Chapter Two

The In-Between

The telephone call on Thursday evening left me even more confused. I realised that the changes that Laura was asking of me could not happen overnight. At one point the previous weekend she’d used the phrase “starting from zero” and that was a great way to describe it. Over some period of time I’d let myself become complacent. I’d taken Laura for granted, taken my ability to learn for granted, taken my ability to stay trim and fit for granted. I’d basically turned into a slob. What Laura and Christine were doing was bizarre. It made sense in a crazy kind of way, but it was really like something out of a porno movie. As a man I’d thought that living in a porno movie would be a good thing. But I was the one who was being required to give up my sexual gratification. Well maybe not give it up – just have a lot less of it.

I came to think of that week in January as the point where I gave in to Laura and Christine’s demands. All at once I felt that my submission to them could be incredibly sexy, as long as I could accept it.

And this was the weekend that Laura would stay with me in Loughborough. I had to be able to show her I was changing for the better. I had to show her I was trying to make myself worthy of her.

In one area I knew I’d let her down. She’d asked me not to masturbate, but that was simply not possible for me – I couldn’t go “cold turkey”. And the fact that I wasn’t sleeping at night made things much worse.

Laura arrived on Saturday morning and I went to meet her bus. She stepped off the bus wearing black jeans, trainers and a rather sexy black leather jacket. Laura was a naturally beautiful girl: tall, blonde, slim and with a lovely face, she always looked attractive, but she didn’t usually dress in such an overtly sexy way. In fact, seeing her took my breath away for a moment. She ran over to me and threw her arms around me.

“Ooh I missed you darling!” she said. I felt an electric shock pass through me. Would it be alright? Would it be the way it used to be between us?

I’d bought her a small bunch of roses from the market. I’d picked ones that were out in bloom already, and asked the lady to cut the stems shorter, to make it easier for Laura to carry.

“These are lovely John!” she said, kissing me again. “Thank you so much.”

It was a warm and sunny day considering it was late January. I carried Laura’s bag as we strolled back through town, had coffees, and did some shopping before arriving back at my dorm room at lunchtime. We popped into the supermarket and bought some healthy food for a picnic later.

On the walk back we passed by the university gym complex so that Laura could make her official weigh-in for me. I’d realised during the week that my weight went up and down during the day, and I’d been careful not to drink too much liquid so far today. I’d even had a tiny espresso in the coffee shop. So when I stepped on the scales…

“That’s four pounds lost I make it,” Laura said, peering at the dial. “Good boy! That’s a fantastic start! I’m very proud of you.”

I was really pleased. Christine’s weighing of me had been in the nude, and here I was wearing clothes – but I’d slipped off my trainers. So maybe I’d lost more than four pounds.

We walked hand in hand back to my dorm room, and I put Laura’s bag down on the bed.

“Now you need to take a walk around the block while I get changed and then we can talk about your other goals,” Laura told me. “While you’re walking I want you to think about a mantra for me.”

“How do you mean?” I said. I knew what a mantra was, like in meditation or something. But I didn’t know what she meant in this context.

Laura smiled sweetly and stroked my cheek. “I want you to think of a short phrase that you can repeat to tell yourself how lucky you are to have two young Mistresses who look after your welfare. It’s got to be short, and you’ll repeat it when you’re masturbating to help you focus.”

That sounded creepy, but I suppose it was harmless. I nodded, uncertainly.

“Yes, OK Mistress,” I replied.

“Very good. I’m glad you’re remembering your manners, John.” Laura beamed. “Now off you go. I’ll need at least ten minutes.”

Laura called to me as I turned to leave, “Oh I nearly forgot. Christine sent you these. Put them on now before your walk.” She was holding a pair of pink, shiny satin panties. I flushed with embarrassment.

“Gosh Laura…” I began and saw a surprised look on her face. “Errr…Mistress, please it’s so embarrassing,” I muttered.

“Why on Earth would you even say that?” she scolded me. “It’s not like anyone can see you. And by wearing your mistress’s dirty panties you’re paying her a big compliment. I’m afraid you just lost some marks for that silliness.”

I didn’t know what “losing marks” really meant, but I quickly took the panties from Laura and stripped off my trainers, jeans and underpants. The silky smooth material slid over my skin and without realizing it I started to grow hard.

Laura giggled. “Is that what you call embarrassment? Christine was right. It turns you on, doesn’t it? You moan and mutter about it, but secretly you’re turned on at the thought of wearing her knickers. What a perv!”

If it was possible I grew even redder with shame.

“No, really,” I spluttered. “I don’t know why I’m getting hard. It’s really not nice to make me wear these. Please Mistress, I’m glad to do it on your orders though. Please don’t think I’m being disobedient.” I was trying to be diplomatic.

“You see John; your big brain is complaining and telling you it’s wrong. But look at your small brain – well not so small now is it?”

She laughed and stroked her hand over the bulging front of the panties. I shuddered at her touch; it had been weeks since she’d really touched me that way. Last weekend she’d teased me while I was wearing my cycle shorts, but now…

“Pull your trousers up and get off on your walk!” she ordered.

As I left the dorm block I was still blushing. Why was I so turned on by the thought of wearing Christine’s knickers? I could feel the different texture of the silky nylon knickers moving against the inside of my jeans as I walked. I knew my cock was dribbling as well.

My thoughts turned to this mantra. What the fuck was that all about? I tried to think about other examples of chants and mantras. I knew Buddhists used them. Oh, and Catholics as well I suppose. What was that thing, a Hail Mary? As the thought hit me I saw one of the girls I knew vaguely from hall social meetings, Libby. She was a nice girl, pretty enough face certainly, but she did possess a most impressive chest. At committee meetings I had often day dreamed while looking at that chest, and I’d noticed she wore a crucifix around her neck so she’d know the words to a Hail Mary for sure. I changed course and intercepted her.

“Hi Libby!” I cried as I cut across the grass. “Can I have a word please?”

“Hello John, how are you?” she asked, smiling.

“Very well, thank you. How about you?”

“I’m fine, thanks. What did you want to ask me?”

“Well I noticed you wear a crucifix,” I said. “Do you happen to know the words to a Hail Mary?”

She laughed. “Is the Pope Catholic? Of course I do.”

“Would you mind?” I prompted.

“Hail Mary, full of grace.

Our Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb,

Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.”

Libby looked at me as I frowned. “Sorry, is that not what you were looking for?” she asked.

