• 'To Be Loved'


    "What do you want me to say, Master?" she turned towards him, her voice dripping with scorn. "Would you like to hear that I enjoy being raped over and over again? That I actually like being in so much pain that I wish for death to come and take me? Tell me, Master, is that what you want?" She was shaking with anger as her eyes locked with his, losing her fear of him in the heat of her passion.

    He stared at her, his eyes wide with shock. "You…" his voice broke and he was forced to swallow before he could start again. "You have been in pain? I have been…hurting you?"

    Her eyes widened as she realized that she had said too much. Swiftly, she dropped to her knees bowing low before him. "I was out of place, Master, I beg you forgiveness." She began to shake slightly, but she had to continue, it would be worse if she didn't, "I will gladly accept any punishment that you deem appropriate for my insolence." The tremors in her body increased as flashes from previous punishments flashed through her mind.

    He continued to stare at her, confused at her reaction, before he knelt in front of her shivering form. He slowly reached out his hand and placed it on top of her bowed head. She squeaked slightly at the unexpected touch and instinctively flinched away. He became even more worried, what had been done to her? He ran his palm down the length of her cheek and gently cupped her chin, forcing her to look up into his eyes. He wanted to cry when he saw the stark terror in their dark depths.

    "What do you mean?" he asked. "What have I done to make you fear me so?"

    Now it was her turn to be confused. Hadn't he been the one that ordered her punished? How could he not know? Regan had been bragging that Master Teno had been very angry with her before he left. He had said that he had been given leave to do whatever he wished to her while the Master was away, as long as there were no permanent scars. And he had taken those orders to heart. Her entire body ached from what he had done to her.

    "Lily," Teno prompted, "tell me. Why are you afraid? What happened to the shy friend I had before I left?"

    For the first time, Lily actually looked into his eyes. She couldn't identify the emotion exactly, but what she saw took her breath away and gave her just enough courage to open her mouth and answer.

    "Lord Regan," she whispered, her voice shaking as the memories replayed themselves within her mind, "followed his order to 'cure me of my insolent tongue' while you were away. He…" she broke his hold on her chin and lowered her face to the floor. "He seems to have failed, Master, please forgive him. It is my fault, not his. He truly tried to obey the orders given him."

    "WHAT?" Teno hissed standing up in one swift movement. "Whose order was he fulfilling? Certainly not mine!" He began to pace back and forth muttering incoherently to himself.

    Lily had flinched at his angry outburst, her body puling in on itself into more of a ball than a bow, but the last comment caused her ears to perk up. He didn't order for my torture? She quickly glanced up at her Master as he slumped onto his ample bed and lowered his face into his hands.

    "M-master?" she whispered. Teno's head shot up as if he had forgotten she was in the room. She gulped, "Master, you didn't order that they do that to me?" Her voice waivered uncertainly, but Teno lifted his head and looked into her eyes. He saw the pain and torment still prominent in their depths, but he also saw a glimmer of hope.

    Before she knew what was happening, Teno had reached down and pulled her into his lap, his muscular arms encircling her slender form as his forehead rested against the top of her head, his nose buried in her long hair. "I would never do anything to hurt you, my love," her whispered into her ear, his voice ragged with tears. The warm breath made her shiver, but not in fear. Her heart skipped a beat. Love? My Love? Her Master had just said that he actually loved her. Somehow, the words seemed right. Something in her heart clicked and she suddenly realized that she was really loved. For the first time since her parents had been killed and she sold into slavery, she felt her heart thaw and begin to pump warmth through her veins. Loved, she was loved! It made her dizzy. This is what she had seen in his eyes, pure and unconditional love.

    User ImageTears filled her eyes and spilled over as she buried her face into the crevasse where his neck and torso met. "I love you to," she mumbled into his shoulder. Even though she was crying, she couldn't remember ever being happier than she was at this moment, surrounded by the warmth of a man who loved her and knowing that she would never have to leave his embrace.