Saturday, January 2, 2021
TALON
Last night, after having dinner and engaging in some rather inspirational entertainment with Braelyn, then taking the edge off with Corvin, it had taken every ounce of willpower I possessed to not go to her.
After returning to my room, the only thing I’d wanted was to return to her room, to defile her in the most primal ways, resulting in my body sinking into her wet, silky heat for hours on end. After that, I would’ve been content with sliding in bed and holding her for the rest of the night—something I’d never had the desire to do.
Yet somehow I managed to stay away.
Having indulged with Corvin hadn’t done anything to sate the ridiculous urge, but I imagine it had lessened the sting I would’ve experienced this morning. While I could’ve indulged for a few more hours, I chose to do something I hadn’t done in years: go to bed unsatisfied.
Of course, that meant waking unsatisfied, but no one ever said life would be easy, I figured.
Now, as I stepped out of the bathroom, showered, shaved, and dressed for the day, I noticed Auberon had brought in a rolling cart containing the clothing I’d ordered for Braelyn during the trip from Chicago. Ari was also there, standing near the door, awaiting my instructions as was his job today.
I took a moment to peruse the handful of items, moving them around to my liking, then separating three outfits from the rest.
Glancing at Auberon, I said, “Deliver these to Braelyn’s room, along with a note advising breakfast will be served precisely at eight. I expect her to be there.”
While he left to do my bidding, I decided I would make a brief detour to check on Ransom before I got my day underway.
Being that he would no doubt interact with many of the possessions once he ventured out of his villa when he was feeling up to it, I figured it made sense to give him an overview before he found himself front and center without the backstory of what transpired here on Sapphire Island. While I pegged Ransom as an open-minded man, I knew there were some things that required explanation. A resort full of unowned possessions was one of those things.
As was my early-morning routine, I strolled the grounds, observing the possessions as they performed their morning duties, some wearing the maximum attire allowed (which wasn’t much at all), some naked. Most would consider their nudity some sort of perversion on my part, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There was a saying I’d heard: you have to break them down before you can build them up. That was very true. At least when it came to submissives of this caliber.
And to be honest, I found nothing desirable about seeing them working sans clothing. It didn’t do anything for me. Hence the reason my own possessions wore clothing when they worked. Not because I gave a shit about their vulnerability, I simply didn’t need to see all their bits and pieces bouncing around. Yet it was something I’d grown used to here on the island.
As I walked past the pools and the Owners’ Retreat on my way to the villas, possessions would stop what they were doing and shift down to their knees, heads lowering. No one said a word to me, as was their instruction. However, this was their way of acknowledging and showing their respect for my presence. It was one of the first things they were trained on. After all, as far as they were concerned, I was the be all, end all, the one man who could make or break their entire existence. When I passed, they returned to what they were doing, dutifully focused on whatever the trainers had them working on today.
I probably didn’t need to mention that, in all the time I’d been dealing with possessions, that was one rule not a single one of them had ever broken.
Like I said, determination was a heady thing.
And just like always, seeing it all flowing seamlessly left me with a sense of pride in what I’d built.
As perverted as that might seem.
*
RANSOM
I did not know Talon as well as I’d originally thought.
A fact I became aware of last night when I’d slipped out in an attempt to get some air after Jasper had returned to his own villa, assuring me he was only a phone call away if I needed him. Along with that brush off, he’d conveniently given me a cell phone. Provided by Talon, of course.
Problem was, I’d needed Jasper then, but I figured sharing that little detail probably wouldn’t have worked in my favor, so I’d let him leave, intending to sleep some more. When that proved futile, I’d ventured out.
My midnight stroll had led me to what I could only describe as an elaborate resort courtyard complete with waterfalls and climbing rocks, swimming pools, an outdoor kitchen, and more space than any single individual should ever need. Not to mention, a naked Talon and an equally naked possession of his engaging in what looked to be a rather fulfilling late-night swim. At least the blow job had seemed fulfilling, something I’d found myself watching despite my lack of desire to do so. There was just something about Talon that drew me. It wasn’t sexual by any means. The man did nothing for me in that way. However, it was possible I was in awe of him. In all that he’d built for himself and how he managed his life. Of all the people I knew, Talon seemed to be the one who had it all together.
And today, I was hoping to take a deeper dive into what it was he had going on here. If I was lucky, I would be able to wrangle Jasper into giving me a personal tour of the grounds, perhaps introduce me to those responsible for running this place like the well-oiled machine it appeared to be. Although the idea of some downtime was appealing, I was not a man who did well with idle time.
