Andy still saw a lot of Mr. McCluskey, although by now, he’d become a friend as well as a teacher, too – and Andy was wise enough to tell which of his personalities was which, and deal with them accordingly. One evening, perhaps a month later, was a warm and sweet one, the sun setting late. The four of them were sitting out by the pool, just genially talking. Both Helena and Acacia had complicated rope marks on their bodies, fading now, from a really complex suspension shibari position that Andy and Mr. McCluskey had tied them into. It sort of resembled the both of them caught in a ballet leap, one leg extended, one down, arms arced gently above. It had taken a while to design, longer to set up, and the ladies had hung there in midair like human statues while Andy and Mr. McCluskey just sat back and marveled at the beauty. It really was an art form, after all, Andy realized. He was still a novice, but there would be plenty of time to get good at it.

As always, the ladies had been slow to come out of their subspace, although the hot tub had helped a lot, and now, as the sun was hanging low in the late spring sky, that was behind them. Although the four of them were in swimsuits and t-shirts now, they were being intensely formal with each other, for all of them liked that formality. “My Lord,” Acacia spoke up. “May I offer an observation?”

“Most certainly, My Lady,” Mr. McCluskey smiled. “I would appreciate your elucidation.”

“It just struck me, My Lord,” she smiled. “That there is an important anniversary coming up Friday evening.”

“My Lady, you say that in a manner that makes me think I must have overlooked something serious,” Mr. McCluskey chuckled. “Might I inquire for what I am to be taken to task?”

“An interesting anniversary for us, My Lord,” Acacia explained. “But I think a more important one for Mr. Brown and Miss Curtis. It was a year ago Friday night that he took her upon their first date, and discovered the two of us dining at the Mykonos.”

“Good grief, has it been that long?” Andy smiled. “It has been a most interesting year.”

Helena had a big smile on her face, and had her head cocked to one side. Mr. McCluskey glanced at her and said, “Yes, Miss Curtis, you wished to speak?”

“Yes, sir,” she smiled. “I can scarcely believe the changes that have come over me in that year. I cannot help but wonder if it might not be possible to celebrate it.”

“How would you wish to celebrate it, Miss Curtis?” Mr. McCluskey asked, seeing the glint in her eye.

“Sir, I wonder if it might not be possible that we celebrate the anniversary in the same manner. And in the same place.”

Andy glanced at Mr. McCluskey and noticed that he had about the same look on his face that Andy had on his own. Their glances said about all that needed to be said: we’re screwed. “I would be willing to consider it, Miss Curtis,” he said. “And I believe it safe to say that My Lady would be quite pleased to join us. What are your thoughts on the matter, Mr. Brown?”

Andy was a lot better with the flowery language than he’d been a few months before, too. “My dear sir,” he said, making the best of it. “I believe I remember you saying from time to time that we have difficult women to please. However, I feel this would please them, so I can hardly raise a complaint.”

To say that Andy felt nervous on Friday evening would be an understatement. Other than the time he’d spent on the dance floor with Helena at the Halloween Party, when he, like everyone else at the party, had thought this whole thing was an elaborate joke, he’d never had Helena out in public, handcuffed, collared and leashed. Although he knew that Mr. McCluskey and Miss Rose had brought it off successfully – he’d been there, after all – he still had visions of someone calling the cops, of doing jail time, just on general principles. But he couldn’t think of a way out of it – he’d given his word, he was stuck.

But, if they were going to do it, Mr. McCluskey decided that they were going to do it right. On this night, Andy had been designated as Helena’s temporary master, for training purposes – they’d done it before – but as usual, Mr. McCluskey had put her collar on in the living room. Helena looked absolutely gorgeous, a very nice cocktail dress, snug at the waist – and a snug waist, being held that way by a tightly laced corset that she occasionally wore for him since he’d revealed how much he liked her in it months before. Her hair was done up stylishly, she wore elegant makeup and earrings, and looked like a million bucks on the hoof with handcuffs fastened behind her. It felt strange to get out of the large chauffeured limousine and walk into the restaurant with her on the leash, to feel the eyes staring at them, just like he’d stared a year ago – and wonder what might happen. After all, a year ago, he’d been on the other side of those stares, and look where he was now …

It went off very well. Unlike the year before, the manager came over to their table, and explained in a low voice that the ladies attire might be a little, well, inappropriate for a family establishment. Andy got a little red in the face, but Mr. McCluskey saved it quickly.

