“Breath any deeper and you might regret it.”
The scratching came back as he bent his wrist and grazed my tightened skin with the pointed end. My lids lowered while pleasure mingled with the need to pull back.
When he turned the dull edge against me and eased it over the sensitive tip, I couldn’t stop the moan that filled the space between us. His eyes rose to mine, the edge of his lips pulling back into a smile that was so sexy, I fought to breath at all.
“I think you like my knife more than you’re willing to admit.” He jerked me forward, fisting the material of my dress in his hands. Ripping assaulted my ears as he cut through the top, only to use his hands to tear through the rest. I was pulled more toward him with each yank of his hands.
“I like it sometimes,” I barely managed to get out. My mind went back to the earlier question. “What do I do to you, Master?” Tell me something. Anything. I wasn’t sure why it was so important to know. Maybe I longed to be able to redeem such a viscous man. One who did things to me that I enjoyed, yet feared. I wasn’t ignorant to the fact that some people weren’t salvageable, but I longed to see a different side of the one before me. If he had both good and bad, perhaps…fuck, I had to be looking for a way to justify what I was feeling.
The jacket fell to the floor and he stepped back, taking off the cuffs links from his shirt and placing them on the tray that held the knives, saws, and scalpels. When his shirt opened, my stare dropped right to my signature.
“Why don’t you tell me what you do to me, slave. Why did I allow you to scar me?”
Still, I couldn’t look away. Even when he unbuckled the belt and pulled it free from the loops, I stayed transfixed to the letters I’d cut into his lower stomach.
“Moment of insanity? Maybe you wanted to cut me enough to suffer though carrying something you might not want, like my name. I don’t think you would have done it had I not given permission.”
The spell was broken as he surged forward. I could barely focus before his hand pushed against my forehead and pinned my head to the post.
“You think I need your permission to do what I want?” Fire over my shoulder had me sucking in air. My mind said to jerk, to fight to try to get away. Rationality said if I moved, the pain would be a hell of a lot worse.
Up and down, and then, up and down again. The angles already told me what I couldn’t see. The bastard had branded me with the letter M. It had to have been no bigger than a quarter, but it was there, nonetheless.
“You son of a bitch.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat and the tears clouding my vision.
There was that smile again. “My mother was lovely, thank you very much. A kind soul. Nothing like me or my father.”
I flinched as the knife continued to draw fear. He pushed the flat side in, only to graze more with the tip. I glanced down, watching him smear the blood. Smooth and warm, it traveled toward my neck at his lead.
“You still want to die?” The weapon inched closer to my throat as I tried to ground myself and face him. The moment our eyes met, he paused, pushing until I sucked in at the slight sting.
“I still want you to kiss me,” I countered, not able to answer his question. “And not like the animal you were before. I want you to do it right.” My mouth closed, only to open again. “And you own me a D on your shoulder. I’ll take that too when you’re finished.”
Master shook his head. Although his face told me he was furious, his eyes held something altogether different. Amusement? I could only hope that I’d somehow broken though his tough exterior. I was beginning to lose hope.
“I owe you nothing. The only D concerning me and you, is my dick in your pussy. That’s it. Oh,” he smiled, “and death. That’s a D, too.”
I hissed at the new sting, right next to the other. “Will you stop fucking sticking me with that thing? I’m not your Goddamn cutting board.” I turned my face away from him, knowing I was about to be in a shitload of trouble. I just couldn’t resist riling him. If he wasn’t going to show me his good side, I’d see just how dark his bad side truly was. “I don’t like this anymore. Unless you give me something else to work with, like gentle mixed with your barbarian ways, I’m afraid I’m going to have to put a stop to this. I’m growing rather bored of your treatment.” Please don’t let him hit me…or worse.
My eyes glanced over in time to see the shock dissolve into real anger. Fury, even. “I bore you? Really? I wasn’t aware this was a fucking vacation, slave. Here, let’s fix that, shall we? We’ll start with a makeover. Women get those when they go on holidays, right?” A handful of my hair was collected in his fist and I gasped as the knife settled above his grip.
