Love,
Bastian
The note was sweet but somewhat disturbing at the same time. His pet. I’d heard the term “pet” thrown around the party. What exactly did that mean? Would I be expected to crawl around on all fours, to lick his shoes, to fetch his newspaper? Or did it mean cuddling up next to him in bed? Purring when he stroked me? Licking his face and body when he returned from work?
The shower called my name so I washed my hungover face and bloodshot eyes beneath its stream before dressing and making myself a quick breakfast.
The book and box were right where the letter said they’d be. I curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee and pulled the book into my lap first. For some reason I imagined it would be some old fashioned, leather bound thing full of ancient handwritten words. It was the exact opposite of that. It was small, pocket-size, and looked like something you could pick up at any online retailer. Its cover was maroon with gold lettering. Erotic Mayberry Homeowners’ Association Rules and Regulations.
I sipped from my coffee and turned the book over in my hand a couple of times.
This ought to be interesting.
Now, to go through the whole list of dos and don’ts in one sitting would take forever. I did eventually read it from front to back, although not that day, and most of it was quite amusing. In fact, I found myself horny as hell by the time I skimmed through to the end. Here are a few examples of some of the rules.
Rule #3: Jealousy is strictly forbidden. Sharing is our way of life. To have and to keep is to silently weep.
Rule #7: A pet shall never wear panties or underwear after 5pm and never while the owner is home from work.
Rule #15: Anytime the neighborhood siren goes off, all activities must stop, and the pet must give him or herself willingly to the owner. If at home, both the pet and owner must make their way to the back, sliding glass door where they should fuck with the blinds open.
Rule #26: Talk of what goes on inside Erotic Mayberry is strictly forbidden once outside the town security gate.
Rule #35: Children are not allowed inside Erotic Mayberry. Special necklaces have been provided to each pet (and patches to owners) to prevent pregnancy. As much as we love children, our neighborhood is not a child-friendly environment.
Rule #46: No Erotic Mayberry neighbor shall have sexual relations with a non-neighbor. We keep a clean and respectable environment which cannot be soiled by outsiders. If in pursuit of a new pet and it is found necessary, proceed with caution. Once inside the gate, all new pets will visit the neighborhood doctor and will go through a series of medical exams to ensure no sexually transmitted diseases have been brought into Erotic Mayberry.
The list went on and on. None of it sounded bad to me. I’d only skimmed through it though, skipped some of the stuff I couldn’t concentrate on, so I was sure I’d missed a lot. Overall, I got the main idea. I was there to fuck and be merry and cuddle with my owner.
What if I wanted to leave? I couldn’t find anything in the book about leaving the neighborhood. I mean the setup was damn good, especially for anyone as horny as me, but you’d think someone, at some point, might want to give up the lifestyle. I figured it must be buried somewhere in one of the parts I’d read through quickly. The thing was packed with information for being such a small book. I knew I’d have to study it over and over again before I’d remember all the rules.
I reached for the small box on the table and set it in my lap. Carefully, I removed the top and pulled out the necklace. It was a silver colored chain, which I figured must be platinum, with a pendant that looked like it would belong on a dog or cat collar. It was circular, was stamped with E.Mayberry, and below that read: Sunshine.
My name was engraved on the pendant already. Somehow, that both gave me the chills and warmed my heart at the same time. It seemed way too soon for Bastian to have had it made but at the same time, that could mean he’d been planning this, and had been hoping I’d say yes.
Yes, Bastian, I think I accept.
I unclasped the back of the chain and held it up to my neck. Then I hesitated. What was I about to do? Was I sure I wanted to stay here in this place forever? I liked the rules in the book for the most part. I’d been an adult film star, on my own, finding my sense of family in groups of oversexed actors. Nobody seemed truly happy. Because, for the most part, we all went home alone at the end of the day. I’d often asked myself why I couldn’t have a loving relationship with someone who loved and craved sex as much as I did.
Erotic Mayberry seemed to be the answer. Bastian was the answer.
I reached behind my neck and secured the clasp. I was a pet. Suddenly I felt different. I felt owned. But it felt good. No longer would I be returning to my empty apartment to deal with the deep dark depression I often encountered. I’d never be alone again. Another familiar feeling seemed to run through my limbs. It was an instant wanting, an instant yearning, an instant craving for sex. I almost had to masturbate right there at the table.
As I went to put my coffee cup in the sink, I stopped by the large sliding glass door that led to the backyard, and slid open the blinds. The sun washed over my face and I looked up to see a bright blue sky with big fluffy clouds. It was a gorgeous day and I felt wonderful.
I slid open the door and stepped outside. To the right was a large wooden fence separating our house from the next. Our house. Why was I thinking of this as “our” house? But it was, wasn’t it? I was Bastian’s pet. He was my owner. This was our house. I smiled and felt giddy.
“Those are beautiful,” I heard a woman say.
I glanced left and found that the other side of our house was fenceless. No privacy that way. The woman who’d spoken the words was standing over a man on his hands and knees working on a flower bed.
“Yes, you were absolutely right,” she added. “I love those. The colors blend together perfectly.”
She turned to see me watching and shielded her eyes from the sun. Then she smiled and waved at me.
“Well hello,” she said.
I walked closer to her and waved back.