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The Brand: Part One

NATASHA

The curtain blew into the room through the screenless, third-floor window. The cool night breeze filled our little dorm suite with sweet fresh air on that Friday night. I sat on her bed, keeping my roommate, Dani, company as she curled her hair at her extravagant makeup table.

Daniella Day was a tall girl with long, dark hair and eyes. A real exotic beauty with slender curves that made men weak at the knees and do things they wouldn’t normally do. That evening she was babbling on and on about a party while I was studying for my midterms. With a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Publications, I didn’t have one easy class. I really needed to get some studying accomplished.

I was trying to tune her out, as she’d insisted on having someone around her while she got ready, in order to give her any constructive criticism necessary for her to get as close to perfect as possible, but she wasn’t taking the hint. She’d been droning on and on about the rich men who’d be at the party she was going to. Her scene was not mine, even though we were pretty good friends.

“Tasha, it’s a fundraiser for God’s sake! And I promised I’d bring another girl this time. I know this isn’t your kind of thing. But you know you need money and you’ll make money doing this. The other girl I had lined up forgot to let me in on some pertinent information about herself that excluded her from going. But I know you have everything up to date and you take care of yourself in the birth control department. Since I took you with me to our last clinic visit, I know you’re STD free so you’re a natural for this.” She plopped down on her bed, wearing a thin, pink, silk robe. I had no idea what type of skimpy get up it was covering but I knew it’d be more than a little risqué. When she donned the little robe, it meant she was headed to an exclusive place, a members’ only type of club. I’d never been to one of those places with her, despite invitations to join her almost every time she went to one of the functions. And the fact you needed to be on birth control and STD free was a definite red flag for me.

“Listen, Dani, I told you I have a paper to do. I swear I would consider it if I didn’t have midterms,” I said, looking over my reading glasses at her pouting face.

“Please, Tasha! I swear I’ll do anything to repay you for this favor.” She gave me a sly grin.

I had nothing I needed her to do for me. But I did need money. My parents had strict rules about taking care of one’s self. I was a bit short that month. The bills were coming due and I was on the verge of begging my mother for the extra money I’d need to make ends meet. That would cost me plenty. A lecture from her, then my father and I’d have to be their slave, essentially, for at least two weekends. But still, the party wasn’t gelling with me. “I don’t care, Dani.”

Thinking she was done, I returned my focus back to my laptop. Then I felt a ton of weight on me as Dani had jumped on top of me, knocking me to the side of the tiny twin bed. “I promise you’ll only be there for an hour, two at the most!” The onslaught of tickle torture began, making me giggle even though I did not find it funny in the least.

When her assault ended, I gave her a look as she had her arms wrapped around me and her leg over mine. After being pestered and wanting her to shut up, as well as needing money, I gave into her and decided to go with her to the party. There was a tiny part of me that wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I knew it had to be on the darker side of life. I had no idea how dark it was, though. I had no idea the depth of darkness it would bring out in me either.

She said it would only be two hours at the most, which would give me time to do more studying. I didn’t know what type of fundraiser it was but she gave me a red silk corset with lace inlays and a masquerade mask covered in black velvet. Tossing a pair of fishnet pantyhose and some black high heels on the bed, she meant for me to get dressed for the evening, igniting my curiosity and a spark of danger inside of me.

Instead of asking questions I’d get answers to that I’m sure would’ve made me change my mind, I just went along with it, for her, and the money, of course. Plus, my damn curiosity!

“Okay, so there are some rules,” she said as she tied up the corset in the back of the sexy, yet slutty outfit she’d made me wear.

“Rules, for what?” I asked with confusion. I wasn’t a freak by any means. The get up was one thing, I was prepared to be the men’s eye candy but nothing more than that! What else could there be?

“This is a BBC fundraiser. The reason we wear the masks is so no one knows the identity of anyone there. The men wear them too. Except, you have to tell them your real name, if they ask for it. And if they ask you to remove your mask, you need to do it. As a matter of fact, you should do just about anything you’re told to. Within reason, of course. It’s all up to you how much of yourself you give,” she said, which didn’t make any sense to me.

“Wait, so you mean to tell me I have to tell some man, that I don’t know, my name? But I can’t even see his face or know his name?” I turned around to look at her with a raised brow. “And just what does BBC stand for, anyway?”

“Billionaire Bad Boy Club.” She pushed me back around so she could finish tying me up. “It’s nothing really bad, Tasha. These men are well to do business men. Some of them have wives and families to protect, even their careers. So just go with it and play by the rules. Don’t ask any man who shows interest in you what his name is or what he does to make his money. Don’t ask anything except maybe what he likes to drink so you can fetch him a drink. You’re to play the part of a sexy, doting, submissive woman. Kind of like a waitress, only you get to touch the handsome devils, if they let you, of course. Never touch anyone unless they tell you to.”

“What kind of fundraiser is this?” I asked as she began to apply makeup in a generous fashion to my face.

She ignored my question. “They pay handsomely for us to entertain them. The less you know, the better.”

I nodded my head in utter confusion. In hindsight, I should’ve opted out of that so called fundraiser. Instead, I felt a sense of obligation to help her out as her friend and an obligation to myself to get the money I needed to pay the bills without getting into debt with my parents. And even an obligation to my curiosity. A thing I’d done little to appease in my life.

After she curled my hair and piled it on top of my head using hairpins with tiny diamond-like beads all over them, making me look pretty great, she pulled out black cloaks for us to wear to cover our sexy outfits. Then we left our dorm and went to a long black car that was waiting for us in the college dorm’s parking lot.

The driver was a tall man, wearing a chauffeur’s uniform. His face was long and pale. My instincts told me to go back inside and forget the thing she wanted me to do. But the money made me push that down and I got into the car.

Dani opened the mini fridge inside of the limo and handed me two, short, crystal glasses then took out some kind of amber liquor and filled them to the top. “This will ease your nerves. The men do not like the women to be nervous. They prefer them supple and yielding.”

As she sat back on the long, black leather seat next to me, she took one of the glasses from me and held it up. I clinked mine to hers and we both took long sips. The drink burned all the way down my throat and into my stomach. “You make it sound as if we’re to be some kind of hookers,” I said.

Her laughter peeled through the air and her dark eyes danced. I saw her turn into a woman I didn’t even know. “Hookers? No, nothing that trashy. Just be nice, fun, sexy and let them do to you what they want to. They pay nicely. A pat on the ass can earn you a hundred-dollar-chip in your bra. That kind of thing. It’s nothing terrible.”

It might sound easy the way she said it but my morals were beginning to come to the surface at a rapid pace. Then her hand was pushing the glass to my mouth. I took the drink to dampen those pesky morals of mine and finally, it seemed I wasn’t so worried about what some man or men might do to me. I hardly felt a thing, anyway!

We finally arrived at a huge building in the middle of nowhere that looked abandoned, yet the parking area was full of expensive looking cars. I instantly felt nervous. All the alcohol seemed to have burned off with the nervousness. I was shaking like a leaf.

“We’re here. Please remember what I said.” Dani looked over at me with a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. It did nothing to comfort me. And I contemplated asking the driver to take me back home. As Dani tugged my hand, pulling me out of the car with her, I found that was not an option as the driver sped away.

“Wow, he took off quickly, didn’t he?” I asked as I could smell the burning rubber from the tires as he peeled off.

“Some of the women who come to these types of things get cold feet and climb back into the car. He has other women to pick up and there’s not time to take anyone who gets a sudden attack of the morals, back home,” Dani told me as she pulled me along with her to the large, rusty looking, metal door.

She knocked three times as I stood nervously, looking around for any signs of danger. It just wasn’t a place for two young college girls to be at this time of night.

A small window opened and a pair of blue eyes looked out at us. “BBC entertainment,” Dani said. The door opened and a stocky guy with a falcon mask on let us inside to a dimly lit small entrance.

“Day, you brought a new friend,” he said as his eyes ran up and down the length of my body.

“Greenwell is her name,” she told him.

I held my hand the same way Dani did and he stamped it with a black X. Our cloaks were taken, then we walked into the darkened hall to a stairwell. Some creamy colored candles made light which bounced off the wet muggy stone walls as we walked down the spiral stairwell. Our shadows bounced around as the muffled sounds of music and a draught of cool air came crawling up the stairs.

With a few more flights we were standing outside of a big red door where the music became louder. She knocked again, this time, four knocks on each upper corner of the door. “BBC sex,” she gave as another code, sending a chill through me. A small window was slid open and a pair of brown eyes looked at us.

The door opened. There was a small-framed woman with perky breasts which were exposed in a leather bustier. She wore a leather slave choker around her neck and a simple black mask hid her identity. “Day,” she greeted my friend then her eyes turned to meet mine.

She held her hand out but I hesitated a bit before taking it. Dani nodded in approval. “This is Greenwell,” she introduced me. “Take her hand, and she’ll take us to where we need to be.”

After taking her hand, she led us to a dimly lit room with men everywhere playing blackjack, chess, and poker. Women were at every table, half naked with masquerade masks on, wearing lingerie like Dani and I were.

“I’m going over here to the poker table.” Dani left me in the middle of the room, making me furious at her. She’d just abandoned me like I knew what the hell to do!

I watched in complete shock as she was immediately fondled by a man in a tuxedo and black mask then she let him kiss her without so much as a word being said between them.

Someone bumped into me, bringing me out of my stupor. I walked away without looking to see who it was. I was afraid it’d be some man who expected me to allow him to touch me in private areas and put his tongue down my throat without so much as a hello said between us first.

I made my way to the chess table as I loved playing. I still felt nervous as I was half naked in a room full of people who I didn’t know. I could feel the eyes on me and it was the most uncomfortable thing I’d ever felt. But I was stuck there for at least a couple of hours, if what Dani told me was true, which I was beginning to doubt.

The night had barely started and I was ready to leave. I chided myself about my swift decision to make money doing this. It was a mistake and my friend was into some shady shit!

But I had no choices. I had to play by the rules. It seemed they were obvious. Let the men do whatever they wanted to you and act like you liked it. But how was I going to pull that off, was the constant thought which roamed all over my mind.

This wasn’t who I was!

NICHOLAI

I had watched the curvy blonde enter the party with none other than Daniella Day. She was the daughter of Supreme Court Judge, Vincent Day. She had been a permanent stain on the BBC and she worked the room full of billionaires.

Every so often she would bring a newcomer to be tainted by the men and their money. But this one she brought tonight was more nervous than the others. As if nothing could push her into comfortability, not even money.

Her small curvy frame was beautiful and her creamy skin tone was accented by the red corset that I only wanted to rip off of her. I felt the thump in my cock as the tingling in my balls was building.

The dirty thoughts in my mind of how I would tame her pussy to only yearn for me were clouding my judgment at the poker table. “Nic, you're drooling, get back in the game,” Tom, an elder, yelled my real name. I shot him an evil look as he knew the rule of the club to never mention our real names.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her laughing a bit nervously as Jon D. played the whisper game, flicking her ear in between his words. She gently pushed him away as his touching made her look uncomfortable.

My body raged as I wanted to wring him by his old neck and toss him in the pile of rich misfits. I was ready to blow the game to get to her and escape to a room for a personal sexcapade.

“You’re out, Bill,” the dealer called over to me as I had lost all focus on the game. I grabbed my Jack Frost drink and headed toward the direction of the newbie. But she had gone somewhere and I saw Jon D. with another woman as he sat around making jokes.

I made my way down the hall that had old gold wallpaper and oil lamps lining it. I saw the light shining from under the bathroom door and I decided to check to see if she had gone in there.

