Stray (10 page)

“Sorry if I’m intruding,” Marnie apologised, turning to face me.

I made a dismissive gesture with my hand before inviting her to take a seat on the small two-seater couch farthest from the hallway. “Not at all. I was just finishing an article.” I moved my laptop off the coffee table, transporting it into the kitchen to set it on the counter. “Coffee?”

“Oh, no, thank you,” came Marnie’s petite voice. “I’ve never cared for it.”

I poured some of the dark liquid into my mug, added a spoonful of sugar and joined her in the living room, taking my place beside her. “Coffee’s sort of become a new passion of mine. Never cared for it myself until I moved back here.”

“What changed your mind?” Marnie took off her shoes and curled her legs beneath her as I took my first sip.

“Insomnia, mostly. I couldn’t sleep, so I figured I’d try and get some work done. That said, even though I couldn’t sleep, my eyes didn't want to stay open. Coffee seemed like the next best thing. It started innocently enough. One or two cups a day from the cafe down the street. After about a month of the stuff, I was hooked.”

“I prefer tea, and only when I’m not feeling well.”

“Oh.” I sat up and went to stand. “I can make some tea if you—”

“Alyssa,” Marnie began, patting my wrist. “It’s okay. I don’t need anything. Thank you, though.”

I settled back on my side of the couch and cupped my hands around the mug, delighting in its warmth. “So, what’s up? When you called, it sounded kind of important.”

Marnie stared down at her lap. I did the same. She fiddled with a loose string on the bottom of her shirt. Wrung her hands. Looked towards the kitchen. Looked at me.

I set my mug on the coffee table and took her hands in mine. “What is it? Dylan—”

Marnie forced a smile. “No, no, nothing like that.”

I drew in a breath and placed my hands in my lap. “Then what is it?”

Marnie chewed at her lips, and when I thought she wouldn’t say another word, she continued, “Dylan wants you to move in with us.”

I blinked. “He what? Why didn’t he say so?” We’d spoken not even an hour before, and he’d texted me countless times during the day.

“He wanted to make sure I’d be okay with it first. He would’ve waited until he got back, but since your lease is up at the end of the week, and he won’t be home by then…”

“He sent you over here to tell me.”

Marnie nodded.

“But I can’t just up and leave.”

“Master says training will be a lot easier if you stay at home with us.”

“Well, yeah, I can understand that, but…” I glanced around my living room, which was smaller than Dylan’s kitchen. “What happens if I don’t get a Dom who wants a twenty-four-seven relationship?”

Marnie shook her head. “Dylan doesn’t deal with them. He makes sure his subs are comfortable and set as far as living is concerned before handing them over to a new Dom.”

“So, a new Dom would just take me in, even before he knows me?”

“Not exactly.” Marnie’s cheeks coloured. “Eventually, Dylan will share you with a few Doms he feels you’re fit to sub for. You’ll get to know one another first before the contract’s drawn. Before you move in together.”

“And what happens if no Dom wants…”

Marnie squeezed my hand. “Dylan doesn’t want you to worry about that. He said if that happens, you’re welcome to stay with us as much as you like. He’s not doing this just so he can ditch you, Alyssa. He really does want to help. And between your training and you driving from here to our house, staying with us would be easier for everyone involved.”

“What about my things? My work?”

“It all comes with us. And you work during the day, same as him.”

“What about my finances?”

“Dylan doesn’t do that. He won’t take your money, or tell you what to spend it on. Your money and your time are your own. All he expects from you is your obedience and your honesty.”

“But we only have a week.”

“You’ve never seen me move before, have you?” She winked. “If you’ll allow it, I’d love to help.”

I touched the collar around my neck. The last time I’d jumped into a relationship, Anthony had had no idea what he had been doing. I’d moved in just as quickly. Could I take that same risk again?

“Marnie, I’m just not so sure about this.”

“Dylan thought you might say that.” She smiled when I looked up at her. “Would it make you more comfortable if we kept the lease open for a few months? You wouldn’t have to pay for it. Dylan would do that for you.”

“But why? Why not just have me stay here if that’s the case?”

