Chapter 37
Charlie
Unsure of what to expect, Vincent and I found a rhythm that worked for us. The following days after Adrian had stayed until after lunch, Vincent easily set up a daily schedule for me, and for him, too, in turn.
I was to be up and making breakfast by seven thirty.
After breakfast, I was to do whatever chores needed to be done.
Such as laundry, dusting, or anything else that Vincent would have written out on the fridge’s calendar.
Depending on the time, I could sit at his feet if I didn’t want to read or write in the notebook afterward.
At lunch, I was to make something for both of us.
After that, I was to either lie down to take a nap or spend an hour outside.
Only after that could I learn what Vincent did in his day-to-day life as an accountant.
I was to learn how to answer the phone and schedule clients when they needed to meet with the Alpha.
That could possibly be added into the mornings after I get the hang of things.
Then, after five, I was to let Vincent make dinner two nights a week, while I took kitchen duty the other five evenings. The Alpha had said something about me needing to have time to myself, even though I still thought he was crazy thinking that.
I would be happy with whatever time I got with Vincent.
Every Sunday was to be a day of rest. No chores, no cooking, no learning. Just a day for me to relax.
I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. I never got time to myself. I wasn’t meant to.
I was an Omega. But as the days passed by, I was starting to question what that really meant.
Vincent was treating me differently from any Alpha had before. It wasn’t quite an equal, but I almost wanted to say that it was close to that. I hadn’t noticed at first, but now, as the days went by, I did.
I didn’t want to like it. Liking something was likely to be taken away. But Vincent wasn’t like that.
He only ever wanted the best for me.
I may be a bit slow on getting that to stick in my brain, though.
It was the first Sunday when I wasn’t required to do anything. Vincent didn’t let me lift a single finger during the first or second meal of the day. Although, for lunch, he did feed me bite after bite as I sat at his feet, basking in whatever attention he wished to give me.
I never saw myself as the type of Omega that sought out touch. I was used to being hurt and taken advantage of. But with Vincent, it was different. He never touched me like the others had. Never demanded I bare myself just to prove I belonged. He never took what I wasn’t ready to give.
Instead, he fed me while I knelt at his feet, without expectation, without performance. His hand would settle in my hair when he passed by, gentle and grounding.
And he listened. Really listened. Not to test me. Not to twist my words. But because he wanted to know what I thought. Like my mind mattered.
Like I mattered.
And it hit me. It was slow, like warmth creeping in after a long freeze.
I was safe.
Not because I’d earned it. Not because I’d performed well enough to deserve it. But because Vincent had decided I was. And for the first time, I didn’t feel like I had to flinch when someone looked at me too long. I didn’t brace for punishment. I didn’t shrink.
I just breathed. And the air didn’t hurt.
“Thank you, Sir.” I hoped that Vincent knew I was thankful for everything he’d given me thus far. It was so much more than I deserved, and so much more than I ever thought I’d get.
I’d never get this at Lockswell. There was never a chance I could have.
“Of course, sweetheart.” In the past few days, that term had dropped more than I could count.
I liked it.
I liked the way the word rolled off his tongue and how it wrapped around me like a hug.
“Tomorrow, we’ll go shopping for food. Make sure you put what you want on the list.”
“Yes, Sir.” I could do that. Maybe,
Speaking up for what I wanted was getting easier, depending on what I was. Food was no problem. But other things, like clothes or books would still be a challenge for quite some time, I was afraid.
“We are going to do something new this afternoon.” Vincent waited until I nodded, my eyes on his face. He hadn’t shaved for a couple of days, so he had a light dusting of facial hair coming in along his chin.
“Earlier today, I laid out three different instruments for us to try together. The items were marked yellow on the lists.” Most play items had been.
“I’m happy to go over the purpose of each one again if need be.
But you are to pick the one you’d like to give a try with today.
Remember, it’s okay to switch to red on any of them, even before trying. ”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I’ll give you a few minutes alone before I come up,” Vincent said, voice steady but gentle. “Take your time. Touch everything. Feel the weight. Explore however you need to.”
“’ Kay, Sir.”
His eyes softened, catching something in me I hadn’t noticed yet. “Go on,” he said. “Five minutes. I’ll finish up in the kitchen.”
