It was all coming to an end and there was nothing Caleb could do to prevent the inevitable. There was nothing he could do unless he was prepared to surrender everything he knew, perhaps even his very life. Caleb had struggled too long and fought too hard to survive. Forfeiting now was unacceptable.
Caleb opened the door slowly and entered Kitten’s room. He noticed immediately she hadn’t turned on her nightlight which was uncharacteristic of her and made the room unusually dark. He took a moment to adjust to the dark though he didn’t really need it. He’d been in her room enough times to have memorized the layout. He came close to the bed and heard Kitten breathing. For a moment he thought about leaving the room and letting her sleep in peace, but he steadied himself – it had to be now.
He opened the curtains and let the moonlight come spilling into the room and onto her sleeping form. He studied her intently and noticed her eyes were red and puffy. Her body was wrapped around one pillow and her hair lay across another, the comforter pulled up to her chin. He reached out and touched her hair. Kitten sighed fretfully and buried herself deeper in her blanket.
“Be gentle,” she’d said, as he’d looked into her eyes earlier. He lifted a corner of the comforter and encountered her naked shoulder and a little lower, her bare back and ribs.
“If only I could be,” he whispered into the dark, certain she couldn’t hear him. He threw back her blanket and lust tugged sharp in his belly.
Kitten woke, startled and naked, before she sat up and covered herself with a pillow. “What’s going on?” She rubbed her eyes.
“Come with me,” he said with enough bravado to let her know he was in no mood for protests. She hesitated for only a moment, then cast the pillow aside and stood in front of him with a questioning expression. He looked into her eyes steadily and saw the questions disappear as she looked toward her feet.
“Come on,” he said and walked to the door with her trailing close behind. They walked down the hallway in silence, which was both better and worse, Caleb thought. He glanced back expecting to see her eyes wandering, but she seemed more preoccupied with her own shivering.
“Are you cold?” he asked. He stepped down the stairs.
“A little, Master,” she replied smoothly. He stopped for a moment, surprised at her address, then continued walking.
“You won’t be for long.”
Caleb didn’t relish the idea of pushing Kitten away for good. It didn’t give him any satisfaction to know she would soon come to hate him with such fervor as to annihilate any warm sentiments she may or may not harbor toward him. He didn’t like knowing Felipe, and possibly Celia, had been watching her, watching them, since they arrived. Without exception, he loathed the thought of her being sold to Vladek Rostrovich. Regardless, he had spent the day trying to make peace with each of those things.
As he descended the stairs, he could hear Kitten’s naked feet slapping against the marble behind him. He glanced back and watched her breasts bounce as she took each step. If there was anything left to be excited about, it was the guilty pleasure of still having time to spend with Kitten. Even if, the time would be spent torturing her with pleasure or pain…or perhaps, because of it.
Caleb’s tastes, while narrowing toward a specific person, had not changed. He still liked power and control. He still liked tasting Kitten’s tears and forcing her to ache for pleasure she’d first said she didn’t want. In short, he was still the sick fuck he’d always been and he was going to enjoy every minute of what he had waiting in the dungeon downstairs. He’d been sure to sweep for cameras.
As he reached the bottom of the steps he turned and waited for Kitten. “Stop looking around and hurry up,” Caleb prodded.
Kitten’s gaze met his for a fleeting moment before she covered her breasts with her hands and took the last few steps at a brisk pace. As she stood in front of Caleb, he could see how much she trembled.
Caleb turned quickly and made his way toward his destination with Kitten close on his heels. Finally, he approached the heavy wooden door that would lead them down into what had previously been a wine cellar, but was now a dungeon designed for far more interesting pursuits. He begrudgingly had to give it to Felipe – the man had an impressive imagination.
“Give me your hand,” he said to Kitten. It felt cold and clammy to the touch, but Caleb didn’t mention it as he delved into the darkness below. He carefully placed each step and guided Kitten along. A few more steps and Caleb reached for the light switch. The light flickered as it came on and bathed the stairs in a soft yellow glow.
Kitten’s trembling became intense and she gripped his hand. Though Caleb tugged gently, she wouldn’t move any further down the stairs. She seemed incapable of moving, such was the nature of her apprehension. Nonetheless, there was no begging. No crying. Her fear was obvious, but her courage more so.
Without another word, Caleb turned and placed her over his shoulder. Kitten gasped, but didn’t otherwise protest. She held on to him tightly as he descended the stairs backward.
“This used to be the wine cellar,” he said softly against the curve of her hip. Her body shook again, but this time it had nothing to do with the cold. All around her were restraints, and pain inflicting instruments. In the center of the room stood a large leather clad table with ominous metal parts attached.
Caleb sighed headily. Though he didn’t much like the reason he was doing this at this particular moment, he knew it was something he was still going to enjoy. Even now, he grew hard as she pulled her weight up and managed to wrap herself around him tightly. He was sure she hoped he wouldn’t do what he was about to do. He lifted her legs and had her wrap them around his waist as he brought her down from his shoulder and into his arms. He took a moment to revel in the clean, wet smell of her hair, the feel of her warm breasts pressed against his chest, and her pussy hugged firmly against his belly.
“The first thing you should know,” he said softly into her hair, “is obedience is expected, and will be forced if necessary.” He slid one of his hands down her back and over the curve of her behind until he reached the lightly parted lips of her pussy. She gasped and froze in his arms. “And despite how I torment you, I always find a way to make you feel good.” He rubbed her gently, coaxing her shy clit to swell beneath his fingers. “Don’t I?” She nodded, but gripped him tighter. “Do you trust me?” She shook her head.
Caleb sighed. “I guess you’ll learn to.”
He walked to the table and laid her down, his body held firmly to hers as she silently refused to let go. Her eyes misted over with tears and the fear crouched within them was unmistakable.
“Trust me,” Caleb said. He reached behind his neck and gently pried her arms away to hold them in his right hand close to her chest. “I know you think I haven’t given you a reason to trust me, but I’ve never really hurt you if you think about it.”
“Caleb…please,” she whispered.
Caleb knew she hadn’t meant to speak. He watched as she shook her head and closed her eyes. Perhaps she was waiting for his anger, Caleb knew she had a right to expect it, but he wasn’t angry. He was much too excited for anger. Too surprised at how good it felt to have her call him by his name again. Even if on the heels of realization, was the reminder it couldn’t last between them. Their time together was short.
“Put your legs in the stirrups – and don’t use my name again,” Caleb said. He ignored the hurt in Kitten’s eyes. He ignored the hurt in his chest.
Abruptly he stepped back, looking on authoritatively as she sat up and crossed her arms over her nakedness. She eyed the metal attachments curiously, and then placed her legs in the stirrups without flinching. A roaring silence filled the room as he watched her studying him. She sat on the edge of the table with her thighs and legs spread apart in the stirrups and her arms set stiffly behind her for support – Caleb could just imagine what she was thinking.