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‘What shall I wear?’ Leo realised Josh was nervous about the party. So his usual question when they had to dress up wasn’t a surprise. Leo walked to his room and came back a few seconds later, handing Josh the grey plastic suit carrier ‘Here.’ Excited, Josh pulled hard at the zip closure. ‘Wow!’ ‘D’you like it?’ Josh held the dark green silk shirt and pale grey slacks against himself and walked across to stand in front of the full-length mirror on the back of his bedroom door. ‘Thank you.’ Leo was equally nervous, but hiding it better. ‘Get changed. And let the caterers in when they knock. I’m going in the shower.’ ‘Yes Leo.’ ************* Sam and Toby drove in together. And CJ and Donna, who had spent some time picking out their outfits and fixing each other’s hair and make-up, shared a car. Donna’s eyes widened as she walked through the front door and saw Josh. ‘Wow! Did someone swap you out for a guy with taste in clothes?’ Josh ignored the attempt at sarcasm, hugging her. ‘You look beautiful.’ He whispered as he held her close. Beaming, she broke the embrace and looked around the food- and drink-laden tables. ‘Someone’s been busy.’ Leo nodded. ‘Yeah. The caterers.’ CJ laughed. ‘Yeah you two can’t make toasted cheese without help.’ Josh looked hurt. ‘We’ve got a great cookery book. I’m getting really good at lasagne.’ CJ and Donna exchanged a look. ‘You’ll have to invite us for dinner one night.’ Josh smiled. ‘Sure.’ Sam and Toby arrived a few minutes later. ‘Hi Sam.’ ‘Hey Josh.’ ‘Wanna see my fish?’ ‘Sure.’ Leo called across. ‘Sam, where’s Toby?’ ‘Parking the car. There wasn’t a decent-sized space, so he’s gonna try a bit further down the street.’ Catherine arrived, and only Toby took any notice of the man with her. Whom he recognised. Nodding politely, he saw the sudden flash of recognition in Donovan’s eyes. He wondered how Leo knew someone who knew Donovan. And what Donovan was doing in DC. ************* Josh leaned over the bed to reach down a book. He wanted to show Sam that the owner of the pet shop he’d bought his fish from had written a book on fish-keeping. As he stretched, his shirt came untucked from the waistband of his new slacks, exposing the small of his back. Suddenly feeling the cold on his exposed skin, Josh turned quickly, tucking his shirt-tail back into his slacks. Then he saw Sam’s face. ‘When did you get that?’ Josh wished Leo was with him. He was no good at lying convincingly to Sam. ‘Um, a…a couple of months ago.’ Sam smiled, resting his hand low on his hip. ‘I got mine done a few months back.’ Josh swallowed hard. ‘You’ve…got a…tattoo.’ Sam nodded matter-of-factly. ‘Yeah. How long have you been with Leo?’ ‘We’re not, I mean he’s not…’ Sam put a reassuring hand on Josh’s shoulder. ‘Relax. It’s okay. Toby told me about the two of you.’ ‘How does Toby know?’ ‘Masters know each other.’ Josh was glad he had followed Leo’s instruction not to eat anything before the party. He felt sick. Really sick. Sam seemed oblivious to Josh’s intense discomfort. ‘So how long have you two been together? Toby wouldn’t tell me.’ ‘Almost six months.’ ‘Toby and I are having our first anniversary party in a few weeks. I’m sure he’s invited Leo. I mean, it is Leo.’ Josh nodded, breathing heavily. ‘Yeah.’ He pushed past Sam and out of his room. Leo saw him walking unsteadily into the kitchen, saw Sam standing in the doorway looking concerned. Cursing under his breath, Leo dragged himself away from Catherine and Toby and followed Josh.
