Slave Love

I. 1

"I am dissatisfied, slave." A leather whip sliced through the stolid aura of the dark room and cut into the flesh in the center of her back.2

Alyssa winced. "I'm sorry, Master. What more may I do for you?"3

A harsh slap across the face silenced her quickly, and she hung her head.4

"Nothing you do will satisfy," he snapped.5

She knew this game. She must continue to beg for his satisfaction.6

"Please, Master." Her voice was quiet and shaky. "Let me please you. I promise I will."7

He pondered this entreaty, pacing the room. Every stride made her uneasy; she had never belonged to such an unpredictable master, and she dreaded the worst.8

Finally, he stopped in front of her. Roughly seizing her chin, he gave his command:9

"Suck me dry, slave."10

This was her chance. As he sat down on the edge of the bed, she eased her head between his thighs and began to do the one thing she knew she was good at. Hungrily taking his entire length down her throat, she began to swirl her tongue over his skin in patterns that she knew would make her master convulse in pleasure. Within seconds, he was bucking his hips, grasping clumps of her hair in attempts to control her. Without warning, he came, shooting streams of hot liquid down her throat. She swallowed greedily, surfaced for air, and went right back down for more; she knew her master would be pleased that he did not have to command her.11

And he was. He signaled his approval by letting her hair go; this allowed her to press her flushed cheeks against his pelvis. He gasped with satisfaction as she relentlessly sucked; she began to hum softly as his face twisted and he shot once more inside of her. By then, it was almost too much for him, but he wanted one more. Alyssa felt a force from behind her head, and her face was once again buried in his skin. Her Master was not letting her go; she was afraid she would choke, but not now, no, she couldn't give the slightest indication of wanting to turn away. Desperately, she contracted her throat muscles in an attempt to get the third orgasm going. Tense, relaxed. Tense, relaxed. Tense...12

Suddenly he began fucking her mouth with reckless abandon, holding her head at the sides with his rough, strong hands, hollering in nonsensical syllables that the whole mansion could hear. Even Mistress, thought Alyssa, but there was no time to worry about her, it was Master that concerned her at the moment-- at this notion, she pumped her mouth around his flailing cock and maintained to keep her lips wrapped around him as he came for a third time.13

In a rather unexpected and unorthodox moment of weakness, he dropped to his knees, puffing. "Slave," he began breathlessly, "you have done exceptionally well."14

Despite the odd circumstances of the compliment, Alyssa felt herself blushing. "Thank you."15

He was still out of breath. "Tonight you shall stay in the Room of the Angels," he decreed, as if he were offering Alyssa a piece of the sky, as if this room was some gate to Heaven. She scoffed at the silly thought. Heaven in the house of a Dom, she thought. Heaven in the house of a Boley. Yeah right.16

17

II. 18

She was led unceremoniously into a room furnished with four canopy beds and a stereo, and thrust onto the bed on the far left.19

"Consider yourself lucky," he said gruffly. "I usually only grant permission to stay in this room to new slaves, and those who far exceed my expectations."20

Yes, she remembered the first night she had been at the Master's mansion. It was she and another new slave, Brielle, and the Master's then-pet, Lisa, who had stayed in the room that night. Since then, Brielle had been broken in and Lisa had disobeyed his command, earning herself a trip to the basement cell and losing the simple comfort of this humble room.21

"Yes, my master," she quietly replied, bowing her head. "I appreciate your kindness and generous hospitality. A slave like me does not deserve such comforts."22

He replied with a short, sharp acknowledgement and marched out of the room.23

Sighing, she flopped over on her stomach. Goddamn Boleys, since when did bondage and domination become part of a political plan? She turned again, thought of the maids in the kitchens, of the screams of Marie the young, silent, Resistant-party cook as Master took her in the kitchens on cold tile. 24

The meal that night had been bad. And he had yelled at her for it, what's worse. Don't you know what medium-rare means, you wench? He had picked up the steak in disgust with his fork, as if he were holding a dead animal at the end. This is fucking burnt to a crisp.25

You wouldn't have raped me, I'd have had time to cook your dead carcass the way you like it, she'd responded plainly. (Marie was a vegetarian, besides). And of course, not more than an hour later, she was chained to the Master's bed, getting pounded into for all she was worth.26

And yet this was the way, this was normal. All things taboo were socially acceptable in the Bolvren society. Anyone in the Boley army was allowed their pick of women. Any woman, married or not, young or old, was fair game-- the only ones off limits were those claimed by a higher-up. It wasn't uncommon for generals to have whole harems full of women, just like the emperors of old. And now, the hot trend was for domination. All the Generals and Colonels got together with their wives and had cocktail parties, delicious daiquiris with a twist of slave trade.27

That first god-awful party, she sighed, remembering. She'd been plucked off the street by a bumbling, pudgy, red-faced Colonel. Those first two weeks had been nothing but hell. All she could think of was her lover back at home, and for that, she was always wet and ready for the graying Colonel. In time, she taught herself control, imagining nothing but salt licks, desert plains, and aching thirst-- anything to keep her dry. She sometimes even focused on the withering face of the Colonel, holding back her vomit, praying to God that he would be displeased and she would be thrown, unceremoniously yet gloriously, back into the street from which she was kidnapped. 28

Displeased he was, but he had no intention of giving freedom back to her. Alyssa was a pretty young thing, nineteen, with glossy jet-black hair and gleaming eyes. Her hands were small and dainty, and her skin was like buttermilk: soft, smooth, fragrant. Perfect merchandise. Yes, he decided at last, he would sell her.29

He brought her, then, to General Worsley's estate on the hillside, for General and Madame's second gathering. Many potential buyers mooned over the girl, delighting in the sensuality of her curves, the suggestion of her cherry lips. One certain Major Williamson went as far as to request a sample. He inspected her from top to bottom-- stripping her down, softly-- dare she fancy lovingly?-- running his hands over her skin, gently squeezing her breasts to test their firmness, kneeling to spread open her lips and dip his tongue inside for a quick taste.30

How much for her, the Major had asked hopefully. 31

The Colonel had smiled impishly, for he did not care for the fact that Majors were allowed to attend. Give me your slave Celia and ten thousand cash, and we shall call it a deal.32

33

But I haven't that much, the Major protested. I will give you Celia and five thousand.34

Celia and ten thousand, repeated the old man. Celia and ten thousand or nothing.35

But you don't like her yourself, old man, you don't! I've heard the stories travel 'round, General Maines told me himself-- she won't get wet for you. Look at her now. She's dripping for me.36

37

Alyssa knew this. She could feel her self-control vanishing-- did she have any in the first place, she wondered for a fleeting second, while under the control of others? But she knew something in this young, clean-shaven Major with olive skin was making her swoon. Perhaps it was just the proposition of belonging to someone other than the portly Colonel. Or perhaps, just perhaps, there was a bit of kindness in this Boley serviceman. 38

She never did get to find out. The Major was sent away, a frown sketched onto his thin lips, and a square-shouldered General marched through the door. One flick of the nipple, one phrase-- breasts need to be bigger than D cups-- and a speedy exit. Next, another General, this one freckled and gangly. He took one look at her, smoothed out his carrot-sunrise hair, and turned to the Colonel. "Give you twenty thousand for this one, old boy." 39

A smile spread across the windburned lips, and they shook hands-- within hours, the cash was in the Colonel's hands and Alyssa was in the car with General Baldwin.40

Four months she spent at Master Pock-Mark's abode, doing what he liked her to do best-- use her mouth to get him off. He didn't even try to get inside of her until three and a half months in.41

What took you so long, she demanded of him. Am I that disgusting?42

43

He averted the question. Strip for me and let me tie you down. He was nervous. 44

Fine, you gap-toothed bastard. I'll make you not want me. And she focused again, focused on his wretched face and the salt flats, and stayed dry. It took him precisely five days to decide he wanted to get rid of her.45

And that's when she was traded to her current Master. He was a General like the last, but unlike the last, her attempts to go dry had not stopped him. He didn't care-- he went right ahead, dry or not. She thought of the day she arrived in the Room of the Angels.46

You'll sleep well tonight, he promised. But be ready for me in the morning. And don't try any of your tricks. I have plenty of Astroglide and no mercy. With an evil smirk, he strode out of the room and locked the door behind him. And he had kept his promise-- her first morning with her new Master, she lay in chains for eighteen straight hours. When her Master wasn't inside of her, one of the slave men was ordered to "keep her busy." 47

She hadn't been able to walk for days after. 48

Now she was exalted. She was lying on one of the beds reserved for special slaves. And what the hell is that? Longingly, she looked at the stereo. After a moment's consideration, she switched it on and searched for a good station. Bolvren News Daily, the classical channel, War Reports, Buck Owens singing something about... oh, who gives a shit. She snapped the radio off and sat down with a huff. I suppose they've banned all good music, she groused.49

Almost without her noticing, lyrics and a rhythm seeped into her brain. One by one, letter by letter, beat by beat-- almost like a mosaic. And before long she was singing to herself. "Keep wishing if you want me, keep dreaming if you need me..." She began humming the melody involuntarily.50

