A Night in the Desert

Chapter XVII

The moment he was gone the doubts began. Could she really belong to this man, be a dutiful and obedient slave, allow him to take over her life? What of her accounting career? She had to laugh at that one, she certainly had no chance at ever working as an accountant again, not after a fraud conviction. And what about this man who would be her master? Did she want him, did she love him? She knew at least part of the answer to that one, the physical desire was there, no question she felt lust for him. If he proved to be a decent person then no doubt love would follow. As for being her master, she was already responding to him, without even thinking about it. He had all the right qualities: decisive, dominating, he definitely had confidence in his own abilities. He had that certain presence she had seen in a few men before, the ones who could walk into a room and take it over, often without even saying a word. He didn't have any problems taking from her whatever he wanted either.

Sue Ann stared at the chair and the wall in front of her. Though only his spoken words held her, she could not look away. He might never know if she did disobey and steal a quick look to the side, but she would know. And that held her as no physical restraint could. The invisible bonds phrase meant something now. She wanted to hear his voice telling her what to do, to faithfully complete the tasks he set for her, to take pride in knowing she could do it. She wanted a master; she wanted him to be her master, her owner.

The walk in the desert had left her puzzled at first. As she thought about it the events began to make sense. He had left her standing, alone, to impress upon her how she must depend upon him. The moment he had let go of her arm she had felt lost, unsure, afraid. But all that had vanished as soon as she knew he was there once again. Making her walk alone had a purpose too. When he stopped her from walking into a cactus it was to show her he would not let her come to harm.

He came back in the room about fifteen minutes later. While checking his email he had watched her on the monitor. Not once had she turned around or stepped out of the circle. Even when he walked back in her eyes glanced his way momentarily but went right back to the wall in front of her. He sat down in the chair and placed her bundled clothes, the ones she had removed in the living room, on the floor in front of him.

"Very good, Sue Ann. You are doing exactly what I want." He reached forward and unlocked the handcuffs, removing the mitts covering her hands. "Turn around." She turned at his command. He unlocked the chain around her waist and removed it. "You may put on the skirt and blouse, but stay inside the circle."

She turned back to face him and picked up her clothes. She put on the blouse first, buttoning it only up to where he had left it open previously, then awkwardly stepped into the skirt and pulled it up. He had not removed the leg shackles. When she had finished dressing she stood facing him once again, hands at her sides, but this time she remembered to keep her legs apart. She tried to remember if she had permission to speak, but since she wasn't sure she thought it better to wait before saying anything. It was nice to have clothes on again, even as little as he gave her. She hoped he wouldn't put the handcuffs back on too soon.

"I'm going to allow you some time to yourself before lunch. After I leave you will wait in the circle, counting down from fifty, then you may leave the circle. You have permission to use the bathroom, to walk around the room, or even sit in this chair if you like. You may not sit or lie on the bed. Is that clear? You may answer yes or no."

"Yes sir, I understand." His instructions were simple enough. He stood and left, closing the door behind him. Sue Ann began slowly counting down, just like the times she had been chained to the wall. Apparently this was going to be standard procedure whenever he left her alone in a room. She wasn't sure if there was a reason for it, or if he did it just as some sort of exercise in obedience. The reason didn't matter; he had told her to do it. Finished with her countdown, she decided to wait a while longer, as she had done before.

Satisfied she had waited long enough, she went into the bathroom. She needed to use the facilities, and she wanted to wash her face and hands. Still there from earlier in the morning was a brush and comb, which she used to touch up her hair. She checked her wrists for any marking but only a fine line of red remained, and it was fading. He hadn't over tightened the cuffs, and she hadn't tried to struggle in them. She knew to occasionally move her wrists back and forth to keep down the irritation. It seemed to be working. Finished she straightened up the bathroom, and then went back out into the bedroom. She sat down in the chair to give her legs a rest. She had been standing or walking most of the morning.

She lifted her arms above her head, stretching, then waved them about, working her shoulder muscles. The prolonged bondage had made them stiff. She looked down at the leg chains still on her ankles, over the socks. The padding from the thick cotton socks had protected her legs so there was no sign of bruising. She had been careful when walking not to pull them taut, jerking the cuffs against her ankles. To satisfy her own curiosity she tried to pull one leg cuff open. As she expected it didn't budge. She recognized the type he used on her; they were of very good quality and not at all easy to remove without the key. She doubted she would ever have the keys again.

