Surreal (Divine Trilogy #3) (13 page)

Keeping her eyes down, she dipped her knees in a curtsy. “Tis a pleasure, Sir. Thank you for your generous hospitality to Master and this girl.” The last thing the submissive expected was the bark of delighted glee bursting from Okamoto moments later. After the initial shock wore off, she smiled.

“Very good, Jayden-san. I approve. You have done well, young man.”

Master scoffed. “I’m not so young anymore.”

Okamoto looked at Catherine and winked. “This is true for all of us, my friend, but when surrounded by youthful beauty such as this,” he gestured to her direction, “age is, how do you say? Just a number. Yes?”

Master laughed, and the sound tickled her low, where she was nude beneath her skirt. The urge to squirm was strong, but she held herself still.

“I welcome you both to my home. Allow me to give you the grand tour, and then I’ll leave you to get settled into your room. Dinner is served at six each evening, and lessons begin at six each morning. Come.”

As the tour progressed, Catherine found the house to be much larger than she’d first thought. Sinking back into the surrounding flora, the main house and gardens covered several thousand square feet. It was exquisite, especially the gardens. She hoped there would be some free time during their visit to enjoy the peaceful serenity promised by the babbling streams and precision-groomed landscapes.

Blinking, then stretching, Catherine bolted upright and jumped out of bed in a panic. There was too much sunlight. It was late.

She
was late.

Each day had begun in darkness, then carried forward into the afternoon while following the routine established by Sir Okamoto. Catherine had never been more tired, or endured such an overall body ache, as she had in the last two weeks. Not willingly, anyway. The abuse she’d suffered under Spencer hadn’t brought her any of the deep gratification that came from her voluntary service to Master. Learning from him and with him under Okamoto’s tutelage had been eye-opening and she knew had brought them closer as a couple, in all senses of the word.

The gardens had indeed ended up being a place of reflection. Every morning, after their five a.m. dip in the heated baths, they assembled adjacent to the Zen garden for a workout of mind and body. Catherine had found the controlled, fluid-like movements awkward at first, but after a few days, she’d limbered up and gotten the hang of it. That was the point when Sir Okamoto allowed the binding lessons to begin.

As each Shibari session became longer and more elaborate, Catherine welcomed their morning
Tai chi
—yearned for it, even. Going through the non-stressful forms eased her muscles and loosened them for the upcoming paces her Master would be putting her through. Okamoto had stressed how the combination of the Tai chi with the rope lessons was achieving the optimum level of
kokoro
, the Eastern philosophy of bringing the heart, spirit, and mind together as one.

Following the morning ritual, they broke for a simple lunch—usually a hearty bowl of ramen with seafood—and then the submissive and her Master were left to their own devices until dinner time. Sometimes they napped, other times they scened, but whatever they did was Master’s choice. She was finding that the more time she spent in a full submissive mindset, the easier Catherine was letting go and trusting her well-being to Him. It was rather refreshing to be able to do so.

Thinking back, Catherine realized the only discontent she’d felt the entire visit had come in the hours after the evening meal, when the household split up. Master and Sir Okamoto, along with any guests who’d joined them, retired for some “male bonding.” She didn’t know where they went or what they did, and therein lay her upset. Catherine hated being apart from her Master.

Ironically, she also cherished this time, because while the men vanished into the bowels of the house, Catherine went to class. Along with the newest members of Okamoto’s harem, she was being taught the
why
of Shibari—properly known as
Kinbaku
. Getting to learn the history and ceremony behind the ancient Japanese rope bondage was proving to enhance the experience. She figured it was just a matter of time before she found herself in ‘rope-space,’ a trance-like state similar to sub-space, except brought on by the pleasure of being lovingly and artistically bound. Every inch of the
asanawa
touching her, cinching her flesh in hemp, bound her deeper to Master and cemented the certainty that there was no other for her. Knowing the symbolism of everything, from the materials used to bind, to the variety and placement of the knots, made her feel beautiful.

These thoughts drove Catherine through a rushed stop in the bathroom to splash water on her face, brush her teeth, and empty her bladder. Glancing about for her outfit, since Master had laid one out for her each morning thus far, she found nothing. She donned the silk kimono that had been her allowed covering within their room—
washitshu
she whispered, practicing from her lessons—then slid back the . . .
fusuma
and stepped into the hallway. Looking left then right and seeing no one, Catherine opted to head for the usual workout area.

