He leans forward, pinning me down with the weight of his body while he continues ramming in and out of me. Our lips connect in a rapacious kiss, neglecting the need to breathe while we claim each other, our bodies pressed against one another while he finds my wrists, forcing my hands up above my head and down onto the mattress. He holds me in place with everything he is, drawing passionate gasps from me while he works my core. I endorse him by wrapping my legs around his hips, forcing him closer to myself, as close as two people can possibly be.

  And yet, it’s not enough. My need to connect with him is not even close to being fulfilled. I want more. Everything in me demands him, all of him—and the thrilling waves of pleasure that wash over me with each thrust are but a meager taste of gratification.

  And I know he shares that greedy anguish.

  “You’re mine, Petal,” he breathes in the midst our ravening dance. “Don’t you ever forget that.”

  Chapter 21

  Petal

  Today was different.

  We didn’t play, we didn’t just fuck.

  There was more to it, more intimacy, more urgency, a need to connect and find solace in each other’s embrace that has never been this strong before.

  We didn’t evoke a simple climax from each other, only aiming to feed the carnal lust that is a loyal companion nonetheless.

  We did more than that. We asked for more than that.

  We made love.

  Is that it?

  I don’t allow myself to even think this. Love is a word too strong for whatever it is I feel toward him. Attraction, maybe. Dependency for sure.

  But love? It can’t be.

  Today, the sex was like an explosion, like an outburst of something that has been brooding between us for a very long time. It’s still impossible for me to grasp the idea of time before this, time before I woke up as his prisoner. But there’s a vague sensation of it now, if only shadows, too black to see anything clearly.

  No matter how much I try, I can’t see behind the shades. I’m lying on my back, my legs still spread far apart while he rests in my lap, only slowly coming down from his peak while he remains buried inside of me. I’m still ridden by aftershocks, my muscles still clenching around him while I float through the aftermath of this incomparable bliss.

  I can’t fathom what just happened, but I know it was good. It was needed, for both him and me.

  But while one hunger is stilled, I still suffer from another. Blush colors my face when my empty stomach growls beneath him.

  Jayson hears it, too, and it makes him chuckle.

  “You haven’t been fed in a while,” he comments. “I’m sorry for that.”

  “You should be,” I dare to tease. “I’m starving. Especially now.”

  Our eyes meet, exchanging a benevolent look. His face is still close to mine, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his skin and see even the faintest flicker of emotion in his hazel eyes.

  “Let’s get you something to eat,” he announces, planting a kiss on my cheek before he pushes himself up, leaving me behind as he climbs off the bed.

  I roll over to the side, wrapping the blanket around my naked body while I watch him get dressed. I know he came inside me, I could feel it and still can. Yet he’s still hard, grimacing as he forces himself inside his pants. I can’t get over the pride I’m filled with, seeing what I do to him. I’m sure this won’t be his last visit for the day. He’ll only make room for her, giving me a while to myself so I can eat and recover before he comes back. It’s been like that before, but I’ve never been filled with such joyous anticipation at the thought of it.

  “Get up.”

  His command surprises me, but I obey right away. He’s buttoning his shirt, almost fully dressed while I’m still completely naked, feeling his cum leak out of me as I get on my feet to stand before him.

  He smiles at me, closing the last button before he reaches up to the collar around my neck, pulling me closer by hooking his finger through the little ring at the front.

  “You’re coming with me,” he announces.

  His smile widens when I widen my eyes in astonishment.

  “I... I am coming with you?” I repeat incredulously. “You’re not sending her up to my room?”

  He shakes his head. “No. You’ll be eating downstairs from now on.”

  From now on? What’s that supposed to mean? Did I just take another step toward regaining my own freedom without even realizing?

  “But... but... I have nothing to wear,” I stutter helplessly, pointing to the ripped gown on the floor. “You ripped it.”

  “No use for clothes,” he replies, adding a little yank at my collar. “This is all you need. Just a little something missing.”

  He lets go of the ring and takes a step back. “Kneel.”

  A slight furrow appears between my eyebrows. I can’t help it. This is new, and it confuses me.

  I don’t lose eye contact for one second while I obey his order, slowly sinking down on my knees, my palms finding their place on my thighs without even thinking about it.

  “Stay.”

  He waits for a moment, making sure that I’m complying to his satisfaction, before he turns around and quickly strides over to the door that leads to the dungeon. My gaze follows him while I try to calm my racing heart.

  He’s going to let me out of this room. I get to see something new, something other than these walls.

  It’s hard to believe and I try not to get too excited about the prospect. After all, there could still be conditions to be met, or maybe he’s just playing me, holding up a carrot in front of my face but keeping the stick ready in case I dare to reach for it.

  He’s out of my sight once he enters the dungeon room, but I hear him rummaging, opening one of the cabinets, then a drawer.

  My eyes immediately trail down to his hands when he returns, and my heart drops a little when I see something that looks like a black leather belt in his right hand.