“Hmmm. It’s quite long,” I said.

“Actually it’s one of the shorter prayers,” Libby pointed out. “What is it you’re trying to find out?”

I sighed. “I’m trying to understand what a mantra is, and maybe write one.”

“A mantra? Are you doing meditation?” She sounded pleasantly surprised. I paused now. I couldn’t tell her the real reason, obviously. What could I say?

“Not exactly,” I said, trying to buy time to think. “You see, I’m trying to lose some weight I put on loads over Christmas. Somebody told me it would be good to write my own mantra for psychological support, but I’m not sure where to start.”

“Well a mantra doesn’t even have to be words,” she explained. “It can be a sound, or a string of sounds but there are Hindu mantras that are a bit like prayers.”

“May good befall all,

May there be peace for all

May all be fit for perfection,

May all experience that which is auspicious.”

“Wow, yes, that’s more like it,” I said. “What’s that one?”

She smiled. “That is part of the Universal Prayer.”

She said the lines again for me. “I think rhythm might be an important aspect for you too. It sort of has to sound right,” she suggested.

“Thanks Libby!” I said. “I was so lucky to bump into you.”

“You’re welcome, John, and good luck with the diet,” she said with a wave as she headed off.

I couldn’t remember the exact words of those prayers, but it struck me that the point that Libby made about the rhythm was important. And Laura would want something to do with this whole dominance angle they were into. I would need to worship her with the words! That’s what it was. I also remembered from school that a lot of rhetoric tended to come in threes, a structure of three points that a speaker would make for maximum dramatic impact.

I lay down on the grass and stared up at the sky. After a few minutes I thought I had it.

“I love my Mistress.

I obey my Mistress.

My Mistress is my Goddess, and I worship her completely.”

Fuck that was it! That was the business! I got a tingle just saying it. I jumped up and hurried back to my room.

I knocked on the door and heard Laura say, “Come in.”

She was reclining on the bed, leafing through a magazine. I gasped as I saw what she was wearing – her new black leather jacket, zipped right up to her neck, black shiny leggings and her black stiletto boots. She was also wearing her black kid leather gloves. The whole effect was quite overwhelming.

“Wow!” I gasped.

“Well get in here then!” she chuckled. “Somebody will see me in a minute.”

I stumbled in through the doorway. The curtains were already drawn and there was one of those scented candles burning on the desk.

“Lock the door,” she ordered. I obeyed.

“M-Mistress, I don’t know if I’m permitted…it’s just…well, you look so amazing!” I said, sounding like such a fool I knew.

“You see John, there are lots of nice things that will happen in your new life,” she said, smiling. “I’m glad you like it.”

Laura swung her legs off the bed and sat looking at me. “I wondered where you’d got to,”

“I’m sorry Laur…er Mistress,” I stammered, still shocked at how hot she looked. “I was trying to think of a mantra that was worthy of you.”

“Well I hope you succeeded,” she said. “Don’t tell me just yet. We need to review your performance for the week first. Get undressed, but keep the panties on. I like to see you in them.”

I undressed as she watched me. My cock was still straining out of the silky, pink panties, and there was a dark wet stain all across the front. Laura looked at it and smirked.

“OK, the first thing you’re doing wrong is with those clothes,” she nodded towards the discarded pile of clothes on the floor. “I know you dress like a tramp, but from now on you will fold your clothes tidily at all times. Is that understood?”

“Yes Mistress,” I said, and leaned down to gather up the clothes. I folded them and placed them in a neat pile on the table.

“Better,” Laura said. “Make sure you don’t forget in future, there’s a good boy. Now the next thing you need to learn is the correct position. You will kneel at my feet, and place your hands on your head so there’s no danger of you touching me by mistake. Do it now.”

I got down on my knees and put my hands on my head as she ordered.

“No!” she said sharply. “Don’t slouch back on your arse, kneel upright! It’ll be good for your posture.”

Ouch – it would also kill my knees after a while, I thought.

“Good. OK, that’s better,” Laura said after inspecting my posture carefully. “If you start to slouch I won’t be happy, understand?”

“Yes Mistress!” I said quickly.

“Right then. Let’s hear the results of your efforts. What’s your mantra?” Laura said, with a touch of sarcasm.

“If you please Mistress,” I said quietly, “it’s this:

I obey my Mistress.

I love my Mistress.

She is my Goddess, and the one I worship.”

I paused and looked at Laura. An expression of surprised delight lit up her face.

“Did you really just make that up, when you went for a walk?” she asked.

“Yes Mistress. I’m sorry it took me so long but I was trying to get it right for you,” I answered honestly. I thought it was best not to mention Libby.

“Say it again for me,” she ordered.

I shifted slightly, but stayed upright. This time I added more passion to each phrase.

I obey my Mistress.

I love my Mistress.

She is my Goddess, and the one I worship.

“My word, that’s a lot better than I was expecting. John, that’s a wonderful mantra.”

“Thank you Mistress, I’m so happy I pleased you,” I knew as I said it that I meant every word.

“Well I think this is a really good start for you. You reached, even exceeded, your weight target, and the mantra is impressive. So let’s take a look at the course work you’ve done this week.”

For the next fifteen minutes Laura reviewed the results of work I’d got back from the lecturers and tutors. It was mostly labs, but there were a couple of tests also.

“Forgive me, Mistress,” I said carefully, “but most of these are from before the time I was working harder.”

“Good grief I can see that!” Laura said. “Look John, I’m not a chemistry expert, and I don’t know how difficult or not these things are, but I really want to see a significant improvement in this work. As a teacher I can see that your lab write-ups are sloppy and untidy. They’re poorly organized too. You need to improve on that, and believe me, there’s a huge opportunity for improvement.”

On a hunch, I said the mantra instead of just “Yes Mistress”. The effect on Laura was quite surprising.

“Oh God, that makes me so hot hearing you say that! Take off my boots!” she ordered.

I reached out and unzipped her left boot slowly. I slid it off her foot, zipped up the empty boot, and placed it carefully by the bed. I repeated the process on her right boot.

“Now slide off my leggings. Don’t paw me, just slide them off,” she said.

As I slid her leggings off I repeated the mantra slowly, and with feeling. I knew I needed to stress specific words as I said it; obey, love, worship.

I obey my Mistress.

I love my Mistress.

She is my Goddess, and the one I worship.

It took three repetitions of the mantra before I’d carefully removed the leggings, and another five for me to replace her boots.

