"And until then?"
"Until then..." His fingers moved down my neck, wrapping around my throat with firm pressure. "You do everything I tell you to do. You don't leave, not once, or you renounce your right to the money. You are mine. For twenty-four days."
I gasped as his fingers squeezed, making my mouth open and my eyes flutter as I stared up at him.
"So, what do you say, Kitty?" His voice was silky smooth and delicious like aged bourbon. "Will you be my Christmas captive?"
Chapter 6
Grayson
She’d said yes.
I wasn’t sure whether she would. Amicia Romano was certainly different to the other girls before her. She was headstrong, with a will of her own. No one pushed my kitty around, that was for sure. I’d be the only one allowed to do that.
After she signed the papers right there in the limo, I ordered my driver to take us to the penthouse. Kai was still away running some business for me in Florida, and would only return by Christmas, so I was running short on manpower. I had a lot of work to attend to over the next week, therefore my new toy would have to learn how to be patient.
“This is where you live?” her mouth gaped open as we pulled up in front of the building. “It looks like something out of a film…” She tapped the brick wall to make sure it was real, making me chuckle.
“It’s all too real, Kitty,” I told her. “Now come. We have a lot of work to do before I have to return to work.” I held out an arm for her, and after a moment’s thought, she linked it with hers, following me into the building.
If Amicia thought the outside was impressive, the interior was sure to shock her. I was greeted by my last name by a bellboy waiting for us. He quickly gathered himself when he saw Amicia, giving her a polite nod. She stared open-mouthed as I led her to the lift. The building was decorated in art-deco style, with gorgeous glass and silver and gold accents everywhere.
The elevator took us right to the penthouse, and once the doors clicked open, I invited my new kitty inside to show her the place.
“This is the salon,” I said, showing her the expansive space. “Where I greet guests. The kitchen, the dining room. This is the study. Here is the master bedroom. Down that hallway are two guest bedrooms and my home study.”
“And behind here?” She knocked on a white door, making me smile. “What’s behind this door?”
“That, my dear, is for me to know, and for you yet to discover.” I gently took her hand in mine, leading her away from the door while she flushed. She knew what was behind that door, I knew it. But she was too shy to mention it again as I showed her to the terrace next.
I had a large wooden patio where loungers were set out when it was warm enough, overlooking the London city skyline. Now, the area was closed off, though the hot tub would still be a nice treat to enjoy on a gorgeous wintry night when the stars were out above my favorite city in the world.
By the time we returned to the salon, a group of people had gathered, and I introduced them to Amicia one by one. Sonia, the hairdresser, Neil, the makeup man, Dalia and Marigold, the seamstresses. Amicia gave me a questioning look as I ordered them all to take care of her and make her presentable.
“Am I not presentable now?” she asked, and I could hear the hint of upset in her voice. “Don’t I look nice enough already?”
I approached her, my hands on her shoulders as I looked deep into her blue eyes. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. But I want you to sparkle even brighter. And I have just the thing in mind.”
She gave me a doubtful look but didn’t object as the team got to work. With an affectionate smile, I let them get to work while I retreated to my home office, telling Amicia I had a surprise waiting for her late at night. For the rest of the day, I busied myself with some important business, the knowledge that she was being pampered mere feet away filling me with quiet, pleasant warmth. Already, she’d managed to find her way into my heart. I was thinking about her as I worked, my thoughts spinning in circles around the gorgeous brunette that had submitted to me so freely.
I finished work hours later, hoping the team had worked their magic and that Amicia felt as pampered as she deserved to. I’d told my maid to ask her to wait in the expansive living room with a gorgeous view of the city, where I’d have a special delivery waiting for her.
As I made my way out of my office, a grin was playing on my lips—one I couldn’t possibly fight off. Amicia may have been a new toy, but she’d already gotten me more excited than the last few before her. I wanted to own her. I wanted to see her submit to me, break down for me and kneel for me. I had a feeling her submission would be beautiful; something I’d treasure for the rest of my life.