A knock on the door had me peeking my head out of the kitchen, wondering if I’d summoned Jasper simply by thinking about him. “It’s open.”
“I take it you’re feeling better.”
Not Jasper.
When Talon appeared, I smiled and nodded, continuing to pour my coffee. “Almost as good as new.”
“Liar.”
Okay, fine. I was lying. I felt like I’d been hit by a Mack truck. Or perhaps like I’d gone headfirst into a tree.
“Maybe not one hundred percent,” I admitted, ignoring the ache in my shoulder as I replaced the coffee carafe. “But better than I was two nights ago.”
“That I believe.”
“Care for a cup?”
“I’ll hold off until breakfast.”
“Suit yourself.” I took a sip, fought the urge to close my eyes because this was perhaps the best coffee I’d ever had. “What brings you by?”
“Thought I’d give you a glimpse of what goes on here.”
It appeared I wouldn’t have to wrangle Jasper after all. I would get the inside scoop straight from the horse’s mouth.
“Bring your coffee,” Talon said with a smile.
I topped off my cup one final time, mock toasted Talon, then followed him to the front door. Since Talon was dressed down from what I’d seen him in previously, wearing a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt, I figured my attire of athletic shorts and T-shirt—what I’d found in the dresser—were appropriate. And because he was sans shoes, I opted to do the same.
“We’re casual here,” Talon said, obviously noticing that I was checking out his attire. “I leave the suits and the shoes in the closet.”
“Can’t say I blame you there.”
“I’m sure you’ve got questions,” Talon prompted as we left the villa, heading for the path that led to the courtyard.
“Only a few dozen.” I went on to tell him how I’d gotten a brief glimpse of the grounds last night, purposely leaving off the fact I’d witnessed his playtime.
“Possessions in training,” Talon explained. “That’s what we’re responsible for here.”
Nodding as though I understood, I hoped he would continue.
“Where you’re familiar with Dominants and submissives, even Masters and slaves, what transpires here is a bit more … regimented. We refer to them as possessions because that is what they are. And those who seek to obtain them are known as Owners.”
“Owned, Incorporated,” I mused.
“I’m not big on subterfuge as you can imagine.”
No, he was not.
We walked down the short path toward the center of the enormous resort, as Jasper had referred to it. “And this is where you what? Train people to become possessions?”
“To put it simply, yes. But not just anyone. Only those who’ve proven themselves worthy of becoming something owned by another. The process only works if the person has a deep-seated desire to be such. The same goes for Owners. I’m incredibly selective about those who wish to partake of my services.”
“Do tell.”
Talon stopped along the slate-tiled walkway that surrounded the interior courtyard, wrapping around and following the lines of the buildings that formed a U around the space.
“That’s my residence and the main office.” He motioned across the way to the four-story house that cascaded down so that the third floor was actually ground level, then pointed to the bottom of the U. “That’s the pool house and my personal gym.” He turned and faced the building behind me. “And this is the Owners’ Retreat.”
Although it had clearly been modified, it appeared Talon had done what he could to maintain the feel of the island everywhere.
“Similar to Dominants and submissives, when it comes to the sort of relationship between an Owner and a possession, not everyone’s suited for it. No different than those who wish to delve into BDSM or become a member of a fetish club. It’s not for everyone, despite what some eager newbies want to believe. The desire to be owned is not something that can be wished or trained. It’s something one is born with. The same goes for wanting to own someone. The possessions here are looking for more than a mere Dominant to command them in the bedroom. A lot more. And everyone has to be in it for the right reasons.”
“Which is why you’re selective.”
“Precisely. Because I’m the one taking responsibility for bringing these like-minded people together, I feel it’s my duty to ensure those who seek my services are of the highest quality. At the core, that is Owned, Incorporated.”
Simple, yet not.
“How many employees do you have?”
“Quite a few,” he said easily. “Although you’d have to get with Zion to get an exact number.”
I would bet big money Talon knew exactly how many employees he had; he was merely being modest.
“And his role?”
“Chief financial officer.”
“That makes you the CEO.”
Talon simply smiled.
“I take it this came about because of your personal interest?”
“Isn’t that how most profitable businesses come to be?”
I grinned, moving down the steps alongside Talon. “Touché.”
“To answer your question, yes, Owned, Inc. came about because of my own desires to find a possession. It’s not nearly as easy as one might think. Trial and error became the norm for me.”
