An X-mas Tale

The Masters and Mistresses freely wandered the room, followed by slaves holding trays of snacks or beverages. The slaves against the wall quietly talked amoung themselves except for those few ordered to complete silence or those wearing some variety of gag. Kristen at first glanced and then stared at the female-slave next to her.

The woman wore a black dress that clung to the glamourous curves of her thin body. A tight choker collar covered in small, cut jewels surrounded her neck. The dim light of the room danced off the stones in a way that Kristen had never seen. The tlght braceletes around her wrists matched and also shone with, in all appearence, their own light.

Kristen looked away and choked on a sigh. She felt but resisted an urge to feel the common, leather, petstore collar she wore around her neck or look down at the cheap black dress she had purchased from a clearance rack at the store where she worked between classes.

Kristen looked instead to the sofa in front of the fire place where Master held a short glass of ice bathed in scotch. He sat talking to an elegant and mature-looking woman in a simple, black evening dress, with a smokey hose and conservative pumps. They looked very natural together, with Master in his freshly pressed tuxedo and shoes she had faithfully polished herself. I don't belong with these people, she thought with her eyes closed. Opening them, she looked back at her Master. What does He see in me, she asked herself. Master looked over to the wall. Seeing her gazing at him, he smiled at Kristen. He patted his thigh softly. She got up and ran over to him, returning to a kneeling position next to him. He reached down and gave her long, dark hair a few gentle strokes.

"So this is your new one?"

The elegent woman smiled at her, causing Kristen to bow her head. The woman reached across Master's lap and took Kristen's chin in her hand. With a very slight pressure, she gently lifted Kristen's face so that their eyes would look into the other's.

Master answered, "Yes. Her name is Kristen."

"Your master is very taken with you." Releasing her hold, the woman stroked one of Kristen's dimpled cheeks. "You are a very fortunate young woman, Kristen. Many wish to be in your place."

"Yes, Mistress. Thank you, Mistress."

Master again ran his hand through her hair. Kristen turned to look at him with her big, green eyes. With a satisfied smile, he told her she could go. She stood and returned across the room to the others.

As she lowered herself to her knees, she heard the woman next to her say to a statuesque blond, "What are you getting your Mistress this year, Alexis?"

"I am having something special made for her at my favourite jewelers. It'll have a star saphire that matches her eyes prefectly and I don't know how many smaller stones on the neck band."

"I am still thinking about getting my master an old sixty-eight Mustang that a freind of mine is selling. You know how he likes his cars."

"I'm sending, Ahmed, to Mecca. He hasn't gone there yet. Besides, I will have to stay here," said a short-haired brunette. She rubbed her buttocks. "My backside can use the rest."

They all laughed loud enough to earn reproachful glare from a couple of the Masters. The three slaves bowed their heads in contrition. After the Masters had turned back to their discussion, they moved close to each other and giggled discretely into their hands like school girls.

The evening dragged on. Master showed her to others. They also made appreiative comments. Kristen thanked them each politely and often with a slight blush on her plump cheeks, before retreating back to evesdrop further on the gossip amoung the slaves. Time crawled, but finally, she looked up to see Master's smiling down at her.

He reached down to her. "Time for us to go, young lady."

"Yes, Master."

She took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. He bent down and put his lips to her forhead. She blushed, making him chuckle from within his chest.

"Don't ever change, my sweet Kristen."

"I won't, Master."

She followed him to the foyer. Two slaves, both males dressed in the classic style of butlers, brought their coats. As one helped Master into his heavy, top coat, the other helped Kristen into her plain cloth jacket. Her cheeks burned as she watched two slaves in maid uniforms help the elegant Mistress Master had flrst introduced her to and the slave with the gleaming collar into long fur coats.

"I see you've grown tired of this evening as well," said the Mistress to Master as she attached a chain to her slave's collar.

He nodded. "Yes. And I'm afraid I may have overdone it for poor Kristen."

The Mistress smiled at her. "Yes, she does seem to be very quiet."

They stepped out onto the steps of the townhouse. A gentle snow fell. The Mistress pulled a set of keys from her small purse. With a push of a button, a rapid double beep pierced in the night.

Master took Kristen by the hand. They accompanied the Mistress onto the sidewalk. The other slave followed behind just far enough to give her leash a slight slack.

"I am going to have a little get together after the holidays. Something a little less formal," the Mistress said. "Please, bring Kristen. I'll have Michelle introduce her around."

"I shall."

They stopped next to a silver Lexus. The Mistress pressed another button, and the car's trunk eased open. She spoke her slave's name as a command. The woman reached up to undo the clasp of the chain and climbed into the trunk.

The Mistress gave Master's bemused smile a shrug and turned to closed the trunk on her slave.

