All the next day, I keep thinking about the way Ethan reacted to my question about his past. It was strange and totally unexpected. He shut down almost instantly.

There must be something in his past that he doesn’t like. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have pushed back the way he did. Part of me is angry that he walked away the way that he did, especially after I opened up to him. But he listened to me and didn’t seem to judge me at all, which is really good.

That was my biggest fear. I was worried that as soon as he found out about my past, he’d kick me out and want nothing to do with me. Clearly that’s not the case, though, and I’m very thankful for it.

I just wish he’d apply his own thinking to his past. He doesn’t judge people on their past, but he’s not willing to share his own, which makes me wonder. I won’t push him, because it’s my job to make him happy, but I feel like he owes me.

At least a little bit. Maybe he doesn’t have to tell me every deep dark secret, but I opened up to him and he should give me the same respect in return. I can wait and give him some time to do it on his own volition, but I do feel a little betrayed.

For better or for worse, I have all day to contemplate that. I’m stuck in my room again with only the company of Jenkins when he brings my meals plus whatever movies and books I can read. I make sure to text The Syndicate letting them know that I’m okay, but otherwise, I don’t have much to do.

It’s not so bad, though. It’s boring of course, but it’s better than the way my life used to be. Plus, the amount of money I stand to make for this is astronomical, and all I have to do is keep myself as busy as possible.

It’s like a beautiful and comfortable prison, or like a playpen for a loved pet. Maybe that’s exactly what he wants it to be. I am his little pet, after all.

There are much worse things to be. There are worse places to be, too. I’ve been in a few of them. I can remember one beat-up, decrepit house that Derek and I stayed in for a week or two back in the deepest throes of our addiction together, just before he died. That place was a mold-infested rat’s nest and yet we slept there, ate there, fucked there, and got high there for almost a week straight. We barely left that place and it felt like paradise.

Mostly because I was high out of my mind. I feel so disgusted and embarrassed to look back on those days. I’ve worked so hard to better myself, to improve over the junky I used to be. But that junky is always there, buried in the back of my mind, and every day I fear she’ll break free and take over again.

I just have to make sure that doesn’t happen. I have so much to lose now.

Around noon, Jenkins comes with my lunch. He wheels it in on a cart like usual, and it smells amazing. As he turns to leave, I stand up from the couch. We don’t normally talk, but today I suddenly feel a little bold.

“Excuse me,” I say.

He pauses and turns back to me. “Yes?” he asks, barely concealing his disdain.

What a jerk. The man acts like giving me food is like feeding a lizard or something.

“I was wondering if I can go for a walk,” I say. “I’m just cooped up in here all day. I just hoped I could go around the block.”

He pauses, his frown deepening. “Did Mr. Locks explain the rules to you?” he says.

“He did. I just hoped I could get permission from you.”

He shakes his head. “Permission denied.”

I pause, surprised. “It’s just around the block. You can come with me if you want.”

“No, thank you,” he says. “I’m a very busy man. I don’t have time to escort an... escort around the block.”

I sigh, understanding. I guess it is pretty obvious what I am. And clearly Jenkins doesn’t approve. I can’t say I really blame him or am surprised. He probably has Ethan’s best interests at heart, and is afraid that I’m here to rob them all blind.

I’m not, of course. I’m here to make Ethan happy. I’m here to do my job. But I can’t really explain that to this man. He’s clearly too proud and too stubborn to ever really get it.

“Thanks,” I say, sitting back down.

“Will that be all?”

“Yes, thank you.”

He turns and leaves without another word.

I sigh, stretching my legs. I’m so bored and cooped up. I get up and walk out onto the balcony, enjoying the fresh air. The city stretches out below me and I pass some time watching the people walk down the sidewalk, wishing I could be one of them, but knowing I’d never really trade places with any of them for anything.

Despite all the difficulties, I am where I want to be.

Hours pass, dinner comes and goes, and I’m almost ready to give up on another visit from Ethan when there’s a gentle knock at the door. I’m wearing my usual yoga pants and t-shirt, although I have on makeup and my hair is pulled up into a messy bun. I’m obeying his commands more or less. I wouldn’t wear makeup all day like this if I weren’t going to see anyone, but I can’t let myself fall apart completely. I have to put in some sort of effort for him at least, even if he wants me to be myself.