“And based on what you’ve got, I can only assume you’ve mastered the art of identifying one?”
“If only it were that easy.” Talon grinned. “Over the years, I’ve come a long way in honing my skills in regard to ferreting out the truth, finding exactly who will fit in my life. Since I put a lot of time and effort into it, I decided to use what I’ve learned to assist other Owners in locating what they’re looking for. At the same time, I’ve made it a priority that the possessions aren’t put at risk, blindly walking into the life of someone with ill intentions, hence the need for intrusive background checks for all parties.”
“Which is what you performed on me? An intrusive background check.”
“I told you I did.”
“No. You told me you learned some things.”
Talon smiled. “Semantics.”
“So I assume the process is rigorous,” I said as we stopped near the swimming pools, which appeared to be separate yet somehow connected to one another. “To gain access to your—you’ve got some sort of platform you use? Website? App?”
“Yes and yes.” Talon grinned. “That’s what I like about you, Ransom. You’re smart.”
“I like to think so.”
“There are a wide range of checks that take place prior to someone being allowed to utilize my app. Aside from the intrusive digging into their personal details, both parties undergo extensive testing. Months of physical and emotional poking and prodding, ensuring all applicants are capable of making decisions such as they are. Those who maintain an active account on the app are required to submit frequent blood tests to ensure safety of all involved.”
“How many active users are we talking?”
“At the moment, a little more than ten thousand. Owners, that is. Worldwide.”
I honestly hadn’t expected the number to be that high.
“A significant amount of work is required up front, but in the end, I find it’s worth it. As you can see, we’ve gotten the process streamlined.”
I motioned toward the area around us. “It looks to me like it’s done well for you. Probably not cheap to utilize your services.”
“Owners fork over the money for the most part. Possessions are required to pay fees to enter the program. Mostly so we can determine how genuinely interested they are. Once they leave their former life and move here, I’m financially responsible. At least until they’re acquired by an Owner. As would any solid businessman, I recoup my costs.”
Talon’s tone was all business, but there was a hint of pride there, too. I couldn’t imagine this had been an easy endeavor.
“And yes, the process works.” Talon gestured for me to walk, so I did. “The app requires a ridiculous amount of information, which is then passed to a team who verifies every minute detail before deeming someone worthy of participating. At that point, I review the information, speak directly with the applicant, and give the final approval or denial.
“For possessions, once vetted, they’re brought to one of my many testing facilities in the States for observation, where they interact with one of my trainers. At that point, the trainers determine whether they are suited for the program. Again, I approve or deny based on test results, as well as interview notes. Those few who are accepted then vacate their former life and relocate here to the island, where they remain until they are acquired.”
“And they live here.” I motioned to the Owners’ Retreat.
“Temporarily.” Talon scanned his palm, then opened the door to the building. “At any given time, we have roughly thirty to forty possessions in residence. Not including my own or any others owned by employees. During their stay, I provide room and board, medical care, and the like. In return, they work.”
“What about the Owners? Do you have any on the premises?”
“We invite them here a few at a time, set on a weekly schedule. Monday through Sunday.”
“Are there any here now?”
Talon shook his head as we entered the building, walking into a lavish grand foyer. For the most part, it looked like a high-end resort hotel, complete with a check-in desk, lounge, and what appeared to be a fully stocked, albeit small, bar.
“We’ve got a group scheduled to arrive on Monday. Everything revolves around my schedule, which can be volatile at times.”
“You said thousands of active users. I guess that means you’re busy year-round?”
“No. We have many who spend months, even years on the site before they reach out to make an offer. Of those who’ve gotten to the point of acquisition, some only have to visit the island once to make their final selection; others have made repeated visits and have yet to choose. And yes, they pay to come here. It’s certainly not cheap, nor can they opt out. Meeting them face-to-face before they take possession is a personal requirement of mine.”
“They’re held to a different standard?” I asked as we strolled through the resort, which was currently in the process of being cleaned by a handful of naked men and women.
“A much higher standard,” Talon stated. “If they seek my services, they’re well aware I will know every single detail of their life. Their credit score, their medical history, background, social media presence. Not only for them but for those they associate with, family, friends. Even close business associates.”
“You’re obviously proud of what you’ve created.”
“More than you know.”
When Talon stopped, I did as well, giving the possessions a good once-over simply because I could.
“They’re naked for a reason? Or is it merely your preference?”