She stood up – her pussy almost brushing my nose.

“Can you smell me?” she asked quietly.

“Yes Mistress,” I answered, closing my eyes and breathing in her musky scent.

She opened her legs and shuffled forward so her feet were either side of me. Her pussy was pressing against my face and pushing me back now. I could even feel her wetness against my nose. I could hear the soft creak of the leather in her gloves and jacket as she moved. I was desperate to touch her, but knew I daren’t.

“Good boy,” she whispered to me. “Good slave. You remembered you’re not allowed to touch. That’s good, more points to you, sweetheart. You see how easy it can be for you to submit?”

I whispered my mantra,

I obey my Mistress.

I love my Mistress.

She is my Goddess, and the one I worship.

“Oh fuck!” Laura giggled. “OK, you need to go down on me right now. I’m so fucking hot I can’t believe it.”

For the next fifteen minutes or so I worked on Laura’s pussy. It was wonderful to be able to taste her again, it had been weeks since she’d let me do this. As I eagerly licked and sucked, she scraped the stiletto heels of the boots down my back. She held my head with her gloved hands, and I drank in the feel and the smell of her greedily. After her third climax she was getting too hot in the jacket, and she stripped it off, revealing a shiny black satin bra underneath. I noticed the red stripes had almost faded from her breasts by now – perhaps Christine had decided not to continue that particular punishment.

She drew me up next to her and began to massage one of my nipples between her gloved fingers for a few seconds, and then she drew me towards her for a kiss. We cuddled for several minutes before she murmured, “Mmm. We’re not supposed to be kissing. Get back to work!” And she pushed my head back down into her pussy for me to continue.

Ten minutes later she told me to fetch some water for her. Then I had to resume my kneeling position, hands on head while she cooled down.

“How many times did you wank this week?” she asked from the bed.

“Errr. Two, sorry three times, Mistress.” I admitted.

She propped herself up on one elbow and looked at me. “And you think that’s acceptable? Even though I expressly told you not to?” she asked.

I knew it wasn’t. “I’m so sorry, Mistress,” I said lamely, “but was so long over Christmas, and when we finally saw each other last weekend, well I didn’t really have as much … err … pleasure as I expected and I love the phone calls with you! They turn me on so much. I’m sorry, really I am.”

Laura continued to stare at me.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated.

“Yes, well sorry is a start, I suppose,” she said, “but really John, you’re obsessed with wanking. We really need to get that under control, I think we’ll make it another one of your goals. Dress me – now!”

“Yes Mistress,” I responded automatically.

I took off her boots, slid on her leggings, with some difficulty, and replaced her boots. She stood up and I held her jacket for her, and then carefully zipped it up within a few inches of her neck.

“I’m going to allow you to worship my boots now,” Laura began, “but I need to punish you for all those unauthorized wanks.”

She got up from the bed and bent down over her bag which was on the floor. I gazed longingly at the shiny leggings stretched over her gorgeous bottom.

“Here we go,” she said, holding a pair of wooden clothes pegs in her hands. She put the pegs down while she slid off her gloves, then she took one of the pegs and reached over to me. She pinched the skin around my left nipple in one hand and clipped the peg onto it with the other.

“Ouch!” I said instinctively. “Sorry Mistress, but it hurts!”

“It’s supposed to, silly! It’s a punishment remember,” she giggled.

She attached the other peg and replaced the leather gloves.

“Oh yes. They look nice,” she smiled. “Christine said they shouldn’t be on for more than twenty minutes because of blood flow then they need to come off, and we have to get some blood back into your nipples before they go back on again.”

“Yes Mistress.”

The peg on my left nipple was biting down on something – a nerve maybe? It really hurt.

Laura could see me squirming and she placed her gloved hand gently over my nose and mouth.

“Do these smell nice?” she asked.

“Yes Mistress,” I mumbled from behind the glove. As I opened my mouth Laura slid two fingers in. I sucked gently on the soft leather and closed my eyes. The pain from the peg seemed to fade away and I felt my dick get hard inside the silky panties.

“OK, that’s enough. Get to work on these,” she said, firmly.

She pointed down to her right boot. I quickly hurried over and began to worship them, kissing and licking the smooth leather. Laura walked around the room slowly – making me scamper around on my hands and knees to keep up. She sat down on my office chair and crossed her legs. I kept working on her boots obediently – hoping she’d give me permission to masturbate soon.

“Good boy, you’re making a good job of those. Now let’s just review the problem of you wanking during the week. Mistress Christine and I feel that you should not be doing it. We want you to be as frustrated as possible when you come to visit, or I come to see you. After all, you seem to be quite enjoying this, don’t you?”

“Yes Mistress!” I said between licks and kisses.

“And if you hadn’t come all those times this week you’d be even more excited so from now on you are not permitted to come unless you have permission from me or from Mistress Christine. Is that perfectly clear?”

“Yes Mistress Laura.”

“Even when you are with us you must ask for permission to come, do you understand? So in a few minutes if I allow you to wank over my boots, you must ask for permission before you climax. If you don’t, you’ll be punished.”

“I understand, Mistress Laura,” I mumbled.

“Mistress Christine and I were scratching our heads about how to best punish you if you are bad. And then we had a wonderful idea. Pass me my handbag.”

She reached inside and took out a zip lock bag, inside which was a small plastic sample cup with a screw-on lid. The bottle contained a yellow liquid.

“This bottle holds some of Mistress Christine’s urine. Your punishment if you come without permission is to drink it. Do you understand?”

“Oh my God, that’s disgusting!” I blurted out without thinking. “Sorry Mistress, but it’s horrible, isn’t it? You don’t mean it, do you?”

“Of course I mean it!” said Laura sharply. “There’s nothing dangerous about drinking urine, people all over the world do it. Did you know it actually has antiseptic properties? The problem is that you think it’s disgusting, and that’s why it makes a good punishment. But it’s easy, isn’t it? All you have to do is make sure you ask permission before you come. Even you should be able to do that.”

“Yes Mistress,” I said uncertainly. Somehow I had a feeling I was going to get caught out on this.

“Now get your dick out and let’s get it over with. You can wank over my boots but be quick, I’m starving and we need to get out for a picnic while the sun’s still shining.”

To emphasize her point she picked up a magazine from the table and started to leaf through it. I took my cue, pulled down my panties and began to wank. If anything, Laura’s indifference only made me more excited, and seeing her in that sexy outfit soon got me close. In the heat of the moment I almost forgot…

“Please Mistress, may I come?” I gasped, knowing I was only seconds away.

