Pauline

as yet.

'Assist Madam with her slippers and stockings,” said the Countess. Up to that point, I had removed only my upper garments, and I was surprised to see how quickly this pretty girl went about the task assigned her. Quickly kneeling, she slipped both hands beneath my dress and up along my leg to my knee. Remembering, then, that she had failed to remove the slipper, she quickly did so, and once again her hands slid up along my leg. Watching the countess, I made it appear as though I was having difficulty with my skirts, and was delighted to note that instead of watching her maid, she was watching the uncovering of my charms.

Glancing down, I happened to catch the maid's eye, and I noted the deep color in her cheeks; she was deliberately taking her time about removing the garters. Catching the hint, I said: “Be careful not to stretch the elastic, my dear.” Again turning my attention to the Countess, I said, “Are you in the habit of whipping your maids simply because they happen to be delayed in answering your summons?” As I said this, I felt the unmistakable sensation of soft fingers stealing up my thigh-far, far too high to have anything to do with the garter!

'That's why I asked you to call today,” the countess said, moving with that languor common to one under the influence of another's presence under certain circumstances. “This is punishment day.'

'Indeed,” I said, making believe I was surprised at this choice bit of information. “Then I am in luck. I have never witnessed anything like that.'

Hidden beneath my skirts as they were, the maid's hands were taking advantage of the golden opportunity, for while one hand toyed with the elastic of the second garter, the other slid along and quite came to rest among the curls that lay hidden there. Holding my waist momentarily between the countess and me, I looked down only to find the naughty maid staring up into my eyes, and if ever a signal passed between two persons, one passed between us; I am sure the pretty girl read my thoughts.

Naturally, I wondered at this. Why, I wondered, would this girl deliberately flirt this way with me? Was I to learn something further about the inner-doings of this mysterious house?

The stockings having been removed by this time, I pushed the skirts and drawers down over my hips, letting them fall about my bare feet. There was an unmistakable flush on the countess’ cheeks, one I hadn't noted before, and she seemed to be centering her attention on my hairy grotto. Very well, I thought. If you enjoy looking at it, my dear, I shall have the pleasure of feeding it to your clever mouth before I leave here today!

But I was never more mistaken in my life, my friend, as you shall see. That the countess was eager to get at the punishment business was manifest a moment later when she said, “If you are really interested in what is about to happen, my dear, come along to my punishment room,” and she rose languidly and motioned toward a curtained doorway. Grabbing up the bottle and glasses, I said, “I will enjoy it far more if I am fortified with this,” waving the bottle on high and following her to the doorway.

Turning to the maid again, she said, “Have Molly come to me in ten minutes-I shall punish her first.'

Here was a most unusual event in my young life. I had already done many strange things; I was no stranger to the ways of the flesh with both men and women, but this was the first time I had ever stripped stark naked and followed an equally naked woman into a darkened room for the purpose of watching her give her pet maid a severe whipping. But because I had promised to discover all the mysteries possible within this house, I was determined to go through with it regardless of what happened.

What was my surprise, then, to find myself in a cute little bowerlike place, where the only article of furniture-besides a large bearskin rug on the floor-was a broad, low couch upon which the countess threw herself in a position which quite conveyed to me her intention.

'Why do you whip these pretty girls?” I asked, dropping down beside her and slipping one arm about her nude waist. Carelessly I dropped the other hand upon her smooth, warm thigh.

She had removed the silly headdress and was partly lying and partly sitting, her thighs quite well apart. Looking into my eyes, she said, “A few moments ago you asked me a question regarding a lover, and I told you I had none.” While saying this, she deliberately raised her leg and placed it across both of mine, and once again I could hardly mistake her meaning. However, I did not take advantage of this apparent offer right away, but contented myself with patting and toying with the warm flesh of her well-turned thigh. I nodded my answer and she went on: “That was quite true; I have no use for men. Nor is it possible for me to enjoy the embraces of a woman until I have first been aroused by watching another suffer under the lash.'

Again I nodded. “I can partly understand that,” I said.

'There are, however, exceptions to that rule. Seeing your beautiful body, and knowing something of your past, it would require but precious little attention to arouse me fully. You know what I mean, do you not?” she said, giving me a dreadfully naughty look and moving her belly in little rotating motions.

I understood fully enough, but I did not propose to be caught in any of her traps. I said, “Doesn't it arouse you to have so many pretty, nude girls about the place?'

'At times. They are very skillful and delight in pleasing me, but one tires of that after awhile. Your presence, however, has aroused me to no little extent.” And gazing at me from beneath her long lashes, she added, “You do not misunderstand me, do you darling?” at the same time moving her belly again.

I laughed. “How could one be mistaken?” I said, sliding my hand up along her thigh and bringing my fingers to rest upon the soft lips of her cunny.

'I thought you would understand. Now if you will but go down upon your knees and do my aching cunt justice, I shall be able to furnish you with a very pretty little show.'

There was not the slightest doubt about her meaning now, and though I found her very desirable, I had not the slightest intention of allowing myself to become a victim of her wiles. It also occurred to me that she was a bit brazen about it. One does not approach it in such a manner, and her actions conveyed the impression that I was being led into some sort of a trap from which I might find difficulty in extracting myself. So, sparring for time as it were, I said, “I'm sorry, dear, but you seemed to have forgotten about me. You see I, too, have to be aroused; so why not wait until after you have punished one of the girls-I will feel more like it then.'

'But you don't understand,” she said. “You see, it's this way: If I were to go about it without first being relieved, I would be sure to soften and fail in my duty. The whipping, I mean, would be a failure; it wouldn't bring about the desired results.'

I was thinking fast now. Here I was in this strange woman's home, naked, in the most compromising position and being literally invited to “go down” on her without the slightest indication that she would reciprocate. How, I wondered, was I going to get out of this fix?

True, I wasn't the slightest bit afraid of her; I was too famous to think for a moment that anyone would dare lay a hand on me. I just did not want to be caught in any traps. Blackmail was far too prevalent at that time for me not to know the pitfalls one can so easily walk into. No, indeed! If I were to do this woman's bidding, then she must return the favors bestowed upon her.

I have always tried to live a Christian life (that may seem strange coming from me, but it's true) though I had long since given up the idea that prayers could be of any possible assistance to me, but that afternoon an unspoken prayer was answered. I had been taxing my brain for a way out of the present difficulty when the curtains parted, admitting a girl. It was the same beautiful creature who had removed my stockings, and like myself, she was completely naked.

'Molly is ready, madam,” she said in a low voice.

'You have prepared the whip?” asked the countess, relieving me of her leg and sitting up.

The girl nodded. “Everything is ready, madam.'

'Very well,” she said, by way of dismissal. Turning to me, the countess said, “Would you like to be in the room when I inflict the punishment, or would you rather remain here and watch through the curtains? I am sure the latter would be the best; Molly would be sure to respond with far greater freedom if she thought she didn't have an audience.'

I was thinking fast. “I believe I would much rather remain here-if the punishment room is close by.'

'The next room,” she said, indicating the heavy curtains at the far side. She rose and walked toward them in what I thought was an abrupt manner. Turning just before passing between the drapes, she said, “I shall have the couch drawn close to the curtains, that you might recline while watching.'

Then, as though they had been waiting for that very signal, two girls entered the room and, without a word, moved the couch, with me still upon it, close to the curtains. One of these girls was the one who had announced Molly's readiness, and you may rest assured signals again passed between us before she and her companion left the room.