As I approached the door, I could hear the faucet running. I twisted the knob to see if it was locked. To my surprise, it wasn’t. Making my way inside, I could see her bent over the sink, rinsing her face. She was oblivious to my presence as I stood, admiring her ass as it was in the air, ready for my taking.

I ran my hand over my hardened cock as she continued attending to her business. I supposed the makeup was bothering her as she was washing it all away. “You’re not going to spend the rest of the night cooped up in the bathroom are you?” I asked then her head shot up and she stared at me in the mirror. Her ice-blue eyes looked at me with shock and perhaps there was fear in them as well.

“I…um …I was just rinsing my face and chest. Someone spilled a drink on me,” she explained.

I found her nervousness quite amusing as well as her reason to explain why she was doing what she was doing to me, as if I were her father. Even though in that moment, I would be whomever she wanted me to be. “Your body is beautiful,” I said, then took a sip from my drink.

Her gorgeous eyes shifted around as her chest rose and fell in a rapid beat. “I’ll excuse myself so you can handle your business,” she said, walking toward the door only for me to stop her.

“I want to make you my business.” I ran my hand down her cheek to her breast.

She’d left her mask beside the sink and I put it back on for her. “I’ve seen you but no one else should.”

This had to be her first time at one of these things and I was going to be sure she’d be mine for the night. And no one else’s!

Natasha

I was almost speechless as the man, who I had seen at the poker table staring at me, was now in front of me. He had scared me a bit. I hadn’t heard him come into the bathroom.

His dark eyes were penetrating behind the Phantom of the Opera mask he wore. His dark hair was silky and shiny. He was the epitome of a handsome devil.

He chuckled, lightly. I guess he found me amusing. “Your body is beautiful,” he complimented me.

My throat all of a sudden became dry as my insides thumped at his seductive tone. “I’ll excuse myself so you can handle your business,” I told him as I made my way to the door.

I couldn’t think of anything else to say as my mind was jumbled with very inappropriate sexual thoughts for reasons I didn’t fully understand. But before I could make it to the door, his arm snaked around my frame. His breath smelled of Jack Daniels and mint.

His face was just inches away from mine. “I want to make you my business.” He ran his hand over my cheek then down to my breast, making breathing stop for me. “I’ve seen you but no one else should.” He picked up the mask I’d taken off to wash my face and tied it back into place.

“Thank you,” I said. “I forgot about that.”

“Do you know the rules, newbie?” he asked in a whisper.

“My name is Natasha but you can call me…” he placed one of his large fingers on my lips to shush me.

“Natasha, it is. Now, Natasha, you will do as Bill says or you will suffer the consequences. Understood?” He eyed me through his dark mask. His expression was demanding.

My conscience was saying no. But my curiosity took charge. I stared at him as my inhibitions were quickly dissipating with the presence of the dominating man, I had every reason to believe was completely gorgeous and completely out of my league, were we in the real world. Why not have a taste of the man I’d never be able to obtain in the light of day with no masks to hide us? “Yes, I understand Bill.” I bit my bottom lip as his demeanor changed to one of power and lust.

“Turn around,” he demanded.

I did as he’d told me to and turned, facing the wall. My mind was screaming at me to run but my body wanted to know what exactly he was going to do to me.

His hands never left my body as I could feel him breathing down my neck, planting kisses along my neckline. “You are mine for the next 24 hours and what I request you must fulfill. Do you understand?” he asked.

I turned my head slightly to the right as I had my own question. “What if I don’t want to fulfill your requests?” I was taunting him but still wanted to see what he wanted out of me.

“Then you will be punished, vigorously. No outbursts, no touching, no passionate kisses, and no talking. When I want you, you will come, no questions asked.” His warm breath tickled the nape of my neck. “Now, do as I say and you will be rewarded.” He pressed his cock against my ass.

I could feel his hardness as it screamed for attention, pressing into me. Then I felt a cold wet something, press against the warm skin of the back of my right shoulder. “What is that?” I turned fully around, trying to reach the spot, looking at his eyes as they held no emotion.

“I just branded you with my stamp. So when you walk out of this bathroom everyone will know that you belong to me.” He moved his hands down the side of my waist. “Tell me that you agree with this and we can proceed?”

Did I agree to what he was asking me to do? Be at his mercy for 24 hours? My body decided for me as my mouth opened and unrehearsed words came out more quickly than I’d anticipated, “I agree.”

A moan left his plump caramel lips and soon he had my legs wrapped around him and my back pinned against the cold marble wall. “Reach down and pull off my belt,” he said with a commanding tone to his deep voice.

What I was about to let happen wasn’t a thing I’d ever done or saw myself doing but his presence was more than dominating. It was electric and I felt anything but like my usual self. So I did as I was told.

I managed to unbuckle his belt and pulled it through the loops. “Do you trust me?” he asked with a concerned tone.

“I’m pretty much at your mercy so trust has to be key.” I gave him an even stare.

He chuckled as he used the belt to hold my arms behind my back while still holding me up with his strong frame. His cologne invaded my nostrils as I closed my eyes and thought about what I was doing, letting this stranger tie me up. It was not the time for thinking, it was the time for doing. Things had gone too far to stop!

Our lips met and they fell in sync with one another as our tongues fought each other for dominance. It had been a while since I had kissed anyone. His kiss was the best I’d ever had though. I knew that much for certain.

My hands were tied. I knew it was to refrain me from any type of sexual affection. His hands found my spot as he pushed the corset to one side and then he ripped the panties I had on at the seams and placed a bigger hole in the crotch of my fishnet stockings. “Open your eyes.”

I did as he told me to and felt his fingers maneuver in and out of me while tugging on my clit. “Oh my…” he stuck his tongue back into my mouth to muffle my chiming pleasures.

I bit his lip as he shoved his massive shaft inside of me without warning. “Natasha!” he groaned in the crook of my neck. My walls caved around his intrusive entrance.

He pumped in and out of me faster and then slower. “Your pussy feels so good wrapped around me,” he cooed in my ear.

I couldn’t speak as my body was his captive and so was my mind. His hips swirled around in a circular motion as he found a rhythm that we both could dance to. I moved up and down as he continued to push his way in and his balls smacked the cup of my ass as he stiffened inside of me. “Awww...yessss...” he groaned as I tightened my muscles around him and kept my pace as he slowed his own.

I was at my peak and so was he. “Fuck me harder Bill.” I moaned as I bit the bottom of my lip in a fever. He did as I demanded and wrapped my legs around him more as if he wanted to bury himself inside of me. “I’m…uhmmmm…I’m!” I bit into the crook of his neck as I came undone.

“Bad girl,” he whispered as his cock jerked with heated bursts inside of me.

Our bodies collapsed together as sweat beads rolled down my breasts. My legs were still cuffed in the fold of his arms as he regained his composure.

“You are to be punished for your outbursts,” he said in an even but stern tone. I looked at him with confusion as he let me down, gently. “Now turn around.” His tone now cold.

I turned around, hoping he was going to fuck me from behind this time. But my hopes soon crashed down with a slap to the ass twice, then he explained, “Those are for your sexual outbursts.” He flicked my ear with his tongue. I wanted to let out a curdling cry yet I knew then that it would cause another slap. Even so, there were two more that followed. “Those are for talking.” He flicked his tongue at my other ear. I felt as though he was enjoying this type of obedience he was getting out of me. “One more for good measure.” I felt his tongue lick the lining of my neck.

Before I could turn around, he had slipped out of the bathroom as I stood there with my ass sore and completely wet between my legs. My mind was a whirlwind as I had just fucked a stranger. I didn’t know his real name nor did I know what his face really looked like. I could pass the man on a sidewalk someday and never be aware he was the one who took me like he owned me then paddled my ass for enjoying it!

What was worse was I had to obey his requests for 24 hours. I had midterms to study for. If he really kept me for 24 hours, I’d leave with only a few hours to rest and study before my classes started on Monday.

He didn’t know me from a can of paint. My mind was set, that little rendezvous wouldn’t go beyond that building. Or so I thought!

NICHOLAI

I saw the lust in her eyes and the feeling of her wrapping around me made me want her even more. She had so many things to be desired but the main one was her rebelliousness.

Her breasts were beautiful and I managed to get her ID from her corset bra. We had a deal and I was going to make sure she was mine the entire 24 hours for whatever I desired from her.

I grabbed another drink and sat in the back at the blackjack table and watched as she soon emerged from the bathroom. Her corset was snapped closed as her panties were in my pocket and ripped. I took them to remind me of her and the way she felt.

She took a drink from one of the servers and walked toward the poker table. I knew she was looking for Dani. I had given her Natasha’s ID. But her friend was nowhere to be found and I knew why as I had seen Dani disappear into the dark to a private room under a man’s arm.

The place was still in full swing and men watched Natasha, marveling at how she kept her head high. You couldn’t tell she’d just been fucked a mere five minutes earlier, by how she carried herself.

Her blonde hair had a few more tendrils escaping the loose bun she had it in. I sipped my drink as I threw another green chip on the table and waved over the server.

I grabbed a Jack straight and gave the waitress a blue chip to give to Natasha with a small note. I watched as she gave it to her and whispered in her ear.

Natasha looked around but didn’t see where I was sitting. Before the server could walk off, she grabbed her lightly by the arm and gave her what looked to be the chip back. I knew she would be one hell of a newbie to tame but I was up for the challenge.

The fact was her turning down the money enticed me immensely. She’d allowed me to fuck her and wanted nothing in return. That wasn’t a thing the women there ever did.

I saw many men wanted her but they saw my stamp and refrained from approaching her. I had plans for the both of us the next day, so I texted my assistant the information I got off Natasha’s ID. My drink was finished and I was up 6 million in the game so I focused my attention on it and let her be.

NATASHA

I could feel his eyes burning a hole through me but I didn’t know where in the room he was. Every man gawked at me but they didn’t dare make their move as I’m sure they saw his brand on me and knew I was off limits.

My wrists were sore from the tightness of the belt and I still felt the flutters of the butterflies in the pit of my stomach. Every thought, every movement, I could still feel him playing in my pool of ecstasy.

I wanted him to plant himself back inside of me but that was a one-night thing I would definitely keep stored in the special memories section of my brain. I did want another taste of the man before I made my escape. But I couldn’t pick him out of the crowd of similarly dressed men in the dimly lit room. And he didn’t seem to be seeking me out, even though he’d claimed me with his brand.

A few drinks later, a waitress walked up to me with a note and a chip wrapped inside of it. ‘You’ll need some much-needed rest for 24 hours of the unknown.’ it read and I looked around the room again, to no avail. I handed the young woman the chip back. “Tell him, no thank you for me, please.”

She nodded and looked at me with some confusion. I supposed most women kept the money they were given. But his claiming me then ditching me had me pissed off. I didn’t want money from the man, I wanted another round of mind blowing sex from him but he seemed to be hiding from me for some reason. So fuck him, was my only thought.

The liquor had me in a haze, as I stuck to wine on a day to day basis at home. I knew it was time for me to get home and finish my studying. I pulled my cell from my side pocket and called a taxi, pinpointing my location to the cab driver’s cell.

This was the last party I would attend at any BBC function. Or encounter any of their members. I hoped the man wouldn’t chase me down to try to keep me there for 24 hours. He had to know that would be a criminal act.

After I finished my last whiskey sour, I sat the glass on a table and headed to the big red door. The same woman greeted me with a flashlight. “See you soon, Greenwell.” She gave me a grin, noticing my brand. “That Bill is one hunk of man meat, you’re one lucky female.”

