Chapter 10

Bella's POV :

Before I knew it, we were walking up to a very old structure, it seemed sunken a bit into the ground. It looked moldy and ancient. He didn't say a word to me but then he was opening a gate that was padlocked. I couldn't see much of it in the dark but he seemed to have no trouble.

"Come, Miss Swan.", he ordered calmly and he went inside, waiting for me to follow.

I did…not able to see my hand in front of my own face.

"Where is this ?" I asked, curiously.

"Just a place.", his voice was right in front of me, "Nothing special."

I could've sworn I heard rats squeaking in the distance and that really freaked me out. He didn't seem worried though so I kept going, not wanting to be the scared wimp in this little scenario.

"Stop.", he finally said and I did.

I could feel him near me now, and he lifted me up over his shoulder. I was afraid now as it felt like he was climbing up the walls, holding slats and broken pipes as he went. God, what is he doing ? We're gonna fall ! It seemed to last forever….at one point he had me crawl through a very small opening. He was behind me and kept coaxing me to crawl in further. I was shaking everywhere, unable to see shit but I trusted him enough to keep moving.

When I got to the end, I could feel him take hold of my ankle.

"Stop.", he said very gently, "There is a small drop now. There is a room inside. I just want you to let yourself drop down into it. You will not be hurt."

"Oh God.", I trembled more.

"Do you trust me ?", he asked.

"Yes Mr. Cullen.", I answered with a tiny voice.

"Then go.", he released my ankle and waited.

I inched closer and closer until there was nothing….and I screamed as I fell…THUD. I landed on a soft surface and was on my hands and knees. I was so relieved I almost forgot that Mr. Cullen was behind me.

"Very good Miss Swan.", his voice was quiet as he stepped on the surface I was on and stepped down. I could hear his feet walking on a hard surface. A moment later, a single light shone, revealing a bit of the room to me now.

It looked very clean but stark. There was a large silver table made of metal and a small cage on top of it. This was no weak little dog cage. It was all metal, black, the bars thick and square, very open. And a large circle opening was at the left side of it, a smaller circle on the right hand side. Its door was open.

I looked away from it to see where I was and found I was on a large leather sofa. Dark gray I think was the color I wasn't sure in this dim light.

There was a wall of cabinets and drawers there I could see now….but the real star of the room was that cage. I knew it was for me.

"Nothing too complicated.", he said as if we were in gym class.

"Disrobe, Miss Swan.", he said flatly from across the room. I felt around and sat on the couch, taking my shoes off, socks, then skirt…then my top over my head, and finally my bra and underwear.

I swallowed and waited but I didn't have to. He was right next to me suddenly and without a word, he was placing a very large dog collar around my neck, moving my hair out of the way almost annoyedly.

He worked the buckles behind my head and tightened it very snugly. I went to put my hands up to it but he simply said, "Hands at your sides, Swan."

I put them at my sides as he finished with the collar. It smelled wonderful, the scent of leather always made me feel good. I heard a chain clinking as he secured it to the front of the collar, a little ring there.

He didn't say anything else to me as he stood behind me, a cold steel cuff around my right wrist. Then on the other. They were also very firmly in place and he connected them together behind my back. He pushed me down on my face on the sofa, then put the same cold cuffs on each ankle, buckling them tightly, but letting them remain apart.

"Come.", he spoke to me like I was his dog and he was pulling the chain leash at my neck. He led me off the sofa onto my knees, the floor hard and gritty like cement again. I had to follow him on my knees over to the table and cage.

Once there, he hooked his hands under my arms and lifted me to my feet with no effort at all.

I was facing the opened door of the cage and he pulled up on my leash slightly.

"Get in.", he said blankly.

I tried to climb upon the table with my hands behind me it was so hard…I laid halfway on the table and brought one leg up onto the top of it. I struggled a bit and he let me. I found myself sliding myself into it inch by inch, the bottom made of black leather. I had to squeeze myself into it, it wasn't very big. I was finally in, and had to get on my knees to fit in there.