"I will e-mail you then." She stepped around to the drlver's door. "Have a wonderful evening, Steven."

"You as well, Monica." When the Mistress had pulled away, Master reached up and undid her collar. It slid from her neck. He handed it to her. As he turned to hail a passing cab, Kristen put it into her pocket.

The cab pulled to the curb. Master opened the door, and Kristen stepped inside. She moved to the far corner. As he followed her inside and gave the driver directions, she looked out her window. They each held their peace, as the cab pulled into traffic.

"Monica gave me a job when I was just a snottie nosed ad major fresh out of college. She introduced me to bondage, too. Even sold me the contract of my first slave." Master took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "She really liked you."

"I'm glad."

He studied her for a moment.

"She even made an offer for your contract."

"You've been awful quiet, all evening," he said. " Are you okay?"

"Yes, Master." She sighed. "I just felt a little ..."

"Overwhelmed?" She nodded. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be, Master," she said in a loud voice. The cab driver's eyebrows arched. Kristen blushed and continued in a lower voice. "I just didn't want to displease you."

"Never, my dear one. I just should have never rushed you like that." The cab pulled in front of her building. He kissed her cheek. "If you'd like, I could make my appologies to Monica about her party."

"No, Master. I will be able to go." She looked into his eyes and saw the disbelief. "Please."

He frowned, and his voice grew stern. "Very well, slave. But remember you asked for it." He kissed her. "Now, little one, get inside before you cost me any more money."

She smiled at him and left in a rush. It waited as she fumbled with the lock and keys. Only after she had shut the door behind her, did the cab pull away. Short moments later, she closed the door to her apartment and flipped on the lights. A sticky note next to the switch told Kristen that her roommate would be at her boyfriend's. She chained the door.

Reaching into her jacket pocket, she took out her collar and then hung the coat on an empty hook. She kicked her old dress shoes from her feet ano into the corner. Collar in hand, Kristen went down the hall to her room. She lifted the bargin rack dress over her head. With a flick of her wrist, it flew across the room. It landed on the chair her parent's neighbors were going to throw out. It lay there for a moment before it slid into a heap on the floor.

Beneath the dress, she had on nothing. Nude, she walked to the mirror hanging on her closet door. She examined her body and inventoried it in detail as she placed the collar back around her neck.

She compared herself to each of the beautiful women at the party. Her bust was too small. Her legs were too thick. Her butt was too big. She was nothing. Just a poor, fat college student.

She walked to the light switch and flipped it off. She climbed into her bed. She curled up, a hand touching her simple collar, on old sheets given to her by her grandmother, and drifted to sleep.

The alarm rang, and Kristen began the slow process of pulling herself from sleep. After the required number of snoozes, she pulled herself from bed. She quickly prepared herself for the day, and after a swallow of tea and the last bite of her toast, she left to catch the bus to work.

The shop had been open for several hours when she arrived for the start of her shift. The owner, Susan, was occupied with fitting a customer for a dress. Kristen waved hello and began to straighten a table of jeans a small troop of young teens.

By the time the customer left the store with her package, Kristen had moved to a table of sweaters. Her thoughts elsewhere, she folded them and stacked them neatly by size. Susan came over and began to help.

"You seem to be pretty chipper for someone who went to a party last night, Kristen." Susan winked at her. "I usaully expect my employee' hang over on a saturday."

"Susan,you know I don't drink." Kristen shrugged and added, "Besides, it was that sort of party."

"Yes, I know, but I sometimes forget that you aren't the typical college student. I'm too used to girls like Beth."

"Beth isn't so bad."

Susan laughed. "I'll remind you what you said the next time she keeps you up all night belore a test."

"I mean besides that," said Kristen with a stuck out tongue for puncuation.

"I know. It just that you are so much more mature. I'd still be bitching at Beth to start the jeans ano you've already started on the sweaters."

Kristen started to protest, but Susan continued, "It'd be nice to see you misbehave a little more. Just to know you are nineteen."

"Okay," Kristen said with giggle . "I'll just come in to work Monday drunk."

Susan giggled as well. "Good for you.

"Oh, have you heard about your painting yet."

"No, Professer Russell won't have our grades ready for a week. I should be able to get it for you when he does."

"How many times do I need to tell you that I'm not in a hurry, Kristen. As long as I can get it in time to give it to my husband for Christmas. I can give you the check for it now if you need it."

"I told you it was yours for posing, Susan. You don't need to pay me for it."

"Kristen." Susan's voice changed a little; it had a hint of the force that Master's dungeon voice carried. "You can't afford to refuse it."

