Chapter 7: Day Three, 24 December.

Preparation for Christmas festivities kick into full swing from this morning. The dungeon is now officially closed for four days. However, as is often the case, an exception has been made for Madame Faye, and by extension, me. I’m not complaining, since I came here to experience the restraints and punishments Madame Faye chooses. I like receiving punishments as much as Madame Faye enjoys imposing and delivering them. If that makes a masochist, then within the boundaries of behaviour imposed by La Chatte Heureuse, I suppose I’m guilty as charged. Today we try out the hanging chain we saw yesterday. The cuffs are repositioned so that my arms are stretched above my head, limiting my ability to move about. It’s a better position to receive a flogging than the yoke offered yesterday.

I’m made to perform an erotic striptease before we proceed with the punishment Madame Faye says that I deserve. Most of the six black marks I earned yesterday were unjustified in my opinion, but it doesn’t alter the fact that they were awarded. Now I must suffer a dozen lashes of a whip in settlement. To an observer, Madame Faye’s treatment of me may seem harsh and unfair, but this is a game I willingly play. I know Madame Faye well enough to understand that she is demanding and, at times, seemingly cruel. But it’s an act. She is always in control of her emotions and she understands how to manipulate mine. While she constantly pushes me towards expanding my boundaries, she never goes further than I can tolerate. All I need to do is completely surrender myself to her, and trust her with my well being. So far she hasn’t disappointed me, and I think we’ve both benefited as a consequence.

Madame Faye chooses one of her favourite types of whip. A multi-strand rubber flogger that hurts but doesn’t cut the skin. We have another eleven days here, so Madame Faye is being careful to pace herself correctly so that I’ll still be fit enough to receive punishments at the end of our stay. I’ve never yet used my safe word to end a punishment, and I’ve no wish to do so now. But Madame Faye insists that I must use the safe word if I cannot endure any more. It’s a test of her skill as much as my endurance to ensure we never reach that situation.