A/N: Just...there's some bad BDSM etiquette between Ellis and Frankie, which hopefully you've seen, and it will get worse before it gets better

Ellis

Master François has gone to see his family for Christmas. I shouldn't be surprised that he didn't take me, though I did get punished for sulking when he told me it was because we wouldn't be able to hide the D/s aspect of our relationship. It's true, so I don't even know why I complained. And then I was punished again for trying to demand sex before he left yesterday, so I'm here, on Christmas morning, with a tight metal cock cage constricting me and a bruised ass. He did leave the key, in case of an emergency, but I know my punishment for removing it without an emergency will be worse, so it's staying on, hopefully only until he returns tomorrow.

He's phoning now, and I eagerly accept his video call, grinning at his handsome face, though he looks tense.

"Happy Christmas, Master," I squeal.

"Good morning, Pet. Did you sleep well?"

"Could have been better, Master," I admit, moving the camera down my body to remind him of the constricting cage, not that he'd forgotten it.

"Well, maybe you'll think twice before trying to demand sex in future, Pet." I sure will, but I'm not even sure if that's what he wants, as he normally loves it when I instigate play. It was just bad timing and I'll need to be more careful of that.

"How is Master Gray?" I ask, because I know Master will have spoken to him this morning.

He broke up with his long term submissive while he was in London, though Master hasn't told me why, and I know Master Gray is avoiding meeting up, because Master is frustrated by it and I heard him speaking to Master Landon about it.

"He's with his family today, Pet. He's doing okay, though I think he may stay away from the club for a while. Did you open your presents with Nikolai yet, Pet?"

"Not yet Master, I was hoping you'd stay on the call while we do it, so we can have a mini Christmas together," I try to keep the pleading out of my voice, but I doubt I'm successful. With Nikolai living here, which is cool, I really like Nikki, but Master has been spending a lot of time out of the house, when he isn't training Nikki, because he says he trusts him to make me behave. It's not fair, but I've caused enough stress to Master so I'll try to not think of that, especially now, when I'm missing him so much, despite the fact that he's only been gone a day.

"Can't, Pet. Now be good and make sure you do your exercise. Don't eat anything unhealthy; I don't care that it's Christmas; and I will phone again at bed time." He hangs up then, his mother calling from the other room. I don't know what she looks like, but I imagine her as being very classy and always wearing Chanel. Her French-Canadian accent is pitched quite high and Master did tell me, a while ago, that she's a demanding woman. I wonder if that's where my Master got it from.

Because my Master is away, and his housekeeper and butler have gone to their families for the holiday, he gave me permission to invite Dae over for lunch, though he did warn me not to let him encourage me to misbehave. I'm sure he wouldn't, anyway. Dae seems fun, sure, but he doesn't strike me as a person who would want to get someone else into trouble. I think it's only himself he has any desire to get into trouble.

I've checked everything in the oven, and Nikki and Dae are sitting at the breakfast bar, giggling over the presents they bought each other, which were, unsurprisingly, butt plugs. I got them new shirts for the club, because I've noticed Dae feels self-conscious about his beautiful creamy skin, though why is a mystery, as it's gorgeous, and I know that Master Chase is going to love turning it pink. Nikki's shirt is a white long-sleeved mesh so fine it somehow accentuates his stunning tattoos, especially the colored ones down his arms.

We all decide to dress in the outfits – Nikki got me a cute spandex bolero with long sleeves that just covers my shoulder blades and makes me feel a little as though my upper body is bound, which is a shivery-nice feeling. We dance around in the kitchen with loud music on until the buzzer goes to remind me to check the meat.

"Why are your pants so tight, Ellis?" Dae asks with a wink, as I think he assumes I'm hard when I'm anything but.

"Cock cage," I pout. "Master got annoyed because I pestered him for sex yesterday." Dae's mouth falls open.

"That's not fair!" But he whispers it, like he's afraid there's a microphone which, for all I know, there might be. "How is it the Doms have that clause in the contract that says they're allowed to demand sex at any time, but you get caged up for asking?"

"They can ask, but we can always safeword if we aren't in the mood," I reason.

"But does that happen a lot?" Nikki asks. "I have to admit I wondered about that too. All the training is telling me that we safeword if we feel unsafe or uncomfortable, but really, how often do you go ahead because you don't want to use your safewords too often?" I flush, because he isn't wrong. "Ellis, you've been doing this for a while, how often have you used your safewords?"