"Stay.", he said and I held still as he used the chain leash, moving it behind my head now, looping it up through the bars above me, then back inside, and I heard a loud CLICK that secured that chain to my bound wrists. I was sitting on my legs under me now and he pushed against my wrist cuffs, making my head move all the way down to the leather floor of the cage, my arms now straight up behind me, my ass sticking up.

"That's it.", he said simply, no lust or desire in his voice.

The door of the cage closed without slamming and I could see he was putting a large padlock in it, snapping it closed.

I couldn't see much of him except his chest since my face was to the bottom.

"Nice and cozy, my pet ?", he asked.

"Yes, Mr. Cullen.", I answered.

"Sir.", he corrected, "Mr. Cullen is your gym teacher."

"Yes Sir.", I stated, my nose against the leather, my forehead resting there as my hair fell over my face, hiding me a little.

"We'll see how you feel in a couple of hours there.", he sounded only a little amused, "Or a couple days…."

Holy shit ! Is he serious ?

"You may take a little nap, Swan.", he reached up and his fingers closed around a little chain above…and the light went out, "Get your rest you will need it."

I was alone…and I tried so hard to behave and breathe and wait for him to come back. I tried not to think of the hospital where they locked me in. I told my mind to go to a happy place…the only one I could think of was the beach…with my Mom.

Don't look at me now, Mom. Don't.

I almost fell asleep at one point. I could hear nothing, could see nothing. I almost called out for him but I stifled myself. I was being tested, I knew that. But this one is hard for the first. He didn't know it but I have a hard time with dark places, tight places. Because of Charlie. Fuck Charlie. I would be good and pass this test in spite of my fucking father.

My body was hurting after a long time in the position he put me in. My back and neck were killing me and I tried to sit up a bit…the chain clanked loudly, ratting me out…each link making its own horrid click sound. I could sit up more, I realized, the chain allowing me a little room to move. But this position wasn't great either as my eyes began to tire, wanting sleep badly. A couple times I almost dozed off but I quickly jerked awake, and I heard myself whimpering like a baby.

I soon after that decided to go back on my face again but that was killing my arms, now tightly up and behind me. I felt chilly and prayed to Hectate that I didn't need to do the bathroom anytime soon. Please keep those snickers bars in for awhile longer, I begged her. My stomach was starting to feel not that great right now but I forbid myself to even feel it in this situation. That can wait til later, if we ever get out of here, I told my intestines.

I kept trying to find ways to move into a better position. It was all I could think of now.

I got back into the sitting up position and tried to move my legs. They were falling asleep under me and tingling terribly. It was like moving two dead slabs of meat as I wriggled my legs out from underneath me. I was whining and whimpering again during this because my legs were so numb but yet feeling like little needles were stabbing them everywhere.

My arms were no better, now straight out behind me, held in midair by the chain.

This was a little better, my legs finally out in front of me, bent up to my breasts, no room to lay them out any more. But now as the blood began to rush back into my legs they were really hurting. I made pathetic little sounds, unable to rub my legs or arms…unable to sleep…wondering how long it would be before he came back. It was also incredibly boring being alone in here, nothing to do except focus on my discomfort. I wouldn't have thought that I would be bored chained up in a cage but here I was, really having that thought. I wanted him to come play with me, do things to me, talk to me. I wanted him.

I heard myself whimper again.

"You know you belong in your cage.", his voice was suddenly there, a few feet away, coming from the void.

I jumped and wondered if he was there all the time. I didn't see or hear him come in.

"Yes Sir.", I sounded sad as I answered.

"You shouldn't complain.", he said, as if I was back on that wall in gym.

"I'm sorry, Sir.", I said, also really weakly.

"You're beautiful in there.", he gave me a compliment, his voice not real sweet but not very hard either. It was stated like a fact.

"Thank you, Sir.", I said, my body aching all over.

"Should I take you out and bring you back home ?", he asked me, another test.

"No Sir.", I replied, really meaning it. As bad as it was in here, I'd rather be here than not with him.

"You'd rather stay in your cage ?", he asked.

"Yes Sir.", I hated to say it but I didn't have any other choice.

