“Collect me?” I spat the word. “What am I, a piece of jewelry?”“Did you or did you not cash twenty checks, twenty thousand dollars each, for a total amount of four hundred thousand dollars?”I swallowed hard. “Yes, I did.”“Do you have the funds available to repay it?”I shook my head. “I don’t. Not all of it.”“Then you will comply. Now. Please, dress. Your finest lingerie, the blue evening dress, jewelry. Style your hair. Apply makeup.”“Why?”“I am unable to answer any questions.” He stepped closer to the door. “May I come in, please?”“I’m—I’m not dressed.”“I am aware of this. I will pack your belongings while you dress.”“Pack my belongings? Where am I going?”He lifted an eyebrow. “Away.”I swallowed again. “For how long?”“Indefinitely. Now, no more questions. Will you let me in, please.” It was phrased as a question, but it wasn’t. He could easily break down the door—of that I was certain. And he had a pistol. His eyes pierced mine. “Please, Miss Freya. I know this is an unu
I sighed. “Fine.” I closed the door, unlatched the chain, and let Marcus in.He eyed my apartment with open amusement. “I must say, I would have expected you to find yourself a nicer place with the money you’ve received.”“Nothing lasts forever. I had no guarantee the checks would keep coming. I can afford this place on my own. Sort of.”“Wise of you.”Trying to delay things, I asked. “Can I get you anything to drink?”Harris blinked at me. “No. Thank you. We don’t have much time. Get dressed, please.”I went into my bedroom, rifled through my closet until I found the blue dress I had worn to a fundraiser gala with my last boyfriend. It dawned on me that Marcus knew I had a blue dress, and that in itself was terrifying.It wasn’t an expensive dress, but it fit me like a glove, showed off my curves and accentuated my skin and hair. I glanced at Marcus who had my two suitcases—Mom and Dad’s old luggage—on my bed and was packing all of my jeans, yoga pants, skirts, blazers, dresses, and
I dug my phone from my purse and called Kelly.“What’s up, frey? Wanna meet for drinks?”I let out a breath. “I—can’t.”“Why not? What’s up?”I blinked hard. “I’m going away.”“Wh-what? What do you mean? Where? Why? For how long?”“I don’t know, kel. I don’t know. The checks? All that money? I’m about to meet the man who sent them.”“Who is it?” she demanded.“I don’t know. I don’t know anything. A man showed up at my door an hour ago and said he was here to collect me. I’ve been collected, kel”“Does he know you’re calling me? Are you, like, in danger?”I forced myself to breathe calmly. “I don’t—I don’t think so. I don’t really have a choice, but I’m not in danger. Like, I don’t think anyone is going to kill me. I am scared, though. What’s going to happen to me?” I whispered the last part.“freya…Jesus. This would only happen to you.” I heard her breathe, sounding as shaky as I did. “Where are you?”“County International Airport. About to board a fucking massive Gulfstream or someth
The flight was a little over three hours, and then we landed with a gentle bump at a private airfield. I had no idea where we were.I exited the plane and followed marcus to a waiting car, this one a stretch limousine. He held the door for me, closed it, and then slid into the driver’s seat. He said nothing, only waited as someone else loaded my suitcases into the trunk.I’d half expected to see someone sitting in the shadows of the limousine, but there was no one. Only long expanses of black leather, lights, and a radio, and more champagne. I folded my hands on my lap and waited as Marcus drove. It was a long journey, and we got closer to what looked to be New York. We went over the Brooklyn Bridge and into Manhattan. We wove through thick traffic, heading uptown.After almost an hour of driving, high-rises piercing the night sky all around, Marcus pulled the limousine into an underground garage.My heart was hammering as He led me, sans suitcases, to the elevator. The elevator rose
I gulped, probably loud enough for him to hear. “If you won’t tell me your name, what do I call you?”He chuckled, and the sound of his laughter caressed me, mocked me. “You and I are completely alone, Freya. If you speak, it can only be to me. You need call me nothing.”“So I don’t have to call you ‘sir,’ or ‘master’?”His voice went sharp and cold. “I am not a dominant Freya, You are not my slave, nor my submissive.” He moved, now standing behind me. He was close to my ear, and I felt him at my spine. “I own you, but you will submit to me willingly.”“I will?”“You will.”“Why?” I wanted to turn, to touch him, to take the blindfold off. Something prevented me, and I didn’t dare examine what it was.“For the period of one year, I mailed you checks for twenty thousand dollars, one every month. You cashed and used them all. You spent my money, freya. You lived on my generosity. My reasons for this will remain a mystery to you…for now. But you are in my debt. You would have been homeles
You’re very sure of yourself,” I said, trying to sound stronger than I felt. In truth, the raw sincerity and utter surety in his voice shook me to the core. He believed what he said to be nothing but the unquestionable truth.“Yes, I am.” Now his voice was a mere breath of heat on the shell of my ear. “I will make sure you beg me for it.”Holy shit. What was I supposed to say to that? I could barely stand up. The potent mix of emotions this man engendered in me had me trembling, knees knocking. I was turned on, I had to admit. And that scared me. So badly. I didn’t want to want him. I didn’t want to be owned by him. But somehow, with nothing but a few words and touches, he had me aching in ways I’d never thought possible.“See?” His fingertip traced the apple of my cheek, ran beneath the swell of my lower lip. “Already you begin to understand. You’re turned on, freya. I can smell it on you. Your nostrils are flaring. You’re trembling and blushing. You hate it, though, don’t you?”I di
I will send you home. You would sign an ironclad nondisclosure agreement, and you’d be free to go.”“Just like that?” I put all the sarcasm and bitterness I possessed into those three words.“Just like that.”“And I wouldn’t have to repay you?”“No.” He paused for effect. “Except, you wouldn’t receive another dime. And you still have a very long way to go to finish your degree. The jobs you’re trained for right now will never offer the funds necessary for you to take care of your mother and brother. And even if you could stay afloat long enough to finish your degree, and get a job in your field, do you really think a social worker could ever make enough money to pay the kinds of bills you’ve got hanging over your head?”“I’d make it work.”“Yes, freya. I do believe you’d kill yourself trying.” He paused to sip his drink again, and I took another drink as well. “You could take that route. And you might be able to make it work. But…your choices are limited. Very limited. How long do you
“It’s…subjective, I think. The difference in definition varies from person to person.”“Yes, I know. That’s why I’m asking you what you think.”I blinked behind the blindfold, an instinctive reaction to thinking. “Could I…sit down? Please?”“Of course. How rude of me to leave us standing here in the foyer.” He took my hand. “Come.”“Wait…the blindfold…aren’t you going to take it off?” I pulled back against his hand, reached for the fabric covering my eyes.Strong fingers imprisoned my wrist, stopping me gently but firmly. “No. Not yet. Not for a while, I think.”“What? What do you mean, not for a while?” I jerked my hand free, turned to where I thought he was standing.“I mean that I’ll remove the blindfold when I’m ready to do so. I am not yet ready for you to see me. You have four other senses, Kyrie. Focus on those.”“Are you, like, ugly or disfigured or something?”He laughed, and the sound was loud with raw amusement. “How very blunt of you. ” He took my hand once more, and I cou