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In the hours after she was left with Dinah, Jordan helped clean the boots, kitchen, and slop pails. Then she sat down to the best meal ever served. Dinah was so grateful for the mercy the young slave had shown her that the woman went far above the command to merely feed the one she had tried to starve. Salad, fresh fruit, warm bread, pork, beef, chicken, and whipped potato before desserts were spread out on the table until Jordan insisted she was truly at the point of bursting. The two woman chatted happily at the remains of Jordan’s private buffet until Poe appeared to fetch her for a bath. The combination of the hot water and a full belly left Jordan feeling deliciously sleepy as she shrugged into a flimsy tunic Poe had left for her to wear. She shook her head slightly in an effort to clear the sluggish thoughts wandering through her brain when she started for her Master’s bedroom, as directed.
Jordan’s hesitant knock was greeted with a soft voice allowing entrance. The slave took a moment to let her eyes adjust to the relative darkness of a room illuminated only by a roaring fire in the hearth. Tess sat motionless across from the blaze with a glass of sweet syrup in her right hand. Jordan crossed the room as quickly as her chained ankles allowed to kneel at her Master’s feet. She leaned forward to place a kiss on the bare feet before her as she had been taught but drew back with Tess’ sharp intake of breath on contact.
Long moments passed as Jordan knelt silently; resting on her heels. The air in the room seemed heavy as if it were burdened by the brooding owner. Tess’ brow knotted tightly over the bright blue eyes staring into the flames. A shaky hand reached for a stray lock of Jordan’s freshly washed hair. Thumbing the silkiness appeared to ease the worried forehead.
“If I, as your Master, commanded you,” came a quiet voice, “to my bed, to pleasure my body, and allow me to pleasure you, would you obey?”
“Of course, Master Tess,” Jordan kept her voice even with her owner’s.
“If,” the voice was impossibly softer, “you were a free woman and I asked you to my bed that I might pleasure you and you do like wise for me then would you agree?”
“No,” it was the truth.
Tess looked directly at Jordan for the first time that evening. Sadness hung across the beautiful features, stilling the slave’s heart for a moment. Not from fear of retribution but out of compassion for the pain lingering in those eyes. Tess looked sorely disappointed at the response.
“Thank you for your honesty, Jordan. Go to L’tish. He’s been instructed to remove your chains. There are warm clothes for you to change into. I’ll see you tomorrow in the stable,” Tess gave a small, hollow smile .
Jordan rose to leave. She made it half way to the door before stopping. Turning back, she saw her Master staring once more into the flames. She returned to her previous spot kneeling at Tess’ feet.
“I gave you leave to go, now go,” the voice was so tired.
“It’s not fair,” Jordan stood with her hands on hips. “It’s not a fair question. Ask it again.”
“What?” Tess struggled to control the grin threatening to break free at the impudent, little slave.
“Please, ask the question again.”
“Okay,” Tess did grin this time at the command in her slave’s tone. “If I ordered you, as my slave, to bed me would you?”
“Yes.”
“Right,” Tess nodded, cocking an eyebrow. “So, if you were free and I invited you to my bed, would you join me?”
“No,...”
“Right,” Tess sighed erasing all trace of the smile.
“... because I’m not free. I’m not able to think that way anymore. I don’t really know for sure what I would do,” Jordan finished, dropping to her knees, and lowering her gaze. “But I do know this. I am here, prostrate, before you when you commanded me to leave. I stay and remain cruelly chained when all I need to do is walk down the hill to be rid of this torturous steel. You wish to know whether I would freely come to your bed or not. This is as close as I can express my desire; my will. I am risking my Master’s wrath and enduring personnel discomfort to wait at your heals like the good dog I have become.”
The crackle of the fire was the only noise in the empty silence that follow. Jordan refused to even breath. Air would be a luxury when she lay dying for presuming to know her Master’s mind. A gentle touch lifted her chin. Jordan saw a softening of Tess’ tight features before she was given then sweetest kiss of her life.
It felt like flying. Jordan’s head was spinning with the probing muscle invading her mouth while strong hands directed her to her feet. Embraced against Tess’ well toned body, Jordan was weightless.
“Never a dog. You’re a beauty, my dearest Jordan. Will you please come to my bed?” Tess whispered in a pink ear after breaking the passionate kiss.
“Yes, Master,” Jordan wanted to wrap her legs around the sturdy frame that held her but the chains would not allow for that.
