Chapter 6: Our House

For the second morning in a row, Rhys woke up hearing strange, female noises nearby. This time, though, there seemed to be a weight on his chest accompanied by much wriggling. It was difficult for him to raise his head to see what was happening, and as soon as he tried, a bare foot caught him in the side of his head. He decided to lie there and see what happened.

What did happen was another few minutes of muffled groans and sighs plus more movement atop his chest, groin and legs. The movement and noises slowly increased in frequency and intensity until they peaked with soft cries, then a sudden silence and stillness.

Rhys risked looking up again and saw Kat’s head on his chest and what appeared to be Jade’s legs draped over his shoulders and head. Kat looked up at him with a sheepish grin. “Sorry, master,” she said. We couldn’t get off the bed, so we, ah, entertained ourselves?”

“Couldn’t get off the bed?” asked Rhys.

“We think you might have created some magic to stop us falling out of this tiny bed,” said Kat, “only it means we can’t get out even if we want to.”

“Oh, my goodness,” said Rhys. “I am so sorry!” Kat suddenly rolled backwards and fell out of bed, followed almost immediately by a thump as Jade hit the floor, as Rhys abruptly cancelled his unintended magic. Kat sprang to her feet and ran towards the bathroom, followed by Jade, who shouted and laughed at her. Kat disappeared into the bathroom, flicking the door closed behind her. Jade stopped at the now-closed bathroom door, then turned and walked back to the bed, sitting on it next to Rhys’s still supine body.

“You didn’t mind us ‘playing’ together, did you?” she asked. “We didn’t want to wake you to ask permission.”

“Mind?” asked Rhys, sitting up. “Why would I mind? I know you want me to be your master, and I’ve promised to do that for you, but you’re the one who suggested we try fire magic to remove Jade’s collar. You’re the one who decided what to tell Richard about events since the Skotur sank, and what not to tell him. You’re the one who decided when we’d leave the magical plane and that we’d come here. If we’re specifically being master-and-slave, that’s one thing. But outside of that, as long as everyone involved is content, carry on as far as I’m concerned! If Kat and you want to do some ‘playing’ without me, have at it!”

Rhys had seen the bathroom door open, and Kat now stood in the door frame, leaning, naked, on one of the jambs. He turned to look at her. “Kat,” he said, “I know we haven’t explored how we both want our relationship to work, but I wanted you to know that the same goes for you. You don’t need to involve me in anything that, well, doesn’t involve me.”

Kat looked back at him. “I know you’ve been careful around me,” she said. “I understand why. But, just to set a starting position, I want what she has.” She flicked her head at Jade, still sitting on the bed. “I want the sort of relationship she has with you. I want to learn some of her skills. Not just,” she blushed, “in the bedroom, but in life. I can’t think of anything I can offer in return, but if there’s anything I can ever do, know that I will do so willingly and with pleasure. And, as regards Jade and me, I thought I could love her as a sister. But now that’s not enough. I want to love her as a lover. And I want to love you, Rhys, as a lover. And I hope you want the same from me?”

Her fragility showed as she stared at the pair sitting on the bed with beseeching eyes. As one, Rhys and Jade rose and walked over to her before enveloping her in a three-way hug. Not a word was spoken between them. Jade started to turn the group slowly around until she stood in the bathroom doorway, and Kat and Rhys were in the bedroom. She broke the hug, stepped back and closed the bathroom door, saying “Sorry! Desperate!” as she went. Rhys and Kat broke their hug, giggling.

Kat collected their freshly laundered clothes from outside the bedroom door and, once Jade had finished in the bathroom, Rhys went to complete his morning ablutions. Just as he finished, the bell rang, signalling breakfast was ready.

They trooped downstairs, and Jade steered them into a different room where breakfast was served. She called it the “morning room”, a large, airy room dominated by a massive set of bay windows with a bench seat below. There were rattan chairs arranged around the window. A sideboard on one wall held a stack of plates, a fruit assortment, and a tray of warm, sweet pastries. A bread board had a loaf of fresh bread, a small block of butter and knives. An insulated jug held hot water to make tea. There was also a glass jug with fruit juice and a small jug of milk.

