Chapter 23

-Jared-

I knew it was time to return home, but the mere thought of going back made me feel like tearing my own skin off, so instead, I lingered near Alison's house, waiting until I saw the lights go out. Quietly, I slipped back onto her property, following the same path as my last visit since she had locked the front door. As I crept into her bedroom, the sound of the shower running in the bathroom reassured me of her occupied state.

With a smirk, I removed my shirt and proceeded to mess up the bed, tossing blankets and pillows aside. I rummaged through her drawer in search of her collar, only to find that she had relocated it along with the key. Irritated, I scoured her closet, but Alison hadn't hidden it very well. Nestled inside an empty shoe box, it was an obvious choice for concealment, if not for my prior knowledge.

The partially open box suggested Alison's recent interaction with the collar, whether to admire it or use it on herself. It didn't matter. She unwittingly led me straight to it. Placing the collar on the bed beside a red thong, I retreated into the shadows of her closet, anticipating her return. Moments later, she emerged from the bathroom, clad in a white bathrobe, toweling her hair dry. Her demeanor shifted to one of confusion and annoyance as she took in the disarray and the items strewn across the bed.

"Bastard," she muttered under her breath.

Suppressing a chuckle, I watched eagerly to see her reaction. She checked behind the curtains and under the bed before her gaze fell upon the slightly ajar closet door. With determination, she approached and flung it open, revealing my presence.

"That's not funny," she hissed, though I couldn't help but laugh.

"It really is," I countered.

"No, it's not. What if Warren had come inside?" she retorted.

"Isn't he sleeping in the guest room?"

"He is."

"I made sure to wait until you were preparing for bed. Now, be a good girl and get out of the robe, put on the panties, and let me collar your pretty neck before we play," I taunted her, leaning against the doorframe with a suggestive grin.

She blinked rapidly, taken aback by my flirtatious tone, but I couldn't help feeling aroused at the thought of Alison wearing nothing but her collar and scant fabric. It had been an awful weekend, so why not unwind with her? Plus, perhaps if I satisfied Alison enough, it might drain me, giving me an excuse for Astrid.

"W-We can't play now," she snapped.

"Of course we can, and if you're a really good girl, I might even let you ride my face."

"Is that supposed to be a reward?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"Oh, don't pretend you don't enjoy it when my tongue slides over your little pussy, giving it just what it needs."

Alison reached out, placing a hand over my mouth. "Could you not speak like that? He might not be sleeping yet."

I grasped her hand firmly. "Alison, go put on the panties."

"No!"

"Yes," I insisted.

"I'm very tired," she protested.

"No, you're not. You're never tired when we play. You always beg for more, don't you, my sweet slut?"

I reached for her, sliding my thumb over her chin, but she pushed my hand away.

"Jared, seriously, how have I not scared you off yet?"

"Scared me off?" I asked, confused.

"Yes, it must be unsettling that I like you and want you to be with me. It must be disturbing to know I keep tiny bottles of your leftover cum in my drawer just to think about you."

I raised an eyebrow, not having noticed those bottles before, but I understood her intention as she crossed her arms.

"You might be obsessed, but you're not unhinged," I countered.

"That's not what you said earlier. I mean, I even slept with the key under my pillow," she reminded me. "I've fantasized about you since we were young. If that isn't unhinged, then what is?"

"I guess you have a point."

"Then why do you keep coming back? It must be sickening to you that I actually like everything you do."

"Maybe craziness just doesn't scare me. I do live with Astrid, after all," I pointed out.

"You live with her?" Alison inquired.

"Why is that surprising?"

"Um… it's not," she whispered, averting her gaze. I smiled as I gently grasped her chin, turning her face toward mine.

"Jealous?" I taunted her, and she glared, ready to deny it, but then something shifted.

"Yes."

I let my hand drop, not expecting her to admit it, but it was evident Alison wasn't going to deny her feelings for me any longer. She was being nothing but honest, and while it did unsettle me a little, each time she confessed, it didn't sicken me as much as I thought it should. If Astrid had said the same thing, I would've wanted to flee, but Alison's admission didn't evoke the same reaction. I didn't reciprocate her feelings, and it was easy to exploit her obsession, but I wasn't scared off by it because I was still getting what I wanted.

"Then put on the panties and let's play," I told her. "You have all of me tonight. Shouldn't you take advantage of it?"

She seemed surprised, taking a moment to ponder before finally deciding. She almost made me prompt her again, but then she reached for the tie on her robe and loosened it, revealing her naked body.

"This is the last time," she whispered. "And then never again in my house."

"Does that mean everywhere else is an option?" I asked playfully as she walked over to the bed, letting the robe fall.

Glancing over her shoulder, she appeared annoyed. "You shouldn't want to return," she pointed out, sliding on the panties while I watched. "My feelings should be scaring you off."

"Alison, whether or not you like me isn't going to change the fact that I can still hurt you. It actually grants me more power than I've ever had before. I just didn't realize how I could use it to my advantage."

