Keep Me: A BDSM Romance

by Bellerose, Cate

  “Here.” He bends, and suddenly I’m floating, lifted into his arms. He’s huge, but I’ve never really appreciated his strength. He carries me like a child, cradling me safely in his arms. A couch or something would’ve been nice, but instead he lowers himself to sit cross legged on the floor, his legs forming a chair for me to sit in while I cling to him, resting my head against his chest and listening to his powerful heartbeat.

  “That was amazing.” My voice is almost a whisper, but even talking feels like effort. “Are you always this intense?”

  He massages my arms gently, but with a firm touch. “Intense? Nah, sometimes I get really serious.”

  I smile. “Silly.”

  He doesn’t answer, but runs his fingers through my hair, petting me. I feel safe. Protected.

  His.

  Chapter 9

  Vivian

  The first thing we see as we emerge from behind the curtains, once again dressed, is Susan storming towards us with a huge smile on her face. “You two were ah-may-zing!” She puts so much exuberance into her words that I’m worried she’ll explode. “That was the most intense demo I’ve witnessed in the history of these retreats.” She fans herself for emphasis. “You two belong together!”

  I shift a little uncomfortably at that. I mean, yeah, I’m attracted to Caleb. There’s no denying that anymore, if I ever did. But how does he feel? Where do we actually stand? We’ve had two smoking scenes, but they’re scenes. It feels forced, somehow, and we haven’t talked about this at all.

  I chew my lip and glance over at him while he talks with Susan. Why shouldn’t we be together? Is that a bad question to ask? I struggle to find a good reason. Would he want to be with me? Sure we have fun, but I screw things up so much it’s practically a hobby. Look at my relationship with Gabriel. Or my jobs. Or almost anything I try to do. He’s wealthy, working a job he loves, hot as hell. What’s could I possibly have to offer a guy like that?

  I look up, realizing Susan just said something and I have no idea what it was. “I’m sorry.” I smile, probably looking as embarrassed as I feel. “I was lost in my own thoughts. Do you mind repeating that?”

  “Oh, I understand. I’m sure a session like that gave you plenty to think about. Golly, that was so intense!” Of all the people I’d expect to be organizing a BDSM retreat, I would have guessed her the least likely. Still, she’s nice and enthusiastic. “I was just telling Caleb here that we have a tradition of having a slave auction—just for fun, of course—the first evening of each retreat. All the money made goes to charity. This year we’re planning on donating it to the Kensington Stray Pet Shelter, since they do so much wonderful work.” She grins slyly. “Win a pet to save a pet. Cute, right? I couldn’t pass up the chance to use that line.” She giggles.

  I blink. “Uh, yeah. I guess. Maybe? What’s involved?”

  “Well, every participating slave gets up on the stage, and the audience may bid on her. Or him, of course.” She wipes her forehead, sweat beading there from both the heat and her excitement. “For the rest of the evening, the slave has to serve her Master in whatever way they see fit.”

  “Anything?”

  “Within the slave’s limits, of course! There are safewords. It’s all meant to be for fun.” She wrings her hands excitedly. “Oh please say you’ll do it. You’re so pretty, and after the scene today, you would bring in top dollar!” She stops for a moment. “Oh dear, please take that the right away. We just want to make as much as possible for the charity, of course.”

  I nod. “Of course.”

  “So what do you say. Are you game? Please say you’re game.”

  She looks at me with her big brown eyes wide like an en excited puppy. If you could consider a fairly squat and broad woman in a floral pattern muumuu even close to a puppy. But, speaking of puppies, it does sound like it’s for a good cause. Why not? I glance at Caleb, and he nods in encouragement. “Sure, Susan, I’d love to.”

  “Oh, thank you! I can’t wait!” She turns so she’s facing both of us. “Well, I have a mountain of paperwork to attend to. A host’s work is never done, it seems. I’ll see you two tonight at the party! Bye!”

  She turns and whirls back out like a floral tornado. I’m beginning to think she storms everywhere.

  Caleb humphs. “So, you’re going up on the auction block, huh?”

  “Yeah. I guess so.” I turn to him with a grin. “Are you going to buy me?”

