrenders, the pleasure is greater" ~ Marquis De Sade
I stared at the ring, my bod tingling in dread and anticipation, knowing that I had gotten caught. But my mind warred with me, demanding me to lie, my instincts kicking in telling me to 'survive'.
"That's a pretty ring, Master." I whispered, as politely as I could.
Jasper's eyebrows shot up in what could have been amusement or confusion. I wasn't sure, before his features went back to neutral.
"It is." He agreed easily, still looking at me with those piercing blue eyes.
I could practically feel the heat of Bal's and Makenna's stare on me as Jasper and I sat, looking at one another, neither one of us willing to break the eye contact first.
"Do you know where I found this 'pretty ring'?" He asked, picking up said ring and holding it closer to his face for inspection, finally breaking the staring contest between us.
I wanted to tell the truth. A part of me knew that if I told the truth he would be more pleased than if I just outright lied. But my mouth spoke before my mind could catch up, "I don't know. Master."
I could feel the blood rushing to my face as Jasper moved his scrutiny off the ring and to myself once again. His eyes narrowed and his lips were pursed. He was mad. But unless you knew Jasper as well as I did and studied his features as much as I have, you would never know.
"I found it underneath the bed when I was looking for a spider."
I could feel sweat on the back of my neck and even in the sundress I was in, I felt over-heated. I fidgeted in my seat slightly trying to adjust my sweaty legs where I had them crossed. I chanced a glance to my left to see if Bal and Makenna were paying attention to us, only to catch Bal's eye as he openly grinned at me, looking like he was trying to keep from just laughing his ass off. Makenna at least had the decency to look down at the table, as if she couldn't hear what was going on between my Master and I.
It took everything in me not to glare back at Bal before I turned my focus back on Jasper.
"Did you find the spider?" I asked meekly.
"I didn't," He replied serving himself and myself some food, "But I'll have Peter let Stella out in there later. I know she'll find it for us."
I shivered horribly at the thought of Stella loose in there again, and was going to protest when Jasper cut me off.
"Do you have any idea, what-so-ever, how this ring ended up under the bed, Isabella?" He asked.
I pushed around some of the food on my plate and then looked up to Jasper. The blood rushed to my face and I felt like this was an adrenaline rush. My heart was trying to beat outside of my chest and for some reason I couldn't breathe properly. Tell the truth! He knows! This is getting you nowhere! I wanted to tell him. I wanted to beg for his forgiveness and grovel at his feet to not send me to the isolation room.
"I do not know, Master." I whispered, wringing my hands in my lap.
Jasper stared at me for a moment longer before nodding his head slightly, his eyes cold as ice.
"Very well."
Jasper then took out his phone and starting typing away on it, leaving me curious as to what he was going to do next. A few seconds after he had put his phone back in his pocket, Vladmir appeared by Jasper's side, looking intense. Jasper spoke in his ear for a moment, throwing a quick glance my way, before speaking again, and then waving him off. If I had any doubts as to whether Jasper knew I was lying before, they were completely gone now. The man knew. Without a doubt.
Conversation between Bal and my Master continued around me like nothing was out of the ordinary. But my attention was on the tiny ring that was still sitting in the same place Jasper put it. By my plate. He left it there to torture me. He left it there to mind fuck me. To show me that he knew, and that he wasn't going to let this slide. I had to swallow repeatedly to keep my tears at bay. I wouldn't show him weakness. Not here, not now. The food was passed around the table but I don't remember serving myself. I halfheartedly pushed around some rice on my plate, nibbling on bits and pieces here and there.
Jasper's hand came to rest on the top of my thigh, his fingers digging in slightly. I looked up to see him staring at me, his eyes traveling to the plate and then back to me. His eyes were narrowed slightly, his eyebrow cocked, but other than that, he gave off no emotion. What was he thinking? What was he feeling? He didn't look as angry as I thought he would be, but that didn't mean anything. The man could spank me without showing any kind of emotion.
"Eat." He commanded, gripping my thigh harder.
I nodded my head and put a small forkful of rice into my mouth. To me it tasted dry and bitter and it took all my willpower not to choke it back up. By the time the clattering of forks against the plates ended, my food had still barely been touched. Instead I placed my fork on my plate as well and clasped my hands on my lap underneath the tablecloth. I kept my eyes trained on my hands, not wanting to look up. The not knowing of what was going to come next was killing me though. I'm starting to wish that Jasper had just spanked me or thrown me in the isolation room when he found the stupid ring. This waiting for the other shoe to drop was torture.
