“Not telling you how to do shit. I could care less what you do with her.”
“Then you won’t mind getting out of my way.”
X pivoted and stepped past my father, then everything faded as my lids closed and I shut out the world.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Bright light streamed through a window. Soft fluffy sheets covered me and a muscled arm draped over my waist. My thoughts stilled as I wrapped my mind around what happened last night, the pain, the acceptance, and my father’s presence.
Had Z been watching the entire time? X mentioned I would be a part of the evening’s entertainment. Was that why X had whipped me?
No.
I’d earned that punishment on my own. That whipping hadn’t been planned. In fact, it seemed to have done something to X, brought out a darkness which both terrified and soothed me at the same time. The explanation behind how that might be wasn’t something I wanted to ponder. I chose instead to accept what happened. I’d triggered something in X; something that couldn’t easily be put away.
His soft snores told me he had yet to wake and I froze, unwilling to stir the sleeping monster. A quick glance around the room had my eyes widening. This wasn’t my room. It lacked the spartan lines and utilitarian furniture, and most importantly, the presence of one of my four guards. Why had X taken me back to his room, and why had he put me in his bed? More importantly, why had he crawled in with me to sleep? He stirred beside me and tugged me against his hard body.
“You awake, Raven?”
My entire body stilled and I dared not move.
He nuzzled my neck and whispered in my ear. “Relax. You’re safe.”
I felt anything but safe, then remembered my place.
“I’m awake, Master.”
“You feel good in my arms.”
X moved behind me, the long length of him jabbed against my backside. He could take me right now. I wouldn’t stop him. To my surprise, he shifted away, placing distance between me and his morning erection.
“How do you feel?” He traced a line down my back. “Any pain?”
Was he tracing the marks from the whip? Surprisingly there was little pain.
“It doesn’t hurt. How can that be?”
“I put cream on the welts last night.” He massaged my neck. Knots of overworked muscles eased beneath his attention. I gave a soft sigh and allowed myself to enjoy the sensation. I didn’t feel threatened by X’s presence, and for the first time I found myself relaxing. He attacked the tension in my body, coaxing the tight cords in my back to relax.
“I don’t remember that.” There was little I remembered after X scooped me up in his arms and carried me off.
“You had your first experience with subspace. I brought you to my room, rubbed in the cream, and then crawled in next to you. I haven’t slept so soundly in months.”
Neither had I, come to think of it, and I wasn’t in a hurry to leave either. I should want to escape X’s bed, but I luxuriated beneath the power of his hands.
“The tightness will ease. Coming out of subspace brings back some of the pain. Your muscles will be sore for a couple of days.”
“What’s subspace?”
“It’s when endorphins flood your body, helping you process pain.”
“I remember feeling floaty.”
“That, would be subspace. It’s not unusual to feel a little detached.”
“You didn’t…um, do anything else to me?” It didn’t feel like we’d had sex and I would hate not to remember it. He shifted beside me, coming up on his elbow and turned me to my back. Instead of hardness, he gazed down at me with tenderness and concern. I felt…cherished.
“When I fuck you, Raven, you’ll be fully aware of it. I would never violate you, especially when you’re in subspace.”
And just like that, tension coiled back in my gut. There was no escaping that eventuality, although I didn’t fear it as I had once before.
“I just assumed, especially after…”
“I’ve taken what you said into consideration. We’ll get there, and when the time comes, I’ll take you. There won’t be any doubt in your mind, or regrets. This is happening between us, but I’m not like your father. I won’t hurt you.”
“But you trade in slaves.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“I saw what happened in that room, what those women were forced to do. Ben said he was building a resort—”
“Ben is not building a resort.”
“But, he said…”
“Come on Raven, you’re smarter than this.” He rolled out of bed and looked down at me. “Now put that brilliant mind of yours to work. I’m going to take a shower while you think about what might be happening here. We’ll talk later, and you have some decisions to make. I need to play host to my guests, which leaves you free to explore the house.” He pointed to my wrist and I noticed the dolphin pendant. “You can get breakfast in the kitchen. If you need anything, you can give Bay or Chad a call.”
“How do I do that?” My guards weren’t going to be with me? How had I earned the right to roam free?
“You’ll see square panels next to practically every door. The RFID chip in your bracelet gives you access to most parts of the house. When you come to a doorway, sensors will read the chip and you’ll see a red or green light. Green and you’re free to pass. Red means that part of the estate is off-limits.”
“And what if I keep going?”
“The discrepancy will be logged.”
“And?”
“You know what comes next. Unless you enjoy counting to ten over and over, I suggest you adhere to the rules. As for me, I don’t mind spanking your ass as many times as possible. If you enjoy the act of sitting, I suggest you don’t push.”
The thought of his punishment made me squirm and I pressed my thighs together, failing to soothe the sudden ache building between my legs. It wasn’t the punishment which set me off, it was yielding to the authority X represented. What the hell was wrong with me?
“Just like that? You’re going to let me wander free?”
