Seduced in the Dark (The Dark Duet Book 2)

Day 10: Evening

“I have to pee,” I say to Reed. He makes a face, but doesn’t comment. “What? People have to pee sometimes, Reed.”

“Yes,” he says drolly, “I’m aware. I just don’t understand why you feel the need to give me the specifics. A simple, ‘I need a break’ would have sufficed.”

I laugh and hop down from my bed to walk into the lavatory. Reed is a little stiff as I walk past him. He’s avoiding my eyes and purposely staring out the window. He can be such a weirdo, but I can’t help but wonder about him. I wonder what he’s like when he isn’t so wrapped up in his FBI persona.

You know what they say about the quiet ones.

I’ve been talking for hours. My mouth feels bone dry. I remove the plastic wrap from one of the cups and take a drink of water from the tap. It tastes like shit, but I swallow it anyway.

Somewhere far away in my mind, I know I should feel emotionally drained, or even weepy and sad. Mostly I just feel…nothing. I’m not sure why. I guess it’s because I know how the story ends and with every word I utter I know I’m preparing myself for the eventuality of what’s to come. It’s like I’m telling a story that happened to someone else.

I love Caleb. I love him. I don’t care anymore about the awful shit he put me through, what matters most is the fact my love for him, exists. No amount of talking or therapy will change what happened. It won’t change how I feel.

He’s gone, Livvie.

There it is. There’s the pain. It’s an ember forever burning in my heart. It’s a reminder Caleb will live forever.

I’ve cried so much over the last ten days. I’ve been living in so much agony. I know when all is said and done, when Reed has heard everything, when he and Sloan move on – I’ll be all alone with my pain and my love. But today – today I’m fine. Today I’m telling the story as if it happened to someone else.

I conclude my business in the bathroom, wash my hands and open the door. Sloan is standing in the room with Reed when I come out of the bathroom. The atmosphere seems thick, but with what, I’m not certain. Sloan is smiling, but Reed looks like someone ate his lunch out of the community fridge.

Sloan holds up a large brown sack with grease stains on the bottom. “I brought dinner,” she says to me.

“Awesome!” I say, surprised by the gesture.

Sloan smiles at me, warmly. “I know how you love the hospital food, but I figured you might appreciate some greasy burgers and fries instead.” My stomach growls in response and Sloan lifts a smug eyebrow. “Agent Reed, I know you try to stay away from the junk, so I brought you a grilled chicken salad. I hope that’s okay.”

I take the bag from Sloan and set it on the rolling bed tray so I can get to my damn burger. Otherwise, I might try to eat through the bag. I reach in and grab the loose fries at the bottom and shove them into my mouth.

“Hawt! Hawt!” I say, but I keep chewing the salty deliciousness in my mouth. To hell with first degree burns, the fries are amazing! I’m so busy stuffing my face with loose fries it takes me a moment to realize no one else is talking. I look up and see Reed and Sloan are having some sort of awkward staring contest. I think Reed is losing. Interesting.

Reed finally clears his throat and looks toward his briefcase. “Actually, I have to go. I have some emails to answer and some calls I have to make. Um, thank you, though – for the food.” Reed begins gathering his things in a hurried fashion. I’ve never seen him so…flustered, I guess is the word.

Curiouser and curiouser.

“Matthew,” Sloan begins and falters when Reed stops gathering his things just long enough to glare at her. She holds up her hands. “Agent Reed, I can’t think of anything so time sensitive it can’t wait until after you’ve had dinner.”

Reed sighs deeply, but doesn’t stop getting his papers together. “Thank you for the food, Dr. Sloan. I don’t mean to be rude or sound ungrateful, but I really do have work to do. And yes, it is time sensitive. Offices in Pakistan should be opening soon and they have information I need.”

Sloan falters, pursing her lips briefly. “Oh. I didn’t realize. I’m sorry.”

