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Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 01

By: cleverfox



Day One.

He eyed the girl's chest as it rhythmically moved up and down. He sat in the back of his company's car, the driver weaving steadily through the traffic, her slow breathing a metronome for his own. He found it calming, the gentle inhale and exhale. The edge of her forehead rested against his shoulder. Her breath felt warm against his forearm. 

Of course, she was still unconscious. He really had no idea what he'd encounter when she was finally awake. 

He was bemused by the circumstances that had brought her to him; this odd, last minute addition to the list of essentials packed for the conference he was attending. Extra socks...check. Powerpoint...check. Pleasure slave...

For Ryan Pierce, the conference was an opportunity of a lifetime. A small group meeting with the Capital's most powerful and influential leaders. Few outsiders had ever been invited to a meeting of the Six Kings. By handing him the invitation, his boss had entrusted him with locking up the largest agreement the Capital had ever offered to a private company. 

He had been studying engineering when the war started ten years ago. By its end, he was part of an industrial super-force that first fed the country's military system and now developed industries to harvest the resources from the vast lands it had conquered. Unlike his peers, he didn't find great happiness in this work. But, through it, he had been given the freedom to continue to explore his own ideas. He accepted the trade-off: corporate service in exchange for the chance to pursue his true passions. 

He turned his attention to the tablet on his lap, brushing a figure eight against the numbers to unlock it. He pressed play on the video invitation but lowered the volume so it wouldn't disturb the girl beside him.

A skinny man with a pointed nose and overly rosy cheeks cleared his throat and looked straight into the camera. "Ryan Pierce." he screeched. "You are cordially invited to be our guest at the Fourth Quarter Conference on State Affairs. Detailed agenda to follow. We'll expect you at the Club on 8th Avenue. Thursday, November 15th at 10 am. Plan to stay a few days to take full advantage of all of the Club's deluxe amenities." 

He paused for a moment, cracking a smile, and stepping back a bit from the camera. He continued, "We never conduct business without a heathy mix of pleasure." As he said this, he gestured towards a wisp of a girl visible in the corner of the screen. But, before Ryan could get a good look at her, the pointy nose was back in front of the camera. 

"So bring along your own source of...amusement." He said the word slowly as if to draw out its full meaning. "We could share ours, but we really don't prefer it." He gives one last small smile before the video closed.

Ryan sighed, thinking about how quickly arrangements had been made and paperwork was passed and processed in the few days since the Six Kings invitation arrived. 

Then, just under an hour ago he had pulled up in front of a stark warehouse and quietly flashed his state identification card. Moments later, a man he could have mistaken for a hospital orderly if not for the tattoos covering the huge muscles on his arms, carried this girl outside and asked him matter-of-factly, "Trunk or backseat?" 

At first, Ryan didn't even fully process what he'd heard. Then, as the horror of it registered he quickly answered, "Backseat! Backseat please." And, without a moment's pause, the orderly deposited her into the car, closed the door and returned to the building as quickly as he had appeared.

He was about to do business with the most powerful leaders of his country. That part he understood. That was business. The part he couldn't wrap his mind around was that he had basically gone through a drive-up window and bought a girl to accompany him for the duration. 

He looked down at her and admonished himself for calling her a girl. She was clearly a woman. A young woman, yes, but definitely a woman. He studied her for a moment, taking in her sleeping form.

She appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Her features were relaxed. Her cheeks were dotted with just a few freckles. She had beautiful creamy skin and lovely chestnut hair that fell is soft waves down her body and over her small breasts. At a glance, she could be just another citizen of the Capital. But with a critical eye he noticed that she was too thin and her dress was too revealing for the more conservative styles worn by free women here. 

Other than a single button at the top of her neck, the dress exposed her entire back, gently bunching together again just above her hips. A small skirt flared out a few additional inches below that, covering only the very tops her thighs. Small golden flats, almost slippers really, were tucked around her toes. Turning his eyes back towards her face, he noticed a glimmer from the thin gold band that wrapped snuggly around her neck. A collar of course, he realized. She is property. The thought was unsettling to him. 

He knew slavery was an increasingly big industry in his country, but he had never really encountered it this closely before. Certainly nothing so personal as this. He set the tablet in his briefcase next to his feet, sat up again, and ran his hand through his hair, wondering just how much longer it would be until she awakened.

——-

The fog of the drug lifted slowly as Catrine's consciousness began filtering and piecing together bits of information about her surroundings. She had learned how to awaken her senses without moving her limbs, giving her an initial chance to size up her situation before letting on that she was alert.

It always played out the same: An assignment. The drugs. The disorientation. Waking up at the mercy of a new master. That first moment was still the most frightening to her; having no idea where she was or what she'd need to endure. 

After nearly two years at the mercy of her captors, she was still surprised by the cruelties she suffered under their care. In their minds, she was simply collateral. The bounty collected by the winning side of a brutal war between two countries. After a decade of fighting, her country of birth was finally decimated by an unstoppable force. By the time the conquerors were finished, virtually everything was burned, destroyed or seized and sent back to the Capital to repay the cost of war.

By her nineteenth birthday, Catrine had lost everything she'd ever known: her family, her home, her culture. In its wake, she experienced the systematic loss of her freedoms and her indoctrination into the world of slavery. She knew she should consider herself lucky for her designation as a pleasure slave. It was far worse to be sent to the factories or the mines. But, most days, it still didn't feel much like luck to her. 

The Vultures who tracked and captured her ran a cut-throat slave-for-hire empire. For the right price, anyone could procure the much coveted paperwork in order to, at least temporarily, own a rare and exotic pleasure slave. While permanent placement of slaves was reserved for only the most wealthy and powerful lords of the Capital, Catrine's master's empire allowed virtually anyone to feel the exhilarating power of being Master, if only for a short time. With ownership came impunity; The power to act out the darkest parts of one's imagination without threat of law or consequence. Catrine experienced cruelties that she had never conceived of in her former life. 

Still, in her darkest moments, she felt a tiny spark of life that refused to be extinguished. She had seen the slaves who had already given up. She looked into their hollow eyes and saw only emptiness in their depths. In the moments that she was ready to tip herself over and give in to her own despair, there was always some small bit of color in her world - new spring blossoms, an elderly Master who just wanted her to read aloud, a bite of mango whose flavors burst in her mouth. 

Instead of giving in, she had trained her mind furiously to adapt. She quickly understood the basics of what was expected of her in this life. She allowed herself to accept that her life was entirely outside of her control. Without freedom or a sense of her future, she furiously and studiously tended to her own well-being. By following directions, she could safely tuck away her true self and shelter it somewhat from her circumstance. Through this, she found that submission came fairly easily. Physically, of course, it was very demanding. But, she had successfully separated body from spirit and it allowed her, at least for now, to carry on.

She inhaled deeply to steady her resolve and she took-in the first moment that she was fully awake. 

She was moving. In a car, she speculated. Yes definitely, and in a seat thankfully. She tentatively flexed her arms and her ankles and realized she hadn't been restrained at all, which was novel. She tried to shift her head and a sudden, searing pain seized her, making her queasy. 

"Agh" she groaned before she could stop herself. The damn drug always left her with a blinding headache. 

Two hands grasped her shoulders firmly and she knew the moment was upon her to face her newest Master. After a moment, she opened her eyes and slowly raised her head. She blinked twice to chase off the last traces of the drug and focused her stare on the most incredible pale blue eyes that she had ever seen. The owner of those eyes stared at her with intensity, his expression laced with concern. 

"Do you need some water?" He asked her.

She nodded. She didn't trust her voice yet. Everything about their first interaction had been unusual. It threw her off balance.

She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes once more. He reached forward into the compartment in front of his seat, extracting a small plastic water bottle. He cracked it open and then, taking her palm within his, he gently pressed the bottle into her hand.

"Here, take this." He said quietly. 

She took a long drink from the bottle. It felt cool and refreshing as it traveled through her body. It was restorative. 

"Thank you," she said with a sincerity that startled him.

"It's nothing," he said dismissively. "Just a drink of water," he added almost confused.

She looked down to her hands and then glanced back at his face again. "I'm not often shown compassion," she answered simply.

Her honesty surprised him. But more than that, her beauty surprised him. Now that she was fully awake, he took in her soft features and her large brown eyes. Her long lashes fluttered with each of her glances. He watched her as her fingertips gently brushed a few excess drips of water of her soft pink lips. He found her totally enchanting. 

The fact was, since he had picked her up, he had been totally distracted by her, despite being just minutes away from walking into an intense and extremely important meeting. He needed to regain his focus. 

"Go ahead and take another minute to get yourself together. We should be there soon." He said and with deliberate action, he began double checking his notes and repacking his briefcase.

She watched him intently. She tried to reconcile the details of her briefing with the person before her who was now her Master. She knew she was assigned to someone attending a meeting of the Six Kings. It was an important assignment and the threat of punishment against her if she didn't meet expectations was severe. 

But the Six Kings were all senior members of the Capital, extremely powerful and also quite...old. Her past Masters at these kinds of functions had always been at least twice her age if not older. 

He person next to her couldn't have been more than thirty. But he certainly looked the part of a distinguished businessman. He wore a finely tailored button down shirt and a beautiful bright blue tie. She realized with a small rueful smile that she had been dressed in peacock blue to match him. Their attention to detail is always impeccable. She thought with a hint of regret.

What drew her attention next was the strong line of his jaw covered subtly by his five o'clock shadow. Just enough to look rugged or slightly dangerous, but not so much that it conflicted with the impression made by his tailored suit. His beard had copper highlights, just like his well groomed, but still slightly unkempt hair. His brows were knit together as he concentrated on the last bits of information he was reviewing. But, as if sensing her eyes on him, he glanced up his blue eyes meeting hers again. Then he flashed her a bright, reassuring smile, revealing perfect white teeth behind finely sculptured lips.

His smile faded quickly as he looked past her and out the window. The car pulled to the curb in front of the club. 

"We're here," he said, his expression serious. Her heart plummeted in her chest. She had only had a few experiences with members of the Capital and none were good. 

He climbed out of his seat and quickly came around to open her car door. She took his hand and stood before him brushing a wrinkle out of her dress and gently pulling her long hair over one of her shoulders. She looked toward the hulking building with its post-modern architecture and cold steel and granite facade. It was intimidating. 

She did her best to conceal her emotions but her body betrayed her and she trembled slightly from cold, anticipation, and fear. 

"Nervous?" He asked, taking her other hand in his. 

She nodded.

"Me too." He said and showed her that smile again. He paused then as if realizing something that was suddenly important. He lifted his hand and brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face tucking it gently behind her ear. His fingertips lingered on her cheek and he looked at her intently. 

"What's your name?" He asked simply.

She had been holding her breath. The gentleness of his gestures were so foreign to her. 

"Catrine," she quietly answered. How could such a small word take so much effort to speak?

Then he pulled her gently towards him and placed one hand on the small of her exposed back. "I am Ryan," he whispered into her ear. "But, I'd imagine that inside those walls you'll need to refer to me properly."

She nodded in understanding and then swallowed hard. The warmth of his hand against her skin radiated through her body and she relaxed slightly. They turned and walked together into the foreboding building. 

—

"Ah, Mr. Pierce!" exclaimed a man as soon as they made their way inside the entryway of the building. He was almost too much to take in. His suit was a riot of colored silks stretched ridiculously tight across his large belly. A court-jester disguised as a butler. "We've been expecting you! The members arrived this morning for the pre-session of course, but if you're ready, I'll be most pleased to escort you to the main chamber."

"That would be excellent," Ryan replied.

Without delay, they followed the butler into a huge cathedral style room with several hulking tables that made a circular formation at its center. The ceiling must have been more than five stories tall with panes of stained glass that stretched from top to bottom. It was modern and stark, but the design echoed that of the ancient church buildings from long ago conquered lands.

He led them to one of the desks at the center of the room. "This will be yours for the conference. I expect the others to enter at any moment." 

Catrine noticed that beside each desk was a large silk floor pillow. She immediately knew her place. Before Ryan could make any additional comment, she had lowered herself gently onto the soft silks, tucking her feet beneath her, folding her hands across her lap.

Ryan stilled as he took her in from behind. The sunlight above cast colorful beams of soft light through the stained glass, creating dancing prisms across her bare back and her soft hair. She was a goddess before him. So still, he almost wouldn't have believed she was real if she hadn't been standing next to him just moments before.

He walked around to face her and kneeled down to be closer to her face. He peered deeply into her eyes and considered his question. "Are you okay like that?" he asked. But, behind his words he was trying to grasp at something larger. Something that could help to explain the circumstances underlying this whole, strange situation. Will you do this for me?

She gave him a small nod and began to speak. But, she was cut short as double doors at the back of the chamber were thrown open and a gaggle of people came rushing into the room. 

Before he stood to greet them, he leaned over her pressing his face close to hers. She felt his stubble brush her cheek and it tickled her as he spoke. Her heartbeat quickened in her chest. 

"I've never done this before...been someone's master," he implored. "You need to tell me if you need anything. I need to know that you will guide me these next few days."

She nodded again as their eyes made contact one last time, pale blue gazing into deep brown. Then, he stood and readied himself for the crush of people crossing the room to greet him.

—-

Catrine sat quietly but listened intently as the discussions played out through the morning hours. Her new master stood at the center of the room making a detailed presentation about the ways his company could develop resources in an area to the south of the Capital. He spoke of water pipelines, sustainable energy, and long term policies that could benefit the entire region. She now understood why he had been invited: The Kings must be eager to begin development of their newly acquired territory.

With everyone's attention turned to him, Catrine took some time to study the others in the room.

Each of the Six Kings, as they were called, sat arrogantly in his own throne at the center of the room. Individually, they were Sirs Arick, Roberts, Dutton, Preston, Hall, and Edwards. 

These oligarchs had formed an unlikely alliance at the beginning of the war, pooling their resources in a way that made defeating them impossible. Each King owned their own piece of the vast Kingdom they'd built together, which they ruled freely and exploited readily. Together, they managed all aspects of defense, energy, agriculture, and commerce.

Looking at them now, with their furs, their fancily groomed mustaches, and their outrageous jewels, they seemed more like caricatures than actual wielders of immense power. But, she knew better. She stole glances at the slaves seated next to each of them whose fancily colored faces and shining adornments could not hide the sadness in their expressions. There was one pleasure slave seated next to each King, with the exception of King Roberts who had brought along a pair of identical twins. Like her, they remained nearly invisible unless called upon to fill a specific need. 

—

She was startled from her thoughts as side doors opened into the room and a team of waiters buzzed about beginning the lunch service. She realized that Master Ryan had returned to his seat. She chanced a look in his direction. He appeared much more relaxed than when they had arrived that morning. He caught her looking and smiled again at her broadly, clearly more at ease now. 

"Do you want to stretch your legs?" He asked her and she gratefully nodded her head. He reached down and pulled her slowly to standing making sure she stood on her own before relaxing his arms. "Go take a break with the others and by the time you're back, lunch will be served."

Catrine followed the other women who were slipping through a door at the opposite end of the chamber. No one talked and they hardly glanced at one another. She could feel the nervous energy among them.

She enjoyed a short moment of privacy in the restroom and paused to stretch her arms fully, first towards the ceiling and then down to her toes. She took a deep breath and turned to walk back to the meeting room.


Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 01



So far, the meeting had been purely business. In fact, it was all so serious that she hadn't really understood why the pleasure slaves had attended at all. It's not that she minded that the attention in the room was focused elsewhere. But she was wary of these Kings and what they might be scheming. It certainly appeared that the other slaves were uneasy too.

She returned to her place beside Master Ryan and sat down again on her pillow. He dished a portion from his own plate into a small bowl and handed it to her. It was filled with rice and a rich, flavorful meat stew. She savored the smell and began to eat it hungrily. She realized that she hadn't been fed since the afternoon before and her stomach rumbled. 

The waiters made their way around the room serving wine to each of the Kings and a fizzy lemon drink to each of the slaves. Catrine drank deeply washing down the stew. The bubbly fizz and sour tang of the lemon was a delicious compliment to the savory flavors of the stew. She hardly paused between swallows to breathe. 

She was delighted when Master Ryan took the empty bowl from her hands and replaced it first with a large slice of fresh bread and then again with another full bowl of stew. She munched happily and turned her attention to Master Arick who had risen beside his slave to make a toast. 

"My fellow Comrades and," he said while tipping his glass towards Ryan, "Most distinguished guest, your attention please. Thank you Mr. Pierce for your excellent presentation this morning. You have given us much to consider."

"But alas," He said, with a phony sigh, the beginnings of a smile twisting his curly mustache into a more menacing expression, "Too much business and no time for pleasure does not a good conference make..."

The other Kings in the room chuckled at Arick's joke. Catrine swallowed her last bite and felt a tinge of anxiety creeping up her spine. 

"You'll all be most pleased to know that I asked our excellent chef to make an extra special drink for our most scrumptious companions; a little something to get them in the right mood, so to speak!" He chuckled, clearly delighted with himself. "Wouldn't you agree that they have been so patient through our most dull affairs this morning?" 

The Kings nodded and laughed again. Sir Preston had already reached for his slave and pulled her roughly into his lap, cupping her breasts in his hands and squeezing them hard. They were all practically salivating with delight. 

"So far," Arick continued as he began to gently stroke the reddish hair of the girl beside him, slowing his annunciation deliberately as if he were talking to a puppy, "They have received none of our attention." 

"But worry not my tasty morsel," he said, tilting the girl's chin so that she was forced to make eye contact with him. "In just a few more moments, you will suddenly find that we cannot possibly ignore you any longer..."

He let his statement hang there for another moment. Then the energy in the room burst into activity. Waiters scurried to clear plates and glasses from the desks. The Kings joked loudly with one another. Their hands reaching to grasp the wrists, hair, or waists of their slaves, hauling them forward for play time. Their games had just begun. 

Catrine's world moved in slow motion. A small fire had suddenly ignited in her core, kindling the worst kind of need deep inside of her. Its flames fanned slowly, growing steadily and licking their way outward from her center all the way to the tips of her fingertips. 

She was so warm. Her cheeks flushed pink and her senses heightened as the drug took hold. The silk of the pillow beneath her knees was painfully soft. The light from the windows was too bright. The mingling smells of spices, citrus and the King's cologne threatened to overpower her. She swayed a bit on her knees and struggled to stay upright. She felt a strange pulsing at her core as strong urges washed over her again and again. It battered her mind until she could think of nothing else but her own white hot desire.

Ryan was stunned. It wasn't the sex that surprised him. It was the swiftness with which business had adjourned and all the other attendees had so rapidly immersed themselves in such illicit pleasure.

Moments before they had discussed energy policy. Now, the Six Kings buried themselves in a blur of naked flesh. Moans and grunts filled the room as they happily bent their slaves to their will, each in a more compromising position than the last. One was flung across a desk, her back arched as her King slammed himself into her. Another bobbed up and down on her knees, taking her King deeply in her throat. A third had been pressed down against the desk while her King took her roughly from behind. 

He turned his head from the scene unfolding in front of him and his eyes suddenly focused on Catrine. 

"Oh God." He whispered, his voice thick with dread. "Oh God, Catrine! Catrine! Can you hear me? 

Catrine's eyes were closed tightly and her breath was labored. She was still on her knees, but her whole body shivered and her head fell loosely in front of her as if she didn't have the strength to keep it lifted. She didn't respond to his calls.

"Oh Fuck..." he trailed off as he roughly ran his hand through his hair.

He swooped down and in a single motion, he crushed her in his arms. She moaned softly as he shifted her position, pulling her body against his and allowing her head to rest gently against his chest. She pressed herself tightly to him, allowing the warmth of his body to surround her. It was a warm blanket of calm amidst the blizzard of sensations running through her. 

He glanced around the room and eyed the door that lead to the restrooms. He moved towards it and swiftly carried her through it. She seems so fragile like this, like she weighed nothing at all. He knew what he needed to do. But he wasn't going to force her to endure it in a room full of others. 

As he moved quickly down the corridor, he spotted a small atrium at the end of the hall. There was a velvet couch tucked away in the corner. Turning around, he lowered himself onto it gently, cradling the girl as he sat.

"Catrine?" He murmured to her softly as he brushed her hair off her cheek. His hand continued stroking her across her arm and along her back. Everywhere he touched, his fingertips ignited a searing heat against her skin.

She groaned and forced her eyes open to meet his searching gaze. "It's too much." She whispered to him, defeated. "It's too intense." She had never felt anything so powerful. She shook her head back and forth as if to chase the demons away. Her voice cracked and a small sob escaped her lips.

"I know baby." He implored, "Shhhh..." 

He brought his lips to her face and brushed them gently against her cheek, kissing away the tear that had slipped from the corner of her eye. He moved them gently across her fluttering lashes and down the bridge of her nose. She whimpered at each soft caress.

"Shh..." He whispered again. He lifted his hand and stroked her hair once more. Holding her head firmly, he steadied her against his palm and brought his lips down pressing against her own. 

He felt her trembling. It passed from her right through him like an electric current and spurred him on. She let out a small sigh as he deepened their kiss. He pushed his tongue gently against the edges of her mouth and she opened slightly to allow him passage. His kiss consumed her. All of her energy focused on the sensation of his soft lips and probing tongue dancing with hers. He swept his tongue across her teeth and bit gently down on her lower lip. He urged her response, channeling her need to the place where their lips connected.

She raised her hands tentatively, moving one to grasp behind his neck and the other to loosen his tie. She stroked the soft hair at the back of his head, curling her fingers around it as his tongue and lips and teeth continued their assault. She felt the movement of his muscles under her fingers as his arms circled the back of her head, weaving his fingers into her hair and pushing her face closer to his. He locked her tightly in his grasp.

He released her lips for a moment as he sought to steady his own breathing. He had lost himself in her so quickly. In the absence of his contact, she was immediately overwhelmed by an awesome sense of need.

"Master Ryan," she begged. "Please..." She couldn't put words to her desire. She sat up more fully and she shifted herself so that she could straddle him. She opened her legs so that she spread herself across him fully and pressed her pelvis against him. 

"Whoa." Ryan said, surprised by her sudden action. "Slow, baby." He whispered against her ear. "You are so deep in it right now. I don't want it to be too intense for you." 

She shook her head in response, but Ryan wasn't sure if she was fighting with him or agreeing with him. Then, she pressed her forehead against his and fought hard to take a deep breath.

"Good girl." He soothed. She wrapped her hands around his arms tightly to steady herself in his lap. 

He tightened his hold on her hair again and kissed her lips once more. He began a trail of tiny kisses across her ear and then down the side of her neck. Catrine threw her head backwards and pushed herself down against the hardness between his legs. The stimulation of this new point of contact with her core made her cry out again.

His lips traveled further down, carrying nips and kisses and licks across the nape of her neck. He paused there and then planted a single deliberate kiss on her gold collar before making his way back up to her soft lips.

All that held Catrine's dress together was a single button at the back of her neck. He used one hand to release it and the soft fabric slipped down the front of her body in an instant. Her bare breasts heaved up and down as she took short, fevered breaths. Her need was so powerful he could feel it shimmering off her body as he held her. He tightened both arms once more and leaned forward, taking one of her nipples into his mouth. He sucked on it gently at first and then harder. He teased it with his tongue and nibbled at it with his teeth. She arched her back and pushed herself against him.

He shifted his attention to her other breast, kissing all around the soft flesh, gently stimulating her with his breath. She bucked against him and dug her fingers into his shoulders. Finally, he took that nipple into his mouth, making slow, swirling circles with his tongue. He willed her to focus the energy of her desire to the sources of his touch.

He placed both hands on her thighs just below the hem of her skirt and pressed against her firmly. His lips returned to hers as his fingers stroked softly and steadily against her legs. He inched his hands upwards, drawing up the fabric of her skirt along the way, until his fingertips brushed against her hipa. Then, he slowly followed the outer edges of her panties with his thumbs downward towards the center of her legs, pressing more firmly as they stroked her most sensitive place. 

He felt her whole body clench against him as he gently rubbed back and forth, back and forth, on the sensitive nub beneath his fingers. It took only a moment's touch to feel her wetness seeping through the fabric of her panties. The feel of it warmed his fingertips, feeding his own desire. It coaxed him to intensify his ministrations, drawing tiny circles against that perfect little spot.

He pushed his hands a bit higher and firmly grasped her hips. He pressed his erection against her panties and began an easy rhythm, forward and backward along her opening, using his hardness to stimulate them both. He pressed his forehead against hers again and just reveled in the feel of their bodies moving slowly against one another. 

"The buttons." He heard her say suddenly. He didn't fully grasp her meaning, so he slowed his moving and opened his eyes to focus on her. 

"My panties." she murmured, "They're held together by buttons." 

Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he ran his fingertips beneath her skirt, along the soft satin of her underwear. On either side, just above the protruding bone of her pelvis, he felt two tiny pearl sized buttons. He slipped his finger beneath the fabric and with a gentle tug, the buttons came undone on each side. 

Catrine pushed herself up slightly and the shimmering fabric came away from her body and silently slipped to the floor. 

His hands began to explore her fully. He wanted to touch her everywhere all at once. He was absolutely captivated by the feeling of her in his hands. Her whole body trembled as he stroked her behind, her lower back, her thighs. His fingers grazed the bare skin above her sex and she bucked so powerfully that she nearly fell to the floor.

He reached his left arm around her and hugged her against him as the fingers on his opposite hand returned to that magical place at the apex of her thighs.

She was so smooth. Shaved and soft and wonderfully inviting. He cradled her even tighter and rested his head against her. He took one finger and stroked gently along her slit. She cried out loudly as the sensation took over. The drug heightening every movement to the peak of intensity.

One finger became two or three or four, she had no idea. She felt him slip a finger inside her finding its way to her depths. He stroked her rhythmically, pressing himself deeply inside of her and then pulling it all the way out. A second finger joined the first curling inward and upward as he moved stroking her at her core. His thumb pressed softly against her clit, merging the sensations that he created inside and out. She rocked herself back and forth to match his movements, her body sensually dancing against his. 

She was lost in the sensations he created, joined to him fully in the places where they touched. With each push and pull her body responded in turn offering herself up to him fully. Their connection deepened with each pulse. He felt like he held all of her pleasure in the palm of his hand. He was heady with power and hungry with need.

She hadn't noticed when he lifted her slightly so that he could open his pants and free the cock that had been straining for so long to join in. But, she soon recognized the feeling of him pushing softly against her opening. Her body clenched in anticipation and she cried out again as he pushed gently into her folds. 

He couldn't believe how she felt around him. His body lit up in ecstasy as he slowly pushed himself inside of her. He willed himself to keep control and to be slow, allowing her time to adjust to this newest sensation. Each bit that he pushed only seemed to increase his urgent need for more. 

The months of training she had endured strongly reinforced the requirement of her total submission to her Master. As he pushed deeply into her, she willed herself to relax her body and give herself over to his pleasure. She opened herself to his domination and rested her head against his shoulder to take him in. She focused her attention fully on stilling her urges, breathing in short, quiet gasps against his neck. She pressed her pelvis down gently to meet his thrusts. Then she willed her arms to move behind her back, grasping her hands together where her dress was still bunched at her waist; her ultimate gesture of surrender.

"Oh god, sweet girl." was all Ryan could manage. Her sweet act of surrender nearly tipping him over the edge. "You feel so good. You are so soft and so incredibly tight," he managed to say between clenched teeth. His words rippled through her, mingling with the strong currents already competing for her attention: his breath, his hands, his cock pulsing inside of her.

He had never experienced anything so erotic and so pure. His pace quickened and he pushed deeply into her again and again making them moan together, lost in the sensations that traveled between them. His need for her overpowered him in a way he had never experienced before. It was carnal and raw and it pushed him to drive into her over and over again, powerfully. He grasped her hips tightly in his hands. He was filled with tension and urgent force. It was taking all his stamina to hold back the inevitable explosion building inside of him.

The fog of his mind cleared momentarily as he heard her whimpering something against his chest. He slowed their coupling and gazed down at the top of her head. He pressed his lips into her hair and murmured to her, "What? What is it, sweet girl?"

Her eyes remained closed and he could barely hear her words as she whispered her small plea again, "Please Master. Please. Let me come. Oh please, let me."