The pair fumbled and groped their way to the over large bed. Tess was forced to sit at the edge on their arrival with Jordan standing between her thighs. Jordan took Tess’ hands in her own to maneuver them under her thin garment. Encouraging them with a gentle pat to explore the soft warm skin of her hips. Jordan took Tess’ mouth with her own for a deeper exploration.
“Ow, this isn’t gonna work,” moaned Tess.
“Huh,” A flushed Jordan was somewhat breathless.
“Go! Leave me,” Tess fell back on the bed with her arms over her face.
“What is it?” Then thoughts placed during her training raced from Jordan’s mouth without consent, “If this is a frequent problem then you should talk to a doctor. Really, millions of free people have sexual dysfunction. There are treatments available.”
“Thank you, Surgeon Executrix,” Tess sniped without looking up from the safety of her arms. “My problem is not medical. It’s legal. I’ve been clipped. Sometimes, I can get around it and sometimes I can’t. Tonight is a ‘can’t’ night. Thanks anyway.”
“You’re on parole?” She accepted the head nod as and answer. “How long?”
“Life.”
“That won’t be a very pleasant life for you, will it?” Jordan left the bed to search the room. “Do you have gum?”
“Top desk draw,” groaned the reclined Tess.
Without warning, the hard stick was forced into Tess’ mouth. She chewed while Jordan proceeded into the bathroom and rummaged. Jordan returned to the bedside with a straight edge razor and a half glass of water. Tess continued to work the gum as the woman placed the items on the table beside the bed.
“Do you trust me?” Jordan asked before sealing a needy kiss on her Master’s moist lips and stealing the well chewed gum away.
Tess did not answer as Jordan took a position between the long leathered clad legs. Jordan was skilled at removing clothing from a stilled body. Small but strong hands worked to unbutton leading to an eventual unfastening then to peeling and finally stripping the warm but uncooperative body.
“Knock yourself out but I’m useless,” Tess grumped.
Jordan reached for the razor. She felt Tess stiffen and hummed a reassurance. Slicing her own palm with the sharp edge, Jordan licked the drops of blood before offering wound to Tess. The return suck was tentative until Tess felt the cool metal against the clip surrounding her clit. The drag on the open cut was vengeful when the blade pressed against the clip. And then freedom.
Jordan rose from her work with the clip that had smothered Tess’ desire in hand. Before Jordan dropped the devise into the glass of water, she pressed the gum between the two sensor heads
“Oh, God,” Tess gasped with the rush of sensation to the long denied region.
“Shhh, give it a minute. Just let your blood run its course,” Jordan covered the shuddering body with her own trying vainly to hold back the surging energy.
Without another word, Jordan planted a kiss on Tess’ panting lips. She robbed the other woman of any breath left in her lungs. Jordan tasted the overpowering need for relief in the blood welling from her freshly bitten lip. She moved down the strong body beneath her to the Master’s center. The slave buried her lips and fingers in the warmth that now, freed from imprisonment, was welcoming intrusion. She prodded and sucked Tess into her first, real orgasm in more than two years. Jordan, lapping at the release, slowed her strokes like she had been taught as Tess rode the wave of an almost forgotten ecstasy.
Jordan felt her body pulled from the unfinished task at hand; up and over and down. She lay on her back staring into delighted blue eyes. Tess’ passion had awoken from its enforced slumber. Her Master lavished kisses on tender skin. Sucking, biting, nipping, Tess was in a frenzy; chanting all the while.
“Jordan, oh God, thank you, anything for you, thank your, Jordan, God, anything!”
Jordan managed to stop Tess at the entrance to her own space.
“What?” Tess was almost wild eyed in her gratitude.
“You said, ‘anything’ a minute ago,” Jordan could see a flicker of fear ghost across those beautiful eyes before the nod of agreement. “It has been a long time since I just slept in a real bed. Could I stay here a while and rest?”
The strong embrace relaxed and Jordan was sure she would be sent away. When a gentle kiss was placed in the patch of curly blond hair between her legs, Jordan gasped at the tenderness.
“You are so beautiful, my sweet Jordan,” Tess rested her cheek there, over where the agreement was sealed, and wrapped her arms around the slender hips. “I told myself, I invited you here tonight to apologize for Tosca but as soon as you walked in,” another nibbling kiss interrupted the confession. “I had to feel you against me. It has been so long since I held anything other than my pillow,” a heavy but satisfied sigh followed. “I would be honored to have you sleep in my bed.”
Jordan stroked the unrestrained black hair trailing across her belly. Long black eye lashes blinked closed against pale skin. Jordan hummed softly for the both of them as they drifted into a blissful slumber.
