“Now,” says Lyssa as she steps forward and playfully pokes me in the arm, “Kat, can you please tell me where you found Isaac?” She shakes her head and pretends to wipe imaginary sweat from her brow. “Because Lord Jesus, please tell me there’s more where he came from.”
My mother snickers, and my aunts erupt with laughter in the corner of the room and even I have to chuckle a little, my face turning red and my mood slightly lifting. Somehow I know one of my crazy aunts put Lyssa up to it.
“So, how did you two meet?” Dad asks as everyone settles in their seats. He’s sitting across from us in a loveseat with Mom, leaning forward with intense interest, his elbows resting on his knees.
“At a business club,” Isaac says easily.
Dad furrows his brow and asks, “A what?”
Isaac nods. “It’s a business club, for young entrepreneurs. It’s a place where likeminded, business-driven individuals can come together and share tips and ideas to help drive sales and success.” Isaac sits back easily in the seat, and I watch him with interest. I’ve never seen him speak like this. It’s different. “I own my own security company, and Katia runs her own business with the dogs. We didn’t have much in common in terms of business needs but I gravitated toward her. She's strong, and smart. Independent.” Isaac smiles at me. “The first time I laid eyes on her, I knew she was something special. But when I heard her speak, the sound of her voice...” Isaac looks at me, rubbing my back and causing warmth to spread up and down my torso. I’m just sitting here awkwardly, blushing like a fiend, and with a stupid look on my face. “...She had me sold.” I almost choke on the irony of his words.
My father sits back in his seat, a look of relief crossing over his face. “Oh, Katia didn’t tell us about all that.”
Isaac nods, and takes my hands in his. “I’m a very lucky man. This has been the most… satisfying relationship that I can ever remember being in. I’m very happy to have found her.” My cheeks burn even hotter, turning a crimson red.
Before we came, I thought I was going to break down and die from crying, but now I think I’m going to die from embarrassment. I’m so not used to being treated this way, much less being complimented in front of my entire family. I just don’t know how to take it all, or how to react. It’s crazy going from being Isaac’s pampered pet/Slave, to pretending to be his new, doting girlfriend. Is that what this is? Pretend? I have to shake off the question as my aunts “aww,” from across the room.
Act normal. Act normal. Act normal, I repeat to myself over and over.
“I’m happy, too,” I add in quickly, shyly. My voice is low compared to Isaac’s. I’m hoping all my blushing just makes my family think I’m nervous to be in front of them with a new boyfriend after so long.
Daddy says to Isaac, “Tell us a little bit more about yourself, Isaac.”
Isaac sits back in his seat. “What would you like to know?”
“Well, where’s your family from? Have you already celebrated the holidays with them?” My father asks the natural question, but I wish he hadn’t.
Isaac pauses, pain flashing in his eyes as he searches for the right words. “I only had my mother, and she passed away when I was younger,” Isaac admits finally, clearing his throat, his deep voice very quiet. Looking at him, a feeling of sadness presses down on my chest. I remember his confession, him telling me how his mother needed help and how he didn’t help her. Tears burn my eyes, but I blink them away rapidly. I didn’t know she’d passed away. I find myself scooting closer to Isaac, wanting to comfort him. Wanting to ask how it happened. My blood feels ice cold. I made it this far through the meeting, I can’t start crying now. I have to be strong. I reach out and grab Isaac’s hand without thinking. It’s not something a Slave should do, but an adoring girlfriend would. And I feel like he needs me.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Isaac,” my mom says, speaking for the first time since we sat down. She turns to me and gives me a sad, small smile and pats my thigh as she says, “I’m happy our Katy cat brought you home for the holidays at least. We expected her not to make it.”
Katy cat. My old nickname. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes again as I remember how I used to run through the hallway of this house, and swing around the banister just a few feet away. Hearing my nickname being yelled by my mom and dad, even my aunts, uncles and cousins.
Before they took me. Before that bastard stole my innocence. Back when I was just Katy cat. Just a girl, getting yelled at for running through the halls. A lump forms in my throat, and I have to continue smothering my feelings.
“Katia, are you alright?” Mom asks, seeing the conflicted expressions cross my face.
God, if I get through this without crying, it will be a fucking miracle.
“It’s just been a long time since you’ve called me that,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
“It’s a cute nickname, Katy cat,” Isaac says, giving me a wink, all traces of his unease and pain gone. He looks so cheerful that I almost forget he was even upset a moment ago, and I’m forced to laugh as I wipe at the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes.
“You know why I called her that?” my father asks. Oh God, here we go. Dad proceeds to tell a story I’ve heard a million times before, of how I kept my cat costume on for nearly two weeks after Halloween one year, refusing to believe I wasn’t a cat. As he goes into detail, I drown out the sound of his voice, a small smile stretching over my face.
It’s a good memory. One that makes my father happy to tell. My mom is smiling in the corner. Happiness overwhelms me.
