Owned (Office Intrigue Book 8)

by Nicole Edwards

  I had no idea what I’d been expecting to happen when the Owners arrived, but it hadn’t been for the noise level to increase tenfold. Evidently, Owners weren’t the prim and proper types I’d thought they were. Considering Talon was my only reference, I had just assumed they would be similar to him in mannerisms. Professional, well-dressed, soft-spoken, confident, demanding.

  Nope.

  Not even close.

  They were a hodgepodge, an eclectic mix of race, gender, sex, and most definitely personalities.

  There were seven Owners who arrived, their names I’d yet to memorize. Four of them were single, two were married and had brought their spouses, and the last one had brought along a possession they already owned. That was a total of ten in that group and another dozen employees of Owned, Incorporated, as well as Gideon and Zed, along with Zion and Micah, a very moody Tiegan, and the other trainer, Memphis, who seemed to be at odds with Tiegan. Put them all together in one spot, and you got what equated to semi-organized chaos.

  Being that I had no idea what went on at these things, I was doing my best to keep out of the way, but it wasn’t working. Every time I made an attempt to step back, Talon would draw me to his side again. He made a point to introduce me to everyone, although I noticed he did not refer to me by name, but he wasn’t shy about touching me or keeping me close. He had a way of making me feel important and safe at the same time, and it stirred all those warring emotions I was trying to ignore.

  Once Talon had made the rounds, he pulled Tiegan aside. I noticed she was glaring at him, as though rays might shoot out of her eyes and kill him where he stood.

  “I expect you’ll be on the jet when it leaves,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

  “She will,” Memphis answered for her. “As will I.”

  Talon nodded, glanced between the two of them.

  That was when I noticed Memphis silently communicating with Tiegan. She still looked like an angry lioness, but something in her eyes softened. Barely noticeable, but it was there.

  “I’ll set up a call for tomorrow morning,” Talon told him. “You, me, and Zion.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Talon looked at Tiegan once more, nodded his head, then turned away without a word. He took my hand, guided me toward the door leading outside.

  “We’ve got about an hour before I have to start delivering possessions,” he informed me. “I need to take care of something. It’s a personal matter. Would you care to join me?”

  I found myself nodding. I figured the only way I was going to find out my true feelings for this man was to get to know him better. The more time I spent with him … well, the better I would know him.

  With my hand securely in his, we made our way over to the main house. The closer we got, the more I noticed the shift in Talon. Something was wrong, but I wasn’t comfortable asking what, so I walked silently beside him while he stewed.

  He stopped at an electronic panel just inside the doors, keyed in something, skimmed the screen, grunted, and then we were on the move again. During our trek, I got a fairly good look at the rest of the house: kitchen, dining, library, study, several more rooms that looked to be for relaxing, and finally a laundry room that could’ve held two of my apartments within its four taupe-colored walls.

  Inside, Bram was tending to towels and sheets. The moment Talon stepped into the room, he stopped what he was doing and gave him his full attention.

  “Find Taurus. Have Auberon bring him to the main level.”

  With a clipped nod, he was out the door.

  “What’s on the main level?” I asked, curious.

  “It’s an entertainment space.” He motioned for me to exit the laundry room. “Pool table, bowling alley, theater.”

  Wow. And to think I’d spent my time reading in my room when I could’ve been bowling. The thought made me smile. I’d never bowled a day in my life. Wasn’t even sure what the objective was.

  “And a dungeon.”

  I stumbled only slightly as I processed that information, but managed to keep up with Talon as we went down a long hallway.

  He stopped at a set of shiny gold doors. “Elevator, down.”

  Elevator. Because why not.

  Nothing should surprise me, I figured. He’d already admitted he didn’t hesitate when it came to luxury.

  The doors opened; Talon urged me forward.

  “What happens in the dungeon?” The words came out hesitantly as we entered the elevator, the doors closing silently behind us.

