But, before he can snarl at the delay, she rubs her warm, slick hands over his soles and kneads into the arches, then down toward the heels—gradually increasing the pressure until he grunts.
Don't be too good. Or be Claimed.
She pushes on his heels suddenly, making him jerk his head up – Take that! Then she resumes stroking his feet symmetrically. Eventually his head of peppery curls sinks back to the pillow.
The Favored Sisters agree that being Claimed by Traag would be a catastrophe, so they feign occasional clumsiness, to keep him shopping. But, this game must be played delicately because Traag is a Danger with underlying Master tendencies. Undigested anger and fear makes Dangers cruel and violent, and the Master's urge to dominate comes from a perilous level of self-loathing.
Overt negligence or inadequacy could earn her one of Traag's famous wallops and would make him near impossible for any unlucky Sister he calls next.
And they'd know who to blame.
Due to their volatile nature, clients of certain Types only receive the physical arts from Favored Sisters. Despite the station of the client or outside circumstances, any attempt to persuade such men towards their cause is against the Sisters' policy.
No one has ever been tempted to break that rule, and Alpin heartily agrees for safety reasons, despite the lingering sense that it leaves much potential lying fallow. Any mind can be changed. Though the thought of working with Traag's darkest impulses to win his ear and perhaps, heart, revolts her.
Well, not HIS mind. No one wants to touch that. Maybe others – confused and hurt by injustice. Could be turned. Sometimes I hate this job, she thinks, while expertly spreading Traag's toes and pulling and wringing them away from the calloused balls of his feet, one at a time.
“Mmmrph...aohhhg,” goes Traag. His shoulders finally release and fingers unfurl.
Don't be too good. Or be Claimed.
She pushes on his heels suddenly, making him jerk his head up – Take that! Then she resumes stroking his feet symmetrically. Eventually his head of peppery curls sinks back to the pillow.
The Favored Sisters agree that being Claimed by Traag would be a catastrophe, so they feign occasional clumsiness, to keep him shopping. But, this game must be played delicately because Traag is a Danger with underlying Master tendencies. Undigested anger and fear makes Dangers cruel and violent, and the Master's urge to dominate comes from a perilous level of self-loathing.
Overt negligence or inadequacy could earn her one of Traag's famous wallops and would make him near impossible for any unlucky Sister he calls next.
And they'd know who to blame.
Due to their volatile nature, clients of certain Types only receive the physical arts from Favored Sisters. Despite the station of the client or outside circumstances, any attempt to persuade such men towards their cause is against the Sisters' policy.
No one has ever been tempted to break that rule, and Alpin heartily agrees for safety reasons, despite the lingering sense that it leaves much potential lying fallow. Any mind can be changed. Though the thought of working with Traag's darkest impulses to win his ear and perhaps, heart, revolts her.
Well, not HIS mind. No one wants to touch that. Maybe others – confused and hurt by injustice. Could be turned. Sometimes I hate this job, she thinks, while expertly spreading Traag's toes and pulling and wringing them away from the calloused balls of his feet, one at a time.
“Mmmrph...aohhhg,” goes Traag. His shoulders finally release and fingers unfurl.