Rain tapped against the cold windowpane of the Room of the Angels, and Alyssa flicked on the lightswitch. Dim light filled the room.51

"Hold on now if you love me, hold on, babe, if you love me..." Automatically she dusted off the top of the stereo with her shirt sleeve; then, realizing the whole thing was covered, knelt in front of it and began cleaning in between all the buttons.52

"Keep hoping if you want me, keep praying if you need me..." The white sleeve of her ratted out shirt was quickly becoming gray. She did not care.53

"Hold on now if you love me, hold on babe, if you..."54

A sneeze interrupted the last line of her song, and it jolted her into new thoughts. That song. That band. That boy. 55

Oh, Evan. She sighed, dropping into a sitting position, her knees curled up to her chest. Why can't you be one of these generals that wants to own me? For a moment she fancied Evan, green frames and blue sweater and all, in the outfit of the young Major. But you've probably escaped. A sigh. The last image in her mind before falling asleep was a fantasy of a local garage band boy in Boley rags come to save her.56

III. 57

Alyssa awoke the next morning to fierce rays of sunlight poking at her face from the savagely uncurtained window. At first, she used the flannel sheet as a shield, but as the light heated the fabric, it was no use. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and yawned heavily, wiping tears and sleep from her tired eyes. She had hardly gained total consciousness when Maude, the matron in charge of caring for the female slaves, barged in and addressed the girl.58

"Get up," she commanded ungraciously. "You're a mess."59

And indeed she was, Alyssa in her dirty white rags opposite Maude's neatly pressed plum skirt and blush-pink apron. "What's the deal?" Alyssa asked dryly. "Don't you know I'm a special slave until the Master orders otherwise, Brunhilde?"60

The slaves' favorite nickname for Maude; Maude's pet peeve. "Snot," she snarled. "Get you off to the shower."61

"What's the occasion?"62

"Party tonight, brat. You just might be up for sale." She threw a scathing smirk in the girl's direction and marched, one sensible shoe after another, out of the room.63

Alyssa felt all the moxie sink right through her veins and drip out through her fingertips. Another damned trade? How often are they going to start having these things? She pulled on her socks and padded down the hall in her stocking feet, passing priceless Monets and Van Goghs in ornate gold frames on the way to the washroom. She grabbed a towel and a bar of soap and marched into the steamy room; undressed, chose a shower stall, and shut the mottled glass door, trying to remember as much about Evan as she could.64

She'd first noticed him at college, when she was having computer troubles. On the verge of smashing her laptop, she went to the consultant desk for help, and encountered him. He proved to be a genius, fixing the problem in no time flat. Besides, he was cute as hell-- messy brown hair, a great smile, and the most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen. After that, she kept creating reasons to go up to the desk and ask him questions. He must have known, but she was too shy to let on. And he was too shy to tell her he knew.65

Later on in the semester, she'd heard he was going to be performing on Jane's Java with his band. She went with a few of her choir friends to watch, and after seeing him play guitar, she knew she had totally fallen for him. He was perfect.66

But where was he now? 67

A few hours later, she was ready-- hair, makeup, red silk kimono. General Gardner keeps distinguished slaves, Maude always said. Must be up to standards. Must make the General proud.68

"Fuck the general," she said, right to Maude's face. A few of the other girls snickered involuntarily, trying to hide their amusement at her little rebellion. Instead of the outburst they were all expecting, Maude just smirked.69

"You have."70

She stared at her matron for a split second, then spat at her feet and muttered a curse in French.71

Maude grabbed her by the arm, her long dusty rose fingernails cutting into her skin. "If you're not sold, I'll see to it you're punished tonight," she hissed threateningly. "You'll be numb and he'll keep going until you can't feel the pain. You know he likes that. You know how it feels in the morning. Don't push it."72

Alyssa responded with silence, letting Maude march her down the hallway to the dining room. Her shoes clicked sharply on the matte tile floor, jolting Alyssa with every step.73

Staccato stilettos, she thought, involuntarily beginning a poem in her head. 74

"Heads up, girls." Maude, standing at the front of the line, quickly inspected each girl, fixing a strand of hair here, a sash there. "They are ready for you."75

For a fleeting second, Alyssa had a vision of Maude training these girls to be geisha instead of preparing them to be led through a room like blue-ribbon dog show winners. Somehow, it was a bit of both.76

Once Maude was satisfied with their appearances, she processed into the dining hall with the air of a proud mother.77

"Bitch," came a hiss from behind her, punctuated by another girl's crying.78

Alyssa turned to see Brielle desperately trying to dam up her eyes with her index fingers. "Brielle?"79

She sniffled. "They're selling either me or Brian tonight." 80

"What?" 81

"They know we're attracted to each other." Dabbing at her eyes, she seemed to have gained a bit of composure, accented with a good streak of rage. "Fuckers... if they're going to keep us as their toys, can't they at least let us have a little happiness?"82

She gave Brielle a hug. "Don't worry. Maybe you'll end up in another house together someday."83

"Isn't it pathetic," Brielle said with a half-smile, "that our hope lies in being in another whorehouse?"84

Lisa gave a half-snort. She had salmon-colored rope burns on her wrists. "There is no hope." She caught the eye of Maude, who was glowering menacingly at the little circle. "You're up, Treasure."85

Alyssa shot a glare at Lisa for the jest and carried herself into the dining hall with as much dignity as a slave on display can possess.86

This trade was darker than some of the parties she'd been showed at before. A black iron cage holding five slaves stood in the back of the room under the careful watch of two red-and-black clad guards. One slave, a petite blonde girl who looked about her own age, was curled up at her Master's feet, a black-and-silver spiked collar around her neck, the leash attached and in her Master's hand. A shapely brunette knelt at the side of General Worsley, clad in tight red vinyl.87

"Our first slave up for sale or trade tonight is Alyssa of General and Madame Gardner's house," announced the sharp-featured man in a pressed tuxedo who was serving as an emcee of sorts. She bowed elegantly, punctuating his sentence. "She is well-trained in many sexual arts; her main area of expertise is fellatio. Anyone wishing to acquire Alyssa should speak with General Gardner following the dinner."88

She obediently followed a servant to the slaves' dining area, where she sat cross-legged on a mat and waited for her rice and vegetables. One by one, the other women of the harem joined her, all aloof, all nearly expressionless. Our faces are so vacant, she thought, as she daintily placed a water chestnut into her mouth. They're not our own.89

90

After dinner, Alyssa's Master and Mistress brought over a square-chinned, broad-shouldered Colonel and his wife. "Is this the girl you were interested in, Colonel Wilson?" asked the General in a congenial tone.91

"Yes," the Colonel replied. "We're actually looking to trade a pair." He regarded his wife. "Darling, which were you looking at?"92

The Colonel's wife, a pretty thing dressed up in all purple, pointed to Brian. "The dark-haired one, there, in the green."93

General Gardner motioned to Brian-- he obediently scurried up to the small group and bowed respectfully. 94

"Madame, would you like to see what he is capable of?"95

She blushed. "I would, thank you." 96

Alyssa caught a glimpse of Brielle furiously glaring at the General as Madame led Brian to one of the small curtained rooms in the back.97

"Which slaves are you offering for trade?" Mistress asked the Colonel.98

The Colonel nodded at his guards, who unlocked the cage and escorted two masked slaves to the circle. "These."99

"Oh, the masks won't do," said the General's wife airily. "May we remove them?"100

He nodded, and she unmasked the two. Alyssa watched this with some interest. The first slave was a girl in her mid-twenties with brassy red hair and a curvy figure. And the second... she gasped as the thin black fabric was removed from his face.101

It was Evan.102

IV. 103

Her eyes lit up-- she couldn't believe it! Here was the face of her dreams, the dreams of both her previous life and the hell she was living in now. Before her stood hope embodied. The words of the Colonel's wife drifted in and out of her ears.104

"He is very obedient, quiet, and cooperative," she was saying enthusiastically to Alyssa's Mistress. "One of the best I've ever had."105

Alyssa set her gaze on Evan. He was the same height as she was, skinny, with the curly hair she remembered and loved. His head was bowed in sort of a permanent respect; his eyes were hidden from her, blocked by both the green frames he still wore and the position of his head.106

"Why are you eager to get rid of him?" inquired the Mistress, a hint of suspicion in her voice.107

She waved her hand in the air. "Something new. I like change."108

The General's wife lifted Evan's head by the chin, forcing him to look into her eyes. "Well," she sighed with the air of one not expecting too much, "may as well see what you've got." She led him to one of the rooms in the back. Alyssa watched them go, jealous of her Mistress-- yet she wanted her to be pleased, only because she wanted Evan to join the house. She allowed the Colonel to lead her to a bed, hardly caring about the violation. Indifferently, she laid herself out like a rag doll and allowed him to survey her curves, untie her kimono, and slip inside with no resistance. She was wet, and the Colonel enjoyed his ride thoroughly. 109