Kat headed to the sideboard and started to make breakfast for Rhys and Jade. Rhys gave her a sideways look as if to say, “That’s not your job,” but Kat just shrugged in response, and Rhys didn’t press the matter.

They sat on the rattan chairs, gazing out the window at the scene before them. The Spencer house sat atop a low hill, and the east-facing windows captured the morning sunshine and provided a panoramic view over Chatamor. The city sat in a coastal plain with the sea on one side and mountains on the other three sides.

Around to the right, on the city’s edge, were the docks with the tall masts of the sailing ships and derricks slowly loading and unloading crates. Great warehouses lined the dock fronts. On the left were the leafy suburbs where the rich and powerful had mansions and fake castles. In the centre of the city was the Royal City, which held the King’s palace and the official buildings of the Reiland government. And towards the front, by the sea, were grand buildings topped by tall towers flying flags of various colours. This was the University of Chatamor, where Rhys was ultimately heading.

In between, like arteries carrying the city’s lifeblood, ran winding streets flanked by high-density buildings - shops, inns and houses of all styles. The buildings nearer the docks looked like they were of lower quality and, generally, shabbier. Dotted here and there were green areas; some were private parks owned jointly by several families for their own pleasure, but the more prominent spaces were open to the public.

The three friends marvelled at the city while eating their breakfast. Rhys had never seen a metropolis like it. Even Roligvan, the largest city in his home country of Seibjerg, was small in comparison. Kat had been in and around Chatamor for most of her life, but had never had this vantage point where she could see most of it at the same time. Jade had been in this room many times before, but even so, the sunny weather and the company of her lovers made her heart swell.

The door opened, and Richard entered, accompanied by the children dressed in school uniforms. They, again, rushed to be with Jade. Richard followed them more slowly and allowed them a few minutes to interact. The children chatted happily about their planned day at school. After a few minutes, a woman came into the room and ushered the children out.

“They go to a private school,” explained Richard. “Public schools are good around here, but Sarah and I prefer that they get a broader schooling. The official Reiland curriculum can be fairly narrow in certain respects, and we want them to have more open minds.” He pulled another chair over to sit by Kat, Rhys and Jade.

“Rhys, Jade,” he said, “your new papers should be here by lunch. Kat, yours are being worked on, but as I said last evening, it will take a little more time. We hope to have your basic identity papers later today, but the supporting documents will take a few more days. There is, though, a problem.”

The three looked up at Richard, who continued. “Reiland society is, as you know, rigidly hierarchical. Jade and Rhys are foreigners, so they sit outside the system. But Kat,” he looked at her, “is to be a Reiland citizen so she needs a place in that pyramid. I’ve spoken to my colleagues at the Foundation and we’ve agreed that,” he looked at Kat, “if you will accept the offer, you are to be Rhys’s paid assistant.”

Rhys and Jade stared at Richard, and Kat held up her hand as if to object. But Richard waved her down and continued. “It will put you in the Administrative rank, which is a respectable position, and there will be a small salary. Not enough for you all to live on, but combined with Jade’s and Rhys’s income, you will be comfortably off. And, before you say anything, it is not charity. We expect you to work at your new job, and that is what we will pay you for.”

“There is a problem,” Kat said. “I can’t read or write. That’s likely to be a red flag if I’m challenged.”

“Oh,” said Richard. “Yes, it may be. You will have to learn, and quickly. I’ll have to look into tutoring – we can’t have just any tutor teaching an administrative citizen how to read and write – that would also be a red flag. I’ll see what we can do. However, the offer still stands.”

“Thank you, Mr Spencer,” Kat said formally, eyes downcast. “If Mr Atherton is willing to ask me to be his assistant, I would consider his offer.” She looked up at Rhys with a tiny smile on her face.

“Ms. Wildwood,” said Rhys, smiling too, “I’d like to offer you the position of my assistant. Would you be so kind as to accept?”

“Why, Mr. Atherton, I would be pleased to accept,” said Kat and the two laughed and embraced. Jade moved across to join the hug.

Richard cleared his throat, embarrassed, and the hug broke up. “I’ve also been authorised to offer Kat a stipend so she can buy the clothes and accessories as befits her new position,” he said. He reached around to a small purse hanging from his belt. He unclipped it and handed it to Kat. She released the drawstring and tipped the contents out into her hand. There were twenty gold coins and maybe fifty silver ones. She stared at it. Rhys also stared at it – it was more money than he’d ever seen except in a bank. It was more money, by a long way, than Kat had ever seen.

