Fifty Shades of Orange and Blue

"Good morning, young lady! I was wondering, do you need anything from the bar?" Kate opened her eyes just to look into the smiling face of a pretty average-looking macaw. The young man was maybe her age, if not a bit younger. It should have been a compliment that such a young man was hitting on her with such confidence, but she wasn't in the mood. Especially considering that he wasn't particularly good looking in his swim trunks.
The female blue jay just sighed: "No thank you."
"Okay, I'll be around here for a while. Maybe if you change your mind-"
"I won't." She sounded more upset than she wanted to, but finally the boy seemed to get it. 
"Okay, no offense. Have a good day."

"You too." She said, turning away from him already. This had been the third guy trying this already today. She did get quite a few compliments every now and then. The blue jay looked down at herself as she lay stretched out on the lounger. Her shimmering feathers covered a rather shapely body. Soft white plumage on her ample chest and flat abdomen, a bright blue with black and white trim on her shoulders, her back, arms and her long tail feathers. It had taken a bit of overcoming to go onto the sun deck in this plain black bikini that accented her petite but curvy figure so nicely and showed off just enough cleavage to make anyone look twice, but her friend Sybille had told her she should live a little. So why not? She was a free woman once again, after all.

Kate rolled her eyes at that last thought. Free. What did that even mean? Should she really be grateful for the circumstances that led her to this situation? She took the phone that lay by her side and browsed through the photos she had taken during the cruise so far. Her on a busy market street, her in front of a huge saltwater aquarium, her on top of an ancient ruin. She knew that she was a beautiful woman, still in her twenties, with those striking purple eyes, that well-groomed plumage, that shiny black beak that she always kept polished. Samuel should be jealous.

As she browsed, she caught herself looking at the top of her phone, secretly anticipating a message from him. She shouldn't want to hear from him again, she reminded herself! That dick had never deserved her, even less after she found out he had cheated on her! But then why did she still feel so depressed after their divorce? Her thoughts kept circling around the same questions: Why had this happened? Had she been blind? Or maybe it had been her fault for not being the woman he deserved? No! She knew she wasn't perfect but she'd been nothing but good to him throughout their marriage, there was no reason to cheat on her! He didn't deserve her! He deserved nothing! 
"Excuse me miss, the show in the theater starts in a bit and I have a spare ticket-" 
Kate looked up in annoyance at the grey tabby cat waving with two tickets in his hands. He wasn't even an avian! 

Abruptly she stood up and without a single word, walked right past the guy. Despite no longer being able to see him, she could practically feel his eyes taking in her swimsuit-clad back, especially since she knew full well her modest but flattering bikini bottom accented her rear end and even showed off a hint of bare butt-cheek. Was he really checking out her ass? Likely, but what could she do about it? The blue jay put it out of her mind. She had enough of guys, it was time to get drunk! 

The Fauna Star was one of the biggest and newest cruise ships sailing the Pacific Ocean. After her divorce, Kate had followed her friend's advice and booked this month-long international cruise alone to get as far away from San Francisco as possible, to clear her head and forget about all the crap she had been going through the past year or so. In hindsight, she never should have married Samuel in the first place, he never really appreciated her and his infidelity was just the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back; their marriage had been deteriorating for years and in the end she did what she'd should have done a while ago. While on the way to the coast of Australia after passing through the Pacific Islands, the ship had a whole day at sea; the deep blue water surrounding them had a mercifully calming effect on her. But still, she didn't want to calm down, didn't want to have to think. Luckily, aside from the theater and the two show stages and the shopping mall, there were also more than enough bars to spend her time. The one she choose today lay directly above the pool deck, no need to return to her quarters and change. 

Kate slumped down onto a chair right next to the bar: "Hey miss, what can I get you?" The bartender asked with neutral voice. Finally, someone who wasn't trying to hit on her. 
"What's the strongest cocktail you have?" She asked him in a level tone. 
"Oh, that would be our Zombie, with white rum, brown rum, pineapple juice-"
Kate stopped him with a raised hand: "Okay, I'll take that."
A few moments later, the bartender, a tall bull placed the cocktail in front of her: "Drink responsibly." He said with a smile.

Kate took the glass and gulped down a large portion of the drink right away. The alcohol burned its way down her throat. She wasn't used to drinking, but if anyone would make her want to drown her sorrows of course it would be Samuel. And what was the bartender's comment all about? Was he mocking her? She didn't even want to consider that his concern might have been genuine, that's how bad her mood was. She looked down onto the pool deck. All these people, all their different lives, their histories and their hopes...were any of them as depressed as she was? Sure, there were things much worse than a divorce, but she had been ill-treated for a long time even before that. Could anyone reproach on her feeling like this? She took another large sip from her drink, then another.

Once the glass was empty, she ordered another one without hesitation. 
"Listen miss, I'm really not sure you should-" The bull tried to argue.
By now, Kate felt a little tipsy, the ship seemed to move just a bit more than before, but at least she wasn't thinking about her shitty husband all the time anymore.
"Hey, are you kind of the ship...I mean, ship's counselor or something? No, just give me another one, okay?" She said in a slightly slurred voice.
With a sigh, the bartender got her the drink and went on with his job. 

How much time had passed, Kate couldn't tell anymore. Sure, she had slowed down drinking but as the sun had started setting, she had barely been able to get up anymore. Now finally, she was on her way back to her room, though in no hurry doing so. She stumbled out of the elevator on deck 6 where her room was...or had that been deck 7? Luckily there were handrails as she moved forward near the edges, as the ship was rolling heavily by now...or was it her? And why did every corner look the same? The blue jay stepped through another doorway and found herself at an open muster station. She hadn't seen this place since she had boarded. Why should she? There was nothing here aside from numerous large lifeboats and flotation devices. No one was there and she could hear the sea deep underneath. For reasons she could barely fathom, Kate stepped up to the railing, looking down. Even though this place was relatively dark, she could see the water rushing by as the ship made its way through the tropical ocean. The calm quietness of this place was soothing, but she was starting to remember, to think about all that had happened the past few months. Remembering was the last thing she wanted to do right now. Then, she saw something. Something grey moving not too far from the ship. It was big, curved...the back of a whale? Already, whatever it was had vanished from her sight, blocked by one of the lifeboats. Kate rushed around, following a sudden urge to confirm what she had seen. She ran around the boat. Yes, it was a whale - or maybe a capsized boat? Having rounded the lifeboat, she stumbled back to the railing, leaning heavy against it. There was a sudden snapping sound. "Curious, a gate, not the actual railing...of course, in case they needed to board the boats..." It crossed her mind as the metal structure gave way, some kind of lock had failed and there was nothing stopping her from falling over. 

There was a brief moment of shock and surprise as her body felt the effect of weightlessness when she fell, then a hard impact, enough to make her lose any orientation for a moment. Her tipsiness was gone that very moment and replaced by panic as she was suddenly submerged in the churning water. Exhaling, large bubbles of water escaped her soon burning lungs. She tried to clear her mind. She had fallen off the ship! She needed to get up to the surface! Kate had always been a good swimmer, but how deep was she underwater right now? She tried to orient herself and rushed upwards. Would the propellers of the ship hit her? A cold dread caught her heart. A moment later, she surfaced again, breathing in violently, even as she looked around. The massive black bulk of the ship was still close, the brightly lit upper decks so far above. The music of a party on the pool deck could be heard even down here, but it was soon drowned by the rushing water at the stern of the ship. Kate tried to scream, but hardly managed to do so, her voice suddenly sounding raspy and hollow, maybe from the relatively cold water. She pushed herself away from the ship to avoid the suction of the propellers, and within moments the ship was past her. Again, she screamed and cried out for help.

These ships had to have a lot of security systems. Cameras, motion detectors, whatever. They would notice her fall and turn, right? They just had to. She waved her arms. From above the sea looked calm and flat, but down here, she realized that the waves were significant - at least to someone swimming in them. How could anyone see her, especially in the dark? She looked around. If what she had seen hadn't been an animal but some kind of debris, maybe it was something she could cling to? But there was nothing in sight. Even if it was close by, she couldn't see it anymore from her perspective. She struggled to swim after the ship that was now only a shadow at the horizon and a thin trail of smoke in the blackness of the night sky. 

She was lost! No one had noticed her falling off and now they never would. So here she was in the middle of the ocean, alone, helpless, she would drown, or die of exhaustion or exposure - or get eaten by sharks. The water wasn't cold enough to be freezing, but she had once heard that it still drained any body in it of warmth. She felt herself shivering even as she frantically kicked her legs to tread water, her swimsuit offering zero protection against the elements and her soft feathers drenched with cold water all the way to her skin, she suddenly felt very envious of waterfowl. Should she try to swim as fast as she could to generate more heat or stay docile to keep herself from getting exhausted even faster? The avian let out a laughing sob as she fought to keep her head above the churning water, it was almost hilarious. A minute ago she was wondering if her life could possibly get any worse, and now she was facing certain death in the sea and no one knew nor cared. For a moment, she considered just letting the ocean consume her, to let herself be drawn under the waves. But the will to live, her survival instincts, were just too strong, and her fear of death overshadowed her despair enough that she kept fighting to stay afloat, when suddenly something caught the corner of her eye. 

Was that really a flash of red light? Kate wondered, turning her head and trying to pierce through the night. No, it couldn't be, she was just seeing things. But then, she saw it again. Maybe there was something in the distance after all, as impossible as it seemed. She tried to swim closer, even though the waves almost made it impossible to keep the right direction where the light was barely visible. 

It was more of a coincidence, the play of the current and the waves than her swimming, even though Kate considered herself a decent swimmer. But as time dragged on and she felt her limbs growing exhausted and her body feeling the cold, she realized that a person could achieve little against the might of the ocean. Still, she could see the red light more often now. It towered high over the water and soon, a kind of structure came into view. A metal cage-like tower. Gathering all her remaining strength, she continued to swim towards the structure still. Was it an oil rig? It looked similar to one, though maybe a bit small. A steel platform resting upon four massive pillars reaching into the water. On that platform she could make out what reminded her of a container at first, a black, rectangular thing against the night sky. There was a mast also and the red light flashed on top of it, enabling her to sometimes make out antenna and other equipment at its top. Whatever this thing was, it would be safe at least for a while. Maybe there was even a radio or some form of communication device inside. 

Next to one of the steel pillars, there was the merciful sight of a ladder. Rusty and with seaweed wrapped around it, but it still looked stable. The young woman swam to it, reached out...and was hit by a somewhat larger wave that very moment. Her fingers scraped over the metal, then her head was pushed under water. She propelled herself up again, to her shock finding herself at least a body length away from the ladder already. This couldn't be happening! She struggled frantically, working against the waves, kicking her feet with all her might and stretching her arm toward the metal rungs, unwilling to accept defeat, and after what felt like an eternity had passed she finally took hold of the ladder. She pulled herself against it, holding onto the metal with both arms as she gasped and coughed, waiting for her trembling limbs to stop shaking, only then did she climb up, water running down her bare feathers, cold creeping in even though it was a warm tropical night. 

The hatch leading from the ladder onto the platform itself wasn't locked - maybe a safety measure? Kate was just relieved this was the case, not thinking too much into it. As she stood on the platform, shivering and her beak chattering, she finally looked around. There was no one here. Not that she had ever been on an oil rig before, but she had seen on TV how busy these places were, even at night. There wasn't any sound of working machines either. Was this place abandoned, despite the red light on the antenna indicating otherwise? 

It felt so bizarre, standing alone on a platform in the middle of the ocean wearing nothing but a bikini, water still dripping down her drenched feathers, but what could she do? Maybe this was some kind of science station? For weather monitoring or something? Whatever it was, she could only pray it wasn't truly deserted and whoever it belonged to would be back shortly, or that there was a working radio or something that she could use to call for help, otherwise she'd soon have to choose between starving to death or throwing herself back into the ocean...she shuddered at the thought, and felt her panic rising all over again. How could she have been so stupid as to get drunk and fall off the ship?

Kate forced her fear down and continued to survey her surroundings, hugging her arms around her waterlogged body and shivering all the while. The box-like main building was of the most interest to her. She hurriedly shook herself to get the worst of the water out of her feathers and then rushed over to what looked like a door...it was locked. There was a heavy padlock on it! Kate kicked against the cold metal, but with her bare foot it made little difference. She pulled down the handle numerous times: "Come on bitch, open up already!" Nothing. She took a step back, there was no light inside visible under the gap at the door's bottom; by now, any occupant would have heard her and there was no second door. But there was something else. On the opposing side of the platform she saw another shape that looked vaguely familiar. She rushed over - it was a lifeboat! She briefly considered using it to get away from this placer right now, but having no idea where she was or how to navigate meant leaving might be even riskier than staying. She pulled away the tarp and crawled inside. First things first, she'd find a way into the building for shelter and spend the night there, she'd figure out what to do next in the morning. In the dark, it took her some time to find anything useful. At first, a flashlight. That made work easier, there was a flare gun, a box of food, bottles of water and an axe, likely to cut away ropes or something if the boat had to be lowered to the water. Determined, she grabbed the tool, ran back to the door and smashed the axe against the lock. The first time, she missed and the blade scratched over the door, the second one was a hit, but nothing happened. Clenching her beak, she hit it again and the padlock broke. 

Kate went inside, turning on the flashlight. There were boxes and barrels, small containers strewn about the cramped room, but also working electronic devices and even a simple bed. She exhaled in relief; whoever had worked here, they weren't on the platform, at least not right now, but now she could relax somewhat knowing this place likely wasn't abandoned after all and her chances of dying here were considerably lessened, though she still wasn't completely out of danger. Tomorrow, she would have to check if she could get electricity and use some of the devices to get help, then she would be saved. And if not, at least the lifeboat's rations would keep her going until the owners of this place came back, hopefully before long. But right now, exhaustion took over and without thinking further, Kate crawled onto the bed and pulled the blanket over her by now only slightly damp body, and drifted off into a dreamless sleep a few moments later. 