“There are a few reasons, yes, but preference plays no part. Our main objective is to ensure they’re ready for any lifestyle their new Owner might have for them, and we start by breaking them down to their most basic level. I figure if they can go about their daily duties while naked and completely silent, they can do pretty much anything. Plus, it enhances their vulnerabilities, something we want for physical stimulation.”
“Are boundaries set? Limits?”
“Upon taking them into the program, they relinquish all of their control. If we had to manage limits, we’d get nowhere. Those who make it into the program must be open to anything, a prerequisite we make known up front.”
“Have you had any who’ve requested to leave? Prior to being placed?”
“No. As I said, we’re very thorough. If there’s any doubt as to whether they’ll complete the program, we don’t bring them here. At the same time, it’s not always perfect. Humans are volatile creatures, and even if one wishes to be owned by someone, that doesn’t change the fact that they’re human and humans are flawed.”
“Are you speaking from experience?”
Talon grinned. “Several of my possessions are damn near close to perfection, rarely causing disruption. However, a couple are still young enough not to know better. They keep me on my toes. They don’t push me, though. If they did, they’d be gone. Like I said, they’re human, so I can forgive.” Talon’s grin widened. “With the right amount of punishment, of course.”
“Of course.”
“It’s taken several years to smooth the rough spots with my own possessions as well as those in the program, adapting along the way, but we’ve managed.”
It appeared he had.
“We’re rather secretive and for good reason,” Talon noted. “Owned, Incorporated does not exist on paper. It’s buried beneath an array of shell companies to ensure anonymity for those who’ve utilized our services. If word got out about what it is I do here, I’m sure we’d have some not-so-positive publicity, not to mention, some very displeased Owners.”
“You’d be accused of human trafficking,” I told him, because I could see how some would make that leap.
“At the very least, yes. But I assure you, everyone here has made a choice to be here. Turns out, it’s far more profitable when everyone involved is willing. Owners, possessions. They eagerly indulge their fetishes, and I give them the privacy and security to do so, eliminating unnecessary risks.”
While I’d been immersed in the BDSM world for quite some time, I found Talon’s take on it fascinating. And while the majority of people wouldn’t understand his needs, or those this group exhibited, it was there all the same. And he’d been profitable.
I was almost envious that I hadn’t come up with the idea myself.
“Is there anyone else who provides a similar service?” I asked.
“Sure.” Talon chuckled. “Swipe left or right and you’ll have the chance to meet someone who’s willing to bounce on top of you for a single night, maybe more. Proclaim your desire to find happily ever after whether you’re a Christian single, a farmer, a cat lover, snake lover, tattoo enthusiast, or whatever, and you can pay someone to meet another who might share your interests, but most likely modified their profile to suit their current needs. As for whether or not they’re who they say they are … that’s your gamble. But might I suggest you always wear a condom. I seriously doubt safety is a concern of theirs.”
I laughed. “You’ve given it some thought, have you?”
Talon smiled. “It’s not that I’m knocking those applications. They work quite well in the vanilla world. But for those of us with a proclivity for something darker, they hold no value.”
He was right. They didn’t.
“Since I have the ability and means to see through the bullshit, to identify the imposters and eliminate them before they ever get their greedy claws into what will ultimately belong to another, I figure I might as well offer my services. Which is beneficial to many, because those who join Owned are simply looking for a happily ever after that doesn’t conform to polite society.”
I nodded in agreement. “To each his own, right?”
“Exactly.”
“I think the question of the hour is: how much does my sister know about what goes on here?”
There was genuine concern on Talon’s face when he spoke. “Nothing. As of yet. My intention is to show her around this morning.”
I ignored the urge to ask him what other intentions he had with my sister, choosing rather to peer around, trying to decide how Braelyn would react to this. I’d never sheltered her or babied her. Not because I didn’t want to. More because she would have none of it. However, I knew Braelyn to be flexible and tolerant, so I figured there was a chance she wouldn’t run for the hills. Didn’t mean she would accept all this with open arms.
Granted, if I’d known the details of Talon’s operation prior to asking for his help, I wasn’t sure I would’ve all but thrown my sister at his feet.
“Any more questions?” Talon asked.
“Not at the moment.” I figured I’d have plenty once it all sank in.
“Then let me introduce you to a few people.”
He gave me a brief tour of the main floor, introducing me to the day chef, some of the kitchen staff, then on to a couple of employees who’d evidently made the trip with us.
“And this is Gideon Malone. He’s my head trainer, manages the place, if you will,” Talon introduced when we approached a tall blond man with square features that somehow formed an attractive face.
