It seemed like I stood there for a very long time, but it was probably only ten or fifteen minutes. I thought about the many time he had me stand in the foyer just like this. Twelve years we’d been together, and I loved him so much more now than when we had begun.

I heard his foot steps moving quickly down the hall and my body trembled. Presenting myself so boldly was still difficult, even knowing it was how he wanted me.

But then he was in front of me and all thoughts disappeared. I focused on standing straight, keeping my eyes down, my lips slightly parted. But I could feel his gaze taking in every detail of my body. With one hand, he encircled my neck, stroking my throat with his thumb. I swallowed hard.

His hand moved down, not rushing, not lingering, to my right breast, which he cupped and lifted, stroking my nipple with his thumb now. My nipple responded immediately to his touch, and I could hear myself breathing. He pinched the nipple, hard, and I tried not to gasp.

His hand moved to the other breast. Caressing the breast, stroking the nipple and then pinching. This time a whimper escaped me, and he laughed.

He moved behind me then. “Very nice,” he said. I started to say, ‘thank you, Sir’ and remembered just in time that I did not have permission to speak. Moving a bit to my side, he put one hand on the base of the butt plug, on the red jewel. He wiggled the plug so it stretched me further. His other arm came around me, that hand slipped between my thighs and penetrated me quite abruptly. I cried out softly.

Immediately, the hand was removed, he gave the butt plug one last tweak, making sure it was secure in its place. Keeping my eyes down, I couldn’t see what he did next, but I thought he had picked up the collar and cuffs.

“You may put your hands behind your back,” he said. I obeyed quickly, that was actually more comfortable.

”Our guests will be here soon” he said. He was standing behind me now, and as he spoke, he had already begun fastening the collar around my neck. It was not a pretty collar, not designed for show or vanilla social events. It was soft leather about 2 inches wide, and had an O ring in the front and on each of the sides so restraints or a leash could be attached.

I was dying to ask him who our guests were, but I bit my tongue. I would not slip up and ask him. My wrists were cuffed next, although he did not clip them together. He gestured for me to to put one foot on the chair next to the cabinet so he could easily secure my ankles.

As the cuffs were attached first to one ankle and then the other, I was acutely aware of the weight of my restraints. Weighted down by them, I felt myself settling, letting go of work, of the responsibilities I handled every day, feeling myself grounded in the present.

I thought of a blogger I used to know who talked about becoming a doll in her submission, quite mindless. I felt a little that way. But I become more mindful, I thought. I’d like to see Jon Kabot Zinn teach this technique. Every moment, every single sensation, stands alone. No past, no future, just now.

And my Master, of course. As he frees me from my responsibilities, helping me focus all my being on obeying and pleasing him, then my submission releases him from the burdens of his own life, allowing him to fully relax into the pleasure of my service and care.

He had brought my shoes to me, had slid then onto each foot after the cuffs were attached. They were not the 5 inch heels of my youth, but they were high enough that we still called them my CFM shoes, and I would walk more slowly, my hips swaying.

“Go on to the dungeon, baby,” he said. “In the bathroom, take out your plug. Put on your blindfold, it’s laid out for you, and wait for me in the corner.”

I bowed my head, acknowledging the instructions, allowed a slight smile to linger on my lips, and turned to go. I was not surprised to feel him stop me with one hand, while the other came down hard on one ass cheek. I paused, he smacked the other cheek just as hard, kissed me, and sent me to the dungeon.