No one even notices I’m here in the room and I feel like a voyeur. Fascinating! I think of Felipe and Celia’s little surveillance hobby and blush. Whatever is going on between Sloan and Reed really isn’t my business.

“Here!” I say loudly, letting them know they are being watched. I raise Reed’s salad triumphantly, and eat the loose fries on the lid. “You can take it with you.”

Sloan gives me a grateful smile, as though relieved I broke their uneasy connection. She reaches for the container and takes it from my hand. “Yes, please take the salad. You have to eat something.”

Reed looks at the salad as if he’s never eaten one before, then at Sloan and me. He is angry, and it has nothing to do with anything. He is just pissed off. He wants to be angry at Sloan, but she hasn’t given him a reason, hasn’t said or done anything revolting. Still, he’s choosing to be angry with her. Finally, he sets his briefcase down on his chair and takes the container. “Thank you,” he says.

“You’re welcome,” Sloan says, in that soft way Caleb would use on me when he was feeling fanciful. Sloan watches Reed’s face, and then her gaze skids away when he glances at her and quickly averts his eyes.

Ooooh…she likes him. It surprises me and yet not. I tend to see Dr. Sloan and Agent Reed as robots, like they have no lives. It’s interesting to see them in a new way.

Reed’s face looks a little red. I can’t believe he’s blushing. He actually looks adorable. I don’t want him to leave. I want to sit on my bed and watch the two of them squirm under my scrutiny. I mean really…it’s only fair.

“Come on, Reed, stay.” I pat the spot at the foot of my bed, grinning. He looks at me silently. If looks could kill… “You said you’d listen to the rest of my story remember?”

“I really can’t, Miss Ruiz,” he says, “but I’ll be back later. In the meantime,” he opens his briefcase and removes his recorder, “tape it for me?”

Sloan takes the recorder and nods, carefully not looking at anything. “Of course.”

Reed nods tightly and closes his briefcase again before practically running from the room. I really can’t believe what I’ve just seen.

“What the hell’s going on between you two,” I ask Sloan around a mouthful of fries. She turns her head away from the door and looks at me, startled. I wiggle my eyebrows and she laughs.

“Nothing, Livvie. Nothing at all,” she says, her voice shaky. “Now stop eating my fries and give me those.” She reaches into the bag and takes out a burger and a container of fries before she sits in Reed’s former seat.

“Mmm,” she says when she pops a fry into her mouth.

“Mmm,” I mimic and do the same. When I’m done swallowing, I jump straight to the good stuff. “So…did you really come to see me or Agent Reed?”

Sloan smiles and shakes her head. Her mouth is full, but she tries to answer me anyway. “You, of course.”

“Liar,” I tease.

Sloan shrugs. “I’m not here to talk about Reed.”

“Don’t you mean…Matthew?”

“Livvie,” she says in warning.

“Janice,” I say sarcastically. “Come on, Sloan. I’ve been telling you both some pretty deep shit. I think I’m entitled to a distraction and some gossip. Reed’s hot. I understand.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” she insists, but she’s getting pink in the face. No matter the age, what I feel is universal. You can’t fight who you’re attracted to. Sometimes, fate gets it right, and then makes you pay for it.

“Whatever. I know something’s going on. Caleb used to get upset when I’d use his name in front of other people, but, in private? Whole other story. I saw Reed’s face when you called him Matthew. He was giving you the business.”

Sloan chokes on her burger and greedily takes a sip from her drink to clear it. “Livvie!”

“Fine, fine,” I say and pick up my burger, so disappointed. The burger is so greasy and I can already feel the grease running through my veins. I moan as I chew. “You don’t have to tell me, as long as you bring me another one of these tomorrow.”

“Deal,” Sloan says and takes another bite.

We eat in companionable silence for several minutes. The occasional moan and gluttonous eye roll as our only means of communication.

Afterward, Sloan and I talk about how I’m feeling. Fine. She asks if I might be ready to talk to my mother. No. Definitely, not.