Susan continued with a softer tone. "I have a store that is somehow making money faster than I could ever spend it. Plus, I've got a wealthy, old fashioned husband who won't let me spend a penny because that's his job. I should at least be able to buy him a nude portrait of myself painted by a straving young artist."

"Yes, ma'am," Kristen said, her eyes downcast and tone meek. She felt bad, but she could use the money. If she put it away, she could take the bus home to see her parents over springbreak. It uould help make up for missing the holidays again.

A customer walked to the counter with a pair of pants in his hand. Leaving the younger woman to finish with the straightening, Susan went to ring up the purchase. Kristen mindlessly did her work.

After finishing uith the sale, Susan excused herself to the back office to do paperwork. Kristen continued to do little things to keep the store neat. A couple coworkers (young high school girls) arrived. After saying their hellos, they went to the counter and begain to chatter with each other.

The hours passed.

She had just finished measuring someone for a shirt and helped him make a selection when she noticed Master entering the store. He made quick scan of the store, smiling when he noticed her waving. He walked around the tables she had worked on earlier and strided across the store to where she stood. They met in a publicly acceptable hug. Their lips touched then parted.

"Hello," he said to her. "How's work been going."

Kristen shrugged inside his embrace and replied, "Worky." She smiled. "'Bout as good as work gets."

"I can guess." He stared down into her green eyes. "I can also guess you are ready for lunch by now."

Kristen nodded. "I'll just need to check with Susan and let her know."

She slid from his arms and headed to the back. Master turned to follow. As her hand swung back, he took hold of it. With one long step, he came even with her. She smiled at him. He returned it with a kiss on her forhead.

Karen leaned into the open doorway of Susan's office. "Knock. Knock."

Susan looked up from her lap top. "What's up, Karen?" "I just wanted to know if I could go to lunch now."

Susan looked at the time at the bottom of the screen and rolled her eyes. She shut the computer down and pushed herself away from the desk. Shaking her head, she stood up.

"What am I going to do with you, young lady? You should've gone to lunch an hour ago."

Master stuck his head in. "But I just got here."

"Oh, hi there, Steve. Can you get her out of here?"

"That's the plan, Susan." He wrapped his arm around Kristen's waist.

"Good." Susan moved around the pair. "Now, get going while I see if I can get the girls working."

Master and Kristen left for the food court. After getting something to eat, they found a place to sit. Kristen used her chop sticks to stir her noodles. Master studied her as he took the first blte of his spicy beef.

"And where is my Kristen, right now."

She looked up at him and, uith a smile said, "Eating chinese in the mall food court."

He laughed then reached over and kissed her.

"I asked for that one." He took Kristen's hand. "I was just wondering what you were thinking about."

"Just stuff. You know, school and work and stuff like that," she lied. "Nothing important."

"Okay," Master said before popping a flouret of brocoli into his mouth. "If you say so."

"I do. So there." She stuck out her tongue.

"I know a little girl who is forgetting her place."

"Really?" Kristen reached her chop sticks into Master's plate and stole a ribbon of meat that she popped into her mouth. As she chewed, she said, "Maybe she needs to be punished?"

"Hmmm! Could be." Master took a noodle and bit of cabbage from Kristen's tray. "She is a little brat."

"Who's a little brat," she asked with mock defensiveness.

"Just some girl I know."

"Have I met this girl?"

Master shrugged. "You may've. Especially, if you've looked in the mirror lately."

"Hey!" Her voice attracted a few stares. She continued more softly, "I'm going to get a spanking, aren't I?"

He studied her face a moment. She looked up to him with her best big-sad-eyes look.

"Please."

"Maybe, if you promise to be good little slave girl."

"Thank you, Master." Together they laughed. After they had finished, Kristen said, "Sounds a little twisted, doesn't it? Getting a spanking for being good."

"Yes. But that's what I like about you. Not only are you sweet, but you're still a little twisted." Master winked at her. "Now, hurry up and finish your lunch so I can get you back to work."

"Yes, Master. Thank you, Master."

"And not in public, little one."

"Of course, Master."

Master sighed. "You, young lady, are a brat."

"Does that mean I don't get that spanking?"

"Yes," he said. He waited to give Kristen a chance to start a pout. "You might get a caning instead."

A grin spread across Kristen's face. She never seemed to give him enough excuses to cane her. While she hadn't developed a fondnesss for the exercise, she did like the way it made Master excited.

"Goodie."

Master brought his hands together. His face dropped into the open palms. His head wiggled left and right as a muffled moan/groan escaped his lips.

"I've destroyed a sweet innocent and created a total prevert."

Again, they shared a laugh, after which they made plans for the evening. As one spoke, the other ate, not necessarily from the right order. Soon, the styrofoam plates were empty and disposed of. With his arm around her shoulder and her's around his waist, they walked back to the store.

