The barn had changed again.
Elara stood on the polished concrete, hands on her hips, looking up at the new structure rising where they had tested the rope rig. The frames were gone, hauled out that morning, and in their place stood something she hadn’t seen Bryce build. Something he hadn’t shown her until now.
The cross was taller than her, a full six feet of sanded cedar. Five arms radiated from its centre, the open space between them forming a pentagram. The edges had been rounded and polished until they felt almost soft.
She circled it slowly, her fingers trailing over the surface. At each point, a leather strap hung loose, the buckles brass and gleaming, the leather supple and oiled. She tested one between her fingers.
“You built this without telling me.”
Bryce stood a few feet back, a rag still in his hand, smudged with sawdust. “Wanted it to be a surprise.”
“It’s a surprise.” She ran her palm around the open centre. “Why this shape?”
He moved closer. “The post limits things. You can only reach so far around it. I wanted something open.”
Elara looked through the centre again.
Bryce could stand behind it. Reach through it. Move around her without a solid post taking up half the space.
“And the hoist?”
She looked up. The electric unit waited on the beam above them.
“For later.”
Elara glanced at him. “Later?”
Bryce smiled.
She looked back at the cross.
“You’ve been thinking about this for a while.”
“Since the rope.”
“The rope lasted a day.”
“Long enough.”
She turned and found him closer than she expected. Sawdust clung to his beard. Elara brushed it away with her thumb.
“You’re pleased with it.”
“I am.”
“High praise from yourself.”
“I’m waiting for yours.”
She ran her hand over the cedar again.
“I think you’ve outdone yourself.”
Bryce smiled.
“Don’t get used to it.”
She stepped toward the cross.
“Show me.”
Bryce followed.
“The straps move.”
“I can see that.”
“Thought I’d mention it.”
“Very helpful.”
He took one of her wrists and held it near the timber, moving the strap until it sat where he wanted it.
Elara watched.
“Arms up?”
“Eventually.”
“And the fifth one?”
“You’ll find out.”
She smiled. “Of course.”
Bryce stepped back.
“The implements are on the bench.”
Elara followed his gaze.
The rose-tipped cat lay there, repaired now, its leather handle still worn smooth from years of use. Beside it sat the cane and Bryce’s belt.
She looked at the progression.
“Cat, cane, belt.”
“Maybe.”
“You laid them out.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to use all of them.”
“You will.”
Bryce looked at her.
Elara smiled.
“Show me what it can do.”
He turned her toward the cross.
“Ready?”
“Ready.”
Bryce took her wrist and fastened the first strap.
The leather settled snugly around her skin. The second followed, then he moved her hands higher and adjusted them again until her arms were raised without dragging at her shoulders.
He crouched in front of her.
“Boots.”
Elara lifted one foot, then the other while he removed them.
The concrete was cool beneath her bare feet.
Bryce moved the lower straps to meet her ankles and widened her stance.
Elara tested the position.
The cross held her open without forcing her flat against anything. She could lean toward the cedar or away from it, the centre empty behind her.
Bryce circled her once.
She followed him as far as the restraints allowed.
“Well?”
“How does it feel?”
“Like I’m not going anywhere.”
“That’s the idea.”
He stepped closer and worked down the buttons of her flannel shirt.
Elara watched his hands.
Bryce pushed the shirt from her shoulders and let it fall onto the bench rather than the floor. The tank beneath followed.
Cool air moved over her bare skin.
Bryce stopped in front of her.
“You’re staring.”
“Yes.”
“Helpful test.”
“I’m testing the view.”
Elara laughed softly.
“And?”
Bryce stepped closer.
“Good.”
His hand moved over her waist before he turned away and picked up the rose-tipped cat.
Elara watched him return.
“You remember this one.”
“I remember telling you not to rebuild it.”
“I repaired it.”
“Good boy.”
Bryce ran the leather roses lightly along her ribs.
Elara drew a breath.
“Don’t call me that.”
She smiled.
The cat travelled across her stomach, barely touching.
Then Bryce stepped back.
The first stroke landed across her ribs.
Elara breathed in sharply.
Another landed on the opposite side.
The repaired roses felt different—more even, none of the late snap from the damaged tail.
Bryce watched her.
“Better?”
“Yes.”
He used it again.
Across her thigh this time.
Then higher.
Elara tested the leather at her wrists, feeling the cross take the movement.
“Count them,” Bryce said.
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“So you know where we are.”
The cat struck again.
“One.”
Bryce smiled.
“You’re starting there?”
“You told me to count.”
“Fair.”
The next stroke scattered warmth across her hip.
“Two.”
He moved around her, using the open centre instead of fighting around a post. Some strokes landed from the front, others from behind, the leather roses finding ribs, thighs, hips and the softer skin beneath her breasts.
By the time Elara reached ten, her voice had roughened.
“Ten.”
Bryce lowered the cat.
His palm followed the warmth it had left across her side.
Elara shuddered.
“That still works,” she said.
“Better.”
“Repair.”
Bryce smiled and put it back on the bench.
The cane came next.
Elara watched him flex it between his hands.
“That one doesn’t need testing.”
