Taken

Two months later

I sat back in my chair and rubbed my eyes. I had worked hard over the past two months and I still had so much to do before the relaunch of our ‘service business’ in just under a week.

It always made me smile when I heard phrases like ‘service business’, or ‘service personnel’. It took me back to the time when I was on the crew. In some respects that felt like years ago. In reality it was just a few months.

True to his word, the sale of Christina’s nephew’s property went through smoothly. I took the decision to dedicate the main building, where we held the annual party, to the crew. That was to be their house, their base. The slightly smaller house in the same grounds was to be mine, where I would live with Craig and any of the management who wanted to reside there. Both buildings had undergone refurbishment. The need to get everything done quickly had made the venture very expensive, but when I had conducted an inspection tour earlier today I had been delighted.

Each member of the crew would have his or her own room, with en suite bathroom and an adjoining room. This gave each person their own space, their own bedroom which would be off limits to guests. The adjoining room was their own personal pleasure palace for entertaining. I hoped that the significant change in circumstances would be popular, but I admit I was nervous about the changes I was making. There were only days to go before I would reveal everything and I was feeling the pressure.

I had already organised most of my staff. Anrey would remain with me for a year before she went back to working for Pavel. She would continue to manage bookings, client relationships, and logistics. She was to train up Christian’s nephew, Damien, so that he could take on that role.

I was cautious about Damien’s involvement. When we first met he was arrogant and behaved like a spoiled child. Christian had suggested, in a tone that could only be described as angry, that he go for a walk and rethink his attitude. That seemed to have calmed him down, but in the four weeks he had been working with me he still had a tendency to be arrogant, to second-guess everything, and to get on my nerves. On the other and, he worked hard when he put his mind to it, and I could see potential there. He was also devastatingly handsome, much to Craig’s annoyance. He was what I imagined Christian would have looked like when younger. The funny thing was, he didn’t seem to see it himself.

Jenks would continue to oversee security, and I had asked Connor to manage administration for me. Jenks had made me laugh, telling everyone that he knew I’d do well for myself after I had asked him to stay on. He was delighted to accept and had become a loyal soldier form that day on. He clearly had designs on taking Jonno’s ‘enforcer’ role and, while I hope there would be no real need, I was happy to let him play the role.

Connor was a different matter. When I first asked to meet with him he initially declined. I insisted and of course he came, but he was a shadow of his former self. He was thin as he wasn’t eating and he was jumpy, nervous. The incursion into the house that day had left him with serious mental scars and I was appalled to learn that he’d had to have his hand amputated as a result of the dog attack. I persuaded him to stay with me and made every effort to make him understand that none of what happened to me was his fault. On the contrary, I felt terrible that he had suffered because of me and I told him so. I had sent him away for a month, an extended holiday to look after himself and heal. On his return he was far brighter and I was hoping he would eventually get back to his old self.

I had two final roles to fill, the reason I was still in my office at this late hour. Craig had already suggested that I leave it until tomorrow, but I felt like I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I had taken care of my last big job. At least my office was in my home!

There was a knock at the door and two familiar young men entered. I stood and went to greet them both. Sam and Eighteen. Sam had just flown back from Switzerland, his stay with Lucas at an end. He hugged me warmly. Eighteen had been collected and driven here from his Chapterhouse. He was more wary, but he squeezed my bottom as we hugged. It was good to know that he still flouted any and all protocol when it suited him.

We chatted about nothing for a while. Sam delighted in filling in Eighteen on what happened to me, a tale that seemed to get taller for the telling each time. Eighteen spent the entire time with his eyes locked onto me, something I found less unnerving than before. I felt like I knew what he was up to now and that he’d lost some of his power over me. I still found him compelling though. And curiously attractive.

I got to business and told them of my plans. Sam was aware of some of it, of course, but I was pleased to see that Eighteen was genuinely speechless. I asked him what he thought and he told me he was delighted and he was sure everyone else would be too. I breathed a sigh of relief. Of all the people I knew, Eighteen would not bullshit me.

“Right then” I said. “That brings me to why I asked you both to come and see me this evening. I have two vacancies in my senior management team that I want to discuss with you. As I make the changes I have planned, we will need to look after our people. They will need help and support as they transition from virtual slavery to freedom. Of course, the management of discipline among the crew will also have to evolve. I’m no longer advocating whips or electric shocks, but we still need people to do what they commit to, or that will be the end of my first business venture.”

Both young men nodded sagely. They knew. They were crew. They got it.

“Sam, I want you to be part of my team. I want you to manage crew wellbeing. You’re incredibly likeable and charming and you know what it’s like to be in a bad place. Hopefully you know what it’s like, now, to be in a better place, too. I want you to take your experiences and help everyone feel okay about themselves. If they need support, you’re it.”

Sam’s mouth moved, but words were failing him. Eventually he managed to get out “m….m….me?” While looking shocked.

I smiled warmly at him. “Yes. You.” I said. “I told you we’d stick together. You want to be part of my team, or what?”

Eighteen sat forward. “You’d be good at that, TT. Go for it.”

