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I wanted to say something but I hesitated. I d already said too much yesterday. It
wasn t my place to get involved here. On the other hand, if somebody had cared
enough to give me a few pointers when I d started out, it would ve saved me a lot of
grief. Mind if I give you a little advice?
Sure, why not?
If you re getting sore, it s okay to ask him to stop. Offer him a blowjob or a hand
job, or just take a break. We ve still got four days on this boat. It won t be much fun for
either of you if you re worn down to a nub by tomorrow.
Try telling him that. I think he s taking Viagra or something. He never fucking
stops. Or stops fucking. He folded his arms on the table and rested his chin on them.
He looked ready to nod off on the spot. He finally crashed about an hour ago. Hope he
stays asleep for a while.
I ve got some sleeping pills I could give you if you want. Put one in his drink
tonight and he ll be out within half an hour.
He thought about it a moment, then nodded. Thanks, man. I appreciate it.
Roger was awake when I got back to the stateroom in every possible sense. He put
me through my paces for the next hour or so until we collapsed in a sticky, exhausted
pile. Beneath that unassuming exterior lurked the libido of a caged tiger. Why was it
always the quiet ones you had to watch out for?
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The First Real Thing
We got in the shower together and he fucked me again under the stinging-hot
spray. I pressed my face to the tile and closed my eyes. It felt wrong to be thinking of
Trev at a time like this, but I couldn t help it. Four more days until I could be with him
forever. Until I never had to fuck another guy for money ever again.
Four more days until I never had to tell another lie.
* * * * *
I spent the next day or so lounging on deck in between bouts of bedroom Olympics
with Roger. We dropped anchor outside Nassau on the third day but I didn t bother
going ashore. I d been there a couple years ago on one of the previous cruises. I much
preferred to bask in the peace and quiet and get a decent tan.
After baking first on one side then the other, I started to get drowsy and nodding
off under the blistering tropical sun wasn t such a great idea. Roger was ashore, so this
was the perfect time for me to take a nap. I grabbed my towel and headed for my
stateroom.
I had to pass by Lionel and Ryan s stateroom to get to mine. Evidently they hadn t
gone ashore, if the grunts, groans and bed creaking on the other side of the door were
any indication. Jesus. Lionel really didn t know when to say quit.
Then there came a sharp cracking sound a sound I recalled vividly from my single
short-lived appointment with him followed by a pained shout. Then I heard crying. It
was Ryan, begging for Lionel to stop.
Maybe it was all just play-acting. I d done SM play before, and I d seen other people
doing it. Some were fond of putting on a show of protesting, saying no or stop when
they really didn t mean it. But it didn t sound to me like Ryan was faking. I tried the
door, but it was locked.
Another crack, another scream stark and raw this time, ripped from the bottom of
a terrified throat.
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Cat Grant
That was it. I d heard enough. Open up! I yelled, banging on the door with my
fist. No answer. The room had gone quiet. Too damn quiet. Open this door right now,
Lionel, or I ll get the steward to do it.
The door opened just wide enough to reveal Lionel s beady eyeball. What the fuck
do you want? he snapped.
What re you doing in there? I heard screaming.
We re just having a little fun. Nothing to worry about, all right?
I d like for Ryan to tell me that himself. Let me see him.
Are you crazy? Leave us alone!
Fuck that. I gave the door a hard shove with my shoulder and it flew open. Lionel
flailed, wheeled back and landed flat on his ass on the floor.
Laughter died in my throat at the sight of Ryan lying facedown on the bed, his back
covered in bruises and welts. His face was all red and puffy, streaked with tears. His
wrists were still tied to the headboard with rough twine that had cut into the flesh and
made him bleed.
There was a penknife on the bedside table. I used it to cut Ryan free then grabbed a
robe with the yacht s insignia on it from the back of the bathroom door and wrapped
him in it. Even with my help, it took a couple minutes before he could sit up. He looked
at me, but I wasn t sure if his eyes were focusing.
C mon, I murmured, let s go to my room. I ll get you cleaned up.
Get your hands off him! Lionel shouted. I paid for him, and I ll do whatever
It took my last shred of will to keep from strangling the twisted fuck right then and
there. You might want to think about keeping your mouth shut, Lionel.
But of course, he didn t. You can t do this to me!
We ll see what Charles has to say about that.
I looped Ryan s arm around my shoulder and helped him stagger across the hall to
my stateroom. He perched on the edge of the bed while I blotted his poor abused back
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The First Real Thing
with a warm, moist towel. There were a lot of marks. Some were bright red and
relatively fresh, while others had darkened into an entire range of sickly-looking hues.
I had to take a deep breath before I could ask, How long was he beating on you?
A few of em are from the first night. Don t remember em hurting that bad, but I d
had a few drinks. His throat sounded scratchy, so I went in the bathroom to get him a
glass of water. He downed the whole thing in one gulp. The second night I gave him
that pill and he slept straight through til the next morning. But he must ve figured out I
drugged him, cause he s been in a really fucking bad mood ever since. Then this
morning after everyone left, he broke out the whip again.
Shit! If I hadn t been so busy with Roger, I probably would ve heard something.
And if I hadn t given him that fucking sleeping pill, this might not have happened at
all. Why the hell hadn t I noticed that Ryan hadn t shown up for breakfast this
morning?
I m sorry, I said. I should ve paid closer attention.
To what? It s not your fault.
Ryan, it s nothing but my fault. First what happened at the hotel, then you going
to work for Charles, and now this. If you wanted to deck me, I wouldn t blame you.
He let out a ragged chuckle. Think I ll wait til you finish what you re doing first. It
feels kinda good.
I rubbed antibiotic ointment into the welts on his back then moved on to his wrists.
Christ! What kind of fucking idiot used packing twine to tie people up? Lionel deserved
to be in jail. Or, failing that, blackballed from Charles client list for life.
* * * * *
I let Ryan change into a pair of my jeans and a long-sleeved shirt to cover the cuts
on his wrists and we waited in the salon for Charles to return from his day trip to
Nassau. Harry, Adam and Roger traipsed in with him and headed en masse for the bar.
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Cat Grant
Charles was about to do the same, until I stood and blocked his way. We need to
talk. All three of us.
He rolled his eyes. I can t leave the ship for one afternoon without the entire world
falling apart? Whatever it is, it can wait.
No, it can t. And believe me, you don t want to discuss this out here.
He glanced at me, then at Ryan, then back at me. All right, he said with a sigh.
Let s go down to my stateroom.
I explained to Charles what I d seen and what Ryan told me. He didn t seem
terribly shocked. Then I remembered how he d reacted when I d told him about my
own encounter with Lionel. Charles main concern had been money and making sure
Lionel was taken care of.
He fidgeted in his chair and finally cut me off. What do you expect me to do
throw him overboard?
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