Author: Thinking Horndog
Title: Second Best
Part: 089
Universe: Second Best
Summary: A full-length novel that follows several young couples and their
families through the period immediately preceding their Senior Prom.
Keywords: mf D/s

Keywords for full story:  F-solo, Ff-inc, M+F Ffm MF mf oral anal bd D/s Mg-
inc Fm-inc mm mmf rom MF-reluc

Chapter 89
The Perils of Merry


      Al took up the conversational thread, addressing Merry. "Okay, so
what's so good about slavery?"

      Merry glanced up a Robert, who murmured, "Well?  Speak to the man..."

      Merry smiled. "Well, sex for one thing.  I am really hung up.  I
bought into the idea that sex was only good for procreation, hook, line, and
sinker.  We had one position - and I didn't do THAT well!  I'd managed to
make things so difficult that I couldn't orgasm, and Robert couldn't enjoy
his!"

      "Can I?" asked Dina.

      "You're still here?" asked Robert, in a tone that implied that she
should be elsewhere.

      Dina ignored him.  "I have a unique perspective on this piece," she
insisted.

      "Very well," Robert sighed, "You won't listen to ME, anyway..."  Idly,
he dipped his finger into his wine, and drizzled it into Merry's open mouth.
Merry sucked in the finger and worked it over.  Helen was so fascinated that
she almost missed the start of Dina's tale.

      "Mum made a fool of herself the minute we started discussing HER sex
life - she announced that she and Pop were beyond sex!  Then she announced
that her attitudes had been transmitted to her by Gram - something that
directly contradicted MY experience!  I got Gram on the phone, and
eventually it came out that she HAD passed on that drivel, but had expected
Mum to learn better - apparently, that's the way they handled things in
those days!  No wonder we're all screwed up!  Anyway, Gram told me that due
to Mum's peculiar makeup, she was probably curious as Hell, but unable to
initiate anything because it might make her look bad - but if we put her in
a position where she HAD to cooperate, she could feel free to enjoy it while
laying off the blame on someone else!  Gram also told me to tell Pop to step
up to the plate and rule the roost, at least in the bedroom, and things
would improve markedly.  Grampa was apparently a tough act, and Mum was
conditioned to react well to it."

      "To make a long story short, I tricked Mum into going upstairs with me
for a massage, then tied her to the bed, and handed her off to Pop.  And the
rest is history!"  Dina grinned.

      "So, you raped her?" Helen asked, scandalized.

      "I'd have never thought to do it on my own - I had to make the leap of
faith that Marilyn's mother was steering me in the right direction," Robert
replied, "It was the scariest thing I've ever done!  If it had failed, I'd
be in divorce court - or in jail! - but in fact, it exceeded everyone's
expectations!"

      Merry disengaged from her fourth fingerful of wine and purred, "He
introduced me to oral sex - and it was incredible!  Part of it was that it
was new and different, and a LOT better than anything we'd ever done before,
but it was also that I was totally helpless, and he was VERY much in
control!  This was a different Robert - one I'd never met!  He was gentle,
but totally implacable, and I just loved it!"

      "For my part," Robert remarked, "I scared myself to death!  There was
about a second when I didn't know what to do, but then I slipped into the
role like I'd been doing it my whole life!"

      "So now you tie her up to have sex?" Al asked, mystified.

      "Not always," Robert replied, "Usually, it's enough that she merely
submits and does as she's told.  Since she's no longer allowed to argue with
me, there's no serious requirement to bind her.  I do, though, periodically,
because she likes it."

      "Okay, but you weren't a slave at that point, were you?" Helen asked.

      "No, but I was on my way.  Two days later, I brought HIM the
handcuffs!" Merry exclaimed.  "Since that was too much like taking the
dominant part, he brought me the realization of my status at that point by
leaving a few hand prints on my butt, then proceeded to use me for anal sex!
And THAT was good, too, so two days later, I was back!"

