Afghan Bound (22 page)

‘Would you rather I left? You'd probably prefer your new client didn't see me here.'

‘Not at all,' smiled David. ‘It'll be nice to have a bit of male company for a while. But no matter what you see or hear, you must not interrupt. Do you agree?'

‘I agree… whatever you say.'

The house was clean and tidy by the time Justin strolled downstairs. David was in the kitchen frying bacon and eggs and looking none the worse from lack of sleep.

‘There you go,' he said, pushing a plate towards him. Justin sat near the ring secured to the wall; the one where Emily had apparently sat to eat her breakfast after her morning exercise. He toyed with the rashers before managing his first mouthful. Once that was safely negotiated his hunger returned with a vengeance, and the rest of the meal was scoffed in no time. It helped with his hangover, setting him up for what promised to be a long and interesting day.

‘What time is Mr Whatsisname expected to arrive… Mr Berry, isn't it?'

‘Bedi. His name is Mr Bedi. He's a Pakistani lawyer. He should be arriving fairly soon. It depends what the traffic's like.'

‘Justin glanced at his watch and gulped down the last of his tea. ‘I'd better dive in the shower then before they turn up. Do you get many Pakistani wives?'

‘A few,' said David as Justin headed for the stairs. ‘But this one isn't his wife. It's his daughter.'

About an hour later the large brass doorknocker announced the arrival of David's new trainee. It was a nervy time for all involved, and the atmosphere always took on a calm yet bristling stillness that one feels just before a thunderstorm. David led the pair inside and introduced the surprised Mr Bedi to Justin.

‘I thought you would be alone,' said Mr Bedi.

Justin rose politely to shake his hand, allaying any fears of impropriety.

‘Don't worry Mr Bedi, he's my assistant,' said David. He turned to the girl. ‘And you must be Sabrina.' She was by far the youngest trainee ever brought to him. In her baggy jeans and sweatshirt she looked almost too young. She was though, incredibly beautiful; almost identical to Imran's daughter, Calsoom. For a moment he pictured the naked Calsoom with that beautiful silver collar tight about her neck. How proud Imran had been when she was sold. David knew that when he had finished Sabrina's training, Mr Bedi would be equally as proud.

‘Coffee?' offered Justin.

Mr Bedi answered by smiling, then motioned for his daughter to sit at the table, where David brought across the necessary papers.

‘Will you be long, father?' asked Sabrina. ‘I want to see Benazir. I want to tell her my news.'

‘What news is that?' Justin asked.

‘I've got a place at Trinity,' she said, with all the confidence of youth. ‘I start this autumn.' She heard her father tutting, and with a touch of arrogance to her voice added. ‘My father thinks I should forget about my education and marry my cousin. He's still living in the past, you'd never think he's such an intelligent man.' She took a biscuit from the tray and dunked it in her coffee. ‘What are those for?' she asked, pointing at the metal rings attached to the wall.

Justin's heart was thumping. She had no idea why she was here, he realised. She thinks she's on her way to her relative or friends' house.

‘They're for chaining women to the hearth,' smiled David. ‘It stops them from running around and making a nuisance of themselves.'

Sabrina laughed at the chauvinistic remark, incorrectly interpreting it as a joke, and incorrectly interpreting it as a snipe at her own father. She threw back her mane of jet black hair. ‘You ought to get some,' she gibed at Mr Bedi. ‘Then you could always keep an eye on me.'

‘If you went to Rawalpindi and married Sunil I wouldn't have to.'

She laughed. ‘Well I'm not. This is Britain, not Pakistan. You marry Sunil if you like him that much. I'm going to university to build a career for myself. I'll have a husband when I'm ready, not when you are.'

Mr Bedi sighed. ‘Then you leave me no choice.' He signed the paper and handed it back to David. ‘Sunil would have preferred a virgin, but you do what you have to.'

Sabrina's signature was not required.

‘What's that?' she asked. ‘What are you on about, “Sunil would have preferred a virgin”?'

Mr Bedi removed his glasses and cleaned them wearily. ‘If only you kept to the old traditions. All this talk of careers.' He shook his head sadly. ‘All this talk of…'

His voice trailed away until Sabrina could no longer hear his words, although his mouth was still moving. Her head span and her temples thumped. Suddenly she slumped on the sofa, aware of hands unbuttoning her jeans and pulling her sweatshirt over her head. Her bra was removed, her trainers and socks, and then her panties. David was speaking now, but she still couldn't catch any of it. She began to dissolve into the sofa, and then everything faded into blackness.

‘Will she be all right?' asked Mr Bedi.

‘She'll be just fine,' David assured him. ‘It was only a strong sedative in her coffee. Try not to worry.'

‘It's hard not to.' He looked at his daughter asleep and naked on the sofa. How she had grown up. Her breasts were full, and the triangle of black hair hid the prominent lips of a sexual woman. ‘What happens now?' he asked.

David produced another form and placed it on the table. ‘I need you to sign this please, Mr Bedi.'

‘What is it?'

‘A precaution on my part. It confirms that Sabrina is eighteen.'

Mr Bedi signed, and the forms were locked away.

David then fetched the collar and cuffs and began buckling them onto Sabrina. ‘You can stay for a while,' he said. ‘But once she's shaved you must leave as we agreed.'

Mr Bedi shook his head. ‘I'll leave now I think.'

Justin showed him to the door and returned to find David fitting a spreader bar to her legs. ‘What's that for?' he asked.

‘Stops her kicking about,' said David. ‘Do you fancy doing it?'

Sabrina was slowly returning to her senses, the mist gradually clearing from her mind. The drug maintained her state of relaxation, despite being stripped and bound in front of two virtual strangers. Even the appearance of Justin carrying a cutthroat razor provoked no real reaction.

