. "I've kept you sane," he said softly.
"The refuge of insanity is one you can never take, now, and there's no
point in hoping I can't do something else equally simple. You will
remember this week clearly, and today will be by far the worst.
Because you are going to enjoy me, in the full knowledge that I'm
compelling your pleasure as thoroughly, if not in the same way, as I
compelled your pain and the others'." He smiled, running a hand down
her belly to tease thick curls. "I'm sure you've heard I can be a
skillful lover when I want, not so?"

"Yes." His compulsion was working; he could sense her starting to
relax.

"Good. I had planned to leave in a few minutes, but a proper
demonstration takes time; you'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"I . . . think so."

"You will, believe me."

* * * * *

She did, though it wasn't as easy as he'd told her or expected it would
be. He'd felt her mental strength, but her tenacity and resilience
still surprised him, finding any gap in the net of compulsion he
imposed, which made it nearly half an hour, instead of a few minutes,
before he was able to make her feel the pleasure he wanted. He paused
then, thinking. While he respected her courage, her unexpected
resistance at this late hour had irritated him, and he wanted to take
it out on her. So should he make her cooperate with him, rather than
simply remain passive and enjoy whatever attentions he chose to give
her?

He smiled slowly. Yes, that would certainly add spice, and it would
make her memories all the more painful. With the groundwork laid, that
took only a few moments, and she was eagerly returning his caresses.

He took his time with her, knowing that the thoroughness of her
enjoyment now would determine how much she suffered later. He'd told
her there would only be one more act of intercourse, so that was what
it would be. He'd said nothing, however, about details, so he played
with her, teasing her with repeated small orgasms by mouth and hand,
letting her know silently that these were only preludes. He felt--and
helped--her desire grow with each one, building into desperate need,
until she was writhing against him, begging and frantically struggling
to get him into her.

It was a temptation to reject her at this last moment, but he resisted
in the interest of future pleasure. He obliged her, giving her the
tremendous orgasm he'd teased her with--starting with his entry,
pr