PART TWOAs the gray gun smoke dissipates and the house becomes dark and eerily quiet, the usual watery burn from the smoke hits my eyes. I'll take the acrid smell home on my clothes and my eyes will remain red until I sleep off the effects.After hours of preparing the SWAT team's entry, the violence is over quickly and several bullet-riddled bodies lay on the bare floor. Unlike what Hollywood portrays, there are only small pools of blood beneath the bodies. No splattered blood-covered walls, just a body count.The underground intel led us to believe there were only three men inside, but where there's one gun, there are two and with two, there are three. Training dictates you never forget the plus-one rule.The entry team suffered no injuries, though a piece of sharp, splintered wood from the doorframe nicked my face. I barely notice the sting or the thin line of blood; my attention is on the safety of my men and finding the women."Clear, clear, clear." The cries sound from othe
My light travels toward the voice, stopping three cages down on a woman with eyes squinting from the glare of the flashlight. I lower it a bit."Sorry," I say softly. "Can you communicate with them?" It will take time to bring in an interpreter and the last thing these women have is time. We need to get them out. "Yes, if your intention is good," she replies in a stronger voice."We're here to get you out," I assure her. "Do you know how many are alive?"She inhales and exhales jaggedly before speaking. "Sahar is gone, but I think she is the only one. She is next to me." Her ragged voice tears at my soul as my light drifts to the next cage.There are two hands inside-one belongs to the woman speaking; she is holding tightly to the lifeless, darkened, hand of the dead woman next to her. In all my years as an officer I've never seen anything more horrifying. It must have shown on my face in the glow of my flashlight."I... I told her I would not let go. She was so afraid." Her voi
I finally prop Hooriya against the wall by the stairs so I can help the other women."Stay here. I'll carry you up when the others are taken care of. I need you to keep assuring them that we mean no harm." Soft, soulful cries are now coming from several of the cages and we need to get them out as quickly as possible.Though Hooriya's voice is shaky, it's firm and soothing. Even if I can't understand the words, I understand the tone. A female paramedic arrives and helps assess the victims. I don't know the woman well but fully understand the tight set of her jaw as she takes in the scene and evaluates the situation. Slade and Kip carry women one by one up the stairs. I chose these two men because they are both married and known to be tight-lipped. Cops love gossip and I want to keep the women out of as much of that tongue-wagging as possible. Hooriya is barely standing on her own when the last woman is carried away. "I'm going to lift and carry you up the stairs," I tell her."No,
At my last appointment, the doctor said I could walk without the knee brace, but my stride is still tentative. I walk slowly to my computer and bring up my email account: junk mail, a short "Just to say hi" from one of the secretaries at the department, and a greeting from my mother asking when I'm visiting.I almost miss it, but buried in the fifty plus emails is an urgent message from Nathanial. Nathanial Monroe. I stare at the name and my mind drifts back in time.PastLocation: South Africa, classifiedThe team had two goals: rescue the hostages and everyone return to camp alive.I blew it and took a bullet to the shoulder. Then I was held in place of the rescued captives. I wasn't afraid, but I was one pissed off Marine.I was secured to a chair with my arms and legs bound. I knew the captain of my team would get the hostages safe and then come back for me. Marines never leave wounded comrades behind-or any comrades for that matter. They would either take me to medical car
PastI stood up from the table. When I grabbed the business card, I noticed my hand was shaking. Picking up my cell phone, I dialed the number.The voice from my memory answered on the second ring."Hello, Zachery.""Hello... Nathanial.""I'm sure you're wondering why I've contacted you."Hell yes I was. "That's a mild understatement," I replied."I would like you to be my guest for a week here at my estate. I have need of a man like you, and I was hoping we could discuss a proposition.""A proposition?" My voice suddenly bordered on insolence. What did this fucker mean by a "man like you" anyway?Deep, rich laughter sounded over the phone. The voice was no less arresting than it had been when Monroe had placed a knife in my hand. "I assure you that you will be safe and my intentions are entirely aboveboard.""Why now?" I asked. And why do you talk like you've got a stick up your ass, I think to myself."You will be going to the police academy in three months but at the mome
PastHeaven. The collection of classic automobiles was every man's wet dream. My mind could barely comprehend the millions of dollars in horsepower within the tall walls of the massive garage. Monroe walked me through the tiled floor, giving me tidbits of background about each vehicle while I tried to keep my drool in check. Yes, I said tiled and there wasn't a speck of dust or dirt on the shiny white surface. The only non-vintage vehicle that drew my attention was a new Porsche 911 GT3. It was no contest when it came time to take a car out. Monroe grabbed a set of keys from a glass case on the wall next to the door. "There is an old airport runway a few miles from here. We will head there and you can open her up.""Do you want to drive to the airport?""No, Zach, this is your chance." Monroe laughed and handed over the keys. "She is all yours for the next hour."If this was a bribe, it was a damn fine one. I had asked very few questions so far, but while I tested the strength of
