Alex started. How did he know she slept alone? He smiled as if privy to her thoughts. “I guessed correctly, didn’t I? It’s clear they view you strictly as property. A toy. You will never be their equal, their partner. That’s because, while they may use you sexually, their allegiance is and always will be to each other. You can never be more than a toy to them. A diversion of which they will eventually tire.”
“With all due respect, Sir, you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I’m not just a diversion.” She had held out her wrists, showing him the silver slave cuffs. “They gave me these. Proof that I belong to them forever.”
“Forever is a very long time. How long has forever lasted so far?”
“Two weeks.”
Anthony began to laugh again, and in spite of her annoyance, Alex had to laugh, too, if a little ruefully.
“You are adorable.” He pulled her close and whispered something in Spanish into her ear. “I wish I could take you with me.”
Alex had pulled back, loyalty to Liam and Daniel forefront in her mind. “I’m also owned, Sir,” she reminded him.
“I understand. I’m speaking in terms of possibility. Now pay attention, my beauty. My name is Anthony Campos. I live at 12 Sutton Street in Wilton. I’m listed. If you ever want to connect with a real Master, someone who will take you where you’ve always dreamed of going, call me. I’ll be waiting, Alexandra. For you, I will wait a thousand years.”
He pushed her gently from his lap and stood. “I must find Matthew and your Masters and thank them for their gracious hospitality. Goodbye, beautiful Alexandra. I will wait for you in my dreams.”
Alex sighed. In the cold light of day, she recognized the guy was probably full of shit. Nevertheless, it had felt good to have someone so handsome and worldly telling her she was beautiful and he’d wait a thousand years. What a poetic, romantic thing to say.
Still he was wrong. Daniel and Liam regarded her as more than just a toy. Maybe they didn’t love her as much as they loved each other, but how could they after only two weeks? Their love would grow in time, she was sure of it.
Wasn’t she?
The two men entered the room as if on cue. Alex pulled her arms back smartly, arching her back and thrusting her breasts out as she waited for Liam to inspect her body.
After he’d made sure her cunt and underarms were smooth, he walked behind her. Alex bent forward and gripped her ankles. “Look at this, Daniel.” Daniel joined him behind her. Alex knew they were looking at her bruised ass. “That’s Mistress Marianne’s handiwork. She really let Alex have it and Alex handled it beautifully. You would have been very proud of her, Daniel.”
Even bent over in this ignominious position, Alex swelled with pride. Liam’s compliments were all the more precious because of their rarity. He tapped her shoulder and she stood. “Put on a dress. Let’s have some breakfast.”
Once settled in the cozy breakfast nook, Alex sipped gratefully at the fresh-squeezed orange juice. Her appetite awakened, she tucked into the bacon, hash browns and scrambled eggs Daniel ladled onto her plate.
Because they were all dressed, the conversation was an informal one between friends. They talked about various scenes each had witnessed or participated in at the party. Though Daniel was wearing a T-shirt, Alex recalled the welts she’d seen on his back the night before.
“Were you caned, Daniel?” she asked.
Daniel surprised her by flushing and looking away. Liam answered for him. “Yes. I’m afraid that friend of Matthew’s overstepped his bounds.”
“Anthony?” Alex interjected. She blushed when both men stared hard at her.
Liam nodded. “He and Matthew decided to cane Daniel and Phillip to see who they could break first. I was with you and Marianne at the time or I would have put a stop to it. I don’t believe caning is something that should happen during a public scene and definitely not as part of a competition. It’s too risky.”
Daniel looked miserable and Alex felt bad she’d brought it up. Yet she couldn’t help asking, “But it wasn’t Daniel’s fault, right? I mean, we were told to obey each Dom at the party as if they were you, right?”
“Just drop it, Alex,” Daniel said, his eye skittering away.
Alex bit her lip and looked down.
Liam put his hand over hers. “Within limits. Remember, you can always refuse. Even with us, you can refuse. While we own you, we would never harm you or push you past where you were ready to go. Daniel made a judgment call and things worked out okay. At least the guy knew what he was doing.”
He smiled toward Daniel, but Daniel, who was staring at the table, didn’t see. In a lighter tone Liam added, “He left us one of those floggers as a gift by the way. It’s really well-made—a very nice piece. We’ll have to try it out later, hmm?”