A/N: I'm not sure how additional chapters on stories come up on people's feeds, but this is a heads up that I regularly do editing. It means I'd love feedback/comments, which the story is sadly lacking in so far, but not to be surprised if chapters you've already read seem to keep coming up.

This is my go at talking about the kind of punishment that I think is fun in BDSM - something kinky designed to allow submission and voluntarily giving up control - I hope you like it :-) 

* * * * *

I don't go to the club on Friday as I have a late client, but when Saturday comes I'm eager to get in there. I'm feeling a sense of pride at how well Owen has developed his skills since I took him on, and I know quite a number of the other Doms have their eye on him, although I don't think any of them are suited to his long-term needs.

He's in position by my legs when I lean down to him, "Owen, would you like to go and dance? Why don't you take Nikolai with you?"

"Yes, thank you Master."

Nikolai asks permission from Landon, who he's paired with, again, and the boys go off to dance within our eye-line.

"You've been spending a lot of time with Nikolai?" It's a question, and Landon grins at me.

"Only in the club. I don't know what it is, there's a strange mix of vulnerability and strength in him that I seem to like."

"Well, that has always been your type..."

"Perhaps, whereas Owen isn't your type at all, but you seem like a good match nonetheless...?"

"He's exquisite. But it's not a long-term thing. In fact, we only have two weeks before our agreement comes to an end. I feel bad though, because I told him I'd help him find a Master, and I just haven't identified anyone good enough for him."

"Are you sure that doesn't mean...?"

I chuckle at his assumption, "No, it definitely doesn't 'mean'. We would not be suited in a relationship, and I couldn't offer him what he's really looking for. He wants someone who'll be a full time Daddy for him, and that's not my style. He is incredibly sweet though."

There is a slight bittersweetness to my words. Even though it had been Owen's superb submissive skills that had drawn me to him, rather than the way he looks, I've grown fond of his delicate nature and fluttering eyelashes, and his reactions during play really are on point. But there's no doubt I can't offer him what he needs, and I think he's feeling a little sad about that too.

I can offer him what he wants tonight though.

I watch as Ellis approaches Owen and Nikolai, and smile to myself, quite possibly like an evil mastermind. Normally, this wouldn't have given me my wicked idea, as, as part of our agreement, Owen is free to interact with other subs any way he sees fit, so even the sexy dancing and touching the three of them are doing now wouldn't be a problem, and, in fact, would just serve to stoke my fire as they do look incredibly hot. However, something Owen seems to have forgotten for the moment, is that Ellis is not currently a submissive. So all bets are off.

I'm distracted for a moment by the sight of Sawyer heading toward the bar, Gabriel following behind attached to a leash. I've seen them once since Sawyer put on his show, and Gabriel seemed healthy enough then, though not happy. Sawyer had taken great pleasure that time in making Gabriel greet me, whilst he held the leash tightly enough to choke. I didn't react – it's possible Gabriel managed not to admit to Sawyer that we'd met, so I wasn't going to give him any ammunition.

The only purpose it had served was to make me even more certain Gabriel is not a masochist and left me wondering just how far in over his head he is.

Tonight, Gabriel doesn't seem as healthy. His back is riddled with the marks of a cane, and I wonder if any of them are permanent by now. He's holding his flawless posture as he walks, but his skin looks even paler and I can see the line of his ribs through his side, that I'm almost positive weren't visible just two weeks ago.

"What is with you and Sawyer's sub?" Landon is looking at me, perplexed, and I see Chase listening in.

It's understandable, he knows I'm not a fan of the sado-masochistic side of what we do, even more than him, and I would never be drawn toward a masochistic submissive.

"I don't think he's a masochist."

"Okay, well he is Sawyer's so that seems reasonable. But he's still a grown adult. It's not like you to be staring like a lost puppy at someone else's sub, regardless of what you think about how they're treated."

"That's unfair," I'm trying to deflect now, partly because it really isn't acceptable behavior for a Dom to be making moves on someone else's sub, even if it's only inside their head, "you know full well I'd step in if I thought you, or Dexter, or Chase, or Christian, or Xander, were treating a sub badly."