"You please me, slave," the Colonel growled brusquely. "Perhaps I shall take you home with me. I know how your Master is... I know how unrelenting he is. I have heard from other slaves that were previously of this house. But frankly, what I'm looking for is a slave who can give me good head. And I hear you are exceptionally good at it." He pushed her off the bed and laid down. "If you can get me hard and bring me to climax again, I will take you with me. I am less cruel."110

At first, Alyssa was overjoyed. Escaping General Gardner was a dream come true, and the Colonel didn't seem to be as bad. But from the moans and squeals coming from the next room over, it was almost a sure thing that Evan would be coming to the Gardner house. And for that, Alyssa was glad to put up with the overbearing general.111

Delicately, she crawled over him, straddling his muscular legs, and enveloped his half-withered cock in her mouth. In moments, she had him hard again, and came off to see what she was dealing with. Easy enough to slide down my throat and milk. But not today. And she proceeded to deliver the worst performance of her life, using too much of her teeth, ignoring all the sensitive areas that she was so familiar with, leaving her tongue flat and her vocal cords silent. 112

After what seemed like years, the Colonel pushed her head away. "And that's what they say you're famous for?" he spat, frowning. "Quite frankly, I am unimpressed. A slave must have better technique than that. If I owned you, you would be punished and taught. However, after that, I shall not be purchasing you." He jerked the curtain open and escorted her back into the hall.113

General Gardner was emerging from another room, seemingly satisfied with the redhead's skill. His wife was flushed; obviously she had underestimated Evan's sexual prowess. The Colonel's wife, coming out with Brian, had a pleased smile drawn on her lips. The only displeased one seemed to be Colonel Wilson. 114

"Have you any others?" grumbled the Colonel, shoving Alyssa ungraciously back to the General.115

"She did not satisfy?" General Gardner was confused.116

"No," answered the Colonel. "Too much tooth."117

The General furrowed his brow and called for Lisa-- she and the Colonel disappeared behind a curtain.118

"Were you pleased with Brian, Celeste?" 119

"Quite," replied the Colonel's wife. "And you, with Evan?"120

"Very much so."121

"Then it seems our husbands have only to decide."122

General Gardner smiled, a rare occurrence. "Emily was more than satisfactory."123

As they chatted, Alyssa's eyes strayed back to Evan. His robin's-wing hair was mussed, his eyes flickering back and forth like a hummingbird. For a moment, they rested on her, and she felt her heart rate accelerate-- she offered him a small smile, trying to push every last feeling into the slight curvature of her lips, a handpainted dialect. Evan blinked back at her, seemingly confused at first-- finally, he replied with the briefest and tiniest of smiles, and glanced away again.124

We're going to have to learn to speak through expression, Alyssa thought.125

She tried again, willing him to look at her. Eventually, he glanced at her, and in her round, shining eyes, he saw something: caring. Caring and some sort of affirmation, some sort of promise that he couldn't quite place. He knew, just by her eyes, that something within her was reaching out to him. And suddenly, he wasn't so afraid to come to the Gardners' anymore.126

The Colonel emerged then, escorting Lisa by the arm. "This one pleases me," he told Alyssa's Master. 127

"Shall we trade, then?" Already, the General was holding Emily possessively.128

"I say so," the Colonel replied.129

Madame Wilson and Madame Gardner nodded emphatically, and the deal was finalized. 130

General Gardner, looking hungrily between Alyssa and his new property, licked his lips. "If you'll all excuse me." Roughly, he seized Emily and Alyssa by their arms and led them away. Alyssa looked over her shoulder at Evan-- her Mistress was leading him away as well, and her heart gave way. The Devil take the Gardners, she fumed. They've no right to force us like this. And right before she turned the corner, Evan lifted his eyes to her, doing his very best to give her the same reassurance. 131

You'll be okay, he thought, straining to sort out his mind. You'll be fine.132

V. 133

General Gardner's eyes were those of a madman as he roughly threw the girls on the bed. "Now," he began with a greedy smile, "I've finally got two slaves who have pleased me. It will be interesting to see what they can do together, non?"134

Alyssa and Emily chanted their response in unison. "Yes, Master."135

He went to his closet and produced two leather harnesses adorned with silver rings. He grabbed Emily, tore off her black robes, and yanked the contraption over her body. Seizing her hands, he forced them behind her back and handcuffed them together. He forced her into a kneeling position, then chose a chain from his collection and attached it to the ring in the middle of her torso, fastening her to the wall. Finally, he put a blindfold over her eyes, put a collar on her and attached a leash. Satisfied with his first bondage, he stripped Alyssa and fitted her into a harness. He found a chain for every ring and fastened them with swift fingers, fixing her tight and flat against the wall, her arms spread wide above her head. Then he found leg cuffs, forced her legs apart and fastened them to the rings in the wall, making sure she was completely immobilized. At last, he added a gag and a blindfold. She was just a doll now.136

His eyes were wild, his lust obvious as the bulge in his pants kept growing. Now that he was pleased with the positions of his slaves, he removed his dress suit, laying it neatly on the bed. Ten inches stared Emily in the face. 137

"One wet pussy and one tight ass," their Master growled. "Which to fuck first?"138

The wait was the terrible part. Alyssa, try as she might, could not make herself dry. She futilely searched her brain for images of things that would dry up the stream that was flowing inside of her, but nothing could erase those eyes. Nothing could make her forget that Evan was here. She wanted him more than anything. And for that, she was dripping wet-- just the way her Master liked it.139

Suddenly, she felt the shock as her Master's giant cock rammed into her waiting pussy. His eyes flew open. Alyssa had never lost control before-- he had never felt her this wet. All she could think about as he took control of her, as he harshly kneaded her breasts, as he mercilessly slammed her, were those eyes. It'll be okay, he was saying. She wanted to run, she wanted to break the chains and snap the harness and run, but there was no hope of that. She was property, and Evan was a floor away getting violated by an Amazon woman.140

Alyssa's Master was insatiable. He moved in and out of her so fast, so unrelentingly, so hard, that she was shivering from an orgasm before she knew it. But her Master was nowhere near gratification and so he kept pounding her into the cold wall, until she was sent reeling into a second and third climax. Still, he hadn't released, so he pulled out of Alyssa and thrusted into Emily. Emily cried out, slightly fighting the invasion, but to no avail-- the General pulled her collar taut and slammed into her ass with such force that Alyssa could hear skin slapping against skin. Her Master groaned as he came explosively inside of Emily. Satisfied, he pulled out, panting heavily. He untied Alyssa's blindfold. 141

"Slave, do you see how well she takes it?"142

Still gagged, she could not speak, so she merely nodded.143

"Can you take it that well?"144

She closed her eyes, imagining what her Mistress was doing to Evan right now. At least he wouldn't have to spend the night in the dungeon... it was his first night, he would be allowed to stay in the Room of the Angels...145

The realization struck her like a beautiful, strong piano chord. 146

"Brmph," she murmured around her gag.147

Her Master removed it. "What did you say, slave?"148

"Better."149

Skeptically, he raised an eyebrow. "Is that a promise?"150

Something caught in her throat. "I'll do anything you wish me to do, Master. My purpose is to please you."151

His eyes gleamed urgently, and he tore Alyssa down from the wall, forcing her down on her hands and knees. He unchained Emily and ordered her to clean him off. She did, using one of the pre-moistened towels he kept in his room.152

"Suck, bitch," he demanded of Emily, which she obediently did, making him hard again within a matter of minutes. When he was ready, he pulled out of her mouth with a jerk, handed her a bottle of lubricant, and commanded her to put it on him.153

"Why does she get lubricant when I got none?" Emily asked before opening the bottle.154

The General slapped her harshly across the face. "Slave bitch," he spat. "You have no room to ask me such questions. Now put it on." He slapped her again. "Now!"155

Frightened, she applied a liberal amount and shrank back into the corner as their Master slammed recklessly into Alyssa's ass, making her wince. She was not ready for this, who was she kidding? She braced herself, averting her thoughts away from the pain. He pulled out of her suddenly, and shoved her toward the wall. Pulled her up by the hair and told her to put her arms out. She braced herself, hands pressed to the wall, as he fiercely took hold of her breasts and propelled himself even deeper inside of her. Harder, he went, and fiercer, and on until she was almost ready to let herself fall to the ground... but she didn't. She didn't. Her eyes shut tight, a tear forming in the corner of her right one, a scream threatening to let loose, and just as she was about to break, he let loose and filled her up.156

Shaking, she fell over onto the floor. Don't let all this be for nothing, she willed her Master. Hopefully, she watched him rise to make his decree.157

He spoke first to Emily. "As a new member of my harem, you are automatically granted leave to stay in the Room of the Angels tonight."158

Emily bowed. "Thank you, my Master."159

Then he looked to Alyssa. "You are always ready to please me, and tonight you went beyond once again. You also will be allowed to stay in the Room tonight."160