Sam nodded and smiled. He continued to look shocked, but I was taking the nod as all I needed for now. I turned my attention to Eighteen and grinned.

“So, Eighteen. Or should I call you….. Elliot?

Eighteen - Ellliot - seemed to shrink back into his chair and he pulled a face like he’d got a nasty taste in his mouth. I laughed. I couldn’t help it. It was like I’d discovered his true identity and by uttering his name I’d broken his powers or something.

“I guess you have access to the files now that you’re the big boss.” He said.

“Yeah I do.” I said. “And don’t sulk. I like the name Elliot. It suits you.” He pulled another face and Sam laughed hard.

“I want you to join my team, too, Elliot.” I said, ignoring Sam’s hysteria. Elliot looked genuinely stunned. I really had him off balance today.

“Me……?” He said. “But…… well……. I’m just crew. I don’t even know you that well. Not like Sam. I mean……” he trailed off, all out of waffle.

“I seem to remember you got to know me pretty well.....” I said with cheeky wink. “I want you to handle discipline.” I said, grinning from ear to ear as this usual supremely confident young man was thrown off. “But not discipline the old way. The ultimate sanction is dismissal, not electric shocks or physical punishment. But I don’t really want to dismiss anyone. I want us to be able to reason with people and get them in line, if we need to, through other means. That’s where you come in. You can convince anyone to do anything. It’s like your superpower or something.”

Suddenly Elliot was back in familiar territory. He could do that and he knew it. He started to smile. “What’s in it for me?” He asked, now curious.

“Same as Sam” I said. “A suite here. Excellent pay. Freedom.”

“And if I don’t want the job?” He asked, his eyebrow raised.

“All of the above, without the responsibility and without me breathing down your neck, but you’ll be servicing clients instead. Or you can walk away. Your choice.”

Eighteen - Elliot - seemed to study me intently for a few minutes. I just sat there and let him. Eventually Sam broke the silence.

“You’re crazy if you don’t do it, Eighteen. Come on. We’ll have fun together.”

Elliot blinked and seemed to relax. “I always said there was something special about you, Golden.” He said. “I’d like to accept. Hitching my wagon to you….. well, I can see you’re going places and I’ll be honest, I can’t believe that someone is going to do what you’re about to do. It’s incredible. The crew will go nuts for you and they already think you’re some sort of god.”

He grinned in way I’d never seen before and suddenly all the stresses of getting to this point melted away.

“Do I go back to the Chapterhouse now? I assume I’m to keep this to myself until your big event?” He asked.

“No, I have suites ready here for the both of you. I need you here to help finalise everything. And…… I’d like to have you both around. I miss you guys.” I said. “If you want to find your own places later, that’s okay though.” I added, still unsure of myself.

“I think I’ll be quite happy here, boss.” Said Elliot, and he chuckled softly to himself.

We chatted a little while longer before Elliot asked to be excused. He had been working all day and was exhausted, so I had a runner show him to his suite with instructions to make sure he had everything he needed. I asked Sam to hang back as I wanted a small favour.

“What do you need?” He asked. “You know I’d do anything.”

“Don’t be too quick to agree,” I said. “You might not like this one. I have a problem child who needs taming!” I told him about Damien and the deal with Christian. “Basically he’s arrogant. I think he’s a good guy at heart, but I’d like to pair him with the least arrogant person I know so that he has a role model for better behaviour.”

“Good idea.” Sam said, and then the penny dropped and he pulled a face. “Oh, you mean me, don’t you…..?”

I smiled. “Yes. I mean you, Sam. Will you do it?”

He pulled another face. “Yeah, okay. But only if I have your permission to punch him if he gets on my nerves!”

I laughed. “I’ll give you permission, but only because I’d genuinely love to see you punch someone. I don’t think you’ve got it in you! But anyway, he’s no more senior than you, so do whatever you need to do. He should be here now, so I’ll introduce you before you slink off to your suite which, by the way, I hand picked especially for you.”

We left my office and wandered down a broad corridor to where Damien had set up office. I knocked and entered. Damien was at his desk reading some paperwork. He looked up as I entered and he smiled.

“How was your day?” He asked. Before I could say anything he jumped right in with “I have been reading the plans you gave me and I think we can make things better and……..” He trailed off as Sam came in behind me. “And…..” He said again, then stopped, his eyes fixed on Sam.

I looked from Sam, to Damien, and back again. Sam’s cheeks were flushed red and Damien had stopped talking for the first time since I’d met him.

Damien seemed to recover first. He rushed around his desk and offered his hand to Sam. “Hi!” He said brightly. “I am Damien DeVere. It’s so nice to meet you. You are……..?”

“Damien, this is Sam,” I said. “Sam, Damien.” I looked at the pair. Sam had taken Damien’s hand and now they were both stood unmoving, gazing into one another’s eyes. Sam was blushing furiously and Damien was uncharacteristically quiet and e looked nervous.

“Hi, I’m Sam” said Sam.

“Yeah. He just said that.” Damien was grinning from ear to ear. “We haven’t met, have we? I’ m sure I would have remembered.”

