"You have been My pet for quite some time," He circled the kneeling woman on the floor. "I have taught you many things, have I not?"
"Yes, Sir," her gaze was downcast, her body, despite being on her knees in the same position for several hours, remained unmoved.
The smells and sound of a wood fire started to rise. While her curiosity was strong, her will to obey was stronger. He brought something into her vision.
"Do you know what this is, My pet?"
"It is a branding iron, Sir," she bit her lower lip, her nerves getting the best of her.
"I feel as though it is time," He moved the cold metal into the fire, the fire started to crackle as He stoke it. "For you to become officially Mine."
A twinge of excitement ran through her along with a surge of panic. While she had a high threshold for pain, she never imagined in her wildest dreams that He would want to brand her, let alone with a hot iron.
"Pet?" He gently cupped her chin and raised her eyes to his. "Do you trust me? Do you wish to be mine and have a constant reminder of that fact?"
Swallowing hard, she nodded, "i trust You with my life, Sir. i do wish to be Yours and have Your brand upon my flesh."
"your eyes tell me you are afraid," He watched her emotions, knowing that this was a big step for her. "This is something that can wait for another time."
she shook her head, which was limited by His hand, "i am ready for this, Sir."
"Are you sure?" He loved her spirit and knew she would do anything for Him.
"Yes, Sir. i am."
He released His grip on her chin and went to the table. He grabbed a cotton ball and soaked it with alcohol. He washed her flesh on her hip that He intended to brand, He kissed her shoulder to try to help with the nerves He knew she was fighting to hide.
"I am going to blindfold you," He spoke softly. "That way you do not have to see it. It can be jarring and you may try to move which would ruin the brand. Now, lay down."
"As You wish, Sir."
He picked up the blindfold, draped it over her eyes, making sure as he tied it, that it didn't grab or tug at her hair. He let his fingers graze along the curve on her back, leaving goose bumps in their wake. He admired her in that moment, lying face down, hips slightly raised to put her ass in the air as he had taught her. Things that had once been awkward or foreign to her, she now did without thinking and as easily as breathing.
"Are you ready, My pet?"
she could hear the fire crackle and pop as He pushed the branding iron around, making sure it was the right temperature. The anticipation thrilled and scared her. she knew that He would never do anything that He didn't think she was ready to do.
The branding iron was hot near her skin. He brought it close to her flesh. A gasp escaped her lips and her body tensed.
"Take a deep breath and relax," He cooed. "If your body is tense, it will make the pain far greater than is necessary."
Taking several deep breaths, a few tears were soaked up by the blindfold.
"There is a leather belt in front of you. Put it in your mouth to bite down on."
she reached forward to the belt that had already been folded in half and put it in her mouth, testing the placement.
"Okay," He gently touched the back of her thighs to soothe her again. "Nod twice if you are ready and I will begin."
Inhaling deeply, she nodded her head once then again. she could hear her flesh sizzling before she could feel it. she struggled to remain still as red spots danced on the edges of her closed lid vision. Happy that He had given her the belt, she bit down as she let herself scream at the top of her lungs. Before she passed out, His voice drifted to her ears.
"You are Mine."
Waking several hours later, her eyes flitted open to see Him lying there beside her. she reached out to touch His arm.
"Ah," He smiled warmly, gently returning the touch. "you're awake. How do you feel?"
"May i see it, Sir?" her curiosity was more then she could mask.
He laughed softly, "As you wish, My pet."
He sat up in the bed, pulled the sheet back from her body and removed the bandage from her hip. He reached to the nightstand and grabbed a mirror.
When he brought the mirror to an angle where she could get a good look at the brand, she frowned.
"Where is it, Sir?" she looked at the still pristine flesh.
His smile widened, "This, itself, is a lesson."
her brows furrowed, "What do you mean, Sir?"
"Well, it was more a lesson for me," He turned to put the mirror back on the nightstand and came back with a wooden box. "I learned that there is nothing you wouldn't do for me. And that your trust in and love for me is unconditional. It is all I needed. It is all I will ever need."
He opened the box. Inside was an intricate bracelet and matching collar.
"While you are in public, you are to wear the bracelet," He pulled the bracelet out, Celtic in design with emeralds and peridots sparkling along the chains that finished in a ring with matching stones. "And the collar is to be worn in the home or if I take you out as a slave."
He took her hand, "These are My gifts to you, My pet, My slave, My companion. Do you accept them and me?"
she closed her eyes and smiled, "Yes, Sir."
He pulled the collar out and put it on her, the stones glittered against her alabaster skin.
"You used ice, didn't You, Sir?" she looked down as she asked her question.
"Yes, I did," He laughed as He pulled her into Him and curled back up into the bed. "I couldn't bring myself to mar such beautiful flesh."
she leaned up, and kissed His chin, "Thank you, Sir. i love them."