Isaac gives my hand a squeeze, and I wish I could just crawl into his lap and hold onto him. I rest my cheek on his shoulder and give him a quick kiss, whispering, “Thank you.” I didn’t realize how much I was missing by avoiding my family. How much happiness was still here, waiting for me? How much love was here?
I look back over to Isaac as he chuckles at something my dad says and my heart does a backflip as the strongest feeling that I’ve ever felt surges through me. It frightens me. And it can’t be what I think it is. Isaac is my Master, not my boyfriend. And only for less than thirty days. I need to remember that. I can’t be falling for him. How could I? It’s too fast.
But as I watch him laugh at my father’s joke, I know I’m lying to myself.
Chapter 25
Isaac
The little box is sitting on the edge of the outdoor coffee table. Taunting me. I should know better than to give her a gift and create expectations. I didn’t go out of my way to gift her something for Christmas. After all, I provide her with everything she wants or needs on a daily basis. But it hasn’t been sitting right with me.
I want to spoil her. I want my kitten to be nothing but happy.
The silver wrapping paper is folded perfectly; the edges of the box are sharp with a white ribbon tied neatly on top. It’s picture perfect, and inside is something I think she’ll love.
A bracelet, or an anklet if she’d like. It’s from Pandora, and customizable with trinkets on it. The first is a yellow topaz charm surrounded by small diamonds, for the month of November. It signifies the first time I ever saw her. A little silver dog is the second one I picked, and was the easiest to decide on. She’s told me a few times about Roxy, her dog, passing and I’m hoping this will give her happiness to see it dangling from the bracelet. I picked out a cat as well. I’ll have to tell her it’s because of her nickname, Katy cat. Not that there’s a difference between a cat and a kitten on these little charms, but still. There’s a difference to me.
Then there’s a Merry Christmas bauble for the holiday we shared together, and a New Year’s charm with champagne glasses and the year for tonight. A turquoise charm for the month of December, when she finally became mine.
The last one is a silver heart with “kitten” engraved on it. It looks like a tag that would hang from a collar. Even though she hasn’t yet told me she’s ready for a collar, I want her to have it.
I wouldn’
t give her a collar with that anklet still on her. I don’t know why it bothers me so much, but it does. I won’t allow her to wear my collar while she has that anklet on. Simply because of what it symbolizes. He still has a part of her, and I want all of her. We’re halfway through this arrangement already. But we can always renew the contract.
A bit of insecurity weighs down on my chest, making it feel tight and uncomfortable as I light the last candle in the enclosed patio.
The glass enclosure all opens to the outside, as though they’re extravagant windows, but it’s far too cold to open them in December. But with the candles lining the room and the stars lighting the night, it’s gorgeous out here.
I have the large flat screen TV on with the ball drop from the New Year’s countdown on, although it’s muted.
It’s… romantic. Which isn’t my normal scene.
But for her, I wanted to give her something. She’ll never know what spending Christmas with her family did for me. It wasn’t a selfish act. It was all for her, but in the process, something switched and I owe her this.
Being with her family only showed me how different we really are.
And how much is available to her.
The lies flowed so easily for me as I tried to blend in. They couldn’t know who I really was. They’d never understand. But it was nice to fake it, at least for a little while. It was a real pleasure to feel a sense of family.
She has a collection of people who love her, and who want to be loved by her in return. They’ll be there for her when I’m gone. When I send her away. I’ll have to. I can never truly fit in with her family.
Lying about us only emphasizes that fact.
“You know all you do is make me sick.” My mom sits on the sofa, staring straight ahead and for a moment, I pretend she isn’t talking to me. I’d just walked through the door. I stole for the first time. Christmas is next week and I know my mom needs shoes. Hers have holes in them. Mine do too, but I could only fit one pair in my coat. I was so afraid of getting caught. I think the cashier saw me, but let me walk out. I don’t know for sure. So for my shoes, I’ll have to go somewhere else. I’m too afraid that the cashier from before will recognize me.
I hear my mom talking about how I’m pathetic and weak, but I pretend those words aren’t meant for me. Like she’s talking to the wall she’s been staring at since I walked in. But I know she is, and when she finally turns to look at me, I can see she’s high again. “He wasn’t supposed to go to war. It’s your fault. It’s all because of you,” she sneers at me.
She tells me I drove him to leave. They fought because of me. He went to war because of me.
Sometimes she admits that she loved him. Those moments at least make me a little happy. I thought I was starting to imagine the memories of us being a family.
She doesn’t tell me she loves me. She doesn’t admit that.
But she does. I know she does.
The sound of the front door opening makes me move faster through the living room to my bedroom. I’m not safe there, but if I stay away, I may be able to avoid him beating on me.
“Yeah, run away, Isaac. Run away, just like your father did,” I hear her voice continue to taunt me as I shut the thin veneer door to my small room. “Run away, coward!”
I clear my throat and straighten my dark red tie, ignoring the painful past.
I fucking hate these suits. I have to wear them at the club, but I wasn’t meant to wear them. But again, it’s a romantic date of sorts. And I bought her a dress to wear.