"Alright, pet.",he agreed, "Maybe I'll let you out tomorrow. If you're very good."

I heard myself give another whimper.

"I'll be good…", I promised him.

"Are you uncomfortable yet ?", he asked.

"Yes Sir.", I trembled. He did say he wanted honesty.

"Show me what a good girl you can be.", he said with a calm voice, "Get on your face."

I moved without complaining, grabbing the bars behind me with my hands and pushing up a little so my legs could fold underneath me. Then I slowly moved my face down until it was resting on the leather mat below me.

"I don't recall telling you you could change positions.", he said as I tried to keep still.

"Are you going to be obedient for me, slut ?", his voice asked firmly.

"Yes."

"Yes WHAT ?", his voice asked now a little pissed off.

"Yes SIR.", I winced, knowing I'd just fucked up.

"Not THAT obedient.", he scoffed, sounding disappointed. That hurt me most of all.

"Untrained little bitch.", he muttered.

"You want to be fed like that later ?", he asked.

"Yes Sir.", I answered, trying to see him through my hair in my face. I couldn't see anything.

"You want your bowl of food ?", he asked.

"Yes Sir.", I pictured myself eating this way, then quickly added, "If it pleases you, Sir."

"I don't know.", he sounded unsure, "Only good girls get fed."

"I'll be good.", I vowed again, trying to sound cute, hoping he would have pity on me…and then I repeated it, "I'll be so good, Sir."

"That shit doesn't work with me, slut.", he said coldly, "Sit up."

I moved my back and arms so I could raise my head up, the chain clanging lazily as I went.

"Good girl.", he said, not sounding very pleased with me.

"That chain over the bar really controls you nicely.", he observed, "It keeps you right in your place."

"Yes Sir.", I replied.

"Do you like being kept in your place ?", he asked me.

"Yes Sir."

"That's where you belong, right, Miss Swan ?"

"Yes Sir.", I answered, nodding my head. I truly felt like this WAS my rightful place. I hoped I could stay here, in place, in his palm.

"That's a good thing.", he said, "You're a good thing, little girl."

This brought tears to my eyes. He said it with so much honesty in his voice, as if he really meant that. No one since my Mom told me I was good.

"Thank you, Sir.", I heard my voice crack a little.

"You're welcome."

A moment went by and he spoke again.

"Do you want to spend the night in your cage ?", he asked.

"No Sir.", I heard myself answer.

"You DON'T ?", he asked, surprised.

"I'll be good.", I swore again.

"That's a bad thing.", he now took away my good thing compliment.

"It should WANT to be wherever her Master wants to keep her.", he informed quietly.

I messed up and I knew it.

"I want to stay in my cage.", I said, almost like a little girl.

"Oh now you want to stay ?", he asked, sounding like he was smiling as I nodded vigorously.

"I could put you in the standing cage.", he offered, "It's a lot harder overnight."

"I like this cage.", I still had my little girl voice as I spoke. Maybe I was more tired than I thought.

"Do you like it when Master is hard on you ?", he asked, his voice low and deep.

"Yes Sir.", I felt aroused now.

"Does that make you happy ?", he asked, using my word from earlier.

"Yes Sir.", I said, hoping my voice proved how much I meant it.

"That's a good little slave.", he said, his voice still stern but his words stroked me like a velvet hand.

He didn't say anything else to me. I waited but it was dead silent. I think I lost track of time and my eyes eventually did close and let me sleep for awhile.

"Good morning slut." His voice was suddenly above me and cold water was pouring down over my body as I screamed, jerking and struggling in my chains. I felt my wet hair over my face and my body was freezing cold now, my back and ass getting most of the impact.

"Uhhhhh", I wordlessly complained as I shook my hair a little, my body aching as I began to realize I was still here, and it was real.

"I said good morning to you.", he reminded sternly.

"Good morning, Sir.", I whined a bit.

"Say it again properly.", he warned with his tone.

"Good morning Sir.", I sounded sweeter now.

"Better."

"Just when you started to fall asleep the sun started coming up.", he informed,

"Don't you just hate that ?"