He stilled completely. His mind spun as he realized the gross mistake he had made. She could only come with her Master's command. She had no freedoms, not even the ability to control her own climax. He had sought to pleasure her, only to torture her further. He had forced her beyond her own limits with no ability to release the tension that he had relentlessly built inside of her. The realization made him feel suddenly sick.

He stopped completely. "Catrine, I'm sorry, I..." he stammered, the horror evident in his expression.

"Please," was all she said. "Please, please, please." A small prayer whispered into the crook of his neck. 

He looked down again at her, so tiny and so vulnerable before him. In that moment, he didn't want to wrestle against the systems and circumstances that had brought them together, he only wanted her. He wanted to soothe her and tend to her and satisfy her. He wanted to make their whole world disappear, leaving only the two of them and this newly formed intimacy that they shared.

He inhaled deeply and then enveloped her fully in his arms. In an instant, he pushed himself again deeply inside of her. They moaned together at the renewed stimulation. She squirmed a bit to adjust her position and take him even deeper. His cock rubbed along a particularly sensitive spot that made her jump with each thrust. 

"That's it." He crooned against her as he felt her breathing quicken once more. He focused his attention on carrying her back to the height of her pleasure. "Just feel it. Feel it everywhere."

She writhed against his tight grip as her carried her higher and higher again. Her vision was reduced to swirls of color and she could hear only the sound of her own breathing, fast and intense. She was clenched and ready and trapped once again on the precipice of her arousal. He reached his hand between their bodies to stroke the tiny spot that amplified all the other sensations.

She screamed loudly and arched upwards, throwing her head back at the intensity of sensation. Forgetting their place, her hands reached forward and grabbed once more at his body. She pulled at the soft fabric of his shirt and squeezed the hard muscle beneath her fingers as if hanging on for her life.

He pushed more firmly against her clit, rubbing insistently against the soft and slippery little bud. His lips sought hers to kiss her passionately. She kissed back with wild desperation and total abandon. 

He finally broke the kiss to growl against her ear, "Come for me, baby."

Her body went into free fall. It carried her into total darkness where she lost all sense of balance and all sense of time. She cried out as her heart pounded against the walls of her chest. Her muscles clenched tightly and she shattered against him. The climax rolled over her again and again stretching out the sensations as she came undone. Every part of her was given over to the powerful tremors that that wracked her body and shattered her soul.

He watched her, entranced by the smoldering mix of her purity and her sensuality. Her internal muscles clenched tightly against him, drawing his attention back to his own fervent desire. He pushed against her and let himself tip over the edge into his own climax. He came violently, slamming against her and filling her deeply as the final shudders of her own orgasm quieted. 




Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 01



—-

They laid together, unmoving, for a long time. She rested her head against his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. He wrapped her in his arms keeping her snugly and possessively against him. The heat of his body made her drowsy and she slipped in and out of a light, dreamless sleep. 

He had so much to consider as his mind sought to process the events of the day. He tried to focus on his presentation that morning, his career on the line, and the work that was ahead of him in the next few days to clinch the contract. But, as his hands stroked gently through Catrine's soft hair, following it down down the length of her back, he found it hard to think about anything at all.

"It's time to go Catrine," he said to her softly as he eased himself from her and set her beside him on the sofa. She nodded and stood, re-buttoning her dress and collecting her panties from the floor. They walked together in silence back down the long corridor and into the main room where their meeting had taken place earlier in the day. After the intensity of their touch, she felt oddly timid standing beside him. She had a strange sense like something had gone missing inside of her, where just moments before she had felt whole. She tried to shake off the feeling, hoping that it was a lingering effect of the drug. She glanced at him as they entered the conference room, but Ryan's face showed nothing at all. He was all business. 

The room was empty with the exception of the butler who had greeted Ryan when he arrived that morning. "Well at last, there you are!" He exclaimed with slightly too much enthusiasm. "We were starting to worry about you two lovebirds." He eyed Catrine lewdly and then continued, turning his gaze back to Ryan, "You had the chance to enjoy yourself, I trust? I have instructions to show you to your room and then, Mr. Pierce, you're invited to join the others for dinner and a cocktail in the smoking lounge later this evening." 

The butler made his way with haste out the front entrance of the room and bid them to follow. Catrine jumped with surprise as Ryan took her hand in his own and pulled her forward to walk beside him. They walked together to a bank of elevators and up several floors to a private floor. In front of a set of imposing looking double doors, the butler handed Ryan a small gold skeleton key and bid him good afternoon.

Ryan opened the door and took in beauty of the lushly appointed suite. Like the building itself, the furnishings in the living room were minimalist and modern, a combination of dark wood tones and crisp white furnishings. There were almost no decorations in the suite, but large windows put the whole city on display before them, lights shining like a living panoramic photograph Several large glass vases contained lush greens and large, colorful tropical flowers. Their pleasant odor wafted through the room.  

"Just like home!" Ryan said more to himself than to Catrine. He cracked a smile, enjoying his own joke, and walked fully inside. It certainly was a beautiful space. He went to a large and well-appointed bar in the corner and took out two glasses from a cabinet. He dropped a few ice cubes in each glass with a satisfying clink and then poured a long pull of scotch into each.

Catrine remained in the doorway unsure of exactly what he wished her to do next. She felt so apprehensive. The energy between them was different than anything she had experienced before. It made her jumpy and ill at ease. She had spent two years seeking her Master's okay to move, sleep, and breathe, or face swift consequences. She had sought permission for nearly move she made. It was clear that Ryan didn't require this from her, but in the absence of that instruction, she had no sense of what to do.

He noticed her standing in the doorway and turned towards her. He frowned slightly but picked up the glasses off the bar and approached her slowly.

"Hi." He said softly as he handed her a glass.

"Hi." She replied, her voice equally soft, as her fingertips brushed against his hand. They had spent the entire day together, but somehow this felt like a new introduction of sorts. They each took a drink from their glass and lingered in the doorway. They locked eyes and the energy practically crackled between them. Ryan raised his hand and stroked one of her cheers with the back of his fingers. She closed her eyes and tilted her head against them. His fingers moved to her lips, brushing them gently, stilling them when his thumb rested at their center. His thumb made small movements against her lips as if he were trying to learn all their secrets. 

She shook her head back and forth slightly so that her lips moved beneath his fingers, encouraging his exploration. In her whole life, she had never wanted to be kissed in the way she desired it now. Her weight was on the balls of her feet and she pressed herself forward slightly daring to hope for more contact with him. 

A loud buzz broke their tension as Ryan turned to find its source. His briefcase had been brought up to the room before their arrival and his tablet beeped and buzzed incessantly inside. He took it out, looked at the string of messages on the screen, and turned back to Catrine.

"I need to go downstairs." He said, a tinge of disappointment in his voice. She nodded her head and turned to walk out into the hall behind him. Understanding her intention, he interrupted her. "Oh...no Catrine. Stay here. I need this to be a business meeting, without distractions." He said the last word as if it left an odd taste in his mouth. "There is still a lot about my company's proposal that needs to be discussed."

She nodded her head again as if she didn't trust herself to speak to him. Her feelings were conflicted. It had been a long day and she was relieved that he wasn't calling on her to endure more time in public. But she was suddenly anxious about not being by his side. Her pulse quickened and she fidgeted slightly as she stood.

He stood again beside her and sensed her apprehension. "Hey," he said, gently cupping her chin in his fingers and tilting her head upwards to look at him. "You must be so tired. I'll make sure you get some dinner. You can take a shower. I bet that TV over there has like a million channels..." She smiled a bit at the normalcy of what he proposed. "I'll come back in just a little while, okay?"

She nodded once more and he leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss on her lips and continued, "Rest, Little One." Then he turned and closed the door behind him as he walked away.

She stood another moment in the entryway feeling dazed. Hoping to clear her mind, she turned around and wandered thoughtfully into the bedroom. She opened the dresser and found the set of essentials that had been sent for her use. She pulled out a small bag of toiletries and a long silver blue lace nightgown and carried them into the enormous bathroom. She relaxed under the hot water of the shower and took her time, enjoying the sheer luxury of it. When she was finished, she returned to the main room of the suite and discovered a dinner tray had been left for her on the dining table. 

She sat quietly and ate eagerly. When she was finished, she walked over to the bar and fingered a beautifully hand carved wooden box filled with loose tea. She opened the box and the fragrance wafted to her nose. She hesitated for a moment since she hadn't been given explicit permission to use any. But, she took a deep breath and turned on the small electric teapot trusting the spirit of her Master's words. When it was ready, she inhaled the aroma of it deeply, cherishing it like a small gift, and carried it over to the sofa in the main living room.

Seated there, feeling clean, her stomach full, the warm cup in her hand, she yawned loudly. She finished the last sip and placed the cup on the coffee table beside her. She laid her head down on the soft cushions of the pillow and succumbed to the desire to sleep.

——

Over the course of an obscenely luxurious meal with more courses than he could count, Ryan Pierce pushed forward the dialogue regarding his company's stake in the development of the southern territories. He felt prepared for the line of questioning by the Six Kings. He was relieved to have their full attention and felt reasonably confident that he could address their lingering concerns as the meeting progressed over the next three days.

Their meal complete, Sir Dutton suggested they retire to the study for a cigar and a brandy. Ryan obliged, though he had been hoping that with dinner adjourned, he could return upstairs to Catrine. Her expression as he had left the suite lingered with him. It mingled in his mind with the \memories of the day. His mind burst with short flashes of her; sleeping against him in the car, kneeling majestically beside him, pressed tightly against his chest as he fucked her deeply. Whoa. He felt like his heart skipped two beats as he considered their intimate act from the afternoon. 

She wasn't anything like he had expected. But, then again, had he really known what to expect? There was a quiet dignity about her and an authenticity in her actions that was so surprising. She had been subjected to so many indignities over the course of the day, despite his meager attempts at making her comfortable, and still this evening she stood stoically beside him awaiting his next instruction. He was awed by her resilience. He hoped at least that the dinner he requested had already arrived and that she was resting comfortably now. It was the least she deserved.

His thoughts were interrupted as the group made their way to the entrance of the study. He paused to accept a drink from the waiter at the entrance and then stopped in his tracks. Sir Dutton's slave, tall and lean with long blonde hair and enormous breasts, was naked and tied down across a large table at the center of the room. Next to Ryan, Sir Arick exclaimed, "Oh! Excellent Dutton! A bit of entertainment!" He walked directly over to the girl and spilled a bit of his brandy across her stomach, leaning down over her to lick it leudly off her skin. The rest of the Kings descended on her like a pack of vampires.

Ryan turned on his heel, placed his glass on a table near the door, and quickly walked out of the room.

——-

He stopped for a moment in the hall just on the other side of the study doors. Holy shit. He was in over his head with these people. Then, a panic suddenly bloomed in his chest and he began walking purposefully back down the hall to the residence floor elevators.

Oh God. He thought to himself. He had brought her here. Into this lion's den. He was suddenly, powerfully, overwhelmed by a desire to keep Catrine safe. He practically ran the length of hall that lead back to his room, bursting inside with more force than he anticipated. He half expected her to have vanished, snatched away by some King with dark fantasies. The suite was dark and the bed was empty. The panic that had been bubbling inside of him threatened to burst from his chest as he turned frantically in the living room. 

Then he spotted her. She was curled up in a deep corner of the couch, sound asleep. He stood there and watched her for a moment, transfixed by her simple beauty. Resting there quietly, she was such a contrast to the excesses of food and finery that had bombarded him downstairs.

He left her to sleep a bit longer. He retreated to the bathroom and took a quick shower to settle his frayed nerves. He readied himself for bed and then sent a quick message to his boss with a concise synopsis of his first day. 

Then, he picked her up gently and wrapped her in his arms for the second time that day, carrying her into the bedroom. She stirred a bit but did not awaken as he pulled back the thick duvet cover and slid them both into the softness of the sheets. She moved then, jostled half-awake by the coolness of the sheets and the warmth of his body next to hers. To his surprise, rather than turning away, she reached towards him and then curled herself again tightly against his side. Her head nestled in the crook of his arm and her forearm draped across his bare stomach. His breath hitched at the intimacy of her touch and the strength of his feelings of desire for her. 

He laid still for a long time, staring out at the sweeping city lights beyond the windows of their strange hideaway, wanting to touch her but not wanting to disturb her. After some time, he finally closed his eyes and drifted off into a fitful sleep.



Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 02



Day Two

Soft morning light filtered through the windows as Catrine took in the new day. She wasn't sure when Master Ryan had returned to the suite last night, but he had moved her into the bedroom and he now laid soundly asleep beside her. 

The enormous bed they shared was ridiculously comfortable. The warm down quilt enveloped her and the soft sheets caressed her skin. It had been a restful night and she lingered a moment enjoying the quiet of the early morning. 

She sat up carefully and noted that despite the size of the bed, she had slept pressed tightly against him. Ryan slept on his back with one arm draped across the top of her pillow as if beckoning her to lie back down across his bare, broad chest. She admitted to herself that she was tempted. She had felt safe with him since the moment she found herself in his possession. More than safe, she was comforted by his words and his presence. 

These were basic qualities she had taken for granted in her formative years; before the war, before the invasion, before her slavery. It took just one day to be reminded of the extent of her loss. It was so much more than her freedom or even her sexuality; it was the absence of human kindness and generosity that she found most distressing.

She touched her collar tentatively as she dwelled on the thought. In so many ways it defined her now. Not just her treatment, but more comprehensively, how she acted and even most of the time, how she thought. There was no place for naivety in her world and she willed herself to tread carefully. She had to remember that the decency Ryan had shown her was nothing more or less than that. It certainly wasn't anything to confuse with affection or protection.

—-

He watched her thoughtfully as she knelt there on the bed. She was sitting just beside him, so close he could touch her if he chose. But, he didn't want to disturb her. She was fingering the golden collar around her neck and staring out the window. She appeared to be lost in thought and he quickly became lost in her. 

Her silk nightgown did nothing to conceal her body. If anything, it further accentuated it. A deliberate choice, he realized. Despite himself, his eyes sought her out, savoring the slight straps that ran over her shoulders. He followed them to the low-cut seam across the top of her breasts, revealing a hint of the soft flesh below. He could make out the slight outline of her nipples straining against the fabric, aroused slightly by the texture of the soft silk. The lacy fabric traveled over the gentle curve of her hip and lead him to the top of her thighs. He remembered the silky, bare, softness he had discovered there yesterday as his fingers had explored her body. He thought of her fevered desire as he touched her most intimate places. He could almost hear her soft cries as he filled her completely. He felt blood rushing to his loins as he hardened at the thought. 

Suddenly uncomfortable, he shifted his position in the bed to conceal the manifestation of his thoughts. He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his head vigorously to shake himself back to the present. Then, he reached out to grasp her hand and began in a friendly tone, "Hey beautiful, how did you sleep?"

His movement and words startled her a bit, but she recovered herself quickly. 

"Very well. Thank you." she said and she couldn't help a slight smile as her eyes met his. His hair was unruly and his eyes practically sparkled as he looked at her. She had worked to keep her tone formal despite the intimacy of their setting, but her rapid heartbeat threatened to give her away. Surrounded by the sheets and without the formality of his suit, he looked so young and beautiful in the pale light of the room. He had slept only in pajama bottoms and now, sitting in front of her, she could see the outline of the powerful muscles in his torso. She was tempted to reach out and stroke the soft hair across his sternum but quickly recovered herself and dropped her eyes. 

He knit his brows as he studied her. She seemed to be holding something back. He sat up fully so that he faced her directly and chased her eyes with his own, hunting for the connection he had felt with her the evening before. There close contact made Catrine increasingly uncomfortable.

"Hey," he said to her quietly, stroking the tops of her hands in his fingers. "Come back to me." He tugged gently on her hands and he leaned into her more closely, willing her eyes to meet his. 

She looked at him but didn't say any more. He let the silence stretch between them for a moment as if considering what to say next. Finally, he seemed to settle on the words as he began, "This place is a dangerous place. Especially for you. I didn't really understand that when I brought you here. But, I think I'm beginning to understand it now."

He continued, "I have three days to close this business and three days to keep you safe. And, you have my word that I intend to do both. But, to do that, I'll need your help and I'll need your trust." 

She fixed her eyes on his, surprised by the direction of their conversation. Her first reaction was disbelief that he had even uttered those words: Trust? This was not something her masters demanded of her. Unwaivering obedience, yes, but trust was irrelevant. The thought was quickly replaced by skepticism and doubt: Was she being subjected to some kind of sick test? 

But as she felt his hands squeeze hers tightly, his genuine eyes watching her intently, she opened her heart a little bit to believe him at his word.

She bit down on her lower lip still considering the weight of his comments. "Master Ryan," she began softly, his watchful stare making her apprehensive. She looked like she was about to continue, but instead he saw her lip quiver before she appeared to redirect her thoughts. Finally, she answered simply, "I will do my best."

He reached up to her face and stroked her hair softly. He knew there was more to her thinking and he wanted to push her to say more, but he stopped short. He couldn't begin to empathize with her reality and he certainly didn't want to make anything harder for her in the process.

Instead, he sought to reassure her. Duplicating his actions from the day before, his fingers moved from her hair to caress her cheek. His thumb made small circular strokes across her lips. He drank in the feel of her under his fingertips, savoring the powerful energy that traveled between them. "God, you are pure beauty and pure innocence." He said aloud, more to himself than to her.

She almost whimpered at his soft words and his soft touch. Despite her apprehension, she hungered for it, craving that fragile feeling of connection blossoming between them. Almost imperceptibly, she tightened her fingers on the hand that held hers, covering it gently with her other hand. It was a small act, but a bold act for a slave; taking something that she wanted without asking permission first. She looked carefully into his blue eyes trying to assess his reaction. They widened slightly with recognition. 

He let go of her hands and pulled her into a deep and passionate kiss. His motions were soft but still demanding. He needed to taste her, pushing her lips to open so that he could sweep his tongue across her. She was so sweet. 

He groaned as his lips tenderly explored her mouth, surprised that just the slightest touch of her lips against his sent a pulsing current traveling across his body. He lingered there, touching his tongue to hers gently, urging her tenderly to respond. He wrapped up her hair in his hands, and grasped her head tightly. He was going crazy just from the taste of her.

He was so powerful and yet so gentle at the same time. She had never felt anything like it and it stirred something inside of her. She let out a small gasp as she pressed her hands against his chest, exploring the softness of his skin beneath her fingertips and stroking her thumbs across the indentations of his collar bone. She could feel the powerful muscles of his shoulders and chest as he tightened his hold around her body. 

She returned his kiss with more confidence, a warmth growing deep in her belly as their mouths explored each other. He sucked at her lip softly and grazed it with the tip of his teeth before moving his lips across her jaw and down the side of her neck. 

He pressed his hand against her backside and pushed her flush against him as she cried out again. She marveled at the sensations of their bodies pressed together; only the satin of her nightgown acting as the thin barrier between their bare skin. The feeling of their connection was overwhelming her senses. 

She felt his hardness growing against her leg as his hands swept across her back and down her behind. His response to her seemed so natural, organic, and such a change from the forced actions usually demanded of her by her Masters. 

Her body flushed as her body seized with desire for him and she gasped again as she realized it was a totally new sensation: her body's own, uninhibited and unforced sexual response. She was nearly overtaken by the power of it. 

He growled against her mouth and then released her lips to look again into her eyes. She breathed heavily and looked at him with a combination of wonder and alarm. He smiled at her and she blushed slightly in response. Her natural reaction made her face even more beautiful. He pressed his forehead against hers and worked to slow his breathing. 

Glancing at the alarm next to his bed he sighed reluctantly, "I could do nothing but stay here and kiss you. But, we need get ready to head downstairs and face a new day with the Kings before they come looking for us."

He unwrapped her tenderly from his arms, smoothing her hair and squeezing her hand before turning to get ready quickly. Catrine took a moment to gather her wits and then went to her drawer, assessing its meager contents. She pulled out a pale pink dress, the style identical to the one she wore the day before, and matching panties. She freshened up quickly and found Ryan already waiting for her at the door. 

He smiled at her and held her hand as they walked down the corridor and into the elevator. As the doors closed, he pulled her against him in a forceful embrace. She could have stood right there forever, never leaving the comfort of his arms. He brought his lips to her hair and delivered a final tender kiss just at the top of her hairline. By the time the doors opened, he had stepped forward authoritatively and Catrine had assumed her proper place just behind him.

—

They entered the room and found the Kings had already assembled for their meeting. "Good morning Mr. Pierce," King Dutton acknowledged, which perked the attention of the others in the room. 

"Yes, good morning indeed," crooned King Arick who stepped into the center of the room, assuming his preferred role of Ring Master. "We missed you last night, Mr. Pierce! You left us in such a hurry. The fun was only just beginning and suddenly..." he said, waiving his fingers through the air with a flourish, "...you had just disappeared!" He looked at Ryan but didn't pause long enough to give him the chance to speak. 

"We were very disappointed. Yes. Very disappointed indeed." He complained. "So, the Kings and I were chatting this morning and determined that the only way we believe we can get past this small setback is to deliver a punishment."

"A punishment?" Ryan repeated his word, confused by exactly how they intended to punish him. Were they revoking the contract or changing the terms? He tried to connect exactly how this would impact the fragile arrangement he was working to broker and what that would mean for his future. 

"Yes, of course!" He said without delay and with a little too much delight. "Each of us will a deliver a punishment to that delicious little slave of yours! A spanking should suffice I think?" He looked to the other Kings for confirmation. "Five smacks each to ease our dismay?" There was a murmur of consent in the room as the Kings openly ogled Catrine. 

King Arick flashed her a predatory smile. She stepped behind Ryan as if trying to hide herself from their stare.

Ryan's heart raced in his chest. His vow to keep her safe all but demolished within seconds of their entering the room. He was fixed to the spot as his mind furiously worked to find words to appease them, but he kept coming up blank.

"You do it." He heard Catrine whisper into his ear. Her voice was so quiet he wasn't sure if he had imagined it. He closed his eyes and shook his head 'no' forcing back the idea and answering her at the same time. 

"Are you denying us?" King Arick interrupted indignantly. 

Ryan's eyes opened purposefully and met Arick's offended stare. His resolve hardened as he pulled himself to his full stature and summoned his confidence. "She is mine," he growled at Arick, "and I will deliver her punishment if that is your choosing."

A look of disappointment swept across King Arick's features and several of the other kings voiced their discontent aloud. It was King Dutton who spoke up and agreed with Ryan. "Mr. Pierce is absolutely within his rights as Master to administer the punishment." 

Ryan felt slightly better, having the support of at least one of the Kings. But, then Dutton gestured to the center of the room as if it were a stage and settled himself back in his seat to enjoy the little show that was about to begin. "As you please, Mr. Pierce," he said decisively.

Seeing that Ryan was rooted to the spot, it was Catrine who took the initiative. She stepped out from behind his shadow and moved deliberately to the center of the room. With a grace that left him breathless, Ryan watched stunned, as she placed her hands gently on the edge of his desk. Keeping her legs straight, she slid her palms forward until her cheek rested against the solid mahogany tabletop. Her short skirt inched up her hips baring the tops of her thighs invitingly as she tipped herself forward. Her behind lifted enticingly as she settled into her position. Her hair fell softly beside her and she stilled completely. 

She searched Ryan's eyes once more seeking the promise he had made to her earlier, trying to reassure him of her trust with her expression. Then, she closed her eyes and waited for him to step forward.

"She is, indeed, very well trained," King Dutton complimented him. 

Ryan swallowed hard and stepped forward. Let this be a means to an end. He prayed silently as he stopped beside her. He stroked his palm gently down and up the length of her naked back. He was trying to soothe her, but he was also working up the courage he needed to continue.

He was surprised that the feel of her skin and the softness of his strokes also managed to soothe him considerably. After a few moments, he breathed deeply and swept her hair up in his hands, twisting it gently and placing it at the nape of the neck to make sure it was fully away from his strikes. 

Returning one hand to her back, he swept the other down her backside and under her skirt, allowing his fingers to skitter along the very bottom of her ass. Her skin felt achingly soft, just like every other part of her that he had touched. He resisted the urge to linger there as he heard her gasp softly at his touch.

Repeating the same motion, this time his fingers lifted the hem of her skirt as they passed, fully exposing her panty covered backside to the room. Her underwear was made entirely of pale pink lace, matching the fabric of her dress, and perfectly cupping the tiny globes of her ass. Although it was cut to cover her fully, the texture of her creamy skin peeking through the delicate design of the lace was more appealing than if she had been bare. 

The Kings made appreciative noises as their eyes were riveted to the place where she was spread before them. Ryan realized that he too was drawn to her like this. Her beauty seemed to be amplified by the vulnerability of her position and it stoked his own desire for her. The sensual energy was palpable in the room and Ryan couldn't help but feel an urge to continue touching her. 

He stroked his hand gently across the lace that covered her bottom, tracing its design with his fingertips. The found the spot where the seems came together in the crook of her ass and stroked it softly, increasing the pressure as his fingers moved up and down repeatedly. He reached for the lacy edges and tugged them slightly so that the fabric rested higher on her hip, exposing more of her to the room. Then, he pressed his hand firmly against her bare right cheek, warming her skin with his touch and massaging her ever so gently. 

He looked at Arick who was seated closest to him, answering his earlier provocation with his now determined stare. They eyed each other fiercely as he reached his hand back and delivered a swift smack directly against the place he had warmed just a second before. 

"One," she cried out in answer to his action. The sound pierced right through his soul and his hands froze in place. His instincts were screaming to stop this madness, to grab her and flee. How could he be the administrator of such an injustice?

But, he knew not to abide by his instincts. These powerful Kings were keen on dolling out consequences when things didn't go their way. He suspected they wouldn't even make it out of the building if he tried to take her and flee. Instead, he looked down at her and softly stroked her bottom, now a brightening shade of pink, before fixing his heated eyes again on Arick, anchoring his resolve, and repeating his motion from before.

She remained perfectly still, working hard to focus her attention on the lengthy soft caresses and not the short punctuating slaps she received. He was helping her along by varying his points of contact. He methodically worked his way down the her right cheek and then back up the left. He softly grazed her pussy lips with his fingers which made her jump slightly. The soft pressure a wonderful distraction from her pain. She counted each one aloud, as she had always been instructed. 

She wanted to endure this without showing emotion, shielding herself from the raw vulnerability she felt. She thought briefly of his kind words and the sweet kiss they had shared in his bed and the pain eased slightly. 

But, by the time she counted out fifteen, her voice cracked from the pain and she shifted her position slightly with each slap. By twenty, she counted aloud with a heartrending sob.

Ryan stiffened. Her agony striking the match against the kindling of anger inside of him. He increased his tempo, but eased the force of his blows, as he sought to quickly conclud the punishment.

"Twenty-four was it?" His voiced boomed across the room, conveying an unnamed threat in his question. His voice was steady, but it was laced with steel and his body was rigid in place. Sensing his defiance, King Arick stepped forward to challenge Ryan's body language and tone.

Feeling the growing tension, King Dutton stepped forward to interrupt. "That will do nicely, Mr. Pierce." He turned to the others in the room and continued, "Gentlemen, let's take a few moments to find our own release following this excellent display. I'm sure you'll agree that it has left you wanting?" He smiled at them knowingly. 

He pulled his own slave to standing and she stood silently by his side before following him expeditiously out of the room. The others turned their attention to their own slaves, following Dutton's lead. With a final glance in Ryan's direction, Arick stepped back and roughly grabbed his own slave to release his pent-up desire.

Catrine was still standing in place, with her body draped across the desk. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was quiet but labored. Ryan realized grimly that she was waiting for permission to stand. 

Quickly, he crossed over to her and tentatively touched the reddening marks left by his hands. She winced slightly and he cringed at her expression. He softly replaced the lace of her panties to their rightful position and then smoothed the soft silken skirt over that. He ran his hand gently up her back, grasping both hands on her shoulders and using them to gently pull her up to standing and then to turn her softly so she faced him. 




Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 02



There was so much he wanted to say. But, he knew better than to speak openly in this room. He couldn't be perceived as taking any action that could be considered unusual for a master. He was certain that the Kings had their eyes on him, sizing up his character. They were judging him, he realized now, not on his presentation and professional attributes but on his ability to navigate their twisted social norms. 

He had prepared himself to play Master for the duration of the meeting in much the same way that he had prepared his presentation materials for the Kings; methodically, academically. He used the same discipline and focus that had fueled his career.

But, here, now. With her. It was just so different. He struggled not only to play his role, but to see her as less than the most captivating woman he'd ever encountered. The didn't want to dominate her. He didn't want to extinguish spark. He wanted to coax it from her, to explore it languidly and comprehensively.

He sighed deeply. This was so much more complicated than he had first assumed.

As the Kings started making their way back to the room and settling themselves comfortably into their make-shift thrones, Ryan lead Catrine towards his own chair. He was desperate to hold her. To wipe away the last of her tears. To begin to make right the terrible betrayal he had just committed against her. 

He had noted the day before that many of the Kings kept their slaves on their laps for various portions of the day. He didn't think it would be unreasonable to do the same with Catrine and it would give him the excuse to keep her close.

"Sit with me? He asked softly. "Or, would you prefer to sit alone?" he added quickly. 

As their eyes met, she tilted her chin and gestured towards his chair, nodding her head slightly. He breathed a sigh of relief and then sat down before easing her across his lap. He made sure not to enflame the already tender skin on her backside as he settled her there. 

She pressed herself against him, chasing off a shiver by cocooning herself in his warmth. She felt wrecked. The adrenaline brought on by the morning punishment had receded and left exhaustion in its wake. She took a deep breath against his chest and felt soothed by his increasingly familiar scent. She could hear his heartbeat beneath the soft cotton of his shirt and it abated her remaining unease.

The meeting reconvened and to their mutual relief, the Kings finally seemed to turn their attention to the business at hand. Waiters came and went delivering a light breakfast and then a mid-morning snack as their discussions focused on long term planning and the high-potential for extremely lucrative returns on their investment in Ryan's company.

Catrine nibbled on some breakfast but she wasn't very hungry. She relaxed into Ryan's grasp, almost trying to meld her body against his. She felt the sensation of Ryan's fingers traveling across her skin as he absent-mindedly stroked her hair and along her arms. He seemed more relaxed too as he participated in the discussion in the room. 

Enveloped fully in the sensations of him surrounding her, she drifted off into an easy sleep. 

——

She awakened as lunch dishes were being cleared from the room. 

He smiled at her when he realized that her eyes had opened. "I saved this for you," he murmured to her, as he pushed a plate of cheese and fruit towards her and handed her a fork. 

She stretched a bit but made no move to leave his lap. The food looked absolutely delicious and her stomach growled hungrily. She turned towards him and they locked eyes as she smiled up at him and said simply, "Thank you." 

The sincerity in her tone and the curve of her lips made him suspect that she was expressing something deeper than just her appreciation for the lunch. He returned her look with a wide smile, relief evident in his expression. He shifted her slightly to let her eat but kept his hands pressed possessively around her waist. 

Catrine was much more alert after her rest and her lunch. She was enjoying the feel of Ryan's body against hers and she returned to his embrace as the afternoon's discussions began. The Kings seemed to have moved to topics outside of her Master's proposal, but they made no move to dismiss them from the room. 

No longer needing to stay so focused on the topic at hand, Ryan's fingers began slowly tracing Catrine's body. She murmured appreciatively as he massaged her neck and shoulders, releasing some of the tension that remained there from the morning. They trailed down her back, over her hip, and then along the side of her bare leg. He tickled her on the sensitive skin at the back of her knee and she jumped at the playfulness of his gesture.

"Ticklish?" He admonished her quietly with mock outrage. She nodded, bashfully, as he smiled broadly. Their smiles felt refreshingly straight forward after their complicated interactions of the morning.

Pausing a moment longer to stroke her knee, he then began a slow, exploratory journey upward. He brushed the inside of her thigh this time, fluttering ever so gently across her sex. He lingered there, watching her expression change as she responded to his caress. Just as she began to fully accept his touch, he teasingly continuing his climb up her belly. She let out an almost inaudible gasp as her body reacted to the sensations that he coaxed from her. 

He swept across her body anew, playing at the top of her neck and slowly traveling downward, touching any part of her within his reach. With each trip, his hands ventured a little further and his fingers probed her a little deeper. 

He stilled his hand at the top of her mound, caressing the soft lace of her panties beneath the silk of her dress. He fingered it like braille, making out the texture and sensation of each tiny stitch of the lace hidden from his view. He made slow deliberate circles around her belly button before sliding the side of his palm gently across one nipple. It strained against the fabric of her dress yearning to feel more contact with him. He rewarded her response by cupping each breast gently and drawing his fingers across each nipple.

He groaned quietly into her hair as he felt her reactions to his attention. Her body's response to him was so pure. He was so attracted to her, it took all his control to not grab her in his hands and take her right on the desk. He was almost crazed by his desire to feel her, hold her, absorb her into himself. Her smell, her feel, her soft sounds all adding to the intensity of his response.

She squirmed slightly on his lap, her body swaying gently with his touch, grazing the hardness between his legs. She seemed to push herself subtly against him there, a supplementary sensation to the electricity created by his fingers. Her breathing was rapid and he could feel her pulse quicken in her neck as his hands stroked across her once more. He felt her arch her body against him, heightening her connection with his hand, his lips, and his cock. Urging him on. He forced himself to keep his pace slow, delivering his deliberate strokes, again and again, watching the tension build in her muscles and her expression.

On his next trip along her soft curves, he nudged his hand between her legs and encouraged her to open them slightly. A growl escaped his lips as she complied immediately. His fingers played along the inner ridge of her thigh creeping with painful slowness upward until he finally brushed the soft fabric of her panties. He took one finger and made a slow stroke along her very center; from the furthest he could reach all the way to the tip of her slit. He felt her dampness gather against the silk as he repeated the action over and over again, slowly coiling the excitement inside of her. 

She turned her face into him and he felt her quick, warm, breaths against his neck. Though one of her arms was trapped against his body, she brought the other up to his chest, searching for more contact. She grasped at the fabric of his shirt as if searching for some stability as she grappled with the urges building inside of her. She was spellbound by his touch and felt desperate for more.

Wanting to probe further, he pulled her panties aside and gently sunk his finger into her soft and inviting place. She let out a cry as her body gripped him tightly. He relished this intimate exploration.

"So nice." He groaned into her ear with deep appreciation, tightening his grip on her body as he pushed deeply into her. "Can you feel how wet you are?" He whispered as she nodded against his chest.

"More?" He asked and she shuddered. She nodded again, her back arching to match his rhythms. A second finger pushed at her entrance.

The room disappeared around her leaving only the sensations he stoked and the pressing need growing inside of her. It was as if each stroke of his fingers released a tiny bit of the restrictions of her slavery. Each caress made her feel more secure in his arms. Each action eliminated her reservations about his intentions.

His fingers sought that perfect spot of pleasure nestled at the top of her folds, but he was thwarted by the fabric of her panties. Frustrated, he slipped his fingers across the the side of one hip and found those same tiny pearl buttons that he now knew, were holding her underwear together at the side. 

He felt his body clench as he released each button swiftly and slipped the fabric away from her skin. The idea of unwrapping her like a present made him tense. He couldn't wait to run his hands across her soft mound. In one quick movement, he pressed his hand gently against her pussy folds, marveling again at the smoothness of her skin, stroking her there with the same slowness that he had used across the rest of her body. 

He began searching for that secret button of her arousal. She shuddered as he crushed her clit between his fingertips, pulling it and then pressing against it firmly with his fingertips. He circled it again and again, bringing her whole body alive in his arms. 

She throbbed with the current that emanated from her core and traveled across her body. She rocked herself against him, rising and falling with each sweep of his fingertips. He stoked her desire, returning two fingers to her depths but not releasing his hold on her clit. He used his palm to stimulate her as his fingers curled inside of her pressing magically both up and in simultaneously, stoking her need. The pressure of his hands, methodically stimulating her so fully, caused her to let out another gasp as her body shook with the force of her desire.

Her saw her nipples harden beneath the silk of her dress as her chest rise and fell with quick breaths. Her whole body writhed in tempo with the movement of his hand. He moaned quietly against her ear as he took her in. Watching her body respond to his touch was the most arousing act he had ever witnessed. 

She held on to each sensation as it crashed through her body, never wanting it to stop. The intensity increasing as each second passed. She had no thoughts, only sensations that overtook her and threatened to overwhelm her entirely. 

She shivered as she felt the stubble of his cheek against her own and was only vaguely aware of his soft lips pressed gently again against her ear. The words carried by his warm breath nearly undid her. 

"You are a vision, sweet girl," he whispered as she whimpered. He quickened his pace, seeking to further heighten her sensations and her whole body quaked against him. 

Watching her intently and sensing her need, he whispered, "You can come, baby," as he bit down hard on her earlobe. 

She exploded from the inside out and he felt her internal muscles clamp down on his fingers as her body shook with the force of it. She threw herself into the sensations of her orgasm, silently tossing her head back as her fingers and toes curled together. Her whole body was wracked by its waves. Once the release had started, it had been impossible for her to contain it.

She wanted to cry out. But, even as her climax took hold of her, she knew not to do anything to call excessive attention to herself. Her body had never acted so freely before.

He slowed and then finally stilled his motions but didn't move. He gazed at her, she was flushed, her breathing still fast. She was absolutely incredible.

He had merely sought to comfort her but had found himself wrapped up in the urgency of her release. It was an act of defiance, he realized. Offering her this type of power despite her captivity. It went against the confines of her subordination and the nature of her submission. He knew that they had just strayed into dangerous territory. 

He was stunned that she had given herself over it. She had met him in this place of need and desire. In return, he would become the caretaker of her vulnerability and the awakening of her passion. 

She had taken a leap of faith and he had caught her. It left him breathless.

He brushed his lips against her head and softly kissed her forehead, her lashes, the creases at the corners of her eyes. He felt like he had only begun to convey his feelings for her. Each thought only revealed deeper and more complex thoughts than he had felt just moments before.

She laid unmoving in his arms, wishing that time could stand still. She basked in the afterglow of her release and realized that for the first time in a long time, she was content. Content to just be held quietly by this person who made her feel whole.

——-

King Arick regarded them bitterly from across the room. The anger he had felt when his plans to punish Catrine were thwarted had simmered slowly all morning. It was now a fury that he could hardly contain. He had found her positively delectable since he had first noticed her yesterday and he had grown tired of waiting for his taste.

He had watched in outrage as Ryan actually appeared to be doting on her; petting her softly and offering her bits of his lunch. She had been nestled against him for hours, which he found absolutely disgraceful. 

It was clear that Ryan's inexperience and his gauche management would lead to trouble. And that kind of trouble was not something that Arick would tolerate. This one clearly needs to be reminded of her place, he thought to himself angrily. Then, he excused himself quietly from the meeting to ready a plan.



Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 03



Day Two - Continued

Ryan was eager for the meeting to adjourn. Eager for the chance to spend an uninterrupted evening with Catrine in their suite. She had spent most of the day tucked up in his lap and while he'd relished it, it hadn't afforded him the opportunity to say more than a few words to her all day. 

He found the idea of sharing a meal and having an unhurried conversation with her to be very appealing. Surely things would wrap up soon. He could see the sun setting through the stained glass windows that surrounded them.

He was surprised that the Six Kings hadn't been more critical of his proposal now that two full days of meetings had passed. While his initial pitch had been the focus of the engagement and he had fielded his share of questions, he had expected to face a tough inquisition. 

In retrospect, it almost felt like a formality that he attended the meeting at all. More than halfway through the conference, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that they planned to develop the energy resources of the south and engage his company to do lead the effort.

So, why had they bothered to invite him? The thought troubled him as he considered it. There was really no way to guess at the answer and he reminded himself that their agreement was not yet confirmed. They had not signed the contract and many of the specifics of the negotiation remained still to be decided. 

All the more reason to try to keep his head on straight. Meeting Catrine and having her here certainly complicated things though. He was usually so cool under pressure. So detached. It was a significant factor in his ability to navigate the empire of the Six Kings for so many years; He could get by, do his bit, say little, and offend no one. 

But here, with her as his companion, he had called attention to himself. He had been distracted since the moment she joined him. He hadn't been able to don his usual business persona. 

Her beauty, her pain, and her honesty were humanizing in a way that pulled at the center of his heart. It was as though he couldn't care about anything as much as he suddenly cared for her. 

Watching her, touching her, and, he admitted reluctantly, even striking her; It had called into question the complicity of his past actions. Now, he felt suddenly accountable for all that he had overlooked; all that he had seen but not called to question. It muddled the purpose of his visit and left him feeling unsure of his goal. He had started this quest to lock up a contract and, in the process, lock up his future. He was no longer sure of his future at all.

His thoughts were interrupted as he saw King Arick rise to make an announcement. His gut instincts told him that nothing good would come from this. He reflexively tightened his grasp on Catrine and waited to hear what the King had to say.

"Gentlemen," Arick began, smiling at each King in the room. Ryan couldn't shake the suspicion that he had something up his sleeve. He wanted to slap the expression right off his face. 

"As you all know, one of the best parts of our quarterly meetings is the chance to share in the rarest luxuries from each of our territories. Sir Hall, the wine you brought along for example, has been most exquisite. Thank you for being so considerate as to share it with each us!" 

Hall nodded in dignified reply.

King Arick continued, "So, it occurred to me this afternoon, that we should really share all of our treasures with one another during our short stay. Our time is so precious and our treats are so...tasty. So, if you'll indulge me in a bit of whimsy, I thought perhaps we should...trade."

"Now, now. Don't worry!" He continued quickly. "It would only be temporary. Just for one night. The chance to partake in one another's most favorite of all delights! Our beloved pleasure slaves, at our collective disposal, to indulge in our most tempting desires."

"Dutton!" he exclaimed with great congeniality, "I know, for example, that you are most eager to get between the legs of Roberts' twins!" 

Hearing this, Dutton held up his glass of wine to Roberts to toast his fine taste. The two Kings sharing in the joke and smiling widely. 

"And, my own lovely Pet," he said stroking the hair of the girl next to him. "She is extremely well suited for some of Edwards' less gentle tastes." Edwards licked his lips at the suggestion, hungrily eyeing the girl at Arick's feet. 

"Let's see if you can't push her limits a bit, no?" He said with a wink as Edwards slowly nodded at him in full agreement. 

"And I must confess," Arick continued with exaggerated dismay, turning his attention to stare directly into Ryan's eyes. "I have been quite taken by our newest guest, Mr. Pierce's companion."

"I was thinking just this afternoon that I would be most appreciative of the chance to explore her most...intimately." He lingered on the final word, turning his attention from Ryan to Catrine as he shot her a cold smile. She sat wide-eyed in Ryan's lap, fully comprehending how this would unfold.

"So, unless there is any objection?" He trailed off for a moment looking to the other Kings, many of whom had already begun collecting their personal items, nodding back at him in total agreement. 

"Excellent!" He said and clapped his hands together like a small child who had just been told that he had his pick of delights from a candy store. 

Leaving the other Kings to sort out their swaps, he turned to Ryan and Catrine and with a deadly serious expression said, "If you would please follow me then, dear?" 

He found himself helpless again. Ryan's rage threatened to spill into open violence as he balled his fists and gritted his teeth. 

On shaking legs, Catrine slowly stood and stepped away from Ryan's embrace to follow behind King Arick. In a flash, Ryan grabbed her and pulled her backwards with so much force she almost crashed into his desk. He surged forward to put himself physically between her and the vile King. 

"Something wrong Mr. Pierce?" King Arick asked with mock concern. 

Ryan's breathing was labored and his eyes burned intensely. He closed in on Arick and readied himself to strike him. The anger sparked between them and the other Kings took notice, stopping their activities and turning their attention to where the two men stood. 

Catrine knew that the situation was escalating quickly and that a conflict with a King could turn bad fast. Very, very bad. There were too many accidents and too many disappearances that couldn't be explained. She knew Ryan meant well, but his reactions were naive. She couldn't stand the thought of him coming into danger because of her. 

She searched for courage deep inside of herself. Reaching out to Ryan, she gently pulled at his fist, which broke his stare down with Arick as he turned his head to regard her. Their eyes met briefly, ice blue to warm brown, each reflecting the other's sadness. 

She took his hand in hers, gently prying at his balled fist to open his fingers and reveal his palm to her. She bent gracefully forward and planted the softest kiss from her lips to the center of his palm. The gesture was intimately submissive, a slave bidding good evening to her Master. But, as she stilled her lips and brushed her cheeks back and forth against his warm skin, she tried to convey her prayer with her gesture: Do not be stupid. I will be okay. I will come back to you. 

Releasing his hand, she turned to King Arick and fell to her knees in front of him. She lowered her eyes and said quietly, "As you please, My King."

"That's more like it." Arick mumbled under his breath. 

He took her by her hair and yanked her roughly back to her feet. He pulled her forward sharply and spun her around so that she was pinned with her back pressed against his body, his hands roughly grasping her. She couldn't bare to look anywhere but at her feet.

"She is a clever girl." He said to Ryan. "And she seems obedient enough. You would do well to learn something from her," he sneered. 

Then, guiding her swiftly across the room he called merrily to the others, "Sweet dreams all!" 

And in an instant, they had vanished into the hall.

Ryan fell back into his chair feeling as though there was no air left to breathe in the room. His heart constricted and his mind buzzed with incongruous thoughts. He had promised to protect her and yet he had failed at every turn. He had wanted to comfort her, yet again and again, she had needed to reassure him. He had tried furiously to maintain control, but it was clear that there was no chance of it in these games.

"Master?" a small voice interrupted him and he looked up to see that the room had emptied entirely except for one young woman. Preston's slave, he realized with dismay. She was looking at him expectantly. 

"Come along then," he said with resignation as he made the walk back to his suite.

—-

Catrine followed King Arick down the hall and into his private chambers. While it was clear that the next several hours would be a test of her strength, she also felt oddly back in more familiar terrain: This was her role. This was what was expected of her. This was the world that she knew. 

The time she had spent with Ryan had brought with it a slew of emotions that she hadn't allowed herself to consider for months, perhaps even years. Thinking, feeling, wanting; these were dangerous pastimes for a slave. 

In showing her kindness, he had weakened her defenses. He had exposed parts of herself that she had locked away long ago. She touched her collar as if to confirm it was still there. Yes, she affirmed, better to know your place than to get lost in dangerous wishes. 

Arick wasted no time as he lead her into his bedroom. Loosening his tie and unbuckling his belt he added, "Take your clothes off. Then, come over here in front of me."

He ogled her, toying with his own mustache and practically salivating, as she slipped off her dress and panties. He hadn't felt this eager to play in a long time. 

She quickly walked towards him and he leered at her openly. "Yes, right here will do." Present your hands to me, please." 

He removed a set of thick metal cuffs from his bedside table. She stood before him and shivered as he slipped one securely over each of her delicate wrists. 

"You seem fairly obedient," he began as he fingered the soft skin on the underside of her wrist. It gave her goose bumps. "So, I don't think I'll need to tie you to the headboard. Am I right, beautiful?" 

She shook her head cautiously, thinking he had more to say.

"Very good," he continued. "I'll just make use of these to keep things interesting." He stroked the metal cuffs again. It was clear that he was admiring the cuffs themselves and not her delicate wrists beneath.

"On your knees then." he declared, his words thick with anticipation. 

To emphasize his point, he placed his hands on her shoulders and pressed forcefully downward so that she sank to her knees before him. She blanched at his touch as he ran his fingers roughly through her hair. She heard him mutter, "Very good, indeed" as he reached down and stroked himself lewdly through the fabric of his pants. 

Knowing she was watching, he unzipped himself and released his pulsing cock just inches from her eyes. It was long and thin and angry looking, with dark purple veins criss-crossing its length. 

He grabbed a handful of her hair with his fist and tightened his grip, forcing her head back sharply so that she had to look up into his cold eyes. She gasped at his sudden forcefulness and the painful pull against her scalp. 

"I had to wait for you all day," he said darkly, "and I am not a patient man." 

He pulled harder, making her back arch, pushing her breasts forward, as she let out a small yelp. She saw his mustache twitch slightly as though he was smirking at her discomfort.

He loomed over her, raking his eyes over her body. His expression villainous.

He brought his face almost level with hers; so close that she could smell his moist, rancid breath as he whispered, "Let's see if you're worth all this fuss. Please me and I will let you, and that supposed Master of yours, live another day."

Releasing his grip just enough for her to be level again with his swollen cock, he pressed the tip of it against her lips and breathed his command.

"Show me."

She parted her lips gingerly, intending to ease herself into the gratification he demanded. But he was too hungry to feel her submission. He locked his hands against her head, winding her long hair in his fingers and using it as a way to control her movement. She shuddered at the feel of his hands on her.

"Shhhh..." he said quietly but it did nothing to soothe her. It only heightened her fear. He forced her to still completely as he towered over her. He held her helpless between his hands and reveled in the power of his position. His whole body thrummed with his desire to possess her.

Suddenly, he thrust deeply into her mouth, pushing himself down her throat. She choked against him, her gasp vibrating against his shaft. He moaned luxuriously, appreciating the sensations of her cry against his penetrating cock. Her struggles to accommodate his length only aroused him further.

He set set a punishing pace as he fucked her mouth brutally. Without the ability to use her hands, she found it difficult to maintain her balance and she teetered painfully on her knees from the force of his actions. She tried to control her breathing to match his pace but she found it impossible. 

She felt tears prick her eyes as she worked to breathe, gagging and sputtering against him. Each struggle only seemed to inflame him further. He grunted and pushed back against her hard, forcing himself even deeper with his thrusts.

He grunted, closing his eyes with smug satisfaction, as he relished the feeling of dominating her. "That's it my sweet, slave girl. You know just how to take it." 

He slowed his pace, but kept himself deeply inside of her as he continued, "Your mouth is exquisite." He smiled at her with a monstrous expression. 

"I wonder if you were a natural or if they had to train you exhaustively to bring out your gifts?" He appraised her with his words. 

"Let's test your limits a bit, no?" He looked delighted with himself as he pressed himself forward again. He held her head tightly, not stopping until he felt the tip of his cock rubbing against the back of her throat. He let out a long satisfied sigh as he watched her struggle to breath, rocking himself side to side, but not releasing his grip at all. 

Tears fell freely from her eyes and she worried she would faint from the exertion. He renewed his thrusts, increasing his pace to a frenzy. Finally, with a few more violent thrusts, she felt him swell in her throat as he released his rancid seed into her mouth. 

He let out a deep grunt, pushing himself back and forth a few more times, still enjoying the soft grip of her mouth around him before he finally slipped himself from her lips. He stood and waited expectantly for her to swallow.

"Oh lovely, lovely girl."

His chilling words combined with his taste in her mouth left her nauseated. Still on her knees, she wiped her eyes and her mouth as best she could against her cuffed hands. She leaned forward to rest her face in her palms, struggling to catch her breath.

Looking down at her he admonished, "There is no time to rest, my slave. We are just getting started. Up on the bed now. Hands and knees, please." 

He walked over to a water pitcher and poured himself a large glass. The sound of the ice cubes rattling against the cup made Catrine lick her lips with thirst. He drank it deliberately, exaggerating his enjoyment, clearly not planning to offer her any. 

He turned to assess her again, admiring her from behind. She rested on her elbows, her ass tipped slightly up in the air, her hands still bound at her wrists. He had only just satisfied himself with her mouth and his cock already twitched for more.

"You are quite something to look at, you know?" he said to her, stroking her body with his cold hands. "Perhaps that's why Mr. Pierce seems so absorbed in you?"

He watched her closely as he mentioned Ryan's name. Like a cat who had caught a mouse but wasn't all that hungry, he was in the mood to toy with her. 

She closed her eyes and turned her head so that she could press her face against the mattress. It was harder to breathe, but at least she could hide her expression from his critical gaze. 

"Yes," he whispered with menacing softness, walking his fingers up each of her vertebrae and enjoying the tremors his actions provoked. "I can see why he dotes on you. You are something to be savored." 

Stilling his hands on her bare hips he finished his preamble. "I am certain that I am going to enjoy fucking you very, very much." 

He yanked her roughly backwards, grinding her soft slit against his renewed hardness. The pressure of his motions forcing her to anticipate the coming violation of her body. He pushed between her legs and slammed himself inside of her with his full strength. He tugged forcefully against her body, making sure that she couldn't escape any of his thrust. 

"Ugh." They both moaned together. Hers, a response to the sudden pain she felt as her body struggled to take him in so suddenly. His, a satisfied grunt as he forced himself deeply into her. He used the leverage of their position to force her body backwards as he used his own momentum to thrust himself forward.

He loved looking down on her in that moment as he completely overpowered her. Her hands bound and extended in front of her. Her hair tangled and spread across the bed. The creamy skin of her shoulders and bare back tempting him to bite her. Her tiny ass squeezed together as his cock slid in and out of her most intimate place. 

He was hers to violate and hers to control. He was soaring with triumphant power. Each time he bottomed out against her, he felt the satisfying press of her pussy against the base of his cock. His rhythm was powerful and punishing, wanting to push himself still deeper, claiming her with each thrust. 

"They keep you so tight." He said with relish as he fucked her hard. He rubbed himself against her walls using her body fully for his own enjoyment. 

"You were made for this," he berated her. "Molded and shaped and trained and punished to be so perfectly submissive."

"Mine to claim," he added pounding his words into her with each thrust. 

He groaned, curling himself over her body so that he could reach around her and cup her breasts with his hands. 

"Such a delicacy." he continued. 

He grabbed her breasts roughly and pinched at her nipples until she cried out again. He squeezed them hard, kneading them in his palms and forcing the tiny buds to extend in his fingers.

"Yesssss!" He exclaimed in ecstasy, yanking at her breasts as an alternate way to control the pace of his fucking. "You are such a delightful fuck."

She was trying so hard to be silent; to not call any additional attention to herself. To wait it out. To take it as she had taken punishments so many times before.

But she felt the tears welling behind her eyes and once the first spilled over, she couldn't control their flow. She began to weep quietly into the sheets.

He didn't see it at first, the single tear that slipped down her face. He was too lost in the immense satisfaction he had obtained in using her body so thoroughly for himself. But, when he heard her soft cry, he rejoiced in her pain, knowing that he had dominated her fully.

Swiftly, he pulled out of her, grabbing her knees and flipping her onto her back. She was forced to look up towards him and he returned her gaze with a vicious smile. Wasting no time, he thrust himself forward again, impaling her deeply on his cock. She yelped as he pushed her bound hands above her head, forcing her painfully backwards. He crushed her chest with the weight of his own, knocking the wind from her as she gazed up at him fearfully.




Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 03



He fucked her brutally, pushing until he could feel his cock at the entrance of her cervix. Pressing her legs back against the mattress to open her up further to his authority. She cried openly as he bore down on her, reveling in her cries. Her hair was matted against her face, damp with her tears.

His lips nestled against her temple. The gesture out of place for the brutality of his force. Wrapping his hands around her thighs and tightening her against him, he found her ear and whispered his most chilling words, grinding himself against her mercilessly to emphasize their meaning.

"This is what you are."

"This is all that you are."

"You are only as much as I want you to be."

He rose up higher to look deeply into her eyes. He wanted to make sure that she grasped his full meaning as he increased his intensity.

"Did he make you come? Did he please you? Did he make you think for a moment that you could ever be free?" 

He sneered at her as he flexed his body and pounded her with his words and his cock. 

"You are a slave." He spat.

"To possess."

"To own."

"To devour."

He shoved himself inside again deeply, renewing his violent assault. He ran his hands all over her body; grabbing, squeezing, thrusting, pinching. She sensed the fever in his motions and she knew that this ordeal would soon be finished. If she could just hang on a little longer. 

He reared up above her, his lips curling into that sick smile. She could no longer face him and tried to turn away. 

"Not so fast," he snapped. He snatched her chin tightly in his grasp before swiftly slapping her hard across her face, splitting her lip open. He relished her fear, backhanding her hard across her opposite cheek just for the thrill of it.