When Jordan woke in the dark with a low growl rumbling in her ear, she had to deliberately hold even muscle in check. Her body wanted to jump and run while her groggy brain wanted to piss and play dead in response to the unfamiliar surroundings. It was her reason that won out and she remained stock-still be shear force of will. Jordan was sure of only one thing; she was a slave and her Master had not permitted the luxury of screaming.
Gathering herself, once her automatic responses were made manual, Jordan took in her present physical state. No bumps or deep bruising could be detected while laying comfortably on her side. Her body was supported by the heavenly softness of a real mattress; box spring, coils, and fluffy stuff to be sure. She was very warm under the thin sheet that covered her; them. Well muscled arms wrapped around her waist to press her close to an even warmer body behind her.
“Oh, God,” Jordan remembered with a barely audible sigh of relief that she remained in her Master’s bed only to sleep.
Jordan decided she should leave the room before Tess awoke just like all her previous services with other Masters. Flexing her muscles, she thought she could just slip out from the firm but relaxed embrace. The growling was replaced instantly by steady breathing. Jordan pulled a mere inch forward.
“Don’t leave,” spoke Tess against a soft ear, “stay here with me, please.”
Jordan settled back into the nest she awoke in without a word of protest. She was lulled back to sleep by the low growl of her Master’s snoring.
* * *
Tess listened with half an ear while Poe detailed his trip. Her mind lingered on the slave that had so satisfied her the night before. She hated to send Jordan off before dawn but she did not want the entire household gossiping either.
“There is no surplus food on the black market to purchase regardless of the size of your wallet. You’re not listening,” Poe tersely said.
“What?”
“See?” Poe raised his eyebrows for emphasis, “I said, you’re not listening. Look, we have too much at stake here for you to be wasting time mooning over a school girl fantasy with that little blond.”
“You’re the one who wanted her kept at the Manor,” Tess shrugged back.
“Don’t hurt her, Tessa,” Poe stated calmly. “Mark my words, I will not stand idly by while you become your father’s daughter.”
“Yes, Poe, I understand.” Tess hung her head in shame. “I’m sorry if I disappointed you but I didn’t harm the girl. She had a chance to leave. She came back to my bed instead.”
“Don’t kid yourself that it was willingly. A slave has only her master’s will. She knew what you wanted and fulfilled it.”
“I know,” Tess’ voice was small and grief stricken. “Poe, is it so wrong for me to seek some little bit of peace for myself? Am I so evil that I deserve no solace from my struggle?”
Poe smiled at the woman before spreading his arms wide. She went to him and settled into the strong hug.
“My little Tessa, you are not evil. You have only been touched by it. Your mother was pure so, too, you must be,” he kissed the dark head resting on his chest with a reverence reserved only for her. “But you barely knew her and so I must guard you against all temptation. For the sake of her memory as well as your own legacy, forgive me if I strive for caution in all things and at all times.”
Tess lifted her head to gift Poe with a grin. He wiped her tears dry with his thumb and she kissed his palm in return. The tender moment was broken with the warning squeal of the monitor alert. A listening device had just entered the Manor.
The locked door was kicked open by a forceful boot kick. A tall uniformed man stormed in as if the study was his own. Behind him swaggered a very drunk Tosca.
“Inspector,” Tess lounged casually at her desk while Poe stood tall with crossed arms several feet from her, “to what do I owe your breaking and entering into my home?”
“Don’t get cute, bitch! You, slave, get lost!”
Poe looked to Tess who silently nodded her consent. The man walked slowly across the room until he was within striking distance of the Inspector. A balled fist landed squarely on Poe’s chin and dropped him like a stone. Tess was on her feet before either man could escalate the exchange. She inserted herself between the pair.
“Inspector, I am well versed in every letter of my parole agreement,” Tess stepped forward to press her body firmly against the bureaucrat. “I know that I am indebted to the governor for his kindness,” she advanced her towering frame again forcing the Inspector to retreat or fall. “Additionally, my status as a convicted felon means I am without free persons protections and at the mercy of any and all agents of the governor, like you” another step and another retreat. “However, at the Manor, I am the Master. The slaves are mine to pleasure, punish, or terminate. Nobody, not even the governor, touches them. EVER!
At the shout, the Inspector stumbled back from the tight press but did not fall. Poe rose and strode from the room as if by some telepathic command between Master and slave at that crucial moment of the Inspector’s weakening. It took only a few heartbeats for the Inspector to regain himself but the study door was already closed. Tess’ humiliation would be her own and not be witnessed by any of her slaves. Not even the trusted Poe.