She was standing with her back toward me as I made my way into the living room. Kitty was wearing a floor length, bias-cut red silk dress that wrapped around her curves in a way that made my mouth water. As she turned around, my eyes fixated on her hard nipples poking through the fabric, before going up to her perfectly made-up face.
“Kitty,” I said softly. “You’re a vision.” I approached her, sensing her trepidation as I leaned forward to kiss her cheek. But she didn’t object, not saying a word as my lips lingered against her skin. “Are you ready for your special surprise?”
“Yes.” She gave me a fearful smile. The poor little thing was scared.
“Don’t fear me,” I said, tucking a strand of her bouncy curls behind the shell of her ear. “Don’t fear me yet, Kitty. I’ll take care of you.”
She nodded; her eyes glued to mine as I clicked my fingers. The doors of the living room opened, and two men walked in carrying an enormous Christmas tree. Amicia gasped at the sight of it, then clapped her hands together in excitement, a giddy smile on her lips.
“I thought it would make it feel more like Christmas,” I said with an indulgent smile. “And as a special treat, I thought we’d decorate it together.”
Amicia smiled. It was an oddly intimate thing, to decorate the tree, just the two of us. But for the next hour or so, we carefully picked out the ornaments I’d ordered from an expensive boutique in town and arranged them around the tree. The smell of pine needles was thick and heady, a Christmas-scented candle burning in the background while we worked. I’d even put on some Christmas tunes, and the atmosphere was charged with tension as we worked in companionable silence.
I couldn’t help but watch Kitty work her hardest to make the tree as beautiful as she possibly could. She arranged the lights and ornaments with great care, handling them with capable hands that never trembled. We were down to the star which went on top, and as she held the glittering, gilded ornament in her hands, I wrapped my arms around her waist and lifted her up so she could place it on the top of the tree.
My movement surprised her, her cheeks flushing a dark red. She didn’t say anything, merely placed the star in its place to the sound of Holy Night playing on my surround-sound system, before I carefully allowed her body to slide down, pressed firmly against mine.
I could tell she was excited. Her perky nipples were straining against the silk of her dress, eager to be touched, sucked, and pinched. But I made no move to do it. I needed to earn her trust, first.
I pretended the moment hadn’t happened, leaving her to her own thoughts as we finished clearing up the boxes. The tree looked magnificent in its splendor, and for the first time in years, I found myself genuinely excited about the upcoming holiday.
“I’ll be doing some work in my home office now,” I told Amicia, her eyes following me as I made my way across the room. Was I imagining the longing in her gaze? “Should you need anything, Florian is available to you.”
“What about you?” Amicia asked.
“I’m not to be disturbed.”
With those words, I left her alone in the expanse of the living room, smirking to myself. I knew how to play my cards right to keep her interested. Now, she’d be wondering what I was doing, eager to spend more time in my company. But I wouldn’t allow
her to have it, not just yet.
Chapter 7
Grayson
I planned for a seamstress to come to the penthouse, and my pet was fitted for a new wardrobe. Over the course of the next few days, her closet was filled with expensive designer pieces. Every day, she looked more radiant. Over the course of the first week, her transformation from a street urchin into a sophisticated woman was finalized, and even I was impressed by the results.
The first week passed peacefully, without any incidents. Initially, I’d thought Amicia would fight her captivity, resist me. But I knew what I was doing—after all, this wasn’t my first time. I purposefully kept my hands off her, restraining myself even though all I’d wanted to do was to bury my cock deep with the silkiness of her pussy.
I set up a regimen for Amicia. I controlled what she ate, when she exercised. I knew of her every move in the apartment, making it my business to transform her into the perfect pet for me. Her obedience was a welcome surprise. It was as if she’d been waiting for someone to do this for her—take away any semblance of control and guide her through her life as a submissive.
