Chapter 1 - Brought To Heel

It was early evening on a late spring day as Roland looked out the window from the comfy restaurant booth. The sun was still high in the sky and the first hints of summer were evident in the air outside. An assortment of nature band-aid trees dotted the concrete landscape of Burger Palace’s parking lot. He watched them sway in the warm breeze as Roland waited for his friend to place an order.

After opting for no less than two appetizers, a jumbo burger platter, a side of onion rings and a malt milkshake, Felix handed his menu to the server. She thanked them and nodded to the two young men before sauntering off.

“Jesus, man. That’s enough to feed a small family!”

Felix leaned back in his seat. “What can I say? I’m still a growing boy” he replied with a pat on his stomach and a smarmy grin.

“We’re not kids anymore. I’m pretty sure we’ve both stopped growing.”

“Maybe, but it sure doesn’t feel like it. Try working construction for a while and see if you’re not packing away an extra meal every day.”

“Don’t need to. I’m at the gym three times a week. And I get plenty of exercise working at the big V.”

Roland had a part time job at a big box hardware chain called Valueware. He hoped not to be there for much longer, but his side hustle as a photographer wasn’t even close to paying the bills on its own. Felix was a frequent customer, constantly making runs to the store to pick up things for his Uncle’s construction business. After several run-ins, they’d struck up a friendship and begun hanging out on their off-days.

Normally, Felix would launch into some spiel about how easy dealing with customers and stocking merch was compared to swinging a sledgehammer and installing drywall. This time, the well-built blonde crossed his arms over his tacky Hawaiian shirt and looked out the window wistfully. He was lost in thought a few moments before he spoke again.

“Hey Rowe, you ever worry about lack of direction?”

“Lack of direction?”

“Yeah, like you’re not sure what to do with your life. Beyond working, paying rent and hanging out, I mean.”

“Dude, we got our whole lives ahead of us. There’s plenty of time to figure that out.”

“So you don’t worry about it at all?”

“I didn’t say that. I suppose I think about it sometimes, but I don’t stress over it. Why?”

“I don’t know. I guess it’s been bugging me lately. I think about how most men our age were already married and had their first kid by now. Historically speaking.”

“Times have changed, bro. That’s not how it works anymore. Not for most people, anyway.”

“You think that’s a good thing?”

Roland took a swig of his root beer. “I think it’s probably for the best, yeah. A lot of people were trapped in bad marriages back in the day. Especially women. Did you know, in many states, women couldn’t get a credit card or open their own bank account until the mid 1970’s? Not without a man co-signing, that is.”

“What?!? Seriously?”

“Yeah. Look it up. They had little to no independence for a long time, even after getting the right to vote. It was like ... forced marriage, basically. That or be an outcast.”

“Okay ... I agree, that’s fucked up. Still, don’t you worry about extended adolescence? Lowering birth rates? How certain rites of passage for guys don’t seem to exist anymore?”

Roland shrugged. “I’m in no hurry to get married or have kids.”

“Yeah, but look at us right now. You’re twenty six, I’m twenty eight. It’s Saturday night. We’re both single and what are we doing? Going to the movies again?”

“Nah, there’s nothing playin but dogshit” Roland answered matter-of-factly.

“Alright, laser tag then?”

“Laser tag? Did you seriously just suggest we play laser tag after saying you’re worried about extended adolescence?”

Felix frowned. “Whatever ... My point is, we’re not going to a bar or a club and trying to meet women.”

“Yeah, because bars suck, clubs give me a headache and any booze that doesn’t taste like piss costs a fortune.”

“Do they suck more than dating apps?”

“Arguably” Roland replied dryly to the sobering question.

Felix sighed. “We need to try something new. That’s what I’m saying. You and me aren’t exactly meeting tons of young women where we work.”

A snarky grin spread across Roland’s face. “Speak for yourself. I’ve been working with a fuckin smokeshow lately! A ten out of ten!”

Confusion crept into Felix’s expression. He didn’t remember seeing any scorching hot female employees at Valueware. “Oh, yeah ... Your new client. What’s her name?”

