“You okay?” Isaac’s deep baritone penetrates my thoughts.
I look over at him, blinking rapidly as something pricks the back of my eyes. That better not be a fucking tear. I just need to hold it together for maybe an hour. Hopefully by then we’ll be long gone. “Yes,” I reply, trying to keep the dread out of my voice.
Isaac’s lips draw down into a point as he frowns, but I hardly notice it. Even with dressing down, in just blue jeans, a red sweater, and a worn brother leather coat, he looks hot. His hair is parted and slicked to the side, the scent of his masculine cologne filling the car.
I was surprised when he didn’t wear a suit, but when he brought out the Mazda for us to drive in, I figured he didn’t want to show up looking like he was drowning in cash.
“You will not lie to me, kitten,” he growls, his voice low and dangerous.
I lick my lips. I know I can’t argue with him. “I’m terrified,” I admit. “I really don’t want to do this.”
Isaac shakes his head. “I know you don’t. But you will. Do you understand?” His voice is firm, indicating that he’ll accept nothing less than my perfect obedience.
I hate it, but I force myself to nod, not trusting myself to speak.
Isaac stares at me, the intense look in his beautiful green eyes making me squirm. “You will engage in every conversation that’s initiated, and you will answer honestly. Even questions you find make you emotional. The only exception is questions about us.”
I hold in a groan. Oh God, why is he doing this to me? I can lie about the two of us, but everything else that makes the pit of my stomach churn is fair game? Does he want me to cry? 'Cause that’s exactly what’s going to happen. I know it. I’m tired of crying. I’ve never wanted to defy him more than in this moment. But I don’t. “Yes, Master,” I reply, barely able to keep the tremor out of my voice.
I can’t take staring into his stern gaze, so I look back over to my family home.
My mother refused to leave it after I was taken. She had deluded herself into thinking I’d come home somehow. Like one day I’d just appear for her, but if she moved, I wouldn’t be able to find my way back to her. Bless her heart.
Thinking about it causes tears to form in my eyes, and I fucking hate it. I hate that I feel so raw still. I’ve been on a roller coaster of emotions the past week, feeling as though I’m invincible and then completely raw and vulnerable. I don’t know what I am, but right now I know I don’t want to do this shit. It’s just too much, all at once. Why can’t Isaac see that?
“Text your mother,” Isaac says, taking my hand and gently kissing the back of it. His tone has softened, and he seems to recognize how terrified I am. But he’s still going to make me go in there when I don’t want to. “You’re going to be perfect for me, kitten,” he reassures me in an attempt to boost my confidence, and giving my hand a slight squeeze. “Trust me, you can do this. You will do this.”
I want to tell him no, tell him that I can’t do this. I don’t want to have to face my mother, to have to be reminded of the pain I caused her. But looking at Isaac, I know there's only one answer he’ll accept. “Yes, Master,” I whisper.
“Katia!” As soon as I walk through the door, my mother is pulling me into her arms, gripping me into a fierce bear hug. I’m already filled with anxiety, so I can hardly breathe as she squeezes me and kisses me, telling me she loves me and how much she’s missed me over and over.
“I’ve missed you so much, baby!” she cries with tears in her eyes, finally pulling back and allowing me to breathe, giving me a chance to look at her. She looks really nice, dressed up in a tweed skirt suit with heavy makeup on, something that is totally unlike her. I don’t remember her this way at all. She always had pajamas on for most of the day with her hair in a messy bun during the holidays. It was typically even worse on Christmas Day, when she’d have stayed up the whole night before wrapping presents and baking treats for the family.
Today, she looks beautiful.
“I missed you too, Mom,” I say, my voice quavering from emotion.
Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry, I tell myself over and over in a litany meant to strengthen me, knowing that if the first tears fall that I’ll turn into a blubbering mess. I don’t know how I can’t do anything but break down, I feel too weak.
Isaac's words come back to me in that moment. You’re going to be perfect for me, kitten. As if he knew I was thinking about him, I feel a gentle squeeze on my left hand and I look over to see Isaac gazing at me with strength and confidence in his eyes.