“Oh, God! Please, Master,” I begged. “Don’t do it. Don’t—”
My head jerked and I felt my lip quiver at the long curls hanging loose from his grasp. I almost couldn’t believe it. He’d cut my fucking hair off with his knife!
“Oh we’re just getting start, love. Best keep still if you don’t want to get cut in the process.”
A sob exploded out as the length fell to my chin and more of my hair was collected. How had I thought to push him? That he could be good? The man wasn’t. Not at all. He was a fucking monster. The devil, himself.
I tried to move, to escape his grasp, but there was nowhere to go. “Just a little more. Then, we can start on your massage. Women get those too, right? I think the flogger will do the job perfectly.
“I hate you,” I breathed out. “I’ve said it before, but I really mean it this time. I’ve never hated someone so much in my life!”
Master ripped through the last of my long hair and held it up for me to see. “If you hate me, then we’re finally getting somewhere.” The locks fell and he stepped in, cupping my face. The mask fell away, making me hesitate in turning away. I was trapped, transfixed, as he leaned closer, easing his lips into mine. There was nothing brutal about the gentle coaxing he was administering.
Finally getting somewhere? I stood frozen, torn by my need to bite his tongue or try to understand what the fuck was going on. My emotions battled each other, fighting to decide if this was all an act for some ulterior motive. I just wasn’t sure. I could see his good before he kissed me. And from what he said, it almost appeared as if he were trying to teach me a lesson, but of what?
“Kiss me, slave. You’re going to need all the comfort you can get before I start unleashing on you.” His lips pushed back into mine, along with his body. Metal bit into my back, but his hands easing over my ass made it all disappear. I was lifted to straddle his waist while one of his palms slid up, pushing into my lower back.
The tip of his tongue slid along mine, but I didn’t meet it. Instead, I remained perfectly still, devoid of passion. The life that flooded through me had my eyes closing while I tried to hide my reaction. I could feel the wetness covering my face smear as his rough cheek slid against mine. Fuck, even after what he’d done, I was still responding. I couldn’t understand it. Everything in me begged to involve myself in the act.
The kiss deepened while his fingers dug into my flesh. His hard cock rubbed along my ass and I craved to move against it. The need focused, zeroing in on what was beneath me. Before I realized it, I was kissing him back. Pleasure and hunger burst to life, causing me to move. My eyes opened, taking in the stranger before me. I didn’t think — couldn’t, if I was going to stand up for myself.
My teeth sunk down into his bottom lip and I pulled back at the taste of his blood. Where I expected a beast to emerge, all I got was a growl followed by a smile pulling at his mouth. Blood trailed to his chin and he licked the source while I trembled from fear and lust.
“You cut my lip twice,” I rushed in. “I figure we’re even on that account. If you’ll just untie me, I’ll place my mark on your shoulder and we’ll be even. Then, I’ll leave. I’m ready to go home.”
The kiss left my brain muddled. What in the hell was I talking about? He wasn’t going to let me leave. I knew that.
&nbs
p; “You’re a brave one, slave.” He licked his lip again, smearing the blood as he wiped his free hand over his chin. “You’re the only one who’s ever made me bleed. The only one I’ve openly bled for. You think I’d just let you walk away from that?”
My mouth parted while I tried to shift against him. The ties rubbed at my numbing wrists, but, still, I pulled.
“What? No response?” His head shook, his eyes narrowing while I saw the anger return. “I didn’t think so. We both know you’re not going anywhere until I’m ready to release you. If,” he emphasized, “I decide to. You still have a long way to go. Just because you had a quick change of heart doesn’t justify letting you go. You’re in limbo. You’ll have to earn your ticket out of here, whether that’s life or death. The choice will be yours to decide, but the outcome will ultimately be mine. With the way you keep misbehaving…we may never reach the time when either of us decides.”