She let out the breath she'd been holding. "Oh, bless you. Thank you, gracious Master." 161

As she got to her feet to take the walk to the Room, she realized that the thanks she'd just given her Master were the first genuine thanks she had given anyone in months.162

She was going to see Evan tonight.163

VI. 164

Karla, one of Maude's assistants, led Alyssa and Emily through passages and corridors to the Room of the Angels. Inside, Alyssa was singing with everything-- their footsteps, the jingle of Karla's keys as she unlocked the door, the steady timpani beating loudly against her ribcage. The honey-stained door swung open, and all of Alyssa's anticipation culminated in a rush of--165

Disappointment. There was no one else in the room, just four empty canopy beds and a white tulle curtain swaying in the cool night air.166

Sighing, Alyssa made her way to the bed nearest the window and dropped her head onto the pillow. The moon was round and bright outside, a glowing stone in the forlorn night sky. She closed her eyes briefly. Mistress Amazon must still have him, she thought mockingly. Nothing to do but wait until he gets here. Settling into a comfortable position, she pulled the down comforter around her shoulders and forced her eyes to stay open. Time passed, and her eyelids grew heavier-- no! She had to stay awake.167

Sitting up in bed, she saw that Emily wasn't sleeping either.168

"Do you mind if I turn on the radio?" Alyssa asked her. "I won't put it on too loud."169

Emily sleepily turned to face her. "Huh? Yeah, that's fine. Music helps me go to sleep easier. I was gonna turn it on but I didn't wanna disturb you." She was slurring her words in her fatigue.170

"Thanks." Alyssa slipped out of bed, padded over to the radio, and found the classical channel. They were playing selections from twentieth-century musicals-- "All That Jazz" from Chicago was the current selection, and she found herself wondering how they could play something so controversial as she drew the comforter back around her. "Surrey With the Fringe On Top" from Oklahoma and "One Song Glory" from RENT floated past her ears. Still she was drifting, so she sat up in bed once again and stared out the window. Absently, she began singing along quietly with the radio.171

"Why live life from dream to dream and dread the day when dreaming ends?" The hauntingly sad musical ascent from "Moulin Rouge" wound itself around her heart, and longing carried her voice. "One day I'll fly away, leave all this to yesterday... why live life from dream to dream and dread the day when dreaming ends?" She sighed, realizing the truth of the words. "One day I'll fly away..."172

She heard a sniffle then, and snapped her head around to see Evan curled up in the bed next to hers. His face was buried in the pillow, and he was crying. 173

Automatically she tossed off the covers and gingerly sat on the edge of his mattress. "Are you okay?"174

Evan wordlessly shook his head.175

"Do you want to talk?"176

He shook his head, but sat up anyway, trying to quell his tears. 177

Alyssa couldn't stand to see him like this. "What's wrong?" she asked.178

"I saw you in the Hall," he began, avoiding the question. "You looked familiar."179

We can start this way, she thought. "You're Evan. I'm Alyssa. We went to college together." She managed a tiny smile. "I was the girl with all the annoying computer problems."180

A sniffle. "You watched me with concern."181

"I was concerned for you," she admitted truthfully. "You looked fragile." Realizing that she may have sounded insulting, she immediately tried to take it back. "I didn't mean--"182

"No. I am fragile." He filled his lungs with the air of a shaky breath. "Very much fragile."183

She placed a hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong?"184

He looked up at her with sad, melancholy eyes, brimming with tears, and that was all it took. Instinctively, Alyssa wrapped her arms tightly around him, cupped the back of his head in her right hand. "Oh, Evan."185

Her sudden embrace made him break down inside, and he wept in her arms. "When our city was taken over, I fled, and I was taken in by a wealthy family outside of Minneapolis. As they spread, the family got kicked out of their house by a General and his family, but I stayed on as the cook. The General's wife was a vegetarian, and I always loved to cook, so I taught myself how to make dishes that would suit her taste. It wasn't bad for awhile. But when they joined that God-awful slave trade... I was used as trade bait and ended up with a house in Wisconsin. The Mistress of the house ignored my pleas... none of it mattered. She wanted my sex and that was all that mattered to her. Of course, I had no choice-- when I fought her, she called in two other slaves, and they held me as she had her way..."186

Alyssa felt the sleeve of her shirt becoming wet with Evan's tears. She continued to hold him, moving her hand in soothing circles on his back.187

"And that was it," he lamented sadly. "All my morals shot down the drain with some sort of kinky political oppression. I've given up."188

She didn't know what to say. "Don't give up," she found herself whispering. "Keep your faith close. I know that without it, I would have gone crazy already. Maybe... maybe I'm just silly... but I still believe that I can escape this. I still believe that someday, in some faraway place, I'll have a family. I'll have a job. I'll have a husband that I can come home to and sex won't be scary." She backed away slightly and gently dried the tears from his eyes. "Maybe the same thing is waiting for you somewhere, Evan."189

He sniffled. "Except I'll have a wife," he managed, with a weak smile.190

Alyssa laughed. "Of course." She let go of him, holding her hands in her lap.191

Evan looked back at her. "Would you... would you just hold me for a little while?" His face was bright red. "It... made me feel comforted."192

"Of course," she said, and put her arms back around him, feeling her heart melt. 193

They stayed that way, silent, close, for what seemed like only fleeting minutes. But when Alyssa saw the clock on the stereo, she gasped. 194

"Evan, we better get to sleep... it's two in the morning."195

He started. "It's two already? Man... it feels like it's only been a few seconds..." He trailed off, casting his gaze aside, then carefully back up at Alyssa.196

Alyssa looked into his eyes. "Yes, it does."197

"You have a very calming effect on me," he told her plainly, something that wasn't normal for his shy personality. "I felt... really safe in your arms."198

"These past few hours have been the most at home and human I've felt in years," she admitted, "if that makes any sense at all."199

He nodded. "It does."200

"Maybe," Alyssa suggested timidly, "we could fall asleep holding each other?"201

"One of the other slaves told me that there is a matron who comes into the Room every morning and wakes us up."202

Maude. Damn that bitch. "There is an alarm on the stereo that we can set," Alyssa pointed out. "Maude always comes in at 10:00. We can get up and I can jump back into my bed. They'll never know." She was longing to hold him longer, to fall asleep in those arms.203

He pondered this for the briefest of moments. "Okay," he agreed. "I think we need each other tonight."204

Alyssa reached for the remote and set the alarm, then crawled under the covers with Evan. They turned to face each other and wrapped their arms around each other, sharing warmth, comfort, and something else-- something beneath the surface, something that both of them could feel yet couldn't identify. But in each other's arms, they were safe. 205

They were home.206

VII. 207

"Do it."208

"No."209

The night had passed, Evan and Alyssa had awakened in time to escape Maude's suspicions. Evan had been immediately taken to the Mistress' quarters, Alyssa to the dungeon-- and now she was being stubborn. A few slaves had stripped Emily and were holding her down, while another couple were trying to force Alyssa down on her. 210

She had been expecting this-- it was common practice for the other slaves to torment the ones who got to stay in the Room of the Angels. Never had she understood why. We're all in this together, she thought, as Emily's pungent scent wafted toward her nostrils. So why the hell do they insist on building walls?211

"Eat her, bitch."212

Alyssa sighed. Might as well. She plunged her tongue between Emily's folds and began to lick her the best way she knew how. Wrapping her lips tightly around Emily's clit, she strummed it with her tongue, making a soft humming sound with her lips.213

Emily's eyes shook and she let out a tiny moan. Jason, one of the slaves holding Emily, decided to spare a hand to push down his pants and began to get himself off. After only a few seconds of seeing this, the other man-- Alex-- growled and straddled Emily, lowering himself into her mouth, forcing her to suck on him. Jason, unable to maintain, pulled a pretty West-coast blonde to his pelvis who eagerly swallowed his length-- another one of the men took the opportunity to use the blonde's position to his advantage and entered her from behind. Of course, one of the men holding Alyssa was inspired by this, and tore her pants off so he could slam into her from behind as well.214

Alyssa yelped and whirled around. "What the fuck? You don't have the right to do that... you're not a Master!" She tried pushing him away, but he grabbed her torso forcefully and rammed her harder. 215

Tears sprung to her eyes. "Dammit, stop! Please..."216

No mercy. He reached up to smack her in the face and just kept going. Another one crawled beneath her and thrust himself into the last open canal she had left. 217

"Stop... oh, God... please! Don't... no... no..." Her eyes shut tight as she felt her head being propelled back in the direction of Emily's pussy.218

And then-- cackling laughter. Alyssa turned to see Maude with Evan in tow. 219

"I'll let you have your fun," she crowed, delighting in Alyssa's misery. She turned to Evan. "Why don't you join in?" And with a metallic creak, Evan was tossed into the cell.220

