He was your master's son, nothing could ever happen between you two and you knew that but sometimes it was nice to dream. The McCall's were of the nicer slave owners luckily, Master Raphael only ever whipped you if you truly did something unforgivable, Mistress Melissa treated you as if you were a daughter she never had and Master Scott was always kind to all of you, even around his friends.
"Stop day dreaming or else you're going to get in trouble!"
Cora nudged her hip into yours, a smile on her lips but her brown eyes were very much serious. You nodded, picking up your tray of food and followed behind her to the main room where Scott and his friends lay about talking and laughing. Head kept down you placed the tray on the table for them and went on your way to leave when Allison called to you, "Wait, you there, fill my glass."
"Yes, M'lady."
Scurrying over to the pitcher of wine you grabbed it and began to walk over to Allison when you made the mistake to look up and saw that Scott was watching you from his spot on the couch. Surprised and flustered you tripped over your own two feet sending you to the floor and the pitcher of red wine into the air to spill all over Lydia's elegant white dress. There was a moment of silence before everything set in, Cora stiffened in her spot, Allison's mouth dropped open, Kira's eyes widened into the size of a discus, Stiles bit back a laugh, Malia slapped her hand across her mouth, Scott straightened up in his seat and Lydia, well she screeched, loud and deafening.
Lydia stood up trying in vain to wipe off the wine but she was only making it worse and when she realized it she gave up with an aggravated huff and put her hands on her hips. She took a step towards your pathetic form kneeling on the floor with your head hung low, "You waste of space! Walking is a simple task and you can't even do that right! Do you have a brain in that ugly head of yours or is it just a vast wasteland like your future!"
"Lydia."
Scott's voice was calm but Lydia ignored it, she was on a roll, "I cannot begin to fathom why they keep you around, the stories Scott has told me about your complete incompetence makes me wonder why they haven't just offed you."
"Lydia!"
From behind you Cora ground her teeth, the only thing keeping her from stepping in was the fact that it would only worsen your punishment. You didn't show much of reaction but Cora knew you well enough to see that what Lydia was saying was getting to you, especially when she mentioned Scott.
The smile had wiped itself from Stiles' face and in its place was a deep scowl, Malia was donning a similar expression. Kira had averted her eyes from the scene, a frown creasing her forehead while Allison had clasped her hands together in order to stop herself from butting in, it wasn't her place to discipline you much like it wasn't Lydia's.
Scott was staring coldly at Lydia, who had stepped forward again, her sandaled feet coming into your line of sight, "You're pathetic and useless, if you belonged to me I would have ended your tragic life long ago. Do you understand this slave?"
"Yes, Mistress Lydia."
You didn't even know how to react when her hand made contact with your cheek harshly. The intense sting of her slap overrode the shock but you didn't make a sound, you only covered your reddened cheek with your hand.
"Lydia! Enough!" Scott had stood up and put himself between you two, "You said it yourself, she doesn't belong to you which means you cannot hand out any punishments. She belongs to me; leave her disciplining and punishing to me and my family."
"You obviously don't do a very good job."
Everyone collectively closed their eyes, you don't make comments on how another family treats their servants, it was none of your business.
"Cora, take her out of the room, I will be with you soon to deal with her on my own."
Darting to your side Cora quickly pulled you to your feet and rushed you out of the room to your small bedchambers that you two shared where you sat at the edge of the bed.
"I can't believe she hit you, what was she thinking?" Cora was busy dipping a washcloth into a bowl of cool water to really care for an answer.
"It doesn't matter what she was thinking, I shouldn't have spilled it on her."
"It was an accident, everyone could see that. It wasn't your fault you tripped. You don't need to beat yourself up over this."
You hung your head again, hand falling to your lap so Cora could clean it up, "Master Scott must be ashamed to have me. I can't believe I tripped! I mean honestly, who does that?"
Cora shoved your shoulder lightly, "I did, remember? I was carrying over a platter of grapes and tripped, sent the whole thing soaring through the air. I thought I was going to get whipped for sure when I saw that a bushel landed on Master Raphael's head. When Domina Melissa laughed everything seemed to lighten though and I only received the small punishment of going to bed without supper." Cora sighed, taking up residence on the bed next to you and laying her hand over yours, "Master Scott has a soft spot for you, always did, I'm sure you won't get into too much trouble."
"Thank you for your input Cora." You both stood at the presence of Scott, his hands clasped together behind his back as he surveyed the two of you, "Leave us."
Cora didn't need to be told twice, putting the washcloth back into the basin she dashed out the door.
"Sit."
Like an obedient dog you sat, eyes following Scott as he retrieved the water basin and brought it over to the bed. He kneeled in front of you, the sight shocking you more than the slap did. When Scott raised his hand up to wipe at the dried blood you flinched away and Scott paused midair to stare at you then he backtracked, "Can I clean you up?"
