The chain rattled in the silence as the Marquis made his way down the spiral stone staircase. The air was notably cooler. With a slight tug on the chain he had wrapped about his fist, kitten nearly stumbled down the last few stairs behind him. He could see what the cold air was doing to her skin. The Marquis tugged on the chain, drawing her nude, shivering body close. Using his free hand, he wrapped it about her waist, pulling her body against his. He chuckled at her sigh of welcome.

"Don't get use to it, my little kitten. I'll be leaving you soon enough."

"Leaving me?" She whispered against his chest. His palm slid up her spine in a firm caressing gesture, as if he was enjoying the feel of skin against it. His hand slid up the nape of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair, and lightly jerked her head back so his eyes could look deeply into her gray ones.

"Aye, my little kitten." he offered gruffly as his mouth lowered, licking up the side of her neck. "You see, behind us is a labyrinth. You will enter that labyrinth. You will not try to turn around and come out the way you came in, if you do, the light whipping you have so far received will seem like a dream. Do you understand me? And I would so hate to mar that beautiful skin of yours." His lips lowered again to the other side of her neck, his teeth grazing the skin there. He felt her shudder.

"Yes, Milord. I understand. What… what.. will happen to me in there?" He raised his head. Steely dark eyes bore into her turbulent grey ones.

"You will learn to give up yourself to your passions, your desires, with no thought of holding back. If and when you find your way out, I will be there, waiting to claim you. Would you like that, little one?" His voice was a low rumble, reminding her of thunder. When she did not answer him quickly enough, he tugged her head back further, exposing the delicate hollow of her throat to his view. His lips teased the delicate area.

"I asked you a question, kitten. I expect an answer." He could feel her swallow.

"Yes, Milord. I would like that very much." Her reply was but a whisper and uncertain at best.

He released his hold on her hair and turned her about so that he could reach and remove the fastening of the collar from her neck. His hands paused.

"No, I think I'll leave this one. You are not to remove it, under any circumstances. Do you understand me?" He whirled her about, tugging on the chain again as he led her over to the entrance of the Labyrinth. Its high walls were intimidating. The silence around them only fueled that feeling. The Marquis lowered his head to her breast, taking her nipple into his mouth, sucking strongly. Her body arched in response and shuddered as she felt him bite down upon it. She stood once more on that edge of pain and pleasure and felt the fire smolder deep in her being. He released her and gave her a gentle shove into the interior of the Labyrinth. His words floated over the strong beating of her heart.

"Do not turn around. Do not look back, kitten, or you will wish you were hanging in your chains once more." His husky amused laughter floated over the top of the walls and filtered down to her as she hesitantly took a step forward, wondering what was in store for her now…

( Continued in Part 3)

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