"kid!" i exclaimed before i could stop myself. pain quickly overturned surprise as my ni**les burned from incessant pressure.

"eyes down, kitten," caleb snapped.

i was slow in my obedience. i'd known kid had been captured, but i hadn't seen him since the night caleb and i had arrived at the mansion. i wondered where he had been all this time. his hair was longer, his body leaner, and his demeanor signaled just how deeply he'd been broken down. despite everything, he looked healthy, perhaps even happy. i didn't know how to feel about seeing him. kid reminded me too much of what had happened to me with the bikers. i tried hard to remember he had been the one to stop his friends from beating me to death.

caleb tugged again, this time with only as much force as was necessary to demand my attention.

"yes, master," i finally whispered and caleb held me still to untie my wrists.

"keep your hands behind your back unless you need them for balance."

forced into close proximity, i couldn't help but take in the sight of kid dressed only in a loin cloth. his wrists were tethered and he had clamps on his ni**les. around his neck there was a collar with a leather leash attached. his body radiated heat against my legs. i wanted to cry out from the injustice of it all. i began to pant with anxiety, maybe even panic.

"oh, she's a feisty one. i think i'd like to play with her for a while," mr. b added, and a chuckle rumbled out sounding like it came from the bottom of his belly.

"that won't be possible," caleb said. his tone was somewhat harsh and i couldn't help but notice the way those near him stared at him. "kitten is meant for other things."

i raised my eyes slightly, looking through the fringe of my lashes as he led me toward a table dressed in white linen. candelabras bathed a warm glow over the two couples at the table enjoying cocktails and conversation. they wore suits and gowns, aristocrats dressed up for an expensive night out.

a woman, dressed similar to me, sat on her knees near the table. her body was poised, yet relaxed. her eyes were cast down and her hands were folded over her thighs. caleb stopped near her, dropping the chain into her hands. he pressed my shoulders down. i bent down to rest on my knees and the plug in my ass shifted. sensations pulsed through my body, making me shake.

"i'll be right back, celia. make sure kitten remains here for a few minutes."

i gasped, not recognizing celia, but kept my eyes down. as soon as caleb walked away, i raised my eyes slightly to get a better look. celia looked exotic and beautiful. i knew, of course, she belonged to felipe, but i had no idea she was subject to participating in anything like this. last time, she had wielded the crop, but tonight, she was a prisoner, like me - and apparently, kid.

another couple, a tall woman and a short man, dressed in white, approached pulling a red corseted woman behind them. the woman wore nipple chains, red silk stockings, and a red lace thong, with a red ribbon weaved through her long dark hair. the couple settled at the table, and the woman in red sat on her knees next to the man.

the classic formalwear and respectful murmur of voices intertwined with a gentle tinkle of laughter. theirs was a different world from the one i was used to. men with smiling faces, women dripping with sparkling jewelry and long polished nails, tugging behind them corseted half-naked women. i noticed kid was the only male prisoner.

"everyone, please find a seat. we are ready to serve your first course," felipe announced from the end of the table. gentle music began playing in the background and more candles were lit around the room. caleb came to get me at the same time felipe came for celia.

"come on kitten, let's have some dinner. i'm sure you're hungry." caleb moved slowly so i could keep up crawling along on my knees the few feet to the table. he sat down at the table, positioning me next to him on the floor.

servers dressed in scant uniforms, barely covering their br**sts or backsides, placed platters of appetizers down the center of the table, some refreshed water glasses, and others refilled wine glasses.

on the other side of me sat felipe, celia close to his side on the floor. the woman in white sat next to caleb.

"kitten, you're behaving exemplary tonight," felipe whispered, and gently touched my shoulder. i remained in position, though his touch sent a shiver of mistrust down my arm. i turned my head slightly to see if caleb noticed.

"she's had her moments," caleb added as if i weren't there. his attention was drawn to the woman in white sitting next to him. from my position on the floor, i watched her polished fingers slide up the middle of his thigh and stop short of the bulge between his legs.