“So, that’s your plan? To let our lives pass by while you keep me in your home, torturing me? You know…” I paused, trying to slow my pulse. I couldn’t stop what needed to be said, regardless of how afraid I was to continue. “Whatever you hold inside, the rage you so easily let rule your life because of what happened in your past…you’re not going to heal yourself by breaking me. Or anyone, for that matter.”
Closer, he stepped, until there wasn’t any distance between us. My breasts were crushed against his chest, but he pushed in harder.
“Oh, slave. You just don’t get it. I don’t do this to slaves because of my loss. This, right here, I do for my pleasure. Besides, you love the torture, don’t you.” Not a question. His eyes held mine, searching for what, I wasn’t sure. All I knew was I had to figure out what I was going to do. I’d been on the path to obey so I could kill myself, but now that I didn’t want to die, would he truly let me go? There was a possibility, but he had said the opposite, too. It all came down to trusting him. Which I didn’t.
“You cutting my hair, what does that prove? That you have power of me? Do you think I don’t see that?”
Fingers gripped into my ass on each side and I tried not to move as he lifted me higher onto his stomach.
“Apparently not. You don’t obey for shit and you push me to my limits. Until you learn, I’ll do whatever I feel is necessary to get you to where you need to be. No matter what that entails.”
My head tilted as I glared. “And where is that? Where do I need to be?”
A growl tore from his throat and I could tell he regretted what he’d said. “Stable in whatever it is you chose. We’re done talking. From this day on, you will listen. You will follow all of my rules. Or so help me, I will lock you down here and beat you every day until you do. And I’m not talking about the pampering you’ve been given so far. I will break you, slave. Something I’m trying like hell not to do, because once you’re that far gone, you’ll be nothing but a fucking robot to my every command. You wouldn’t be able to leave then, even if you wanted to. Why, you might ask? Because you’ll be so dependent on my every word, you’d be lost without me telling you what to do. You’d die without me, or you’d sure as hell want to. I want you strong enough to make your own decisions while still following rules. This is for you. Not me. You. Let this soak in. Strong, but submissive. Do you see?”
His hand gripped my face, pushing my head into the metal. “Lessons. Obedience. Strong state of mind. Drop being proud and bend to me. Only then will you know what you truly want or need in life. And only then will I allow you to choose your path.”
Time slowed as I took in the weeks I’d been here. Suddenly, it was all so clear. This wasn’t a game like I’d warped myself believe. This wasn’t about finding out who he was or digging more into his psyche so I could unravel some huge mystery I held within myself. That didn’t matter as much as the purpose he’d given me. Strong, yet submissive. If I did that, the answers concerning him may come. Possibly, even easier than if I were to keep fighting with him. But most importantly, I’d understand who I was. Bend if I wanted to leave. If I wanted a life again, no matter what the held. Yes. It was time.
“All right…Master.”
His brow drew together and the stiffness in his shoulders seemed to melt as he lowered me to the ground. My head bowed as I waited for what was to come. I knew there’d be no pleasure this time. Maybe never again. It had all been over me goading him for a gentler kiss and the seal of our lips may have just been the death of anything else intimate we might share.
Chapter 16
Master
Bruised, sagging on the St. Andrew’s cross, Diane was a mess. The tears had dried up long ago. All that remained were the sound of her sobs, devoid of anything flowing from her eyes. My hand lifted, unbuckling the cuffs that kept her upright. The moment her hand was free, I caught her falling body, careful not to add any more pain to the marks covering her. I knew when I’d had to stop, when she couldn’t take much more, and I had been right. I may not have broken her, but I came damn close.
“Master.” Her hand tried to clutch to my bare chest while I freed her other arm. Weight collapsed into my waiting grasp and I scooped her into my arms, carrying her up the basement stairs and toward the ones that would take us to my room. I could have showered her downstairs, but she was done with the basement. I knew submission when I saw it and from the moment I’d made my speech, I saw my slave give herself to me freely. No more fighting. No more stunts. We were finished. The rest would be easy.
