intermission

"Oh, do stop crying Lucy! You’ll make a mess on the carpet!” says Stacy when Reuben hands her back the racket. “Go and clean yourself! Your customers won't like you with a teary face!” She turns to the computer and says, “Gentlemen, we’ll have a short adjournment for 5 minutes then watch this space as they say!”

Sick at heart from the humiliation and in a lot of pain, I stagger away to the bathroom. 'And here I was the happy Lucy 18 days ago- now no parents, my aunt in jail, my webcam seems to be hijacked by that stinking bitch cousin Stacy. But it's no use feeling sorry for myself. Come on.'I tell myself, ' I will beat Stacy, I will get my cam back, and I will get Reuben begging me for sex!'

I turn round craning my neck and tugging at my panties so I could look at my ass in the mirror. “Urgh its red, patterned with weals where the webbing hit, and there are many spots of blood where the skin’s broken”

While I wash my face I glance in the mirror and see Reuben enter. I shudder as I remember the wounding blows he wielded.

“Its ok, Lucy, I wont hurt you – not this time- I never thought I had hit you so hard!” He kneels, pulls down those stupid skimpy pants and begins to very gently sponge my ass with a cool damp washer. When he finishes, he rubs a soothing ointment all over the sore and broken skin. All the time he keeps a soft patter of tender words.." You’re a brave girl… Stacy would have been yelping with pain back there…you have such soft delicate skin….such smooth firm tender flesh…you know you really are very beautiful…and inventive… clever of you to set up your own webcam …I’m sure your clients appreciated your imagination…one day you'll have to show me some of the things you did for them …how about a private viewing?” One of his hands creeps forward, nudging my legs apart, then while his other hand continues applying that cooling, soothing balm, it creeps forward again.

“Ahem.." My cousin interrupts from behind. "Reuben! Whatever do you think you are doing! Don’t touch the merchandise!” Stacy hisses and stamps her foot. “Time out is up for you, Lucy! Your customers expect you to perform again. IF you’re not careful I’ll take over your business and maybe throw you the odd pound or so every so often!” She takes Reuben by the hand and yanks my arm, half dragging me back to the bedroom and in front of the computer again.

“Get that banana between those lips, cousin!” she says as the webcam goes on. She turns to the mike. “Gentlemen, take your places, please. I trust your request that Lucy be properly disciplined has been fully met. I can report that her ass is so sore I don’t think Lucy will be able to sit for a month –not just the week I reported earlier!”

Reuben passes me the banana and surreptitiously squeezes my hand. “Later, Lucy, after I humour your cousin,” he whispers to me.

My heart flips over. “Oh yes! He likes me!”