Laura turned a page of the magazine, apparently not hearing me.

“Mistress!” I begged. “Please may I come?”

It was too late. Even though I’d stopped wanking to ask permission, I’d moved past the point of no return. I spilled a stream of sticky jism all over Laura’s boots. As I finished Laura looked up in disgust.

“I really don’t believe that!” she said, her lip curling up. “Are you a complete moron? What did I tell you about asking permission to come?”

“But Mistress!” I gasped, “I did ask permission, I did. And I stopped wanking, but it was too late. I didn’t really enjoy it…it wasn’t a proper one!”

“But you came anyway, and you didn’t get permission, did you?” Laura said sharply, slapping me once, then a second time around my face.

I dropped to the floor and groveled, “Please don’t make me drink that, please!” I was sobbing. “I don’t think I can do it.”

“Well first of all you need to clean my boots up. Get on with it!” she ordered.

Without hesitation I began to lick the sticky come from her boots taking extra care to get every drop. I thought if I made a good and willing job of this she wouldn’t make me drink that piss. But when I finished I looked up and saw that Laura was holding the sample cup. She’d removed the lid.

“Here you go. Something to wash it down!” she said brightly. “Now don’t fuck me about this, John. Just do it and don’t be a prick. Show me that you can be a good slave and take your punishment.”

I stared at the yellow liquid for a few seconds. My stomach did a flip and I thought I might be sick – even before I’d drunk anything.

I obey my Mistress.

I love my Mistress.

She is my Goddess, and the one that I worship.

I reached out a trembling hand and took the cup. The liquid didn’t seem to smell of anything, but I supposed that was to be expected if it was fresh. God, I hoped it was fresh!

“Go on, just knock it back in one go. There’s not much of it,” Laura goaded.

All at once I made my decision. I took a deep breath and tipped the contents down my throat. The liquid was room temperature, but it didn’t seem to taste of anything really. I’d expected it to be salty, or something.

Laura was giggling at my expression of revulsion. She leaned over and gave me a big kiss. I drew back, “You shouldn’t be kissing me!” I spluttered. “I’ve got a mouth full of Christine’s piss!”

“You didn’t really think we’d make you drink piss, did you?” she giggled. “That was just water with some yellow food dye. Look…”

Laura took the cup and tipped it up so the last few drops dripped into her mouth.

“You should know by now that Christine loves to mind-fuck people!” she told me. “She can be absolutely evil if she wants to be. The point is that if that really had been her piss then you would have drunk it all down and I bet you would have been proud of yourself for doing it too!”

I’d collapsed down with relief. The thought of drinking somebody else’s urine was not pleasant but the weird thing was that I actually did feel proud of doing it. Laura actually approved of something I’d done, and that made me feel great. And the act of submitting made it bearable – even a turn on.

Laura pulled me back onto the bed, and pulled off the pegs.

“Was that nice, sweetheart?” she whispered, as she massaged each nipple gently.

I winced as the blood returned.

“Do you feel better now after getting all that horrible come out?” she teased.

I nuzzled my head into the warm leather of Laura’s jacket. The pain of the returning circulation seemed somehow worse than the pinch of the clothes pegs – especially after I’d climaxed. Well, if you could call it a climax. She stroked my head gently.

“Yes Mistress,” I said. “Thank you, it was lovely. It’s lovely to be with you. I wish I could always be with you.”

“Good!” she said, kissing me on my forehead. “Well you’ve done quite well this week. There might be some more little treats for you later if you keep it up. I’m starving now though, let’s go and find somewhere nice for our picnic.”

We cleaned up and changed into more sensible clothes. Laura wore ordinary jeans and a white T-shirt, trainers and the black leather jacket over the top. We headed out for our picnic. It was a pleasant afternoon – sunny, but not too hot – and we found a nice spot near the playing fields to camp down on some towels, drink our juice and eat our salads. I was not allowed any of the bread because of my diet. We talked about my increasing submission, and Laura asked me how I felt about it. I tried to explain, but it was so confused in my own mind. On one level I was frustrated about not being able to be more intimate with her. But on another level I was totally captivated by the feeling of powerlessness as Christine hijacked our relationship. It wasn’t like she’d stolen Laura – I could see now that it wasn’t the case. I was the one who’d lost Laura, and Christine had found her. In fact Christine also seemed to be obsessed with screwing around in my mind, and that was what I found so stimulating. After a few minutes I gathered up courage and asked Laura about her relationship with Christine.

“Well I’m not supposed to talk about it really,” she said hesitantly, “but it’s getting pretty intense. It’s weird really because we work in the same school so we see each other from time to time during the day, and of course we have to be so proper and restrained. Then in the evening sometimes we just go a bit crazy like that time Christine used the stick on my breasts. That was because we’d had an argument the previous night. It was one of those stupid trivial things you argue about when you’re sharing a house and Christine told me that we could channel that kind of aggression into an S&M relationship. Obviously she’s the sadist – God, she can be incredibly cruel!”

“You’re telling me!” I chuckled.

“But it’s the intricate planning she puts into her cruelty – it’s quite overwhelming sometimes. The ideas she comes up with for you, for example.”

“Like what?” I asked.

“Well I’m obviously not going to tell you!” she laughed, stroking my hair. “OK, maybe I can give you an example with one of the ideas we rejected.”

Laura snuggled closer to whisper the secret in my ear. “We thought that once you’d really got into the submission we could get a friend of ours – he’s gay – to come and take part. As a punishment we would force you to be sodomised by him, and then for you to give him a blow job. The plan was to get you so excited that you’d agree to do it. And…” Laura’s excitement was increasing along with my horror! “We’d only allow you to come if you let him give you a blow job. I’d be standing behind you, tweaking your nipples and he’d be blowing you off. Isn’t that amazing?”

I swallowed hard before replying. Right now the thought of it…well I’d never shown any inclination towards men. In fact I’d been brought up in a very homophobic, working class environment. I was really quite disturbed by the idea.

“But I don’t know if I’d even be able to get it up with a man…” I stammered.

“That’s not the way to think about it though. I’ll bet you never thought you’d be wearing Christine’s knickers, did you? The whole point is that you’d be horrified by the act – it wouldn’t be a punishment otherwise. It’s the submission that counts and it’s not like it’s dangerous – I mean you wouldn’t get physically hurt at all.”

