Captivation

by Sarah Fisher

  ‘We’ve come a very long way, you and I,’ he said with a casualness that belied the insanity of her situation. She stared at him, longing for him to untie her. At his shoulder Mario reached across her and took a cloth bag from the housekeeper. Before Alex could really focus on what he was doing, he lifted her head and pulled the bag down over her face, plunging her into stuffy darkness. She heard the door to the gallery open again and strained to pick up any sounds that might give a clue as to who was with Tourne.

  ‘It’s good to see you again,’ she heard his muffled voice greet the unseen guest. As you can see, we have her ready for you. What do you think?’

  The reply was too indistinct to catch. Alex closed her eyes and struggled to concentrate on the voice of the new arrival. It had to be the man Peter had sold her to; her new owner. A cool hand stroked her thighs and then lifted to outline her breasts. A fingertip lingered on the rings that pierced her nipples.

  ‘Ummm,’ murmured her unseen examiner. It was impossibly frustrating, not to mention alarming. The hand returned to her thighs, easing them wider and then stroking her exposed sex. Alex instinctively strained her hips against the leather strap that held her waist to the couch, and a low chuckle told her that her rude movement had been noted. A thought formed in Alex’s mind, but quickly fluttered away as a probing finger slipped inside her.

  ‘Very nice... very tight. You’ve done a good job,’ said a man. ‘I’d like my mark in the usual place.’ The finger slid from her and was gone.

  Unseen hands loosened the strap at her waist and rolled her over. They pinned her firmly to the couch. Something pliable but hard was pressed between her lips. She bit down hard and held her breath. An instant later a searing lightening strike exploded on her buttock. The pain roared through her body. The scream caught in her lungs. She bucked and twisted against the excruciating heat of the branding iron. Sobbing incoherently, she clenched her fists, refusing to be overtaken by the shadowy waves of unconsciousness that beckoned. Despite her determination the darkness draped over her. The voices around her fragmented and broke into abstract sounds, floating on a swirling wind, and she slipped effortlessly into oblivion.

  When Alex recovered she was laying on her side on the uncomfortable mattress in the cell. Surely she couldn’t have been unconscious for more than a second or two? She stared around, struggling to get her bearings. The cell door was slightly ajar. As she watched it opened and a figure appeared from the shadows.

  Alex stiffened - it was impossible. A name formed in her mind and then on her parched lips.

  ‘Laurence?’ she whispered in total astonishment. Her agent, her would-be rescuer, the man who’d sent her to the villa in the first place, stepped into the tiny room. She struggled to lift her head, and repeated his name. ‘Laurence? Oh my, it is you.’ A great wave of relief swept over her. ‘I’m so glad you’re here.’ Her eyes filled with tears. ‘Why did you take so long - ?’

  Laurence smiled gently. ‘Hello Alex. I’ve come to take you home. That’s what you rang me for, wasn’t it? You wanted me to rescue you from Peter Tourne’s clutches?’

  She began to nod, but something in his tone and expression made her stop. Why was it he showed no surprise or shock at finding her bound and naked in a tiny cell? And why didn’t he seem concerned for his own safety?

  ‘Why didn’t you come straight away, when I first rang you?’

  He smiled again. ‘What, and spoil Peter’s fun? I don’t think so Alex. I came here today because he told me you’re ready - and I can see that you are.’

  He stared down at her, relishing the details of her body. Alex shivered, realisation trickling down her spine like icy water. Looking up into his eyes she knew exactly why he’d come to KaRoche.

  ‘Was this your idea all along, Laurence?’

  ‘I’m afraid so,’ he grinned and shrugged as though he’d merely been uncovered as the perpetrator of a harmless prank. ‘Peter Tourne and I have been friends for years. When I took the commission for the mural I didn’t tell him you were a beautiful woman, but I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist breaking you in once he saw you.’ He moved closer, as though about to tell her a secret. ‘And that’s precisely why I sent you here in the first place. I wanted to possess you from the first moment you came into my office for an interview. You look quite lovely, Alex. But then again, I always knew you would.’ He ran his fingers lightly over her forehead. ‘Peter gave you a light sedative to help with the pain, are you feeling okay?’

  Alex nodded weakly. ‘And so you’re my new master?’

  ‘That’s right, my dear. We couldn’t have Mustafa taking you off to God knows where, now could we? The man’s an animal, let’s face it, Monique is not much better. Such a waste to let either of them have you. I’d planned to bid for you at Simon Bay’s auction - it seemed like a suitably melodramatic conclusion to your training - but as you generated so much interest amongst his associates, Peter and I came to a private arrangement; we couldn’t risk losing you. I must say, he seems commendably interested in your future welfare. He knows you’ll be well looked after in my stable; my companions are part of a very exclusive coterie. You’ve been marked with my initials, as are all the girl’s I own. You can meet the rest of them when we get back to London.’

  He gently unfastened the leash from her collar. She made no attempt to escape - what was the point?

  Lawrence nodded towards the cell door. ‘When we’re done here I’d like you to collect your things together so that we can catch the evening ferry. I’d like to get back to London as soon as possible.’ He paused and smiled with genuine warmth. ‘You’ll like the rest of my clique, I’m quite certain. The girls are all like you; artists, sculptors - a very select band of England’s most talented young stars...’ he gently touched the dressing which soothed the smarting area of the branding. ‘It’ll look quite exquisite once it’s healed, believe me. Oh, I ought to tell you that I’ve already arranged for all of your things to be delivered to my house. I expect my slave to be on hand for my every whim.’ He patted his thigh. ‘Now, come here, Alex. Show me that you understand totally what I expect from you.’

  Alex swallowed hard, almost unable to believe what she was hearing. Hadn’t she always suspected that Laurence Russell’s interest in her was more than just professional? Wasn’t his carefully hidden desire what she’d hoped would spur him on to come to D’arnos to rescue her?

  She slowly slipped from the mattress and crept towards the man who’d delivered her into the hands of Peter Tourne. He was her rescuer turned master. She didn’t need to ask what he wanted from her. His penis was jutting forward like a rapier against the soft fabric of his trousers. Catching hold of her collar he pulled her up onto her knees and bent from the waist to kiss her passionately.

  ‘Oh Alex,’ he murmured. ‘You have no idea how much I’ve dreamt about this moment.’

  Without a word she undid his belt and, kneeling at his feet, ran her tongue along his exposed shaft in an ancient act of worship.

  Even as she tasted his first salty offering she could feel the excitement stirring deep inside her own body. Her sex moistened, her nipples hardened, and the dark half of her mind had finally won the battle.

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