I nodded my head in her direction, unsure of anything, as the amount of alcohol I had consumed took over my train of thought. I stumbled my way up the steps, my hands slipping on the wetness of the walls as I fumbled with my composure.

My body quivered with the draughty wind. A hand snaked around me. “You had too many, too fast.” The sound of the voice was so familiar. But my stomach was quaking at the unsettling of the drinks and absence of food.

“I can make…” I began to say before feeling the overwhelming amount of saliva filling my mouth.

The hands still snugged around my waist, we made it to the second door. The door swung open and the air was cold and brisk as my overheated body was now shivering.

“I’ll take you home.” The guy said as he picked me up, bridal style. Sometime in between, I passed out and could only see street lights every so often when I tried to fight the sleep.

My night had been stranger than fiction and in hind sight, it had only just begun.

I woke up in my bed, naked. My head was pounding from an evident hangover and I only remembered things that happened before I left the party. I was sore from top to bottom and especially the place in between.

I sat up slowly, trying not to move too fast and make anything hurt more than it already was.

I slid out of bed and made my way to the bathroom to wash up. I stepped over the little of nothing I had worn that night that had been tossed to the floor. After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I found my reflection revolting. I heard the sound of music coming from Dani’s room so I wrapped my housecoat around me and went to knock on her door. It swung open to a cheerful and happy, Dani. “Good morning!” she said, stepping aside for me to come in.

I walked in and laid on the foot of her bed as she danced around, singing and packing. “Where are you going,” I asked, sitting up on my elbows.

“To see a man about a dog,” she said, sticking her tongue out at me.

“That’s one special dog I see,” I said, annoyed with her sarcasm.

“Oh, you, big baby. I’m going to another party but this time, it’s in Boston.” She smiled widely.

I got up to leave. “Well, good for you. I’m going to take a much-needed shower and look for some aspirin to take away my headache. Be safe,” I said, walking to the door.

“Tasha, you should come.” She pulled me back by the back of my robe. I felt the chill of cool air hitting my bare shoulder.

“No way! I went with you last night and I’m not going to any more of those fundraisers.” I held my ground.

She jerked the robe down. “Let me see your brand. Who’s is it?” she asked, turning me around.

“He said his name was Bill,” I said as I pulled my robe back up.

“Bill. Which one?” she asked as if I knew.

“You tell me. You’re the one who knows those people. And who was that old man you were with last night?”

“Jon D. He’s so nice. But he’s never seen fit to brand me.”

“He was the old guy who spilled his drink on me last night.” I shuttered in disgust. “He’s old enough to be your grandfather’s grandfather.”

She gave me a grin. “Yeah, well he has way more money than my grandfather’s grandfather ever had.” She shrugged her shoulders and resumed packing as I rolled my eyes in her direction then walked out the door.

Dani was all about money and only attended college to keep her father happy. He was a hard ass in the courtroom but a softy when it came to her.

Something had to have happened to Dani, she was broken by it and didn’t care to talk about it. I loved her all the same, though.

Whatever this BBC was she was attending, it had some deep roots to what she wanted to be. May it be a wife or a mistress, she cared not for the wives and children of those men. I, on the other hand, didn’t care to be bought as a plaything by any married businessman. Billionaire or not!

After showering, I heard the front door close and knew that Dani had left and the small apartment was all mine. It was no luxury as she was barely there anyway, to begin with. I put on a pair of jogging pants, a tank top, and my tennis shoes. It was going to be a casual dress day for me as I was going to do nothing but study. But first I needed coffee.

I grabbed my keys and headed to the door. Before I opened it, I noticed a box sitting on the table with my name on it. Putting my keys down, I opened the box to find a note. ‘Let the 24 hours begin. Take the mask and meet me at the BBC building at 1pm. Don’t be late.’

I looked at the mask and the bra and underwear set in black silk that was wrapped in pretty gold paper. A smile crept over my face as I knew exactly who it was from.

Totally oblivious to how he obtained my address and too excited and nervous at the time to care, I went back into the bathroom to put on the lingerie and some decent clothes to cover it.

My gut and brain were telling me to forget his request, yet the butterflies were screaming for action. I put on the pieces and a pair of white jeans. Adding a navy blue blouse and a pair of navy blue heels. I snatched my messy bun out and put some curls in it, applying some nude makeup to set off my look. “We’ll see how this goes.” I winked at myself in the mirror.

I didn’t know why I was doing what I was doing. The unknown man had me under his sexy spell. All I knew for sure, was he wanted me and I wanted him.

NICHOLAI

My assistant, Jennifer, sat with a folder in front of her with a photo of Natasha Greenwell and her life story in it. It seemed Natasha had grown up in Nantucket and moved to New York for college on a scholarship.

Her father was an FBI agent. Little was known about her mother. She was attending New York university with a Major in Mechanical Engineering. I knew just the tactic to get to her and it was going to be a gamble at best but worth a try. But that plan was only if she tried to ditch me.

“So you’re back at it again with these BBC newbies,” Jennifer snickered. She was my younger cousin as well as my assistant, and I loved her dearly.

“That’s my business, Jen.” I kissed her forehead as I took the folder and left her office. I put the folder inside of my vault for safe keeping.

Natasha was work in disguise and I wanted her in every which way for my pleasures and desires. My watch read twelve thirty, so it was nearly time for us to meet at the BBC building. I left the office and headed to my town car where my driver was waiting.

It took all of an hour to get there, due to New York traffic. I hated being late for anything whether it was a business meeting or a pleasure meeting.

“Josh, take the back way,” I called out to my driver. He did as I said and we drove up to find not a car in sight. “She should’ve been here by now.”

Moments later my eyes landed on a white, Toyota Camry, pulling in. I was shocked a bit as my heart skipped a beat when I saw her gorgeous face and knew she was there for me. I had been afraid she’d blow me off.

I pulled on my mask as I got out of the car and pulled the keys to the club out of my pants pocket. No one else was there, we’d be all alone. She saw me coming but waited by her car. After unlocking the door, I waved for her to come in and waited for her to put her own mask on.

She still had nervousness all over her and I found it sexy that she was nervous. “Natasha, glad you made it.” I smiled at her.

“I almost didn’t,” she said as she walked passed me.

“I’m glad you did.” I gave her a bigger smile which she didn’t seem to notice at all.

We made our way down the stairwell and to the red door, in silence. I opened it for her as it was empty and no evidence of last night stood out, except what was in my memory. I took her hand and lead her to one of the rooms.

“What am I doing here?” she asked.

“You belong to me for 24 hours, Natasha. Remember?” I asked, leading her to the bed.

She looked around until our eyes met. “Don’t patronize me. I know what you wanted, I just don’t get why we’re here.” She stood next to the bed.

I inched closer to her, closing the gap between us as my height towered over her small frame. “Like I said, because you belong to me right now.” I gently pushed her onto the bed.

She eyed me, as if she wanted to protest. I pulled my shirt off first. Then I pushed her shirt up, further and further to her neck as I planted kisses and sucked marks on her body.

My body was aching for her, so I took her shirt off then the bra I’d bought for her. My hands slid over her plump breasts and I leaned over to take one in my mouth, and found a nice sized scar under her left breast.

She pushed my hand and closed her eyes, as if in shame. “Don’t.” I said, moving her hands to her sides. I ran my fingers over the old scar. “What happened?”

“It’s a long story with a bad ending,” she said as she stopped struggling to stop my attention to the minor imperfection on her otherwise flawless skin.

“Maybe you’ll tell me about it next time,” I said then kissed the scar.

My hands roamed down to her crotch as I unbuttoned her jeans and pushed them off. Her right nipple was between my teeth as I probed and played with her breasts. My tongue swirled around her nipples, sucking them as her body vibrated.

The panties I bought her would look more enticing on the floor than on her. I ripped them at the sides and pulled them off of her. My cock was pulsating so much, I thought it would burst through my slacks. But I maintained my self-control as I continued to tease her.

Her moans began to fill the room. “Do you remember the rules?” I asked her.

She nodded. “Yes, I remember the rules,” she panted, out of breath.

“Recite them to me.” I demanded.

She gave me a look as if to ask if I were serious. My expression was stern and she caught on quickly. “No touching, no passionate kissing, no talking, and no outbursts. But why no outbursts?” she asked.

I sat up to look at her at eye level. “Because I said so.” I told her evenly. I’d rather watch a woman’s sexual emotion than hear it because anyone can make a sound but the face doesn’t lie. “Take off your mask.”

“You first.” She sat up on her elbows only for me to lightly push her back down.

I knew she was getting frustrated with my antics but I loved seeing her flustered. “Now, Natasha,” I said, sternly.

She did as she was told but added in a bit of sass when she said, “There!”

“You will obey me today.” I told her as I caressed her left cheek, trying to entice her into doing anything I told her to. I was trying to show her I meant to have her the ways I wanted to, with no back talk or sass.

Her eyes looked at me with a purity that I couldn’t explain. She never spoke a word. She became mute, which I wasn’t sure I liked. But I forged ahead. I stood up and held out my hand to her. “Stand.”

She did and grabbed onto my hand, allowing me to pull her up. Her mouth stayed closed in a loose expression that told me she was allowing me to do this, she was not afraid and it was obvious she thought she was in some sort of control. Which she was not!

“Now walk over there,” I said, pointing to a spot in the far right corner. Before she could go, I took her by the chin. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes, I trust you,” she said in a whisper.

Her breasts were nice and perky, ready to be tamed and teased. She had goosebumps along her body and a look of innocence and purity. I took her to the corner of the room. “Hold your arms straight out to the sides,” I said, cranking down the holster. Her eyes widened as she saw the black leather straps that would soon hold her naked body in them while I fucked her into oblivion. “Don’t be afraid.”

I caressed her right cheek trying to comfort her before I buckled her arms into the straps and then her thighs and feet. I cranked it up to the level where our midsections would meet. She had a frightened look in her eyes. Then I put on a mouth strap to help her with the outbursts as I knew she would rebel on that one.

I cranked the straps holding her thighs until she was in a sitting position. With her in place, I unbuckled my pants and was fully naked and the sight of my cock made her eyes fill with lust instead of fear. I grabbed a feather and tickled her, intimately, until she squirmed in the holster. “Do you want me inside of you?” I asked, taunting her.

She nodded as she couldn’t speak. I put the feather down and moved in between her thighs and pressed my cock to her clit, rubbing it gently as her clit pulsated. The wetness had me ready to plunge in but I wanted her to beg. Her eyes rolled but she wouldn’t beg me.

I backed away and kneeled down and flicked my tongue at her clit and her body jumped as my tongue vibrated and swirled around her clit. Seeing the want in her eyes I let my tongue dive into her canal as I moved it feverishly in and out.

A muffled scream escaped her and I knew she was begging me then. I stood back up and sucked on her right nipple while pinching the other. My tongue flicked back and forth over her nipple and I held my cock in the other hand, rubbing it against her wet folds.

I stuck just the tip in and she tensed up, I guess from some residual pain from the last night. I slowly guided my way into her tight walls as they gripped me, compromising my composure. She felt better than anyone I’d ever had. Probably because she was so inexperienced is what I chalked it up to at the time. Still tight from lack of use.

Moving in a steady motion and playing with her nipples, she slowly relaxed her muscles and I picked up my pace. “I’m going to fuck you so good you’ll only think of me.” I eyed her as I spoke.