“No, I see what you mean I suppose, but you said you’d rejected that idea,” I added, hopefully.

“Yes, it’s a pity actually,” Laura continued in a bizarrely matter of fact sort of tone, “because I was really turned on by the thought of seeing you effectively raped by another man. I thought we could eventually make it so that the only times you’d be allowed to come were with him but Christine pointed out two big problems. One is that it really wouldn’t be fair on Brian – he’s the guy we know. I mean we’d only be using him to punish you after all. And the other problem is that introducing a fourth person – especially if we did it longer term – well it might get complicated. As if we’re not already complicated enough!” she chuckled, and kissed me.

Hearing Laura describing the plan so clinically had thrown me into turmoil. On the one hand I couldn’t imagine any kind of sexual act with another man yet when I saw Laura and Christine together that was a total turn on. And Laura was right – the idea of submitting to something I found so distasteful was, well it was really quite erotic. I noticed I was growing hard and so did Laura.

“Oooh. What’s that I feel?” Laura asked, placing her hand on my crotch. “Do you like the idea of getting bum fucked by another guy?” she giggled. “Would you like Brian’s big cock in your mouth, and spurting come all over your face? Just imagine how many other guys’ arses he’ll have been inside and maybe we can get you hard enough to bum fuck him too. That would be really good! That would really turn me on John.” As she whispered to me, she nuzzled my ear and pressed gently onto my erection through my jeans.

“Would you like me to bring it up with Christine again? Maybe we can work something out if you’re that aroused by it,” she whispered.

My mouth was almost too dry to respond. I worked my tongue around, searching for some spit and eventually managed to croak,

I obey my Mistress,

I love my Mistress.

She is my Goddess, and the one I worship.

Laura lowered her mouth onto mine and kissed me deeply.

“We’ll see,” she said as she pulled back.

As I looked over Laura’s shoulder I noticed Libby and two friends walking by on the path about twenty yards away. She was looking at the two of us with a slightly puzzled expression. I gave her a quick wave, and she immediately blushed with embarrassment at being caught looking. She briefly waved back, but then hurried off along the path.

“Who was that you were waving to?” Laura asked. I could hear a tone of suspicion in her voice. Oh shit!

“It’s a girl I know from the hall, Libby,” I stammered.

“Libby? Humph. She’s very pretty, if you like redheads,” she paused, “and how well do you know her?” Laura had leaned back and was looking me in the eyes now.

“I don’t know her at all really,” I said, probably too quickly. “We say hello in the common room sometimes. We played table football once…”

“I see. She seemed to be quite interested in what we’re doing,” Laura was packing away the empty sandwich containers and collecting the plastic mugs we’d used for the wine.

“And it’s odd because I’m sure I saw you talking to somebody just like her when I was getting ready earlier,” she said, sounding dangerously calm.

“I was asking her…wait, you wouldn’t have seen us talking from my room,” I said, cringing inwardly at what I’d just let slip.

“No! But I saw her walking towards the same place you were going to think of your mantra!” she hissed. “So you did talk to her then too! And you didn’t say a word about it, did you?”

“Yes, but Laura…” I spluttered, “…there’s nothing going on. She’s just a girl I bump into from time to time.”

“And I’m supposed to take your word for that, am I?” she asked, tersely. “You see John; one of the problems of building up your sexual tension during the week is that we can’t stop you from venting it here – where we can’t keep an eye on you. I think we’ll have to work something out. Come on; let’s get back to the room. I was going to let you masturbate properly because you’ve been so good, but now that I see how devious you are I’ve changed my mind. Let’s catch the earlier show at the cinema instead. I’ll need to freshen up.”

She strode off back towards the room, heels clicking on the pavement. I was left to pick up the bags and towels. OK, I thought. I’m in the doghouse now!

After the movie we had a couple of drinks in one of the pubs. Loughborough is reasonably well served for pubs since half the population of the town seems to be students. As I brought back the second round from the bar Laura glanced down at my slimline tonic water.

“Are you missing the alcohol?” she asked.

I sat down next to her and regarded the glass in my hand. I hated slimline tonic actually, a double gin would probably make it taste a lot better but it still wouldn’t taste as good as a decent pint.

“At first I did,” I answered, “but then I realised I missed going out with the lads more really, beer’s just part of the social situation.”

“Well it’s working anyway,” she said, squeezing my hand, “four pounds is a great start John, but you really need to keep it up. Believe me when I tell you I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Yes darling,” I said, wondering what she had in mind. We’d agreed I didn’t have to use the “Mistress” form of address if we were in public.

That night Laura wanted me to go down on her again – and she made me wear the clothes pegs “to make sure you get used to them”. But when it came to my turn she told me I’d have to wait until the next day because of my lying about Libby.

“You’ve already come once today, I think that’s quite enough. I want you nice and excited for tomorrow. I’ve got a treat for you!” she whispered.

Sunday dawned and we decided to head over to the Student Union for breakfast. Laura grabbed the first shower, and then I headed in there. When I came back to the room I had the usual “go take a walk” command from Laura, but fifteen minutes later she was ready, and I realized it was worth waiting for after all. She was wearing her new black leather-look jeans with a thin, white cotton polo neck sweater that seemed to be painted onto her breasts. On her feet was an amazing pair of stiletto ankle boots. I guessed that they must be four inch heels, and as I looked closer I noticed that the boots were buckled around her ankle and secured with two small, brass padlocks.

Laura giggled at my open-mouthed expression. “Do you like them?” she asked.

“Oh yes, Mistress, they’re fantastic.”

“They’re a present from Christine. Do you see that they lock around my ankles?” I nodded. “I’ll be wearing them outside this morning and I know it’ll be pretty obvious to people who see them that I’m doing something kinky. It’s OK while I’m here because nobody knows me. It’s not like I could walk around our village in them. But here it’s fine.”

The idea of this was incredibly erotic – and a huge surprise. In the past Laura had always been so coy about any overt sexual behavior. I remembered the times we were visiting her parents I was barely allowed to touch her. Once again I was in awe of Christine’s ability to manipulate Laura’s behavior, as well as mine.

“You may kiss them,” she said simply.

I immediately dropped to my knees and began to kiss the shiny patent leather surface. I noticed the soles were completely un-scratched. This would be the first time she’d wear them outside. The creaking of the boots and the jeans was intoxicating and I made sure to take my time and enjoy the experience.