"Well, well, look what the current washed onboard." Kate was woken by a mocking, cruel voice. The young woman was awake in the blink of an eye. The room she had been sleeping in was still dark, so she couldn't make out many details of the figure standing in the doorframe. He was tall and broad shouldered, that much was clear, and given the shape of his ears he was clearly some kind of mammal. As he stepped in without hesitation, an even bigger one followed him in. "Alright lady, start talking. Who are you, and what the fuck are you doing here?" The first figure growled.

For a moment words failed Kate, but she quickly found her voice. "M-My name's...Kate. I..." She took a deep breath, "Ifelloffashipandswamhere." The blue jay gasped out, knowing how ridiculous she sounded but she was too scared to think clearly. The shock of waking up to visitors overrode any elation she might have felt about getting rescued so soon, especially since being alone in a cramped room with two imposing looking figures standing in the only exit suddenly made her feel like a cornered prey animal.

"Who-Where...where am I? Are you the owners of this place?" She stumbled, instinctively pulling the sheets up to her beak. There was a sick feeling in her stomach, even though she had hopes these men were oil drillers or researchers or something legitimate, given the way they carried themselves she already doubted that. 

The first of the two laughed mirthlessly: "Sure, you can say that. And you broke our property." He stepped further in and now Kate could see that he was a shady looking hyena with spotted, unkempt fur and a rough combat suit, a rifle slung crossed his chest and he wore a terrifyingly large knife by his side. Behind him was an even bigger and more intimidating-looking water buffalo, similarly dressed and armed, and both of their eyes were fixated on her, their stares giving Kate a sinking feeling in her gut. The buffalo silently lifted up the broken lock. 
Kate started breathing heavily and her heart hammered her chest, fearing for her life all over again. She was now positive that these guys were some sort of dangerous criminals, and the young woman was painfully aware that she was trapped in a room with them, while wearing nothing but a bikini, no less... 

"Yes, yes, I'm s-sorry. I am so sorry about all this, I'll of course pay for-" Kate babbled, feeling the beginnings of tears in her eyes as she hugged the bedsheets closer to her body. She couldn't complete the sentence as the first man darted forward. His strong hand suddenly around her neck, he forced her up violently and slammed her against the wall above the bed: "Oh, shut the fuck up. You really think you can get out of this with just a few bucks?!" He snarled right in her face.

Kate yelped in shock at being manhandled, and then winced as she felt the sheets fall off around her.
"Whoa..." The hyena's eyes went wide at the sight of Kate's now uncovered swimsuit-clad body, and then he whistled, much to Kate's chagrin. "Heh, maybe you being here isn't so bad after all." He chuckled, his eyes examining her exposed form. The avian whimpered, her cheeks going hot in embarrassment, frozen in fear and barely able to breathe with the man's hand still clamped around her neck and pinning her to the wall. "So tell me, how exactly were you gonna pay for the lock? You got some cash stashed underneath that sexy little number you're wearing?" He chuckled, his eyes now fixated on her bikini top - and her cleavage, that much she was certain, and in the corner of her eye she could see his other hand moving slowly towards her. Tears ran down Kate's face as cold panic filled her, feeling even more terrified and vulnerable than when she'd been in mortal peril last night.

"Careful, man..." She heard a deep voice say in a warning tone, and looking past her assailant she saw the huge buffalo glaring angrily at his partner with one hand resting on his firearm.
The hyena looked back at the bovine and scoffed. "Aw hell, Barrett, don't look at me like that. I wasn't gonna do nothing to her." He let go of her neck, and she gasped and rubbed her throat. He turned back to her. "But c'mon, a hot chick in a bikini falls right into our lap and you're not even slightly interested? You're no fun." He said, his gaze still wandering over her body, and the blue jay desperately wished she could be anywhere but here.

The bovine rolled his eyes and snorted. "Let's just bring her to the captain, he'll know what to do with her. In case you've forgotten we've still got work to do." Kate slumped against the wall and wiped her eyes, still too fearful to speak, and she hugged her arms around her chest in an attempt to conceal herself as she looked up at Barrett, grateful for his intervention. From the way her was looking at her, he clearly was interested, but he seemed to be merely intrigued rather than leering like the hyena, though that didn't make the situation any less scary.

"Hey, scumbags, what's going on? Did I really just hear a woman's voice in there?" She heard another, more commanding voice from outside. The hyena growled in annoyance: "It's nothing Haile, really nothing."
"Then step out and show me nothing." The other voice commanded harshly.

The one called Barrett shoved his partner aside, grabbed Kate by the arm and yanked her off the bed, escorting her out of the room as she mutely followed. Outside stood a mid-aged lynx. He was dressed in similarly worn military style clothes, a shirt, rough pants and a vest, leaving his muscular arms visible as he placed her fists against his hips: "Oh, what have we here?" He said, his eyes wide in surprise as he took in her half-naked form, and Kate silently cursed her decision to wear this goddamned bikini, to go drinking at that goddamned bar, to go on that goddamned cruise ship, to marry that goddamned Samuel in the first place...

Haile stepped closer and Kate didn't like his curious and at the same time calculating expression. Behind him, she could see a rather large ship. It looked like it had been a yacht at one point but now was painted in a dull grey, some patches of steel were welded over the original hull and there were machine guns bolted onto the deck. A makeshift crane had been installed as well and a group of pirates - of that she was certain now - seemed busy as they started to move cargo from the yacht onto the platform. 
Still holding her arm, Barrett spoke. "Her name's Kate. She says she fell off a ship and swam here, as crazy as it sounds. We found her sleeping in the control booth, which she broke into last night." He held up the broken lock to show Haile. 
The lynx scowled at her. "Well, not your lucky day, is it sweetheart?"

Kate felt even smaller than before, if that was possible. She took a deep breath. "I-I'm sorry, I had no idea this place was yours, b-but...but I had nowhere else to go after I fell off the Fauna Star. T-The cruise ship from S-San Francisco. I'll do anything, please don't hurt me...I promise I won't tell anyone about-"
"Oh, keep quiet, you." Haile cut off her rambling. "I don't give a damn about your excuses. You should know by now that you're in a world of trouble, we don't take kindly to intruders. Or witnesses, for that matter." Kate's heart sank, feeling sick with fear all over again. She had no doubt that a bunch of ruthless pirates would have no qualms about disposing of a stranger who stumbled on their secret operation. She frantically thought about how she might possibly get out of this.

Haile turned to her two handlers. "And what was up with that shouting and thump I heard from before? Were you trying to mess with her or something? Before the captain even saw her?" He narrowed his eyes at them. 
"Haile, it's not...fuck, we just found her!" The hyena protested. 
Barrett waved his free hand. "It was nothing, Haile. Ed was just being a dumbass before I reigned him in. Again." Ed growled at his partner.

Haile snorted derisively. "Well, in any case the captain will definitely want to talk to her. We can't afford another screw up like last time." The lynx's eyes flashed with anger, making Kate curious despite her fear. "At least no one's likely to come looking for this one in the middle of the ocean, if she really fell off a cruise ship. And who knows, unlike the last guy we caught, a pretty lady like her could be...valuable, to the right person. Waaaay more than a broken lock." The lynx smirked and let his eyes wander to the blue jay's chest. Kate felt sick, he couldn't really mean what that sounded like, could he? 

Haile turned back to his subordinates. "Alright you two, take her to the captain. If you mess this up, I'll have your heads. Now go ahead and bring her onto the ship." As the two pirates passed by the lynx, he stopped them for a moment and hissed at Kate: "You better pray the captain finds you as valuable as you look, sweetheart, or you won't leave this place alive." With that, he walked away without another word.

Now Kate was certain he was hinting at sex trafficking her in some way or another. Even if she wasn't in any immediate danger from these pirates, there was every possibility they might send her to a place far worse than this...For a brief moment, she considered ripping herself free from Barrett's grip still on her arm, running to the edge of the platform and jumping into the water, desperate to get the hell away from them. Maybe she should give it a try. But she had escaped death only the day before, a second time, she certainly wouldn't be as lucky. Besides, most likely the pirates would just capture her again. Trying to grab one of the weapons to force her way out was equally unrealistic. She had never used a gun in her life, and she was greatly outnumbered, so even if she could somehow arm herself using the moment of surprise...no, there was no way out of this that didn't end in her death. It was odd, but despite her situation having gotten much bleaker, she still didn't want to die! But considering the likely alternative...she shivered in terror at what might lay in her future.

With a lowered head, she let the pirates drag her to the small gangway and onto the yacht. More heads turned into her direction. The crew was diverse, to say the least. Members of at least a dozen of species, with the majority being mammals but also more than a few avians, amphibians and reptiles, common ones and more rare ones. All were rough, battle hardened men and unforgiving people.

As Kate stepped onto the deck of the ship, a group of four pirates abandoned their workplace at the crane and came over, and she gritted her beak, so many eyes on her making her feel sick to her stomach.
"Hooh boy, what did you find there?" A red wolf asked as he eyed her up and down. 
"Hot damn, that's one cute little 'jay!" A cardinal piped in, and Kate could practically feel him undressing her with his eyes. 
"Babe, you want to keep us company? It gets so lonely out here." A salamander asked, stepping even closer.
"Seriously, where the hell did you come from?" A leopard asked incredulously.
Ed let out an amused laugh. "Apparently she fell off a fucking cruise ship, that explains why she's dressed like that. Don't expect to get anywhere with her though, not with Mr. White Knight here watching her back." He said, mockingly pointing his thumb in his partner's direction.
Barrett ignored him and waved them away, still holding Kate's arm tightly. "Back off, you idiots. We got us another trespasser, and we are NOT letting this one get away. The captain'll decide what to do with her."

"Oh come on, we won't hurt her." The salamander said. Feeling his hand on her bare shoulder, his fingers running through her soft feathers, Kate shuddered and tried to move away. Was this really happening to her?
"A bit shy, eh? I won't bite. Much." He continued in a mocking tone. 
"Alright, that's enough, Mitch..." Barrett warned and swatted the amphibian's hand away.
The cardinal suddenly maneuvered behind her and yanked hard at the strap of her bikini top, making her gasp at the sudden pressure on her breasts before letting go and snapping it against her back, and then he reached down and slapped her backside. "Heh, real nice ass you got there!" He exclaimed.
Kate yelped and stumbled forward in fury and embarrassment with tears welling in her eyes, hating this with every fiber of her being.

"Stop that shit right now!" Barrett's booming voice could've been heard for miles, yanking Kate's arm away from them and with his free hand he grabbed the grip of his rifle: "Get back to work before I shoot you myself, you pieces of filth!" He bellowed, focusing his glare on the cardinal. The pirates grumbled and went back to the crane. 
Kate wordlessly looked up at Barrett through tear-clouded eyes, part of her wanting to thank him and another part unable to shake the feeling that he was leading her to her doom, one way or another.
The bovine sighed. "Come on now, the captain needs to see you." He said in an annoyed voice, annoyed with having to be her chaperone most likely, and the fact that he didn't even seem apologetic for his crewmates' disrespectful behavior meant that she most certainly couldn't expect any real help from him.

Barrett led Kate through a maze of corridors down into the belly of the ship with Ed hot on their heels. All the time, the young woman kept her one free arm hugging close to her. She didn't dare to speak, what would there be to talk about, anyway? Instead, she tried to memorize the interior of the ship, maybe it could come in handy...oh, who was she kidding? There was no way she was getting out of this, she thought dejectedly. They finally stopped in front of a room and Barrett knocked the door. 
"Come in." She heard.
The pirate opened the door and shoved Kate inside, following himself. 
"Captain Malek-" Barrett started. There was another spotted hyena, tall and strong like Ed himself, but his fur was well kempt, shimmering smooth. He wore a green shirt, plain and simple, accenting his strong chest nicely though. Malek, that was his name apparently, sat behind a large desk, a heavy wooden piece of furniture with delicate boiserie, almost grotesque looking in such an environment. The rest of his office looked equally out of place, heavy carpets, a small library, comfortable sofa and chairs. The man raised his hand then looked up from the papers he was just reading through. As he saw Kate, his expression shifted from surprised to curious. 

"Ooookay...when Haile radioed me that you guys found a woman stranded on the platform, THAT was just about the last thing I expected to see. Where did you find her?"
"She was hiding in the control booth. She broke into it last night." Barrett grunted. 
"Is that so?" He asked, standing up and walking in front of his desk, looking directly at Kate: "And how exactly did you get here?" He asked in an even tone.
Captain Malek didn't exude any threatening vibes unlike his subordinates, seeming very levelheaded and rational, but Kate refused to be lulled into a false sense of security. She knew full well that this man could have her killed or disappeared forever with a single command, so she decided that it would be in her best interests to cooperate by sparing no details. She told him who she was and where she came from, and explained how she had fallen off the cruise ship after drinking at a bar, how she struggled in the ocean, and that she followed the antenna's beacon light to finally end up at the platform where she had fallen asleep due to exhaustion.

Malek nodded his head, and Kate could've sworn his face showed a hint of admiration: "Wow. You were really lucky...and it seems that you're a lot tougher than meets the eye."
"T-Thank you. Captain." She added with a slight bow of her head, knowing it won't hurt her chances to show some respect to this powerful figure. "I am so sorry for all of this. I don't want any trouble. If you just drop me off at the next inhabited island, I'll find my way from there and I promise I won't say a word about any of this." Kate offered. "I have no quarrel with you or your crew, I have no reason to tell anyone about your, well, business." She hastily added.

Malek studied her for a moment. "Well, I'd like to believe you, but you need to understand my position. I have no guarantee that you will keep your word. For all I know, once questioned by the local authorities about what happened before you suddenly showed up on their doorstep, you could very well tell them about us. And even if you don't, later on you might change your mind and report us to police or the press or something. There are plenty of people who'd offer a hefty reward for information about us, and not only have you seen our secret supply facility and know its general location, you've gotten a close look at our ship. And our faces. All it takes is one person giving a detailed enough description to Interpol and it's game over for me and my crew the next time any of us show up in public."

Kate felt her despair growing with each word Malek said to her. "N-No, I swear I won't..." Her face crumbled, and she exhaled. "There's nothing I can say or do to change your mind, is there?"
Malek shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not."
"So, what happens now? Are you going to...kill me?" She hated having to say it out loud, but it was her last hope in appealing to whatever this ruthless man had for a conscience. The blue jay refused to even consider the alternative that Haile implied minutes ago.