“What could be the harm?” Sloan asks. “She misses you very much.”

I look down into my lap. I’m not sad. I’m embarrassed to look Sloan in the eye and admit the truth. “I want her to suffer.”

Sloan is quiet.

“The last few months have been awful,” I continue, “I’ve been beaten, humiliated, and forced into situations no person should ever have to suffer.” I pause, brooding and getting angry at my mother. “Still, I’d live it all again, if I could change the past eighteen years with my mother. I spent so much time already, trying to make her love me, understand me. I spent so much time giving a fuck about what she thought. I’m done, Sloan. I’m done caring. It’s time for me to live my own life, my own way and I don’t want her to be a part of it.”

“What is your way?” Sloan asks. There is no emotional quality to her voice. If she’s judging me, I can’t tell. If she agrees with me, it’s also a mystery.

“I don’t know. I have no idea who I’m supposed to be anymore. I only know I don’t want to be who someone else thinks I should be.”

“Good,” Sloan says.

Sloan and I talk for a while longer before I tell her I’m tired and want to lie down. I let her hug me goodbye and perhaps…I hold on to her for just a little longer than I intended. Sloan doesn’t seem to mind.

Once she’s gone, I turn down the lights and get in bed with Reed’s recorder. I turn it on and start talking.

***

Another surge of electricity pumped through me. I was starved for release. I screamed behind my gag and struggled against my tethers, but all it did was heighten my suffering. I lifted my ass, trying to find a way to move and create enough friction to send me into orgasm, but it was crushingly useless. I whimpered and let the tears flow when the pulsing stopped. The door opened and a sigh of relief swept through me. Caleb had finally come back to end my suffering. I knew he would.

He approached me slowly and I made soft, pleading sounds to beg him to make it stop. As if reading my mind, his warm hand cupped my face and I inclined toward it, pressing my wet cheek against his wrist and crying pitifully. Had I been able to see, perhaps I would’ve been more embarrassed and prideful. Instead, I was simply lost in my misery and eager to be free of it.

His hand traveled down my neck and chest as another pulse hit me. I arched. I wanted to come, no – I needed to come. The table shook as I struggled. Caleb’s hand caressed the soft flesh under my breast which only made it more intense. I only needed a little more, just a little more. It stopped. I cried harder.

I pleaded behind the gag, but Caleb said nothing. Instead, his hands cupped both my breasts and then pulled the clamps off my nipples slowly. Blood rushed to my nipples and I screamed behind the gag. It hurt, but it also made me ache for more. He massaged my breasts and I almost cooed as I tried to press more of myself into his hands. Abruptly, the warmth of his mouth kissed around my left breast and the soft tickle of his hair caressed my chest.

“Yes.” I sighed.

Caleb’s mouth was achingly gentle, his tongue swirled around my taut flesh, no teeth, no violent sucking, just soft licks and kisses that made me want to touch him. As he repeated the process on the other breast, yet another jolt of electricity assailed my poor clit.

“Please!” I screamed behind the gag. “Please!”

He stood back until the pulsing stopped and I feared he would leave me again. I heard him unzip his pants and I had to stop myself from nodding fervently. Yes, I want this. Please, I want this. His fingers pulled down the gag and I immediately began begging him for respite.

“Master, please make it stop, let me come. I’ll be good. I swear. I’ll be good.” When he said nothing, I whimpered, “Caleb, please!” The heat of him radiated close to my face, followed by the soft press of his cock against my lips. I didn’t hesitate; I opened my mouth and took him in.

Shocking realization hit me, this wasn’t Caleb. He felt all wrong in my mouth. I tried to pull back, but the stranger held the back of my head firmly in place – and despite my instincts, I didn’t actually want to bite him.