“Free is a relative term. You’re being given certain freedoms, respect your boundaries, Raven. Respect me. Also, no more going outside. Don’t test me.”
“And what will you be doing?”
“I must attend to our guests. We have a breakfast meeting to finalize the sale of the slaves, then I’ll see them off the island.”
“Will you tell me where we are?” I desperately wanted to know where in the world I might be.
“You need to be in the library by two pm. We’ll talk about what happened last night.”
He left me to ponder his words. What was it about last night that he wanted to talk about? The whipping? What led up to the whipping? My father’s presence? Or something else? I hated the uncertainty brewing in my mind. A moment later, the shower turned on. I lay in the bed and pulled the covers around me. I had the day to roam and finally explore my surroundings. If I understood what X said, I was being allowed to do so alone. So why then did my attention keep popping to the bathroom, and my thoughts kept turning to joining X in that shower? The needy ache between my legs hadn’t slackened with his departure. Instead it had grown, leaving me a needy mess.
I rose from the bed, torn between marching into that bathroom and leaving all pretenses behind, or running out the door. Without any clothes, leaving X’s room didn’t seem wise, but then I spied another sundress. It seemed X had a definite preference for what I wore, at least when allowed clothes.
The shower stopped, removing the option of joining him, and I breathed out a sigh of relief. Too much temptation pulled at me, because I wanted to give myself to X. Something between us had shifted, and while I didn’t understand, it felt right. No longer my adversary, X was becoming something else.
He exited the bathroom, towel wrapped around his waist. Water beaded down the smooth expanse of his chest. I didn’t try hiding my open admiration and he said nothing as I bla
tantly checked him out. He ripped off the towel and tossed it on the bed, giving me full view of his naked ass. This was the first time I’d ever seen X in anything other than his pressed black suit and he wandered around his room as if it was nothing for him to be strutting his Greek glory in front of me.
“Shower is yours Raven. Be a good girl, behave, and I’ll see you after lunch.” He pulled on boxers and covered up with dark pants. A shirt came next and I shook my head as all his glorious skin was once again hidden from my sight. He gestured at the chair where the dress had been laid out. “I had Chad bring you something to wear.”
“Thank you,” I said, and at the hard stare X leveled at me, I remembered to add Master to what I said. He said I would be forced to say it until I couldn’t separate him from the word. Today, it didn’t grate on me to say the title. Like many things between us, it no longer felt burdensome.
X slung his tie around his neck and came to me. Palming my cheeks, he tilted my face up. I lost myself to the heat burning in his eyes. “You’re incredible, strong and resilient. I cherish this about you, but mind yourself out there. Don’t let your willfulness get the better of you. You don’t want to disappoint me.”
“I won’t.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
And I didn’t. I did nothing to disappoint X. I planned on being the perfect slave.
I showered, dressed, and ventured into the stark white halls of his home. I was on my own, without guards, and terrified of making the wrong decision on where to go. I removed the dolphin pendant from my wrist and clutched it in my hand. Holding it in front of me, I scanned the walls for the panels which would flash green or red.
When I came to red, I went left or right, or turned around. I would not violate the rules given to me, at least not until I could turn them to my advantage. But was that what I wanted anymore? Honestly, I didn’t know. I couldn’t deny my attraction for X, but there were a lot of things he had to answer for. My abduction aside, I’d seen him traffic in human flesh. That wasn’t something I could live with.
It only took three turns until I became hopelessly lost. The tiny squares guided me, in a way. Most flashed red, blocking my passage, but enough turned green and allowed my exploration. I stumbled about for the better part of an hour, backtracking and getting hopelessly turned around until I started paying attention to the artwork. Where the halls looked indistinguishable from one another, the uniqueness of art started forming a pattern. Once I figured that out—and I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed it before—I was able to sketch out a rough map of the estate.
I stumbled across several inner courtyards like the one by my room. Each differed from the other. One had a waterfall cascading down from the second level. Another had a series of interconnected carp ponds with tiny waterways the brilliant fish used to navigate from one pond to the next. The third courtyard was devoid of water structures. Instead of the serenity of flowing water, sand filled several basins and had been raked into calming designs. I stopped there to rest my feet and admired the simplicity of the Zen garden.
Not once did I see my guards, although I was under no illusion my walkabout wasn’t being monitored. I kept to the green lit halls and stayed away from those blocked by the red lights. Temptation pulled at me to wander outside, but that would bring punishments I didn’t want, and besides, I didn’t want X to be disappointed. Abusing this privilege would send me ten steps back.
Eventually, I turned a corner and the most mouthwatering aroma hit my senses. The kitchen had to be close. I’d missed breakfast, too excited with exploring my new home to eat, and it had to be close to lunch, if not past time for the midday meal. I had to meet X back in the library at 2pm, and while I didn’t have a watch, I felt certain I still had plenty of time.
Following the mouthwatering smells, I only backtracked once after making a wrong turn. The kitchen was exactly as it had been before, full of men I didn’t know; kneading bread, butchering meat, and tending cook pots over a massive stove. One of the men came to greet me.