Immediately, he ran to pry Bryant off of Alyssa. 221

"Get the hell off me, twerp," he spat, pushing at Evan.222

"Get off of her and I'll leave you alone."223

"What the fuck are you gonna do?"224

Evan shrugged, then pulled him back by the collar and punched him square in the nose. He followed that up by dragging the guy underneath Alyssa out by his feet, and threatening the others who still held her down with a menacing glare. They let her go, and he took her in his arms to a corner of the dungeon.225

She sniffled, and he wiped the tears from her eyes. "Are you okay?"226

"I..." A pause. His eyes were large and mournful, showing his concern. "I'm fine," she whispered.227

Still, he held her, and she felt a warmth surge through her, the same warmth she'd felt when they fell asleep together. Emotions were poking at her calloused heart. Something was there, something that she desperately wanted, but that logic was telling her couldn't happen. Push it out of your mind, Alyssa. Just push it away. 228

"Is something the matter? Are you sure you're alright?" 229

That gaze... oh God, this can't be happening...230

231

She nodded her head, on the verge of tears, and closed her eyes.232

VIII. 233

Doesn't it ever stop?234

235

Alyssa had been dragged from the dungeon, still sleeping, in the early hours of the evening, and cast into her Master's room. As she laid in wait on the king-size bed, she made a defiant vow. "I will not allow that bastard to climax tonight," she spat out loud. "I know I can keep myself dry. He'll have to use someone else tonight."236

She didn't know how right she was.237

He marched in, too horny to bother with tying her down. "You know what will happen if you don't cooperate," he told her viciously, nodding at the whip on the bedside table.238

Alyssa only nodded. She could act like she was giving him her all. With feigned eagerness, she spread her legs and waited for the invasion.239

Sahara desert, record high of 125, dry heat... so dry my breath is being taken away. Sand swirling in my eyes, in my ears, wind. Dry wind.240

241

He positioned himself at her opening and forced himself inside her.242

Towels fresh from the dryer. Static-cling sheets. The smell of laundry.243

244

His lips thinned into a frown-- he pulled out and pushed in again.245

Alyssa took a breath. The space heater from my old house. A dehumidifier. Eighty-degree choking heat.246

247

Suddenly, she felt a slap. "Why aren't you wet, bitch?"248

"I'm sorry, Master. I don't know why I am so dry tonight."249

"I'm going to fuck you, slave, dry or not. Have you any suggestions on how to make that pussy wet?"250

She was feeling rebellious. "Lick me," she told him. "Lick me until I orgasm. It always makes me soaking, dripping wet."251

This earned her another hard slap. "I do not eat pussy," he snarled. But there was a glint in his eye. "Perhaps I shall just have another slave do my work." He threw a blanket over her, turned, and strode out of the room.252

Oh great, Alyssa thought. Emily. Why is it that guys find girl-on-girl action so hot? I don't understand... I never have...253

But when he came back through the double doors, he was with someone who was very much not Emily.254

"Evan," she whispered, barely audible.255

Their Master shoved him toward the bed. "Eat her, slave. Lick her until she comes."256

"Yes, Master." He slowly approached the bed, carefully watching Alyssa's eyes, almost as if to ask "Is this okay?"257

Alyssa returned his gaze. Yes it is, she let her eyes tell him, quietly breathing in as he lifted the blanket gently off of her body. She spread her legs and closed her eyes as she felt his fingertips flutter and alight on her thighs, his breath warm upon her lips, which were already growing moist. When his lips reached hers, it was as if all of her nerve endings were centered in one luscious spot. 258

Don't be nervous, she willed him silently. Let yourself go.259

And he responded. Expertly, he circled her clit with the tip of his tongue, teasing. Smaller and smaller his circles got until his motion became tiny flicks of the tongue, barely grazing the skin. Then, suddenly, he plunged his tongue inside her, as deep as it would go, burying his face into her flesh.260

Alyssa couldn't help but cry out. This was a welcome intrusion, for even if her Master hadn't forced Evan upon her, she would have consented to his southern French kiss anyway.261

He pulled out after awhile and began to concentrate on other things again. To gain his bearings, he scooted forward and flattened his mouth against her, then kissed her wetness as he found himself wanting to kiss her lips-- passionately and deeply. Then he began to flicker his tongue quickly and vigorously over her glistening red clit. Her eyes flew wide open, savoring the pleasure as he savored her taste. God, she's delicious, Evan thought, thirstily lapping up every bit of her that he could, never changing his motion. 262

Damn, he's good, thought she, her eyes rolling back in her head. She was grasping the bedclothes for dear life-- in each hand was a tightly clamped fistful of thick satin-- and she was holding back her moans, afraid of what her Master would do to her if she were to scream his name. But every ounce of her wanted to do just that, as he continued his speed and his intensity and her limbs began to tingle. 263

She held her breath, realizing that she was close-- oh, how she wanted it!-- but at the same time, she wanted to prolong it, just so they could connect for that much longer. But there was no control with Evan. The texture of his tongue and the rapid motion was enough to push her to the edge-- she held her breath-- and over, oh God, her back arched and she came all at once, holding herself in the air just long enough for Evan to lap her juices up.264

Alyssa barely had time to catch her breath, and her Master had already shoved Evan out of the way and jumped on top of her.265

"Did you come, bitch?" He was so eager for release that he was touching himself.266

She glanced at Evan. "Yes."267

He grasped her chin in his fingers and turned her head to look at him. "You address me, not him."268

"Yes, Master." A pause. "May I say one thing to him?"269

"I suppose I can allow that," he said.270

Alyssa caught his eye and held his gaze. "Thank you." A pause. "For getting me wet so that I may please the Master."271

Evan bowed his head and gave a customary response. "Anything for the Master and Mistress. Be well." And he removed himself from the room, unwilling to watch another man violate the woman he...272

Wait. Did he really? Johnson, don't be stupid, he chided himself. This is a slave house and you're not in a free society anymore. 273

But those eyes of hers crept back into his subconscious and haunted his mind for the rest of the night. He couldn't escape it.274

The woman he loved.275

I love her.276

277

After a swift fifteen minutes, the General had already spilled himself inside Alyssa, and in an odd command, decreed that she should spend the night with him. Not used to being in the room for a reason other than sex, she was a bit befuddled and more than just a little uneasy. Moreover, her mind was still on Evan.278

Was it a pointless endeavour to love someone under these circumstances? She pictured his face-- kind and warm-- and pondered this. She could hear her master's labored breathing in her ear, his arm wrapped possessively around her.279

Uncomfortable, she pried herself slightly further from him. Her resentment thickened as she realized her feelings for Evan were much more than an infatuation. She was falling for him, those tireless eyes, the tufts of acorn-brown hair, the shy smile modeled and perfected with music and knowledge.280

She was in love with Evan.281

IX.282

He searched for a tissue, trying to organize his thoughts, demanding answers from his brain. Damn you, Johnson. You can't fall in love. You can't fall in love just like slaves in Civil War times couldn't. It causes too much pain.283

284

His dreams had been filled with images of Alyssa-- dreams and nightmares, a torrid mix of scenes. One moment he had her in his arms, softly stroking her face, gently moving within her underneath the blankets of his old bed-- the next moment, he was chained to a wall, being made to watch as their Master forced himself upon her.285

He woke up with a start. He was tangled in his sheets, panting, sweaty. Half-expecting to see Alyssa or the organizer that hung across from his bed in his old bedroom, he whirled his head around, instead seeing only the tranquil white curtains of the Room of the Angels. With a sigh, he flopped back down onto his pillow.286

Okay, he thought, taking deep breaths. Push it all out of your mind. Be strong. He closed his eyes and listened intently to the air moving in and out of his nostrils. Now, concentrate on the sensations in your body. He felt it all, the rawness of the desire within him, the intense love coursing rapidly, almost tangible, through his veins, the song in his heartbeat. Now, don't react. You don't need to succumb to desire. But this wasn't easy to suppress as so many other things were. No, she was different. She was coming over him, filling his every vein and pore with her essence, sinking into his skin, absorbing... and she wasn't even in the room.287

"God," he said out loud, breaking the silence of the room. The curtains began slapping gently against the wall in the wind. "I'm not going to survive this."288

X.289

Meanwhile, something else was stirring in the house of the General. Alyssa awoke from a nightmare only to find the General wasn't beside her. Confused, she sat up in bed and looked around, tilted her head forward. There were voices in the hall.290

"Then that's what we'll have to do," the General was saying. "He can have them in the morning."291

"Which ones?" Another male voice.292

There was a pause, as if the General were thinking. "I'll come down with you."293

Footsteps sounded, and they faded into the dark.294

She laid back down, wondering just what the General was up to at two A.M., wishing she was falling asleep next to Evan again.295

"Come on," a gruff voice said above her. She was being unceremoniously shaken from her dreams.296

She yawned. "I was having a good dream," she mumbled.297

"Well you've overslept your stay, and it's back to the dungeon with you," Maude replied ungraciously. "Let's go."298

Alyssa reluctantly pushed the covers off of herself, got dressed, and followed Maude to the dungeon. There were only a few others inside, and she cast a questioning glance at the matron. 299