      Mandi swept in and gave Al his beer, murmuring, "I was there for that!
He made her go away and come back naked, then cuffed her and tortured her
with a vibrator.  It was so intense..."  Suddenly, she shut up.

      Helen arched a brow.  "Well?"  Robert and Merry looked amused, and
Rick embarrassed.

      "C'mon, Mandi, the cat's out of the bag.  Finish it!" Dina smirked.

      Mandi couldn't meet her mother's eye.  "Rick did it to me, too - and
when we were so far gone we couldn't stand it anymore, they took us - right
here in the den!"

      "So they've seen you having sex..." Helen mused.

      "...And I've seen them!" Mandi admitted.

      "So much for the big worries over sex!" Al laughed.

      "Well, I saw the four of them, and it was HOT!" Dina announced.  Her
smile grew feral. "But then, I've seen you two," she waved at Helen and Al,
"And you and you..." pointing at Helen and Bobby.

      Merry's surprised "What?" blended with Rick's roar of "Dina!"

      "I'm just leveling the playing field!" Dina exclaimed, "Auntie Helen
doesn't hold the high ground, here!"

      Helen smiled ruefully, remembering a certain night on a staircase.
"Dina is quite correct," she admitted, "Thanks for the reminder, Dear."

      "Um, Helen?" Merry asked, furtively, "Can I hear a little more
about..." She waggled a finger between Helen and Bobby.

      Rick sighed, "That's MY fault!  When it became apparent that Dina was
going to get serious with Bobby, I decided I didn't want him to go into it a
virgin, and maybe screw Dina up.  I coerced Helen into providing him with a
little experience..."

      Helen blushed.  "It didn't take much effort," she admitted, "I hadn't
had any sex in three years and was going out of my mind!"

      Robert spoke up. "Well it was kind of you" indicating Helen, "and
thoughtful of YOU, Son.  I'm proud of you!"

      "Thanks, Pop!" Rick blushed.

      "Well, I can't complain!" Al announced, "It provided me with the
opening that got Helen into bed with ME the first time!"  Several members of
the younger generation in the room laughed.  "Okay, okay - back to the main
event!  All of this seems like its just short periods - but now it looks
like all the time.  What's up with that?"

      "You're right - we were working under a rule that said that I could
initiate a session, but only Robert could end it," Merry replied.  "I was
already 'Merry' at that point, any time we were in the roles."

      "Anyway, a couple of days later, we had 'regular' sex like a normal
couple - and I made a total botch of it because I'm stupid and thoughtless,
and selfish..." Merry continued.

      "Wow!  Kind of hard on yourself, aren't you?" Helen asked.

      "I don't think so.  I screwed it up, and didn't even know how or why!
It took Mandi and Dina critiquing my performance to make me understand I'd
screwed up!" Merry declared.

      "Ignorance had a lot to do with it," Dina interjected.  "Mum probably
wouldn't make most of those mistakes even today, but it appears to be a dead
issue."

      "That night, I thought long and hard about things - and the next
morning, I knelt down at the breakfast table and submitted - permanently!"
Merry related, "Those four," she waved at Rick, Mandi, Bobby, and Dina,
"were all there!  Robert was reluctant, but he became my Master."

      "You were reluctant?" Al asked, incredulous.

      "I was afraid of what it might turn me into," Robert related
diffidently.

      "And everything's been wonderful ever since?" Helen asked.

      "Oh, by no means!" Merry replied, "It wasn't six hours before I
discovered I apparently wasn't serious enough and almost destroyed our
lives!  Fortunately, my Master wasn't about to put up with any foolishness
from his slave!"  Merry's face became a mask of anguish as she remembered.
"He beat me.  Twenty strokes.  In public!"

      Helen's eyes were as big as saucers, but she said nothing.  Robert
frowned a moment, then looked at Rick.  "That reminds me... Would you bring
me my laptop case?"

      Rick nodded and left.  "Why?" Al wanted to know.

      "I had the event documented to provide Merry with a reminder, and thus
possibly avoid one or more repetitions."  Robert accepted his laptop from
Rick and proceeded to boot it, while attaching a card reader.  "I've never
looked at the pictures.  Rick?"

