Lauren had no idea what to say, completely caught off-guard by everything she'd experience since she'd arrived. She didn't have a chance to process anything before, walking through the door she'd come through, strode a massive, muscular, towering man in his early twenties with black, wavy hair and caramel-colored skin. "Hey Apis!" Archie called out with a smile. "Hey, Archie!" Apis hailed with a friendly wave, "What's up?...

With a satiated sigh, Chrys pulled herself to her feet with the help of some of the men. Catching her breath, she turned to Lauren, acknowledging her for the first time. "So you're the new recruit, huh?" She turned to Lily. "She's one of yours?" Lily nodded. "Yep, best catch I've had in a while." "Her husband got Lilied?" One of the men called out. "That's right," Lily answered with a smile. "What was his ratio?" another...

It's always a challenge to get to know someone, but getting to know Lauren Halperth, riding in silence in the back of that black sedan, would have been a particular challenge. She could have told you about herself. That she was forty-three, a Provence native, married twenty-two years, had a daughter who had just been accepted to Haverford, and a son who had just taken the MCAT in the top 2%. But beyond that, Lauren would...

Michelle let out a long sigh through her nose as Hubert hummed to himself contentedly, attending to her restraints. After so many years of playing along with his bizarre little games, one thing she had learned was patience. At every moment she fought the temptation to ask what the hell he was doing, knowing that he had every detail planned in his head before they started, that it wouldn't take too awfully long, and, as us...

The wind howled outside, barely swaying the lanterns hanging within the closed bivouac. Soft light played off the glyphs woven into the tent walls, and the somber faces of the two meeting parties. Captain Tsharles, a rocky-jawed bear of a man with olive skin and wavy amber hair, sat on a footstool two steps away from the intricately-knitted wicker bench supporting Sheriff Amelia, the steward of Podritia's Pass. a strategi...

Maddy sighed, tired from the hike but moved by the gorgeous vista before her. Dwight was right - this mountain, crowded with skiers during the winter, was largely ignored in the hot months, leaving a verdant scattering of grass avenues and rich, tall trees that were totally devoid of anyone, save the two of them. Her muscular frame growing restless, Maddy twisted her wrists against the padded cuffs as a chill breeze cross...

Her whole body tense from a long day, Cherry nearly collapsed as the elevator rose, pushing her into the ground. She let out a long, gurgling sigh, deflating as she unbuttoned her snug, creased suit. Twelve long hours of managing accounts and personnel at a top-tier law firm was good money, but the burden of responsibility took a toll on her health.She had been looking forward to this all day. The elevator chimed, and she...

Carol bit her lip as she felt her body sway in the car seat. She wore big, dark sunglasses, but they were only to hide the 'x's of electrical tape that sealed her eyes shut. In darkness, she became sensitive to her own body, feeling it push and swing against the seatbelt as Murphy drove her to their special night out. "Almost there. You nervous?" Murphy asked. She felt his wide, strong hand rest gently on her shoulder. Wi...

Persephone gently pushed Hades away and stepped back, his hands reluctantly sliding from her flesh. She turned and walked toward the gate behind her. Still on his knees, he stared enthralled at the coxinant twists of her retreating buttocks. His callipygian captor paused and looked back at him and gave one word. "Follow." Hades scrambled to his feet and was fast on her heels, even as she retreated into a long, unlit tunne...

Hades gritted his teeth, fingers twitching at his side. He was panting, drips of sweat running down his bare back, his shoulders, his forehead, soaking the blindfold. It annoyed him, though it was fine silk, he fought the impulse to take it off. He had been preparing for this night, deep in the caves that span the foundations of the Alsitor mountain range, and his role as [prisoner/guest/slave/student] was not one he had...

James wasn't crazy about his job, but the whole time he was washing dishes in that downtown diner he was beaming. His first encounter with the enigmatic, legendary Chloe had left him weak in the knees and with a tenacious grin. He still couldn't wrap his head around his experience in that alley being more than just a dream. He was a gangly, toe-headed chap, and since childhood his insecurity with his frail body and unimpr...

The alleyway between two brick buildings was unremarkable, hidden behind a torn-open section of chain-link fence. Some litter had slipped out of the rusty green dumpster pushed against a wall, and there was barely enough space to get a compact car past it, though it dead-ended into another wall. As the sun set, though, and darkness crept across the city, the quiet, empty street met with some company; a handful of men arri...