While the two were staring at the money, Richard continued. “Sarah has offered to take Kat shopping – Jade and Rhys are welcome to accompany her. Going in our carriage and being with Sarah will help you avoid attracting attention until your papers arrive. It’s nothing to worry about; it’s just that you’re not familiar with life in Chatamor, and you may stand out because of that. You don’t want to be stopped by the guards for an identity check and be unable to identify yourselves.”

Everyone thought the shopping trip was a great idea. Richard went to make arrangements, and Kat put the money back in the purse. She reached down through the neck of her tunic and stashed the purse inside her bra, between her breasts. “I’ll know if anyone tries to steal it from there!” she joked. They finished their pastries and drinks and returned the dirty plates and glasses to the sideboard.

Sarah swept into the room. She was dressed in a thick sweater with riding trousers and boots - a figure not to be messed with. “Girls’ planning session!” she said, moving over to Kat and Jade. She looked at Rhys, who shrugged and went to sit on the bench seat under the window. He picked up a discarded newspaper.

The three women pulled into a tight group and talked in low voices. Rhys was pretending to read the newspaper but was surreptitiously watching the women. He could see that their discussion was animated, and they gestured with their hands to show each other shapes and lines. Each of them occasionally glanced at Rhys, then returned to their discussion. He saw eyes go wide, hands go over mouths and shakes of the head accompanied by giggles and the occasional “No!” or “Really?”

After ten minutes, Sarah announced, “We’re ready! Rhys, you can stop pretending to read the newspaper now.” Kat and Jade giggled. “Come on!” she told Rhys before turning and sweeping out of the room. The others followed her to the open front door. Outside stood a covered carriage with a pair of black horses harnessed. A driver sat on a bench at the front of the coach, and a footman opened the carriage door. Sarah climbed aboard with the footman’s assistance. Jade and Kat needed a little more help as both wore long skirts. Last of all, Rhys clambered up the single step and sat beside Sarah. Jade and Kat were next to each other on the other side of the compartment, facing them.

The carriage started, and they went down the Spencer driveway and onto the road. They were travelling gradually downhill over a well-made road. The carriage was well sprung and very comfortable.

“We’ll go to Miller Lane,” said Sarah. “It’s a side road with little passing traffic, so it’s quite discreet. And it has some of my favourite shops. We’re going to have fun!” Rhys turned his head to look at her and gave her a quizzical look. Kat and Jade giggled at his reaction. Sarah smiled at him. “Really,” she promised with a smile.

It took about half an hour to get to Miller Lane. The footman helped the four shoppers out of the carriage and got back on the front. The driver steered the carriage down the street and around the corner.

Sarah, Kat, Jade and Rhys were standing outside a shop called “Modiste”. It had displays of formal dresses in the window with tight bodices, long skirts and hats with feathers stuck at jaunty angles. Sarah led the way in, and a bell above the door jingled as they entered. A female assistant came over to greet them, and four women entered into yet another group discussion. After a few minutes, they moved across the shop and into one of a series of fitting rooms built into the side wall. The door closed behind them, and Rhys was alone on the shop floor except for a handful of assistants spread around the shop. They were all looking at him. He scanned the shop and took in the racks of dresses, skirts, sweaters, trousers and coats. The underwear section occupied a large section at the back of the shop by itself.

Another man was sitting on a bench by the wall next to the dressing rooms. Rhys exchanged a nod of greeting with him, then started to wander around the shop at random. He stayed away from the underwear section but noticed the shop assistants’ eyes followed him. They weren’t openly looking at him; they were just aware of where he was.

The dressing room door opened and Jade, Sarah and their shop assistant came out and dispersed to various parts of the shop. They gathered armfuls of all sorts of clothes and headed back into the dressing room, and closed the door. Rhys watched with a tinge of amusement, realising that he had no idea about women. He continued pacing around the shop until he got bored and headed back towards the changing room.