She moaned and I continued to maneuver inside her. “I want you to orgasm at my command every time I invade this pussy from now on.” I rocked her back and forth as my momentum was now a forceful motion. I could feel my balls sticking to her ass as I went into her. “You like the way I fuck you?” I asked her with a lustful tone. She nodded as her eyes tried to stay open and focused. But her grip tightened around me as she was almost there. I quickly pulled out. “Not yet.” She groaned in frustration until I pushed it back inside her all the way.

Her head fell back as if she was in pure bliss. I was ready to climax so I pulled out again and unstrapped her. But left the mouth strap on and took her to the wall where I made her face it, then quickly cuffed her hands and hung them over the hook on the wall. I brought her hips back toward me.

“Are you ready?” I asked her. She nodded, so I pushed my way in, this time with a speed she didn't see coming. I was rock hard and my balls were tight. I was so ready to let it all out. “Fuck, Natasha, you’re so wet.” I groaned as she moaned. I knew her orgasm was approaching and I wanted to have one with her. “Now, Natasha.” I groaned as I slammed into her as my balls released the pressure. She made a muffled scream in ecstasy as her body trembled. She shook violently against my body as our sweat mixed.

She was amazing!

NATASHA

I stood in complete exhaustion as he had just played with my body until I had to beg him to fuck me. I didn’t like the begging part of it at all but the reward was worth it. He wouldn’t let me scream which was hard all on its own.

I stood panting as his warm sweaty body collapsed against mine. My wrists were beginning to hurt in that position as I stood there with my arms slightly above my head where he had hooked them on the wall.

“Now that you have obeyed me, you can move to the next level,” he said with a matter of fact tone.

In my mind, I was trying to grasp that level, there was never any talk about levels! He unbuckled the mouth strap. I had to open and close my mouth a few times, as it was sore from the strap. “I thought I belonged to you for 24 hours. Then I go back to my life and you go back to yours. I mean I only went to the party as a fill in. I’m not going to be one of those girls. Not ever.”

He laughed, lightly. “This isn't about BBC. This is about me finding my newbie. You are my new recruit. You see, I branded you, which gave me the right to you for as long as I want. And, I want you, Natasha. All to myself.”

I was in a total mental mind fuck at that point. I had never agreed to being branded nor being any fucking recruit. “Dani tricked me into going, didn’t she? So I could be branded by some sex addicted asshole of a billionaire. She knew what would happen to me and she did it without telling me a thing about what would happen if I went with her.”

“Don’t feel betrayed. Dani did only what is required of her through her contract. You see we all have our wants and I always get what I want. If you want out, you must find another BBC member willing to take you with my brand on you. Trust me that’s next to impossible,” he said, leaving me angry.

My blood was boiling and I wanted nothing more to do with the man nor his sick games. All because I helped a friend out with a favor and was nearly desperate for money. I wasn’t that desperate and if she’d been honest with me, I’d never have gone. “This is bullshit! I never agreed to this.”

“Did you let me stamp you? Did you let me fuck you not once but twice? And did you agree to belong to me?”

He asked an awful lot of questions as my mind was trying to play catch up to this catch 22. My mind was fuzzy with the last night's drinking. I couldn’t recall if I agreed to those things or if he just fucking did them. But I did agree, in a sober state, to go there with him that day. I did do that much. His hand grazed my shoulder and I pulled away from him with a look of disgust on my face. “Don’t.”

“Natasha. You know the rules,” he reminded me of him being in charge. But at that moment I didn’t care about his fucking rules. I wanted to hate him for tricking me into that mess of a club he belonged to. He tried to touch me again and I batted his hand away. “Natasha, that’s grounds for a punishment and after that amazing fuck I don’t want to punish you.”

He came closer to me even as I flinched at the touch of his hand on my body but didn’t pull away or try to stop him. The fear was creeping in with the reality that I was completely alone with the man. I wanted to erase him from my memory.

“I don’t care what you do at this point because I’m not playing your sick game. Bill, or whatever your name is,” I spat angrily as I gathered my courage and glared at him.

But that only seemed to amuse him as a smile curved his caramel colored lips. “Have it your way.” He walked away and gathered my clothes off the floor as I laid on the bed in a weak puddle of self-loathing for what I’d done.

I’d let a total stranger brand me and fuck me in a bathroom. In a warehouse full of people, I didn’t know. To top that off, I was back in the same warehouse being fucked again by the man, with my agreement.

Every inch of my body ached. My mouth was sore from the mouth strap he’d put back on me to keep me quiet. And I was not sure what he was doing at that moment, gathering my clothes. Surely he wasn’t going to let me leave that place. Not so soon.

“Put on your clothes,” he said, nonchalantly as he tossed them onto the bed next to me.

Easing my sore body off the bed, I pulled my jeans and shirt on, leaving the bra and torn panties he’d sent me right where he’d thrown them. My mouth hurt and I could feel the raw places on both sides of it where the leather had cut into my flesh.

He watched me as I dressed, then I picked up my heels and turned to leave. He didn’t say a word as I touched the door knob. I was sure he didn’t mean to let me leave before the 24 hours was up. I half expected him to come up behind me and drag me back to his torturous bed. Instead, I saw him out of the corner of my eye, lie down on the bed, on his side. He was watching me.

When nothing came from him, I turned the knob and opened the door. I don’t know why I didn’t just make a run for it but I didn’t do that at all. I turned back and looked at him.

He looked right back at me with those dark eyes shining at me from behind his black mask. I had so many questions I wanted to ask him. But I knew he wasn’t about to be that man. That man who would suddenly change his nature and be boyfriend material.

That man was anything but the kind of man you took home to meet your father. My father would’ve killed that man. In a heartbeat!

NICHOLAI

As she left the room that day with obvious confusion, I felt as if maybe she wanted something more. Something I didn’t have to give. Whatever it was she desired, I could only fulfill sex and control. But I had enjoyed the sassy beauty as she ranted about belonging to me.

That night I wanted to set the rules down but I couldn’t or she would’ve definitely walked away before I really got to know her. Dani had given me Natasha’s cell number. But she wasn’t responding to any of my messages or calls.

I was beginning to think she liked to be punished. I let her leave that warehouse but I had no intentions of letting her go. I thought she understood that.

With no other choices after a week without her, I went for my backup plan. Like I said, I wanted her. I get what I want, no matter what.

“Nicholai, are you listening,” my father yelled across the board table.

“I hear you, Father.” I looked over at him as I played with the ink pen, still thinking about Natasha.

“So you will close this account by the end of the month? Catch a flight to Bangkok first thing!” he shouted, pushing the client portfolio to me as he got up and walked out of the boardroom with his stakeholders behind him.

My assistant sat at my side as everyone else left the board room. “Jen, get a list of interns so I can have some help around here. We need some fresh faces. Make sure this one is at the top of the list.” I handed her a sheet with a list of names and Natasha Greenwell was the top priority. I wanted her. I wanted her right under my nose!

I sat making business calls the rest of the day before going down to the warehouse for the company. Grimm Defense and Technology was my family owned company and I had been elected as CEO just a year after graduating.

I hated working for my family and I hated the business we were in. I put on my hard hat to walk through the warehouse with the supervisor and line manager. “We’ll have the back orders out by the end of the quarter but we have another problem,” Chris, the warehouse supervisor said, turning toward me.

“Yeah, what's that?” I asked.

They both looked at one another, then Chris said, “The FBI has been lurking around here.”

So it seemed we had fallen under the FBI’s radar for the umpteenth time. “Alright, I’ll handle it. Just don’t make that the gossip of the warehouse.” I said sternly, giving them back the hard hat before I left.

I had an idea just who was lurking around the property and I would be paying them a visit as soon as I had the time to do that. My father didn’t need to get wind of any of that. He’d blame me for certain. He always found some reason for things to be my fault.

My father, Nicholas Grimm, was a hard, controlling man and as much as I couldn’t stand him for it, I found myself being that way many times too.

I grew up under his rule and it wasn’t the best as my mother was a definite mute when it came to him. When I began working at the company my grandfather, my father’s father, had started when he came here from Germany, I became a part of the BBC which was a club my grandfather helped orchestrate.

I found out about my father’s many affairs. I loved my mother, no matter how my father felt about her trapping him as she was a BBC newbie he’d never planned to marry.

My father was anything but faithful to my mother. He told me many times, monogamy was not a human way. I had begun to believe him as I’d yet to find one woman who could hold my attention for any length of time.

It was Natasha who already filled my head more than any other ever had. I knew I needed to get her out of my system and fast.

There was no other way to handle it!

NATASHA

It had been almost two weeks since I’d seen Bill, or whatever his name was, and I was kind of tossing up the idea of giving into him. He had been calling and texting, which I'd ignored.

He also sent gifts with messages that spoke of how I belonged to him. One message was attached to a gorgeous flower arrangement in a very expensive vase. It was explicit, with details of how he’d make me cry with a need for him to fill me again. Which I did feel when I read the words. But I’d yet to indulge in anything with him, as bad as my body was in need of his rapture.

Dani explained to me what was in her contract and how she had fallen into such a ridiculous agreement. But some part of me still felt like she should’ve warned me about what it was I’d be getting myself into by going, including the branding rule. Maybe she was just doing what was demanded of her and it was all a part of her contractual arrangement. I didn’t care at that point. I had effectively gotten away from the spoiled man.

I grabbed a piece of toast as I headed out that day. Headed to class to turn in a research paper. It was my last year and I was ready to be done with the tedious workload.

I had found another box sitting on the counter when I ventured out of my bedroom. The resident hall manager had to be on the man’s payroll as he secretly delivered the boxes to our dorm suite every single day.

Instead of opening it, I took it to my room and hid it away in the closet. I would go through the boxes and see what he had sent me, eventually. As far as I was concerned, he was still on my bad side and no gift would change that.

When I got on campus I noticed a job fair was going on and a recruiter was scouting for interns. I had a few minutes until my class started so I went to see what companies were there.

There weren’t any I was interested in so I walked through the crowd of students and headed on to class. Once I got to class and took a seat, I looked through my emails, noticing three more came during the night from Bill. I deleted them without opening any of them.

Professor O’Hara came into his classroom and made a bee line for me. “Hi, Professor O’Hara.” I gave him a smile as I put away my cell.

“Good morning, Miss Greenwell, I’m guessing you brought your research paper.” He took a seat a few chairs away.

“Yes, this time, I finished it.” I chuckled at him because that midterm paper was never turned in and this was a makeup paper.

“I wanted to see you because you have an internship offer and I gave them a recommendation for you. It’s not my ideal company but it gives you at least something since you do need experience,” he told me.

I knew I had to find an internship before graduation. But none of the companies I saw outside stood out to me as anything that would help my future career.

“Where?” I asked after a moment of thinking.

He cleared his throat. “Grimm Defense and Technology. Here is the internship application and a little background on the company.” He sat it on the desk and walked back down to the front of the class.

I ran my eyes over the application as a girl named Sara sat next to me. “Hey, I just spoke to the recruiter for that company you’re holding an application for. Are you going to apply for the internship?”

I had barely paid any attention to it until then. “I don’t know. I never considered the defense industry.” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Well, I hope you do so I’ll at least know someone there,” she whispered as the lecture had begun. “The recruiter signed me up already.

“I’ll apply then. What department did you get assigned to?” I asked her.

“The IT department, so apply for that one too.”

At the end of class, I turned my internship application in to the professor and headed to my next class. The damn boxes kept coming to my mind for some reason. All throughout that day, they kept popping into my head so I made a decision to end the curiosity and open them all when I got home.