‘Hey.’ Josh was splashing cold water on his face, turning to face Leo as he reached for a towel. ‘You told Toby about us. Sam told me.’ ‘I told Toby. If he chose to tell Sam, that was up to him.’ ‘Apart from CJ and Donna, everyone knows about us.’ Leo nodded. ‘Yeah.’ ‘Well let’s tell ‘em too Leo, cos there’s really no point in them being the only ones who don’t know, is there?’ Josh angry voice carried into the living room. Catherine walked across and, once in the kitchen, closed the door behind her. ‘What’s wrong?’ Josh stared mutely at Leo, his anger barely contained. Leo sighed. ‘Josh just found out about Sam and Toby.’ Catherine frowned. ‘You didn’t tell him? Leo!’ ‘I forgot!’ ‘It was a little too important to forget Leo.’ Looking uncomfortable, Leo stared at the floor. ‘Yeah.’ Catherine put a hand on Josh’s shaking arm. ‘Josh, go out and be with the guests. Go on!’ Reluctantly, Josh lifted himself from where he had been leaning on the countertop and walked out. *************
At last, the three of them were alone. Leo sat slumped in the armchair, Josh opposite, sulking as he hunched on the couch. Catherine made coffee for them and, handing the mugs round, shook her head disappointedly. ‘Right, who wants to go first?’ Leo looked up, shaking his head. Josh didn’t even bother looking up. ‘Not me.’ ‘Fine. Then you can both listen to me. Leo you’ve been too lenient. Josh you’ve advantage of that.’ Both men began to protest, but Catherine held up a hand and silenced them both. ‘After you finish work tomorrow Josh, you’ll come stay with me. Leo, you will stay here.’ Again both men protested in unison. ‘No!’ Catherine stared at Leo for a moment, moving her gaze to Josh. ‘This isn’t a suggestion. It’s an instruction. Josh, go and pack enough things for a few nights away. You’ll leave for work from my place Monday morning. Take the clothes with you to work tomorrow and Jimmy will bring you straight to my house when you finish. Someone has to take you in hand. That someone is, apparently, me.’ Both men flinched as Catherine slammed the front door. ************ Josh rang the doorbell and Jimmy pulled the door open. ‘Hi Josh. Come on in. Let me take that for you.’ Josh handed Jimmy his holdall. ‘Catherine’s in the sitting room. Go on through. Straight through the door to your left. I’ll take your coat as well.’ Josh walked into the room which was decorated in an old-fashioned colonial style. Catherine was sitting with her back to Josh, her chair in front of the open French windows. ‘Catherine.’ She got up, turning slowly at the sound of Josh’s voice. ‘There are three rules while you’re here. You’ll speak only when spoken to. You’ll do exactly as you’re told, immediately and correctly. You’ll be punished if you fail to do either of these two things. I won’t be using your slave name. I don’t yet think you deserve it. Understand?’ Shocked at the hardness in Catherine’s sharp question, Josh nodded. ‘Okay.’ ‘Did I give you permission to speak?’ Josh sighed. ‘No.’ ‘That is the last time you will break one of the rules without punishment until you leave here. Come here.’ Josh walked hesitantly across the thick carpet to stand in front of Catherine, hoping his nervousness wasn’t too obvious. ‘Normally, when you are alone in the house with your master or mistress, a slave would be naked.’ She saw Josh’s flash of horror at the comment. ‘However, I don’t believe you are anywhere close to the mindset required for a slave. So you will be allowed one concession. Underwear. For now.’ Catherine pressed a button on the wall and Jimmy appeared moments later. ‘Take Josh’s clothes and launder them. Take them off Josh.’ Josh opened his mouth to protest, then immediately thought better of it and stood silently while Catherine reached under the chair. ‘Leo doesn’t believe in using pain as a training aid. I do.’ Josh instinctively backed away as Catherine stood up, a small riding crop in her left hand. ‘Stand still!’ Josh couldn’t help himself. ‘You can’t do this!’ Catherine moved immediately behind Josh and he yelped as the crop struck his bare forearm. ‘I’m waiting.’ Josh decided embarrassment was preferable to the stinging pain, and pulled his t-shirt over his head. He hesitated a moment too long before unbuttoning his jeans and the crop stung his arm a second time. He pulled his jeans off and handed them to Jimmy, who had been watching apparently impassively as Josh undressed. ************ ‘There are three commands you will obey. Each has a hand signal. We’ll start with those.’ An hour later, Josh was beginning to lose concentration. He heard Catherine call across: ‘Down’ but he was tired, and only realised he had assumed the 'kneel’ position by mistake when the crop bit into his bare shoulder. Biting his lip to stop himself making any sound, he dropped face down onto the floor, his crossed arms pillowing his head. ‘Hopeless!’ Josh stayed still, Catherine’s anger radiating off her. ‘You can’t even obey the simplest of commands.’ She sighed deeply, pressing the button to summon Jimmy. ‘You can get dressed. Jimmy will take you home.’ Josh got to his feet. ‘Catherine…’ ‘Be quiet!’ ‘I’m not leaving.’ ‘I won’t tell you again.’ ‘Hit me. I don’t care. I don’t want Leo to get hurt cos of me.’ Catherine stared at Josh until he looked away. Jimmy appeared in the doorway. ‘Jimmy, call Leo.’ She looked at Josh, who stood, shoulders hunched, tears in his eyes. ‘Tell him Josh won’t be in work Monday. I need more time. A lot more time.’ Josh wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. ‘Thank you.’ Catherine put her hands up. ‘This is what I mean Josh. I tell you to be quiet and you aren’t. I give you a simple instruction, and you get it wrong. I don’t think if we worked on you until the end of time you’d get things right.’ ‘Give me another cha…’ Josh stopped abruptly. Catherine smiled, laughing quietly. ‘Well, you’re learning. Slowly, but you’re learning. Here.’ She snapped her fingers and waited. Josh moved quickly to Catherine’s side, hands behind his back, eyes to the floor. ‘Let’s try something else, shall we?’ ************ ‘Kneel.’ Josh walked quickly from where he had been sitting to kneel at Catherine’s side as Jimmy served dinner. Catherine fed Josh chicken, potatoes and vegetables, occasionally giving him sips of water in between. ‘Walk around or you’ll get indigestion. You may go anywhere in the house. Some rooms are locked. Ten minutes. Off you go.’ Josh got up and wandered around the house, avoiding the kitchen where he could hear Jimmy clearing up. ‘Josh!’ Josh walked quickly down the stairs in response to Catherine’s shout. ‘I said ten minutes. You passed not one, but three perfectly accurate clocks. Did you not think to check on the time?’ Josh stared at the floor, waiting for the crop to land. ‘Ver well. I obviously can’t trust you to go off on your own. You will stay at my side at all times unless you are sleeping or using the bathroom. Kneel.’ Catherine moved her chair to face Josh. ‘Leo told me you left the building without his permission. You were supposed to be doing laundry and you went shopping. You’ve picked up a number of bad habits.’ Catherine saw Josh’s hurt expression. ‘Yes, I know you why you went shopping. But you went without permission. Leo had no idea where you were for over forty minutes. You can’t do that Josh. Leo also told me you had a good brain. Try using it.’ Josh squirmed inside at the intensity of Catherine’s gaze. And not being able to speak was driving him crazy. ‘We’ll go back into the sitting room. You can have ten minutes to say anything you want. Not nine, or eleven, mind. Ten. Come along.’ ************ As soon as the door closed, Josh blurted out: ‘You have to help me.’ Indicating the floor at her feet, Catherine said quietly: ‘Sit here.’ ‘Leo shouldn’t get hurt because I mess up.’ Catherine shrugged. ‘That’s the way he deals with it.’ ‘I can’t believe you went along with it.’ ‘Josh, I’m not going to argue with you. Now do you have anything else to say?’ Josh took a deep breath. ‘It’s too hard. I work eighteen hours, then I have to come home and behave perfectly. I can’t do it.’ ‘Josh, if he didn’t think you could, Leo would never have taken you on.’ ‘Maybe he’s not such a good judge of character as he thinks.’ Reaching down, Catherine turned Josh to face her. ‘I think we both know that’s not true, don’t we?’ ‘I guess.’ ‘Anything else?’ ‘He does all this really nice stuff for me, and I just do everything wrong.’ ‘It’s a master’s prerogative to spoil his slave if he so chooses. Leo doesn’t expect you to do everything right. But he does expect you to think about what you’re doing. I suspect that’s your main problem. You’re so keen to do the right thing, you make mistakes because you rush in without thinking. Am I right?’ Josh thought about Catherine’s suggestion. ‘Yeah.’ ‘Very well. Then we’ll get you thinking about your actions before you act. It’s time for bed. We’ll work on it tomorrow.’ ‘Are you gonna hit me with that whip thing again?’ Catherine smiled. ‘Did it make you concentrate on me?’ Josh said ruefully: ‘Yeah.’ ‘Then maybe, yes.’ ‘It really stings.’ Catherine nodded. ‘I know.’ Josh looked at Catherine, amazed. ‘Who ever hit you with it?’ ‘My master. Now go to bed. These delaying tactics don’t work on me. I’ve trained too many slaves to be distracted that easily.’ ‘How many?’ ‘Bed. Now.’ Jimmy appeared in the doorway. ‘Jimmy, show Josh to his room please.’ Jimmy jerked his head towards the door. ‘This way.’ As soon as she was alone Catherine dialled Leo’s mobile. He answered quickly. ‘McGarry.’ ‘Leo, it’s Catherine.’ Leo asked quickly: ‘Is Dep alright?’ ‘He’s fine Leo. He gets tired easily.’ ‘Yeah. I should have told you.’ ‘Josh isn’t the only one forgetting his responsibilities Leo.’ Accepting the rebuke, Leo sighed. ‘Maybe we need some time away from each other.’ ‘That’s defeatist Leo. If you weren’t prepared for a little hard work, you shouldn’t have taken him on.’ ‘Hey, you have no idea how much hard work he is.’ Catherine laughed. ‘Oh, I’m beginning to Leo.’ ‘It’s quiet without him.’ Catherine heard the sadness in Leo’s voice. ‘He’s missing you too. Take him out somewhere nice Tuesday night.’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Don’t worry Leo, I’ll take good care of Josh.’ ‘Night Catherine.’ ‘Goodnight Leo.’ As she closed her phone, Catherine could hear Josh and Jimmy in quiet conversation in the bedroom opposite. ************ ‘It’s five forty-five.’ Catherine woke slowly, trying to ignore Jimmy’s soft voice. She groaned. ‘I’ve changed my mind. Let him sleep. He’s hopeless.’ She sighed, pulling herself upright. ‘Wake him up. I want him showered and ready in fifteen minutes.’ Josh struggled to concentrate. The night in the strange bed had been one of constantly interrupted sleep. The bed was narrow, and several times he’d rolled over only to find himself having to grab the edge of the mattress to prevent himself falling onto the floor. He yawned as he dried himself after his shower, walking into the bedroom to dress. Which, as he only had underwear, took only a few seconds. He walked downstairs and into the sitting room where Catherine was already waiting. ‘Wait in the kitchen.’ Catherine tipped a large quantity of the rice grains onto the wooden floor, scattering the grains across most of the kitchen. She handed Josh a spoon and a glass. ‘Pick them up. Put them in the glass. You may not use your hands or fingers other than the hold the spoon and the glass. When you’re done, you may have breakfast.’ Josh quickly discovered that it was almost impossible to scoop up the grains with the spoon – they simply moved across the polished floor if he pressed the spoon against them. By holding the glass on its side, and using the spoon to push the grains into it, he managed to clear a few inches of floor, but he could imagine how long it was going to take him. After a few fruitless minutes, during which his stomach constantly reminded him it was breakfast time, Josh sat back and stared around the kitchen. ‘Done?’ Catherine looked suspiciously at Josh, standing in the doorway with the glass, full of water, and half full of rice. Josh nodded, evidently pleased with his initiative. ‘Bending the rules is something you also should stop doing.’ Catherine had watched Josh briefly as she’d passed the kitchen door. Having filled the glass with water, Josh had used the back of the spoon, dipped in the water, to gather dozens of grains each time he dragged it across the floor. After half an hour, she’d been amazed that he’d almost finished. Josh’s smile faded as he waited. Did I tell you that you could use water?’ ‘No.’ ‘So?’ ‘I thought…’ Crossly, Catherine snapped: ‘You’d set your own rules.’ Uncomfortable, Josh stared at the floor. Turning her back on him, Catherine said wearily: ‘It’s time for breakfast.’ ***************
Catherine nodded to a spot at the side of her chair. ‘Kneel. If you’re uncomfortable, get up and walk around. If you need the bathroom, just go. Come straight back.’ Josh’s knees were beginning to ache, and he shifted uncomfortably. ‘Stand up. Walk around.’ Catherine watched as Josh got stiffly to his feet and stretched his back, rubbing at the back of his neck as he walked. Making the most of the freedom, Josh walked slowly up the stairs to the bathroom. Jimmy was on his hands and knees, cleaning the bath. ‘You’ll have to use the one in Catherine’s room. Go on, she won’t mind.’ Josh pushed the door open slowly and looked inside before walking in. It was decorated in soft colours – cream, pink, and pale blue. A girl’s room. He smiled, walking towards the bathroom. As he crossed the room, he saw a long narrow box. It was several feet long, and beautifully made in a dark wood he couldn’t identify with inlaid decorative panels in other, lighter woods. Although there were two catches, it didn’t appear to be locked, and curiosity overcame him. Josh flicked the catches, lifting the lid. He couldn’t help his gasp of surprise. He paused, kneeling in front of the open box, checking that Jimmy wasn’t coming to check on him. Then he put his hand in the box, his fingers touching the heap of crops, canes, and heavy rubber whips inside. ‘Pick one.’ Josh dropped the lid closed with a bang and looked round. ‘Catherine, I…’ ‘Be quiet. Pick one. It’s about time you learned some manners.. I’m disappointed you felt the need to abuse my hospitality like this.' Josh swallowed hard and picked out a short switch. Thin, it bent as he lifted it. It looked the least harmful of all the box’s contents. Something that small and thin probably wouldn’t hurt much at all. ‘Come with me.’ Nervously Josh followed Catherine down the hallway to the next room. Unlocking the door with a key from the bunch she carried, Catherine walked in, flicking on the light, holding the door open for Josh to walk past her. Josh couldn’t take it all in. It was like a medieval dungeon. Except everything was shiny and new-looking. The room smelt of leather, and Josh’s gaze moved from the sawhorse, with a thickly-padded black leather pad across its top, to the upright wooden post, bolted to the floor, fur-lined leather manacles hanging from a chain attached to the top of the post. There were several other large pieces of equipment which he couldn’t identify. Catherine walked across the room and stood at the side of the post, the manacles in her hand. ‘Come here.’ Shaking, Josh walked slowly across. As she fastened his wrists into the manacles, Catherine’s amused voice made him shiver. ‘You made a mistake a lot of people make. Imagining the switch to be the least painful of the box’s contents. The opposite is actually true. You should have chosen the cane.’ As she spoke, she pulled his boxers down to the floor, effectively trapping his legs as the underwear reached his ankles. She put a gentle hand on the small of his back and he flinched. ‘I’m getting forgetful. You’ll need to be gagged. The neighbours will still be asleep.’ Josh twisted to try and see what Catherine was going to use, but he was held too tightly, and couldn’t turn far enough. ‘There’s a phone call for you.’ Jimmy’s voice made Josh jump, but Catherine said evenly: ‘I’ll be back. Use the time to think about what happens when you behave badly.’ Josh trembled, his breathing becoming more laboured as Catherine flicked a switch, and the lights dimmed the room around him becoming just a collection of shadows of varying intensity. He heard the door close, and then he was alone. When she returned, Catherine closed and locked the door behind her. ‘We don’t want any more interruptions, do we?’ He let out a sob as Catherine walked round to stand in front of him, a large leather gag in her hand. ‘Open your mouth Josh.’ Terrified, Josh began to cry in earnest, his words interrupted by heaving sobs. ‘Please…no…I’m sorry. Please…’ Catherine stood looking at Josh for several seconds before reached up to pull at his wrists, releasing the Velcro fastenings on the cuffs. Unlocking and opening the door, Catherine said coldly: ‘Go to your room. Stay there until I come for you. Go.’ Pulling his boxers up, Josh fled from the room, throwing himself face down onto his bed, his sobs shaking the mattress. He didn’t bother looking round as Catherine opened the door. ‘I would never have hit you Josh.’ ‘Go away.’ Catherine crossed the room and sat on the edge of Josh’s bed, stroking his back, ignoring his reaction to her touch. ‘Next time you think of being disobedient, think of how scared you were in there. I guarantee you’ll change your mind.’ ‘Leave me alone.’ ‘I think alone is the last thing you need to be right now. Come here.’ She pushed Josh’s shoulder until he lay on his side. ‘I think you need to be hugged.’ ‘You were gonna hit me, now you want to make it all better?’ Josh snapped. ‘I told you, I wouldn’t have hit you.’ ‘I didn’t know that.’ Josh said, a little more calmly. ‘No, you didn’t. And so, for once, you were not in control. It’s not a nice feeling, is it?’ ‘No.’ Josh pouted. ‘So take control. Think about things before you start. Think about the effect of what you’re doing on other people. And behave.’ She smiled, ruffling his hair. ‘I can’t get anything right.’ ‘Yes you can. You’re not trying hard enough. Go and wash up for lunch.’ Casually, Josh said: ‘I’ll bet Sam’s better behaved than me.’ Hiding her smile, Catherine said firmly. ‘Yes. He is. But then that wouldn’t be difficult, would it? This afternoon, I’m going to teach you to play chess. Something you and Leo can do together other than watch TV.’ Josh groaned and rolled onto his stomach, pulling the pillow over his head. Catherine got up from the bed. ‘Five minutes to wash up, or you’ll go hungry.’
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