I rub my lips. She’s right, even though I don’t want her to be right. I can’t deny it either. We were raised to want whatever our Masters want. It’s only logical that she’d think this way. Maybe it’s because I don’t see him as my Master yet that I can still see past it all.
But still … He fucked her in front of all those people, even me.
I could see every sinful part of her body, dripping with sweat and cum.
It was amazing.
It was downright sexy.
Yet I feel ashamed for admitting this.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out.
“For what?”
I don’t want her to feel upset or angry over what happened, but I must redeem myself. “I’m sorry for looking at you while he fucked you, and I’m sorry I was going to stick my tongue in you.”
“Oh.” Now, her face turns completely red, and she hides a laugh with her hand. “It’s all right.”
“It’s not all right. And I want you to know that it was never my intention to make you feel uncomfortable, even though it was Mistress’s wish. I know you said no.”
She looks at me in shock. “It’s not … Oh no, please don’t think that I said no because of you. I just didn’t want my Master to share me. I felt vulnerable at that moment, and it made me weak to the point of being unable to follow orders. I’m the one who should apologize. I caused the fight. My Master almost killed Mistress because of my refusal.” She frowns, biting her lip. “I shouldn’t have said no.”
“But you did,” I say. “It happened. It’s fine. I just wanted you to know that I’m not like that. It’s just that Mistress demanded I …”
She places a finger on my lips. “Don’t speak another word about her. She’s not your Master anymore.”
I nod. “I just hope that, since I’m going to be here for a while, we’re still … Okay.”
Her lip briefly perks up into a half-smile. “It’s fine. It didn’t feel okay at the time, but I’ve made peace with it now,” she says. “I said no because my limits were pushed tonight. I wouldn’t normally have said no, but … well, like I said, my Master is a bit different.” She shrugs. “Anyway, it wasn’t because of you. I mean, you’re quite handsome, and if it were under any other circumstance, I would’ve never said no to such a thing because I want my Master to get what he needs and be happy.”
“Quite handsome?” I smile.
She pouts and blushes some more, which makes me smile even wider. She buries her face in her hands. “I’m sorry. I’m such a blabbermouth.”
I laugh as she comes up again, her eyes hiding behind a thick veil of brown hair, too afraid to look at me. So I grab a strand of her hair and tuck it behind her ear. “I think you’re quite pretty too.”
Her eyes find mine, and for a second, nothing but air filled with silence is between us.
She takes in a breath, almost sucking up the air, before clapping her hands on her legs.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it then.” She gives me another smile and gets up from the bed, scurrying out the door and leaving me all by myself.
A sigh leaves my mouth as I fall down onto the bed. She seemed rather uncomfortable with my compliment. Like it makes her feel guilty. Oh well, nothing I can do about that.
I stare at the ceiling, listening to the ticking of the clock on the nightstand. It feels weird being here. Like I’m not supposed to lie on this bed, in this room, in this very house. Mistress would kill me if she found out. Or my new Master would kill her first. Either way, things would get bloody.
The one thing I don’t understand is why he would go through all that trouble just for me.
I’m not that special.
I’m just a servant.
Just like she is.
She’s still his servant, no matter how good she says he treats her. He bought her, so that means he owns her. Yet it seems as though she puts him on a pedestal, even though he fucked her pretty savagely. How could she still adore him so much? Is it because of the rules? The fake thankfulness we’re forced to express near our Masters? Or is it because she truly likes him for giving her more than anyone else has?
Well, one thing’s for sure. I’m not going to be that easy to persuade. Nothing can make me love a Master. I will follow his rules and I will obey his commands, but I will never look at him the way she does.
Because I know that deep down, there is still something worth fighting for. Something I will never give up. Freedom.
17
Marcus
A few days later
I sit back on my chair and sift through the newspaper, reading only the headlines, as the rest is just nonsense. Ava has been showing the new guy around the house, but it seems he’s already quite familiar with all the gadgets. They talk among themselves a lot, and she’s penned down several things for him on a sheet of paper, most likely stuff he needs to do. It makes me smile, knowing she’s putting him to work. Sometimes, she can be so feisty … just like a normal girl.
Every now and then, I watch the two of them fool around with the kitchen supplies, laughing as they make a mess of things. They’re quite something.
I never expected Ava to adjust to him so quickly. I thought she would be apprehensive, scared even, when I brought the news that he would stay with us. But I’m pleasantly surprised with how well they seem to get along.
They’re even poking each other, as she tells him what to do and he messes up. Her snorting at him makes him poke her with pancake batter. I must say, I’ve never seen either of them behave this way. They’re almost … normal.
In a way, I can see that they help each other. She makes him feel at home while he makes her comfortable with herself. It’s as if they complement each other perfectly.
The smile on her face tells me enough. She enjoys his company … which means I’ve made the right decision.
However, I wonder why she acts this way around him. She lets him help her. She would never want me to help her. The way she looks at him—without a care in the world—makes me realize she sees him as an equal. Something I’ll never be to her, no matter how much I try.
