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The stroking of his fingers on my hurt flesh was insupportably delicious I didn't dare raise ainst the scratchy ereat picture of the lion stitched into it, and I sucked in my breath and let my tears flow I felt calm all over; this pleasure robbed me of any control of my limbs

I closedHe kissed one of the bruises I thought I would die I would

go to Heaven, that is, soher more delicious Heaven even than this Venetian Heaven Beneath roin was alive with thankful and desperate and isolated strength

The burning blood flowed over the bruise The slightly rough stroke of his tongue touched it, lapped at it, pressed it, and the inevitable tinglingfire across a mythical horizon in the darkness of my blind mind

To the next bruise he went, and there caue, and the hideous pain departed and there was nothing but a throbbing sweetness And as he went to the next, I thought, I cannot bear this, I will simply die

He ical kiss and the stroke of his tongue, and I quivered all over and moaned

"Soasp

It was a dreadful thing to say! Instantly, I regretted it, the sassiness of it

But his hand had already come doith a fierce slap on my backside

"I didn't rateful I mean, I'm sorry I said it!" But there was another slap as hot as the first

"Master, have pity on me I'm mixed up!" I cried

His hand lay on ht, Oh, now he's going to beat me till I'm unconscious

But his fingers only gently clasped the skin, which was not broken, only warm as the first welts from the switch had been

I felt his lips again on the calf of ue The pleasure h me, and helpless, I let the air escape hs

"Master, Master, Master, I love you "