She fell back hard against the bed following the force of his blows. Her eyes watered and she blinked rapidly to clear her vision. A growing sharp pain radiated from her temple and her lip.

She felt him roughly pushing her knees back, forcing them against her shoulders as he bruised her with his violation. He held absolute power. She could no longer hang on. His motions overtaking her completely.

With a final stab, he came sharply inside of her, wave after wave of thick cum coating her and claiming her, as he groaned out his deep satisfaction. 

Finally sated, sweaty, and breathing hard, he whispered his final chilling words almost soundlessly into her ear.

"You are so delightful, little slave. Perhaps I will buy you."

Her world faded to darkness.

—-

Arick tossed her aside shortly after his climax. No longer a novelty, he left her alone, his attentions turned back to his kingdom.

The room came back into focus and Catrine realized he had untied her hands. Her tongue tentatively licked her lip, tasting blood. Her hand reached to her temple where a goose egg had formed and a headache pulsed with increasing intensity. She felt tender, inside and out, from his rough treatment of her. 

She slid off the bed and tucked herself into the position she'd been taught to maintain, on the floor pillow that was meant for her. 

While his thrusts had been brutal, it was his words that had wrecked her. 

"This is all that I am." She whispered aloud so that she could hear it in her own voice.

She felt nothing more and thought nothing more as her mind retreated from the present.

——

Ryan couldn't get over the emptiness of the girl who had followed him back to his room. She was beautiful, yes. But she was blank. Broken, he realized sadly. He had dismissed her quickly, sending her back to wherever it was that Preston kept his slaves. 

He was anguished by his helplessness and overwhelmed with anxiety for Catrine's safety. He struggled with the depth of his emotions. He had known her for less than two days. Yet, he was inexplicably drawn to her. So connected in a way that he had never experienced before.

He nursed a drink and attempted to check email as a distraction. He soon gave up, walking to the large picture windows that ran the length of the suite. He pressed his head against the glass. It felt cool against his skin. 

He kept thinking about the thin gold band that was wrapped tightly around her neck. Her collar. A constant reminder that she could never be free, could never fully explore her own desires, could never truly trust or confide in him. 

Suddenly, an idea came to him and he needed to act on it immediately. He unlocked his tablet and wrote an urgent message to a good friend who worked in the technology division of his company. He fired it off quickly, glad to at least have taken one step towards feeling less helpless.

Then, there was nothing to do but wait for her return. He fell back against the wall and slid downwards, slumping slightly as he sat. He stared out the window as he had done the night before, only this time he was painfully alone. He looked out over the city and waited for the dawn.



Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 04



Day Three

Catrine was roused by an indifferent butler. He had come to escort her from Arick's chambers. As she exited his apartment, the King didn't bother to look up from his morning paper.

She should have felt relieved by his sudden indifference towards her. But, for as much as she had dreaded being in the presence of King Arick, she now felt equal dread in the idea of returning to Master Ryan.

'This is all that I am,' said the voice inside her mind. 

The butler bid her to wait outside the door to Ryan's suite and she responded by dropping to her knees and lowering her gaze. King Arick hadn't returned her dress, so she knelt there naked and battered, shivering with both cold and nerves.

The knocking startled Ryan awake. He kicked over the still half-full glass of whiskey that rested on the floor beside him as he rushed towards the door. When he first opened it, he only noticed the butler and stood there momentarily confused. Then, he recognized the kneeling figure beside him.

He dismissed the butler with haste. He bent to take both of Catrine's hands before pulling her quickly into his room. He closed the door, locking it securely, before pressing his back against it as if trying to keep out the rest of the world. He was so relieved to see her. He breathed deeply, calming his adrenaline fueled mind, reassuring himself that she was back safely with him.

He advanced on her quickly and wrapped himself around her, hugging her close. He felt the now familiar feel of her hair against his cheek while her unique scent filled his nose. He was so happy to hold her that he didn't register at first that she had remained still in his arms.

"Catrine?" he spoke gently. He loosened his embrace, searching for her eyes, but she couldn't meet his. Her face was pressed against his shoulder, facing away from him. Her eyes shut tight.

"Catrine?" He whispered to her again, his voice filling with concern. He pressed his lips against her hair and muttered her name softly, again and again. His emotions practically shouting, but his lips barely making any sound. 

A tear slipped down her cheek as he rocked her gently in his embrace.

This is all that I am.

She felt the remnants of Arick's brutal violation seeping down the inside of her thigh. It disgusted her. Shame overpowered her as she realized what they had reduced her to. What was left after so much savagery but the ghosts of her past and an endless, empty future?

This is all that I am. 

His soft words, his warm embrace, his gentle touch. Ryan was everything she wanted and everything she could never have. She yearned for kindness, protection and love. She was crushed by the agony that it could never be hers.

This is all that I am.

There was nothing for her in his breathtaking embrace but pain; A pain worse than anything that she had experienced in her two years of servitude. A pain much deeper than anything her other masters had inflicted. 

This is all that I am.

Tomorrow she would return to that warehouse, to those vultures, to await a new Master and his wicked plans. 

How could she survive that, having felt with him what it was like to live again?

She shuddered violently and pulled herself away from his grasp. She needed to escape the comfort of his arms. She was coming apart and couldn't bare the idea of unraveling in front of him. 

Not knowing how to escape him, she quickly asked, "Master, may I please take a shower?" But, she avoided his gaze entirely.

"Oh. Yes. Of course." he answered immediately, berating himself for not suggesting it. He released his grasp on her body and she scurried away from him quickly. He stood there, alarmed by her state, as he watched her flee from him into the bedroom.

She turned on the shower and stepped under its cascade. She had hoped it would sharpen her mind, but the effect was the opposite. Intense shivers traveled through her and she felt like her knees would suddenly give way. She pressed her hands against the cool tile walls as an intense wave of nausea overtook her. Stumbling once, she fell backwards and crumpled to the wet floor, sobbing openly into the spray.

—-

He had wanted to give her some privacy. She had clearly been distressed when she returned. But she had been in the bathroom for a long time. As the minutes ticked by, his mind pricked with alarm. He warred with himself, wanting to check on her but afraid of smothering her with his own worry.

He walked into the bedroom and heard the shower still on. He knocked and slowly opened the door, calling to her. When she didn't answer, he opened it fully looking towards the glass enclosure where he expected to see her standing.

She was practically hidden there. Slumped against the wall at the far corner. She seemed so small. As he neared her, he realized that she was shivering uncontrollably. The water had long since turned cold. He turned it off and knelt at her side. She looked like she had been crying, but she made no sound now.

He reached out to touch her, but stopped short. In the bright bathroom light, he suddenly noticed how badly she had been beaten.

"Shit." The word escaped his lips before he even realized he'd said it. He was stunned.

He cringed as his finger gingerly brushed the dark purple bruise on her temple and followed its trail to the cut on her lip. He was breathless as he brushed her hair to the side revealing deep bruises along her neck and over her shoulder. He took in the marks on her breasts, the bruising on her hip. Finally, he gasped in disbelief as he lifted her arms to his gaze, revealing the razor-like red gashes left by the cuffs. 

He was sure there were more, but he had seen more than enough. 

He jumped up and grabbed two large towels. He did his best to wrap her up in them, pulling her from the shower and carrying her into his bed. She hardly seemed to acknowledge his presence, her eyes looking at him, but not really seeing him there with her. 

He used his actions rather than words to convey his remorse. He did his best to towel dry her hair and then brushed it out gently. He slipped a pair of clean panties over her legs. Then, on impulse, he grabbed his own t-shirt, a favorite from his alma matter, rather than her nightgown, and gently pulled it over her head. It comforted him somehow that he could wrap her up in a bit of himself, rather than placing her in some other thing that was a symbol of her servitude.

Resting her against the pillows, he pulled up the covers, tucking her in securely. He pressed his lips against her forehead, wanting to say so much but not knowing where to begin. When she didn't say anything more, he sighed and turned away. He walked out of the room, quietly closing the door behind him, leaving her to rest.

The emotions Ryan felt when Arick had taken her away began as fear. By the morning, that fear had morphed into anger. Seeing Catrine this morning, that anger had turned into deep sorrow. Yet, as he locked the door of the suite and strode down the corridor towards the Kings and his third meeting day, the sorrow had disappeared, turning instead into an iron-clad determination. He was no longer going to let them make up the rules.

——

He did little to acknowledge the Kings as he pulled back his chair and sat down to begin the morning session. He looked around the room and saw all the other girls tucked quietly into their places. Some looked a little tired, but none looked as battered as Catrine had when she returned to him in the early hours of the morning. For a moment, he thought Arick was going to challenge the fact that Catrine hadn't accompanied him to the meeting. Ryan threw him a threatening glance and the King held back.

Once Dutton opened the morning's session, Ryan feverishly made his final pitch for his proposal and his company. He knew that this was the moment that he was supposed to tie it all up and walk away with his shiny, lucrative contract. Although he had practiced this part extensively, as he threw himself into it, he knew that the whole emphasis of his pitch had changed. 

This was no longer about power or resource development or energy policy. Perhaps it was never really about those things. Or, perhaps it was always about something more than just those things. He was certain that this passionate speech was somehow about him; his ability to sate the Kings desires, his ability to navigate their twisted labyrinth. It was an audition here in their inner circle. 

And, while he couldn't exactly connect the dots, he knew that ultimately his make-or-break pitch in the room that morning was somehow linked to his ability to hold on to Catrine. He wasn't even sure that this made sense but he seized on it with a frenzy. It drove him as he carried himself across the room, talking avidly with the Kings about the future of their realm. It animated him as he illustrated again the possibilities and long-term gains from his plan. 

At least it felt like something he could control.

When there were no more questions, he returned to his seat, satisfied with his presentation. The discussion had gone a long way to rebuild his own confidence. His mind had cleared considerably since the previous afternoon. 

He was ready to play the next round of games with these Kings. 

—-

When there was a break in the discussion, the butler appeared by his side, leaving two envelopes discreetly on his desk. The first, he realized with dismay, were the detailed instructions to return Catrine to that warehouse. The note was so sterile, so administrative, as though he were returning a rental car at the airport. His stomach turned as he read it over. 

The idea of dumping her there and taking off; the idea of returning her to a life of endless terror and humiliation. To idea of never seeing her again. He couldn't begin to consider it. He set the letter aside, refusing to dwell on the possibility. 

He picked up the other envelope and carefully slid his finger along the top. He peered secretively at the contents inside, but was careful not to remove them. This package was much more promising. He breathed deeply as he folded the envelope in half and tucked its contents into the pocket of his jacket. He patted it gently as if confirming it was safely hidden away.

The meeting finally wrapped up around lunch time. Ryan had been checking emails on his tablet and awaiting an opportunity to sneak upstairs to check on Catrine. He was startled when he looked up and saw King Hall standing in front of him. 

Hall was the oldest of the six Kings and had been the quietest during the meetings. There was a dignity to the way he carried himself and a sharpness to his expression as though he was making fast judgments, but giving nothing away. 

"Walk with me?" He said casually. 

Ryan rose and was surprised when Hall took his arm and lead him towards the exit of the meeting room. They continued all the way down the long hall, coming to a stop just in front of the residence elevators. Hall pushed the button to summon one.

Hall regarded him for a moment. Then, with a tone that took Ryan by surprise, he patted him on his shoulder and said, "Why don't you go ahead upstairs? We will finish our discussions in private session this afternoon. We'll inform you of our final decision tomorrow morning." 

Then, squeezing Ryan's arm to emphasize his point he added gently, "I had one like her once..." His tone wistful and full of melancholy as his eyes swam with visions from his past. 

"Go to her now. She needs you."

Ryan regarded the words of this sudden confidant. He stepped into the elevator nodding his sincerest thanks to Hall as the doors closed firmly between them.

—-

Catrine was exhausted but she could not convince herself to sleep. Tightening her arms around her body and squeezing his shirt tightly against herself, she worked furiously to steady her mind. She had been terribly shaken by her evening with Arick. She ached everywhere, the dull pain a lasting reminder of his harsh actions and harsher words. 

But his treatment of her, while brutal, had not been worse or more severe than what she had received at the hands of many previous Masters. It certainly hadn't been worse than the repeated deprecation and punishments she had endured during her long months of training. 

She realized with sudden clarity that it was not Arick's actions, but Ryan's actions, that had left her so exposed to Arick's cruelty. She sat up against the headboard, suddenly more alert, as she considered this fully. 

When she first met Ryan, she had hoped just for a temporary reprieve from the usual torment of her every day; his casual demeanor offering her a chance to rest and perhaps blend into the background. She had planned to get by on the fundamentals of her training and not worry that more would be demanded of her. He certainly had shown her kindness and decency. 

But, she realized, their interactions had been much more complex than that; much deeper than that. She was so comfortable with him, more comfortable than she had ever felt with her other Masters, even the ones who were similarly kind to her. She had felt safe in his care, safer than she should have felt surrounded by the notorious Kings of the Capital. She had let her mind rest while with him, given herself over to a tranquility and a sense of peace that she hadn't felt since her childhood.

But, she didn't feel relieved now, despite all he had tried to offer her. If anything she was more uneasy than she'd felt in months, perhaps even years. 

She was drawn to him. She wanted to know him in a way that she had never experienced. She wanted to look at his eyes and touch his soft hair and curl herself up against him. She wanted to feel the gentle caress of his fingers on her skin. She wanted to know the feeling of his lips against hers. 

Thinking further, her feelings went deeper still. She wanted to know what made him laugh and whether he had a family. She wanted to know why he loved engineering and what drove his passions.

As she sat there, warmed by his bed, surrounded by his smell, and wrapped in his clothes, she wanted to touch his soul. She could shut the world out forever, knowing only the sweet serenity of her connection to him. 

This, she knew, was impossible. But, they had one more day together. After that, she reasoned, she would face her life sentence. 

——-

Finally ready to stir from the warm cocoon of the bed, Catrine rose gingerly and made her way to the living room. She still ached in a few places, particularly the spot on her temple where Arick had struck her. But, her energy was restored by the rest and her newfound resolve to carry on. 

She walked over to the bar in the corner of the living room and opened the little wooden box of tea, its aroma wafting up to greet her. She took a deep breath, finding equilibrium again as she started the kettle. 

Her reverie was interrupted as a sharp pang of hunger suddenly overtook her. She remembered that it had been a long time since her last meal, at least a full day now. She contemplated her options, realizing that she had few. 

Glancing around, she spotted a purple biscuit tin behind the glass front of the cabinet at the top of the bar. She knew she was taking a chance. Compelled by her empty stomach, she reasoned that Ryan would grant her permission to take a cookie. She lifted herself onto her toes and reached up high to try to open the door of the cabinet.

——

He was almost certain she'd be asleep so he took great care to open the door quietly. He stopped suddenly, as he looked across the living room and spotted her at the bar. Her back was to him and she was reaching so high with her right hand that even her right foot had lifted entirely off the ground, leaving her standing on the very tips of her left toes. She appeared to be only a few millimeters from her goal.

She was still wearing his t-shirt. The bottom of it had lifted invitingly upwards as she stretched across the cabinets, giving him a full and unrestricted view of her long and lovely legs. Her well defined calf muscle strained with exertion and her other leg lifted gently, almost like a ballerina's arabesque. He could make out the tiniest fragment of the silk of her panties across the very tops of her thighs, muted lavender clashing wildly with the bright red of his college t-shirt.

He watched, fascinated as her fingertips finally cracked open the cabinet door and a small tin clanged loudly as it fell against the countertop. He heard her release a cry of victory as she pulled at the top of the tin and stuffed a biscuit into her mouth, moaning softly as it melted on her tongue. She turned to shut off the kettle and poured herself a cup of tea. 

He was sure he was smiling like the Cheshire Cat, delighting in being a witness to this private moment of indulgence. Her unguarded actions so different from her usual careful composure. He couldn't help but feel like he was spying on her; not wanting to invade her privacy, but not wanting to interrupt her either. He was also greatly relieved to see that she seemed to be feeling much better than earlier that day. 

Afraid she'd turn around to find him gawking at her, he decided to make his presence known. He grabbed the door handle again and made a loud show of opening it, making sure this time to attract her attention. She swallowed her cookie quickly, guiltily wiping the crumbs from the corner of her mouth, and turned to face him.

"Do you need any help over there?" He asked her casually as he walked by. She attempted to block the tin with her body. 

"No, I've got it. I was just making some tea." She said with haste. Despite her earlier confidence, her hands shook with the fear of being caught taking something without permission. The habitual fear of punishment stronger than her trust in Ryan's intentions.

Ryan casually walked to the dining area and set down his briefcase, removing his tablet and phone and placing them on the table. He wanted to give Catrine a little bit of space. 

"I'm so glad to see you're awake and out of bed. I thought you'd still be sleeping when I came up." He added, an attempt at easy conversation.

When he looked over, she was stiff, still standing guard at the bar. So, he added helpfully, "I think there's a tin of cookies or something over there. Feel free to help yourself. I may eat one too, come to think of it." 

Her eyes widened as she realized that he had just acquitted her of her trespass. Relieved, she picked up the tin and carried it to the table, setting it gently in front of him. He turned to look at her as she stood beside him before reaching into the box and offering her a biscuit. She took it from his hands, glancing up to meet his eyes. Their sudden proximity making her nervous.

"Can I get you anything else, Master?" She asked him quietly. 

He reached up and pressed one finger softly against the cleft of her top lip. His tone matching hers, he said, "None of that formality here, okay?"

She nodded her head once in understanding. She felt like she could hardly breathe as his finger traced the outline of her lips. His soft touch reminding her of the profound difference between him and all the others. The powerful current returning and passing between them as she looked him in the eyes. 

He brushed her hair away from her cheek, revealing the purple bruise beside her eye. He stroked the edges of it softly. It made her suddenly self-conscious and she broke their stare.

"Does this hurt a lot?" Concern evident in his voice as he continued the gentle touch.

"I've had worse." She said faintly, still looking towards her feet. She squirmed a bit under the intensity of his examination, clearly uncomfortable with the subject.

He frowned and released her cheek. He ran his hands over her shoulders and down her arms. Then, he grasped her hands in his, raising them slightly and assessing her fully.




Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 04



"I like this shirt on you." He said more playfully as he revealed a brilliant smile. 

She couldn't help but smile back as she returned her eyes to him. 

"I do too." She said as she blushed. 

They stood together, holding hands and smiling at each other, enjoying the lighthearted simplicity of the moment. 

He cocked his head as a thought suddenly occurred to him. "Are you hungry?" he questioned.

"Yes. Very." She answered without hesitation. Smiling wider, the ease of their interactions and his clear concern for her making her more comfortable.

Squeezing her hands, he leaned forward and kissed her gently on her cheek before he continued, "Well, let's see if we can remedy that immediately." 

He picked up the phone to reach the butler. She remained in place, still feeling little pings of energy everywhere he had touched her.

He walked briefly into his room, returning to Catrine a moment later carrying two pain killers and a cool glass of water. He lead her to the couch and she settled herself into the corner, tucking her legs beneath her. She took the medicine obligingly and smiled warmly again as Ryan doubled back to grab her cup of tea and the little box of biscuits.

He stopped just in front of her.

"I was really worried about you this morning..." He trailed off. 

"Last night..." he continued, trying a different approach. 

He stopped again, glancing behind her to the city view beyond the windows; the landscape he had studied so closely as he awaited her return. 

He didn't know exactly how to express himself. His words were thick with the anxiety and distress that had overtaken him the previous night. He passed her the cup and sat so he could face her on the sofa. 

"Are you feeling okay now?" he tried, wanting to touch her again, but not sure if his contact would help or hinder their conversation.

It seemed a simple enough query. But Catrine struggled to answer it. It had been a terrible night. It had been a terrible two years. Of equal importance, she couldn't remember the last time anyone had asked after her with such sincerity.

And yet, the sensation of him so close to her seemed to bring her back to life. She yearned for him to reach out; to feel his fingers gently grazing her skin again. When he was with her, she felt a flicker of life sparking deep inside of her. She wanted to nurture it and tend to it and let it grow.

"I'm glad I'm here with you." She said. Her answer filled with truth and simplicity as she turned again to face him.

He exhaled as the weight of her words hit him. He reached out and pulled her to him, wrapping her in his arms. She rested her face against his shoulder, nestling herself against him. 

They sat together for several minutes in silence. She felt the soft rise and fall of his chest and listened to the slow, steady beat of his heart. He pressed his lips against her hair and felt her gradually relaxing completely into his embrace. It was their first unhurried moment since they'd come together nearly three days earlier making it somehow okay to say nothing at all.

Catrine rose to answer the knock at the door, indicating lunch had arrived. Ryan directed the butler to place it on the coffee table rather than in the dining room as he got up to get them each a drink. 

Returning to the couch, he gestured for Catrine to join him there and felt relieved when she settled in closely beside him again. Having spent the last few minutes holding her close, he didn't want the formality of a hulking dining table between them now. 

He opened the tray revealing two steaming bowls of pasta lightly dressed with tomatoes, basil and cheese. It smelled incredible and Catrine licked her lips as she looked eagerly towards it. He passed one to Catrine and then grabbed his own before turning sideways on the sofa to regard her.

"Dig in." He said.

As she took her first bite, she realized just how overcome she was with hunger. She was starving. She ate with gusto, stuffing huge bites into her mouth and chewing it as quickly as she could. 

She had been so subdued just moments ago, but the lunch gave her a a sudden burst of energy. The simple pleasure of it making her giddy. He had never seen her so animated. Until that moment, her every move had been deliberate, her every word controlled. Here, suddenly, was another tiny fragment of her unguarded self; a vivid, alluring, dazzling young woman. 

When she realized that he was watching her, she peeked over in his direction and noticed that he hadn't taken a single bite. Instead he simply looked at her with a perplexed expression.

Barely managing to swallow her bite, she couldn't help but give him a questioning glance. "You aren't eating? She asked, confused. "This might be the most delicious thing I've ever tasted." 

Her glance gave way to a smile as she turned her attention back to the bowl. Knowing he was still watching her, she exaggerated each bite, making 'oohs' and 'aahs' to emphasize her happiness.

Ryan watched her avidly until finally his grin gave way to laughter. At first it was just a giggle, but when that only seemed to encourage her antics further, it soon gave way to a fully formed roar from deep in his belly. The laughing complete with a small snort when he tried to catch his breath.

"Master Ryan, did you just snort?" She asked wide-eyed as she too succumbed to her own fit of laughter. 

That did them both in; the two of them together, flopped against the couch, heads thrown back with abandon, laughing until they ached.

When they were finally spent, several minutes later, they were laying closely together against the deep pillows of the couch, each sighing happily. Ryan turned onto one elbow so that his face was just a few inches from Catrine. 

"Can I kiss you?" He asked her softly, desperately wanting her to say yes, but knowing he'd relent if she chose. 

"Of course." She said quickly and he sensed her sudden withdrawal from him.

"No, no, no." He interjected. "I meant, is it okay with you if I kiss you? Can I have your permission to kiss you?"

Her eyes opened in alarm as she considered his question. 

"I've never actually been asked that before." She trailed off, her expression more serious by the moment.

Thinking that was her answer, he shifted back to a sitting position on the couch, taking a sip of his drink and increasing the distance between them. He needed the space to help him cool down a little bit; his desire for her was stronger than anything he had felt before.

There was still so much for Catrine to consider. The complexity of her past, her developing affection for him, her worries about where this would lead her. She watched him moving away, realizing the moment was passing her by and she hadn't intended that to be the answer to his question. Her mind shouted back, "Yes!" She wanted his kiss. She wanted it desperately, with every fiber of her being. 

She moved suddenly, dropping her dish against the coffee table with a loud clank. In one motion, she practically jumped into his arms, her hands grabbing his shoulders and her lips pressing forcefully against his, almost knocking him backwards.

She had taken him completely by surprise, his mind momentarily frozen by the sensation of her pressed against him. When his brain finally caught up, he groaned against her lips, relishing the feel of her uninhibited kiss. 

He wound himself tightly against her, wrapping his hands in her hair and grasping her around her neck.He leaned back into the couch and pulled her along, shifting her across his lap. She relaxed fully into his embrace as he kissed gently against her temple, around her bruise, and down her jaw line before returning to her lips.

She smiled against his mouth as he coaxed her to open herself more fully to their kiss. She complied and felt his tongue licking gently along her top lip before he caught the bottom one gently between his teeth, biting down. He pulled at it and sucked it softly into his mouth.

She gasped as the sensations he coaxed from her fluttered through her body; tiny little ripples rolling pleasantly down to her toes. It awakened her senses. She mimicked his actions. Making an unhurried pass with her own tongue over his lips and before grabbing one and teasing it softly with her mouth, eliciting a groan from Ryan.

"Hey, that's my trick!" he tried to say, the words coming out slurred as she refused to release his lips to let him speak. 

She pulled herself back a few inches, smiling as she rested her hands on his shoulders, taking him in. He watched her expression turn pensive as she raised one hand and lightly traced the outline of his lips where her own had just been. She placed both hands on his cheeks, holding him there and looking deeply into his eyes. 

There was such intensity to her touch, it made him breathless. The seconds stretched on as they just stared at one another. Though they were motionless, the connection intensified, evidenced by their racing hearts and quick breaths.

She broke their silence, but her body remained transfixed. She took his hand and pressed it against her chest. There was a trace of hesitation in her voice as she spoke.

"Here." she said, covering his hand with her own. 

"Can you feel it?" She said, a hint of wonder in her voice as he looked back at her.

"I come alive when I'm with you."

A sound escaped his lips as the meaning of her words washed over him. He reached out to grasp her and pulled her tightly against him, pouring himself into their embrace. He rocked them back and forth gently as he pressed his lips against her hair, just above her ear. 

He breathed deeply before whispering to her, "Oh sweet girl. Can't you see it? I'm the one who is alive with you."

He kissed her again, deeper and more urgently. His tongue pressing against hers, urging her to respond with her own. They tangled themselves up, giving an invitation to delve, caress and explore. Their bodies pressed together tightly. 

Ryan began a trail of tiny kisses down her neck, as he murmured against her skin, "Make love to me, Catrine." 

He felt her stiffen again, but this time he was more prepared for her response.

"It's not a command." He whispered to her. "It's a request."

"Make love to me, please my sweet girl." He repeated, his hand brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, continuing to stroke it softly watching her carefully for her response.

She felt light headed and tried to take a deep breath. She closed her eyes as her world blurred in and out of focus. She felt the presence of his steadying hands against her waist as she teetered slightly. She found his touch reassuring as she weighed the implications.

She was terrified. But she was also electrified. 

"Ryan," she began, searching for the compassion she knew she'd find in his eyes. "You need to understand. I was nine when the war started, fourteen when I lost my parents. I was nineteen when they took me." She trailed off.

"This has never been optional for me. This has never been offered to me by request. I don't know if I can..." A sort of desperation was evident in her voice.

"Catrine, I know..." He began, releasing his hands from her waist, concerned that his touch was too overbearing.

She grasped his hands and pressed them back against her body as though it was her life preserver. She held them tightly as a tear fell from her eye.

"I have never known love, Ryan. I have only known rape."

He felt his heart fracture into a million pieces as he stared into her eyes. It was such a terrible injustice and he ached with the knowledge that it had been perpetrated by his own people. They had taken so much from her. Even here, despite his best intentions, he had failed to protect her from their crimes. 

She ran one finger along the collar clasped securely around her neck and completed her thought with sad acceptance.

"This is all that I am."

The statement snapped him out of his melancholy thoughts. He raised both hands to her face, wiping the tear from her cheek with his thumb. He began shaking his head back and forth keeping her in his gaze as he held on to her tightly. She saw his jaw clench, suddenly filled with determination.

"Catrine." He began, speaking so quietly yet so firmly she couldn't help but give him her full attention. 

"You are courage when I shrink with fear. You are luminous when I fade into shadow. You are kindness when I am thoughtless. You are soulful and beautiful and miraculous. I could think of 1000 more words and none of them would begin to define all that you are." He said the last four words slowly to give them more emphasis.

She wanted to believe him. He was so filled with conviction. He paused for a moment as she took in his words, having none of her own to respond. She knew in her heart that they had never managed to steal or beat or take all of her. She felt immense relief to know that someone else saw it too; and that the someone was this beautiful man in front of her.

