His to Save (Mastering Melody Book 3)

by Talia Zane

  “Don’t worry,” she whispered, almost conspiratorially, as she turned us toward the right down another long hallway. “All of us thought the same at the beginning, but he is a fair man and I believe you will come to love him as we have.”

  Her confidence might’ve disturbed a person unfamiliar with how one could love someone who kept them caged, but my experience with Rohan meant I understood perfectly. The man who was now my Master as well as their own obviously treated them well and I relaxed with this knowledge of the man I belonged to.

  It wouldn’t take away the pain of losing the man I loved and our child, but the idea there wouldn’t be torture similar to Frans’ treatment brought a little comfort as we arrived in the bathing area.

  I looked at my surroundings then and knew for sure this wouldn’t be anything like my previous circumstances. Instead of a bathroom with a tub, there was an open marble floor with an area in the center much like a swimming pool, only the water wasn’t real deep for most of it.

  Steam rose from the water and after a little nudge from Layla, I walked over to the steps and slowly submerged my lower body in the water, sitting on one of the benches protruding from the wall beneath the surface with a sigh.

  The water reached right below my breasts, my whole form heating up within a minute, and as the other women undressed to get in, I tilted my head back to rest on the edge and closed my eyes.

  Peaceful and relaxing in a way I hadn’t experienced in my entire life…enough that for a little while, I forgot my situation and let down my guard.

  Following the bath, the women gave me a dark blue wrap similar to their own to wear, and led me to the kitchens where hot food awaited us.

  My mouth watered at the sight of items I hadn’t eaten since before the man picked me up that night. Things I never knew I would miss like steamed vegetables and others I missed a lot more than anyone should ever admit, such as meat and potatoes.

  Layla told me where to sit and after the others sat down, the dishes were passed around, and soon I realized that was in pecking order with me being last.

  When our plates were filled, she grabbed my hand with Lira taking the other, and everyone lowered their heads while I stared in fascination. They didn’t speak during this as expected. Instead, after a few moments, they lifted their heads, released hands, and began to eat.

  I followed suit, figuring I would ask Layla later why they did that, and enjoyed the food while the ladies chatted around me. It was mostly stuff I had no idea about, yet I didn’t feel ignored. If anything, Layla seemed to keep an eye on me, often softly asking me if I wanted more food when the others took over talking.

  Their synchronized rising to their feet upon finished amused me because it seemed they completed eating on a schedule, and with the exception of Layla, they grabbed their plates before walking out of the room.

  She took me by the hand to me out another door, toward the side of the house she said belonged to the Master, and stopped by small bathroom at the bottom of the steps. Releasing my hand, she stepped back and nodded at the door behind me.

  “Brush your teeth and use the facilities. Once you’re finished, head up the steps and knock on the door two times, pause a beat, then knock twice more. Don’t enter until he tells you to and when you do, make sure to shut the door behind you before walking to the center of the room and sinking to your knees with your eyes on the floor. Understood?”

  Biting my lip, I looked up at the steps to see the big black doors and shot her a nervous smile. “Yes, I understand. Thank you for being so kind to me.”

  She pursed her lips at that and shook her head, clasping her hands in front of her with a sigh. “Pettiness and jealousy isn’t allowed by Master, and rightfully so. We are all his and receive the attention we deserve. His happiness is all that matters, so you will not have to worry about anyone being unkind to you without severe punishment to follow if their actions demand it.”

  When I nodded at the information and clear warning to behave, she turned on her heel and walked back the way we came, leaving me to follow her instructions without supervision.

  A novelty, in truth, and once those things were done, I stood at the door with my stomach in knots. After a few deep breaths, I knocked as directed, awaiting my invitation inside with a little impatience when it didn’t come immediately.

  Finally, a low, husky timbered command called out. “Enter.”

  Pushing the door open, I made sure it shut behind me before walking to the center of the room and dropping to my knees, my gaze locked on the floor and hands clasped in my lap.

  While waiting for him to speak again, I never hated silence as much as in that moment because it dragged on so long I wondered if he was displeased already.

  First, shiny black boots came into my view, attached to a leg covered in dark jeans, taking everything in me not to follow them to see the height of this man. When he rested his hand on the top of my head, I felt his heat through the coils Layla had insisted be done, and wanted to whimper from the inherent strength evident in his simple touch.

  I expected his hand to slide down and grab my chin, and even anticipated being made to look up with a little force from that same hand, but what I didn’t expect when my gaze finally met his brilliant blue eyes were the words, “Hello again.”

  Only his hold kept me from falling over at realizing this was the same man who said he came to save me right before I lost Frans’ child.

  3

  My mouth moved to form a greeting back, but he shook his head to stop me and let go, stepping back with a frown.

  “I’m not the man you’re here to see.” He shoved a hand through his hair and sighed. “However, he has let me have some time alone with you and will join us when I’m finished.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Saying the words before thinking of the potential consequences, tears formed in my eyes because if he hadn’t saved me, why was he here?