  “Elevator, lower level,” Talon commanded. “Punishment.”

  Oh, boy.

  Why was I coming along again? Maybe getting to know him wasn’t such a brilliant idea. Not when he was in a mood, anyway.

  “Who’s getting punished?” Please don’t say me.

  “Taurus.” He sighed. “Of all my possessions, he’s the one who ends up receiving the most punishment at my hand. He’s got a tendency for jealousy.”

  “He’s jealous? Of what?”

  “If I had to guess, you.”

  I took a step back, real concern filling me. “I’m sorry, Talon. I had no idea.”

  “This is not on you,” he stated firmly. “My possessions shouldn’t be experiencing such emotions.” Another sigh from him. “But as is the way of human nature…”

  For a man who claimed he didn’t have feelings for his possessions, I was pretty sure that was disappointment I saw on his face. And in order to feel that, you had to feel something.

  The elevator door opened to a lavishly decorated space. I wasn’t good at estimating square footage, but I’d say there was more than enough to hold a hundred or so people easily. And that was just the main area, which resembled a banquet hall with chandeliers mounted above. Along both the left and right wall were a handful of doors. Talon pointed them out along the way. Bowling alley, theater, racquetball court, boxing gym.

  We neared the end of the room, where a pool table stood proudly. “What? No separate room for this?”

  Talon peered down at me and a smile slowly formed.

  I breathed a sigh. At least he’d lightened up a little.

  He placed his hand on a palm scanner, and the locks on the double doors disengaged then slowly opened on their own.

  When he’d said dungeon, I guess I automatically thought of something dark and dingy, maybe flames coming out of wall sconces. Medieval stuff.

  For the record, that was not this.

  Holy. Crap.

  “You use this much space for punishment?” I asked as we continued to walk.

  “These days, yes. I’ve designed a playroom in the main house that I utilize for … sessions. Originally, I’d had this built for a variety of activities, but it doesn’t see much action these days.”

  It was incredible in its detail. The walls were unlike anything I’d ever seen before. Reaching out, I swiped my finger along them. It was a matte aluminum that ran floor to ceiling, along all four sides of the space, and across the ceiling. There were no windows, the lighting artificial, provided by a large circle of pendant lights dangling from above, these matte black.

  Talon went to the wall, pressed a few buttons on another electronic panel. A digital countdown appeared on the wall, coming from … well, I didn’t know where the red numbers were being projected from, but it had started at two minutes.

  “What’s the timer for?”

  “Once I’ve entered the space, my possessions have two minutes to arrive. Should they be late, the punishment is adjusted accordingly.”

  “I take it this isn’t the funishment I’ve heard it referred to, huh?”

  Talon smirked. “It is not. I don’t indulge in that. Never have.”

  I watched as he walked over to a wall, began keying information into a computer system mounted on an adjustable arm.

  “Some Dominants use their own sexual gratification as punishment,” he explained as he worked. “I do not. It would be too easy for a possession to lean on transgressi
ons to get what they want. Since pleasing me is their sole responsibility, the only way to punish them is to ensure they don’t have access to me.”

  I’d never really thought about it before, but it made sense. I’d heard of submissives who liked to be bratty because it got them the attention they sought.

  Talon walked over to a locked metal cage in the corner, placed his palm on another scanner then opened the door and stepped inside.

  My attention shifted to the timer projected on the metal wall. It was at forty-five seconds and counting down quickly. I felt my own anxiety level ratcheting up, although I wasn’t sure why that was.

  Talon stepped out of the cage holding several items, which he placed on a rolling metal cart. “I do have a penchant for sexual torment as a form of punishment because it offers a lasting memory for the possession. One I hope will deter the behavior in the future.”

  Footsteps sounded behind me, and I turned to see Auberon walking in with Taurus. He was the only possession I hadn’t seen but once, and that was the morning he had poured my coffee then fled like I was the enemy. Seemed as though I was. At least in his eyes.

