The Collaring of Chloe Ch. 18

He arched an eyebrow in a dubious look. "Yeah, so I've heard. He basically made her sit in a corner. Big punishment." He retorted sarcastically, giving his eyes a small roll. "She drew blood, you know. And he gives her a little slap on the wrist."

Obviously, he didn't realize just how rough The Void could be, especially for a submissive. She'd endure a couple dozen strokes of a cane more willingly than another ten minutes in that cold and complete isolation. Still, she remembered that some people used sensory deprivation as a kind of play too, so perhaps he didn't realize that, for Mittens, there could be no harder punishment. "Well, Sir, I'm sorry you feel that the incident wasn't properly handled." She considered trying to explain that the punishment was much worse than he thought, but figured that he'd not believe her anyway.

"Yeah, well, I think he shouldn't be in the community anyway." He said with a sigh. "You should steer clear of him, despite what others say around her. In fact, he should be in jail if you ask me."

"Because he didn't punish her enough for biting you?" She asked incredulously. The opinion shocked her so much she forgot to include the word 'Sir' at the end, but he didn't seem to notice.

He gave a humorless chuckle and shook his head. "No, I mean because of her in general."

Chloe blinked at him, uncomprehending of his meaning. "What's wrong with Mittens, sir?"

"Now?" He said with a chuff. "Not as much. Five years ago, though? When she was underage?"

It took a moment for Chloe to fully puzzle out his meaning, sorting out what she knew of Mittens and Master from five years prior. Suddenly, she realized what he was implying. "Oh." She said, mind spinning for a better response. Mittens had told her the story of Master sitting with her outside of Mister Charles' grocery store when she was sixteen, which led to him putting her up in a motel until she was eighteen. She'd taken the time to make sure Chloe understood that Master had never been inappropriate in his advances at any point during that time, even though she'd long before her eighteenth birthday begun thinking of him as 'Master'.

She believed Mittens, as much because she didn't think the cat-girl would lie as because she knew Master's sense of honor and discipline enough to feel confident that it was exactly what he would do. Still, she imagined it might be hard for others to believe that he had been only a gentleman, especially since her first day of being eighteen including receiving her official collar. Had she not known the two of them as she did, even she might have found the details a little dubious. Still, it was a beautiful story of love and, even if something had happened between them a little before it should have, there could be no denying that they loved each other and that Master was no—

"He's a predator, if you ask me." Danny Walker said, cutting across her thoughts. "A pedophile and chickenhawk." He spoke softly, but there was definite venom in his words, his gaze fixed towards the room where they played, as much poison in his eyes as in what he was saying.

"Sir, I think that's a little harsh." She said, frowning a bit herself now. "Nothing happened between them until she was of age."

He blew a dismissive raspberry. "So he says. Even then, he had been grooming her since she was a child working at the grocery store bagging groceries. He bought her off with favors and hotel rooms until she felt she owed him something. It's gross and I don't think everyone should just be acting like there's nothing wrong with it."

Chloe looked at the man, as though seeing him fully for the first time. She realized now why Mittens had been moved to bite the man. For her, Master had saved her, had done so much for her without any expectation of a return from it, save that this poor girl would have a better life. She believed Mittens when she said that it had been her who had pursued Master, not the other way around. Besides, Mittens had been forced to be an adult long before she'd ever begun working at Mister Charles'. If he'd spouted these same words two years ago, the feisty girl wouldn't have hesitated to defend her beloved Master's name and honor.

Truth was, Chloe felt a little like biting the man too, but was far too much a submissive by nature to do something so aggressive. Still, as Master's adoring slave, she couldn't leave the matter unrebutted. "Mister Walker, Sir, I—" She began, but paused. Behind him, Papabear and Butterfly were coming up quickly, obviously having seen him talking to Chloe and knowing him well enough. They likely felt she needed 'rescuing', but she felt she had the matter in hand.

She rose a hand up to signal that she was okay, Walker noting the gesture and glancing back to spot Master's friends. Chloe noticed that Papabear and his Little were not the only ones who had noticed the two of them and many other people had paused to watch and listen. She quickly addressed him to get his attention back on her.