“We don’t have time for you to do a proper job,” she said with a hint of regret. “Let’s get over to breakfast. I’m starving after all that activity yesterday.”

The Union had a good deal on bacon sandwiches – and if I was staying on campus it was a traditional weekend treat for me. The walk across the campus was quite an experience. Laura had put on her leather jacket and with her long legs and flowing blonde hair she looked like some kind of fetish model as we walked the five hundred yards or so to the Student Union building. Loughborough is mainly a technology university and so the ratio of men to women is extremely high – I seem to remember reading somewhere that it’s five to one or thereabouts. Pedestrian traffic on a Sunday morning is quite light, but we passed at least six or seven individuals or groups of guys on the way over. I was amazed at the expressions of outright lust on most of their faces! We picked up the Sunday Times in the Union Shop and then headed into the café. As we sat down Laura broke the bad news.

“No bacon butties for you, obviously darling,” she said, “we need to keep your diet under control. You can fetch one for me though. If they have some fruit you can have that and tea for two please.”

She picked up the paper and studiously ignored me. This diet thing was going to be a pain – especially if bacon butties were forbidden! Laura was a healthy eating nut – it was actually surprising to me that she’d be having a bacon sandwich at all, but then I realized that she would be eating it to tease me. She’d be flaunting the food I love, but was being denied by her command.

As we sat and enjoyed (not so much in my case) breakfast, Laura’s outfit continued to draw stares. Just as we were leaving a Goth girl – decked out in some dreadful Dracula-esque outfit – came over.

“Hi!” she said brightly to Laura. “You look gorgeous in that outfit. Would you fancy having a coffee with me and my girlfriend?” She indicated another Goth girl sitting a couple of tables away. The other girl gave Laura a little wave.

“Err…well that’s very nice of you, thank you,” Laura answered in surprise. “I’d really love to have a cuppa with you, but I have to get this one back to our room for some discipline. We can’t let them get too frisky, can we?”

I couldn’t quite believe what I was hearing. Was it really my Laura talking like this? Goth Girl grinned.

“Oh right! I get it. You need to go hard on him I reckon,” she advised, glancing at me with what looked like disgust on her face.

“Oh I will, don’t worry,” Laura assured her. “I didn’t let him so much as jerk off last night so I think he’s worked up enough to take some real punishment, aren’t you slave?”

At this point my face was flushed bright red. We were in a public café and the two girls weren’t exactly keeping their voices down. I saw one of the guys at a nearby table shaking with suppressed laughter, and he was from the same hall as me. Oh fuck!

“Well answer me!” Laura was actually raising her voice now, not quite a shout, but most of the people in the room were now looking at us.

“Yes Mistress,” I said quietly – I wanted to close this down as fast as I could.

“Good grief, speak up!” Laura told me.

If it was possible for me to turn a deeper shade of red I’m sure I did it. I felt a cold sweat trickling down my back now.

“Yes Mistress!” I said, and since the room had now fallen silent it was clear that everyone heard me.

I looked at Goth Girl. She had a huge grin on her face.

“You should get him a collar. It’s easier to lead him round with,” she advised. “There’s a great little shop in town I can show you.”

“That’s good to know,” Laura said, in a matter of fact voice, “but he does have one already. Silly me, I left it at home this weekend which is very careless of me really.”

She held her hand out to Goth Girl.

“I’m Laura by the way,” she said with a dazzling smile.

Goth Girl extended a hand – which was covered by a black, fingerless glove.

“Angie,” she said simply. “Pleased to meet you Laura and this is Louise – Lou.”

By this time Louise – Lou – had also come over to enjoy my humiliation. Laura moved a couple of chairs for them to sit down with us.

“Hello,” Lou said, shaking hands with Laura. I noticed that neither of them bothered introducing themselves to me.

Angie spoke again, “Are you at the Uni then? I’m sure I would have remembered seeing you about.”

“No I live just outside Nottingham,” Laura told her. “I graduated last year and I’m teaching at a school there. I’ve come over to visit my slave here. He frets if he doesn’t see me, don’t you slave?”

Since the damage had been done by this point I decided to give in and play along.

“Yes Mistress,” I said. Luckily the room conversation had started to build up again now that the spectacle was beginning to bore people.

“We go to the art college,” Angie told her. “If you need somebody to check on him while you’re not here we’d be glad to help out. He looks like he needs to be kept under firm control.”

Angie was staring at me now, and instinctively I lowered my eyes.

“It’s nice of you to offer…” Laura began, but Angie interrupted her.

“Don’t worry – Lou and I are as gay as it gets,” Angie told her. “We don’t really like men. It’d be good to be able to do a sister a favour and keep one under control.”

Laura seemed a bit uncertain. I realised that she was getting out of her depth in this conversation. Something told me that Christine’s name would be invoked any minute…

“Actually I live with my girlfriend too,” she said. “Christine decides most of slave’s punishments. I don’t want to be rude, but I don’t really know you – I mean it’s an interesting offer – very interesting actually.”

Angie sniggered, “But we could be total nutters, right?”

“Exactly!” said Laura. “Almost as nutty as me!”

Angie laughed out loud at that one. She actually had a nice laugh. Underneath that dreadful costume and silly makeup I thought she might be quite attractive. She had the most amazing green eyes. But she reeked of cigarette smoke, which was an immediate turn-off for me.

“Well you’re right to be careful,” Angie said. “I know he’s only a man, but even so I think it’s still illegal to damage them too much in this country, isn’t it Lou?”

Lou giggled. “Well it depends what you do to them, doesn’t it?” she asked, looking at me with interest.

Laura took a deep breath.

“Well ladies, we really do need to be going!” she said. “It so was nice to meet you. Let me give you my email address.”

She scribbled the address on the edge of a newspaper page and tore it off. Angie took it and made a show of tucking it into the black bra she wore under her lacy black blouse.

“It’ll be safe there,” she grinned. “And here’s mine.”

She produced a business card from her purse – it was decorated in Gothic roses dripping with blood.

“Ooh, I like the design!” Laura cooed.

“Lou did it. She’s really good at that sort of stuff,” Angie beamed.

“Come on slave!” Laura ordered. “And don’t forget the papers – I haven’t finished with them yet. Goodbye Angie, Lou, it really was lovely to meet you both.”

Laura stood up, and shook hands again with the Goth Girls. Then with every male – and half the female – eyes following her she strode confidently out of the café.