"Your choice?" I asked.She looked perplexed and I wasn't sure why. "I'm good with vanilla unless sir prefers toys," she said while looking into my eyes.That word again. Vanilla. It was on my list of questions for Monroe but tomorrow will be soon enough to ask. She turned, allowing me to see her very hot ass. I joined her on the bed and we ended up using two condoms before I fell into a deep, satisfied sleep. The following morning, I woke early and extricated myself from the slender arms and legs wrapped around my body. Sara rolled in the other direction and returned to oblivion.I pulled on my pants and made my way downstairs shirtless and barefoot. I heard low voices coming from the dining room and continued in that direction. When I entered the room, I saw Monroe sitting at the table with an open newspaper and a cup of coffee."Good morning, Zach. I hope you slept well.""Yes, sir, I did." Embarrassing heat flooded my cheeks when I automatically said, "sir."Monroe's eyes went dar
PastI stayed.The photographer, Melody, was a lovely middle-aged woman. She kissed Monroe on the lips and his hands circled her ass for a squeeze as their lips and tongues danced.Pulling away but leaving his hand possessively on her ass, Monroe's gaze found mine."Zachery, this is my friend and photographer Melody. Melody, meet Zach. He will be observing the photo shoot today.""Hello, Zach. Nice to meet you." Melody's hand came out. "Have you modeled before?"Heat rose into my face and Monroe slapped me on the back."No, he has not," he said as he laughed. "But I am trying to talk him into working exclusively with me."Melody's eyes traveled over my body like I was a prime piece of meat. "You're yummy," she said with a touch of flirtation, "and I would love the chance to photograph you.""Thank you." What else could I say?Stephens showed another woman in and she was introduced as Nessia. She was incredibly exotic with long brown, almost black hair hanging to her waist. He
I claimed he wasn't romantic, but Luke proved me wrong.He had something special planned for our one month wedding anniversary. I was currently strapped to a chair in the playroom, a scarf covering my eyes. Luke's hand gently moved my hair aside. Or, I thought it was Luke, but when the fingers moved up over my jaw a different scent filled me."Hi, beautiful girl," Wade said as he kissed my cheek. "I'm here to fuck you dry."An electric thrill ran over every inch of flesh on my body and I shivered."She's been a naughty girl all day. For some reason she seems to think I should have spoiled her surprise and told her you'd be joining us." Luke spoke from behind me. He reached around and pinched my nipples. "Untie her and we'll move her to a more accommodating location. You haven't seen her pretty pussy piercing."Luke loved calling it that. It usually had me laughing, but he squeezed my nipples again and I sucked in a quick breath. Wade unclipped me from the chair, leaving my wrist a
Two nights later, my dream was back. My sister watched me from the mirror. She spoke, but I couldn't understand. I made a grab for her hand as it turned to dust beneath my fingers. She swept away on the wind and I couldn't breathe."Shh, babe, breathe." It was Luke.He rolled us so I was on my back, his lips against mine, with his hand at my throat. He added pressure and I froze until he eased his fingers back. His cock entered me. He restricted my breathing again and again until I came so hard my toes curled."Tell me about Vachala," he said after rolling over so I lay on top of him.I hadn't spoken freely about my sister since she disappeared. I had told the private investigators details about our location in India when my mother sold her, but they never asked anything personal. Bittersweet thoughts of her poured into my mind. "She would run so fast she'd trip constantly. She always beat me in any race. I cried and she laughed. I think she was a demon in disguise. The only way an
I'm sure people had horrible night terrors and handled them better than I did. Saying mine aloud made them feel inconsequential. "A mirror or the reflection from water. I see me-starving, skeletal, always trying to say something. I fade to dust and I realize it isn't really me. It's Vachala." A calmness was settling over me. For years I kept this hidden. My father never knew. My mother died with me hating her, but more than that I hated my weakness. Even now I couldn't find a way to forgive myself. My mother should have chosen Vachala and left me to die. I used pain to prove I was strong. The more the better.I rolled over in Luke's arms and faced him. "I don't know why I can't breathe when I wake up. I know when I was hospitalized, I couldn't breathe. That was the last time I saw her." I could picture her so easily because whenever I looked in a mirror, she was there. "We were only babies, but that bond is unbreakable. I imagined her holding my hand for years. I could feel her soft f