"It doesn't worry you," she said, as if she knew what Alyssa's question was, and shoved her inside, locking the door without saying another word.300

Alyssa scanned the faces of the nine people left in the dungeon, and her eyes landed on Evan. "Will you come talk to me for a second?" she asked.301

Evan silently followed her over to a corner, where they sat down. 302

"Look," Evan began, "before you say anything, I... just wanted to apologize for last night... I... wouldn't have ever done anything like that to you. I mean... until you wanted me to. If you even... would have ever thought of me like that..." He trailed off, looking flustered.303

She smiled at him. "Evan, I know. I know you wouldn't ever take advantage, or do anything without my permission. Unfortunately, the house we live in doesn't allow for manners." She paused, wondering if she should tell him. "I would have let you anyway," she found herself saying quietly.304

He looked up at her with wide eyes. "I love you," he spat out suddenly.305

A grin spread like wildfire across her face and she wrapped him in a tight hug. "I love you too."306

Once they had let go of each other, Alyssa looked around herself. "Where is everybody?"307

Evan nodded back toward the group. "Gabrielle seems to have a theory."308

They sauntered back over to the circle. "So, Evan says you know what's going on?" She fixed her eyes on Gabrielle.309

"Yeah," she replied. "The rumor is that the General is losing power, which means he's losing money, which means he sold a bunch of us. Apparently this region is under heavy attack from the rebels, and they're gaining ground. Also, there are a few officers climbing in rank who are going to wield more power than the General. And on top of all that, the General and his wife are at it."310

"At it?" 311

"Fighting," Gabrielle said. "And that isn't even all of it." She looked Alyssa in the eye. "He wants to replace her with you."312

"What?" Alyssa was ultimately befuddled.313

"He wants to get rid of her and take you as his wife."314

Evan felt a sickening pain in his stomach. This isn't happening...315

316

Ashlie giggled. "Think of the opportunities you'll have as the wife of a Boley general," she bubbled. She turned to the guys. "Better treat her well-- she'll be your Mistress someday. You better respect the girl! You--"317

"What if I don't want to marry him?" Alyssa interrupted.318

Ashlie was confused. "Why?"319

"What if I love someone else?" Her burning eyes were fixed on Ashlie's California blue ones.320

She hesitated. "You don't even know where your boyfriend might be," she argued.321

"I'm not talking about him," Alyssa countered, "and besides, I know he didn't make it out of the battle."322

"Then who are you talking about?" demanded Ashlie.323

Alyssa straightened herself up and looked over at him. His eyes were on the gray cement floor. "Evan," she proclaimed, and he looked up shyly. 324

"What?" exclaimed Ashlie. "That does not make sense."325

She glared at the girl. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"326

"Alyssa, you can't fall in love with a fellow slave," Gabrielle said, more calmly and practically. "Ashlie only meant that it will never work out. You'll get separated when the General finds out, just like Brielle and Brian did."327

Alyssa turned to Brielle. "Brie, was it worth it?"328

Brielle's eyes were downcast. "I don't know."329

"Well, you know what they say," Owen chimed in. "Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."330

"That's easy to say," spat Brielle indignantly, glaring at him. "Why don't you try it sometime?"331

He was quiet.332

"Look," Alyssa began, breaking the silence. She stood up defiantly. "I don't give a shit. I'm not going to give into their oppression. They may be able to force me to stay here, and they may be able to chain me to the wall and do what they please to me. But they can't stop me from loving. That's the one damn thing they can't control." She reached for Evan's hands and pulled him up. "They can't stop me from doing this." And she put her arms around him and kissed him full on the lips, a statement of both rebellion and love.333

XI.334

The next few weeks were a whirlwind. Men came at different intervals to carry away paintings, furniture, and statues. The Gardners were losing their wealth swiftly, and it was weighing on them-- the slaves could hear muffled arguments in the rooms above their dungeon, which were usually followed by the General and his wife coming down at different intervals to grab slaves for angry sex. 335

The General played favorites, seeming to always choose Alyssa or Emily. So when the doors to the dungeon swung ungraciously open one cold afternoon, they automatically rose to attention.336

"I see you have learned my preference," he remarked, a smug smile playing on his lips. "Today, I shall take you both." He unlocked the door and watched the girls file out. "My wife will be down soon to take her pick of the men."337

Evan exchanged a look with Owen, as they were the favorites of the Mistress, and she'd lately been delighting in double penetration. "I wonder what end I'll get today," Evan jested weakly.338

Owen responded with a half-smile. "Wish she'd meet hers. End, that is."339

This got a shrug from Evan. Bryant, however, had a strong opinion on the matter. "The bitch should drop dead. I hope her husband kills her. He probably will."340

"Let's just hope we all get sold to kinder masters," Evan said quietly.341

Bryant turned on him. "Why are you always so eager to please that bitch, anyway?"342

He remained silent.343

"Oh, it's so he can stay in the Room of the Angels. Isn't it?" Lawrence glared at him. "I'll bet Alyssa does the same for that bloody reject General. Then they can go fuck in one of those nice canopy beds."344

Evan was fuming. "That is not what we do!"345

"For Christ's sakes, Lawrence," Brielle reproached, "leave the man in peace. So he's found love. Quit your high school jealousy trip and be happy for him."346

The doors opened then, and in marched Madame Gardner. She was a commanding woman, with glittering green eyes and a nose so sharp one could impale oneself upon it. She unlocked the door with a harsh click and wordlessly pulled Evan and Owen from the cell, along with Ashlie, leading them out of the room.347

Gabrielle and Brielle exchanged glances. 348

"I guess she lost today's round," Gabrielle said slyly.349

Brielle snorted.350

XII.351

In her room, the Mistress was wasting no time. She had attached a collar to both Evan and Owen and put the leashes in her hand. "Any disobedience and you will be whipped," she warned as she stripped, and they nodded their understanding. She laid down on the bed and pulled tautly on Owen's collar. "Lick me, slave."352

Owen bowed and promptly placed his head between his mistress' legs. She turned to Ashlie. "Get him hard. He's going to give me my second one."353

Knowing what awaited him if she was pleased, he braced himself for Ashlie's mouth, trying to react as she slid him past her lips. He closed his eyes and imagined that Alyssa was there instead. He could imagine her eyelids fluttering over her cinnamon eyes as she gently moved her mouth around him, creating the most wonderful sensations.354

He was jolted out of his reverie by the moans of his Mistress, who was nearing orgasm. Forcefully, he pulled himself out of Ashlie's mouth, realizing that he was indeed hard enough to do what needed to be done.355

With a jungle shriek, his Mistress exploded into orgasm, drenching Owen's lips with her juices. Impatiently, she shoved him aside and pulled Evan to the bed with a strong yank of his leash.356

"Inside," she panted. "Now."357

Wordlessly, he obeyed, sliding into her abyss with ease. "How would you like it, my Mistress?" The question was mechanical.358

"Quick."359

He took a deep breath and began slamming into her at a rapid rate, propelling himself into her with all the speed he could muster. The faster it went, the more satisfied she would be, and the sooner he would be back in the Room of the Angels again. With Alyssa again.360

He thought he heard a faint scream, but ignored it, concentrating hard on getting this over with. Knowing that she hated it when her slaves closed their eyes, he forced himself to watch her face, her eyes as they rolled back, her mouth as she let loose with a scream of her own and arched her back in the quivering glory of orgasm. Once she fell back on the bed, Evan took his cue, and slid out of her.361

"You performed well, slave," she said breathlessly. "You shall stay in the Room of the Angels tonight. Both of you." She tiredly rang the bell to call Maude and immediately dozed off.362

When Maude deposited Evan and Owen in the Room, Evan immediately noticed Emily lying curled up in the bed nearest the door. However, there was no peaceful Alyssa resting her head on any of the pillows.363

"Where is she?" Evan demanded of Emily, unusually brusque.364

She looked up at him with round eyes. "The basement cell."365

This hit Evan like a sledgehammer. He had heard horror stories of the fabled "basement cell," a dark, filthy place reserved for incredibly disobedient slaves. Only one person he knew had seen it-- a slave at his former house named Chantel. She had described it as hell on earth-- a freezing cold metal box littered with dirt, dust, and dripping water. When she had been forced to stay there, she had been chained to the wall, unable to sleep, forced to stand throughout the night. She recounted horror stories to him worse than hers-- the very worst being a friend of hers who had been chained up much the same way and fixed with a vibrator in some sort of belt. She stood, helpless, as her Master switched it on and let it run as he left.366

These thoughts ran through his brain like a freight train, and he turned to the door. 367

"Where are you going?" Owen asked.368

"I have to do something," Evan replied frantically. "Who knows what she could be going through down there?"369

"You'll never get out of here, to begin with," Owen told him. "We're six stories up. And the door to this room is locked from the outside. And even if you did miraculously find a way to break out of here, you'd play hell breaking her out. For one, you don't even know how to get to it. And secondly, that thing is probably locked up with combinations and touchpads and security that the Boley Intelligence Department itself couldn't get past."370