I scrambled to get the papers together under the amused gaze of Angie and Lou.

“Bye bye slave!” Lou said sarcastically.

“Goodbye,” I mumbled, still not meeting their eyes. “It was nice to meet you both.”

Somehow I managed not to fall over any chair legs on the way out, and found I had to jog twenty yards or so to catch up with Laura. Just as I got to her I noticed a big beefy guy from the rugby team stop short on his way to intercept her. He had a look of regret on his face, and I suspect he was about to try and chat her up.

“That was really embarrassing!” I hissed as I came level with Laura.

She burst out laughing. “I’ll even let you off for not calling me Mistress! That was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. Oh my God! It was so cool! You should have seen your face. I think I could have fried an egg on your cheeks!”

“Look…Mistress, I don’t know if I can handle playing this game in public. Please don’t get angry with me, it’s just that I always thought this would be a secret thing…”

Laura spun around and grabbed the top of my arms in both her hands.

“It was a secret thing,” she told me, “now I bet half of those people in there will be talking about it, and that’s really amazing. I mean, look at those two girls. The crazy way they dress. It takes guts to do that. I never even thought about that before.”

“About those girls,” I said carefully, “I mean, when Angie suggested that she’d discipline me for you during the week. I mean…you wouldn’t want her doing that, would you? We don’t even know her.”

Laura turned and began striding towards the dorm room. With her long legs in full tilt I had to almost jog to keep up with her. There was a wild look in her eye I’d never seen before.

“Of course I wouldn’t do it right away,” she said. “For a start I need to discuss it with Christine, and I’d need to check them out, but seriously it’s probably not going to happen. Well…no probably not.”

I sighed with relief.

“But if they do check out,” she added suddenly. “I mean I’d need to meet them and see where they live and stuff. God just think of the possibilities! Jesus Christ John it could be so amazing! To have you controlled by them all week – it would solve so many problems!”

She was clearly enamored with this idea, and I knew I wasn’t going to dissuade her about anything. It also occurred to me that she was in a particularly raunchy mood now, and I could well benefit from that. As we walked back to the hall Laura kept suggesting ideas involving Angie and Lou. But the more I thought about it, the more I felt that Christine – sensible, devious Christine – would not feel very comfortable with the idea. She wouldn’t have enough control over the situation.

We walked into the courtyard area in front of my dorm rooms. Most of the room windows on this side looked out onto the courtyard, and there were half a dozen students crossing the various walkways on their way to or from the rooms. Laura suddenly came to a halt and turned towards me. I almost collided with her trying to stop.

“Do you like these jeans?” she asked breathlessly. There was a wild twinkle in her eyes.

“Of course I do, Mistress,” I answered. “They’re amazing – you look amazing wearing them.”

“OK, would you like to wank all over my arse in these jeans, and lick me clean?” she was really breathing heavily now, although I wasn’t sure if it was from the brisk walk or the sexual excitement.

“Oh yes, please!” I said immediately.

“Well I’ll allow you to do that as soon as we get back to the room!” she beamed.

I gasped and managed to stammer out, “Thank you, Laura – sorry Mistress Laura!”

I could see she was almost bursting to speak the next words, “All you have to do is get down and kiss my boots right now. Just one kiss on each boot is fine but get right down on your knees. Right here, right now in front of everyone here.”

I felt the blood drain from my face, and an ice cold chill run up my spine. The incident in the Union was one thing. This was a big university and apart from a couple of the girls serving in the café, and the bloke I recognized from my hall, well I didn’t actually know any of the people in there. But this was where I lived. There were people here that I saw every day walking along the pathways right that minute, and they’d see me. But the thought of being able to touch Laura, and spill my load over those lovely tight jeans…suddenly I made my decision.

I threw down the sheaf of papers and dropped to my knees. As I was bringing my lips down towards Laura’s right boot she quickly moved her foot away from me. I looked up and saw two guys from my corridor passing a few yards away, staring at us both. One of them had a huge grin on his face, and the other just looked puzzled – I closed my eyes and cringed inwardly but I was committed now. I turned back to where Laura had been – and she was gone! I saw that she’d walked over and sat down on the concrete steps leading up towards the main common room building. She’d stripped off the leather jacket and was waiting with legs stretched out for me to come over. I began to get up.

“No!” she called out. “Crawl on your knees!”

By this time I was in full submission. I thought nothing could be more embarrassing at this point, and so I just went with it. I crawled the ten yards or so to where she was sitting – pointing now at her outstretched boot. This time she didn’t pull away, but allowed me to kiss her left boot. I decided to play a trick on her now, instead of the quick kiss she’d asked for I took my time. I kissed each boot thoroughly – working my way from toe to heel. After the left boot I moved on to the right.

I was starting to return to the left boot when Laura gasped, “Oh God! John, that’s enough! We need to get back to the room right now!”

She grabbed her jacket, and my arm and practically ran with me towards my dorm block. We’d got within a few yards of the door when I realised something.

“Laura!” I said, pulling at her arm. “We forgot the Sunday papers! They’re on the lawn.”

“Screw the papers!” she said, almost pleading. “I need you to get me off right now! I’m practically coming as it is!”

This time it was a group of three girls from the next block who clearly heard the exchange as they walked by, all of them seemed to be shocked by Laura’s outburst. We hurried past them and up the stairs to my room, locking the door behind us.

Laura threw herself back on the bed and began to undo her jeans.

“No time to get these boots off!” she panted, “I can’t remember where I put the bloody key to the padlocks! Just get your hand down there now! And you can kiss my tits. Oh shit! Please kiss my tits!”

I quickly lay down next to her and slid my hand down the front of her panties. As I expected she was absolutely soaking wet. I’d never felt her so wet in our entire relationship.

She came almost as soon as I slipped two fingers into her. She grabbed me and I felt the spasms running through her. I knew she’d be extra sensitive and so I carefully applied pressure to her clit, and sure enough she seemed to spasm again. I leaned down and began to kiss her breasts through the thin material of the sweater. I bit down gently on her very erect right nipple.

“Oh yes! Yes, there, pleeeeease!” she screamed. I knew half the block would hear her, but at this point I didn’t give a shit.

I slid the two fingers in and out, and then flexed them up towards the elusive G-spot. Again she started to gasp frantically, and after another ten or fifteen seconds she exploded with her third climax. I started to continue but she pushed me away.

