Page 35 of Vengeance of Childhood Proportions

He mistook my posture as shame, though, and his voice softened. “Little Owl, I need to know. I can’t help you until I do.”

I knew the statistics. One out of four women would likely be sexually assaulted. By admitting what happened, I was not admitting to my crimes that he was investigating. However, strong as I was, I still did not want him to know. I did not want to see that pity in his eyes.

“I was placed in bondage without my consent,” I said as vaguely as I could. “Master Kade watches over me to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

I did not add that he also did it to ensure I did not harm the person who tried.

Calloused fingers touched my chin. At the light pressure, I allowed him to bring my face back towards his. “Did it happen here?”

I shook my head. He knew where it had happened, even if he didn’t know he knew. “Everyone here has been good to me.”

“And where is Master Kade tonight?”

He was currently abducting my next two victims, Jesse Ritter-Hogan and Roman Fitzwilliam, but I wasn’t about to say that out loud. “I didn’t need him tonight,” I said instead because it was still true.

His hand went from my chin to my cheek. “And why is that, Little Owl?”

I held his gaze for a moment. “Because I feel safe with you, Sir.”

Master Mal stepped back, and I immediately missed the feeling of being caged in by him. Bending down, he plucked me from the couch, turned, and then seated us with me straddling his lap. We were face to face. I shifted my hips, feeling the bulge of his erection between my thighs and wished I had removed my jeans before he’d entered the room.

He took my face between his large hands. “Youaresafe with me, Little Owl.” Lowering his hands, he reached for something in his jacket next to us with one hand while taking one of my wrists into his other hand. He was so big that he could have held both of my wrists easily. He placed something soft over my hand, like a bracelet.

Startled, I brought my wrist up to nose-height for a closer inspection. It was a hair scrunchie, like I used to wear as a kid. Since I did not have long enough hair now, I hadn’t seen or worn one in years. The soft fabric was slate gray with very small bells sewn all throughout the outer tube.

I shook my wrist, now understanding why I thought I’d heard bells earlier when Master Mal had tossed his jacket onto the cushion.

“Don’t get used to that sound, Little Owl,” Master Mal chuckled. “As soon as we’ve finished discussing terms and limits, you won’t be allowed to make it.”

Confused, I lowered my wrist. “I’m not sure I understand, Sir.”

“I called up my mentor, Master David. I wanted to discuss alternatives to bondage that could still restrain you.” I stiffened but did not interrupt. Master Mal lifted his hand and tapped my temple gently. “We worked out a plan to restrain youup here.”

He took my hand, placing my flat palm on his chest. “Once I put you in a position, Little Owl, you will have to stay there exactly. If you move,” he shook my arm, making the bells at my wrist jingle, “I’ll know and I will punish you.”

I swallowed, amazement filling me. “I won’t be…tied?” I clarified.

“You will not be restrained,” he assured me, “but that doesn’t mean you are allowed to move.” Master Mal held up a handful of more scrunchies. “One for each limb.” When I reached for them, he pulled his hand away. “Not yet, Little Owl. We have much to discuss first.”

He dropped the scrunchies, but my eyes stayed on them. I had an irrational fear that they would disappear before I even got a chance to try them out.

“I will be blunt, mainly because I don’t know how to be anything else.” He paused, “Eyes on me, Little Owl.” I obeyed. “When I am speaking, you will look at me unless otherwise instructed.”

“Yes, Sir,” I answered, fighting the urge to look back at the scrunchies. “I apologize.”

He swatted my ass above his thighs once. “You are forgiven.”

I sat up straighter.

“What are your safe words or do you prefer to use the stoplights?”

“‘Crow’ to stop, ‘raven’ to slow down.”

He nodded once and then repeated the words back to me. “Good. Now, beyond no bondage, what are your hard limits?”

“It’s a rather long list,” I admitted.

“I have this room until five in the morning. Trust me, we have time.”

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