"In light of recent events, I invite you and your slave to join us in the sitting area." Jasper said, wiping his mouth with his white cloth napkin.
Immediately everyone stood, no one making eye contact with myself. A feeling of dread settled into my stomach as Jasper guided me into the sitting area, by my collar, where there was a table set up in the center. Upon closer inspection I saw three items that made my stomach churn.
A hairbrush. A paddle the size of Jasper's foot. And a black, leather belt.
Tears sprang to my eyes and I turned around to face Jasper, willing myself not to cry.
"A little humility will do you good." He murmured, looking down into my fear stricken eyes.
My lips trembled and I bit my bottom lip to make it stop, but all that did was cause Jasper's frown to become more pronounced.
"Bal, you and your slave may sit in the chair off to the right of me, to get a better angle." He said calmly, as if he was talking about nothing more significant than the weather.
As he led me a little farther away from the table his words finally registered in my mind. He was letting them stay to witness this? He was going to let them watch him beat me?
A little humility will do you good. That's what he meant! He meant for them to see this. He wanted them to see what was about to happen. My will to stay strong crumbled as I watched Bal sit in the chair, a smirk on his face, settling Makenna on his lap. Her eyes were downcast, but in that second that I looked at her, she caught my gaze. Her eyes were filled with un-shed tears, but for what, I didn't know. Was it for me? Was it for her? It didn't even matter though, in that second the tears that I had held off for so long came leaking out like running water. I never realized that my punishments before had been relatively private compared to this, and now I felt like I was on display. My body and my faults. Both physically and mentally. I was jerked forward, stumbling slightly, not able to see much through my tears. Wiping them away as best as I could, I felt my arm being tugged down and saw that Jasper was sitting in a chair, near the table of doom.
My body seemed to be on auto-pilot as I let him guide me over his lap, his left arm resting in the middle of my back, keeping me completely still. I could feel the blood rush to my head, and lifted my head a tiny bit, grasping my hands around the legs of the chair.
"Please." I whimpered pitifully, "Please don't do this!"
Without answering, Jasper instead lifted the back of my dress up so that I could feel the coolness of the air around us on the backs of my legs and small of my back. My white, bikini cut panties on display for all to see. I squirmed, knowing that it would be futile. A sharp pain across my bottom made me stop, shocking me into silence.
"Move again, and you'll get worse." He threatened.
I choked on my tears as they fell down my face, my sobs ringing out in the room. If Bal or Makenna were saying anything, I couldn't hear them over my cries and pounding in my ears. I only cried harder as I felt my panties being slipped down to my ankles, before Jasper removed them completely. Now, my ass was on display for anyone and everyone.
"Your ass looks so good with my hand print on it." Jasper commented, running his fingers over the heated area where he spanked me.
"Do you know why you are being punished, my pet?" He asked.
I sniffled, and tried to get a hold of my sobs, but my body was shaking like a leaf in unadulterated fear, "Because I went through your things, M-Master."
Jasper chuckled, before his hand connected with my bottom once more, "No." He replied, "And I'm a bit offended that you feel like I would punish you for your curiosity in my bedroom."
I screamed as he rubbed out the sting with the palm of his hand.
"You are being punished for lying. Not for being a woman. Women are curious by nature. And as I expected, you are no different. Now, try again. Why are you being punished, slave?"
"B-Because I lied about the ring," I cried, I knew that he knew. I knew I should have just come clean in the first place.
"And because I am curious," Jasper said as I hiccuped, "Please, explain to me how that ring came to find purchase underneath the bed."
I swallowed back a moan as his hands continued to rub my ass. Occasionally he would squeeze a spot here or there, but his fingers felt cool on the heated areas.
"I was looking through the drawers, Master. I found the ring, but then accidentally dropped it and it rolled beneath the bed. I was going to get it, I just didn't have the time. You came home that night." I explained as best as I could.
"And should I expect to find any more of my possessions lying around at odd places throughout the house?" He asked, giving my bottom another sharp slap.
"No, Master!"
"Good. Thank you for finally coming clean, Isabella." He said, "And if you had just done this before, you would not be in the position that you are in now. Perhaps this will teach you a lesson, should this situation arise again. Now, you are to count each of your lashings and then thank me for it afterward. If you miss one, I will start over. I can do this all night, slave, it's up to you for how long it lasts for."
I didn't even have time to reply before a white-hot searing pain soared through my entire body. I screamed loudly, sure that if we had neighbors in a ten mile radius, they would have heard me. I had never felt pain like that before.