"No Sir.", I tried to answer correctly.

I could see him better now, sunlight was just starting to peek into the room from cracks overhead.

He was wearing the same thing as yesterday, but he looked amazing and fresh, his hair perfectly mussed up just enough to look sexy as fuck. His lips were wet and pink and his eyes dark and unyielding as ever. His shirt was slightly opened a bit to show a little of his white chest inside.

He smelled so good I inhaled and felt dizzy all of a sudden.

He held an empty water bottle and put it down on the counter behind him.

"Are you thirsty ?", he asked me.

"Yes Sir.", I said, "Thank you Sir."

"I didn't say you were getting anything.", he pointed out, "People in Hell want icewater…that doesn't mean they're getting it."

"Sorry Sir."

"Bring your face over here.", he motioned with two fingers, to the round circular hole in the side of the cage, "Put your head in there."

I stuck my head in the opening and looked up as much as I could at him.

He was opening another water bottle.

"Open.", he ordered.

I opened my mouth and he took the water bottle away.

"Wider.", he looked at me like I should've known better.

I opened very wide and stuck my tongue out a little, my eyes looking at his, unable to look anywhere else. Damn he is so beautiful it's like I'm hypnotized.

"Good.", he said, and put the water bottle in my mouth.

He tipped the bottle up and brought my face up with a finger under my chin as I swallowed and gulped it. I spilled a little as I tried to keep up but he gave me no breaks to catch a breath between swallows.

"Good girl.", he approved as he took the empty bottle away and I tried to get my breathing back under control.

"More ?", he asked, grabbing for another bottle.

"No thank you, Sir.", I shook my wet head.

"Alright.", he said, "Do you have to urinate slut ?"

I thought for a second.

"No Sir.", I answered.

"Good.", he replied, "When you have to, let me know. And depending on how you're behaving I'll either let you go in a cup or I'll just let you piss yourself."

"Yes Sir, thank you, Sir.", I tried to be extra obedient now.

"Good answer.", he sounded a tad lighter today.

"Now I know you'd just love it if I took my cock out and fucked you silly right now.", he stated, "But I don't move that quickly. You're not my property yet, I'm just test driving. Do you understand that ?"

"Yes Sir."

"My cock will be inside you when and if I choose you, not before. Is that clear, Swan ?"

"Yes Sir.", I felt disappointed.

"Good.", he opened a drawer and took out a leather bound book. Then a pen. He clicked it and moved to the sofa in the corner. He sat with his legs stretched out lazily, one crossed over the other, his bare feet adorable.

"What I want to do now is take some notes and find out more about you.", he took a breath, "Think of this as Bella Swan 101. You are the teacher now and I'm the student."

I was confused. What ?

"Why are you giving me that look?", he asked me with a grin, "I told you this wasn't just physical. It's also mental. If I'm going to own you, I want to know where you've been and what your history is. I don't take in strays without knowing something about them."

"I understand Sir.", I found my voice suddenly, "I write stories. You have to know the backstory of a character. I get that."

"I'm tickled that we're on the same page.", he sounded strict again.

"You write stories.", he said, "What kind of stories ?"

"Umm", I winced a little, "Good stories."

"Good ones huh ?", he sounded like he was smiling again, "About what ?"

He's going to think I'm a psycho. He'll reject me. That will kill me.

"Miss Swan.", he rubbed his eyes, "Listen. If you want this, this is the payment to get a chance at getting in. No hesitation. Just answer. I'm not going to ask you your favorite foods and have you pick questions out of a bag. And DO NOT even consider lying to me about anything I ask. Because I will know and Miss Swan…there is nothing lower than a liar. So don't worry about what I'm going to think, just answer, honestly and don't make me drag it out of you. Because I don't have the time for that. Do we understand each other ?"

"Yes Sir.", I answered.

"Wonderful."

"Sir ?", I asked.

"What now ?" he was patient.

"May I get on my face while I answer ?", I asked.

A pause.

"Will that help you ?"

"Yes Sir.", I nodded.

"Go on."

I moved, the chains doing their clanking song as I slowly lowered myself on my cheek, facing him, my hair falling over my eyes. That is better.