I didn’t touch her for a long time. I left her mostly to her own devices, not prying into what she did. She never asked to leave the penthouse. She had access to my private pool and gym in the building, and she used it with gusto, going for a swim once per day, and to work out once every other day. Florian had told me she was also using the sauna, and I’d scheduled a massage for her after her workout on the sixth day. She’d left a sweet thank you note for me through the maid, pleasing me more than she knew.
It was the seventh night of December when I decided to pay my pretty captive a visit. The guest bedroom was quiet at midnight as I stood in the doorframe, watching my Kitty sleep. Her chest was rising and falling rhythmically. She didn’t suspect I was watching her, sleeping peacefully while my eyes drank in her slumbering form. She truly was breathtaking, even like this, natural and more exposed than ever. Her silk sheer nightie had ridden up, exposing inches of her tanned thighs and a sliver of the pussy I so craved to taste. But I needed to bide my time. To wait until she was ripe.
She hadn’t tried to make the guest bedroom her own, but then again, she hadn’t brought anything with her. The room was devoid of personal touches, but her presence in it made it beautiful.
Amicia stirred in her sleep, muttering my name which made me chuckle. At the sound of it, her eyes flew open, and she awoke with a soft sigh on her full lips. I kneeled next to her, my fingers ghosting over her cheek while she slowly came to.
“What is it?” she whispered. “Is something the matter?”
“No,” I reassured her. “I thought it was about time I paid you a little visit, Kitty.”
“Oh…” I witnessed goosebumps erupting over her skin, her tanned complexion flush with embarrassment. “Isn’t it late?”
“Midnight,” I confirmed. “I just got done with my work for the week.”
“Okay,” she said, sitting up straight in the bed, her eyes hungrily finding mine. “What do you want to do?”
“Well,” I smirked. “I thought it was about time I tested out my new toy. Don’t you think, Kitty?”
“Y-Yes,” she stuttered. She painted on a confident face, but deep down, my toy was still scared of me, and I was the sick bastard who loved it.
“Good,” I muttered. “We’re going to test your patience tonight. I want to know you won’t come without my permission.”
She blanched, withdrawing her gaze as she dug her teeth into her lower lip. “Why wouldn’t you let me?”
“Because I want you on edge. I want you begging for it, and I want to deny you again and again.”
“Why?”
“Because,” I said firmly. “It will please me. And that’s the only reason you need, Kitty. You will not come until I allow it. And if you’re good, there will be a special treat in it for you.”
***
Amicia was proving to be a good houseguest, but there was still a lesson I had to teach her.
While she hadn't misbehaved me directly, she didn't exactly see me as an authority figure, either. And I was determined to change that. To show her that while she was staying with me for the duration of her contract, she'd obey me and do exactly as she was told. I didn't have patience for misbehaving and I had no intention of allowing her to treat me with disrespect, which made my next move necessary.
After dinner that night, I told her to wait for me in the guest bedroom. From her nervous behavior, I could tell she was afraid, and when she slipped by calling me by my first name at dinner, I realized her upcoming education was more than warranted.
I knocked on the door of her bedroom twice, and she timidly called out for me to enter.
She was sitting on the foot of the bed, fearfully raising her eyes to mine once I entered the room.
"Hello, Kitty," I spoke up. "We have an important evening ahead of us today."
"Oh?" She cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean by-"
"Lesson one," I went on, disregarding her interruption. "You don't address me as Grayson, or anything other than Sir. Especially when we're in the presence of others. It's a sign of respect I don't just expect from you. It's mandatory. Understood?"
Something passed over her pretty face and she set her lips into a line, finally giving me a reluctant nod.
"Good, I'm glad you understand," I smirked at her. "The second lesson. You will always treat me with respect. That does not just involve addressing me properly. I want you to be a good girl and respect me with everything you do. No talking back. No mouthing off. You treat me like your superior, because until December twenty-fifth, that's who I am."
She looked as if she was about to argue, but her lips remained pressed together. She was learning fast, which could only bode well for our future. I would make her kneel for me. I would make her beg for me. I would make her the most perfect toy for me, whatever the price.