“Er..... no..... no we haven’t met. But you’re nice to see....er...I mean it’s nice to see you.....to meet you, I mean.” Sam was flustered, his blush spreading to his neck.

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll leave you two to get acquainted.” I said. There was no reaction, so I pushed past Sam and started to close the door behind me. “Damien, you’ll show Sam to his rooms when……” neither were paying any attention. “Oh, whatever!” I said, and closed the door behind me. “You’ll work it out.”

I went to find Craig. I needed some food and a cuddle and not necessarily in that order.

* * * *

“So, Sam……”. Damien said. “How come we’ve never met?”

“I’ve been away. In Switzerland.” Said Sam. He kicked himself. That was a stupid answer.

Damien couldn’t take his eyes off Sam. He’d swung both ways growing up, sure, but he preferred girls. His experience was almost exclusively with girls. That was, he preferred girls until Sam walked into his office. He’d never seen such a cute boy. And the way he blushed...... it was so hot! He’d never felt so horny. What the hell was going on, he thought to himself.

Likewise, Sam took one look at Damien and felt his pulse begin to race. Jay could have told me he was so dammed handsome, he thought to himself. He studied this young guy. He had such a confident air about him, with his dark, perfectly combed hair, dark eyes and five o’clock shadow. He was athletic too, clearly someone who enjoyed working out or playing sports. And that bulge in his jeans.....

“You seem to be blushing….” Damien said softly.

“Yeah, I think I am…..” Said Sam. “I must be hot…..”

Damien took a step closer. “Yeah, you are.” He said softly, quietly. He couldn’t help himself. Despite a life where he could have whatever he wanted, Damien had never met anyone like Sam before. Someone who screamed sexual energy at him. His body was on autopilot, running on instinct. He’d never been so uncontrollably attracted to anyone.

Damien leaned forward and Sam responded. Then they were kissing, softly at first, tentatively. As their passions rose, Sam stepped into Damien and snaked his arms around the slightly taller man’s waist. Damien took hold of Sam’s chin and lifted his face a little.

Now they were kissing for all they were worth. Sam opened his mouth and Damien responded. Their tongues flicked around each other’s. Damien’s hands were in Sam’s hair, touching his ears, then his neck. His touch was gentle, his caress lighting a fire in Sam.

Sam squeezed Damien’s bottom through his tight-fitting jeans. It was firm. Gorgeous. Sam gripped his buttocks and pulled him in and Damien ground against the boy. Sam could feel that impressive package and he wanted more. They both did. Suddenly they gave way to lust. Sam pushed Damien back to his desk as they groped and kissed.

Damien snatched Sam’s t-shirt over his head and threw it to one side. He kissed Sam’s neck as Sam fumbled with Damien’s fly, eventually ripping it open. He thrust his hand into the space he’d made and grasped Damien’s hardening cock. It was sizeable. Damien gasped. He picked Sam up by his thighs, turned, and placed the boy on the desk. He swiped papers and his laptop onto the floor and yanked Sam’s trousers down, quickly moving to take the boy’s cock in his mouth.

Sam’s eyes rolled back in his head. He lay back on the desk breathing heavily. This guy was good. He sucked, licked, touched. Sam wasn’t sure how long he could last. Then Damien was there, his mouth pressed firmly on Sam’s as he struggled to push his own jeans down his legs.

The kissing turned to nibbling and gentle biting. Damien was all over Sam, his neck, then his nipples. He pushed Sam onto his side and forced his legs up and, gripping the boy’s bottom with one hand, he lapped at the boy’s hole. He started with big, broad strokes with a hot, wet tongue. Sam whimpered. Damien was driven by pure lust. He pressed the tip of his tongue against the pretty pink anus and pushed, sliding as far into Sam as he could. He licked, caressed, lubed, and probed. Sam moaned and grabbed his knees, pulling them up to his chest to allow Damien to get better access.

“I wanna fuck you!” Damien breathed out and he could hardly believe he’d said it.

Sam rolled over onto his back still clutching his legs. “Do it” he said, but Damien was there already. He was guiding his throbbing cock to Sam’s entrance and pushing hard, eager like a schoolboy on heat. He forced his head forward until it popped inside. Sam moaned and Damien leaned forward to kiss him.

“My god, I can’t believe I’m doing this” Damien confessed.

“Me neither. But don’t stop” said Sam.

Damien fucked into Sam. With fast, shallow strokes he gradually pushed deeper and deeper into Sam’s rectum. Sam writhed and moaned, Damien’s penis touching places that no-one had touched before. He wrapped his legs behind Damien’s bottom and pulled him in. He wanted it, badly.

“Fuck me!” Sam shouted and he blushed again. Where the hell did that come from?

Damien giggled. He slapped Sam’s bottom, withdrew his penis, and flipped the boy over. He bent Sam over the desk and shoved him forward. “You asked for it!” He said, grinning, and he pushed back in and began thrusting from his hips. He ran his fingernails down Sam’s back, making him quiver.

