by Zenia, Zara
I vaguely recall that. “The blue sports car,” I murmur. “It was parked on the street.”
He nods. “I told you to stay in your apartment. I should have made you promise to listen to me.” His voice is filled with sadness.
“Why? What happened?”
“I went to confront him at your complex. He saw me and took off, so I followed and got in front of him and led him to the warehouse. I thought you were safe in your apartment.”
“I wasn’t?” I say, hesitant.
“No, you weren’t. You got to the warehouse before us, but before I could get to you, Aubrey shoved you into the building and locked himself in there with you.”
“Did he kill me?”
“Not right then, but yes, you were dying. You were trying to save me, and he flung you into the cement wall, smashing the back of your head. You clung to life long enough for me to get you here and turn you.”
I gulped. “What happened to Aubrey?”
“I ripped his head off his shoulders. He is no longer a problem.”
I breath out a sigh of relief. “How long ago was that?”
“About nine weeks.”
“Nine weeks!” I start hyperventilating. “Oh my God, my exams! And Bella is probably completely freaked out with me missing for nine weeks! Oh my God, she’s probably got a warrant out for your arrest!” I scramble off his lap and start searching for my phone to call her.
“I took care of your classes. Spoke to your teachers. You passed your classes. I also paid a visit to that Doctor you work with, Benford. You left on good terms. As for Bella, I took the liberty of texting her. I did not wish to cause her to worry.”
“Thank you.” My brow furrows. “What did you tell her?”
He hands me my phone. “I did my best.”
Taking the phone from him, I look at the messages.
Hey Bell, exciting news! James is taking me on vacation to Jamaica. We leave in the morning. Be in touch soon! :)
Bella: That sounds great! Send me pics! Wish I could go, but ugh, work!:p
Will do!
With my eyes wide, I look at the pictures he sent her of me on a beach, us—how on Earth did he get pictures of us together… on a cruise with shots of the sunset and various other things. Bella commented on each one, saying it looks like we’re having a great time and how much she wishes she could be there with us.
“How did you do this?” I ask, looking at them.
“Photoshop. Obviously, that’s not me in the images. We can’t be seen in photos, but he looks enough like me to pass, especially from the side view. I may have gone through your photos to find images I could use.”
I smile. “Thank you. These are wonderful.” I settle down in his lap. “I wish we could really go, but I suppose that is probably out of the question, huh?”
“For now, yes. Someday? Who knows?”
“James, I’m thirsty.”
“I figured.” He offers me his wrist, and I sink my fangs in.
A moment later, I lick my lips and he kisses me. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure, pet. Now there is something I wish to discuss.” He sets me from his lap and paces in front of me.
“There is?” I look up at him, confused.
“Do you understand how worried I have been about you?” he asks, shaking his head. “From the moment I realized you were at the warehouse to turning you and to watching you not recognize me for weeks—I feared you would never come out of it.” He kneels in front of me and presses his forehead to mine.
I nod, tears slipping down my cheeks. “I’m not sorry though, James. I will never be sorry for being there. I know you probably would have saved yourself, but not knowing… that would have killed me.”
“I will have nightmares of him with his hands around your pretty little neck and throwing you against that wall for an eternity.” He shakes his head at me, gazing into my eyes. “Am I always going to have to worry about you disobeying me?”
“No. I won’t do it again.”
He chuckles, his eyes brightening. “You won’t, hmmm? So this will be the last time I will need to punish you?”
My heart races as I think of James’ punishments and how much I enjoy them. “Well… I didn’t say that.”
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Good. I would hate to think I won’t get to spank that delicious bottom of yours again.” He kisses me softly. “I am so glad you’re better. I’ve missed you.”
* * *
Three months later
“How are you feeling, pet?” James asks, coming down the stairs.
“Like I’m stuck in a cage.” I roll my eyes at him and set my computer aside. “I feel fine. I’m hungry, but not to the point where I’m going to rip someone’s throat out.”