Realizing the truth in Owen's statement, he sighed, plopping down on Emily's bed.371

She reached up to touch his arm. "I'm sorry, Evan."372

A tear fell from the corner of his left eye, and then all of a sudden, he just broke down. "These people..." he sobbed. "What kind of animals are they? What kind of society is this?" He sprung to his feet, enraged, tears still spilling down his red face. "The woman in that cell down there is the most beautiful person I have ever met. She is not, NOT, the property of some egotistical power-tripping sex-crazed radical Communist general. And she's not mine either. She is her own person. But I love her, damn it, and I will not stand by to see this!" He marched to the window and flung it open, sticking his head out into the cool night air. "Gardner!" he hollered. "Come and face me, you jackass!" 373

His demand was met with silence, and he angrily ducked back into the room.374

"Sleep, Evan," Emily gently instructed. "She will be fine. The General wouldn't harm his favorite slave enough that she couldn't perform. Trust me. Rest."375

Reluctantly, Evan climbed under the covers of the bed nearest the window. "I won't disrupt you," he conceded, "but I can't sleep."376

And he did not. Emily fell into silent slumber and Owen snored slightly, but Evan only sat, arrow-straight, watching the clock. Every emotion was overtaking him-- passion, jealousy, rage, love, everything he had lost since being enslaved. So this is what it's like to be alive, he thought. I had forgotten. And in that moment he made a promise to himself.377

I will give into passion. To love. To anger. To joy. To melancholy. I will live. 378

XIII.379

Evan was wide awake when Maude marched into the room in her clunky black boots the next morning. He jumped out of bed when she entered and stood, straight, his eyes burning with a silent fury.380

"Eager to get back to the dungeon, are we?" she barked in Evan's direction, kneeing Emily as she went past.381

Emily unburied her face from the pillow and squinted, shading her eyes from the sunlight with her hand.382

Evan said nothing--he only looked directly past her, right over her shoulder.383

"Answer me!" She was a drill sergeant in that moment, demanding and harsh.384

"Yes," he replied shortly.385

"Why?"386

He gritted his teeth and stared her down. "There is business I must take care of."387

Maude smirked, with the air of someone who knows more than they let on. "Well, you'd better take care of this business of yours while you still can."388

Evan shot her a confused glance.389

"There is going to be a silent auction tonight." And with an evil twinkle in her eye, she poked Owen harshly in the middle of the back and led the previous night's Angels back down to the cold, damp dungeon and locked them in.390

Frantically, Evan looked around, searching for Alyssa. When he spotted her, he could hardly believe his eyes-- she was huddled in a trembling lump in the corner, topless, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes wide open in terror.391

He ran over to her. "Alyssa... Alyssa, it's alright. I'm here."392

She lifted her eyes up to his, looking like she barely knew who he was. 393

"Alyssa? Are you okay?"394

"It was awful," she whispered. "Awful."395

Settling down on the floor beside her, he smoothed her tangled hair from her face. "What happened?"396

She took a shaky breath-- she was beyond tears. "He didn't tie me to the bed, only threatened me with the whip if I didn't comply. I wanted to see you, so I did-- I closed my eyes and prayed for it to end quickly. And he's relentless, God, there's no stopping him-- and it hurts with him anyway, but last night, he went at me without any control whatsoever. Evan... it was all pain. Pain, and then numbness, and somehow I could even feel the pain after that-- I don't know how long I lasted, but finally I couldn't take anymore. Physically. I just couldn't. And I pushed him off of me. And to push him off takes a lot of force, but he rolled off the bed and smacked his head against the wall. And God, I cringed, I knew what was going to happen... for a second, I froze solid. Then I tried to run. He caught me by the hair..." Her nose was tingling, the onslaught of crying, but she didn't have any tears left. "He pulled me back into the room and finished off inside of Emily. But he wasn't done with me. He promised the whip, and I got it." She rolled over slowly, and Evan's eyes met two long raw and claret scars in the middle of her back. "It was only twice," she said, trying to manage a smile. "It could have been worse. But the biggest punishment was knowing you would have to spend the night alone... not knowing where I was... and that cell, it was so dark... Evan, I was scared out of my mind. I couldn't sleep to save my life. There wasn't a sliver of light anywhere. All that kept me sane last night was you..." She broke off, shivering.397

Evan turned to the rest of the slaves, who were trying not to let on that they were watching. "Get me some water," he demanded, "and someone loan me their shirt."398

Brielle dipped a cup in the reservoir and handed it to Evan, along with Owen's shirt.  He ripped a corner off the bottom and wet it in the water.399

"Turn over," he instructed Alyssa softly, and she slowly turned over onto her stomach.400

Evan gingerly began to clean Alyssa's back, carefully wiping away the dirt and dried blood that stained them. She winced as he got closer to the cuts themselves, and he steadied his hand, trying to be as gentle as possible. When he finished, he took off his own shirt and delicately slipped it over her head.401

"Thank you," she whispered, taking his hands.402

He leaned forward to give her a kiss. She giggled.403

"Now that's what I like to hear," he said with a smile. "I promise you, Alyssa. Everything's going to be alright."404

Emily entered the conversation then, sitting down to form a triangle. "There's something I have to tell you, Alyssa."405

"What?"406

"They're selling us all tonight," she replied. "Maude told us. Silent auction."407

Her eyes got big, and she gripped Evan's hands tighter. "Who's going to want me in this condition? What if we get separated?" Momentarily forgetting her injuries, she sprang forward and wrapped her arms around him. "I don't want to lose you," she whispered into his ear, frightened. Pulling away, she looked into his eyes, begging for reassurance.408

Evan forced a smile. "We will find a way to stay together," he told her with sketchy overconfidence. "I won't let you go."409

XIV.410

That night, Alyssa found herself in a kimono again, doing her best to maintain grace despite the grueling pain she felt everytime she moved her back the wrong way. She had been allowed bandages and medical treatment only because of the auction, but Evan's gentle strokes had been better than the rough care she'd received from the army nurse who came in to treat her.411

"Go," she heard Maude commanding, and she stepped into the hall, let herself be shown off like a prize-winning poodle, and marched off to sit in the slaves' dining area. As was the custom, she ate in silence, with only glances from Evan to comfort her.412

Almost immediately after the meal was over and the guests started mingling, the General came over to Alyssa with a recognizable face-- Major Williamson.413

"This the one you were talking about, Major?" asked her Master, nodding indifferently toward her.414

Major Williamson's eyes were shining. "Yes."415

"Would you like to try her?"416

"If I may." He was smiling-- not a devious grin, but a genuine smile. He offered her an arm and led her to one of the curtained rooms reserved for this purpose. Evan watched them as they left, boring holes in the Major's back with his eyes.417

Once in the room, she followed procedure, immediately lying down on the bed. She winced as her back reacted to her positioning. He sat down and his calm face appeared above hers, smiling reassuringly.418

No, she thought. Months ago I would have accepted this man. But not today. Not anymore. She shut her eyes, frantically searching her brain. Breathed in, slowly in, slowly out. And again. In, out. This was something she could control. She could master her breathing. She could overpower her master with the strength she possessed, with the self-control she still had within herself. She could make herself as dry as the desert.419

"Are you alright?" he asked, a strange question for any Master.420

She trembled, unsure of what to tell him. "Sir, I have fresh scars on my back... and I ache inside from my Master's pleasures of last night. Please, spare me this tradition."421

He nodded. "I will. I have heard good things about you, and I know your Master is more unforgiving than any." He regarded her frightened face. "Don't be scared, cherie. I will take you. And bring you out of this awful place."422

"Major," she whispered, shaking, "please... if you take me, please take Evan too. You... seem like someone I can trust." She paused. "I promise that I will serve you better than any other slave..." she faltered. Her voice was breaking. "Oh, Major, I see it in your eyes. I know you're just. I know you're fair. Truthfully, I love him. I love him more than anything in this God-forsaken world, and if you have a hint of compassion, you would buy him too and let us serve you together. All we want is companionship... we won't fail to serve you... please..." She realized she was rambling, and trailed off. 423

To her surprise, he smiled brightly. "Of course I will."424

Her eyes got wide-- she couldn't believe it! Impulsively, she wrapped her arms around the Major. "Oh, bless you," she cried, "bless you!"425

His eyes were laughing. "Come on. Let us go finalize this."426

They emerged from the room, Alyssa's eyes filled with the light of the sun. Evan noticed her face and wondered what was going on, until they approached him.427

"Evan," the Major began, "come with us. I've decided to purchase you and Alyssa."428

A look of utter surprise and relief washed over Evan's countenance, and he silently rose from the floor and followed the Major and Alyssa over to where General Gardner was standing.429

"I would like to purchase these two," the Major told him.430

"Why these?" asked the General suspiciously, noticing the glint in his slaves' eyes.431

"I have heard good things about both of them," came the reply. "They will make a fine addition to my house."432

