Island IV – Meetings · Part 9

Island IV – Meetings · Part 9 (9/21)
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“When you’re ready to leave, press this button.” The guard pointed to a large, red pushbutton mounted in the wall to one side of the door. “I’m supposed to remind you it’s after her curfew.”

Alex knew exactly what he meant. He’d come prepared. “I’ll see to her.” The guard nodded, closing the door when he left.

Alex had arranged for a few minutes to talk before they left. She’s been through this once before, but not with me sitting across the table. He kept that thought in mind. Her relaxed yet precise position in the chair spoke of years of training and experience. She had to be anxious, worried about confronting her new owner for the first time. Her fate was in the hands of a total stranger, the enigma wrapped in the mystery, a puzzle she had to solve as quickly as possible.

“Your name is Róisín? I have no preference. Would you like to keep it or change to something else? My name is Alex Wolfe, with an ‘e’ on the end.”

That brought a smile to her lips. “If you don’t object, sir, may I keep it? My mother spoke Gaelic, though she wasn’t Irish. Anyway, she picked out my name. It means ‘Little Rose’ in English.” She held up a hand, covering her mouth. “I’m sorry. I should ask if you wish for me to use ‘sir’ or something else.”

“Then Róisín it is. And ‘sir’ is fine for now.” There were several long discussions Alex had planned for the next few days. This wasn’t the place to start. “We’re going straight home from here. Relax, don’t worry. You’ll find I don’t demand the impossible from you. Rely on your intuition, past experience and common sense for now. If I see a need for a change, you’ll be the first to know.”

She hid it well but he saw the tension drain out of her. Alex didn’t want her to start out afraid of him. He couldn’t begin to understand what she’d just gone through, being sold off like a piece of used furniture. Add to that he was one of those men bidding on her. What had to go through her head, standing on the block, knowing the auction was going on all around her but unable to hear it?

Women were never allowed to listen to the bids, or the final sale price. She had been isolated in a separate room while cameras displayed the merchandise to the audience. Secret bidding was strictly enforced by North Island law, the idea being it was better she didn’t know her market worth, or the temptation to compare with other women would only cause problems. It made sense to Alex.

“Sir? May I speak?”

Whatever she wanted to say would have to wait. “No,” he answered, perhaps a bit too sharp but Alex was determined to establish tight control over her from the very start. “Be patient. When I’m finished then you’ll have your turn.” A firm hand, but he didn’t want to give Róisín the impression he was totally unreasonable.

For a long moment they sat opposite each other in silence, voluntary on his part, mandatory on hers. According to the information supplied by the brokerage she had lived on North Island for about four years, and on South Island before that. There was no explanation as to why her previous owner had chosen to sell her. Alex wasn’t going to ask; as far as he was concerned it was a private matter between Róisín and her prior master. What was significant is that she was aware of what it meant for a woman to live on North Island. There was no need on his part to question her motives for choosing this kind of life.

The brokerage had returned the dress Róisín wore when she arrived. Now that he owned her it wasn’t appropriate for her to continue wearing the brokerage uniform. Her dress was nothing fancy, a sleeveless pastel blue, knee length, attractive but subdued. Had she picked it out originally? Or had it been selected for her? Either way it was her only possession, though technically she was unable to own anything; whatever Alex gave her to use still belonged to him. Island regulations forced her to depend on him for everything, be it food, shelter, clothes or anything else normally taken for granted.

Depend on me, the thought brought a smile to his face. Mine, all mine, and nobody to stop me from possessing her, body and soul. Róisín tilted her head slightly, closely studying him. Suddenly she sat up, very straight, rigid as a statue. Maybe she wasn’t allowed to talk, but her actions spoke volumes. She’s reading my mind, he realized.

“I’m at a disadvantage here,” Alex explained. “Yeah, how is that possible? Well, the truth is I’m the beginner and you’re the expert. Island society, especially here on North Island, is all very new to me. On the other hand, you’ve been here for some time. I guess what I’m saying is, I need your help to ensure we get off to a good start. Don’t think I’m trying to avoid my obligations as your master. By help I mean you need to speak up if there’s something I should know, to keep me from making avoidable mistakes.