"One!" I screamed, sobbing, "T-Thank you, Master."
Another bright light lit up behind my eyes as pain even worse than the first rocked through me. He hit the tops of my thighs.
"Two! Thank you, M-Master."
I didn't know what he was using on me, but it sure as hell wasn't his hand. And it wasn't hard, like a brush or paddle. That only left one thing. The leather belt. He was relentless in the blows and my ass and thighs felt like they could be bleeding by now. Sitting for at least a month was going to be out of the question. Somehow I still managed to count and thank him after each one. Not missing one, but not doing it fast enough for his liking, I'm sure.
"Sixteen!" I sobbed, "Thank you, Master, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
"You will be." He said, not stopping.
I don't know when my body became numb, but I would venture a guess between hits twenty-four to thirty-one. My mind shut down, my ass on fire, yet I was still managing to count the blows. A part of me didn't even realize when Jasper had stopped. My eyes were shut tightly, tears still leaking from the corners. But, I was in another world. A world of no pain, no slavery, and no leather belts. Words were being spoken, but I didn't care. If they were generated to me, I wouldn't know. My body lay limp as someone lifted me in their arms, carrying me, to where, I didn't know. Hiccups escaped me randomly, along with tears and broken sobs. But still, my mind was elsewhere. The pain that was coursing through my body was unbearable, and yet... I bore.
My hair was matted to my head in sweat, my head pounding, snot and tears mixing together on my face. I'm sure that if I was in my right mind, I would be horrified, but as it was, I just didn't care. Nothing mattered to me except for the pain. It wasn't in just the areas he took his belt to. No, the pain was all over. My entire body felt like he had taken the belt to every inch of me, though I know he didn't.
"This was for your own good, my pet." He whispered into my ear.
That was the last thing I heard, before the darkness finally claimed me.
That night was sleepless as I continued to wake up, hissing and gasping as I would accidentally roll over on to my back. As soon as my bottom touched the bed, pain like I had never before felt would shoot through me causing me to whimper. First I was surprised to even be on the bed. I thought for sure he would have placed me back in the kennel. But, maybe Jasper had realized I had enough for one day.
When I woke up crying for the fourth time due to a very realistic dream of Jasper taking the belt to me with me tied to a whipping bench, I finally caved and asked for some kind of medicine, in hopes to help with the discomfort and with the horrible nightmares.
"No, pet," Jasper chuckled, running his fingers through my sweaty hair, "You need to remember this pain for next time. Perhaps next time you will realize that it's not worth it to lie to me."
His words just made me cry harder, but I lay back down with Jasper lying directly behind me, careful not to touch me. Instead he whispered words of how good I was and how well I took my punishment. And if I could be a good girl, I would get rewards and not scolding's. My mind was definitely not in the right place, because I fell asleep again wondering what things someone like Jasper would consider a reward for someone like me.
"Bella."
"Psst. Bella!"
"Isabella!"
I shot up in the bed, instantly crying out. Fuck, that hurt!
"Oh, I'm so sorry Bella!" Makenna cried, rubbing my back as I willed my tears to remain at bay.
I really didn't want to cry in front of her. Again. Remembering last night only had my face bright red, causing me to dig my face deeper into my pillow. How was I supposed to look her in the eyes this morning?
"I know it hurts," She said, still running her fingers over my bare back, "But you must get up now. We have a lot to do before we need to meet the men later."
I moved my face so that I was looking at Makenna and saw nothing but sadness in her eyes. It looked like she was trying hard not to cry. And when did I lose my clothes? Looking down I saw that my bottom half was covered by a sheet, but my clothes were most definitely gone. I clutched the sheet and moved it upwards to my breasts, hoping to cover them up somewhat. Sure, it was nothing she hadn't seen before, but this time was different... Wasn't it?
"There's no time for modesty, Bella," Makenna scolded, "I need to help you bathe and get you ready."
"Help me bathe?" I asked, my voice coming out stuffy.
"Yes," She insisted, "Your Master insisted that you would need help this morning. And from the looks of you, you will need all of my help. He did not go easy on you last night that is for sure."
I looked to where her eyes were and gasped. There was redness all over my bottom, with the occasional light bruise. And it hadn't even been twenty-four hours yet! Those bruises were just going to get darker and darker throughout the day. I wanted to really get a good look at the damage, but I didn't want to do so in front of one of the people I considered a friend.
"Do you think you can give me a few moments to myself, please?" I asked Makenna.
Her eyes met mine once more and it pained me to see the sadness there. This was not her burden to carry. There was no reason she should be sad because of me and my mistakes.
