Hard Lessons by Ashe Barker

pouring from me as at last he relaxes and falls forward. I briefly feel his weight pressing me down into the cushioned floor before he slips from me and rolls to the side. He pulls me to him, my back to his chest, his still huge cock nudging my bottom. He’s warm, hard and very, very safe. His arms are around me, across my stomach and my breasts, and I nestle farther back into him. Now, please God, he might let me sleep.

Chapter Five
    He does. I’ve no recollection of how I got there, but I wake hours later snuggled deeply in Nick Hardisty’s king size bed. The duvet is around my waist, and I’m stretched out on my stomach. I shift, and realize I ache in one or two places. Or maybe three or four. Maybe everywhere. But it’s a good ache. A satisfied, job well done sort of ache. Carefully I roll onto my back, and two further things become obvious.
    First, it’s only just after two o’clock according to the digital display on Nick’s radio alarm clock, and it must be afternoon because the sun’s streaming in through the open curtains. I’ve only been asleep for a couple of hours, but I feel as though I’ve been here for days. I’m totally refreshed, totally alive.
    Second, I’m hungry. No, scratch that. I’m absolutely ravenous. That’s probably what woke me. I try to remember when I last ate and realize that it was the couple of slices of toast I had for breakfast, after my shower and before the mind-blowing session in the dungeon. No surprise, really, that I’ve worked up an appetite. I need to go and find food. And Nick. In that order. But before all that, I need the loo.
    I come out of the en suite two minutes later to find Nick lounging on the bed, a steaming mug of tea on the bedside table. I look at it and wonder if there was ever, in the entire history of humankind, a nicer or more welcome cup of tea than that one. Probably not. I don’t even stop to enquire if it’s for me or not. I just grab it and sip. He says nothing, just moves along to make room for me next to him. He drapes his arm across my shoulders, and he tickles my neck slightly with his fingertips as he trails them through my tangled hair. I ignore him, concentrate on the important matter of sipping my delicious tea. Only when the last drop has gone do I carefully replace the mug on the bedside table and turn in his arms to kiss him on the corner of his mouth. He grins at me, his look one of amusement rather than lust. And this despite my continued state of nudity, as per his instructions.
    “I’m guessing you’re feeling okay then. No lingering doubts or hang-ups we need to talk about?” He tips his head to one side, waiting for my answer.
    I start to shake my head then stop. There is something. But I’m hungry, it’ll have to wait. I hope. If he allows that.
    I sit up, my hands rapidly signing my response. “There’s something I want to ask you. But I’m starving. Can I have something to eat, please?”
    “Okay, food first, then we talk. I was thinking a late lunch in Cartmel. You up for that? Or would you rather stay here?”
    I look at him in astonishment. Despite him giving me my own keys and our excursion last night, I’d sort of assumed that we wouldn’t be going out much. Or at least that I wouldn’t be. He shakes his head, amused at my reaction. “I told you already, you’re a student, a trainee, not a bloody prisoner. Now do you fancy some fresh air or not?”
    I nod vigorously.
    “Right. Put some clothes on then. And comfortable shoes. We’ll be walking.” And with that he drops a light kiss on my mouth, picks up my empty cup, and he’s headed for the bedroom door.
    Fully dressed, I follow him through it less than two minutes later.
    The main village of Cartmel is about a thirty minute walk from Nick’s bungalow. It could probably be done in less, but I’m in no hurry, despite my empty stomach. We stroll along his lane for about fifty meters before he angles sharply left through a stile over a wall, dropping