“You haven’t gone into subspace yet, but when you do, Dylan wants to keep a close eye on you. And since every sub reacts different to subdrop, it’s hard to say if you’ll drop hours after a scene, days after, or not at all.”

“So, he’s willing to do all of this just to keep me safe?”
Take me in? Pay my bills?
It didn’t make any sense.

“If you don’t have your mental health, he won’t be able to train you. If you stay at the house, Dylan and I can offer aftercare to make sure you’re treated right. Subdrop can be hell for new and even experienced subs.”

“Have you dropped before?”

Marnie inclined her head. “A few times. Only once with Dylan, and it was something we learnt to work with—not against.” Her eyes softened. “Dylan told me what Anthony did. I didn’t know the full story before. He told me the other night when he and I were discussing your future arrangements. I promise you, he isn’t like that. You can even look at my back if you want. It’s mostly bare.”

“Mostly?”

“Well, I didn’t say he hasn’t gotten rough with me. He just knows how to care for his subs, and his slave. You’ll never, ever bleed from a cat-o’-nine-tails unless you ask for it. Dylan knows how much force to use so as to not break the skin.”

“Then why the concern for subdrop and aftercare?” That was why they wanted me to move in, wasn’t it?

“Because every sub works differently. You might reach subspace before your training even gets that far. You might drop for other reasons. Besides, you and I both know that isn’t the only training you’ll be working on. Dylan already told you that you can’t hide away from yourself, or keep from shifting. He wants to help you, and if being bound or beaten with a flogger don’t send you over the edge, shifting into a wolf most certainly will.”

“Do you want me there?”

Marnie gave me a questioning glance. “What do you mean?”

“Dylan told me he can’t have a relationship you aren’t okay with. And I totally get that. But are you asking me to move in because he wants me to or because he’s ordered you to?”

“Neither. I’m asking because
I
want you to. These talks we’ve been having… I’ve never had them with another sub. You’re easy to talk to, Alyssa. You don’t act like you’re better than me. More deserving than me. You’re just you.”

“The other subs never talked to you?”

She shook her head. “They figured if I was Master’s slave, it meant I was their slave as well. Needless to say, they didn’t last long.”

“Wait a second.” I adjusted my weight and leant forward. “So no other sub’s ever stayed with you before?”

“For a weekend, yes.”

“But never full-time?”

“No. And it wasn’t because of me either. He couldn’t feel connected to them. He wasn’t comfortable in his abilities as a Dom around them.” She paused and drew in a deep breath. “They wanted him to inflict more pain than he knew they could take. They wanted him to break the skin. To leave them with Doms neither of them had ever met. He considered every single one of their suggestions, but if he felt it would push their boundaries too far, he didn’t do it.”

I furrowed my brow as I began to read through the lines. “Marnie?”

“Hmm?”

“Am I the first sub he’s taken in? Since Karla, I mean.”

“Sort of. The others…they either left out of frustration due to their lack of control, or because Dylan wouldn’t push them harder than he was comfortable with.”

“Then he’s never passed subs off to another Dom.”

“He has, actually. He’s given the other subs an escape, to a Dom who could fit their needs. Dylan just couldn’t do it himself.”

“Do you think he can handle me?”

Marnie brushed her hand over my cheek. “I know he can.”

“And you?”

“It’ll be nice to have someone new in the house for a change. Talking to my mop and bucket gets old.”

“Slave jokes, huh?”

“Maybe just a little. It is lonely during the day though when Dylan isn't home.” She laughed.

“Okay, I’ll give it a shot.” I smiled when Marnie perked up. “But only if we keep my lease open.”

“I’ll let Dylan know. You can keep the paperwork and he’ll give you the checks when the bills come in.”

I inclined my head and reached over for my coffee, grimacing to find the mug cold. “So, when do we begin?”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

Chapter Ten

It’s pretty sad when you can fit most of your life inside a handful of boxes. Granted, the only things I needed to take with me included some clothing, a few keepsakes and my laptop, but even then, it was probably a lot less than I would’ve accumulated over the last year or so if I hadn’t spent so much time hiding in the dark.