The hyena rubbed his chin. "I admit, the possibility already crossed my mind. Earlier this week, someone else was in the same position as you are now. Some poor native kid stumbled on our old island base, and there was no choice but to shoot him and dump his body in the ocean."
Kate gulped and felt weak all over. So this was it, this really was the end for her...

"Or at least we would've, if we hadn't been stupid enough to keep him as a potential hostage for a bit instead of just killing him right away. Apparently someone snuck into our camp, somehow blew up some of our fuel and ammo, used the ensuing explosion as a distraction to free him, and escaped without a trace." The hyena growled in frustration, and continued. "We still don't know who did it, maybe his people on the island pulled off a rescue right under our noses; it doesn't matter. Anyway, some of our cargo got caught up in the explosion, valuable cargo that our main business partner contracted us to deliver for him." He scowled. "So as you can imagine, we're in a bit of a bind, and letting one intruder live too long has already cost us dearly. But, Haile suggested a solution to our predicament when he radioed me about you, one where you get to stay in the land of the living."

Please God no, Kate thought desperately. "What...what do you mean?" She asked, a very different kind of fear taking hold of her.
"You see, our partner is quite wealthy and powerful, but he has a major weakness for cute girls with feathers." Malek smirked at her, a scandalous smirk that made her gut sink even more. "Heh, now you're catching on. I've never been the superstitious type, but..." He took a pause to admire her beauty: "Right after we're unable to deliver all the ordered goods, fortune drops a beautiful 'jay girl right into my lap, a girl that everyone thinks is dead by now. He sometimes contracts us to deliver these high class avian call girls to keep him company, but they never stay for more than a few months at a time before moving onto their next client. Now we have a chance to offer him a, well, more permanent arrangement to salvage our situation with him."

So there it was, laid out right in front of her. "You..." Her fists balled in rage. "You're really going to sell me as a slave to some pervert?" Kate's feathers stood at edge, she was shaking from anger and fear at the same time, threatening to overwhelm her. 

"Oh, don't look at me like that. For starters, he may be a lot of things, but he's no pervert. All those call girls I mentioned have nothing but good things to say about him whenever we pick them up again." Malek grinned lasciviously. "Real good. He's definitely not bad looking either, and he's also very wealthy. If he does decide to keep you I'm sure he'll take good care of you. Frankly, most people in your position don't get anywhere near as good a deal as this. You should consider yourself very lucky."

"I don't care if he's the richest man in the world, I won't do it!" She screamed at him. 
"Actually, one day he might be. Anyway, it'll be at least half a day before we arrive at his private island, enough time for you to think on it."
"I...I'd rather die." Kate protested, her voice now weaker, and she knew she didn't sound convincing to anyone, least of all to herself. 

Malek raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? So if I ordered these two to take you outside and shoot you right now, you're saying you'd find that preferable?" He said dryly, gesturing at Ed and Barrett. Kate said nothing, her words failing her again. 

"Yeah, I thought so. Those might be brave words, but really, life is nothing you should consider throwing away so easily. Especially not the kind of life our associate can give you. Like I said, most people who get trafficked, for sex or otherwise, don't end up with anywhere near as good of an outcome as this. So stop whining like the spoiled American brat that you are and learn to appreciate the second chance you're getting. Like it or not, your life ended the moment you were stupid enough to get drunk and fall off a cruise ship; the fact that you're still breathing is nothing less than an act of God, fortune or whatever you may believe in. Both for yourself and for me and my crew. So you damn well better hope he wants you, because he's the only one we can trust to keep you quiet about our activities here. And if he doesn't, well, the only way this ends is with you floating in the ocean with a bullet in your head." He looked down at her, dead serious.

Whatever remained of Kate's bravado deflated completely with Malek's spiel, and she slouched miserably before the man who had already sealed her fate, one way or the other.
"But I wouldn't worry too much about that. Like I said, he's got a big weakness for women who look like you. It shouldn't take much to convince him to buy you, especially since..." His gaze wandered from his face to her body. "...you're already bound to make an excellent first impression, wearing that." He said with a chuckle.

Kate gritted her beak. "Can I at least get something decent to wear, in the meantime?" She asked, sounding a bit more forceful than she intended, Malek's reassurance that she probably wasn't going to die after all giving her a sliver of confidence.
Malek laughed: "You're in no position to request anything from me. Besides, we don't have any clothing that would fit a little thing like you." He turned to his subordinates: "Ed, return to your duties. Barrett, find her a place to stay, then stand guard over her until we arrive at our destination."
"Aye, captain." Replied Barrett. "Smart choice." He added, giving Ed the side eye. His partner scowled, then turned and stormed out of the office.
"C'mon, you." The buffalo said simply, grabbing Kate's arm again and guiding her out of the office, and the blue jay numbly complied, still unable to believe this was really happening.




The door closed behind her with a very audible sound. It was clear that the wood was just a cover and underneath lay impenetrable steel. Not that she considered herself strong enough to break through any kind of door, anyway. And Barrett would be standing guard on the other side, so what was the point?
It took the avian a moment to gather her composure. Where had they brought her? The room wasn't huge, it held a billiard table but one that was missing the balls and cue. A few plastic chairs were pushed into a corner. There were a number of wooden boxes stacked against the wall as well. The once luxurious red carpet was now worn and dirty. This clearly used to be some kind of rec room, but apparently the pirates now used it as a storage space. Aside from the spotlights in the ceiling, some light fell in through small scuttles. Far too small for her to crawl through them. Still, Kate inspected them immediately, finding them securely locked. At least it was warm down here, she thought resignedly. 

She had the room thoroughly inspected within a few minutes. The boxes really were all empty and she failed to find anything she could use as makeshift clothing to cover up her exposed body. Finally, she sank down onto the sofa and started crying. Why did this have to happen to her? Part of her couldn't shake the feeling that Malek was right, that she brought this on herself, that she should be grateful to still be alive and apparently bound for someplace nice and that she should stop complaining about her fate when countless others have it far worse than her, but at the same time she knew she had every right to be scared and angry about all of this, that being sold as a sex slave was wrong no matter the conditions, that the fact that these pirates had no choice did nothing to change the fact that being forced to choose between getting raped by stranger and death is never a good outcome. Yet what else could she do? Taking the easy way out simply wasn't an option, even if she had the means she was still too scared to take her own life. So it seems there was no choice but to become this wealthy man's personal "call girl," then...The blue jay took a deep breath, and, weighing her options, decided she would wait and see exactly what was in store for before she made any more decisions. Maybe this mysterious man really would treat her well and she'd get used to life with him, as unbelievable as it sounded. Well, if it was even marginally more enjoyable than having sex with Samuel then maybe it wouldn't be so bad...wait, what the hell was she thinking?!

She wiped her eyes dry as she heard the key inside the lock of her prison being turned. The young woman stood up, wanting to at least give the impression of being a strong and defiant opponent to whomever would enter, even if deep down she felt like anything but. 
It was Haile, the battle hardened lynx. Well, at least it wasn't Ed or any of those assholes from the deck...He stepped in, nodding impassively at her. She tried to ignore him staring at her body for a moment. In her attempt to appear strong, she had forgotten how exposed and vulnerable she was to everyone's gaze, but the man quickly forced his eyes up to her face. He was carrying something, and for a moment Kate thought it was new clothes, then she realized with disappointment that it looked more like a heap of folded towels: "Alright sweetheart, time to get yourself cleaned up. Captain's orders."
She shot him an incredulous look.

"Come now, you don't want to run around looking as if you had been swimming in the ocean for hours, right? You may be a looker, but it's hard to ignore how messy your feathers have gotten with saltwater and who knows what else."
"Why should I do that?" Kate dared to ask, hating the idea of having to prepare herself for something like this.
Haile sighed exasperatedly: "Listen, Mister Jahandar is a really powerful and really dangerous person. And let me tell you, after we messed up our current task, we're in enough trouble already. Offering you is our best, and maybe only, chance to save face with him. If you do anything to screw this up, we won't show you mercy." He paused and looked at her for a moment: "Believe it or not, I'm trying to help you out here, so the least you can do is cooperate. If Jahandar likes what he sees, you'll stand a better chance of him taking you in. Which, as I'm sure the captain told you, is the only way you get to stay alive."

Kate's shoulders sagged, then she nodded.
"Good answer. Now come with me." He said, and she followed the pirate through the ship to what looked like the spa area. Again, it seemed as if some parts of it had been used for storage purposes while another had been the sleeping place for some of the crew. Still, there was a large shower, large enough for a small group of people. Haile gestured at a few bottles of shower gel, some soap and shampoo. "There's also some brushes and self-care items for your species in the cabinets, make sure you're properly groomed and presentable by the time I come back. I'll give you some privacy." He said, dropping the towels on nearby bench, and left. 

The spa had larger windows, being one deck higher up in the ship, the glass being built to withstand rough weather, so there was little chance of breaking through even if it was a viable avenue of escape. Her thoughts drifted back to Malek and Haile's words. Who exactly was this Jahandar? She tried to remember names she had heard in the past, but she had never been too interested in foreign business so it didn't ring a bell. Even these ruthless, amoral pirates seemed to fear him, and she was apparently exactly the kind of woman whose company he enjoyed, so how could she expect him to help her get back home instead of holding her captive? If he really was as rich and powerful as she was led to believe, he could effortlessly keep her hidden from the world for the rest of her life if he wanted to, and she was helpless, unarmed and had nothing to bargain with him...nothing except, perhaps, her body, she realized despondently. Turning the water on, Kate looked around, making sure that no one was watching, then she pulled off her top and slipped out of her bikini briefs, and started washing away the salt and the dirt from her soft feathers.

Though the shower was really refreshing and helped ease her tense muscles, she cleaned herself without any joy. Was she really going to become a sex slave? That should by all rights be a thing of the past, just like...pirates, she thought glumly. Besides, she had always known that it still happened all over the world, even in her own country...it just never occurred to her that it might ever happen to her, yet here she was, all the safety and security she took for granted meaning nothing after falling off the Fauna Star and getting stranded in a dangerous, uncaring world where only the strong survive and the weak get preyed upon. She had no doubt that even to this day, at least in certain parts of the world, powerful men could get away with having a harem of some kind or another, and this Jahandar person was apparently no exception, if his supposed indulgence in avian call girls was any indication. Who knows how many women that billionaire had slept with over the years? Would she really stand out to him enough to make him buy her and save her life, when he could have any girl he wanted on a whim? Sure, she had an attractive enough body but that was nothing extraordinary, not if she was just the latest in a long line of good looking feathered women who warmed his bed. What species was he anyway? She hadn't asked about that, and it only now dawned her that given the way Malek talked about his preference for feathers like it was something noteworthy, he probably wasn't even an avian at all. She'd never been with a mammal, reptile or amphibian in her life, even prior to marrying the fellow blue jay Samuel her few boyfriends were all songbirds like her...
	
Stepping out of the shower, Kate dried herself off with the towels Haile had left behind, then, wrapping the largest one around her slender body, she sat down in front of a mirror and started drying herself off further with a blow dryer. Just like Haile said, in the nearby cabinet she found a jar containing caring oil made specifically for feathers; of course it made sense that this ship might have it since there were avians in the crew, but it still felt bizarre how well she was being accommodated considering...everything. Dipping her fingers in, she carefully applied it to the larger feathers on her forearms, legs and head, renewing the protective layer and adding to the shimmering shine, a routine she was well familiar with, but doing so in this environment made it feel almost unnatural. With a special brush, she arranged her shorter downy feathers again. She skipped the care for her claws; even though there was polish for that, her feet were clean enough and she didn't want to put too much effort into her appearance like she was just a piece of meat up for auction.

It was weird, she enjoyed seeing herself clean and well-kempt in the mirror, but then again, she had done this for a very, very wrong purpose. Her conflicting thoughts about all this were understandable and she had a weird taste in her mouth and felt like she had a pit in her stomach, knowing that all this was to just make her more desirable to a man she'd soon be forced to have sex with. Still, at some point she'd have to leave the spa again to face what these people had planned for her. The blue jay retrieved her bikini and put it back on, still incensed that this was her only real clothing. She thought about wrapping one of the towels around her body for some more modesty, but then a rack with some simple-looking bathrobes on the opposing wall caught her eye. Exhaling in relief, she strode over to it, grabbed one of the robes and slipped it on and fastened it tightly; it was of course much too big for her, the baggy fabric swallowing up her petite frame and reaching down well below her knees, but she was immensely grateful to finally be decently covered up again. She could only hope the pirates wouldn't object to her taking one of their robes.

A short time later, Haile returned and sized her up, seeming to nod in approval, and Kate was relieved that he didn't seem to take issue with her attire. "Alright, you look good to go. It'll still be a bit, I'm told we won't arrive at our destination until late afternoon. I'll bring you back to your quarters." Haile told her and led her back to her room. Her prison, more like it.

Once again, Kate was left with only her thoughts, slowly, realization of what was about to happen to her sank in and a feeling of dread filled her. She had no idea who this Mister Jahandar was, but apparently he was one of the richest men on the planet, so he would likely be older than her, maybe even twice her age. And usually no one gets that far in the wider world without being a ruthless, greedy person. She shivered at the thought being at the mercy of such a man, he would have the power to do whatever he wanted to her and there'd be nothing she could do about it, Malek's reassurances that she'd be treated well doing little to comfort her from that cold, hard fact. Whatever he wanted her to do, she would just have to keep her head down and endure it, until she could find a way out of captivity at some point and escape...even though the fact that she was apparently going to a private island owned by him would make that exceedingly difficult, she thought with dismay. Still, if she could somehow get out and reach a police station somewhere, these pirates and their rich business partner would be screwed...that is, if the police weren't corrupt and in this man's pocket, and if that were the case, she'd be the one that would be screwed. An image of her being escorted back to an angry, powerful man who would punish her for defying him came to her mind as she sat on the sofa. She pulled her legs against her body, holding herself, crying softly.