She watched him with confusion as he unexpectedly let go of her to reach carefully into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small envelope, unfolding it gently. As he spilled its contents into his palm, he revealed a tiny microchip on a slim red cord. 

Catrine gasped. She stared at him dumbfounded. 

"Where did you get that?" Her barely audible voice was filled with disbelief.

He could see her whole body trembling again, her eyes still glued to the chip. 

"When he took you away last night...My God, Catrine. I have never felt so powerless. I couldn't do anything for you. I was so afraid for you." He began. 

"And I sat there, so full of anger. Willing myself to do something useful. Anything."

"And, then I remembered that we manufacture these. That literally, I could get your key." 

"It's a master copy." He continued, concerned that perhaps she wasn't even hearing his words. She hadn't so much as blinked since he revealed the contents of the envelope. 

"It's the key type from which all the other keys are made."

"My old university roommate is the Director of our technology lab." He added, by way of explanation, hoping his voice would provide the needed momentum for her to breathe again. 

"So, I was able to reach him and I asked if I could borrow it. Fortunately, he didn't ask me why I was in need of it..."

"This is only on loan, unfortunately. I'll need to return it tomorrow."

"But I thought maybe, for just one night, you could be...free."

Looking at her eyes again he could see that she was still in shock. He worried again that perhaps he had gone too far. Still, he was desperate to remove this barrier for her; to eliminate a physical reminder of her bondage, if only for a few hours.

He leaned towards her and gently pulled her hair over one shoulder. Then, reaching carefully behind her neck, he pressed the chip firmly against the back of her collar. They heard a quiet beep and then a soft click as the latch released and the collar slipped free of Catrine's neck and sank into her lap.

He softly ran his fingers along where the collar had restrained her just moments before. He could feel her quaking under his touch. He placed his palms against her shoulders as if to steady her, but pressed his warm thumbs where the cold metal had been.

"Catrine. You are so much. You are everything."

She raised her eyes to meet his. Her expression filled with astonishment.

"Everything."

He said it again and again. Straight to her. Like a shot directly to her heart.

Suddenly, she collapsed against him, air rushing into her lungs as she inhaled deeply. Her heart pounded in her chest.

"Do you want some time alone?" He asked her. "Do you need to rest?"

She stilled against him for a few seconds. Nestled there, she felt snug and secure. Her body hummed with the feel of him all around her.

"No." She said staring up at him, her expression a dazzling combination of bewilderment and desire. Her voice quiet, but filled with empowerment.

"I want you to make love to me."

He took her hand in his, opening her palm and planting a kiss gently in the center of it. The gesture echoing her actions just the day before. 

—-

"Come over here." He said to her after they had stepped into the bedroom.

He pulled her in front of him, standing together in front of a full length mirror. Wearing his t-shirt and without her collar, she had no signifiers of her slave identity. They were just two people bathed in the rich late afternoon light that streamed through the windows, painting them in shades of gold. He wrapped his arms around her and she leaned back to press herself against him. She stared at her own image, standing still for a long time.

He tipped her chin upwards, her eyes sweeping up to meet his brilliant blue gaze, before he coaxed her into a deep kiss. She sighed, turning her attention fully from the mirror, eager to return his kiss. Their tongues danced, entwined in their own passionate embrace.

He was caught up in the feel of her against him. Finally, away from the prying eyes and malicious intentions of the Kings, he could begin to express what she meant to him.

He watched her experiment and take charge of her own actions. He felt a powerful surge as he realized that she was meeting him openly in this place of their budding passion. It was such a gift to experience her this way.

She carried her kisses across his jaw and into the crook of his neck. She brought her hands up to stroke his chest, trailing her fingers across his broad shoulders and back to his collar bone. 

Resting against him, she touched the lapel of his jacket and toyed with the buttons of his shirt, pausing there.

"I'm so nervous." She said with a hint of a smile. "I've done this a million times, but I've never done it like this before." 

She looked up at him as he smiled, almost reverently, back down at her before kissing the tip of her nose. Emboldened, she turned her attention back to his chest and gently pulled his jacket over his shoulders letting it fall to the ground. He watched her intently as she worked her way down his dress shirt, opening each button and sliding her finger along the newly exposed skin of his chest. She pealed the shirt off his shoulders letting it join his jacket on the floor. Then, she leaned forward and planted a small kiss on his bare chest, just above his heart.

He inhaled sharply at the intimacy of her touch. He needed to be slow for her, to let her pace guide them. But his heart pounded with anticipation and he was finding it nearly impossible to concentrate. It took all of his power to resist crushing her against him and tossing them both onto the bed.

"Oh, sweet girl." He groaned against her hair, "You are just so amazing."

She raised her lashes to glance at him as he delivered a searing kiss to her lips, pushing his tongue deep into her mouth and stroking her tongue with his own. She met his lips with her own passionate force, her whole body quivering with sensation. She made quiet noises as his lips brushed past hers and down the soft skin of her neck, pausing where the collar had been before. 

She shivered against his fingertips as he ran his hands down her body and under the hem of her shirt, his fingers skittering across her bare back and around her soft belly. He continued along the bones of her hips and across the soft swell of her behind, taking the time to feel her fully in his grip, squeezing her gently. She moaned softly, the added sensations from his touch intensifying their kiss, making her tingle everywhere.

He grabbed at the bottom hem of his t-shirt that covered her, pausing to look to her for consent. With her small nod, he carefully tugged it upwards, releasing his kiss just long enough to pull it over her head. Her hair cascaded back down across her shoulders and her back, framing her beautiful face once more. He grasped the shirt for only a moment more before he added it to the pile of clothes at their feet. 




Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 04



Finding one of the marks left behind by Arick's rough hands, he touched it gently before planting a tender kiss on the bruise. He sought out another, and then another, repeating the same action each time. Finally he rubbed each of her wrists softly before bringing them to his lips, kissing every corner of her until he was satisfied that he had released her from the King's awful grasp.

She heard a sound escape his lips as he took in the sight of her before him. It was an amazing sound; passionate and sweet and full of yearning. It conveyed something she realized she had never experienced before; More than just a quest for sexual dominance, there was an ache in his voice for her to need him too. She wrapped herself around him and hugged him tightly, seeking his embrace. The tenderness of his actions had made her feel vulnerable, but the security of his arms quickly comforted her.

Taking a few steps backwards, Catrine slowly lead Ryan towards the bed. He barely broke their kiss as he reached around her to tug back the covers before easing her backwards onto the soft sheets. He paused for a moment, unzipping his pants and kicking them towards the rest of the clothes littering the floor before joining her in the bed. He gently pulled the sheet up to cover them both as he slipped in beside her. 

Their faces now just inches apart, their bodies laid side by side in the cool sheets. The simple intimacy of sharing a single pillow sent Catrine's heart racing. Her breathing was quiet but quick as their eyes met. The stillness of their moment betrayed by the thrumming of her heart

He began exploring her with his fingertips, luxuriating over each detail, tracing along the side of her cheek and down her neck. His fingers ran along her collar bone and then gently cupped the soft side of her breast. He wanted to discover every part of her, memorizing each curve and crevice.

Catrine's eyelashes fluttered as his thumb gently circled her nipple. He was gentle at first but quickly increased his pressure as he watched her expression change under his gaze. As his fingertips continued to move in slow circles, he stoked her desire. He wanted to draw out her pleasure. He wanted to feed her need for release.

Stilling his fingers, but keeping his hand cupped around her breast, he tilted his chin down and blew softly on each nipple. She arched her back and gasped as he drew out the dark pink bud with the cool air. He slipped down so he could lick across it with his warm tongue, the sudden change from cool to warm causing Catrine to gasp and reach for him. He nibbled playfully around the edges before gently sucking it between his soft lips, rolling the tip of her nipple against his tongue. 

She moaned as the sensations washed over her. She rolled to her back so she could fully take in his ministrations. He followed her, never releasing her soft nipple from his lips, focusing all of his attention on that sweet spot, alternating between swirling his tongue around her and sucking softly. He moved from one breast to the other, using his fingers to lift, knead and pull at her gently, accentuating the movements of his mouth. He pressed his hips against her, unconsciously seeking relief from his own pressing need as she began writhing beneath him. 

"Ryan..." she called to him between short breaths. Her voice was thick with her desire. 

He reluctantly released her nipple to kiss his way back up to her mouth. He gazed down at her as she sought the words to explain her desire. When she found none, he smiled at her and asked simply, "More? Should I continue?"

She swallowed hard as her eyes opened wide. Then she nodded emphatically and he couldn't help but laugh softly before running his lips along her neck and nuzzling himself into her shoulder once more.

In this position, Catrine could feel the full weight of his body pressed against her. It was deliciously intimate. Clad only in their underwear, she could feel the ripples of his muscles against her soft skin as he traveled across her body. It made her tingle everywhere they touched. She felt his warmth envelope her fully as his lips and hands freely explored her. 

He was being so deliberate and slow in his actions which only fanned the desire that was growing inside of her. She arched her back against him as his lips returned to her breasts. This time, his hands traced along her ribs and across her belly, holding her possessively in his grasp.

She teased his hair as he left a trail of his soft kisses down her tummy, his tongue drawing a lazy circle around her belly button. The tickle of his whiskers brushing her skin making her giggle, her body undulating against him. It was as though every sensation he created was magnified by her desire. His touch, his fingers, his breath all stimulating her and enhancing her arousal.

Her beautiful panties were on display before him as he kissed along the lacy satin trim. She let out a cry and pressed her arm against her face to try to muffle her passion as he gently tugged at their lacy edges, exposing more skin for him to taste. Ryan relished brushing his lips against the spot revealed to him, just above her clit. He knew that shaving her and baring her completely was a condition of her slavery, but he couldn't help but feel the delicious thrill of claiming her there. Her creamy skin was like silk and she quivered against his tongue. She was so sweet and he was so eager to possess her.

Just as she thought he would delve a bit deeper to touch her where she hungered most for contact, he pulled her panties back into place. He smoothed the top softly back into place with his fingertips, teasing her as though he had taken his fill and was finished with his exploration. She groaned and tilted her hips towards him in encouragement, not comprehending why he had stopped.

As if in answer, he slipped his hand between her legs, urging her to open them slightly. Without pausing, he pressed his hand firmly against her core, feeling her pulsing against his palm. He ran his fingers up and down her slit as her body tensed against him. Though his movements were slow, she groaned as she finally felt the stimulation her body needed at her center. 

He could feel the dampness of her arousal as he traced along her slit. He drew slow circles around the outline of her clit, teasing her with the soft satin of her own panties before slipping his fingers down again to repeat the same motion around the tiny bud of her ass. Touching her reminded him of fingering her at his desk the day before. His body clenched as he realized that nothing was holding him back today from taking her further and exploring her more deeply than he had the day before.

"Oh god, baby. Your response is amazing. Does it feel good to you?" He practically growled as he grasped her panties in his hands, sliding them smoothly down her legs. She nodded once to answer before hiding her face again in her arms. 

He balled up her panties and dropped them off the edge of the bed. Then, he crawled up to feast on her, kissing his way up her legs. He could feel her trembling as he traveled again across her body. He pushed her legs to open them wide, coaxing her to spread herself for him. Her lips were pink and swollen, glistening and wet. He pressed his fingers at her entrance, stroking again softly up and down, marveling at the evidence of her excitement dripping from his fingers, spreading it over her clit and between her ass cheeks. 

He slipped a finger into her folds, working it in and out as he watched her respond beneath him. He stilled his finger, but didn't remove it, while his other hand sought to pull her open further. As he did this, he leaned forward and planted a soft kiss right at her center, tasting her essence. 

"Oh god, Ryan!" She cried out in response as he began to probe her with his tongue. Her fingers grasped at the sheets and then at his hair as he caressed her so intimately, taking his time to lick repeatedly across her folds. 

He wanted to devour her; delving deeper into her sweet center, working to heighten and intensify the sensations he provoked. He grasped her hips so that he could steady her as his lips pressed directly to her clit. He sucked at it gently, taking it into his mouth and suckling it as he had her nipples. She practically bucked off the bed as she gasped again.

He glanced up at her and they briefly made eye contact. "That feels so amazing." She said equally amazed by her own reaction.

Her passion was so pure. He could tell she was already nearing her peak. He luxuriated in the sensation of it, as though the act was somehow an essential part of her being. A secret part that only he was permitted to see.

In the moment, it was hard for Ryan not to get heady with power. He was nearly desperate to take her for himself; to control her pleasure and claim her fully. To feast on her and pound her with the brunt force of his own desire. He wanted to bring her close to the edge, allowing her to experience the euphoric haze of her near-climax, without tipping her over the edge too quickly.

But, he forced himself back. For as much as he wanted to dominate her, he needed her to meet him in his desire. He wanted her pleasure, but he wanted it naturally; given by her own free will, not taken for himself.

He reluctantly released her clit from his lips and nibbled his way back to her lips, kissing her deeply and grinding his body against her. She could taste herself on Ryan's tongue as he slipped it into her mouth; the tang of her mixing with the spiciness of him. She was surprised that the flavor of it further stoked her own desire. It was so different than her past experiences, where she was forced by a previous Master to taste herself. They pointed to it as evidence of her submission, as though her wetness was proof that she enjoyed their forced humiliation. 

She had never enjoyed that, but she certainly enjoyed this. 

Ryan stilled as he realized that Catrine had stopped kissing him and appeared lost in thought. He was afraid he had pushed her too far. He rolled over to his side and was relieved when she immediately turned her face towards him as though seeking to follow him.

He ran his fingers across her hair and down her cheek. "Should I stop now?" He asked her seriously. "That may be enough. I don't want to overwhelm you."

She considered his question for a moment as she stroked her fingers along his bare skin. The fuzz of his chest hair tickling her fingertips. The outline of his body silhouetted as the sun had begun its descent along the horizon. She pressed her body against him and her breath quickened as she continued their kiss where he had left off. 

"No." She answered him between kisses. "Don't stop now. Please."

Tucking her head against his chest, she reached for the elastic band of his briefs. Feeling suddenly frustrated by the clothing Ryan still wore, she sat up to pull at the waistband, tugging them over his hips before slipping them down his thighs. Ryan helped her by shimmying them down further until their bodies were both finally totally free of their clothes.

The energy sizzled between them again as she took in the majesty of his naked form beside her. Having removed the last physical barrier between them, their need for one another suddenly became more urgent.

Catrine brushed her hand across the length of his cock and she felt his abdominal muscles clench beneath her. He kissed her hair and murmured encouragingly as she traced along the soft tip and then ran her hand again along the hard length. She wrapped her hand around him, increasing the pressure of her fingers as she began to stroke him up and down. She watched his breathing quicken as she took more of him in her fist before her fingertips grazed the heaviness in his balls. He groaned as his body responded to the sensations she provoked.

He watched her, mesmerized, as she focused all of her attention on pleasing him; Massaging him with both hands, gaging his reactions and adjusting her touch. She leaned down to tentatively lick him right across the tip of his pulsing cock, tasting the tiny droplet of liquid resting there. It was ecstasy. He was so hard, he didn't think he could hold out much longer.

She felt him place his hands in her hair. They were gentle, but held her firmly as she licked across the tip once more. She lingered there considering whether to take him deeper into her mouth.

Suddenly, she stilled as memories from the previous night with Arick floated through her mind. A chill ran through her and she turned to face Ryan. He was jarred from his euphoria by her forlorn expression as she turned to him.

"I don't think I can do that right now...Take you in my mouth," she clarified. "Is that okay with you?"

He sat up to meet her eyes as he answered, "That is more than okay. You only need to do whatever feels comfortable to you."

She looked as though she didn't believe him. So, he held her hand and looked deeply into her eyes.

"That was so intense. You have no idea, do you?" He looked to her, considering what to say next as he evaluated her expression. "It feels so good to be with you. I want you to do exactly what comes naturally to you; Exactly what you want to do. Because you want it, not because you feel commanded."

Catrine's heart fluttered as he said this. She was empowered by his words. This was not a command, but a request. She gazed deeply into his eyes, feeling her breath catch as she whispered against his ear, "I want to feel you deep inside of me."

Ryan shuddered at her words and pulled Catrine forward, letting the covers fall away as she rose up to straddle him. He curled his fingers around her hips, helping to steady her as she ground herself against him, rocking herself gently back and forth. He could feel her wetness coating him before she lifted herself slightly and eased him into the perfect position to enter her.

She was a goddess, arching her back and closing her eyes, letting out a deep sigh as she sank slowly onto him. She rocked herself up and down, again and again, pressing a little deeper each time until she was fully seated against him. Her tight channel gripping his cock as small spasms rocked her core and shivered their way across her body.

Finally seated deep inside of her, he groaned as he struggled to maintain control. She was warm and welcoming and deliciously snug around him, just as he remembered from the day before. Only now, it was so much more satisfying as she was driven by her own desire and not by some perverse coercion to be with him.

Catrine bit her lip as her muscles clenched. Each time she rocked herself against him, a new wave of sensation rushed over her. She relished the feeling of him sliding against her clit as she rocked forward, before sending a different pulsing sensation through her again as she pushed him back, rubbing against that hidden spot inside her.

Losing herself in the rhythm, she rocked upwards, practically lifting herself onto her knees, letting him slip nearly all the way out of her before pressing herself onto him again. It surprised her how much she ached for him. She was being driven crazy by the feeling of him filing her completely and deliberately sank into him with more urgency each time she pressed herself down again. 

They groaned in unison as Ryan pressed his body upwards to meet her thrusts, reaching up to grasp each of her breasts as they bounced up and down. His thumbs grazed her nipples renewing the sensations there and joining them to the jolts of electricity racing through her center. She cried out and Ryan watched transfixed as she was swept up in the pleasure. It was the most erotic experience he'd ever had; The connection between his need and her desire so evident in their movements. 

Catrine leaned forward to lay against his chest. Her breasts crushing against him as she settled herself on top of him, Ryan wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against him. The additional sensation of their bodies pressed together further fueling their arousal. He grasped her ass and pressed it down hard against him as he thrust deeper against her, intensifying their movement.

Caught up in the fever of their movement and her body's subconscious recognition of her position, Catrine reached backwards to clasp her elbows, locking her hands behind her back and resting them just above her ass; a clear demonstration of her submission to her master.

Ryan couldn't help but groan as he felt her melt against him, offering herself up to him for the taking, opening herself to him to be plundered. It was so tempting and in the heat of their passion, Ryan almost grabbed her hands to pound against her with the full force of his voracious hunger. 

He worked hard to resist the invitation. Instead, grasping her firmly, he rolled them over so that Catrine could lay on her back. As he did, he pulled at her arms so that she could touch him freely whispering words to guide her as they turned.

Following his request, she wrapped her legs and arms tightly around him as he entered her again. The new position offering him even more access to her tight channel, clasping his hands under her back and pressing her against him. She curled her face into his neck and gasped as the intensity drove them both faster and faster. 

She soared with the tremendous sensations, relishing them as it opened her heart to the excitement and the possibility of hope. She just felt...free. As she opened herself fully to these emotions, she chanted the one word, again and again, that she associated with this total uninhibited release.

"Ryan." 

Hearing the sound of his name softly escaping her lips, Ryan's pace was almost frantic. He couldn't help himself. He wanted to take away all of her fear and her pain and leave only joy and love in its place. He moaned against her ear, biting her lobe and kissing at her neck, all the while, grinding himself against her with a ferocious hunger unlike anything he had experienced before.

Catrine writhed against him, meeting him thrust for thrust. She felt his fingers returning to stroke against her clit as the rest of her body succumbed to the sensational feeling of him pushing deep inside of her. Her thoughts given over entirely to her most primal need. 

She was right there, at the precipice, so close she could almost reach it. But, an invisible barrier blocked her way, frustrating her and causing her to whimper quietly against Ryan's chest. Sensing her unspoken need, Ryan's fingers stroked her deeply as he pushed their bodies together as one.

"That's it, baby" He whispered, "You're so close. You don't need me to command you."

She greeted his whispers with a cry, expressing both her need and her struggle to accept it.

"You can do it." He encouraged her with his words and his body. "Release yourself, sweet girl."

She cried out again, as he continued to whisper to her. She closed her eyes tightly and focused every fiber of her being on the place where their bodies connected. Tears sprung from her eyes as she battled the last and strongest of her demons; unlocking the ability to free herself and finally tipping over the precipice and into her own climax. 

The first spasms of her orgasm practically ripped her apart. She bucked up against him, digging her fingers into his back and biting down against his shoulder as the impact of it overtook her. Her nipples grazed his chest hair, amplifying the sensations in her core. His hands pressed tightly into the crevice of her ass, opening her more fully to her contractions.

As her inner muscles contracted tightly, she brought him to his climax along with her. He filled her deeply, growling out his own satisfaction into her ear. 

They held each other as their movements finally stilled, laying quietly as their heartbeats slowed. Ryan looked down at her, observing her closely as she breathed deeply and re-opened her eyes, gazing up into his.




Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 04



She couldn't stifle the little giggle that escaped her lips, as she felt slightly embarrassed by the intensity of their coupling and the intimacy of their position. He smiled back at her, kissing her nose gently in reply.

"You okay?" He asked her between kisses.

She regarded him warmly and then nodded her head once in reply, a soft smile spreading across her lovely face.

He rolled over and shifted their position so that she could lay comfortably against his chest, repositioning the covers around them so she wouldn't get cold. His fingers gently stroked the length of her back and he leaned down occasionally pressing his lips to her hair. 

Catrine sighed quietly as she snuggled against him. She had thought she would have felt sleepy after such an intense experience. Instead, she felt oddly energized; her body was alive and her mind felt sharp. She was whole again and she felt wholly cherished in his arms.

Laying together, they began to talk. Their questions tentative at first. But this soon gave way to a long and intense conversation about their past, their present, and as much as Catrine dared to express, their dreams for the future.

They knew they should have slept. But, as they laid together for those few precious hours, they immersed themselves completely in each other, savoring the momentary perfection of just being together.

As the first light of the sun signaled the coming day, sleep finally began to overtake Catrine. 

"Let's never leave this room." She mumbled groggily.

"So help me, I will never let you go." Ryan answered, but Catrine was already breathing deeply against his chest, finally succumbing to sleep.



Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 05



Day Four

Having given up on the idea of sleep, Ryan reluctantly untangled himself from Catrine and made his way quietly into the living room. Although the brilliant morning sun had tipped over the horizon, he still had a few hours before they'd be beckoned to rejoin the Kings. 

Flipping on his laptop, he sat at the table to begin enacting a plan he'd spent the past few hours composing in his mind. It was still only a shell of an idea, but there were some things he knew with certainty.

He needed to buy himself more time with Catrine. The use of the word buy in this instance was literal. He needed to re-negotiate this as a business arrangement with the Vultures; he intended to extend her contract. That part was fairly straight forward as long as he could put his feelings for her aside and meet them on their terms and conditions.

Perhaps more tricky was that he needed to find the capital with which to complete this transaction. And fast. The leasing of a pleasure slave always required proof of full, up front payment, before anything more was discussed. His company had fronted the funds to procure Catrine as part of his meeting expenses. He certainly didn't have quick access to the kind of cash this extension would require. 

Thinking on this, he pursued a few different ideas to get him what he needed. He inquired with his boss about an advance on his intended bonus. He posted a note to sell his car. He put out a feeler about procuring a loan against his flat. He'd give any or all of these over to keep her close to him. He sent out a few messages pursuing all three possibilities not sure exactly which would come through the quickest. 

They also needed to make a smooth departure from the building that afternoon, slipping away without rousing suspicion of his intentions. Even if he could buy a few more days on her contract, he had no idea what he'd need to do to keep her safe in the future. Send her away? Run away with her? Disappear together? He was certain there were networks for this sort of thing, but it certainly wasn't something he could just inquire about on the street. This was a whole new world of trouble that he'd need to puzzle out. 

Sighing and leaning back in his chair he decided their only course was to take things one step at a time. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his temples with his fingers, his body weary with the combination of fatigue and anxiety.

Soft hands pressing against his bare shoulders interrupted his thoughts. He relaxed as Catrine began kneading his tense muscles, her fingers pressing deftly against each pressure point, releasing his stress. She moved expertly along his shoulder blades and across his upper arms, stroking him with her palms. She watched his head sag a bit and he leaned deeper into her touch, the sign of his relaxation encouraging her to continue. Gently, she tipped his head back so it rested against her breasts and she ran her fingers through his scalp, before methodically rubbing along his forehead. She repeated her motions until he was practically putty in her hands. 

He tipped his head further so he could gaze up at the woman standing behind him. As their eyes met, he was treated to her full and relaxed smile.

"Good morning, angel." He said to her.

"Good morning indeed." She said back, her smile widening before she leaned forward to kiss him softly on the lips.

"Thank you. That felt really great." He said as he reached back to grab her arm, seeking the leverage to pull her around the chair and into his lap. 

"That's something they taught you though, isn't it?" He asked, a tinge of guilt behind his question.

"Yes..." she answered as she met his seeking hand with her own. "But, it's okay," she reassured him, "I've learned a bit of good stuff along with all the not so good stuff."

She stepped sideways, following the direction of his gentle tugs, before curling herself across him. She sank into his lap completely, relaxing as he tucked his arm tightly around her, hugging her close. With his free hand, he brushed his fingers through her hair pulling it over her shoulder. They stilled as they came face to face. He stared into her deep brown eyes, reflecting on his feelings for her. 

How she could endure so much and still be so warm, so vital, was baffling to him. She had such beauty and such grace. But, more than that, it was this profound optimism and ability to carry on despite such dire circumstances that made her so totally irresistible to him. She was so refreshingly genuine. He found her exhilarating.

He couldn't resist the temptation of her being so close to him. He loved feeling her curled against him; a perfect fit against his body. The memory of her wrapped around him last night only deepened his desire to hold her close. He leaned forward, finding her soft lips with his own as the words he had said to her so many times already crossed his lips.

"God, you are so amazing." 

He pressed his kiss more forcefully, sweeping his tongue sensually against her lips and into her mouth. He groaned as she opened herself to him, leaning forward to increase their connection and brushing her fingertips across his jaw line. He curled his fingers around her soft hair and kissed her thoroughly, enjoying everything about the way her body reacted to his touch. In the freshness of the morning, without the emotional struggles she had felt yesterday, her desire for him was pure and uninhibited. 

She pressed suggestively against him, sitting forward and wrapping her arms around his neck. As she shifted, it freed up more of her body for his exploration. He happily tightened his hands against her back and under her bottom. She was rewarded with the sensation of him hardening beneath her as they continued to kiss.

Drifting across her back, his fingertips pulled at the t-shirt she wore. His own t-shirt, he thought with satisfaction, as he noted that she had chosen to wrap herself up in his clothes again. He glided his way across the soft skin of her back, tickling her slightly and causing her to make sweet sounds against his mouth, before he continued exploring, stroking gently against her ribs. 

His palm gently cupped her breast as his thumb brushed her nipple. She yelped as he felt them stiffen under his touch. He pinched one gently, rolling it between his fingers, eliciting a deep moan from Catrine. His other hand joined the first, cupping both breasts in his hands, massaging them softly and stimulating her gently as her body undulated in his lap.

Ryan was ready to scoop her up and toss her back on his bed, spending the whole day lost in her, hiding them from the reality that lurked outside. But, he knew they were quickly running out of time before they'd be summoned downstairs. His efficient mind working to placate his passionate desire, he paused their kiss long enough to give her direction.

"Go start the shower and get in. I'll join you there in a minute." He said quietly against her ear.

His eyes lingered on her backside as she complied and headed towards the bedroom. Picking up the phone, he ordered some coffee and a bit of breakfast while also quickly closing up his computer and stuffing the array of papers on the table back into his briefcase. That bit of housekeeping complete, he turned swiftly on his heel and followed her to the bathroom.

Seeing her there, her face tilted up to the cascading water, standing naked beneath the spray, lit a white-hot fire deep inside of him. He was burning up with need. He charged at the shower, dropping his briefs somewhere along the way, stepping around the clear glass barricade and sweeping her into his arms. 

