Unbearable

by Alaska Angelini

  Whatever Sevastian was saying caused his voice to deepen. I knew that angry tone, could feel it vibrating my body all the way to my bones. Where it should have caused fear, it sent a thrill through me. He was so worked up. The power he’d wield if we were together while he was that mad had me growing wet.

  “Alright. Are we still on for dinner tonight? I really need to talk to you about something. I’d prefer to do it in person.”

  My pulse exploded in my chest, rattling my insides and deafening me until I feared I wouldn’t hear a word he said after that.

  “You can’t keep putting us off. The faster you both face this and get on good terms, the better things will be. Not just for you, but for her. Think of Diane. She needs to move forward and get her life back together. You think she can do that if there’s a part of her that’s incomplete? Do this, Master. Become her friend, if nothing else. Whatever you do, fix it.”

  I eased back toward my room, shutting myself inside. Sadness flourished, but I locked it away — something I was getting good at. As I began to get dressed, I wondered if he’d see us. Probably not.

  The shirt slid over my head and I pulled it down to rest over the top of the jeans. The typewriter sat on the desk and I walked over, taking a seat. To spend my days writing used to be heaven. I’d walked away from it when Caylee and Ronnie were killed. If I hadn’t been so focused, I would have gone with them. We would have been taken together. To write now, was just another action ridiculed in guilt, but one I forced myself to do. Master had restarted me and I couldn’t help but continue with his lessons. I’d been told to write at least five hundred words a day. So far, I’d met each goal with plenty to spare.

  “Slave.”

  I turned, standing and walking over to kneel before Jaime.

  “Yes, Master?”

  He paused. “Sevastian will be dining with us tonight. You’re going to be on your best behavior or I’ll drowned you right in front of him. Nod if you understand.”

  My hands shook as I clasped them in my lap and obeyed.

  “Good. Wear the short, black dress you have hanging in your closet. No panties.”

  I brought my eyes up to his, but didn’t question his order. “Yes, Master,” I said quietly, lowering my head again. Holy fuck. What did Jaime intend to do? I was almost too afraid to find out.

  “No writing just yet. First, breakfast. Then, we research some stuff. You still want to be a nurse, correct?”

  I nodded, eagerly. “Yes. Are you going to let me work now?”

  “You mentioned you would need to recertify. Let’s start the process and see what exactly needs to be done. If your behavior improves, I’ll allow you to begin transitioning back into your own life. It’ll take a few weeks and we’ll have to find you an apartment. But until we get you set up and stable, you’ll stay here and continue by my rules. Do we have a deal?”

  I agreed. Obeying was without question. Sure, I could try to run at my first opportunity of freedom, but I was done dealing with the consequences and starting over. I was here for the long haul and I knew it. It was for the best. Regardless of whether I liked Jaime or Sevastian’s demands, their authority was something I’d come depend on and enjoy — even if that did carry harsh punishments for my disobedience.

  “Master, may I ask you a question?”

  He squinted, cocking his head to the side just the slightest amount. “You may ask, but I might not answer.”

  Please answer. “Why no panties? What are you planning for Sevastian? And how is whatever your scheming going to change anything?”

  Jaime shrugged. “Maybe it’ll change nothing. Perhaps everything. I guess we’ll find out in time.”

  Chapter 22

  Master

  Logic told me to turn around right now and leave before the elevator doors opened. I still had time. Jaime wouldn’t be very happy about it, but that didn’t matter much to me in the moment. The only thing I was focused on was how I was going to make the situation between me and Diane easier. Seeing her wouldn’t do that. I was fucking dying inside without her with me. There wasn’t a room I frequented in my home where I didn’t see her. She was everywhere and…nowhere. It was tearing me apart, destroying the man I was down to the core. No piece of me was left untouched by her departure. And here I was, about to reopen the wounds so I could bleed more.

  Ding.

