Page 53 of His Captive Pet

“Ready?” The screen door snapped shut behind her, and Blake was at her side, the air around them suddenly thicker and warmer with his presence.

“What about this?” She turned and tugged at the ring of her collar.

Blake touched it, as though it were a precious gem instead of the strip of worn leather it was.

“It stays on. You are never to take it off without my permission. Do you understand?” A coarse gruffness returned to his voice, and she swallowed back the retort rising up. Arguing with him might mean she didn’t go up to the house. And she wanted to get away from the little cabin, to explore the resort.

Samuel barked, drawing his attention away for a moment. “Samuel, c’mon inside.”

“You know, he is my dog.” She watched Samuel toddle toward them and jump up onto the porch. Blake let Samuel into the cabin and pulled the front door shut before securing the screen door as well.

“He is your dog, I know.” Blake grabbed hold of her hand and stepped off the porch, bringing her with him. “If it will make you feel better, I’ll let you walk him tonight. There’s a path down that way he likes. Lots of sticks for him to choose from.”

“You’ve been walking him?” There were times Blake had left her unattended, but she figured he’d just been in the next room, plotting more devious things to do to her.

“Of course.”

She watched him while they walked, waiting for more. He just kept walking.

“Have you heard from Greg?”

His grip tightened around her fingers. “No, my phone isn’t getting any reception now. I’ll call him after we talk to John.”

“You worry about Greg.” She quickened her step to keep up with his broad stride.

“He’s my little brother. Of course I worry.”

“You think if you keep him locked up at the bar he’ll stay safe forever. Just like you thought putting me in that kennel would keep me safe.”

He pulled up short and spun her to face him. The tic in his jaw quickened, his fingers pressed against hers.

“I put you in the kennel to teach you a lesson. If you aren’t going to behave like a good girl, you’ll get treated like the pet you are.”

“I’m your pet?” She rolled her shoulders back, stuck out her chin. She wasn’t anyone’s anything. She was her own person. Just because she liked spankings and whips, and enjoyed the damn collar and leash, did not take away her humanity. Not even Blake would take that from her.

“You’re a lot of things to me, Aubree, and yes, when I want it, and when you need it, you’re my pet.”

He started walking again, getting her going with a light tug.

She shouldn’t like it. The idea of being his plaything? His pet. No. Her mind tried to revolt against the idea, but the warm swell in her chest warred with it. Her mother had been a plaything. Aubree had watched her be toyed with like a cat swatting around a mouse, until her mother was no longer able to fight back.

Being Blake’s pet would have the same result. Wouldn’t it? She’d lose herself, lose all the strength she’d built over her lifetime.

“You’re overthinking.” He squeezed her hand to get her out of her own mind.

She shook her head, clearing the old images from her past. She couldn’t save her mother, couldn’t stop her father from being the bastard he was, but she could help herself.

“Greg’s a grown man, Blake.” She watched him from the corner of her eye with a smile. “He’s not as old as you are, but he’s grown. He mentioned wanting to join the Marines.” She probably shouldn’t be telling him. Greg had told her about his plans a while back, but made it clear he hadn’t brought it up to his big brother.

“Oh, yeah?” Blake tilted his head, calculating his response.

“You can’t save him from the world, Blake.”

“We’ve had this discussion.”

She understood her inherent need to save and protect. She couldn’t shelter her mother, but she would save any creature from being hurt by those stronger whenever possible. Why could Blake not take the same peek into his own actions?

“I know what happened to your parents—”

---