"I think our daughters' lives will be better," Lydia said, softly. "Maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually."
"Anyhow, I need to get back. The people from Deminos who are looking for kidnapped women are coming to our neighborhood today. I guess we'll all find out the truth about our origins. To be honest, I'm not sure if I want to know for myself, but Master wants to know, and is very angry at finding out about so many kidnapped women. He really is a decent man, you know."
"I know. In his own way. And I know he wanted me to be happy and that's why he did what he did. But I'm glad that I get to decide what makes me happy, not someone else."
"Lydia, you went through the imprinting with James as your focus, not Master. Do you think that's influencing you?"
"I think I was already imprinted to him, before Master started the process. James was all I could think of from the very start, until I lost myself somewhere in the middle of it. What you did helped guide me back to him. And from then on focusing on Master instead was like ripping a part of my brain out."
"That's what I hoped you'd say. Goodbye, dear girl. I hope that life holds many wonders for you."
They embraced once more, and Bena was gone.
The two men came back in. "Is everything ok?" James was looking at her with concern.
Lydia considered. "Yes. It is. Or it's going to be. Eventually. James, what's next?"
"That's up to you, my dear. We can leave. Or we can stay. Which would you like to do?"
The enormity of the choice paralyzed her. She stared at him, unable to say anything.
"You don't have to tell me now. The doc says you're ready to be discharged, and there's something we need to do this afternoon."
"What is it?"
"A surprise." His eyes twinkled.
She scowled.
"Hey, now, none of that, or I might have to spank you."
She grinned. "Promise?" Then she remembered they weren't alone and felt her face grow bright red. She peeked at her brother. He was grinning, too, and then shrugged his shoulders as he stood up.
"Gonna give you guys some privacy. I'll see you this afternoon." He squashed his empty cup and tossed it into the trashcan by the door as he left.
It dawned on her while she was getting dressed that she no longer had the tag attached to her nipple ring. It must have been removed while she was sleeping the day before. She smiled at the sight of its absence.
Walking was still painful but it was second nature to hide her own problems so she tried her best to walk without making a face. However, she was finding out how different it was to have someone whose attention was always focused on her, instead of the other way around. She hadn't made it fifty feet down the hospital hall before he swept her up in his arms.
"Not a word, Lydia. I can see the pain written all over your face."
She opened her mouth to protest, but she loved being in his arms so the protest died on her lips and she snuggled in closer.
"Good girl."
She wanted to be his good girl forever.
Freedom
They stopped back at the ship, and he surprised her with a lovely red dress, long-sleeved, knee-length, and more demure than anything she'd ever been given, and sexy as hell. She looked at James in surprise.
"You don't have to show your body to anyone, ever again, unless you want to." He whistled as she spun around. "You look amazing. Come." He held out his hand and swept her off her feet once more, bending to grab the small case that held the copy of her sale contract. They left the ship and returned to the waiting autocar.
"You're still not telling me where we're going?"
"Nope." He smiled mischievously.
She dared to stick her tongue out at him.
"Remember that spanking I threatened?"
She stuck her tongue out again.
"If that isn't asking for it, I don't know what is," he laughed as he programmed in their destination.
The autocar pulled up to the Ministries building. She had a healthy awe, and not a little fear, of this place, though she'd never been here. James helped her out and to her surprise didn't pick her up this time. Instead, he held her hand.
"If it gets too hard to walk by yourself, grab my arm like we used to, okay?" he whispered to her as they climbed the steps. She nodded through gritted teeth; the stairs were proving to be more painful than she anticipated.
She'd been so focused on getting up to the top she didn't notice the line of armed Deminian soldiers spaced across the front of the building until she got to the last step. Once through the door, more soldiers were spread throughout the large entrance hall. Midros had truly been occupied, and these men – and women! she noted with surprise – looked to be in no mood to be trifled with. She wondered how many had had sisters, or even daughters, lost to Midros' greed. She didn't think the larger community of planets was going to be very forgiving.
James steered her towards a dais at one end of the hall. Her steps faltered. She'd been on a platform like that three times in her life – to be sold, to be punished, and to be executed.
James put his arm around her and leaned over. "Trust me." He kissed the top of her head.
She took a deep breath, held it a moment and let her fear flow out. She was not a slave any longer – and the entire Deminian army was there to ensure that. She chuckled at the absurdity of that fact. She lifted her head up and even managed to look straight at the faces of the small group of men gathered on the platform. With a shock she realized they were the members of the Slavery Oversight Board. They didn't look very happy, which was probably because there were three Deminian soldiers standing behind them with shouldered weapons.
She climbed the stairs and came face to face with the men. She stared the closest one in the eyes, and remarkably, it was he who broke his gaze first.
There was no preamble. "Lydia Acoff, of Deminos," he began in a stiff, formal and obviously rehearsed manner, "the Slavery Oversight Board regrets the actions that brought you to Midros and resulted in your being enslaved for the last seven years."
"Sixteen," she corrected, her voice carrying across the hall. "You kidnapped me sixteen years ago, at the age of nine. That's when my slavery started, when you forcibly removed me from my home and what was left of my family. Not seven years ago, when you sold me to my first master." She was done letting people tell lies.