‘Please,' she whispered. ‘I'll be good. I'll do whatever you say.'

David knelt with soap and water and began to lather her, paying particular attention to the soft sexual lips. He massaged her until she was ready and then handed over to Justin, who was caught trying to adjust the discomfort in his trousers. Sabrina couldn't see much, but felt the steel skating easily across her pubic mound.

‘Why are you doing this to me? Where's my father? He won't stand for you treating me like this, you know.'

‘Sabrina, your father and I have an agreement. You're here for a month to be trained.'

‘Trained?' She was dumbfounded and still a little groggy.

‘Yes, trained. When you leave here you will be a slave for your father and Sunil to be proud of.'

‘I don't understand. This sort of thing doesn't happen in this country. This must be some kind of joke—'

‘No joke,' David silenced her. ‘I'm deadly serious about my profession.'

Justin rose from his haunches and informed David that he'd finished shaving her.

‘Good, looks like you've done a good job. Would you put her over the back of the sofa, please Justin.'

‘Aren't we taking her down to the cellars?'

‘No. She's had quite a shock already. Don't want to overdo it.'

Justin had to agree.

Before Sabrina could say another word she found herself balanced over the leather furniture. Her hair draped over the seat, and her spread feet dangled inches above the plush carpet. ‘Please,' her voice was muffled. ‘I'm not going to cause you any trouble. I'm not as naïve as my father would like to think. I'll do whatever it is you want me to do.'

David ignored her rambling and took the sjambok from where he'd previously placed it behind the door. He lifted her chin and showed it to her. ‘Now my girl, do you know what this is?' She shuddered, and he took that for a ‘yes'. He rubbed its tip into the cleft of her raised bottom. ‘This strip of rhinoceros skin will help you decide between university or Rawalpindi; a desk or a husband. If you choose school you will continue to receive visits from my stick until you change your mind. If you choose Sunil you will not feel its lick at all. The only requirement then will be for you to learn how to please your man – and that's what I shall teach you. Nod if you agree to be my slave until such time that I give you up.'

Sabrina didn't move.

‘So be it.'

David stepped back, adjusted his position in relation to the flawless target, and released the sjambok to do its work. Time and time again it bit into the flesh of the writhing female; biting, stinging, burning upon the reddening buttocks as they squirmed forlornly to escape its unmerciful torment.

Justin thought his friend was about to skin the hide from the new trainee, but David knew his business. She was a fit young lady, and more than capable of accepting this thrashing. Her natural cockiness alone would ensure she bounced back. David anticipated quite a challenge with Sabrina.

‘Rub some cream into her bottom, please,' he said to Justin. ‘The jar is over there.'

While David busied himself ensuring the piercing gun was sterile, Justin carried out the pleasant task of smoothing the cooling lotion into Sabrina's buttocks. The balm would soothe away the sting and help prevent any long-term marking. She looked sore and Justin sympathised, taking great care not to press too hard. There was a definite heat radiating from her skin and the white cream was greedily absorbed on contact. At one moment he thought he detected a ripple of pleasure run through her – but he was surely mistaken.

‘Was that really necessary?' he whispered to David as he replaced the jar of cream on the table. ‘It looked almost Draconian.'

David showed a little annoyance that a complete novice was questioning his proven methods. ‘Sabrina's got a lot of spirit – don't you worry about her.' He loaded a pin into the gun, and then lifted her off the sofa and sat her on a chair by the table. He cupped one breast, flicked the nipple until it instinctively stiffened, and then fired the pin through it. Sabrina stiffened and yelped.

‘You didn't anaesthetise her,' protested Justin, concerned for the pain she must have felt. ‘At least use some local, like you told me you do.'

‘Please don't interrupt, Justin. When I said you could stay I did ask that you didn't interrupt.' He fired the gun again, and Justin flinched almost as much as Sabrina did. ‘It may look cruel,' he continued while caressing Sabrina's smooth skin, ‘but she'll soon learn to appreciate it.'

David was a little wary of Justin's performance so far. He had clearly enjoyed the long narrative the night before, but now the reality didn't seem to rest so well with his conscience. He'd have to keep a close eye on him. ‘Would you remove her restraints and take her up for a bath. I'm going to prepare dinner; we'll eat soon, and then I think we could all benefit from an early night.'

Justin guided Sabrina up to the bathroom. She sat quietly while he ran the bath, and then he eased her into the hot, perfumed suds. He took the soap and began to massage life back into her fatigued limbs. He tried to detach himself from her alluring beauty, but his fingers were drawn time and again to her slippery breasts.

He knew his trousers bulged, and that she could not mistake his excitement. She looked up at him through the steamy atmosphere. Her lips peeled apart and her eyes closed. He was transfixed by her serenity. Despite her unfamiliar surroundings and the uncertainty of what lay in store for her in the coming weeks, she was begging to be kissed. He inched lower.

‘I see you're getting to know each other,' said David as he bustled into the bathroom. ‘You'll find some clothes in the dressing room – have her wear them. Sunil wants her in traditional dress, but I've had them modified a little to allow more access.' Justin straightened and tried to look more business-like as David turned and was gone.

‘Why do you let him do those things to me?' asked Sabrina. It was the first time she had spoken directly to him. ‘Why did you let him whip me? Why did you let him put these things through my nipples?' She held her breasts up for him to see the gleaming metal pins running through the sore nubs.

Justin was embarrassed and slightly lost for what to say. ‘I have to,' he managed to stammer. ‘I can't do anything if your father has signed you over to David. They have an agreement.'

She lifted herself up until her wet body was clear of the suds. ‘You know what he's going to do to me, don't you? And do you know what'll happen to me when I'm sent back to Pakistan?'

He was finding it increasingly difficult to tear his eyes from her clean and slippery skin.