  Is he going to spank me? Now? What will I have to endure to actually receive the treat he just promised?

  I realize that I’m mistaken when he goes down on his knees in front of me, holding one end of the leather string up in front of my eyes, revealing a clasp that doesn’t look like any belt buckle I’ve ever seen before.

  That’s because it’s not a belt, but a leash. He lets me have a quick look at it before he reaches beneath my chin, fastening it with a quick click and securing a screw around the clasp.

  A smile graces his handsome face when he looks at me.

  “Let’s go.”

  Chapter 22

  J

  I fear for my Petal.

  And I will do everything in my power to protect her.

  She fidgets when I lead her toward the door, her eyes wide and her posture tense. She’s hugging herself, nervously aware of her own nakedness. I haven’t seen her like this in a while, as she’s grown used to being naked in front of me, but it appears that her confidence is limited on this room.

  “Are we... is there someone else out there?” she wants to know, looking up at me through wide and frightened eyes.

  Her expression changes, but not for the better, when I shake my head.

  “No one else is here.”

  “Where is she?” Petal wants to know. “The girl. I haven’t seen in her in a while. Where did she go?”

  I press my lips together, evading her gaze as I reach for the door handle. “She’s gone.”

  “Gone?” she probes. “What do you m—”

  “No more questions for now,” I stop her, my hand resting on the handle as I cast a dark look at her over my shoulder. “Do you want to get out of this room or not?”

  She hesitates, pressing her lips together while a deep crease appears between her eyebrows.

  “Do you?”

  Finally, she nods, the expression on her face not changing. “Yes.”

  “Good. Be grateful then—and quiet.”

  I tighten my grip around the leash in my hand. She won’t try to run away, I’m sure of that. The leash is not meant to stop her from escaping, it’s simply a tool for my own enjoyment. And hers.

  She never fought me on the collar. Her eyes were wide with wonder when I closed it around her neck, and she never asked me to take it off, never complained about it, never responded to it in the negative in any way.

  Because she likes wearing it. I knew she would.

  She sucks in a sharp breath of air when I open the door, and takes a step back, retreating instead of following my lead.

  A light yank at the leash reverses her behavior. I keep her close, quite literally on a short leash as I open the door, walking out with her close behind me.

  We step out in the hallway, the heavy door to her room closing with a loud noise that makes her flinch. She’s still hugging herself, an anxious look adorning her pretty face as her eyes scurry from left to right, seemingly checking the hall for another person, before her gaze is glued to something else.

  The windows right in front of us.

  It’s the middle of the day, and the sun is hiding behind a slack array of clouds, giving way to her beams here and there but not at the moment. This hall is facing to the back of the house, revealing a deserted street, lined with large trees that are colored in the bright dye of fall. She has never been in this particular spot, so I doubt that this hallway and the view from this window will trigger anything inside her, a fragment, a memory, anything that could make her tremble with realization.

  And it doesn’t. She just stands there, staring out on the street while keeping her arms wrapped around herself. The expression on her face is inexpressive, observing without understanding.

  “Come.”

  I add a subtle pull on the leash to my instruction, turning left as I beckon her to follow me.

  She’s hesitant, moving slowly and reluctant to leave the windows behind.

  “You’ll have a better view downstairs, Petal,” I tell her, yanking at the leash again. “Don’t get hung up on this one.”

  She sighs. “It’s just... Outside. The sun. And...”

  She stops, pressing her lips together while she lowers her eyes. “I haven’t seen daylight in so long.”

  I don’t say anything in response, leading her further down the corridor toward the stairs that lead down to the first floor.

  My fucking heart is pounding as we walk downstairs, my grip around the leash tightening as we get closer to the living room and the adjacent kitchen.

  Because I know things could be different down here.

  She might remember.

  She might remember that she’s been here before. A long time ago. A time when we both wanted too much, too many different things that were not compatible at the time.

  A time when I had to push her away, even though everything I wanted was to have her as close as possible.

  Just like I did today.

  I never thought I could ever be this lucky.

  And now she’s mine. Naked, freshly fucked, with my cum running down between her thighs, wearing my collar as she follows me through the house on a leash. It’s a sight I never dared to dream of, and it sickens me to know that we’re nearing the premature end to this. I’m not done with her. If anything, it feels like we’re just getting started.

  But there are forces out there that compel me to speed things up a little. We don’t have the time needed for Petal to grow on her own terms, and I can only hope she’s strong enough for the things that are headed her way. The phone call I received this morning was unsettling, to say the least, and it gave more indication to a horrible assumption that would shake the entire region with horrid shock if it turns out to be true.

  If my predictions are correct, we will know soon. Very soon.

  We reach the first floor and I notice the way her eyes flit to the big entrance door right away. It’s locked, just like almost every other door and window in this house, but I have a feeling that my precaution won’t be tested either way. She looks confused and scared, opting to stay close to me instead of displaying any yearning to be freed.

