Instructing the Novice Read online

  “Serve me? Serve me how?” Lizabeth asked, mystified.

  “Why, in all things, I would think. And especially sexually.” Mistress Anarrah smiled gently. “Have you not noticed, my dear, how he tries to do little things for you? The way he wanted to fix the ribbons you must wear wrapped around your legs…how he wanted to get that book on tort reform for you. But you rarely let him.”

  Lizabeth thought about all the times in the years they’d been working together that Lone had served her coffee or tea, fixing it to her exact liking flawlessly every time. Or the way he was always ready to run errands for her or take notes for her or do any of the hundred other things he did to make her life easier.

  But…he’s my assistant, she thought uneasily. He’s supposed to do those things—it’s his job.

  But she’d had assistants before and none of them had enjoyed helping her and doing their job like Lone did. And at work wasn’t the only time he helped her. What about when he came over to her suite and cooked for her? And then insisted on doing the dishes afterwards even though Lizabeth had protested that they ought to split the chores? He always seemed to find other little things to do for her as well—things she had gradually begun to take for granted.

  And now we’re away from the office and we’re in a much stranger situation than we ever have been before, she thought. And he wants to help me in other ways. More…intimate ways.

  She thought of how he’d wanted to help her get dressed and put on the ribbons in the first place…and how he’d wanted to kneel and fix them when they came untied. The way he had caught her in mid-air when she’d fallen from the rolling staircase because he was so good at anticipating exactly what she needed and giving it to her.

  And don’t forget the way he fucked you within an inch of your life last night with that toy, whispered a little voice in her head. He certainly gave you what you needed then! Several times.

  Just thinking about it made Lizabeth blush and look down at her hands. God, could it be that Mistress Anarrah was right? Did Lone really want to serve her? And did he really get pleasure from doing so?

  “I can see by your face that you’re beginning to understand what I mean.” Mistress Anarrah’s soft voice cut into her reflections.

  “I…think so,” Lizabeth said uncertainly. “But…I don’t know that I really think that makes him submissive.”

  “Not in the sense that you were thinking earlier, no,” Mistress Anarrah said. “I do not think that Lone has any wish to be physically punished or beaten by you. But I do believe that if you wished to tie him up and flog or whip him, he would allow it and might even get pleasure from it if he thought it gave you pleasure. Do you understand?”

  “I’m…beginning to,” Lizabeth said. “You’re saying he just wants to serve me? But why?”

  “For love, my dear. Serving you is his way of showing how much he loves you,” Anarrah said earnestly. “I remember the first time I realized my Joren was a true submissive. We were still on Yonnie Six at the time and he was so young—only about twenty-two cycles to my own thirty-five. I was a businesswoman—a practitioner of law—but I, like all Yonnite Mistresses, owned bodyslaves.

  “I remember when I bought Joren, I had him in my domicile for almost a month before I realized that he really enjoyed the duties I assigned him. He would look at me with shining eyes whenever I gave him a task and he always did it perfectly.”

  She sighed. “I wasn’t in the habit of punishing my bodyslaves like most Mistresses—or in the habit of using them sexually. I just expected them to do their assigned duties and if they didn’t, they were sold. The system worked well and I told myself I was content. But the way Joren looked at me… She shook her head. He was so young—too young, I thought, for me. But he served me so beautifully and looked at me so longingly that eventually I took him to my bed.”

  Mistress Anarrah closed her eyes, a look of bliss coming over her face.

  “And that was where I learned how desperately he truly wanted to be of service. I only let him massage me at first…but then I taught him what I liked and how I liked it done.” She laughed. “He was a very enthusiastic student.”

  Lizabeth felt a smile tugging at the corners of her own mouth.

  “To hear him talk, he’s still very enthusiastic about, er, serving you.”

  “It gives him great pleasure,” Lady Anarrah said, nodding. “And it gives me pleasure to be served with such love and devotion. But make no mistake about it, my dear…” She raised one finger as though making her point. “Being submissive does not mean being weak. It takes a great deal of courage to give yourself completely—body, mind, and soul—to another person.”

  “I guess I can see that,” Lizabeth acknowledged, nodding.

  “Males—especially those from cultures where they are dominant—like to project a tough image,” Mistress Anarrah said. “But the male ego is fragile and their fear of rejection is strong—almost crippling at times. Do you have any idea of the level of bravery it takes for one of them to offer himself to you? What if you don’t want him?” She shook her head. “Think of the pain and shame and humiliation such a rejection would bring! Only the bravest and most self-assured male is secure enough in his masculinity to give himself to a woman and call her ‘Mistress.’ To love her and devote his life to serving and protecting her.”

  “You know, I never thought of it like that,” Lizabeth murmured.

  “It took me some time to come to the realization as well,” Mistress Anarrah said, nodding. “And to realize how very brave my Joren was—not only in giving himself to me but in defending me as well. I remember one night, walking home from a benefit concert, we were set upon—attacked by a band of disaffected males.”

  “Disaffected males?” Lizabeth asked, frowning.

  “Angry ex-slaves,” Mistress Anarrah clarified. “It will probably come as no surprise to you that there are many males on Yonnie Six who resent the social system we have there.”

  “With females being dominant and males being mostly slaves? Yeah, that wouldn’t go over too well on my world either,” Lizabeth said dryly. “So they attacked you?”

  “They did.” Anarrah looked at Lizabeth seriously. “They tried to rape me and kill me. But Joren stopped them.” She shook her head, her voice sinking low. “I never saw anyone fight like that. It was like he was fighting for his own life, not just mine. He nearly got killed in the process himself, but he kept them off me until help could arrive. After that, I knew.”

  “Knew what?” Lizabeth asked, fascinated despite herself.

  “I knew that I loved him—that I wanted him as more than just a bodyslave,” Anarrah said simply. “That I wanted him and only him for the rest of my life.”

  “But—” Lizabeth began, and then stopped herself.

  “But what, my dear? Go on—ask whatever is on your mind.”

  “It’s just…didn’t your, uh, age difference ever cause any problems?” Lizabeth asked in a rush. “I mean, didn’t you worry that Joren would want a younger woman eventually?”

  “The thought crossed my mind from time to time,” Mistress Anarrah admitted. “But our connection goes beyond the physical. Joren has never once been unfaithful to me, nor I to him—even after we moved away from Yonnie Six in order to be together.”

  “But…I thought you were already together on Yonnie Six,” Lizabeth objected.

  “Oh, we were—as Mistress and bodyslave. But I wanted more than that with my darling Joren. Of course, one can keep such relationships secret but I didn’t want to hide my love. I had heard of this place…of the Tower.” She made a graceful motion, encompassing the blue-gray stone structure around them. “I gave up a successful law practice to come here and study and then to teach, all so that Joren and I wouldn’t have to hide our love.” She smiled at Lizabeth. “And I have never regretted it, my dear. Not for an instant.”

  “That’s beautiful,” Lizabeth murmured and she couldn’t help remembering how Lone had faced down the angry Frie