Sam pushed back as Damien reached around and grasped his cock and began jerking him off. The pair were breathing heavily, sweating. Both were moaning loudly, their noisy, passionate fucking rocking the desk beneath them.

“Oh God I’m coming already!” Exclaimed Sam.

“Yeah! Me too…..!” Breathed Damien. “Come for me!”

The two young men convulsed and they ejaculated simultaneously, Sam shooting his cum over Damien hand and desk, Damien sending his hot juices into Sam’s rectum.

They sank to the floor and kissed and touched and nibbled each other until both were overcome with a wave of exhaustion.

Sam rested his arm over Damien’s chest. He giggled and after a second Damien giggled too. “I wasn’t expecting that.” Sam said, a broad grin plastered across his face.

Damien stole another kiss. “I…..er……I’ve never actually done that…… with a boy.” He confessed.

Sam sat up, shocked. “Seriously…..?”

Now it was Damien’s turn to blush. “Yeah. I mean, I’ve fooled around…… and I’ve had sex with girls….. but I never got that far with a boy.” He looked thoughtful for a second. “I’m....er....younger than I look. I didn’t know I liked boys so much…..”

Sam sniggered. “Yeah, that was a bit….. you know….. gay.” He said and he laughed. Damien laughed too and he grabbed Sam and held him close.

“Was I okay?” He asked.

“I reckon you were okay, yeah.” Said Sam. “And you’re hot. But I guess you know that.”

“Am I?” Damien asked. “I don’t know….. No-one’s ever said I’m hot before. But you’re really cute. You took my breath away the moment you came in here with Jaimie.”

Sam raised an eyebrow and pulled away a little. “Talking of Jaimie….. he’s gonna kill me…… I’m supposed to be working on you so that you’re less arrogant.” He smiled, finding that admitting the truth was fun. “But you don’t seem very arrogant to me.”

Damien looked shocked. “Jay thinks I’m arrogant…..? Shit.”

Sam cupped Damien’s face. “Aw, don’t get all sad on me.” He said. “Yes, he thinks you’ve got potential but you’re too opinionated and arrogant. He has some crazy idea that I’m not, so I could maybe teach you a thing or two.”

Damien frowned. “Maybe I’m trying too hard. But I just want to show him I can be useful. My uncle told me if I don’t impress Jaimie I can kiss my inheritance goodbye…….. I’ve been told before that I have a tendency to be a bit too.....eager.“ he was thoughtful for a minute and then he smiled. “Maybe you can work on me some more. If our lessons are gonna be like this, I’ll happily be your student.”

Sam giggled again and they kissed a slow, passionate, wet kiss. “Why don’t you show me my room. I need a shower.” Sam said, a twinkle in his eyes. “You can scrub my back. And now we’ve broken you in, I’ll show you some other things that boys can do…… and I like eager.”

* * * *

I walked out of the en-suite bathroom wrapped only in a towel, my hair still dripping wet. Craig was sat up in bed reading a newspaper where I had left him, but Jonno was sitting on the end of the bed.

“And you say he’s been like this for days?” Said Jonno, barely holding back a smile.

“Oh yes,” replied Craig, holding the newspaper to one side so that he could talk around it. “He’s stressed, on edge, and morose. He think no-one notices when he has flashbacks or finds himself lost in the past. You know what he’s like. He thinks he can hide everything behind those beautiful azure eyes or flash his smile and it’s all alright.” Craig was grinning.

“And you’ve tied to deal with it?” Asked Jonno.

“Oh yes. I’ve used every trick in the book. That’s why I called you, Jonno. I was wondering if maybe the two of us together…….”

“Er….. excuse me?” I interrupted. “You’re both hilarious, but I’m fine. I don’t know what Craig has told you, Jonno, but……..” I stopped mid sentence. Jonno raise his eyebrow at me in that way he did when he was the Master and I the sex slave. It still had the power to send a thrill through me and to stop me in my tracks.

“Are you clean?” He asked. He was using his Master’s voice.

“Actually I am, but……” I stopped again. The eyebrow again. Jonno stood and walked over to me. I had goosebumps. He took hold of the towel and yanked it loose, letting it fall around my ankles.

“What have I told you about wearing your towel after showering?” He said. His voice was stern. I looked over to Craig who was still grinning like the village idiot.

“What have you done…..?” I asked. Before any response was forthcoming, Jonno wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him. He pressed his lips against mine and opened his mouth, forcing mine open too. I don’t mind admitting that I whimpered a little as his tongue snaked into my mouth. I stood on tiptoes and responded. I realised Craig was watching and I blushed. I broke off the kiss.

“B…b…but……” I stammered. “And Craig, and……”

Jonno picked me up and threw me onto the bed, face down. “I also told you about speaking when you don’t have permission. Craig, perhaps you can occupy that smart mouth of his?”

Craig pushed the covers down below his waist. He was naked. The totally gorgeous cock was hard and standing upright. He grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me to him. “Say ahhh!” He said, and he fed it to me. Just as my lips closed around his shaft, Jonno spread my legs and buried his face between my buttocks. I closed my eye and went with it. Maybe I could use some stress relief.