  He scratches his chin with an exaggerated motion. “Well, I’m not sure, to be honest. I mean, you’re pretty and all, but you can be quite a handful.”

  I bow my head, getting into a submissive stance. “I assure Master that I will be on my best behavior tonight.”

  He laughs, a deep bark of a belly laugh. “Well, that doesn’t sound like much fun. Maybe I’ll buy someone else.”

  “What?” I snap up and whack him one on the arm. “Someone other than me?”

  “See what I mean? You’re just going to be trouble. Abusing your Master!” He steps aside before I can smack him again, then throws me a mysterious smile. “We’ll see how tonight goes. You never know. Anyway, I’m going back to my room for a short rest. I’ll see you later.”

  I yell after him, “If you don’t buy me, you’ll regret it.”

  He puts a hand up in the air and waves, but doesn’t even look back. Cocky bastard. Getting a little shuteye doesn’t sound bad, though. Especially if it’s going to be a late night.

  What does a slave wear to an auction, anyway?

  Chapter 10

  Vivian

  Turns out, a slave doesn’t wear anything at all. Well, I guess underwear, but nothing else. I wasn’t prepared for that. Practically naked except for a collar with a leash, and wrist and ankle cuffs, I have to admit I feel a little uncomfortable up here. But hey, at least I’m not the only one.

  Would be nice if they didn’t put me in the last spot. It’s funny. I can do crazy scenes on the stage and not really think about it, but now that I’m just standing here, and arguably not doing anything nearly as intense, I just can’t find a way to get the butterflies out of my stomach. All I can do is wait and watch the people ahead of me get sold off to the highest bidders.

  The way the bidding’s going, it’s not nearly as exciting as I imagined it might be. Several bids win on the first try. Probably each sub’s dominant buying him or her back, and no one is interested in someone else's property. At least not often. Maybe I won’t get any bids at all.

  Susan’s running the show like she’s been a real auctioneer in a past life. Who knows, maybe in this life. You’d think she’d be disappointed at the lack of bidding wars, but she seems like she’s having a good time no matter what. I can admire that.

  Perhaps she knows what she’s doing. Suddenly bidding kicks up for a handsome guy with a pretty impressive package, at least if his bulge is anything to go by. Maybe he’s unattached, since after a bit of a pregnant early pause, a couple of women and one guy actually get into a bit of a bidding war. Fifty. Hundred. Two-fifty. He finally goes at four hundred and fifty-two. Pretty respectable compared to the low early bids.

  There’s a similar war for the girl after him, a pretty girl who barely looks old enough to be here. Guess I shouldn’t be so cocky. That was me a few years ago. Anyway, I see Susan’s plan, now. The more attractive and unattached slaves come last. People stick around and we end on a high note. Not sure why she put me last, but guess I should be flattered.

  The slave ahead of me, a tall and busty woman with a pretty smile, goes for almost seven hundred. Wow. Seems like Susan’s going to get some money to donate after all. The woman’s led off the stage by her leash, and then it’s my turn.

  I take a deep breath and step forward to the center of the stage. I’ve never felt so exposed, standing here with my hands behind my back and all my goods on display, like a piece of meat. I shiver and wonder who’s going to buy me.

  The bidding begins. Four hundred, almost right away. Four-fifty. Five hundred.
There are three or four voices bidding, though it’s hard to make them out with the spotlight in my face.

  “Six hundred.”

  I know that voice. Mason. I could do worse. At least he’s handsome. I haven’t even seen Caleb yet, so maybe he was serious. I actually kind of figured he’d be here. Not having him around makes me feel more alone, and out of my depth.

  Eight hundred.

  Nine-fifty.

  Nine-seventy-five.

  Nine-eighty.

  The race seems to be down to two people. Mason and someone else I can’t make out in the glare. My eyes meet Mason’s and I almost step back at the intensity of his stare. Okay, that’s a little unnerving. Maybe I don’t want him to win after all. Still, so long as we’re all in here, I should be okay. Right?

  Nine-ninety.

  Nine-ninety-one.

  Nine-ninety-two.

  Nine-ninety-five. Mason bids and the other guy hesitates and looks like he’s deciding. “A thousand.”