“Now it’s your turn. You have permission to speak.”

“Sir, I…” She stopped in mid-sentence, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Sorry, sir. I intended to say something about doing my best to please you, to be obedient and loyal. Nothing of real importance, I just wanted to assure you I’m aware of my place. Based on what you just told me I’d like to add more, if I may be allowed to speak freely?”

Speak freely? What did that mean? She felt it was necessary to ask first, so it must be out of the ordinary. He didn’t answer immediately. This was all so new; he had to proceed carefully. There she was, patiently waiting for him to decide if she might continue. Róisín certainly had a talent for reminding Alex that he was in charge. Maybe it was pure selfishness but he still enjoyed the sense of power he held over her. “Go ahead,”

“Sir, you took me by surprise with your unexpected honesty. I don’t see myself as any kind of expert, but naturally if it helps, I’ll share my knowledge and opinions. I’m sure you can understand why I can only offer suggestions. I would never presume to tell you what to do.”

It was Alex’s turn to be caught off balance by her response. In theory he had total control over Róisín’s future, the rest of her life, from the moment the guard handed her over. In practice he actually had no idea what to expect. From what he’d read the owner was supposed to be confident and assertive, to be the leader, firmly in charge. What he didn’t anticipate, and what she just made quite clear, is that she would not settle for anything less. What Alex assumed was a great privilege turned out to be an equally large obligation.

“Let’s get out of this place. You heard the guard, it’s after curfew.” He reached into the laptop bag resting against the table leg. Out came with two boxes, purchased from a store earlier today.

It was time for him to put theory into practice. “Stand up, step away from the chair, face the door.” He kept his voice even but with a firm tone to reinforce direct orders.

Róisín was out of the chair and turned toward the door in record time. Unquestioned obedience, it was one thing to read about it, quite another to see it in action. To say Alex was enthralled was an understatement. To have such power over someone, especially an attractive woman, was a heady drug. And like any drug it came with a warning. From now on he had to be very careful in choosing his words when speaking to her. A feeble joke could easily become an all-consuming obsession on her part.

Island law was universal in one important aspect. After curfew all collared females had to be escorted and restrained in public, outside of buildings. Róisín wore one of those collars, locked on, with a registration number that now listed Alex as her legal owner. That meant he was ultimately responsible for ensuring she was properly supervised at all times.

“Hands behind your back.” Again, he tried to project a calm yet determined attitude. She stood very still, not saying a word. Her hands were close together in the small of her back, palms facing each other but not touching. How many times had she practiced that move? He pushed open the handcuffs and closed them around her wrists, slowly tightening the bows until they were snug but not digging into her skin. He checked each side before engaging the double lock. Her hands hung limp; she offered no resistance. Reaching back, he picked up the leg irons from the box on the table. Crouching down he fastened them around her ankles, being careful not to over tighten them. After running a hand around each cuff to check the fit he double locked them.

The moment Alex stood up she widened her stance, pulling the ankle chain tight. That must be a common procedure, he thought. While putting the empty boxes back in the laptop bag he noticed for the first time how she held herself in a rigid pose, back straight, head held high, as if frozen in place. It was obviously for his benefit. The display of obedience required an acknowledgement of her effort.

Leaving his bag on the table Alex went around to her side. Backing up for a better view Alex put on a good show, eyes sweeping up and down, slowly circling her, as if he were on an inspection, looking for the slightest mistake. Truth was, he didn’t know what to look for, not that there was any need to tell her that. Then he realized it was entirely up to him to decide if anything was amiss. “I don’t want you to keep the ankle chain taut. Bring your feet in a small amount.” Was he overly concerned about it? Not at all; the purpose behind the change was to place a personal stamp on her picture-perfect position.

The chain drooped down to the floor. “Good, that’s what I want to see.” Now came the hard part, remembering to check in the future for the change. He was beginning to appreciate the work involved in setting rules. It wasn’t enough to simply dictate a demand; he had to remember every point, make sure she didn’t miss anything, and do it all in such a way that she could see he took it seriously. He made a mental note to write down each restriction imposed on her, in order to keep track of what had to be verified from now on. Somehow Alex knew she would never forgive him if he missed the tiniest detail.

