Chapter 16
Master
Bruised, sagging on the St. Andrew’s cross, Diane was a mess. The tears had dried up long ago. All that remained were the sound of her sobs, devoid of anything flowing from her eyes. My hand lifted, unbuckling the cuffs that kept her upright. The moment her hand was free, I caught her falling body, careful not to add any more pain to the marks covering her. I knew when I’d had to stop, when she couldn’t take much more, and I had been right. I may not have broken her, but I came damn close.
“Master.” Her hand tried to clutch to my bare chest while I freed her other arm. Weight collapsed into my waiting grasp and I scooped her into my arms, carrying her up the basement stairs and toward the ones that would take us to my room. I could have showered her downstairs, but she was done with the basement. I knew submission when I saw it and from the moment I’d made my speech, I saw my slave give herself to me freely. No more fighting. No more stunts. We were finished. The rest would be easy.
Sadness registered as she whimpered against me. I’d have to let her go soon. It tore me to pieces knowing her punishments were just about over. That she’d be gone from under my roof, living her own life — moving on.
I couldn’t deny that it would make me happy to see her carry on with her life, but what was the cost for me? Fuck. I didn’t want to think about it. Didn’t want to admit to myself what I already knew.
“Shh, slave. I’m going to take care of you.” I kissed her forehead, turning to head toward my room down the hall. My eyes connected with the last door at the end, only to jerk back to mine.
“Hurt,” she cried, softly.
“I know. It had to be done. Now, you’ll listen, won’t you.” It wasn’t a question. She would listen or heaven forbid, I might actually have to try breaking her. I knew I could. A part of me sure as fuck wanted to, but I couldn’t do that to her, even though I knew it wouldn’t take much. A few more days of what I’d done tonight…she’d be mine. Forever. A compliant slave, at my beck and call.
“I’m going to clean you up and tend to your wounds. You’ll sleep with me tonight and tomorrow, you’ll start your new routine.”
I pushed the door open, sweeping past the monitors and into the bathroom. As I turned on the shower, she curled me into me. The sadist in me couldn’t stop looking at the marks. Fuck, I loved them. Had thrived the entire time I placed them on her. I’d soaked it in, knowing it would probably be the last time. It made the sadness all too much to take. To have another slave like her was one in a million. I’d never been as obsessed with another person, as I had been with the beautiful Diane. We were so much alike. So fucking much. In personality and our lives. I’d clung to her pain and loss, wanting to heal her so it would somehow fix me. It hadn’t.
Water sprayed against the marble and I tested the temperature before I kicked off my shoes and stepped in. My pants began to stick to my legs, soaking through from the thick stream’s setting. A gasp filled the air and I stepped back out of the direct downpour.
“Too much. I can’t take it,” she gritted out. “Just lay me down, I’ll be fine.”
I grabbed the soap, dropping it to the bottom. My hand reached forward and hit the dial, turning the spray lighter. I eased down to cradle her in my lap as I sat under the light drizzle.
“You did well. Took a lot more than I thought you’d be able to.” I opened the soap, refusing to look into her face. “I’m proud of you.”
“You are?”
Such awe in her tone. It tugged deep inside of me, calling to the Master within. The one who played by the rules, not the one damn near breaking slaves. I glance down at her widened eyes. “Yes. About everything. Especially with you deciding to listen. It pleases me very much.” I might have said the words, but I didn’t trust her just yet.
I lifted my hand, pushing back the wet hair that was stuck to her jaw line. What a pity. It had damn near killed me to cut it. Oh, how I loved to grab onto the long length. If it hadn’t been to teach her a lesson, I would have never dreamed of shortening it.
“I butchered your hair. I’ll have Courtney come over tomorrow and fix it before dinner.” My mouth twisted and I lowered my head, letting the water run over me. The stream splashed against her stomach and my stare connected with my name. Fuck, what had I done? I knew…but shit. I’d had every intention of keeping her then; had almost convinced myself that my signature would make it impossible for me to let her go. Could I bear another man seeing my brand? That would mean they were in my territory. Mine.
“Was Courtney like me? A slave?”
Was that jealousy in her tone? I couldn’t tell as I brought my head up and looked at her. “Yes. But not like you. She was different.”
“May I ask how, Master?”
Oh, how my body responded to her submission. All I wanted to do was lift her and hold her closer, tighter in my arms, right against my chest and the one place she had taken over.
“Courtney was a prostitute. Had been since she was fourteen. At thirty-four, she’d been down a very tough road. Meth addict for seven years. Overdosed twice and almost died. She’d been contemplating her third attempt when I had her abducted and brought here. Her withdraws were horrible. Medication eased them a little, but not completely. During her lessons, she’d confessed on always wanting to go to school for cosmetology, but never having the means. After she was better and decided she didn’t want to die anymore, I set her up in an apartment and sent her to school. That was a few years ago. She’s been clean ever since and even has her own salon now.”
