I was plagued with worry, constantly thinking about the money I owed. I was making my way home from a long shift at the bar, barely able to think about everything else I still had to do when I came home to a door that had been left open.
The apartment was dark. I couldn't hear the usual blare of the TV, and the fact that the door was open was strange. Margaret never went anywhere. I knew instantly something was wrong.
"Margaret?" I called out, carefully opening the door.
No answer.
I turned on the hallway light and gasped when I saw the mess I'd walked into.
The apartment had been ransacked. My things and Margaret's possession lay everywhere, littering the floor. Someone had turned it upside down.
I rushed inside and started screaming the moment I walked into the living room. Margaret was there, in front of the turned-off TV. Her unseeing eyes were staring at nothing, mouth hanging wide open in a silent scream. There was blood everywhere. She'd been shot in the chest.
The rest of it was a blur. I called the police. They tried to accuse me at first, but I had an alibi—the bar job. The intruder had taken anything of value. The money I'd hid, Margaret's jewelry, everything.
They asked me whether I had any idea of who could've done it, and I'd shook my head no. The shame of it all still burned me every time I thought back to that time. It was my fault they killed her. I'd given the man Margaret's name, and now she was gone, and the debt was, in their mind, paid off.
But that wasn't the end of the story.
The apartment I'd been counting on was rented, and the moment the landlord found out what happened, he kicked me out. I spent four nights on the streets before I found a new place. I started dancing at Le Cabaret. Then, the banks came.
In her fifty-eight years, Margaret had racked up an impressive debt with every bank in London. Altogether, she owed over ten thousand pounds. She'd co-signed my name on every one of the loans she'd taken. Nobody believed me when I told them she'd forged my signature. I was the only one left—she'd had no family, and the banks needed someone who'd pay.
So, my new life began. Paying off the loans one by one while dancing at Le Cabaret, trying desperately to pursue my dream which seemed further and further out of reach.
Everything changed when I found out about the auction.
Everything changed when I met him.
As he held me after my nightmare, I wondered whether my luck had finally turned. Maybe Grayson would take care of me. Maybe I'd finally be allowed to dance.
"It's okay," he whispered against my hair. "You're okay, my darling. You're going to be fine."
I burrowed deeper into his embrace, relishing the feeling of being close to him. I wanted so much more—to belong to him, to be his like no other plaything had been before. But he still hadn't revealed the depth of his own feelings for me.
"Can we spend today together?" I whispered.
He pondered my words, then his face broke into a smile. "Of course, Kitty. I'm taking the last few days with you off. You're all mine until Christmas... and I'm all yours."
I was too scared to ask what would happen after that.
***
"We're going to do something fun tonight," Grayson told me over dinner, and I smiled at him.
"Oh?"
"You'll like it," he promised with a devious smile.
"If you say so, I believe you, Sir."
He squeezed my hand beneath the table, and I beamed at him before returning to my food. Butterflies were fluttering in my stomach, more and more every time I was near Grayson. I had been falling for him from the beginning, but now... Now I was foolishly, hopelessly, and desperately in love with the man who'd paid hundreds of thousands to own me for twenty-four days.
After dinner, we relaxed in front of the fireplace together. I sat by Grayson's feet, and he absent-mindedly threaded his fingers through my hair as he went through some paperwork. When the clock struck ten o'clock, he put his phone away and pulled me to my feet.
"The room," he said. "In ten minutes. I want you naked on the bed, Kitty. Understood?"
"Yes, Sir." His order sent a shiver down my spine.
I got ready for him. I'd been waxed the day before, and the exercise routine he kept me on had transformed my body from the malnourished, skinny thing it had been before into a perfectly toned figure. I was more confident than I'd ever been before, and I lived for Grayson's appreciative gaze sliding over my body as he drank me in.
I kept my promise, meeting him in the secret room after ten minutes had passed. I sat on the bed, naked and waiting for him, my breath catching in my throat as he entered the room.
I felt shivers go down my spine as Grayson’s figure appeared in the doorway. He stood there, illuminated by the dimmed lights and making my heart race faster than ever. He was carrying a box, and he turned to close the door before bringing it over to the bed.
I sat on my knees, my eyes drinking him in as he opened the box. I didn’t dare look inside, instead focusing my gaze on him.
“Am I being punished?” I whispered.
“No, Kitty,” he replied firmly. “Far from it. You’re being rewarded.”
“What for?”
“For being the best plaything, I could possibly wish for,” he told me tenderly, his fingers caressing my cheek before he motioned to the box. “Don’t you want to see what I have for you?”
I crawled closer, sneaking a peek into the box. It was filled with Christmas lights.
“What’s this?” I laughed. “Are we decorating another tree?”
“No, my pretty Kitty,” he said affectionately, chuckling. “We’re decorating you.”
He ordered me to lie on my back, taking out string after string of Christmas lights while ambient Christmas music played in the background. Slowly, he began wrapping me in the Christmas lights. He tied up my ankles together before moving onto my wrists. He tied me firmly, but not too tightly to make it uncomfortable. Somehow, the fact that I was now unable to move turned me on. I was at his mercy… and a part of me hoped he’d be rough with me.