  “A thousand and one.” Mason glares at him. For a moment, the other guy seems about to speak, then he shakes his head and sits down. It seems I’m ending up with Mason after all. Just over a thousand.

  A shiver crawls down my spine at the thought. He’s good looking and seems nice enough, but there’s something about him, something I can’t quite put my finger on. He might be fine, but suddenly I’m not thrilled at the idea of being his slave for the night.

  Susan plays it up, the final bidding war on the final item of the night. “Do I hear anyone else? She’s gorgeous, well trained. You all saw her at the demo today. Bet you’ve never seen anyone like her. Am I right? Of course I’m right! Let’s hear some more bids.”

  The hall’s quiet, though. No one’s willing to put up. I sigh, resigning myself to my fate.

  “Alright, nine hundred and ninety-five to Mason. Going once.” She pauses for dramatic effect.

  “Going twice!” She lifts her gavel, ready to make it final.

  “Going...”

  “Ten thousand!”

  What? Ten... You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. And I know that voice too.

  Caleb, you’re crazy. Batshit insane.

  The room buzzes with whispers and voices. No one’s bid anything like that in here. He’s more than doubled the total donation if he wins. I can’t see Caleb through the spotlights, but I glance at Mason to see his reaction.

  He looks mad. He wants to bid more. He’s almost shaking with it, which is a little scary. Too steep? I bet. I’m kind of glad he didn’t win, to be honest. Creepy.

  For once, Susan’s quiet. Speechless. Just standing there, staring at Caleb. Her mouth works like a fish gasping for air, but no sound comes out. Caleb’s turned this whole place on its head. For me.

  Ten fucking thousand dollars. Ten Gs. Grand. Stacks. That’s a lot of money for a night with his demo assistant. What are you up to, Caleb?

  “T—Ten thousand. Do I hear any other bids? A—Anyone?” Susan’s swallow comes over the PA as a dull thump. “Going once. Twice... oh, who am I kidding? Thank you, Caleb. Thank you so much for such a generous donation.” She’s bubbling over, like she can’t believe it. I don’t blame her. I don’t believe it either.

  Susan drops the mic, letting it hit the floor with a loud thump amplified through the speaker system, followed by a painful feedback screech. I break slave protocol by shading my eyes from the spots so I can follow her. She charges down from the stage and throws herself around Caleb’s neck. Tears are streaming down her cheeks. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  I glance back at Mason, whose eyes are shooting daggers at Caleb. With a huff, he turns and leaves the room. What’s his deal anyway?

  Forget about him. Caleb’s coming this way. Crap. I drop my hand to my side quickly, squinting as the bright lights hit my eyes again. His deep voice sends a shiver through me, full of malice. “Out of position? I pay ten thousand dollars, and this slave isn’t even properly trained?”

  Wrapping his hand around my leash, he tugs hard. I squeak as I fall off the stage and right into his arms. He catches me like I weigh nothing, wrapping me in his strong arms. For a second, I rest against his broad chest, my nearly naked body rubbing against his silk dress shirt, then he puts me down on the floor. The stone is cool underneath my feet.

  The last sale complete, the crowd breaks up, flowing around us, heading to the after party in the banquet hall. All the winners need a place to show off their winnings, after all. A steady bass rumble is already worming its way through the castle hallways, like a beacon to the party.

  The other participants seem to understand that we need a moment, since they all move by without talking to us, other than a short, “Grats,” or a pat on Caleb’s shoulder. Even Susan.

  Soon we’re the only ones left in the large chamber. I’m his slave. I’m supposed to be silent until spoken to, but I can’t help it. “Caleb! Ten thousand? Are you insane?”

  He ignores my outburst completely. “Heel.” A single icy syllable, but I scramble into place, behind him and to the right, eyes down. He grunts. “Good. Follow.”

  Giving my leash a soft tug, he guides me out of the auction room. He turns towards the party, but walks slowly, like he’s thinking. Then he speaks, with a hard Dom voice to match his hard Dom face. “I expect your behavior to be exemplary. I just spent a lot of money, and I expect you to be worth every single dollar.”

  I swallow. “Yes, Master.”

  “You will obey me. You will not speak unless spoken to. Tonight you are mine.”

