Chapter 18
Tap! Tap!
My eyes jolt open as Arrek flicks his ring too hard against the bars, making my heart quicken. I flinch, then shoot him a glare.
“Don’t give me that look,” he says, his lips curling up ever so slightly.
I push myself up, the furs slipping into my lap. My bottom is still sore, and I shift carefully, watching him open the lock.
Last night’s clothes are in a neat pile outside my cage.
“I come bearing good news,” he says.
He pauses, watching me, making my mind churn, because I’ve got the feeling that good news for him might mean some fresh new humiliation for me.
“You’re going to be able to use the bathroom, take a shower, and get dressed each morning. That’s a privilege you’ve earned for being such a good girl.”
He opens the door, looking me over.
“Maybe something pink and frilly.”
I grit my teeth, biting back an insult.
He only grins.
“Go ahead. Say it and see what it earns you.”
I look down.
“I didn’t think you’d be craving being back over my lap quite this quickly, but I did know you’d be crawling back. Say it. Say what you want to say, and you can feel my hand again.”
Fucking bastard. About half as clever as you think you are. With all the charm of the centipedes that chitter through the cave systems near my old home.
I pull the furs aside and get onto my hands and knees, moving carefully. But no matter how slowly I move, the bells jingle as I crawl through the opening, and he steps back to let me out.
He’s in his battle robe, half his chest exposed, the big slabs of muscle already looking a little more chiseled than when I first came to their estate. He’s been doing about three times the exercise he normally did, by my estimation.
There are many, many things I’d like to say to him, but I keep each one of them behind my teeth, because right now I want the privacy of the bathroom and an endless shower more than I want to say something that’ll only earn me more grief.
“Go ahead, little doggie,” he says.
I swallow the acid of my retort, walking as quickly as I think I can get away with without provoking another infuriating comment from the giant.
Once I’m inside the bathroom, I slide the panel closed, throw my head back, and let out the biggest sigh of relief. Just to be out of their sight. To have something more than bars between us.
Then I clench my fist, remembering how Arrek once barged in during the shower that was supposed to be my time to myself.
I really, really hope he leaves me alone.
I use the bathroom, brush my teeth, and wash my face. I’m going to try to go again after my shower, too. Having to pee in front of them has become about the worst part of my day.
I strip off the pajamas and fold them neatly. The little pink skirt I left on the counter yesterday is nowhere to be seen. Someone took care of it.
Probably Talarin.
I get into the shower, turn on the hot water, and turn my mind off.
I’m not going to be stupid about it and take half an hour, provoking them into putting me on a timer. But until they specify exactly how long I have in here, I’m going to take my damn time.
When I’m done with my morning routine, I dry off and pull the pajamas back on. That seems safe enough.
Then I slide the panel open, slip out, and nearly run straight into Talarin.
I stop with an “Eep!” and slam my mouth shut, hoping that doesn’t count as speaking.
He looks down at me. Then, to my shock, he reaches out, strokes my chin, leans down, and kisses me.
And continues on his way as if nothing happened.
I stand there, stunned, watching him stalk down the hallway with that predatory grace that tells me his mind is already back on training. Soon the sounds of their Orb-Blades will fill the estate.
Rattled, I make my way past the great hall, glad Arrek isn’t there to make some other stupid comment, and head upstairs.
The pink, frilly things in the closet piss me off.
I choose a light green dress.
The makeup is already getting familiar, my hands beginning to remember the movements. I do everything about the same as yesterday, except I choose a soft peach lipstick, deciding it’ll work a little better with the light green.
A few heavy bootsteps make me freeze. I wait, listening to hear whether one of them is coming up the stairs.
Then the blades clash, screaming like hawks.
I sigh and look out the window at the rolling hills of the estate. An hour and a half. That’s all the time I’m going to get outside today, and even then, the walls will still be pinning me in.
I wonder who’s going to walk me. Or whether it’ll be all three of them.
I want to lollygag. To stay here longer than necessary, finding little things to do.
But Arrek already got the truth out of me about exploring downstairs, in that room I really, really try not to think about.
I don’t want him somehow making me admit that I took as much time as I thought I could get away with in the shower and then delayed getting dressed.
I make my way downstairs barefoot.
My cage door is open. There’s no one around.