An older woman had come out of one of the other changing rooms and was talking to the man who had been sitting on the bench. Another assistant was carrying an incredibly frilly dress. The man looked at Rhys as he approached and gave him a resigned look. Rhys cast his eyes to the changing room where Kat had taken residence and shrugged. The man nodded and also shrugged before heading to the cashier’s office at the back of the shop, presumably to pay.

Rhys sat on the bench just as the door opened to Kat’s dressing room. Sarah, Jade and the shop assistant came out and repeated their trips to all corners of the shop before coming back with armfuls of clothes. Rhys closed his eyes. The women repeated it twice over the next half-hour, but were more subdued the fifth time they came out.

Jade approached Rhys. “I think Kat’s a bit overwhelmed,” she said. “Could you talk to her, please?” Rhys nodded and entered the dressing room, closing the door behind him.

Kat was sitting on a bench at the back of the room, dressed only in her pull-on bra and pants, surrounded by piles of clothing. She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. “I don’t think I can cope with being a free woman!” she said. “All these decisions they’re asking me to make. It’s just too much. And they’re only decisions about which clothes I like. How can I make life decisions if I can’t even decide on clothes?” She was crying properly now. Rhys held his arms out and Kat leapt into them, hugging him tightly and crying into his shirt.

Rhys may not have known much about women, but he knew now wasn’t the time for logic. He just held Kat quietly until her tears started to subside. They stood there for five minutes until Kat pulled away, looking embarrassed. Rhys held her by one hand and sat on the bench so he wouldn’t look down at her, given their height difference. He pulled her into him, but she side-stepped, sat astride one of his knees and put her arms around his neck.

“I know it isn’t easy,” he told her. “I’m not going to pretend I understand your feelings, but Jade and I are here for you. Whatever you need, we give it freely.” Kat had her eyes closed and was concentrating hard. Rhys noticed her hips were gently gyrating against his thigh as she sat on it. He put his arms around her, holding her in the small of her back, not applying any pressure on her, just letting her know he had her. Her hips started to speed up until she was fully humping his leg. She began to utter little “ugh, ugh” noises until, suddenly and spectacularly, her orgasm hit her and she fell forward into his chest. He pulled his arms further around her, holding her against him.

“I’m so sorry,” she said into his chest. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“As I said, I’m here for whatever you need. If you need a human rubbing post, I’m your man,” he replied, trying to sound both flippant and tender at the same time.

“It’s not that,” said Kat. “I think I might be addicted to you. I was in here with Jade, Sarah and the shop assistant, and they asked me about this, that and the other. They weren’t pressuring me or anything. It was just overwhelming. And then you come in and suddenly everything’s better. And then you bring me off, and now I’m ready to go again.”

“And soon,” said Rhys, “I’ll do more than ‘bring you off’ if that’s what you want. You said I’d been careful around you, and that’s true, but not for the reason you might think. I want our first time together to be beautiful, not a quickie in a shop’s changing room; not us trying to keep from falling out of Jade’s old bed; something we’ll remember forever. Soon, my love. Soon. Can you wait a little longer?”

Kat nodded into his chest. “Soon, though, my love. Soon.” She stood up in front of him. “Send them in again, master. I’m ready.”

Rhys stood up, held her shoulders and looked into her eyes. Happy with what he saw, he kissed her forehead, turned and went out the door. Jade, Sarah and the shop assistant were standing a little way away, waiting for him, still with armfuls of clothes. Jade eyed the large wet patch on his thigh where Kat’s juices had soaked his trousers. Rhys gave a tiny shake of his head and mouthed “later” at her. She nodded, understanding.

“She’s ready to carry on,” he said. “Please try to be calm around her and give her time. She’s not used to this and found it difficult to cope.” The three women nodded and went into the changing rooms with their load.

It took another ninety minutes and several more trips in and out of the changing room before the women had finished their task. Rhys had been dragged over to the underwear section and asked multiple questions. He had no idea what a young woman would like, but Sarah explained that Kat had asked them to get his opinion because she wanted to look attractive to him, and it would therefore be his fault if the rest of them picked things he didn’t like. Rhys had thought that was fair, so he expressed a preference for frilly white underwear and hoped it would be enough.

Kat emerged from the dressing room wearing a plain grey blouse and tight black trousers. She looked as good as she’d looked wearing the custom clothes when they were in the magical plane. She looked timidly at Rhys, seeking approval.

