Belt

He hadn't really hit her with anything other than his bare hand. Once, perhaps, with a pink fluffy duster that they were using as part of a game, but that didn't count. Not really.

She'd mentioned the belt once, and he'd talked about taking it with him next time he saw her, and laying it out on the bed for her to see. But that had got forgotten in amongst all their other adventures.

But she had wondered. She'd wondered if it would hurt more, or less, than his hand. She'd pondered whether the lack of physical touch would mean that she'd feel as though something was missing. She had even thought that perhaps, fond of her as he was, he might have gone off the idea entirely. After all, she imagined that everyone had a limit as to how much they'd really want to hurt someone. Was this his?

And she wasn't going to push. There was fear mixed with the excitement: real fear.

But he used it on her that night. It wasn't at all like his hand. The belt had a life of its own. She couldn't predict where it would strike, what part of her anatomy it might lash. It felt warm, hot even, but maybe that was just the heat from her own flesh.

And it stung. It stung so hard her eyes watered and she watched her knuckles turn white.

She was surprised at the reaction. It sent her deep, extremely deep. So deep that she couldn't sleep that night. She'd heard other subs use the phrase "beaten into submission" and always felt a little disapproving. Now, she thought she might have gotten a glimpse into what they meant.

It was something else she was learning about herself. About their dynamic when together. About how she felt more comfortable with the idea of him beating her, or standing tall over her as she cowered at his feet, than with the thought of him massaging her.

The next morning, when he'd left, she would examine her welts in the mirror. Looking at where he'd left his mark always made her swoon. In the early days that was the time when she would start sinking to the floor, overcome by a feeling she couldn't name or describe. Now, of course, she could identify that submissive feeling straight away.

For a moment she felt her forehead sink to the floor. It felt instinctive, like an animal that had just come up against a stronger, more alpha rival, and lost. But there was a satisfaction in that nevertheless.

Today, she remembered what he'd said as he dressed, that next time he would bring his wider belt. She shivered, but whether it was fear or excitement she wasn't sure.