Knowing you couldn't trust your voice you nodded and this time stayed still as he came to dab at your mouth and cheek. It was strange to be the one getting taken care of instead of the one doing it; he was gentle with his movements, almost as if he were afraid he was going to hurt you and you felt weird. Your hands began to fidget, fingers playing with each other and plucking at the loose strings of your dress until Scott's other hand came to rest over them.
You jumped at the contact and quickly shot your head up to lock eyes with him, "You can relax, I'm not going to hurt you."
"S-sorry Master."
"Just call me Scott."
Shaking your head sadly you gave a smile to match it, "You know I cannot, Master."
"When we're alone, yes you can. I won't tell anyone."
You bowed you head, voice dejected and quiet, "Please, this is already wrong, do not make so much worse."
Hooking a finger under your chin he brought your head up again, "How is this wrong?"
"You are taking care of me when you should be doing what Mistress Lydia said, punishing and disciplining me, this –" you motioned to his kneeling form and his hand holding the wet cloth dirtied with your blood – "isn't right. None of this is right."
It was quiet after that although Scott continued to clean your face he stopped touching you. When he finished he stood up and brought the bowl back to where it had been and held the edges of the small wooden table so tightly you though he would break it.
"You want me to punish you? To discipline you? Is that what you want?"
"Yes Master, it would make everything so much easier."
"Stand up."
You didn't hesitate and he knew you wouldn't which is why when he turned around he didn't have to repeat himself and instead advanced towards you like a lion with its prey. He didn't stop when he got in front of you, forcing you to back up until you felt the stone wall against your spine; he caged you in by placing his hands on either side of your head, truly making you feel like his prey.
"Punishing you would make nothing easier, it would do the opposite." Scott's russet eyes bore into yours, holding you prisoner there and you never wanted to escape. "There is a reason I have my father punish you, why I avoid you for several days after he has, it's because I can't stomach the fact that you are hurt and in pain and I know I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I was the cause. When Lydia slapped you I almost lost it, I almost slapped her, gods how I wanted to punish her!"
"Master?" Your voice squeaked betraying how terrified and nervous you were and your nails were digging into your palm so hard you were certain they were drawing blood but you didn't care, it was all that was grounding you, reminding you that this was real and not just another dream.
"I told you to call me Scott when we are alone." He sighed and brought a hand to brush a flyaway hair behind your ear. Scott stepped in close his heat a stark contrast to the cold wall behind you, "Do it, say my name, please."
"Ma-"
"My name."
He was desperate, you could hear it in his voice and it caused you to hesitate, everything in you screaming not to do it, too afraid of what it would mean but for once you had control over something in your life, "Scott."
He surged forward, his lips connecting with yours in a bruising kiss. You didn't move, not knowing what to do with your body and your mind going into a frenzy, but slowly you responded. Lips moving with his and your hands went to his hips while one of his secured itself around your waist splaying his palm across your lower back to bring you forward against his body. His other hand came to hold the back of your neck, deepening the kiss and you gasped when his hold tightened around there. With your mouth open he licked his way in, tasting you for the first time and he groaned the sound vibrating through you and going straight to your core. Much to your displeasure, Scott began to pull away, but he caught your bottom lip between his teeth, nibbling on it slightly before letting it snap back into place.
He felt your racing pulse against his palm and smiled at the fact that he gets your heart beating just as fast as you get his. Scott rested his forehead against yours, ragged breath mingling in the air between you two; you stared up at him with wide, uncertain eyes.
His hands came to cup your cheeks, "I've waited so long to do that."
Shaking your head the best you could, you grabbed at his wrists with trembling hands and tried to pull them away from your face, "This is wrong, so very wrong. It can't happen, this can't happen."
"How can it be wrong when it just feels right? You enjoyed the kiss right?" You nodded about to protest again but Scott cut you off, "You like me right?" Again you nodded and Scott smiled, "And I like you, so how is it wrong?"
"Because you are my Master – my owner – and this could never work out, you will end up marrying a nice, rich girl and she will have your children and continue the McCall name and I will continue to serve you and eventually your children and your children's children until I die. This much I know for certain, and although it lays heavy on my heart, I have to accept it. Now so do you. Do not be so selfish as to give me false hope that we could be together and I could proudly call you my husband, that I could bare your children when you and I both know it never will be." Your eyes shined with unshed tears and Scott's heart cracked.
He moved even closer somehow, voice low and gentle and filled with promise, "I want that woman to be you and I swear I will figure out a way for it to happen. I don't want a rich girl, I want you and I intend to have you and have a future with you, a bright one filled with smiles and laughs and love. I just need you."
Those unshed tears fell, warm and heavy down your cheeks only for Scott to wipe them away with his thumbs.
"Don't you dare make me promises you cannot keep."
"I will keep every promise I make to you."
A wobbly smile found its way across your face, "You make it sound so simple – "
"Because it is!"
"No it's not but I suppose some hope won't kill me."
"Not while I'm around."
When Scott kissed you this time, it was soft and tender and quick, one to your bottom lip, one to your top lip and another to your lower lip. His smile was content on his red swollen lips, "Your friend was right?"
"About what?"
"I always did have a soft spot for you."