She gasped at the shock of his sudden contact with her; the momentum of his movement pushing her against the cool tile wall. His solid mass pressing tightly against her. He delivered a searing kiss with a ferocity that was stronger than anything she had felt before. He was fevered in his need and it acted like a match, igniting her own desire. 

She moaned against him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, pressing her pelvis firmly against his cock and relishing the rock hard feel of him beneath her. It slipped between her legs, so tantalizingly close to the ache in her core, but falling far short of sating the desire that was growing more and more insistent. She arched her back, seeking more contact, tilting her head back against the wall. Ryan seized the opportunity to suckle her nipple, pulling on it forcefully and laving it with his tongue, expressing his urgent need to devour her with his mouth. 

She groaned against him and let out the sweetest word she knew.

"Ryan."

Driven by the sound of his name on her lips, Ryan slid his hands beneath Catrine's backside and boosted her up so that he could feel the press of her slit along his cock. The wetness he found there only furthered his urgency.

Feeling suddenly weightless, Catrine wrapped her legs around his hips and gripped his shoulders, trusting him to keep her in place. She could feel him there, right at her entrance, and her body shivered with her frenzied need to have him deep inside of her. She tightened her legs against his back and willed him to press himself into her, anticipating the swell of desire that would come from his entry.

Ryan forced himself to still as he sought her eyes. When they met, they mirrored his intensity. He was trying to ask her permission, but forming words amidst the raging current of their passion was proving impossible.

"Yes?" 

It was all he could choke out as he allowed his body to express what he wanted most. His penis pressing urgently against her opening, seeking her word to continue.

"Yes. Ryan. Please." She managed to pant back.

With a growl, Ryan pushed himself inside of her, not stopping until he was seated deep within her. They moaned in unison as he withdrew himself fully only to repeat the motion, gripping her ass with his hands to steady her as he propelled himself forcefully into her. He left her no opportunity to adjust to him as his frenzy to possess her overcame him. His pace dictated by his own desperate desire.

Gone was the soft, gentle lover who had taken his time with her yesterday. Here, was a man overcome with need; a need for her. Ryan clasped her against him as he ground himself into her, relishing the feel of her pressed so tightly against him. 

She was awash in the juxtaposition of the sensations his movements created. She was momentarily sated by the rush of him filling her completely, her tight walls gripping to hold him there as she tipped her hips upwards to take him as fully as she could. Only to be teased by the sensation of him pulling back again, grazing along her g-spot as he moved, leaving her quivering with need. She rode that current, back and forth, again and again, as she felt a pressure building from the center of her core. Her grip around him was like a vice, holding on as the force of his body and the force of her need overwhelmed her senses.

The soft spray of the shower, the steam drifting around them, the softness of her body and the tightness of her core was his undoing. He ground his hips against her clit with each thrust, hearing her moan in response. He pushed into her with total abandon losing all sense of anything other than her.

With a passionate burst Ryan lost himself completely. Pouring himself into her, he began to come with near violent force. His powerful need obliterating everything except her. He shouted her name as his powerful climax vibrated throughout his body. 

As though it was in the distance, he heard Catrine let out a plaintive cry as she shuddered repeatedly against him. He gripped her, feeling as though she was suddenly slipping from his grasp. He was suddenly worried that he had hurt her. 

Looking for her in their steamy hideaway, he refocused his eyes on her small form. Her forehead rested against his shoulder and her arms, though nearly lifeless, were still wrapped around his neck. He felt her trembling from the inside out, where his cock still pulsed softly inside of her. Her breathing was shallow but steadily finding a more gentle rhythm. Her eyes were closed tightly and as he gazed at her expression, she appeared relaxed. There were no signs of pain that he feared he'd see there.

Leaning forward, he pressed his lips against her forehead and whispered her name. He heard her making a soft humming sound in response and saw that while her eyes were still closed, a small smile was creeping across her lips. 

It was then, with a sudden flash of understanding, that Ryan realized Catrine had come too. Without constraints or requirements and even without his urging, she had released herself to the powerful current of their desire. As he regarded her there, completely sated and at ease in his embrace, he knew he was deeply and profoundly in love with her.

He released her legs, gently placing her feet on the floor and ensuring that she had regained her balance, though he continued to hold her. He walked them backwards one step so they were both under the rushing spray of the shower, allowing the water to run down their bodies, reviving them some.

Catrine looked up and released a long satisfied sigh as she felt the renewing current of the water. She pressed her lips to Ryan's, kissing him deeply, before looking again into his shining blue eyes.

"That felt really great." She said, a small giggle threatening to spill from her lips, as she considered the recklessness of her actions and the freedoms that Ryan opened to her. The memory of it already threatening to spark her need once more. She suddenly felt a jumble of emotions - shyness, gratefulness, eagerness - that she had never needed to contend with during her previous experiences. It enlivened her to have so much competing for her attention.

Reaching behind her, Ryan squirted a bit of shampoo into his palm, rubbing his hands together before bringing them to Catrine's hair. He massaged the soap against her scalp, working up a luxurious lather which he spread down her hair, working it through the tips. When he was satisfied with his work, he returned to the top of her hair, massaging along her forehead with his fingertips and pulling softly against her ears.

Catrine delighted in his attention, closing her eyes and relaxing into his grasp. She felt him twist her hair and wrap it up so that it rested atop her head before feeling his hands returning to her body. Now covered in soap, he began methodically washing her, beginning with soft strokes around her neck and down her shoulders. He worked his way down each arm, taking time to wash each of her fingertips. He stroked softly up and down along her back and repeated the same motion across her belly and breasts, lingering at her nipples just long enough to hear her make soft, contented sounds, before continuing with the serious task at hand. 

He leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers as his fingers slid across her still-sensitive clit. Catrine groaned and rocked forward slightly on her toes, wrapping her arms over Ryan's shoulders for additional support. He idled there, teasing her swollen bud with his soapy fingers, letting it slip in and out of its grasp, rewarded by the feel of her breasts pressing against his chest; the sensation of her hands winding in his hair.

His fingers sought her further, slipping deeper into her folds. He groaned at the alluring wetness that remained there. He kept his thumb against her clit, pressing more firmly as he drew tiny circles over her sensitive nub; His fingers spreading the soap across her intimate folds, his other hand exploring the soft curves of her behind. He let his middle finger brush against the small crinkled star of her ass and felt her buck again against his palm, urging him on. He heard her fevered breathing and was thrilled with his ability to elicit her passion.

He resisted his instinct to explore her further, at least for the moment. Catrine whimpered as he dropped to his knees to wash her thighs and calves, carrying through with his work until he had reached the tips of her toes. Satisfied, he looked up at her with a wicked smile. Then, he pressed each palm against the insides of her ankles and a single fluid motion, slid his hands swiftly along the insides of her legs, not pausing until both hands were cupped firmly against her mound. 

Catrine gasped as the sensations created by his swift movement across her body crashed over her. She frantically grabbed at his shoulders for balance as she felt his fingers again seeking each of her magic places. They probed at her entrance, pressing at her clit and pushing against her ass simultaneously. As she rocked forward, her body thrumming with rekindled desire, Ryan steadied her with one hand splayed firmly across her ass. Then he swiftly pressed his face forward, closing his mouth urgently on her clit.

He sucked it strongly into his mouth as he pushed two fingers deeply inside of her. He was working to simultaneously stroke at her core while he pulled at her clit with his lips and tongue. Having delighted in the taste of her, he leaned in fully to lick at her center, imploring her to open her legs to him and pulling at her labia to extend them to his attention. He alternated eagerly between stroking her with his tongue and returning to nibble at her clit, using his teeth to punctuate his movements. 

Catrine's mind couldn't keep up with the flurry of sensations that Ryan provoked. The relentless drawing out of her desire punctuated by the staccato sensations of his fingers and teeth making her crazy with need. Her body shook violently as an orgasm crashed through her, carried even higher by Ryan's relentless attention. She had never felt a rush of desire like she experienced at that moment.

Slowing his strokes, he planted one more soft kiss just above her clit, claiming his own favorite place before she sank to her knees in front of him. He wrapped his body around hers, pulling her into a tight embrace. He let the water rush over them both, rinsing clean the remaining soap in her hair and on her body. He held her for several minutes, waiting for her body and mind to settle.

"We've been in here a long time." He finally said against her hair and he heard her beautiful, soft laugh in return. 

"Yes," she answered, "I seem to be making a habit of staying in here until the water turns cold."

He pulled them both to standing and kissed her gently. "Why don't you go ahead and get dressed. I'll be out in just a minute."

She paused, glancing down at his erect penis looking defiant and angry as it protruded between their bodies. He followed her gaze and continued with a bit of a smirk, "Don't worry about that."

She looked to him one last time and found reassurance in his expression. She leaned forward to kiss him once again, her soft belly pressing against his cock, eliciting a bit of a groan from Ryan, before she gingerly stepped out of the shower. 

Ryan reached down, grabbing himself with his fingers and roughly jerking himself to a climax. Just the sensation of the water running down his limbs, remembering the pleasured cries from Catrine just moments before, was enough to quickly bring him relief. He sighed, quickly washed himself, and turned off the water.

—-

He found her standing in the living room, fully dressed and looking thoughtfully out the window. When she heard him enter the room, she turned to approach him, her expression grave. In her hands, he saw a glint of gold and knew that she was holding her collar. He stiffened as he was suddenly reminded of their bleak reality. The bliss he had felt just moments before shattering as she approached him. 

The sadness she saw in his eyes confirmed that their feelings were mutual. 

"I'm sorry," he began.

"I know." She answered dutifully as she pressed the small microchip into his palm. Turning around, she lifted the collar with trembling fingers and pressed it so that it slipped around her neck. Ryan stepped forward, slipping the edge of the chip against the edge of the collar. With hiss and a click, they both heard it snap back into place. 




Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 05



She was a slave once more.

He turned her around to face him, but saw that she wouldn't meet his gaze. When he tilted her chin up softly, he saw a single tear had slipped from the corner of her eye. 

"Hey." He said to her quietly. "This is just jewelry. You are no different to me now than you were just moments ago."

Then, he continued, "I won't take you back there...ever. I'm not going to let you go." 

Her eyelashes fluttered as she heard his words. She wasn't sure she understood entirely what he was saying.

"I still have a lot to figure out," he continued. "And, hell. We still have to face today." His tone betraying the absurdity of their circumstances. 

"But, I already put a few things in motion. I'm extending your contract."

She eyed him skeptically.

"I know," he acknowledged. "I'm working on the funding part. But, I'm serious. I'm going to take you home with me later."

She couldn't hold back the flood of tears as her heart surged with hope. She could hardly dare to believe it. She knew that nothing was permanent and this was hardly a promise for her future. But just knowing that these wouldn't be their final hours together. That she'd get more time. That was enough for the moment.

She hugged him tightly and cried into his neck. "Thank you, Ryan. Thank you so much."

He held her for a moment more feeling the same sense of relief that at least, for now, they didn't have to consider their good-byes. 

Then, composing himself, he stepped back and said, "This is a big day. Let's pack up, eat a bit of breakfast..." He gestured at the tray of what was likely now cold coffee and a few pastries that had been left for them. "and get ready to go."

She smiled and nodded her head, turning to the bedroom to pack up her few belongings, leaving Ryan alone in the dining room. 

___

All too soon there was a knock at the door. There stood the butler, beckoning them to follow him to the parlor where the Kings had gathered.

Ryan couldn't help but feel nervous as they followed him down the corridor, but he also felt some relief that this whole affair would be over soon. Regardless of the decision of the Kings, he was ready to leave them behind and pursue, in earnest, a future with Catrine.

As the elevator doors closed, he reached over and clasped Catrine's hand tightly in his. She was even more alluring to him now that he knew more about her and now that she had opened herself up to him so readily. Risking the butler's scorn, he picked up her hand and kissed each knuckle gently, giving her one final heart-stopping smile before the ding warned that the doors were about to open.

Catrine felt her cheeks blush as she lowered her gaze, adjusted her posture, and found her place behind Ryan. When they entered the parlor, the Kings all seemed fairly relaxed, chatting over their breakfasts as they reclined in over-stuffed chairs. Without the formality of the huge desks and the high cathedral ceilings, it was clear that the agenda for the morning would be more informal than the previous days.

King Preston noticed Ryan and beckoned him to join them, gesturing to an open seat. Catrine joined him, knelling on a cushion just beside the chair. 

"Good morning Ryan," he said amiably. "Restful night?" By his tone and expression, Ryan assumed he was alluding to the number of hours he and Catrine had spent sequestered in their room. 

If you only knew, he thought dryly. 

Instead, flashing his most dazzling smile he made eye contact with the group and said, "I wouldn't call it restful, exactly. But it was certainly...satisfying." As he said this, he stroked Catrine's hair softly, pulling it behind her shoulder. He hoped the gesture would soothe her while simultaneously reinforcing his words to the Kings.

The group laughed and raised their cups of coffee in toast. They all certainly seemed to be in jovial moods this morning. 

Catrine noticed that several of the slaves were busy preparing food and refilling coffee cups. She turned her body slightly towards Ryan to get his attention. When he made eye contact with her, she asked him quietly, "Would you like your coffee now, Master?" 

"Yes please, my sweet." He replied, feeling as though they were both acting in some sort of bizarre play. 

Watching her though, as she rose gracefully to her feet and made her way to the tables at the back, he remembered that this was her reality. Under any other circumstance and still, if he was honest with himself, under the current circumstance, this was just another day in her macabre life. 

She presented him with his cup and sank back into the cushion beside him as the others seemed to also settle into their chairs, looking expectantly towards Roberts, who would kick-off the formal matters of the day.

Clearing his throat but not standing, Roberts began. "Well, let's just get right to the heart of it, shall we?" 

"Mr. Pierce, thank you for joining us this morning, and for being such an active participant in these last few days of discussion. As you are likely aware, we do not often invite guests to join us at this conference. So, your attendance was a unique experience both for you and also for us."

"We very much appreciated the thoughtfulness of your proposal and your approach to the development of the southern territories. You were highly recommended by your boss and we now recognize why he gave you such high marks. We think you did well both in sharing these plans with us and in answering our questions during our sessions these past few days."

His eyes crinkled a bit as he smiled again. "But, surely you've wondered why it would be so important to join us in person and for such a long stay too? While the southern territories are large, they certainly are not the most complicated topic we've ever addressed at the Council..."

Not sure if this was his cue to speak, Ryan nodded by paused before answering. Thankfully, the King continued with his speech before Ryan needed to interject further.

"Technically, the territory we've been discussing straddles the boundaries of Hall's land as well as my own, but we share resources with the whole council. The territory as a whole is hardly developed; endless open spaces, few towns, paths that you can hardly call roads; a frozen tundra in the winter and a rainy, muddy mess in the summer." 

"Ryan, here's the truth. We're not getting any younger and our interest in straying so far from the heart of our primary governing territory is waning. So, at this very meeting last year, we decided to seek a dedicated resource to manage the work in the southern territories; someone qualified to oversee it and act as a proxy to the Council." 

"This is where you come in. We have taken these past few days to determine whether you could be qualified and trusted to manage the development of the southern territories on our behalf. Speaking plainly, we are prepared to green light your proposal in its entirety on the condition that you serve as the foreman of the program. Immediately. And indefinitely."

"The most significant requirement, of course, is that you resettle there, commuting back to the capital only a few times each year to report on progress and revisit development goals. Although, even those trips, at least initially, would be very limited since you will undoubtedly have so much work on your hands."

"Of course," he finished hastily, "we would look to compensate you generously in exchange for your commitment."

Ryan sat unmoving in his chair as he considered exactly what they had just proposed. As Roberts had concluded his short speech, all eyes had turned to regard him expectantly and he was certain his expression betrayed all of his thoughts. His mouth opened and closed a few times as though he was beginning to speak, but thought better of it. 

They had certainly taken him by surprise. He couldn't even begin to grasp all of the implications. This meant leaving his family, his job, the life he'd worked to establish. On the other hand, it meant the freedom to pursue his own dream, getting beyond the constraints of his company and working to really develop his passions to the fullest. Unfortunately, he realized instantly, it also meant being more closely aligned with the Kings, who had not proven themselves to be particularly trustworthy or compassionate allies. 

As his mind swam with thoughts, he glanced towards Catrine, realizing that perhaps she was the most complicating factor of all. He was far from figuring out how to pay for her freedom and the task of doing that from the wilderness, with thousands of miles between them, would be impossible. 

Then, in a flash, everything came together in his mind with perfect certainty. He leaned forward to address the room, softly squeezing Catrine's shoulder, as he began to speak.

"Thank you so much for your trust in me. I am honored to be considered for this role and I'm humbled by your offer. I would like to work to find a way to negotiate terms that would benefit both parties."

"You are asking me to leave my whole life behind to start again in a space you yourself just described as a wilderness. I have no spouse or family to accompany me on this journey. I am worried that over time, the isolation and loneliness would creep in and eventually it would get the best of me. Clearly, this would not be beneficial to anyone."

"So, to move forward, I ask just one single condition for this arrangement."

Roberts interjected, "Of course. I'm sure most anything can be arranged."

"Thank you, Your Grace." He continued, "I ask that you pay the transfer and ownership papers for this pleasure slave to accompany me and be in my service indefinitely." 

Catrine broke her practiced stillness and stared with surprise towards Ryan before quickly regaining her self-control. Wise to the ways of the Council, she knew that the Kings weren't really making him an offer. They were issuing him an assignment. For him to make a demand like this, for her paperwork - for her - was certain to exceed the terms of any agreement they had anticipated brokering with him.

The room exploded in rapid-fire conversation around them. Catrine couldn't make out everything being said, but the words absurd and expense were exchanged several times. Glancing again at Ryan, she saw only fearlessness in his eyes as he stared determinedly forward.

Hall put his hand up to silence the conversation, turning to Ryan he said evenly, "Clearly, Mr. Pierce, your request has taken us by surprise. Would you be so kind as to exit for a few moments so that we can continue this discussion in private?"

"Girls," he continued, "You are also dismissed. We'll call on you later."

Though she was reluctant to leave his side, Catrine stood with the other slaves and made her way to follow them from the room. She noticed Ryan reaching for her hand as she passed in front of his chair, giving him a quick but violent shake of her head. 

She knew that any breach of protocol at that moment would likely reveal too much about the nature of their relationship. That, she also knew, would obliterate the chance of her staying with him.

Watching her turn the corner, Ryan nodded once to the Kings and turned to walk into the hall, closing the door behind him. Sighing, he realized that he once again found himself left waiting and alone. This time, it seemed, with the highest stakes yet. 

—- 

Back in the slaves quarters, Catrine did her best to deflect the peppering of questions from the other women. She had learned that secrets were easily revealed through bribes or beatings; They were best left unshared. Instead, she spoke of her own surprise at Ryan's request, her total lack of familiarity with the territory, and that overall, having a single Master would be preferable to her current circumstances. All three statements were truthful and seemed to pacify the others.

The women bored of the conversation and shifted their attention to other activities. Catrine wandered over to the windows and sat at a small bench. Gazing at the buildings outside she whispered a small prayer that somehow this wish could be granted. As she finished, she closed her eyes and began the words again.

She continued this meditative prayer for hours, watching the sun begin its descent into the evening sky. She was worried. They had heard nothing more from the Kings for hours and her imagination began to interfere with rational thought. Questions popping into her mind for which she had no answers: How long did it take to write up a contract? What if they wouldn't meet his terms? What if she never saw him again? Fear began to take its hold on her as she struggled to fight back a growing sense of dread.

She heard the sound of a door opening and she stood, turning hopefully towards it. Her eyes widened as she saw not Ryan's figure, but two hulking figures striding purposefully towards her. She recognized them immediately. They were the orderlies and they had come to retrieve her. 

She stumbled backwards one step as the meaning of their appearance crashed over her. She managed to let out a solitary howl as her mind careened off-course. She smelled the familiar sour odor of the drug as a handkerchief was pressed firmly against her nose and mouth. Within seconds, she crumpled to the floor.

—

Four Days Later

The Vultures had isolated her and given her no explanation; Left alone in a barren room for nearly four days with nothing to do but wallow in her fears. Had Ryan revealed her transgressions to them? Did they know how terribly she had erred? That she had allowed him to remove her collar. That she had come of her own free will and not at the command of her Master. She was terrorized by the possibility of her punishment. 

Beyond her own fears, she worried for Ryan. Had they taken him into custody for some reason? Had he left safely? Where could he be now and was he okay?

Awake, she trembled in bed. When sleep finally took her, she was wracked by wicked nightmares of Kings and their games. Each one, somehow aware of her deepest secrets.

Crueler still, she was tortured by her sweet dreams of Ryan. In her sleep, she found his dazzling eyes and heard his soft words. She could smell his scent and feel his arms enveloping her. She could almost reach him there, curling up against his warmth forever, only to awaken with a gasp, cold and alone once more. 

The uncertainty of her punishment and the dim prospect for her future, was her near undoing. She was considering pounding on the doors, knowing that would only lead to a punishment, just for the confirmation that someone, somewhere could hear her. 

Just as she neared her limit, her door swung open and two women buzzed about. Totally overwhelmed by their noise, colors, and their motions, Catrine closed her eyes tightly and put her hands over her ears, curling her head between her knees.

"Oh dear. It seems the little thing is a bit distressed." Said the first woman. 

"Not totally surprising really, is it?" The other answered.

The first woman sat down on the bed next to Catrine and softly pressed her hand against her head, smoothing her hair back gently.

"Catrine is it?" She asked softly.

Catrine dared to raise her head, nodding once and looking with confusion at the two women in her room. They appeared to be free women. Like the Kings, they were dressed in a kaleidoscope of colors; long draped silks that ran from the tops of their necks to the bottoms of their toes. The fabric was so long, it piled around their feet as they moved about her room. They wore dozens of bangles that clanked together and huge beaded earrings that were hardly visible because of the voluminous hair that completed their looks.

"Well, Catrine." She continued and Catrine forced herself to focus on the woman's face. "It seems you have been Claimed. Not too surprising, a pretty thing like you. I'm Marla and this is my sister, Cecily. We're here to get you ready to meet your new Master."

"Which is a good thing," Cecily piped up. "Because you look like hell at the moment." Marla shot a warning glance at her sister before they turned expectantly back to Catrine. 

Trying to absorb exactly what they had just said, she repeated the words back to them. "Claimed?" She asked in disbelief. "New Master?" She asked again. This was not anything she had anticipated following her past few days in solitary confinement.

"Come now." Cecily responded. "We don't have much time. We'll tell you what we know once we get started"

The women helped Catrine to stand and supported her gently as they traveled down a corridor and into a large bathroom. After helping her into a piping hot, sudsy bath, they scrubbed her from top to bottom, washing her hair and grooming her nails. When they were satisfied with that step, Cecily moved on to cut Catrine's hair while Marla shaped her brows and assessed her nails. They groomed her with great efficiency and once they were satisfied with her state, they began chatting with her about the details of her paperwork.

"I hear the whole thing has been very hush-hush." Whispered Cecily, conspiratorially. "Usually these kinds of things can take months to negotiate, but apparently, this whole thing was settled just a few days ago!" 

Catrine's ears couldn't help but perk up at this bit of information. Could it be possible that Ryan had negotiated this? Could she dare to hope?

"...I don't how you managed to impress him so fast, but it sounds like they were very motivated to move mountains to get their hands on you, my dear!" Marla finished as she pulled out her make-up case and set it loudly on a table in front of them.

"Do you know anything about my new Master?" She dared to ask.

Marla thought a moment and then replied, "No. No names have been shared." 

But, then Cecily interjected excitedly, "But, there has been a lot of talk and speculation! Apparently, the order arrived directly from the Council. An order from King Arick himself!"

Marla shot Cecily a look encouraging her to shut her mouth immediately. But, Catrine was no longer paying attention to the women. She went pale and swallowed hard as she realized the likely meaning behind these events; the worst fate imaginable. She had dared let herself think for a moment that Ryan had succeeded. But, she knew of course, that it was much more likely that he had failed. And in his failure, Arick had stepped in to claim her. 

She shuddered in her chair and closed her eyes trying to stop tears from welling up.

"Now my dear!" exclaimed Marla, "None of that now. You'll ruin my fine work."

"And besides," she continued as she blotted the tear from her cheek with a tissue. "It is always better to be Claimed than to be here, right?"

"Not by a King." Catrine whispered desperately. "Not by that King."

The two women exchanged another look. They knew that having a girl who fell to pieces in her presentation to her Master would reflect poorly on them - and furthermore, would do her no favors in the long run. As Cecily wrapped one arm around her, Marla turned and knelt so that she was just inches from Catrine's face.

"My girl," She began. "In your circumstance, you probably know better than anyone, that there is no guessing about the future. You only have this moment. And, it is up to you and only you, how you will face it."

Catrine took a deep breath and turned to look into Marla's eyes. They were soft and soulful and she found them filled with sympathy as she looked back at her.

"Now," she continued. "Let's finish getting you ready so that you can discover where you are meant to go next." 



Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 06



Four Days Later...Continued

She walked along the sterile corridor as though the motion of her body was outside of her control; As though someone else propelled her forward. External forces rather than internal ones pushing her towards her future. No longer able to think clearly, her mind buzzed with a jumble of incomplete thoughts.

Two orderlies, with their hulking mass, stood just a few steps behind her, but they weren't hurrying her along. She understood that the presentation of a claimed slave was a different affair than that of one on loan. Her two guards seemed more apprehensive to push her, touch her, or even speak to her, likely for fear of damaging the merchandise in some way that the buyer would find distasteful.

She entered a large room through a rear door and paused as she tried to orient herself to the space. It was a parlor of some kind with an adjacent entrance that connected to the room through a sizable doorway. At the room's center, Catrine noticed a platform, about twelve inches tall, with a single satin pillow resting on it. 

"Go forward and take your position," one of the men behind her said with a dispassionate tone.

Catrine stepped forward, setting her slippers aside and stepping up onto the platform. She lowered herself gradually to the pillow, smoothing her skirt gently across her lap. She lowered her head and clasped her hands behind her, stilling completely. 

"Very good." he said lasciviously as he admired the sight of her on display. He circled her once, making sure every last detail of her presentation suitably reflected her fine training and the rigor of their establishment. 

He tugged gently at her hair, letting it fall around her body. He pulled back on her shoulders forcing her to arch her back further. He stood before her pinching at her cheeks and lips to give them an added blush of color before finally running his hands over the front of her ice-blue dress, teasing at her nipples and then pinching them firmly to draw them to attention beneath the sheer fabric. 

Standing behind her, he pulled out a blindfold, wrapping it securely around her eyes. He leaned forward so his lips were pressed close to her ear and said in a tone that gave her a chill, "Now...you wait here for your new Master." 

Then, after a thoughtful pause she felt him lean forward, running his tongue along the side of her neck as he added, "Oh sweet slave, you are going to make someone a very happy man."

Catrine overheard them laughing as their footsteps retreated from the room, the door closing firmly behind them. She trembled there, kneeling on the platform, filled with the fear of the unknown; the quaking growing so fierce that it threatened to shake her from her position. 

She closed her eyes, focusing just on her breathing. She visualized nothing more than the intake of air filling her lungs before slowly releasing it, emptying with it some of her jitters. She hoped that by limiting her attention to the simplest of acts, she could keep a hold on her sanity.

After what seemed like a lifetime, she heard a door open and close somewhere to her left and a lone set of footsteps approached her. Despite all of her efforts to stay calm, her body quaked uncontrollably as the steps neared. When the sound stopped, she lowered her head further, hoping to hide the expression of terror her face surely conveyed.

"So fearful, Pet?" said the ice cold voice. 

Despite trying to stifle the sound, Catrine let out a low, anguished moan as she connected the voice with its owner. 

Her worst fears confirmed. It was, indeed, King Arick and not Ryan who had claimed her. 

She fought a fierce wave of nausea and struggled to breathe as the realization crashed over her. Despite knowing this to be the most likely outcome, it was only now that her last fragments of hope shattered within her soul. 

She had lost so much, but she had never lost all hope. The painfulness of it being extinguished inside of her making her cry out in agony. Her chest convulsed as she literally bit back the sob that was building inside of her. 

