Training Rebecca

Training Rebecca Part IV (Sunday)

Rebecca Dunbar stretched and swung her legs out of bed. The activity jarred the butt plug that was a constant reminder of her new owner, for that was indeed what he was becoming; she had to admit to herself. She dressed and exercised, after pulling the penis gag out of the closet. It went in easier this time and she didn't gag. After exercising she ate some breakfast, showered and dressed, her shortest skirt, of course, front close bra and a blouse, with heels and stockings. She left at 9:40 and drove to the address on the card Niko had given her.

It was an apartment building and she took the elevator to the third floor. Promptly at 10:00, she rang the doorbell. The youthful Niko, wearing shorts and a tee shirt, answered the door and ushered her in. She had been thinking a lot about this since last night. She was sure she could convince him not to opt for the studs or rings in her nipples. There was no way she could explain them to John. She had to do whatever it took.

She went in and stood looking at him. “I expect you want to consider your options now,” she said getting to the point and unbuttoning her blouse. She undid the front closure and opened her bra, holding it to the sides so he would have an unobstructed view.

He observed her breasts from different angles, saying nothing. “You can see that they are firm with hard nipples,” she pointed out. “Touch them and you will see that their beauty will not be enhanced by jewelry.”

He ran his fingers over her nipples and she shivered. “Don't you agree?” she arched her back pushing her breasts into his hands. Still no response. She placed her hands on his and squeezed her breasts in his hands. A slight blush was evident on her chest and her nipples hardened into little points. “Niko, no jewelry would be your choice, wouldn't it?”

“One inch rings might be my choice,” he responded. “They will set off the nipples very well.”

“No, please, Niko. I can make it worth your while if you help me here,” she wasn't so sure of herself now.

“It has to be part of the whole package. Take off your skirt as well as your blouse and bra so I can judge properly.”

“Now just wait a minute. That wasn't part of the deal. You are young enough to be my son,” she said hotly, knowing she had lost her edge.

“Fine. Just leave. I can see you're not interested in my opinion at all,” he turned away.

She knew she couldn't do that. Kyle had said she was to have Niko's opinion and there was no turning back. She removed blouse and bra, setting them aside. Then she unbuttoned her skirt and lowered it. He looked and sucked in his breath when her bare pussy was unveiled and his eyes were drawn to the garter belt and stockings that framed it. No women he knew dressed like that. “What more can I do for you?” her tone was different now. She sank to her knees.

He pushed her back onto the floor. “It is too late now,” he said looking at the base of the butt plug that had come into view as she sprawled out.

“I...I can't leave. Not until I have your opinion,” She said looking up at him. “I...I'll do whatever I have to do for you.”

“Anything?” he quarried.

“Yes.”

“Turn and let me see your ass.” When she complied, he pulled the plug out part way before pushing it back in. “Do you like it?”

“It feels soooo good,” she said pushing back against him and hoping she was satisfying him.

“Maybe I should take you here,” it was not a question.

“I'm, sorry, Sir. I am not allowed to take it out without my Master's permission. He has required me to keep it in for him.” She didn't want to admit to Kyle being her master, but that is what made sense since she had to make some explanation to this boy. “You can push it in and out if you like though.”

He pulled it partway out and examined it. “It seems to have metal inside it,” he said pushing it in and out.

“I can only have it out for 30 minutes first thing in the morning. It beeps whenever it is inserted or removed.”

“Then there must be a sensor of some sort in it,” he said still working it in and out and squeezing it.

“That is what I figured, but I don't know what it senses.”

“I don't know, but if I can't come in your ass, you'll have to make it up to me then some other way.”

“I will, I will. What would you like?”

“Turn around and put your hands behind your back.” When she complied, he went to the cupboard and came back with some thin rope and bound her hands together. “Kneel.” She did so with difficulty. He returned to the kitchen and returned with a handful of clothespins. “These will provide you with more incentive to work hard.” He put one on each nipple as she sucked in her breath. The other two were placed either side of the original ones. She fought back a cry and gritted her teeth.

