Sold

He turned and went up the stairs. By the time I got up there, he already had the bath water running and was pouring green crystals into it. I could smell the piney scent of them and froze... pine trees... cold... a memory of something pushed on my mind...pine…

I am not sure what happened next, but I found myself lying on the floor, my head in Master's lap, his hand brushing my face.

"You have come back to me," he whispered, "What happened, Pet? Are you in pain?" "No Master.... my head..." I could feel the throbbing and the scent of pine seemed to push harder at it, "I thought I remembered something… the pine smell... it hurts."

He picked me up and carried me into the bedroom and tucked me into the bed. Concern shone in his eyes, "Just lie here. I will bathe myself and join you in a bit."

* * * * *

Alex returned from the bath still worried about Rosemary. She had gotten this look of total horror on her face, turned white and crumpled to the ground. She lay now curled in the bed like an abandoned kitten. He got into the bed and moved next to her. He ran his hand over her smooth skin and she moved closer to him. He smiled. Her trust of him was growing quickly. Gently he massaged her arms until she relaxed them. Being gentle and moving slowly, he moved her arms over her head and fastened them to the headboard. He loved the way she looked stretched out for him that way. Determined not to wake her yet, he moved carefully, massaging her legs to get them to relax and then fastening each ankle until she was opened for him.

Kneeling over her he began to lick and suckle her nipples, his fingers playing gently between her legs, feeling the moisture grow. She moaned under him and her body tensed as she woke fully. Her breasts moved at her surprised gasp. There was a moment of struggle and he could feel her give into the bonds. He lifted his head and looked at her, "You are far too beautiful my sweet Rose. I want to taste you."

He moved his fingers to her breast and teased the nipples, grinning at the responding arch of her body toward him. "What do you feel?"

Rose tried to twist under his hand and whispered, "I feel...pleasure...and agony. I ache and throb. It isn't fair to do this to me."

He chuckled, "Oh it is fair, you are a slave Rose. You are a slave to your passions. I control them as I control your body. It is my pleasure for you to ache this way. In time tonight, I will give you what your body aches for. I am your Master."

He touched the moistness between her legs and wiggled two fingers inside her until she danced under his hand in need. He brought her to the edge and the backed off. She cursed him softly for it.

"Who am I?" he asked bringing her to the edge again, toying with her to keep her there, unable to push herself over the brink to orgasm.

"Master... you are Master, please... God, I can't take this..."

Alex laughed deeply, "Oh yes you can, Pet, and yes you will until I am ready." He moved his hand away from her, delighted that she strained her body toward it, desperate for more of his touch, loving the frustrated noise she made, "What are you?"

"Your slave." She spit out angrily.

He ignored the anger for now and reached over to get the clamps he had placed there earlier and suckled her right nipple until it was rock hard. With skill, he clamped the right nipple, watching her strain against the bonds, her body an exquisite arch of flesh. He clamped the left nipple and sat back to watch her. Her body gleamed in the low light with the silky sheen of arousal. The look she gave him was a combination of hatred and lust. He gave a tug to the chain that linked the clamps together and she twisted in desperation, her breath was short and he could tell she was on a hair's edge of coming. He made himself get up and get a drink of water, leaving her spread open for him in aroused agony. When she was cooled down a bit he came back and mounted her.

He slipped his cock into her and sighed with pleasure at the tight fit. She was hot and throbbing around him, squirming wildly to feel him thrust into her. He looked down at her flushed face, "You enjoy that, Pet?"

"Yes...." she hissed. He knew her anger was at herself for giving into him, not at him for using her, as was his right. He began long strokes into her, taking care not to let her go over the edge. He came in her with a long cry of pleasure and then lay back next to her.

"Damn you!" she began, trying frantically to twist her body to have more of him.

"Don't make me gag you, Rose," he gave his voice the edge that let her know he was serious. He toyed with the clamps and whispered into her ear how he was her Master and he controlled her body. He brought her to the edge time and again until she was almost delirious with need.