      Rick, understanding the requirement without having it described,
turned on the TV and brought a cable from behind it which Robert attached to
the laptop.  Robert continued, "Merry started acting up almost immediately -
attempted manipulation, backtalk, evasions, lackluster compliance.  It soon
became evident that an object lesson was required to make her fully
appreciate her position.  You see, it's not enough to PRETEND to be a slave
- since her submission she IS a slave, and that thought hadn't really
penetrated.  We went to the Sex Shoppe to pick up a few things, and under
pressure, she got worse and worse.  Finally, I decided that immediate action
was required."  The TV screen lit with a picture of Merry kneeling, nude,
with Robert's thumb in her mouth.

      "What's THAT all about?" Al asked.

      "The thumb?" Robert asked.  At Al's nod, he replied, "Merry had just
balked totally at following an instruction.  Basically, I'd just slapped
her, and was in the process of informing her that she was going to be
beaten, or we were going to be divorced.  The thumb was a little something
that occurred to me; it had two purposes: keep her from talking and saying
anything that we would both regret, and to provide her enough comfort to
keep her from coming to pieces when she realized the enormity of the fix she
was in."

      "It worked, too!" Merry declared, "If I hadn't been sucking on that
thumb while I was being chained up, I shudder to think what kind of stupid
things I'd have said and done!  God knows where I'd be now - because we'd
have been done for!"

      The picture changed, and cycled through several shots of Merry,
wearing a gag and chained to some bars, taken at different angles. Helen,
torn between fascination and horror, asked, "Why do you say that?"

      Merry responded, "That very morning, I'd agreed - in writing, in front
of witnesses - that if I failed as a slave, there was no going back!  Our
relationship as changed forever, and there was no possibility of returning
to the old status quo.  If you think about it, it's obvious - if he let me
go back to my old ways, I'd have no respect for him at all!"

      The next picture appeared, in which Merry was galvanized in agony as
Robert finished swinging a paddle.  Helen gasped, "Omigod!"  The next
picture clearly displayed a red mark on Merry's right buttock, while
capturing the left still jiggling after it's being struck!

      Robert glanced at Helen, and said mildly, "We don't have to continue,
just now."

      "N-no, it's okay.  I want to see them..." Helen confirmed uncertainly.

      A glance at Merry revealed tears streaming down her face - but she was
smiling gently!  "I learned a hard lesson there!" she declared.

      The next several pictures featured Robert striping Merry's back and
upper thighs with a strap.  About four into the sequence, Dina burst out,
"Man, that's SO hot!"  Helen said nothing, but she agreed; the most
confusing thing about the pictures was the level of arousal that they were
sparking in her!

      Next came two more paddle shots.  "H-how many are there?" Helen asked,
tremulously.

      "I delivered twenty strokes," Robert replied sorrowfully.  "I'd prefer
never to repeat the effort, but I suspect that it WILL happen again."  There
was no doubt of his tone - it hadn't been pleasant for him, either.

      Merry cuddled against his leg.  "I'm sorry, Master!" she sniffled,
"I'll try to be good!"  Robert reached down and caressed her cheek.

      The next picture was an archetypical depiction of incredible agony.
Cords stood out on Merry's neck and her eyes bulged in an incredibly red
face as she appeared to attempt to crawl through the bars to escape the
riding crop that had just abused her right thigh!  Every female in the room
gasped and shuddered in horror, without exception.  The next photo wasn't
any better, but it was no surprise, being the twin to the first.

      The next couple of photos featured the use of a new whip - a narrow,
single bladed item - and also obviously avoided depiction of every stroke.
Clearly, there was already a narrow weal rising on Merry's left buttock as
Robert finished cracking across her right.  The next photo depicted a
similar pattern being laid across Merry's upper thighs.