  Neither Auberon nor Taurus looked at me as they moved into the room, Taurus continuing until he was standing in the center of the circle formed by the pendant lights overhead. The clock on the wall suddenly stopped, the readout showing three seconds remaining.

  “There’s a trigger in the floor,” Talon explained. “Stops the clock. Had he been late, his punishment would’ve gone from brutal to excruciating.”

  Talon snapped his fingers, and then Taurus began stripping, discarding the jeans he wore. Auberon stepped forward to take them, folding them neatly and setting them on a small shelf on the wall.

  While they did that, Talon returned to the computer, tapped a few keys.

  My eyes went wide as small doors slid open in the ceiling, more adjustable arms and some pulleys sliding down from above. It went on for a good minute while they shifted and moved and finally locked into place.

  “It’s an automated restraint system,” Talon explained, clearly sensing my fascination. “Designed so a possession can be secured in any position imaginable. I designed it myself.”

  I heard the pride in his voice and it made me smile.

  Talon walked over to Taurus, then tucked his hand into the collar of his own shirt, pulling out… There was a key dangling on a leather strap that he wore around his neck. He took it off, then unlocked the collar around Taurus’s neck.

  Talon lifted a hand, signaled with his fingers. Auberon moved forward, took the collar, and placed it on another shelf on the wall.

  I watched Taurus’s face, and for the first time, I saw emotion. His gaze followed that collar as though it was his lifeline.

  “You’ll get it back, provided you take the punishment without issue.”

  Taurus didn’t speak, didn’t nod.

  Talon looked away from him. “For this, he’ll be suspended from the ceiling, laid out parallel to the floor.”

  I wasn’t sure if he was telling me or Auberon, but Auberon began assisting him, the two of them securing Taurus in position with various leather straps and bungee cords. Three wide straps went across his torso, keeping him suspended roughly four feet from the floor while multiple restraints held out his arms and legs, supporting his body weight; another strap went across his forehead to hold his head up. He looked as though he was flying, his legs spread wide, fixed at a forty-five-degree angle from the floor.

  It didn’t look comfortable, but it didn’t look like it hurt, either. It made me believe the punishment wasn’t in the positioning.

  When Auberon stepped away to retrieve a rolling cart, Talon double-checked all the restraints.

  “This is what’s known as a milking machine,” Talon said as he wheeled over another large cart with something mounted on top of it.

  Evidently Auberon had done this before, because he began fixing something to Taurus’s cock, sliding what looked like a tube over his … um … over his penis.

  Talon then affixed a robotic arm to it. “This will milk his cock repeatedly, electronically adjusted.”

  Oh, but that wasn’t all.

  Auberon was already wielding a very large dildo, coating it with lubricant as Talon pulled another retractable arm over. He raised and lowered it until he was satisfied with the position. At that point, Auberon fixed the dildo to the extension on the arm, then positioned it between Taurus’s butt cheeks.

  I’d looked this type of thing up before after reading one of TJ’s books. It was a variation of a fucking machine. Although this one was clearly high-tech.

  Talon was back at the computer momentarily, pressing buttons, and the machines came on, several beeps, then lights flashing on as the arms began their assault.

  The milking machine was loud as it began to inflate and deflate, shifting over Taurus’s cock.

  I probably should’ve averted my eyes but I was fascinated. Not that a man was suspended by the ceiling and being assaulted by a machine, per se. Although, yes, I couldn’t seem to look away. Especially when Taurus moaned.

  Shifting, I watched as the fucking machine began to slide forward, penetrating Taurus’s ass. It was excruciatingly slow, both moving forward and retreating.

  Talon was back at Taurus’s side, his attention on the dildo. He made a couple of adjustments, then locked the machine in place.

  “The two machines will alternate,” Talon explained, “to ensure he’s constantly stimulated. After fifteen minutes, the machines will begin edging him closer to orgasm, then holding him there again and again before slowing briefly. Then they’ll start again.”