He smiled broadly and moved to kiss her. “Beautiful, my love. Beautiful.” She beamed back at him and followed the shop assistant, who had written out quite a list of sales, into the cashier’s room at the back. Sarah quickly followed to help Kat with the paperwork.

When Kat emerged, she made for Rhys and Jade, who were waiting by the door. “The assistants are all free women!” she told them, surprised.

“Yes,” said Sarah, coming up behind her, “it’s why I shop here. The quality of their goods is superb, and both Richard and I approve of their employment practices.”

“I tipped her!” confided Kat. “Another first for me!” She almost skipped out of the door. Rhys was relieved she’d recovered her mojo, and he followed.

Sarah treated them to lunch at a tea room at the end of the lane, and then it was back to shopping. They spent half an hour in a shoe shop and another hour in a boudoir from which Kat emerged with her plain short hair transformed into a bob cut that suited her, painted nails and with simple but effective makeup applied. She’d been shown the basics of applying makeup and had bought a starter kit. Jade also promised to show her some techniques that were popular with young women.

Finally, the four stood outside the last shop in the lane. “Millinery Plus,” Rhys read for Kat’s benefit. He wasn’t sure hats would suit Kat and said so.

“She does need some rainwear,” said Sarah, “and maybe a cap for winter. And a sunhat. But it’s the ‘Plus’ that we’re here for.” She would not be drawn further on her meaning, although Jade and Kat barely suppressed giggles. Rhys knew he was being set up, but he followed with whatever game the women played.

The shop was, on the face of it, a typical hat shop. Kat, Sarah and Jade initially browsed the various goods on display and, as Sarah had suggested, picked a few items before Sarah went to the back of the shop and spoke to an older woman. The older woman looked at Jade, Kay and Rhys, then nodded and moved a curtain aside. Sarah beckoned the other three over.

There was a staircase behind the curtain that led to an upper floor. Sarah, Rhys, Kat and Jade followed the older woman up the stairs, and they emerged into a large room full of displays of odd-looking equipment.

“This is Mrs. Mather,” explained Sarah to Rhys. “She caters to women’s more private needs, if you know what I mean?” Rhys shook his head. Sarah looked a little exasperated. Jade and Kat were already exploring the goods on offer and discussing things between themselves and with Mrs. Mather.

“Both your women,” continued Sarah, “are very sure that they want you to dominate them in the bedroom department. Surely you know that?” Rhys nodded. “How do you propose to do that?” she continued.

Rhys shrugged. “I thought we might get some ropes or something?”

Sarah shook her head. “Right,” she said, “get over there and let Jade and Mrs. Mather explain things. Jade has some equipment in her trunk – she said you’d already played with some of her cuffs – and she wants more. Kat is a newcomer to this lifestyle and is learning from Jade. Start learning how to look after your women’s needs.”

Rhys sheepishly walked over to the three women, noticing at the same time that Sarah had gone to a different display and seemed to be examining leather straps.

“So this is your wannabe dom?” Mrs Mather asked Jade.

“Yes,” Jade said. “He’s got promise and is enthusiastic. We had a couple of sessions, one of which went well and the other ended in a bit of a misunderstanding. He has no experience, though, and he’s relied on me for the few scenes we’ve attempted.”

“If willing, he can be taught,” replied Mrs. Mather, looking him up and down. She caught sight of the stain on his trousers and raised an eyebrow.

Rhys blushed. “Kat needed a little emotional support,” he said, trying not to give too much away.

Mrs Mather raised her eyebrow further but didn’t press the matter and turned her attention back to Kat. “Now, we’ve picked the ropes you’ll need, so next we’ll look at other types of restraints.” She walked over to a display that featured collars.

Kat immediately chose one that resembled the collar Rhys had removed the previous day, except this one could be locked and unlocked with a key. “For old time’s sake,” she added wistfully.

Mrs. Mather turned to Rhys. “Get them to strip. I need measurements for the personal stuff. They can leave their underwear on if they don’t want to get naked in front of me.” Kat’s eyes grew wide, but Jade didn’t react.

“Um, Kat? Jade? Would you please get undressed down to your underwear for Mrs Mather?” Rhys asked. Kat stared at him, and Jade looked at him with poorly concealed amusement.

