Charlie only offers a grunt while he looks sheepish, then steers the conversation back to baseballbefore it can get any more awkward. I have to admit, I don't have the same kind of faith in myself thatJazz seems to have, but I can't help feel a little relieved.Yet as the afternoon turns into evening, the very same words start to haunt me, and Bella's concernedlooks tell me I'm doing a bad job trying to appear all happy and normal. It's not like anyone is payingme much attention, with it being her day, as much as she seems to squirm through everyone handingover their gifts.She is positively speechless when she opens the envelope I hand her, containing my official present -the other one still resting in its box upstairs under the bed – and I get some approving smiles fromboth her and my parents at the weekend getaway at a remote resort I've organized, date to be chosenby my dearest herself. The fact that I can't do wrong in her eyes only adds to the disturbed feeling

from the couch to put under her head – tonight I want her calm and relaxed, something I normally don'tgo for when I tie her up.The only flaw in her position is that she can still move, obviously, but that is fixed quickly with a fewyards of soft, black rope. I don't think the handles of the drawers and the rail to put the dishtowels upfor drying were meant for this exact purpose, but they work really well for me. It only takes me a fewminutes to restrain her ankles and wrists to the corners of the island, and add a few more bonds to herarms and legs above and below her joints to make sure that she's properly immobilized.Once I'm done I step back and admire my work, feeling my cock grow hard in my jeans. The wayshe's tied down is a delicious compromise between practicality and eye candy, the contrast of theblack ropes over her ivory skin atop the charcoal marble nearly a piece of art. Her slightly bent legsbeckon to be touched but I hold myself back, instead letting

pleasure, and for that sake I reach for the vibrator I've brought along with the rope.Her first moan when she feels the vibrating dildo pressed against her clit and slid between her pussylips is still soft, but before long she's trying to grind against it just as much as she did with my facebefore. I toy a little with her, pushing the vibrator against the entrance of her pussy but never reallyinside her, causing her to mewl and plead with me, but to no avail. I only stop when I have her on thebrink of coming again, and this time she's clearly, and very loudly displeased with me. I only grin andreach for another handful of clothespins.A whine leaves her when I put the first clothespin onto her outer pussy lip, watching the slick,swollen flesh pinched by the plastic teeth. I add another one to her other lip, just opposite the firstone, then wait if she's showing any signs of real pain, but Bella stays silent and doesn't squeeze herball.Her brows are knit but I know

"You know, I was really uneasy about them when you talked me into agreeing to let you use them. Ieven kind of expected you to hold me to that promise the moment you blindfolded me today. Andwhen you had them on my pussy lips and pushed into me, I very much hated you, for a second or two.But then that distinction between pain and pleasure became really blurred, and I kind of stoppedcaring which of both was the predominant sensation, and I guess the fact that I came for like forevertells you just how much I enjoyed them in the end. Although you kissing the pain away afterwards wasreally very sweet, and felt so incredible that I think I'd want to try that again even if I hadn't liked thepinch at all."Smiling, I kiss her nose. "You're so very welcome, my love.""I was a little surprised that you did that. With the nipple clamps before I always had the feeling thatyou were just sucking on them afterwards to draw out my discomfort a little longer, but today you keptgoin

She underlines her words by idly tapping the small paddle at the end of the crop repeatedly againstmy cock, barely hard enough to qualify as more than a caress. It's still more than enough to drive mewild. A violent shiver runs through me as I force myself to stay completely still, my eyes boring intohers."Yes, Mistress." I add a silent 'please' in my thoughts, and I'm sure she can read it from the probablybesotted look on my face.She acknowledges my answer with a curt nod and a smile, then straightens before she struts over tothe supply cabinet. I lower my head again but can't keep myself from watching her barely covered asssway below where the corset is forcing her already great curves into perfect shape. Normally I'dwant to bend her over and swat her butt thoroughly, but today I'm entirely too happy where I am,kneeling, waiting for her to return.Which she does a minute later, where she drops a full set of black leather cuffs right in front of me."Put those o