“My dear sir,” he said, in that unctuous bombast that Andy remembered from the Halloween Party. He was a very serious gentleman when he continued, rather loudly. “If a lady from India were to enter this establishment in her sari, would you take offense?”

“Well, no sir,” the manager said “But …

“My dear sir,” Wade cut him off, his voice full of bombast, “If a lady from a Moslem country were to enter your establishment wearing a burqa, would you take offense?”

“Of course not,” the perplexed man said. “That’s their custom, after all.”

“Then dear sir,” Mr. McCluskey said in the voice of a man who is not to be trifled with lightly. “Kindly have the courtesy to allow us our customs.”

“Uh … yes, sir, yes, sir,” the manager said, beating a retreat.

After that exchange, service was excellent – obviously, he wanted them out of there as quickly as possible. But they took their time enjoying it. Which is to say that they absolutely maintained the highest level of formality they could manage, which was pretty high. Andy and Mr. McCluskey kept their entire focus on their ladies, of course, ignoring the whispers around them, the stares, but the twinkle in all their eyes said there was going to be some serious laughter shortly after they got out of the place. The actual eating was slow, since both Andy and Mr. McCluskey had to do the actual feeding of their ladies, but they seemed to enjoy it, and they enjoyed the after-dinner wine that followed. In time, they rose from their dinner, went back outside to the awaiting limousine, and drove away – laughing all the way. That by itself would have made it an evening to remember.

They emerged from the limo at Wade’s house. As a severely perplexed limo driver headed off into the night, in serious need of several beers and the opportunity to tell the story of what he’d just seen, Mr. McCluskey and Andy led their ladies into pool area behind the house, where they removed the leashes. Mr. McCluskey then removed the handcuffs from both the ladies, then asked Helena and Andy to stand before Acacia and him.

Wondering what was going on now, Andy stood there next to Helena in the soft light from the pool lights. This wasn’t in the program. What the hell?

Mr. McCluskey stepped in front of Helena. “Miss Curtis,” he said, sounding a little officious, “Would you please kneel?”

“Yes, sir,” she said, and complied, sinking gracefully to her knees, and bending her head forward, in the normal high kneel position. Mr. McCluskey bent forward, gently unsnapped the collar from her neck, and asked her to rise.

“Miss Curtis,” he said, more warmly now. “I have the distinct honor and privilege to announce to you that My Lady and I have reached a decision in the matter that you have placed before us. We wish to state to you that we have every reason to believe that Mr. Brown is entirely capable, ready, and indeed worthy to serve as your master. As we have discussed on many occasions, the decision to ask him to be your master is entirely yours, and the decision to accept you is entirely his. I feel I must inform you that My Lady and I reached a decision some time ago that we felt he was worthy and capable of becoming your master, but that at his request, we delayed our announcement until we felt he is ready to be your master. Miss Curtis, we believe him ready in every respect.”

“Sir,” Helena replied. “I give you thanks from the bottom of my heart for your kind assistance and forbearance in this matter.”

“Miss Curtis, you are quite welcome. It has been a delight and an honor to perform this service for you.” he said, still sounding very official. “In honor of this occasion, My Lady and I wish to present you with a small gift that is yours to do with as you see fit.” With that, Acacia held out a long, rectangular box, wrapped with a red ribbon.

Helena took it from her, pulled the ribbon off, and opened it – revealing a black collar, with silvery studs and rings, and small rhinestones set in it. It was rather like Acacia’s collar, but different – it didn’t use a padlock, but instead had a lock set into it. “Oh, thank you, dear sir, and Miss Rose,” she said, half crying in joy. “Thank you indeed for your thoughtfulness and kindness.” Helena looked at it for a moment with a huge smile on her face, then turned to Andy, sank to her knees, and presented it to him. “Sir,” she said in a wavering voice. “I formally request that you agree to serve as my master.”