  That sounded horrible. I guess that was why it was called punishment.

  And then Taurus was at the mercy of two machines, working to alternately fuck and suck him. I was so caught up, I didn’t notice Auberon bringing something else over. It wasn’t until Talon was attaching what appeared to be a set of nipple clamps to Taurus that I paid closer attention.

  “What is that?” I asked when Talon connected the wires dangling from the clamps to another high-tech-looking machine.

  “Electrical stimulation.”

  Oh. Shit.

  “It’ll provide a constant electrical current directly to his nipples.”

  Talon adjusted the machine by tapping the screen repeatedly. He stopped when Taurus’s upper body twitched.

  Once again, Talon moved around Taurus, double-checking the machines before he came to stand in front of him.

  “You know why you’re here,” he stated firmly.

  Taurus didn’t respond. Then again, Talon hadn’t asked a question.

  “Your behavior’s unacceptable. I will not tolerate jealousy, Taurus. It’s beneath you.”

  Still no response, but Taurus was staring at Talon, and I could see something in his eyes. Remorse, maybe.

  Talon turned to Auberon. “Two hours. The system’s set for one hour. He’ll have a thirty-minute break, then another hour. After the first hour is up, massage his limbs, check his circulation, get him some water, then reset both machines. He is not to come down from there until his full time is complete. When he’s done, take him to aftercare, strap him down. At that point, you can rotate shifts with the others. Someone’s to remain with him at all times. I’ll check on him later this afternoon.”

  Auberon nodded once.

  Talon came over, took my hand before glancing back at Taurus, who was beginning to breathe harder as that silicone dildo plunged into his ass.

  Then he was leading me away with Taurus’s tortured moans drifting along behind us.

  As we exited the dungeon, I couldn’t help but think Talon had to care for his possessions to some degree.

  Otherwise, why would he bother to punish them?

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  RANSOM

  After leaving Jasper, I returned to my villa to find Talon and Braelyn had already left. It gave me time to shower, to dress—in new clothes I found provided for me in my c
loset—and to get another cup of coffee.

  It was then I noticed a folder sitting on the kitchen table. I flipped it open, glanced at a sheet of paper with a number on it. A very large number.

  I turned the page, saw what appeared to be an offer letter.

  Chief operating officer of Owned, Incorporated.

  Sitting down became necessary as I read the bulleted items outlining some of the job responsibilities, followed by a few brief paragraphs requesting I consider accepting this position with a promise of that very large number being my salary. It was signed by both Talon and Zion. On the inside back cover of the folder, Talon—I assumed it was him—said we would meet to discuss further.

  A job offer.

  One that would allow me to remain here on Sapphire Island and to save more than enough money to ensure my sister never had to worry about anything. I wasn’t sure what to think, but considering it was certainly my top priority. I mean, my life was technically over thanks to my staged death, so what did I have to lose?

  My thoughts shifted to Jasper, and I had to wonder what he would say if I told him I would be residing here permanently. Would he be pleased? Would he hate the idea? Would he finally break down and tell me why he’d abandoned me all those years ago? As for the last, did I even care to know why?

  So much to think about.

  Because I was getting text updates from Zion, I knew the Owners had arrived, so I ventured over to the Owners’ Retreat to see how it was all going down. For the most part, it appeared no different than check-in at a big resort. Only difference being that there were a limited number of people arriving here.

  Once everyone dispersed, I met up with Gideon, who provided me with a rundown of how it worked upon arrival. He also informed me that Memphis would be leaving the island—he didn’t explain why—so one of the visiting trainers would be taking over his spot. I offered to help out should they need me, and Gideon gladly accepted my offer.

  I was surprised by how much information Gideon supplied, almost as though he was reporting directly to me. Had Talon mentioned it to him? I had to think he had, although I didn’t know how my new role would affect his or what exactly my day-to-day duties would be.