Westminster Academy (Part One)

thirty-two

"Anything you have to say to me?"

I didn't feel like talking. I was still processing my own complex emotions, and I felt like I had completely lost track of what was right and wrong, wise and unwise, fair and unfair.

I didn't understand why Henry hadn't warned me at least. He could have just told me that I would have to be kneeling, and the whole drama wouldn't have happened. Instead, he had let my excitement grow and grow, knowing that it would be killed the moment I walked into that classroom.

I still knew the stupid punishment would be justified.

My behaviour hadn't been smart, and I wasn't deluded enough to behave like a rebel and then be surprised when I got punished for it.

Henry looked down on me with a look in his eyes that had actual potential to tame the brat inside of me.

"I didn't mean to embarrass you" I said, calmly.

I'd have needed that calmness an hour ago.

And it wasn't even a lie. A while ago, I would have taken pleasure in humiliating Henry, out of revenge or just because I enjoyed humbling men from time to time. But Henry had earned my respect as well as my affection, and even though I loved making fun of him whenever I could, I wouldn't deliberately try to ruin his reputation.

"I don't care what you meant or didn't mean to do. You know the rules, and you broke them."

I swallowed nervously. I hated it when he lectured me instead of just getting started. I knew what I had done wrong, there was no need to talk it through.

"I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't you dare apologise when you don't mean it" Henry cut me off.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" I asked impulsively.

"Tell you what? That you would have to kneel?"

"Yes!" I truly didn't understand.

"Because you know the rules. You know that when we're in public and I give you an instruction, I expect you to follow it. What makes you think that I have to warn you before I give you an instruction?"

I stared at him quietly. He did make sense. But he also didn't.

"I just...I thought..." I was confused.

Henry seemed impatient, but he waited until I went on.

"I thought we're...more than the rules" I said, hesitantly.

"We are more than the rules" Henry agreed, and I noticed a weird tone in his voice. He paused, closed his eyes and took a breath. He looked like he was in pain.

This hurts him too.

"But I'm still your dominant, and you're my submissive. That won't change until June."

Until June. Graduation.

I felt unbelievably stupid. Like a naive girl who had hoped for a happy ever after when there was none. That's where Henry's distance came from.

I'm his submissive. Nothing more.

"But...you know me" I whispered. "You knew I would struggle to submit in front of everyone. I thought you want to support-"

"Okay, careful now" Henry suddenly cut me off. "You'd better not question whether I support you or not. I regularly get books for you from the library, I allow you much more than other dominants would, and I take you to my classes. I want you to get anything you want."