"I never have," and my voice is a whisper, because I've always been proud that I'm strong enough to take whatever Master thinks is acceptable, but the way Nikki and Dae are talking it's just reminding me that it's really because I know Master's previous subs could take it, and I don't want him to feel as though I'm less than they were.

After we've eaten lunch: more than we'd usually eat because we aren't going to have to bottom for a change! we settle down to watch Christmas movies in the basement den.

"Do you use all that gym equipment?" Dae nods toward the open door of the gym, which could rival many of the city gyms for the variety of equipment. Nikki and I both nod.

"We used it for two hours this morning," I tell him.

"Wow," his eyes are wide, "no wonder your bodies are so hot!" I shrug because, sure we have good bodies, but that's our choice and we have to work for it. Dae is a little down on his own body, and I don't like that.

"Dae, your body is gorgeous too. You're slim, and smooth, and, believe me, loads of the Doms are going to go crazy for you when you're certified." He shrugs, clearly not believing me, and changes the subject.

"Did Master François give you permission to have a drink, because it's Christmas?" I glance at Nikki, and back to Dae. Of course he didn't. Part of my punishment for getting drunk at the club was no alcohol for two months, and that's quite beside the point that he has never allowed me to have a drink when he isn't around. Nikki doesn't know the details of that, but he understands enough to know what I say next is a lie.

"Yes, Dae. One glass of champagne, because it's Christmas." I wait a moment, to see if Nikki will contradict me, or say he doesn't want any, but he just blinks slowly and nods.

"Yes. One glass. It will be nice to celebrate." I take that as my cue and bounce up the stairs, descending at the other side of the kitchen into the temperature-controlled wine cellar, where I grab one of the many bottles of champagne and three flutes.

We end up finishing the bottle. It's only three glasses each, but I haven't drunk for a while and the bubbles go straight to my head. We get very giggly and end up falling asleep wrapped up in each other on the couch. I wake up a while later and see Nikki must have gone to bed, so I cover Dae in a warm blanket and slowly make my way upstairs, rubbing the sleepiness off my face. As I get to Master's room, I see my phone buzzing on the nightstand and rush to answer it.

"Ellis, where have you been?" Master looks angry, and I flush in the realization that I left my phone upstairs all afternoon.

"I'm sorry, Master. I left my phone upstairs."

"Not an excuse, you know that. What are you wearing?"

"Nikki bought me this for Christmas, Master," I whisper, wondering if he'll be mad I dressed so sexy when he wasn't here.

"And have you been drinking?" he sounds really angry now, and my befuddled brain can hardly keep up with the random nature of the questions he's throwing at me. I debate lying but know that's worse than just doing something wrong.

"Yes, Master. Just a little champagne. It is Christmas."

"It might be Christmas, but I did not tell you that you could drink. It seems one day away from me and you're determined to break every rule," he growls. "You will be getting punishment when I return tomorrow, but we will start that now. Get your computer, I will call you on that in two minutes."

I rush to comply, and then go to the playroom when he instructs me.

"I like your vest, Ellis, but looking sexy isn't going to change your punishment, though you can leave it on and remove your shorts." I rush to comply, dropping into forgiveness, on my knees with my arms supplicated in front of me, my ass raised high. "Oh, Ellis, how I wish I was there to start this punishment myself. But watching you do it will have to suffice. Get the number six plug from the drawer." I grab it from its neatly labelled position with a gulp. It's almost the largest one Master ever uses on me, and I struggle to take it when he's controlling me; I don't know how successful I'll be doing it myself. It has a suction cup on the end and he has me fix it to the floor, thankfully allowing me free reign with the lube, before instructing me to lower myself onto it. I'm whimpering with the pain, trying to control my breathing to make it easier, but I can't seem to bring myself the necessary relaxation. It's not helped by my constricted penis in the cage, as I know that being allowed to stroke myself would make this task infinitely easier. I cry out as I reach the widest point, having to slam myself down to take it, my short scream shrill.

"Well done, Pet," he says, finally. "You will leave that in until I return tomorrow. Go to bed now."

"Yes, Master," I say sadly, already feeling the bruising ache as my muscles still haven't relaxed around the intrusion.