"Mister Walker, Sir..." She paused again, though this time because she felt something pass through her, like a sort of calm assurance. She exhaled and let her body go demure in posture, exuding the full extent of her submissive nature. A pleasant smile came to her lips. "as Master Brooksend's personal pleasure slave, please allow this one to extend her regrets that you feel this way."

His eyes snapped to her quickly, looking a little confused. She read more into the look than most would, though she had already assumed as much. Before he could respond to this, she continued, her voice becoming even more demure and submissive, her eyes lowering in respectful fashion. "This one can only imagine how hard it is on Sir to feel such resentment and jealousy for Master."

His confusion seemed to increase three-fold. "Jealousy? I'm not jealous of him!" He protested with a bit more vehemence than the response required.

"Of course not, Sir." Chloe said dipping her head apologetically. She felt a shudder rush through her, considering quickly whether she should proceed with this or not. She felt motivated to defend her Master, but worried that she was just going to get herself into trouble with what she was about to say. She swallowed and decided to go forward, feeling a twinge in her soul.

"Just, this one has noticed Sir many times tonight, as Sir has likely noticed Master and Mittens many times. However, Sir has yet to notice that this one has been with them every time, until now, unless this one is mistaken?" She glanced up at him a little, a look meant to convey question and apology if wrong.

"I...um..." He stammered, seeming off foot. It was as good as a confirmation as a distinct 'yes'.

"So, obviously, Sir has been focused far more on Mittens and Master." She ventured on. "With good right, of course, Sir. Sir feels offended, so, of course, Sir would be." She looked off, taking a coy pose. She noticed that Mistress Victoria had come up now as well. "Only, Sir, this one couldn't help but notice that Sir mentioned Mittens having been a grocery BAGGER, but, being Master's slave and Mittens' sister submissive, this one knows that she was a cashier when they met. So, obviously, Sir must shop at Mister Charles' grocery store as well and saw Mittens working there when she was only fifteen."

She saw him shift his weight, his arms tightening in front of his chest, his face turning a little red. She had to be careful what she implied here. She had to keep this respectful and without the appearance of trying to label him as anything. She was embarrassing a Dominant and it was taking everything in her not to just back down and apologize. Still, being a submissive didn't mean one couldn't still defend and be strong.

"So, this one assumed that Sir was jealous of Master, since Sir saw Mittens first." She said softly, but more than loud enough for everyone to hear, the comment making everyone in earshot grin. "This one's apologies if she is wrong. Still, if she is correct, she can only imagine how hard it must be on Sir to see this girl that he was patiently waiting to turn old enough to make contact with, without seeming like a...pedophile..." She brightened a little, raising a finger. "Oh, and, Sir, the term 'chickenhawk' refers to a man who prefers young MEN, not young women."

He blinked, looking again off balance at the seemingly out of nowhere point, though he seemed equally put off by the smattering of chuckles around him from people who obviously understood where it had come from better than him. "I...look...I'm not..." He fumbled, face turning red from mix of anger and embarrassment.

"Please, Sir, this one begs forgiveness if she is overstepping her place." Chloe said quickly, lowering a little at the waist in supplication. "She is just trying to express sympathy and regret at Sir's loss, though she is certain her Master wasn't aware that Sir had an eye on Mittens already. But, as this one was saying, it must be hard to not just see Master with the girl he wanted, but to see him become so popular in the community with her at his side. It must make Sir so jealous. Jealous enough to try to discredit Master with horrible accusations. Don't worry though, Sir, this one realizes it is just frustration and doesn't judge Sir for it. She is sure he knows that Master is no more a pedophile for falling in love with Mittens, but waiting until an appropriate age to act, than Sir would have been had he waited, watching from afar, until she'd been old enough."