Another pulse hit and assaulted me from every conceivable angle. I moaned around the stranger while simultaneously trying to fuck the air and back away from him. I wasn’t as afraid as I should be. Perhaps it was because he fucked my mouth slowly, without violence. Yes, the stranger made it obvious he wouldn’t allow me to turn away, but he was far from rough. The pulsing stopped and I let my hips drop to the table. I struggled to breathe steadily with the stranger’s cock in my mouth. In the quiet stillness, I heard his soft, guttural moans as he glided in and out of my mouth.

He withdrew without coming and I immediately felt the awkwardness and shame I should’ve felt earlier settle to the forefront. I wanted to ask who the fuck he was. I wanted to scream for help, for Caleb, but I said nothing.

“Beautiful,” he said with a soft Spanish accent. My entire body blushed then. I could feel the warmth of it.

“Felipe?” I asked timidly, on the verge of fresh tears.

“Yes, my sweet girl, but you should not speak unless you are asked,” he said gently. “I know your Master has tried to teach you better. Still, I can’t blame him for being so lenient with you. I let Celia get away with too much,” he chuckled. “Though, I don’t know why he allows you to use his name. It’s so intimate. Are both of you intimate?” I didn’t reply. I was in too much shock. “Answer,” he said softly. I opened my mouth then, but the only thing to come out was a long, throaty moan as the electricity once again assaulted me. He stepped away and there was a clicking sound. The pulsing stopped.

“Oh! God!” I moaned. “Thank you!” My heart didn’t have a chance to slow down.

Felipe’s fingers stroked the inner lips of my pussy almost immediately. I tried to shift away, but all I managed was to move my hips up and down which seemed only to further his efforts. A stutter of “No’s” flowed out of me when I felt one of his fingers trying to worm its way inside me, but he quickly silenced me with a firm tap on the side of my face and an equally firm call for silence. It didn’t hurt, but it was effective.

“I’m only looking,” he said. He pushed against something painful inside of me. I started to cry and much to my relief, the finger withdrew.

I wanted Caleb. How could he leave me here like this?

“You get really wet for a virgin,” he said, and again my body flushed with heat and embarrassment. “Nothing wrong with that though.” Was he smiling? Fear tapped across my insides. I hoped this man would leave soon and Caleb would come back to let me go. A long silence followed, punctuated by my low sobs, and occasional intake of breath as I tried to keep my crying quiet.

Finally, he spoke, “Don’t worry, sweet girl. I’ll be gone soon and I won’t hurt you. I was only curious. Perhaps, when your real master allows it, I can better explore my curiosity.” I tried to focus on the fact he’d said he wouldn’t hurt me and sighed with relief, willing myself to calm and let the tears dry away.

“Caleb is very…enamored of you,” he said and laughed low. It seemed a private joke I was not privy to. “Do you love him?” he asked casually.

I didn’t respond. I was too tired, shocked, and scared to answer.

“I could always reconnect the machine,” he said.

“No!” I shouted before I could stop myself.

“I thought you might say that,” he said.

“I don’t know,” I whispered.

“Explain.”

“I’ve never been in love before. I wouldn’t know.”

Felipe guffawed, “Everyone knows, my dear. You know. Do you love him or not?”

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know enough about Felipe to guess whether or not he meant me or Caleb any harm. Aside from Celia, I was never alone with anyone but Caleb.

“Do you love, Celia?” I asked instead.

Felipe sighed, “Clever, girl. Answer a question with a question and you can never say the wrong thing. Regardless, I have my answer. It’s a pity he doesn’t know it.”

“He does,” I whispered.

Felipe laughed loudly, “One would think! Do you know how I met Celia?”

I shook my head.

“She is the daughter of my former rival. Many years ago, when I decided to make my name, I went up against her father and won. As a trophy…I took Celia.” His voice turned soft. “She hated me for many years and I was not always so kind to her. Now…not a moment goes by I do not wish I could take back wasted time. I spoil her.”

“By letting her clean your house and be your slave?” I said, incredulous.