When she arrived a few minutes later, the sight of Master and Sir Okamoto and no one else sitting at a low table sharing tea brought her up short. Steadying her resolve, she took a few more steps to get within Master’s peripheral vision, then knelt to wait for His acknowledgement. The longer she was ignored, the wetter she became. Something big was going to happen. The calculated routine had changed, and her body was awakening with naughty desire.

*~*~*

“Jayden-san, I must insist you enjoy the pleasures of nuru on your last night here.”

Catherine knelt at her Master’s side, still ‘floaty’ from that morning’s session. She’d been correct in her hunch that today would be different from any other during their visit to Tokyo. At Master’s insistence, the submissive had been nude for their session, which had begun when he slipped the kimono from her shoulders after finishing his tea. Until today, he’d allowed her to wear a bodysuit or leotard to enforce the educational aspect of their instruction over the sexual. Today’s session could be likened to a final exam, and Master had wanted her to get the full experience of erotic binding amongst the lush gardens. Without a doubt, he’d followed through on his promise of heightening the session for her once they didn’t have an audience. Okamoto had observed but from a distance, letting the couple get lost in their connection.

“Open for me.” Master brought a bite of udon and shark to her lips.

She didn’t feel like eating but had recovered enough of her senses to know she needed the caloric infusion of the fatty fish and noodles and accepted the food. Closing her eyes, Catherine rested her head on his thigh and chewed.

“That is kind of you,
Bakushi
. However, I’m afraid I must decline again tonight.”

“Your girl is welcome to participate this time.”

Hearing herself mentioned caused Catherine’s ears to perk up in mild curiosity.
Was this where Master had gone each evening?
Her stomach clenched. She racked her brain trying to put a definition to the term ‘noo Roo,’ but came up blank. It didn’t help that she was still shaking off the blissful cobwebs of their earlier activities.

“Well, that may change things, then.”

Catherine felt his hand stroking her head. When he tapped her lips, she left her eyes closed and parted them to take another bite. While the food settled in her stomach and her blood sugar levels evened out, their conversation became clearer, and she peeked through her heavy lids to observe the two men.

*~*~*

Jayden could tell she was coming around, regaining her senses. Her frame didn’t lean so heavy against his side, her breathing was taking on a more regular rhythm, and she was eating at last. She’d slept through lunch and most of the afternoon. For the evening meal, he’d had to practically carry her to the table, but he wasn’t letting her wait anymore. Catherine needed to get some food in her system.

He needed her alert.

While it troubled him to admit, Jayden sensed their welcome had run its course and was glad they were departing in the morning. His old friend was losing sight of the fact that he and Catherine were guests,
not
part of his harem.

That morning, Jayden had gotten so involved in binding his jewel, stretching her limbs to their limits, then locking her in position with the ropes, that he’d forgotten Okamoto was observing. Nothing and no one else existed while Jayden watched Catherine’s emerald eyes glaze over and become unfocused. She was his everything when he took up the multi-tailed bull whip they’d recently graduated to under Jonathan’s teaching.

Knowing Catherine was in the early stages of a drop, he pulled his arm back and snapped it forward to take her closer to the edge. A hissing whistle crackled through the air seconds before the thin, knotted tails connected with her puffy breast and sent a few strands of her scarlet hair fluttering around her face from the displacement of air.

Her scream of pleasure incensed his desire almost as much as watching her nipple swell in conjunction with the red welts rising from her flesh. Again he withdrew his arm to unleash a lash upon her opposite breast; again she screamed, her tight bindings keeping her upright when her body began to slump.

The Dom had taken care to tie her so that she was spread-eagle with a large knot rubbing against her clit and her tits wrapped at their base, to ensure they were full and distended. For a fun bonus, he’d wedged a fresh-carved finger of ginger into her ass, preparing her to beg for his cock later. His slutty girl always loved a deep, thorough fucking to try and combat the burn of the fragrant root.