Nerves fired through my body. The good kind that made me thrilled to get a say in what was to happen next.
I pushed myself to my feet and made my way upstairs, slow and quiet.
The bedroom I’d been using sat open as I passed. The bed was perfectly made, untouched. Not a wrinkle out of place.
Vincent’s door was open too.
Inside, at the edge of his bed, lay the three items he’d mentioned. His blankets were pulled up, neat but not precise. Not like mine. The corners weren’t tucked in sharply.
It was clean. Comfortable. But not trained. And somehow, that made it feel more real.
The items were neatly placed, the packaging left above them as though Vincent had just bought them this week.
Walking closer, I let my eyes trail over each one, taking in every detail. A dark yellow feather, long and thick, caught my eye first. I let my fingers run along the softness, taking in the way it felt against my skin.
The next item was a blindfold. That I remember was a high yellow, almost red. I didn’t bother to touch it. It was silk, and I already knew that that felt like what clients had wanted me to wear.
The next item was small and black, shaped in a way that tugged at an old memory, like the frog cages we used in school.
I picked it up, letting the weight settle in my hands. It was rubbery to the touch, smooth but not sticky like I’d expected. I don’t know why I’d imagined something metal—like a birdcage, cold and rigid.
This was different.
Softer.
Contained, but not cruel.
Cock cage. The word bounced around in my head as an invisible weight settled on the place where it would rest.
Wouldn’t the rubber be uncomfortable? I didn’t think this was a great fit for full-time use, like Vincent had described.
I heard the Alpha’s steps before he appeared behind me. I turned just enough to peek at him before placing the item back on the bed, nearly in the same spot it had been in before I picked it up.
“Do you have any questions so far?”
I shook my head, my eyes still taking in each item.
Was I ready for any of these to be used on my body? Was it okay to want them, but fear them at the same time?
“Any of them spike your interest?” Vincent moved to stand beside me, hands loosely at his sides.
“Why the feather?” I glanced at him as he picked up the item. He let the feather run over his palm before holding it out to me. I didn’t take it, because it wasn’t the item I wanted to try most.
“It’s a way to show that touch is good. It’s usually an easy go-to for most subs, because it doesn’t cause any sort of pain.”
Made sense.
Vincent placed it back on the bed. “Blindfold. It’s not just used to cut off your sight, but many other things can be done with it.
I can tie it around your neck, like a collar.
Or even around your wrist. It’s not just about being tied down, and I wouldn’t secure you to anything yet.
Not when neither of us knows how you’ll react to something like that. ”
“I don’t think I would react badly.” I hadn’t been tied down by any clients.
I was always willing to do what they wanted.
“Truthfully, for me, if I were to use anything around your neck, it’d be like a leash and collar, or a belt of some sort.
Not to control you and your movements, but to give you peace knowing that I’m right there with you.
I wouldn’t dare leave you alone for a second. ”
I already didn’t want him to leave me alone.
“A blindfold is the best to begin with, though, since you are new to everything here.”
“I think the feather is a no, right now.” I finally said.
“Okay. Shame I can’t tickle you to death today.” I quickly looked up, seeing the humor on his face.
“No tickling.”
“Not on purpose.” He agreed. “So, blind fold or cock cage?”
Could I pick both? Would he let me?
“Why did you pick the cage, Sir?”
“When we were going over the lists, your expression on that was more than enough to at least consider putting it out. You were intrigued.
“I liked the idea of giving you control.”
“Even if you haven’t gotten a boner”
I ducked my head, heat filling my face. I hadn’t said I hadn’t gotten hard. It was just easy to ignore.
“I see.” Vincent hummed. “When was the last time you organized?”
Willingly? Not for a very long time. By a client, it was probably over a month.
“Not sure, Sir. We aren’t allowed to touch ourselves unless a client says we can.”
“I should have thought about that,” Vincent spoke gently. “If you need a release-“
“No!” I spoke too loudly. “No, Sir. I can’t….touch there. I…only an Alpha is permitted.” I could live without whatever pain that came when I could take care of my hardness. Which, really, wasn’t all that bad. This morning had been a challenge, but a cold shower had done the trick.
It’d been so long since I was hard and aching anyway. It was bound to happen every once in a while.