But no one can know. No one can know I had any other reason for taking Ellie than to make her my slave. Not even Ellie. It would be too dangerous. Make me too vulnerable. Make her a target.
And I can’t let that happen. There’s too much at stake.
I leave Ellie to scream herself to sleep. With the lack of food and earlier outburst, I doubt she’ll last much longer.
SUNLIGHT BECKONS ME AWAKE.
My mouth is dry and my throat is sore. Where am I? Then I remember. The chain clinks as I move. I’m a prisoner. I pull on the collar and fiddle with the lock. Off. I just want it fucking off.
Suddenly the door opens and I instinctively huddle into a ball, naked and completely defenseless.
“Ah, you’re up.” A tall, nice looking man with turquoise eyes and a shock of blond hair saunters toward me. I recoil.
“There, there,” he coos. Pulling on the chain once he reaches the bed. I resist him. “Aren’t you a pretty thing? No wonder Kayne wanted you. Come here.”
“No. Who are you?” I fight him.
“Jett.” He yanks harder, forcing me closer to him. “I’m your keeper.”
“I don’t need a keeper. I need to go home!”
Jett grabs my face, ignoring me. He moves it around like he’s inspecting me.
“Sweetheart, the only place you’re going is into the shower.”
“I took a shower last night,” I say bitterly, recalling the way Kayne manhandled and spanked me.
“It’s time for another. You also need to be groomed.”
“Groomed! I’m not an animal!” I try to snap my head back.
Jett looks into my eyes, clutching my face tighter. “Technically you’re owned, so you’re the equivalent.”
Tears threaten.
“Ellie. I will tell you this once. Cooperate with me or I will tie you down and spank you until you do.”
“Is that my life now? Beating after beating?”
“It doesn’t have to be. But you have to listen and do as Kayne and I say.”
“Do I belong to both of you?” The words slice my tongue as they roll out of my mouth.
“No. You’re just Kayne’s. But I do have the authority to punish you if you don’t behave.” His pretty eyes flash with something dark. Jett looks like he belongs on a beach with a surfboard. But it’s clear he’s no laidback surfer.
“So, what’s it going to be sweet thing? We can be friends or we can be enemies. It’s up to you. Personally, I’d like to be friends. It will make things easier for everyone involved.”
I only stare up at him. I can’t bring myself to submit. It’s not who I am, it’s not who I was raised to be. After a few drawn out moments Jett nods, then pulls out a set of keys from his pocket and unlocks the padlock linking the chain to the collar. I just sit until he tells me to move. At this point I don’t know what else to do. I don’t want to get hurt.
“Bathroom?” he points. I get up and walk into the room. Covering as much of my nakedness as I can.
“Good girl,” he says in a condescending tone as he walks behind me. I hate it. Once in the bathroom, he turns on the shower. “We’ll groom you first, then breakfast.”
“Groom?” I repeat curiously.
“Mmmm hmmm.” He pulls out a table from the linen closet and opens it up.
“What’s that for?”