  I stepped into the car, hitting Jaime’s floor. Nausea swept over me and the last thing I wanted to do was eat. I was sick. Love sick, was more the term. I wanted my slave; needed to feel her curvy body cuddling into mine as I tried to sleep. Yes…I sure as hell needed some. I’d never slept as well as when I could breathe in her smell or feel her breathing under my arm. Now, I was lucky to sleep more than two to three hours at a time. It looked like I was back to my old schedule.

  Ding.

  Butterflies swirled in my stomach and my legs were heavy as I pushed them to walk to his door. Shit. I still had time to turn around, relieving her and me of more of this torment. I’d planned on only seeing her when I could fix this. Neither of us were there yet. And, still, her words filtered through, reminding me of that.

  “It’s knowing that with as powerful as you are, you don’t even have the guts to try to stop me. To fight for what you want.”

  Fight. I sure as hell wanted to wrestle her body under mine, to do the most wickedly delicious things to the sweet, little cunt while she begged me for more. Even letting the thoughts lurk in the depths of my mind had me painfully hard. Time. I needed it to hurry up and work in my favor or else I might ruin everything.

  “Master.”

  The door swung open and Jaime waved me in. I hadn’t even made it half way, which told me he’d been watching for me. Great.

  “Come in. Diane is just finishing up dinner.”

  All I could do was nod as I strode inside. My eyes immediately went to the kitchen. Her short hair sat high on her neck as she looked down toward the stove. Her whole upper back was exposed from what looked to be a black halter top dress. A pretty damn tight one, at that. I swallowed hard, following Jaime to the table, stealing glances as I went. The more we made it around the counter, the more her figure was exposed. My cock was so hard I could hardly walk straight.

  “Take a seat. I’ll make you a drink.”

  “No.” My hand shot up and I knew my voice had been a little too loud. Diane turned, her eyes coming right to mine. Colors in my peripheral blurred as I tunneled into her face. Nothing else existed but the two of us. It was as if time didn’t even register as we held each other’s stares.

  “Ah.”

  I barely heard Jaime as he walked to the kitchen. His path cutting Diane off had me blinking and breaking away. Sweat began covering my skin and I suddenly felt even sicker. Diane had pegged one thing for the truth. Something she didn’t even associate with me, which made all of this harder. I always fought for what I wanted. Always. Seeing her made me want to prove it. I hated that I couldn’t.

  Responsibility. My happiness or someone’s life. It was that simple. I couldn’t just walk away. Husbands, wives, children, parents…they could lose someone they loved dearly if I turned my back on anyone who needed help.

  I scanned the room. Fuck, I could have used that drink, but there was no way I was sleeping here. Not with her so close.

  “Smells great, by the way.” I tried to keep things casual. Be polite. It really did smell good, regardless of whether I wanted to eat or not.

  “Thanks. Diane has been working on it for the last two hours. Right, slave?”

  My smile melted and lava ate away at every inch of me as I watched him step in against her back and lower his head. The nuzzling into her neck was followed with him whispering something in her ear. The closeness. The…intimacy. My hands pressed against the top of the table as I glared their way. I hadn’t even realized I had stood I was so raged. Were they together and he hadn’t told me? Were they making love like she wanted me to do to her?

  The stiffness in Diane�
�s body remained, but I pushed it away, zeroing in on Jaime. On the man I had thought had been my friend. Hadn’t I told him nothing inappropriate? That I would kill him? Did he think I was fucking joking?

  “Shouldn’t be much longer now.” Jaime turned back toward me, pausing before cocking his head. “Did you change your mind about the drink?”

  Right. I was still standing.

  “Yeah, actually, I did.”

  “Great. I’ll fix you one.”

  Whether Jaime heard my anger or not was beyond me. I didn’t care. Control was slipping by the second and I was torn over whether to knock him into next week or take my slave. Neither was smart if I wanted to stay on track.

  Diane grabbed some potholders and spun toward the sink. Steam bellowed out before her and I couldn’t take my eyes off how gorgeous she looked. I’d yet to see her with make-up on and she was stunning then. I almost didn’t recognize the woman dolled up in lipstick and eyeliner.

  Lower, my gaze traveled, stopping on the cleavage that generously showed from the low cut halter-top. Shit, I was done for. I shouldn’t have come. I wanted her more than I could ever remember. Even more than the first time she’d walked through my door — my obsession come to reality.