Sadness registered as she whimpered against me. I’d have to let her go soon. It tore me to pieces knowing her punishments were just about over. That she’d be gone from under my roof, living her own life — moving on.
I couldn’t deny that it would make me happy to see her carry on with her life, but what was the cost for me? Fuck. I didn’t want to think about it. Didn’t want to admit to myself what I already knew.
“Shh, slave. I’m going to take care of you.” I kissed her forehead, turning to head toward my room down the hall. My eyes connected with the last door at the end, only to jerk back to mine.
“Hurt,” she cried, softly.
“I know. It had to be done. Now, you’ll listen, won’t you.” It wasn’t a question. She would listen or heaven forbid, I might actually have to try breaking her. I knew I could. A part of me sure as fuck wanted to, but I couldn’t do that to her, even though I knew it wouldn’t take much. A few more days of what I’d done tonight…she’d be mine. Forever. A compliant slave, at my beck and call.
“I’m going to clean you up and tend to your wounds. You’ll sleep with me tonight and tomorrow, you’ll start your new routine.”
I pushed the door open, sweeping past the monitors and into the bathroom. As I turned on the shower, she curled me into me. The sadist in me couldn’t stop looking at the marks. Fuck, I loved them. Had thrived the entire time I placed them on her. I’d soaked it in, knowing it would probably be the last time. It made the sadness all too much to take. To have another slave like her was one in a million. I’d never been as obsessed with another person, as I had been with the beautiful Diane. We were so much alike. So fucking much. In personality and our lives. I’d clung to her pain and loss, wanting to heal her so it would somehow fix me. It hadn’t.
Water sprayed against the marble and I tested the temperature before I kicked off my shoes and stepped in. My pants began to stick to my legs, soaking through from the thick stream’s setting. A gasp filled the air and I stepped back out of the direct downpour.
“Too much. I can’t take it,” she gritted out. “Just lay me down, I’ll be fine.”
I grabbed the soap, dropping it to the bottom. My hand reached forward and hit the dial, turning the spray lighter. I eased down to cradle her in my lap as I sat under the light drizzle.
“You did well. Took a lot more than I thought you’d be able to.” I opened the soap, refusing to look into her face. “I’m proud of you.”
“You are?”
Such awe in her tone. It tugged deep inside of
me, calling to the Master within. The one who played by the rules, not the one damn near breaking slaves. I glance down at her widened eyes. “Yes. About everything. Especially with you deciding to listen. It pleases me very much.” I might have said the words, but I didn’t trust her just yet.
I lifted my hand, pushing back the wet hair that was stuck to her jaw line. What a pity. It had damn near killed me to cut it. Oh, how I loved to grab onto the long length. If it hadn’t been to teach her a lesson, I would have never dreamed of shortening it.
“I butchered your hair. I’ll have Courtney come over tomorrow and fix it before dinner.” My mouth twisted and I lowered my head, letting the water run over me. The stream splashed against her stomach and my stare connected with my name. Fuck, what had I done? I knew…but shit. I’d had every intention of keeping her then; had almost convinced myself that my signature would make it impossible for me to let her go. Could I bear another man seeing my brand? That would mean they were in my territory. Mine.
“Was Courtney like me? A slave?”
Was that jealousy in her tone? I couldn’t tell as I brought my head up and looked at her. “Yes. But not like you. She was different.”
“May I ask how, Master?”
Oh, how my body responded to her submission. All I wanted to do was lift her and hold her closer, tighter in my arms, right against my chest and the one place she had taken over.
“Courtney was a prostitute. Had been since she was fourteen. At thirty-four, she’d been down a very tough road. Meth addict for seven years. Overdosed twice and almost died. She’d been contemplating her third attempt when I had her abducted and brought here. Her withdraws were horrible. Medication eased them a little, but not completely. During her lessons, she’d confessed on always wanting to go to school for cosmetology, but never having the means. After she was better and decided she didn’t want to die anymore, I set her up in an apartment and sent her to school. That was a few years ago. She’s been clean ever since and even has her own salon now.”
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