Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

This was the most fun Bex had ever had in a scene. The two of them were covered in paint, and she was glad Drake had shielded every possible surface in sheets of plastic because what hadn't gone on themselves or the branch appeared to have gone on the walls.

And she was going to get more on there now.

Faith had taken off her lingerie, and was leaning against the wall, facing forward so that paint wouldn't get in her eyes.

They were going to have to have a shower after this.

Bex drew her arm back and let fly. The branch landed with the most satisfying smack on Faith's arse. She pulled it back carefully, trying not to tear any of the leaves. There were a couple of really pretty hearts, but she hadn't realized how attractive the individual twigs on the branches were going to look. Multicolored stripes that followed the pattern of the wood decorated Faith's backside. Damn if that didn't look adorable. This was a great idea.

She wasn't the person who needed to okay it though. "How was that?" Bex asked.

"Not too stingy," said Faith. "You can probably go a bit harder if you like, and I'll watermelon out if I need to."

Those fruit safe words, Gods her girl was the cutest thing ever.

"How are you feeling about your back and shoulders?"

Faith considered the questions. "Slightly less than that would be perfect, and avoid my kidneys?"

"Of course." Bex leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "You look incredible."

"But," said Faith, and she let out a sigh that sounded contented. "But it feels… it feels good, Bex. It feels right."

"Good," said Bex, unable to speak the words that caught on her tongue. Of course, it feels right. Everything about this—about us—feels right .

Each strike added an extra layer to the art, until Faith was a mass of color from her shoulders to the bottom of her arse—partly from the paint, and partly reddened from the branch itself.

Bex didn't know if she'd ever seen a sight so beautiful.

Stripes decorated Faith's skin, all jumbled up in a confusion of color that just shouted vibrancy. Heart shapes peeked through where the leaves had caught and printed on the living canvas.

Breathtaking.

"You were made to be art, rainbow girl," said Bex.

"Can you take a photo of me?" asked Faith. "I know that photography's not usually allowed…"

Bex wasn't sure about leaving Faith alone like this, even for just a moment or two, but rules were rules, and Rawhide Ranch was strict about this one. Far better to ask permission, than break the rule and risk a ban. "I can go and ask, but only if you're okay waiting like this for me."

"I can do it," said Faith, and Bex saw the way her jaw set in determination.

"Are you sure?" She came up close and spoke her words into Faith's ear. "You'll have to stay very very still for me, rainbow girl. As still as a statue."

The shuddery breath Faith let out told Bex everything she needed to hear. "You've got it," she said. "Wait here; I'll be right back."

Slipping her trousers and shirt on quickly, Bex ran through the Dungeon, ignoring the curious looks at the paint on her face, and poked her head outside the Dungeon doors. Spotting Drake at his podium, she exited and approached him. "Drake, is it possible for Mr. Hawkins to sign off on me taking a photo of Faith? Her back is the canvas, and she wants to see it for herself. It'll just be of her and the wall."

Drake set his book aside and nodded. "I can see why you'd want to keep a record of that. Give me a moment and I'll call and ask."

Bex waited in anticipation, shuffling from foot to foot impatiently as Drake spoke on the phone. "Yes, yes, sir. Yes, I understand." He offered the phone to Bex. "He'd like to speak to you."

"Hello?"

"Ah, Bex, I can absolutely understand the situation, and how it's appropriate for the scene. I'm happy for the photo to be taken, but it must be taken on Faith's phone, and not yours. And nothing to identify where it's been taken please."

"We can do that," said Bex, breathlessly. "I need to go back, if that's okay. I've left Faith in there on her own."

"Go go," said Derek. He sounded amused. "And thank you for checking, Bex. I really do appreciate your respect for our rules."

Bex practically shoved the phone back at Drake and ran back to the playroom as fast as she could.

"Hey there, rainbow girl, you all good?"

"I'm all good," said Faith, but her voice had gone all floaty, the way it had the night Bex had first flogged her into subspace.

"You are better than good," said Bex. "You are perfect. My perfect rainbow girl."

"Your perfect rainbow girl."

"We've got permission to take a photo of you, but it has to be on your phone. Where's your phone, rainbow girl?"

"Oh, it's in my room. There are rules stating no phones in the Dungeon."

Bex remembered reading that as well. "That's fine. I'll ask Drake to call Mandi and see if she or Tay can get it and bring it to the Dungeon and then wait to take it back upstairs."

Faith gurgled with laughter. "You're running all over the place, aren't you?"

"I'd run to the center of the earth and back for you," said Bex, but she was concerned. Faith seemed lightheaded and she didn't want her to fall.

Sticking her head out the door of the playroom, she gestured to one of the service submissives, who hurried over and nodded before going to relay Bex's message to Drake.

Next time she'd plan this better. If there was a next time.

Faith was silent now, swaying slightly on the spot, and Bex came and took her hands, shifting her so that she could meet her rainbow girl's eyes. They were slightly unfocused, and Faith had a dreamy look on her face.

"Are you sure you're okay with me taking a photo of you?"

Faith laughed, the sound airy. "I asked you to, of course I'm okay with it."

Bex took Faith's chin and adjusted the angle of her face so that their eyes met. "Faith, I need to know you're making that decision with full capacity."

Faith took a deep breath, and it took a moment of blinking before her eyes refocused and the cloud cleared. "I'm sure. And on my phone is a good plan."

That sounded more like Faith's analytical side, so Bex was satisfied with that.

While they waited for Drake to bring them the phone, Bex stroked Faith's hair, trying to anchor her in the scene, so she didn't just float off. As much as seeing her rainbow girl in subspace was adorable, Bex had very definite opinions about making sure people had the capacity to consent—even mid-scene. Luckily, it didn't take too long for Drake to knock on the door and pass the phone through.

"Thank you, I'll be right back," Bex promised.

"Take your time. Make sure you get the perfect shot," Drake said with a grin that was answered by one of her own.

Handing the phone to Faith to unlock and click on the camera icon, Bex checked her over. Faith gave it back with a smile.

"Photograph me, Bex. Because you made me into art. I'm the art."

She stepped back toward the wall, and turned so that the curvature of her body could be seen, the paint on her skin clearly visible.

Bex swallowed. Wow.

"Yes, rainbow girl," said Bex. "You're the most beautiful art that I've ever seen." She wasn't the best photographer in the world, but she tried to recall anything she'd ever heard about composition and lined up the camera so that just the top of Faith's arse was in frame, and then the nape of her neck, with hair curling above the painted skin.

The contrast between the paint and the marks left by the branch seemed even more vivid on camera. Bex wasn't sure if she'd ever seen something so erotic.

Wordlessly, she handed the phone over to Faith, who scrolled through the photos.

Faith didn't say anything either, but a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Oh, rainbow girl," said Bex, and pulled Faith into her arms, paint be damned.

"Your clothes," protested Faith.

"Fuck my clothes," said Bex. "Why are you crying?"

"Because you made me into art," said Faith. "I know the truth of how I look. There's nothing special about me; I'm just ordinary. But this? With this you've made me extraordinary."

"No," said Bex fiercely. "You have always been extraordinary. You just didn't realize it."