Sophia lays there, controlling her breathing, staring at Stephen. Shes not exactly sure why hes regarding her with indifference.
“How have I displeased you, Stephen? Havent I suffered enough for you?”
Hes listening to her with half interest. Its as if hes been distracted. Even during her final beating, he seemed withdrawn.
“I suppose you have. For now. Your body needs time to heal, and if you were to undergo another whipping, Im afraid you would bleed. And how would we explain that to the Doctor?”
She laughs at this, in spite of herself. “I guess you have a vaild point.”
She sits up, drawing the covers up over herself. Shes getting sleepy again, but she doesnt want to spend another minute in the room.
Everything seems too bright, sterile. She feels as if her presence is making things unclean. The messed up bed sheets, covered in her sweat, the glaring walls soaked in her tears, her cries, her screams.
“I really do wan to leave from here. I feel Ive been through hell, and now, I just want to be alone.”
She slides off the bed, and picks her clothes up. She gets dressed again, keeping her eyes on him the entire time.
“Please, can we just go?”
He hears in her tone of voice, something broken. So it was possible. This strong stubborn woman could be, and is, broken.
“Sure. Lets go home. Lets get you cleaned up, and in your pajamas. Its late, and youve been put through enough.”
He reaches his hand out to hers. She accepts, and they walk out of the room, hand in hand.
They walk into the living room, where Alex is sitting on the couch, shoes off, and talking on his cell phone. He sees Stephen and Sophie, and pulls the phone away from his ear.
“Sophie and I thank you for a most pleasant evening. I hope we will see you later on, Alex. You are a great host.”
Alex was eyeing Stephen with uneasiness. He doesnt like the idea of her leaving with him. Hell, he doesnt like the idea of Sophia leaving period. Hes gotten rather attatched to her over the course of the evening.
” Youre quite welcome Stephen. And Sophia, my home is open to you whenever youd like to get away from it all.”
She whispers her thanks and gratitude.
“Alex, Sir, may I please have my purse and sandals? Im ready to go home and relax.”
As Alex walks to a closet, he thinks that theres something odd, something different about her. She seems smaller, fragile, even. He frowns to himself. Hes not liking this new form of herself.
He walks back to her, her sandals and purs in hand.
“Here you go, Sophia. I was hoping youd spend the rest of the evening with me. But since you wish to go, I wont try to persuade you to stay. May I have the priveledge to call on you, though?”
She is taken aback by his request. She looks at Alex, taking her shoes, and purse. She looks to Stephen. He stays silent, looking at Alex through narrow eyes.
“Um. I suppose I would like that Alex. Sure. Yes, yes you are welcome to visit me. I am flattered that you would like my company.”
She slips her shoes on, and instinctively grabs Stephens arm. Alex walks them to the door, and notices, for the first time, bruised ugly welts all over her legs.
“Sophia, please. Stay. I need to talk to you. If need be, I can run you home. Stephen, please go on. Ill bring her home, thanks.”
Sophia is looking back and forth between Alex and Stephen. She stays silent, standing still.
Stephen walks out the door, seething. He feels theres a change in her already. Aside from being broken, he thinks that theres something else going on in her mind. And he doesnt like her thoughts being closed off to him.
Alex and Sophia watch him walk out the door.
“What did you need to talk to me about? What did I do wrong?”
She was trying real hard not to cry. She thinks something is amiss.
“Please, sit down. No, better yet, follow me.”
He walks through the massive living room, down another hallway. This side of the house is warm, welcome. He takes her into a large well lit bathroom. The bathtub is old fashioned, raised off the ground, with lion paws as its support. Its deep, inviting.
Alex turns the faucets, and adds some lavendar oils to the water. He stands behind her, and unzips her dress. He unclasps her bra. And he notices all the welts, the bruises. They are raised, and they are ugly.
“Poor girl. Are you in pain? Are you sore? Do you need anything? Do you know that you are loved?”
She slid into the warm bath tub, the scent filling the bathroom, covering her skin. She closes her eyes, trying to relax.
Alexs questions are bouncing around her head. Is she loved? Depends on what your definition of what love is.
“Yes Alex, I am sore. And in pain, oh yes, God yes.”
Her voice was still rough, scratchy. She spoke in harsh whispers. Her throat felt swollen, dry.
Alex grabs a stool, and sets it beside the bathtub. He grabs a cup, and dips into the water.
He pours it over her back, careful not to scald her, careful not to rub her welts too hard.
“Why did you let him do this to you? Stand up dear. Dont you know that you have a voice? That just because youre submissive, and slightly masochistic, you dont have to take this punishment. Yes, I set the cane on the table. But understand this Sophia.” He knelt in front of her, locking his eyes on hers. “The cane wasnt meant for your skin. It was meant for just your mind. To taunt, to torment. Is that understood?”
She stands in the tub, fully aware of her nakedness. But shes not ashamed. She bears her welts and stripes without a sound.
“I am aware of all this, Alex. And I begged, I screamed. He wasnt listening. He didnt care. I think that he wanted to break me completely.”
Alex was so gentle with her legs. Soaping them up with his hands, careful not to make her cry. But she cries anyways. Cries buckets.
She cries at her being so easily broken. For her wantoness. For her deliberate misbehaving, for every action shes ever taken.
Her body is shaking, shoulders heaving. Shes trying to hard to remain quiet. Suddenly, she sinks into the water, and buries her face into her hands.
She tries so hard to regain control of herself, but gives up. She gives into the tears, and lets Alex bathe and wash her hair.
“Ok beautiful. Time to get out, come on.”
He holds out a giant fluffy towel. She steps into it, forever grateful to his presence.
He wraps her up, and takes her arm gently. He walks out of the bathroom, and crosses the hall.
They enter a dimly lit bedroom. All she can see is the giant bed in the center of the room. She looks up at him, with warmth in her puffy hazle, bright green eyes.
“Go on, beautiful pet. Crawl into it. You need to sleep.”
She climbs into the warm bed. The sheets are soft, welcoming. Laying her head on a pillow, shes staring at Alex.
“Thank you for everything. Thank you for valuing me, Alex. I wish I was yours.”
She yawns and drifts off to sleep, thinking of Alex, totally oblivious to the stripes on her body.
Alex stands at the door, watching her, returning her sleepy smile.
“Dream sweet, little one.”
And he shuts the door.
FINIT