Over and over, he cracked the whip against her exposed flesh, speaking—
taunting
—while he moved about. Gentle words and crass alike, all delivered with the same praising tone that let her know her Master was there and she was safe to let go and fly. Sensing when she needed more, he dropped the leather then followed the whip to the ground. Kneeling in front of her put him at the perfect height to lean in and lap at the copious amounts of sticky wetness that coated her sex and had darkened the ropes around her cunt.

It wasn’t until Catherine was begging with muted whimpers for permission to come that Jayden remembered their audience of one, because a new sound reached his ears. When he turned away from his jewel to find the source, he was quite surprised to see Okamoto tending his own flesh—a phenomenon Jayden had never seen.

The rope master, to the best of Jayden’s knowledge, always found his release through one of his girls. Self-gratification was below the great man. So it wasn’t a big surprise that the sight had been shocking enough to yank Jayden from the lust haze he’d gotten lost in with his pet, and he’d ended the scene immediately.

Now he wanted Jayden’s pet to be present for a nude massage? Yeah, fuck that.
A strong need to protect what was his surged through him at Okamoto’s invitation to the slippery beds. “First, I need to clarify if you mean to have Catherine in service for the massage or if you’re just inviting her to observe.”

Jayden’s tone didn’t hide his clear reservation when he openly challenged the man’s intentions, and a displeased scowl drew Okamoto’s brows together. “This morning, you showed me what a slut she is, Jayden-san. Would you not have such a
yorokobi
. . . such a delight . . . in service?”

While it was a reasonable enough question, the words raised Jayden’s hackles something fierce. After two weeks of keeping Okamoto’s personal interest off Catherine, he’d let the wall down too far. In blocking out everything but his jewel during their morning scene, Jayden had revealed her true magnificence to the leering observer.

A tense silence crept over the room, and Catherine stiffened by his side. “Master?” She was still drowsy.

Okamoto was crazy if he thought Jayden was going to press Catherine any further that day. The girl was still half out of it and needing aftercare, not another kinky session. A massage
would
be good for her, though. If he took care choosing his words, she’d be able to enjoy the experience, and he wouldn’t have to lose his shit in a jealous rage. That was always a good thing.

Fixing a non-threatening smile on his face, Jayden looked over to his old teacher. “We’d be honored to partake of the nuru tonight,
Bakushi
. May I make a few requests? My slut is not used to such strenuous activities as she partook of today, and I’d like to use the time for an aftercare session. You understand this is a personal thing between a Master and his pet, of course.”

Jayden held his breath while he waited for Okamoto to respond.

Entering the natural stone room felt different this time. A true excitement for the sensual ordeal about to unfold coursed through Jayden, even as he absorbed the warmth radiating from Catherine’s bare back—they’d disrobed outside. He led her around the perimeter toward the open shower in the far corner.

She sighed and melted against him under the rush of hot water that doused their bodies. He turned her in his arms and pulled her close, breathing deep when the steam heightened the scent of her . . . her lotion, her sweat, and that sweet underlying odor that was simply Catherine.

Jayden’s pulse slowed, and his muscles relaxed under the onslaught of rich pheromones. Dipping his head, he caught her lips with his own. While the flowing water rinsed them, the two kissed without care for the passing minutes. He danced his fingers across her back then down to cup her lush derriere. Her responding moan when he rubbed at the residual rope indentations in her silky flesh went straight to his gut, then eased lower—one heartbeat at a time.

The growing need to lift Catherine and pin her against the shower wall with his cock was hard to resist, so he didn’t. She was limp and heavy in his arms. Her whimper when he filled her was audible ecstasy. Jayden allowed himself a single, deep thrust then pulled out and set her back on the ground.

“Come, pet. You’re going to love this.” He guided her to the large mattress in the center of the space.

The bed was more of a low-lying mat, so they had to bend down before crawling onto it. Two of Okamoto’s girls knelt at opposite corners, waiting to begin. Every other time he’d come here as a polite observer, the girls had been nude. Tonight, at his request, they wore bathing suits.

Jayden laid Catherine down on the vinyl surface and then spun himself around after affirming she was comfortable. They were resting hip-to-hip, head-to-feet. At his nod the girls rose, wooden bowls of the odorless and tasteless nori gel in hand, and approached.