Page 79 of Owned (Office Intrigue Duet 8)
Braelyn glanced from Zion to me then back again. “That’s what you do? You … what? Sell humans?”
I laughed. “Not exactly. However, I do cater to those who want to own and to be owned. I simply provide an unparalleled service for them to get acquainted.”
I was not surprised when her jaw fell open and she was speechless.
I got that a lot, actually.
EIGHTEEN
Braelyn
Try as I might, it was difficult not to let my gaze stray back to the naked man strapped to the wall.
For one, he was a naked man. Strapped to a wall.
Seriously.
However, I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was disturbing. No, there was something extremely provocative about the scene. Zion sitting at his desk, working away while his … possession … stroked himself.
How in the world did anyone get any work done like that? I mean, Micah was a fine-looking man. His body was a complex mix of hard angles and chiseled muscles. And yes, I was the sort of woman who could appreciate such a thing.
But there was a time and place for everything, right? And to have your play toy jacking off in the office… Seemed a bit distracting to me.
“Miss Bishop?” Zion said, his raspy voice low.
I glanced back at him, hating that I’d been watching Micah.
“Shall I have him return to what he was doing?” Zion asked, a teasing note in his harshly rasped words.
I swallowed, forced a smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to stare.”
“He’s quite impressive, no?”
“Yes,” I admitted, refusing to look over at Micah again.
“Micah, resume.”
Yep, my head swung around once more as Micah began stroking his massive erection. The instant his actions registered, I pivoted toward Talon, urging him with my eyes to take me elsewhere.
Clearly he read my silent plea, because, after exchanging a few words with Zion regarding whatever was on the computer screen, he led the way out of Zion’s office, back through the rest of the space. It was a nice layout, I had to admit. Everything one would expect in an office setting. Naked men strapped to walls notwithstanding.
By the time we reached the stairs, my head was spinning.
And here I thought nothing would shock me. Considering I’d heard plenty of stories from Ransom regarding the ins and outs of BDSM, the fascinating tales about the clubs catering to those in the lifestyle, as well as some glazed-over details of his exploits, I figured I’d heard it all.
Nope.
Talon was right. Tame by comparison.
Ransom had failed to mention there were people who strapped their human toys to walls and had them jack off while they worked.
Sure, I knew what a submissive was, and there’d been mention of sexual slaves a time or two, but I’d always thought those were in reference to playtime. Those intimate sexual encounters where one pretends to be under the Dominant’s spell. Not some twenty-four-seven ordeal.
And no, I wasn’t a prude, didn’t think sex was resigned to the bedroom, but this seemed a bit extreme.
I managed to hold my tongue while we headed back up to the main floor, escaping the inner sanctum of Owned, Incorporated. But my silence didn’t last once we were out of earshot of the others.
“When you refer to a possession being owned…?” I swallowed as I glanced back toward the stairs. “I mean, Micah for example. What exactly does that entail?”
“Zion controls every aspect of Micah’s life. What he eats, when he eats it. What he wears, what he does, what he says. If Zion wishes for silence, Micah will not speak. If Zion wants Micah to jack off…” Talon grinned.
“No questions asked?”
Talon’s head cocked slightly to the left. “No questions allowed.”
Who would want that? To be at the beck and call of another person at all times? And what sort of traumatic life experience had them taking a drastic turn in that direction?
As we stepped out onto the veranda off the enormous living room, I considered my next words carefully. “Fine. Say there are people who enjoy that sort of thing—”
“There are,” Talon confirmed. “This island’s full of them.”
Right.
“There has to be an upside. For the possession? They’re getting something out of it. Money?”
“Personal satisfaction. Would you like something to drink?” Talon offered.
“Yes. Something really strong,” I sputtered before tacking on, “I’m kidding. I’m good. Thank you.” It was way too early to be indulging in alcohol. Later, though.
Turning to face the beautiful pools and the exquisite flora below, my thoughts drifted to Micah once more. Not only had he been completely naked, he’d been pinned to the wall by steel shackles, put on display for anyone who stepped into that office. Not that he seemed to care. Not if the way he had been—
Yeah. I needed to get my mind off that and fast.
“Personal satisfaction,” I echoed his response. “So you’re saying they simply want to be berated and used.”