  I shudder. Mine. Something feels so right about that word. I am his. “Yes, Master.”

  “Good. Stop.” He turns to look at me and I freeze right in my tracks. “Let me make sure you are presentable.” He walks around me, circling like a hawk.

  “My slaves don’t hide themselves away.” Suddenly, he undoes the latch on my bra and pushes the flimsy garment off my arms. I maintain my position, but only barely, swallowing down a huge lump in my throat. He’s stripping me naked. To show in front of everyone. I shiver, but whether it’s humiliation or lust, I have no idea.

  With a quick tug, he has my panties down my legs. “Step out.” I obey and he picks them up. With a superior smirk, he tucks them into his pocket along with my bra. “I’ll keep these safe for now.”

  I watch him as he watches me. He’s fully clothed, in black suit pants that cradle his ass tightly and hug his thighs just enough to show the strong muscles underneath. His black leather shoes are polished to a shine. They look expensive. He’s not wearing a jacket, but his white silk shirt is smooth and starched, the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows and the collar open a couple of buttons down his chest. A thin silver chain peeks out in the gap.

  He looks every bit the part of someone who can afford spending ten thousand dollars on me. What I don’t understand is why.

  Meanwhile, I’m only dressed in a collar and cuffs. Even more than when I was on the stage, I’m aware of the contrast between us, emphasizing our differences in station, even if it’s only for the night. Doing my best to maintain my stance, I wait while he examines me.

  His fingers thread into my hair and make a fist. He tugs, forcing me to look upwards towards him. I only have a moment to recognize what’s coming before he leans in to press his lips against mine. His other hand snakes around to the small of my back and pulls me against him, his clothes rough against my bare skin.

  Warmth floods through me, surging from where our lips touch. He takes me, and I part to let him in as our tongues chase each other around in a kiss that makes my stomach drop. Goosebumps cover me, making me tingle.

  My mind’s whirring. I’m trying to figure us out, but how can I think when all I want to do is feel? His strong hands, his needy insistence, his hard mouth. I melt into him. I’ll figure it out later. Right now I’m in the middle of the best kiss of my life, and I’m not going to ruin it by thinking.

  He pulls away with a mischievous smirk, leaving me sucking breath a
nd swallowing deeply. It takes a moment before I lower my head, even though he already let go of my hair, just on the off chance that he’s coming back. A shiver ratchets down my spine.

  “There. Now you look right. Flushed, nipples hard, and breathing heavy. Perfect.” He barks a short laugh and reaches down to give my nipple a quick tug. “My slaves should look like they’re excited to be mine.”

  Excited is right. I draw a sharp breath at his touch, my heart thundering in my chest, and every inch of my body aching to feel his hands on me again.

  He doesn’t give me the pleasure. “I believe we have a party to get to. I’m sure they’ll be awfully upset not to see you after the auction.” Picking up my leash and giving it a quick tug, he heads down the hall, expecting me to follow.

  “Yes, Master.” I follow obediently, still vibrating with the remnants of adrenaline coursing through me.

  The banquet hall is a strange mix of old and modern. Stark stone walls and stained glass windows give a feeling of gravity, but the coolness of air conditioning, the dance of the colored spot lights across the arched ceiling and the deep bass rumble of electronic music put us firmly in our own time.

  The loud chatter of the crowd dies down quickly as soon as we’re spotted. Caleb made one hell of a splash back there. Everyone’s staring, and I want to hide behind his broad body, like back at the wedding.

  He ignores them, and I hurry to follow, unwilling to let his aura of security get too far away from me. The crowd sees all of me. My nakedness, the signs of my excitement, everything. I glance around, and while a few of the other slaves are topless, I’m the only one that’s completely bare. All that keeps me from running away is Caleb’s steadying presence.

  He is my Master.

  He’ll protect me.

  It’s all I need to know, and on some level, this is where I belong. At least tonight.

  Conversations pick back up, and the party goes back to normal, or as normal as a slave party is, I guess. Who defines normal anyway?

  There’s a bar set up on one side, and Caleb leads me right to it. The guy manning it lights up as we approach. “Caleb! Susan told me your drinks are on the house all evening. It’s the least we can do after that donation.”