“Everything needs testing.”
“You just like hitting me.”
“That too.”
He tapped it lightly against her thigh.
Elara braced.
The cane cut through the air.
The first stroke landed across her ass.
Sharp enough to pull a gasp from her.
“One.”
Bryce waited.
Then again.
“Two.”
The third landed slightly lower.
Elara pulled against the straps and breathed through it.
“Three.”
Bryce moved around her.
The fourth found the other side.
“Four.”
The fifth made her voice catch.
“Five.”
Bryce lowered the cane.
Elara looked back at him as far as she could.
“That’s it?”
“For that.”
Her gaze went to the bench.
“The belt.”
Bryce followed it.
“You’re asking?”
“You said it was for after.”
He set the cane down.
“That I did.”
The sound of his belt sliding free travelled through the barn.
Elara’s pulse jumped.
Bryce folded the leather once in his hand.
“Turn around.”
She looked at the cross.
“You tied me facing this way.”
“So?”
“You built something with five points and forgot I can’t turn around?”
Bryce stared at her.
Elara started laughing.
“Very clever,” he said.
“Little nerdy.”
Bryce released her ankles, then her wrists.
“Turn around.”
“See? Better design already.”
“Elara.”
She turned, still smiling, and placed her palms against the cedar.
Bryce restrained her again, this time facing the wood.
The smile faded as the leather tightened around her wrists.
The belt whispered once through the air.
Elara waited.
The first stroke landed across her ass with a flat crack.
Her body jerked toward the cross.
“One.”
Bryce waited until she settled.
The second landed across the other side.
“Two.”
A third lower.
“Three.”
Elara breathed out against the cedar.
The fourth stroke layered heat over the marks left by the cane.
“Four.”
Bryce paused.
His palm covered the warmth.
Elara pushed back against his hand.
“Keep going.”
The belt lifted.
“Five.”
She tightened her fingers against the wood.
Another.
“Six.”
Bryce moved lower.
“Seven.”
Elara’s breathing changed.
The next stroke landed across the backs of her thighs.
“Eight.”
Bryce stepped closer.
The belt rested briefly against her skin.
“One more.”
Elara turned her head.
“Where?”
“Your choice.”
She looked at him over her shoulder.
“Wherever you want.”
Something shifted in his expression.
Bryce stepped back.
The final stroke landed where her thighs met her ass.
Elara’s whole body shuddered.
“Nine.”
The belt dropped onto the bench.
Bryce’s hands replaced it almost immediately, warm against skin that still burned beneath his palms.
Elara leaned into the touch.
“The cross stays.”
Bryce laughed softly.
“I wasn’t planning to throw it out.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do.”
He unfastened her wrists.
Elara lowered her arms slowly.
Bryce rubbed one shoulder, then the other, before crouching to release her ankles.
She turned to face him.
His hands settled at her waist.
“Well?”
Elara looked at the cross.
“Good build.”
“The best one yet?”
“Don’t push it.”
Bryce smiled.
Her attention moved upward.
“The hoist.”
“You remembered.”
“You said later.”
Bryce reached for the leather harness.
Elara looked at him.
“We already tested that.”
“We tested the hoist.”
“And the harness.”
“Not with this.”
She followed his glance toward the cross.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting you off your feet.”
“That sounded promising.”
Bryce wrapped the familiar leather around her body. His hands moved without explanation, adjusting what needed adjusting before connecting it to the cross-frame overhead.
“Ready?”
Elara nodded.
The hoist took up the slack.
Her heels left the polished concrete.
Bryce stopped.
Elara shifted in the harness.
“Higher.”
He raised her.
The pendant remained in one hand while the other stayed at her waist.
Elara looked down at him.
“Better.”
Bryce moved closer.
He lowered her by a fraction.
Her body came against his.
“That better?”
“Yes.”
Elara wrapped one leg around him as far as the harness allowed.
Bryce kissed her.
The marks across her back and thighs pulled when she moved. Every small shift reminded her of the cane and belt.
Bryce felt her reaction.
“Too much?”
“No.”
He kissed her again.
“Good.”
Her jeans took longer to remove than either of them expected.
The harness got in the way. One leg caught. Elara nearly kicked Bryce in the shoulder freeing the other.
He caught her ankle.
“Careful.”
“You built this.”
“I didn’t build your jeans.”
She laughed and finally kicked them clear.
Bryce looked at where they landed on the polished floor.
“At least there’s no dirt.”
“Progress.”
His hand moved up her thigh.
Elara’s laugh disappeared.
She opened as much as the harness allowed.
Bryce touched her slowly.
She was already wet.
“That quick?”
“You hit me with a belt.”
“That usually does it?”
“You know it does.”
His fingers moved between her thighs.
Elara caught one of the straps beside her shoulder.
Bryce changed her height slightly.
The angle changed with it.
She gasped.
“Again.”
He lowered her another fraction.
Elara’s eyes closed.
Bryce watched her face and continued.
There was no hand chain to interrupt him now. One hand held the pendant loosely while the other stayed between her thighs.
Elara tightened around his fingers.
Her feet hung clear of the floor, nothing beneath them to brace against.