I swirled my tongue around the head of Craig’s cock. I knew he liked that. I gently touch his shaft with my teeth, something else that I knew made him quiver. In return he grabbed my head and ran his hands through my damp hair and he played with my ears.

Master - yeah he was Master again, all thought of calling him by his name disappeared as soon as his tongue reached my entrance - lapped at me. He used big, hot, wet strokes around my ring and then right through the centre of my hole. I shivered with excitement. He gripped my buttocks and pulled them apart before slowly inserting his thumbs. I moaned as he pulled my anus open and I squirmed as he tongued my hole.

Craig was playing with his cock, rubbing it around my face and then pushing into my mouth while he gently caressed my ears and neck with his other hand. The sensations were wild.

Master finished with my ass. He pulled his thumbs free and and slapped me hard on the bottom before grabbing me and spinning me around.

“You’d better go first, Craig. Break him in for me.” Master said as he absently took my head, squeezed my face so that my mouth opened, and slid his big cock along my tongue.

Behind me Craig was pushing my knees underneath me so that I was up on all fours. He got into position behind me, lined up his erect penis and slowly, inexorably, pushed it inside me.

“Oh, god!” I moaned as he flexed his hips and buried himself deep in my bowels. Master pushed his own cock deep, too, and I was forced to remember everything I had learned about deep-throating his monster. It felt so good to have this thing back in mouth, doubly so to have Craig’s cock buried in me from behind at the same time.

The two of them began to fuck me in unison, Master taking care of my face while Craig pounded my rear. I made an animal sound, somewhere between a moan and whimper. It was completely involuntary. I was in slutty heaven.

Craig was slapping my ass now. He knew just where to spank me, and just how to fuck me, to make me feel it deep within me. I tried so hard to focus on Master’s cock, but I had that hot feeling building in my groin as Craig used all his skill to fuck me to orgasm. Suddenly he pulled out and shot his cum over my hole. I could feel the heat of his juices around my ring before he fucked it into me. On his third thrust I shot my own cum over the bedsheets.

Master push me off his cock. “Turn” he said.

“Yes, Master” I acknowledged, autopilot kicking in.

Suddenly I had Craig’s penis in my face. I took him in my mouth again and licked at his pee hole and sucked hard, relieving him of any residual cum.

Master lined up behind me. He rubbed that massive head around my cum-smeared hole and then he pushed. I gasped as my sphincter sucked his cock inside me. It had been a while and I had forgotten how big he was. I felt my ring sting a little, but it quickly passed and I was left feeling gloriously full.

Craig started to fuck into my mouth just as Master began to push in and out of my rear. I whimpered again as Master almost pulled out all the way, and the thrust forward with a big stroke.

If Craig had learned to bring me off through fucking my ass, Master was the expert at it. Once again that warm fizzing feeling started up in my groin and began to radiate out to every pleasure centre in my body. My legs began to shake and Master held my hips for me. I could feel Craig getting fully hard again, my mouth making him ready to go again.

Time seemed to freeze. I lost myself completely in sucking my lover’s cock while Master fucked me from behind. It was wonderful, relentless, and I loved every second. I don’t know how long we were like that, I just know that it was longest build up to a second orgasm I have ever experienced.

Craig came first. He shot his cum along my tongue and then lifted my head so that he could kiss me and we shared his juices. Then Master began to fuck in almost robotic strokes, right on the very edge of losing control. The last stroke was too much for me with Craig’s tongue in my mouth. My balls constricted and something deep inside my exploded. For the second time I sent my semen spurting over the bed.

That was enough for Master. My sphincter pulsing around his large, meaty cock was all he needed to push him over the edge. He buried himself deep inside me and grunted as he pumped his cum. He gave me three more strokes as he coaxed the last aftershock from his balls before he slapped my buttock.

“Ridiculously tight. Every bit as incredible as I remember” he said, almost to himself. He gently slid his cock from my gaping hole and I felt cum trickle down my thigh. “Glad I could help, Craig. I’ll leave you to finish off.” And with that he pulled his trousers up and left quietly.

Craig giggled as we finished kissing. I collapsed on the bed and giggled too. “You’re a naughty boyfriend” I said to him.

“I don’t know about boyfriend” he said. “From now on you’re going to call me Master in bed. That was fucking hot!”.

I laughed at that. “Yes, Master” I said, and he was on me again and kissing me.

“Come along, boy” he said. “You seem to be all dirty. I’d better help you get cleaned up.”

We giggled all the way to the shower where he scrubbed my back and after a significant amount of heavy petting, he pushed me against the wall and fucked me again.
A little later as we lay on the bed I our towel, he rolled over to me and kissed me lightly. “I hope you feel better.” He said.

A grinned at him. “I’m almost there….” I said.

He groaned. “I don’t know if I can go again…..” He said. He looked down at his cock, and so did I. “You’re insatiable!”

“Maybe I can help you with that….. Master.” I said. He groaned again, but he didn’t stop me.