I look toward the leather chair, wishing I could at least sit there. Just for a couple minutes. I know those three are going to be out there for hours at least…
But all I can do is crawl back into my cage and close the door behind me.
At least I’m allowed clothes in here now.
I cross my legs, my buttocks feeling much less tender than they did before, and fold my arms. My eyes drift toward the stack of books, but even that feels like a privilege now.
My mind is a little sharper than it was last night, when I really should have asked for any other book. Now that I feel like I can think, I want something new.
Well. Any other book except the one written by the most obnoxious bastard on this entire planet.
I sit and wait, because there is nothing, nothing to do.
The blades shriek outside. I glance at the little earpieces Talarin gave me, sitting in their case. They could block out that awful noise.
But it’s a connection to the world.
I get up and pace my cage. Around and around and around, until I know the exact dimensions so well I can do it with my eyes closed.
Which I do.
I listen to the blades meeting and build a picture of their movements: the heavier clashes when Arrek tries to overpower one of the other men with his bulk, Talarin’s quick, darting strikes, the endless parries as the men duel.
The blades stop.
So do I, letting my eyes open, curling myself back into the furs and making myself small as the triad’s footsteps approach.
Talarin and Mero come in, their robes soaked with sweat, their voices sharp as they pass my cage.
“Viper quick. Viper fucking quick, or you’re dead in the Rift.”
Then Arrek is at the door, and the smell of him reaches me. Sweat. That beastly musk.
He snaps his fingers.
I get onto my hands and knees.
“Open your mouth and stick out your tongue.”
I do, watching him through the bars.
He reaches down and grips his thick, meaty cock, looking at me with my tongue out. I’ve obeyed without thought or resistance. Then he cocks his head.
“You can turn around, lift your dress, pull your panties down, and push that sweet little ass of yours against the bars if you want me to lick you again.”
I know he’s got a filthy tongue, but his words still shock me. Spit collects on my tongue as he steps forward, his musky, almost ox-like stink filling my nostrils, his intense gray eyes fixed on me.
“You’re going to get horny sucking my dick. And if you don’t bend yourself over for me, I’m not going to let you come today.”
I close my eyes tight. I just won’t resist. I turn around before I can think, before I can feel any more of that humiliating shame, lifting my dress and pulling my panties down.
I’m not going to deny myself anymore. I’m not going to keep feeling the humiliation of wanting something I won’t give myself.
I arch, presenting myself to him.
Before I can process it, I hear him get down on his knees behind me.
Then his tongue is licking the folds of my sex, up and down, flicking my asshole, down to my clit and back up again.
His hand comes between my legs, playing with my clit as he licks and tongues my tight little hole.
It feels ticklish at first, then wet and filthy as he works his tongue past the resistance.
His thumb slides up my wet slit. Then, to my shock, it presses against my hole. It’s fucking big.
He presses in as he laps at my clit, stretching me. His thumb must be as big as a regular man’s cock, and I don’t pull away. I push back against his tongue as he licks faster and faster, the bells jingling as my body shakes, and I come against his mouth and thumb.
Then he pulls his thumb out, leans back, and snaps his fingers.
My legs still trembling, I turn around. He stands, throwing his sweat-soaked robe to the floor, and his huge, sweaty dick is in front of me, through the bars. I open my mouth and take it. He forces it past my lips, and I don’t fight it, gagging, choking before the pre-cum can soothe me.
I expect him to grab my hair and thrust his hips roughly, using my mouth like a pussy.
But he pulls back until his cock slips out, then shifts forward, pressing his bulk against the bars.
Those grapefruit-sized balls dangle over my face as he lets his cock fall onto my head with a meaty slap.
His musk fills my nostrils, turning me on so much that even though I just came, I want to reach down and play with my clit again.
These orgasms shake through me, but they don’t satisfy me. I know I’m not going to feel whole until I feel him inside me, but I fight that feeling, knowing the bars are protecting me.
Then he pulls back and drives his cock into my throat again. I open my lips, relaxing my throat, just letting it happen as he starts to thrust, grunting with each one, his balls slapping against my chin.
“You’re craving it already, aren’t you, bitch?” he snarls. “You’re going to break before these hundred days are over. You’re going to break, and you’re not going to be able to resist my fat dick stretching out your ass.”