I feel a pang of resentment in my stomach, but I ignore it.
I’m already glad to finally see a genuine smile on her face. One of true happiness.
“Finished!” she says, picking up three plates of pancakes and bringing them over to the table.
I put down my newspaper and sit up straight as she puts them down. “Bon appetite, Master!”
“Thank you. It looks delicious,” I say, eagerly grabbing a fork and knife.
“Enjoy your meal, Master,” the boy says stiffly.
I look up at him as he clenches the seat. “Well, go on then. Sit.”
He frowns. “What?”
Ava grabs her chair and sits down, patting his chair too. “C’mon. Let’s enjoy breakfast.”
He seems confused but then slides back his chair anyway, sitting down reluctantly. “Okay …” He gazes at Ava. “Breakfast is for Masters only.”
“Not here.” Ava cuts into her pancakes. “Our Master wants us to eat together. He wants us to enjoy our breakfast just as much as he does.”
He looks at me now, still waiting.
I pick up one of the plates and slide it toward him. “Eat.”
He picks up the fork and knife, his eyes searching mine for something other than admission, but he won’t find it. Slowly, but surely, he directs his attention to the stack of pancakes and takes out a slice. He’s careful, almost too afraid to make a wrong move while we all watch him place a piece in his mouth.
When he chews, Ava grins at him. “What do you think?”
He swallows. “Wow.”
I grin. “That’s what she said.”
Ava blushes. “Oh, Master …”
“Sorry, sometimes I can’t help myself,” I say. “Go on, eat your breakfast.”
“Thank you, Master,” the boy says. “I don’t really know what else to say, but thank you.”
“No need.
You cooked it yourself. You deserve a piece.”
“It’s too good. I’ve never had anything like this before.”
Ava gulps. “Your Master never let you eat anything good either, Daniel?”
With a raised brow, I interject. “Daniel?”
She glances at me. “Yeah, we picked a name for him. I got it from one of the magazines you gave me, Master. Daniel likes the name, don’t you?” She looks at him, and he gives her a half-smile.
“Yeah,” he says.
“Is it okay?” Ava asks me.
“Of course. If you like it, I like it.” I take another bite.
She smiles brightly and whispers at the boy now dubbed Daniel. “See? I told you he would like it.”
“It’s a good name.” He takes another bite of his pancakes.
“Almost as good as these pancakes,” I jest, eating the scrumptious food. “Ava is the perfect cook.”
“Daniel helped too, Master.”
“He did fantastic too,” I add, smiling at the both of them. “Now, let’s eat up before it gets cold. You’ll need the energy too.”
“If I may ask, for what would I need the energy, Master?” Daniel asks.
“Plans. You’ll see. Just eat your breakfast and then I’ll explain.”
They both narrow their eyes at me, almost as if they’re afraid I might submit them to something horrible, but they have no idea what I want them to do. It’s something both of them will appreciate.
But first, pancakes it is.
As I take my final bite, enjoying the savory flavors of the syrup and butter, something red drips down on my plate.
“Oh … Master.” I look up at Ava, who’s pointing at my plate, alerting me to the drop.
Another drop falls down. I bring my finger to my nose and wipe it. Blood.
“You’re bleeding, Master,” Ava says.
“Oh, it sometimes happens,” I say.
I quickly grab the napkin off the table and wipe my nose with it. Then I rip out a small piece and plug it in the bleeding gap, making sure no more blood comes out, giving it some time to heal.
At first, they both look baffled as I pick up my fork and knife again, the piece of tissue stuffed up my nose. But then they smile. Uncontrollable laughter ensues.
I can’t help but laugh along with them.
“What?” I say.
“You look … I’m sorry, Master.”
“Do I look silly?” I ask.
“Yeah, pretty much,” Daniel says between laughs.
I raise a brow, then stick out my tongue and make a cross-eyed look.
The burst of laughter that follows fills my heart with warmth and makes me forget about all our troubles. If only for a little while.
Suddenly, my phone buzzes, and I take it out of my pocket and get up from the chair. “Excuse me for a sec.” I walk away from the table and check my phone. It’s an encrypted email I can only open on my PC, which means it contains something meant for my eyes only.
Something I’ve been waiting for all this time. The last piece of the puzzle.
A devilish smile appears on my face. Things have begun to unravel quickly.
My phone buzzes again, this time from a text. It’s from The Lady.
Don’t use those documents against me, or I swear to God I’ll bring you down to the ground with me, you hear me? I was too late to stop my assistants from sending the docs, but that doesn’t mean I agree with you receiving them.
Don’t open the email.
Don’t look at the info.
I do not give my permission.
I grin.
Before the party, she agreed to send them, but I guess she was too late to stop them after she came home from the party.
Too bad for her … good for me.
She can threaten me all she wants … it won’t help.
I hold all the cards now, and I intend to use them well.