“Miss Raven, we were expecting you some time ago. I see you found your way.”
“This is a big place! I got turned around at least twenty times.”
He gave a deep, rumbly laugh and guided me over to one of the bistro tables sitting beside the glass wall looking into the wine cellar.
“It is at that. Now, what can I get you?”
“What do you have?”
He gave a sweeping gesture. “Anything you want.”
“Anything?”
He winked at me. “Pretty much, but of course, some things might take more time.”
“In that case, how about a tuna melt?”
“Now that’s an easy request. Do you want fries with that or a salad?”
“My stomach is a bit unsettled, maybe just the sandwich.”
A few of the men looked up, took me in, then went back to work. They were aware of me, yet made no effort to look me in the eye, smile, or otherwise acknowledge my existence. I had no doubts that all of the men in this room knew every tiny detail about me.
“Of course.” The man wiped the table for me, although it looked spotless.
“Thank you.” I settled back into my chair and prepared to wait.
“Would you like something to drink?” His eyes crinkled at the corners and made me feel at ease. Even though this wasn’t my home, this kitchen felt warm and inviting. I didn’t feel so alone, almost as if I shared something wonderful with all these men I didn’t know. I knew what that was. We were all slaves to one mysterious man, but I got the feeling, that unlike me, they were here by choice. How did X instill that kind of loyalty and devotion in others?
“Water is fine.” I didn’t want to impose.
“Water it is, although if you want wine, we have plenty.”
I glanced at the wine cellar and the thousands of bottles stacked inside.
“Um, I don’t know if Master Xavier would allow that.”
“We have received no instructions to the contrary. For such a big day, a little celebration is in order. No?”
If not being locked in my small room counted as a celebration I was all for that, but something told me adding alcohol into the mix might not be the best idea. I needed to remain sharp and keep my wits about me with X.
“Thank you. Perhaps another time? Maybe just the water?”
“Of course. Do you take lemon with your water?”
“Yes, please.”
The man walked away and shouted orders to the others, leaving me to watch them work. Without a phone, I had nothing to occupy my time. What I wouldn’t give for a magazine or newspaper, anything which might connect me to the outside world.
How long had I been locked up? A month? Longer? I felt disconnected from the outside world and oddly at peace with that too. The constant dichotomy swirling inside my head never ceased to amaze me. My mind drifted, watching the men knead dough and chop at the butcher’s block. The sounds lulled me into a trancelike state and I jerked with surprise when an overwhelming presence approached.
Thinking X had found me, I opened my eyes, then my mouth gaped in surprise. If I thought X had been intimidating, the blond giant standing in front of me rendered me speechless. Like something out of a Norse legend, the towering man reminded me of a Viking king with white-blond hair, more white than blond, and piercing blue eyes. Those glacial eyes held a subdued warmth.
“You must be Raven.” He extended his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I see now how you’ve captivated Xavier’s affections.”
Affections? I wasn’t sure I’d call what X and I shared as affection; locked in a battle of wills maybe, but affection? I lifted my hand in greeting before noticing X’s laptop clutched in the man’s massive hand. I drew back as if shocked.
Suddenly hyperaware and cautious, I treaded carefully, not eager to give anything away. “And you are?” Why did this man have X’s laptop?
The stranger didn’t ask permission to join me, he just dropped into the cha
ir opposite me. None of the men in the kitchen reacted to the stranger’s presence, making me wonder what was going on.
“I’m impressed,” he said. “That’s a rather large compliment from me by the way. It takes a lot to impress me.”
“Excuse me?”
He placed the laptop on the table and pressed his hand over the lid.
“Xavier says you’re an MIT graduate, Computer Science.” He wasn’t asking a question, but rather stating fact.
“I am.” Who the hell is this man?
“They don’t teach the kind of coding you wrote in Computer Science, especially in undergraduate classes. Your skill is impressive.” He tapped the top of the laptop.
“Thank you?” I said it as a question and glanced around the room, wondering if Xavier was setting me up. The whipping from last night had been earned after telling X about the malicious programming in the source code I installed on Z’s laptop. I used it as a threat against X, but I’d also left something else; a call for help.
“It took me almost an hour to crack,” the man said.
“There’s no way you cracked that in less than an hour.”
“I did. It’s no longer active.” He flipped open the laptop and tapped on the keys. When he turned the computer around, I wanted to be sick to my stomach. Good thing the cook hadn’t brought my lunch yet. “I also canceled the S-O-S you had set to send and informed Xavier.”
My entire body shuddered. If X knew about the S-O-S there would be no end to his fury. Wait? If X knew, what the hell was I doing still wandering free? Shouldn’t I be hanging from chains and at the mercy of X’s whip?
“How did you do that?” I’d buried the S-O-S deep into the programming. No-one should have been able to have found it.
“Don’t feel bad. I’m very good with computers.” He smiled at me. “There aren’t many people who give me a run for my money. I found your code intelligent and sophisticated. We could use someone like you working with us.”
She’s Mine: A Captive Romance Page 18