“Stacy Summers.”

“I was gonna look her up after work the other day, but I forgot. She’s a Insta-model, right?”

“Yeah. She’s got about three hundred thousand followers. Not a mega-star, but no small potatoes.” Roland pulled out his phone. “Here, let me show you some of my work.”

He opened the photo album and handed the phone to Felix. The man’s eyes boggled and his jaw hung open as he slid through pictures of the curvy, brunette bombshell. Photos of Stacy in yoga pants, leather clothing, skinny jeans, skin-tight onesies, and stylish crop tops unfurled before him. Staring at the camera, her luxurious dark hair and shimmering hazel eyes were utterly captivating.

“OH. MY. GOD! You get paid to take pictures of this hottie?!?”

“Not a lot” Roland countered. “But what it lacks in compensation, it makes up for with the wonderful view.”

“I’d do it for free!”

“Trust me, if you had a Fine Arts degree to pay off, you wouldn’t.”

“Is she single?”

“I think so. Not positive, though. Only been working for her a few weeks. I know her real name isn’t Stacy.”

“What is it?”

“Deborah.”

“Ah, no wonder she picked a stage name.”

“What’s wrong with Deborah?”

Felix looked up from the slideshow of glamor shots and smirked. “C’mon dude. She’s definitely a Stacy. Just like the internet memes! You know... Becky vs Stacy?”

Roland snickered. “She’s not blonde, but other than that, I guess I can’t argue. Her personality is pretty Stacy-like. She knows what she wants and she seems good at getting it.”

“Maybe you could be her Chad?” he asked with a note of mischief.

Roland waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, no. Not going there! We have a professional relationship and I don’t plan to endanger that. I’m trying to build a resume, here. She’s my best client yet.”

“Okay. Maybe I could be her Chad, then...”

“There’s no way I’m introducing you.”

Felix’s head sank. He grudgingly handed the phone back. “Bro, I thought you were my wingman?”

“Nope. I’m just the guy who watches your back in laser tag.”

“I hate you so much.”

click click click click

“There we go! Very nice.”

Roland pointed his Canon EOS R5 at Stacy as the shutter snapped away. He always held it steady with two hands and carefully planted feet. The expensive camera was one of the finest in the world for portrait and still photography. Roland’s R5 had been a graduation present from his parents. A new one cost somewhere between three and four thousand dollars. At this point, it was probably worth more than his old, beat-up Subaru Impreza that was parked outside.

“That’s it. Let’s play with those shadows...”

Stacy twisted and turned in a series of endless poses, never staying in a single posture for long. They’d already done several shoots today. Some outside and some inside with natural lighting. Now they were in her makeshift home studio with the bright monolights on her. She always remained poised, cool and collected despite the warm light bearing down.

Roland couldn’t help but admire her. Stacy was a flawless beauty. She was 5’8 in normal shoes, but when she donned a pair of heels she either matched his 5’11 height or loomed over him. Her bust-length hair was a light, natural brown, but it often looked darker depending on the lighting or if she’d recently bathed.

Her skin, similarly, could look a different shade depending on the lighting of the shot. Stacy was fair skinned, but some combination of natural sun and regular visits to a tanning bed kept her a constant, slightly dark hue. The first time Roland saw her, he was sure Stacy was a Latina. As it turned out, her lineage was Swiss / German.

Stacy’s curves were beyond impressive. She had a perfect hourglass figure with a generous waist-to-hip ratio. Her breasts had to be D-cups, at least. Maybe even a size or two bigger. Roland was no expert on bra sizes, but he often worried for her back. His concern was likely needless as Stacy spent a fair amount of time in the gym. Her ample, heart-shaped ass led down to thick, powerful thighs and well-toned calves. She had the core strength required to support her extra-large assets.

She’d already worn two other outfits for their shoots that day. For this final one, she had on a white, long-sleeve top that terminated just below her bust and showed off her firm, sleek midsection. Her legs were hilted in designer jeans. The deep blue denim barely contained her wide hips and highlighted her sizable apple-bottom nicely. Stacy’s abdominals were almost visible just below the skin. With a little more push at the gym, she could probably sport a six-pack, but Roland got the impression she wasn’t going for the ‘muscle girl’ look.