      The next photo upped the ante, however, as it clearly depicted Robert
finishing a swing that had come up between Merry's legs, obviously impacting
on her tender labia.  Merry was obviously trying to crawl up the bars at
that point to escape, but the leg restraints didn't allow for the action.
There was a collective hiss from those present as its import sank in.  Merry
was crying openly, having wedged herself between Roberts knees with her arms
wrapped around his calves.

      The angle changed for next picture, obviously originating from behind
the bars, inside the display area.  The flesh of Merry's left breast was
caught dimpling in hydrostatic shock from the strike on her nipple, and she
was clearly mindless from her agony.  After a moment, Robert moved on to the
next picture, where Merry's thrashing had obviously spoiled Robert's
accuracy, but no one commented on THAT!  "That's twenty," Robert husked.
Helen looked up.  His face was grey. He looked like he was going to be sick.
After a moment, he sucked in a breath, "And I thought it was bad while I was
doing it!"

      "How do you justify that?" Helen asked, shaken.

      "Because it was absolutely necessary!" Surprisingly, this response did
NOT come from Robert, but rather from Merry, who was still sniffling, tucked
between his knees!  "It was ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY that my Master prove to me
that he HAD standards, and I WOULD meet them or I WOULD be punished!  If he
took it easy on me, eventually, I would walk all over him!  I needed to KNOW
it wasn't going to happen!"

      "But it was absolutely vicious, especially at the end!" Helen
exclaimed.

      "Yes," Merry agreed, "it was.  But it was an exercise in proving to me
that he would go to any lengths necessary!  If he'd shown no commitment, no
imagination, I might someday decide I could get away with something because
the whole thing was so difficult and distasteful to him that he would
hesitate to repeat it.  Instead, he proved that he WOULD apply himself to
any necessary punishment, no matter how awful!"

      Robert moved on to the next picture, which depicted Merry slumped
against the bars in a puddle of her loosened restraints, the ball gag still
inserted in her mouth.  She was the picture of pain and exhaustion.  There
were two more of these, and they were eloquent in their presentation of the
inarguable reality of her pain and humiliation.

      The next picture depicted Merry moving alertly toward Robert on her
knees, obeying the signal of his crooked finger.  Helen began to move away
from the horror of some of the later pictures, and back to the arousal they
had originally generated.  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Mandi
crushing herself backward into Rick's embrace.

      Next was a photo depicting Merry meekly laying her head against
Robert's hip while he undid the fastenings of her ball gag.  Strangely,
despite - or maybe because of - the strange activity, the pair's pose
depicted tender care on Robert's part, and complete trust on Merry's.  It
was curiously moving.

      The next photo showed Merry, knelt up, spitting the ball gag into
Robert's open palm.  She was the picture of alert obedience, and Robert was
just as obviously in control.

      The last picture was an odd one.  Robert was holding up his open hand
in a 'stop' signal, while Merry was looking at him with her hand in the open
fly of an old bum!

      "What's THAT all about?" Al asked, puzzled.

      Robert grinned. "I didn't think he GOT that one!  I contrived to test
Merry's obedience by telling her to provide a blowjob to an old bum.  I
never intended for her to do it, but I wanted to see whether she would
hesitate, and for how long.  She didn't hesitate at all - in fact, she was
moving before I finished the command!   That's me rushing to tell her to
stop!"

      Merry grinned, embarrassed. "I already had his cock in my hand.  I'd
have taken on everyone in the store to avoid another beating!"

      Helen was squirming on the couch, while Al rubbed her flank.  "I'm
still amazed at how arousing the whole thing is!"

      Robert shrugged.  "Apparently, it touches something primal in us from
caveman days.  There was a woman in the store who appointed herself the
official stroke counter. At about this point, she virtually collapsed in the
arms of her male friend, who took her into a couples' peep booth and fucked
her brains out!"

      "How do you know that?" Al asked.

      Merry smiled gently, "The walls were thin, and we were fucking like
bunnies in the next booth!"  General laughter ensued.

      "Have you beaten her since?" Helen asked.