She was hardly listening to Arick's words as he began speaking. 

"Of course. You are a clever girl. You have such good reason to fear me." He said, as if in answer to her body's reaction to him as he circled her like a predator.

"Now that you've been claimed," he continued, "It is my duty to convey my expectations of your conduct. You are a most costly investment and as the guarantor of your ownership agreement, I want to avoid the potential for any kind of...misunderstanding."

Stepping towards her and cupping her chin in his palm, he lifted her face and leaned forward accentuating his words. "We don't want to have any misunderstandings, do we Catrine?"

She managed to shake her head quickly back and forth to answer him. Her tears now flowed freely, soaking the blindfold and running down her cheeks.

"Very good." He answered walking to stand behind her. 

"Now," he began as he stroked her hair with an uncharacteristic softness, brushing it over her shoulder in the process. "As you know, you will relinquish your collar in favor of a permanent designation of your status and your Master." Without pausing, he pressed a key against her collar and efficiently pulled the gold band away from her body. Catrine was startled as it fell with a loud clank to the floor beside them. 

"Dutton always chooses jewelry. Still a romantic, I suppose." he said dismissively, running his cold fingers along her neck where her collar had been. "But, I have found that it gets in the way when i feel like enacting some of my darker desires."

As he spoke these words, Catrine felt him tighten his fingers around her neck, her pulse pressing frantically at his palm as it closed on her throat. Struggling to breathe, Catrine panicked and moved her hands to his, attempting to pry his fingers from her.

He clucked his tongue at her reaction but he did release his tight hold, practically shaking her fingers off his arm as he stood erect again. "You know better than to break position, my girl. That would earn you quite the punishment in my house," he added, instructively.

Catrine frantically gulped for air. Its sudden return making her sputter and cough. Fearing the warning in his words, she took a deep breath, pushing her shoulders back again and interlacing her fingers behind her back. She willed herself to remain still, praying she could avoid earning any kind of additional punishment from this man.

"That's better." He said in appraisal. "As I was saying, I prefer to mark my girls. Much more practical than a collar and permanent too."

She could feel him closing in on her again, running his palms across the bare skin of her back and shoulders. She trembled violently beneath his touch, having some sense of what he had in store for her.

"I usually mark my girls in a more intimate place, but this will have to do for today..." He trailed off for a moment before suddenly pressing one hand down hard against her right shoulder, holding her steady as something cold, like a metal tube, pushed forcefully against the edge of her shoulder blade. 

Catrine heard a click, like the release of a ballpoint pen. Then a sudden, white hot pain shot through her body. Unable to hold back, she let out a scream that captured the extent of her agony. 

Her skin burned fiercely as Arick pressed, unyielding, against her skin, allowing the ink of the stamp to set fully, keeping her pinned in place between his two hands. 

He finally removed the offending object, putting it in his pocket and admiring his work.

"Such beautiful skin," he said with sickening softness. "A most beautiful canvas for my work."

As his hands finally released her, Catrine crumpled forward, no longer having the strength to hold herself up. She wept openly, her mind giving itself over to the trauma of Arick's actions and the cruelty of his words. 

Arick slid beside her, enjoying the extent of her helplessness. Delighting in her fear, his fingers circled the tender flesh of her fresh tattoo making her wince before trailing his palm slowly down the bare skin of her spine. 

The feeling of her trembling at his feet shot directly to his groin making him rock hard. Her terrified response to his presence his most favorite aphrodisiac. 

"Mmm..." He moaned, his hands running below her skirt and across the soft skin of her ass. Cupping her pussy firmly against her thin panties, he pressed his fingers along her slit. 

Licking his lips, he continued, "There is really nothing better than the first fuck with a new conquest." He stroked her there, hard, a few more times, listening to the sweet sound of her sobs. 

Breathing hard he added, "And you are just so delectable..."

In the distance, Catrine heard the sound of the door and more footsteps entering the room, distracting Arick from his toying with her. Arick suddenly stood, dropping her skirt but leaving her in place on the platform.

He let out a long and dramatic sigh before he finished his interrupted thought, directing his words now towards the person who had entered the room instead of at Catrine.

"Alas," he said with a great sense of drama, "if only you were truly mine to fuck."

Catrine heard the new voice in the room as he answered Arick.

As though mimicking the King's drama, the voice retorted, "Alas, my King..." 

Then, lowering his voice to convey his steely seriousness, he went on, "She is NOT truly yours."

For a moment, Catrine was certain she had lost her mind and that the voice was a figment of her imagination. Surely, it was just an orderly or an official coming to finalize Arick's paperwork. Surely, she was confusing this voice with another. 

Surely, there was no way he could be here now.

Curled up and blindfolded, she had no way to confirm the identity of this new presence in the room. She froze, willing him to speak again, listening intently to both sets of footsteps as they circled her at the center of the room.

"I am surprised to find you here this morning." The voice continued, the two men sharing in the formality of a hand shake. "Surely, there are more important matters to attend to than the future of a pleasure slave?" 

Nonchalantly, Arick replied, "I merely came by to inspect my investment. After all, she will remain the property of the Capital."

"Yes..." the voice interjected, "But..."

"Yes, but." Arick interrupted as though annoyed. "I obviously am quite clear on the terms you negotiated." 

With almost childish frustration, he ticked off the big points of the agreement that had taken them a full day to work out. "She has been leased to you for an indefinite period, while you fulfill your obligations in the southern territories. Should you exceed our expectations, at the end of the contract, her ownership will be turned over to you permanently. Should you quit or fail to meet the goals, she will be returned to the Capital and will be held responsible for your debts...."

"Really, it goes on and on," he added as though exasperated by the details.

"I needed to come by to complete the paperwork and take care of...other formalities," he said, gesturing at the burn clearly visible on Catrine's shoulder. "I had given very specific instructions for her treatment here these past few days and I wanted to confirm that had been fulfilled to my exacting standards."

"You know," he continued, "Claimed slaves have no right to think they've been handed an invitation to an easy life. I didn't want to start her off on the wrong foot with you."

The voice, which had been silent for several moments, couldn't hide the sarcasm in his voice.

"I appreciate your extensive consideration for my well being." Then, more forcefully, he added, "Though, I believe myself to be a more than capable Master and I intend to impart my own rules for her conduct going forward. I had thought all of this was settled in our discussions last week?"

"Indeed, it was," Arick said, dismissively. Then, taking a different approach, he clapped his hands and said, "So, I get the pleasure of hosting your send off!" The enthusiasm in this last sentence ringing false to everyone's ears. "You are leaving immediately, are you not?" 

"Yes, that's correct." He answered steadily. "So, if you don't require anything further, I'd like to wrap this up and be on my way."

"Of course, Mr. Pierce," Arick said. "She is all yours."

The use of his name finally confirming for Catrine the impossible.

Though she could imagine wrapping herself in his arms, she could merely wrap herself into a tighter ball. Their conversation, no matter how hopeful it should have made her, only overwhelmed her already overloaded emotions. To have her last hope vanish, only to reappear so suddenly, making her delirious.

She felt herself being pulled roughly to standing and struggled to respond. Her legs hardly carrying her own weight as she stood on quaking limbs. She felt a hand pull roughly against the back of her head and with a sudden motion, the blindfold was yanked away. 

Blinking rapidly as she adjusted to the bright light, she finally saw him in front of her with her own eyes.

Ryan. He was here. And he was taking her with him. 

Overpowered by it all, Catrine faltered backwards, relying on Arick to keep her standing. She hyperventilated as she took in the luminous blue eyes that could only belong to one person. She could see the anger there, but also worry and sadness as he looked into her eyes. 

She had been so certain that she would never see him again; the shock of his presence short circuiting her emotions. She could only cry harder, her whole body shuddering, at the sudden change of events.

Mistaking her reaction as fear, Arick tossed her roughly towards Ryan and assessed him. "I may have misjudged you, Sir. I thought you were too soft on her; that you were too lenient with her submission. But, she seems suitably fearful of her new Master after all."

Then, as he moved to leave the room, he turned to share a parting thought. "Wishing you all the best in your new chapter...and may you make us filthy rich!"

As the door closed, Ryan inhaled sharply, feeling as though it was his first opportunity to breathe since he had stepped into the room. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline triggered by his encounter with Arick finally beginning to dissipate slowly from his bloodstream. He ran his hand roughly through his hair as though to shake his mind free from the strain of their interaction. 

He hadn't expected to find Arick there. Seeing him, kneeling menacingly over Catrine, his hand hidden beneath her skirt, his face contorted with cruelty and desire, had made his blood boil. He had practically pounced on him; his anger so white hot that he would have killed him with his bare hands had they made contact. 

Instead, he forced himself to focus on her; Her beautiful body laying nearly lifeless on the floor. The situation was worse than he had imagined. He had once again underestimated the King's capacity for cruelty. 

Ryan tightened his arms around Catrine, pressing her possessively against him. With distress, he looked down and took in the sight of her. She was too frail, too small, and too still in his arms. She had stopped crying, but her eyes remained shut tight and she breathed quietly against him. She rested there, almost lifeless; her arms limp at her sides. He could feel her trembling as he supported her weight. He had the suspicion that she was relying on him entirely to keep her standing. 

It had only been a few days since he had last seen her in the parlor and yet, she was in such terrible shape. He could hardly believe how fragile she appeared. He could feel the protruding bones of her ribs, as though she hadn't eaten. He could see the dark circles under her eyes, as though she hadn't slept. He was sickened by the site of Arick's mark, burned cruelly into her skin. 

He felt the all-too-familiar sense of powerlessness creeping into his mind as he realized that he had failed her yet again. The Kings had promised him that they would make appropriate arrangements for her. They had assured him that she would be safe - off-limits they had said - and well cared for as the transition paperwork and payment terms were arranged. That this was simply a matter of procedure. 

Their false promises made his skin crawl. Arick's devious ploy to participate in her presentation; his sick way of branding her, made him furious. He let out a growl, expressing his desire to protect her and his frustration that he had been thwarted at every turn.

Still, he directed his harshest anger towards himself. For days, he had gone about his own affairs, packing his boxes and attending overly-lavish going away festivities. All the while she had been here, suffering and alone. He wanted to apologize to her a thousand ways; wanted to kiss her and reassure her that he would finally, once and for all, make things right. 

But, he didn't trust himself to speak to her. Not here. Not in this building where walls carried whispers. Not until they were far beyond the reach of the Kings.

He steadied himself, knowing that this time, finally, he had opened the door to her escape. He could only hope that by offering her everything he had, he could begin to undo the damage that had been done. 

He just needed to get moving.

He gently brushed his hand across her cheek, swiping his fingers along her neck, grasping her gently but firmly in his palm. He traced the outline of her lips with his thumb, a favorite gesture, feeling their softness beneath with his fingers. 

"Catrine," he whispered quietly, but firmly. "Look at me."

Her eyelashes fluttered as though trying to focus on the command before she slowly raised her eyes to meet his. His heart thumped in his chest as their eyes met, initiating the familiar current of their connection. He stared hard into her brown eyes, willing her to trust him; to shut out the rest of the world, leaving only the security of his embrace and the intention of his heart. 

Catrine felt hypnotized by Ryan's piercing ice-blue stare. It was as though her mind began to settle as his gaze warmed her from the inside out. She stared back at him, meeting his intensity with her own. 

They remained frozen in place, spellbound, as Ryan inhaled deeply, slowly, encouraging her to synchronize her breathing to his. He continued to brush his thumb against her cheek, helping to soothe her ragged mind. 

"That's it." He whispered, "Take a deep breath." 

She saw him nod subtly as though asking her tentatively if she was okay. Catrine took one last deep breath before nodding subtly back to him. Then, she took a small step backwards, supporting her own weight for the first time. She sought his hands and grasped them tightly to maintain their connection. 

Once she felt steady, she lowered her head and asked quietly, "What do you request of me, Master?"

Ryan regarded her there, astounded once again by her courage. He squeezed her hands gently before he answered her, his tone carrying deliberate weight and authority, "My car is waiting outside. Do you need to collect anything before we leave?"

"No sir. I have nothing here." She answered gravely. Ryan's eyes closed understanding the honesty of her words, renewing his vow to give her the world.

He reached towards her, sweeping her into his arms and carrying her swiftly towards the door. Catrine felt relieved to be carried, not sure she had the stamina to follow him on her own two feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder, recognizing, for the first time that day, his familiar and wonderful smell.

She kept her eyes open as he made his way quickly down the corridor, praying that this would indeed be farewell to the vile prison that had been her home for two years. She saw the guards at the door rise to unlock the final heavy metal gate that stood between them and the world outside. 




Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 06



"You sure you want her conscious?" She heard one of them inquire casually to Ryan as he made his way to the door. "They are much easier to subdue when they're disoriented." He offered, helpfully.

She felt Ryan's hands tighten against her body as he struggled to tamp down his anger. Flashing them a smile he answered, "Thank you, but I'm sure I'll be just fine."

"Suit yourself," the orderly answered as he swung open the door, following them as he carried Catrine down the front steps and towards his car.

The guard whistled as he took in the sight of Ryan's new car, parked in the driveway of the building. "That sure is one beautiful SUV!" he complimented.

"That it is." Ryan agreed as he nodded towards the guard to assist him by opening the passenger door. He set Catrine gently in the seat, closing it behind him.

"Brand new?" The guard questioned, ignoring the fate of the woman in the front seat, rounding towards the hood to check out the details from another angle. 

Wanting to wrap up the small talk, but still wary of ruffling feathers, Ryan managed to answer concisely, "My boss made out pretty great in a recent business deal that I negotiated. This was his way of thanking me."

Stepping into the driver's compartment, he stuck his head over the top of the car and said amiably, "Thanks for your help. Have a good one."

"You too, Sir." The guard answered jovially, "And may you thoroughly enjoy both of your new toys!"

Ryan pulled the door closed with a slam, starting the engine quickly and shifting the car into drive. He pulled away and drove as quickly as he dared intending to put as much distance between them and the capital as fast as he possibly could. 

He wrapped his fingers around the steering wheel, grasping it hard, realizing that he too was trembling. The strain of the situation finally wreaking havoc on his nerves. Pulling onto the highway, he drove hard and fast, glancing back frequently in the rear-view mirror, still anxious that his plan would somehow still be thwarted. 

Still shaken by the events of the morning, Catrine sat silently beside him. It was as though she was in suspended animation, frozen in place as she watched the skyscrapers and crowded streets of the Capital go by.

They continued their drive in silence for almost an hour. Each lost in their own thoughts, needing the time to calm their minds. Gradually the density of the city gave way to smaller buildings and open land, leading towards the vast mountain range they'd need to cross on their way south.

As the car began its first steep ascent up the narrowing mountain road, Ryan finally reached over and took Catrine's hand, squeezing it softly in his own. It was ice cold; the feel of it snapping him out of his own thoughts. He looked at her more closely and it dawned on him that she must be freezing. 

She was dressed only in one of her tiny silk dresses, which covered almost none of her body. And, he had managed to carry her from the building without even noticing that she had no shoes. Then, on top of it all, he had managed to drive for more than an hour without even registering that she was sitting beside him shivering this whole time.

He berated himself, swearing under his breath. This was not exactly the best way to start if he intended to take better care of her; not exactly the perfect way to rebuild her trust in him. When he spotted a turn out, he pulled swiftly off the road, creating a spray of rocks beneath the car as the wheels skidded slightly. 

Catrine watched, suddenly alarmed as he stopped the car, aggressively throwing it into park and mumbling something to himself. She couldn't make out the words as he got out of the car, slamming the door behind him. 

She sat up suddenly, watching him out the front window as he strode with purpose towards the very edge of a cliff. He picked up a handful of stones, hurling them over the edge as he let out a long string of obscenities. Despite the soundproofing in the new car, he was loud enough that Catrine could hear most of it. He released another burst of anger as she watched his hands curl into fists and his feet kick aggressively at the stones at the edge of the turn-off.

She sat still, not sure how to respond to Ryan's uncharacteristic anger; her nerves already frayed from the stress of so much change in such a short period of time. 

But, when he finally turned around and their eyes met, she saw not anger, but tears, and she knew that he shared in her pain. 

He took a deep steadying breath, running his hands through his hair as he walked back to the car. Quickly opening the trunk, he grabbed two items near the top of his pile of boxes and suitcases and made his way to the passenger door. 

As he opened it, he was already speaking to her as though they were in the midst of an emotional conversation. 

"...They said they'd take care of you. Just a formality. Just a few days...." His voice trailed off as he pulled a sweatshirt around her back, slipping her arms through it and zipping it up to the top. 

Clutching his hands tightly in the fabric against her chest he gazed at her, his expression almost crazed with concern. "Did they tell you anything at all?"

She tried to form the words but none came. Her mouth felt dry as she took in the immensity of his sadness. Her first instinct was to lie; to reassure him that she had been okay, that the days had passed quickly and easily. 

But, as she finally registered that he was really there with her. That now, she was really his. She could only tell him the truth.

She tentatively put her hands over his as they still held the sweatshirt. One finger rubbed softly along his knuckles as she looked up at his beautiful pale blue eyes and shook her head 'no.' 

Ryan let out a cry of frustration at the cruelty of it. He wrapped his arms around her neck and her back and pulled her into a crushing embrace. 

"God, I should never have left that building without you. I should have never let you out of my sight!" He cried out to no one in particular, practically shaking with fury. 

"Catrine." He said, his voice filled with sincerity as he pulled back slightly to stare at her beautiful face. "How do I begin to ask your forgiveness?"

"Ryan." She whispered. She had not dared speak his name for days. The word on her lips so filled with meaning and with hope.

"I am so thankful for you. For everything. You have only my gratitude. There is no need for forgiveness."

Ryan exhaled deeply, not realizing he had been holding his breath awaiting her reply. He could hardly believe her answer. He could hardly believe she was there with him.

Leaning forward, he kissed her lips, softly at first, but then with more insistence. She returned his kiss, sighing deeply as she relaxed her hands against his forearms, feeling the safety of his embrace.

"Here." He said, releasing her from the kiss and draping a blanket softly across her lap. "We have a long drive ahead of us." Then, with a boy like smile, he added, "I cannot wait to show you where we're headed."

—-

Over the next several days, Catrine and Ryan relaxed into the rhythm of their travels and the pleasure of each other's company. Despite the long distance of their journey, they each seemed to relish the unhurried pace and the luxury of spending time together. Sometimes they listened to music. Sometimes Ryan told her about this new place they'd call home and his vision for their future. Sometimes, they just sat together in companionable silence, taking in the breathtaking panoramas revealing themselves with each turn of road. 

Catrine was certain that the scenery only became more and more beautiful. The area was ringed by striking snowcapped mountain peaks covered by mile after mile of pine forest and birch trees. The valleys were carved by pristine glacial streams fed by rushing torrents of water feeding turquoise blue lakes. 

She had never seen anything like it. It was so different from the sleek metropolis of the Capital and nothing at all like the vast prairie of her childhood home. She gazed with wonder at the natural splendor surrounding her and knew in her heart that she had found her home.

At the end of their fifth day of traveling, just as the last glimpse of the sun was visible on the edge of the horizon, Ryan pulled their car off the main road and headed up a winding dirt path, stopping the car in front of a small, dilapidated house.

He couldn't help but giggle a little bit as he took in the sight of it. "Well," he began, "It really is as bad as it looked in the pictures."

Catrine gave him a questioning look, turning back to the building in front of them. 

"Welcome home, baby." He said as he opened his car door and moved swiftly around to help her out. It was already late fall and as she stepped out of the car, Catrine felt the whispers of winter in the chilly afternoon air. She wrapped the jacket that he had bought for her more tightly around her as she took in their surroundings.

Ryan extended his hand to her. Taking it, she stepped forward tentatively and followed him up to the landing, noticing that the screen door was hanging loosely by a single hinge. The floorboards creaked beneath their feet as though bemoaning the weight of their occupants as they walked the length of the porch.

As they turned the corner, looking towards the back of the cabin, they both stopped, stunned by what they saw. The house was nestled against the shore of a magnificent glacial lake, the blue green water shimmering as it reflected the last rays of the setting sun. The lake was fed by an enormous glacier set high in the stark grey granite cliffs above, a trail of waterfalls winding their way to the basin below. They were surrounded on all sides by vast mountains washed in purples as the sunset turned the sky to yellow and orange.

"It will take a year or two," Ryan began as they stood together, looking at the majestic place they would call home. "But, I was thinking about building a new house for us here, eventually taking this one down. When I saw the pictures of the land, I had a good feeling about it. Do you think we can make this work in the meantime?"

Catrine gazed around at the immense open space and natural beauty. The tranquility quieting her mind and bringing with it an enormous sense of peace. 

Realizing he was waiting on her for an answer, she nodded her head once in agreement with him, still taken with all that had changed so quickly and delivered her to him and to this place. 

With a whoop of excitement, Ryan picked her up, spinning her around on the porch and kissing her deeply. "Go ahead and take a look inside," he said enthusiastically. "I'll get all of our things."

Catrine wasn't sure if it was the spin, the kiss, or his excitement that had left her feeling woozy. But, as she watched Ryan walk away, the sound of fallen leaves rustling under his feet as he strode towards the car, a feeling of contentedness washed over her and she couldn't hold back a smile.

— — 

Although it was far from extravagant, the house seemed to have most everything they'd need to get settled. They worked together, well into the evening, unpacking their things; making up the bed and pulling dust covers from the furniture. Ryan stacked wood in the fireplace, setting a large fire. It burned brightly, warming the whole house and casting shadows around the corners of the room. 

Catrine smiled as she unpacked the small set of clothing they had bought for her a few days before. So many essentials for their new life: a thick wool sweater, tall rain boots, a heavy winter coat. It was the absolute opposite of the thin gowns and soft souled slippers she'd worn exclusively for the past two years. Each item was so practical, so representative of normal, everyday life. She was crazy about them all.

He hadn't stopped there, buying her soaps, a toothbrush, a small make up set; going so far as to ask her preferences while wandering the aisles of the grocery store, making sure to stock their pantry with things that she would enjoy. In addition, he had ordered so much more that would arrive with the containers being shipped by his company: books, games, a journal, even a drawing set. He was eager to cater to her needs and wishes. She felt cared for and safe.

Pouring two large glasses of red wine, he handed one to Catrine and clanked their glasses together, settling on the rug in front of the fireplace. He thought about making a toast, but he hardly knew where to begin. He settled, instead for silence, sitting together and watching the flames, knowing somehow that conveyed more than he could say.

He watched her intently as she took a small sip of her wine. It was the most relaxed he'd seen her since they began their trip several days before. 

He hadn't dared touch her beyond a few soft kisses or the occasional embrace. It was clear to him that she wasn't ready for that sort of intimacy. But each night, after they had first fallen asleep, she would seek him in their bed, tucking her head against his chest and curling herself tightly against him. 

And each night, he would wrap his arms around her and whisper promises against her soft hair. He wanted to be there for her, helping to make her more comfortable; praying that this could be the start of a new life together.

A sudden pop in the fire sent a flurry of sparks out of the fireplace, landing on the floor just in front of their feet. The distraction shifted Catrine's attention towards Ryan who was still gazing at her. She looked at him and a shy smile played at the corners of her mouth. 

Her hair was pulled back in a simple pony tail and she wore an oversized flannel shirt and leggings they had picked out in town, both showing evidence of the grime and dust they had been working to clear from the house all evening. But, it didn't matter. He had never found her more beautiful.

"Are you tired?" He asked, as he brought their empty glasses towards the sink. 

She smiled again, nodding in response, as she trailed behind him with the empty wine bottle. She set it on the counter and then turned towards his chest, suddenly pressing herself against him and sinking into the protection of his embrace. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his back holding herself tightly against his warmth.

Ryan closed his eyes as he tightened his arms around her. He was so relieved by her gesture, to know that she had sought out the bit of comfort that he could give her.

"Do you want to get ready for bed? I'll meet you in there in a minute?" He said against her hair.

She nodded again, but lingered in his embrace enjoying the silence that surrounded them; the stillness of their new world. The sweet feel of him against her.

A few minutes later, he found her standing beside the window, clad in her favorite t-shirt, the one that had formerly been his. She was gazing up at the bright moon in the clear night sky. He could feel her hesitation as he approached. Her instincts still making her cautious and guarded.

"We could get you some pajamas you know," he said as he looked at how it hung loosely off her shoulders. "Something warmer?

She turned to face him, a blush spreading across her cheeks. "I'm partial to this one, actually. It has a very special meaning to me." 

"Suit yourself." He said with a smile, his body now close enough to touch her. "I like you in my shirt." He said as he closed in. His voice barely registering above a whisper.

She could hardly breathe as she felt the nearness of him; his presence charging the room with a powerful energy. 

"Feel that?" He whispered as he reached up to skim his fingertips across her cheek, stroking lightly along her earlobe and across the corner of her jaw, repeating the motion a second time as her eyes closed and her head dipped slightly to press herself against his palm. 

She nodded her head in affirmation. Her expression changing as his touch traveled across her body. Lighting her up. Turning her on. 

"So powerful..." he whispered as his thumb lingered at her lips. He stared at her intently.

Catrine's heart pounded fiercely in her chest as she warred with herself. Her mind still seeking to protect her from suffering at any cost. Her body recognizing the feel of that invisible current. Remembering him. How it felt with him. Suddenly desperate to feel that release that she knew he could give her.

She opened her mouth slightly, catching his thumb with her teeth and locking it in place before closing her lips and sucking it gently into her mouth. She shook her head gently back and forth, allowing the tip of her tongue to rock gently along the tip of his finger. Her action elicited a low moan from Ryan.

As she opened her eyes, she could read the myriad of thoughts in his expression: His raw hunger and need mirroring her own. But also, the tenderness and affection that he felt for her. It reassured her and made her feel more confident in her actions.

She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his and initiating a slow but demanding kiss. He tightened his hands on her cheeks, pulling her closer and deepening it, teasing her lips apart and sweeping his tongue into her mouth. Having had a taste, he was suddenly voraciously hungry to explore her.

Wrapping her hair in his hands, his lips traveled across her neck before nibbling at her ear. 

"I want to kiss every part of you." He whispered against her. His voice filled with desire as he eagerly left a trail of kisses across her lashes and down her cheek. 

He returned to her lips, though his were more insistent now. Tugging at her mouth, pulling at her lip and sucking on it softly; pressing his tongue deeper and intertwining it with hers. 

Reaching down, he pulled at the hem of his own t-shirt, pulling it upwards, breaking his kiss only long enough to slip it over his head. Then, he duplicated the action with hers, using one hand to press against her lower back, pushing her more closely against him. 

Catrine let out a quiet moan, her nerves heightened by the new contact, as she pushed herself more fully against his body. He felt so warm. So alive against her bare skin. She could feel his erection pressed against her hip as her fingers stroked lightly along his bare chest.

Their tongues danced as Ryan's hands eagerly moved down her back and across her hips. He stroked at the edges of her panties, feeling the gentle curve of her bottom and squeezing each globe softly, melding his body against hers. He could feel her flexing her hips more tightly against him, needing more from him; urging him on. 

Slowly, he reached down and peeled her panties down her legs revealing her naked body to him. He couldn't help but stop to admire at her, staring at her beautiful form illuminated by the moonlight. He took her in with eager eyes. 

Until this moment, he had always had a sense like someone was watching them. He had always known that someone else was in control. Their time together too often cut short. Tonight she was only his. Tonight he would take her for hours, indulging in the limitlessness of their passion. 

He groaned as this realization shot through him like a sharp pain. He leaned backwards onto the bed, pulling her along with him.

The springs gave a loud, protesting, groan as their weight sank into the mattress; Each movement of their bodies causing a new squeak or clank as they moved together towards the headboard. Distracted by the racket, Ryan climbed over Catrine, resting on his hands and knees before pushing with all his energy into the bed, the springs creaking in a steady rhythm with each of his thrusts. Catrine giggled beneath him as the bed became an eager participant in their coupling. 

"Oh my god. This bed must be one hundred years old." Ryan laughed as he kissed the top of her nose.

