Braelyn
After taking a moment to freshen up, I returned to the veranda to find Talon standing near the railing, staring out at the grounds below. I took a moment to admire him, because hey, why not?
Talon was by far the most appealing man I’d ever met. Everything about him was phenomenal. His body, his face, his mind. And yes, his dominance. I had to wonder if I felt that way because he was as close to perfect as I’d ever encountered, or merely because that was what happened when you met someone you were completely compatible with. Physically, I mean.
Not that I was thinking he was my soul mate or anything. I wasn’t that naive. A few good orgasms did not a relationship make.
He must’ve felt me staring, because he turned, his gaze raking over me before landing on my face. He held out his hand. “Ready?”
I managed a nod, put my hand in his, then walked alongside him as we made our way down the various staircases that wound down and around to the swimming pools.
“We’ve got Owners coming in on Monday,” Talon informed me. “They’ll be here for a week.”
“What do they do when they’re here?”
“It’s their opportunity to get to know the possession they’re looking to acquire. We do our best to stay out of their way, although we do have a few events catered for them. A variety of settings so they can see how their potential possession interacts with them. I’ll start by showing you the Owners’ Retreat, how we refer to the main resort building. That way you’re familiar with the property.”
I fell into step, curling my hand in his, relishing the security I found in his touch.
“So, I was curious…” I followed as he weaved along the walkway outlining the swimming pool area and outdoor dining. “You have seven … possessions,” I said, still having a hard time getting the word out. “And Zion has one?”
Talon nodded once.
“Does Tiegan have any?”
“No. Despite her dominance on the business end, Tiegan’s personality leans toward submission.”
Really? Holy crap. I never would’ve guessed that.
“The Owners’ Retreat is where the possessions reside,” he explained.
“Until someone picks them as their own?”
“Correct. From the time I acquire them until they’re placed with an Owner permanently and leave the island.”
We made our way across the grounds, past the swimming pools, the waterfall. This building fit with the island feel as far as the architecture, very similar to Talon’s residence across the way.
“How does that work? How do these … possessions come to live here?”
“Technically, they don’t live here. They’re merely visiting. It’s temporary.”
That told me nothing, but I sensed that was Talon’s play. He wasn’t willing to reveal any more than he had to.
Figuring he would speak when he was ready, I followed him up to the door. Rather than waltz right in, Talon placed his palm on a panel, and a second later, the lock disengaged.
Being that we were on an island, I wondered why they bothered with locks at all.
“Is security an issue?”
“Security’s an issue no matter where you are,” he said simply. “Just because we’re on an island doesn’t mean we’re inaccessible. I’ve got armed guards stationed here, as well. They maintain the perimeter and are paid handsomely to remain out of sight at all times. You can never be too cautious.”
I thought about how Jimmy had barged into my apartment. I’d thought I was safe in my own home, and I’d been horribly wrong. Suddenly, I was grateful Talon took such precautions.
He pushed open the eight-foot-tall, thick wooden door and gestured for me to precede him.
Stepping inside, the first thing I noticed was the entry was grand, and it was brightly lit thanks to all the windows that let the sun in. The decor in this space was similar to Talon’s main house. Open and airy, light, neutral tones on the walls, floor, and furniture. While the main house had marble floors, this one had a rustic hardwood in a soft brown.
The second thing I noticed were three naked men.
Completely, bare-assed naked.
And working away, dusting and cleaning like they were dressed in full garb.
“Is that … normal? Naked men everywhere?”
“Men and women,” he stated. “This way.”
All three men stopped what they were doing, lowering to their knees instantly as Talon passed. I craned my neck to watch as we moved through, noticing they quickly got back to what they were doing as soon as we were no longer in the same room.
Talon called out to someone named Gideon, and a moment later a man appeared, a wide smile on his equally wide face. I wouldn’t go so far as to say he was attractive, but he was definitely… Okay, so he was attractive, although not traditionally. More so in a very rakish sort of way. His sandy-blond hair hung to his shoulders. His darker eyebrows seemed as though they’d been designed specifically to accentuate his angular face. The thin blade of his nose and the high cheekbones made me think of a Nordic god.
