It was a quiet day. Some of the other guests went out hiking. Everyone, even the submissives dressed warmly, as the weather had turned chilly during the night. A Dominant might keep their submissive naked for disciplinary reasons, but a sensible Dom/me was not going to risk one of their pets getting ill, or suffering from exposure.
I stayed inside by the fire. I gave Thomas permission to do as he pleased, but he stayed with me. I was a little surprised. I was still being more or less of a bitch to him, not paying very much attention to him. But I couldn't seem to drive him away.
He and Kurt started a marathon backgammon game. This surprised the hell out of me. Thomas had never been less than skittish with Kurt, if not downright hostile. Now they weren't exactly acting like fast friends, but it was as if there was an understanding between them.
I watched for a while, then drifted over to an entertainment center. Kurt had brought a huge stack of his videos, in case anyone was interested. I hadn't watched many of them, and was still curious, so I sat down for a viewing session. One called Sandwich Shop featured Kurt, a big blonde man, and a petite brunette girl. Guess what happened. One thing I admired about Kurt's work: there always seemed to be at least some attempt at a plot. It was never just that here we are in a room having sex sort of thing.
Addie and Michael finally showed up sometime around noon. Addie was still sporting the remnants of a hangover, and went straight to the bar for a 'hair of the dog that bit her', ordering a Bloody Mary. Michael, naked again, was watching her with worried eyes.
Speaking of which, one of his eyes was lightly shadowed by a bruise that hadn't been there the last time I'd seen him. I didn't like that. A mark like that, unless it was an accident, wasn't going to be caused by an open handed slap. It would take a fist to the face. As far as I was concerned, that took it out of the realm of play and into abuse.
As the others wandered in, I could see that it didn't sit too well with them, either. But no one said anything. I stared at the screen, thinking to myself, Damn. It's like a domestic abuse case. No one wants to interfere. Is she going to have to put that poor bastard in the hospital before anyone does something?
It might have started out as a simple hangover cure, but Addie was soon working on her next hangover. She didn't stop with one drink. As soon as she finished with the first, she had the bartender set up another, and started on it. I could see Michael cringing. She must be nastier when she was drunk, and he wasn't looking forward to the rest of the day.
I ached to say something, but it had been made clear to me that it wasn't my place to criticize or judge another Domme, especially when I was so new to the lifestyle myself.
I might have kept my mouth shut if she hadn't started on Thomas. After her third Bloody Mary in less than twenty minutes, she climbed unsteadily off her stool and swayed over to the backgammon table.
Besides us, Nanny Elizabeth and her husband, Reggie, Loomis and Miranda, and Boy, were in the lounge. I was a little surprised to see Boy by himself, but supposed that it wasn't too odd. After all, people let their pets have free run of the house occasionally. All of them watched Addie approach the two men playing backgammon.
Standing beside the table, Addie said, "You know, Kurt, it's a waste playing board games with a hot little number like that."
Thomas flinched, staring down at the board. He didn't like Addie any more than I did. Kurt looked up at her cooly. "Christ, Addie. everything doesn’t have to be about sex, you know."
"No, I don't know. He's a sub, he's here to be used. I hope he's at least letting you win?"
"Actually, Thomas has beaten me quite handily the last two rounds. He has a delicate touch with the dice."
"Yeah?" She put her hand in Langely's hair, pulling his head back to make him look at her. "What else do you have a delicate touch with, boy?" Thomas grimaced in silence, averting his eyes. He didn't want to openly defy her, but he didn't want to play along, either. My temper ticked up a notch.
"Answer me, slut-boy. What else are you good at? Hm? Are you good with your hands? How about your tongue? You must be good with something, or she wouldn't keep you, the way you piss her off."
"Addie." Kurt's voice was quiet, but hard. "Let go of Thomas and go sit down. You're already drunk again."
"So what? And fuck you, Master Bremin. Just 'cause you work your cock on tape don't mean you're better than the rest of us."
I could hear muttering from some of the other guests. Addie had been thoroughly unpleasant to everyone at the retreat so far. She was really pushing the envelope of Dom/me courtesy.
She still hadn't let go of Thomas. Now she gave his head a shake, and he winced. "You, you haven't been trained right. The shit you pulled last night, and all she does is make you sleep in the hall. If you were my sub, your ass would be hamburger by now. But of course, if you were my sub, it never would have gotten that far."
Michael had followed her. Now he reached out and touched her hip. "Mistress, please. Come back to the room, and I'll take care of you." She didn't even look down, she just backhanded him, knocking him to the floor. There were gasps. Doing that to a sub who was only offering loving care was obviously a breech of behavior.
Addie had made a serious mistake when she did that. I believe it was the straw that broke the camel's back. This time when Michael looked at her, the worship was gone from his eyes. His lips tightened, and for the first time I saw what he might look like when he wasn't in his role of submissive. He looked like a man who had come to a hard won decision, but was pleased with what he had concluded. Without a word he got up and left the room.
I didn't pay too much attention to that right then, because there were other things happening. Thomas had reached up and grabbed Addie's wrist. His voice was angry, but a little shaky. He wasn't used to defying a Domme. "Let go! My Mistress said only she could discipline me."
Addie sneered. "What the hell does she care? She's ignoring you, you've made her mad. She doesn't give a damn about you now, boy, or she would have said something, wouldn't she? See? She's weak. You need a strong hand."
"Addie!" Kurt's voice held real warning now.
I stood up. "Get your hands off my Langely, Addie."
