Captive [MXM]

It was cold in the grocery store. I mean, it was cold in general considering it was almost winter but I think the heating was out.

No matter, I was just glad that I had the money to buy groceries. If I spent it right maybe I could even get something special for myself. I tried not to think about the reason that I had the extra money now.

Tucking my scarf tighter against my chin I dropped the bushel of collared greens into my basket. The only thing left on my list was butter. As I was heading down the aisles my phone rang in my pocket. I didn't think anything of it until I realized that it was Warren.

Not that anyone else would call me. He was virtually my only contact.

"Yes?" I asked tentatively and ducked into an empty aisle.

"Michael Murphy," he said slowly and deliberately, "5'11, twenty-three years old. Vampire from no notable house. Works at Cafe Clear-Lake. Co-worker, Paige Merriweather."

He said my name in quiet, sensual voice.

A shudder rolled down my spine.

"What do you want?" I swallowed hard and braced my hand against a shelf.

"I want you, Paige. That's all, but you just have to make me so jealous. I have to punish him, sweetheart," he did sound slightly remorseful, "think about this next time you decide to fantasize about other men."

"No! Please, please, he didn't do anything wrong, Warren! It was me, I promise it was all me. I wanted to make you frustrated. You make me frustrated all the fucking time," I was getting desperate, "I want you, Warren. I promise I don't want anyone else, it was a joke. Let him go, I'm begging you. I-I'll- I'll quit the cafe. I'll never talk to him again," I was blubbering now, my eyes watering, "please."

"I'm at the manor. If you want him to live then you'll find a way there, but I doubt you will," he said and I was already dropping the basket and bolting out of the store, "you have thirty minutes."

I was on the verge of tears again. The tension in the uber was thick. The guy driving was probably still freaked out because I yelled at him to drive to some remote location and ignore speed limits because there was a possible life on the line. I checked my phone for the eighth time in the past minute. I was already late. Hopefully not too late.

When the gates of the manor came into view relief practically barreled into me. I threw all my grocery money at the driver and jumped out of the car. Warren had left the gates unlocked. The guards didn't pay me any attention. He must have told them I was coming.

I tore across the garden path and burst through the wide double doors.

Basement, I thought.

He would never get blood on the tile. Warren only got his hands dirty down there.

I ran down the steps so fast that I missed the last one and sprawled out onto the hard ground. Right at Warren's feet.

I gasped and coughed as I struggled to sit up.

"Warren," I cried weakly, "Warren, I'm here. I'm here, please don't hurt him."

He looked down at me with a flat expression.

"You're five minutes late, Paige," he said gravelly and tears sprang forth, "I said thirty minutes. You're late."

"Please," I sobbed, still trying to lift myself up to no avail. I could see Michael behind Warren. He was chained to the wall and appeared unconscious in only his boxers. "I'm so sorry, I'll never do it again. Please, Sir."

A wry smile twisted on his lips.

"Can you even stand up by yourself?" He teased me and poked me cheek with the toe of his boots, "pitiful."

"Warren," I whimpered and looked up at him helplessly as I dropped my forehead against the ground.

"Say it, Paige. Tell me you want my help," Warren hummed and tipped my chin up with his shoe, "tell me you need me."

I felt my lower lip tremble.

"I need you, Warren," I whispered, "I need your help. I can't do it without you."

He smiled down at me affectionately and scooped me up in his arms. I trembled against his broad chest as he cradled me like a baby. My body was still in fight or flight mode. I couldn't calm down.

Michael began to stir.

Warren kissed the top of my head and stroked his fingers through my hair. I wanted to cry.

"I'm going to set you down," he whispered in my ear, his eyes glued on Michael. "If you move or get up or look away, I'm going to hurt him worse."

"No," my voice cracked, "no, no, please. Don't hurt Michael. Don't hurt him."

His eyes glinted with anger.

"Don't fucking say his name," he hissed and dropped me down on the small wooden table with various devices of torture that looked like they hadn't been cleaned in a while. "Only mine."

"Y-yes, Sir," I ducked my head low and gripped the edge of the table tightly.

"Look up, Paige. I want you to watch," he said softly and warmly. I did as I was told. He threw a bucket of cold water on Michael.

My co-worker gasped awake and panted as he locked eyes with Warren and then with me. He seemed confused and then betrayed and then angry.

"Paige? What are you-" he began but Warren backhanded him without any restraint.

"Don't speak to him. Don't look at him. You aren't worthy enough," he growled and gripped his jaw in his hand.

"Michael, I didn't mean to. I'm so-"

"Paige," Warren called sharply, "what did I say?"

My lower lip quivered, "don't say his name."

"Good boy, now hand me the brass knuckles," he said and held his palm out. I blanched.

"Please, don't-"

"Do you want to be punished, Paige?" I shook my head as tears blurred my already fuzzy vision and picked up the knuckles with a shaky hand. Michael's jaw dropped in disbelief.

Warren put them on.