He was hard again and when she began to whisper his mantra back without prompting, "You are Master, I am your slave. You own my body, you control my body..." He took her again, this time pulling on the clamps until she exploded in an orgasm that had her screaming in delight. She came again when he removed the clamps and a third time as he teased her body with a dildo. She was beyond comprehension as he released her feet and hands. He made sure her collar was attached to the length of chain fastened to the bed before he let himself drift into an exhausted but pleased sleep

* * * * *

I knelt in my Master's study with paper, paints and a brush. I decided that I had one of the oddest Master's in the world. I remembered what he did to me last night, but I had never imagined there could be such wondrous feeling and such agony at the same time. Thinking of it now, I throbbed with desire for him. Was this part of the conditioning I had or some spell he had placed on me?

In the morning, He brought me to the study and quizzed me. Question after question, most of which I had I could not answer. What was my earliest memory, what colors di I like, if I could be free what profession want to be. Each question was thrown at me fast, giving me no time to think. If I did not answer fast enough, He would flick this switch of his and there would be a sting of pain. My head throbbed now like something was trying to escape. I was now supposed to paint. I didn’t understand, but if it pleased him, who was I to say?

I found I painted trees, pine trees. I thought of the scent from last night and added in a cabin. The shape was wrong, so I added on more cabin until it looked right. It was still missing something. A lake? No, a stream. I painted it in and found I had added a shape behind the trees. A dark shape, something lurking.

"Very interesting." Master took the painting, studied it and then sat in his chair and looked at me. "I am afraid I have to go on a short business trip, Rose. It will only be overnight. I have asked Andrew to come over to make sure you are all right. He will sleep in the guest room. You will serve him food and do any tasks he asks of you, but he will not touch you. No one touches you but me."

"Where is Master going?" I asked curiously.

"Los Angeles. I am meeting with a client."

"LA is great. You should go to dinner at the Sunset Tower. It's pricey but the food is good," I suggested without thinking. At the look on his face, I prostrated myself, "Please Master, forgive your slave for speaking out of turn." The fear of punishment drove every other thought from my head.

"Forgiven, Pet." He lifted me up and looked intently into my eyes. "You remember this place?"

I blinked, realizing that I did. I could see myself there, the table setting, the food being placed in front of me. I wore a black dress and there was someone else.... someone....

The pain in my head was worse. I described the brief memory and trembled. Was he angry? Would I be sent back for more treatment? I didn't want to loose this bit of memory, this bit of who I was.

"I am not angry, Pet," He kissed me on the forehead, "Go make some coffee for both of us and bring it back here. I have a phone call to make."

He played with me again that night, driving me to the edge of sanity with his touch; teasing my body until I am begged him to take me. When I awake he was gone.

I did my chores and the exercises he had outlined for me. I had just finished with my shower when I heard the door open and then shut.

I hurried out and saw Paul standing in the hallway. He had Master's spare key and was shedding his coat and scarf. I remembered my place, took them for him, and hung them up in the closet.

"Master is not here," I took a step back from him, uneasy with his presence for no apparent reason.

"Yes, Andrew couldn't make it, so I offered to come over and take care of you." There was something about his smile that made me cold.

"Yes, Sir," I knelt, "What would Sir like for dinner? I can cook well."

"I will worry about dinner," he moved toward me and ran his hand over my hair. When I tried to move away, his fingers tangled in it and yanked down sharply, pulling me down until I was bent backward at his waist. "I plan to have a good time with you while I can."

"No!" I struggled to free myself, but his grip is like iron, "You cannot touch me! I belong to Master!"

"And he is not here," he pulled me to the basement door and shoved me down the stairs. I fell hard, rolling and lay stunned at the bottom. He moved down the stairs with a deliberate step, grinning.

I leapt to my feet and swayed with dizziness, looking for a way to escape. I waited until he was off the stairs and then bolted for them. He caught my by the hair again and swung me around into a table. I hit it hard and couldn’t breathe. Darkness crept in for a moment and then cleared, but he has used the time to push me to the table. I fought him, trying to scream but I still didn't have enough air. He easily bound my wrists while I tried to kick him. I wanted to hurt him; I wanted to kill him.

