Ruby by Heather Burnside (carter reed txt) 📗

The man stared back at her in alarm. ‘No! Please no,’ he uttered, his expression no longer animated but frozen like a startled rabbit.

Ruby responded by pulling the knife away and slashing it down his arm, leaving a gaping wound. The man screamed in agony and quickly covered the gash with his other hand. But before he had chance to do anything else, Ruby held the knife to his throat again, so close that he was forced to raise his chin and look straight into her angry eyes.

‘Sky!’ he yelled. ‘Sky!’

‘It’s a bit too fuckin’ late for the safe word!’ she hissed. ‘This has got fuck all to do with what you paid for. I told you from the start that I give the orders. You NEVER touch Mistress Ruby. Do you understand?’

‘Yes,’ the man mumbled, hardly able to move his mouth as the knife was so tight against his throat.

‘Let this be a warning,’ she continued. ‘Never, ever step out of line again! I want you off my fuckin’ premises. And don’t bother coming back. And if I EVER hear of you stepping out of line with a woman again then I’ll hunt you down like the fuckin’ animal you are, and I’ll finish the job off.’

The man didn’t say anything; he just stared at her, his pleading eyes wide open with fear, till Ruby pulled the knife away.

‘Now go and get dressed then fuck off!’ she said, and she watched, relieved as the man picked up his clothes and began to dress.

*

In working as a dominatrix Ruby had found her ideal role in life as she had a profound distrust of men. Previously, in her work as a prostitute, Ruby had put up with the depraved and perverted clients by telling herself that it was just a means to an end. They might have thought they were using her but she knew she was the one in control. Men were just there to provide her with money.

But being a dominatrix suited her far better. She didn’t have to sleep with the clients, who were mainly satisfied just to be punished or belittled. There were occasional times when a customer stepped out of line, like today, but those times were rare. Most customers knew what was expected of them. Not only that, but they knew of Ruby’s fearsome reputation.

Ruby waited while the man got dressed then led him out of the flat. Once he had left her premises, she returned to the dungeon and got the room ready for her next client. Then she tidied herself up and checked her appearance in the mirror. By this time her cheek was smarting and as she caught her reflection, she noticed marks where the whip had lashed her. She put her hand up to her face and as she brought it away, she saw the glistening vermillion streaks of blood on her fingertips.

The breath caught in her throat as she examined her face in detail in the mirror. But it was only a tiny gash and she let out a sigh, relieved that it was unlikely to scar. Nevertheless, the sight of blood on her face unsettled her and reminded her why she had such an intense aversion to the opposite sex.

18

May 2007

A few days later the landlord paid them a visit. Ruby had just seen her last client of the day and was in the bedroom changing out of her rubber catsuit when she heard Tiffany answer the front door followed by the sound of the landlord’s voice. Then their voices carried past the bedroom door and Ruby knew Tiffany had let him in.

She quickly finished getting dressed in her jeans and t-shirt then dashed through to the lounge to join them.

‘What’s the matter?’ she asked, switching down the music till the sound of the Sugababes hummed softly in the background.

‘As I’ve just been telling your friend, here,’ he began, ‘we’ve had a complaint from one of your neighbours who is concerned about the number of strange men you keep bringing into the flat.’

Ruby immediately got on the offensive. ‘Her across the way d’you mean?’ Then, without waiting for the landlord to reply, she continued. ‘Jesus Christ! What is her problem? Yes, we do have men coming to the flat, but they’re friends and relatives, and they’re not strange to us.’

‘Really? Well, she mentioned the clothing you were wearing when you let a man inside the flat. She seemed to think there was something a bit suspicious about it. Rubber, she said.’

Ruby forced a fake laugh, but inside she was praying that the landlord didn’t ask to take a look around the flat. The S&M gear would be a real giveaway. ‘It was a catsuit, actually. We were going to a fancy-dress party and my friend had come to pick us up.’

The landlord didn’t look convinced but Ruby could tell that he couldn’t think of anything else to say other than accusing her outright of being on the game. It was obvious from the embarrassed way he was squirming that he wasn’t about to do that. Then she noticed Tiffany looking desperately at the clock, her features strained. Ruby remembered that Tiffany had a client due. Shit! She had to get rid of the landlord before he arrived. So she continued on the attack, acting wounded by the perceived insult.

‘So, you can tell Mrs Busy Body that she’s barking up the wrong tree! And now, if you don’t mind, Mr Walker, we’re busy.’

The landlord looked round as though searching for words he couldn’t find. Then, when he still couldn’t think of anything more to say, he made towards the door, led by Ruby. But he left her with a few parting words.

‘Well, I’m sorry if I might have got it wrong, but if I have any further complaints then I will have to take things further.’

Ruby could tell by his tone of voice that he wasn’t convinced by her story about the