* * * *

The next couple of days were busy, but happy. Craig never left my side and I appreciated him for that. Sam and Elliot were helpful and productive and Damien appeared to have undergone a personality transplant. I knew he and Sam were getting it on and I left them to it. They both seemed deliriously happy, and that made me happy too. Besides, it was fun to watch them both blush furiously when the other entered the room.

The day of the big reveal dawned bright and sunny and warm. It seemed like fitting weather for a new start.

The entire crew and all staff were brought here by the coach-load. Everyone had heard something about what was going on. Rumours were rife and I was sure that Sam and Elliot had plenty to do with that. But I was sure nobody knew the whole picture. That was for us to reveal today.

Everyone was briefed in small groups as they arrived. They were all handed an information pack that was individually tailored and then shown to their new rooms. I had made sure that each crew member had a few outfits hanging in their wardrobes and I had left a handwritten note to each of them asking them to join me in the main hall at 7pm.

Everything went smoothly. I had to hand it to Damien who had planned most of this. His work was excellent and I was beginning to really like him.

As 7pm approached I honestly don’t remember much about how I ended up on the little stage we had built in the main hall. Pavel was there too, with Jonno. I looked out over what seemed like a sea of faces, some familiar, some I didn’t remember. There was standing room only for this mixed crowd of sex slaves, administrators, couriers, security, and everyone else. I caught the eye of the courier that I had befriended and rescued with Sam. I smiled a him and nodded and he blushed, but he smiled and waved.

The clock struck seven and Jonno cleared his throat. The room fell silent immediately. I chuckled to myself. Jonno the Enforcer, I thought.

Pavel stepped up. He glanced around the room once, then launched into a short speech. He thanked everybody profusely for their work then he came to the point quickly. He was reunited with his family, he would no longer run the organisation, but was pleased to be handing the business over someone more qualified that he was. I frowned at that. We agreed he wouldn’t say that. Jonno winked at me and I sighed. The pair of them were becoming more alike the more time they spent together.

Pavel finished by saying “You were all told in your briefing that my nephew Jaimie is taking over. Some of you have guessed that Jaimie is in fact the boy you knew as Sixteen, or Blue as I believe you named him. A few of you have surmised that Jaimie was one of the Lost Boys - yes, the rumours are true. There isn’t a person here who doesn’t know Jaimie went through to get here. As I step down I can tell you this with certainty: You’re in safe hands. You have my best wishes.”

I narrowed my eyes. None of that was part of the script. I’d have to think of an interesting way to murder Uncle Pavel at the earliest opportunity!

I stepped forward, centre stage. I looked from face to face, suddenly unsure of myself after the unplanned, unscripted introduction.

There was a slight murmur in the assembled crowd. The noise level rose quickly until someone clapped their hands together somewhere near the back. I craned my neck to see, but another clap sounded, this time from all around. And then again, this time louder, more people joining in. And then they were all clapping. Not a round of applause, but all clapping at once, then again, in slow time. It was their mark of appreciation, of recognition, of acceptance that I was one of their own. They knew what I’d been through. They understood. This was respect.

I stood on that stage for almost ten minutes as they clapped, and clapped, and clapped. Finally they broke into cheers and the aplause was deafening. I was shocked. I’d never seen anything like that before.

I stepped forward. I took a deep breath, and then another. I cleared my own throat and just as they had for Jonno, they all fell silent. I raised an eyebrow at Jonno. That’s how it’s done, I thought. He smiled.

“Ladies and gentlemen” I began. “Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of us all I would like to thank Pavel and Jonno for their excellent stewardship of this organisation. Listen, I’ll be brief. The time is right for us to make changes in how we operate as a business. Lots of changes. I hope, sincerely, that you approve of the changes and that you decided to stay with us. However, if anyone here wishes to leave, wishes to take this opportunity to move on, then you have my permission and my blessing. There are no consequences for leaving. It’s your choice entirely.”

Another murmur of noise swept over the floor. This was new!

“Okay. Pay attention, because I’m only going to say this once and I’m not going to flower it up. You all know what we do, how we make money. Going forward this property will be our sole base of operations. It’s a grand place, just grand enough for your wonderful people! You have each seen your suites. They are yours, to do with as you please. Your room is your own, a private space for you where no client may enter and no employee may go without you permission. I hope you liked them?”

There was a deafening roar. I took that as a yes.

“I want you all to stay, to continue doing what you do. We’ll pay you well for your work. And there will be no more Masters. You’re free from punishments. You’ll be free to come and go as you please. Free to go to the cinema. To the shops. Free to go out to dinner. You’ll be free to have your own relationships. In short, you’re free.”

Another roar from the crowd. I let it die away before continuing.

“In a minute or two Sam and Elliot will talk to you about how we will look after you, and what we expect of you if you chose to remain with us.” I looked to the faces in front of me. “But before we do that, who’s with me?”

There was a deep silence. I smiled. I knew what they must be feeling. Someone shouted out “Is this a joke…..sir?”