His face turned purple and she knew he was not used to being challenged by a woman. He glanced back at one of the soldiers, but he found no help in the man's grim expression. Finally, he nodded. "Sixteen years." He turned to the table to pick up a piece of paper. "This is the contract signed eight years ago when you were sold. The Slavery Oversight Board sincerely apologizes." He took the top in both hands and split it apart, tearing the whole sheet from top to bottom, handing them to a surprised Lydia. Now James handed him the papers he'd taken from his briefcase.
"And," continued the official, who was looking increasingly dyspeptic, "since the first contract is void, so is your resale of last week." The ripping noise echoed through the hall.
In a daze, she took the torn papers. She turned to look at James, who had never left her side. "Am I really free? Officially?"
"Yes. Everywhere."
"May we go now?" She'd had enough of the public glare, and her legs were really hurting.
Grabbing her hand, James led her down the stairs, ignoring the people talking and whispering all around. As they exited the building into the bright sunshine, Lydia saw that the lines of soldiers had turned to face the entrance of the building. There were crowds at the bottom of the stairs that hadn't been there when she'd come in – a mixture of women in silver collars and men in civilian clothes – and when she emerged they broke out into cheers and applause. Every Deminian soldier joined in the celebration. It went on and on as she clung to James' arm, bewildered at the attention. Her gaze landed on a trio standing off to the side – a man with his arms around a woman with a silver collar, who was holding a little girl about
four years old. It suddenly struck her that because of what had changed this family would not be broken up. That meant more to her than anything else she'd seen so far and for the first time her eyes filled with tears. The little girl waved and Lydia gave a small wave back and a smile.
James led her down the stairs. By now Lydia was gripping his arm and making small whimpers of pain. The crowd at the bottom, still cheering, moved apart to allow them to reach the autocar. Lydia sank onto the padded seat with a groan and as soon as the door had shut James was at her side, pulling her legs up to rest on his, gently massaging the pain away. Finally, it was no more than a dull ache and she could open her eyes.
"You all right?" James asked with concern.
"Yeah. Yes. I will be now. Thank you."
"My job." He grinned.
She looked out the window at the passing scenery, not really caring where they were headed.
"James, I want to do both."
"Both what?"
"I want to go to Deminos. Spend some time with my brother. See where I used to live, no matter how painful that might be. I'd like to walk the streets as a free woman. Read a few books of my own choosing. Then I think I'd like to come back here, to help the women discover what freedom means. To reunite mothers and daughters. Show them the women's library. But..." her voice faltered.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
"I don't know what you want to do. This isn't what you signed up for."
"Are you serious? Those ten days of hell I went through while you were in the re-imprinting, not knowing if I would ever see you again, I made a vow that if I got you back, I'd never leave your side. If you want to travel to the ends of the universe, I'll go with you. If you want to stay right here, I'll be at your side."
She didn't respond right away, but looked out of the window at the green grass speeding by. At your side.
"Lydia, what did I say?"
It took more courage than anything she'd ever done before, but this was the moment to say it.
"I'd rather be kneeling at your feet."
Now it was his turn to be silent.
"James, I know about the collar in that case. I came across it accidentally. I also understand that the reason you haven't given it to me is that you don't know if I want to be anyone's slave ever again, and even if I did, you want me to choose you, not just accept you." She opened the case and retrieved the collar, holding it out to him.
"James Morel, will you be my master?"
His face was serious as he took the collar from her. "Why, Lydia? Why would you want a master when you are finally free?"
"Because I love you." He was not going to stop her from saying that anymore. "Because you've earned my trust. Because you'll never take my submission for granted."
He chuckled. "Throwing my words back at me?"
"Absolutely. And because with you as my master, I know now that I'll be the center of your world, even as you are the center of mine." She stared into his brown eyes, trying to read his thoughts.
"If I agree to be your master, it will be my responsibility to show you the universe, to help you learn everything you want to learn, and to live the life you choose. Do you accept those terms?"
Her face beamed. "Yes, sir, I do."
He placed the beautiful collar around her neck, fastened the lock and leaned back, cradling her head in his hands.
"If this collar ever becomes too tight, I promise to remove it for however long you need your freedom. Until then, Beloved Lydia, for as long as you'll have me, I will be your Master."
The kiss was long, and slow, and deep, and full of promises of the future.
The End
Sophie Kisker
Sophie Kisker started composing stories of domination and submission long ago, but it wasn’t until she met others on the Internet that she realized she wasn’t alone. Her stories are sometimes dark and uncomfortable, but they will always have a happy ending. She’s a true believer that romantic love and a riding crop can make a great combination.
During the day, Sophie is busy with job and family, but in the evening, her laptop comes out, her imagination gets going, and she morphs into a recluse who would be happy living in a cave, as long as it had wireless Internet and an espresso machine.
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Other Titles by Sophie Kisker and Blushing Books
Midrosian Chronicles Series
Memories of Surrender
Longings of Surrender
Tears of Surrender
Finding Home Series
An Erotic Tale of Slavery, Love and War
Odyssey
Sanctuary
Refining Fire
A Captive of Fear and Desire
The Punishment Tour
Anthologies
Hero Undercover
Connect with Sophie Kisker:
www.sophiekisker.com
[email protected]
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