Sue Ann sat back in the chair, stretching her legs out, pulling the connecting chain taut. About 15 inches apart, that was her limit. Enough to walk slowly, not enough to run, climb, or kick. He had removed the handcuffs, but she was sure it was no oversight on his part she still wore the restraints on her legs. It was a reminder of her status, a reminder she couldn't ignore. He had referred to them as jewelry, told her it made her look sexy. She smiled at that. There was no doubt he thought they looked attractive on her. His unguarded looks of pure lust, the times he had made her display herself standing or kneeling before him, told her what was on his mind. To her surprise she felt pleased that he enjoyed those moments. She wanted him to be attracted to her. Those times he had touched her, intimately, had triggered a corresponding need in her, to please him, serve him in any way he wished, including sexual. A need so strong she couldn't seem to think straight.

She stood up, stretching again, and then did a few knee bends to work her leg muscles. Without even thinking about it she walked over to the circle and turned to face the door. When he came back in he would want to see her there, kneeling in position, waiting for him to return. He had not told her to do so, but somehow she knew he would like it. And it would fall within the rules he had set for her earlier, he wanted her in place before he came in, so she would not be anticipating an order. She looked over at the chair, had she moved it or was it still in the same place? It looked the same, so she left it where it was.

She thought about what she had learned about her new master. He seemed to like order, the kitchen and living room had been clean, everything in its proper place. He had immediately cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast. She laughed to herself, not a typical man at all. But not at all bad, she liked a clean house herself.

The kitchen provided another clue as to his personality. She had noticed the gourmet utensils. That plus he had fixed all the meals told her he liked to cook. She hoped that didn't mean he wouldn't let her fix some of the meals too. She wanted to cook for him. The types of dishes he prepared would be important. If they were simple, like the pancake breakfast this morning, then she would know he didn't go in for extravagance or the exotic. On the other hand, if they had roast squab for lunch she would have to spend some serious study time with cookbooks.

The greeting, making her kneel facing him, and the departure, making her wait in the same position after he left, must have some significance too. The obvious answer, to her thinking, is that they were exercises in obedience, the departure especially, since he wasn't present. If there was some other underlying reason it wasn't obvious; she would have to ask him the next time he allowed questions. She reminded herself that he did not think like her, some things she probably would never be able to understand.

There was no mystery in the bondage. She could tell he liked seeing her bound and helpless. The adventure this morning, making her walk out in the desert stripped and shackled, blindfolded, was primarily for his enjoyment, of that she had no doubt. She smiled at the thought. At least that was something very easy for her to do. Being open, exposed and vulnerable, powerless, was simple. She couldn't move except as he allowed, so she didn't have to think about it. If her wrists were locked behind her back she didn't have to think about where he wanted her hands. If her ankles were chained together she knew to stand still until he told her where to go. Even that first night in the desert, when he had found her at her car, it really hadn't been difficult for her to follow his commands after the single moment of panic at being discovered.

She looked down at her feet. She had forgotten her stance again. Immediately she spread her legs to take up the slack in the chain, so that she stood in the circle with her feet as far apart as was possible for her. At least she had caught it in time, before he came in. From his look and tone of voice the last time she could tell he was disappointed when she forgot his instructions. That was another clue as to his temperament. He was rigorous in his rules, and he noticed the details. He would expect her to get it right every time, and wouldn't be impressed by weak excuses. Sue Ann nodded, that would be good for her. She wasn't conscientious at self-discipline. She did better when someone else set the goals or deadlines.

She heard the door opening and turned to face it while kneeling. She kept her eyes lowered, hands on her knees, and as he had ordered her legs apart. She faced the door but made sure she was within the circle on the floor, her boundary line. He came in the door, leaving it open behind him, and stopped in front of her. He said nothing as he walked around her once. Sensing it was his usual inspection, she didn't move.

He reached out and lifted up her chin with one hand, so that she looked him in the eyes. "You are extraordinarily perceptive, Sue Ann. You have presented yourself exactly as I wanted. And you kept within my prior orders to you. I knew you would be the one for me. Now, hands behind your back." He let go of her chin and went behind her as she obeyed, placing her hands behind her. His words of praise warmed her as she felt the handcuffs on her wrists.

"Stand up" came the expected command. His hands were on her arm, lifting her up and keeping her steady as she rose with some difficulty, unable to use her arms as a balance. "I have a lunch ready for us. It's warmed up outside so we'll eat in the living room." He started toward the open door, as usual leading her. She tried to remember if she had permission to speak but being unsure decided to remain silent. They went down the hall and into the living room.