“We have business,” the Inspector backhanded Tess sending her sprawling to the floor. “Why would you offer seventy five percent?” A hard kick to gasping ribs followed. “It makes no sense. There are profits to be had and you give them away?” Another solid kick resulted in whimpers of pain from the cowering form.
“Let me explain,” Tess was fighting to get into the required kneeling position.
“Watch your tone, girl,” another slap dumped her over on her back.
“Sorry, Sir,” Tess tried to sound contrite as she scrambled into a kneel.
“Explain yourself,” the Inspector spoke while removing his studded belt from the loops of his dress trousers.
“I have all my needs provided for by the Manor’s income,” Tess tried to steady her breathing, “just like the slaves. Just as prescribed in my father’s will. All proceeds after the household account is fully funded go into Tosca’s trust fund.”
SNAP! The belt struck between her shoulder blades. Tess closed her eyes but did not cry out.
“So?” Another crack of the belt followed the question.
“More money in the account, more money per month in Tosca’s hands.” SNAP! The force stole Tess’ breath. “More money, more likely he’ll overdose or something.”
SNAP! The studs ripped the white cotton shirt and pale skin beneath with a perverse equality. Tears of blood began to stream down the strong but vulnerable back.
“That would seem a better option,” SNAP. “The little jerk off choking to death on his own vomit,” SNAP.
“He’s,” Tess held her breath as the belt struck her burning back again. “he’s my brother, I don’t want him to die.”
The Inspector stopped the interrogation for a momentary glance at Tosca. Tess took the lull to steal a look at the man in the shadows watching the grisly scene play out. Exactly the way it had unfolded when they were children. Tosca, in the darkened corner, learning how to deal with women and slaves from Togo’s firm grip on a belt dangling dangerously over the trembling back of Tess or their mother or Poe or anybody he loved.
“What say you, Lord Tosca?” sneered the Inspector.
“She’s,” Tosca’s breath hitched with the sound of Tess’ soft cry of despair, “she’s lying.” SNAP! “There has to be another reason for this.” SNAP! “She wouldn’t waste time trying to save me. Would she?” SNAP!
* * *
Tess leaned against the rough wood at the stable door. She shivered under her heavy winter coat despite the fact that it was warm late summer afternoon. Willing herself the final few feet to Rufo’s stall took all her strength. She collided with the gate when her legs finally buckled.
“Master..., Master Tess, are you all right?”
Tess cringed when Jordan’s arm rested on her abused back but had to lean against the small slave or certainly fall to the ground. Unfortunately, she did both. Jordan was not strong enough to suddenly support the added weight of the tall woman.
“Please help me,” Tess moaned after crashing on her face.
“Should I get Poe?”
“NO!” Tess panicked, “He can’t see me like this. Just get me into Rufo’s stall. I need to rest.”
“Oh, God, Master, you’re bleeding,” Jordan’s hands were stained with blood.
“Yeah, I know,” Tess was trying in vain to get to her feet. “The stall, please, help me.”
Tess’ solo efforts ceased abruptly when Jordan grabbed an arm and hoisted the woman to her knees. Another drag threatened to pop her shoulder from its resting place but enable Tess to finally get her feet under her. Instead of going into Rufo’s stall, Jordan dragged the stumbling Tess to the last stall in the stable.
“Here,” Jordan eased Tess down on a bed of hay covered with a rough blanket, “I sleep here so it’s a bit cleaner than Rufo’s stall.”
“Are you saying I don’t muck his stall out very well?” Tess settled on her belly in a bed of sweet smelling hay.
“Let’s just say, I’m a little neater than your horse,” Rufo snorted his protest across the stable.
Jordan began to remove Tess’ coat but met resistance.
“You asked for my help. So let me help,” Jordan whispered.
Tess relaxed. She was too exhausted to fight anymore. Once her coat was off, tender fingers worked to rid the bloodied back of the remainder of her shirt.
“Lay still. I’ll get some water to clean you up.”
“It’ll be fine. I just need to rest for a few minutes,” Tess spoke but Jordan had already left. “Or you can do whatever you want,” she managed to mumble as consciousness finally left her.
Tess roused to the soothing sound of Jordan’s voice. Focusing on the words, Tess realized the slave was rambling on and on about life in the Northern Boundary. More specifically, the advent of spring with torrential rains and mud slides.
“Sounds lovely,” Tess grumbled.