Two dozen more clicks snapped out as Roland captured her in several poses. Finally, she waved him off and placed her hands on her sides.

“Alright! I think that’s enough for today” she said with a contented smile.

“Cool” Roland replied. He lowered his camera and nodded to her. “You did great, as always.”

“Think we got some money-makers?”

“Oh, definitely! A few might need light touch-up, but I think most of them are pretty damn good as-is.”

“Awesome” Stacy replied as she strode forward. “Hey. If you’re not in a hurry, would you mind hanging around for a bit? I got a couple things I wanted to talk to you about and I can offer some snacks to tide you over till dinner.”

Roland’s eyebrows lifted at the prospect. “Ummm, sure! That sounds great. I’m actually low-key starving right now.”

Stacy chuckled. “Perfect. I’ll be in the kitchen getting that ready while you finish up.”

Roland watched the buxom model strut into the distance, wondering what was on her mind. Hopefully this was about a pay raise, but he didn’t want to jump to conclusions. Roland packed his R5 and accessories into the camera bag and turned off the studio lights. When he was done tidying up, he walked down the hall of Stacy’s luxury condo and turned into the kitchen. There she was, cutting up some sharp cheddar to go with crackers and fresh fruit.

“Have a seat in the dining room. I’ll be right out.”

Roland grinned and nodded. He continued on until her family sized dining table came into view. It was way too big for someone who lived alone, but maybe it reminded her of home. Or maybe she harbored a desire to be a wife and mother some day? It was hard for Roland to imagine that, at the moment, but then again he didn’t actually know that much about her.

He pulled out a chair, set his camera bag on the floor and sat down. Minutes later, Stacy walked into the room with a full snack platter, two small porcelain plates and a pair of chilled, bottled waters on a silver tray. She set it down in front of Roland before taking the seat at the end of the table closest to him.

“Dig in, please” she stated and gestured to the platter.

“With pleasure!”

Roland grabbed a plate and immediately transferred a stack of crackers, several cuts of cheese and a handful of grapes to it. He began eating at once while Stacy uncapped her drink and watched him. She downed half of the water in seconds as Roland enjoyed the food.

“Aren’t you going to have any?” he asked.

“Eh, maybe I’ll have a few grapes. But I should probably wait till dinner.”

“Being a model is tough, huh?”

“You have no idea. Being disciplined in the gym is hard enough. The diet half is even worse.”

“You’re right, I don’t. In fact, I was just at Burger Palace over the weekend with a friend. We ate like wild hogs.”

Stacy laughed. “Yeah, but you’re still a young guy. You got that uber fast metabolism going for you right now. You can afford to eat hearty and you’ll still be fit and handsome.”

Roland stopped in the middle of his chewing. His eyes widened considerably.

’Did she just call me handsome?!?’

“Oh ... ummm. Thanks!”

“I hope that’s not inappropriate of me to say, since I’m technically your employer. You’re a good looking guy, Roland.”

“No, not at all! I mean, I don’t mind.”

She winked at him. “Good to know. If it was a problem, I was about to explain that it’s job related.”

“Job related? How?”

“We’ve been working together for about a month now. I’m pleased with your efforts and I think it’s fair to say we’ve established a good rapport. Do you agree?”

“Absolutely. It’s been a pleasure.”

“Good. I know I started you at a low-ball rate, but I like to try out photographers for a while before I decide if they’re worth my time and money. I went through several before I discovered you. I’m sure you understand.”

“Sure. Any fool can buy a camera and call themselves a photographer. Faking a portfolio is easier then ever. I understand your caution.”

“Yes, well now that I know you’re the real deal, you’ll receive double your starting rate from now on.”

Roland’s expression betrayed genuine shock. “Wow! I don’t know know what to say, except, thank you!”

“You’re welcome. The pictures you’ve taken are doing exceptionally well on my Instagram. You’ve more than earned it. In regards to you being a handsome young man, I have another opportunity for you, if you’re interested.”

