***All sexually active characters depicted are of age, 18 years old at least, and, all sexual activities portrayed are consensual. Enjoy!***

At the Cummings’ castle, down in the dungeon, Domhnall and Gracie have attached to the cross-shaped rack a middle-aged gentleman, and, in the stocks, with her head and wrists clamped in the holes, a blindfolded young woman in her mid-twenties.

Tapping a cane to the palm of her hand, behind the woman in the stocks, Gracie proposes of the gentleman, “Surely, your takings could be much lower?”

The gentleman responds, “Sixteen percent.”

Gracie decides, “You can do better,” and slices the backs of the woman’s legs, breaking the skin where the bamboo struck, causing the blood to rush to the wounds.

The gentleman stubbornly says, “Sixteen percent.”

Gracie responds to him, “I make you this offer: you say sixteen percent, so, I will strike her sixteen times, then, I will ask you to revise your offer, and, I will strike her the number of times you say each time. I think that sounds fair.” Gracie then slaps the cane across the legs, slightly higher than before, and again, slightly higher, and again, slightly higher, and again, across the lower buttocks, and again, slightly higher, and again, and again, each time leaving bright red marks on the young woman, who cries sorely at being treated so harshly.

The young woman’s thighs tremble and her legs quake as she whimpers waveringly. She desperately attempts to control her breathing between each strike, but is interrupted by the shocking strikes slapping against her skin, feeling as if they cut through her entirely each time.

After the sixteenth strike, Gracie awaits the gentleman’s revised offer, and he says, “Twelve-and-a-half percent.”

Gracie cackles at the offer, commenting, “Twelve-and-a-half? How do I even give half a strike? No is my answer. You can do much better than that. As for my promise, she gets another sixteen for your cheek at such a proposal,” striking the woman’s buttocks, counting, “1,” making her bleed, “2, 3, 4, 5,” making her bleed even more, “6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.”

The young woman is crying hard, unable to see, and completely at Gracie’s mercy, not that she has been merciful, leaving her so red, sore, and bloodied that she won’t sit comfortably for over a week. She sobs quietly, trying to be brave, or not to anger her tormentor to risk more violent behaviour.

The gentleman can not even look at his date any more, and Domhnall holds his head so he has to look at her, slapping his face hard, and the gentleman says, “Fine… Five percent, but I can’t go any lower.”

Gracie replies, “No, you stand to make a substantial return on your investment for a two-and-a-half percent stake. Greed doesn’t look sexy on you, but, since you like greed, and, sixteen is your favourite number, you know what that means,” and just before she begins her new round of strikes, she asks, “Is she sixteen? Do you like them that young?”

The woman cries out, “I’m 23!”

Gracie rhetorically asks of the gentleman, “You didn’t know that, did you?,” and she struts up to him, making him whimper as she nears, standing beside the rack, running the length of the cane across his bare nipples. He sounds like a scolded dog as Domhnall grips his throat so he has to watch what Gracie does. She tells him, “I feel sorry for her having to date a piece of shit like you. So, you get these,” raising the cane, and slapping his nipples with a downward stroke so hard that he thinks his nipples have been sheered off, as Gracie continues in kind, counting, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.”

The gentleman sobs, “Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-owwww… four percent, please?”

Gracie pitifully mutters, “Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. You make such a fool of yourself, and you cry like a wounded dog, and you have the audacity to ask for four percent? I will make you a deal. You take the next round with my cane, and, you can have four percent.”

The gentleman interrupts Gracie to beg, “Thank you, thank you, thank you, please, thank you, please… ow-ohh…”

Gracie continues to say, “If you can’t handle it, then you accept our proposal of two-and-a-half percent.”

Immediately, the gentleman inhales deeply, and grimaces ready to receive the next round of punishment from Gracie. She is not impressed by his eagerness, so she lifts the cane away from him, and whips it straight across his cock, instantly leaving a red line across it, and she strikes again, scraping more skin away, and slaps the cane across his cock continually, counting, “…4, 5, 6…”

The gentleman screams, “No! No-no-no-no, please. I accept your terms. Just stop.”

Gracie stays her striking hand, and strokes her Free hand around the gentleman’s face, cooing playfully, “I was under the impression that we were going to have fun. We barely began to enjoy you,” turning to walk away.

Domhnall slaps the gentleman’s nipples, making him wince from the soreness, and he walks away with Gracie, as she replaces the cane on the trolley, both heading for the door, prompting the gentleman to ask, “Whoa, whoa, wh-where are you going?”

