*Author's note: Sorry for the delay. I don't get to write on this too often, and when I do I'm not super productive. Inspiration comes in waves. This chapter doesn't get quite as far as I'd intended, as I sometimes get a bit too long-winded. I figured I'd go ahead and break and give it an update. I'll get the rest out when I can. Thanks for reading.*
*Obviously strongly immoral things happen in this story, all of which would be terrible in real life. It's fiction. Don't bother reading it if that bothers you, and don't bother telling me.*
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At first, Melody thought she had really lucked out. Bruce's house was amazing, he had a fully stocked kitchen, and even though he had already laid down the rule that she was not to leave the house unless under his direction and escort, he otherwise seemed to be a very agreeable, even charming man. He alluded to further rules and stipulations of their relationship that would be coming, and would be 100% required for her to adhere to in order to stay under his protection. But for now, he did little more than treat her lavishly and have somewhat forceful, but more or less normal, sex with her about twice a day. She slept in his bed at night and didn't shrink away from cuddling against him.
Was he the kind of guy she would have chosen to be with on her own, had none of this ever happened to her? Probably not. She'd wanted to date guys her own age. His money was nice, obviously, but she'd never been a gold digger. But he was nice. He was kind, in his own way. He listened to her and it felt like he actually cared about what she was saying, about her feelings on things. She felt secure with him. He was older, established. He seemed unflappable. He already knew all about her whole history, something that would send most men running, and he accepted it, even seemed to like it. She knew there had to be a catch, somehow, but for now she couldn't believe her luck.
He had insisted that she not keep her phone or have any access to the internet or the outside world, but this was the only controlling behavior he had exhibited in those first two weeks. He said that it was to insulate her, to give her the sense that their small world was self-contained, that there was nothing to worry about or even consider beyond these walls. It bothered her only for a moment, but she soon came to think he had a point. He said that he could sculpt her, teach her to be comfortable and empowered within her situation and buried predilections. This was just part of that process. He was right. She couldn't undo any of this, as much as she might want to. The best thing would be to try to learn to flourish within it, and Bruce could show her how.
After the second week he showed her another wing of the house she had never seen, completely sealed off on its own behind a metal door, which was a full apartment unto itself, and informed her that from now on these would be her quarters. There was a nice bathroom with a tub and shower, a living room, a bedroom, a small personal gym, and a kitchenette that was fully stocked with high-end food products. He told her she would sleep here, get ready here in the morning, and be here on her own essentially any time he did not require her presence in his part of the house. At first it made her uneasy, like she was a pampered prisoner, but she pushed the uncertainty down. It was still exquisite quarters. She had a large window in her bedroom that let her look out over San Francisco. She wouldn't be locked in. There was a large TV with cable that she could watch, but he still did not want her to use the internet. The living room opened out onto a small, walled in private garden.
She quickly got used to it. Bruce was often gone in the day now anyway, so she had range of the full house to herself. The one exception was his own quarters, which he kept locked.
She began using the treadmills and the other exercise equipment a lot. She'd always just had a naturally fit and slim body without any effort, but it couldn't hurt to stay active. The physical exertion kept her mind off things anyway. It felt better just to focus on anything other than how she was probably the most exposed and humiliated girl on the planet.
In the evenings Bruce would always treat her to an excellent dinner that he himself would cook. He was a skilled chef. Afterward they would sit on the back veranda overlooking the city and drink wine and talk. He seemed genuinely interested in her as a person. He asked her questions about herself, her past, things deeper than surface-level generalities. She found herself slowly opening up to him.
Eventually the topic of the origins of her current reality came up, although he seemed to be in no rush to get to it. She told him the truth. She told him how all of this fell on her like an avalanche out of nowhere. How yes, she had always had very well-hidden fantasies of being dominated, treated like a total slut, exposed, gangraped...but she never in a million years would have dreamed of acting on these shameful fantasies. She'd never even brought them up to her first boyfriend. She'd always just wanted to be classy, pretty, respectable. A lady.
"I know it's hard to believe, but I did not sign up for any of this. No one believes me, and I guess I can't blame them. But I have no idea how I was put in this situation. It's still nearly impossible to believe it has all happened."
Bruce rolled his wine glass back and forth between a thumb and index finger by the stem. He had a contemplative look on his face.
"I believe you," he said. "Your back and forth hesitation and obvious horror that has been evident throughout your journey...it didn't add up. Why would anyone want to do to themselves what has happened to you? Especially a girl like you who seemed to previously have such a promising, budding life ahead of you."
Melody felt tears starting to well up in the corners of her eyes. She was glad it was dark on the patio where they were.
Bruce ran a finger through a lock of her hair. He touched the skin on her cheekbone.
"And yet," he continued, "I have to say you played the part of the reckless and willing whore quite well at times as well. Your participation seemed to be rather enthusiastic on occasion. You can see how it's confusing to your fans."
Melody's felt her face flushing red. She downed her wine.
"I understand though. I've known women like you before. Don't be ashamed of it. You can't help it. I may even understand your psyche better than you yourself understand it. You do feel torn about your own natural responses, don't you?"