My mom freezes as her eyes fall on Isaac, her jaw going slack as if she’s just now noticing he was there. “Well,” she says, her voice filled with wonder, her eyes wide with shock, “who is this handsome young man?”
I know seeing Isaac with me must be hitting her pretty hard, since I’ve never had an official boyfriend. She probably can’t believe I wound up in an actual relationship. But what I have with Isaac is anything but normal, and probably never will be.
“Mom,” I say, swallowing back a tide of emotion, “this is Isaac, my-“
A quick pinch on the ass from Isaac reminds me to be careful of what I say next, and my cheeks burn with fire, my heart pounding from the oh shit moment. I hesitate for a moment, not wanting to make a mistake, but Isaac steps in.
“Boyfriend.” It’s such a strange word, especially coming from his lips.
“Boyfriend,” I agree quickly, hoping my mom doesn’t notice my flub. “Isaac is my boyfriend.” Boyfriend. I can’t believe that word just came out of my mouth. It sounds alien, and it certainly doesn’t fit the description of what Isaac is to me. Nor the name I call him every night. And he sure as fuck isn’t a boy.
My mom can’t keep the shock from her face as she extends her hand in greeting. It’s like she thinks Isaac must be a hologram that’s going to vanish at any second. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Isaac. Kat told me that she had someone new in her life, but she didn’t tell me that you were so handsome.” She shakes her head and gives me a look.
Isaac takes her extended hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Mrs. Herrington. I see who Kat inherited her beauty from.”
My mom turns a furious shade of crimson. A warm sensation flows through my chest at her expression. I haven’t seen her light up like that in… well, I don’t remember when. And I must say that I’m impressed by Isaac’s demeanor and charm in front of my mother; he’s nothing like he is when he’s at the club where everything revolves around sex. It’s a side of him that makes me curious. I like his charm, but it has me wondering how much of this is an act.
“Oh stop it,” Mom says when she can finally find words, waving away Isaac’s compliment and chuckling nervously, trying to hide her embarrassment. She turns and motions us toward the living room. “Please, come and meet the rest of the family.”
Isaac looks over at me and winks before we follow her into the living room. I’m really liking this side of him. He wraps his arm around my waist, and the display of affection catches me off guard. But In a good way though. It’s just something I wasn’t expecting.
The minute we step into the room, I’m greeted by the sight of my family huddled together and overwhelmed by everyone talking at once as they rush forward to greet me.
“Well, long time no see, Katia!” My father’s voice comes from across the room as my sister hugs me, saying softly in my ear, “It’s so good to see you!”
“It’s been too long.” The voices seem to blend as I imagine turning right around and leaving. Of course I don’t, and instead I plaster a smile on my face, hugging each person in turn.
“Why, you look like you’ve lost so much weight!”
And from my cousin Lyssa, “Who’s the hot guy?”
I’m surrounded by relatives, each one pulling me into one hug after another, telling me how much they love me and how happy they are to see me. I have to once again start chanting to myself, trying to keep my emotions in check. I try to answer every o
ne the best as I can, almost becoming dizzy with confusion from all the questions, and not even knowing who’s talking to me. I think I count ten people in the room, several aunts, uncles and cousins who are around my age. But the last person to come to me is someone I’ve been avoiding just as much as my mother.
“Hello, pumpkin,” Dad says, holding his arms out to me. He’s dressed in grey slacks, matching tie and a white dress shirt. Like my mom, he’s aged quite a bit with his almost fully grey hair and a spider web of wrinkles around his eyes. He worried himself to death over my disappearance. “God, how I’ve missed you.”
Once again, it’s an effort not to just break down and I know if I let out one sob, one sigh even, it’s over for me. I have to keep reminding myself of Isaac’s words. You’re going to perfect for me, kitten. If I can get through this without turning into a complete mess, I know I’ll be rewarded. It’ll make him happy. It’s my job to please him. I cling to that fact, letting it be my strength to pull through, letting it be my armor.
