Control

Chapter Three


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“You interrupted my sleep, Salem,” Locke said letting his friend into the house. “Now what do you want?”

“I told you, Anabel saw someone enter your house this morning. I wanted to check it out.” Anabel was Salem’s slave, a pretty petite thing, dumb as a post but ferociously loyal. It was common knowledge that Salem was planning in turning her.

Locke gave a sigh of relief. “After last night I was bored so I went back out. I found this girl and decided to keep her.”

Salem arched a brow. “You? You hate the idea of slaves.”

“But not mates,” Locke said. “She’s just what I’ve been looking for. If she has to start out a slave so be it.” This wasn’t a complete lie, either. Even after just meeting her he saw that Hope had pretty much everything that he wanted in a woman.

“Uh-huh,” Salem said. “For the record, you’re full of shit. I know you better than that. But if that’s the story you want to tell, be my guest. Can I see her?” Locke led him upstairs and opened the door to his bedroom. “Oh, she’s good.”

“Yes,” Locke agreed. Hope had ruffled up the sheets as though they had just been wrapped up in them together.

“This is the girl from the camp- no don’t answer that, it’s better that I don’t know. She certainly is adorable. Now for the bad news. I was on the phone when Anabel ran in and told me what she saw. Selena’s on her way.”

“Shit.”

“Now, I’m going to go home and get something that should fit the girl. You should take a shower.” He left and Hope sat up clutching the sheet to her.

“Who’s Selena?” she asked.

“We need to shower,” Locke said instead of answering.

“What?” Hope demanded. “You can’t mean together.”

“Hope, you need to listen to me. Selena will be here in less than an hour, we don’t have much time.”

“I guess asking you to let me go is out of the question.”

He sighed. “I’m sure that it’s worth nothing, but I am sorry. Unfortunately, Selena will be expecting to see a human here and Salem already saw you. Everyone knows that I didn’t have a slave before. When Anabel told Salem she inadvertently ended your life.”

“So now what?”

“That depends on you. If you want to live you need to do as I say. Now, we need to take a shower.”

“Okay,” she whispered and bushing almost as red as her hair, she stood. Although he had every intention of being a gentleman Locke couldn’t stop his eyes from dropping to her breasts, very nice breasts. Without speaking she followed him into the bathroom. She looked away as he dropped his robe. She took her own pants off staring intently at the wall.

“For God’s sake, Hope, I’m not going to rape you!” Startled, her eyes went back to him. “Please calm down.”

“I didn’t think that you were going to rape me,” she said actually looking surprised. “If I did I would have fought you. It’s just…” She trailed off as he started the water.

“It’s just…?” he prompted getting into the spacious shower and holding out a hand to help her in.

“Well… I-”

“I’m not going to let this go, sweetheart,” he warned.

“No man has ever seen me naked before,” she murmured.

“Oh, hell,” he groaned.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because… you’ve already done so much that you didn’t have to. When you saw me you could have killed me, or worse. You didn’t, even when in my panic I tried to do something that could have killed you. I just don’t want to make this any harder on you.”

“Don’t apologize, you just wanted your mother’s picture. Besides, this may not be so bad. Now, I’m going to bathe you.”

Her eyes were huge. “What? Why?”

“Scent exchange, this is the fastest way. I’m also going to have to bite you after we’re out of the shower.”

She winced but nodded. “Okay.”

“You are very odd,” he commented squirting some shampoo onto his hands and washing her hair. She couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her as his masterful hands worked their way through her hair. The warm water felt amazing. She had never felt anything like it before. He then conditioned her hair letting her rinse it. He then poured some body wash on his hands letting them travel over her. She was amazed at how gentle he was. Considering the situation, he was also being a gentleman. He didn't touch anywhere inappropriate. “Your turn.”

“My… turn?”

“Scent exchange works both ways, little one,” he said handing her the shampoo. She blushed and poured some shampoo onto her hands. Her hands were trembling as she stood on her tip toes to reach his head. He slouched so she could reach him easier.

He had long ago stopped fighting the battle with his hard-on, and now just prayed that she wouldn’t notice. If she did, she chose not to mention it. Her hands shook even more as she ran them over him. His body was even more toned then it had looked when she had seen him sleeping. He noticed that her eyes stayed firmly above his chest even when she was washing his abs.

“That’s enough,” he breathed. “You did good, Hope. Thank you.” He got out of the shower and once again held out a hand to help her. The irony of the chivalrous actions when all he wanted was to throw her against the wall and bury himself inside her wasn’t lost on him. He dried himself off then her. “Where would you like me to bite you?”

“I have a choice?” she asked.

He reached out and touched her neck, trailing his fingertips over the vein. “The standard choice, a classic.” He ran his finger down over the vein on her breast. “One of my personal favorites.” He touched her wrist lightly. “This one hurts more but it’s another classic.” With a grin he quickly touch her inner thigh. “My all time favorite on a woman. It bleeds nicely and had the advantage of being easy to cover up. Plus, the blood there is so much… sweeter.”

“The neck, please.”

He smiled. “As you wish.” He leaned in nuzzling her neck playfully. “You smell nice.”

She laughed unsteadily. “I smell like you.”

“No,” he argued. “You smell like… it’s incredible.” Unable to resist the siren call of her blood any longer he bit down. She cried out at the sudden pain, then melted into his arms. He shoved her against the wall sipping her blood slowly. He had to restrain himself from taking more than necessary… in more ways than one. He pulled away, smiling at the dazed look in her eyes. “So, how was it?” he asked.

“My mom said that it didn’t really hurt but… wow.”

“Your mother told you a lot about us,” he noted. “I have to wonder why.” Salem walked in and Locke moved to block Hope from his friend’s gaze.

“Gee, thanks, I really was hoping to look at your naked ass,” Salem growled. “Here.” He handed Locke the clothes. “This should fit her. I saw Selena walking over, I’ll entertain her while you two get dressed.”

“Thanks, Salem,” Locke said. He led Hope back into his room and handed her the clothes. “Did your mother tell you about slave etiquette?”

“Yes, unless it’s changed,” Hope changing into the outfit. The shirt was black and the sleeves were fishnet. She skirt was also black and long with a slit up the side to her thigh.

“I doubt it,” he said with a shrug. “Selena’s a weak mind reader so you should be safe there. Just think the most vapid thoughts possible. Like about how amazingly handsome I am and how you worship me.”

She snorted before looking away. “Sorry.”

“Sweetheart, as long as we’re alone you can say whatever you wish. Are you ready?”

“Not really, but let’s go.”