When I got home that afternoon, I put a frozen TV dinner in the oven and changed into a pair of pajama pants and a T-shirt. After I pulled all the boxes out the closet, I sat Indian style on the floor in my bedroom and went through the things.

In the first box was what looked to be crotchless panties and a matching bra set with a note, ‘You belong to me. So I’ll wait, Natasha, until you make the move. But every ignored letter will result in a punishment.’ I balled the letter up then tossed it into the trashcan.

By the time I finished opening the boxes and finding naughty pieces of near nothings, I was wanting him in the worst way with an empty bottle of wine next to me and my dinner burning in the oven.

After taking care of the ruined dinner, I made a decision. I was done holding out on the man. I felt an urge to feel his hands on my body again. I’m sure it was the wine and lack of food that had me so ready to get back to him. I knew there would be punishments for how I had ignored him.

But that brand was still on my shoulder. That ink must’ve had henna in it or something because it never washed off. I looked at it every night when I got out of the shower and something inside of me didn’t care if he spanked me, I could let that happen. I needed to feel him again.

I looked through my closet for something kinky to wear. I had a red bandage dress and I added a pair of black heels. Under that, I put on a nude bra and the crotchless pantie set he’d sent me.

I put on smoky eye makeup and candy apple lip stain with a Venetian mask, he’d put in one of the boxes too. I straightened my hair until it was bone straight.

When I was all put together, I grabbed my keys. I was heading to the BBC warehouse. I knew he would be there. It was Friday after all. The same night I first met him.

I was going back to him, ready to accept my punishment and him. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

The Bond: Part Two

NATASHA

My adrenaline was rushing as I sat in my car, outside of the building I was pretty sure, my man, Bill was inside of. The parking lot was full of expensive cars, it was Friday night and the bad boy billionaires were on the prowl.

Gathering my courage, I went to the door and knocked three times. The same guy opened the little door and he peeked out at me. “BBC entertainment,” I said.

“Greenwell.” He smiled and opened the door, giving me a different stamp this time. I walked down the same dark dank stairwell to the red door and knocked four times in the top corners. The door opened, surprising me. There was a different woman there that time. “BBC sex.” I gave her the code.

She smiled lightly and checked the stamp on my hand then gestured for me to go inside without a word said between us.

I walked through the room as eyes peered at me from both the women and the men. But my focus was on finding Bill. He wasn’t at the poker table or any game table for that matter.

I walked toward the hall that the rooms were down, opposite the bathrooms. The first room was empty as I opened the unlocked door.

Then the second door was also unlocked and I found two men and a woman inside of that one. The woman was being mounted by one of the masked men while the other watched. I shut that door in a hurry and opened the third door.

My heart stopped as my eyes ran over his muscled body. I could smell his distinct scent from where I stood, quiet as a church mouse.

There he stood in front of a woman who was spread eagle on the bed. His back was to the door. Both of them were oblivious to my presence as loud music filled the room.

My heart thumped as I felt a small twinge of jealousy nagging at me. But I quickly let that escape me as I watched intently as he toyed with the blindfolded woman. I closed the door behind me, silently and leaned up against the dark wall, watching them.

His sweaty upper body glistened in the red lighting. His black pants were on but he wore no shirt or shoes. His face was surely covered by a mask as I could see the string from it running around the back of his dark head.

His hand raised and I saw a small whip in it. It came down on her soft mound and her entire body quivered with the lash. My legs fell slightly apart as I yearned for it to be me he was punishing.

He picked her up and turned her over, pressing her body to lie back down, flat on the bed. Leaning over her, he kissed down her spine as he placed his fingers inside her. “Are you ready for me?” he asked her.

I heard her moan and he took that as a yes. When he turned to put the whip down on a small table, our eyes met. He was surprised to see me at first but then a sense of anger filled his mask covered eyes. I’m guessing he didn’t like to be watched.

“What are you doing here?” he asked with a hushed tone as he came to me.

My eyes shifted as I took my mask off. “I wanted to see you.”

He stepped closer to me. His hands ran up and down my arms. I moaned in his ear as I flicked my tongue at his neck. Yet he stood still as a statue, only his hands kept moving.

I could tell he wanted me as he stood in front of me, his breaths were slow and steady. “Why now? I’m in the middle of something.” He eyed me and I knew he was looking for something. Jealousy perhaps, or maybe an offer to join them.

The truth was, I did feel jealous of that woman who was lying still, waiting for him on that bed. So I did what any jealous woman would do. I baited him. “Maybe next time then.” I grabbed my mask and turned toward the door.

He grabbed my wrists, swinging me around until my back was against the wall. Inhaling my scent like a bloodhound, he held my body between his and the wall, nearly crushing me.

I was throbbing for his penetration but he took his time with me. Licking the side of my neck as one of his hands grabbed my breast. “I’ve missed you, Bill.” The words slipped out even though I knew that was grounds for punishment. And I knew I had some coming for ignoring him for two weeks already.

But he only pulled his body back and looked into my eyes. “I’ve missed you, Natasha.”

He kissed me passionately, like he had a purpose. One I think even he knew was breaking the rules. I moaned softly as his hands roamed my body and his tongue found my breast as he pushed my dress down.

“You have it on?” he looked at me with desire and a bit of surprise as he fondled my breast through the nude bra. The bra had a place sewn into it to put something small in it. I had placed a spare key to our dorm suite in it to give to him.

“Yes, it was the best gift out of all of them,” I said as I showed him the key that was in my bra.

“You have to go, Natasha,” he said, taking the key away from me. “I have things that need tending to.”

He turned away from me as I watched him place that key in his pocket. He went back to the woman and ran his hands over her plump ass. With one hard smack, she seemed ready for him again and my stomach turned.

He was leaving me in a sexual rage. He didn’t look back and I quietly went to the door, leaving him and that woman, who I noticed did not wear his brand on her body, to the elements of the room.

I went home in an annoyed mood. Why had I inflicted that on myself? I shouldn’t have just shown up. I knew what kind of a man he was after all. He wasn’t my boyfriend. I didn’t catch him cheating on me. But it hurt like that just the same.

Once again I had been shamed by his coldness, jolting me back to the reality of his unrelenting dominance. What he did was part of my punishment for ignoring him. Of that I was certain. What I was uncertain about was if he was done with me.

NICHOLAI

I was no longer into Amber as much as I was before Natasha showed up. Amber was a little upset when I told her to leave without any explanation. But if I wasn’t into the woman or the situation any longer, I couldn’t and wouldn’t force myself.

As bad as I wanted to fuck, I could only think about Natasha and the red dress that hugged her curves. I dressed and went out to find she had left the club entirely. I didn’t mean for her to leave the club.

She’d caught me off guard. The way I reacted to seeing her wasn’t a thing I had ever done before. I had to fight myself not to run to her and take her in my arms and kiss her, for God’s sake!

I wanted to throw her ass on that bed and take her the way I’d fantasized about the last couple of weeks while she'd ignored me. And I suppose it was her treatment of me that had me the most bewildered about how I felt.

I fingered the key in my pocket as I drank from the glass filled with straight whisky. The night had been dampened. My libido was raging but only for her.

Should I go to her place and make things right? Or should I leave her alone to think about what she’d done to me?

She would think I was fucking the woman she’d caught me with. I was sure of that. And I was happy about that. Had she not ignored me, it would’ve been her on that bed. I felt she deserved that to reside in her that I am not a man who will wait for a woman’s attention.

Better for her to realize that right away. But there was a spark of jealousy in her eyes that was mixed with pain. That’s what hit me. That’s what made me think about saying things I’d never said to any woman.

My mind was a blur of things I wanted to tell her. I wanted to ask her so many questions about why she’d shut me out of the way as she had done.

Had I not given her presents to let her know I was thinking of her and wanted her? Had I not sent her text after text, explaining she belonged to me and she was making things hard for us both by refusing to even speak with me over the phone?

I had done all I could to let her know she needed to stop being stubborn and come to me. She needed to accept her punishment and we could move on. I let her know those things each and every day. Yet she decided to show up at the club instead of accepting my calls or even texting me to say she was sorry and wanted to meet me to apologize.

And she saw what I’d do when she was unavailable to me. After all, it’s a normal thing for a man, who is not committed to any one woman, to do.

The key in my hand had me thinking of doing a very stupid thing. I could not go to her. That’s weak and I was anything but that.

But she may have thought my branding of her meant we were in a committed relationship or something like that. Her eyes told me she was naïve in many ways. I knew she was unaware of what her presence at our club meant. Could I have been wrong in assuming she was also unaware of my commitment to her?

Did I have a commitment to her?

I had branded women before. It merely meant they belonged to me, not that I belonged to them. And all of them knew that. They understood where they stood with me. It was clear, cut and dry.

Natasha didn’t know how those things worked. Not at all. And I had taken her, so it was my job to teach her how things worked in my world.

I let the key go and pulled my hand out of my pocket. She would have to endure me ignoring her for a week. She would need to see exactly how that felt. Then, when she came to work for me, I would be able to see her again. With a renewed slate. One where she had been taught not to play with me.

I was not a man who allowed his emotions to be toyed with!

NATASHA

My nude heels clicked against the tiled floor as I walked into the building of Grimm Defense & Technology for my interview. Wearing a rather smart outfit of a beige dress that went to just above my knees, I had my makeup on minimally and my hair in a bun. My reading glasses were on as I was sure there would be paperwork to read and sign.

I had read up on the company to ready myself for what I was told were grueling questions. So prepared I came as I desperately needed an internship. And since my classmate was going to be there too, I envisioned things going well for me with that company.

The tile gave way, as I entered the lobby, to marble floors and a grand chandelier hung above a huge cherry wood desk, making up the main focal point of the large room. I saw a beautiful brunette smiling as I approached.

“Good morning,” I said with a smile.

“Good morning. What can I help you with?” she asked.

A sudden bout of nerves had me clearing my throat. “I’m here for my interview with Mr. Nicholai Grimm.”

She looked down at a clipboard on the right side of her desk. “Do you have a confirmation number for me?”

I nodded and reached into my purse, pulling out a card with the number on it. “052293.”

“Thank you, Miss Greenwell. Take the elevator to floor 38 and his receptionist’s desk is to the right,” she said then gave me a wink. “Good luck, the boss isn’t an easy man. Stay absolutely professional at all times. And if you’d like a bit of advice to help you gain the job, show him tremendous respect. It goes a long way with him.”

I felt my nerves kick into high gear as I smiled a thank you at her and made my way to the elevator. I could just imagine the old fart who would be interviewing me.

He would probably grill me with questions that he'd forget the answers to. But I had to keep a brave face and roll with the punches as my need for the internship overshadowed my jitters.

The elevator carried me up as butterflies fluttered around my insides. The elevator stopped on the third floor and I watched as the doors opened and a gorgeous man with a clean-shaven face and dark brown hair entered. He smiled at me as his eyes veered to my apparent exposed cleavage as my dress had ridden a bit low. I pulled it up as I felt embarrassed by the way he was looking at me.

We never spoke as I only wanted to be off the elevator as my butterflies were turning into creatures resembling giant birds rather than dainty butterflies. And the way his tall frame with bulky muscles filled the space on the other side of the elevator made me feel small and helpless, had me keeping my eyes on the floor in front of me as I attempted to steady my nerves.

As the doors slid open, I walked out, the man followed behind me. He was a bit too close, in my personal space, making me feel even more nervous than I was in the first place.

I lost him as I walked up to the desk and he went elsewhere. Recognizing the receptionist as the recruiter who was at my school, I smiled. “Hello, I’m Natasha Greenwell here to see Mr. Nicholai Grimm.”