I laughed. “No, it’s not a joke. And it’s Jaimie, not sir. We’re going to continue doing exactly what we’ve always done, what you enjoy doing, but we’re going to do it in a new way. You’re either going to do it voluntarily and on your own terms, or not at all.” I took a long pause. “You all up for that?”

There was another short silence. Then a wave of noise that built quickly. Then a huge cheer, and shouting, and noise.

I laughed out loud. The faces were bright, happy, and colourful. They were free, and they were happy.

“Okay, okay!” I shouted and the noise eventually died away. “So listen. Sam and Elliot will speak to you now. They’ll explain some of the things in your information packs. And then…… we party!” Another huge cheer.

I stepped off the stage and was mobbed. It was an extraordinary feeling. I eventually fought my way to the exit where I looked back and listened to the first part of Sam and Elliot’s briefing. As I expected, they were both excellent.

I was flooded with relief. The business was mine, we’d announced it, we’d told everybody and to a person they were delighted in exactly the way I had hoped. But to be honest, I felt flat. The thought of a party made me feel queasy, so I stepped outside for some air.

I looked out over the grounds and was reminded of the craziness of my situation. This was no ordinary property. It was huge, with incredible landscaped grounds that went on as far as the eye could see. I wandered down onto the gravel driveway. I caught sight of myself in the window of one of the cars and my eye was drawn to the small scar under my eye.

I looked older, somehow. More worn. As I studied my reflection, my likeness, I wondered whether my twin brother looked like me. I wondered what it would be like if he were here. That thought triggered memories of that day and I shivered even though it was warm.

I had a sudden urge to be somewhere else. I hurried to grab some keys, I got in my car, and I drove.

* * * *

I walked up the pathway and stood before the front door. It was a new one, of course, the original having been blown off its hinges the day I was taken. I took a deep breath and put the key in the lock, turned it, and pushed the door open.

I flashed back to that day, to being dragged through this portal by my hair. My stomach knotted and I felt nauseous, but I had to go on. I needed to for my own sanity. I closed my eyes and forced one foot over the threshold. I stepped into my old house, what I would always think of as my grandfather’s house. I half smiled at that. What a joke.

To my right was the door to the living room. Ahead of me lay the stairway up to the bedrooms and the door to the kitchen. I paused, indecisive about where to go. I had come here for a final look around but now that I was here I wondered what I was doing. I was finding that nostalgia was best experienced from a distance. Maybe closure was, too. Everywhere I looked I flashed back to memories I wished I could erase, memories that I knew were part of me, that represented experiences that had made me who I was today. Whether it was my grandfather beating me, being forced to drink hard liquor and then raped, or being dragged through the house as I was taken….. the bad outweighed any good in this place. That knot in the pit of my belly tightened.

I couldn’t face the living room. That was “grandfather’s” space and I had never felt comfortable in there. I didn’t want to go upstairs either now that I was here. There were good memories, of course, my inner eye focused on the playful times with my Master as my life slowly morphed. I took another deep breath and headed into the kitchen. I sat on one of the old chairs, my hands in my lap, and looked about the place. This had been my space growing up and I felt more comfortable here than anywhere. The knot in my stomach relaxed a little.

Everything looked so small. I smiled at that thought. I was already used to mansion houses and my newfound wealth. I had considered keeping this place, something to help me retain my identity. I reached up and ran a finger over the small scar under my eye. I didn’t need bricks and mortar to keep me grounded, I thought.

My mind wandered back to that fateful day when I was called down here by the man who had masqueraded as my grandfather for my entire life. I remember meeting Master Johns for the first time. He had been sitting right where I sat now. He had been smoking. I remembered his tattoos. The smell of the cigarette. I remembered that he had shouted at me to go to my room and I vividly remembered that feeling of being alone in my room and waiting for the unknown. What came after was a wild ride and a rough one.

A tear brimmed in my eye, but I wiped it away before it could fall. I was done being sentimental about that part of my life. I had compartmentalised it three ways in my head. The before, the after, and the very difficult day and night that represented my transition from one to the other.

That night……. I tried so very hard to suppress it, to shut it away, but occasionally something broke through the barrier and threatened to wreak havoc on my sanity. Thankfully there was always someone there to bring me back. Usually it was Craig, my rock. It served as a constant reminder that I must be better, that I must never allow that to happen to someone else. Not on my watch.

I heard the scuff of a shoe on the floor and it made me jump. I turned my head sharply and breathed a sigh of relief. There was Master Johns. Jonno. He smiled a half-smile at me and tilted his head. “Lost in the past?” He asked. He knew me too well.

I sighed. I slapped my legs and stood, and stretched, willing away the lethargy that always infected me when I was dwelling on the bad instead of focusing on the good. “How did you know I was here?” I asked.

“I guessed.” He said. “And I didn’t want you to be alone. This is your night. You skipped out on the last party. We don’t want you skipping out on this one.”

“We?” I asked.

“You friends? Your family?” He said. “Craig noticed you leaving and he and Arina insisted that I find you. Not that they needed to. I had already asked for a car to be brought around.”

I gave him a slight smiled at that. “I came here for one last look. Now I’m here I wish I hadn’t come. It’s left me feeling morose.”