The General shrugged. "Fine. Fifteen thousand apiece."433

Without flinching, the Major pulled the bills from his breast pocket and began to count out thirty thousand from the stack.434

Alyssa glared at the General. This is the last I'll see of you, she thought, wishing she could just reach out and slap him.435

He peered back at her through those severe slits, those antiquated British eyes that seemed to thrive upon her fears. But there was nothing to fear anymore. She was leaving, and Evan was leaving with her.436

"Twenty nine thousand, thirty thousand." Major Williamson handed the money over to the General.437

"Fine," said the General, pocketing the cash. "Now off with you. I never believed in Majors holding harems anyway."438

The Major bowed gracefully and escorted his acquisitions out the door and into a waiting limousine.439

XV.440

"Thank you," Alyssa repeated as soon as they were in the back. She and Evan were sitting, facing the Major. "I can't tell you how much this means to both of us. I promise we will serve you well and not disappoint you."441

The Major laughed, as if at an inside joke. "Alyssa. You have no need to serve anyone anymore."442

"What?" She was confused.443

"I do not hold a harem," the Major admitted. "This sex slave trade is morally wrong. It's more brutal and heartless than the slave trade of the 1800's, if you ask me."444

"So why did you buy us?" Evan, too, was bewildered.445

"Did you learn about the Underground Railroad in school?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye.446

"Yes," Alyssa answered.447

He shrugged. "Call me Harriet Tubman."448

"You work to free slaves?" Alyssa stared.449

"I do," he replied. "To date, I have assisted over fifty slaves in escaping to Canada and making a new life for themselves. I use my position in the Army-- the salary I receive and also the prestige-- to buy slaves and set them free." He smiled. "If you're curious, you two are numbers seventy and seventy-one."450

Alyssa was aghast. "I... I don't know what to say."451

"I do," Evan blurted out. "Thank you!" He enthusiastically shook the Major's hand.452

The Major smiled again. "I'll bring you to my estate," he told them, "and from there, you'll travel a network of houses until you reach the border. Once you're there, General Shaw, another friend of mine who's in the same business, will give you some money and an address. The address is to an apartment building in Canada where we send a lot of our former slaves. From there, you're on your own."453

Evan and Alyssa nodded. "Truly, we can't thank you enough," she said.454

The Major nodded. "Don't mention it. And I'll get someone to care for those cuts when we reach my estate," he added.455

Evan turned to Alyssa and grasped her hand excitedly. "It's over," he said. "It's over!"456

XVI.457

Two weeks later, Evan and Alyssa were holed up in a comfortable little room at the estate of General Shaw. He had given them five hundred dollars each in Canadian money and the address to their new home-- 617 Poplar Lane, apartment 301, Winnipeg, Manitoba. 458

"It's strange," Evan began, "how we end up." He pulled the covers up around his shoulders and snuggled in with Alyssa, whose scars were nearly healed.459

"What do you mean?"460

"I never thought something like this could ever happen," he replied. "And ending up with you... I always thought you were beautiful, Alyssa."461

She blushed. "You're crazy."462

"Alyssa, look at me. You're more than I dreamed of. You brought me back to life. I was so closed off, so numb to the world... I didn't remember pain, pleasure, anything. I was devoid of feeling. You've taught me... so much in so little time." He lightly caressed her face. "I can't wait to see what we can do in an entire lifetime together."463

She smiled. "I love you, Evan."464

"I love you too." As an afterthought, he let out a chuckle.465

"What?"466

"I just remember you saying to me... "Someday I'll have a husband to come home to and sex won't be scary."467

Alyssa looked up at him, a hint of desire sparkling in her brown eyes. "I know it wouldn't be scary with you..."468

He realized what she was suggesting. "Alyssa, I thought we agreed to wait..."469

"If you don't want to..."470

"No. I want to. I just meant... are you okay with this? Are you able to do this?"471

She smiled. "My back barely hurts at all anymore, and my insides have healed. I'm not raw and damaged anymore-- I'm ready. I want you, Evan. More than anything."472

He remembered his thoughts that night. I will give into passion. To love. He lit the candle on the bedside table and slowly removed the blankets from over Alyssa. For a moment he sat there, reverent, smiling down at this woman he had fallen for-- then, slowly, he moved toward her and removed the soft white nightgown from over her head, revealing round breasts and soft ivory skin. She sat up and unbuttoned his shirt for him, pushing it from his torso, ran her fingers lightly over his chest. Next, shyly, he hooked his fingers on the top band of her panties and slipped them slowly off-- she reciprocated by sliding his boxers off and tossing them to the side.473

He stared. Somehow, she had changed from when he had seen her like this last, the day he was forced to make her wet. She was serene, eager, innocent. 474

"What?" she asked.475

"You're beautiful," he whispered, awed.476

She blushed, though it was hard to see in the candlelight. Slowly, Evan moved toward her, shy, still unsure; Alyssa met his lips halfway and pressed her own against them. Gingerly, he brought his hand up to caress her face-- the other landed on her side. She reciprocated, running her fingers through his sandy brown hair, placing the other one in the middle of his back, making soothing circles to reassure him. Their lips tangled and danced in a sort of freestyle ballet, light tiptoeing steps turning into a torrid tango. Absently, Evan let his hand wander, trailing softly down her side and over her hip-- Alyssa drew in a sharp breath when his fingers brushed over her pelvis. Immediately, he drew his hand away.477

"No," Alyssa breathed, "put it back."478

He replaced his hand and watched Alyssa's eyelids flutter at the sensation. As if she were in a daze, she guided Evan's hand south, slipping his fingers into her wetness.479

"Do you feel that?" she whispered. 480

Barely able to control himself, Evan nodded. He was breathing heavily now, remembering the way she tasted, eager to taste her again. Without realizing it, he was licking his lips. "Alyssa..."481

She smiled. "Do you really think I'd deny you?"482

He immediately went down on her, sliding his tongue between her folds, and began to rapidly circle her clit. While he relished her flavor, she delighted in the fact that she no longer had to hold back, no longer had to try to keep herself dry. Strings of words ran through her brain-- desire, sexual, erotic, passionate. She watched Evan, his quiet eyes peeking out from her vale, concentrating hard on making her as wet as she could possibly become. A moan escaped her lips as she realized she was getting close. He was so good at what he was doing--- so good-- and she was in bad need of voluntary release. All of a sudden, her back arched violently into the air and she came all at once in a glorious explosion. Evan didn't move an inch, catching every bit of her sweet nectar on his tongue, swallowing as if it were the elixir of life.483

"God, you're amazing," Alyssa said breathlessly, writhing impatiently in the sheets. "I want you inside me."484

Evan climbed on top of her, pointed himself delicately at her opening, and waited. 485

She smiled. "I'm ready, baby."486

Ever so carefully, he slid into her. She felt every last inch of him graze her walls, a perfect fit. 487

His eyes flew open. "Oh, God. You're soaking wet."488

She grinned devilishly, feeling a little of her old spirited sexpot self come back to her. "What else did you expect? You drive me crazy."489

He kept his knees bent, but laid down on top of her, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "I love you," he whispered.490

"I love you too."491

Kissing her on the neck, he began to move back and forth, achingly slow at first. Her eyes were begging for more, so he delivered, picking up the speed.492

She stroked his face. "It's been years, Evan," was her matter-of-fact statement. "I know you have some urgency inside of you... and by God, I do too. Don't worry... you won't hurt me. And if you do, I'll tell you."493

Evan lifted himself up, smiling at her. Then, without warning, he put his arms back around her, making sure not to graze the scars on her back, and began to move with a sort of temperate insistence, driving his rock hard self into her waiting wetness as fast and hard as his concern would let him. 494

But it was enough-- by God, it was enough. Muffling her shrieks with the flat pillow, Alyssa let go once again, enveloping Evan in her explosion-- almost immediately after, he erupted inside of her, a fountain of bliss, and their liquids mixed together like the deadliest of love potions.495

He collapsed next to her on the bed, panting. With what little strength remained in her bones, Alyssa pulled the blanket over their trembling bodies and held him close. "You were amazing," she said breathlessly. "Genuinely amazing." A smile played on her lips. "A real midnight lover."496

Evan chuckled. "God, that horrible song."497

"It is not horrible! I love that song." She navigated through sheets and blankets to find his hand, lacing her fingers with his.498

He shook his head. "It's awful."499

She stuck her tongue out at him. "It's great. You're talented, Evan. In many ways."500

He laughed-- actually, it could have been described as a giggle-- and put his arms around his lover. "So, Alyssa Gordon. For better or for worse?"501

A smile played on her lips. "Is that a proposal?"502

"Maybe once I get the ring, I'll do it right."503

She grinned brightly and kissed him. 504

"Is that a yes?" Hope rose in his eyes, but also a sparkle of laughter.505

"Maybe once you give me the ring, I'll answer you right."506

He smiled. "Fair enough. Can I have a kiss?"507

Wordlessly, she pressed her lips against his one last time before they fell asleep.508