Ethan steps into the room, looking as handsome as always. I put down my book and smile at him, surprised at the excitement that I feel in my stomach.

“How was work?” I ask him.

He grins at me. “Work was fine. Couldn’t wait to leave.”

“Why’s that?”

He walks over to me and sits down on the chair across from me. “I wanted to see you. And to apologize for last night.”

“There’s nothing to apologize about.”

“I was an ass. I shouldn’t have stormed out like that.”

“You have things that you don’t want to talk about. I get it.”

He sighs and leans back in the chair. I can see how tired he is suddenly, and I realize that he can’t sleep more than a few hours every night. His job is clearly demanding a lot of him, and he gives it everything he can.

He probably doesn’t have time to get close to people. When he first bought me, I wondered why a man like Ethan could possibly want someone like me.

I still feel unworthy. I am unworthy, truth be told, but now at least I understand why he’d want to buy me. Ethan doesn’t have time to meet women and to fall in love like normal people. He’s working and living at an entirely different level, one that most normal people can’t even imagine. He makes a lot of money, but he sacrifices a lot for it.

I see all of that in a sudden flash of insight as I watch his face. He looks back at me curiously, head cocked to one side.

“What?” he asks.

I pause for a second, trying to decide how to answer him. “I want to go for a walk,” I say quickly, blurting it out. I regret it right away.

“Do you?” He leans forward, smiling. “Are you bored in here?”

“I just feel like I need to exercise.

“There’s a treadmill in the other room. And you can go onto the balcony for fresh air.”

“It’s not the same.”

His smile gets bigger. “Didn’t I punish you for this already?”

I nod, feeling a thrill run through me. “You did. But I don’t care. I want to go outside.”

“No,” he says, and I can see him warming up to the game. “Do I need to punish you again?”

“Yes,” I say simply. “I won’t learn otherwise.”

His grin gets huge as he stands. “Good girl,” he says. “You’re learning.”

He walks toward me and I watch him, heart hammering in my chest. He leans down and takes my arm, pulling me to my feet, then roughly pulls me toward the bed.

“Ethan!” I say.

“I’m sorry, am I being too hard with you?” he asks, smirking at me. He pulls me toward him, hands on my hips, and I let out a soft moan.

“Is this more like what you want?” he asks, his lips on my neck. I throw my arms around him.

“Yes,” I whisper.

“But this isn’t a punishment.” He grabs my hair, tipping my head back. I gasp as he kisses my throat. “You just want pleasure. But you can’t have pleasure without pain.”

“Who says?” I ask.

“I do.” He smirks at me and pulls back, still holding my hair. He walks me over to the foot of the bed. “Down on your knees,” he commands.

I obey, falling to my knees. He pulls the tie off his neck then takes my wrists, both of them together, and wraps the silk tie around them. He takes my hands and puts them above my head before tying me to the top of the headboard.

When he’s done, I’m down on my knees in front of him, hands above my head. I test the bond but it’s expertly tied, tight but not so tight that it’s cutting off circulation. He steps back and looks at me.

“What do I do with you now?” he asks, a smile on his face that says he knows exactly what he wants.

“Show me,” I whisper, my body a ringing mess of excitement.

“Since you ask so nicely,” he says, “I will.”

He takes off his jacket and I feel like I might pass out from the hard beating of my heart. He carefully lays his jacket over the back of a chair then rolls his sleeves up slowly, watching me the whole time. I keep my eyes locked on his, trying to steady my breathing, but I can barely handle it.

Finally, sleeves rolled up, he walks over to me. He adjusts my body, sitting me down on my ass, stretching my hands up further above my head. Then he takes my yoga pants and slowly slides them off my body.

When he’s done, I’m sitting on the ground in just a blue thong, dripping wet and useless at this point, my hands tied above my head. He carefully folds my pants and places them on the bed before walking into the closet.

He returns a second later with what I assume is a vibrator. It’s long, thick, and white. He walks over to me and puts me back on my knees before placing the vibrator between my legs and switching it on.

Nothing happens. It doesn’t move. I stare at him, legs clenched, waiting for the sensation to tear through me, but nothing happens.