“I’ve missed you too, Dad,” I say, my voice heavy with emotion, but not in danger of cracking as he pulls me into his arms for a fierce bear hug, kissing me multiple times on my cheek and telling me how much he loves me, much in the same way Mom did.
When he’s done showering me with affection, he pulls back and eyes Isaac with slight apprehension, his body language instantly changing and on edge.
He’s definitely not giving Isaac the warm welcome my mother gave, but I understand why. “Who’s this young man?”
I open my mouth to tell him, but Isaac steps forward, extending a hand. “Isaac Rocci, your daughter’s new boyfriend.” Just hearing the word boyfriend come from Isaac’s lips again nearly causes me to swoon. I just can’t get used to thinking about him in that context. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Herrington.” Isaac’s words are smooth and confident as he places a hand on my lower back, sending a subtle but powerful message to my father.
My body tingles with the wave of anxiety. This is something I hadn’t anticipated. I didn’t give any thought to it whatsoever.
My dad seems taken aback by Isaac’s boldness for a moment, his mouth opening and closing several times before he takes Isaac’s hand and shakes it. “It’s a pleasure.” I’m not sure, but I think Dad’s respect for Isaac has gone up several notches, which is surprising. I half expected him to challenge Isaac to a duel right then and there.
“Now,” says Lyssa as she steps forward and playfully pokes me in the arm, “Kat, can you please tell me where you found Isaac?” She shakes her head and pretends to wipe imaginary sweat from her brow. “Because Lord Jesus, please tell me there’s more where he came from.”
My mother snickers, and my aunts erupt with laughter in the corner of the room and even I have to chuckle a little, my face turning red and my mood slightly lifting. Somehow I know one of my crazy aunts put Lyssa up to it.
“So, how did you two meet?” Dad asks as everyone settles in their seats. He’s sitting across from us in a loveseat with Mom, leaning forward with intense interest, his elbows resting on his knees.
“At a business club,” Isaac says easily.
Dad furrows his brow and asks, “A what?”
Isaac nods. “It’s a business club, for young entrepreneurs. It’s a place where likeminded, business-driven individuals can come together and share tips and ideas to help drive sales and success.” Isaac sits back easily in the seat, and I watch him with interest. I’ve never seen him speak like this. It’s different. “I own my own security company, and Katia runs her own business with the dogs. We didn’t have much in common in terms of business needs but I gravitated toward her. She's strong, and smart. Independent.” Isaac smiles at me. “The first time I laid eyes on her, I knew she was something special. But when I heard her speak, the sound of her voice...” Isaac looks at me, rubbing my back and causing warmth to spread up and down my torso. I’m just sitting here awkwardly, blushing like a fiend, and with a stupid look on my face. “...She had me sold.” I almost choke on the irony of his words.
My father sits back in his seat, a look of relief crossing over his face. “Oh, Katia didn’t tell us about all that.”
Isaac nods, and takes my hands in his. “I’m a very lucky man. This has been the most… satisfying relationship that I can ever remember being in. I’m very happy to have found her.” My cheeks burn even hotter, turning a crimson red.
Before we came, I thought I was going to break down and die from crying, but now I think I’m going to die from embarrassment. I’m so not used to being treated this way, much less being complimented in front of my entire family. I just don’t know how to take it all, or how to react. It’s crazy going from being Isaac’s pampered pet/Slave, to pretending to be his new, doting girlfriend. Is that what this is? Pretend? I have to shake off the question as my aunts “aww,” from across the room.
Act normal. Act normal. Act normal, I repeat to myself over and over.
“I’m happy, too,” I add in quickly, shyly. My voice is low compared to Isaac’s. I’m hoping all my blushing just makes my family think I’m nervous to be in front of them with a new boyfriend after so long.
Daddy says to Isaac, “Tell us a little bit more about yourself, Isaac.”
Isaac sits back in his seat. “What would you like to know?”
“Well, where’s your family from? Have you already celebrated the holidays with them?” My father asks the natural question, but I wish he hadn’t.
