Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

Maureen

"Are you sure about this?" Luna's voice hissed in my ear as she trailed along behind me through the halls to the foyer on my way to Master Derek's office.

I knew she didn't agree with what I was about to do, but if I wanted to stay here, if I wanted to not run this time, it was the only option.

"Yes, I'm sure," I responded, my voice sounding as clipped as my heels on the tile. Luna rushed along behind me. She might not think this was a good plan, but she was going to have my back, dammit. It was one of the things I loved about her.

Erica was on the phone, so I rushed past her into Master Derek's office. It was well past normal office hours, but I didn't care. This was important. If he wasn't in his office, I'd find him at his house.

He was in the office though, as I discovered when I pushed the door open, and burst in.

"I'll call you back," he said into the phone.

His eyes met mine, and I knew at once he'd heard the story. Good, I wouldn't have to fill him in.

"Mistress Maureen." His gravelly voice greeted me warmly but he couldn't disguise the note of censure there. "I was going to call you in the morning."

"Master Derek," I greeted him back, my tone still clipped. "I prefer this doesn't wait until morning, if it's all the same to you, Sir."

"Very well." His hand moved to smooth his bolo tie as he sat back down. "I was very surprised to hear about what happened tonight in the Dungeon―"

"She didn't mean to! It was an accident!" Luna cried before either of us could say another word.

Two sets of Dominant gazes swung in her direction and she shrunk instantly, seeming to remember her place. "Sorry," she whispered, casting her eyes on the floor. "I just… sorry," she whispered again.

"No." Derek's one-word command stopped her in her tracks. "Whatever you were about to say, is something you obviously feel very passionately about. So, I want to hear it."

Luna's eyes widened in surprise, and her gaze flicked to mine as if seeking permission. I sighed but nodded.

"I just… um… Sir, I just wanted to vouch for Mistress Maureen. I scene with her quite often, and she's always been a very attentive and caring Top. She would never ignore someone's safe word on purpose, and I… I just wanted to say that."

Master Derek smoothed his bolo tie again and nodded thoughtfully. "Is that all?"

Luna nodded.

"Thank you for that input. I was, myself, thinking the same thing, and I appreciate your care and concern for your friend, but I think the rest of this conversation needs to be between myself and Mistress Maureen."

"Yes, Sir!" Luna squeaked, then turned and scurried out of the room without so much as another glance in my direction.

When the door closed behind her, Master Derek pinned his steely gaze on me. "I must say, this is not a situation I've ever encountered or even envisioned myself encountering. Maybe that was an oversight on my part, but it means that there are no procedures in place for how to deal with it."

"Sir, I—" I knew exactly how I thought it should be dealt with and planned on making that suggestion.

He cut me off. "In most circumstances, the Dominant in question would be banned from the property immediately following a willful dismissal of a submissive's safe word. If it was staff, they would be fired, of course?—"

"It wasn't willful," I interrupted. "It was negligent, and unfortunate and unacceptable, but it wasn't willful. I honestly did not hear her until it was too late."

Master Derek frowned, his bushy eyebrows furrowing together. "Yes, I realize that. Aside from our friend Luna, several people have already called me to offer eyewitness accounts of the situation and to corroborate that these are extenuating circumstances. A few even pled for leniency on your behalf."

I didn't know how to respond to that, so I stayed silent.

Master Derek did not. "So, I can clearly see that these are not normal circumstances and should not be dealt with as such. The question is, however, how do I deal with them? Because I do not think the normal harsh response needs to be applied here, but I also don't think I can let you off with a slap on the wrist, either."

"I agree, Sir, and―"

"It's really quite a conundrum." He stood and began pacing behind his desk as he pondered for an answer to the question I already had a solution for. "Yes, quite the conundrum."

This was getting quite ridiculous. "Sir!" I exclaimed, jumping to my feet, barely keeping myself from stomping my foot or pounding on his desk. He was my superior, after all.

At least my actions seemed to pull him from his reverie. He narrowed his eyes as he looked in my direction. "Yes?"

"Sir… I…" I swallowed hard. Knowing the answer and saying it out loud were two very different things. I cleared my throat and started again. "Sir, I promised you I was okay, and I thought I was. I messed up so badly, and the second I realized I was more affected by Mira's situation than I thought I'd be, I should have stopped and had someone get you. I think that… I think that I should be punished."

Derek stopped in his tracks, his eyebrows shot up to his forehead. He cocked his head to one side and his expression turned thoughtful as he seemed to be considering my proposal.

He didn't say anything, so I rushed ahead. "Sir, there are multiple instances, just that I know of, of a Dominant choosing to subject themselves to a punishment scene for some reason or another."

He nodded slowly. "You're not wrong. I'm not sure it's ever happened here, at least not in a case where it was directed by me, but…"

"Sir, I'm a good Domme. You said yourself these are not normal circumstances, and there's no procedure to follow. I'm proposing we make one."

"Okay." His head bobbed up and down. "Okay. We'll need to negotiate and—" He sank down in his chair as I cut him off again.

"I don't have any limits as far as implements go, aside from a whip. I'm consenting to a spanking only. I'd like to get it over with as soon as possible. I don't think I'll be able to forgive myself otherwise. I do truly feel awful, Sir. I'm so sorry. You trusted me, and Mira trusted me and I take full responsibility for not living up to the faith you two placed in me."

"You've given this some thought."

"Yes, Sir."

"Okay. I suppose it does make the most sense as an alternative, and I agree with getting it taken care of as soon as possible. I?—"

"Great." I stood and shrugged off my jacket, laying it over the back of my chair. My hands had the top two buttons of my blouse undone before Master Derek cleared his throat.

"Mistress Maureen." His hard tone brought me up short. "What are you doing?"

"I…" My fingers fumbled over the third button. "I'm preparing for my punishment, Sir."

"Uhm. I see. I think there's been a slight miscommunication, Mistress. You see, I didn't mean now, and I certainly didn't mean to imply that I would be the one dishing out said punishment."

"Oh." Shame over my own stupidity burned my cheeks and I slowly re-buttoned my blouse as I clarified. "I'm sorry, Sir. Do you know when or how?"

"I'm still considering. I was thinking perhaps a female Top, like Nanny J, or Mistress Denten, but I think I may have a better… more appropriate idea."

"Sir?" I questioned, not really sure I would be comfortable with anyone else, all the while realizing I didn't really have a leg to stand on to protest.