“Now, we’ll play a game,” he says. He holds up a little switch in his hand. “This controls the vibrator. I’ll ask you a question, and if you answer it the right way, I’ll give you pleasure. Like this.” He turns it on.

I groan softly as the vibrator buzzes between my legs. I can’t help but smile slightly and press against my bonds. He leaves it on for a few seconds then stops.

“What’s your name?” he asks.

“Aria,” I say.

The vibrator turns on, low and slow. I bite my lip.

“What are you?”

I cock my head at him. “An escort.”

He turns the vibrator off.

“Wrong. I’ll ask again. What are you?”

I pause, watching him. “Your pet,” I whisper.

“Good girl.” He turns the vibrator back on, this time on a higher setting.

I can’t help but let out a little moan. The vibrator is right against my clit and it’s moving at a soft and perfect buzz, sending pleasure up my spine. I can’t move or get away from it, and that just makes it so much more intense.

“What do you want from me?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” I moan.

He turns the vibrator down. Not off, but down. “What do you want from me?” he asks again.

“Your cock,” I groan suddenly, surprising myself.

He smiles and turns the vibrator up. I moan, tossing my head back.

“Good girl. Now, do you want to leave your room?”

“No,” I moan. “No, please. I don’t want to leave.”

“Good.” He turns it up again and I gasp as pleasure floods through me. He stands there watching me for a few seconds and it’s almost too intense.

“You want to make me happy?” he asks.

“Yes,” I moan. “Badly.”

He turns the vibrator down. I moan, watching him, not sure what I did wrong.

“If you could leave right now with the money, would you walk away?”

I watch him, trying to think, not sure what to say. I feel like there’s an obvious answer.

But I want to be honest. Would I leave right now if I’d get paid? I’m supposed to be here for the money and nothing else. That sort of cash would change my life and put me on a path to a better existence. I could be happy and free with that money.

No, I realize. I wouldn’t leave. I don’t want to go anywhere. Maybe the cash would change my life but I’d rather stay and learn more about Ethan. I’m fascinated by him. Actually, I’m attracted to him in ways that I couldn’t imagine.

It’s this, his little games. They feel so good and push me so far. I’ve never felt like this before.

“No,” I say honestly. “I wouldn’t.”

He watches me for a second then smiles and turns up the vibrator again. Pleasure rips through my core. “Good girl,” he whispers, then steps closer to me.

I look up at him, moans escaping my lips, pleasure rocking through my body. I can barely think and I don’t know what I’ll say to him if he asks me any more questions. There’s only one thing that I want, and it’s him, his body, his touch. I crave it so badly, and yet he’s holding it back. I know he’s doing it on purpose but I want to scream for it, I want to beg for it. I can feel the words on my lips, the begging that might get me what I want.

He crouches down in front of me and puts his hand on the side of my face. I move over and take his thumb between my lips, sucking on it, biting it softly. I look him in his eyes and I can see the desire there, almost as strong as mine.

“Do you want to come?” he asks me.

“Yes,” I moan, tossing my head back. “Please, I want it so badly.”

“You want to get off, my little pet?”

“Please, Ethan,” I moan. “Get me off.”

He turns the vibrator down. I gasp, shocked. “Ethan!” I moan, practically whining.

He stands. “I think you’ve been punished enough.”

“What?” I moan. He turns off the vibrator and takes it away. “Ethan!”

He unties my hands. They drop down to my sides and I stare at him, so frustrated, even a little angry. How could he stop right there? How could this be over? I was so close, right on the edge, and he’s walking away?

I’m actually pissed off. I like his games but not if it means I’m going to be pushed but not given the release that I need.

“When I leave the room,” he says, looking at me, “I want you to finish yourself off. Do you understand?”

I pause then stare at him and slowly nod. “I understand.”

“Good girl. But you can’t use this.” He holds up the vibrator. “I want you to fuck your little pussy with those fingers and come as hard as you can.”

“Yes, Ethan,” I say, excitement ringing through me again.

“Good girl. I’ll be listening right on the other side of that door.” He touches my face again and for a second, I think he’s going to kiss me.

But he doesn’t. He turns and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. I don’t waste a single second. I spread my legs wide, shove my hand down my panties, and press my fingers deep inside of my pussy. I lean forward, braced on one hand on the floor, knees spread wide, as I fuck myself, moaning his name.