Gracie simply answers, “Back upstairs.”

The gentleman hastily begs, “P-p-p-please, let us go. You got what you wanted.”

Domhnall says, “You don’t get to make demands in here. Take some time to learn some manners, and, we will talk later.”

The young woman hears the clicking of the latch as the door is pulled open, and she flinches, sobbing, “Please, I’m not a part of his business. I’m not even his Wife or anything. We haven’t been going out that long. Don’t leave me here. I just want to go home. It hurts.”

Gracie says to the young woman, “You can take this time to reconsider your life choices,” and leaves with her husband to return upstairs to the party.

Heading out into the inner courtyard, Domhnall and Gracie spot Tiffany and Craig talking with a very well-groomed and very handsome man they recognise as trendy racing driver and car manufacturer, Vittore Tremonti, and hear him say as they approach, “…growing up, I used to have Troubadour cars up on my bedroom wall; the styling, and the promises of luxurious comfort coupled with blistering speeds made them very appealing and so exciting. In particular, the Troubadour VP series were the ones that inspired me the most. The styling on that first VP model is still the best to this day, and constantly inspires the looks of my cars.

“The racing scene grew tiresome for me. It was challenging at first, but I kept pushing every day to improve, and, soon mastered many circuits and won many championships. This was not gonna fulfil me, but, I found my passions were really in the engineering, making cars the best they can be to suit each track. What are the commonalities? What needs adapting for each circuit? Do I favour high speeds, or precise turning? These questions drove me to starting Tremonti Motors, and quickly gained attention for the work I had my teams put into each car.

“My first flagship model, the Bellezza, was inspired directly by the first generation Troubadour VP. Could I make a modern homage to it’s styling, while making it uniquely distinct and recognisable as my own, and still have all the performance I want? These were big questions, but these cars, sadly, aren’t the fastest on the track, and I made that concession early on to make a beautiful grand tourer that would look stunning on the beautiful alpine roads, and feel great to drive on those roads.

“My quest for performance on the track led to the birth of the Meraviglia, which built on my learnings from the Bellezza, and takes them to new heights to favour quick acceleration, reasonable high-end speeds, and the sharpest of turning circles, to dart and carve through any race track with ease. Here, is my masterpiece.”

With wide-eyed wonder, Tiffany comments, “Wow! That all sounds incredible. I, too, Love the Troubadour VP. They all the time seemed so romantic to me, and I would daydream about driving in the clean mountain air, taking in the views of the peaks on the horizon.”

Vittore simply states, “Bella, you can. Easily. Actually, I can make that happen. I can get you a Troubadour VP-6. Brand new, and I can tailor it to be unique to you. The VP-6 Bright. One of a kind.”

Tiffany’s eyes sparkle with excitement, and she bubbles with overflowing energy as Craig asks Vittore, “Why wouldn’t you get her a Tremonti? Surely you would want to promote your own cars.”

Tiffany informs her fiance, “Of course! Vittore worked with the Troubadour design team on the new VP model.”

Impressed by Tiffany’s knowledge, Vittore says, “Bingo! Having such success with my own cars, I wanted to put my mark on the legacy of greatness at Troubadour, and felt confident that I wouldn’t fuck it up with my years making my own cars. So, I reached out to them at an exhibition where they were showing the VP-5…”

Tiffany interrupts, “That one wasn’t as good.”

Vittore responds, “Sadly, I agree. What I wanted to do was bring to them my reverence for their classics, and make a car with them that truly reflects my dreams. Together, we made a car that has the exact styling of the VP-1, with the fibreglass shell replaced by carbon fibre, and some vents put in to aid aerodynamic function to build downforce, making it suck to the road for better traction. Every aspect of the original was reworked to make the ultimate expression of my favourite car, and, that is why I would promote a Troubadour over a Tremonti, but, I probably would promote them anyway because I am a fan, and I Love them.”

Tiffany excitedly asks, “Can you really make a bespoke model for me?”

Vittore confidently boasts, “Absolutely! Consider it done. I am picturing your exquisite and elegant figure in that cockpit behind the wheel, steering into the sun, with it shining on your sunglasses, as you drive the winding roads on the mountainsides we have at home.”