She sneered at me. "He isn't yours if you're not strong enough to keep him. Hell, you don't even fuck him, you stupid bitch."
"Don't talk to her like that!" Thomas could barely reach, but he slapped Addie in the face, a very respectable pop.
The look on her face was almost comical. Then it got ugly. Kurt saw it coming. He reached toward her, saying, "Don't!", but he was too late.
Addie shoved Thomas backward off the chair. He landed with a hard thump, and she kicked him. He curled away from her with a yelp of pain. She was drawing back to kick him again when I reached her.
I'm pretty sure she hadn't been expecting anything out of me except a weak protest. When I grabbed her shoulder, spun her around, and put my fist in her face, it was pretty much of a surprise. I think it surprised everyone, except possibly Kurt. He grinned.
Addie staggered back, hands going to her face. "What the fuck?"
"You hit my boy!" I didn't recognize my own voice. It was a snarl.
"You stupid bitch, you could have..."
I hit her again, and she fell back a step, staring at me in astonishment. "Nobody hits him except me. Nobody! I told you that, you mindless, brutal, worthless cunt!"
"Fuck! He's just a ..."
This time I broke her nose.
She sat down on the floor suddenly, holding her nose while blood seeped through her fingers. Looking around at the others frantically, she said, "Do something!"
They applauded.
I stood over her. "If you're really, really stupid, you'll try to get up while I'm standing here."
Addie regarded me cautiously, then lay back. "Michael? Get me some ice." Several of the guests exchanged glances. "Michael? Get your lazy ass in gear, or I'll black your other eye, you worthless piece of shit." Finally the bartender came over with some ice cubes in a cloth. Addie accepted it, rolling her head to look around the room for her absent submissive. "Where the fuck is he?"
Keagan had just come in. "Michael? I just passed him. He went into your room." He studied the room, taking in the bloodied Addie, and me standing over her, rubbing my knuckles. "Damn. I missed it, didn't I? Oh, well..." He patted his thigh and whistled, and Boy trotted over to him. As they left the room, Keagan was saying, "I want a blow-by-blow, and none of this woof-woof stuff till I hear it all."
Addie glared. "Are you gonna stand guard over me all day?"
"No. I have more important things to attend to." I went over to Thomas and crouched beside him, stroking his back. "Tommy, did she hurt you?"
He uncurled, rolling toward me, holding out his arms. I didn't stop to think about being mad at him, and what he had done last night. I just took him in my arms and held him. "I'm sorry," I murmured. "I should have done something sooner. I'm sorry I let her hurt you."
"I'm all right." His voice was muffled against my shoulder. "I may have a bruise, but it's nothing serious. But... but I don't want to stay here any more, Miss Emmie. Please, could we go home?"
"Of course, baby. Are you up to driving, or do you want me to?"
"You drive my jag? Are you kidding?"
I pulled back, shaking my head at him. "Yeah, you're all right." I helped him to his feet. Turning to Nanny Elizabeth, I said. "Look, no insult intended, but I don't think we were ready for this. I'm going to take him home."
She nodded. "I understand perfectly, my dear. I just hope that you'll give us another try in the future. You and Thomas are a dear couple, even if you do have some bumpy spots to smooth out. And rest assured," she turned a cold gaze on Addie. "next time there will not be the same irritants. Addie..."
she raised her voice. "I'll have to ask you to leave."
"What? Why? She's the one that attacked me."
"Oh, please. You were warned up front about messing with her boy. She was just defending her property. And it would be very foolish of you to try to make anything out of this, considering the number of witness who will testify." She ran a questioning glance around the room, and was met with nods and grim looks.
"Well, shit, fine! I'll take my toys and go home."
"Not this toy."
We all looked toward the door of the lounge. Michael was standing in the entrance, a suitcase sitting by his feet. He was clothed for the first time since I'd met him, in a quiet, conservative suit. He looked like a young bank loan officer, or an accountant. His gentle face was set in hard lines, though.
"Michael? What are you doing dressed? I didn't give you permission." Addie growled.
"You're not in any position to give me orders any more, Addie. I hereby severe our relationship. I don't agree to sub for you anymore. I've been more than patient, taken more abuse from you than anyone else I've ever been with. It would have been all right if you'd just loved me, but you don't. You're not what I need, Addie, and you're not what I want. I don't want to see you again. If you come around me anymore, it will be my distinct pleasure to take out a restraining order. I'll mail your things to you."
Michael picked up the suitcase. "Nanny Elizabeth, I hope this doesn't hurt my standing in the club?"
Elizabeth smiled graciously. "Michael, you are always welcome. Until you find someone who will treat you like you deserve, I'm sure you'll be able to find playmates with us."
He nodded his thanks. "Addie? I'm not having you in the car with me. Find your own way home." He left, not looking back.
Kurt was walking toward the front lobby. "I'll call you a taxi, Addie. You should have about fifteen minutes to pack."
I led Thomas to the door, swinging wide around Addie, who glared up at us both. As we came to the entrance, Keagan and Boy came down the hall toward us. Boy was on his leash again, and was pulling hard. He could be faster on his hands and knees than anyone I knew who was half his age. Keagan wasn't trying to hold him back, he was just going along for the ride.
I was kind of curious as to what could have Boy in such a hurry, and why he had such a determined look on his face.
He went straight to Addie, where she still lay on the floor, lifted his leg, and peed on her.
I made a note to invite Boy and Keagan over to the house some time for supper. These were people I wanted to know.