“I’d like to introduce you to Braelyn Bishop,” Talon said. “Braelyn, meet our resident trainer, Gideon Malone.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Gideon said, his voice not as deep as I expected, his hand firm as it closed over mine.
“Braelyn’s deciding whether or not she wants to take a position with Owned,” Talon explained. “I thought it would be a good time to give her an introduction to the possessions.”
“It’s always a good time,” Gideon agreed, his blue eyes flashing. “They’re on their best behavior this morning.”
Best behavior? Did I even want to know what that meant?
*
TALON
“Currently, we’ve got thirty-six possessions in residence. The most we’ve ever had at one time,” Gideon explained as he led Braelyn through the main areas of the resort while I followed at a distance. “We’ve got three being delivered today, and, at the most, seven will leave by the end of the next retreat.”
“The one starting Monday?” Braelyn asked, fully engaged in Gideon’s explanation.
“Correct.” He offered a smile. “While they’re in our custody, residing here on the premises, they’re expected to work as well as interact with potential Owners via the app.”
“Work?”
“They’re responsible for all the chores here at the resort, as well as the grounds, the pools, the offices, and the villas. They have very little spare time. When they’re not working, we’ve got other duties as part of their training.”
“How much time do they spend training?”
“One hundred percent of their time here is training. At the very least, they’re learning the proper way to maintain a household. If an Owner has taken an interest in them and they’re receptive, we’re given a list of preferences specific to that Owner. The sort of tasks the possession will be responsible for, the type of punishment they’d receive, particular fetishes the Owner may have. That sort of thing. At that point, we begin incorporating those things to make the transition easier.”
“How many trainers are there?” Braelyn asked, glancing over at me.
“Three,” I answered. “Gideon’s the only permanent trainer. The other two are rotational. Meaning they’re potential Owners who have yet to acquire the possession they seek. They’re permitted to reside here for six months to get better acquainted with the possessions.”
“Both men and women?”
“Where Owners are concerned, it’s relatively balanced,” Gideon told her.
“More sixty/forty,” I said. “With the majority being female.”
I could see Braelyn was surprised by that statistic. It was true. High-powered women tended to focus on their jobs, and those we interacted with found that owning a possession satisfied them on both a physical and emotional level without hindering their upward progress on the business end.
“As for possessions,” Gideon continued, “the majority we see are male, but we’ve got a few females on the premises. They tend to go quickly.”
“We’ve got Owners on a waiting list for females,” I informed her. “We get roughly fifteen a year, at most.”
“Is it because women don’t want to be owned?”
“That’s what we tend to see. We’ll have ten or so going through the screening process at any given time, and only two are viable candidates,” Gideon said as he stopped near the kitchen where two possessions were in the process of cleaning up the breakfast dishes.
“What does that mean? Screening process?” Braelyn asked, her honey-gold eyes bouncing back and forth between me and Gideon.
“They seek us out,” I told her before Gideon could respond. “Not the other way around. Like I said, they’re all here willingly.”
Braelyn seemed to consider that as she turned back to the men in the kitchen.
“Why is it they’re naked?”
Gideon smiled. “Because we have no idea what a particular Owner might want in their possession, we strip them down to nothing. Literally. It’s our goal to rid them of all those ingrained ideals they’ve learned through their life.”
“And naked helps?”
“It brings out their sense of vulnerability,” Gideon continued. “And also eliminates their ability to hide. What you see is what you get.”
“Do any of them leave once they’re here? I mean, not with an Owner.” Once again, Braelyn divided her attention between me and Gideon.
That was the same question her brother had asked.
“No.” Gideon met my gaze and I nodded, giving him permission to give her a bit more detail. “Those who come into our possession are the ones we’ve deemed worthy, I guess you could say. They aren’t playing games, they’re in this because it’s what they feel they need to be happy. They aren’t submissives who want to push the boundaries. These are the ones who truly want to be owned in every respect, to give up their ability to make choices for themselves. Before they arrive on the island, before they give up their entire existence, we’ve vetted them to ensure this is what they truly want, because the goal is for them to succeed.”