“Oh darling please!” she begged. “Give me a minute – I’m desperate for a pee! Those three cups of tea need to get out. I’m going to be right back. Don’t you dare go away!”

She pulled the jeans back together and managed to get them fastened. She looked a bit of a mess at this point – hair disheveled and sweater half in and half out.

The toilets were down the corridor from my room and as she left the room I heard her say, “Oh hi!” to somebody.

With a feeling of dread I poked my head around the door. In the corridor were a small group of guys and girls. Dave – my best mate – was in the group, and was just standing there with a huge grin on his face. As they saw me, two of the guys started to applaud, and then the girls joined in.

One of them was Fiona – generally assumed to be the Hall Tramp. That wasn’t really fair, or course – but she did seem to bounce from one man to the next fairly regularly. She took a couple of steps towards me and smiled.

“Well well!” she said. “What a dark horse you turned out to be! I hope you’re going to be gentle with the poor girl?” She folded her arms and rocked back on one leg.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” I began. “I would like to say something profound at this moment,” I paused, “but all the blood has drained from my brain for some reason. So I’m fecking speechless!”

They all burst out laughing and the small crowd began to break up. Three of the guys clapped me on the back before they headed off.

Dave was halfway down the stairs when I called to him, “Dave – be a mate – I’ve left the Sunday papers out on the lawn there, would you mind grabbing them for me? Just leave them outside the door eh?”

Dave just grinned, but I knew he’d do it. At that point, Laura came back from the toilet. She saw the tail end of the crowd disappearing down the stairs.

“Is the audience leaving?” she asked. I noticed that she’d tidied her hair and sweater up, and her jeans were now tightly zipped up again.

“Come on!” she said, grabbing my hand, “Your turn!” We went back into the room and locked the door again.

“I promised you could wank over these jeans, and I’m very happy to deliver on that promise. I’m so proud of what you did down there, John. Wait till I tell Christine! I’m just going to pull this sweater off though – you can lick the jeans clean, but I don’t want loads of spunk in my new sweater!”

She quickly stripped off the sweater and got down on all fours on the floor.

“Off you go, darling,” she told me. “If you’d like to kiss and touch them then go ahead, you’ve earned this one. Take your time and enjoy it. No tricks or teasing this time. I’m all yours.”

She was as good as her word. As she crouched there I gently kissed the tight plastic again and again. The smell of the warm material – the feel of her body heat through the fabric it was heaven. I caressed the firm swell of her buttocks in my hands. I let my fingers drift down onto the sexy ankle boots.

“Come on,” she whispered gently. “Let’s see how much you can spurt out, but the more you spurt the more you’ll have to lick up afterwards,” she chuckled, wiggling her gorgeous bottom.

I dropped my trousers and the panties, and then knelt down behind her. I was already covered in gooey spunk that had been leaking out for most of the afternoon of teasing. As I jerked off she pressed her buttocks back into my thighs.

This time I made sure to pace myself. As I felt the rising pressure of my orgasm I cried. “Please Mistress, may I come?”

This time Laura gave me permission straight away. “Yes my darling!” she giggled, “You may come!”

I exploded in a stream of white liquid across her buttocks and up into the small of her back. Taking the sweater off had been a good call, I thought.

It’s funny that the first time Laura had ordered me to lick my own spunk off her boots I almost threw up. Now I actually looked forward to being able to clean up after myself. I realised what an important act of humiliation it was because it took place after my orgasm. The fact that I had to lick up my own spunk at that stage was a demonstration of my devotion to my Mistress. After Laura’s bottom was completely clean, we lay on the bed and cuddled.

“Mmmmm,” said Laura with a chuckle, “I can taste your spunk in your kiss. It’s quite nice. Maybe I should have given you a blow job after all when you begged me to all those months ago. Too late now though, isn’t it? After all, I could hardly take my slave’s cock in my mouth. That would never do, would it?”

“No Mistress,” I said quietly.

“So there’s no chance I would ever satisfy you like that, is there?” she pressed with a wicked smile.

“No Mistress,” I repeated. I’d gotten used to this goading now, and I actually found it comforting.

“And that’s fine by you, isn’t it slave?” she whispered, kissing my lips gently.

“Yes Mistress.”

“And why is that?” she asked. I paused for a second, not knowing quite what to say, and then I knew…

“Because I obey my Mistress,

I love my Mistress,

She is my Goddess, and the one I worship.”

Laura kissed me again on the lips.

“Very good,” she whispered. “You’re becoming a very good slave. I think I’m going to keep you.”

“Thank you, Mistress!” I held her hand and squeezed it.

“I love you, John,” she said, and kissed me again. Did she mean it now? She’d said she wasn’t sure, but maybe she did love me.

“I love you too Laura, I always will!” I blinked as I felt tears well up in my eyes. But this time they were tears of joy.

While Laura changed for the journey home I scanned the notes she’d made for me. They were my new rules, and the various goals for my weight, my studies and my masturbation allowance. Laura would keep the originals for her reference.

Before she got on the bus Laura had a quiet word with me. “Listen sweetheart,” she said, “I had a wonderful time this weekend. It was so fantastic to see the progress you’re making so I need you to promise three things for me, OK?”

“Yes Mistress, of course,” I said eagerly. I thought I knew what she was going to ask anyway.

“Keep to your diet, study hard. and do not wank this week!” she looked me right in the eyes as she spoke.

“Yes Mistress, I promise!” I said, and kissed her. I knew I shouldn’t have, but I just loved her so much at that point I couldn’t stop myself.

She stroked my cheek and smiled. “I’m counting on you John. Don’t let me down!”

As I waved her off I wondered about all the things that had happened that weekend. The level of excitement she triggered in me was quite astonishing. I’d only been allowed two orgasms one of those had been a dud, but the second had been so intense! The idea of limiting my wanking was really tough – I was used to doing it at least every day, and it was going to be hard to stop. But if the result was that I’d be even more excited and aroused when I finally was allowed to come, then that must be worth it. I vowed not to wank for the whole week.

I also decided to get some quality work done on my lab reports. I called Dave and asked if I could come with him to the library that evening. I knew that’s where he worked on his reports, and I thought he might help me along.

“I thought you might be too tired,” he quipped.

“Very funny!” I replied. “But now you mention it I think I will have a nap before we head to the library.”

In fact I’d decided to have a long session in the gym, and I’d be eating some kind of tasteless biomass for dinner! I was determined to lose at least another three pounds. I would not be letting Laura down!