Tiffany’s eyes fall closed, picturing the scene that Vittore paints with his words, fantasising about how it might feel to do something like that. She sways and smiles as her mind transports her deeper into a daydream. Snapping her back to the present moment, Craig asks her, “I’m gonna get to drive this, right?”

Quickly, Tiffany answers him, “Of course you can… Maybe,” taking a moment to compose herself in front of one of her idols.

Vittore remarks, “It is a car made for two; if you know what I mean?”

Craig bluntly replies, “We get it,” not looking as enthused as Tiffany is, as she beams and hugs his arm with overflowing excitement.

Tiffany moans into Craig’s ear, “This is making me so wet thinking about all of this,” and she says to Vittore, “Excuse us. We have… company to attend to.”

Vittore laughs, and remarks, “I am not blind to passion. I find out,” and turns to greet the hosts, “Domhnall, Gracie, thank you for the invite to be with you today, as all the time.”

Domhnall shakes Vittore’s hand, and says, “As all the time, it is a great honour to have you with us,” watching Tiffany and Craig prance off out of the courtyard, mentioning to Vittore, “You got to meet Tiffany and Craig, I see?”

Vittore dreamily says, “Oh yes, they are very gorgeous people, and have sharp minds and keen interests.”

Gracie enquires, “What do you think about them working with you to expand the Tremonti brand?”

Vittore honestly answers, “I’m already known to the markets that matter to me, and that fame has built me very well off,” and considers the offer more before saying, “I tell you what: I really like them both. I would Love to support their endeavours. Out of the goodness of my heart, I will work with them. As long as they don’t lose me company, I will continue to work with them. If they do happen to make me new opportunities, then it’s a win/win. I do this because I want to see them make every success.”

Gracie says, “Very gracious of you, Vittore.”

Domhnall agrees, “That is good news. It seems like Tiffany is a fan of yours?”

Vittore informs him, “She really knows her stuff. Tiffany recognised me, and introduced herself right away, impressing me with her knowledge. She knew a lot of my cars performance figures almost as well as I do, which is an impressive feat. Craig also seems nice.”

Gracie enquires, “It seems like you have a favourite?”

Vittore frankly states, “I am not a home-wrecker. I don’t need the negative press. I all the time think a camera lens is on me, and a parabolic microphone. Tiffany is very sexy, and Craig has it good with her. Also, they are new parents, which is wonderful. I clicked with Tiffany, but I know to keep my hands to myself.”

Gracie apologetically says, “I didn’t mean to infer an interest like that.”

Vittore smiles, and openly responds, “Just so we are clear. No hard feelings,” and his smile widens as he says that, asking, “If I may be excused? I have a small matter to attend to.”

Domhnall says, “Of course,” and Vittore leaves the courtyard.

Domhnall and Gracie greet some of the guests as they walk around the courtyard, making polite conversation, and they eventually find Pleasant and Frankie talking to a lettings agent, who can be heard telling them, “…could be furbished how you need, with plenty of room inside for two stories, ground floor and first floor, with plenty of room for a large, open studio space, as well as options for smaller individual rooms. Soundproofing could be concealed between the walls to contain the sound to each space.”

Pleasant comments, “It does sound perfect for our needs. Could we have a look some time soon?”

The lettings agent hands a business card to her, and says, “Make an appointment with me, and I will be more than happy to show you around, and discuss how to go about arranging all the work you would need.”

Pleasant says, “Wonderful! We will speak soon,” and the lettings agent walks away, and Pleasant notices her parents approaching.

Gracie asks, “Anything good?”

Frankie informs her, “We might finally have access to a studio space that could be perfect for us. If it’s right, then we could move our set-up out of the house, ready to redecorate for when the baby arrives. It’s exciting to think about how things are going for us.”

Domhnall says, “That’s great. Things are gonna change in big methods for you.”

Pleasant confidently tells her parents, “We can handle it. Our priority is making the house child-friendly, and, expanding our work into a studio space means we can make so much more revenue to make it more than worthwhile. It is a big change, but it must be done. Our company needs this chance to grow and expand.”

Gracie says, “Very sensible, Pleasant. So long as you are both happy?”

Frankie replies, “We are, right, babe?”

Pleasant stares into her father’s eyes, and blushes a little, as she says, “Yeah. Everything is good,” and wraps her arms around her Wife, hugging her tightly, as she goes on to say, “I am fully committed to making this family work. Nothing, and no-one, is more essential than what we are making. What Frankie and I have is far too special to give up on.”