I had her back in the waist belt and her hands attached in front of her when I walked her into the bathroom. I'd had everything ready. She saw what waited and stopped."Don't worry. This is only a mild cleansing, no cramping or pain. Bend over."Tears filled her eyes."Come on, girl, it looks worse than it is.""Please, Luke." She looked down at the floor and I saw a tear roll from the end of her nose."'Please, Luke' is not your safeword. Lift your leg onto the toilet seat or I'll use a different solution."She lifted her leg and I could see her knees trembling. I inserted the enema nozzle and she jerked as if the solution had hot pepper in it. Actually, I used a bit of peppermint along with a mild soap and warm water; it wouldn't hurt at all. I opened the valve. "Hold it in. I'll tell you when you can relieve yourself." Her tears turned to soft hiccups. I really thought she'd cave by now, but her stubborn brain was blocking her desire to end the humiliation. I moved her to the
Machala was asleep, her breathing deep and even. I sat down beside her and transferred our lunch to the nightstand. I moved pillows beneath her head after loosening the straps at her wrists. I went into the bathroom and soaked a washcloth in warm water. I hadn't left any cuts on the front of her body, but welts covered her. After running the cloth over each welt, I rubbed ointment into her skin.She woke up when I loosened her wrists, but waited until I finished with the ointment before speaking. "I can't do it, Luke. You're wasting your time." Her dejection came through in each soft word.I slowly removed the blindfold so she could see my eyes. She squinted into the light before her gaze settled on mine. "I love you. It's not something you walk away from. I can't watch you suffer alone. Sharing your terror may not help, but I'll be there and I'll know the worst. I've imagined so many things and each one causes me sleepless nights. You have no idea the abuse I've imagined. I only wan
The lies she lived with couldn't continue. I refused to allow her to destroy herself. She barely slept and I wasn't as stupid as the first time she stayed with me. Then, I missed the small nuances that showed how exhausted she was. That would never happen again. And now something set her off without lack of sleep involved. Some trigger that no one but she understood. I couldn't fucking help her if she wouldn't talk to me. All my frustration from months ago came rising to the surface. I imagined her as a young child being raped, beaten, or both. I couldn't stand the pictures in my head... the unknown.I wrapped rubber bands tightly around the ends of the sticks, securing them together. Machala's breasts were hanging freely over the bench, which made clamping the sticks on her nipples easy. The rubber bands applied the pressure so her nipples squeezed between the lacquered wood. When I put them on, she stopped struggling and speaking. I grabbed the sticks in the middle between her breas
I couldn't hold back the tears and he stopped moving. "No, don't, Luke. Fuck me hard, please."He did. I have no idea how much noise we made and I'm surprised the door didn't cave. He pulled my hair until I thought he would leave me bald, and when that didn't work, he rammed two fingers in my ass. No lube and it hurt but... it took me over the edge and I cried out as my body crashed. I was crying, but pulling air into my lungs."Shh," he whispered against my ear.I knew he suspected I was crazy. Hell, I was the ice queen. No panic attacks allowed for me. "I'm so sorry." My forehead rested against his chest. His cock was still inside me."You shouldn't be. Having my very own fuck bunny during practice is something I plan on growing accustomed to."He was attempting to change the mood. I shouldn't let him, but I desperately wanted to forget my near out of control disaster. We cleaned up in the bathroom. Luke took special care of my piercing. He'd explained about condoms for the firs
We woke up after seven-much later than a usual Monday morning. I could tell by her breathing that Machala was awake. "What are you thinking about, girl?" I asked into the quiet room."Hmm, touching you. I always want to touch you while you sleep." Her voice sounded drowsy and sexy."I won't stop you." There were times to be dominant and times to give your sub what she wanted. This was the latter. I expected her hands to travel my chest, arms, even ass. I saw the way she stared at me. A hungry lioness came to mind. What I didn't expect were her hands on my face.She moved up a little, using her elbow to prop herself. I closed my eyes as her soft fingers traveled across my jaw, moving to my cheeks and even along my nose."You're beautiful," she whispered.I didn't think any man alive wanted to be called beautiful. At least not until this moment. Her thumb swiped across my eyelid before her fingers went to my lips. Now they ran across the outline of my mouth and one finger slipped in
How did he do it? This man knew what my brain did not. The dull ache above my clit caused by the piercing had me craving more. It also reminded me that it wasn't just a collar that bound a submissive to their dominant. Luke piercing me was his claim and wouldn't disappear like the bruises he left after a scene.He was on the phone while I used a mirror to look between my legs. He'd actually handed it to me before he went to make his call. Fuck, I desperately needed to come again or somehow get my mind off my body's greedy cravings.I latched onto work. I had to call Danny and explain I wouldn't be at work for two weeks. Luke had removed the butt plug after our prolonged scene in the playroom. I sat on the end of my bed fully aware of my new piercing and hit Danny's name on my cell."Hello, doll. What's happening?" His anger over the newspaper article and picture was obviously gone.There were times I used my icy business voice with Danny, but this wasn't one of them. I valued his f