Diane’s lips were parted when I glanced back at her. I knew telling her too much might complicate things, but I was proud of my former slaves. They’d all come so far and I never really got to speak to anyone about them. No one experienced what I did, watching them come back from the brinks of hell, only to rise to face life and achieve such greatness. Damn…it only made the emptiness even more intense.
“That was very nice of you to help her out so generously.” Diane yawned, turning her face toward my bicep. The kiss she pressed against me had my lids closing briefly.
“There’s good in you, after all. I’m happy at that.”
I sighed. “Don’t take my charity for goodness, slave. They’re not the same.” The soap was in my hand before I could stop myself from trying to rush the process. Anything to change the subject.
“I think there’s good in you. If there wasn’t, you would have dumped me down on the floor and walked away. You’re more good than you think.”
The laugh under my breath couldn’t be stopped. “Coming from the woman who can hardly move.”
“It is what it is. I’m not excusing your behavior, but I’m not ready to say you’re completely evil.”
“Evil. Such a fitting word. Maybe I’m just in here so I can see you squirm through more pain.” The hand that cupped the soap smoothed the liquid over her thigh and she sucked in air as it cleansed a small laceration from the whip. Her features tightened from the stinging that she was no doubt experiencing.
With careful strokes, I began lathering her body. Fuck if I couldn’t stop myself from reacting to not only her curves, but of what I’d done. It was sick, but what could I do? I’d conquered my demons long ago and faced who I was. I wouldn’t apologize for that.
“Almost done,” I mumbled under my breath. My hand dipped between her thighs.
Washing her pussy was torture. The slowing of my fingers couldn’t be stopped. She’d been so wet the one time I checked during her punishment. I almost fucked her then. I wanted to, but she would have gotten pleasure from that. My mission had been make it as painful as I thought she could take. And I had.
Water ran over my hand as my fingers parted her, rubbing down the length of her slit. A moan came from Diane while she tried shifting in my lap. I pulled back, nearly grinding my teeth at the need to have her. Right here, while she was hurting. Goddammit. What a fucked up son of a bitch I was.
“Don’t stop. Please.”
With as much as I didn’t want to, I knew I couldn’t take her. Not after what I’d done. Not if I was going to let her go. Everything continued to compile, confusing me even more.
I ran my finger over the M on her shoulder. Another mark. Another sign of my ownership. “It has to end, slave. All of this. You have a job to do. A routine to get into. Anything else will complicate the process.”
“Oh.” Something unidentifiable flashed over her features, drawing them in until I was sure I saw sadness register. “Not even once more?” She bit her lip and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How, after everything I put her through, did she still want me?
“You’re hurt too badly.” I kept it short, clipped, due to the agony my cock was undergoing.
Diane’s feet planted into the marble and she scooted up in my lap. “I guess you’d just have to be really gentle then, huh, Master?”
The seduction rolled from her tongue like the most irresistible aphrodisiac known to man. My fingers tightened in her hair, angling her face more toward me. Mist had her lids lowering halfway while she met my gaze.
“If you want me, tell me. Explicitly.”
There wasn’t a moment of hesitation. “I want you to fuck my pussy. Very slow and very passionately.”
My head cocked to the side at her request. “That’s not fucking. Say what you really want from me.” I couldn’t stop my pulse from racing. Heat poured over my skin while the real Master in me, the good one who wanted a partner, tried to claw his way out.
“Make love to me, Master. Let our last time be good, before…” her eyes dropped, “before whatever happens, happens.”
I eased her to sit up and straddle my waist. There was only a small wince as she adjusted on my lap. While my eyes searched hers, the thudding in my chest only increased. Her arms lifted to go around my neck, only to lower as she caught herself acting without permission. The Master in me swelled with pride. I’d taught her well. At least, so far. I could teach her so much more if I wanted.
“Do it. Put your arms around me.” I turned while she held on. My lower back leaned against the wall and I reached up, cupping the side of her face and bringing her down to my mouth. As she hovered just within reach, I waited to see if she’d make the move. She didn’t. Another sign that she’d learned.
“Good girl. Now, kiss me.”
The pressure was light at first, deepening as I slid my tongue past her lips. She gave me everything with the opening of her mouth. I took the lead and she followed as I massaged down her length, sucking against her tongue with such slow, drawn out precision, she began moving her pussy against me. I couldn’t take it. Not with the pants. I reached down, jerking the button and zipper open and pulling them to my lower hips. As my cock sprung free and slapped against my stomach, her hand had to jerk back from touching me.
“May I, Master?”
“Fuck yes. Touch me, slave.” I pulled her down until her lips were back against mine, not able to take the separation. The moan that escaped me as her small hand tried to wrap around my thickness was uncontrollable. My fingers twitched, wanting to tighten in her hair, to move us at a more fevered pace. I knew not to rush. We shouldn’t have even been doing what we were anyway, but fuck if I could deny her, or myself. Last time…and we’d go out with a bang. It was the perfect ending to such a tragic story.