I stared at him wordlessly, still recovering from the shock of his sudden presence. After a long moment, he raised a brow mockingly at me. Anger surged at this condescension and I spoke without thinking. "Give me the key!"
Ignoring my outburst, he poured dark crimson wine into a crystalline glass. He swirled it, admiring its color, before taking a drink. Nearly mesmerized by the firelight dancing on his smooth skin, the careless grace of his motions, I jumped when he spoke. "No."
"No?" Awkward under his steady gaze, I climbed to my feet. "Look, whoever you are..." He interrupted me.
"I'm your new owner, darling." He looked over his wine-glass at me, his dark eyes hard. "You've been bought and paid for." I winced at his contemptuous tone, inhaling sharply. How dare he look down at me, he's the pervert who buys virgins at auctions! Before I could unleash the my ire, though, he raised a hand, spreading his long fingers soothingly.
"I'm sure you had your reasons, darling. Spare me the justifications. Just recognize that we're in the midst of a business transaction, and until it's complete, you don't get to make any demands." He stood abruptly, looming over me. "Now sit down." Command rang in his tone.
Scowling, I obeyed, sitting in the other armchair. He was right, damn him, I had agreed to exchange my virginity for money. I had prostituted myself, but what other choice was there? Simmering silence descended as he sank back into his chair. He's a client, sort of, at least try to be professional.
"Wh-" I cleared my throat and tried again. "What do you want from me?"
He smiled at me, and despite myself, I warmed at his approval. "Very good." Setting aside the glass, he rose to his feet once more. He crossed to stand in front of me, then caught the chain between my wrists and yanked me to my feet. Thrown off balance, I stumbled into him, gasping as my breasts were crushed against his hard chest. He caught my chin in his hand, raising my face upwards. Meeting my eyes, he smiled. "I know you're not as innocent as you look." I trembled against him, attracted by the firm heat of his body but repelled by the cold cruelty in his eyes.
Taking advantage of my hesitation, he lowered his mouth to mine. He kissed me hard, roughly, forcing his tongue between my lips. I tried to pull away from his bruising mouth, but he sank his other hand into my hair, holding me against him, helpless to resist. Heat coiled inside me as he plundered my mouth, claiming it for himself. I whimpered when he nipped at my lower lip, the sharp pain curiously adding to the pleasure building inside me.
I gasped as he finally pulled back, a calculating look in his eyes. "I think I'm beginning to understand." Understand what? Confused, I opened my mouth but before I could ask he shoved me down into the chair and lifted the chain connecting my wrists. Pulling a tiny key from his pants pocket, he removed it, leaving the smooth metal bands still circling my wrists. I protested wordlessly. "Cooperation brings freedom, darling, but let's not be too hasty." As I drew my hands in, resentfully rubbing the shackles I still bore, he pooled the chain in his hands, passing it back and forth. "Thank me for this kindness I've shown you."
What? I stared at him, searching his face. He wasn't kidding. His face darkened at my silence and he reached for my wrist. "Th-thank you!" My voice shook in my haste to stop him. He tilted his head, his arched eyebrow a clear invitation to continue, so I tried again. "Thank you for your... kindness." I nearly choked on the words, but I truly did not want the chains again!
"Thank you for your kindness...?" he prompted.
Struggling with my pride, I forced it out. "Thank you for your kindness, sir." He pursed his lips for a long moment, considering, then nodded acceptance of this effort. I ground my teeth in quiet rage.
He knelt on the floor before me. "Now, would you like your ankles freed also?" I nodded mutely, and he shook his head at me. "Use your words, darling."
"Yes, please." I whispered, ashamed to be begging. He arched a brow and I sighed. "Yes, please, sir."
"What will you do to earn that reward?" I shook my head, baffled. What does he want from me?
He sighed, sounding aggravated with my denseness. "Darling, surely you have something you can offer me. Use your imagination." I scowled at him, staying stubbornly silent. I'd do what he asked, that was the deal, but I sure as hell didn't have to offer him anything!