I’d fed from his wrist for those first two months, and then he’d taken to mixing his blood with blood that I finally got him to tell me came from the local blood bank. These last two weeks he’d brought in various humans he’d enthralled to play with us in bondage, blood play games. I’d been extremely careful to only sip where James had made a cut and not bite, though I had been tempted. He didn’t caution me not to, I just didn’t want to do that and then lose control and hurt them. I want to prove that I can be around humans, around Bella, without hurting her or anyone. I’ve missed her dearly.
Text messages and phone calls were not nearly enough. I’d created images of me with a third-degree sunburn using James’ Photoshop program and sent them to her a few weeks ago. That was James’ idea. To explain why I could no longer go out in the daylight, once we “returned” from out vacation. I’d sent pictures of me in a hospital bed, recovering on the island, and messages that told her I’d developed a severe allergy to the sun, and I am under doctor’s orders to remain out of sunlight for the foreseeable future.
James grins sitting down next to me. “Do you think you might be ready for a little bit of an adventure?”
My smile brightens. “An adventure, sir?” I ask, a pulse of excitement charges through me.
“I thought we might pay a visit to Club Toxic tonight,” he replies.
“Can we?” I ask, surprised because I didn’t think he trusted me out among humans yet.
“I think you’re ready.” He nods.
My mind flashes to the outfit that I had ordered before being turned. It is sitting in my bedroom closet in my apartment. I really want wear it. “Sir, could I maybe go to my apartment to get ready?”
His eyes narrow with curiosity. “Why?”
I take a breath. “I have something special I want to wear.” I grin, showing off my fangs.
His lips twist as he thinks about it. “All right, but you will call me as soon as you reach your apartment.”
I nod, bouncing on the bed in excitement. “Thank you, sir!”
We head upstairs, and he walks me out to my Blazer, which I haven’t driven since the night he turned me. Climbing in, I fasten my seatbelt.
“One hour, pet. We have a spot booked for ten.”
“Yes, sir,” I reply, turning on the engine.
He waves as I head out. I feel as if I am seeing things in the world for the first time. Everything looks and feels so different to how it felt before, and it is exciting. Twenty minutes later, I pull into my apartment complex lot and go up to my place.
It all looks the same, but it no longer feels like home to me. Home is with James. I’ll have to talk to him about me moving in with him. With that in mind, I call him.
Chapter 30
James
The parking lot of Club Toxic holds the usual group of young people gathered outside, waiting to get in. I’m fairly sure most of them are unaware of the BDSM club in the basement. I’ve figured out by now that those who are there for the dungeon get in before those in the line. The line is for the partiers who are only there for drinking and dancing.
I get out of my car and move toward Club Toxic’s door. I see Maximus on the door and wave. “Pet, I am keeping the phone
on, but I will be speaking with Maximus, so I am going to mute my end. If you need me, I will hear you.”
“Yes, sir. I’m fine, leaving now to head to the club,” she replies.
I had not wanted to let her go off on her own, but I understand her need to have a little independence. She’s been careful around the humans I’ve brought home, and I trust that she will continue to be. Still I don’t want to let her off the phone. I need to know that she is all right. I press mute and approach Maximus. “Good evening.”
“Hey. Haven’t seen you around in a while. Heard you and the girl went off on vacation.”
I nod. “We were. I had a few clients I needed to see and thought to bring her with me. She seemed to enjoy it.”
“Well, we’re glad to see you back. Also heard you two are doing a scene?” He grins.
“We are. Are you coming to watch?”
He looks at the crowd. “If I can get Atticus or Tib on the door, yes.” His grin widens. “Tib’s not into hetero play, so he won’t mind.”
I chuckle. “Send her in when she gets here, please,” I say, patting his arm as he lifts the rope.
“I will,” he answers.
I stride in and head for the bar, giving Atticus a wave at the coat-check. He nods back, and I continue further into the club. As I reach the bar, Theo joins me. “Good evening,” I say after ordering a scotch.