"so good to see you again, caleb," her silky voice purred loud enough for me to hear.

"have we met?" caleb asked and placed his hand over hers, preventing it from going any farther up his leg.

"regrettably, no. i was here when you and your lovely girl first arrived. i admired you and i was sure to find out who you were," she all but purred.

"i see," said caleb. "well, it's a pleasure to meet you, miss...?"

"j," she said, "mrs. j, but don't worry, mr. j, is well aware of my extra-curricular activities." she gave a short flirtatious laugh. her fingers moved up to cup caleb's bulge.

i fought the urge to swat her hand away. mine! you f**king, bitch.

caleb pressed her hand to him and then moved it back into her lap. "thank you for the compliment, mrs. j, but i think your attentions would be best spent on someone else." caleb's voice carried down to me, even though it was a whisper next to mrs. j's ear.

"you're not available?" she sounded disappointed.

seething with jealousy and with the memory of caleb and celia in my thoughts, i inclined myself toward caleb and rubbed my head against his thigh. to my surprise, caleb's hand landed on my head in a soft and reassuring caress, before he urged me away.

caleb chuckled low and i watched his hand squeeze the top of mrs. j's thigh through her satin gown. her legs parted and she pulled his hand toward her center.

"you're hungry. we'll make sure you get your fill." caleb caressed her deeply with his fingers then slipped from her grasp and moved his hands above the table. he grabbed a plate of the appetizers and piled a few on her plate as well as his own. "that should get you started." his voice held a promise and i had to wonder what he planned for later.

tears stung the backs of my eyes. not that he noticed. my heart hammered in my chest and i swear the ringing in my ears blasted out for everyone to hear. my breath came in pants, and felipe's hand brushed my upper arm.

"relax," he whispered.

caleb reached down with a succulent shelled shrimp in his hand. "open, kitten."

my eyes automatically rose to his level. before i settled an appropriate glare at him, my ni**les received a burning tug that stole my breath. my mouth dropped open, quite by accident, but caleb used the opportune moment to plop the morsel into my mouth. mortified, i could do nothing but chew. my stomach appreciated the attention.

all of the chained ones ate from their master's hand. it appalled me, but i remained submissive. i promised obedience. it made caleb happy and my survival ultimately depended on his happiness. i still hadn't seen rafiq, but i had come to expect surprises.

when the last course was finished, caleb pulled away from the table. "you need to relieve yourself and freshen up."

felipe interjected, "celia can take her to the slave quarters, if it's all right with you, caleb."

"i'll take her over with celia. then celia can show kitten what's expected."

caleb helped me to my feet. the plug shifted, creating another tremble through my body. felipe gave celia's chain over to caleb, and he led us away.

he handed celia my chain at the door. the room was shiny and sterile white. a row of tubs lined the floor to the right of me, some large, some small. to the left, were private rooms. farther down, i saw a large mosaic featuring a young mexican girl bathing outdoors and touching her ni**les while a man watched in the distance. it provided the backdrop for the shower room, which featured a row of shower heads, drains in the floor, and a few toilet stalls.

"what is this place, celia?" i whispered. my voice held both wonderment and trepidation. unconsciously, i reached for her hand and she held it.

"it's just a room, kitten."

she leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "everything we say is recorded. motion sensors - microphones." i nodded.

"go on and use the ladies. i need to grab some towels."

after i relieved myself, celia took me to a small, private and curtained room. there was a sink and a set of towels. a cabinet set next to the sink laden with toiletries.

"i'm going to freshen between your legs." she slid my silk panties down, along with my silk stockings, and i let her. she'd cleaned me up so many times before i held no embarrassment. "once i've done it for you, you'll understand what you need to do the next time you are told to freshen up." she lathered up a cloth with some special soap smelling of almonds and honey. "stand on this towel and open your legs for me." i did as she asked. she was amazingly gentle, as always. i could almost understand how women swayed over to women. celia didn't touch me inappropriately, but her demeanor was so gentle, it lulled me into relaxing.