      "No," Robert replied.  "She's made a couple of mistakes since then,
which I handled other ways, but she's been extremely compliant.  It will
happen again, I'm sure, but not for some time."

      Helen smiled. "Well, I think we ought to go.  Mandi?"  She stopped
when Mandi actually whined.  One look at her brought the certainty that the
only thing keeping her from attacking Rick was the other people in the room,
and at the implied suggestion that she accompany her mother out the door she
displayed such a look of agonized despair that Helen relented.  "Oh, all
right.  Come outside and get your bag.  But tomorrow, you're coming home!
You've got to get ready for the Prom!  Understand?"  Mandi nodded and
unwrapped herself from her man.

      "I hope you don't think less of us for our lifestyle," Merry pled,
"Based upon the various relationships between our families, we want you to
feel free to come by and to be comfortable in our presence, any time..."

      Helen nodded.  "You've been incredibly up front and honest.  I can
respect that even if I don't quite understand why it is you do what you do."
She nodded at the TV. "You really need that?"

      Merry locked eyes with her and in a tone of absolute sincerity, she
declared, "I really need this.  When my master controls and directs me, and
punishes my trespasses, he shows me that he cares enough for me to be strict
with me.  My master wants what is best for me - best for US!  I believe this
utterly, and all I ever want to do is to serve him.  It's how I am; I know
my master could probably take this or leave it.  That he chooses to put up
with my foibles is a source of continuous joy to me."

      "But I'm a silly bitch, so he must work to maintain my respect.
Periodically, he will have to wield the whip to remind me who is master.
This is MY problem - not his - and I will suffer for my stupidity.  Do not
judge him for what I force him to do!"

      "I understand," Helen intoned, "My only concern at this point is for
Mandi."

      Robert shook his head. "Mandi's situation is totally different from
Merry's.  Merry is disciplined because she wants it, needs it, and,
ultimately, because she asks for it.  I cannot imagine a circumstance where
I would have either the right or the need to raise my hand to Mandi in
anger."

      Robert's obvious sincerity won Helen over.  Here was a man capable of
horrible things - but not one who enjoyed them!  More to the point, he had
the strength to do whatever was necessary to provide for the needs of his
family.  As Helen realized this, respect was born in her for Robert.  He had
HIS crosses to bear, too.  "I'm satisfied.  As to your lifestyle and your
welcome, I accept both.  I hope to visit many times, and my door is always
open to you as it has been to your children."

      Robert and Merry's eyes swiveled to Al, who grunted, "Hmmph.  Yeah!
What SHE said!  Your lifestyle is off the wall, but that makes you brave for
continuing to pursue it.  We're all a little strange - I ain't pointing any
fingers.  You guys are seriously honest folk, and your kids bear your mark.
Come around to my place any time!"

      "I'm pleased," said Robert, addressing Al, "You're the one who'll be
exposed to our problem child.  Dina is 15 going on 40, and she controls
anything she sets her mind to.  While I'm sure you've assumed that Bobby is
robbing the cradle, I'm absolutely certain it's the other way around!"

      Al turned and gave the young woman in question the eye.  "The more I
see of her, the more I tend to agree.  Things are going to be interesting
around here!"  He turned to Bobby, "As for you, young man, gather your
stuff!  You've been wrapped in her tentacles enough this week, and after
this evening's entertainment, something untoward might happen!"

      "Like it isn't going to soon, anyway," Dina murmured.

      "Hmmm?" Al glanced over at Dina, confused.

      The little minx feigned innocence. "Oh?  I wasn't clear?  Let me be,
then!"  She swayed over to a position close in front of Al and gazed up at
him with an evil leer, daring him to drop his eyes to her exposed cleavage.
"Bobby is taking me to the Prom on Saturday night.  Afterward, we're going
up to the hotel suite that he arranged to share with Tim and Dolores, where
I'm going to present him with a huge helping of wet pussy - with a cherry on
top!  Is THAT clear?"

      Al turned wondering eyes on Robert, who looked thoughtful, and
mumbled, "Huh!  Should have guessed.  It's within the time frame..."