“I see why Caleb is so drawn to you. You’re the type of woman who begs to be bridled and yet refuses to yield. Such women are the nectar of life,” he said. “Believe me, Celia is quite happy. I give her everything she needs and more than she desires.”

I kept my mouth shut and let Felipe have it his way.

“Will you allow Caleb to sell you?” he asked.

“I don’t have a choice,” I whispered.

“To live as a slave or to die by one’s own terms is always a choice, sweet girl,” he whispered. “Perhaps you should remind your current master.”

“Why do you say, my current master?”

“Didn’t Caleb tell you? Rafiq arrives tomorrow. I suspect you’ll both be leaving us very soon. It’s a pity though, I begrudgingly admit I’ve enjoyed having you both around. Caleb is an interesting man, a bit…drastic, but interesting nonetheless.”

I felt as though someone had punched me in the stomach and knocked the air out of my lungs. Rafiq was coming for me and Caleb wasn’t going to stop him. It was over. I’d lost.

“Let me go,” I whimpered. “Please, help me.”

Felipe sighed, “I’m afraid it isn’t possible, sweet girl. Rafiq…well, let me just say, he does not take kindly to betrayal.”

As I tried to process what he was telling me, I heard his steps and cringed when he set the wet gag back into place and secured it firmly. I panicked when the coldness of the cables ran up along my body. I didn’t want the clamps back on my nipples. I struggled with all my might. My torso was relatively free, so it was with some difficulty he held me down with his weight to replace the clamps.

“No!” I screamed in frustration, but there was only his soft laughter in response.

“I’m sorry sweet girl, but I can’t have your master find you in a different position. It’s rude.”

I whined pitifully. I had finally come down from my heightened arousal, my clit ached, and my nipples too – but I had been glad to feel somewhat normal again. I wasn’t sure I could handle more torture.

“I’ll give you a gift before I go,” said Felipe.

I shook my head passionately, but it didn’t stop him from placing his hand between my legs and caressing me. My body stilled, and against my wishes, he stoked the flame of my desire, in no time making it burn hotly once more. Soon, I pressed myself toward him, looking for the release I needed so desperately. And finally, he sent me over the edge. He rubbed me harder and faster, and I screamed as my orgasm ripped me apart. I wanted more. As starved as I was, the powerful orgasm did little to ebb my passion. It was with deep dread, I realized he was replacing the clamp taken from my clit. I begged for him not to do it.

Within moments of him leaving, my torture began anew.

***

It was a very long time before the door opened again and this time, I wasn’t going to simply be content with physical release. Unless of course, physical release included punching Caleb in the stomach and then raping him into oblivion.

I growled when I heard footsteps coming near me, secretly praying it was Caleb I was directing my wrath toward and not another uninvited visitor. One smug laugh later, I knew it was him. I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of relief.

“How’re you feeling, Pet?” I would’ve liked to spew invective at him just then, but the machine went off again and it was all I could do to hold in my screaming. Over the course of the night, the charges had become less frequent. I wondered if it had been a mercy my mysterious visitor had imparted. Regardless, the pulses were powerful, and it had been going on for hours. They were both pleasurable and painful, with increasing tendencies toward the pain. When the charge finally released me I couldn’t help but sob softly behind the drenched gag in my mouth.

“That bad huh?” he said, but I knew his words held absolutely no sympathy for what he’d done. I sucked in air deeply when he removed the clamps from my body.

“I hate you!” I yelled. Though the words were muffled behind the gag, I knew he could make them out. He cupped my breasts in both hands and gently massaged me.

“I hate you, Master,” he said with hungry lust lacing his voice.

He tweaked my nipples playfully. I winced and I tried to shrink away from his touch.

“Sensitive?” he whispered softly in my ear. When I didn’t respond, he pinched them a little harder and a yelp broke past my lips. “Answer,” he said coolly.

“Yes, Master,” I whined. My anger with him had grown as the hours had passed. I’d convinced myself when he came to get me I would really give him a piece of my mind. Of course – it’s easy to be brave when the object of your fear isn’t holding your sore nipples hostage.

