Page 6 of Master B-1901

“But the punishment?—”

“I do not decide the punishment. My Master decides.”

“So,” he smiled. “If I touch you, you’ll just tell your Master on me?”

I turned to face the guard, detecting the threatening insinuations underlining his voice.

“First, I eliminate the threat. In this case, your hands. I will break them. If you fight or cause a bigger threat, I will deal with that as well. Your arms. Your legs if you try to run. After I finish and get control, I will take you to my Master for your punishment.”

The guard’s stare widened as it jerked to the other man near me.

“So, it’s true. You’re equivalent to the male blank slates ineveryway?”

“No.” I went back to staring at the door, waiting for it to open. “I am far superior.”

Silence took over as the men stared at each other. The moment the door was open, I headed toward my Master’s apartment in wide strides. The guards could barely keep up. As we approached the door, I paused, letting the lead guard knock. Within seconds the barrier opened. Who I was met with was not who I expected. The red-haired woman had the muscles in my legs tightening as I detected a possible threat.

“Ah, you must be the new slave. Please, come in, ninety-one. I was just reading up on your file in our system.”

I didn’t speak, and I didn’t enter because I was obeying her. My Master was standing feet away at a sofa and his presence drew me forward. Our eyes connected and stayed locked as I made my way to his side. The sound of the door closing registered, and I barely managed to turn away from the intensity in my Master’s gaze as I came to take back in the woman.

“Wow, you’re a pretty one. You did well, Braddock. And from the progress we’ve had in this mini-session, I think the next day will go great.But.” She approached him, keeping his attention asshe got closer. “You must meet with me and the Main Master the day after tomorrow. You can’t miss any appointments from here on out or you risk regressing again. Agreed?”

My Master’s head nodded. “I will not forget.”

“Good.” She smiled. “Have a good night. I’ll see you soon.”

The woman didn’t look at me as she turned and headed out of the door. A deep breath left my Master, and he rubbed his hands down his face. A sound slipped free, but he hid any emotion of aggravation as he turned to face me.

Immediately, he took a big step back, raking his eyes over my body.

“Turn.”

I obeyed, spinning in a slow circle.

“Does my Master approve?”

A smile slowly came as I stopped in front of him again.

“I do. I very much do.”

“I am here to serve. What would my Master like of me?”

He stepped back in, cupping both of my cheeks as he scanned my face. My mind registered confusion as his brow crinkled, and his eyes left me, staring off to the side.

“You appear to be trying to recall something. Have you forgotten why you chose me? If my Master likes, I can try to help you remember.”

His hands slowly lowered, and he blinked thoughts away.

“A beer. I…think I need a beer.”

I gave a slight nod, taking a step and picking up the bottle resting on the coffee table.

“I detect the beer is still cold but almost finished. Would my Master like me to get him a new one?”

The bottle left my hand, and he lifted it to his lips, finishing it off. “Yeah. No.” He took a step back, turning and heading for the kitchen. Glass clinked as he dropped the bottle in the trash can. He hadn’t taken his eyes off me the entire walk. Every microexpression I calculated. Every slight narrow of his eyes told me things he might not want me to know. He was weary of me. Or cautious of something.

“You’re…. programmed to be mine, correct?”