  Regret filled his face at my evident despair, but he didn’t touch me again nor did he reprimand me for speaking. “There is nothing to understand, sweetheart, except that I saved you from Frans as promised. However, even good deeds come with consequences in this world.”

  Licking my lips, I didn’t dare look away even though I would’ve felt better staring down at my hands as I asked, “Were you…did you…?” I couldn’t even finish the sentence and hoped he understood what I wanted to know.

  His lips flattened as he answered my question with a grim, singular nod. “I took a chance and induced a miscarriage that appeared spontaneous, hoping Frans would decide you weren’t worth the trouble, consider you damaged goods, and auction you off. He took the bait because he’s as predictable as I thought.”

  Although not freed from my slavery, I did consider myself lucky to have been saved from Frans by this man. My voice, raw with emotion, cracked as I asked him what I wanted to know most. “What about Tiaan and Rohan?”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart. There wasn’t any sight of him or the child on the land, but my men are still looking for them both as best they can. However, it was difficult to elude detection, and I’ve no doubt if they aren’t dead, then Frans is guarding them well.”

  Tears rolled down my cheeks at this devastating news, unable to prevent myself from fearing the worst and knowing I might never know for sure. “Why did you save me? I…I’m just a slave, even when Rohan kept me for himself.”

  He crouched down in front of me, taking both my hands in one of his while wiping at my tears with the other. “Rohan made me promise if anything were to happen, I was to do my best to rescue you. We corresponded frequently, and he wrote that you didn’t belong there. He would’ve freed you himself if he could’ve.”

  Crying harder at being given proof about how much Rohan loved me, I yanked my hands from his and scowled, letting my emotions get the best of me despite the promise I made not to. “But I am not free. I’ve only been moved from one cage to another.”

  “We all have a pric
e to pay, sweetheart. And Marius’ conditions for helping me included keeping you after the auction. Our actions were dangerous and if caught by Frans, would’ve condemned us to death at his hands.”

  Even though I understood why one would agree to such terms over someone they didn’t know beyond Rohan’s writings and remembering how much I ‘went’ for at the auction meant I knew how much my rescue had cost in real terms. However, I didn’t care because I’d had enough of all this shit.

  “I want my baby, and I want to go home.” I cried harder as neither of those were possible, not to mention I didn’t have a home, but he didn’t know that. “It wasn’t supposed to be forever. Just for a year and then I would’ve been free.”

  His snort of laughter is humorless. “No. You were never going to be freed because the moment you agreed, you knew too much. The only way out is to die. No matter what was promised, everything said was to ensure you would accept the proposition, Melody.”

  I gasped at my name on his lips, and before I could ask him how he knew, he covered my mouth with his hand and accompanied it with a stern look. “Even if his promise had been real, Melody Porter has been declared legally dead. Money will buy anything, including a declaration of death. You have no life to return to, not that you had much of one before.”

  The more he talked, the deeper my depression and hopelessness grew, but worst was knowing he told the truth because he had no reason to lie to a woman with no way to escape. Even through his hand touching my lips I inquired, “How do you know so much about me?”

  “The man with the original terms, he stalks his prey, making sure to know everything about the person before approaching them with his empty promises. He does nothing more than procure slaves and is a master at making sure people never expect their loved one to return home by having them declared dead after a year following their disappearance. You were almost too easy because you had no one and he knew it. However, he still made sure returning to your previous life would prove difficult at best and impossible at worst.”

  The sinking in my chest was complete by the end of his clarification and with wobbling lips I asked another question, deciding I would keep doing so as long as he let me. “Why would you risk your life to save me, even for a friend you’re not even sure is alive? An evil man wouldn’t care, surely.”

  He rises then, towering over me with his hands on his hips and his bright eyes shining, a soft chuckle leaving his lips before he shakes his head. “That’s where you’re wrong sweetheart. This business is about money and pleasure, both of which I know you’re familiar with considering your previous occupation. I am neither good nor bad, simply a man who must make a living like anyone else, and have friends to whom I keep a promise even in the face of death.”

  Lowering my gaze, I stared at my hands while wishing I could get up from this leg-numbing position, and sniffled. “What about Rohan? What if he’s alive and finds out—”

  He interrupted me with a curt tone, the first of the evening, making it clear I now tested his impatience. “If he is alive, I’ve no doubt Frans has gloated to him by now that you’ve been sold and told he will never have you again. There is nothing you can do about it, so I suggest you make the best of your life here with Marius. He will take good care of you.”

  He was right, and I knew it, but before anything more could be said between us, the door opened, and the man switched to another language in greeting.

  They spoke above me as I wasn't there and other than the man briefly touching my head in goodbye, he said nothing else to me before leaving me alone with the one he called Marius.

  4

  I kept my head bowed as he circled me, stopping to stand in front as the other man had and surprising me with the softness of his tone as he commanded, “Rise.”

  Getting to my feet as he ordered, I kept my gaze lowered, noticing everything I could about this man named Marius but would be called Master by me. His feet were barefoot, his legs had a light dusting of dark hair, and as my eyes continued their upward trek, I discovered he stood nude before me.