Mrs. Mather was also staring at him. “What. Was. That?” she barked. “You’re supposed to be the dom. So dominate them!”

Rhys swallowed. He could see Sarah across the room, trying not to look at him. She was also trying not to laugh. His pride was now feeling quite severely damaged. He wasn’t a natural dom nor, for that matter, a natural sub. He preferred not to give orders, and he preferred not to take orders from others. But now he realised he’d need to get past that if he was to be the person these two magnificent women wanted him to be.

“You two!” he ordered, pointing at Kat and Jade. “Strip! Then present!” He remembered Jade had explained what the present position was the previous day.

Both women snapped into action, removing their outer clothing and kicking off their shoes. Jade continued until she was naked, but Kat was wearing her newly bought frilly bra and panties and left them on, wanting to display them for Rhys. Jade put her hands behind her head, legs at shoulder width apart, and arched her body slightly forward. Kat watched her and copied her as carefully as she could.

“Better,” said Mrs. Mather. “Better. Now hold there while I measure you both.” She went on to take very detailed measurements from both women. She measured their neck circumference and height; their breasts around the bust, under the bust, around the base of each breast and the distance between the breast and the collarbone. She measured their stomachs around the belly button and the hips. She measured the gaps between their thighs and the distance from their waist, around their legs and up to the waist again. She measured the circumference of their thighs and ankles and the distance between hips, knees and ankles. She measured their feet. She measured their arms, wrists and hands in the same way. She also measured their heads and faces, including the size of their open mouths.

“We’ll need their internal measurements for some of the personalised equipment,” Mrs Mather said to Rhys. “Should I do that now or will you come back later?” Rhys knew that Kat was still a virgin, and he didn’t want to put one woman through that and not the other, so he told Mrs. Mather they’d return to have that done.

Mrs. Mather nodded. “Judging by their state, that’s probably for the best.” Kat’s panties were damp, and Jade’s nipples were erect. Mrs. Mather’s attention had clearly aroused them both. “I’m finished here”, she said. “They can get dressed if you would like them to. There’s a toilet over there,” she pointed, “that they can use if they need to freshen up.” Kat started to move, but Jade held her position. Kat noticed and moved back into position, too. Mrs. Mather smiled slightly.

“Go clean up, then come back here and get dressed,” Rhys told them. The two women moved off towards the toilet.

“They are good girls,” Mrs. Mather told Rhys. “It’s obvious they love you. That is a good thing, but it can also be bad. We will need to teach you how to look after them.” She moved over to a display of books and pamphlets and picked up a pocket-sized book. She handed it to Rhys. “Take it,” she said.

Rhys looked at the book. “The Reluctant Master”, he read from the cover. “Hah! That sums it up indeed! But I can’t take this from you. Just add it to the bill.”

“It’s not a gift from me to you,” Mrs. Mather said. “It’s from me to them.” She nodded towards Kat and Jade, who had just emerged from the toilet. “It’s just you who needs to read it.” The women were walking back towards them. Kat held her bra and panties in her hand, and both were nude. Kat handed the underwear to Rhys; Jade picked up her bra and panties from the floor and gave them to him. Both then put their outer clothing on.

The tour of Mrs. Mather’s shop continued. Jade and Kat looked at the displays and discussed things. They chose matching sets of accessories, necklaces that looked like fine jewellery but functioned as a locking collar. More everyday collars, one in lined metal and another in leather. A pair of snug metal wrist and ankle cuffs, each with a soft lining. An intricate chastity belt each. A selection of gags, one that held the mouth with a metal ring, one that looked like a horse’s bit, another that was just a ball which went into the mouth and another that had a panel which went over the mouth and had a gap where various attachments could be fitted. All of those would be customised for each woman according to Mrs. Mather’s measurements.

They also chose lengths of chain and various buckles and clasps. They looked at some tiny clamps, one resembling a set of tweezers but could be adjusted and another with a spring-loaded jaw with a small bell. They took two sets of each.

Kat and Jade had examined the whips, paddles and riding crops, but Mrs. Mather wouldn’t let them take any. “Come back after your master has learned how to use them,” she said. “Untrained hands shouldn’t use these things. I don’t sell lightweight equipment. Even the least of these can cause injury.”