Gracie tells her daughter, “If you ever need help, we are here for you.”

Pleasant continues to look her father in the eyes as she gives her response to her mother, “It’s something I feel we should do on our own.”

Gracie accepts her daughter‘s wishes, saying, “Very well. Your father and I have an urgent matter to attend to,” and leaves the courtyard with Domhnall.

Pleasant says to Frankie, “Excuse me for a moment,” and kisses her before rushing out of the courtyard after her parents. She catches up to them, and calls out, “Father? A moment?”

Domhnall notices, and says to Gracie, “Go on ahead. I will catch up to you,” and asks his daughter, “What is it?”

Pleasant walks right up to her father, and quietly says to him, “I’m sorry. I felt like I was being rude just now, and didn’t mean to be. It’s just that I don’t feel right with what we have been doing of late.”

Domhnall rests his forehead to his daughter‘s, and tells her, “That comes as a relief, I must admit.”

Pleasant begs, “Please, let’s not ruin what we have built up with each other: our respect, and our Love, and our understanding. We can not take back what has already been done, but, I do want us to be close, in a more proper way.”

Domhnall asks, “What brought this on? You seemed so adamant to have your way with me before, spurned on by your Sister.”

Pleasant reflects on her thoughts, “Gloria has her fantasies, as do we all, but, fantasies can never fulfil us more than our real lives. I have a Wife who loves me more than anything else, and she loves a lot of things a great deal. You also have the same. I Love you, but we never should have done what we did.”

Domhnall probes, “You regret it?”

Pleasant admits, “I wish it never happened. I feel so foolish, and felt so powerless, like a puppet on a string; like my actions were not my own. I should be better. You raised me to be better. I’m sorry.”

Domhnall places his palm on Pleasant’s cheek, and tells her, “Don’t be sorry. You have done the right thing to confide in me. We can put it all behind us, and move on.”

Pleasant reminds her father, “There is the small matter of Gloria to discuss this with.”

Domhnall suggests, “As long as we approach her as a united front, we can handle her.”

Pleasant laughs a little under her breath, and says, “Thank you, Father,” and kisses him gently on the cheek, saying, “I Love you.”

Domhnall returns the sentiment, saying, “I Love you, too.”

Pleasant heads back towards the inner courtyard, and calls behind her, “Go tend to your company.”

Domhnall finds Gracie waiting outside the dungeon for him, and they enter together, to much commotion from the captives within: the gentleman bound to the cross-shaped rack, whimpering and sobbing, and his blindfolded date in the stocks, scared out of her wits.

Gracie releases the young woman from the stocks, and helps her to her feet before removing the blindfold, comfortingly saying, “It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s all okay. What did he offer you for tonight?”

The young woman looks at Gracie with a confused expression, with her cheeks glazed with dried tears, and she sobs, “I don’t know what you mean. He loves me. He said we could go anywhere, and do anything.”

Gracie plainly tells her, “I’m sorry to tell you this, but, that man is married, with three children, and a fortune inherited from his exes father who loved him as the son he never had.”

The young woman unbelievingly cries, “That is not true,” and turns to the gentleman, begging of him to, “Tell her.”

The gentleman looks anywhere other than his date, and Domhnall holds his head to look in her direction, and he confesses, “It is all true.”

Gracie says to the young woman, “I’m sorry. How about we compensate you for all the trouble he has caused you this evening? A hundred thousand seems more than reasonable.”

The young woman scoffs, and asks, “After what you did to me tonight, you think you can bribe me?”

Gracie clearly states to her, “We didn’t do anything without giving him a choice first. Each time we asked for something, he was given a clear choice between something that would hurt you, and something that wouldn’t hurt you, and he willingly chose each time to hurt you. He doesn’t care about you. He was just looking after his selfish interests. Please, be reasonable, and accept our money, and you can use it to make sure you never have to deal with this man ever again. What has he ever given you, other than a ride home? You’re not even the only one.”

The young woman stomps to the rack, and slaps the gentleman hard across the face. She then spits into his eyes, and braces herself on the cross to pull her knee up hard into his cock and balls, and again, and a third time, before stepping back to tell him, “You are a fucking piece of shit. She’s right. I was only a booty call to look good on your arm for a party, or when you were feeling lonely in bed. You didn’t have time for me for anything else. You don’t care about me at all. You can use your fucking hand tonight,” and she thrusts her knee into the gentleman’s groin again before stomping away.