  “Here you go.” The glass was set down in front of me, but I couldn’t break away my gaze. “You know,” he said, lowering his voice, “she has some pretty good perks. Great cook. And,” he stressed, “easy on the eyes while she’s doing it.”

  My head jerked over, the heat registering again at his words. “What the fuck did I tell you when you left with her?”

  “Which part?”

  I leaned in closer. “You damn well know which part. What in the hell is going on here?”

  A puzzled expression twisted his features. “I’m not sure what you mean, Master. Diane is well and behaving for the mean time. I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

  “The…closeness. The whispering. Did you cross the line with her? Are you fucking her?”

  Jaime sat down and eased into the back of his chair. “Let’s ask her.” Before I could tell him no, he turned to her and snapped in her direction. “Slave.”

  My skin crawled at hearing him refer to her by my name. I called her that. He could have given her any pet name. Why the one I used?

  Diane’s head lowered as she walked over and kneeled at his feet. “Yes, Master?”

  I gripped the table, using every ounce of my strength not to rip her up and cover her mouth for letting what should have only been mine become his. That was me. I was the Master. The Master to her.

  Jaime reached down, lifting her face to look up at him. “Now, you may sit.”

  Up she rose, only to turn around and perch on his knee. Her head lowered again, the short length falling to cover her face.

  “Ask her anything,” Jaime said. “She’ll tell you what you want to know.”

  Anything. Right. “I asked you. Not her.”

  “I know you. You won’t believe me. I figure if you’d believe anyone, it would be her.”

  I leaned forward, turning more to face her. “Diane.” My voice was soft as I tried to get her to look at me. “Can I ask you a few questions?”

  “About what?”

  I look at Jaime, but turned back to her. “How are you here?”

  “I’m…great. As good as I can be, given the circumstances.”

  “And how are you with Jaime? Is he treating you okay?”

  Nothing. I couldn’t read shit with her staring at the damn ground.

  “He’s helping me.”

  My jaw tightened. “That’s not what I asked. Is he treating you okay?” I could hear my voice grow deeper, the Master in me trying like hell to push through. To grip the back of her hair and force her to face me. To kiss and suck on her lips until she answered.

  “He treats me very well. He’s helping me to get recertified for nursing and look for an apartment.”

  That didn’t mean he wasn’t raping or seriously beating the shit out of her behind closed doors. God dammit! Why wouldn’t she look at me?

  “Slave.” My jaw tightened and her eyes snapped to mine. Anger. Pain. More anger. My lungs locked up even as I forced out my apology. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. Listen, just because you’re no longer my slave doesn’t mean you can’t confide in me. If there’s something wrong or you’re not happy…” I trailed off. I was talking myself into a shitstorm. About to promise her something I wasn’t yet prepared to give.

  Her head shook. “Then, what? What are you going to do about it, Sevastian?”

  Silence. My mouth wouldn’t work and I couldn’t even process the words to say.

  “I’m fine. You have nothing to worry about.”

  Jaime shifted her on his lap. “Is there anything else you’d like to ask her before I send her back?”

  My head shook. “You’ll answer what I want to know. She can go.”

  “Finish, slave.” His hand guided her to stand and she disappeared back in the kitchen. I turned my attention to him, furious.

  “She doesn’t need to be any more upset. You tell me. Are you fucking Diane or not?”

  Jaime finished off his glass of Scotch. “Not yet, but if you don’t want her, I still do.”

  A growl threatened to rip from my throat as I shook my head. “You can’t have her. Not like that.”

  “Not even if she wants it, too?”

  Diane was pulling out the plates as I glanced over at her. “Did she say that?”

  “Not yet, but I can easily make my intentions known. I know you supposedly love her, but I see no way out for you. You mentioned a plan. Perhaps we should talk about that. If you’d rather not, or have changed your mind, I’m more than happy to take her off your hands and let you keep up with future slaves.”