Danny Walker's expression was nearly inscrutable, a deep wash of too many feelings and emotions, his eyes reddening, looking as though he was near to tears, but cheeks so red with anger that she half expected him to slap her instead of begin crying. There was no doubt in her mind, likely no one else's either, that she'd hit the mark solidly. It some ways, it made her truly feel a little pity for him. He really was jealous, had likely wrestled with his own thoughts and feelings over feeling attraction to such a young girl. His calling Master a predator came from his own fear that his attraction to a fifteen-year-old Rachel Wilson had made him one.

"So, this one gives her apologies to Sir." Chloe said again after a moment. "On her Master's behalf. If, she is correct, that is."

He shifted from one foot to the other and swallowed, looking away and clenching his jaw. "Thanks." He finally said after a very long pause in which no one seemed to be breathing anymore. He looked back at her though, a moment later, his expression hard. "But you're wrong." He said sharply, though there was little strength in his voice, an obvious attempt to recoup his pride. "Just glad to see he's finally going for girls who aren't still in grade school." He said, a taste of that venom returning, trying to get his footing back and return to his high horse.

Chloe knew it was time to back off, the looks on everyone's faces showing that their opinions were in her favor, not his. She could tell even he knew it. "Yes, Sir." She said, simply, ducking her body a little and stepping backwards.

Despite his effort to regroup and her willingness to relent, he straightened his shirt and looked towards Mistress Victoria. "Thanks for hosting a great party, Victoria. I think I'm going to pack in now though."

Mistress Victoria nodded to him solemnly, the hints of a smile peeking at the corners of her lips. "A pleasure to see you, Danny. I'll let you know when I throw another one."

With a slight derisive sniff, he squared his shoulders and brushed past everyone who was now trying to pretend they had not heard any of the exchange. "Actually, my schedule's pretty busy. I probably won't have a chance to come back...for a while." He gave her a nod and made his exit. Chloe couldn't help but notice that he was leaving alone.

A second later, she was being nearly tackled by Butterfly, who was giggling gleefully. "That was so incredible!" She said as she wrapped Chloe in a tight hug.

Papabear was right there with her. "James is going to hate that he missed that!" He laughed.

Chloe looked at him in earnest worry. "You don't think I'm going to get into trouble with Master, do you? For embarrassing him like that?"

Papabear leaned back and rumbled deeply with laughter. "If you get into trouble for 'apologizing' to him, then I may just punish James!"

"Daddy!" Butterfly admonished. "I think she's seriously worried."

He stepped up to her and put a firm hand on her shoulder. "I don't think you need to, sweetheart. I don't think there was a better way you could have handled that. He embarrassed himself. Nobody but him thinks there's anything wrong with Mittens and James. You handled yourself beautifully. Your Master is going to be proud of you."

"You really think so?" Chloe asked, feeling really nervous now.

"I do too." Came the voice of Mistress Victoria behind her. She turned to find the gorgeous woman standing near and looking at her with an unmistakable expression of respect. "I've watched a lot of submissives deal with things like that and I've never seen one remain so true to their role while putting someone in their place so completely before. Now I'm the one who's jealous of your Master." She gave Chloe a wink. "And I plan to tell him that when he's done in there."

Chloe suddenly flinched. "Oh! Papabear, Mistress, may I be excused to go back in and watch Master with Mittens?"

"Of course." Papabear said, giving her a light swat on the rear. Mistress Victoria merely gave a nod.

"I'm coming in with you." Butterfly said, still clinging onto her. "I love watching Mittens getting flogged."

Chloe gave one last glance down the hall, spotting Danny Walker at the door leading out to the rear yard. He paused a moment, looking back, their gaze meeting. In that moment, there came to his face an expression of such hate and ugliness that it made her shudder. Then he was gone, but she knew that tonight wasn't going to be forgotten by him. Suddenly, she wondered again if she'd really done the right thing. A bite heals. The wound she'd just gave him could only fester.

With a sigh, she forced it from her mind and accompanied Butterfly and Papabear back into the play room. She didn't care what Danny Walker said or thought, she couldn't see Master and Mittens as anything but beautiful. She belonged with them and to him. She would fight for them, be she in the right or in the wrong.