Now it was Andy’s turn to pass on a surprise – but one that he’d been prepared for, for a couple months, sure this occasion was going to come sooner or later.

“Miss Curtis,” he said, a smile on his face. “I am willing to accede to your request, if only first you will accept a small token of my esteem.” He reached into his pocket, and took out a small, flat box, placing it in her hands as he took the collar to hold it for her.

Helena’s eyes grew wide as she opened the box, to discover a pretty decent sized diamond ring. She let out a little gasp, as if she hadn’t been expecting what was in the box. “Miss Curtis,” Andy said. “If I am to serve as your master, I first request that you announce your willingness to be my wife.”

“Oh, dear sir, dear sir, of course, of course,” she said, shaking a little. “How could I refuse?”

Andy reached out, took the ring out of the box, and gently placed it on her finger. Placing the box back in his pocket, he held out the collar. She touched it briefly, gently, the glint of the diamond flashing in her eyes, then bent her head forward so that Andy could place it around her neck, and snap the lock closed.

“Miss Curtis,” he said. “Speaking to you as your master for the first time, I have a command for you. We have for some months hewn to the customs of our good friends. No doubt, when we establish abode together, we will establish customs of our own, but for now, I command that we maintain the customs that we have learned at their hands, but only when you are collared with your formal collar.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, eyes downward.

“With one exception,” he said. “Which we will start immediately. On the occasions that we are together in situations where your formal collar would offend propriety, with my hands I shall place about your neck a necklace appropriate to the occasion that will symbolize the collar that both of us understand we would rather you be wearing, but you will not act in full formality while wearing a symbolic collar. After our marriage, I shall perform that service for you every morning, before we depart for our duties. My Love, it is my intention that you be collared permanently, either by a symbolic collar or the real one.”

“Yes, My Hero,” she said. “Gladly will I obey your command, sir.”

“Then rise, Miss Curtis,” he said. “That I might kiss you.”

Things got more informal, though no one minded. That went on for a while, joyous and perfect. But then, Helena broke the kiss, then sank to her knees again, with Andy wondering what was coming now. “My hero and master,” she said. “I have one more gift that I wish to give you this day. Teacher, Miss Rose knows where it is, would you consent to having her get it?”

“Miss Curtis,” Mr. McCluskey smiled. “In accepting your master’s collar, you have ended my relationship to you as teacher and protector. It is now Mr. Brown’s role. However, I speak for My Lady in saying that both of us would be honored if you would remain our dear friends. I feel we all have much to teach each other together now.”

“But Tea … Mr. McCluskey,” Helena protested, but keeping her head down, facing Andy. “I hardly know how I shall be able to live without you being my teacher, without Miss Rose as my mentor. In spite of my happiness, this brings great sorrow.”

Mr. McCluskey smiled warmly. “It shall pass, and you will grow strong and close with your new master. Though I will not formally be your teacher any longer, you and your master have merely finished basic training, so to speak. The two of you have learned how to be master and subject. Now he must teach you to be his subject, and you must teach him to be your master. Do not expect the road to be easy. There will be rocks. When you find them, as I have said, feel free to turn to My Lady and myself for advice.”

“Yes, sir,” Helena replied. “I understand, sir, and I will comply.”

“Very well,” Mr. McCluskey smiled. “That much having been said, My Lady, would you procure Miss Curtis’s gift for her master?”

“Immediately, sir,” she said, turning for the house. In a moment she was back, carrying a long white box. Andy looked at it, sure he knew what was in it. He’d known this would come sooner or later, and had still been hoping for later.

His fears proved to be correct when he opened the box. It was a black whip, beautifully turned out, much like the one Acacia had given Mr. McCluskey. It seemed cold and snakelike in his hand, as he embraced its power, its authority. Even with the practice that he’d had, it seemed like something he didn’t want to touch, but touch it he had to. “My Love,” he said to the woman kneeled before him, from whose hands he’d taken the box. “You are aware of my feelings. Must we, on this happy occasion?”