"I can't," She replied softly, "I'm under strict orders to help you in everything."
In other words, she was not to leave this room without me. And if Makenna was given a direct order, she was not going to disobey it, and I didn't want her to. Last thing I would ever want would be for her to be in the position I'm in right now. I wouldn't wish this kind of pain, even on my worst enemy.
Instead, I sighed and dropped the thin sheet that was covering me, trying to figure out the best way to get out of the bed with the least amount of pain as possible. My whole body ached as if I had the flu or had done an extreme workout the night before. Makenna grabbed my hand and helped me sit up, but moving even the slightest hurt like a bitch.
"I feel like I've run a fucking marathon." I groused.
By now she had somehow managed to tug me to my feet, my body protesting the whole way.
"You're up," She said smiling slightly, "And I think a hot shower will feel good on your muscles."
Grasping my hand in hers she led me to the bathroom in the bedroom, only leaving my side once we were in so she could get the water started. While her back was turned to the tub I examined myself in the mirror. I turned around slightly to view the area that got the most damage and was surprised by just how little bruising there was! The backs of my legs, over my bottom and up to my thighs were still very red, but there were only a couple of bruises here and there, and they were faint. With how I was feeling through the night last night I could have sworn that I would be black and blue all over! But… There was hardly anything there!
"I'm afraid that things are only going to get worse for you today before they get better." Makenna said from beside me.
"I don't see how things can get any worse than this," I replied, "Unless he takes the belt to me again."
"It is not my place to say, Bella," Makenna said sadly as she helped me into the shower, "But, you will soon find out. And I want to make you as comfortable as I can beforehand."
"Because that's not ominous." I muttered.
Makenna just chuckled sadly, stripping out of her dress. Shocked that she was taking off her clothes I gasped and quickly faced the front.
"I do not mean to offend," She said softly, shedding her underwear, "But you need help, and this is easier than having the both of us move in awkward directions."
I could feel the blood pooling in my face, and knew that I was bright red. But, due to how I was brought into this world, there wasn't a piece of me she hasn't seen, and thanks to me and my big, lying mouth, she had also seen me at my worst.
"I understand." I whispered, letting the water run down my face.
I could feel her step in behind me, placing her hand lightly on my shoulder to let me know how close she was.
"Switch positions with me and stand under the water so I can wash your hair." She instructed.
As her fingers rand through my hair, her nails scratching at my scalp to get it all clean, I couldn't help but compare this experience to the last time someone bathed me. Even though I was pretty much out of it I still remembered the way his fingers felt as he washed away the dirt and grime from the isolation room. How his fingers were gentle, even when his palm on my backside wasn't. Thinking about Jasper's hands on me caused me to break out in the goose bumps, and I wasn't sure if it was in fear or something else. I didn't want to even consider the thought that it might be something else though. That was impossible. And only something you would see on Law and Order or read in bad, trashy romance novels.
Luckily, Makenna worked fast and I was clean before I knew it. She was also right that the hot water did relax me a lot and my body was less stiff and sore now. I could almost move in all directions again without hurting.
When we returned back to the room I saw another simple dress laying on the bed. It hadn't been there before so I knew someone came in and set it there for when we were done. I picked up the dress, looking around for the panties, but didn't see any. That could only mean that I wasn't supposed to wear any. I grit my teeth and quickly donned the dress, feeling more comfortable with something covering me. I turned around to see Makenna had gotten dressed as well.
"I need to do your hair, as well," She said, "But I'm afraid it's going to hurt for you to sit."
Deciding not to argue and make her job all the harder, I gingerly sat on the stool in front of the mirror, cringing at my bottom came to rest. It hurt, but after the shower it wasn't too terribly bad. Making eye contact in the mirror, I gave Makenna a small smile.
"Thank you for helping me, Makenna." I said softly.
"It was my pleasure, Bella. That's what friends are for, yes?"
I smiled wider at my new friend, "Yes." I agreed.
Makenna worked on my hair in silence the rest of the time, only speaking to offer her apologies as I stood up from the chair. Then she grabbed my hand and led me out of the bedroom and to Master's study. She glanced at me once as we stood outside the closed door, silently asking me to knock. I let my knuckles tap against the oak a couple of times before a muffled 'come in' was heard.