  My eyes shut while greed and selflessness both collided. They clashed, sending moments of confusion and brief contemplation. Greed won. “No. I can’t let you have her. Ever. We’ll talk later.”

  I saw a flicker in his eye and I wasn’t sure if it was because I told him no or because we’d talk. I hated how he seemed different. Something was off.

  Jaime pushed himself from the chair, heading back to the decanter across the room. I took a long drink, watching him. It was so unlike him to continue down a path that I had made obvious I didn’t approve of. For him to go as far as to ask for my slave after I had threatened his fucking life…what in the hell was he thinking?

  “Almost ready, Master.”

  Both, Jaime and me turned in her direction. Diane placed a rack on the counter that held a loaf of bread. It looked and smelled to be spaghetti that she was making to go with it. Fuck, why hadn’t I ever let her cook for me? I never even asked her if she liked to, or wanted to. It appeared she enjoyed it, especially if she’d spent the last few hours slaving over the stove. What else was there about her that I didn’t know?

  “Diane, what’s your favorite food?”

  She paused in reaching back for the wooden spoon. As she brought it down to her thigh and began thinking, I narrowed in on her skin. The bruises had my eyes widening. I’d been so busy looking at her face, I hadn’t even noticed them when she was on Jaime’s lap. Even though I’d made plenty of them over the time she’d been with me, seeing his work first hand, on what I viewed as mine, sent me in an uproar all over again. I had to stop this.

  “Well, I’m not sure I have a favorite. Maybe Italian food, anything with pasta, really. I used to make my own.”

  “She made the bread from scratch, if you can believe that,” Jaime said, walking over. “Excellent cook.”

  “From scratch? Wow.” There was so much to her and I wanted to learn it all. “Do you dance?”

  A laugh had her turning our way. “I wish. Unfortunately, I have two left feet. I can do the basics, but I’m not skilled, by any means.”

  My mouth opened and I clamped it closed. I attended a lot of social events where I was required to dance. I could teach her…charm her wit
h my skill. If only.

  “Such a shame, slave. We’ll work on that.” Jaime sat the decanter on the table, nudging it my way. He was either extremely clever to loosen me up or stupid to want me shitfaced drunk. I wasn’t a nice person then.

  Plates clinked together and I wanted to stand. To walk over to help so I could get closer. Jaime’s voice had me choosing against it.

  I need to talk to you about extending my vacation until after Diane leaves. I can work from here without any problem, but meetings, I’ll have to miss.” He laughed. “Unless you want to come play babysitter for me?”

  “Well—”

  Glass shattering had both of our heads whipping over.

  “Shit, I’m sorry, Master.” Diane crouched, collecting the broken shards. My mouth went dry at the glimpse of her pussy. I pushed to my feet like a predator, entranced by what belonged to me.

  “Ooh.” Her hand jerked back and I realized I was already walking over. At the blood covering her palm, my brain fought with the scenes from me cutting her, spreading the red substance over her skin while I teased her. The other part told me to snap out of it and check to make sure she was okay.

  “Let me see,” I said, approaching. Jaime was at my side faster than I would have thought.

  “Open your hand.” His tone had just been as deep as mine.

  A heavy breath left her as she obeyed.

  “Shit, that’s pretty deep. I don’t have a first aid kit here.” Jaime reached over and grabbed some paper towels. “Apply pressure while I run to see if the front desk has anything.”

  He stalked to the door and was through it within seconds. Blood ran in a steady stream as she dabbed at it, looking every bit as captivated as I had.

  “It’s not so deep. It won’t need stitches.”

  “Diane.” I swallowed hard, fighting not to slam her upper body down on the counter, pull up her hips, and fuck her with every bit of dark desire that I held for only her.

  “Yes, Sevastian?”

  Crimson beaded on her skin, already slowing. I eased my finger into it, sliding the blood over her palm. Her breath hitched and her eyes rose to meet mine. There was so much emotion that I moved closer. Immediately, she took a step to the side, turning her back to me. Something about the dismissal caused me to snap. I spun her, grabbing her hair, and pushing her chest into the back wall. Soft curves met me as I molded my body into hers.