“It will only seal the pact and make it happier,” she said. “Especially since it will diminish your forebodings.”

Caught like a mouse in a trap, Andy knew there was only one thing to do. “Very well,” he said. “Mr. McCluskey, may My Love and I make use of the facilities in your basement?”

“Of course you may, my dear friend,” Mr. McCluskey said with a grin. “Treat her with care but treat her firmly.”

Andy let out a sigh. He’d known this was going to happen, and here it was. “Rise, My Love,” he said. She got to her feet, and he continued, “My Love, after you, if you please.”

As they turned to watch Andy and Helena head for the house, My Lord turned to My Lady. “Doesn’t that strike you as romantic?” he smiled wryly.

“Certainly, My Lord. I’m very happy for both of them. I could not be happier.”

“My Lady,” he smiled, “I’d appreciate it if you’d sit with me, and perhaps you might see your way clear to sitting upon my lap and speaking freely.”

“Oh, of course, My Lord,” she smiled. In a minute, they were sitting on one of the lounge chairs, snuggled up together, just cuddling, enjoying each other’s company. There were smiles and kisses for a moment or two. “My Lord,” she smiled. “Did you know Mr. Brown had that in mind?”

“I was fairly sure he’s been carrying that ring for some time, to await an occasion such as this,” he smiled.

“No, My Lord,” she smiled. “I meant his approach to permanent collaring.”

“I confess, My Lady, it was as a big a surprise to me as it was to you.”

“Upon first impression, sir,” she smiled, “It strikes me that there might be something in the notion.”

“Perhaps,” he smiled. “He might have something, there.”

They just lay there silently, holding on to each other. In a few seconds, a sound drifted up from the basement – a faint whack, followed by Helena’s happy voice, crying, “Oh, Master!” In a few seconds, it was repeated, then again.

“Eager, aren’t they, My Lady?” he smiled. “They must have left the doors open.”

“My Lord,” she laughed. “I could stand some of that.”

“I’m sure you could, My Lady,” he grinned. “But let’s leave this happy day for our young lovebirds.”

They lay back, just enjoying holding onto each other, as Helena’s voice drifted up the stairs, far more excited now, filled with lust and thrill: “Oh. My MASTER! OH. OHHH!”

Helena leaned back in the seat of Andy’s car, twisted her neck a little to feel the snugness and the love of the collar around her neck, and glanced down at the engagement ring sparkling on her finger. What a wonderful, perfect evening last night had been! She was sure she would remember every detail for the rest of her life, but with everything else that had happened, the thrill and the joy of feeling Andy slip the collar she wore around her neck and lock it closed seemed to stand out more than any other.

“Comfortable, My Love?” Andy said from behind the steering wheel. “I hope our pleasurable moments last night are not causing you any distress this morning?”

“No distress at all, My Master,” she smiled at him, the line of welts across her bottom now seeming to be a little more intense, a little more heartwarming. “Oh, I feel a warm glow about my hindquarters, but it serves to remind me of the love that put it there. I feel I must compliment you again for the skill with which you laid your lashes upon me.” She paused for a moment, warmly remembering the powerful impact of the whip – and the intense, maniac couplings that followed, the first while she was still bent over the horse. “I am aware of the distress that it caused you, but I am sure that you must be as thrilled as I with the effects it had.”

“Yes, my love,” he grinned. “To my great surprise, I found the whole of the experience rather enjoyable, when considered by the results it had on the both of us. But I feel it was so powerfully and intoxicating an ecstasy, that I fear that we might become addicted to it. I think it wise that we reserve those pleasures for special occasions.”

“Must we?” she smiled, with just a touch of disappointment.

“Yes, my love, I think we must. That experience is far too wonderful to fritter away on routine.”

“As you wish, sir,” she smiled. “Just let there be many special occasions.”

“I dare say we shall find a few, now and then,” he grinned, “Lest you wonder, last night was also a very special experience for me. I just wish there were some way that we could enjoy the aftermath somewhat more intimately than this, but duty calls.”

