And that is how I spent that night. Lying on the floor, thinking about my foolish pride and Minx's love for me.



Katy said nothing to me about the incident the next morning at all. She had slept while I had lain awake on the floor.

My muscles protested as I took my shower, and the soap caused the welts on my ass to burn, but not as much as the embarrassment did.

The morning jog on the beach was a bit easier as Katy ran with me instead of riding on me. There was a bit of a chill in our relationship that hurt as much as the cane did, but I tried to keep my focus on the tasks at hand.

We passed Ms. Clair on the way to the gym, and I greeted her politely.

She ignored me and continued towards the pool without a backward glance.

"Well I guess she didn't have anything to do with last night's little fiasco, or she's a damned fine actress." I speculated.

Katy ignored the comment and when we got to the gym, we found Mistress Janice working out.

"Good morning children." she greeted us cheerfully.

I knelt before her for a pat on the head, and she looked down at me and then back at the expression on Katy's face.

"I see that you two have a little problem today. Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked kindly.

"Yes. Would you keep an eye on him for a little while? I need to speak to Mrs. Queen about something. When he's finished his exercises perhaps you could go to breakfast with him?" Katy asked.

"Of course dear. I'll take good care of him." Mistress Janice assured her.

Katy left and I started my usual workout routine. I had increased my weightlifting abilities during my stay and was actually leg pressing over three hundred pounds. Looking at the scales I grimaced. I should have used my legs as a brace and just forced the door open instead of breaking the glass. Oh well, twenty-twenty hindsight.

Mistress Janice just watched as I went from machine to machine, saying nothing, but noticing my distraction.

"Charles, stop what you're doing and come here." she called.

I walked back to where she was sitting on a weight bench and knelt before her.

She patted the bench and invited me to sit next to her.

"Now, tell me all about it. What happened between you and Katy?" she asked kindly.

"I'm not sure I should talk about it Mistress." I said.

"I can make it an order you know." she smiled. "Now, what's the problem?"

"I'm not a very good slave sometimes and Katy had to punish me. I think she thinks she's not a very good Mistress because I screwed up." I confessed.

Mistress Janice hugged me for a moment before speaking.

"I know Mistress Minx by her reputation. She is a very demanding Mistress because she doesn't want a groveling worm for a slave. She wants a slave who can stand up for him and takes pride in serving her. Someone who wants to serve her, not someone who has to serve her to feel complete.

"Katy is still young and learning her way. She has never felt like a Mistress of Ay'esha, although she is one in her spirit. Her way is not the same as Mistress Minx's, or my way. My slaves want to serve me because I love them and care for them."

"But I don't know what would make Katy happy. I'm just trying to learn what I was sent here to learn. I don't want her blaming herself if I'm not a good slave." I protested.

"That is not something you can control. All you can do is try as follow her orders as well as you can."

"It's pretty hard not to try and control it."

"That's called Topping from the Bottom. Not a real good idea." she warned.

"Yes Mistress."

"It's Janice, unless I tell you otherwise. Let's go eat."



I guess Katy must have left orders for my breakfast, because before I could order, the server said she knew what I wanted.

Janice found that amusing as she ordered her breakfast.

"She keeps you on a pretty tight leash doesn't she?"

"I wish she didn't at times. I'd love to have some hash browns." I complained.

"She's just watching out for you. Just like your wife did." she said, sipping her juice.

"Excuse me?" I said carefully.

"Oh I know you're married, or at least were. I can tell from the way you act around other women. Willing to please them, but not anxious about it. And I can see where your ring was worn."

"If you don't mind telling me, how did you learn to be that observant?"

"Oh, I've been around a long time. I make jewelry so I have a habit of looking at people's hands. The rest, well just experience." she demurred.

The food arrived, but instead of the usual dry cereal and toast, I was served a small steak and hash browns.

"Excuse me, I don't think this is my order." I said.

"No, Miss Katy said to feed you meat today. Enjoy It." the server said, and went on her way.

Well in the words of Jim Nabors, Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.

"I'm not sure if this is a test or not." I said looking at the food.

"Well do you think she'd try and trick you into violating an order?" Janice asked.

"I'm not sure. But I'm not going to take any chances today."

I called the server and had her take the food away and bring me my normal breakfast.

I watched with regret the departure of the hash browns, but I knew that I would be better off eating my corn flakes.

Katy came in a few minutes later and joined us.

She didn't say anything about the steak and I didn't say anything at all.

Janice excused herself after a few minutes, ostensibly to use the ladies room, but I think Katy and I both knew better.

We both started to speak at the same time and then stopped.

"You first Miss Katy." I offered.

"No, you go ahead." she said.

"I want to apologize for disappointing you. I haven't been on my best behavior."

"And I wanted to apologize for taking my disappointment out on you." she said.

I looked at her.

"Friends?" I asked holding out my hand.

"No. Master and servant." she said shaking her head.

"Yes Miss Katy." I said withdrawing my hand.

"That would be 'Yes Mistress Katherine', if you please."

I smiled in relief.

"Yes Mistress Katherine." I said.

Janice returned to the table to find me feeding Katy, oops, Mistress Katherine, grapes from her fruit cup.

"I see you two are back to normal." she said happily.

"No ma'am. Better than before." I corrected.



My time at the Spa seemed to speed along with the change in Mistress Katherine's attitude.

There were no other incidents and I was soon permitted to roam freely again.

Jerry Dodge taught me how to at least sit on a horse, but I never did learn to ride very well. Neils taught me how to swim much better and even gave me some basic SCUBA lessons with Mistress Katherine's help.

People came and people went. Ms. Clair departed a few days after Amanda disappeared and Miss Judy extended her stay an extra week. Mistress Janice praised me to the Queen and Mistress Katherine before she left and I finally did learn how to cut a tomato properly.

Even Mr. Terwilliger got off my back as soon as I admitted I wanted to learn the piano.

His "Happy Fingers" exercise stank, but I did discover I could at least play "Chopsticks".

Which he hated.

Weeks passed. Mistress Minx had said only two weeks. What had happened to her?



One morning after my exercise, I was called to the Queen's office.

I knelt before her as she picked up a report.