“We’ve got a full house tonight for your scene. Any special equipment you’d like?” Theo asks.
“I’ve been thinking about using Strappado or perhaps an inversion bench?”
“Strappado, rope play? That could be fun. The room is already set up for that. I can, of course, have an inversion bench brought over.”
“We only have half an hour. I think the Strappado will be sufficient for this evening. We’ll save the inversion bench for another night,” I decide.
“Excellent. I am looking forward to it,” Theophilus says, taking a drink of his own scotch. “It looks like your pet has arrived.” He nods toward the door.
I look at my phone and realize she’s disconnected our call. I must have missed her saying she was here. I wander my gaze over her. She’s wearing a black corset with pink lace and ribbons, a pink and black tulle tutu skirt, and black silk gloves that go to her elbows, along with black heels. Her hair is teased and full, flowing down her back. Around her neck is a black silk ribbon with a cameo pin. Every eye in the place is on her. I arch a brow as she approaches me, takes my scotch from my hand and takes a sip.
“Hello, sir,” she says with a sassy grin.
“Aren’t you a naughty girl, pet?” I retrieve my glass from her hand and bring her to my side with a hand on her ass. She smells intoxicating, and I have to wonder if Theo has noticed the change in her.
She laughs, drawing more eyes. “I guess you’re just going to have to punish me, sir.”
“Indeed,” I answer, squeezing her ass cheek through the tulle. “And where did this outfit come from?” I ask.
She grins. “I may have done some online shopping, sir.”
“I see, well, I approve.” My gaze is drawn to her breasts, pushed up and teasing a peek at her nipples behind the pink lace.
“I thought you might, sir,” she says cheekily.
“Good evening, Miss Carolyn,” Theo says, his eyes wandering over her figure. “Had I known when you first came here— such a timid little mouse you were.” He shakes his head, a rakish smile twisting his lips. “If I’d known you would turn into such a delight, I might have just kept you for myself.”
Carolyn glances from me to him. “We all make mistakes,” she murmurs with a smile.
I laugh, keeping an eye upon him, wondering if he’s noticed. Surely, he has?
“So we do,” he agrees as his eyes narrow on her. “Come, let us go below and show you off to the wanton masses, my dear.”
We move back toward the door to the dungeon and down the stairs, following slightly behind him. “How are you feeling?” I whisper.
“A little thirsty, but I’ll be fine,” she whispers back. Then she pushes up on her toes, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I’m not wearing panties, sir.”
“You have turned into a naughty little minx, haven’t you!” I take her hand and lead her through the throng of bodies watching various scenes.
As Theo gets a bit further ahead of us, she says, “Oh… did I fail to mention, I’m wearing the butterfly, sir,” she says softly through her smile.
I reach in my pocket to my keys where I added the remote and click the button. She bounces up on her toes and squeaks as the butterfly makes its presence known against her clit. I chuckle. “Such a naughty, naughty girl.”
We watch a scene for a few minutes between Augustus and Tiberius. When Theo nods to me, we make our way to the area I’ve come to think of as ours. Inside the curtains, I stand her in front of her and turn the butterfly up a notch. She gasps, and I know she’s going to enjoy tonight.
“I have a nice little punishment in mind pet, but I think I want the audience to see me unwrap you first, since you’ve packaged yourself so nicely.” I grin.
“Yes, sir,” she says, her voice breathy and soft.
“Oh, you’ll have to speak up louder than that for our audience, dear one. That will never do.”
She takes a deep breath. “Yes, sir.” Her voice is still breathy, but stronger this time.
I pull the blindfold from the drawer, move down a drawer and grab the proper rope for what I have in mind. I move to her and put the blindfold on her as I hear Theo through the curtain. “I think our audience is ready to see you, pet.”
“Yes, sir.” She bites her lip.
I open the curtain and smile at our audience. “Good evening, thank you all for joining us. Pet, thank your audience for coming to see you receive your punishment for your past misdeeds.”
