[JEMMA]

I followed her out the door, her white pith helmet bobbing in front of me as we walked. Just exiting the door gave me a rush - it was another threshold. I could quit now and I would already be $500 richer. I could settle the butterflies then and there but then I'd have to live with the regret. How much more could I have made. And what about the thrill Holly talked about. I was going to earn as much as I could. I squared my shoulders and put purpose into my stride.

Jane stopped next to the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. Obviously an athlete, he wore black training trousers and nothing else. His feet and chest were bare and that chest was the chest of a Greek God, cut with every muscle standing out. Dark black hair covered his head. He must have been in his late twenties.

Jane turned to me, "Jemma, this is your personal trainer. His name is Dan."

I nodded and opened my mouth. 'Hi, Dan' died on my lips as Jane cut me off.

She spoke quickly. "Jemma, do you accept Dan as your personal trainer?"

"Yes," I replied slightly breathless. How could I not?

"Jemma, do you promise to follow every instruction given to you by your personal trainer?"

I hesitated for a moment then Dan's abs filled my vision. "Yes."

"Say, it."

'Say what?"

"Say your name and that you promise to follow each and every instruction given to you by your personal trainer."

"Um. I'm Jemma and I agree to follow your instructions."

'No." Be clearer. "Your name is Jemma."

"My name is Jemma," I said firmly.

"And you promise to follow all instructions from your personal trainer."

"and I promise to follow all instructions from my personal trainer." I managed not to tremble with trepidation or excitement when I said the words but if it meant I would be working with this beautiful man, I was more than happy."

"You belong to Dan now," Jane said, "follow him and obey him completely."

"Belong?"

"Dan will explain. Follow him."

Dan walked down the corridor and I followed close behind. We passed door after door until, near the end of the corridor we can across one still ajar. Dan motioned me in and I entered a small bare room that contained a dresser, a wardrobe and a bed.

"Is this a brothel..."

Dan put his finger to his lips. "Zebras don't talk."

"Zebras?"

"Shhh." he said. "There's some ground-rules before we get you made up."

"Firstly, how do you want to be disciplined? The whip or forfeiture?"

"Excuse me?"

"You know there are rules. If you break the rules, you lose that hour's pay. That's forfeiture. If you choose the whip, then if you break a rule, I give you a lash to remind you." He reached into the wardrobe and pulled out a long thin rider's crop with a tiny leather flange at the end. "If you don't correct your mistake with this" he swished the crop through the air, "then it's forfeiture."

"Oh."

"I recommend the whip. A lash may sting but it can save you $500. That soon adds up if you don't get a reminder." He stared at me as the choice overwhelmed me. "Most choose the whip and no one regrets it."

"Oh." I thought of what Holly must have done. With a sudden clarity, I chose, "The whip, Dan."

"That's the next thing, you are to call me Trainer."

"Yes, Dan."

Whack! with lightning speed, he flicked the whip against my thigh. I yelped with the sting of it through my jeans.

"Yes, what."

"Yes, Trainer," I said rubbing my thigh.

"Leave it."

I snatched my hand away from when he had struck me and stood up. "Yes, Trainer," I added staring at the whip. As much as it stung, I saw his point. He'd just saved me $500.

"Listen carefully," he said. "There are some ground-rules that you need to know. These are for the safety of yourself and others. Most important is the safe-word. If you say 'game over' then the game ends. Whatever is happening to you at the time stops and your pay stops at that hour. Also, you don't get the $5,000 bonus for finishing so it's a serious step to take. Some girls do take it but think carefully."

My blood ran cold at the thought of what could make a girl give up $5,000. The trepidation returned.

"Do you understand."

"Yes." Then I quickly added, "...Trainer."

"Good, you're learning fast." He lowered the whip. "If for some reason, you can't talk, slap, stomp or hit the ground three times and you will be asked if you want to exit the game." He waited. "Understand?"

"Yes, Trainer."

"The next rule is that there is to be no punching, kicking or biting of hunters or other prey."

"I don't understand ... Trainer."

"No punching, kicking or biting of other people. Repeat."

"No punching, kicking or biting, ... Trainer."

'Those are the rules. Can you repeat them back to me?"

I repeated them and he had me sign a piece of paper saying I understood the rules. I read it carefully looking for clues about the game but it revealed nothing. Once I had signed, I stood up.

"That's a good, zebra."

"Yes, ah, Trainer." I didn't know what else to say.

"It looks like you are ready," he said. He straightened up and gripped the whip. "Now strip."

"Excuse me. .... ...."