Her tears ran out before long, she lost track of time and only was brought back from her dark thoughts when she heard activity on deck. Men were rushing from one side to another, commands were shouted. Maybe the boat had caught the attention of the police? Or military? But, while loud, there was no sign of fear or urgency in the shouted commands. A while later and she felt the boat slowing down and turning. There was a slight bump, metal rattling, a second bump and then the boat had stopped completely.

"We're here." Haile said as he opened the door: "Maybe you want to refresh yourself first?" He asked upon seeing the forlorn blue jay.
Kate nodded but all the delays didn't help, she had to face her fate. When the two arrived on deck not long after, Malek was already waiting for them. He stepped up to her. "Well, you look in way better shape than when I last saw you. And you seemed to have accepted your situation, that's a good sign. Though I should warn you that if all goes as planned, I will be taking that robe back. It's property of my crew, after all." He grinned, and Kate said nothing, just wanting this to be over with.
Malek continued: "Alright, let's go now, and hope this meeting goes well." 

Kate only now looked over the railing of the ship. They had docked at a small quay, beyond that, she saw a row of palm trees. A road led through these and towards a huge white mansion. The building looked modern and very, very expensive. A series of interconnected one- or two-story buildings with flat roofs of red tile, large windows and clear lines made it look sophisticated and stylish. She made out a huge swimming pool with azure water, neat resting places surrounded by beautiful potted plants. An outdoor bar and much more to offer the inhabitants all the luxury they needed. She didn't fail to recognize more utilitarian buildings either. They fitted in well with the style of the mansion but had smaller windows. One had a large array of antenna and satellite dishes on it, another a big, sliding door that opened towards a helipad. This place was a tropical paradise, one that Kate would be overjoyed to be visiting under normal circumstances, but of course these circumstances were anything but normal. Or good.

"Come now." Malek said, pushing Kate towards a gangway that had been rolled to the boat. At the quay she saw a number of men wearing what looked like private security firm uniforms. Two of them held rifles and looked at the pirates as if they didn't trust them as far as they could throw a car. All of the guards were felines of various kinds, mostly housecats, Kate noticed. She felt a quick tingle rushing over her spine. Carnivores. Their wild ancestors had hunted hers and even though they were far from those times evolutionary, there was still that lingering fear left in her people's subconscious. 

Accompanied by two of the guards, Kate, Malek and Haile made their way to one of the main buildings on what seemed to be a small island. The captain seemed to know the way but if Kate wasn't mistaking, he also was uncomfortable seeing his business partner.

They stepped into the cool and relatively dark entrance hall. 
"Ah, Captain Malek. I have already announced your arrival, Mister Jahandar is waiting for you." A mid-aged feline said, barely raising her head from her monitor. Only as she noticed the robe-clad Kate did she seem to be curious for a brief moment, before turning back to her work like nothing was out of the ordinary. So, it seemed like a female avian being brought in by the pirates was common enough occurrence to be unremarkable here. Another confirmation that she was just Mister Jahandar's latest "prey," if he was also a feline like his employees here.

Her mouth felt dry and her heart beat violently as the sliding doors opened and they entered the huge office that lay beyond that. At first, Kate's attention was caught by the artificial waterfall in the middle of the room. From the ceiling, a curtain of water streamed down into a basin in which colorful fishes swam in circles. Malek took her by her shoulder and led her around that attraction. Finally, in front of a large aquarium with exotic saltwater fishes, she saw the owner of this island. His heavy wooden desk with ornate carvings stood in sharp contrast to the modern surroundings, but her attention was immediately drawn to the tall tiger in a blue business suit sitting behind it. He had broad shoulders, and deep yellow eyes that seemed to pierce through her. Bright orange fur with black stripes in stark contrast to the pure white around his muzzle. Despite her feelings about all this, Kate couldn't help but stare at him awestruck. She had seen tigers in person before, but never this up close and she couldn't deny that he was a handsome specimen indeed, maybe even beautiful, his fur patterns almost seeming like a work of art and complementing his strong facial features...wait, was she really thinking this way about the man she was about to be sold as a slave to? That wasn't right at all!
The way the feline sat there showed how he dominated the situation. He didn't stand up as Malek approached him, though his eyes lingered on Kate curiously for a few moments before addressing his charge. 

"Ah, Captain. You are overdue." He said in deep, rumbling voice with an accent that sounded vaguely Indian, a voice that sounded equal parts alluring and intimidating to her. The fact that he didn't start by asking about her was further proof of what she'd been told about his habits...
"I'm sorry, Mister Jahandar. We ran into some...complications, I'm afraid." Malek replied cautiously.
The tiger nonchalantly looked at some papers in front of him: "Yes, I already know about that."
"You do?" It seemed as if Malek bit his tongue as soon as the words were out. 

"Yes, of course I do. How could I not? You know full well I have my sources. That big fire on the coast of Tuvalu was all over the local news this week. The very same island that you agreed to pick up my latest covert shipment for delivery." He glared at Malek. "And the French patrol boat sent to investigate found traces of that little makeshift secret port you told me you had set up there. So, explain yourself."

Malek sighed. "Well, long story short, someone broke into our camp there and set fire to it. We think it was some of the natives who were searching for one of their own who wandered too close to our operation. They blew up some oil drums and fled before we could catch them, and...unfortunately, some of your cargo was caught in the fire and completely burned out. Two containers, to be precise. Needless to say, we had to leave as soon as possible before any authorities arrived, and there was no choice but to abandon anything that couldn't be saved." He paused. "I'm sorry, Mister Jahandar."

The tiger growled in annoyance. "I must say, this level of incompetence from you surprises me, Captain Malek." He said, emphasizing the word 'captain.' "In all the years you've worked for me, not once has anything like this happened. The fact that you run such a tight business meant I could always count on you, and now you tell me this deal will fall through because your security was no match for a few Pacific Islanders. You know that I've been setting up this transaction for quite a while now, right?"

"Yes, and I take full responsibility for this...error." Malek replied, and Kate could tell he sounded genuinely apologetic, though he didn't seem the least bit nervous. Maybe because he knew he had an enticing fig leaf for this fiasco in the form of her...

"But, we were able to recover all the containers, damaged or not, and the remaining ones are waiting for pickup on the abandoned offshore platform as we speak. As for what was left behind on the island, we made sure it was nothing that could be traced back to us, or to you. By now we're certain nobody followed us and operations are running smoothly again." Malek explained.

Jahandar shook his head: "Still, the loss of even two of those containers is a major blow. You want me to tell this to my partners, to my finance providers?" Kate studied his body language, and she could tell that despite his irritation he seemed just as sophisticated and professional as Malek was, if not moreso. Which was a good sign, if she really was going to be staying with him from now on. All she could do was pray that he'd be as well mannered with her in private as he was in public...

"Again, Mister Jahandar, you have my apologies. But it's out of my hands now, and all I can do is promise that it won't happen again. We've known each other for years, I've never let you down before, right? I will make up for it."

Jahandar stood up and walked over to the aquarium, turning his back to the pirate, showing how little he had to fear him: "Hmph, that won't be so easy. You'd best be more vigilant from now on. I'm only giving you a second chance because of how reliable you've been in the past, and how difficult it would be to find another dependable courier for my most sensitive backroom deals." He paused to observe the hypnotic spectacle of exotic fishes gracefully gliding through the water, and in the illumination of the aquarium his striped feline face managed to look even more beautiful, his silken fur practically glowing...Kate's face heated up, and she hastily averted her gaze. Dammit, why did he have to have this effect on her?

The tall feline turned around, and finally fixated his gaze on Kate, causing her to flinch in fear, and yet at the same time make her heart skip a beat... "And what's with her? At first I was wondering if I'd forgotten about having you make another escort delivery, but now I'm certain I didn't the last time we spoke. Though..." He stepped closer to the robe-clad Kate and looked directly down at her with a captivated expression, and the blue jay's heart was hammering in her chest now as the powerfully-built tiger towered over her. Though she wasn't certain if it was from fear, or something else... "I must say, she's easily one of the best I've seen yet." He smiled for the first time, and reached over and gently stroked her cheek, his soft touch causing Kate's heart to feel like it was bursting out of her chest now. "Tell me, little one, what's your name?"

"Ugh...I...Um..." Kate's knees were shaking and her throat felt like it was closed off, unable to form words, the man's sudden focus on her catching her off guard, his formidable presence and alien good looks making her feel things she now was certain wasn't entirely fear.
Malek spoke up again. "Actually, she doesn't work for any escort service. I'm hoping maybe you'll accept her as compensation for the botched deal, part of me making up for it, as I said I would." He sounded more hopeful now: "Her name's Kate, and we brought her here not just as some temporary entertainment for you, but for something more...permanent."

Kate shook at his words, now that they had been spoken, these words had so much more weight and it seemed to push her down...even though now that she was finally face to face with this billionaire, her old fears were all but gone now and replaced by something else, much to her disbelief.
Jahandar withdrew his hand and he turned to Malek suspiciously. "Explain this."
Malek inhaled, and Kate realized the sales pitch he was about to give would decide her fate. "We found her on the offshore platform this morning. She had fallen off a cruise ship from America and was lost in the ocean; she managed to swim to the platform and climb onto it last night. She is surely assumed dead by now, and she has gotten a good look at our entire operation, including the very same cargo containers meant for your enterprise, so that makes her a witness I'd have no choice but to dispose of for both our sakes. But..." He smiled at the increasingly incredulous-looking tiger. "...first we wanted to see if you'd like to keep her for yourself. As a peace offering, if you will, for the incident at Tuvalu." Kate flinched at his words, yet she knew they were the only thing that would keep her from getting killed. 

Jahandar suddenly looked furious. "I...She...You...Is this your idea of a joke? You kidnap some beautiful western woman and try to sell her to me? What were you cretins thinking?!"
Kate flinched at his outburst, her old fears resurfacing at his sudden reluctance. If he didn't want her, that would mean the pirates had no use for her, and would most likely execute her. Dammit, she shouldn't have to hope to be sold to this man like a piece of property! And yet that was the only thing standing between her and - wait, did he really just call her beautiful? Samuel had never done that...

"For God's sake, we didn't kidnap her, Mister Jahandar! I told you, we found her after she fell off a ship! She'd be dead by now if she hadn't swam to the platform."
"Even so, this is nothing like the escorts you've delivered to me before. Did you even consider what could happen if I'm discovered to be involved in trafficking the kind of person whose disappearance might make international news? I could lose everything!" The initial fury had faded from his voice, and he was now talking to the pirate like a parent lecturing a child.
"Yes, we did. But as far as the rest of the world is concerned, she's lost in the ocean. We wouldn't be making this offer otherwise! No one knows what happened to her or where she is, she'll most certainly be declared dead soon if she hasn't already. Letting her go isn't an option, we can't afford the risk that she might identify us to the authorities. We know we can trust you to keep her quiet about us. If you won't take her, assuming we can't find some other safe place to sell her to we'll just have to dispose of her. I don't want to have to kill her, but we will if there's no choice. And..."
Kate shook in fear, she had never assumed she'd ever be in a situation where here life was decided upon by someone like this. Was there anything she could do? Should she say something, plead for Jahandar to take her in, promise to be his bed warmer? Could she even bring herself to do something like that?
"...I'm guessing you don't want us to kill her, either." Malek finished. 

Jahandar suddenly no longer looked frustrated, if anything the tiger now looked conflicted as he stared at Kate.
"I..." He began, seemingly unable to think of what to say for the first time. Kate breathed heavily, still having no courage to speak, and she realized she probably made a pitiable sight to the tall feline, like she was just on the cusp of begging for mercy.

Malek sighed beside her. "Fine. If you need some help in deciding, so be it." He turned to Haile. "Remove her robe."
"What...No!" Kate protested, finally able to speak up, and felt a surge of fear as the lynx deftly untied the sash around her waist and yanked the robe off her before she could react. The blue jay whimpered upon being suddenly exposed all over again, standing bare before the tiger in just her swimsuit, causing his eyes to go wide and his mouth slightly agape. Her mouth felt dry and her heartbeat picked up again, feeling exposed and vulnerable under his gaze, yet for some reason his dumbfounded expression at her body made her feel slightly conflicted all over again...

"In case you're wondering, no, we didn't make her wear that for you. It's all she had on when she fell off the ship." The hyena captain spoke up again. "I'm sure you agree that killing her would be a real waste. I'll say again, she's dead to the outside world, no one knows she's here and she'll be yours to keep with no consequences. I've already told her about your preference for avian girls, and she definitely doesn't want to die, so she'll be a nice and obedient partner for you."

Jahandar's mouth shut with an audible click. "You're right. It would be a waste, of course." She felt his gaze wandering over her body more closely for the first time. Again, she was reminded of her practically naked form but she kept herself from covering her body. She needed him to like her, not because she wanted this man, but to save her very life and yet, she had to finally admit that the signs of admiration in this good-looking man's gaze gave her an almost girlish excitement. 

"And you are not lying to me in any way? You will be just as doomed as I am if anyone in her country finds out she's here." His voice sounded hard as he addressed Malek again. 
"No sir, I am not that stupid. It is the truth, I swear."
The tiger turned back to Kate: "Is he telling the truth, Miss Kate?" He inquired. There was no threatening tone in his deep voice anymore, in fact it sounded surprisingly subdued. 
"I..." Kate took a deep breath, nodded slowly and found her voice. "Yes, sir. M-Mister Jahandar. Everything he says is true." 

"I see. I bet you are still in shock over all of this, but it is important that you are aware of your situation and don't do anything stupid. My compound is very secure and I don't take kindly to anyone who causes trouble in it, even a woman as beautiful as you." The tiger studied her for a moment, his harsh professional demeanor gone now and he seemed to be almost sympathetic to her. "I am sure you want to live, so will you behave if we agree upon this deal?"

Again, Kate slowly nodded. "Yes sir. I almost died yesterday, and...I have nowhere else to go. They really will kill me if you don't, well...keep me, I suppose." She bowed her head submissively, all of her old defiance gone now that she was faced with the reality of her situation. "I promise I'll stay with you and behave. I won't make trouble or try to escape or anything. Please, sir." There it was, finally resorting to pleading for her life to become this man's sex slave, this is what her life has come to. She tried hard not to start crying. 