Taking hold of her shoulders, he turned her around before moving in very close. “Look at me.” He spoke softly but still clearly an order. She tilted her head up. “We’re going to have a good life together. You know why I’m certain? It’s because I’m not going to allow anyone or anything to come between us.”

Always project sincerity, he thought, even if I’m weighed down by the doubts of how I’m going to guarantee that good life. The little speech sounded trite, meaningless promises not to be taken seriously, but he could not have been more wrong. Alex wasn’t an expert on reading people’s expressions, but it was readily apparent his reassurance had a positive effect. Hope, that’s what he saw, hope for the future.

On the Way Home When Alex led Róisín out to the car he got an immediate lesson in how the “escort” part of the curfew law was interpreted. His initial assumption was that he only had to be with her; he soon found out it meant maintaining a physical hold onto her. The moment he let go of her arm she stopped dead in her tracks.

He found out later it wasn’t just about the curfew. Any time, day or night, when she was restrained in chains, he had to be there to govern her movement. In a way it made sense. If Róisín were to stumble there was no way to break her fall except his holding onto her arm. The law was designed specifically to ensure she had to rely on him, along with keeping her from harm.

There was a certain grace in the way she managed almost a normal pace while walking with those leg chains on. Alex was Róisín’s second owner. It wasn’t clear what happened to the first; the brokerage didn’t provide any details. Reading between the lines of her sketchy background, Alex’s conclusion was he had traded her in for a newer model. It was a callous way to treat a woman who had been devoted to her man. A waste too, because Alex could see she had the skill and confidence that only comes with time. That’s why he had picked her out of an auction catalog that usually stressed physical attraction over life experience.

He was convinced he’d made the right choice. His real concern was how well she would accept him. Being summarily tossed out without any warning had to be traumatic, yet she showed no external signs of her inner turmoil. Alex suspected that was for his benefit.

They crossed the parking lot in silence. What was it like for her, locked in those chains? Not being a hardened criminal Alex had never enjoyed the dubious pleasure of being handcuffed and shackled, nor did he have any desire to rectify that omission. For Róisín being restrained was an integral part of her life, something she must encounter on practically a daily basis.

When they arrived at the car he ran into a new problem. Exactly how did he get her into the car seat? He opened the passenger door, unsure of what came next.

Róisín must have sensed his confusion. “Sir? May I offer a suggestion?”

Alex needed assistance and wasn’t too proud to accept it when offered. “Sure, help me out,” he told her.

“If you could put your hand over my head, so I don’t bump it on the car, then I can sit down sideways and turn in the seat to straighten out. That way you don’t have to release me.”

That’s what they did, and it worked. Her dress slid up but she had an answer to that as well. Bracing her shoulders against the seat back she lifted herself up far enough for him to pull down the dress hem and preserve her modesty. Alex finished by leaning over her to fasten the seat belt. He noticed the belt latch was out of reach with her hands behind her back.

After he got in the car, he leaned over to check on her. “You okay? Is the seat belt too tight?” The seat did have a slight indentation in the back to accommodate bound hands.

“I’m fine, sir. If I may say so, you are very considerate to ask. Over the years I’ve spent quite a bit of time with my hands behind my back. With the seat belt where it is I’m comfortable.”

He was sure Róisín was sincere, yet Alex still put a hand on her shoulder to push her forward so he could see for himself. She was his responsibility from now on; he was not going to take that duty lightly. Since there were no apparent issues Alex let her sit back, though he left his hand on her bare shoulder. She held very still, except for swiveling her head to look up at him.

Old habits die hard. His first impulse was to jerk his hand back, ready to offer some excuse for an inappropriate touch. No! This woman, Róisín, belongs to me. He didn’t have to apologize for anything.

There was something about her, the way she calmly sat there, so helpless and vulnerable, that triggered a need to protect her, to keep her safe. Alex guessed it was the old “Damsel in Distress” at work, though the only real threat Róisín faced at the moment came from him. Maybe it wasn’t right, yet he didn’t want to release her from those cuffs. Nor did he want to stop touching her.