“It is, I mean, if you’re not in the way of the mud,” Jordan stopped her ministrations with a sudden realization. “Are you being sarcastic?”
“Sorry,” Tess regretted hurt in the girl’s tone, “I’m in a bad mood. Please continue. It makes it easier to lay still while you work.”
Jordan tossed her rag in the pail of red tinged water. Without breaking the awkward silence, the sullen slave took the pail and left the stable. Tess watched the show of defiance in disbelief. Had she any strength left, she would have chased after Jordan. But, truth be told, she could hardly keep her eyes open never mind discipline a willful slave.
“This should keep you warm enough,” Jordan’s sudden return with a worn blanket woke the Tess from an unexpected nap. “If you need anything else, I’ll be in the corner.”
“Don’t,” Tess was able to snag Jordan’s wrist and held her, “don’t be mad at me. I’m in too much agony not to care.”
Jordan knelt down next to her Master. When she smoothed the sweat soaked dark hair off the fevered face, Tess began to cry. The tears were conditional at first but grew in proportion Jordan’s compassionate touches.
“It’s okay, shh, try to rest, shh, I’ll be here, shh, you’re safe with me,” Jordan eased Tess’ head onto her lap as she hushed the sobs.
Tess’ grip on Jordan’s hand never lessened. Even as sleep invaded, she held on to the one thing that connected her to something other than pain.
“Jordan, my sweet Jordan,” Tess murmured as she mercifully fell asleep.
* * *
Tess woke to the chirping of birds in the predawn and soft kisses at her temple. A smile spread across her face as she remember her mother’s lips waking her so. But that was a long time ago. A life time ago, for her mother at the very least.
“Are you awake?” Jordan’s voice harbored an edge of fear.
“What’s wrong?” Tess asked, fully awake and preparing herself for the pain of rising.
“Voices, men’s voices are near the silos.”
“Poe is doing what I told him to do,” Tess calmed all her muscles. “He is guiding the Inspector through our stores. All is at it should be.”
“No, not all,” Jordan stroked her Master’s beaten back. “Wanna talk about it? It might make you feel better.”
Tess blew air between her teeth as if the conversation hurt as much as her cut and bruised back. She flopped onto the soreness in order to gaze into innocent green eyes above her.
“Really, did it make you feel better?” The confusion in Jordan’s expression pushed the matter forward. “I asked a question, did talking about your abuse make you feel better?”
“I’ve never talked about it.”
“Then why don’t you start now and I’ll jump in when I feel shielded? You know, like a support group,” Tess rolled her eyes but stayed with her head resting on Jordan’s lap.
“As you command,” Jordan’s voice was flat and soft. “I was kept in a cage after the sale. It was 40 inches long by 27 inches wide by 30 inches high. I know that because the traders complained that I had it easy in such a large cage being that I was so short. The other slaves around me moaned about their tight confines but I had a little more room to move. Everybody there thought I was lucky but me. I grew up in a territory without fences. Being caged was a living Hell for me. But, I guess, the traders didn’t think it was severe enough depravation to break me. They dragged me, naked, from my cage several days later to a barren room. I was hung like a ham for curing; wrists chained above and ankles below. A man, and I use the term loosely, called The Punisher told me he would beat me. There was no negotiation. No questions to answer. No price to compromise on. The Punisher would beat me until he thought I was broken.”
Tess remained silent. The story unfolding was too compelling to risk an abrupt ending. She lay quietly waiting for Jordan to continue.
“I don’t know how long I hung there or how many whip strikes I received. Or how many times he raped me. I do know that I was so dehydrated at the end a medic started an IV. Traders don’t usually waste medical supplies on slaves unless they are sure death is likely. I also know I begged, promised and pleaded that I would be a good little dog all the remaining days of my worthless life if he would just stop the pain.”
Tess lifted trembling fingers to wipe a tear from Jordan’s eye. Unexpectedly, Jordan rested heavily on the fingers as if to gather her strength in their kindness.
“Now, it is your turn,” Jordan breathed before kissing the fingers.
“I was convicted of a federal crime but managed to get parole with my father’s influence. The agreement reached requires me to stay at the Manor as Master and submit to the governor or his agents. They are free to discipline me anyway they see fit. That is, short of killing me,” Tess sighed. “Tonight was just more of the same. Some small time Inspector looking to get one up on a land owner. He got off and I got mine.”
“Do you feel better after talking about it?” Jordan asked.
“Yes,” Tess could not believe the word escaped.
“Funny, so do I,” marveled Jordan.
