Chapter 1: Collateral I

“By the way, Julie, what did you think of Tom Blaine?”

The question was posed by Julie’s Master Alex, sitting in his favorite living room chair while Julie, naked and collared, was kneeling at his feet. It jolted her, coming as it did out of the blue, as he had been discussing something altogether different. The conversation, which was more like a lecture, had begun when Alex called her out of the kitchen, saying he had something important to discuss. It concerned his business. Alex owned a small company that sold craft and novelty items over the internet. Julie also worked there, performing a variety of odd jobs. For the past ten minutes she had listened obediently while he held forth about the financial condition of the business, tossing out terms like “cash flow,” “leverage,” “working capital” and the like. She didn’t understand all of it but did grasp the gist, which was that the company was losing money. He seemed to be building to some kind of conclusion when he startled her with this sudden change of topic.

“Did you hear me, Julie; I asked you what you thought of Tom?”

“Yes, sir, I heard you. I was trying to think. I guess I don’t really have an opinion about him. I only met him once.”

“Huh. I would have thought he’d have made more of an impression.”

She felt the blood rush to her face. It was three weeks ago to the day that Tom Blaine had come to the apartment. Alex had informed her of the invitation only a few days earlier. Julie thought she knew all of Alex’s friends but had never heard him mention Blaine. Alex said he knew him from playing racquetball at the club. It was only recently that they had become better acquainted. He discovered that they had some common interests. It turned out that Blaine was, as Alex put it, “a major league kinkster.” He had even “owned” slaves. “Now isn’t that interesting?” Alex said. She agreed that it was interesting. Naturally he told Blaine that he was in a Master/slave relationship himself. “You know, he seemed surprised when I told him that,” Alex said, sounding rather pleased with himself. “He expressed an interest in meeting you. So I invited him over.”

“For dinner?” she asked.

“No, just for drinks. He’ll be coming over around nine. And he’s not just a friend, Julie. He’s very rich and an important business contact. So I’d like you to make a good impression.”

“Of course, sir. I always try to make a good impression on your friends. I like you to be proud of me. What do you think I should wear?”

“Actually, Julie, I expect you to be naked and wearing your collar.”

She swallowed hard and said “Yes, sir.” One of Alex’s slave rules was that Julie always be naked and collared at home, except when she had to admit strangers, such as repairmen, or when they had “vanilla” guests. Blaine was not a repairman, and he was clearly not “vanilla,” so naked and collared she would be. Logical though it was, it still came as a shock. Up until now only a few people knew about their kinky lifestyle; these were two of Alex’s friends, Peter and Steve, and their wives, Leslie and Diane. The women, who were submissive but not slaves, had become Julie’s closest friends. The two couples had been friends for a long time before Alex knew them. Julie’s first encounter with them was at a dinner party at Peter and Leslie’s suburban home. There was just the six of them. On the drive over Alex casually remarked that the couples were “big time spankos.” “Oh,” she said. She expected him to elaborate but instead he turned the music up loud and they drove the rest of the way in silence, leaving her to wonder what these “big time spankos” were like. Perfectly normal, friendly people as it turned out. The home was beautiful, the dinner delicious, the conversation innocuous. Julie helped Leslie and Diane clear the table then joined the men in the living room. So what would they do next, she wondered, maybe play a game of Charades? What followed was a charade of a different sort, as the two men picked an entirely specious quarrel with their wives, which ended with the two women sprawled across their husbands’ laps being spanked, bare bottom and all. Julie was watching all-agog when Steve asked Alex why he and Julie weren’t joining in the fun. Alex turned to her and said, “What do you say, Julie?” She tried to demur but the two women, their bottoms already bare began to taunt her. “Don’t be a chicken,” said Leslie and the others began to make clucking sounds. Alex leaned forward in his chair and began tapping on his left thigh. “Come on, Julie,” he said. Bowing to the inevitable she climbed over his lap, her arms and legs touching the floor. He began with a few swats over her dress; in short order the dress was bunched around her waist and her panties circled her knees. Amidst all the background noise of talking and laughing and flesh striking flesh, Julie soon forgot her embarrassment, descending into her own little world, conscious only of the delicious sensations delivered by her lover. When he finally stopped and told her to get up, she noticed that the room had fallen silent. The two other couples, with the women’s clothes still in disarray, were standing around them with big smiles on their faces. They broke into applause. “Congratulations, Julie,” Diane said. “You’re one of us now.”

It was one of the most embarrassing moments of her life and also one of the most exhilarating. The party was the first of many at either Peter or Steve’s house. Steve and Diane also lived in the suburbs. Alex was slow to reciprocate because of the smallness of his apartment. It had taken all of his savings just for the down payment on his one-bedroom condo in the city. By the time he was ready to host the others his relationship with Julie had already advanced to the next level. He sternly informed her that she was to appear naked and collared. Julie could still recall how nervous and embarrassed she was at having to greet her friends this way at the door, though they had been apprised of the situation beforehand. But they were all her friends and were supportive and she quickly settled down. Later Diane and Leslie told her how brave they thought she was, which made Julie feel very good.

But this was different for Blaine was a total stranger. At least Alex didn’t make her answer the doorbell. Instead she waited in the bedroom, listening through the open bedroom door as Alex greeted his guest and seated him in the living room. She heard Alex ask him what he wanted to drink but didn’t hear the answer. Only then did Alex come to fetch her. She followed him into the living room, casting a furtive glance at the man seated on the sofa. He was tall with broad shoulders and wore a gray business suit. He caught her eye and she quickly lowered her head. There were no introductions. Alex told her to bring “Mr. Blaine” a glass of scotch, no ice, and a beer for himself. A new bottle of twelve-year old scotch was already waiting on the kitchen counter. From there she could hear the men talking but couldn’t make out what they said. She guessed they were talking about her. Returning to the living room she leaned over to hand Blaine his glass, allowing her another brief glance at his face. He appeared to be handsome and somewhat older than Alex, who was thirty-two. (She was twenty-six.) Alex, wearing a sports coat and tie, was seated in his favorite armchair. She handed him his beer then knelt on the floor by his side, head bowed, staring at the carpet.

The men began to chat. Alex started the conversation by asking Blaine his opinion on the state of the economy, then went on to other topics. Julie was struck by Alex’s deferential manner to his friend. Meanwhile the two ignored her as if she didn’t exist. Yet she knew that Blaine must be looking at her and her naked body, especially at her breasts and the space between her legs.

The conversation had hit a lull when Alex suddenly asked Blaine what he thought of “my Julie.” Blaine replied that she was very pretty and that Alex was a lucky man. Then Alex said, “Would you like to spank her, Tom?” and Blaine replied that he would. This was another shock for Julie, though it too was not without precedent, for she had occasionally been spanked by Steve and Peter at those dinner parties, just as Alex had spanked their wives. Alex ordered her to go over to Blaine. Blaine requested a towel. She brought one from the linen closet and handed it to him. He placed it carefully over his lap then beckoned to her.