She obeyed without question. He noted the figures before him, then moved her to the side of the arch where he measured her from top to toe.

From one of the panelled walls he unclipped a black leather couch, which folded neatly down. ‘Now I’m going to examine you. And because you’re so sensitive to touch I’ll shackle you to make it easier for both of us. You will need to relax and trust yourself into my care. In future we will do this as a complete exercise once every couple of weeks.’

Abi’s eyes opened wide. She wasn’t sure about this at all. What was going to happen? Why did she get the feeling he was going to extend the exploration field and that she would be helpless in trying to stop him? Despite her fears she stepped towards the couch and climbed on, careful to follow his instructions.

‘Right, on your back first. That’s right, head right back. And bring your hands above your head.’

With fur-lined cuffs binding each wrist, he linked them to a chain. She didn’t see him pull angled rods from beneath the couch, but jumped as he linked each leg in turn to a rod, pulling them apart, her vagina wide open.

He was thorough. Starting with her scalp he examined her head, turning it first this way then that as he looked with an instrument in each ear. Holding her lids open he shone a splinter of light into each eye, feeling around her throat muscles, all the time watching her reactions.

She was tense as he held her chin firm. She’d never liked doctors; symptom of an abusive past.

‘All right, all right, I know this isn’t particularly an experience you enjoy. But there are going to be lots more like it, so you need to get used to the idea quickly. Besides, it’s in your best interests as well as our own. We do need to know you’re clean, that you carry no diseases, and that you are going to take care of yourself without spreading germs or causing illness. You get the idea?’

Purposely, it seemed, he had kept the words clinical, the explanation blunt. It was impersonal like the examination of which she was an integral part. But yes, it made a certain sense.

‘Now open your mouth wide. Wider...’ He curled back her lips to look at her teeth and gums, then reaching behind him brought a circle of silver towards her, which he manipulated until it hooked behind her teeth top and bottom, stretching her lips into an ‘O’. Still holding her chin he inserted what seemed to be a thin stick to the back of her mouth.

‘Aaaaaah!’ was the only form of protest she could muster. ‘Aaaaaah!’

He was looking at her tonsils and beyond, for whatever reason she couldn’t fathom. With ring removed he returned to his examination of her body. His hands fondled and played with her right breast. Then suddenly he was pinching the nipple hard between thumb and forefinger, bringing it to a ripe cherry-red. In discovering the inverted nipple he reached for an instrument that hummed softly before touching the offending bud, bringing it immediately to life. It triggered electric impulses which flooded her senses, and she writhed in confusion.

‘All right, all right, calm down,’ he urged. ‘We’ll need to work on that little baby. It won’t stay hidden for long.’

With his words came a tremor of fear. And at the same time a thrill of excitement she didn’t understand. Pleasure and pain. Already they were merging, becoming a part of the same experience. It was disquieting, and yet at the same time excited her. His hands were coaxing, gentle, firm. It was easy to trust him, to give herself to him, and to let the myriad of feelings he offered wash over her. He aroused her almost to fever pitch as he worked his way down over her tummy, pausing to finger and examine the crisscross of scars, to her groin. She couldn’t see him, but could feel the sensations he aroused within as he used clamps to hold open the labia, working the clitoris, feeling for the wet secret inside. His fingers made contact, first one, then two, sliding their way surreptitiously inside.

‘You’re tight... very tight.’ His words came like an accusation. ‘We’ll need to stretch and work on the muscles of your pelvic floor.’ He made it sound a clinical exercise, while she could barely contain the intense spasms edging her towards an orgiastic response.

‘No, you will not orgasm,’ he denied her. ‘Not until you’ve been given permission to do so.’

But she couldn’t help it.

‘Not before I tell you, I said. Don’t you listen?’ His tone was stern. ‘You’ll learn to control your emotions, to channel your feelings, and in doing so discover a whole new dimension. But for now, stop.’

She felt the sting of a slap against her thigh, followed by another. Tears smarted her eyes. But he wasn’t finished. Cold steel entered her vagina while he used a tiny camera to investigate and explore. Then when he was finished he removed everything around that area of her body, creaming her opening and shaving away her hair. He then proceeded to do likewise under her arms, before releasing her from her bonds, bidding her turn over.

Starting with her neck he moved gradually down her body, feeling her spine, pausing every so often, manipulating, massaging, then moving on. He stood immediately behind while he held her cheeks apart to inspect the passage within. Then felt with a finger into her anus.

‘Again, tight. We’ll need to give you a proper workout, together with aids that will help. And not just butt plugs, which I’ll insert, rather than leave them for you to do.’

She remembered, and winced. He seemed to know everything. For moments she felt slighted by Dream Catcher, betrayed in the way he had shared their secret.

Shadow slapped her twice, hard on each buttock. ‘Now open your anal passage.’ He tried inserting his finger again, and again he smacked her. Then she felt the coldness of steel. Something was being pushed steadily into her passage. She winced, trying to relax, to let go and simply let it come. She could feel the affects of what he was doing as his examination continued, but was no longer certain what he was using or why. Sometimes she wondered if it was for affect.

But then she thought again on his words, about wanting to be sure that she was healthy and clean and no threat to their household. It ma

de a certain sense. All the same, she was relieved when the instruments were removed.

‘All right, that will do for now. You can get down from the couch. But get used to the idea of pain and pleasure because that’s what this lifestyle is all about, no matter how that comes.’

He paused, looking at her intently for a moment before adding, ‘And you are obviously more than ready to embrace this lifestyle. From the wetness of your labia, it agrees with you. Looking forward to more?’

Abi blushed deeply. It still embarrassed her to be so naked and vulnerable before him. ‘Yes. Yes I am. I want to be ready for when I next see Master.’

Shadow’s smile slipped. He jerked around, and while his back was to her she wondered if she had said the wrong thing. There was an atmosphere between them that hadn’t been there before.

Only when they were sitting together after eating dinner did he speak further. His tone was careful and considered.