Her glare intensified, but it was the truth. In the end, it was she who asked me to leave, revealing her fear of her own feelings, afraid of the truth or at least others finding out about it. It meant I held all the power as usual, and that was what mattered. Whether she admitted her feelings or not, it wouldn't change the fact that I still came to play with her, knowing how it was wearing her down.

Alison reached for the collar, placing it around her neck and brushing away her hair to ensure it didn't get in the way. With the leather securely fastened, she turned to me, looking like a wrapped gift ready to be opened and enjoyed. I smiled, shifting slightly from the doorframe into the room.

"Master," she called, causing a pleasurable groan to escape me.

"Knees, slut," I commanded.

She quickly dropped to the floor, lowering herself onto her knees and keeping her eyes cast downward. The sight of her in that position stirred a primal need within me, my cock pulsating with desire, yearning to be freed from my pants and buried deep inside her. The sight of the esteemed Alison bowing to me willingly, without coercion, sent a wave of sick satisfaction coursing through me. If only her admirers could see her now, I mused to myself as I walked over to her, unfastening my pants along the way.

"Lean your head back a little and open your mouth," I ordered.

She complied with my instructions, igniting an even fiercer desire within me to claim her. Grasping her, I guided her down onto my throbbing cock, thrusting as deeply as I could, causing her to gag around me. I held her there, reveling in her struggle before she surrendered to me as best she could. Then, I began to use her. The sight of her in such a submissive state brought me pleasure beyond words, for this was the pinnacle of what I desired—her complete submission. I only wished I had discovered her affections sooner, as then our time together could have been even more exhilarating.

Yet now, we had a lifetime to balance the scales. I listened to her whimpering and ragged breaths as I continued to use her mouth, thrusting in and out, waves of delight surging through me, demanding release. It astonished me how quickly the orgasm overwhelmed me, considering she had already satisfied me twice today. Nonetheless, the third climax nearly sent me to my own knees, and I groaned loudly as I spilled into her waiting throat. She swallowed around me, her nails grazing my clothes.

As I withdrew, she glared up at me. "Don't be so loud!" she hissed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"I don't recall sluts giving orders here," I retorted, beginning to fully undress, letting my clothes fall to the floor.

"Could you at least stop risking him finding out, though?" she pleaded.

"Why should I care? I'm not married to the man."

"No? You shared DNA today," she taunted, her words cutting through the air like a blade.

I froze, not quite understanding.

"He drank from your water bottle," she informed me, and I sighed, rolling my eyes.

"Wonderful," I murmured. "He should consider himself lucky to be that close to me."

Alison sighed, but I reached out and grasped her jaw.

"Tell me how much more you love my mouth on you than your husband's," I demanded.

Alison seemed puzzled by the demand. "Why?"

"You want to ride my face, don't you?"

Her breathing grew ragged, desire swirling in her eyes before she nodded.

"Then say it. Please your Master," I instructed.

She seemed to struggle to swallow, finding it hard to admit to what she truly desired. Doing so meant pushing her loyalty to her husband even further away and abandoning any hope of redemption for them both.

"Well?" I prodded.

"I…" she began, faltering.

"You can't say it," I chuckled.

"I'm just confused," she confessed.

"Why? It's me you've obsessed over for years, not Warren."

"I thought we could be happy. I did love him."

"Do you still love him?" I challenged.

"I…" she stammered once more, but we both knew the answer to that.

"You don't. You're just doing damage control, trying to force yourself to be something you're not."

"Then who should I be?" she asked, genuinely seeking an answer. But I glanced down her body before meeting her eyes, and slowly she understood.

"I can't be your slut forever!" she exclaimed, realization dawning upon her.

"I think you can."

"Oh, just waiting here on my knees every day for you?"

"I don't see the problem."

She rolled her eyes, so I lightly slapped my hand against her jaw as a reminder not to repeat that action. She seemed surprised by the gesture, but not scared—just taken aback.

"No rolling your eyes at your Master. If I want you here on your knees every day when I visit, then you will comply."

"I wasn't actually suggesting ‘every day'," she hissed softly.

"Why not? You don't sleep with your husband," I reminded her, noticing her eyes darting to the side—a clear sign of discomfort. "Alison?"

She returned her gaze to me.

"You're still sleeping with your husband?"

"Why do you make it sound almost disgusting when I'm married to him? I'm cheating on him with you!" she retorted, gesturing toward me.

"I own you," I asserted, gesturing toward the bed. "Go bend over. You haven't been good at all."

"Your punishments are too loud!" she snarled, but I reached out, yanking on her collar and bringing her closer to me.

"Go bend over. Right. Now."

She glared at me, but she couldn't resist for long. Pushing up from the ground, she positioned herself at the end of the bed. Yet, instead of approaching her immediately, I returned to her closet, finding a tie from one of her satin robes. Walking back to her, I gently secured the blindfold around her face.

"Not this again," I heard her whisper.

"Scared?"

"Yes!"

"Why? It's just the two of us," I reminded her, tying the blindfold tightly around her eyes.