"What kind of stories, Miss Swan?", his voice sounded strange for a second.

"I like to write about a lot of things. Sex…murder…death…torture…"

Rape. But maybe I shouldn't say that word right now.

"No romance ?", he asked, not laughing at me.

"No Sir.", I replied.

"Why not ?"

"Romance is dead.", I said honestly, "It's not real."

He paused and finally said, "How true that is."

"Does it make you feel better, writing these stories ?", he went on.

"Sometimes yes Sir.", I replied, "Sometimes no."

"What else do you do for fun ?", he asked me.

He was going to hate my answers but he wanted honesty.

"I like to steal things.", I confessed.

"Steal things.", he sounded lighter now, as if he liked that answer, "What do you steal ?"

"Whatever I want.", I closed my eyes, "One time I stole an album signed by all the members of Queen."

"No.", he sounded jealous.

"Yes Sir.", I put my forehead to the leather, "It was so cool."

"That IS cool.", he agreed and for the first time it was like I was talking to someone my age.

"Did you get caught stealing ?", he asked me.

"Yea.", I said, "I mean yes, Sir. I'm here, aren't I ?"

He gave a little snicker.

"Yes I guess you are.", he agreed, "Is that the reason you're here ? You got caught stealing ?"

"Um no.", I said, "No Sir. That was nothing really. My father…Charlie…he's the chief of police in Forks where I lived, he punished me."

"What did he do ?", he asked.

"He put me in jail for two days.", I revealed, "He thought it would scare me. It didn't."

With a little breath, he said, "I guess not. Look where you are now."

"Yes Sir."

"Are you scared now ?", he asked.

"No Sir.", I said without hesitating.

"Why not ?"

"Because I trust you Sir.", I said, opening my eyes trying to see him. He stopped scribbling in his book at this and he looked at me.

"You don't even know me, Swan.", he stated, his voice harder now.

"I know Sir.", I agreed, "That's what's so weird. I never trust anyone. Not until I know them for a long time. But I trust you for some reason. Sir."

"You shouldn't give your trust to people you don't know, Miss Swan.", he stated like a parent, "It could be the last mistake you ever make."

"Yes Sir.", I said, not pushing it.

He was quiet for a moment then asked, "So your father put you in jail. What was that like ?"

"A little weird.", I answered, "I was alone in the cell and my father wouldn't let anyone hurt me in there so there was that but…I had to use the toilet and it was all in the open. It was awful."

He was writing and smiling a little and I liked that. He hadn't made me feel bad at all for anything I said yet. But this was nothing. When he finds out what I've really done…

"You were really angry with your Dad after that, huh ?", he asked.

"He's not my DAD.", I said sharply all of a sudden, "He's my father not my Dad. He was never that."

"Oooh, I struck a nerve.", he said with a deep voice, not mocking, just surprised.

"Well I guess that answers my question, how you feel about HIM.", he responded.

"All he does is punish me.", I said, "He never loved me. He was never around. My Mom was always with me."

"How's your relationship with her now ?", he asked me.

"I don't have a relationship with her now.", I took a hard breath, "She's dead."

Saying it out loud like that hurt more than I cared to admit. I don't think I've ever said that sentence out loud since.

"I'm sorry, Miss Swan.", his voice sounded truly sad for me.

"It's okay.", I blinked, "Characters die all the time. It's part of the story, right ? Like the Walking Dead."

He paused.

"What's that ?"

"The Walking Dead.", I said again, clearer.

"I am not familiar with that term.", he said like a teacher would.

"The Walking Dead.", I peeked at him, "The TV show…the comic book…"

"Oh forgive me I don't read comic books.", he said with a droll attitude in his voice, "I also don't skip to school and fly kites."

I laughed at that comment and he didn't yell at me.

"You're funny, Sir.", I observed aloud, "You should joke like that more. The girls would like it."

"I'm not concerned with what the girls would like.", he sounded offended.

"Yes Sir.", I tried not to laugh again at the image of Mr. Cullen skipping to school.