Pain, blinding light, my head rang and my face ached where he hit me. I lay in stunned pain, unable to fight as he fastened my legs to the table.

"God, you're a bitch," he muttered.

I could see with some pleasure that I have drawn blood on his face in the fight.

"No slave tells me, 'no.' I am your Master for the night and I will have you. Who is Alex going to believe, you or me?”

I could taste the blood in my mouth from his backhand and watched helplessly as he removed his clothes. He gave no warning, no foreplay, and no concern if I was ready. He shoved himself into me hard, scraping the dry passage there. I turned my head away, not wanting to see his face, but he forced me to look up at him, to watch his rape. I could see that he enjoyed the pain I was feeling.

The humiliation of it seemed to last forever. When he was done, he walked off, leaving me there, naked and helpless on the table. It was cold, but the air soothed my body. I cried, aching from the abuse and I remembered.

There had been pine trees and a cabin. It had been a weekend trip away from the city. I was just stepping out of the shower when I found them standing there. My confusion and shock played to their benefit and they caught me easily. Roughly they bound my hands behind me and then blindfolded me. Oh God, the darkness made everything more terrifying. First one took me and then the other; then the first one again. It couldn’t be happening to me. The memories of that night tumbled back. I screamed as the memories that assailed me.

Paul was suddenly back, hitting me again, screaming at me to be silent. I forced myself to stop, fear paralyzing me. He had the punishment whip and lifted it up.

I waited for the blow that did not come. My eyes were closed tightly in anticipation of the agony. Instead, there was a scuffle. I open my eyes and saw Paul being held by two policemen. Master was there, worry in his eyes as he fumbled with the knots that held me.

"Rose, oh my God, Rose." He whispered, struggling to loosen the knot my panic had tightened.

I did not care that the police saw me like that. I cared only that Master has come for me. When he had untied me, he picked me up and carried me upstairs, holding me. I curled against him, safe. My body screamed with each movement, but I held back the cries. I didn't want to upset Master more than he already was. He held me while the police questioned me. He stayed near as they photographed my body as evidence. Master refused to leave my side at the hospital where I was treated. I finally slept in his arms as the morning light tried to shine through the curtains.

When we woke, he soothed my aches with an ointment and we talked. I told him what happened and what I had remembered. He told me that Andrew had called him to let him know that Paul would be stopping in. Not trusting Paul, Master had come home right away. I slept more, feeling safe in my Master's house.

* * * * *

Alex watched Rosemary as she lay curled on the floor by the fire reading. Sometimes she was so feline in her movements that he had taken to calling her "kitten." He knew she didn't really care for the name, and yet at the same time it pleased her. She had healed well from the attack and seemed content with her life. He had avoided the basement for a time and then introduced her slowly again to its pleasures and sweet torments. On the surface things were good. He also knew of her nightmares and noticed she still flinched at sudden movements.

He glanced back at the computer screen and the report there. With the few things Rosemary had remembered, he had started the investigation to see if he could find out who she really was. Finally, there was something. His man in Los Angeles had shown her picture at the restaurant she had remembered. Claiming to be searching for her to give her an inheritance, he was able to find one person who thought he remembered her and her date. Further investigation led to some bare information.

If this were true, Rosemary was really Alice Carter, a legal secretary who had worked for a large law firm in LA. According to interviews with the people at the law firm, Alice didn't come in one Monday and mailed a resignation with a forwarding address. No one had questioned it.

The forwarding address was a post office box. Soon he would know who had rented the box. Once the participants of the plot were uncovered, he would take the information to the police.

But what to do about Rosemary...or was it Alice. He preferred Rosemary. She was not a criminal and should not then be a slave. The courts would probably free her. He was startled to see how much it hurt to think that she would not be there.

"Kitten-love, come here," he turned off the monitor of the computer and smiled a bitter smile as she came over, happiness on her face.

"Yes, Master, how can I serve you?"

"I’m fine, I just wanted you by my side," he petted her hair as she snuggled next to his leg, agony ripping his heart in two.

* * * * *

Alex kissed me goodbye and stepped into the cab. I waved until I could not see him anymore and then went back inside.