"It was supposed to be just the two of us in that bedroom too," she murmured, and I leaned down to kiss the little heart tattoo between her shoulder blades.

"I'm not leaving you this way again," I reassured her, feeling her relax against me before I smacked her ass, the sound reverberating in the room.

"Jesus, Jared, that was so loud!" she hissed.

"Master," I corrected her.

"What?"

"Master," I repeated, and she groaned.

"Master, please keep it down."

"No."

"Could we not make my life go up in flames tonight?"

"Would it really, though?" I challenged.

"What?"

"Alison, Warren could have left you if he wanted to as well, but you two are so consumed with appearing perfect on the outside that you're both too scared to leave," I reminded her. "So even if he found you here tied up with my cock inside you, I don't think he would bat an eye."

Alison fell disturbingly quiet, and I noticed all power leaving her body, which I didn't quite understand.

"Alison?"

"Why are you right about so many things in my life?" she whispered, though it seemed she was speaking more to herself than to me. However, I heard every word.

"People see clearer when they are not part of the ongoing drama," I reminded her.

"But that doesn't help me."

"You could just leave."

"It's not as simple as ‘just'. Besides, I can promise you if I'm not with Warren, I'll end up with someone else."

"Who?" I inquired, but she didn't respond immediately. I smacked my hand against her ass again, eliciting a groan from her into the bed. "Who?"

"I don't know! Anyone! Anyone my mother can get her hands on who would take someone's leftovers!" she snarled quietly.

I administered two more sharp smacks to her ass, causing her to squirm, attempting to evade the harsh spanks.

"You let your parents have too much control over you. You're not a kid anymore, Alison," I reminded her.

"Rich coming from someone who lets a man who has no blood ties to him force you to marry a woman you absolutely despise," she hissed.

I delivered three more firm smacks to her ass, and she hissed, trying to kick out. I pressed myself against her, keeping her in place and intertwining her legs with mine.

"Vince has been more of a father to me than my actual father. Family has nothing to do with blood. You must know that."

She sighed, growing somewhat still. "I don't think he's what you want to make him out to be," she whispered, nervously licking her lips.

I stared at her in confusion, not comprehending the meaning behind her words.

"Are you trying to poison my mind against the one person who has ever had my back?" I snarled, then delivered a harsh smack to her ass cheeks, causing her to bury her face in the bed with a groan and whimper. "Don't anger me, slut."

She panted as she lifted her head, shaking it, but I yanked on her hair, pulling her toward me. "You don't get to speak a single bad word about him, do you understand?"

"I'm not speaking ill about him. I'm speaking the truth!"

"Alison, I mean it, don't provoke me," I warned.

The nervous way she bit her lip suggested something was on the tip of her tongue, something she wanted to say, but she nodded nonetheless.

"All right. I'm sorry," she whispered, but unfortunately, my mind wasn't so quick to forgive. As I leaned back, scrutinizing her, I tried to decipher her words. Why would Alison even mention him? She rarely brought him up when we were together, except for the occasional curiosity about Vince, but this time it seemed she held some resentment toward him.

"Master?" she called out, breaking the silence.

"Why would you say that?" I questioned.

"What?"

"What you just said? Why would you try to use him against me?" I whispered.

"I-I'm not… You made me promise not to anger you. Can't we just continue?"

I shook my head, though she couldn't see me. "Say what you meant."

"No."

"Alison, say what you meant."

"You just said—"

"Now I'm saying something else. Tell me what you mean by that," I snarled, desperate to understand the unspoken message that eluded me.

"I…"

"Alison, it's going to worsen for you if you aren't honest with me in five seconds," I threatened, sensing her trepidation.

"Please don't get mad," she pleaded.

"I won't make that promise. Now, tell me," I ordered.

"Well… you remember what I told you about someone entering your room when you were out?" she whispered.

"Yes?"

"They called me something."

"Little dove, I recall," I replied.

"Um, right before we left your house, I ran into Vince by accident. He… He asked me something."

"What did he ask you?" I inquired.

"Well, I must have seemed lost because I was looking everywhere except where I was going, trying to take in everything to remember your home," she explained.

"And?"

"And he asked me, ‘lost, little dove'," she admitted, connecting the dots between the two incidents. It sent a chill through my body, extinguishing any desire to continue our play.

"What?" I whispered, though I had already heard everything. I was merely stunned.

"He… He said—"

"No, don't repeat it," I ordered, pushing away from her and processing it all. Running my hand through my hair, I wrestled with the realization. Initially, I denied it because Vince knew how crucial this revenge was to me. But as I mulled it over, it became increasingly difficult to dismiss.

Hastily, I began dressing, and Alison noticed. She pushed away the blindfold just in time to see me put on my shirt before grabbing my jacket and tie.

"Jared? Where are you going?"

I didn't respond. Instead, I rushed out of the room, descended the stairs, unlocked the door, and took the usual route this time. I hurried away from the house and into my car. There was someone I needed to talk to.