“Good, Kitten,” he said. He placed his warm palms against my stiff little peaks and pressed softly to massage them as he also kneaded my breasts. I moaned loudly. My head rolled to the side as he touched me exactly the way I needed to be touched. I never wanted the feeling to end.

His thigh pressed against the table near the top of my head as he worked his hands lower, from my breasts, to my ribs, to my surprisingly sore hips. He rubbed softly, and I couldn’t help but moan and get lost in the surety of his hands, and in the clean, masculine smell emanating from his body, which inevitably leaned toward me. I thought about Felipe. I thought about the way he’d pressed his cock against my lips, the way I’d so readily accepted him when I thought he had been Caleb.

Unwittingly, I undulated beneath Caleb’s hands, my body telling him what I couldn’t possibly say out loud. I needed him to make me come. He sighed audibly, and I knew he wanted me as badly as I wanted him.

I fought off the memory of what he’d told me after I’d offered him not only my body, but my heart. “You thought what? You thought offering me a little pussy was going to make some kind of a difference?” I recoiled at the memory and tears stung behind my eyes. I was thankful for the blindfold. Suddenly, I wasn’t sure I wanted him touching me anymore, but what choice did I have? Felipe’s options seemed far too extreme.

It occurred to me then, the one choice that was mine to make, was not to let him hurt me anymore, not where it mattered. My heart sank heavily in my chest for reasons I didn’t want to acknowledge…I had thought my confession should make some kind of a difference.

I was lost in my self-pitying thoughts when he pulled me back into reality by running his finger along the seam of my inflamed sex. I jerked in my bonds.

“Sensitive here too?” he said darkly, and began his practiced assault on my clit. I groaned sadly in response and nodded. “Aww, poor Kitten. Would you like me to let you come now?” Tears leaked from my eyes and were immediately absorbed by the blindfold. I nodded. His voice had taken on a sinister edge, he was enjoying this, and I was in a strange sort of misery. He shifted his position, coming around to my right as he stroked me at an easier angle.

“I want to hear you beg me,” he said and pulled the gag from my mouth. I rotated my jaw, trying to get it to feel normal again and finding it difficult. “Beg me,” he commanded. My heart raced at his steady touch, the tingling heat of impending orgasm spread through my body. If he stopped me this time, I would die. I was sure of it.

“I’m…I’m begging you,” I whispered. My voice was alien to my ears as I failed to keep my emotions out of my voice.

“I did think it was really cute when you said you loved me.”

The orgasm tore through me with a violence I don’t think even Caleb was expecting. I screamed at the top of my lungs and my body arched as much as it could in its restraints. Every part of me tingled, and throbbed, and burned with release. My thighs quivered, and my heart beat savagely in my chest, ears, and clit.

It washed over me in waves: my old life, meeting Caleb, my botched escape, Caleb’s kindness that first night he held me, his smile, his hands, his smell, his kiss, the spankings, the torture, my declaration of love, his reaction…his reaction…his cruel, fucking reaction. When the best and worst of it subsided my hips hit the table with a wet thud and I lie there crying, as any number of emotions ran wild in my body while the aftermath settled.

“Wow,” he whispered.

I was so tired. I hadn’t slept all night. Caleb was quiet and I was glad for it. I had nothing to say to him. Though, I thoroughly hoped he was done torturing me for a while and would allow me to finally get some sleep – alone.

I started to drift away while he went about un-strapping my thighs and legs. It was an odd thing to feel so drowsy and satiated, while at the same time, feeling jittery and anxious over being released. His warm palms touched my ribs and my drowsiness disappeared, but my anxiety mounted.

“How are your ribs feeling?” he asked, with a degree of thoughtfulness.

“A little sore,” I said, so softly, I almost doubted he heard.

“Is it bad?” He seemed concerned.