The warmth inside felt good. I kept the kimono on. Master had given me a few and told me to wear them as I wanted unless he specified otherwise. It felt odd at first to have clothing on my body. I worried that he was tired of me, but I realized, as the weather got colder, that his house could be a bit drafty at times. He was protecting me, and that touched me. He was off again on business and promised to check in on me several times. I would have time to work on his birthday present now.

It isn't an easy thing for a slave to make a surprise gift for her Master. First I had to tell him I wanted to make him something, that I wanted it to be a surprise, and that I would need some supplies in order to make it. This did open up some new chores for me in the long run. I now did the shopping. Master had dressed me in the warmest of the kimonos and taken me to a number of stores and introduced me to each of the owners, making sure that I would be able to put purchases on his accounts. Now I went out as needed and got the food and other things we needed. The stores were all close and walking was easy.

Now that I could get the supplies, I had to find time to work on in where he could not see. This was harder. When he was home, he liked me near him. When he was out, I often had housework to do. Still, I had managed now and then to get it going well. I put on some music and curled up in the sofa near the fireplace and took out the knitting. I was making him a sweater of dark green wool. I remembered that I knew how to knit while I was recovering from the attack. That had been some months ago and the fear of it has faded.

I had remembered a lot since that day. I remember bits and pieces of my life before I was sold, and none of it seems to fit a criminal that would be sentenced to slavery. Master told me the other night, that there is some evidence that I might not have been a criminal. That is where he was going now, to investigate that. I am not sure how that made me feel. Was it the conditioning or was it me that loved my life now? I loved caring for Master, and I loved his care and touch. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be sent away, alone. I pushed the thoughts from my head. There was no need to worry about that now.

When it was dark, I made a small meal for myself, I toke a long bath and went to bed. It was hard to sleep alone now. The only times I was alone, was when I was being punished. That still happened now and then. I was lucky that Master did not punish me for imagined slights, but was instead exceedingly fair. That made the punishment all the worse, for I know that I have disappointed him greatly. So, now alone, I did not sleep well.

Perhaps it is that restlessness that alerted me to the noise. I could hear someone downstairs. Master had called earlier so I knew that he was far away from here. I slipped out of the bed, wrapping the kimono around my naked body. I was torn between running down the stairs to confront the person and hiding. Whatever I choose, I need something to protect myself. I remembered that Master has golf clubs in the closet. Moving as silently as I could, I got the one that seemed the heaviest. What next? I forced myself to calm down and to think.

The police. I need to get to the phone. Master refused to have one in the bedroom, so I needed to get to the study, but I heard the person moving up the stairs. I stuffed the pillows under the covers to make a body and I got behind the door. It's a lame place to hide, but so is under the bed, the bathroom or the closet.

In the darkness, I saw the person slip into the room. He was big and though it was dark I knew it was Paul. I wanted to run, to scream, but at the same time, an anger I had never known began to brew inside me. It was white hot and brilliant. I saw him move toward the bed, something in his hands. I saw the knife gleam as his lifted it and drove it into the pillows. He froze in confusion.

The anger reached a peak and I leapt at him, the club swinging. I would not let him hurt me again! I would not let him hurt another person! The club connected with a resounding thud and he fell to the ground, the knife skittering across the floor. I swung the club again and brought it down on his back. I heard his angry scream like an oddly distant noise.

His hand grabbed my ankle in an iron grasp and pulled. I lost my balance and hit the floor hard, the club gone from my hands. Panic fueled the anger in me, as I knew what he would do to me this time. I clawed and fought; I ripped at his skin and tried to find his eyes. He would not rape me again. I must have hurt him, for his hands released me just long enough for me to get up and run.

I knew the house better than he did, the darkness giving me an even greater advantage. I made it to the study and grabbed the phone, hitting the speed dial for the police. It rang, and rang and rang. I heard the dispatcher’s voice as Paul found me, grabbing me from behind and swinging me away from the phone. I screamed as loudly as possible, praying the woman would hear me. I fell hard against the bookshelves; books falling around me.