It’s short, but elegant. A sparkling silver shift dress that’ll probably come off as soon as I get my hands on her, but I thought she’d like it. The way the fabric flows made me think of her twirling in it.
I hope that’s what she’s doing now, twirling in her room to make the ends of it swish around her upper thighs.
A small huff of a rough laugh leaves my lips as I sit down on the modern white sofa and take a look around.
It’s simple, but it’s something.
Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, a bracelet and candlelight. My gift to her. It’s not enough. I can never give her enough.
The thought makes my skin prick with a chill that runs from my shoulders down to my toes. I crack my neck and try to ignore the thoughts that have been creeping into my head late at night.
Seeing her family… did something to me. It reminded me of her purity. The life she’s working toward gaining back. The life she wants, although she doesn’t realize it. Again it makes me think I’m not a capable Master for her. It’s a life I don’t belong in.
I enjoy having her here. But the time with her family made it very obvious that this arrangement is temporary. She may not know it yet. She isn’t looking that far ahead.
Until it’s time, I’ll continue my role as her Master.
She does need to pick a collar. One that will suit her. It’s time that she wore one. It’s time to push my kitten a little. I won’t make her wear it until she’s ready, but she can choose which one she wants.
I picked out new anklets, too. Just to gauge her reaction.
I don’t want her to get so used to it that it replaces the shackle. I hate that she’s still using it. Although I’m not surprised, not really. She fears the memories more than she desires her freedom. Although the latter does seem to be taking on more of an edge since the bathroom incident.
Every time she takes it off, there’s still a hint of pain there.
She’s quick to put it back on after the shower.
One day she’ll take it off, and it will give her strength. When I’m a worthy Master for her.
The faint sounds of clicking heels from behind me snap me from my thoughts.
My heart stutters in my chest, the world blurring behind her as she walks into view. Her head is partially bowed, but with shyness, not from submission. Her cheeks are flushed and with a touch of makeup, her natural beauty is only heightened.
My Katia is utterly gorgeous.
Her eyes widen and her lips part slowly as she takes in the room. She stands still at the entrance, not sure where to go or how to react.
I’m quick to walk to her, taking large strides until I’m by her side, planting a small kiss on her cheek. My heart seems to come to life once again, pounding rapidly and heating my blood as I wrap my arm around her back and let my thumb run up and down over her hip.
“Thank you, Master,” Katia breathes, looking up at me through her thick lashes as I lead her to the lounge.
I kiss her cheek again and she does something she’s never done. She leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder as we walk and wrapping her arm around my waist.
No one has ever done that.
I continue walking as though nothing’s changed, but as soon as she sits I leave her.
It was one thing to engage in that display of affection for her family’s sake. For her sake in front of her parents, really. But here, it means something different.
And I allowed it.
I should correct it. I should draw the line once again since it seems to have blurred, but instead I reach into the bucket and pop the cork off the champagne bottle with a flourish.
Although I’m not facing Katia, I can still see her smile. She even brings her hands up as though to clap, but she stops herself.
She has a brightness about her. Desire to be happy. It’s one of the things that drew me to her, but also one of the reasons I know I should stay away.
“Master?” she asks me as I pour the chilled champagne into our glasses. The fizz of the bubbles and clinking of the glasses make a smile stretch across my face. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed this type of luxury.
“Yes, kitten?” I turn to face her, a glass in each hand. The dress has slipped up on her thighs and I was right. It looks fucking gorgeous on her, but it’ll look better on the floor.
I set the glasses down and sit easily next to her. My dick is already hard from sitting so close to her. The easy touch
es and soft sounds of her sigh as she leans against me make me want her that much more.
I don’t see how I’ll ever have my fill of her.
“I’m afraid.” She whispers her words, looking away from me and out into the woods.
“Don’t be,” I tell her easily. Her worries and fears are my burden, not hers. “Let me take your fears away.”
“It’s not what you think. “
Her breathing picks up as I flick the chain at her neck, kissing down her body and enjoying the soft sounds of her sighs.
“What is it?” Whatever it is, it can wait till after tonight. I plan to reward her with overwhelming pleasure until both of us have had our fill.
I slip off the lounge and onto my knees in front of her, my fingers trailing along her upper thigh, playing with the hem of her dress and inching it upward.
“This seems so real,” she says, and her voice cracks. Her fingers dig into the thick, white fabric as I lean forward, my eyes roaming her body.
I leave an open-mouth kiss on the inside of her knee and work my way upward, moving closer to her clit. She’s been such a good girl. She’s earned this.
“This is real, kitten.”
“I’m afraid… That it’s going to be more for me than just … more than a Master.”
My hands still on her thighs, my fingertips just barely touching her soft skin, and for a moment I don’t respond.
“I’m afraid I’m falling for you,” she admits. I already felt that she was, but her admitting it makes it worse.
I kiss just below her hem and then push her dress up higher, scooting her ass closer to the edge for me. Remaining calm on the outside, but my heart’s beating faster.
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