Being a woman, it took her no more than about two seconds to figure out what was on his mind. “Whatever you desire, master,” she whispered. “I’m yours, anything you wish. Don’t ask, sir, take what you want from me. I’ll be there for you, any time, day or night. And I’ll never say no.”

With the greatest reluctance Alex placed both hands on the steering wheel. Her words of encouragement answered a question he hadn’t posed to her. The night would end with them sharing a bed.

His Introduction Alex hung the handcuffs and leg irons on pegs in the hallway closet. Róisín stood next to him, rubbing her wrists. “Let’s go into the living room.” He took hold of her arm to lead the way. Maybe it wasn’t necessary, since the room was clearly visible at the end of the hallway, but he liked that subtle bit of control.

She was cautious, which he expected given the drastic changes taking place. Alex’s plan was to put her at ease by talking about himself. The more she knew about him the more confident she would be in trusting to his lead. “You sit here, on the sofa.” He pointed to where he wanted her.

Before joining her Alex took a moment to observe the way she carefully sat down, keeping her legs together, gathering her dress to straighten it out, and the small details like the way she folded her hands in her lap. It had a natural look though he was convinced it represented years of practice. Poise, he thought, she knows I’m watching. The little show was meant for him and her efforts were very effective in attracting his attention.

He joined her on the couch, casually laying one arm on the back, behind her. It was a way of showing her he had a possessive streak. In the outside world that might be a negative, but for a woman like Róisín it represented a form of security.

Alex wasted no time in starting the conversation. “Here’s what we’re going to do. I’ll tell you a bit about myself, how I see our relationship, and what I want from you. After I’m done it’ll be your turn. Anything you’d like to say before we begin?”

She had a thoughtful expression. “That’s very nice of you, sir. Are there any specific instructions for me, something you might like?”

He was going to say no but paused to consider why she asked. There was almost a hint of desperation in her voice, as if finding some way to please him was a question of life or death. Maybe that’s how she felt, perhaps not quite so dramatic yet anxious to prove to Alex he’d made the right choice in buying her. Her question could not be dismissed out of hand.

Then an idea came to him, simple but effective. “I approve of the way you sit. You will discover I like order and adherence to rules. However, I will insist on one change. Now, I assume you are forbidden to cross your legs?”

“Of course, sir. That’s a very common practice.”

“Not for you,” he interjected. “From this point on you will sit with your ankles crossed, right over left. It will be a fixed rule, public or private, indoors or outside. It starts now.”

Róisín didn’t hesitate. “Is this acceptable, sir?” she asked, looking down at the floor.

Alex stood up to get a better look. Was it something he enjoyed? Not really, but that wasn’t the purpose behind the command. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m looking for.” He walked around to the other side, checking from every angle. “This is important to me. I will not tolerate mistakes. You will get this right every time, no lapse of memory, no excuses. Failure to comply will be dealt with in the harshest terms. Do we understand each other?”

Her eyes were wide, surprised at the ferocity behind his little speech. “Yes, sir, I am well-acquainted with zero-tolerance rules. I won’t disappoint you. And if I do fail you, sir, I expect to be severely punished for it.”

She was so adamant about that last part Alex was positive there would never be a time when he’d be called on to enforce the implied threat. Her response was more evidence he’d made the right choice.

Alex sat back down. “Okay, about me and my countless character flaws. As you see I am quite self-centered. I won’t hesitate in making unreasonable, even ridiculous demands on you purely for my own gratification. I am both stubborn and overbearing, which translates into ordering you around with little concern about your feelings or opinions. I will decide what’s best for you, whether or not you agree.”

She didn’t answer but he could tell she wasn’t overly concerned about his revelations. All I’m doing is confirming how normal I am for a North Island man. Let’s see how far I can stretch the definition of normal.

He reached out to place a hand over hers. “I’m going to be honest with you, even if it sounds like I’m a jerk. I look forward to the opportunity to impose restrictions on you. Don’t expect it to be for your benefit. This is a thing I do purely because I can, by using my unrestricted power over you. Obviously, your obedience is mandatory.

