Page 52 of Tied to Hope
He glanced at her with a look of uncertainty. “Hopefully, I will be after this, babygirl.”
Marquis brought out the flogger he’d given Brie as a birthday gift. He’d made it by using a combination of suede and oiled leather tails. “I designed this flogger for longer sessions, so it will do nicely for what I have in mind.”
Sir stared hard at the flogger.
“Are you concerned, Sir Davis?” Marquis asked.
“Not about the instrument itself.”
“Ah, it’s the process itself that concerns you? It’s natural to feel resistant when facing one’s inner demons.”
Sir frowned. “But I thought I was past that.”
Marquis met his gaze. “Some demons are of our own making. They can appear innocuous, yet they have the greatest hold over us.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I trust you will.”
Nodding to Brie, Marquis Gray asked, “Would you select Mozart’sLacrimosafor me?”
After she selected the piece on their sound system, Brie handed Marquis the remote and stood back. She felt nervous for Sir, even though she had personally experienced the healing power of a flogger under Marquis’ skilled hand.
Marquis Gray directed Sir, “You will kneel, hands outstretched, facing toward the ocean.”
Before he followed Marquis Gray’s orders, Sir walked over to Brie. Cupping her chin, he gave her a kiss and said in a gruff voice, “Do not leave.”
“I won’t, Sir.”
He walked over to stand before Marquis. Nodding to him, he turned around and knelt on the floor, his arms spread wide.
“You must connect with the music before we begin.”
Marquis turned on the music. The instrumental piece started slowly with a sad undertone but quickly began to build in power—the dynamic rhythm of the piece evoking feelings of angst and torment.
A chill washed over Brie.
She was familiar with this music. Marquis had played the same piece when he flogged her after Rytsar’s capture. She remembered the intense pain of that session.
But, in its wake, she had felt free…
While the music played, Marquis warmed up his muscles, swinging the flogger like a knight preparing for battle.
Looking at Sir, her heart bled for him, knowing the pain he was about to endure.
Kneeling on the floor with his arms outstretched, she could see the music was drawing out his raw emotions. But, Sir clenched his hands into fists and then relaxed them several times, fighting against it.
Brie glanced at Marquis and saw that his gaze was intense and unwavering as he quietly observed Sir’s struggle.
When the piece ended, Marquis ordered him to stand.
Sir was slow to get back on his feet but kept his gaze straight ahead, his face stoic.
“You cannot fight against this or this session will have no effect,” Marquis warned.
Sir lowered his head, looking to the side. After several seconds, he lifted his head again, answering hoarsely, “Understood.”
“With each lash, you will dig deeper to find the root of your inner struggle,” Marquis instructed. “Do not resist it. Let the pain of the flogger push you continually forward.”