***
Ava
3 hours later
I stand on the hilltop and breathe in the fresh air, letting the rays of the sun warm my skin. It’s more beautiful out here than I imagined, and I wonder if this is Master Marcus’s way to make up for the other night during the party.
This place sure beats anything else I’ve seen by a long shot. Nature, as far as the eye can see. The grass underneath my bare feet tickle my soles, and I love it. I’ve never felt more alive. And to think that all of this belongs to Master Marcus … it’s amazing. I wonder how in the world he got to own all of this.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he says, blinking as the sun blinds him.
“It’s perfect, Master,” I say. “Like a painting. It’s so vast. How did you acquire all of this?”
“People in the same business as me tend to have a lot of money. I’m no exception, but I do prefer to make my money with honest works.” He glances sideways at me. “I own a lot of shares in different companies that have been very lucrative for me. I bought them over the span of a couple of years.”
“I see …” I nod, although I don’t even know what stock means.
We enjoy the silence of the outdoors for a while, listening to the songs of the birds.
“When I’m feeling exhausted or upset, I come here to relax and unwind.” He smiles at me when I turn my head to him.
“I’d probably do the same,” I say.
“You can. From now on, you’ll be here every day.”
My eyes widen. “Really?”
“Yeah, I want you and Daniel to train here at this very spot.” He nods at the hilltop.
“Train?” Daniel steps beside me.
“Yes, you will be training Ava. I want you to teach her how to defend herself. She’ll need it. I have many enemies.”
My brows draw together and I lick my lips, worried about what that might mean. Is this why he bought Daniel?
“How?” Daniel asks.
Master Marcus grins then throws a large bag in front of our feet. “Open it.”
Daniel goes to his knees and rips open the zipper. Inside are boxing gloves, pads, protection gear, a gun, a knife, and some rope.
Daniel hesitantly takes out the knife and gun, inspecting them closely. “These are fake.”
“Of course, they are,” Master Marcus says, placing his hands against his side. “Wouldn’t want you to hurt each other.”
“Right …” Daniel takes everything out of the bag. “You want me to train her with this?”
“Yeah. You were taught how to defend and attack using these tools, right? That’s what I assumed, knowing some of the basics.”
“Yes, but … do you really want me to use them on her?” he asks, gazing up at Master Marcus.
“I want you to start slow. The knife and gun are for later. Why don’t you try hand combat first? Teach her a few basic moves.”
Daniel frowns as he stands up again, holding the boxing gloves in his hands. “But why here?”
Master Marcus smiles. “Because no one will hear you here if you make a sound. Besides, the outdoor is a much better place to train. Less stuff to break. Fewer injuries. Don’t you think?”
Daniel nods slowly. “All right. If that is what you wish.” He puts on the gloves as if it comes naturally to him.
“Wait … we’re really doing this now?” I ask as Daniel hands me another pair of gloves.
“There’s never a better time. Why not now? I’d rather you be prepared for the worst,” Master Marcus says. “You never know.” He clears his throat, but something about that statement he just made makes my skin crawl.
“Well, go on,” he says, pointing at the bag. “Put on the gear and let’s see how you do.”
***
Daniel
A week later
“Harder!” I yell, as I easily block her hit.
She grabs her knees to take a breather.
We’ve been training nonstop for the last few days. First, we started with the gloves, but after a while, we no longer needed them. If Marcus wants her to be trained well an
d to be prepared for all types of situations, she needs hand-to-hand combat experience too, which is what we’re doing now. Just fists, nothing in between.
It’s quite challenging for her, as she’s not used to the strength she has to add to her punch in order to land a hit, and my body now serves as the punching bag, which is a lot harder than the pads we used before. My muscles are hard as a rock so I can take her. I’m just worried that she might break a knuckle or two trying to hit me.
She’s been at it since this morning, not even stopping for a single break. I can see it’s wearing on her. She’s sweating and panting heavily, and I wonder if I should intervene. Not that she’d listen to me when I tell her to stop. She wants to do this. I don’t know why. Maybe because our Master wants it so badly, but I hope not. I’d like her to decide something on her own, so I hope she’s doing this for herself.
She needs the training. As he said, our Master has many enemies, and I for one am not going to let them take her away so easily. I want her to be able to defend herself. To protect her own body. As our Master says, it’s her right as a human being to say no and to fight for her life.
That’s what we’re doing here … not just training physically, but mentally teaching ourselves that our lives are worth fighting for.
But it does put a strain on her.
“Want to take a break?” I ask. “Get some water?”
“No, I’m fine.”
I knew it. She really is a tough cookie underneath all that yes-saying. Only after training with her for so long do I begin to see what’s underneath all those layers. There’s more to her than just obeying commands. She’s feisty; like she knows she can’t hit me but tries anyway. She’s funny … annoying at times, with her constant need to please, but funny. And she can get greedy when it comes to our Master’s affection.
Ultimate Sin Page 15