I hated when he was like this. I would prefer him to always be a cold-blooded bastard. At least then, I could forgive him for the things he did. Instead, he showed me bursts of his humanity. It was worse – knowing he knew the difference between kindness and cruelty and chose the baser of the two. I shook my head.

He undid the cuffs on my wrists and I at once tried to sit up. Not really as a show of defiance. It just seemed like the natural thing to do. My hips were agonizingly stiff and sore. It took Caleb’s awkward help to lift my legs out of the stirrups. After too many hours apart, I could hardly close them.

I sat for a moment, my legs dangling off the table and my hands over my breasts. I hoped he wouldn’t remove the blindfold and I wouldn’t have to look into his eyes. He stood in front of me. Our bodies weren’t touching, but I felt him everywhere. Then the warmth of his fingers smoothed against my cheek, and something in my chest began to burn. Slowly, he pulled the blindfold away and I rubbed my puffy eyes as I adjusted to the soft light.

He looked gorgeous, as usual, though his customary smile was not present, only a look of seriousness. It occurred to me I must look like garbage, with my ratted hair, and puffy face. Meanwhile, Caleb stood in front of me – sexy as hell.

I couldn’t look him in the face. I rarely ever could. I focused on his lightweight button-up shirt, khaki pants, and casual shoes. I focused on his large hands as they reached up and rubbed my thighs. I let out a startled gasp he didn’t acknowledge.

“Are you hungry?” he asked ominously. I nodded, looking down into my lap. He slapped my thigh loudly and I had to fight every impulse to push him away. Heat crept up into my face, but I maintained my composure.

“Yes, Master,” I said, through clenched teeth. “I’m hungry.”

“Good,” he said, no humor in his voice. “You can get down on your knees and eat my cock.”

I stared at him incredulously for a moment, waiting for him to say something further – though what I expected him to say, I didn’t know. Strangely, the longer I looked at him, the more I became aware I was doing so without his permission. I also felt, as I often did, he could read my mind. I took a deep breath and looked away quickly, in the hopes he had not read too much. Out of the corner of my eye I saw his hands slowly reaching for his belt. A sense of impending doom spurred me into action and I reflexively placed my right hand over his.

“You aren’t going to whip me, are you?” I didn’t look up. My fingers trembled. If he wasn’t already, then I probably planted the idea in his mind. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“Would you like me to?” he asked. I shook my head emphatically: No, I did not. “Then get your hands off of me. I didn’t give you permission to touch me.” I retracted my hands and waited for him to speak. “Good. Now get down on your knees and put your hands in your lap. You’re not allowed to touch me.”

I swallowed hard and fortified myself to do as I was told. Avoiding his gaze, I attempted to lower myself from the table onto my shaky legs. My legs gave out, but Caleb reached out to steady me. I almost grabbed hold of him to stop myself from falling, but I managed to prevent the reflex and hung in his arms like a rag doll as he lowered me onto my knees.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He stood. “You know what, Kitten?” he said, “I think I will whip you. Ask me what for.”

My eyes were already misted over with fresh tears when I looked up at him. “Why?”

He smiled and shook his head, just before he grabbed the back of my head and pulled my hair hard enough to let me know I was in trouble. “How about for talking when you weren’t asked to speak, touching me as if you have the right, looking at me without being told, and most importantly, for consistently addressing me improperly.” He gripped my hair tight. I whined sharply behind my closed lips and my eyes reflexively shut. “Now, you tell me, Kitten, do you deserve to be punished?”

There could not possibly be any good answer to his question. Even silence would be thought of as another infraction. My mind raced to find a way out of the situation, but I knew the damage had been done.

I cried miserably, but I opened my mouth and replied, “If it’s what you want, Master, then, yes.” I kept my eyes closed, mindful not to look at him unbidden, and he released my hair.

“That’s a good answer, Kitten. Later, I’ll show you exactly what I want. In the meantime, show me how much you want to make me happy.”