“Right this way.” She stood to usher me to his office. I followed behind as my palms became sweaty. I took in a few deep breaths as she knocked on the cherry wood double doors. Without an answer, she opened it, stepping to the side. “You may enter,” she said before turning around.

I walked inside, then the large doors closed behind me. It felt like I was overheating from the inside out as anxiety was overloading my system. Making my way through the entry room that led to the office on the other side, I could see the panoramic view of the city.

It was breathtaking as I walked into an empty office with a large desk planted in the middle of it. All the way over to the floor to ceiling windows I went. My nerves began falling away with how gorgeous the sight out of those windows were to me. My breathing steadied and my palms stopped sweating as I gazed out of those windows. My eyes filled with the beauty of the city and the miles of tall buildings. I had been in tall buildings but never one with this kind of view.

“Natasha.” I heard a familiar voice behind me, pulling me out of my daze.

I turned to find the man from the elevator. His voice was very familiar. His body was too, and so was his hair and eyes.

It was Bill!

NICHOLAI

I watched as she stood with her mouth gaping open as that was the first time she had ever seen me without a mask. Her succulent lips made my dick thump in my slacks as I could imagine them wrapped around it.

“Natasha,” I called to her as I closed the space between us. Her eyes shifted around as she cleared her throat.

“I…I apologize,” she said in a hushed tone.

“Look at me, Natasha.” I lifted her chin, gently rubbing my thumb across her smooth plump lips.

“Am I here for an interview or to be worked over again and left in a sexual rage?” she asked with a sassy sexy tone.

I stepped back and returned my hands to my pockets as her eyes continued to shift around the room. “Actually, you were hired before you even stepped foot into this building. So to answer your question, no you’re not here for an interview. But there is a rule that I will not in any way bend on.” I looked at her to see if I had her undivided attention.

“And that is.” Her eyes focused on me.

“There will be no personal relationships amongst your counterparts. Understood?” I asked.

Her face was one of confusion and uncertainty, “Is that all Bil…Nicholai. What do I even call you?” she asked, flustered.

“While we’re here, I prefer Nicholai. While in private…Master.” I had a sly grin on my face as she had a surprised look in her eyes.

“Master,” she asked, puzzled.

“Yes.” I nodded my head, curtly.

“But you just said no personal relationships and I’m sure that includes you, Nicholai.” She gave me a challenging look.

“Natasha, you still wear my brand on your body, we both know what that means. So, it surely excludes our tryst.” My eyes roamed over her body, landing on her beautiful legs in a short, above the knee, beige dress. The top of it hung at the crease of her tits with her pretty little mole peeking out.

“I’m uncomfortable with this situation right here.” She pointed to the two of us.

I was unmoved by whatever she wasn’t comfortable with. She belonged to me as of that night.

She was who I wanted and I had her right there. She was naïve and trusting. No matter the battle with my immoral soul and malicious attitude. I needed some innocence and she had it. Whether greedy or otherwise I had to have my way with whom I desired. No matter what!

“I know that you haven’t found one of those old insidious men to void the agreement,” I said evenly.

I knew she hadn’t even attempted to void the agreement. She fumbled with her fingers when she got nervous.“No, I haven’t because I’m sure a man like yourself will only play with a girl like me until the next beauty comes along. So I’d rather get it done and over with and we can both go back to our lives as we knew them,” she said with an annoyed tone.

I circled around her and stood, staring out the picture window at the view of the city. “You have no idea what the future holds. But I’m sure you will soon.”

There was more to me than met the eye. She couldn’t tell from my expensive attire and surroundings how jaded I was. Whatever hunger I had for her was a part of my everyday life since the day I became CEO. She just so happened to be my next casualty.

“Can I go now?” she asked, obviously agitated.

But I couldn’t blame her for the perception she had of me and I wouldn’t dare hold it against her. Although it was my world, I still had some empathy to the women I possessed.

I turned on my heels and walked over to her. There was no space between us. I could smell the scent of her shampoo and feel the heat radiate from her.

“Goodbye,” she said, backing away, heading for the door.

Just watching her walk away was alluring and the seductive clicking of her heels gave an image of me fucking her with them in the air. Her body was beautiful and her sex was beyond comparison.

I had to have her!

“Natasha,” I called out to her. “Before you go, you must sign this bond.” I went over to the desk to retrieve it.

The thing that would really hold her to me for as long as I wanted her. Our bond!

NATASHA

My feet couldn’t get me out fast enough. There he stood with a condescending and cocky attitude. I knew that I had agreed to everything, but to be reminded every time was a little redundant and juvenile.

As bad as I wanted to say that I didn’t want to be near him, it was a lie. And telling myself that was just as immature as his controlling persona on the situation.

I’m sure I wasn’t his first or only and I damn sure knew I wasn’t going to be his last. I just felt as though I should’ve been a bit smarter than to get caught up with someone like him.

He was rich and powerful in every aspect of his life. And I just didn’t fit into any of it. He was way out of my league. Besides the sex, I knew he wanted nothing else from me.

“Natasha,” he called after me. My feet halted at just the sound of his commanding voice which sent waves to my core. I could feel the throbbing inside me as I wanted him to bend me over and give me the punishment that was due. I shut my eyes tight to rid my mind of the erotic thoughts. I turned around, slowly, cursing myself for not making it out of there fast enough.

“Before you leave, I need you to sign a bond.” He held out a clipboard and pen.

My head snapped up to look at him. “What is this?” I asked, skeptical about this so-called bond.

“It’s a bond for us,” he said taking out what looked like a dress box. My heart skipped a few beats as if it wasn’t already hard enough to control my breathing. “You know what? How about you meet me for dinner tonight.” He snatched the box back.

I stood there contemplating whether or not I was going to dinner with him. Of course, I wasn’t. I didn’t want to end up fighting in his sheets, continuously pressing the envelope on the thing. His voice had my head snapping up again. “It wasn’t a question so no need for an answer.” He had this cold look in his eyes and a tone that sent chills down my spine. I felt a little cheated as his demeanor had changed in all of five seconds.

Reluctantly, I just nodded and turned back around to head to the door, ready to leave.

As I got onto the elevator I felt my heart race almost out of my chest and anger filled me. I felt like he should have right then and there bent me over and just done what the agreement was about. Instead, he taunted me with his abrasive mood swings as if I really was just an agreement.

No, I didn’t want to be more than that, I didn’t even want to be that for him. At least that’s how I felt in that moment, as if the entire thing was a mistake.

Yet, I was already committed, already drawn into something that relied on elastic skin and a frozen heart. We were two tormented souls who ended up colliding and fate would have its way sooner or later.

Once at home, I sat in my room, waiting for absolutely nothing. My mind was at a standstill and homework needed to be done. But I was in no mood at all to sit there and dig deep into my books.

So I crawled up in the bed and wrapped myself in my sheets for a nap. Nicholai or Bill, whatever the hell he wanted to be called, had seriously taken a toll on me.

My mind was reeling with what working for him really meant. Was I to see to his sexual needs at the office or would working there actually teach me things that would benefit me in my career that would come later?

That is what an internship is for. To teach one about the future. Maybe he was teaching me things I could take into the future. Knowledge about men, sex, pain, anguish.

I had a feeling I should just not ever go back to that building. I should just leave him completely alone.

But why did merely thinking that make my insides ache? I had it bad for the man and I had no idea why that was. He was arrogant, egotistical, and even mean. Why would I have feelings for him?

And he wanted me all to himself for no other reason than to dominate me. He had no intentions of ever making me anything more to him than essentially, his sex slave.

And I was letting him do that too. I was allowing it all to happen. I struggled to understand myself as I tried to make myself believe I could actually forget about the man.

The tall, handsome man with a body women dream of running their hands over. The man who was taking more from me than I had ever allowed or thought I ever would allow. What was happening to me?

Was I bewitched? Did Nicholai Grimm have some deal with the devil to possess any woman he decided to? Was evil so deep seeded in the man that he could send it out to grapple onto another human being and drag me into him?

I had no idea why I was going to keep things going with Nicholai, but I was. I could’ve lied to myself that I could stay away. That I didn’t care. But I did care. I was starting to care a lot and I wanted to know things about the man.

I wanted to know why he was the way he was. Closed off, emotionless, and cold. He couldn’t have always been that way. There had to be a sweet kid in him somewhere.

Maybe, if I treated him in the right way, that innocent boy would come back out. Maybe I could save Nicholai Grimm from himself.

With a laugh, I said out loud, “Yeah, and maybe I can snap my fingers and make a double cheeseburger appear out of thin air too!”

I was a fool, a terrible fool, with no idea of what I was doing. But I would soon find out. And what I’d find I’d do for the man, might destroy us both.

NICHOLAI

I sat at my desk, waiting for my lawyer to come up so we could talk about the FBI lurking around. As usual, my mind was lingering on Natasha. I had told her a little white lie about the branding. She could’ve denied the 24-hour request and the agreement that first night.

Her ignorance to the entire agreement was my motive to push it further. This would be the night for our real agreement and then the fun would begin.

Jen knocked on the door to inform me my lawyer had arrived. The door opened and Jonathan Billard, my lawyer, strode into my office. “Nicholai.” He smiled, opening his arms wide for an embrace.

I stood to greet him with a warm hug and handshake. “Billard, take a seat.” I gestured for him to sit.

“So, what’s going on Nicholai?” he asked, setting his briefcase down on the seat next to him.

I ran my hands down my face, feeling a bit defeated. It always felt like that when the FBI was anywhere near me. “We have a problem.” I turned to him. His expression turned serious as he stared at me, waiting for me to elaborate. “The FBI has been nosing around at the warehouse. I’m unsure of what they’re looking for, but I don’t need them spooking my employees and asking questions. I can’t have this bullshit right now! Not with my father crawling up my ass about this account.”

He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Listen, Nicholai, I don’t need you getting hotheaded right now. We have been through this a few times already. When it comes to the government, they’re always snooping around to find dirt. As long as you are doing everything by the book then we’re fine. Is there anything I need to worry about?” he asked, giving me that fatherly look.

“No, nothing’s changed,” I said leaning on the corner of the desk.

He nodded in approval. “Then there is nothing to worry about. They should be out of your hair soon, so just relax and continue with business as you always do.” He stood to leave.

“I will. Thanks, Billard.” I gave him another handshake then walked him to the door.

Once again, I was in my office alone. In silence, feeling uneasy and angry. I hated those cowards. They were always up my ass about something and it was starting to piss me off. The only thing I needed at that time was an outlet. In due time I would have exactly that. I went to the small wet-bar in the corner of my office and grabbed a shot of bourbon.

My anger was getting the best of me and it was getting harder and harder to sustain self-control. I didn’t know how long it would last until I would lose it all. In times like that, I would always make a phone call, have a woman sent up and ease my tension, using her body.

With Natasha in my head, I could think of no one I wanted to come help me but her. And I knew she wouldn’t come to me. She wouldn’t come in silence, bend over my desk and let me relieve this anger, using her, then telling her to go.

Not Natasha!

She’d have to argue with me first, then I’d grow even angrier. I’d have to seduce her instead of merely ordering her. That’s exactly why I needed her to sign the damn bond and start learning what it was I needed from her.

Not her sassy mouth, or her tenacious attitude. I just needed her sexy ass and perfect body to take me to another place for a little while. Ease my tensions and allow me to explode into her, with no arguments.

And I hoped very soon that would be a thing she understood and she'd learn to fit in where I needed her to. With the internship, her office would be connected to mine so I could call her in whenever I needed her expert advice.

