Page 62 of Corruption
“And then we know what happens—another secret slips out,” he remarked with a smirk.
I wanted to protest further, but I realized it wouldn’t do any good. Jared smiled down at me.
“Yes?” he challenged, but I chose to remain silent. “Are you ready to get out then?”
I sighed and nodded. Jared extended his hand to help me up, and then he found a towel to wrap around me. He carried me back to the bedroom and gently placed me on the couch where he had set up a tray of food. Pouring a cup of coffee, he added one spoon of sugar and a bit of milk, exactly how I liked it, before handing it to me. I accepted it but eyed the cup suspiciously.
“Did you spit in this?” I inquired, eyeing him with suspicion. “Or did you come into it?”
He began to chuckle, then poured himself a cup of coffee. I couldn’t help but notice that there wasn’t enough food for both of us, so I discreetly slid the tray closer to me.
“I’m not sharing this morning. I’m starving,” I declared between mouthfuls. I didn’t bother with manners or taking it slow. I devoured the food like I hadn’t eaten in days. I stuffed myself so full that my stomach began to ache, and there wasn’t a single morsel of food left when I was done. I leaned contentedly back against the couch.
“Well, that was certainly a new side to the delicate and pretty Alison,” he commented, a slight smile on his face.
“You used me all night, and I didn’t even get a chance to eat dinner. I think this is justified, Master,” I pointed out. He smiled a little and nodded in agreement. I reached for my coffee, and because I had eaten so quickly, it was still pleasantly warm. I sipped it slowly, noticing that Jared was staring off into the distance with a vacant expression. It was as if he were only half-present.
“Master?” I asked, concerned about his distant look.
He turned his head slightly, wearing a glazed-over look that made it seem like he was on another planet.
"Yeah?" he replied.
"Are you all right?" I asked, concerned about that zombie-like expression. It reminded me a lot of when my mother mixed her pain meds with alcohol. She became non-present. Of course, the pain meds were something very few knew about as well.
“Just a little tired,” he replied.
“I think you’re forgetting who got cut and flogged last night,” I murmured. I hoped my words would provoke a reaction, perhaps even earn me a punishment of some sort, but instead, he continued to stare off into space.
“Jared?” I prodded.
“Yeah?” he responded, his gaze still distant. His behavior was starting to worry me.
“You’re clearly disturbed by something,” I observed.
“What do you mean?” he asked, sipping his coffee slowly, which he hadn’t even finished despite not having eaten anything.
“You’re just staring into the air,” I explained.
He turned his head, focusing more sharply on me. “Want me to stare at you?” he teased.
I shook my head and sighed. There was no point in asking further questions. He loathed anything not related to our dark games, so I knew it would be futile to try to get anything out of him. I turned my head away and felt the couch shift slightly.
I watched as Jared went over to a small shelf with about 10 books and selected one. Then, he walked over to me, grabbed a pillow from the other end of the couch, tossed it onto my lap, and exhaled deeply as he lay down on me. His head found a comfortable spot on the pillow, and his eyes were closed as he held up the book.
“Read it,” he instructed.
I hesitated for a moment, glancing at the title.
“Wuthering Heights? You’re such a girl,” I muttered, but when he opened his eyes and shot me a warning with them, I quickly corrected myself, “I mean, you like a classic.”
“Nice try. Later, you will pay for that later,” he promised with a sly grin before closing his eyes again. “Now read.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because your Master just demanded it, and what does a good slave do?” he replied.
“She reads aloud without questioning her Master’s command,” I mumbled.