“It doesn’t stop there. I will oversee every aspect of your life, regardless of how you feel about it. To me, that translates to dependency. You will, and I stress the will part, look to me for all your wants and needs. If I catch you holding back there will be unpleasant consequences. You will never be a burden, so don’t ever let that idea influence you. Remember, I can always say no.

“The number one question you should ask yourself, all during the day, is ‘Do I have permission?’, and the answer better come from me. When in doubt, always ask first. If I’m not available, use your best judgement based on what you know, and then check with me later.”

Alex paused, to gauge her reaction. “Fortunately, since we’re here on North Island, I don’t foresee any problems. There’s no need to explain your place; you’ve had plenty of experience wearing that collar. And what it involves.”

Alex was aware from her records Róisín had firsthand knowledge of life on North Island. She had deliberately chosen an environment where women had no freedom and no rights. What drove her to seek a way of life that defined her purely in terms of literally being a man’s possession? It was a question that would pop up over and over again, emphasizing how different they were.

Whatever the motivation, it worked out well for him. “That brings us to why we’re sitting next to each other. I’ve known for a while the only type of relationship that will last, for me, is one where I’m in charge. You can guess where that leads and why you’re here. To have that relationship flourish I need a like-minded woman, one who’s happy for me to be running things, to guide our common future as I see fit. I believe that woman is you.”

Her facial expression remained neutral, as if she’d heard all this before. “As I told you, I’m not out to ask the impossible. I want you to have a good life with me, even if it has to be on my terms. You can always come to me, to speak freely, as you put it, on anything that bothers you. I admit I’m not an expert when it comes to relationships. There will be times I’ll miss the subtle clues. Not intentionally, it’s just that I don’t know what to look for.

“That’s where you come in. I have to rely on you to point out those little things I miss, no matter how difficult it may be for you. Holding back out of concern for me is to erode the ways you help keep our connection alive. Always remember, we see the world in fundamentally different ways. What is obvious to you may well be outside my ability to recognize.” He laid a hand over hers, neatly folded in her lap. “I can’t stress this enough. We each have our strengths, our talents. I’m counting on you to use your skills, your emotions, your reaction when I do something that seems incredibly stupid, to share it all with me. I make no pretensions about being flawless and omniscient. When I make a mistake, I’ll do whatever I can to remedy my blunder.”

Expert and Novice “One way you can help immediately is advice on how we can fit into daily life here on North Island. I’d prefer not to blindly stumble along in ignorance, making a fool of myself in the process. Your experience, no matter how trivial the details, is of immense value.

“I might not heed your words of wisdom; after all I am set in my ways. Even if I take us in a different direction, I still want to hear from you. I believe my fragile male ego can withstand some criticism. And if it doesn’t, well, I’ll simply order you to shut up. How does that sound?”

Róisín appeared to be confused. “I’m happy to do what I can, sir. Again, I’m uncomfortable with the idea I might inadvertently be telling you what to do. That wouldn’t be right.”

She was correct, though he wasn’t too concerned. “Let me worry about that. If you cross the line, I’ll deal with it as an honest misunderstanding. It’s on me; you needn’t be concerned about the right or wrong.”

“Yes, sir. If I may, I’ll start with some context. Even though I can’t leave, I'm here on North Island because it’s my home. This is where I want to live, in my little world of absolutes. I’m at my best when I have one consistent set of rules to follow, one right way to behave, and most of all one man to take care of me. Ideally there must be no uncertainty, no indecision, no ambiguity. Rules are not meant to be broken. You are my absolute authority in all that matters, above all others. Absolute, that’s the word I’d use to best describe myself.”

Was she real? Judging by the intensity behind her little speech Alex had to assume it wasn’t an act to impress him. On the Internet he’d come across accounts about this sort of situation. From now on caution was the watchword about how he spoke to her, because everything that came from him would be taken literally. No joking about rules or how he ordered her around; definitely no sarcasm; and most of all Alex had to be consistent in how he treated Róisín. Any instructions that came from him had to be specific, clear and carefully thought out beforehand. He had the power to permanently alter her behav

Island IV – Meetings · Part 9 (9/21)
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