Jahandar seemed to notice her distress, and his expression softened ever so slightly. "Alright. Understand that despite everything you and Malek just said, I am still taking a risk in letting you stay here. I won't tolerate any attempts to endanger me or my business. As long as you understand that..." He smiled and gently rested his hand on her bare shoulder, making her momentarily forget her despair and causing her heart to speed up yet again. "...we'll get along just fine."

He turned back to Malek. "Very well. For giving Miss Kate to me, I will pay you in full for our last deal despite the lost cargo, but I warn you I won't tolerate any more slipups like this. We will continue our collaboration."
Malek nodded briskly. "Thank you, Mister Jahandar. You are most gracious. I look forward to working with you again in the future." The hyena replied, sounding satisfied. He shot a grateful look at Kate, and she wasn't entirely sure how she should feel about it. Her life was spared, but she knew her old life was gone now and replaced as a life being this man's property.

The tiger was back at his desk, filling out some papers, then he tapped a button on his phone: "Miss Launders, prepare the transaction for my associate." He accented the last word almost mockingly: "Mister Malek will be leaving us shortly. Oh..." He looked over to Kate, and smiled in what seemed like admiration. "And please bring something nice to wear for my new guest that I know you saw on the way in."
There was a pause, then a female voice sounded on the other end. "Yes, Mister Jahandar. Right away."

Kate was tempted to nod towards the tall male feline to show her gratitude for him getting her something to wear, but she quickly decided against it. After all, his actions were highly immoral. If he really wanted to help her, he could call the police and have her brought back to her old life instead of keeping her as a slave. Regardless of how much that life sucked, it was still better than being a prisoner, even if it was in such luxury like the island promised.

Captain Malek gave Jahandar one last nod, and then he and Haile turned and started walking out of the office. As he passed by Kate, he gave her a satisfied smile and said, "Good luck," before he and the lynx went through the doors and closed it behind them, leaving her alone with tiger. She took a deep breath and tried to keep herself from shaking, breaking down or anything else as she observed Jahandar silently. Painfully aware she was alone in a room with him and standing before him wearing nothing but a bikini, it was only her prior observation of his behavior and her own promise to not make trouble that prevented her from sprinting through the doors and out the office right now. 

For his part, Jahandar remained where he stood and looked upon her with a smile. "Don't worry, my dear. I know you've been through a lot, but I promise as long as you behave, you will come to enjoy life here with me." He said in a smooth voice, his gaze fixated on her exposed body.
Kate exhaled, realizing that she'd been holding her breath, and said simply, "Thank you, sir," grateful that he didn't seem to be making any moves on her...yet.

A few moments of silence passed between them, and then she heard a knock on the entrance. Jahandar swiftly strode past her, around the aquarium and opened the doors enough to retrieve something being handed through them, then closed them and returned back to Kate, holding something in his hands.

"For you, my dear." He said. The young woman saw a folded square of shimmering yellow fabric in his hands. She accepted the gift and unfurled it, realizing it was a silk robe, long enough to reach her ankles and would cover her arms and shoulders completely. She hastily put it on, grateful to be covered again, the soft silk fabric feeling heavenly against her feathers and skin, nothing like the oversized rough robe she borrowed from the pirates. It fit her petite body almost perfectly, and she was surprised about the fact that the secretary had gotten her a fitting, beautiful robe so quickly. Then again, if he regularly had call girls sent to him, it made sense. She had to admit, the sun-yellow silk contrasted nicely with her blue feathers and it looked simple yet elegant, showing off just a hint of her neckline and the shimmering fabric flowing down her body, hinting her shapely figure more than accenting it, looking and feeling more like a long, concealing dress than a bathrobe.

The tiger looked at her with appreciation. Again, Kate was reminded of how big he was compared to her, and the hint of a predatory desire in his eyes made her shiver slightly. Still, he certainly didn't act threatening towards her, and his deep, full voice sounded almost gentle: "I knew you would look beautiful in proper attire, Katherine - or do you prefer Kate?"

"...Kate is fine." She replied, trying her best to sound neutral. 
"How about I give you a tour through the house? The rest of my work can wait until tomorrow, and afterwards I will treat you to dinner." He stated as if it was the most normal thing in the world. 
"If you say so." She said, forcing herself to remain steady in his presence. She had to admit, she was quite hungry, not having eaten anything since yesterday and the pirates obviously didn't bother to feed her. Her despair and fear had overshadowed any other feelings at the time but she wouldn't be able to ignore her hunger for much longer, so she had to admit she was grateful for the offer. But despite his hospitality, she knew full well what this man would likely expect of her after that dinner was concluded, so it was hard to feel too elated about being treated to what was likely a luxurious meal. 

"I understand that you are...well, concerned, but please try to give this place - and me - a chance." He smiled but without showing his teeth - was he trying to make her feel more comfortable by that? If so, she had to admit it kind of worked. He held all power in this moment, the power over her future with his money and influence but also in a very physical way, towering over her and dwarfing her petite figure, and yet still he tried reassure her. Another good sign, she supposed, enough that she decided to take a chance. 

"You do realize that I'm here against my will, right?" She tried to reason with him, even though she knew it was probably futile. "Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to you for saving my life, but do you really think it's right to keep a..." She sighed. "A slave? Because that's exactly what I'll be, if you choose to hold me here, you know."

Jahandar nodded, seemingly unmoved: "Of course, but isn't that what life is all about? Who is truly free? I grew up in the slums of a city that you most likely have never heard of. At an age of ten I had to earn money for my ill mother. I was hardly fourteen when I had to fight for the first time to protect the small shop I had built to sell used tools. I was sixteen when I had to pay danegeld to a corrupt constable to keep my scrapyard open. And a year later I had to use my influence to get rid of him. I never choose any of that, but that is where life lead me and ultimately, it led me here." He gave her a stern look. "I had to claw my way to the top, be as ruthless as possible in fighting for my position, in both legitimate business and the underworld, to ultimately get to where I am now, a place most people can only dream of. As for you, while I know you've been through a great deal in the past few days, I am also certain that you've never had to fight for your place in life like I did, judging by where you're from. And yet, by taking you for myself, I'm giving you the opportunity to share the same kind of life I had to earn in some of the harshest ways possible. You come from a vastly different background than me, yet here you are now, in the exact same place as I am." 

He smiled again, and put his hand on her shoulder. "I bought you because of your beauty, and because I would rather you not have to die, not when the chance to enjoy your pleasant company was standing right in front of me. I really do want you to stay with me for good, and I promise you will not be harmed in any way as you as long as you comply with my wishes."

"Your wishes. Which includes..." Kate gulped. "...sex, doesn't it?" She had known this all along, but she had to bring it up to Jahandar, to hear it from him directly, before she went any further with this.
The tiger chuckled deeply. "Well, of course! That much should be obvious. Many beautiful avian women like yourself have graced my bed, but you'll be the first to be staying there permanently." Kate's heart sunk, yet she knew there was nothing she could do about. She had already promised this man to be his obedient call girl in exchange for her life, she made her bed and now she must lie in it. Literally, she thought glumly.

He noticed her distress, and he put his hand under her beak and gently turned her head up to look directly at him: "Now, don't be like that, my dear Kate. I meant it when I said you wouldn't be harmed. I know how to appreciate the finer things in life. Nothing is more valuable to me than the company of a beautiful woman, you know. I promise to make tonight an experience you'll remember fondly. You may think of yourself as a slave that I'm forcing myself on, if that's what you wish, but you'll only be making things harder for yourself. I want you as a companion, not as a toy to be used and discarded as I see fit. Do you understand what I'm saying?" He said in a low voice. 

The blue jay looked up at him, unable to argue with anything he just said, and not just because she no longer had the will to resist. "I understand, Mister Jahandar. I still won't pretend I'm happy about this, because I'm not, but I have accepted it. I will be your...companion, if that's what you require of me."
He grinned, flashing his white fangs, though not in a predatory manner. In fact, him smiling like that was oddly hypnotic, even though by all rights she should be terrified of it... "That's all I ask, my dear. You will learn to enjoy my company, if you only give me a chance. Now," he held out his hand to her. "Shall we go?"

Kate looked at him impassively, and accepted the offered hand. As he started walking her through the hallways of his impressive house, his grip closed firmly around her small hand, she couldn't help but think about how soft and warm his fur felt, not unlike her own feathers yet in still different in many ways, his strong yet subdued touch making her face heat up and her heart quicken yet again. If he was having this effect on her already, she didn't dare to think about what her state would be in just a few days' time...

The mansion was even more impressive than she had imagined it to be from the first look. The large windows made every single room a light-flooded sanctuary. The interior was modern but here and there she saw hints of oriental opulence, a callback to Jahandar's origin most likely. Large dining rooms, lounges, he showed her bathrooms and entrance halls. When they walked around the main pool, they were greeted respectfully by a panther bartender cleaning a few glasses. The beautifully kept lawn, the palm trees and potted plants were tended for by at least two gardeners and every now and then, Kate saw more guards patrolling close to the shore. About the only thing she didn't get to see was any bedrooms, though she knew she'd be well acquainted with those soon enough...

The man stopped at a rose bush on the edge of the lawn, then reached down and plucked a single red flower from the edge of the green. He smiled at it, then turned to Kate. For a moment she was surprised as he reached out and placed the flower between the feathers on her head, touching her again and sending a shiver through her body. She couldn't deny that he was so careful with her. 
"It looks much better there, just adding to your beauty."

Kate looked down at the compliment, her cheeks going warm all over again. She couldn't deny that, despite technically being this man's slave, the way he was acting towards her made her feel special and appreciated, something Samuel had never done. He could do literally anything he wanted with her, even order her to his bedroom and have his way with her right now, and yet this was the first thing he chose to do.

"You know, I love this garden. Where I grew up, there was hardly any green. It's too bad I don't have enough time to personally care for it here either. But at least I was involved in designing the layout."
"You designed this place?" Kate asked in disbelief. 
"Yes. Is that really such a surprise?" He replied with a mischievous smile. 
To her it actually was. She had always expected someone who had been born poor and earned his riches had a more extroverted taste, more gold and openly displayed wealth, but here she was in this place with its reserved elegance.

"N-No. No, of course not." Kate quickly reassured him, lowering her head and kneading her hands in trepidation. 
"Heh, you need not be so nervous around me." He said in an amused voice. "Nor do you have to watch your words around me, as long as you remain respectful. I can't very well fully enjoy your company if you're always biting your tongue in fear, after all. I promised you won't be harmed here, and I meant it, my dear Kate."  

Kate swallowed and looked up at him again. Yet another good sign, that he actually valued her as a person rather than a possession, ironically treating her with more respect than Samuel ever had despite the power he held over her. If someone had told her she'd someday become a man's sex slave this would've been the last thing that came to mind... "Of course. Thank you." She said, giving him a smile that didn't feel entirely forced. 

"Mister Jahandar?" An elder tiger approached them and hinted a bow: "Dinner is ready."
"Oh, wonderful. We will be there momentarily." The other feline nodded respectfully and left. "Surely you must be hungry." He said to Kate, and the blue jay nodded.
"Y-Yes. I'm starving." She said, already feeling pangs of weakness from not having eaten all day. With that, she let the tiger guide her back into the house. As the blue jay walked, her silk robe flowing in the light breeze, she lightly touched the flower still her head feathers, the flower placed there by the man who owned her yet scarcely acted like it, feeling more conflicted than she'd ever been in her life.




With the large window front towards the sea open, Kate could hear the gentle waves caressing the shore as they sat opposing each other at the dinner table. Huge exotic leaves and flowers decorated the table as another employee poured wine into their glasses.
Jahandar lifted the goblet against the light and carefully pivoted it: "My importer said it's one of the best wines in nearly three decades." He took a sip from it and sat the glass down again: "I have to believe him, of course, since I know nothing about these things."
Kate let out a short giggle, than took a sip from her own glass. It really was a good wine, not that she was an expert, but it was better than the stuff they had on the cruise ship...weird, her time there felt so far away already.

First, salad was served: "If you are allergic to any ingredients or don't want a certain meal, my cook will happily provide an alternative. He has some experience with preparing food for your kind, as you can imagine." Jahandar explained. 
"No no, it's all perfect, Mister Jahandar." Kate said gratefully, poking into the salad with her fork.
"Please, call me Shayan."
She looked at him, should she really call him by first name? It was an additional intimacy but than again, it made them more equal right? "Shayan it is." She said with a smile and nod, getting more and more used to his presence.

The rest of the dinner was an exquisite three courses, exotic and as thoughtful arranged as the mansion itself was. Afterwards, Kate felt sated and satisfied, but not overly full as had been the case after her first meal on the ship with those plates bending from abundance.

Shayan finally stood up, bridging the distance between them with a few, determined steps. How old was this man? He couldn't be that much older than her, maybe five, ten years? Kate wondered. He couldn't have been past his thirties, definitely not too old for her. Heat rushed into her head immediately for thinking such things. Too old for what, exactly? A relationship? He had bought her as a slave! How could a loving, equal relationship possibly come from that? And yet, he still treated her with nothing but kindness and respect since she met him, more than...Samuel, dammit, her divorce already feeling like a lifetime ago. And now that their dinner was concluded and the sun was setting, he'd surely expect her to accompany him to bed, and all that entailed...well, may as well get this over with, she thought resignedly. Still, he was good looking in his suit and his voice was so nice and deep, and his strong feline features and beautiful fur patterns made him look unnervingly handsome in an alien way. She had never been with a mammal before, let alone a feline, and yet despite basically being this man's prey he seemed to be doing everything he could to make her feel like anything but.

"Shall we?" He asked with a wide smile, reaching out his strong hand for her.
Kate quickly gulped down the last portion of her wine. As she tried to get up, she felt the effect of the kicking in, making the world turn around her for a moment. Without thinking, she reached out and took his hand. His strong though not uncomfortable grip again made her skin tingle, his fur warming her feathers, his claws brushing over the back of her hand without hurting her, then he pulled her up with no effort. 