  Holding the end of her leash in a tight grip, I lead her toward the living room. My heart racing like a wild horse as we approach the room. I fucking hate it. There’s reason to be alert right now, but not the way I am right now. I need to calm the fuck down; I need to stay focused and in control.

  And I will.

  No matter what will happen now.

  No matter what will happen in a few hours—or days.

  Chapter 23

  Petal

  There’s nothing uncommon about this house.

  And yet, there is.

  I didn’t feel anything when we first stepped out of the bedroom that has been my prison for so long. It was just an empty hallway, white walls and big windows, with a wooden floor beneath my naked feet. There was nothing about it that struck me in any way, except for the view to the outside.

  I couldn’t see the ocean, but I could see trees, streets, houses even. I thought we’d be in the middle of nowhere, but it looks like this house is part of a small town, with people living right next door, even though I didn’t actually see anyone walk down the street.

  Would they hear me scream? If I had seen anyone, would it have been smart to bang against the window for their attention? Would that have been my way out?

  Or would there only be punishment so harsh I wish I’d never done anything in the first place?

  There’s still time to find out.

  But once we reach the first floor, I’m troubled with questions of an entirely different nature. Because here, I feel something.

  We pass the entrance area as we come down the stairs, stepping on white marble floors that match with pristine high walls around us. The main door stands in stark contrast with its dark wood, looking sturdy and heavy, just like the door downstairs in the basement. I only cast a quick glance in its direction, but I notice how even that little eye-blink of curiosity makes him nervous. He doesn’t really expect me to run, but he’s prepared for it nonetheless.

  And even I don’t know if his wariness is warranted or not.

  Would I flee if I could? Even if it meant I’d never get my questions answered? Would I be ready to face the outside world, without even knowing what’s waiting for me out there? Even walking through this spacious house with its high ceilings intimidates me more than I’m comfortable to admit.

  I stay close to Jayson, keen on giving him no reason to worry about my potential escape. He doesn’t need to know how much solace his presence gives me. Right now, as we turn right, making our way through the generous entrance hall of the mansion, I can honestly say that I’d rather be close to him than try to escape into uncertainty.

  I wonder if he’d believe me if I told him.

  He hesitates for a brief second, coming to a halt and taking a deep breath before he guides me through an open archway that leads to the other side of the house.

  I follow him, my eyes widening as a rare sensation washes over me.

  A sense of familiarity.

  We’ve stepped into a bright colored kitchen that’s adjacent to a large living room. Bright colors dominate the interior here as well, white and gray with the occasional blue speckling the furniture and countertops, giving the rooms a clean and nautical look.

  Everything appears rather unlived in at first, but when we pass through the kitchen on our way to the living room, I see things lying around here and there, telling signs of someone living here.

  There’s a used coffee mug next to a french press and a little plate with crumbs, leftovers of a single person’s breakfast, all gathered on the high-top counter that separates the kitchen from the living room. He had breakfast alone, sitting on one of the high chairs at the counter instead of the dining table that’s right next to it. The table is empty except for a few opened newspapers.

  He stops when we reach the center of the living room, making a halt directly in front of the big dark coffee table that’s placed in the middle of the room. White leather sofas are arranged around it, facing to a wide front with ceiling high windows and a terrace door. Semi see-through drapes in white are closed before the windows and the door, allowing some light into the room but no actual sight of what lies behind.

  I turn around, startled by a clicking sound coming from behind. I hadn’t even noticed that he moved behind me while I slowly wandered the living room, magically drawn to the thin drapes that tease me with freedom.

  The sound I heard came from him clipping the other end of the leash to a hook at the side of the counter. Just like the one that’s fastened to the ring at my collar, this one is additionally secured by some kind of screw, demanding more time and labor to lock and unlock the clip. It wouldn’t be impossible for me to free myself, but I could only do it if I was given a few moments by myself.

  And I doubt he’ll give me those.

  He tightens the screw, making sure it sits tightly before he looks up at me.

  “You can roam, or sit, do whatever you want,” he says. “I’ll make us something to eat.”

  His eyes trail along my naked body, taking in every inch from head to toe while I tense up under his stare. I refrain from shielding myself because I know he wouldn’t approve, and I don’t want to give him any reason to retract his decision to bring me down here. I may be naked, I may be on a leash—but at least I’m one step closer to finding answers, and my own freedom.

  He steps closer, reaching beneath my chin to hook his finger through the ring at the collar as he leans down, his face close enough to mine for our noses to touch.

  “I suggest you don’t try any funny business, Petal. Because trust me, you’ll fucking regret it if you do. Be a good girl, and I’ll be good to you. Understand?”

  I nod slowly, my eyes locked onto his.

  “Yes. Master.”

  “Good girl.”

  He plants a kiss on my forehead before he retreats, pinching my left nipple between two fingers, pinching it so hard that I jerk up in pain. He holds on to it, squeezing and pulling while he observes the contortions on my face as I process the taste of anguish he’s giving me.