I could see that she was on the edge again, and that after the onslaught of the two leather straps that comprised the tawse. She had some nice red marks which would not fade soon, but not nearly enough.

"Rise and rub, Stella. You dealt with that very well, girl, and I'm proud of you. Now I have a serious question which you MUST think through carefully before you answer. I need a very complete answer. What HARD limits do you have on what we will do here? There are some basics; I do not do scat, I do not leave permanent marks or disfigurement without previous agreement, I will not allow mental damage."

I led her to a bed where she could lay down, and rolled over a tray of soft beverages. "I also do not allow people to make life-changing decisions under the influence. Take what time you need, I'll be in the room through the padded door there."