It’s around midnight when I get a call on my cellphone from Jenkins.

“Sir, it’s the girl.”

I pause. “She has a name.”

“Aria.” He says it like he’s drinking poison. “She threw her clothes out the window.”

“What?” I say, taken aback.

“Sir, she took some of the gifts you’ve given her and she threw them out her window. I’ve sent Camilla to clean them up, but I fear she’s made a scene.”

I can’t help but grin. “Made a scene?”

“Yes, sir. The neighbors are talking.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to disturb the neighbors.”

“I thought you should know.”

“Thank you, Jenkins. I’ll take care of it.”

“Of course.”

I hang up the phone and lean back in my chair, smiling but perplexed.

Why the hell would she throw her things out the window? I’m sure it drove Jenkins absolutely insane to see that, but he couldn’t do anything about it but tattle on her to me. He’s under orders to indulge her every whim, and apparently her whims involve throwing her clothes out a window.

Aria doesn’t seem like a crazy and irrational person. I know she’s bored being all pent-up in that room, and I haven’t been very attentive lately.

I sit, crossing my legs. I’m done for the night, and I know I should go see her.

But I’ve been avoiding her. Ever since that night that I got myself off in the hallway, unable to stop myself, I’ve been afraid to see her. I don’t know if I can keep myself under control around her. When I have gone to her, I’ve kept it distant, although I really just want to throw the table over and fuck her against the railing over the balcony.

I can’t put it off anymore. And I can’t let this little tantrum go unpunished. I call the car and stand, smiling to myself.

This is what she wants. There’s no doubt in my mind that she did this just to get me to react. She can tell that I’m being distant and she probably doesn’t know what else to do. I’m betting she figures if she does something like this then I’ll have to punish her.

And her punishments are so much fun for both of us.

My heart is beating fast on the ride home. I know I’m going to punish her, and it only makes me more excited to realize that she probably wants it. She wants me to spank her, tie her up, fuck her however I want. Which means I’ll have to think of a punishment that she won’t see coming.

I spend the car ride envisioning what I’ll do, and finally come up with a fantastic idea. It’s simple, but she won’t expect it at all. It’s not at all what I’ve done in the past, and that’s what makes it so attractive.

I can barely wait to see her as the car drops me off out front. I haven’t felt like this in a while, and it feels good to let loose a little bit. I know I should be trying to moderate my emotions, but I just keep thinking about what I’m going to do to her that I can’t help it.

Jenkins meets me in the kitchen. “Sir,” he says. “The girl is sleeping, I believe.”

“That’s okay.” I grab a bottle of whisky from the cabinet and pour myself a drink. “You can go to bed, Jenkins.”

“Of course, sir.” He pauses, frowning. “May I speak frankly?”

I pour myself a drink and nod. “Go ahead.”

“I think the girl is a liability. It’s obvious what she, ah, is, and your work duties are particularly sensitive now. I’d hate to see you lose something because of this... girl.”

I smile at him and sip my drink. “Thanks, Jenkins. That’ll be all.”

“Of course. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

He disappears into the back rooms. He’ll sleep here tonight, like he does most nights. He practically lives here, to be honest, and that’s okay with me. For the most part, Jenkins is discreet and honest and does an incredible job. If he speaks out of turn sometimes, well, I’ll have to accept it as one of his quirks.

I finish my drink, pour another, and then head upstairs, heart beating hard. Aria might be asleep right now, but she won’t be for long.

I stop out front of her door and softly open it, trying not to make much noise.

The room is pitch dark as I slowly creep across the floor by memory. I can hear her breathing softly in bed, deep and steady, which means she’s definitely asleep. I smile to myself as I slowly pull the curtains open, letting the moonlight drift into the room, illuminating it in soft silvery gray.

I step back toward the bed and look down at her for a moment. She’s twisted in the covers, half in and half out, one leg tossed casually over the bedding. She’s wearing a little black tank top without a bra and gray panties, cute boy shorts. I stand there, admiring her body for a second, wondering how the hell I got here.

This girl is a total stranger to me, and yet she lives in this room. I keep her like a pet and I absolutely love it, though I never thought I would in a million years. There she is though, sleeping soundly in this room, and I know I can have her if I want to. I can do anything to her right now, and chances are she’d let me.

That’s not what I’m here for, not exactly anyway. I’m here to punish her. And I know exactly how I’m going to do it.

Carefully, I take off my jacket and toss it over the back of a chair. I roll up my sleeves then slowly climb into bed.

She stirs softly as I roll her onto her back, spreading her legs. She mumbles something as I kiss her stomach.

“Ethan?” she says.

I don’t respond. I kiss lower until I find her pussy, taking a deep breath, relishing her scent. I begin to kiss her over her panties. I kiss her pussy, her inner thigh, her stomach, and I know she’s wide awake now.

I slowly slide the panties down her legs, not saying a word. She doesn’t move, but I catch her watching me, her eyes slightly wide. Not from fear, but from pure excitement. I toss her panties onto the floor before moving back down between her legs.

She’s wet already and getting wetter. I begin to lap her up, sucking her clit, enjoying her taste. I love the soft noises she starts making, almost as if she can’t help herself, like she’s trying to hold them back. Maybe she wants to try and pretend to still be asleep, as if that were my fetish or something.

I want her to wake the fuck up. I slide two fingers deep into her pussy and she gasps and lets out a deep moan. I grin at her then go back to work, fingers deep inside of her, mouth and lips on her swollen clit.