“Thank you for coming to watch me,” she says, her voice getting a little shaky as I know she’s close to the edge.
“Doesn’t she look a delight?” I say, taking off my Oxford. “As pretty as she looks, I think it’s time to unwrap her.” I move toward her and pull the tulle skirt down, revealing the butterfly. I tap on it, and she gasps. “No coming, pet.”
“Yes, sir,” she agrees, but fidgets.
I tap it again. “Stop that, pet.”
“Yes, sir.” She stands up straight.
I remove the corset and set it and the skirt with my Oxford. Grabbing the rope and the ankle spreader, I turn her around, so her ass is to the audience. I attach the bar and pat her ass. “Comfortable, pet?”
She lets out a giggle. “No, sir.”
I flick the butterfly and turn it up to its highest setting. “Naughty minx.” I shake my head. “As you all will recall, pet disobeyed me last time we were here. What happened, pet?”
“Kitty came… two… extra times… sir,” she said between gasps.
“She did.” I nod. “Give me your hands, pet.” She does as I ask, and I bind her wrists behind her back with the rope. Once it’s tied properly so it won’t hurt her, I make a few adjustments, leaning her forward and attach the rope to the chain hanging from the ceiling. “Look at you all trussed up, pet. Unable to move and all ready for your punishment, pet?”
“Yes, sir,” she squeaks.
“I think she needs just a little more to her attire, don’t you?” I ask our audience as I hold up a vibrating plug.
They nod, grins lighting their faces as their fangs descend.
I rub the lube covered plug in her folds, getting it wetter and then press it to her ass and turn it on as well. She moans loudly, and I smile. “There now, that’s perfect.”
I move back to the wall and select two paddles, one wooden with heart cutouts and another with little spikes on it. I show them to the audience, and I can see the anticipation in their waiting gazes. They are ready for blood and bites.
“Ready, pet?” I ask but swat her ass with the heart paddle before she can answer.
She moans, “O
ne… sir,” she gasps.
“No need to count, pet, tonight’s spanking is being incorporated in our blood play.” I trace a finger over one of the imprinted hearts on her ass cheek.
“Yes… sir,” she says.
I swat her ass again in the same spot with the heart paddle and then move to a new spot on her other cheek, making little hearts appear on it as well. I twirl the spiked paddle in my hand and use it this time, and she pushes up on her toes as the tiny little holes trail blood over the curve of her ass to her thighs.
She gasps, “Oh! Sir!”
The audience applauds.
“I think our audience approves, pet.” I swat her with the heart paddle on the back of her thighs and then again right over where the plug is and she groans, panting. I use the spiked paddle again, drawing more blood that dribbles over the curve of her ass and down the back of her thighs. The delicious scent of her blood wafts in the air, and I am hard pressed to restrain myself. “One more of each, I think, pet, if you are ready?”
She nods. “Green… sir…” she pants.
I swat her ass with the heart paddle and then in quick succession add the spiked paddle. I set them aside and allow the audience to be titillated by the sight. I move to the wall and select a softer paddle made of leather. I rub it over her folds and lightly spank her there as she hiccups little gasps of pleasure.
“Mmm, I think you look delicious, pet, what do you say, audience?”
The audience loudly approves.
“Our time is nearly at an end, but pet hasn’t come yet… should I allow her to have one since she’s taken her punishment like a good little minx?”
“Please, sir… please let me come,” she begs, panting. “I promise… Kitty will… be good… and only… come once… sir…” Her words are coming in gasps as I tap on the butterfly with the leather paddle.
“It is up to your audience, pet… you’ll need to beg them,” I say with a grin.
I see her swallow hard, and I lower the vibration on the butterfly. “Please?... Please let me come… Masters and Mistresses. Please?” she begs, her voice is loud but breathy as she gasps between words. I promise… I will be naughty again… soon… so you can watch me… pay sir’s penalties…”