"Tell me about the Walking Dead.", he said, his voice less irate now.

"It's so great.", I informed, "It's about the world going into a zombie apocalypse."

"Zombies.", he huffed.

"No it's not just about the zombies, that's the thing !", I heard my voice speaking now with passion, "It's about the people who aren't zombies…how they change, how they have to live, how they become damaged and have to do fucked up things to survive or protect their loved ones…The Walking Dead is not the zombies…it's the people !"

"Hmm.", he made a small noise, writing something down, "That's very interesting."

"What is Sir ?"

"Do you relate to the people characters ?", he asked, "Do you feel like YOU'RE…the walking dead ?"

Shit. This guy is good. A lot better than Dr. Carlisle.

"Yea I guess I do.", I admitted.

"What would you do to protect your loved ones ?", he asked me.

This is a whole lot better than asking a person their favorite color.

"I would kill and die.", I didn't hesitate there, "Sir."

He didn't say anything and I thought maybe he was not liking me anymore.

"Did I answer wrong, Sir ?", I asked politely.

"No Miss Swan.", he said, "You answered that exactly right."

Whew.

"If I had any loved ones, I'd do the same.", he said with a lighter voice.

"You don't have any loved ones, Sir ?", I found myself asking.

"This is not about me.", he said calmly, "This is Bella Swan 101, not Mr. Cullen."

"Yes Sir.", I said, feeling sad for him now. I wish I could be his loved one.

"What was your mother like ?", he asked the big tough question.

I almost evaded or tried to but I didn't.

"She's the best.", I simply stated.

"What kind of things did she like ?", he asked.

"She loved everything 80's.", I began…there was so much to tell, "She had the big red hair, she loved to fluff it up on top. I used to tease her about it all the time but I loved it that no one else looked like her. I could always find her anywhere. I just looked for her hair."

He smiled as I peeked at him. God he's stunning. Maybe if I'm real good and answer his questions he'll fuck me. Come on I'm so horny in here like this.

"Pretty ?", he asked.

"Beautiful.", I corrected.

"Tell me more."

"She loved to sing her favorite songs…mostly Michael Jackson. She loved him…until she found out he molested kids then it was over. Umm…she loved junk food…and mac and cheese from longhorn steakhouse…she ate that every Tuesday. And she loved epic movies, Mel Gibson…Robin Williams…."

"She was a good mom, huh?", he asked, his voice softer now.

"The best.", I agreed, feeling a tear in my left eye, letting it fall, "I haven't talked about her in so long…"

"Well then by all means talk about her some more.", he gently pushed.

It seemed nice talking about her…even though I was naked and wet chained in a cage with my gym teacher watching me and scribbling notes.

"Like…this one time I was like 14…she took me to buy a bathing suit. And I hated how my body looked in all of them. I was fatter then. And awkward. She sat outside the dressing room for an hour telling me how beautiful I was and that all girls felt this way at this age. And that it would get better and that she'd be there to say I told you so. I didn't believe her that day but…looking back, I wish I could've thanked her for that. I never did."

"Swan.", his voice sounded strange, "Close your eyes."

"Yes Sir."

"See your Mom.", he said.

"Okay.", I pictured her on the beach, that big hair blowing around her face, her smile so bright for me, as if she really missed me.

"Tell her.", he said, "In your mind. This is not for me just the two of you."

Mom…I silently spoke to her in my head, I'm so sorry for everything I did. I love you…please forgive me. I should've done something…something to make you stay. I should've seen…

"Miss Swan ?", she asked and her face turned into his in a flash. Then the beach was gone and I was back here in the box with Mr. Cullen…or Sir.

"Are you alright ?", he asked.

"Yes Sir.", I blinked, taking a deep breath.

"Did you tell her ?", he asked.

"Yes Sir.", I found a smile come to my lips, "I said a lot."

"I know you were gone awhile.", he teased with his tone.

"Can I ask….", he began, "And if you don't want to answer now it's alright.."

A pause.

"How did she pass ?", he asked carefully.

"Can I….not Sir ?", I asked, my voice a bit desperate, "Not right now ? Is that okay ?"