"Have you thought about my offer?"

Kristen shook her head. "I don't need to. I'm saving a little money here and there so I can go home during spring break. But until then..."

She shrugged. "My mother understands. Neither of us has the money."

"I do." He sounded a little like a school boy; his voice was soft with a hint of meek. To Kristen, the invitation was obivous.

"Steve." His name felt strange to his mouth. "I need to do this myself."

He pulled her tight against himself. She could almost feel the foot furthest from him lift from the ground. "I know. Trust me; I do. After all, I've quit trying to pay your tuition but this would be different."

"Not really."

"It'd be..."

"Steven, please." She swallowed hard. "I've made up my mind on this."

"Sorry, little one."

She stopped, which forced him to stop as well. Without forcing either to let the other go, Kristen turned so they were face to face, their bodies touching. She looked up into his eyes.

"I love you, Master."

They kissed with just their lips. It did not last long, and in moments, Kristen was back to work. She caugut up with the mess that had accumuliated while she was gone. As she folded wadded clothing from the fitting room floor, she thought about Master's attempts at a gift's.

She knew that if he bought her a ticket home, that it wouldn't be the same as if he helped pay for school; it's just that she couldn't get him anything. She thought back to the party and the other slave girls. She could never buy Master a car or a trip. She doubted that she could buy him much of anything for Christmas this year.

Susan came over once the fitting rooms were cleared.

"Kristen. We got a shipment of gift sets yesterday. Could you put them out?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She went to the stockroom and loaded three cardboard cartons onto a dolly. She wheeled them to an empty table near the register. She used her keys to cut the tape on the first box. She began to pull out and arrange on the table its contents, mostly the sort of cheap plastic gadgets most people use to stuff Christmas stockings.

She laughed as she stacked several boxes of motorized tie holders next to a stack of corkscrew sets, conplete with foil cutters and little towels. The rest was simular junk. The last carton held mostly plug-in coffee mug warmers.

She couldn't believe the other item. It wasn't something she would think someone would give a love one. Maybe a gag gift, but...

She grinned and chuckled loud enough to draw stares from her co- workers. She set one aside and completed the display in time to punch out. She got her coat and purse. On her way out, she made her purchase.

She showered, shaved, and did the other 'sh' thing. Her roommate came into the apartment while Kristen dressed for her date with Master. They caught up in front of syndicated reruns. Somewhere in the live giggles and canned laughtracks, Master arrived.

They had a nice dinner together. After that, they went to the coffee shop where they met. One of her paintings that she had hung there had sold, so she bought coffee and a cheesecake slice that they shared. He took her home and they watched a movie with her roommate. He went home after a long kiss.

The weeks prior to Christmas passed. Kristen's professor returned the painting. It was giving to Susan, and with a minimum of arm twisting, Kristen accepted Susan's check. Her roommate left for home. Kristen fed her cat and watered her plants. She found a necklace for her mother that Master sent home for her. She bought Master a couple of music disks.

She spent Christmas eve at Master's appartment after they had gone to midnight mass. Despite having gone to bed late, they still woke up early in the morning. Master scrambled eggs while Kristen made coffee and toast, buttering the finished slices while she waited for the toaster.

They sat down to the radio playing an automated tape of Christmas music. After they finished breakfast and put their plates in the dishwasher, each took a fresh mug of coffee to the livingroom. Master placed a log in the fireplace and sat next to Kristen.

Kristen reached behind the coach. She brought out a small gift bag. With a florish, she handed Master the package. He looked at the package for a second and then back to Kristen.

"I thought I told you just to get me a couple CDs."

"Yes, Master." Her eyes were turned down, but she wore a smile. "It's something special. I saw it at work and thought of you."

"Oh?" Master arched an eyebrow.

"Yes." She held it out to him.

Master took the bag. Slowly, he removed the tissue a piece at a time. He placed each on the coffee table. After he had taken out the last one, he reached inside. He pulled out a small rectangular box. He stared at it.

"Thought of me, eh?"

"Yes, Master."

He dropped the box to the floor.

"An electric nose hair trimmer?"

"Yes, Master."

He glanced back at the box. He let loose a long sigh.

"Kristen."

"Yes, Master?"

"Get the cane."

"Yes, Master."

**********

Two weeks later, Kristen stood next to the bar at Mistress Monica's party. She was thankful that she wasn't sitting on her still painful rear. Mistress Monica's slave, Michelle, poured her a soda water.

"Your master seems to have a big smile. You must have given him something special for Christmas."

Kristen smiled. After a sip of her drink, she answered.

"I gave him a reason to punish me."

© 2003 Kenny N Gamera