I assumed he’d whip me, so when the cane landed and pain exploded throughout my body, it came as a total surprise. My knees buckled, and I was glad he’d situated me over a steel bar so my hips were supported.
My dick went soft. My screams filled the room, over and over. I couldn’t stop.
While I was still screaming, the cane landed yet again, but not the way one assumes an American will cane someone. No, this was the way it’s done in Singapore — the judicial caning that makes the news when youths from some first-world country get in trouble in the small island nation. I hadn’t warned him against breaking the skin, and he wasn’t worried about it. No, he was intent on making me cry as quickly and efficiently aspossible. Each strike split the skin. The scent of my blood filled the room.
I fought my bonds. I screamed.
And on the ninth, brutal strike, tears streamed from my eyes.
Ajax quickly released me, lifted me, cradled me to his chest like an infant, and walked us to a sofa not far away. I was bleeding, but he wasn’t afraid of vampire blood. He’d dealt with it before. He sat with me and adjusted my head at his throat.
I struck hard and fast. No anesthetizer. No feel-good chemicals. I scented his pain. I saw it in his head. I felt him tense. And then he forced himself to relax. He gifted me with his blood despite the pain. He held me. Cradled me. He was gentle when I was merciless, and after I’d drawn a dozen mouthfuls of his blood into me, I focused on giving him the chemicals of bliss. The vampire wanted his pain, but I could rise above my inner nature and enjoy his pleasure.
He hadn’t brought me to tears in the way I’d expected, but his way was more efficient. Fast, done and over with. Excruciatingly painful, but it did the job. His blood healed me. Soothed me.
And I had questions, because I’d been all through his memories and I’d never seen this done to him.
“Where did you learn this style of punishment?”
“I’d rather not say, Sir.”
“You have memories hidden from me?”
“I asked Abbott to let me hide parts of my slavery.”
Ah, so then I’d need to question my Master about why he’d allowed this. He’d gifted Ajax to me without telling me he’d blocked access to some of the former slave’s history. On second thought, I changed my mind. Abbott had promised this to Ajax. That was all I needed to know.
“I’m sorry you don’t feel you can trust me with this information.”
“It isn’t that, Sir. It’s that I don’t want to be defined by it. I was a slave. You know that. You’ve seen how I was originally broken, and what my daily duties were. I don’t believe you need to understand the portion Abbott helped me put into a box to know who I am.”
“Has it occurred to you that Abbott will feel we’ve bonded when you’re comfortable sharingallof your history with us?”
It hadn’t occurred to him. Abbott had helped him hide it. He’d assumed Abbott was on board with it. He really didn’t understand our Master.
I rubbed his arm and leaned back into him, allowing him to continue caring for me. “Abbott gave you what you wanted because he needs you to feel strong, secure, and independent. When you can feel all of those things even when we know your secrets, we’ll be a family.”
He shook his head, and I decided we could let it drop for the time being. I leaned into him a little more. “Thank you for the gift of your blood, freely given. You mean something to me. You mean a lot to me, actually. You. Not just your blood. I’m glad you’re here.”
He readjusted me in his arms. He’s so big, and Gwen and I are small compared to normal-sized modern-day humans. It doesn’t bother Gwen, but there are times it bothers me. We were born at a time when humans were smaller. In our day, I was tall and she was of average height. I could freeze Ajax with a thought and kill him a second later — his size didn’t give him a tactical advantage, but it certainly gave him a social advantage amongst those who couldn’t sense my power.
“I’m glad I’m here, too. I’m happy you and Gwen have accepted me. Abbott thinks we can be a threesome, instead of me just being your third. I’m not certain that’s possible.”
“In a proper threesome, each couple needs to have their own relationship, plus the group will work as a unit when the threeare together. You and I have bonded, I feel. Do you think you need more time alone with Gwen?”
“I don’t know, Sir.”
He was lying and we both knew it. I let my body send out an irritated scent signature. “Try that again?”
He took two breaths before responding. “I like it when the three of us are together. While I think Gwen and I could benefit from time to bond, I worry about pushing you away so you’re alone while we’re together. It wasn’t a lie. It wasn’t the entire truth, but it wasn’t a lie.”
In my world, if it isn’t the entire truth, it’s dishonest, and that equals a lie. I understood his point, but he needed to understand mine.
“Dishonesty is a lie in my book. I don’t give a shit about technicalities. Either you’re entirely honest or you aren’t.” Time to change the subject. “Brain gave me information that probably requires a trip to Washington. Since Abbott owns Maryland, it’s possible I can stay there and deal with everything without actually entering DC, though I have a feeling I’ll need at least one trip into the Capital. This will give you and Gwen a few days alone.”
“Shouldn’t I go with you? You’ll need a bodyguard. Who’ll watch you during the day?”
He was genuinely concerned for my safety, so I answered that part first. “I’ll be in Maryland during the day. Abbott’s people will be watching over me. I’ll be fine.” He also had concerns about my reaction if he and Gwen got too close while I wasn’t around. “I need you and Gwen to bond, Ajax. You have permission. It’s okay.”