“Sounds complicated.”
“We don’t take it lightly,” I assured her. “We provide a service, and we’re not in the business of selling people against their will. Owners and potential Owners expect to get their money’s worth. They want what I promise them. A human possession.”
“So the Owners pay?” Braelyn asked, her question directed at me.
“They do. And it’s not cheap.”
“Because you want to make money?”
“Because we don’t want to hand over a human possession to someone who might toss them aside,” Gideon countered, not bothering to hide his temper. “Think of a dog or a cat. Many shelters give them away for free, or for a few dollars to cover shots or whatnot. Which makes anyone able to get one. Who’s to say that person is going to take care of the animal? That they have the means to do so? That their desire to have a pet isn’t just a passing fancy? Just because they’ve got a twenty lying around to cover discount shots doesn’t mean that animal will get the proper care.”
I grinned to myself.
That was one of the reasons I liked Gideon. He understood on a level most didn’t. And though he was seeking a possession of his own, he considered all of those in residence his until they left the island. He was protective in that manner.
While he continued to explain that it cost money to house the possessions even for a short period of time, Gideon continued with the tour. Through the banquet hall, the conference areas, the entertainment spaces.
I watched Braelyn take it all in, saw the way she looked at the various fetish equipment—eye hooks in the walls and ceiling, St. Andrew’s cross in the library, spanking benches and other pieces of furniture throughout. After all, this wasn’t the Hilton. We catered to a specific clientele.
“While in our care, they receive room and board, medical treatment, and the like,” Gideon clarified. “And since we don’t charge the possessions for that, someone has to make up for it.”
Braelyn’s gaze held firmly with Gideon’s. “I see your point and I apologize if I offended you.”
“You didn’t, Miss Bishop.” Gideon’s eyes softened. “It’s me. I tend to get a little defensive.”
“Not a bad quality,” Braelyn noted, looking over at me. “How long do they stay here?”
“As long as it takes to find them a proper home.”
“And I assume whatever app or site you’ve built is how potential Owners find them?”
“That’s correct.”
Gideon stopped just inside the second-floor gym, where a female possession was currently strapped to a spanking bench, her ass a brilliant red from the leather-wrapped paddle being wielded by another of our trainers.
“That’s Zed Lynch,” Gideon told her. “He’s one of our temporary trainers.”
Braelyn’s full attention was on the way Zed smacked the possession’s ass a few more times before he leaned down and spoke right in her ear, his voice deep and strong, though the words were indistinguishable from this distance.
“Punishment,” Gideon said, clearly sensing Braelyn’s unspoken question.
Braelyn still didn’t look away when she asked, “Do they have a say in the matter? In who their Owner might be?”
“Yes. The possession has as much right to choose as the Owner. If they don’t feel it would be a good fit because they’re not attracted to the Owner or for some other reason, seems rather pointless to force the matter.”
“But you bring them here before they find someone?”
“Correct,” I answered. “We had issues in the beginning where possessions were misrepresenting themselves. Whether it be height, weight, age, or other distinguishing factors. Because Owners are the ones investing, I realized it only made sense that I vetted them first.”
“So they can’t lie?”
“Correct,” I answered with a nod. “The possessions are not permitted on the app until they’ve been acquired by us. It’s so we can ensure honesty on every level. Once they’ve been vetted and approved, each possession is instructed to sever ties to their previous life. I allow them to reside in a training facility and give them ninety days to do so. At that point, after I’ve verified they’ve paid off all their debts, quit their jobs in a respectable way, I bring them here.”
“Why? Why can’t they just up and walk away from their life? It wouldn’t matter, would it?”
“It all boils down to self-respect. These people haven’t fallen on hard times. They’re making a life change. If someone’s willing to shaft everyone else to get what they need, where are their loyalties? I’ll only work with people who respect themselves enough to make good on their promises.”