Gideon nodded, clearly waiting to hear who I was.
“Gideon, meet Ransom.”
“Pleasure,” Gideon said, holding out his hand.
I shook it, smiled. “You’ve got a nice setup here.”
Gideon appeared pleased by the praise. “We try.”
“I’m giving Ransom the dime tour,” Talon informed him. “Don’t let us keep you.”
“Nice to meet you,” Gideon said, then ventured toward a group of naked possessions, barking orders upon his approach.
As I continued to follow Talon, I asked the one question I was most curious about. “Why’d you bring me here? Aside from helping me out with my current situation. Because I know you well enough … you’ve got an ulterior motive.”
“Always,” he said, giving me his full attention by stopping and turning to face me head on. “And yes, I’ve got a proposition for you, Ransom. One I think’ll be beneficial to both of us.”
“What might that be?”
“In due time.” He smiled. “Let me give my spiel before I lay all my cards on the table.”
I had to admire his honesty. I’d known Talon a long time, and this was a side to the man I’d never seen before. At Dichotomy, he was very mysterious. I had to say, I was curious to know more about him and what he’d built for himself.
“Mr. Chastain,” Talon called when he turned down a hallway.
“In here,” came the terse reply.
I followed Talon as he stepped into what appeared to be a medical exam room. It wasn’t the same as the one I’d stayed in upon my arrival, but it was similar. Not quite so sterile.
“Ransom, I’d like to introduce you to Cody Chastain. Mr. Chastain, meet Ransom Bishop.”
The first thing I noticed about Cody Chastain was that he was submissive. How did I know that? For starters, he did not offer his hand for me to shake; instead, he waited for me to do so. Any submissive worth their salt knew it was inappropriate to make such gestures to a Dominant. And when I grasped his hand firmly in mine, his eyes lowered.
He was an attractive man. Young. Probably early twenties if I had to guess. Short brown hair, warm brown eyes, skin tanned by the island sun.
To show my approval, I held on to his hand for a few seconds longer, swiping my thumb across his knuckle. It was my way of gauging his obedience level, as well as his interest, and if I wasn’t mistaken—and I rarely was—Cody Chastain had been trained well. And he was most definitely interested.
“Mr. Chastain’s a permanent resident,” Talon informed me. “He’s our in-house physical therapist. He works alongside Dr. Tate.”
“Is that right?” I got the feeling Talon was attempting to sell me on the hot therapist. “He’s young.”
“He is,” Talon confirmed. “Twenty-five.”
Cody didn’t respond, his eyes remaining lowered.
No lie, I was curious. Mostly because of the way Jasper had so casually mentioned Cody. If I was correct, the two of them were close. Question was: how close?
Because of my curiosity, I didn’t realize until then that there was someone currently laid out on the padded table behind Cody.
“I guess we should let you get back to it.” I waited for Cody to meet my gaze before releasing his hand. “I look forward to seeing you later.”
“Likewise, Master Bishop.”
“Ransom,” I corrected. “Master’s reserved for club submissives.”
Not lingering, I turned and left the room, Talon not far behind.
“You’re baiting me,” I accused.
“Tempting would be how I’d phrase it.”
“Is he a masochist?” I asked.
“I’m afraid he is not.” Talon glanced over at me. “Then again, I think you’ve worn through the Sadist facade. It works for Zeke but not so much for you. Might be time to look for something that suits you better.”
If Talon hadn’t been right on the money, I probably would’ve been offended. But it was a truth I’d been dealing with as of late. As for Zeke, at his core, he was a true Sadist. For the longest time, I’d thought I was, too, but I had been wondering myself for quite some time.
“And I suppose you’ve got more for me to choose from.”
“You mean aside from three dozen possessions who’d give just about anything to serve you in any way you deem necessary?”
“Is Cody a possession?”
“He is not, but he’d like to be.”
“You sound sure.”
“Let’s just say I know more than people give me credit for.”
“And Jasper?”
Talon smirked. “Jasper is an employee and he’s paid handsomely to be at my beck and call at all times. He does not have the same desires as Cody from what I’ve ascertained.”
“Meaning he doesn’t want to be a possession?”
“Correct.” His gray eyes glittered with amusement. “And yes, both Jasper and Cody are available, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
Was I?
He chuckled. “And if you’re not interested in what they have to offer, like I said, I have a few more options.”
“Of the male variety.”
“You underestimate my perceptive abilities, Ransom. I do know you don’t swing both ways.”
No. No, I did not.