Page 2 of Semper

Standing tall amidst the breathtaking landscape was the solitary lighthouse, a stoic figure watching over the stillness below. Its white facade gleamed against the calm water, its towering presence commanding attention. Despite its beauty, there was an underlying sense of foreboding. It was as though it held secrets within its walls waiting to be discovered.

The rocky cliffs mirrored the jagged edges of my own feelings, the isolation wrapping tighter around me with each passing day.

My thoughts inevitably drifted to Anya, and a sharp pang of guilt and worry pierced my chest. We had always been in sync, our cycles aligning like some twisted cosmic joke.

Was she suffering the same discomfort in this strange place?

Was she even alive?

The thought sent a cold wave of dread over me, drowning out the warmth of the bath. I imagined her somewhere; dealing with the same confusion and fear I was. I reached for the body wash and washcloth carefully placed on the edge of the tub, struck again by the strangeness of my situation. The bathroom felt like it belonged in a high-end spa.

It was just another facet of my captivity - a gilded cage with no escape. As I lathered the cloth between my fingers, the ridiculously soft fabric gliding over my skin, I tried desperately to scrub away the physical discomfort and mental turmoil of my situation. As I immersed myself in the solitary ritual of cleansing, a sudden awareness sliced through my consciousness like a knife. A sensation of invisible threads binding me to an unknown presence sent shivers down my spine.

My hand froze, and I slowly turned, finding him standing just inside the doorway. The casual lean of his body against the frame was deceptive. His eyes held an intensity that felt like a physical touch. The air thickened around us, charged with an electric current that connected us in a way words could never describe. In his gaze, I saw a whirlwind of emotions – possessiveness and desire, yes, but also something dangerously close to adoration.

"You're breathtakingly beautiful.” His voice was a deep timbre that reverberated throughout the room. "I could stare at you for hours on end."

A lump formed in my throat as I tried to process his words. Before I could respond, he revealed a package in his hands, giving me a much-needed topic of deflection. “Are those for me?”

He smirked knowingly. “Organic and crafted for ultimate comfort,” he boasted, walking confidently towards the double sinks, and placing the pads down before retrieving a fluffy towel for me.

“I’ve always used the cups,” I found myself replying.

"I know, but I won’t allow anything inside of you except me."

I blinked, momentarily thrown by the boldness of his statement. “You won’t... allow?” I echoed, half-questioning, half-challenging, though my voice lacked the bite I intended.

He turned towel in hand, with that same knowing look that always set me on edge. “That’s right, only me.”

I stood still as he wrapped the towel around me, feeling like a fragile doll in his strong grasp.

"It was delayed due to me vetting everyone to make sure we didn’t have a repeat of the servitor situation, but our staff has returned, and they are waiting downstairs to meet their new Mistress."

Mistress?The moniker felt like a heavy cloak draped over my shoulders, one I wasn't sure how to wear. His hands brushed against my skin in a possessive touch.

"You have the morning to explore our estate," he continued, his tone upbeat. "But don't forget about Chapel later today." A hint of reverence laced his words.

The mention of that building extinguished all warmth from the bath. My mind flashed to the strict schedule Esther and Nicolette had shown me, each day mapped out with precision. I hadn't seen Nicolette in days.

Esther, however, up until recently had been a more frequent presence, always appearing with infectious energy.

“S-should I wear something specific?”

His eyes lit up with a mix of amusement and approval. "You'll look beautiful in anything but choose a dress from the upper level."

"I'll find something," I managed to reply, my voice steadier than I felt.

His warm hands delicately cupped my face, tracing the line of my jaw with a feather-light touch. He ran his thumb across my cheek, sending shivers down my spine. “I can’t remember the last time I was this hard,” he brushed his lips against mine. “You have no idea how badly I want to fuck you right now. The feeling of you wrapped around me, there’s nothing like it.”

My mind raced as I tried to process his words. “But...I'm on my period," I finally blurted out, hoping it would be enough to dissuade him.

"And? Why would that stop me?" he asked, his tone laced with amusement.

I bit my lip nervously, unsure of how to respond to this man who had no reservations or inhibitions. "Isn't that unhygienic?" I asked hesitantly.

His grin widened, revealing dazzling white teeth. "I don't believe in such things," he stated confidently, pulling me closer and pressing his body against mine. "In fact, there's something quite erotic about the idea." His hands roamed down my back, tracing the curves of my hips before sliding lower and cupping the sides of my thighs just beneath the towel.

“Will it hurt?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, the words trembling as they left my lips.

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