"Yes, but it's our bed." Catrine answered quietly but boldly, staring into Ryan's eyes so he would grasp her meaning. It was not lost on Ryan. And, while the riotous noise had lightened their moods momentarily, it did not lessen their passion. 




Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 06



Still hovered over her, Ryan leaned down to kiss at her shoulder, along her collar bone and across her breast. Kissing around the edges of her nipple, he watched as it responded to his contact. He hovered over it, blowing softly on her skin. The cool sensation making it pucker just before he sucked it gently between his lips. His tongue swirled around it, making it increasingly sensitive as it hardened in his mouth.

He turned to his side, freeing his hand to stroke along her ribs and around the soft flesh of her breast. She felt so soft in his hand, easily molded and so responsive to his touch. His fingers traced her aureolas and tugged gently at her nipples. He watched as her expression betrayed the pleasure that coursed through her. 

His head dipped again to take her breast in his mouth suckling at her. Her hands found his shoulder and his hair, grasping it as she arched her back against him. She felt the sensations of his touch and his tongue coursing through her whole body; that amazing feeling of her own desire igniting from within. 

Catrine shifted so that she could tug at the waist of Ryan's sweatpants. Reaching below the waistband, seeking to free him from the confines of his pants. He was all too happy to assist her, lifting himself slightly and helping to slide them down, kicking them to the foot of the bed. 

He laid back as Catrine began an eager exploration of his cock with her fingertips. She circled the very tip before reaching downward, stroking him from the bottom to the top and back again. She used both of her hands, alternating the pressure and giving him the most sensual massage. Her dedication to the task making him groan. 

She could feel his pulse beneath her fingers, the sensation of him so alive and vital. She loved the feel of him in her hands. So hard and yet so soft at the same time. So demanding and yet so responsive to her strokes. 

Suddenly curious, she wanted to touch him with more than just her fingers. She leaned down, stroking his cock against each of her cheeks, letting the tip of it brush softly against her lips. 

Ryan's eyes fluttered open as he sat up to look at her in surprise. 

"Catrine," he began, remembering their last time together. Wanting to reassure her that she didn't need to do anything that made her feel uncomfortable. 

Her voice was breathy as she looked up at him, barely able to speak her answer. "I want to taste you," she said as her lustful eyes met his.

She leaned down again, giving him one long lick from root to tip, her eyes never leaving his. She felt his hips almost buck off the bed as it creaked loudly in protest. She couldn't help a small smile as she relished the powerful feeling of being able to provoke such a strong response from him.

She licked gently along the tip, the taste of the small bead of liquid mingling with his familiar smell and the feel of his hands deliciously caressing her hair. The feeling of it all confirming for her that she was indeed enjoying this. She enjoyed it very much.

She leaned down and took him deeply into her throat. The first aspects of her training making an appearance in their love making. She hummed quietly, tightening her lips around him each time she bottomed out against his balls. She swallowed him down and massaged him deeply with her cheeks and the muscles of her throat. She could do all of it without making the slightest contact with her teeth; that rule deeply enforced and engrained in her. 

She repeated the motions with a fluidity that connected each stroke, suck and lick into a single, fluid motion. Ryan had never felt anything like it. The muscles of his ass squeezing together tightly together as he fought to retain any sense of his quickly diminishing control. He was lost in the sensations that she created.

He cried her name as though he were suffering and she glanced up to see him clearly struggling against his need to cum. The sound of her name on his lips traveling straight to her core, making her internal muscles clench sharply. 

Catrine realized that something unusual was happening to her too. She could feel that she was wet. Very wet. Her attention to Ryan not only pleasing him, but stimulating her own powerful need. She liked provoking this response in him. She liked being the source of his arousal, knowing that she could also deliver the cure.

Returning to her work, she took him again deeply into her mouth, using her hands to massage his balls, squeezing them gently. She made tiny circles with her fingertips against the smooth place between his ass and his sack, the sensation of it working Ryan into a frenzy. 

She sustained her pace as she felt him tip over the edge, losing control. She pulled her mouth upwards, not certain she was ready to swallow him. Instead, she held him tightly in her hands, milking his release as he came on her breasts and her tummy. 

His breathing was still ragged as she leaned forward to plant a wet kiss on his lips. He wrapped her up in his arms, their bodies slippery with sweat and the remnants of his release. He rolled their tangle limbs over so that Catrine was laying beneath him as he stared at her. 

"Sweet, sweet, girl." He said with reverence, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Thank you so much."

A smile spread across her face as she realized how much he had enjoyed their act. It pleased her so much to please him; a gift they could share.

"Now, if you don't mind," he said playfully as he ran his fingertips down her body stopping just below her belly button, drawing slow shapes across her pelvis, "I'd like to return the favor."

Catrine closed her eyes but her expression revealed her excitement to him. Her body already hummed with the anticipation of his touch. The places he had just stroked tingled as though she could still feel him there. Her core burned with the need for more contact with him. 

"Ryan. Please..." she pleaded. The sound of her voice making his cock twitch again. She was his and he intended to leave her thoroughly satisfied.

He watched his fingers as they danced across her tummy and over her hips, the site of her sweet bare pussy making him hard. Her hips rolled gently beneath his palm encouraging contact as he heard her release a soft little moan. He loved touching her there, feeling her responsiveness.

He cupped her intimately, allowing one finger to make a solitary, slow stroke along her bare slit, starting at the bottom and moving all the way to the very tip of her clit. A shudder wracked her body and like an electrical current, it traveled through Ryan making him breathless. 

She was wet. So deliciously soaking wet. The feel of it at once making Ryan groan and press more insistently against her, needing more. Needing to deepen his exploration. He had never experienced anything sweeter than the sensation of her.

With two fingers, he sought to open her further to his touch, pulling gently at her clit, letting it slip between his fingers before sliding down again to hold her firmly in his palm. 

He laid on his side so he could watch as he stoked her pleasure. Using first one and then two fingers, he pushed against her until he was pressed deeply inside of her. Once there, he pressed his thumb against her clit, keeping the other fingers firmly entrenched in her body, stimulating her in both places to coax her soft cries. 

"Did you like making me come with your hands and lips?" He whispered to her. His words punctuated by the pressure of his fingers. His voice heavy with the heat of his own desire. 

Catrine threw her head back, biting her lip and shaking her head vigorously in agreement as he continued to increase the pressure of his hand. His thumb worked in slow circles and her hips mirrored the motions, trying to match his rhythm. 

She was rocked by the sensations that were just building and building inside of her until she felt like she would burst from the pressure. With each press of his fingers she was surprised by the new burst of intensity, pushing her higher and making her crazed with need. 

"Mmm..." He moaned watching her writhe beside him. "You are so beautiful. You feel so good. So soft and so tight. Incredible" 

Her breathing was erratic as she lost herself to the rhythm of his movements and the sound of his voice. Her attention given over entirely to the place where their bodies connected. He pushed against her deeper and harder, with more insistence than he had before. 

Catrine arched her back, pushing against him. 

Needing him. More of him. All of him. 

He pulled his hands back, spreading her legs gently as he climbed up her body and hovered over her. Resting his weight on his elbows, he lined himself up with her entrance and stared into her eyes. 

She felt him pushing himself slowly inside of her. The urgency of her own need making her impatient. She squeezed her arms around his body and pressed her hips forward seeking him deeper and faster than he would allow. 

She let out a moan as she finally felt the satisfaction of his cock nestled deep inside of her. He stilled for only a moment, relishing the feeling of their bodies joined together so intimately. Groaning at the exquisite feel of her enveloping him. 

Soon though, he began rocking his hips gently but deeply, nudging against her womb and encouraging her body to flex and bend to his will. Her inner muscles clenched around him, clasping his cock and locking him inside of her. With a slight tilt of her body, she positioned herself so that each of his movements rubbed roughly against her g-spot, the vibration radiating through her whole body. 

His lips locked against hers in a rough kiss as they both moaned into each other's mouths. His limbs searched to pull her more tightly against him as they soon gave themselves over to the rawness of their passion and the simplicity of their need. 

Ryan increased his speed, thrusting into her with abandon, rubbing against her clit as he pushed and pulled against her. His relentless rhythm matched by the frenzied movement of her hips. The bed squeaking loudly as it slammed up against the wall. 

Catrine was hardly holding on. A thin sheen of sweat coated her body as the tension inside of her wound up impossibly tight. She could think of nothing but the intensity of her passion as it overtook all of her senses; The feelings so delicious and so overpowering they consumed her.

He pressed his lips against her ear and she heard him whispering to her between short gasps, "My love. My sweetest girl. Come for me." 

Already overwound, Catrine's body tightened again at the sound of Ryan's words before exploding with a powerful blast. She screamed with the suddenness of her profound and powerful release. 

It was as though her orgasm liberated whole parts of herself; setting her free from her history, her struggles, her soul. The feeling of it suddenly opening vast spaces for more: More happiness. More adventure. More love. 

Feeling the sensation of Catrine's orgasm rippling around him, Ryan could only thrust once more before his own climax overtook him. He came with the her name on his lips, speaking the most magical and delicious word he knew. 

Their movement finally stilled as their breathing slowed. Catrine felt comforted by the weight of his body still pressed tightly against her as he balanced above her.

"Do you think we're going to go crashing through the floor?" She said with a smile as the bed gave another loud protest. 

Laughing, Ryan kissed her lashes, her sweaty forehead, and the tip of her nose, still enjoying the luxury of being intertwined with her.

Eventually, he withdrew from her, wrapping them both tightly in the covers and telling her stories until they both drifted off to sleep.

——

A few hours later, Catrine awoke not from a nightmare but from the suspicion that she was alone in bed. Over the past few days, she had grown accustomed to the comfort of having him beside her. Her subconscious seemed to notice immediately when he was not there. 

Wrapping herself in a blanket, she slipped from the bed and walked through the house looking for him. He was standing on the back porch, staring across the lake as the first light of morning unveiled the splendor of their surroundings. 

She walked towards him, not wanting to interrupt his thoughts. But as soon as he realized she was close, he reached over and pulled her in front of him, wrapping the blanket tighter around her arms to stave off the chilly morning air, keeping her tightly in his embrace. Leaning forward, he kissed the still tender flesh on the shoulder which bore her new tattoo. 

They stood together in silence as they watched the sun appear on the horizon. A sense of their powerful connection amplifying the beauty of the new day.

Pressing his lips to her ear, he whispered conspiratorially, 

"You are my everything. You are only mine."

——

One Year Later

Catrine looked thoughtfully out the window of the small office that served as the home base for Ryan's management team. The first signs of fall reminding her that nearly a year had passed since they first arrived to these mountains. 

Most days she didn't even think about her former life. In fact, she found that most of the time she was too busy to think about much more than the daunting project that they had embarked on. Well, she admitted to herself, that and her deep love for Ryan.

He had set out to build a dam, harnessing the power of the river to create a new major source of electricity for the Capital. But, as he had explained to her excitedly as they sat in front of the cabin's fireplace each night, he was determined to do it in a way that would have almost no interruption to the surrounding ecosystem. A practical engineering solution where technology and ecology could coexist. 

Shortly after they had settled into the cabin, Ryan was joined by the members of his support team, constructing their own make-shift town at the base of the valley. They set out together on long hikes to survey the area and construct plans. Huge convoys had made their way south carrying the first set of supplies and paving the way for them to begin work. 

Not wanting to be isolated in the cabin, Catrine joined Ryan at the worksite and quickly found ways to make herself useful. While Ryan focused on the technical aspects of the project, Catrine saw to the well being of his team. 

She made sure that new staff always felt welcomed to their little hideaway. That the food and supply orders were always coordinated and shipped on time. She was quick to give a smile and the first to laugh at a new joke. She made friends easily and was adored by the whole community. 

Nobody else knew anything about her background and neither she nor Ryan made any mention of it. It was exactly the kind of fresh start she needed. The fresh air, the open land, and new beginning giving her the freedom to move, think, explore, and just be. 

Ryan watched her blossom. Each day, he felt like she grew more accustomed to their life together. And, each day, he fell more deeply in love with her.

He hadn't realized how much she had missed out on during the war until she asked him to be her teacher. From building a fire to using the computer to his personal favorite - teaching her how to drive their car - he loved her thrilled expression was he was able to expand her horizons.

Each evening, they would return to their cabin and curl up together on the couch, basking in their simple happiness. Even on the darkest winter days, they would cocoon themselves under layers of heavy blankets, tucked away in their creaky bed, making love until dawn.

While both thought about the Six Kings from time to time, the world of the Capital was a world away from them. Even the major news headlines seemed to reach them only peripherally, mentioned in passing by a convoy driver or discussed briefly over a morning cup of coffee before everyone set out to work.

So, it surprised everyone when Ryan received an emergency call on the satellite phone with news from the Capital. Following his conversation, he assembled his team to share the news. He spoke to the whole group, but his eyes never left Catrine's as he relayed the message.

"Over the past few days, there has been a significant coup d'etat in the Capital. While no one yet knows the final outcome of the swift change of power, it's clear that where there were once six Kings, there is now only one."

A chorus of voices all began speaking at once. Ryan raised his hand, waiting for everyone to settle down. 

"As of now, there have been no changes to our instructions. I believe we should continue as planned until, or unless, we hear otherwise. I'll let you know as I receive additional information from headquarters."

After fielding a few more questions for which he had no answers, Ryan quickly dismissed everyone for the evening. Waiting until the door closed behind the last person, he rushed over and took Catrine in his arms.

"What will this mean?" Catrine said against Ryan's chest. He could feel her shaking in his arms.

"Nothing." He answered reassuringly. "No matter which king still sits his throne, a dam project in the southern territories is not likely going to make the top of his priority list any time soon." 

He kissed her forehead and held out his hand to hers. 

"Come." He said with a smile, "You need to drive me home."

— —

For three more weeks the new government had remained shrouded in secrecy and the remaining king had not yet revealed himself to the people. Rumors and theories ran rampant about what exactly had happened and Ryan couldn't help but feel a nagging anxiety about all of it.

Still, their work progressed as planned and everyone quickly settled back into their usual routines. Ryan's boss had received reassurances that their project would continue as planned. Before long, the expansiveness of their work and the isolation of their community pushed the political news out of their minds.

Then, late one afternoon, Catrine spotted a trio of cars making their way down into the valley. Each was an identical SUV with tinted windows and an imposing frame. She knew immediately that its passengers were arriving on some form of official business which would undoubtedly interrupt their peaceful existence.

Ryan and most of his team were out at the dam site and she wasn't expecting him home until after dark. She smoothed her hair and straightened her clothes. Then, with all the confidence she could muster, she walked down the driveway to prepare to greet the guests.

She watched a group of men as they exited the cars, but remained rooted to her place. She didn't recognize anyone as they began walking towards her. But then, making eye contact with one of them, she realized she was staring at King Hall himself. 

"Your Grace," she began, the surprise evident in her tone. Her initial instinct was to sink to her knees before him. But, she realized that as the only person around, she needed to play the role of official greeter and not rely on the remnants of her training. She gave him a low bow before turning to greet the others who had gathered. 

"Welcome to Baker Lake," she said cordially. "I'm so sorry to say that we weren't expecting you. I'm sure you tried to reach us, but communications up here are very sporadic." 

"I'm afraid that the team is up at the site this afternoon," she trailed off, as though apologizing for the paltry welcome party she made. "But I'd be happy to show you up to the cabin and you may wait there for Ry...Master Ryan...to return." She bit her lip realizing that she had already managed to slip up within the first moments of her introduction.

Hall stepped forward to address her directly. "Thank you, Catrine," he began. Her stomach doing knots as she realized that he had not only recognized her but knew her by name. "If it's not too much of a bother, would you mind showing us around a bit? That way, we'll already have a sense of the place by the time Mr. Pierce arrives."




Meeting of the Six Kings Ch. 06



"Of course," she replied, hesitating at first, but quickly getting her bearings. She proceeded to lead them on a detailed tour of their home base, going so far as to unroll huge rolls of paper across the large drafting tables, speaking in detail about the structural and architectural planning underway. 

The more she spoke, the more comfortable Catrine became in the presence of the officials. She not only had a solid understanding of the work, she believed in Ryan's vision and had confidence that he would see it through to completion.

By the time she finished fielding their questions, the sun had set and Catrine was sure the others would return soon. As though he had read her mind, Hall turned to her and requested that she accompany him to their house, leaving the others at the office to attend to other business.

As the driver took them up the winding road Catrine sat in silence next to the King. She was certain he was appraising her, just as he had while she was talking with the others about the dam operations; his eyes watchful but his expression revealing nothing.

"You are very knowledgeable about activities here. It's a bit unusual to see that in a pleasure slave." 

Catrine remained silent, not having been asked a direct question. 

"You look well too, rosy cheeked, like you just stepped off a ski hill!" He smiled at his own little joke. 

"I'd venture to say that this new life agrees with you."

Then, feeling as though she were being interrogated, she felt his eyes regarding her critically. "Would you agree with that assessment?"

Catrine cleared her throat and practically sat on her hands so that he would not see the way she trembled. "Yes, my king," she answered. 

When she glanced at him and realized he was waiting for her to say more, she continued, "Master Ryan is a kind master. He has seen to all of my needs here..." She paused, not exactly sure how to explain her new life to someone who carried the power make it vanish in a matter of seconds. 

"But..." the king prompted her, hearing her hesitation. 

Catrine took a deep breath. This King was both astute and patient. 

"But, there is so much work to be done here. And, there are very few people to do it. Master Ryan has permitted me to do much more than what would be permitted of a pleasure slave in the Capital and I have accepted and also enjoyed it. I believe that my part in the work will be essential to our chances of succeeding on the project."

"I see," he answered giving Catrine no clue as to how he felt about her unique responsibilities. "And, what of the pleasurable aspect of being a pleasure slave? Do you believe that you have served Mr. Pierce well in this regard?"

Catrine couldn't hold back the blush that bloomed across her face. "Yes." She said with surprising confidence and even a bit of a smile, "I believe I have."

"Good girl." He answered with a small laugh, patting her once on the knee.

— — 

Ryan's team crested the hill looking down the valley towards their little home base and noticed the three unusual cars parked near the office. As soon as Ryan saw them there, he took off running at full speed down the trail not stopping until he had reached the small cluster of buildings far below. 

He didn't pause as he burst into the office, surprising all four of the capital officials who were waiting there, looking bored. 

"Catrine?" He gasped breathlessly as they all regarded him strangely.

"Mr. Pierce?" One of the officials asked and Ryan nodded at him, still struggling for breath. 

"She accompanied His Majesty, King Hall to your house just a few minutes ago." Ryan turned on his heel and tore from the doorway. He jumped into his car, barreling up the mountain to their cabin. 

As he pulled into the driveway, he spotted the King's guards standing in front of his house. His adrenaline fueled mind struggling with the incongruity of the King's presence in his home, fearing for what all this could possibly mean. Why was he here? What could he want with her?Taking a moment to compose himself, Ryan opened the front door. 

As he entered the room, Catrine sank to her knees, placing her hands in her lap and lowering her eyes, graceful as ever. Ryan hadn't seen this gesture from her in more than a year and the sudden act of her submission was both devastating and breathtaking to him. He swallowed hard, feeling his heart sink as the strange turn of events moved further and further beyond his control. 

King Hall rose from the couch to greet him, carrying a drink in his hand that Catrine must have prepared for him just minutes before. 

"Hello Mr. Pierce. Thank you for welcoming me into your home." He said, as he reached out to shake Ryan's hand. "Catrine has been giving me a thorough introduction to your work here. You have quite an operation underway. I have to say that I am impressed."

Still evaluating the direction of the conversation Ryan replied, "Thank you Sir. But, if you don't mind me being direct, I am very surprised by your visit. I could have made arrangements to come north or you could have sent a member of your cabinet to evaluate our progress."

"Indeed," Hall replied, gesturing to the couch for them to be seated. 

"There are other reasons for my visit today." He continued as he looked towards Catrine. Ryan stiffened as he followed Hall's eyes towards the beautiful woman kneeling on the floor, anxious to understand his intention.

"But, before I begin, why don't you ask Catrine to join us. I get the sense that she spends far less time on her knees these days than she did in the Capital. And, I'm sure you agree that kneeling in rubber rain boots cannot be particularly comfortable."

The King's words and a sort of glimmer in his eyes were Ryan's first clue that the conversation would be nothing like he had feared, although he still had no idea what he was there to discuss. 

Making eye contact with Catrine, Ryan gave her a reassuring nod, patting the spot on the sofa next to him where she quickly joined him. He held her hand in his own as they both turned back to Hall, waiting for him to continue. 

"I'm certain, even in this isolated corner of the realm, you've heard that there have been some significant changes recently to the structure of our government. But, what I am sure you didn't know is that you two were really what inspired the change in the first place."

They were dumbfounded that they could have played any role at all in the sweeping change of power that Hall had orchestrated over the past several weeks. When they failed to make any comment, he had the grace to continue.

"Now that things have settled down a bit, I felt like it was time to pay you both a visit. I feel as though I owe you something of a debt. And, I believe firmly in repaying my debts."

"I see how this could be surprising to you, so let me explain."

Ryan, when we were together at the conference, I told you that I once had someone in my life who reminded me of Catrine. Her name was Madeline. She was so beautiful, one of the smartest people I've ever known, and so much more to me than a slave. She was my partner and my soul mate and I loved her very much." Hall appeared wistful as he spoke of her.

"It was Arick who betrayed us. Undermining me. Stealing her away. Tormenting her until her spirit was broken, until there was nothing left of her." He paused as a sad sigh escaped from his heavy heart. "Eventually, she took her own life." 

Anger sparked in his eyes, chasing away the sadness that had appeared just moments before. "He was more powerful than me in those days and, as you learned, when Arick saw something he wanted, well..."

He didn't need to tell them any more. They both understood his meaning.

"I could never forget and I certainly never forgave him, despite all of his ridiculous gestures as a sort of partnership formed between us over the next several years." He gazed at the fire as it showed him bits of his past. 

Turning back to them, he continued his story. "But, it was watching you, Mr. Pierce, and the way that you interacted with Catrine at our meeting, that reminded me of the person that I had been when I had Madeline."

"When I realized that Arick had noticed you too...The way he fixated on Catrine. The way he kept trying to find ways to get his own hands on her....Well, I wasn't going to let him get away with that a second time."

"He had been trying to undermine our agreement with you since the day you left the meeting, proposing increasingly ridiculous theories about your work here. Lobbying for us to void the contract entirely. He became obsessed with it. With you both."

Ryan squeezed Catrine's hands more tightly as they grappled with the King's tale, realizing how vulnerable they had still been to Arick's scheming.

With a bit of contempt in his voice, he continued. "Seeing to his death was quite satisfying for me."

"And, once that was done, I got to thinking. Why have six kings when just one will do? Arick was cruel, but at least he had been a calculating tactician. The rest? A bunch of bureaucratic idiots - overindulged, oversexed. Lost to the frivolity of their pursuits."

"No." He continued, his monologue nearly finished. "I was tired of ruling by committee. So, I ushered in the beginning of my lone reign."

Still astounded by the first hand telling of Hall's militant takeover, neither Ryan nor Catrine made any move to continue the conversation. 

"So then," he said crisply, as though he understood that he still had yet to reveal the punchline of his tale. "Here we are." 

He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out two small packets. Opening the first, he turned to Ryan. "I've had the terms of our professional arrangement rewritten, leaving you as the foreman, assuming you're interested. But, how and when you complete the project will be up to you to determine and report back to the Capital. I've also authorized more resources for you, should you need them, to keep the project on schedule. I think that will help keep things moving."

He expediently handed the documents to Ryan who looked at them with surprise.

"And, of course, Catrine," He said and her eyes opened wide, staring back at him, the surreal circumstances still making her wary. "There is the issue of your paperwork. You are technically property of the Capital, leased to Ryan's custody as a condition of our contract with him. Had he completed the work to our specifications, you would have been given to him permanently as a thank you for his service. As you know, it was Arick who expedited the purchase transaction and guarantee."

"It would be easy enough for me to sign those papers over to Ryan today." He paused, looking from Catrine to Ryan and back again.

Thinking this would be his action, Catrine's her heart leapt at the possibility of having Ryan as her permanent Master. Even with all of the changes over the past year, she still hadn't allowed herself to hope for such long term security.

But, as she watched Hall, she realized nervously that he had something else in mind for her. She looked at him intently as he went on.

"I'm not really one for slavery anymore. It had its place during the war, but I'm not that interested in its continued place in my kingdom. I know that will be unpopular with some sectors of our population, but I'm confident that they'll get over it - or move beyond it - eventually"

"So, the choice must be yours, Catrine. The debt I pay to you, and maybe in some way to my own Madeline, is your freedom." 

He reached forward and held something out to her. She thought at first it was her ownership papers, but as she looked at them more closely, she realized that it was a passport.

Catrine's heart beat so loudly that she was having a hard time hearing Hall's words. She was frozen in place, unable to fully grasp the significance of his actions. Discreetly, Ryan reached out to take the passport for Catrine, placing it gently in her lap and closing her hands around it. She clenched it tight, a tear spilling from her eye. She struggled to make sense of her feelings. It was just too much, too fast. She knew she should feel gratitude. But, the change made her suddenly anxious and fearful of the unknown.

Knowing that the two of them had much to consider and discuss, Hall stood and made his way towards the door. Ryan followed him there, leaving Catrine to contemplate the turn of events in private. 

Shaking his hand again, Ryan expressed his gratitude to the King. 

In return, Hall replied, "It is mutual. I'll look forward to seeing you from time to time in the Capital. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a helicopter to catch and a kingdom to lead." And, as quickly as he appeared, Hall and his convoy drove away from the valley and vanished into the night sky. __ __

Ryan regarded Catrine still frozen in place. He walked back to where she sat, sinking on his knees in front of her. He reached up and tucked her hair behind her ears, feeling the reassuring warmth of her skin against his palm.

He pushed back his overwhelming fear that if she were truly free, she was free to leave. The practical matter of her slave status had made their life together a foregone conclusion. With that barrier suddenly lifted, he was unsure of the implications. He knew it was selfish to keep her, to insist she stay. But couldn't fathom the possibility of his life without her; a sudden emptiness threatening to swallow him whole.

"You're free." He said to her quietly.

"Yes." She whispered back, hardly fathoming the concept.

Ryan struggled to breathe as though there wasn't enough air in the room. Ever the practical thinker, he asked, "Where do you want to go? What do you need?" 
"I don't know." She said back, her voice teetering with anxiety. 

He reached up and cupped her cheek, tracing her lips with his fingertips. The gesture was second nature to him, a way of saying that everything would be okay. All he wanted to do was kiss away her tears and alleviate her fears. 

But, with each passing second, he became more certain that she would tell him that she wished to go. That she too would vanish into the night. He wasn't sure he could physically withstand hearing such devastating words. 

"Ryan," she began, looking deeply into his eyes as he braced himself for the loss.

Not finding the right words, she could only say, "I don't know. This is so confusing." 

"I know," he answered back. "I can help you. We can figure it out together. Make plans for you." 

She took his hands into her own and looked up at him. She knew he was trying to be helpful, but his words weren't really helping her. She needed a way to put words to her feelings.

"Ryan," she started again, squeezing his hands tighter as tried to form her thoughts.

"I was already free. You freed me the day that you met me."

Then, collapsing into him and finally allowing for the release of the tears in her eyes, she cried against his chest, "Please don't make me go. I don't want to go away from you."

He wrapped his arms tightly around her, kissing her hair and holding her tightly. "Make you go?" he answered incredulously, his own tears flowing freely. "I don't think I could even let you go."

"Catrine, I love you with all my heart. You are everything. You are mine."

They embraced each other for a long time, coming to grips with their new reality and the profound depth of their feelings for one another.

Finally, Ryan spoke against her hair. "You know, there is another way that I can claim you, now that you're free...But you would have to claim me back."

Then, holding her hands in his, he whispered something into her ear.

"Yes." She answered with a brilliant smile, "I most certainly will."

*******

Authors note: 

Thanks so much for reading along and sharing in this story! It was really fun to experience how it evolved as I wrote it. I appreciated all of the support from readers, especially since this was my first attempt at writing!

The comments and feedback are so motivating and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to leave one!