He lowered his shorts and his cock sprang free from its confines and stuck straight out. He turned around. “Tongue me. Tongue me good,” was the command. She looked at the ass cheeks before her and thought that nothing in her life before now had prepared her for this moment. She leaned her head forward smelling his odor and stuck out her tongue. He pushed back a little and she was able to reach his anus. The taste hit her hard and she fought back the desire to choke. The pain in her nipples made her work quickly, up, down, side to side, then she shut her eyes and pushed it in. His moan told her that was what he liked so she concentrated on pushing it up from the bottom and into the hole, then out and up the other side. He thought he had died and gone to heaven.

When he had had his fill of this fun, he turned around. His cock was at eye level. The pain in her clothespin-clad nipples had receded to a dull ache and he reached down and pinched each of the clothespins in turn until her moans told him they were sore enough. He straightened and she took his cock into her mouth, forming her lips into a tight O.

“Suck me,” he said as he wove the fingers of both hands into her hair and pulled her onto his cock. It lodged just inside the back of her mouth. She fought the gag reflex, almost thankful for the training of the penis gag. Then he pulled her mouth back off his cock before ramming it back in until her lips were firmly mashed into his pubic hair. He wasn't use to this much stimulation and was losing his ability to think. If she only had the use of her hands, she thought, she could balance better and cushion his thrusts. But he was only interested in the feelings that were bringing him higher and higher.

“You're going to swallow all my cum.” He thrust fully into her each time and tightened his grip on her hair until it became painful. Occasionally, the clothespins would bang against his legs causing the dull pain to flare up. She used her tongue as much as she could as his cock pulled out. A small spurt told her it was time and she started swallowing. Larger ones followed as he grunted and groaned through the best orgasm of his life. She continued to swallow through it, sucking hard as he pulled his cock out and breathing when she could.

“Thank you, sir,” she said when he pulled his cock from her mouth and she sat back.

He took off the clothespins and she felt the sting when each was removed. He rolled each nipple between thumb and finger as the blood rushed in. “They are very nice. You have been very good after some initial petulance so I'll opt for studs in your nipples. But for giving me a hard time, I would like to see 4 rings of some sort in your cunt lips as well. I will leave the choice up to your master.”

When she started to object, he held up his hand. “Any criticism of my decision and I'll go for the big rings in your nipples and big rings with weights for your cunt. Then I'll have your clit pierced and....”

“I was going to say thank you Sir, for being so considerate,” was all she could say. “Are you finished with me now?” she was half hoping he would ease the tingling sensation she was feeling between her legs.

He untied her and she dressed. “A keepsake,” he said handing her the clothespins. She put three of them in each skirt pocket without comment and left, wishing things had turned out differently.

She took a shower, leaving in the plug and lay on her bed nude. Images of the sex she had provided at Niko's kept flashing through her mind. She knew Kyle was winning when she admitted to the sexual craving he had brought out in her, but she was beyond caring. She removed her robe and massaged her tender breasts. Even gentle touches made her sore nipples harden. She slid her right hand down and began playing with her clit. It was already engorged and she found she had plenty of juice to make it slick. She replayed the scene as Niko bound her hands and forced his cock into her mouth. Then with her hands still bound he pushed her onto his bed and slid his cock up her horny cunt. She was pinching one nipple, then the other, moving toward climax when there was a knocking at the door and Maria said there was an important phone call from Mr. Laughton.

Damn him again, she thought. She rolled off the bed, grabbed her robe and took the phone from Maria and shut the door behind her.

She took a deep breath, “Hello?”

“Good afternoon. What are you up to?” said his deep voice.

“Oh, nothing. I just finished a shower after returning from Niko's.”

“You haven't broken any rules today?”

“No, Sir,” could he have known she was bringing herself off?

“What did Niko say?”

“He wants me to have studs in my nipples, Sir.” Maybe he didn't know about the other.

“Is that all?”

Shit. “And 4 rings in my...my...my pussy lips,” he probably knew. “He said you were to decide about them.”

“Very well, I'll arrange it.”

“I don't suppose it would do any good to try and appeal to your merciful side, especially about the rings, Sir?”

“No, it will be as he has ordained. You are sure they were only studs in your nipples?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Very well. Wear your sexiest skirt and blouse, a sexy front close bra, a black garter belt, and black fishnet hose tonight. Meet me at my house tonight at 7:30.”

“As you wish, Sir.” The line went dead.