It somehow felt natural to let him lead the way. He was the owner of this place after all, he was a lot bigger and stronger than her, he was used to being in charge - and he was the male. Stupid, a woman shouldn't think this way, she didn't need a man to lead her! And still, she couldn't keep herself from letting him as they stepped out of the dining area and up a flight of stairs. She expected him to lead her towards a bedroom where her fate awaited, yet instead he guided her towards a sliding glass door that led to an outdoor patio on the second floor. The sizable area was closed off by a glass fence and surrounded by the topmost leaves of trees, red wood paneling making up the floor, and right in the middle was a large - no, a huge hot tub, steam wafting from the surface and glowing blue from the lights below the surface. The sun was nearly on the horizon at this time, bathing the area in a warm glow, with the view of the vast ocean and the islands beyond making the scene even more beautiful, more...romantic? That moment, Kate realized that there were no employees, no guards visible anywhere. She was really alone with this man, and about to have sex with him for the first time, not in bed like she had assumed, but in a luxurious hot tub, the kind only a wealthy person could afford.

For a moment she was mesmerized by the sound of the waves meeting the shore in the distance, the silhouettes of the palm trees against the dark blue sky and the overall romantic aura of this setup. When she turned around, she froze. Shayan had removed his suit jacket and unbuttoned his shirt, letting it slide from his shoulders. The sight of his strong, broad chest, the muscles under his thick fur working with every movement caught her off guard. The expression in his eyes was hard to read, maybe it was due to lighting, or maybe due to that she had never seen someone look at her like that before. He looked at her in an almost friendly, assuring way, but there lay something domineering and predatory – and lustful - in his expression as well. Then he unbuttoned his pants and with no hesitation, slid them down along with his underwear. Her heart skipped a beat. Did a man of his position find time to work out, or was he just naturally fit given his species? His hips were narrow, his abdomen flat, with straight, strong legs and she immediately caught sight of his member between his legs, and she could tell it was sizable despite not being erect yet. Yet. Now it was finally happening, the whole reason for being here. Part of her wanted to flee, though she knew she couldn't, yet part of her was mesmerized by the sight of the now nude tiger standing in front of her, tall, strong, and now that she could see his pelt in full, a bright orange and white coat of soft fur with dark stripes gracefully crossing all over his body, he really did look like a work of art. 

Kate caught herself staring, a part of her wanted to drink in the alluring sight, wanted to see more of him and she was shocked by this side coming out so forcefully as she had never had these feelings before. Samuel had always left much to be desired, sure, but had she really been that unsatisfied in her marriage the whole time? She had never felt like it, but how could she if she hadn't ever learned that she could feel such desire. And still, it was wrong, even though Shayan was a handsome man, she was here against her will, held captive by him and treated as more like a pet than a free individual; a very well taken care of pet who's treated with affection, granted, but a pet nonetheless. And now, he wanted to have sex with her regardless of her wishes in the matter, and she had no choice but to comply. The very idea made her grimace inside, though she was careful to keep her outward expression neutral in front of him.

Still, she didn't move, just looked up at the much taller man as he stepped forward. His strong hands were on her shoulders and she felt as if all strength would fade from her as he caressed her feathers through the robe. Then, he unfastened the waistband and slipped the robe off her shoulders. Kate inhaled sharply as it fell to the ground and pooled around her feet, preventing a fearful sound from escaping from her mouth. Now she stood before him in just her black bikini, her bare feathers exposed to Shayan's gaze, the black fabric being only barrier between her most intimate parts and him.

For a moment, the tiger stared at her body appreciatively, then his hands went to her bikini straps. Kate shivered and whimpered slightly as he reached behind her neck and untied the straps, and gingerly pulled the top off her chest. She had known this was coming, but it didn't make it any easier. Now her breasts were fully bared to the man who owned her, the man she inexplicably felt attracted to and yet at the same time fearful of. But again, there was nothing she could do about it, so the blue jay woman resisted the urge to cover her chest and instead looked up at him in apprehension, doing her best to breathe steadily.

She expected Shayan to put his hands on her chest right away, but all he did was stand back and admire her. "You are beautiful, Kate." He complimented her with a warm smile, a smile that made her feel weak not from fear or humiliation, but from something else she couldn't quite identify...or maybe she just didn't want to admit the truth about how this man made her feel.

With both her robe and top on the floor, the blue jay now standing before him in nothing but her bikini briefs, Shayan went down onto his knees. She felt the tiger's hot breath against her bare, vulnerable stomach, warming the feathers and skin underneath and making her tremble. His hands rested on her bare waist and traveled down her flanks in no hurry, clawed fingers tracing through her blue feathers before grabbing both sides of her briefs and travelling further downward, following the arch of her hips and removing her last piece of clothing.

Kira whimpered slightly upon feeling the tiger pull her bikini bottom down her legs, leaving her just as nude as he was, her most intimate area completely exposed to him and right in front of his face. It took all her willpower to prevent herself from covering her crotch with her hands. She didn't even dare to breathe, what was he going to do? Finger her? Lick her? Take her right there and then? She was completely at his mercy, and while it terrified her, it was also strangely thrilling. Without further action, the tiger stood back up, looking Kate into the eyes for a moment: "You are indeed a beauty." He commented in his deep, silken voice. Looking down, she saw his length was already erect, sleek, red and large, considerably larger than...she immediately pushed the thought out of her mind, the last thing she needed was to be thinking about ex-husband at a time like this. Then Shayan took her hand again and led her into the tub. She could do nothing but comply, for she was helpless, at his mercy, and completely naked...naked, except for the flower still in her head feathers, she remembered, the flower he had placed there as a gesture of affection, serving as a reminder that she should have nothing to fear from him, even though fear was all she was feeling in this moment.

The bubbling water was hot and it tingled on her skin as she stepped in. Luckily the temperature was set just right to make it bearable and her body adjusted to it, feeling increasingly enjoyable. She choose a spot opposing Shayan and slipped into the tub deep enough so that only the approach her breasts were still visible. The intentions of the man were very obvious, but she wouldn't make it look as if she were offering herself to him, and she stared at him silently, the tall, broad-shouldered tiger looming before her, eagerly looking upon her with a mischievous glint in his eyes, and the blue-feathered avian suddenly felt like captured prey all over again, breathing heavily as she awaited the inevitable.

Suddenly, he reached out and his hand closed around her slender arm. Not violently, but with strength that didn't allow for any resistance. 
Kate gulped and stared at him fearfully. "Shayan, please, I..." she started, her heart pounding in her chest, feeling so small and vulnerable in his presence, yet there was also something else growing inside her, a desire for this handsome, beautiful feline that she couldn't quite bring herself to admit.

"The time for talking, is over, my dear." He said with a smile, pulling on Kate's arm forcefully but not violently, yanking her over to the shallower end of the tub right in front of him. He put his other hand under her arm and she could feel his long tail coiling around her left leg.  In the span of a moment, the strong tiger pulled her body against him, both arms wrapped around her in a tight embrace, one hand on her back and the other holding her head in place against his chest. His silken fur was enmeshed in her sleek feathers, his muscular body pressing tightly against her petite form, his warmth adding to the heat of the water. She could feel his hard member resting against her abdomen, her breasts flushed against his ribcage, her head resting against his strong chest and buried in the pure white fur. The blue jay was shaking now, terrified at being suddenly pulled into such an intimate embrace with such a fearsome predator, yet deep down some part of her couldn't deny that she was enjoying this, enjoying him, his warmth, his fur, his body. Never had she been embraced by a man like this, especially not such a good looking man. Still, she couldn't overcome her fear at being so vulnerable and her body so forcefully treated against her will. She was hyperventilating now, and she instinctively tried to struggle, tried to break herself free and get away from him, knowing this was all wrong no matter how good it felt. 

"Shh, don't try to fight it, my dear Kate. I want you more than anything else in the world right now." Shayan whispered in her ear, his strong arms effortlessly holding her in place against his bare body. Kate thrashed and struggled with all her might, splashing the warm water all around her, but it was no use, the mammal's strength was far too much for her to overcome. Yet despite her fear, she had to acknowledge that she was enjoying this immensely...that he was making her enjoy it, her will eroding as her strength faded. Being with him had been the only way to save her life, she knew that and yet she still fought on instinct against this mighty carnivore like the helpless prey animal she was, but there was nothing she could do, and before long she felt herself go weak as her will to struggle faded. He was her only connection in this strange new world she was thrust into, her only hope for survival, her salvation, and so she gave in, going still against him and savoring the indescribable warmth he was forcing on her. One of his hands stroked through her head feathers while the other ran down the groove of her spine, fingers tracing through the blue feathers on her back, then further down, running over and under her tail feathers before ending up on her firm behind, the strong hand squeezing and caressing all over her left butt cheek, sending sensations through her body that she hadn't experience in who knows how long. His tail still coiled tightly around her leg, her head still resting in the snow white fur of his muscular chest, the much smaller avian woman gasped and panted at being treated like this, all of it feeling so wrong yet so nice. 

How much time they remained like this, Kate didn't know, it was all a blur to her. She shivered being delivered like this to a predator, to man whose desires she'd have no choice but to slake if she wanted to stay alive. What was he going to do? Would he try to kiss her? Caress her? Claim her? But for a while, nothing happened, he just remained holding her tightly against him in silence, so eventually the blue jay relaxed, resigned to her fate. As time progressed, she could feel more, process the sensations better. His fur was so different from her - or Samuel's - feathers, but in a very pleasant way. His erection was still pressing against her abdomen, the feeling of that keeping her body tense, her heart beating more quickly and she told herself that it was out of fear, though she knew that this was at best only part the reason. In shock, she realized that her hand had somehow ended up on his chest and she quickly pulled it back. The movement was violent enough that it moved her entire body away ever so slightly, only for her to feel his embrace on her tightening, him pulling her back against his body even stronger. His right hand, having been firmly grasping her behind the whole time, let go and wandered higher until his fingers brushed against the flank of her left breast, sending powerful, confusing emotions through her. 
"What are you-" She started. 

"Shh." He interrupted, then leaned in, his other hand guiding her head to look up at him. He kissed her forehead, then his long tongue was suddenly licking over her beak. It was shocking, but she didn't dare to resist, instead she breathed in deep, the sensation of the raspy feline tongue running over the smooth black surface making her senses tingle in ways she didn't know were possible. Then, to her surprise, he planted his muzzle right on her beak in an attempt to kiss her. She resisted for a moment, then gave in, opening her beak and letting his tongue enter her mouth. The blue jay had never even kissed another mammal before, having only known the hard feel of another avian beak against her own; this was something completely different, the feel of a mammal's soft lips and the thin fur covering his muzzle against the hardness of her open beak, something she didn't even think could be possible, yet it felt so good. Kate moaned into the kiss, letting his tongue intertwine with her own, savoring the feeling of his alien feline muzzle warming her wide open beak, and she closed her eyes and went limp at this new, blissful sensation. 

Their shared kiss made time pass by in the blink of an eye, but then Kate suddenly felt his left hand touching her thigh underneath the waterline. Soon his right hand wandered a little further inward, encompassing her breast, squeezing firmly but not painfully, no, it was as if he knew exactly what he was doing and likely, he did, Kate realized. Her nipples grew erect almost immediately and she felt a rush of pleasure as he took one small nub between his fingers to play with it. With effort, she kept herself from letting out a moan. He had shifted slightly, kissing her neck, then her shoulder, then the top of her chest. And when she felt one of his massive fangs brushing against her skin, Kate couldn't keep herself from gasping. 

"I have always admired you avians, your feathers, so soft and yet so resilient. Maybe it's rooted in our instincts to want to touch you." Shayan commented, his own voice trembling just slightly from his own excitement. 
"Please, can't we just...I mean, we barely just met, and..." Kate pleaded softly, shifting her position, wondering herself if she really did want to get away from him at all. 

"Why wait? No, you are mine, but I promise you will enjoy it if you give me a chance." He replied, his tongue caressing the small depression between her shoulder and collarbone. Kate seemed to melt against him. Not thinking of it, she parted her legs slightly as his left hand wandered further up her leg, soon caressing her inner thighs. Suddenly he shifted, his lips engulfing her left nipple. And again she felt his teeth against the soft flesh of her breast, kissing and licking her bare bosom. Why was this so exciting? Kate clenched her beak, still a soft gasp could be heard as he sucked while his hand eagerly fondled her right breast. His left hands index and middle finger brushing against the outline of her sex, soon his palm was caressing her labia. She really should do something to stop him, but she couldn't. Had she been craving to be used like this all along? No, she wasn't the kind of slutty call girl that he got sent over regularly, she was a captive of this man and still, she couldn't stop the pleasure from mounting, she couldn't stop anticipating the moment when he would penetrate her, despite having feared that moment up until now.

She let out a gasp when he abandoned her breast, the sudden decrease in stimulation making her body crave for his attention and she didn't have the strength left to fight down her own protest. Strong hands grabbed her waist and pulled her into a more upright pose. Looking down, she could see him kissing his way down between the valley of her bosom: "What are you doing?" She whimpered.
He looked up briefly, extending his tongue to take a slow, long lick, traveling down her body instead of speaking. It felt so nice, and thrilling. Why had her husband never done anything this to her? Maybe things would have taken a different turn if he had, she wouldn't be here now, and - she writhed around, feeling his hands starting to travel over her body underwater as his kisses and small nibbles went lower, his tongue flicking into her navel several times before travelling lover, exploring the softness of her flat belly. The way she was now sitting made the water only rise up to her abdomen so at least, her privates were safe...though maybe safe wasn't the right term, as she couldn't deny the craving for his attention. 

Shayan suddenly inhaled deep, then with a splashing sound, he dove down underneath the water, forcibly shoving his muzzle right in between her thighs. Kate's eyes shot open wide at this unexpected move. His hands again were on her hips and then she felt his muzzle pressing hard against her crotch, brushing down. He extended his tongue and flicked over her sex, pushing with determination, soon finding her little clit to send a ripple of pleasure through her that made Kate moan out aloud. 

