COMPLETED | Take Me Down The Rabbit Hole (BDSM | 18+)

XXXVIII

"Is this your first belt spanking?" Leopold asked after the tenth spank, and Aspen found himself clenching his teeth.
"No."
Aspen hadn't gotten his ass worked over with a belt since that night Alan had presented him to Thea without his knowledge.
Alan was a sadist, sure, but Aspen was a good boy.
"Oh?"
"The first and last time someone used a belt on me was the night Master Alan introduced me to Mistress Thea," he mumbled, hissing through his teeth when Leo reached out to touch the bruises he was leaving behind.
"Ah, yes. Thea isn't exactly a sadist," Leo started, but he used a tone that suggested that he disagreed with Thea, "but she does enjoy it when people make noise. Pain and pleasure go hand in hand, after all. Wouldn't you say?"
Before Aspen had a chance to reply, the belt came down on his ass again, forcing a gasp out from between his teeth.
Aspen felt a single tear run down his cheek. "Fuck."
"You're not screaming yet," the dominant noted. "I would very much like to hear that."
Aspen couldn't stop himself. His ass was figuratively on fire, his legs were straining with the effort it took him to keep himself from doubling over, and Aspen was very much just done. "I guess that means you're not hitting hard enough, Sir."
He heard the buckle of the belt jingle, and then Leopold mumbled something about 'naive' and 'learn one way or another' and then —
WHACK.
Aspen didn't register the cry leaving his lips, but the door opened a second later to reveal Thea.
"Oops," Leo said behind him, and Aspen watched from the corner of his eyes as Thea stepped behind him as well.
"Hmh," she mumbled. "Again."
This time, the impact forced Aspen to his knees.
Luckily the floor was cushioned.
"You forgot to count, Aspen," Leo reminded him, strong arms hooking under his armpit to pull him up from the floor.
"Twelve, thank you, Sir."
"That's better. We're done."
In a haze, Aspen registered Leo putting him down on the bed in the playroom ass up before pushing a pillow under his hips.
"Your Misstress," he informed Aspen, "is getting you some ice. You did very well, we're very proud."
Aspen knew he should be crying like a baby over the pain, but all he could muster were a few sniffles before he asked, "Have you ever spanked someone hard enough to draw blood?"
Leo allowed himself a laugh and then folded himself into a cross-legged position next to the bed so Aspen could look at him. "Once. A former sub got on his knees and begged me for it for ten minutes. I made that person sign a slip that said he couldn't sue for abuse."
He, just like Thea sometimes did, gently reached out and pushed hair from Aspen's forehead.
"I'm sure your Master has talked at length about how much of a monster and asshole I am, hm?"
The bed dipped as Thea lay down next to him. "Ice?" she offered, but then plopped the towel-wrapped ice pack on his bruised ass without waiting for a response.
Aspen was still mulling over Leopold's question.
"If my Master thinks you're an ass," he started, sighing softly as Thea began lightly scratching his scalp, "he hasn't mentioned it to me. He talks about you with respect, and I can tell he's learned a lot from you. Sir."
"You flatter me," Leo laughed. "I certainly hope Alan treats you well."
Aspen only nodded. There was another question on his lips, about why Leo hadn't contacted Alan in all those years and was now here with him instead, offering Aspen something akin to emotional closure.
Leopold's past relationship with Alan was — is — none of Aspen's business.
And in all honesty, he was too tired to care.

When he woke up the next morning, he discovered that he'd been left in the playroom and was still lying on top of the bedsheets. Someone had gotten the blanket from his bedroom and covered him with it.
The blinds were open, sunlight streaming into the room, and voices were outside, in the hallway.
Thea and Leo.
Aspen smushed his face into the pillow and let out a groan, but then, he straightened up and carefully got out of bed before he grabbed the fluffy grey robe from its hanger and left the playroom.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty," Thea greeted him. "How's your ass?"
"Ma'am," Aspen responded, stifling a yawn, "and Sir," he added, briefly glancing at Leo, who was lounging on the couch, still in his pajamas. "I haven't thought about it."
"Would you like to worry about it before or after you've had breakfast?" Thea asked and gestured to the dining area table that was set for three, laden with pancakes and bacon and a big bowl of fruit salad.
He also noticed that someone had placed a blow-up pool floatie ring on his chair.
"I don't remember the last time I wasn't responsible for my own breakfast," he mumbled, and Leo laughed.
"Sounds like we'll eat first. You're not howling in pain so that means it can't be that bad," he added, with a wink before he got up and sauntered over to the table.
"If it does hurt, I'm taking full responsibility for telling him to hit you again after he made you scream the first time," Thea added, and came around the kitchen counter with a French press full of coffee.
"But you look well rested," she added, smiling at him.
"Yeah," Aspen agreed, reaching for the bowl of fruit salad. "I slept pretty well."
"I'm going to go to the club tonight, so you can stay home if you want," Leo informed Thea, who nodded.
"How would you feel about spending another night, Aspen? I don't want you to go home before I can't be sure your ass will recover from that spanking."
"Uh— Yeah, I wouldn't mind that," Aspen returned before he stuffed a spoonful of cubed fruit into his mouth. "Hmh! This is delicious!"