Grayson turned on the Christmas lights, illuminating my body with pretty colorful lights. I laughed, feeling excited like I hadn’t ever before. Christmas was just another day in my life, but here, with Grayson, it had turned into a special occasion worth celebrating.
He took special time and care to touch every inch of me, explaining the lights wouldn’t burn my skin and I need only tell him if I felt uncomfortable. But I assured him I was comfortable—even excited—about being tied up for him. I relished the feeling of him taking control over me. I wanted him to do so much more.
Grayson explored my body with his fingers first and his tongue second. He sucked on my nipples, making them pebble in his mouth before moving between my legs, making me moan helplessly as he continued his gentle assault. I melted beneath his touch, ready for so much more, but he kept the balance perfect—a mix of pleasure from being touched and trepidation from being tied up and at his mercy.
He brought me to two orgasms before he even took his cock out. And when he did, I was ready, wet and willing at the sight of him and eager for him to fuck me. He took his precious time, edging me for what felt like hours before allowing me another orgasm.
“Please, Sir,” I begged him. “I want your cock inside me…”
“Are you going to let me use protection this time, Kitty?” Grayson chuckled softly.
I locked eyes with his, biting my lower lip as I shook my head no. His expression darkened, and the need to have me took over. He positioned me on my knees then, putting his cock inside me as I gasped for more. It was even more special, almost dangerous because of the way he tied me up, but it only served to make me more excited.
He fucked me relentlessly that night, but after his first orgasm, he didn’t stop. He kept going, but it was no longer fucking—no, this was making love, pure and simple. He treated me like a priceless object, a goddess sent to Earth for his own pleasure. I’d never felt as
cherished as I did in his arms, with his eyes locked on mine and our bodies moving together, seeking an orgasm that rocked through us at the same time.
After he was done, depositing his second load of the night deep within me, he finally undid the Christmas lights strung around my limbs and held my shaking, recovering body in his arms, kissing me all over. I started giggling then, and the sweet sound of his laughter followed suit. He cupped my face, kissing me deeply and never taking his eyes off mine.
“Kitty,” he spoke up. “Are you happy here, with me?”
“Yes, Sir,” I whispered. “Do you…”
“Do I what?” he spoke after I paused. “Ask me, Kitty.”
“Do you…” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Do you want to keep me, Sir?”
He smiled at me affectionately, his eyes filled with dark promises as he nodded. “Of course, I do, Amicia. I’ve wanted to keep you since the moment I laid eyes on you.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as he kissed me again, muttering against my lips, “But you know what that means, don’t you, Kitty?”
“What?”
“We can’t have secrets from one another,” he said gently. “So after your time is over… I want you to tell me everything. Every little thing about you.”
I swallowed again, my eyes darkening with worry.
“I see the fear inside you,” Grayson told me. “I can see your brain working, the cogs turning. You can’t get away from me, Kitty. I’m going to know every thought in your head. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes, Sir,” I whispered.
“Good Kitty,” he muttered before pulling me firmly against him. “Now let’s sleep together. The time for secrets will come.”
He fell asleep moments after that, but I lay awake in his arms for hours after our conversation.
Grayson was right. I needed to tell him the truth. About Margaret, the loan shark, and the debt I’d inherited. He deserved to know everything about me.
Even if it meant we couldn’t be together.
Chapter 16
Grayson
It was Kitty’s last day. She would be allowed to leave after the clock struck midnight and the twenty-fourth of December became the twenty-fifth.
I was developing feelings for my Kitty, but what worried me more than knowing it myself was the thought of her finding out. Somehow, I was convinced I'd show her a weaker side of me if she found out about my growing crush. It wasn't even a crush anymore. No, it was full-blown...
I shook my head to get the thought out. I couldn't think about that now, not with the date she was supposed to leave me fast approaching. I'd known from the start I wouldn't be able to keep her forever, but now, knowing how soon she'd leave me, I was at the same time eager for her to stay and wanting to keep my true feelings hidden. It was a way of protecting myself. If she didn't know how much she meant to me already, she wouldn't know how much she'd hurt me by leaving. And if she did, she could use it as a weapon against me.
It was Christmas Eve and we sat down to dinner in front of the luxuriously decorated tree. I'd had a chef flown in to cook for us that night, and we sat through course after incredible course accompanied by some of the best wine money could get. Kitty was getting tipsy, throwing her head back in laughter, her eyes glittering as she drank her wine. It was a perfect night. In my mind, nothing could go wrong—that is, until a phone call interrupted me.
I took a quick look at the screen, muttering an apology to my tipsy plaything as I answered the call. "Hello?"
"Boss, it's me."
"Kai," I said with a smile. "About time you called. Can I take this to mean you're officially back in London?"
"I am, Sir," he went on, the sound of traffic heavy behind him. "I'll drop by the penthouse tonight, Sir, bring over a few things you'll need. It's just paperwork but I'll need your signature on it right away."
"Of course, Kai," I went on, glancing at Amicia. "But we'll have to hurry it along. I'm in the company of a beautiful woman and I don't want to waste time on business."