      "What?" Al was reeling.

      "She told me a couple of weeks ago that she wasn't going to be a
virgin much longer.  I should have put two and two together!" Robert replied
sheepishly.

      "That's all you've got to say?  Doesn't this mean Bobby needs a new
date?" Al asked, confused.

      "Are you nuts?" Robert replied, irritated, "If I told her she couldn't
go to the Prom, or that she couldn't go to the hotel with Bobby, she'd fuck
him in the lunchroom tomorrow in front of 200 witnesses!  Dina's a force of
nature; if you get in her way over something like this, expect her to run
over you like a freight train!"

      "So, it's all right?" Al asked, dumbfounded.

      "Boy, have YOU got a lot to learn..." Robert replied.  "No, it's not
'all right', exactly - but I'll fight the fights I can win, thank you!
Besides, Bobby's all right, and he went through all that training..."
Robert's face broke into a grin, and chuckles echoed all over the room.

      Dina stuck her tongue out at Al, which completed HIS descent into
laughter.  "I see what you mean!" he rumbled, shaking his head.  "She IS a
handful!"

      Dina pouted and cupped both her pert breasts, "I am NOT!  I'm TWO!"
More laughter ensued.

      Al looked up, grinning.  "Let's get out of here, before things REALLY
get out of hand!"  He collected Helen's hand, and nodded Bobby toward the
door.  "G'night folks - it's been an interesting evening.  I look forward to
next time!"  Everyone straggled to the door.

      Mandi ran out to the curb - naked - and extracted her overnight bag
while the others were completing their farewells. "G'night, Momma!" she
cried, kissing Helen on the cheek.

      "Good night, Dear," Helen responded.  A quick hug, and the departing
trio were on their way.

      Mandi dashed into the living room and into Rick's arms, wriggling.
Rick raised his eyebrows, "You want something?" he asked, feigning
ignorance.

      "Mmm Hmm!"  More wriggling.

      "Maybe I should make you beg..." Rick teased.

      Mandi dropped to her knees and put her hands together.  Locking eyes
with him, she pled, grinning, "Oh, PLEEEZE, Master, take me upstairs and USE
me!"

      Rick continued to tease.  "Upstairs?  What about here?"

      "Okay!"  Mandi dropped onto her back.  "Like this?"  She rolled over
onto her hands and knees, and looked back saucily over her shoulder, "Or
like this?"

      Rick popped her playfully on the ass.  "Get upstairs, wench!"  Mandi
squealed and ran for the staircase, snatching her overnight bag as she
passed.

      The older couple laughed from their position near the door where they
had been watching the byplay, Merry leaning back in Robert's arms.  "Cute
couple," he remarked, then added, "We'll print out the pictures and add them
to your punishment book, where they'll provide a visible reminder.  And
remind me to call Alvin - he did an incredible job.  In fact, they're so
evocative, they should probably be published!  My only concern is that we -
especially you - might be recognized!"

      "Couldn't we alter them?" Merry asked.

      "Usually, they block out the eyes," Robert replied, "Yours are one of
the things that make them so very good - it would ruin the impact!"

      "The gag distorts my face quite a bit, Master.  Maybe he could add a
mole or something."

      "You're not concerned?" Robert asked.

      "My Master will do as he wishes," Merry replied obsequiously.

      "That is the correct answer - but it is still instructive to know what
you are thinking," Robert replied.

      "I agree with my Master," she sighed, "They're too good to waste!
Will Alvin get his display poster, then?"

      "Yes.  We'll have to be a bit more careful with that one.  The photo
set will have a limited audience, but..." Robert left it hanging.
Obviously, the poster would be seen by everyone entering the store.  He
plopped down at the laptop.  "Put some photo stock in the printer, Merry -
we might as well do this now."

      "Make two, Pop!" Dina demanded from the doorway, "I want a set!"

      "I think not!" Robert replied, "I don't want them all over the school!
You can look at your mother's set."

      Dina pouted and flounced off.