“Alas, yes,” she agreed, enjoying particularly the fact that he was talking very formally with her, as they often did when they were at Mr. McCluskey’s, but rarely elsewhere. But then, she was now wearing the collar that he had placed around her neck less than twelve hours before, and that made things different – a lot different. “But I agree that there is no better time to perform this task. I am just sorry that I cannot come up with some excuse that would allow us to spend this night together as we did last night, but I fear it will not be possible.”

It had been quite a night. They finally managed to leave Mr. McCluskey’s house well after midnight, temporarily sated, but just the act of driving back to the apartment, cuddled under her master’s arm, with her bottom warm from the bite of the lash had made her desires nearly insatiable by the time they were halfway home, and it was clear that he was right with her. Somehow, they managed to avoid the temptation of stopping on some dark, deserted side road to do something about it, and managed to make it to the apartment and her bed before they fell upon each other with hardly less insatiable desires than they’d displayed earlier.

But on that agonizing drive back to the apartment a hard decision had been made. Although Acacia planned to spend the weekend with her master, and the apartment would be theirs, they both felt it a necessity to go to Helena’s parents as soon as possible in order for Andy to formally request her father’s permission to marry – and there would be other decisions that would have to be made, as well. Very reluctantly, they got up the next morning – after yet another wonderful experience – showered, and got on the road for the ten-hour drive to her parents’ house.

“If there were any other honorable way to manage this, I am sure we would be doing it,” Andy said. “Perhaps it’s for the best. It is clear to me that to maintain propriety with your parents and mine, we may not establish an abode together prior to our marriage. I am sure we will have to spend many more nights apart before we can actually marry, so we might as well accept it.”

“Yes,” she sighed. “However, it will make our wedding so much sweeter, my dear master. I do propose that we set a date as near in the future as we can do so honorably, but I realize that there will be many things that must be accomplished in the interim, such as finding and equipping a place that can serve us as a household.”

“Yes,” Andy agreed. “What’s worse, I feel we should make every effort to find some place that will help serve our special needs. That may take a while, but I should much prefer to have a place where I can hear and enjoy my wife’s screams and sighs and moans of delight, rather than having to gag her for fear of annoying the neighbors.”

“My dear master, I could not agree more,” she snickered, “Except to point out that my dear intended husband has also proven rather noisy and verbal as well, and I would hate to have him have to stifle that, too.”

“I propose that as soon as possible, we seek a real estate agent,” he suggested, “And see if we cannot find some small cottage by the side of the road, out in the country some place, where we might be able to enjoy rather more privacy than we would in an apartment. It will probably be expensive, but I believe I have sufficient assets to cover a down payment.”

“Perhaps, my master,” she said. “We might wish to look on the side of town toward Mr. McCluskey’s residence. I feel sure we will be there on frequent occasions, and it might cut the driving down a substantial amount.”

“My Love, that is an excellent idea,” he smiled “If we should be able to get in a place where the roads are right, perhaps we can do it with little increase to our own commuting times to our places of employment.”

“Master, may I make a very strong suggestion?”

“Of course you may, My Love.”

“Master, is it too much to ask that we find a place with an adequate basement, that we might have space for appliances similar to those to be found in Mr. McCluskey’s abode? I confess to frequent fantasies of the joys I would get at pleasuring you while helplessly held at your mercy.”

He smirked at her. They’d never really had much of a chance to do much with those appliances, except for the horse the night before, and some of them looked like they had a lot of possibilities. They had both discussed it in the past and admitted that they looked forward to the opportunity. “My Love, I would consider it an absolute requirement,” he said. “I confess to frequent fantasies of the same nature. I also think that an absolute requirement is a place, such as a back yard, where there is adequate space for at least a hot tub, perhaps a small pool, and certainly a frame, where we can seek our pleasures in adequate privacy without fear of interruption.”

“Oh, my dear master,” she sighed romantically. “It sounds like such a delightful love nest. I pray that we can find such a place that we might possibly afford.”

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