Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has read, commented, and fed back on the opening 9 chapters of Asymmetry. I greatly appreciate all feedback. I hope you enjoy chapter 10.
I stared at the images. I didn't doubt their authenticity for a second, but something still didn't add up.
"He's using you, Carls," Suzanne broke the silence. "Can't you see that now?"
I paused, my brain still struggling to compute the photos.
"I know what it looks like," I replied slowly, "but there has to be more to it."
"You know what I think?" Suzanne replied. "I reckon you're his kinky little fuck buddy; a bit of fun to have on the side while his partner's away. The restaurants they're leaving are astronomically expensive. When did he last take you somewhere like that?"
A fuck buddy? He used me in such a savage way, like a lion devouring its prey, but was always so caring in the aftermath.
"I know I'm not his fuck buddy," I said confidently. "He cares for me. I know that. Plus, he's spent plenty of money on me."
"He obviously doesn't want his picture snapped with you," Suzanne went on. "My guess is this cougar has no idea you exist.."
"But he hasn't done anything to hide her existence from me either. He can't lead a double life if one partner knows about the other."
"That's true," Suzanne mused for a second. "Well, there's a very easy way to clear this up."
"What's that?"
Suzanne laughed. "Isn't it obvious? Just ask him."
A lead balloon dropped in my stomach. Confrontation had never been my strong point.
"I can't do that," I replied.
"Why not?"
"We're going away together next week. I don't want to make things awkward between us."
"You're doing what, Carls?" Suzanne's eyes bulged.
"He's got a place out in Portugal. He's invited me out there before I go back to school."
Suzanne took a big gulp of water. "And you're still going, even after seeing these pictures?"
"I am Suze," I replied firmly. "He's already paid for my flight. Why would he take me all the way out there if I was just some fuck toy?" I jammed my thumb down on the picture. "Surely he'd be going with this Erin if they were a couple."
"I'm sure a lot of minted guys take their sugar babies away with them, Carls. He's probably told her he's away on business."
I stared at the photos for several seconds, desperate to break the tension between us.
"Well, if I'm his sugar baby, at least I should be able to quit my job, shouldn't I? I could think of worse things to be."
We both laughed, and any hostility evaporated.
"That's true," Suzanne grinned. "Look, Carls. I'm not telling you what to do, but you're my best friend. Just be careful, ok?"
She stood up and we embraced. I swore I smelled the remnants of Natalia's expensive perfume on her.
"Thanks, Suze," I grinned. "It's good to know I've got the support of London's best amateur detective."
Suzanne laughed again. "Don't worry, I've got your back, Carla James. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get some long overdue sleep."
I awoke on Monday morning and smiled, feeling the cool silver of my choker against my neck. Conrad's gift acted as a constant reminder of who I belonged to, and I revelled in the thought of what he might have planned. However, for the next week at least, I needed to put that to the back of my mind.
I needed to prepare for the new school term before we went away. Normally, this boiled down to a last minute crapshoot, where I hashed together lesson plans based on the previous year. Now, with my time now compromised, I knew I needed to be more organised. To help with this, Conrad assured me he'd keep his distance. Therefore, it surprised me to see his name pop up on my phone screen later that morning.
"Miss James," he said confidently as I picked up the phone. "How are you doing? Missing me much?"
"I'm fine thank you, Sir," I giggled. "I'm just at home trying to get myself sorted."
"Very good, and how is that progressing?"
I looked at my sparsely populated spreadsheet, and decided to be honest.
"Not as well as I'd hoped, Sir. I think I'm the queen of procrastination."
"It sounds like you could use a little motivation, Miss James." He paused for a moment. "I hope that vibrator hasn't been too distracting."
Distracting? Barely an hour had passed without me recalling the incredible sensation. I'd stashed it in my underwear drawer as soon as I could, safely away from the prying eyes of a certain housemate.
"I've tried not to think about it, Sir, but I know not to use it without your permission anyway." I gulped and my insides clenched at the thought of what I was about to say. "You control my pussy now."
Silence followed, and I pictured Conrad smiling like a Chesire cat.
"Very good, Miss James," he finally said. "That's absolutely correct. It does sound like you could use some extra incentive though. Give me an idea of how much work you'd expect to complete today if you focus properly."
"I should be able to complete plans for two year groups, Sir."