I would only accept this advice in the form of sex. No words, no ideas. Just her body, letting my body do to it whatever the hell it took to make the anger go away for a while.

My blood boiled too easily from what my father told me. He told me all the time I had little self-control and let my anger rule me too often. As if he was anywhere near perfect!

My father was so far from perfect. Yet he felt no shame in letting me know I was not the man he’d hoped I’d be. My mother’s genes were to blame, he’d tell me.

He actually told me, more than once, that he wished he’d used a condom to fuck my mother. Then he’d have been rid of her after only a few months.

It was she who took the blame for messing up her birth control practices. She claimed to have taken her pills like clockwork, but she managed to get knocked-up anyway. According to the practices of the BBC, if that happens between a member and one of his slaves, he has to take that responsibility if he’s to stay in good standing with the club.

It is the man’s duty to make sure all precautions are being taken in the birth control department. So my father married my pregnant mother and never let her forget that was the only reason he made her his wife.

Becoming his wife meant life changed for her, drastically. No more parties at the club. She had to stay at home. Her role as his sex slave was over. Now she was his wife, and and as such, that meant more respect had to be shown to her.

It was an act for my father. He did not respect women. He looked at them as necessities who fulfill the role of helping men ease their tensions so they can go on to make better business decisions.

Everything led back to business in that man’s eyes. Even children. I was groomed from the very beginning to be a major part of his company. I was sent to the best schools. I had the best tutors in all subjects, including sexual education.

I learned from the best how to make two bodies work together to create the most satisfaction for both people. I also learned to keep emotions out of it. Sex is sex. Love is love. When the two combine, power is lost.

Intentions of losing my power were far from my mind at that time. Lust filled me for Natasha. That was only because her body made mine climax harder than anyone else’s ever had.

Her mere presence stirred a need in me I’d never experienced before. Our bond would be purely sexual. No emotions would be involved. Not if I had anything to do with it!

NATASHA

Deep in sleep, I could feel the vibration of my phone underneath me. I lifted my head up, groggily, blowing out a deep breath as I looked to see who was interrupting my sleep.

It was an unknown number, so I pressed the ignore button. But the asshole on the other end didn’t give a flying rat’s ass about my rest as the phone rang again.

“Hello,” I yelled into the phone, annoyed. I was not a happy camper when it came to my sleep being interrupted.

“That is no way to talk to your master, now is it, Natasha.” His low husky tone gave me pause. My heart fluttered at just the sound of his voice. “Are you there?” he asked.

I swallowed, slowly. “Yes, I’m here,” I said softly. “I didn’t know it was you calling. I wouldn’t have yelled. I am sorry about that, Nic.” Then I freaked that I had called him something he hadn’t told me too and waited to get told not to ever call him that again.

“Nic?” he said with an odd sound to his deep voice. “Okay, I’ll allow that. Dinner is at 8 so you have an hour before my driver picks you up. Be prompt, I don’t like to wait.” And then he just hung up. No, goodbye. No, I miss you. Nothing sweet at all!

“And fuck you too,” I said as the phone was still up to my ear as I sat dumbfounded by his abrupt rudeness. He was giving me whiplash with the constant change in his mood.

I mean I knew rich people had attitudes out of this world but damn, he took the whole damn cake!

I had never been around someone with such an absurd manner. Maybe his parents didn’t raise his bratty ass right on how to treat people. But I wasn’t in the profession of teaching an old dog new tricks. Not that Nicholai Grimm was old in the least.

He was young. One of the youngest billionaires at the BBC. There were a few others but most were old as salt.

It was his demeanor that made him seem older than he was. He had a way about him as if he’d been groomed by another old asshole. His father came to mind.

I had to wonder about his life. The man wanted no type of a real relationship. He liked sex and sex only. Women obviously were put on this earth to serve one purpose in his narrowed vision. Make men happy. Poof! End of subject!

And there I was, climbing my tired ass out of my comfy little bed to climb into a shower to go eat with this pompous ass. And for what reason did I have to jump for him?

None!

Absolutely nothing was making me do any of it. The internship paid so little, it amounted to a hill of beans. It was the experience you grew rich from, not actual paper money. He’d yet to buy me anything more than naughty things. I had no jewels, no cash in my bra the way Dani said I would.

A pat on the ass, a hundred in your bra, was her lie to get me to go with her to that damn club. BBC shouldn’t be the code for anything to get into that place. It should be BDSM and plenty of it.

It was upscale, that was for sure. But it still had all the makings of the shadiest clubs where people practiced that stuff. That stuff that I let him do to me. I let him shackle my ass. I let him spank my ass. And I suppose I let him brand me.

My foggy memory of that happening kind of rekindled a memory of him slapping that on me without asking me a damn thing!

Yet there I was, shampooing my hair and shaving my body all up, in hopes he would feed me then fuck me into oblivion. I found myself wondering if that was how whores felt.

Had I been turned into a whore, merely by the man’s emotionless fucking? Had I become a woman I would think so little of? And would I continue down that path?

I knew that road was not for me. I knew it all along. But the promise of getting to feel him slam into me with that raw power he had was something I couldn’t stop wanting. Fuck, I needed it!

After the shower, I got out and did very little to myself. I figured we’d probably eat, fuck like animals then he’d send me home in his car. Why get too fancy?

I had pulled on a robe and was about to start the process of drying my hair when the doorbell rang. With frustration, I slapped the wall in anger. “I’m coming,” I yelled as the doorbell sounded once again.

If he was there already, I was going to give him what for. That man was all about being punctual. If that was him ringing my bell, he was early.

Passing through my bedroom I looked outside to see a black Tahoe parked at the curb. I checked the time on the clock on the bedside table and it read 7:15. He was early, very early!

As I looked through the peephole, Dani’s bedroom door swung open. “It’s for me, Tasha.” She rushed to the door trying to zip her red cocktail dress. “Can you zip me?” She stopped in front of me. “Hold on please,” she yelled at the person on the other side of the door.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“I have another party tonight so I won’t be in until late. Don’t wait up for me.” She turned around with a red lipstick stained smile. “I can’t believe you got branded your first night there and I can’t find a rich man to keep me after three years of going to these things.”

“Yeah, lucky me,” I said with words laced with heavy sarcasm. “Have fun.”

After returning to my bedroom, I went to my closet to find a nice dress to wear that night. My options were limited but I had no time to rummage through my clothes to find something appropriate. Since Dani was gone, I went to her room and found a nice gold colored cocktail dress that had a deep plunge in the back. It hugged my curves snugly, which I loved.

Not able to wear a bra with the dress, I also opted out of wearing panties since the dress was too tight and you would see the lines. Although I hated thongs, I knew I would have to compromise and buy a few pairs. If I was going to be going to naughty parties with Nic, it would become a necessity.

After primping for a while, I pulled my hair up in spiral curls, letting them fall down the left side of my shoulder, my brand was exposed. There wasn’t a need for much makeup except for some gold and black eyeshadow. I applied some lip gloss to give my plump lips a nicer look.

I put on a pair of gold Zanotti heels Dani had bought me for my birthday last year. My look was complete with a gold clutch which held just my phone, identification, and credit card just in case. Nic had a tendency of pissing me off, if need be, I would take a taxi home.

It was 8 o’clock sharp when my phone vibrated, I knew it was him. “Hello,” I said into the phone.

“The car awaits you,” he said, hanging up on me, yet again. Taking a few deep breaths, I walked out to find a black Range Rover waiting with a driver at the back door.

“Good evening, Ms. Greenwell.” The driver gave me a smile as he opened my door.

I nodded. “Thank you.” Then got into the truck to find it empty. I shook my head in utter disbelief that he didn’t have the decency to come get me himself. “So rude,” I huffed.

Instead of being a party pooper, I left well enough alone and just summed it up to this being who he was. The ride was a long one as he took me out of the city, to Manhattan.

We stopped at a building that had an immaculate lawn and grand fountain. I looked in awe as the architecture was marvelous. I had never dreamt of standing outside of such a building, let alone going into it.

The door soon opened and the driver handed me a mask and a note. “You must read the note and follow the instructions,” he said, reaching out for my hand. He tied the mask over my eyes for me, putting me back in a position of anonymity, I felt was no longer necessary.

As I walked into the lobby, there was a bellhop and a receptionist who was dressed in a pantsuit with her brown hair pulled nicely into a tight bun. I opened the note. ‘Go to the counter and let Mary know you are here to see me.’

I crumpled the note up and did as instructed and went to the desk. “Good evening, Mary. I’m here to see Nicholai.” I gave her a pleasant smile but felt stupid with the mask on.

“Ms. Greenwell, a pleasure. You must follow the instructions. The elevator is to your left.” She handed me another note.

“Thank you.” I walked in the direction of the elevators.

Once I pressed the button, I could see the elevator through the double panes of glass. I opened the note. ‘Take the elevator to floor 32, knock three times.’

I chuckled as I thought about the ridiculous secret knocking. It was just like the party. I was just glad there wasn’t any password or I’d fail, miserably.

I stepped into the elevator and rode it to the 32nd floor, as instructed. “Natasha, you better be on your best behavior.” I tried giving myself a pep talk. I knew when I was around him there was no self-control, at least not on my part.

The doors opened to a small hall with just one door on the entire floor. I walked over to it and knocked three times as the note said to. I fumbled with my fingers as I shifted my weight from one hip to the other.

Before the door opened, I took a small breath to knock the edge off. It opened swiftly by who I guessed was his personal doorman. “Ms. Greenwell, Mr. Grimm awaits you.” He gave me a smile, stepping aside to let me in.

I was in a trance as I saw the décor of his home. It was feminine yet it had a bachelor feel to it. I couldn’t see the hard-edged man living in such a place.

Who was Nicholai Grimm, really?

NICHOLAI

I loved to see her face and how her eyes lit up when she was at a loss for words. She hadn’t seen me when she walked in as her attention was on the décor.

I stood, gazing out the window when she arrived. “Would you like a drink,” I asked her as I took a sip of my bourbon.

She searched around for me, trying to see what direction my voice was coming from until her eyes fell on me. It was becoming more obvious to me, she needed more than just reading glasses.

I walked over to meet her as she came further into the room. “A glass of wine would be great. Thank you,” she said with a soft tone to her sweet voice.

So much was sweet about Natasha. She wore a gold dress that wasn’t her style at all. She was pulling it off, don’t get me wrong, but she looked like a woman who would be more at home in elegant clothing. I made a mental note to purchase her some attire that was more fitting for her.

“You can have a seat,” I said as I made my way to the wine chiller at the full bar in the main living area.

She was looking around more as I went to the bar. When I walked back toward her with her glass of wine in hand, she took a seat on the white leather love seat. Right in the center of it, which I found a little amusing.

“Thank you, your house is very nice. I would’ve expected something with a bit of a harder edge to it, like yourself. You know, black leather, perhaps a set of shackles in that corner over there,” she said with a grin and a wink then took a sip of the very expensive wine.

I untied her mask, taking it off and placing it on her lap. “Well, I’m not into everything everyone else is. But you will soon see that.” I turned on my heels to go back and get the box that held the papers that would cement our deal. “I wanted to see you for both business and pleasure tonight. We have a bond agreement that needs to be signed and I will run over the rules. Understood?”

I watched her as she seemed to be weighing things up in her mind. I was unsure if she was going to sign the papers I'd had the BBC draw up for us.

The way it made me feel off kilter was startling to me. I had never cared if any one of the subs in the past signed or not. I could easily find another who would.