I keep licking her, nibbling her, sliding my fingers in and out of her. I listen as her moans get louder and she suddenly wraps her fingers through my hair as I press my tongue against her clit just the right way.

“Oh shit,” she groans. I begin to fuck her faster with my fingers, pushing them deep and sliding them back out. She squirms against me, writhing her hips, and I keep licking and sucking her clit as I fuck her with my fingers.

I get up on my knees, getting more leverage as I keep fucking her with my fingers. Her groans turn into full-on moans, loud and full. She says my name, again and again, and my cock is hard as fuck as I keep sucking her perfect clit.

I can’t stop. I intended to get her to the edge then pull back, but I can’t stop myself. She’s getting louder, writhing faster, pressing my face faster as she moves her hips, and I know she’s close. I can practically taste her dangling on the edge of finally getting off, and I want it. I want to taste her come in my mouth as my fingers fuck her tight little pussy.

I’m losing my mind as I keep going, keep working her. I’m hard as fuck and barely holding myself back from taking her tight little cunt as my own. I keep fucking her, sliding my fingers in, sucking her clit.

“Ethan, fuck, I’m so close,” she moans.

I look up at her, fingers sliding in harder, fucking her deeper. “Come for me,” I command her. “Right now. I want to taste it.”

“Ethan!” she gasps.

“Go ahead. Come in my mouth, you filthy fucking girl. I want it.”

“Oh god,” she moans and I go back to work, sucking her, sliding my fingers in faster, until her back starts to arch and I know she’s coming.

Her voice gets louder, lower, and her fingers grab my hair tightly. Her whole body reacts and I don’t let up. I keep fucking her pussy though I pull back and watch her face as she comes. She’s fucking gorgeous, in absolute ecstasy, and I can barely fucking handle it myself. She comes hard and says my name, over and over, like she’s begging for more.

When she’s finally done, I slide my fingers out from her then gently lick her up again. I tease her clit and lick her pussy, sliding my tongue inside, tasting her every drop.

“Ethan,” she moans. “Please.”

“Please what?” I ask.

She sits forward and pulls my face up. Her cheeks are flushed and she’s breathing deep. “Fuck me,” she whispers. “Please.”

I look at her for a second then gently pull away from her, smiling and shaking my head. “No,” I say, and I get off the bed.

“What?”

“No,” I say again. “I won’t.”

“But...” She trails off, watching me.

“You’re not ready,” I say.

“I’m ready.” Her eyes are bright and excited. “Ethan, please. I’m ready.”

I stand next to the bed and take her cheek in my hand, looking down at her gorgeous face. I pause for a second and in that moment, I want to fuck her. I think she really means it. I think she genuinely wants me to take her, not just as my escort and my pet, but as herself. There are no barriers or guards up right now, it’s just her, just Aria watching me with desperate and desiring eyes.

I can’t do it, though. I can’t give in to her. This is meant to be her punishment, even if she does genuinely want it.

Instead, I kiss her. I can’t help myself. I kiss her full and deep and she kisses me back with a hunger that surprises me. She presses herself closer to me, arms wrapped around my neck, and we kiss like that for what seems like forever, though it’s likely only a few seconds. She tastes like wildflowers and fresh grass, and I’m surprised by how deeply I lose myself in the moment.

But eventually, I get control over myself, and I slowly pull back. She looks up at me, not sure of what’s happening.

“This is your punishment,” I say softly.

Recognition enters her eyes and she gives me a sly smile. “You heard about that.”

“You’ve been bad. Very bad.” I reach forward and take her hair, kneeling down next to the bed. “You could have embarrassed me, you know.”

“I’m sorry,” she says. “I’ve just been so lonely.”

I watch her for a second, but I don’t feel anger, which surprises me.

It’s true that she could have embarrassed me. My position isn’t the kind of thing that allows for that kind of public display. I’m not exactly famous, but there are people in this world who would love to get a scoop on me and possibly destroy me. I do have to be careful, and Aria risked that by throwing her things into the street.

But I don’t feel anger. I gently release her hair, realizing that I feel more alive and excited than I have in a long time. It’s stupid and risky, but maybe I need stupid and risky sometimes.

“Don’t do it again,” I say.

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Good.” I stand up.

“But please,” she says. “Visit me more. Don’t leave me alone in here. The walks are nice but... they’re not enough.”

I stare at her for a moment and I get another glimpse of her genuine self. I can see it written all over her face. She’s desperate for more attention.

And I want to give it to her. The out-of-control feeling I get around her maybe isn’t as bad as I first thought. Maybe it feels pretty damn good, actually. I just need to be careful.

But she’s mine, my pet, and I have to make sure that she’s happy. I screwed up by leaving her alone, but I’ll make up for that.

“I promise,” I say. “I won’t leave you alone for too long again.”

She smiles and looks relieved. “Thank you.”

“Go back to sleep. I’ll see you soon.”

She nods and I turn away, walking over to the chair. I grab my jacket and toss it over my shoulder before looking back at her.

She’s sitting up in bed, watching me with wide, gorgeous, innocent eyes. She’s flushed from getting off and she’s biting her lip, clearly confused about what just happened. Her hair is messy and her shirt is slightly askew. She looks more beautiful than I’ve ever seen her before.

I turn and leave, knowing full well that I’ll be back very soon. I can’t stay away from her. I have about three more weeks left with her, and I’ll be damned if I waste anymore of that time.

I head back to my room, unable to get her taste from my mouth, and happy that it won’t leave.