“What about family and friends? Do they sever ties with them, too?”
“For the most part, yes. But for these people, their desire to be owned by another is more important than those relationships they’re leaving behind. In many cases, those who come here don’t have much family left or they’re already estranged because of their … desires.” I glanced at Gideon. “I can take it from here.”
“Sure. I’m on my way to meet with Zion and Ransom shortly.” Gideon looked at Braelyn, extended his hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you. Feel free to let me know if you have any more questions.”
“Thank you,” she answered kindly, shaking his hand.
When Gideon left, I took Braelyn’s hand once more, led her out of the gym and down the hall to one of the lounge areas.
“The Owners’ Retreat is divided into sections,” I explained. “The main floor is reserved for guest check-in and concierge, the rest entirely recreational. The second, third, and fourth floors are split between guest quarters and those specified for the trainers and possessions. The trainers are divided, one on each floor, and with them, they keep the possessions they’re in charge of. We’ve got intake holds for new possessions, plus a fully equipped medical facility. The possessions also have their own common areas separate from the main spaces for downtime.”
“What do they do in their spare time?” she inquired, her gaze continuing to skim as we walked.
“Whatever they want. Read, watch television, play video games, go to the beach. We haven’t dehumanized them. They merely have responsibilities to others that come before all else.”
“How did Gideon come to be here?”
“He was a potential Owner. While he tried numerous times, he didn’t find a possession that suited him. It was actually his request to be given the opportunity to spend more time with the possessions. After some careful consideration, I opted to give it a shot.”
“How long’s he been here?”
“Two years. I officially hired him a year and a half ago. Memphis has been here three months, Zed two. They can’t stay more than six.”
“Have either of them been successful?”
“No,” I told her, not bothering to mention that Memphis had been successful but not in the way she was thinking. Although he thought he was being sly, I was aware he had a secret tryst going with Tiegan.
“Is that another service you offer?” Braelyn asked.
“I don’t invite potential Owners to live here as a rule. I merely assess the situation as it arises and make my decisions accordingly. It’s a very fluid business we’ve got here. Try as you might, you can’t simply box people in. In my experience, it never works out well.”
“Do you pick from this pool? I mean, for your personal use?” she asked, grinning. “I’m sorry, but that still sounds weird.”
I liked that she was honest with her thoughts. “I have, yes. After the first three, I found it worked well for me.”
Braelyn paused in the library, glancing at the books on the wall. “Are many of the possessions gay?”
“Why would you ask that?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess, I figure … since yours are gay.”
I grinned. “What gives you that impression?”
Her eyes never met mine when she said, “It seems a safe assumption since … you know.”
“You know what they say about assumptions. We can test the theory if you’d like? The way we tested the theory on whether or not I was gay.”
Her breath hitched. “I thought you didn’t share them.”
“With you…” I pressed a kiss to her lips. “Let’s just say I’m willing to make exceptions.”
When I licked her lower lip, Braelyn’s lips parted, a sigh escaping. It was then I realized she had both hands on my hips, as though she was using me to stabilize herself. I liked that she touched me without me having to give her permission, that she didn’t need me to give her orders. It spoke to the other side of me, the side that had longed for someone who would tempt me to go against my very nature, someone who could curb the needs of the man versus the needs of the Dominant.
I kissed her then. A gentle mating, my tongue sliding sensually against hers. She kissed me back, her fingers clutching more firmly at my hips, her neck straining as she sought more of what I was offering. She was so fucking sweet, but I had expected she would be.
I would’ve kissed her for eternity, but Braelyn was the one to pull back. She was breathing hard, her golden eyes glittering with lust but also uncertainty. I respected that. She knew so little about me, and what she did know, she didn’t understand.
But she would.
“So what now?” she asked.
“I figured you’d like to relax for a while. Maybe spend some time at the pools. Then, later tonight, I was hoping I could indulge you with dinner.”
“I’d like that,” she said, the words coming out on a soft whisper.
“I would, too.”