"Yes it is, Swan.", he assured me.

"So let's get away from parents for a moment.", he took a breath, "What about friends ?"

"I have two so it won't take long.", I almost laughed.

"No wrong in that.", he said, "Two good friends beat 100 false ones any day."

"True dat.",I heard come out of my lips.

"True…dat ?", he asked slowly, "Is DAT what you said ?"

I giggled a little and said, "Yes Sir."

"The english language is doomed.", he mumbled.

"Don't be so old." I teased, "Sir."

I told him about Maya and Jasper. He asked about them a little and I told him good things about them.. he asked if I ever dated Jasper.

"Jasper and I tried to fool around once when I was 13.", I admitted, "It was horrible. We didn't know what we were doing and we were both grossed out. So we became best friends instead. It's better that way."

"What about boys ?", he asked, "Dated anyone ?"

"No.", I felt embarrassed to admit, "I don't really like anyone…my age."

Uh oh. Would he pick up on that ?

"Your age…", he gave a huff, "So who do you like that's not your age ?"

"Guess.", I flirted a little, "Sir."

"Stop flirting, Swan, it will not get you what you're after.", he warned with an amused voice.

"Yes Sir.", I answered.

The conversation went so well, it was so easy. Until he began to dig in sensitive places.

"So why did your father make you come here then ?", he asked.

"He said I'm hard to love.", I admitted, my voice so tiny suddenly.

He huffed.

"Really.", he simply replied, sounding angry.

"He doesn't love me.", I said, "I always knew that but now I really know it. But that's okay…I don't love him either."

He didn't scold me for saying how I felt or tell me I was wrong. I liked that.

"Well it's his loss, Swan", he said clearly.

"Thank you, Sir.", I smiled to myself.

"Have you tried drugs, Miss Swan ?", he asked after another pause. Not like an accusation but a question.

"Yes.", I admitted, "But I'm not hooked on it. I just do it sometimes for fun. Or to escape…my stuff."

"Yes.", he replied, "Sometimes you would do anything to...escape your stuff. I am glad that…you had somewhere to go."

"Thank you Sir."

"Do you think you could escape the predicament you're in now, slut ?", he asked without the tension in his voice.

"No Sir.", I felt my legs tingling again.

"Do you want to ?", he asked quietly.

"No Sir.", I told the complete truth.

"Good.", he replied, "Because we've only just begun."

"Yes Sir.", I winced under my hair.

"I think you've earned a little break, don't you ?", he asked me suddenly.

"If it pleases you, Sir.", I answered sweetly.

"It does, pet.", he closed his book and rose to his feet, coming over to my cage. He began to put his hand on a bar next to where my mouth was and I took a chance. I licked my tongue against his fingers, making my tongue very wet.

"Uh uh uh", he smiled a bit, "Naughty little hellcat…keep that tongue in your mouth until I ask for it."

"Mmm", I gave a frustrated whimper.

"Please Sir…", I moaned.

"Swan", he was very firm, "We had this discussion. You are to be tested this weekend. Don't disobey when you were doing so well. And that moaning and licking bit won't sway my resolve. I'm not that easy. You will earn your place with me. You will earn everything you get. And not just with licking your tongue on the bars of your cage. I require a lot more than a mindless slut who just wants sex all the time. You will be my student and my property. I will teach you everything I want you to know – not just sexual positions and yelling loud demands at you…there's more. There's so much more. I can make you into anything I want."

As he was speaking to me he was unlocking the cage door and pulling the chain out from the bar overhead.

He helped me slide out of the cage and he carefully placed me down on the floor, on my hands and knees, the chain leash in his hand as he moved his fingers over my hair.

"Come on girl.", he made two kissing sounds as he walked to the sofa, "Up."

I crawled upon the couch and waited on my knees.

"Lay down.", he said as I laid on the soft leather, face down…the coolness was so good against my skin, my face resting there, sideways.

"That's right stretch out.", he allowed as I sighed out loud, content.

"Go to sleep.", his voice said, his fingers around the back of my neck.

END OF CHAPTER 10