"Tell me you'll be a good Kitty for me," I said next. "Repeat it."
"I'll be a good Kitty," she muttered, gorgeous eyes shooting daggers at me. She didn't like this. Didn't enjoy the thought of being below me. But I relished her reluctance. It would only make it that much sweeter when she finally bent the knee for me.
"Good girl. Next, for your third lesson," I went on. "You break either of those two rules, you're out of here, and I won't pay you anything."
She pursed her lips even more. Her annoyance amused me, and I fought to keep the smile off my face as she said, "I thought you wanted to get to know me better."
"Oh, darling, don't fool yourself into thinking I picked you because of your sparkling personality," I laughed, the sadist in me enjoying seeing her face fall even more. "I picked you because of your pretty face and your gorgeous body. The fact that you can dance is a nice bonus. But I don't care for your feisty streak and the way you're so damn eager to defy me. I'll get you broken in soon enough, though, but it's imperative you understand I won't accept anything but perfect obedience. Understood?"
Biting her lower lip, Amicia nodded.
"I'm going to need to hear you say it."
"Understood," she muttered.
"Understood, what?" I demanded. "What did I tell you to call me, Kitty?"
"Sir."
"So say it properly. Don't make me lose my patience."
She sighed, running her fingers through her mass of dark hair as she finally muttered, "I understand, Sir."
"Now, I'm not going to warn you again," I went on, pleased with her level of submission already. Either she was really desperate for that money, or she was too afraid of standing up to me, knowing a punishment would be coming her way if she didn't obey. "You need to remember what I just told you for the duration of your stay. If you disappoint me, I will punish you. And my punishments aren't something you'll easily forget, so I'd suggest you stay on your best behavior."
"I understand, Sir," she repeated. I enjoyed seeing my requests hadn't made the spark in her eyes go
out. I could tell she was already planning how to twirl me around her little finger, which amused me. I was in control. I wasn't going to let her spin my mind into circles as I was sure she'd done with men before. While she stayed in my home, she'd obey.
"Good girl," I said proudly. "As long as you remember your manners around me and company, we won't have a problem at all. You'll be paid as arranged."
Her eyes sparkled at the mention of money. I wondered why it was so important to her, vowing to myself to get the reason out of her sooner rather than later, if only to sate my own curiosity. I left her room then, but the fall of her shoulders didn't escape me right before I closed the door. Amicia was disappointed.
Did she want me to touch her? Was she already consumed by the desire to feel my hands on her?
I couldn't know for certain, but I did know I was already overwhelmed with the desire to make her submit.
When she would, I'd known she was mine forever. Something told me Amicia didn't kneel for just any man, which would only make the moment sweeter in my mind.
With a smirk, I closed the door of my own bedroom behind me. Soon enough, she'd join me in this room. Soon enough, she'd be more than just my Christmas captive...
Chapter 8
Amicia
It was late at night when the knock came. I was already in bed, tossing and turning as I wondered why Grayson hadn't come to me yet. All my senses were on high alert, and at first, I was convinced the knock was on my bedroom door.
"Yes?" I called out tentatively, pulling myself up into a sitting position. But no answer came. I shuffled my feet to the ground, bare skin touching the hardwood floors as I padded toward the door. "Who's there?"
Still, no answer. I wrapped a soft knitted cardigan around my body, teeth chattering as I made my way out of the room. The hallway was cold and quiet, but there was light at the end of it, where the front door was.
"Grayson?" I furrowed my brows and kept walking. The soft sound of voices drifted to me then, one Grayson's, the other a woman's. I felt chills go down my spine, knowing right away something was happening I wouldn't like one bit. I walked to the end of the hallway and finally saw them. Grayson, with his hand on the doorframe, preventing her from entering. She was beautiful despite her smeared makeup and the obvious fact that she'd been crying, and my stomach twisted into a thousand knots when I saw them together.
Christmas Captive: A Holiday Romance Page 6