She put the phone down and sat on the bed with tears in her eyes. She had been so close; even now it wouldn't take much to bring her off. Was his call just chance or was the butt plug responsible for alerting him to what she was doing? She thought about her ass squeezing as she masturbated and wondered if that could be it. She reddened at the thought that he might know she was trying to bring herself off. Even in the privacy of her own bedroom, she could sense his presence. The thought terrified her. She had to pull herself together, she decided, and she threw on some old clothes and went downstairs and called John. They talked about the kids and his work for several minutes and hung up. She felt the weight of their indiscretion on her shoulders. He knew nothing about it and she couldn't tell him.

After supper, she redressed in the same clothes she had worn to Niko's and pulled into Kyle's' drive at five to seven. She undressed as required and after a few minutes of standing bare-assed again in the open, was ushered in by Joanna. Kyle was sitting with a drink in his hand. She knelt as gracefully as she could and took up Position #1.

“Come here,” he said, “Position #3.”

She complied and placed her hands on the curve of her buttocks, elbows almost touching, thrusting her breasts forward. He pulled her forward between his legs and opened the lips of her pussy to examine them. “Niko has very good taste. His decision is a good one. I'll see that everything matches.”

“I may be able to explain away the nipple studs to John, but not the rings, Sir.”

“You will have a week to think of something.”

Then he slid two fingers into her. They went in easily and she closed her eyes and moaned. “Are we going to pretend we aren't horny today?”

“No, Sir,” she looked down at him sitting in front of her. Her nipples were hard, but they always seemed to be now. She had lost control over her own body. It had acquired a mind of its own.

He reached up with one thumb and lifted the hood partially covering her clit. The other fingers slid out of her cunt and he closed thumb and forefinger on the sides of her clit. He rubbed them back and forth, up and down, back and forth. This was the hardest thing about being with Kyle, wanting to cum so badly, and having to ask permission to do so. And even when she broke down and asked, even begged him, he might not let her. She bit her lip and tried to keep from moaning.

“Yes, I know it's hard to give up control,” he said softly.

She didn't answer but just closed her eyes. She knew she would lose this battle anyway, just like she had lost every other one with him. But she just had to resist as long as she could. It was a matter of preserving some shred of dignity.

His fingers rolled her clit slowly and rhythmically, not pushing her to orgasm, just teasing. They pulled her up slowly, ever so slowly. It felt different standing since she couldn't get totally relaxed as she could when lying in bed. He pinched his thumb and finger tighter together. A moan escaped from her throat. Her closed eyes shut out all other senses and there was nothing but her clit moving to the tune of his fingers. She could feel the muscles of her thighs contract and she tried to relax them. They wouldn't obey and contracted again. Her arms ached from their position behind her back. She would have to ask him soon.

He watched as the red blush of her arousal spread down her chest to the tops of her breasts. It was truly a beautiful sight. He listened to her breathing, coming faster now, punctuated by the squishing sound from down below. He felt the tension in her legs as they spasmed involuntarily, and she leaned more heavily against him. He smiled as he wondered how long she would wait to ask.

“May I cum, Sir?” she finally blurted out.

“What made you wait so long?”

“Is just that...well...I keep hoping that I'll be able to resist what you're doing, that I'll be able to control myself. I don't want to have to cum like this, Sir,” she said twitching against his fingers, her hips moving in time as he rolled her clit.

“Then you won't have to cum,” he said stopping what he was doing and just holding her clit. She continued moving her hips up and down, stretching her clit in both directions. She was sooooo close. Yes, it would be worth the punishment, what ever it was, to cum without permission. She could feel everything contract and pulled harder and faster against his fingers. She sucked in her breath and, and, and he released his grip on her. She felt her body start the initial contraction, then nothing. She was shaking.

“Please, Sir, don't leave me like this. I'll beg if that's what you want me to do.”

“It is what you asked for, and I have granted your request. You will not cum now.”

She was so angry she wanted to cry. But she pulled herself together and nodded. “As you wish, Sir.”

“No, it was as you wished. Here is a wig for tonight,” he said reaching for a box and handing it to her. “Joanna will take you to get ready.”

Joanna appeared and led her upstairs. Though Rebecca asked, Joanna refused to divulge any information about the evening. She just told her to put on loud lipstick, pull up her hair, and put on the long blond wig. Then she rubbed blond dye into her eyebrows and produced big hoop earrings to complete the ensemble.