The sight that greeted us was almost comical. Jasper was sitting in his chair with Bal leaning over him, yelling at Jasper some directions that made no sense to me what so ever. Jasper's brows were scrunched together in deep concentration, his eyes completely focused on the screen in front of him. Bal on the other hand, his eyes were crinkled at the corners, a smile tugging on his lips, like he was trying not to out right laugh. His eyes moved up as Makenna and I fully entered the room.
"Ah, there you girls are. I was afraid you might have had more fun in the shower than we had anticipated." Bal said, looking back down at the screen.
"Not there! O dios mio. Bueno no estás presente mucho de un coño en la vida real." He said clapping Jasper on the back, chuckling heartily.
"Your words, mi amigo, they hurt." Jasper said, sitting back in his chair in defeat.
"Nah, you're just not cut out for the fantasy world, that's all." Bal said moving towards us.
I looked down, not wanting to look at Jasper any longer now that his concentration wasn't on whatever he was just doing. I was still pissed, and hurt... And plain furious with him.
"Now that the girls are here though, why don't we get out of here for a little while? Our work is done for now, and we deserve a break." Bal said.
I didn't look up to see what Jasper thought of that idea, but his next words pretty much summed it up.
"And you feel like my pet is deserving to leave the house?" He asked, sounding somewhat amused.
I clenched my hands in anger. The last time I left this god-forsaken place was when he took me to the Auction. And the time before that was when I was running for my life and ended up deathly ill when I was dragged back. To actually leave, to do something normal, would be a nice change.
"Deserving?" Bal asked, "Hell no. But do I think she learned her lesson? Si, very much."
"And what makes you think that she has learned her lesson?" Jasper asked, as if "she" wasn't standing right here in the room.
"Porque I have never seen you discipline a slave so hard in my life," Bal explained with a hearty chuckle, "I bet you ten thousand pesos that her ass is a nice red color, littered with some pretty bruises the shape of your fingers."
"Ten thousand pesos?" Jasper asked, laughing hard, "What use do I have for your money? No. I know what her ass will look like, and I don't believe I was as hard on her as you say."
This time it was Bal's turn to laugh and my curiosity got the best of me and I just had to look up to watch this exchange. No matter how mortifying it was to me.
"Fine, you may not need my money, so how about lunch will be on me if I am right, and it will be on you if you are right." Bal said sticking out his hand to Jasper for a shake.
Jasper just shook his head, a slight curve to his lips in a smile, "Deal."
"Isabella, come here." Jasper commanded, catching my eyes with his.
He didn't look mad, but he didn't look too happy with me either. Knowing that arguing would get me nowhere I walked over to him, until I was right by his side.
"Turn around, pet." He demanded.
Biting my lip I did as instructed and faced the wall, not wanting to make eye contact with Makenna, who moved to stand to my left. I could feel Jasper's fingers on my the back of my knees as he lifted my dress to expose my bottom. The only sound that gave anything away was Bal's snort and Jasper's amused, "huh".
"Well, I guess you were right, old friend," Jasper said as he moved my dress back down to cover me, "I didn't think I punished her all that severely. I thought her ass would have toughened up some seeing as how she always seems to be bent over my knee."
"It's all well," Balthazar said clapping Jasper on the shoulder as he stood up, "But you agree that she learned her lesson from that spanking, si?"
Jasper looked back to me once before answering, "Yes, I think she has learned not to lie to me again."
Gesturing for Makenna and I to lead the way, we went downstairs and waited in the entry way for the guys to come and get us. Without saying a word, Makenna grabbed my hand in hers and squeezed gently, giving me a reassuring smile.
"I am excited to have lunch with you," She said, "Maybe our Masters will let us talk while they are talking."
Not wanting to say anything that might hurt her feelings, I just smiled back the best I could and nodded my head. I had to keep reminding myself that we weren't brought up in the same world. That we had each seen our own evils, and hers just happened to be a million times worse than anything I had ever had to witness. It wasn't her fault. And yet, I had a fluttering sensation in my lower abdomen that made me think that she wasn't the only one excited about getting out of this house.
The guys came back for us after a couple of minutes, and led us out to the black car sitting in the driveway. Of course it was black, with tinted windows so nobody could see inside. Who else, besides drug dealers and mafia leaders would drive such a car? Sitting down in the plush seats proved to be more difficult than I first thought, but I managed to do so without making a sound. Though, judging from my Masters smirk, the expression on my face probably gave me away.
"So, where are we going, Bal?" Jasper asked as the driver pulled away from the house.
"Ah, mi favorito," Bal said rubbing his hands together, "Las Mananitas!"
Jasper laughed and nodded his head, "Perhaps next time you visit we will come again and send the girls to use the spa there."
