Bound: The Inland Slave Read Free Page A

demand as your desire. Once you sleep with me, I’ll own you. You will never marry and leave me to another master who’d beat me daily. With my life on the line, my motivation is unstoppable. You’re as good as mine, and I knew that when you came to me last night. You’re half in love with me already, but you haven’t decided to give in to your feelings.” He turned around so she’d continue to put ointment on him.
    “You’re entirely wrong! Get out !” She yelled and pointed to her room door.
    “And our trip to the market?” He faced her and grinned, but she had no idea why. Her only guess was he was a cocky son of a bitch.
    “Get out!” When he didn’t, she stomped out of the room, and told Annett to finish treating his back. She was still aggravated as she made her way downstairs in a huff, and found her father eating soft-boiled eggs from within the shell.
    “What is wrong, my darling?”
    “My slave seems to think he is in charge.” She collapsed in a chair and snatched an apple from the bowl in the middle of the table. The woman sitting by her father’s side was Noreen Braun, one of three women that frequently stayed the night in lieu of paying taxes. Noreen glanced at Katja with a suppressed a smile that mocked her troubles as if Katja had none.
    “If you don’t want him beat, Katja, of course he’ll think that.” Her father said.
    “If you won’t strike him, use sex to control him. Any man would crumble.” Noreen advised. Katja’s mouth dropped. She didn’t think Noreen could possibly be serious, but Noreen herself had very loose rules of conduct. Widowed women usually all thought the same way. They did what they needed to survive in a world where men were supposed to provide for women, and everyone else turned a blind eye instead of imprisoning them for their immoral behavior.
    Her shocking statement was nearly as perplexing as the contradictory statement to what her slave said. She was about to ask how sex controlled a man, but then Noreen added, “It’s effective. And he’ll take better care of you.”
    “Noreen, don’t put ideas in my daughter’s head. It’s scandalous for to her sleep with anyone before she’s wed.”
    “Yet I sleep with you.” Noreen interrupted her father, and then put a hand on Katja’s knee as she confided, “And it’s not without benefit.”
    “You’re also a widow, and it’s not scandalous considering I am a widower. She’ll end up having his child and…I don’t want to think about it! Don’t say such things! She needs paired with a suitable partner as soon as possible, and learn to beat her slave. She will learn.”
    Katja flushed red when her slave came downstairs and passed the dining room doorway, heading to the kitchens for breakfast where the servants ate. She squirmed in her seat, hoping he didn’t hear what her father or his lover said. “You could give your slave to me if you want him disciplined.”
    “No, father! He is my slave! Don’t touch him!” She stood from her chair, deciding she’d leave them to their breakfast.

3
     
    Katja skipped a few stairs as she hurried outside with every intention of going on a long walk. She treaded along the stream that eventually spilled into the wide river heading out to sea. Despite the cool day, the sun was bright as the wind blew. She sped along to keep warm.
    To her dismay, it wasn’t long before she spotted her slave trailing behind her. She didn’t stop, but hiked faster around thick trees and tall brushes to escape him. He quickly gained ground with each passing minute, and she couldn’t successfully throw him off course to lose him. Soon avoiding him was impossible, and she turned around, tapping her foot until he caught up.
    “Go away. I didn’t ask you to come here.”
    “Your father told me to follow you.”
    “Since when do you answer to him?”
    “Since I decided I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
    “Go away. I’m serious, slave. I have no use for