Kyle was waiting when they came downstairs and he led Rebecca out onto the front veranda where she put on her skirt, bra, and blouse. They drove for more than a half hour before pulling around the back of a strip joint she had heard about. She turned with terror in her eyes and he handed her a mask.

“Tonight you will be part of the entertainment. This is amateur night. The girl who wins will earn $100. If you win, I'll allow you to keep your mask on. If you do not win, you will be unmasked in front of the audience. You have an advantage over the other girls, however, because you have a brain.”

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was supposed to dance in a strip club? She looked down at the mask in her hands. That and the wig might cover her identity, but only if she kept them on. She looked at the area behind the club and thought about making a run for it. Then she could feel the burden of their mess with the IRS, and knew that flight was useless.

He was speaking again. “When you dance, you can take off everything except your panties. Those must stay on,” he said handing her a pair of black bikini panties. She raised her skirt and pulled them on. Then she donned the mask.

They walked in through a back door and he signed her up for the amateur competition as ‘Trixy'. There were about 10 girls signed up ahead of her, so she was told she would go last. She was led to a back room to check make-up and get ready. The other girls were already there. Most of them were in their early to mid twenties and sported exaggerated busts and abbreviated attire. There were a few comments about her mask, and they wondered who she could be. Rebecca sat at a mirror and felt very out of place.

The show started at 9. A man called the first girl out and Rebecca went to the side to watch her come out on a narrow stage that ran across the front of the club. A pounding rock song started and the strawberry blond launched into her routine. She had obviously done this before and moved sensuously before and appreciative audience. As Rebecca scanned the audience, she stopped, looked again, and her heart sank. There in the front row was Jim Thomas, her head of marketing, sitting with her vice president, her CFO, and her VP for Sales. And sitting with them was Kyle. As if things couldn't be worse, at the table next was the guy from the mailroom who ogled her every chance he got, and two other employees she couldn't place. Her life as she knew it was over.

She looked at the girl who was gyrating to the music swinging her top. She was only just confined by her half bra and was bending over to present her cleavage to its best effect while shaking her ample bosom. She reached back and unhooked her bra. Holding her bra up in front of her she made a show of uncovering her breasts, which were covered with tassels. She started spinning the tassels left, and then right, then in a show of muscle control, spun them in different directions.

Rebecca went in search of the bathroom. She found it and threw up in the nearest toilet, which was also the only one there. Then she locked the door and sat down on the toilet, put her head in her hands, and sobbed uncontrollably for the next five minutes. One of the girls knocked on the door and she called out that she would just be a minute more. She had to pull herself together. What could she do? She had brains as well as a decent body. She knew she couldn't dance like the other girls but then this wasn't really about dancing, but about turning men on. She washed her face and walked out. The girl who had knocked on the door was waiting there.

“Is this your first competition?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“I only do it for my boyfriend. My name is Donna, sexy huh? Is that why you're here?”

“Mine is Trixy. My boyfriend insists,” said Rebecca and went to the dressing room and put her lipstick on again. Then she watched another dancer to check on the competition, and went into the kitchen area in search of props.

It would all work out, she kept telling herself. It had to.

An hour later, her name was called and she stood and walked to the side of the narrow stage. The girl ahead of her was in the last minutes of her routine. Rebecca put it out of her mind and concentrated on what she had to do. The girl left to the applause of the men and she was on. She picked up the beat of the music and moved out onto the stage. She stood for a few moments swaying to the music and a hush came over the audience. Then she ran her hands over her hips and up over breasts that seemed to stick out wonderfully. The sweater was slowly pulled up and off. The bra was opened and the men could see that her breasts had been stretched by a dozen rubber bands that had been placed around the base of each. She shook them but as tight as they were, they didn't bounce. The men went wild. This was raw.

She reached into the back of her skirt and pulled out a spatula. She swayed over to the front row on the right and bowed so her tits were just over their heads. SMACK, the spatula hit her right tit at the nipple. It jiggled slightly, turning slightly red, then SMACK, she hit the left one. She straightened and hit the outside of each breast in turn. Damn this hurt, she thought. Only once more. SMACK, SMACK, she hit the inside of each breast.