"And I'm sure you have something to do with why Ellis is no longer behaving as a sub, and he and François seem happier than ever, too."

"No comment."

"But it doesn't change the fact that you don't know Sawyer's sub, but you're getting bothered by how Sawyer treats him. I just think there's something there, even if it's only yourself you can admit it to."

Yeah, thanks Doctor Phil. I don't need those words. I already admitted it to myself. Although the funny thing is, I'm not sure it's even true.

* * * * *

I walk up behind Owen, who's wrapped in Ellis's long arms as they dance. Ellis whispers in Owen's ear and he turns to me.

"Look at me, Owen," my voice is intentionally stern and his eyes widen beautifully.

"Yes, Master."

"Why am I going to punish you?" he tries, but can't stop the grin that runs across his face, before he pulls it back to seriousness.

He glances around, trying to work out how he's misbehaved.

"I- I don't know, Master, what did I do?"

"You're only allowed to dance with other submissives. Ellis is not a submissive at the moment."

"I'm sorry, Master, I should have realized."

"You will have my forgiveness when you have been suitably chastised; come."

We go to the playroom. I decided not to inform Landon what my reason for punishing Owen is, I have a feeling Nikolai isn't as into punishment as Owen, and I still haven't worked out what his vulnerabilities are. If Landon doesn't see it for himself, I see no reason why Nikolai can't get away with it.

When we arrive at the playroom, I instruct Owen to strip, still in my severe persona, and I bind him to the horse, his arms and legs strapped to each of the sturdy legs of the furniture, and his waist and shoulders bound to the body, to prevent movement.

I haven't punished Owen often – he's just too perfect and doesn't do anything to anger me, so, except for the first time, they've all been vanity punishments – designed to fulfil a need Owen has to feel the extra level of vulnerability that punishment gives over normal play.

For the few times I have disciplined him since we began this journey – as he promised, he has intentionally behaved in a bratty way in order to gain my castigation on more than one occasion, although, in his usual sweet way, he doesn't do it in front of other Doms, so my reputation remains intact as someone who can control their sub – I've stuck to either edging over extended periods or canes and whips – a step up in intensity from the hand, paddles and floggers I use in erotic spanking, but just as likely to excite Owen, and I always like feeling his burning skin as I fuck into him after the punishment is over. I have a different punishment today.

My final act is to blindfold him so he can't see what I'm doing, though I know, as soon as I begin peeling the hand of ginger, he can smell the warm spice, and he whimpers in arousal. When I have shaped the root and smoothed the head into a narrow tip, I press it against his tight pucker, pushing it forward whilst using the fingers of my other hand to separate the skin and allow easier access, as he hasn't been prepared in any way.

When the plug-shaped spice is fully inserted I just watch him for a moment, his head rested to the side, and I can see when the oils are starting to permeate his sensitive walls when he begins to furrow his brow and bite his lower lip. After several minutes, he's whimpering in earnest, trying to shift his hips, desperately seeking relief from the burning inside.

"If you squeeze your muscles it will hurt more, baby boy, try to relax."

"I'm trying, Sir, it really burns."

"I know, baby, and you look so sexy trying to escape from it."

He chuckles, but then cries out as I land a light swish across his already sensitive ass with a long flogger. I know this will increase the intensity, particularly as he likes being flogged so much.

His skin is pink with a sheen of sweat by the time I've finished, and his cock is weeping globs of precum onto the floor. I know the oils from the ginger will have been used and the burn will be beginning to fade, so his punishment is over, although I wouldn't do any punishment without giving him something good at the end.

When I remove the root his normally snug hole even has a sexy little gape from the forced muscle relaxation, ready for penetration. It's a shame I can't feel his insides directly, as the light burn from the residual oils is hot in more ways than one, but safety first, as he isn't my long-term partner I sheath up before entering him and fucking him to ecstatic oblivion.

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