She sat alone, nude, kneeling in the corner of the cold kitchen floor, waiting to be called to him. The frigid air that crept in beneath the unsealed door caused her to shiver intermittently, but she did her best to remain quite still. At times she tried to occupy her mind by listening to the drone of the television in the front room, but even that could not push away the guilt she felt. She knew she had been wrong and accepted her punishment. Of course she could have moved earlier while he was at work, could have gotten up and done whatever she wished...but the love she felt for him bound her to this corner as surely as if she was physically chained to a stake in the floor.

Her stomach rumbled again, and she mentally willed it to hush. She had not eaten all day and the pangs were beginning to escalate in strength. To add insult to injury her bladder was full, and the cramping would soon overwhelm the limits of her ability to remain completely silent. But she understood how she had come to be in this position, and she would would make no noise or complain...she deserved this for talking back to him this morning before he left for work. She hadn't meant to, at this point she was unsure of why it had even happened, yet this morning when the impulse had come over her she had been certain of her feelings. Maybe it was the newly falling snow. She had loved snowfall since she was a small child, the gently cascading flakes and the soft blanket of fresh color that accompanied the dawn of winter. When her Master had forbidden her to stand at the window and watch its arrival, the angry words had burst forth from her throat before she could reign them in. The consequences of her actions were immediately apparent on his face, and now, kneeling in the corner hours later, she mourned missing the sight of the first heavy snow of the season.

"Come here" he called finally from the other room, bringing a small satisfied smile to her lips. She willed herself to stand, trying to ignore the shooting pains that blanketed her legs and the stiffness which fought her every inch of the way. The hours on the floor had left her lower body icy cold and when she finally righted herself it was all she could do to make it to the entrance of the living room. Once there, her battle with her knees was lost and she dropped helplessly back down to a kneeling position just within his sight. She quietly hung her head and remained there in the doorway waiting for him to allow her to speak. As the minutes passed, it seemed her bladder would burst any moment, and she could feel the tears well in her eyes from the residual pain in her legs, but still...she made no sound. Lost in her own thoughts she was surprised when she felt his fingers on her chin, and as he pulled her head up, looking deeply into her eyes, she was reminded of the depth of the love she felt for him. She had not heard him get up, or cross the room to her side, but his touch alone, wiped away the pain of kneeling in an instant. Gently caressing her cheek, he leaned over and softly kissed her lips. When his mouth met hers, any possible regret she had for coming to him was lost.

"Go shower and clean yourself up pet," he said, "The warm water will take away your stiffness." As he said this he reached a hand down to help her up, and she gratefully grasped it, using it to pull her uncooperative aching body to a standing position. "Thank you Master," was all she could summon as she gently massaged her thighs trying to stimulate enough blood flow to make it to the bathroom on her own. While she did this she could feel his eyes wandering over her naked body, and she smiled privately inside. Making him happy was all she ever wanted and she knew he enjoyed the way she looked.

The shower and the use of the bathroom was the answer to a prayer, and when she emerged thirty minutes later she felt better than she had all day. Almost like she was a new person. The house seemed cold after the warmth of the shower, but once she was dry it did not seem as bad. Knowing she had been gone a long time, she left the bathroom and went back to the living room, dropping softly to her knees in front of him, her face covered by the fragrant curtain of her still damp long hair. She remained there for quite some time, head bowed and silent before he finally spoke to her. When he did the order was both a surprise and a delight.

"Go look out the window my pet."

Quickly saying "Yes master," she stood and walked to the window. The mantle of deep snow that covered the yard was a joy to behold and her heart sang with the sight of it. The window radiated cold but she hardly noticed as her eyes swept over the landscape she had been yearning to see all day.

"Snow....I have never known another person who could get as excited by watching the miserable stuff as you can pet."

She turned to face him, beaming her delight as she explained... "It’s the peace I see in it Master, the renewal of life."

He only grimaced and motioned for her to return to his side. She went to him, reluctantly leaving the windowpane and was starting to kneel when he leaned forward and pulled her onto his lap. He began to rub her still too sore legs and she leaned her head back, letting her hair fall across his shoulder as she closed her eyes to savor the essence of his touch.

"Did you miss me today my pet?" he asked, as his hands availed themselves of the top of her thighs. "Yes Master, very much," she said truthfully, loving these quiet moments when all of his attention was turned her way. He smiled at her answer and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"I have a surprise for you tonight, very soon in fact. One that I know you will enjoy very much."

She looked into his eyes searching for any hint of what he might be alluding to, and finding no answer there simply said..."Oh I love surprises Master, you know that!" His smile broadened, sending a slight chill through her naked frame and he eased her off his lap....taking her hand and heading for the basement. She knew what was in the basement, and wondered what he had in mind, but she also knew she would find out soon enough.

The air of the basement stairwell was even colder than the living room, and her nipples rose at the frigid caress as they descended the steps. When they reached the bottom he motioned her to the padded cross that took up the whole southern corner of the room. She obeyed, walking to the cross, which was really a giant padded X and placing her hands above her head so they could be easily buckled into the leather cuffs that were built into the instrument. He pressed against her as her fastened her hands into place, and she closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of his closeness as he finished and then kneeled at her feet. She spread her legs, placing them next to the leather cuffs built for her ankles and her excitement began to build as the last buckle was latched and he stood to survey his work. Content with the sight of her, he kissed her gently, and turned without a word, heading towards the stairs. She stood, cuffed to the cross, the opposite of the position she had spent the entire day in, and watched as he climbed the stairs and closed the door. She smiled, closing her eyes and wondering slightly what he had in store for her, but truly unconcerned, because she understood now he was pleased with her, and the evening would be about her pleasure......