He was so determined, so, for lack of a better term, predatory, and it felt so good. Reluctantly but willingly, she spread her legs wider and shoved her hips forward to meet his tongue. Again, his sharp teeth brushed against the thin feathers of her submerged pubic area and vulnerable inner thighs, and though it caused her to momentarily panic the feeling was almost as thrilling as his caresses. She allowed herself to look at the scenery, his broad back in front of her, his head between her spread legs, the beautiful sunset and even sky against the distant ocean barely registering in her mind against what she was experiencing. She remembered hearing somewhere that tigers were rather good swimmers, maybe they could also hold their breath for quite a while? Would it be enough to bring her to climax before he had to resurface for air? It felt wrong to even think about this. It felt like ages since she last reached her peak in bed with Samuel and for a while after her divorce she had thought that she would never again get to feel that way, but from the first moment Shayan had touched her most intimate region, she had known that wasn't the case. 

His tongue flicked playfully, teasingly over her sex, caressing gently, then again driving between her swollen lips, making her gasp. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly by now and her legs twitched uncontrollably. She reached out with one hand, stroking his shoulder. His fur felt different when wet, smooth and slick, but in a very pleasant way. Lips closed around her clit, sucking gently, while his left hand wandered up her chest again. She pushed her chest out to meet his hand, his thumb brushing against her nipple, groping and squeezing her breast, making her see stars as he pressed her against the wall of the tub. His right hand slipped underneath her, adding to the pleasure as he stroked her. 

Already she felt a flood rising inside of her, her muscles tensing. He stopped sucking, his broad, raspy tongue licking all over her sex a few more times, before flicking playfully over her little bud. She couldn't hold back anymore. With a faint moan she reached her first peak of the night, shaking and twitching, the water splashing around her as she came.

How long her peak took, Kate couldn't tell, but when she came back to her senses, panting wildly, it was like a revelation to her. She had never known that she could feel like this, that it would have needed just the right man to grant her such pleasure. She felt lightheaded and excited as she looked at Shayan's face, his striped feline features dripping with water as he smiled brightly at her. He had taken her body, seemingly against her will, yet was just so handsome, and he made her feel so good... 

She didn't even think of resisting when he moved in to fully claim her body. Quite contrary, as he lifted her hips up with his hand still underneath her, she wrapped her legs around his. They looked each other in the eyes, then his lips met her beak and their tongues intertwined again. She felt his hard member brushing against her thighs, need and desire almost driving her mad. Then his tip parted her labia and sank deep into her wet, velvety depths with a swift, mighty stroke.

Kate had to break the kiss, yelping from the sheer force and pleasure of the moment as his hips slammed into her pelvis. Though he hadn't been gentle in penetrating her, the thick shaft nonetheless slid all the way in with no pain or resistance, her engorged and lubricated sex accommodating him effortlessly, like they were made to fit together. He was so big and the uneven surface, every bump and vein brushing against her tender inner flesh almost drove her wild. She half-expected it to hurt given its size, but quite contrary, it felt noting but wonderful against her slick insides, stretching them to their very limit. She pushed back against him in desire, their hips slapping together, making the water splash again.

She felt so full, so nice. He filled her perfectly, reaching every spot and leaving her in this state of pleasure as his sizable member stretched and massaged her inner flesh. Again, he kissed her neck, gently, playfully, then more eagerly. Moving his hips back, Kate sighed in need, then moaned aloud as he slammed deep back in again. He repeated the motion then suddenly, the tiger opened his mouth and his sharp fangs dig into the skin of her shoulder, biting her neck and sinking his fangs into her flesh deep enough to make her tingle but not enough to cause pain. Nor piercing her skin underneath, but holding her in place with his bite. Fear, panic and lust mixed within her as her slender form was rocked by his assault. Her heart was racing and her fingers dug into his back as he held her between his fangs while still claiming her with that wonderful cock of his.

Soon, Kate moved back against him as best as she could pinned between the edge of the tub and this strong male. He went hard and fast on her but not violently and Kate had the feeling that he knew exactly how much she could bear. 
He let go of her neck. Looking into his eyes, she felt another rush of lust, and she could see his desire, his passion - passion for her: "Not yet." He whispered. It took Kate a moment to understand. She had come just a few moments prior, but already, her lust was building again and she wanted to give in, to feel like that all over again. Feverishly she nodded, wanting to do as he told her as he kept on mating her, sliding in and out, in and out, the warm water a roaring sea of their movements. Then his expression changed. Kate gasped as he pushed deeper than ever before, filling her with his throbbing, pulsing member and holding still, his fingers digging into her flesh: "Now." He gasped and Kate let go almost instantly, her body convulsing in pleasure again as hot seed gushed into her and his wild roaring filled her ears.

Still weak, Kate watched as he pulled out and stood up, water rushing down his handsome form. The young woman slumped limply against the edge of the tub and forced herself to look the other way. He had tricked her, this had all just been a natural reaction of her body, maybe intensified by her emotional confusion after what she had been going through. Still, as he reached out his hand for her, she took it and let him lead her out of the tub: "Thank you for sharing this with me." He said kindly, water dripping down their soaked forms, his strong arms still wrapped around her.

"Y-Yes." She replied weakly. "Thank you. That was...wonderful."
He kissed the top of her head. "I'm so happy you enjoyed it, my dear." He said softly as he held her against him, then continued: "I assume you want to retire to bed now?"
She nodded lightly. "Where...Where's my room?" She asked, scarcely able to think straight.
Shayan stared at her for a moment, then chuckled: "You will be staying with me, in my bed, of course. Do you really think I'd let you get away that easily, my beautiful Kate?" He said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, his finger playfully tracing over her panting beak.

For a moment, Kate was surprised, but should she really be? That was to be expected, after all. 
"A shower would be appropriate first, though." He added.
A shower? She did have one on the boat and they just came out of the tub, what was the meaning of this? She suddenly realized he likely intended to have sex with her in the shower before they retired to bed. And still, she knew that it was of little use to argue with this powerful man.
"O-Okay." Was all she could say as he guided her away from the hot tub and back into the house. 

The two reentered the mansion again through the same sliding door than they had exited prior, down a short hallway and Kate suddenly found herself in a large and luxurious bathroom with a sizable shower area against the far wall. It was big enough to hold at least five people with large panels on the top that let water rain down. The black polished walls held small niches in which glass bottles with liquid soap and shampoo were found. Again, restrained luxury and functional beauty.

Shayan gently removed the flower still in her hair and set it down on a nearby counter, then guided her into the shower and tapped a few controls on a panel. Kate let out a gasp as the first rather cool droplets of water cascaded down onto her, but only a moment later, the water took on a pleasant warmth. After their kinky time in the tub, maybe washing herself seemed like a good idea after all. She just had to make it as technical as possible and get it down quickly, so not to give the man any ideas. She moved to the niche and took a bottle of shampoo out. But then, Shayan moved with lightning speed. Shocked, she felt his strong hand closing around her wrist. 
"Please, let me assist you." He said with a charming smile, as he took the bottle out of her hand. Her heart beating in her chest, Kate knew she had no choice but to comply, to let him do as he wished with her...and it thrilled her.

The handsome tiger poured some of the shampoo onto his hand, then rubbed it onto his palms, all the while standing in front of Kate. The blue jay couldn't keep herself from admiring him. His muscles, his still wet fur clenching to his body, his - she blushed underneath her feathers - big shaft, still visible and considerably sized even while resting after their mating. There was something to his face as well. Predatory, fierce, the tips of his canines still visible. But there was beauty and elegance in it too, and his yellow eyes with that determined yet refined look made her legs feel weak. His orange and white pelt with a mosaic of dark stripes still looked beautiful even while soaking wet, and from the way her looked at her, he thought the same of her own blue, white and black waterlogged plumage.

He stepped in again, running his hands over her shoulders, then upwards, running his fingers through the feathers of her head, working the shampoo in. Then he moved back down, over her arms, taking the long flight feathers between his fingers and letting them slip pass in a gentle, rather enjoyable pull.
"You...you really..." She started, but Shayan didn't respond at all and so she fell quiet again. Rubbing her shoulder, then moving one finger over her collar bone, soon approaching both of her breasts. Kate tried to calm herself, she already felt her nipples growing tough and sensitive again, even before one finger traced over her sensitive flesh and his hands finally encompassed those firm mounds, eagerly scrubbing them and working a later into her white chest feathers, stimulating her in new ways and making her let out a moan that she just couldn't keep suppressed. His hands lingered on her breasts for several long moments, then went further downward, scrubbing her ribcage, belly, hips and thighs. Kate could do nothing but stand there trembling and take it, enjoy it, savor it, the erotic sensation of this man bathing her making her feel like he was serving her, not the other way around. 

She knew it was probably wrong to feel like this, to enjoy him so casually playing with her body and not giving her any choice in the matter, but that handsome man knew just how to touch her to make her feel good. She wondered how much experience he had doing this with his prior call girls. 
"Do you...you know, do this often?" She asked suddenly in a low voice, feeling slightly awkward to talk to him while he was fondling her body.

Shayan looked up at her curiously, just finishing with her legs. "Oh, you're asking because of my habit for escorts, right?" The tiger replied casually: "Sometimes, but not really often. I've preferred to spend most of my time with them in bed, an arrangement that they were happy with too. Though I do try to-" He stood up and put his hands on her shoulders, turning her around with Kate following without resistance: "-make my guests feel comfortable. I think that knowing that you won't be leaving after a few months makes me want to, well, appreciate you even more." His lips suddenly were very close to her ears and she felt his warmth against his back: "There's one rule I always follow, both for business and for women: Give your opposite number your attention. Your full and undivided attention."
	
Kate shivered, she had no doubt that this made him successful in business...and in bed. And Samuel, he had barely been there for her, barely listened to what she had to say during their marriage, let alone cared about what she felt in bed. How could this man, her owner, be so different? She let out a moan as his fingers wandered down her back, following her spine down slowly. He pushed her forward just a little bit and Kate supported herself against the wall of the shower with her hands. She hadn't even noticed herself taking on a somewhat provocative stance until both his hands cupped her behind, the firm curves of her ass filling his palms nicely: "You have an amazing physique, my beautiful bird." The man commented in a smooth voice. 

Kate gasped, the shampoo made all his touches smooth and slippery and she didn't move away as one of his hands moved between her thighs, his index finger briefly brushing under her tail and in between the valley of her cheeks, then further forward, his middle finger gently, almost casually sliding into her warm sex, with thumb and index caressing her clit, making her moan in need. 
"Oh Shayan...what are you going to do with me?" She asked needlessly. She wasn't referring to his immediate action, it was pretty clear to feel what he was doing, but the effect he had upon her mind, her will, was too much. She would have never thought that she would be compelled to accept being a sex slave just because her owner could make her feel that way on a physical level, never mind treating her much better than any of her past relationships.

"I can't stop touching a beautiful avian like you. It's so delightful seeing you open up too, Kate." He purred back into her ear as he moved his finger out and back into her. His other hand reached around, cupping one of her breasts again and like this, he played with her for a while. Occasionally, she could feel his again rock hard erection against her backside, then he lined up his tip with her labia and pressed it against those engorged lips from behind, though not hard enough to penetrate her yet, sending a wave of heat and desire through her.

He held her like this for a few moments and Kate moaned openly, her body shaking in need at the penetration she was expecting but didn't come. She should have been exhausted by now, tired, but her desire seemed to push such feelings aside and replaced it with an almost animalistic lust.
"Do you want more?" He whispered in her ear.
Not thinking about her answer, she gasped: "Y-Yes."

Shayan continued holding her firmly in place, completely in control of the situation...and her. He could penetrate her at any time and ravish her to his heart's content, yet he still held back. "Say it. Say you want me to mount you." He said in a commanding voice, aggressively rubbing his pole against her sex from behind and Kate struggled in his grip, almost trying to push herself onto him. Still, her rational mind hesitated still. But why should she resist? It was just...it was just physical, her lust had awoken and it needed to be sated, it didn't mean anything bad if she gave in. 
"Please fuck me. Fuck me hard with that cock of yours." She begged, sounding like a girl from one of the few pornos she had seen in her life.
Shayan chuckled: "Well said, my dear."

She gasped as he shifted position, his tip slightly parting her swollen labia. He himself let out a sigh even before his glans thrust in between her lips, then he pushed in from behind with Kate mirroring his movement, sliding down his length as both of them moaned in lust, their bodies uniting again. 

The young woman felt her body adjusting, clinging around the member that felt so good as the texture of his shaft caressed her insides and he filled her so perfectly with his size. His strong arms holding her by her hips, the water still rushing down their bodies and the naughty pose she had taken on with such little resistance - she wouldn't even call it resistance herself, had see been teasing him, even? No, he had played unfair, he had taken her and she still couldn't resist him, given his position of power over her. But she couldn't deny that this felt good, not just on a physical level, but also the knowledge that he desired her, that he thought her beautiful, that he wanted her and that he - how did he state it - devoted his entire attention, his being onto her as he started moving back and sliding into her from behind again. Soon his hips slapped against her behind and each new thrust made her moan in need. Very soon, she rolled her hips back against him, their movements now in unison, sounds of raw lust echoing throughout the shower chamber. She bent her neck back, letting the water rush over her face and running down in streams over her chest. His hot breath was against the back of her neck and his member penetrated into her relentless. 

She knew the feeling of an upcoming orgasm quite well by now and embraced it with open arms, surprised that her body wasn't protesting due to exhaustion. Then again, she was young and in good physical shape and oddly, it made her proud that she was the perfect mate for Shayan due to this. Maybe this way of thinking was wrong, but it felt so good anyway. His hands moved from her hips to the curve of her behind, groping possessively, his claws sinking through the feathers and into her skin without piercing it, as his broad tongue licked her neck, then his fangs scratched over her shoulder again.

"Cum for me, my beautiful bird." He growled.
The words, so commanding, so demanding, had an effect upon Kate that she hadn't expected. How could a man talk to her like this? And why did it turn her on like this? She tensed and a moment later cried out unrestrained, her body bucking and rocking back against her as she reached another powerful orgasm. Shayan pushed her firmly against the wall, holding her there as she came. A few moments later, his shaft twitched and unleashed another load of hot seed deep inside her cavity, adding to the already substantial pleasure she felt. Then he slowly pulled out.

