As the Marquis entered his room, a small self-satisfied smile played along the corner of his lips while he looked at his little kitten hanging from her restraints. He closed the door quietly and walked over to her. He lifted her chin and looked into her stormy gray eyes. Apparently she hadn't hung here long enough. "I was going to ask if you had learned your lesson, but I can see from your eyes, you have not. What is it going to take, I wonder? Apparently the lash isn't working." His fingers traced over the light welts on the inner side of her tender thighs. Lowering his head, he ran his tongue tip along them, causing her to squirm in her shackles. Her wrists were encased in manacles that were suspended from the ceiling. Her legs were spread widely apart with a spreader bar. He lifted his head after running his tongue lingeringly along those welts.

"I was speaking with the Lady Terin and she had an idea that might assist you in submitting to me completely, kitten." He watched with satisfaction as she lifted her head to glare at him.

"You have my body. Don't I give you everything you want?" She whispered hoarsely. He traced a fingertip down the side of her face. His thumb caressed the fullness of her bottom lip. The Marquis walked behind her hanging form. The look in his eyes caressed the curve of her spine, her slender waist, the rounded curve of her buttocks, which also bore light welts. His hands slid lovingly over her sides, moving downward and if he could but see it, her nipples hardened even as her skin dimpled. As the palm of his hands moved over the curve of her buttocks, she moaned softly, feeling herself grow moist.

"Oh yes, my little kitten, you respond to me beautifully. You share your body with me in every way that I ask for but…." He came around to face her again, cupping her face between his hands. He leaned in close, his tongue coming out to run lightly across her bottom lip before he whispered, "...it's not enough, kitten. Not nearly enough." Stepping away from her, he turned a chair from the hearth to face her and sat down. Leaning back he sighed softly as he regarded her. "Look at me, kitten." he demanded softly as he undid his pants, releasing his tumescence and gently stroking it.

She raised her head and watched his hands. Her tongue snaked out to moisten her lips, which felt dry suddenly. She watched as the pads of his thumbs rubbed over the head, smearing glistening moisture across it. His hands rubbed and stroked himself before her eyes. She could feel herself wanting to be there between his legs. She knew to look away from him was to mean discipline so she continued to watch, although the ache in her lower belly was spreading even lower.

"Ahhh, what I would give for it to be your sweet lips around me, kitten, or even your silky dark depths." he tortured her further, continuing to stroke himself, his eyes glued to hers, "Alas, it is not to be. You see, my sweet, I have other plans for you." he sighed, tucking himself back into his pants and standing. Walking over to her again, he released her legs from the spreader bar before releasing her wrists from their confinement. He caught her up in his arms as she sagged against him. He stroked her hair gently as he carried her over to the bed, lying her upon it. Reaching into a drawer in the table by the bed, he pulled out a leather collar and chain. She lay, unresisting, as he fastened it about her neck.

"Come, my sweet, it's time for your lesson… "

( Continued at the Labyrinth - The Gauntlet Part 2)