Page 79 of Silver

I can’t believe Silver is confessing this. It’s so private. I could use that information to help out this other girl. And what about Briana? Does she need help, too?

“You’re probably plotting how to help Bri and Dante’s girl. You can’t, Daphne. It doesn’t work that way. I know you’re angry right now, but you won’t always be. When you calm down, you’ll remember why you’re here. You’re mine because you want to be. You need what I offer you.

“I’ve been furious with Rook for taking my sister, but I’m softening. I get it. She’s masochistic, like you are. She’s happy with him. He gives her what she needs. I’m not simply being a greedy, possessive jackass when I tell you I won’t let you leave me. I literally can’t let you go. And you would be miserable. That’s not just me being cocky. You need me as much as I need you.”

I hate that he’s right. Why must he be right?

“I won’t apologize to you, Daphne, because I’m your Master, and sometimes I will make decisions you won’t agree with. This was one of them. If I think back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Everything that happened led us to this moment. You. Are. Mine. My girl. My slave.”

My breath catches.

“You know it deep inside. We toss that word around a lot, but it’s true. You’re my slave. You will obey me always. You will submit to me always. There’s no on-and-off switch with us. I’m your Master twenty-four seven, and you will accept my decisions as final. Whether you agree with them or not. Yes, I scared the absolute fuck out of you that night. But the end result is that you’re here now. You’re safe. You learned something about yourself that night and in the days and weeks that followed. I shook your world and forced you to see the truth of who you are and what you need. You can’t deny any of it. Do you understand me, precious?”

I lick my lips. “Yes, Sir.”

“There will be times in our lives when you hate my decisions, but you won’t question them. Never again. I won’t use a knife, a ski mask, or the word whore. I burned those with you. But I make no other promises. I will push you to tears at times. I will make you want to shoot me. I will cross lines that should never be crossed. You will accept my decisions or be disciplined. Do I make myself clear?”

I swallow. “Yes, Sir.” A full shudder wracks my body. My pussy clenches as wetness leaks out of me. My heart races at the enormity of this moment. It’s a pivotal point in our relationship. I’m agreeing to be Silver’s slave.

Who would do such a thing? Apparently, me. Apparently, Briana. Perhaps even another freshman who’s being stalked by Dante.

“Good girl. When you’re ready, crawl to me.”

After taking several deep breaths and letting them out slowly, I lift my gaze to find my Master smiling at me. He’s totally calm. Waiting.

I crawl toward him, giving him my submission. When I reach his shins, he pets my head. “Good girl.”

The praise fills my heart in light of everything that’s happened.

Silver holds up the keys. “Unlock this cuff, naughty girl, and then we’ll discuss your punishment.”

Of course he had the keys this entire time. Duh.

I rise onto my knees, take the keys from him, and symbolically unlock the cuff before handing them back. He could have done that at any point, but he didn’t. He let me have my mammoth breakdown. Probably for the best.

I hand the keys to my Master and lower my gaze.

He pets my head again. “Now, the first thing you’re going to do is clean these rooms. You will put every single item back where it belongs. You’ll fold all the clothes and return them to their drawers. Right the chairs. Clean the bathroom. When you’re done, I want these three rooms to be in better shape than they were before your behavior.”

“Yes, Sir.” I’m not surprised.

“When you’re done, I will discipline you. I’m going to do some work at my desk while you clean.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“You may get started.”

I push to standing and turn away from him. My face is heated from the reprimand. I’m embarrassed by my behavior, even though part of me knows I have no reason to be.

As I start cleaning up my mess, I feel lighter. A huge weight has been lifted off me. I feel lighter than I have in months. Perhaps even years. I no longer have to worry about some madman finding me because I live with him. The very asshole who terrorized me is my Master. It’s almost comical. Almost.

I’m where I belong. I’m home. There’s comfort in knowing that even though the future is uncertain. I don’t need to know every detail about what is going to happen. All I need to acknowledge is that it’s not a weight I have to carry. My Master will carry it for me. He will make every decision for me. All I have to do is obey him and accept that what he decides is law.

It takes me almost two hours to put everything right, and by then I feel like I’m me once more. I’m not sure that even makes any sense. But I’ve never known who I was. Now I do. I’m Silver’s slave. I’m free.

I go to him and kneel at his side. “I’ve finished, Sir.”

He turns to face me and pets my head again. Even this gesture doesn’t annoy me anymore. If he wants to treat me like a puppy, that’s his decision. I’m relieved of the need to push back. There’s no sense in disagreeing or arguing with him on this or any issue. It won’t change anything, and it feels much nicer to accept his word as law.