The men were cheering and hollering. This was something totally different. Here was a woman who knew what they wanted. She smiled at them and produced two clothespins from her skirt pocket left from earlier in the day. She leaned over and gave one each to two of the men in a front table. Then she pinched both nipples as the song changed. Still moving her hips, she motioned for them to put the jewelry on her. The first one stood and put his clothespin on the left nipple. It only caught a little skin and hurt like hell. The second remained seated and grabbed her right nipple and drew it down to put on the other clothespin. They received a round of applause.

She straightened and hit the clothespins in turn, bouncing them up and down. Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out the other four clothespins. They were added to the ones already on her and she placed the first one on a little more skin. Then she moved her tits left and right. She thought this might have been enough to win the competition, but she had to be sure.

She unbuttoned the skirt and lowered it and stepped away from it. They liked the black stockings and the garter belt. She lowered her hand into her panties and they could see her rubbing herself to the beat of the music. She brought them back out and put them into her mouth. The crowd went wild. She was in a world of her own, brought out by necessity, but also by the cheers and comments.

She moved the crotch of the black panties to the side and brought out a candle—inch by inch. Then pushed it back in. She removed an outside clothespin from her nipple and placed it on her left cuntlip. Then a second followed it. The clothespins were clearly visible sticking out of the crotch of her panties. A third was taken from her nipple and placed on the right side, followed by the fourth. The adrenaline was flowing now and she barely felt the pain. She did a few dips to accentuate the clothespins sticking out of her panty crotch and walked back and forth across the stage, occasionally hitting the two left on her nipples.

She turned and bent over. Silence. She reached back and slowly pulled her butt plug out of her ass at the side of her panties. The pink plug contrasted with the black of her panties and her skin. She then rammed it back in before pulling it out again. She turned around and put her right hand into her panties and rubbed her clit while pushing the plug in and out from behind. Pandemonium had broken out. One minute passed, then another. She worked herself with her eyes closed. She was nearly there. She opened her eyes and looked at Kyle, begging for permission. He shook his head no and for a moment she thought about ignoring him and cumming, there in the strip club, in front of nearly a hundred hollering, cheering, clapping men. Then, with their eyes locked on one another, his head nodded yes. She pushed hard on her clit and rammed the butt plug in and out, her mouth opening and eyes closing. When it came, she thought it was going to kill her. She shook and shook and wanted to collapse right there on the stage still stroking herself. The orgasm seemed to go on and on forever as men she never wanted to meet in her life stood and cheered her on. She had to be helped off the stage and to her chair in the dressing room. Her clothes were handed to her and she pulled off the clothespins before putting them back on, except for the black panties. Donna bumped her as she walked by. “Thanks, Trixy, you slut. Just who are you anyway? They will be expecting dancing like that from us now.”

The men were calling for her as the girls made their way in a line across the stage. There was no surprise as the name ‘Trixy' was called out. She stepped forward and accepted the $100. They yelled for her to remove her mask but she smiled and shook her head no over the din.

The guy from the mailroom rose as the girls left the stage announcing that he was going to meet her. He had to find out who she was. Kyle grabbed his sleeve in a firm grip and said that wasn't possible. She was his property, he said raising his voice, and he would bring her out so they could meet her if they would consent to her keeping on the mask. This seemed better than losing her altogether so they all agreed. Kyle said in a low voice, “If you try and remove it, I will break your arm, then rip your balls off.” Mailbuddy seemed to get the message and sat down reluctantly. Kyle rose, ordered a drink from the bar, and stepped through the door marked ‘Employees Only'.

Rebecca was still shaking from the ordeal. When she saw Kyle enter the dressing room with the girls in various stages of undress, she held out the money she had won.

He shook his head. “It's yours. You've earned it. I told you that you had the brains to pull it off, but you didn't have confidence in yourself. I am very impressed with your inventiveness and determination. And it's nice to see that sex comes naturally to you if you would only let it.” He handed her the drink.

“Thanks, Sir,” she said and downed the whole thing.

“Your public is clamoring for your appearance out front. You will be able to keep your wig and mask on.”

“No, please, Sir. I am completely wiped out. I can't do any more.”

“This is a chance to meet your biggest fans. And I have promised them that they will get to meet you,” he said as if it were all settled. “I would suggest you keep your responses to nods yes—no will not be permitted. It will not be a good thing to try and speak with members of your management team there.”

“God, you are such a bastard,” was all she could say.

