Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 62063 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62063 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Relax. They probably kept you waiting this long just to mess with you, so they could get an idea of what you’re really like. Or something like that.
“My name is Malleus,” he announced, his voice deep and authoritative. He gave no sign of knowing how strange that sounded, as an introduction. “You will call me miles. It’s a title, not a name, and it means I will be your trainer. You are from this moment a columba of the Order of Ostia, under my supervision.”
I stared at him, my mind reeling. Trainer? Columba? What did any of this mean?
“Go ahead and take off your clothes,” he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.
A wave of shock, fear, and something else—something darker—washed over me. My body tensed, my heart hammering in my chest as I grappled mentally with the command. The room seemed to close in around me, the air growing thick with an oppressive, sudden sense of the gravity of the moment. I had the frightening but irresistible thought that my life had just changed a good deal more than I had thought I wanted it to.
“Take off your clothes,” he repeated, his eyes boring into mine. “Or I’ll take them off for you.”
I sat frozen in the simple task chair at the simple interview table, my mind a chaotic storm of conflicting emotions. Shock and fear kept coursing through me, icy tendrils wrapping around my heart. That something else, though, it remained present, too. Unwillingly, I identified it as arousal, rising unbidden in response to this man’s—Malleus? Is that what he said?—command.
“Wh-what?” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. My hands trembled as I clutched the hem of my blouse, torn between compliance and resistance. A part of me, to my utter horror, considered obeying him, the thought of undressing under his stern gaze sending a shiver down my spine.
“No,” I said finally, mustering what little courage I had left. “I won’t do it. I want to leave.”
Malleus’ expression remained impassive, his gaze never wavering. “You’ve been identified as a prime candidate for sexual service through data mining of your online activity,” he stated matter-of-factly. “The Order of Ostia has recruited you, and you have no choice in the matter. Your family will be told you have been selected for a prestigious but secret corporate program.”
“The… the Order of… of what?” I said. A spark of hope ignited in my chest. “But… oh, wait… I thought… I think the receptionist… Gail? Was that her name? I think she… I’m supposed to be interviewing…”
Malleus let me go on that far, and then he interrupted.
“For the Ostia Modeling Agency,” he said. “Which is the front for the Order of Ostia. You’re in the right place. Take off your clothes.”
“That’s insane!” I protested, pushing my chair back and rising from it. “You can’t do this! Let me go!”
“Strip,” he commanded again, his tone brooking no argument. “Or I’ll take your clothes off for you.”
My pulse quickened, panic flooding my senses. I knew rationally that I had no chance of escape. The room was small, windowless, and the door behind him seemed an insurmountable barrier. Yet, the thought of submitting to his authority, of baring myself before him, filled me with a desperate need to get out of there at all costs.
Without another word, I lunged for the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew it was futile, but I couldn’t help the primal urge to flee. My pumps clicked frantically against the polished floor as I reached for the handle, my fingers brushing the cold metal.
In an instant, Malleus was upon me, his strong hand gripping my wrist with effortless precision. He pulled me back, spinning me around to face him. His piercing blue eyes held a mixture of irritation and amusement.
“You’re trying my patience, columba,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “And I don’t mind imposing consequences for misbehavior on lovely young virgins like yourself.”
A wave of helplessness washed over me, mingling with the shame and arousal that his touch evoked. His grip was unyielding, his presence overwhelming. Despite my struggles, I couldn’t deny the traitorous heat seeping between my legs, a mortifying testament to his dominance.
“Please,” I whispered, my voice trembling with a blend of fear and helpless, forbidden desire. “Why are you doing this?”
“Don’t ask useless questions, columba,” Malleus replied, his tone devoid of mercy. “You belong to the Order now, and you will learn to submit.”
Tears welled in my eyes, a mixture of frustration, fear, and the unbearable shame of my own body’s betrayal. My resolve wavered, teetering on the edge of submission. The battle within me raged on, each passing second a tortured eternity.
Malleus’ grip on my wrist tightened as he pushed me back against the cold, unforgiving wall of the interview room. My heart pounded in my chest, a wild drumbeat that seemed to echo in the confined space. His eyes, those piercing blue orbs, locked onto mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.