“I know.” He said.

“I’m having the accountants sell it. I have set up a charitable foundation for homeless boys. The proceeds will go to that. It seems a fitting use for the old place.”

“Yes. It does. Now come on. I have one more thing to show you. I know you can’t leave the past behind and I know how hard you have tried, so maybe we can help you stay connected with it in a way that’s healthy. Then you’re coming back with me and you’re going to be the star of your own party.”

I walked with him to his car and we drove in silence for a while. After maybe thirty minutes we arrived at a large private cemetery. We parked up and checked in with security, and Jonno put his arm around my shoulders as we walked along a boulevard lined with cherry blossom. It didn’t take long before we got to a small plot of land bordered by a simple, low stone wall. It was painted white and it had a little archway and gate through which we entered the plot.

There in front of me were three headstones. They were identical, beautiful marble with exquisite lettering carved into them. One for my father, one for my mother, and a third for the twin brother who I never knew.

“We don’t know what happened to your mother and father’s bodies, but your brother is buried here. I’m so sorry we couldn’t save him, Jaimie. The Sandu family plot is the other side of this one. Your grandmother and grandfather are there.” Jonno explained. “Arina did this. She wanted somewhere for you both to come, together, to talk about Sorina. Somewhere where you can think back, when you want to.” He sniffed, the emotion threatening to overwhelm us both. I looked into his eyes, but a lump in my throat prevented me from speaking. “Take my advice, though. Don’t come here alone. Pavel won’t come, it hurts him too much. But Arina will. I will. Craig will. Let us help you when you need it. You don’t have to disappear down that dark hole on your own. Not any more.”

I hugged him tightly and I shed a few tears. I figured a few tears at my mother’s graveside was okay. I looked up at the big man and just nodded. I’d take his advice. He was right. It wasn’t heathy to run away and wallow, alone, in my past. I had people around me now, people who loved me and who I loved in return. That might take some getting used to, but I was going to try.

“Hey, let’s get out of here” Jonno said, rubbing my back as he held me close. “Everyone is waiting for you.”

We walked hand-in-hand back to the car and our mood was far lighter. Somehow, knowing that I had a place to go to visit my past, visit my emotions, had allowed me to….. I don’t know. Contain myself?

We drove back to the property. My property. We chatted along the way, reminiscing about the good times. By the time we pulled up at the marble front steps I was smiling and Jonno was joking around. I looked up to the main entrance. Craig was there with Arina and Pavel. Sam came through the doors, Damien hanging onto his arm, and finally Connor was there too and smiling broadly.

Jonno helped me from the car and put his hand over my eyes. “Now,” he said. “We got together and agreed that we needed a new name for the service business. It used to simply be called ‘Pavel’s’, but that doesn’t work any longer.”

“So you’re telling me I don’t get to name my own business?” I asked. I was joking. I wondered what these guys had done, but I trusted them.

“We knew you wouldn’t go with ‘Jaimie’s’. It’s not your style. But we all agreed this worked.” Jonno put his mouth close to my ear. “I shouldn’t say this, but Sam and Craig cooked this up between them.”

Jonno stood me in front of the large double doorway that stood impressively at the top of the marble stairway. He took his hand away. I looked above the heads of my friends and family. Etched beautifully into the marble above the doors and chased in gold leaf were the following words.

‘Emporium de perdidit puer’

Underneath the latin in smaller but equally beautiful script it said “The Lost Boy’s Emporium”.

I read it several times. As I read it I smiled and my smile turned into a broad grin. “Yeah, that will do!” I said. I hugged everyone in turn and thanked them. I looked from face to smiling face.

“Well, come on!” I said. “We can’t all stand out here! There’s a party inside and we’re expected to show our faces!” I ushered them all inside until only Craig remained.

“Just give me a second?” I asked.

“Sure…” he said. “But you are coming, right?”

I nodded. “Yes, I’ll be there in just a second.”

I stood at the front entrance and re-read the script above the door. I smiled to myself. The legend of the lost boy, the last of the taken, I thought to myself. I wondered what new stories would be written under this roof.

Craig reappeared at the door just as my thoughts turned to him. “Are you coming?” He said.

I looked up at my man. I grinned. “Not yet,” I said with a wink. “But maybe after the party you can see if you can make me….?”

Craig grinned back at me. He pulled me close and kissed me. He squeezed my bottom in that way he had and all trace of gloom disappeared completely. “In that case, the sooner we get to the party, the sooner it will be over, and the sooner I can take you in my arms!” He said.

I giggled. “Promises promises.” I said. “But we can’t be up too late, we’re meeting the wedding planner tomorrow.”

“The wedding planner will wait. Come along Jaimie Sandu-St.John. I want to dance with you before I carry you away to our bed.”

My eyes went wide. “Sandu-St.John, is it?” I asked.

“I figured you need a permanent reminder that you have two families now. Besides…. We share, right? Together?”

I kissed him on the cheek. “Yes, my love. Together forever.”

Look out for the Lost Boy’s Emporium series, coming soon.