  And even though I’d seen enough naked men to last me a lifetime, my cheeks blossomed with heat because I had expected him to be wearing clothing for some reason.

  My gaze snapped to his before I saw anything above his knees, not missing the slight smirk on his lips at my reaction, yet distracted by the contradictory softness of his expression as he stared me in the face. Relieved he didn’t reprimand me for looking up without permission, his dark golden skin, sleeked back black hair and dark eyes reminded me of Rohan, which caused a twinge that I pushed away before it would make me cry.

  And then he spoke again.

  “I believe you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen,” he whispered in the same lightly accented English as the women, lifting a hand to my face and stroking my cheek, the smirk slipping from his face when I winced reflexively. “I am pleased to welcome you to my household.”

  I heard him and knew what his answer would be, yet said what I wanted to say anyway while I still had the chance because I knew the rules would be stated before long and I would have no excuse to ignore them except to cause trouble. “Let me go, please.”

  “No.” His denial remained kind and gentle as his demeanor so far because we were both aware I wouldn’t be going anywhere, yet he merely watched me and let me have my say.

  “I don’t want to join your household,” I continued with renewed tears, lifting my hands in front of me as if in prayer, and plead with every inch of me. “I want to be free, please. I don’t want this.”

  His hand slipped from my cheek to my neck before sliding around to the back of my neck, where he cupped his hand and leaned in, pressing a passionless kiss to my dry lips before whispering, “You have no reason to be afraid. Here you will be yourself, Melody. You will have a family and live in peace, with no worries except to please me.”

  I repeated myself even as hope for my freedom one day dwindled to dust. “I don’t want any of that, of this.”

  “You will change your mind.” He ran his tongue across my mouth, attempting to coax my lips to part, and when they remained shut he chuckled against them. “I see it will take a bit of persuasion for you to respond to me as desired.”

  I wanted to tell him I wouldn’t respond as he wanted, nor would I have the family he naturally acquired me for, but I knew his tongue would find its way into my mouth if I replied to his remark.

  “I like a challenge,” he said, probably realizing I wasn’t going to cave and forced me to walk backward by stepping toward me. “And your unresponsiveness simply makes bending you to my will more fun for me.”

  I had nothing left to lose, that’s how I rationalized my lack of cooperation since now I knew for sure I would never get free. And I wasn’t afraid to displease this man, even hardly knowing him, because I doubted he was anything like Frans.

  When the back of my knees hit the edge of the bed, he drew away and smiled before whirling me around, pushing on my back until my front met the comforter covered mattress.

  He leaned over my back, his strength and size displaying his power over me, and reached toward the center of the bed past my head.

  “Your hands,” he said into my ear, lifting up a bit for me to free my arms from where they were caged against my stomach, and laughed when I didn’t do as he bid. “We can do this the easy or the hard way, Melody, and I would prefer the former so we can enjoy ourselves sooner.”

  I considered seeing what the hard way would entail, yet his arousal against the fabric covering my ass stopped me when combined with this vulnerable position, and his weight bore down on me once more after I lifted my hands over my head.

  He secured them in the cuffs that were attached to the straps and yanked on them to make sure all was good before lifting off me.

  I bit my lip to keep from crying out at the feel of him lifting the wrap to bare my ass, not wanting to give him the joy of gaining a reaction from me and barely managing not to shudder as
his hand went from stroking one cheek to the other.

  He did it for so long, lulling me into a false sense of security, before his hand left only to come back down with a harsh slap on my left cheek.

  For a little bit, I achieved my goal of not giving him the satisfaction of a response, but as he alternated back and forth with slapping and rubbing it became harder to hold back.

  The slaps eventually stung with each landing, my entire ass radiating with pain and trying to escape after each slap while I howled with my embarrassment. Or perhaps it was the shame at being spanked like an errant child again.

  Shame that grew when he stopped and glided his hand around the front of my body and between my legs, two of his fingers entering with ease from the abundant wetness and making me move into his hand toward the enjoyable touch giving me pleasure instead of pain.

  He removed his hand, and as I cried out in protest, he slapped my ass again with one hand before fingering me once more with the other, over and over while torturing me by taking away the nice touch every time I moved into it.

  When I finally stopped moving against his hand, sobbing with the pain of the slaps and the teasing yet denied pleasure he evoked between my legs, he leaned over my body while keeping a hand between my legs as he murmured, “Do you wish to climax, Melody?”

  I had barely spent time with this man, yet I already wanted to beg him to give me an orgasm, and I hated myself for wanting it bad enough to consider answering his question. It would mean he won and I’d given in.

  “I don’t wish to fight you, dearest,” he said in my ear, making me shiver by pressing a kiss right below it and then gasp by stroking his fingers against my g-spot. “We will be lovers and parents together. Nobody will take your child away here.”

  Sucking in a breath, I broke my silence, my entire body freezing beneath him. “You know?”