The furniture could stay back at the apartment for when I moved back in, or for the new tenants if they decided to keep it. Either way, I didn’t care. Each piece was a hand-me-down from rummaging at yard sales when I’d first got my own place. The few keepsakes I had were among the items Anthony hadn’t broken or stolen from me. The rest had likely been lost in my hurry to get away from him.

Towards the end of the following week and just a few days until Dylan was supposed to come home, I’d taken most of my necessities over to his place. I set the last of my boxes on Dylan’s living room table and looked over a few of my possessions—things that had at least a little meaning to me. Books, old letters from friends I’d lost contact with, cheap necklaces I’d worn for one occasion or another along with a locket from my parents. Everything else could be replaced—something I’d hoped to do once my income was a little more reliable.

“Is that everything?” Marnie asked, walking into the living room after me.

“Pretty much.” I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. “Sad, isn’t it?”

“What’s so sad about books, letters and a locket?”

“Shouldn’t I have more? Even with all of the moving and fighting with Anthony, I just thought—”

“I think I had a total of three boxes when Dylan asked me to come and live with him. I don’t think it’s sad at all. Charming, really. Conservative too.”

I dropped my hands to my sides and turned to face her. “You know what? You’re right. Most of the things I thought were important were either taken from me or used against me. Who needs to be reminded of that, right?”

Marnie bobbed her head and led me over to the couch so I could sit down. I leant forward and braced my head between my knees. I’d been fighting back the nausea from my anxiety all day, and after driving from place to place, it had finally caught up with me. Moving in with Dylan was a good change. It didn’t remind me of Anthony, about my escape from him or about how many nights I’d spent wide awake just to watch the door to my apartment.

I’d always expected Anthony to walk in, make himself at home and start our entire relationship all over again. Which was stupid. He had no idea where I was. Where I lived. Who I talked to. Who I lived with. And yet, no matter how many miles I’d put between us, he’d continued to control me. Even when I’d first met with Dylan—but not anymore.

I’d given Anthony enough of my life. Dylan was helping me to take it back. This was a good move. Healthy. I drew in a deep breath as the nausea slowly dissipated. I hadn’t even realised Marnie had got up until she handed me a mug of warm liquid.

“It’ll help you sleep,” she said, nodding to it. “It’s peppermint. Good for upset stomachs.” She flashed me a knowing smile.

“How did you—?”

“You aren’t the first one to move in with Dylan.” She kicked off her shoes and folded her feet under her. “It’s overwhelming at first, but it’ll grow on you.”

I brought the mug up to my lips, smelling the peppermint well before it passed over my tongue. It was just the right amount of sweet, and I breathed it all in.

“So, I’ve been meaning to ask. What does Dylan actually do?” I paused when Marnie looked up at me, her cheeks colouring the slightest bit. “What I mean to say is, I don’t know of many jobs that would send their employees out of state, much less out of the country for two weeks. What’s he in England for?”

“Oh.” Marnie let out a breath as her colour returned to normal. “He goes every year. He’s actually stuck behind a desk most of the time, filing paperwork for large corporations. He’s over there now to help with a merger of some kind. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s had him in knots for the last month or so.”

“Submissive at work, huh? Well, that sucks. I was hoping he was the president of some law firm or something.”

“You’d think that. He certainly would fit the role. Unfortunately, the job he has is the best one he could find at the time, and with the way the economy is, it just isn’t smart to go hunting for a new one right now.”

I nodded and nursed my tea, leaning my head back to rest it on the couch. The house sounded way too quiet without Dylan around. There were no heavy footsteps. No coughing or clearing of his throat. As large as the house felt without him there, it was no wonder Marnie had wanted me to move in when I had.

“You should probably get some sleep,” Marnie began, standing away from the couch. “We can talk more in the morning.”

I glanced around the room. “What time is it, anyway?”

Marnie shrugged. “Eleven? Eleven-thirty?”

I stared down at my mug, to find it was completely drained. “Gone already?”

“Don’t you hate it when that happens?”

I smiled and handed the mug to Marnie when she asked for it. “Tell me about it. It’s even worse when you’re eating a good sandwich and think you still have the other half lying around somewhere.” I padded over to my things and started to pick through the boxes.