Amicia grinned widely at me and I cut the call after agreeing Kai would drop by in the next twenty minutes. For the rest of the evening, I teased Kitty about the presents I'd gotten her. There seemed to be a consensus in the room that she'd still be there when I woke up in the morning. But I knew as well as she did, she'd be free to leave after midnight. Though I wasn't certain I could just let her walk away.
Minutes later, the doorbell sounded, and a waiter I'd hired for the evening let Kai in. I waited by the elevator, grinning wide when I saw my right-hand man walk through the door.
"Kai! How good to have you back. Florian isn't half as helpful as you are."
"I'm flattered, Sir," Kai replied firmly, ever the professional as he handed me a stack of papers. "Your paperwork. Shall I wait for you to sign it?"
"Yes, please. Do come in. I want to introduce you to Amicia."
"The new toy? Are you happy with her, Sir?" Kai seemed genuinely curious.
"She's the best one I've ever had," I replied with certainty. "I want to keep her. Don't tell her though. It'll go right to her head."
Kai chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course not, Sir."
I guided him into the living room where Amicia was waiting. She turned around with a brilliant smile, wearing a gorgeous silk red dress I'd picked for her and with two wine glasses in hand. But the moment she saw Kai standing next to me, the smile on her face disappeared. Her hands shook so badly she dropped both glasses. The crash of them on the floor was like a slap to the face.
"Kitty?" I questioned. "Is everything alright?"
"Sir," she spoke up shakily. "Please... Please get me away from him." She pointed to Kai with a shaky finger while he glared at her. "Don't let him come near me."
"What the hell?" I asked, looking between them. "Do you two know each other?"
"Indeed, we do," Kai hissed, pushing up the sleeves of his shirt. "What is this, some kind of con attempt?"
"No," Amicia cried out. "I didn't know... I didn't know Grayson worked for you!"
"He doesn't work for me, stupid girl," Kai interrupted with a threatening laugh. "I work for him."
"W-What?" Amicia's eyes turned to mine. I could tell she felt betrayed. "You're the one I owe money to?"
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"It's her, Sir." Kai motioned to Amicia. "She's the girl who gave us the fake name. She owes you five grand, plus enough interest to make it twenty."
My head was spinning from this information, and I glared at Amicia. "You're the con artist who cost me money?"
"No," she snarled in response. "You're the monster who killed my foster parent."
She took off running, and I turned to face Kai. "I need to deal with this."
"Certainly, Sir." Kai leaned in with a blank look on his face. "But this one is not to be trusted. If you need me to... dispose of her, just give me a sign."
I slammed him against the wall the next second. "You touch her, you die. Understood?"
"Yes, Sir." I let him go, and Kai refused to meet my eyes as he buttoned his suit. "I'll be back tomorrow for the papers."
I didn't reply as he went down in the lift. My priority was Amicia. I had no idea what had just happened, but things were slowly becoming clear—the puzzle pieces coming together in my mind.
There had only ever been one person who'd wronged me, and that had been years ago, when most of my business was still... shady, to say the least.
And it turned out that person was the woman I'd bought.
Amicia ran back into the room, marching toward the lift. She snarled when I tried to grab her.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" I demanded.
"I'm leaving," she hissed. "I can't possibly stay after this. How do you think I feel?"
"How do you think I feel?" I returned the question. "I just found out you're the one who got away with my cash. I killed for you, Amicia."
"No! You killed because you're a monster," she snarled at me, grabbi
ng a steak knife from the dining table with shaky hands and aiming it at me. "Don't touch me, and don't you dare come any closer."
"Amicia," I begged her, trying to stay level-headed.
"No," she cried out. "Don't even speak to me. You had her killed! The wrong woman, Grayson! You killed her!"
"I didn't kill her," I pointed out.
"No," she shook her head. "You had someone else do your dirty work, because you're a fucking coward, Grayson Kline."
"Watch your tongue."
"No. Fuck you!"
"Watch it!" I lunged for her and she shrieked, swinging her knife. She got me in the right forearm, slashing through the fabric of my designer suit and leaving a long, bloody line on my arm. "Look what you did, Kitty. Now I'm going to have to punish you."
"You won't touch me ever again," she snarled.
"Oh, but I will." My cruel side was coming out to play, and I hated myself for it. But I had to discipline her. She knew what kind of man I was now, after all. "If you leave now, you can kiss your money goodbye. You have to stay until Christmas morning. Then, it's up to you what you want to do."
"Fuck you," Amicia said. "I can't believe you'd make me stay here with you, you sick bastard."
"The more names you call me, the harder you'll have to work to apologize," I hissed. "Now drop that knife. Drop. It. Now!"
The knife clattered from her trembling fingers, falling to the floor, and we glared at one another.
"You can force me to fuck you," Amicia said. "But I'll never forgive you for what you did, and I'll never forget who you really are, Grayson."
"I have no plans of forcing you," I clipped back. "But I'll take special care in making you beg for me to fuck you. Now get the hell over here."
She shook her head furiously, and I attempted to grab her. The girl slipped between my fingers, taking off down the hallway while I chased her. She had nowhere to go. I caught her on the balcony, her fingers gripping the fence.
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