Her demeanor was off-putting and had me nearly wringing my damn hands with a nervousness, the likes I had never known.

I was standing there, with the damn box in one hand and a pen in the other and I didn’t know what the hell to say or what I’d do if she simply refused. That was not like me. Not like me at all!

NATASHA

I contemplated a bit before answering because I was unsure of what he was asking of me. “When you say bond agreement and rules, what exactly do you mean? Is it to control my consumption of calories, how I dress, how I style my hair, down to the color of underwear you will allow. Or will you appear out of nowhere to stalk me and say I’ve had too many drinks? What does that really mean?” I chuckled at the thought of him doing such things.

If he wanted to control my life, then this was the end of any agreement he was after. I would never allow a man to tell me how to dress, what to drink, or anything that wasn’t logical.

He cleared his throat, setting his bourbon on the bar that he’d walked back to, swirling his finger around the rim, after placing the box and pen back on the bar. “It has nothing to do with any of that. Nothing in the rules is any aspect of control. At least not in that sense.” He gave me an annoyed look. “Come with me.” He held out his hand.

I sat my own glass down on a coaster on the dark wood coffee table that looked like one very expensive antique. Then went to him and took his extended hand. I marveled at how it felt when our hands clasped. It sent a sensation through me that was nowhere near sexual. It was comforting and very natural. I envisioned holding that hand for years to come, though I knew inside, it would never be that way.

We went into the dining area and he pulled out a chair. “Sit!” he said with a stern tone that did not go with how he was holding my hand or treating me at all.

I took a seat and waited for him as he walked away then reappeared with the box from earlier and this time what looked to be a thick stack of papers.

In my mind, I was already overwhelmed with my homework, now he had paperwork for me to read too. He handed me the papers which had a notebook attached to it, but he kept the box.

I watched as he made his way back to the living room and found him coming back with our drinks. He sat mine next to me and took his down in one gulp before pouring more from a decanter inside of the china cabinet that was filled with an old style set of plates. The man was into antiques, apparently, and that was interesting to me.

He was dressed in a tuxedo. To say he looked handsome is too simple a word. He looked devastating. I knew he had to be going somewhere in that getup and I wondered if I’d be asked to go with him.

“Open up to page seven.” He sat and turned to face me. I opened the packet and went to page seven where the heading said: Master/Slave Bond Agreement.

“Slave?” the word croaked from my throat. I would be no slave and there was no way I would actually call myself one. My eyes tried to take in what my brain had already processed.

“Don’t be afraid of what’s in front of you. This is a bonded agreement between us that we’ve already discussed. But this is to give you some enlightenment as to what I expect. It is a document that is considered to be legal. You must read it, thoroughly. Do not sign it until you do.”

“Why do I need this? It’s a contract.” I asked, still trying to comprehend the crap. “And we’ve discussed so little, Nic. I don’t know if you realize that or not.”

He folded his hands and smiled, slyly. “I’m a man of few words. I told you I had a bond I wanted you to sign. You know I want you or I’d never have branded you. And it’s not a contract. Contract is too complicated of a word to use. That’s why it’s a Bond Agreement. We need this to ensure that neither of us breaks the rules. For both our safety.” He pursed his lips together and paused. When I said nothing, he went on, “Now, turn to the next page.” His voice low and soft was meant to keep me calm, I knew.

After turning to the next page I saw the glint in his eyes as mine looked at the page with more surprise. There were photos of women in leather bonds, blindfolds, and gag balls. I looked in horror as that was some of the things he had done to me already.

The pictures looked intense and brutal. I swallowed hard as my palms felt sweaty just from looking at the photos. “Although contrary to what I’ve already let you do to me, I’m not into any type of abuse like this. This looks sinister.” I pointed to a picture with a woman up in the same contraption I had been in that club. “Is that what I looked like in that thing? That’s horrible!” I continued onto the next page without his permission and there were more photos.

“It’s not abuse,” he said with a quiet tone to his deep voice. “And you looked sexy as hell in that thing, if you want to know the truth. Did it hurt you at all, Natasha? Be honest.”

“It didn’t hurt. But it looks horrible. If this isn’t abuse, then what is it?” I asked, knowing for sure those pictures depicted some type of abuse.

“It’s a form of BDSM and I will go over all the rules to help you understand.” He acted as if that was a normal conversation that normal people had.

I had heard about BDSM and even read a few books where it was a key subject. I was far from interested in anything that kinky. Don’t get me wrong, introducing new things into the bedroom is fine and dandy. But we shared no bedroom. Hell, we barely knew each other to even be bored enough to need more at that point.

He cleared his throat as I was lost in my thoughts. “Now, turn to the next page.” He gestured. I did and came upon a list of rules.

“Rule number one, it is one of the most important rules. Master/Slave shall never inflict physical, mental, and/or emotional harm on the other. This is to help you understand that there is no type of abuse or harm going on,” he said in a concerned manner. But it would take a lot more than his word to convince me. “It’s what we consider the SSC, safe, sane and consensual. There is a handbook that explains that to you in-depth which will also need your signature.” He eyed me, gauging my reaction.

I was still quiet because the information was putting me in a whirlwind and he had just begun with the rules.

“Rule number two, another important rule you must never forget, a Slave is never to have sex or any type of intimacy without the Master's permission.”

My head shot towards him because that meant I had to be monogamous. “Does that mean you can sleep with whoever you please, while I basically live monogamous to you. That sounds a little unfair.”

“I am the Master, Natasha. I can do whatever I want to. You are the slave. You have to do what I tell you to,” he said as if it was an easy concept to understand.

It was supposed to be a game and he wanted me to be loyal to him while he played in the sheets with others, putting me at risk. “I don’t agree and will never agree when my health is involved. I mean you can have sex, intimacy with whoever you please while I submit open and bare to you?” I asked with an annoyed pitch.

“Natasha,” he said my name once again in an attempt to silence me.

I was sitting there, seething at his deep voice and how he was handling me with kid gloves. Sure I knew absolutely nothing compared to him but I wasn’t stupid either.

It seemed as if my concerns meant nothing in the form of fairness or health. “It’s a bond that you must keep to ensure you don’t fall out of agreement just because you find a momentary happiness with another man.”

I was ready to tell him to forget about it all but I liked to give people the benefit of the doubt. He was more concerned about me finding love with another man and that had me thinking he might have more than just a physical want for me.

“Rule number three,” he quipped. “There will be no emotional intimacy connection whatsoever, ever, and if the Slave does seem a bit attached, then the Master will show her her place which includes, but is not limited to, whipping and/or observation of sex with another slave.”

My eyes furrowed at the mention of him being able to have sex with another woman to keep me from getting attached. That summed up all my fears. How was I to keep my emotions at bay? He had to consider my feelings too. It’s not as easy for a woman as it may be for a man.

“That means you would still have to consider my feelings because if not for love then what is it for?” I asked with an unconvinced look on my face.

That was grounds to just walk away from the entirety of the bond or whatever the hell his sick mind wanted. “Love rarely happens, Natasha. That’s why I lay down the ground rules so you will know what I expect. And, yes, at all times I will keep your feelings as a top priority. This rule is just to give you awareness. I’m not saying it would happen but I’m also not saying it wouldn’t. You do understand, don’t you?” He sipped from his glass.

“I understand this will be a game where we play with each other’s bodies and leave our minds out of it.” I scanned over the rules.

“Me more so than you, but yes.” He pointed at the paper. “Rule number 14 is as important as number one, Master/Slave must be discreet at all times. That means absolutely no gossiping to your friends or family about this agreement. We arranged this to protect both of us from any backlash in business and in private.”

I could understand that, since it would be both humiliating and disgusting for anyone to know. “I can totally agree to that one. I don’t care for anyone knowing I’m even contemplating this.”

He frowned a little as he kept his eyes on the paper. “Rule number 22, any broken agreement is subject to discipline/punishment from that of the Master up to the Grand Master of the BBC. That includes lashings, spankings, whippings, and/or legal action.”

“Wait, what, legal action?” I asked in shock.

I would’ve never thought you could take such an agreement to court. This violated rule number 14 in every way possible. If the news outlets got the slightest whiff of Nicholai Grimm, heir to the Grimm family empire, being into BDSM, it would ruin him.

“The next one will explain this, rule number 23, any bond broken could be held in court proceedings of the Lord in Standing, Judge of the BBC. This means that whoever the Lord in Standing of the BBC is, if such an instance should arrive, he will handle any case brought against the Master or the Slave.” He touched my chin to make me look at him. His eyes, though dark as night, looked kind at that moment. “I’m under the same bond as you. Which gives me no special treatment in breaking the rules.”

“So I can bring a claim against you?” I asked as I tapped my chin with the pen in my hand.

He nodded. “If I break any of the agreements you could file a claim with the Grand Master. He will then decide if he will proceed with the claim. In any violation of the rules, I can be fined for a claim if it’s found to be true.”

“Does that happen often?” I asked, as surely the women in those types of agreements get pissed off if they’re treated poorly.

“Not often, no.” He looked away as if he’d maybe been a part of a claim before. “But it does happen.”

I decided not to push him too much about that. “Okay. It is good to know that something can be done if I feel something you do is wrong.”

He squinted as he looked back at the paper. “There are several more rules that I will scan through. Rule number 35, you must commit to drug and disease screenings every quarter. Rule 41, you must obey your Master at all times. That means you will look at me when I’m speaking to you, you will acknowledge me as Master or Sir when we are in private. Rule number 42, you will wear a Chastity belt at all times with no exceptions. And last but not least we have a safe word that we agree upon. Ours is ‘Mercy’ that will let me know that you are either in pain or in some type of distress.” He eyed me seductively. “All the others you will need to read over and make sure you read it carefully.”

I sat, fidgeting in my seat, as he went through the rules. There were so many my head was spinning. “What about rule 49, Slave must wear a noticeable temporary tattoo that signifies who her Master is. A form of clothing must cover it in public unless with her Master.”

“I have the one you put on my shoulder,” I said. “Why would I need another one?”

“That one will fade soon. You’ll see. One day the water and soap you use will wash it away and there will be nothing to keep other member’s hands off you when that happens,” he told me.

With a shrug, I said, “Who cares? I’m never going to anything like that again, anyway.”

“I bet you find yourself wrong, Natasha. You are not being truthful with yourself. You are very into that kind of thing. You let me have you right away. You let me do what I wanted to you, immediately. You have a sinful side you are only hiding from yourself. I see it. I see it as plain as I see the nose on your gorgeous face.” His lips touched the tip of my nose and it felt sweet.

Sweetness had no place in what he was talking about. He was telling me I was a wanton slut and had just been hiding it. He was telling me that, if his brand was not on me, then he feared I’d go back to that place and find another to do the things he did to me.

And all I could think about when he kissed my nose like that was there was more to him where I was concerned. He liked me. He didn’t want to see me with another man.

“It only lasts about six months and can be covered easily,” he said, reminding me how not permanent it all would be. And my heart ached a bit about that.

“Where does it usually go?” I asked, out of curiosity.

He stood up, loosening his tie. “On the back of your neck. When we are amongst other members, at functions or any events, you will wear your hair above the neckline so it’s visible at all times.” I looked at him without a blink as my mind was a fogged up mess. “You don’t have to decide right now. Besides, we’ll be late.” He looked at his watch to emphasize his point.

I didn’t have a clue about what I was going to do. The information was still registering. This had to be the most absurd situation to be considering. I mean an agreement to be someone’s sex slave was a little extreme and frightening.