"Look, man, I don't know what the fuck I did but I swear I never fooled around with-"

Warren drove his fist into his ribs and Michael's face contorted into a mask of agony.

"Don't... fucking say... his... name," each word was punctuated with a harsh blow to his body. Michael screamed in pain but I wasn't allowed to look away. I couldn't watch though. It was unbearable.

Hearing Michael scream again absolutely broke me.

"Warren! Warren, please!" I cried and jumped up from the table. I tripped on the uneven ground and stumbled into him as I grabbed at his shirt desperately. "Don't do it. Hurt me. Please hurt me instead. I can't w-watch."

Adoration shone in his eyes even if the rest of his face appeared to be set in an angry look. He couldn't be angry with me. Not for long at least.

Warren wrapped his arms around my waist to hold me up against him.

"You want his punishment instead?" He dragged his finger over my lower lip. His mood drastically changed.

I nodded my head vigorously.

He pressed his lips over mine in a hard but chaste kiss, "fine, sweetheart. Go to my room."

I frowned, "I'm not leaving him with you."

"You don't make these decisions," he frowned, "go or I beat him to death."

I bit down on my lower lip and put my hand on his chest, "please, Sir. I'll be a good boy. I'll do whatever you want. Pretty please?"

Warren groaned and kissed me again, "fine, fine. You always get what you want, don't you?"

I pursed my lips and looked up at him hopefully, "thank you, Sir."

He left me standing there and walked to the door. I folded my arms over my chest and refused to look at Michael.

"Paige-"

I put my hand up, "you shouldn't talk to me. I'm on thin ice. It's best you forget we ever met."

"Are you okay? Is he hurting you?" He sounded worried.

I frowned, "no, I know how to handle Warren. He would never hurt me. I'm too important to him. And- I'm sorry I dragged you into this. I didn't mean to."

He sighed, "well thanks for the bloody nose I guess."

Heat crept up my neck. Warren returned with Lorcan behind him. Lorcan was one of his closest men and he acted as my body guard sometimes too.

"Take the kid, clean him up," Warren directed and came to me. I yelped when he scooped me up off my feet, "if he doesn't cooperate then you know what to do. Oh, and take the rest of the day off."

The man nodded and worked the chains off my co-worker. I turned my head to bury my face in Warren's chest in shame and humiliation. Michael didn't make a sound. Warren turned and carried me out of the basement.

He took me to his bedroom and sat on the edge of his bed with me in his lap.

"Since I know how much you like being spanked I'll have to be creative," he smiled and I frowned.

"I'm not a weirdo. I don't like being spanked," I rolled my eyes.

"Lie to yourself all you want, Paige but don't lie to me," he warned and brushed my hair back before standing me up, "go to that corner and kneel down- you know how."

I groaned but did as he said and settled into the corner.

Warren walked over, "arms behind your back."

I did so, "yes, Sir."

"Don't slouch," he instructed and folded his arms over his chest.

"Is that all?" I frowned and shifted.

"Yes," he sighed, "and I want you to stay like this until I tell you to stop."

"December," I sniffled from my place in the corner. December was my birth month. It was also my safe word. I could use it whenever I reached my limits. At least that was one thing he respected about me.

It had been an hour and a half. He was ruthless.

"Yes, Paige?" He asked from his bed.

My lower lip wobbled, "I'm sorry, Sir. Please make it stop. I'll never do it again."

I listened closely as he came over to me. My breath caught when he tilted my head back so he could look down at me. "You lasted a very long time, Paige. I'm proud of you."

Warren scooped me up and I let out a helpless whimper of pain. My body ached all over but nowhere was worse than my knees.

"Hurts," I hissed as he kissed me on the forehead.

"Good," he arched a brow, "maybe you've learned your lesson."

I sniffled and pressed my hands over my face, "yes, Sir. I promise I won't ever tease you again."

He sighed and sat down on the bed, "how about this? Since you took your punishment so well I'll give you a reward."

I peeked up at him, "what kind of reward?"

"I was thinking dinner," he hummed and I shifted on his lap.

"I don't want you taking advantage of me," I whispered and put a hand on his shoulder so I could sit up.

"What are you talking about?" He asked and cocked his head to the side.

"If you're going to reward me then I don't want you controlling every little thing," I pursed my lips, "you can tell me what to do any other time but right now I want my own choices."

"Okay, sweetheart," Warren nodded, "anything you want."

"And no favors," I pointed at him, "you can't negotiate with me."

"Alright, no negotiating," he put his hands up, "tonight is all for you."

I relaxed a little bit, "thanks, Warren."

"Thank you for being such a good boy," he whispered and caressed my cheek with the back of his hand.

"This doesn't mean anything, by the way. We're still not together again and we're still not having sex and I am still not going back to that life," I stated firmly.

He didn't seem to like this but relented anyway, "fine. Now take a nap. You woke up early this morning."

I frowned, "I'm not tired."

He dropped me onto the bed and tossed the blanket over me, "and I'm not asking. Go to sleep, Paige."