Divine Cruelty by Lee Ash Read Free Book Online

and more insistent. Rachel snatched the discarded leather strap and pushed it beneath her pillow before stamping towards the door. She opened it to find O'Mara standing in the hallway.
     
    The mousy blonde was unintimidated by Rachel's threatening frown or her brazen nudity. She fixed her with a scornful sneer and said, 'The master wants you in his study. He wants you and your servant slut in there now.'
     
    Rachel turned to Helena. Solemnly she said, 'I think the bad times are just about to begin.'
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Master Bernard stood to one side of the roaring fire. There was a balloon of brandy in his hand and, although he made a pretence of sniffing its bouquet, his attention was obviously fixed on the two naked women.
     
    Rachel recognised Pearl's brunette alongside Master Bernard's ebony companion. They had both been stripped nude and knelt with their heads on the stone floor and their backsides facing the fire. Protruding from the anus of each woman was a thick church candle. Both wicks had been lit and, from beneath the sputtering flames, occasional dribbles of molten wax slid down the broad lengths. The scalding rivulets pooled around each woman's sphincter, inspiring shivers and muted moans.
     
    Rachel was familiar with Master Vince's favourite torment and knew he often had slaves kneeling in front of the fire regardless of whether he was entertaining guests, or alone and only amusing himself. His greatest pleasure seemed to come when the candle had dwindled to a stub and he was ignoring a slave's pained cries or pleas for mercy. Occasionally, to add a wicked twist to the diversion, he would leave the candle unlit and allow the slave to be tortured by molten wax that came only from her imagination.
     
    'This is boring,' Pearl declared. She shared a table with Master Vince and spoke between greedy swigs from her brandy balloon. Their table was set back from the fire and furnished with one of the many ornate chess sets that decorated the room. In an arrogant pose she lazed with one leg crossed over the other displaying the bare flesh of an upper thigh. 'The protracted torment of stock is never any fun,' she proclaimed. 'Not when it can be done more quickly and more cruelly.'
     
    Master Vince raised an eyebrow.
     
    From his place by the fireside, Master Bernard flicked his gaze in Pearl's direction. His attention lingered lasciviously over the exposed stretch of her inner thigh and his grin grew broader. The obvious swelling at the front of his pants twitched like a divining rod.
     
    Rachel suppressed a pang of sudden jealousy and her dislike for Pearl briefly intensified. Wilfully remembering her place, forcing herself to be unmoved by Master Bernard's interest in the domineering slave trader, Rachel remained framed in the doorway.
     
    'How would you suggest we entertain ourselves with the slaves?' Master Vince asked Pearl. 'What would you suggest we do that isn't boring?'
     
    'I did suggest we should use them for sport,' she reminded him. Her tone was acidic with impatience. 'But I suggested that twenty minutes ago, and you said you wanted your favourite here before...'
     
    'Rachel's here,' Master Vince broke in, glancing towards the door. 'She's here and she's ready to meet any challenge you care to propose.'
     
    Pearl shot a disparaging sneer in Rachel's direction. She made no attempt to mask her blatant contempt. 'That one wouldn't last two minutes against any of my stock.'
     
    'You do Rachel a dishonour. I think you're underestimating her abilities.'
     
    Pearl shook her head. 'I saw her reading your tarot cards this evening. I believe she thinks too highly of herself. You've let her retain a sense of humanity and self-worth.' With obvious authority, she added, 'Humanity and self-worth are the first things you need to remove from your stock if you want to get the best service from them.'
     
    Master Vince sipped at his brandy. 'I have no idea what you're talking about,' he smiled honestly.