"Okay, let's say this then, Miss James. If you can complete those plans, then you have permission to use that vibrator tonight."
In that instant, I found a whole new drive and purpose. I no longer felt alone, and my choker felt even more profound. I knew completing my work would please Conrad, and nothing could've been a greater motivation.
A few hours later, I lay on my bed, eyes scrunched shut as I felt my climax approaching. Not wanting to be overheard, I grabbed the first thing that came to hand, my panties, and stuffed them in my mouth, seconds before I exploded.
On Tuesday morning, Conrad phoned again and asked about my work schedule. He then offered me the same incentive as Monday.
"I'm not going to make it easy for you though, Miss James," he said. "When you come for me, you'll do so in the kitchen. You'll call to tell me when you're ready."
This of course meant waiting until the coast was clear. Suzanne, annoyingly, was utilizing dinner times to tease me as much as possible about Erin. With my sordid plans swirling in my mind, her bating practically amounted to torture. Eventually though, I volunteered to do the washing up and she left. I phoned Conrad immediately.
"I'm in position, Sir," I said.
"Good girl," he replied. "I'm going to enjoy listening to your every moan."
And that's exactly what he did. I found it nigh on impossible to hold the phone to my ear as I jammed the vibrator on my clit, but Conrad's encouragement spurred me on, and in minutes I'd erupted while sat at the kitchen table.
Wednesday and Thursday were the same. The next day, Conrad chose the living room, and on Thursday, he told me I'd come in the garden. I had to wait for the right moment, but my desire to please him, combined with my insatiable sexual appetite, kept me on high alert. I swear, the power of each orgasm multiplied tenfold because he instructed it.
On Friday, Conrad phoned first thing as usual.
"Get your work done this morning, Miss James. We're going on a little trip this afternoon. I'll let you know when I'm on my way over."
I didn't dare disappoint him, and as usual he arrived bang on time, meeting me in the same black Mercedes as last week.
"We're going on a little shopping excursion, Miss James," he said as I got in.
Like our last shopping trip, a private modelling session between Conrad and myself amounted to a more accurate description. Again, we ditched the traditional London shopping havens, for the exclusive boutiques of Kensington.
"It's time to sort your holiday wardrobe," he said as we entered the first shop.
I knew what to expect, and had no illusions of having any say in the outfits he picked out. Still, every time I exited the changing room, twirled in front of him, and saw him smile, I couldn't help but feel excited.
We'd filled the back of the Mercedes by the afternoon's end. I still couldn't fathom the vast amounts he spent on me, but if Suzanne knew, she wouldn't dare question Conrad's commitment to me.
Two days later and we were on our way. Wearing the designer jumpsuit Conrad had bought for me, I felt like I'd been parachuted into the body of some celebrity as we sipped champagne in Heathrow's first class lounge. However, the most poignant moment of the day came as we passed through airport security. I removed my choker for the first time since receiving it from Conrad, and can honestly say I felt lost without it. As soon as he refastened it around my neck, a warmth filled me, and I glowed with the sense of belonging it gave me.
A few hours later, we touched down at Faro Airport. After a forty five minute taxi ride through the Algarve countryside, we pulled up outside a pair of large wooden gates; the only opening in a long white wall. Conrad removed our suitcases from the car, before typing some sort of password into a keypad. When he finished, I heard a thud as the automated gates swung open.
I lifted my sunglasses, in awe at the sheer size of the villa. A large gravel driveway lay In front of me, with a garage on its left. The villa itself stood to the right of the driveway; a huge white behemoth glistening in the bright sunshine.
"Six bedrooms; sleeps twelve," Conrad said, reading my astonishment as he dragged our cases forward. I struggled to keep up as we made our way along a path at the side of the house, only stopping when we reached the rear of the property.
"The view," I breathed. "It's... beautiful.
A large swimming pool, surrounded by sun loungers dominated the rear of the villa. A plethora of palm trees and exotic local flora sat behind the pool, and beyond that the land fell away. We were clearly close to a cliff edge, and the glistening blue of the Mediterranean cascaded across the horizon.
"I'm glad you're impressed," Conrad dropped our cases and pulled me close. "It's nothing without someone special to share it with though, Miss James."
"Honestly, I never thought I'd ever stay anywhere this stunning, Sir."