He met my eyes for a tense moment, a faint smile playing on his lush mouth, before sitting back and dropping his hands to his thighs. "Resistance has consequences. Let's leave these chains on for now, shall we?" Pocketing the key and dusting his hands, he rose easily to his feet, as I stared moodily at the length of chain linking my ankles. Was my pride really worth this? Looking down at me, he started to say something, but turned away, pacing quickly back to the other chair.
He snatched up his wineglass and took a deep drink, staring into the fireplace. "I want you out of those ridiculous clothes." I stammered a protest at the insult, reflexively. It's not like I'd picked out the outfit! He ignored me and went on. "There's a bathroom in the next room. Clean yourself up and get in the bed."
I rose to my feet slowly, shaking at the mention of the bed, the sudden realization that this was really happening. I was going to have to do it. Have sex for the first time. With this demanding stranger. A cold knot grew in my belly at the thought. Despite myself, I made a weak attempt to delay the inevitable. "How can I change clothes with my ankles chained together?" As though that would be a conundrum too difficult for him to solve and he would free me!
He turned at my timid question, and then started to chuckle, the deep sound quivering in my belly. I retreated a step as he walked towards me, the back of my legs brushing the chair. He stepped in close, his firm chest just meeting my breasts, the feathery touch sending an unwilling rush of heat through me. Raising his hand to my face, he touched my cheek, then dragged his thumb lightly across my parted lips. I licked them reflexively, then jerked as he brushed his mouth against mine, the teasing caress a stark contrast to the brutal kiss he'd forced on me earlier. He repeated the motion, dropping coaxing kisses on my trembling mouth. His strong hands ran up my back, warmly rubbing loose the muscles tightened by tension.
After a startled hesitation, I leaned into him, my own hands rising to tentatively grasp his broad shoulders. Each fleeting touch of his lips against mine made me yearn for more solid contact, and he chuckled as I pressed myself against his chest, suddenly craving the feel of his body against mine. The hands cradling my back lifted to wind themselves in my hair, gently tugging as we kissed. He lifted his head and smiled down at me. I smiled back, relieved at this new tenderness. Maybe this won't be so bad...
Without warning, his hand tightened in my hair. A sharp yank backwards knocked me off balance, and I fell into the chair, gasping in shock. As I stared up at him, eyes wide, he leaned on the chair, trapping me between his arms. His grip in my hair tilted my head back, and he slowly dragged a fingernail down the length of my exposed throat, a line of fire searing into my skin. I shuddered and tried to pull free, then froze as his hand loosely closed around my neck.
He leaned in and whispered in my ear. "There are only two rules, darling. Cooperation brings freedom. And resistance," he frowned and tugged on my hair until I winced, "any resistance has consequences."
Releasing my hair with a jerk, he rose to his feet and strode to the hall door. "I'll be back in an hour. Be ready." The door closed behind him as I gasped for air, rubbing my throat and utterly shocked at the sudden changes in his behavior. The urge to escape the moody lunatic rose, but I fought it down. I really needed the money, and besides, I didn't even know where I was! It's just for one night. I can handle this! I hugged myself for a long moment before dragging myself to my feet and walking to the bathroom door. It opened at a touch, and I flicked the light switch.
Gleaming marble spread out before me. The bathroom was huge, with a sunken tub and walk-in shower. Cold and sterile, it was done entirely in icy white. I shivered, and started to undress. Or at least tried to. Sitting on the cold floor, I scowled at the gauzy harem pants, now bunched up and dangling from the chain between my legs. The polyester fabric was tough, and I hadn't been able to tear it free. As my ass slowly froze to the tiles, it finally occurred to me that there might be scissors around somewhere. Waddling awkwardly, I searched the drawers until I found nail-clippers and used them to painstakingly free myself from the stupid costume. I left it in a pathetic heap of cheap emerald fabric on the floor. Great. Now I'm lost and I have no clothes.