“I’m sorry, Mistress,” I said nervously. “I wonder what I can do to redress that balance?” she asked me. “What do you suggest?” I paused. “A severe beating, Mistress?” I offered. “I should think so!” Laura said. “A beating is just the start, slave. I hope you remember you’re still owed sixty strokes from a few weeks ago? Did you really think we’d forget that?” Actually I had forgotten it, but of course she was right. “No, Mistress.” Laura continued to pace in front of me. “Tomorrow is your first day at the lab. I don’t think it would be sensible for you to be moving from cheek to cheek when you’re sitting down, do you? It might give the wrong impression.” “You know best, Mistress,” I said, wondering what she had in mind. This seemed to be Laura’s revenge session for the moment, as