"Sometimes, at as little as a meeting of eyes, Mistresses and slaves know one another. "I must have him. He is mine," she tells herself. "I belong to her. I am her slave," his heart whispers to him.  This matter of eye contact is interesting and has many facets.  One of the most initially frightening and disturbing things to Earth men brought to Gor as slaves is the way Gorean women look at them. They are not used to being looked at as men, truly, with appraisal, desire and ownership. This tends, in the beginning, when they are still new to their collars, to confuse and frighten them, but also, of course, as it will continue to do, and even more powerfully, to stimulate them. It is the first time that they have found themselves being looked at, frankly, and honestly, as what they are, males, appropriate objects of female predation and desire. 

 

This recognition of his masculinity, and this joy in release and self-discovery, often comes as a stunning revelation to the Earth male. Never again, once having discovered this, does he retreat to the conditioned ideals of neuterism and pseudo femininity, nor, indeed, even if he desired to do so, would his mistress' permit it. Sometimes in training, incidentally, or as a discipline or punishment, the slave is not permitted to look into the eyes of the mistress. Indeed, sometimes, in training, he is not permitted to raise his eyes above the belt of the trainer. 

 

Also, it must be recognized that many slaves often, and perhaps all slaves sometimes, find it difficult to look into the eyes of the mistress. She, after all, holds total power over them and they fear to displease her. What if she should interpret his gaze as suggesting the least insubordination or insolence? Are they truly prepared to have the soles of their feet lashed or to live on bread crusts for the next five days? But, on the other hand, there is, on Gor, in circles of the mastery, no discouragement, commonly, of eye contact between mistresses and slaves. 

 

Indeed, in the deep and profound relationships of love and bondage, such eye contact is usually welcomed and encouraged. What can be understood of the glances of mistresses and slaves by those who have been united only in lesser relationships? Too, to be sure, from the practical point of view, it is useful for the kajirus to be able to look into the eyes of the mistress. In this way he may be able to better read her moods, and desires, and, accordingly, be able the better to serve her, in the process perhaps saving himself a few cuffings and beatings, such as might be garnered by a less alert, more slothful, laxer beast. 

 

To be sure, all slaves, upon occasion, are cuffed or beaten. This is good for them, and helps to remind them that they are slaves. Beauty in a male slave, incidentally, and most slaves are beautiful, for this is the sort of man that tends to be enslaved, does not excuse poor service. The most beautiful male must serve with the same perfection as the lesser man. Gorean mistresses are uncompromising on this point. 

 

From the point of view of the mistress, too, not only is it pleasant to look into the eyes of a slave, but there are certain practical advantages attached to doing so. For example, one might, in his eyes, read desire, and thus order her to perform an act which he, even though a slave, might not have dared to beg to perform, or, say, by looking into his eyes, one might determine if he has been up to something or has neglected something to which he should have attended. Has he been into the sweets? Has he, perhaps gossiping and dawdling with the other kajiri, been amiss in the discharge of his duties? Perhaps the shopping has not yet been done? Perhaps the laundry has not yet been finished? Such infractions call for discipline. But perhaps, in lieu of discipline, the mistress will accept the performance of desperate placatory services on the part of the offending slave. The decision is hers. I would, incidentally, advise the slave to be superb." 

 

Adapted from  p257-259, Savages of Gor