“Bryce.”
He kept the pressure steady.
The orgasm came quickly.
Elara cried out, her legs tightening around the harness as her body shook above him.
Bryce stayed with her until the contractions eased.
Then he withdrew.
Elara hung there breathing hard.
Bryce looked down at the polished floor.
“Drains work.”
“Eventually.”
She laughed weakly.
He lowered her until her feet almost touched.
Elara reached for his belt.
Bryce caught her wrist.
“That was on the bench five minutes ago.”
“And now it’s back where I want it.”
She opened it.
Bryce stepped between her legs.
Elara pulled him closer.
When he entered her, the harness shifted but held her centred.
Both of them stopped for a moment.
Bryce adjusted her height.
Barely anything.
Elara felt it immediately.
“There.”
He let the pendant hang loose.
His hands returned to her hips.
Bryce moved into her without stepping away, controlling the small movement of the harness each time it tried to carry her back.
Elara wrapped her legs around him.
The marks from the belt pulled beneath the leather.
She moaned against his shoulder.
Bryce increased his pace.
The barn threw the sounds back at them—the faint hum above, leather tightening, his boots against concrete and Elara’s breathing growing rougher.
She tried to lower herself onto him.
The harness stopped her.
Bryce felt the attempt.
His hand found the pendant.
One brief press.
Elara cried out as her weight settled more firmly onto him.
“There?”
“Yes.”
He kept moving.
Her hands gripped his shoulders.
The next orgasm rose slower, building beneath everything already humming through her body.
Bryce watched her.
Elara’s legs tightened.
Then the strength went out of them.
The harness caught her.
She came around him, head falling back, her voice breaking with his name.
Bryce followed soon after.
For several moments he stayed against her, breathing hard while the hoist held her weight.
Then he lowered her.
Her feet touched the floor.
Bryce kept an arm around her as her legs took over again.
“You alright?”
Elara nodded.
“Yeah.”
He loosened the harness.
She leaned against him while the leather came away.
Bryce kissed her forehead.
Elara closed her eyes.
The floor felt oddly distant beneath her feet.
“You okay?”
“Just… floating.”
Bryce stopped.
Elara opened her eyes.
He was watching her carefully now.
“What?”
“Sit down.”
“I’m fine.”
“Sit.”
There was enough in his voice that she did.
Bryce guided her onto the nearest bench and crouched in front of her.
Elara rubbed her hands over her thighs.
Pins and needles moved through her arms.
“Weird.”
“How?”
“Light.” She searched for the word. “Disconnected.”
Bryce rested his hands on her knees.
“Dizzy?”
“A little.”
“Stay there.”
“I wasn’t planning to run anywhere.”
He smiled, but his hands stayed where they were.
Elara breathed slowly.
The barn seemed softer around the edges. Sounds came from farther away than they should have.
Bryce waited with her.
After a while she looked at him.
“What was that?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“You’re talking properly.”
“I was always talking properly.”
“Debatable.”
Elara smiled.
Bryce reached for her water and handed it over.
She drank.
The cold helped.
“So?”
Bryce sat beside her.
“I’ve heard people talk about subspace.”
Elara looked at him.
“Subspace.”
“Could be.”
“You don’t know?”
“No.”
She leaned against his shoulder.
“Good.”
“Good?”
“I’d be worried if you suddenly became an expert.”
Bryce laughed.
They stayed there while the strange distance gradually faded.
Elara drank more water. Bryce checked the marks across her shoulders and back, then left them alone when she told him to.
Eventually she flexed her fingers.
“Better.”
“Sure?”
“Yes.”
Bryce stood.
Elara caught his hand before he could move away.
“Where are you going?”
“To clean up.”
“Later.”
He looked at her.
She pulled him back down.
Bryce sat beside her again.
For a while neither spoke.
The cross stood nearby, straps hanging loose. The cat, cane and belt remained on the bench where Bryce had left them.
Elara looked at the cross.
“That was different.”
Bryce followed her gaze.
“The cross?”
“No.”
He waited.
“Where I went.”
Bryce nodded.
“I know.”
She looked down at her hands.
“I liked it.”
“That doesn’t mean we don’t pay attention to it.”
“I know.”
Bryce touched her knee.
Elara leaned into him again.
“You were watching me?”
“Always.”
She smiled.
“Creepy.”
“Apparently.”
Elara turned her head and kissed him.
Soft this time.
When they finally stood, Bryce gathered her clothes and handed them over.
Elara pulled on her tank, then stopped before reaching for her jeans.
“What?”
“They’re going to hurt.”
Bryce looked at the marks across the backs of her thighs.
“Probably.”
“Worth it.”
She stepped into them anyway, wincing when the denim dragged across the heat.
Bryce smiled.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.”
He picked up her shirt and held it out.
Elara slipped her arms into it.
They left the barn together a few minutes later.
At the doors, Elara looked back once.
The cross stood where Bryce had built it, the five straps hanging loose against the cedar.
“Best one yet,” she said.
Bryce looked at her.
“I thought you said not to push it.”
“I changed my mind.”
She took his hand.
“Come on.”
Bryce switched off the lights and followed her out.