Panting hard in the aftermath of her climax, Kate barely noticed the man wrapping his arms around her, easily picking her slender form up and carrying her out of the shower. He held her, bridal style, as he walked into an adjacent stall, set her down and turned on another switch, and Kate suddenly felt jets of hot air blowing all over her body, drying out her damp feathers. Of course, she realized, it made sense this man would have a full drying room for his fur after bathing, such luxuries could only be afforded by the wealthy and previously she had to make do with towels and a blow drier to treat her feathers after a shower, but that would no longer be the case now that she was staying here. The blue jay let herself air out, enjoying the sensation of her entire body being bathed in warm air billowing across her drying feathers, and before long her plumage was messy and disheveled, but completely dry, clean and soft. Just like Shayan's fur, she thought, the tiger smiling at her. He leaned down and kissed her beak softly, then picked her up again, and she let herself savor being held by his strong arms as he silently carried her out of the bathroom.

It was cool inside, so she didn't mind being carried naked through the mansion like this with her feathers fully bare, feeling safe in his arms. For support, she wrapped her arms around his neck, the tall tiger carrying her down a hall and through a set of double doors. Then they entered a spacious bedroom. The furniture consisted only of a white wardrobe and a table on which she found a bowl with fresh fruits as well as bottles of water and glasses. That, and of course the huge bed upon which Shayan almost threw her, the soft mattress making her nude body bounce up slightly after the soft impact. The sheets smelled so nice, fresh and clean and were wonderfully soft against her feathers. The bed was large enough that they both could roll around with room to spare...or do pretty much anything else on it with ease. Kate felt heat rushing into her cheeks again at that thought. Who knew what the next day would bring, but for tonight, they both were certainly too exhausted to try anything crazy again.

She dared to raise her head to look at the handsome man. The sight of this strong, elegant, predatory feline there sent a new rush of heat through her body and to her surprise she saw that he was still rock hard. "Shayan, this has been..." She started, wanting to give him praise while then guiding the talk to the fact that she still hadn't given her consent to this. Maybe now that his most dire needs were sated, he would be more open to the fact that he was still forcing sex on her regardless of her wishes? 

He didn't even let her end her speech as he crawled onto her quickly, shoving her back into the sheets, deep into the soft mattress. His fur brushed against her chest, her abdomen and her thighs, sending new tingling sensations through her. Soon, his kisses covered her beak and her neck again, his hands roaming freely, possessively over her body, playing with her breasts and nipples, holding her down and pushing her into the mattress, making her feel the arousal building again. Whatever protest she'd been wanting to express was smothered before it could leave her mouth, and she let her head sink back, panting and closing her eyes as she focused on this new pleasant sensation, the feeling of him ravishing her body in the dry environment of his bedroom being quite different than him doing so while soaking wet in the hot tub or shower. Soon, his tongue flickered over her belly and lower. His hands slipped underneath her and she loved how he touched her rear. Not thinking, the female spread her legs and lifted her hips, meeting his tongue as he started caressing her sex again. Their previous rounds had taken off nothing of his desire, his raw, wild yet skilled assault on her pussy made her see stars and soon, she writhed and thrashed on the bed, soon bending her back, shoving her chest up in desire as she reached another climax.

She was still bathing in the afterglow as she felt him shifting position and then he penetrated into her wet, needy sex. Leaning forward, she opened her beak and the two of them kissed while he started to move his hips back and forth. Kate dug her fingers into the sheets. It felt just so good, she loved this, loved being claimed, being desired by this man and she loved how he could make her feel, the fact that she technically had no choice in the matter feeling less and less relevant. Kate wrapped her arms around his strong neck as he moved his hips slowly at times, then faster and harder at others. As soon as their kiss ended, he again looked at her with that same beautiful devotion he did while in the hot tub and bathroom.

Neither of them spoke and it wasn't long until they adapted to each other and a beautiful while later, they cried out in unison, reaching their climax together, her pushing up against him, wanting to have him as deep as possible as his hot seed once again gushed into her.

She didn't struggle as he rolled to the side and his strong arms wrapped around her afterwards and pulled her close. He tightly held her like this for several minutes, the warmth of his body and the cute, weak feline purr feeling so nice and calming. Maybe it was the exhaustion too that made her feel so at peace with her new situation. Who knew, if every day would be like this, she could grow to enjoy it more than anything in her previous life?

"Kate, I want you to stay here, with me. I promise I will give you everything you want." He whispered into her ear and Kate trembled. Was he offering to let her go if she wanted to? He didn't explicitly say that, but his words sounded as though he wouldn't keep her against her will - at least, that was how it felt at that moment. Maybe. 

"I'll make you feel like this every day." He added and Kate found herself desiring nothing more than that. 
"Shh." Kate whispered, placing a finger on his lips, her other hand was on his chest as she gently shoved him away. For a brief moment, there lay confusion in his eyes but when their gazes met, he smiled as he rolled onto his back. 

It felt oddly satisfying when she crawled onto him, knees on either side of his abdomen. It was so thrilling, no wonder he seemed to enjoy being on top that much. She reached behind, her hand stroking against his member that almost immediately grew hard again under her touch. Did she really want that? Her body certainly told her that she wanted it even though exhaustion really kicked in now. But her rational mind? Yes, she really wanted it, she wanted to feel good. And wanted to show this man who had granted her more attention and affection that she had ever experienced, that she too could make him feel the same way if he allowed her to take the initiative from time to time. 

He raised his head, watching her as she sat up slightly and guided him towards her wet lips. She barely moved down as his hips thrust up gently, his tip sliding between her lips and then into her body once again, making her exhale in delight. Slowly, she sank down onto him, gravity forcing him in all the way until she was sitting on his lap, her body awash with desire. Only slowly did she rise again, each bit of his length brushing against her insides and making her tremble in desire. Then she sank down again, both of them gasping.
Soon, she rode him slowly yet passionately, eliciting sounds of lust from time to time just as he panted and groaned underneath her. As time progressed their mating grew more passionate, she speed up, leaning forward, allowing him to encompass her breasts with his hands, kneading and caressing while she bounced up and down.

"Let's come together." She finally moaned and Shayan nodded, struggling to keep in control. She rode him a few more times, then threw her head back and cried out in her peak, slamming down as he growled like a wild animal, again coming inside of her, not as powerful maybe, but more intimate and devoted now.
Tired but happy, Shayan pulled the covers over them both, and the two fell into a deep sleep shortly after, Kate resting on top of Shayan and nestled in his soft fur, the two of them holding each other tightly as they did. 




It felt so nice, slowly waking up on top of such warm, fit body. Subconsciously, Kate realized that she had been missing this for too long. She moved closer to the strong shape underneath her, the shape she'd been sleeping on the whole night as if the tiger's body was her bed. It felt strange as she touched him, felt his fur, his warm skin underneath, different from what she was used to from her husband - ex husband, that is. Slowly, her mind put together the pieces of memory and suddenly, Kate's eyes shot open. It was dawn and still, only the outlines of the furniture in the room could be seen, faint light seeping in through the massive curtains on the far wall. She felt Shayan's warmth, his slow, even and quiet breathing in his sleep as he lay on his back. Kate had rolled onto her side, her beak and hands against his arm. Carefully, she extended a finger and drew a line over his orange, white and black fur. What a man he was, she could no longer deny it. Not just good looking, but careful and considerate despite the power he held over her. She had never been with anyone like him, confident, domineering and yet charming and skillfully aware of her needs. The thought alone made her shiver and feel a sexual need surfacing again that she hadn't known she possessed just the other day. 

"Good morning, my beautiful Kate." He said after a long while, turning his head to her. Beautiful, he kept calling her beautiful and the way he had said it, she knew that he was serious about it. 
"Did you sleep well?" The tiger continued with his deep, purring voice. 
"I...Yes, I did." Kate replied, odd that he was suddenly this casual with her, though his gaze never left her. 
"Still," the blue jay continued: "So, where do we go from here?" She asked, feeling far more confident than yesterday. "Do you really want to keep me as a...permanent companion, when you can have any girl you want at any time?"
She was half afraid that he would tell her that he'd let her go, while on the other hand of course that was what he should do and what she by all rights should hope for him to say, yet she inexplicably didn't. 
He placed one finger at the tip of her beak: "What do you think? I meant it when I said I want you to stay with me, Kate. I knew it when I first laid eyes on you, I just didn't realize it at the time." He kissed the top of her head. "I've only ever needed one woman at a time, and now, you're the only one I want. We'll keep doing this every night." He grinned at her, and she couldn't help but smile back. "But why talk about the future, is it really that important? Let us only focus on the moment." He smiled: "And maybe the recent past, I loved hearing you last night."
Kate ran her finger further over the silken fur on his arm, tracing over his dark stripes: "I'm still not entirely sure what happened last night." She felt her voice trembling: "I was scared and shocked and yet...it felt so good. You made me feel so good. Better than I've ever felt in my life." Her last words were merely a breath. 
"I am happy that I've been able to show you something new." He replied: "And that you overcame your fear and reluctance. You were quite a challenge, I have to admit, but I love being challenged."

"Maybe I can show you something new as well." She suddenly said. While she couldn't deny how much she had enjoyed his passionate, domineering side, she didn't want to be the passive, receiving innocent party all the time. With a chuckle, she threw aside the blanket, then sat up and turned. He was still naked and his proud member was now soft again, though still big. She opened her beak, and her short, narrow tongue flicked over it and Shayan sank back into the sheet, gasping: "Oh yes, that's a good girl."
Her tongue's caresses had him aroused in no time and her heart started beating faster as she watched him growing to his full, impressive size while she eagerly licked all over his hard shaft and tip. Then, she opened her beak further and let him slide in, sucking, taking in his fragrance and his more demanding moan. 

Kate's thoughts ran wild. She had never felt so passionate in her life. Sure, sex had been...nice in the past, but she never got a whole lot out of it and so she had never felt the urge to be this active on her own. Her ex had her take him into her mouth her and there before, but this was something different. She loved feeling him slide in and out as she bobbed her head. Her being the one who determined the speed and intensity, her making him moan. And at the same time, it was just foreshadowing what would soon come, would he claim her again even before breakfast?

Kate paused for a brief moment, catching her breath, suddenly, she felt his strong hands on her little behind. Her cheeks burned, had she really presented herself in such a slutty way to him? Sure he would have had a lovely view upon her backside and she didn't even notice - or did she do this on purpose without even realizing it? He gently shoved her onto him and with some effort, Kate managed to place her knees on either side of his chest, then she lowered her head again and let his wet shaft slide into her mouth again. Only a moment later, his rough tongue caressed her sex from behind, Kate's moan muffled by him inside her mouth. Her fingers clawed possessively into her ass and Kate wriggled her behind, urging him to go rougher on her as he started eating her out, his feline lips and tongue ravishing her wet pussy.

She struggled to not cum too fast from his lapping and licking but it was difficult, as best as she could she bobbed her head up and down, sucking and licking while his tongue invaded her nethers. Not long and both gasped out, their bodies convulsing and rocking as they reached their peak almost at the same time, and she readily swallowed his hot seed that spurted into her beak and down her throat, her own body shaking from the mindblowing climax he inflicted on her in turn. 




"I think you can trust Mister Andrews." The blue jay said, sipping at her wine. 
"What makes you so sure about it?" Shayan asked her back, placing the fork onto the plate as he had just finished his dinner. He leaned forward, resting his head upon his intertwined hands, sitting next to Kate at the table. It had been several weeks now since she last got here, and the avian was now well settled in, happy to keep the tiger company at night, and by day the two of them often talked and worked together. She had become well acquainted with his business before long, and she happily assisted in whatever manners he saw fit, her old life already feeling like a lifetime ago.
"He had a photo of his wife in his purse and it was a recent one. How long have the two been married? Forty years, I guess?" She observed. She now wore a long silk dress that bared her shoulders and showed a substantial amount of cleavage, yellow and shimmering just like the robe she was given when she first got here, Shayan having made sure to gift her with outfits that made her feel beautiful. She had to admit, yellow was very much her color.

"So he kept that contract, but there are many who just keep the facade, the appearance." Shayan threw in. 
"Yes, but then he wouldn't replace the picture to keep it up to date." She resumed, still thinking about the dinner she had shared with one of Shayan's business partners: "I also noticed how he talked about his mansion. It was all rather humble, like he didn't need to impress anyone anymore."
"Agreed, he's a man who achieved everything in his life already."
"Yes and therefore doesn't need to take the risk in trying to fool his partners." Kate concluded. 
"You are good at this." Shayan said to her, honestly impressed. 
"Well, I need to earn my keep here, after all." She said wryly.

Shayan laughed: "Not really, if anything I'm responsible for you after I made you stay when Malek brought you here." He remained quiet for a moment: "Tell me, if I were to give you the choice, would you still want to leave?"

The answer came to her with no hesitation. "Of course not. You know full well that I'm happy here, with you." Kate nodded and smiled seductively at him. 
"Good answer, my dear." He replied with a dashing smile. "You know all the ins and outs of my business by now, both legal and otherwise, so it would be poor judgement for me to send you away where you might cause trouble."
"Oh, I think I can cause plenty of trouble right here, with you." The blue jay coyly retorted, her finger tracing under his chin.

"Still, there's something I want to tell you. I've been thinking about it for quite some time." Shayan sighed, looking into Kate's expectant eyes. 
"I mean, I know you had a bad experience when you first arrived, but, now you seem very happy to be here, so..." He nestled inside the pocket of his suit, then pulled out a small box, holding it over the table, he opened it, revealing a silver ring with a large gem, one the Kate had no doubt was a diamond: "Do you want to marry me?"
Kate's heart skipped a beat, the floor underneath her seemed to sway for a moment, and then she covered her beak with her mouth. "Yes...yes, I do!" She said, tears forming in her eyes, and she reached up and embraced the tiger, pressing her beak against his muzzle, feeling him embrace and kiss her in turn. 

"I love you." She whispered after breaking the kiss.
She could see tears forming in his eyes, and he said in a low, trembling voice, "I love you too, my beautiful bird."

The End