Isaac pauses, pain flashing in his eyes as he searches for the right words. “I only had my mother, and she passed away when I was younger,” Isaac admits finally, clearing his throat, his deep voice very quiet. Looking at him, a feeling of sadness presses down on my chest. I remember his confession, him telling me how his mother needed help and how he didn’t help her. Tears burn my eyes, but I blink them away rapidly. I didn’t know she’d passed away. I find myself scooting closer to Isaac, wanting to comfort him. Wanting to ask how it happened. My blood feels ice cold. I made it this far through the meeting, I can’t start crying now. I have to be strong. I reach out and grab Isaac’s hand without thinking. It’s not something a Slave should do, but an adoring girlfriend would. And I feel like he needs me.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Isaac,” my mom says, speaking for the first time since we sat down. She turns to me and gives me a sad, small smile and pats my thigh as she says, “I’m happy our Katy cat brought you home for the holidays at least. We expected her not to make it.”
Katy cat. My old nickname. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes again as I remember how I used to run through the hallway of this house, and swing around the banister just a few feet away. Hearing my nickname being yelled by my mom and dad, even my aunts, uncles and cousins.
Before they took me. Before that bastard stole my innocence. Back when I was just Katy cat. Just a girl, getting yelled at for running through the halls. A lump forms in my throat, and I have to continue smothering my feelings.
“Katia, are you alright?” Mom asks, seeing the conflicted expressions cross my face.
God, if I get through this without crying, it will be a fucking miracle.
“It’s just been a long time since you’ve called me that,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
“It’s a cute nickname, Katy cat,” Isaac says, giving me a wink, all traces of his unease and pain gone. He looks so cheerful that I almost forget he was even upset a moment ago, and I’m forced to laugh as I wipe at the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes.
“You know why I called her that?” my father asks. Oh God, here we go. Dad proceeds to tell a story I’ve heard a million times before, of how I kept my cat costume on for nearly two weeks after Halloween one year, refusing to believe I wasn’t a cat. As he goes into detail, I drown out the sound of his voice, a small smile stretching over my face.
It’s a good memory. One that makes my father happy to tell. My mom is smiling in the corner. Happiness overwhelms me.
Isaac gives my hand a squeeze, and I wish I could just crawl into his lap and hold onto him. I rest my cheek on his shoulder and give him a quick kiss, whispering, “Thank you.” I didn’t realize how much I was missing by avoiding my family. How much happiness was still here, waiting for me? How much love was here?
I look back over to Isaac as he chuckles at something my dad says and my heart does a backflip as the strongest feeling that I’ve ever felt surges through me. It frightens me. And it can’t be what I think it is. Isaac is my Master, not my boyfriend. And only for less than thirty days. I need to remember that. I can’t be falling for him. How could I? It’s too fast.
But as I watch him laugh at my father’s joke, I know I’m lying to myself.
Chapter 25
Isaac
The little box is sitting on the edge of the outdoor coffee table. Taunting me. I should know better than to give her a gift and create expectations. I didn’t go out of my way to gift her something for Christmas. After all, I provide her with everything she wants or needs on a daily basis. But it hasn’t been sitting right with me.
I want to spoil her. I want my kitten to be nothing but happy.
The silver wrapping paper is folded perfectly; the edges of the box are sharp with a white ribbon tied neatly on top. It’s picture perfect, and inside is something I think she’ll love.
A bracelet, or an anklet if she’d like. It’s from Pandora, and customizable with trinkets on it. The first is a yellow topaz charm surrounded by small diamonds, for the month of November. It signifies the first time I ever saw her. A little silver dog is the second one I picked, and was the easiest to decide on. She’s told me a few times about Roxy, her dog, passing and I’m hoping this will give her happiness to see it dangling from the bracelet. I picked out a cat as well. I’ll have to tell her it’s because of her nickname, Katy cat. Not that there’s a difference between a cat and a kitten on these little charms, but still. There’s a difference to me.
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