As Bal and Jasper began to talk about the different places they liked to dine at around here, I tuned them out, instead looking out the window at all the desert passing us by. Bal reached into his pocket and handed Makenna a hand-held device that made her eyes light up as she fiddled with it, a quiet "thank you Master" uttered. Makenna looked up to me and caught my eye, patting the seat next to her. I looked to Jasper to see if he would mind, and he smiled slightly, nodding his head that I could investigate what she had in her hands. It was bound to be better than just sitting here right?
I moved as gently as I could and gingerly sat down beside Makenna and giggled at what I saw. Who knew. She liked Hangman. The rest of the ride was spent with the men talking or watching Makenna and I play Hangman against one another. Before I knew it we were at what looked to be a Hotel, a valet man opening the door for us.
Makenna handed back the game to Bal before he stepped out of the car. Seeing Jasper's hand I quickly moved to grab it, stepping out of the car. I guess the guys didn't want even the Valet boy to touch us because Bal helped Makenna out of the car as well. Following Makenna's lead and keeping my eyes to the ground, I walked beside Jasper not saying a word, but trying to catch glimpses of everything out of the corners of my eyes. There was just so much to take in. I had never been to Mexico before and the last time I was out, we were in another building that was infested with slaves and "Masters". So, outside with all the other "normal" people, was something that I had yet to experience.
"Scream or make any kind of scene here, and I swear that after I am finished with you, you will wish that you had stayed back at the house. I will make the Isolation Room look like child's play." Jasper whispered harshly into my ear.
I was in such shock that I didn't even realize I had stopped walking until Jasper tugged on my hand, pulling me forward once more. Gulping nervously, I muttered a low, "Yes Master." And continued to follow.
There was no way in hell I was going to try and escape. I have seen first hand what Jasper and his men are capable of. Even if I did manage to get away, they would find me. I would never be truly free from him.
The hotel was like no hotel that I had ever seen before. Everything was written in Spanish with the occasional sentence translated in English below it, for the tourists I presumed, but the Hotel itself was massive and ritzy looking. Not even bothering with the pretense of not looking around, I gaped openly at everything I saw. It was nothing like Jasper's home.
Bal chuckled and Jasper just continued to tug on my hand as they led the way to the restaurant. The hostess greeted Balthazar by name, not even glancing at Makenna as she led us to his "usual seat." Makenna and I climbed in the booth first, followed by the guys, sitting by the aisle. I had to wonder if that's how they normally sat or if it was because they feared I would try and escape.
"Did you eat at places as fancy as this back home, Isabella?" Bal asked me, shocking me that he would even mention the home I used to have.
"N-No, Sir." I muttered, still in shock and slight confusion that he was actually talking to me.
Thinking about home though brought on a flood of emotions I wasn't prepared for though, and it took all I had in me not to burst into tears. I could think about it later. Right now, I just needed to make it through this dinner.
Luckily I was saved by our server coming to the table, asking for orders. It shouldn't have surprised me that I wasn't even given a menu. Instead Jasper ordered for the both of us, as Bal did the same for him and Makenna. Balthazar must have been an important man here though, because our food was out within fifteen minutes and our drinks never had a chance to become empty. It was service at its finest, that's for sure. The rest of the dinner went by smoothly, with talk here and there of their families and things that didn't relate to their line of work. Makenna and I also made small talk, once in a while answering a question that was directed at us. I was almost sad to leave, but cheered up knowing that Makenna would still be visiting with us for a couple more days.
Leaving the restaurant, Jasper pulled me into his side, "You were very well behaved, pet," He whispered as we waited on the valet to come back for the car, "If you didn't still have a punishment to come I would have rewarded you for your behavior back there."
"Punishment?" I gasped, looking up at him, "But you already gave me my punishment!" I whisper-yelled back.
To my surprise Jasper laughed, "Oh no. You still have one more thing headed your way."
The ride back to Jasper's lair was tense. Or maybe it was just me that was tense. Instead of playing Hangman back, Jasper kept me by his side, his fingers once again, finding their way to my hair. As Jasper opened the door for us, we were met with Charlotte.
"We'll take some tea in the sitting area." Jasper told her as he began walking that way.
Makenna held my hand as we followed after him and Bal, only stopping short when I saw my stool. The stool wasn't what surprised me though. It was what was on the stool that kept my feet grounded to where they were.
"Lift your dress and sit, Isabella." Jasper commanded.
"What is that?" I asked, already knowing the answer, but praying that I was somehow wrong.
"Sandpaper."