He ignored the slip in her form of address, helped her up, and they walked into the bar. He directed her to the section at the side of the bar, and motioned to the seven men from her company to join them. Kyle reiterated his demand about the mask and they agreed. He moved behind her and cupped her breasts through her clothes. Then he undid her blouse, button by button and pulled it aside.

“You undo the bra,” he told her head of marketing.

Jim Thomas stepped in and pulled the bra open so everyone could see her breasts. There were red marks where the pins had been and everyone wanted to touch them. “You want me to make them feel good, don't you?” he asked.

As she had been instructed, Rebecca nodded.

He massaged the breasts and rolled her nipples between his thumbs and index fingers. Though he didn't pinch hard, the feeling was strong and she pushed back against Kyle.

“Would you like your cunt played with as well?” asked the obnoxious mail guy.

She swallowed hard but nodded to him too. He stepped to the side and reached under her skirt. “She doesn't have any panties on,” was his observation as he felt the bare cunt there. Another one reached under the back, “And she still has the butt plug in.”

“Spread your legs so we can get at you better.”

Rebecca complied and reddened visibly. How could she get through this trial?

Other hands rubbed over her breasts and stroked up her legs. Mailguy was stroking her clit, still sensitive from her orgasm on stage. The plug was pulled partway out, and Kyle had to back away a little to make room.

“The candle is gone,” another announced as that orifice was invaded.

The room swirled around her. Hands were everywhere all at once as seven men pulled her higher and higher toward orgasm.

“Sir, please?” she whispered turning her head.

“No, slut.”

She fought the feelings that raged through her. Why did he do this if he didn't want her to cum?

Almost as if to answer he whispered through her hair, “I want your mind.”

The pain in her left nipple almost came as a relief as they were mauled by another hand. It enabled her to focus on the pain and not her impending orgasm. She closed her eyes and tried to think about anything else, but it wouldn't come. Her cunt lips were pulled; lips that were sore from the clothespins. Fingers roughly sawed in and out of her cunt. Her skirt was up around her waist and the only limit to number of men playing with her body was the amount of space around her. They made it their goal to bring her off, even as she knew she couldn't cum. She just couldn't. There was no telling what Kyle would do if she broke this rule. She had never been so close, never wanted it as badly, as she did now.

“Please, Sir, I beg of you,” she turned her head again and whispered harshly.

“Why should I let you cum, slut.”

“To give you pleasure?” she said hopefully.

“I can watch you cum any time I like.”

She thought frantically, her mind dazed. “To make me your slut.”

“Cum my slut,” he said in a low voice pleased with her.

She reached back and grabbed him by the head, pulling his against her own and shrieked at the top of her lungs. The club went quiet as the blond shook and twisted and turned, cumming against the hands that had brought her so much perverted pleasure. When her legs gave out, Kyle held her up through orgasm after orgasm as hands stroked her everywhere and from every direction. She couldn't catch her breath, which came in huge gulps. She tried to push their hands away but had no strength. Her brain was overloading. She felt herself slipping into unconsciousness and sensed, rather than felt, hands lifting and carrying her.

She awoke in the Jag. She felt for the mask and pulled it off, relieved to find it still in place. Likewise the wig.

“Your secret life is still safe,” he comforted her. “No one knows what you are inside but me.”

She moved aching muscles and worked the stiffness out of them. “My God, what did I do in there?”

“Losing control can sometimes set you free to be the person you really are. How many times did you cum?”

“I don't know. I lost count,” she answered ruefully.

“Neither the men nor the women in there will soon forget your ‘dance' routine,” he smiled.

“The women were pissed,” she smiled as well. “They will have to be more inventive in the future.”

They pulled into his driveway and the garage door opener let them into the garage. He led her into the house. She asked to use the bathroom.

When she had showered and dressed, he sent her home. As she was driving she remembered that while she had cum over and over, he hadn't cum even once that night. She shook her head. He was like no man she had ever met before.

 

Thanks to all of you who took the time to e-mail me with words of encouragement or ideas for future episodes. Comments and suggestions on Rebecca's past or future training are always welcome. Right now I am trying to figure out what will happen when John comes home in Part 7. I may be reached at simplysizzlingwriter@yahoo.com (I know, I know, but finding a name there seems an impossibility nowadays <S>).