Pulling her close, I hugged her to me and we snuggled a while. "Why the tears, dear one?" But she just shook her head and said, "Later, please."

After she had composed herself, I had her stand, then put hands on ankles.

"I understand the need to talk later, but YOU need to remember than refusing to answer a question has a penalty. Five strokes." The wooden paddle in my hand, I laid on five of my best, nearly pushing her back to tears.

"Get yourself cleaned up and ready to be sociable." I went back to my office area and checked the mirror; clean and neat. Firing up the Mac, I checked for empty space, and found a small suite down the main hall a ways, room 37. I let Mom know about the reassignment, and asked her to get Fred to air it out and get fresh towels and linens in there PDQ.

When Stella got out, she looked fresh and bright. I kissed her on the lips, and we walked out hand in hand to the lounge area. I gathered the twenty or so who were present around, but took second fiddle to Stella's collar. Doms and subs alike marveled at the beauty and asked questions about it, the most common as to whether the leather could get wet.

"Sure the leather can get wet: it's just a thin membrane over silver and platinum, treated with a varnish of some kind to make it waterproof." Their comments made me glad I had gotten the collar I wanted instead of what the jeweler suggested.

"Now gang, Stella here will be moving in permanently, and will have her own suite to use when she wishes, number 37. She will be joining the staff in several ways, at least some of which will be security. I'm having Mom train her about reaction times, and getting her the communications and safety implant you all have." I looked around to see smiling faces and nodding. Good.

"She MAY be available for scenes with some of you; that will be up to her first and me second... it's her body. She will NOT be available for toilet sex, scarring, or incapacitation. Hard limit; MINE." Everyone laughed.

"Socializing will be up to her, of course. I'm sure when you get to know her, you'll welcome her to the family as I have welcomed her to my heart." There was a smattering of applause, and we went down the hall to check out Stella's suite.

Fred had done nice work; all I had to do was 'key' the door to her thumb and eye so she would have privacy. She looked around, then fell to her knees in front of me.

"Master?" she asked in a small voice.

"Yes, my love?"

"Master, do I *have* to stay here? I... I hoped I could stay in your suite." She was almost crying.

"Dear, dear, don't cry! You may of course stay in my suite when I am there and not entertaining. I will rarely have a new staff member there to interview and have demonstrate their skills; your presence there would not be conducive to a good experience for either. Once they are gone, you will certainly be welcome!" I had thought she would be happy for a haven where she could have some privacy. Perhaps i was mistaken?