Page 35 of Slave

Thinking of him set my mind in motion, and I realized that I’d not set my alarm last night. My eyes flashed over to the source of my wakefulness and rested on the folded note taped over the numbers. I had no doubt as to who had left the note or who had set my alarm. Pulling the tape loose, I opened the note and read it.

Dress and meet me in the gym.

Clothes are on the bench at the end of the bed.

I’ll be waiting.

Although I was not a morning person, I’d gotten used to having to wake at a moment’s notice and made myself get out of bed. I did not want to anger him this morning. Last night had been so very nice, and I wanted it again.

I dressed quickly in the tank top and shorts he’d laid out for me and headed up the stairs. Just as he’d said, he was waiting for me.

When I entered the room he was facing away from me, but that soon changed. It seemed as if he could tell I was there because not more than five seconds passed before he turned around. I immediately dropped my eyes.

He walked toward me slowly, deliberately. My body went on alert as he got closer. I had no idea what he was going to do to me here.

My Master stopped directly in front of me. “Good morning, Brianna. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, Master. Thank-you.”

His hand came up to lift my chin. I knew by now that he wanted me to look at him. My eyes found his and waited. He didn’t make me wait long. “I’m glad to hear that. I was going to introduce you to my gym this morning, but it seems you’ve already become acquainted.”

I swallowed. Was he upset that I’d cleaned in here? Please don’t let him be upset. All I wanted to do was make him happy with me. Why couldn’t I make him happy?

The hand that had been under my chin came up and brushed the side of my cheek. “Calm, Brianna,” he whispered. “I’m not displeased with you.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding. I hadn’t messed up again.

“Since you have already been around my gym, I will forgo the tour. I do want you to get used to some of the machines you’ll be using with Brad.” I assumed Brad was the personal trainer he’d mentioned, but he didn’t give me time to contemplate that. He took a step back and held out his hand, clearly wanting me to take it. Bringing my arm up, I put my hand in his, and he quickly wrapped his fingers around mine.

I followed him over to a treadmill. “You will walk today for five miles or until you are unable to continue, whichever comes first. However,” he said, his voice taking on that commanding tone, “if you stop before the five miles, and I do not feel you have truly reached your limit, we will be back in here later today to try again. Do you understand this, Brianna?”

He wanted me to walk? For five miles? I didn’t know if I could do that. I’d only been on a treadmill once in my life, and I’d fallen flat on my face, giving myself a bloody nose. But I couldn’t tell him no. I had to at least try. “Yes, Master.”

“Good,” he said. And then he stepped forward again and took my face in his hands. “You will do fine. I will not be far.”

He helped me onto the machine and showed me how to start it, stop it, and where it would show me the miles I’d walked. I nodded and hoped with everything I had that I could do this.

Before I knew it, he was stepping back a few feet to watch me, waiting for me to start. With a deep breath, I hit the button and felt the belt begin to move under me.

I was okay at first. The belt was moving slowly, and I kept a tight grip on the handlebar. But then it started to pick up speed, and my legs just would not do what I wanted them to do. I felt my ankle begin to twist and my knees buckle. My last thought as I closed my eyes was to hope that he wouldn’t be too mad I couldn’t do what he’d wanted.

Surprisingly I didn’t hit the floor or the machine. Instead, I felt two arms circle my waist. I knew who had caught me, and I froze, waiting.

My Master’s breath was hot against my ear as he spoke. “Perhaps something besides the treadmill to start, hmm?”

His hands moved to my waist and stayed there until I was standing on my own two feet again. I wanted to beg for his forgiveness; to tell him I was sorry, but I kept my mouth shut and just lowered my head.

I felt him take a step back before he turned me to face him. “Let’s try the bike instead, shall we?”

He didn’t wait for me to answer before taking my arm and leading me several yards away to a stationary bicycle. “This will expend a little more effort than the walking, so we will reduce it from five miles to three.”

Master adjusted the machine and then stood, waiting for me to climb up. I’d never been on one of these before, but I knew how to ride a bicycle so I wasn’t too worried. It was the three miles I was a little concerned with.

I couldn’t say that, though, so I moved myself into position and started peddling while he watched. The numbers began moving, showing my progress, and after a while Master must have been satisfied I wouldn’t fall off and walked away. He didn’t go far, just on the other side of the room where he picked up some weights and began lifting.

The weights he used weren’t overly large, not like the ones you see the bodybuilders use on television, but they were still enough to show the strain of his muscles through his T-shirt. A shiver ran through me at the strength he must have and what he could do with it. What he could do to me with it if he chose.

I felt the fear start to bubble up inside me again as I watched him shift the weights into a different position. Clinching my eyes shut, I tried to will it away. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered.

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