“Please, do tell!” Roland egged her on. He’d completely abandoned the food in front of him as he hung on her every word.

“I recently got an offer to model a new clothing line. They need the job done within the next month. At the same time, I’d like to get away for a while. I want to turn this gig into a working vacation and I’d like you to come with me.”

Roland could hardly believe what he was hearing. It just kept getting better. He tried to play it cool, but it was difficult not to betray his exuberance.

“That sounds great! Where to?”

“My family’s vacation home. It’s a couple hours north, in the middle of nowhere, on a beautiful lake. It needs some spring cleaning, since no one’s been up there since last fall, but I told my folks I’d take care of it. They’re going abroad this summer, so the place is all mine till they get back in August.”

“Damn, that’s a pretty sweet deal.”

“I haven’t told you the best part yet. The company that’s hiring me is looking for some new male models as well. I told them I might know someone who’d look good in their garments. There’s no guarantee it’ll bear fruit, but it’s a good opportunity to get your foot in the door. If you have any interest in being on the other side of the camera, that is.”

“ME?!? A model? Am I really what they’re looking for?”

“They’re not seeking bodybuilders, if that’s what you’re worried about. It’s pricey clothing and a little ... eccentric, but nothing that requires a gymnast to show off. They want guys with a fit body and a pretty face. I’d say you fit the bill.” Stacy’s last remark came with a seductive smile.

Roland couldn’t help but blush. It was the second compliment she’d paid him. Also, he didn’t think anyone had ever called him pretty before. It caught him off guard. “I ... thank you. Sorry, I’m at a loss for words.”

“Hah! Look at those rosy cheeks! Your modesty is adorable. So, are you interested?”

“Absolutely! I’m in.”

“Great! Now, the most important question. Could you, perhaps, be ready to leave next Friday? We’d be away for a week. Maybe a bit longer, depending on how things go. I know you have a second job at the moment. Is that going to be an issue?”

“Oh, not at all. I’ll explain it to my boss. He should understand and approve the time off. If not, I’ll quit. I’ve been waiting for something better to come along and give me a reason to ditch retail.”

“That’s the spirit! Carpe Diem, as they say.”

“Right on!”

Stacy lifted her drink into the air. “A toast, then. To our expanded partnership and, with any luck, a whole new path in life, for you.”

Roland raised his water and tapped it against hers. “I’ll drink to that!” He uncapped the plastic top and took a refreshing swig.

She looked at her half-empty bottle and shook her head. “Kinda lame, I know. Once we’re up at the lake, we can do our toast again with something more classy. The house has a well-stocked bar.”

The young photographer wasn’t big on alcohol, but he didn’t mind partaking from time to time. His willingness to get plastered would likely multiply in her company. Roland suspected he’d drink nearly anything the gorgeous brunette put in front of him.

“I can’t wait” he replied with an enthusiastic grin.

“It’ll be a fair amount of work between the cleaning and photo shoots, but there’ll be plenty of time to kick back and enjoy life on the lake. Be sure to bring some reading with you, or whatever else you enjoy on your down time. Oh, and pack a swimsuit, in case it’s warm enough to swim. It’s iffy this time of year.”

“Will do. Anything else I need to get ready?”

“Oh, before you leave today, I need to take a full set of your measurements. Gotta make sure all your gear is the right size.”

“Gear?”

“Oh ... the clothes, I mean. Sometimes we call it ‘gear’ in the modeling biz.”

“Really? I guess I have a lot to learn.”

“Yeah, I won’t lie. You have a full education ahead of you. You need serious training if you’re going to make it in my world. It should be an enlightening week for both of us. You can show me how to use those fancy cameras of yours and I’ll be teaching you ... well, everything else.”

The next week and a half of Roland’s life seemed to pass in slow motion. It reminded him of the final weeks leading up to Christmas when he was a kid. The greater the anticipation, the more prolonged and painful were the minutes leading up to the big event. The prospects of expanding his portfolio, breaking into a new, potentially lucrative profession and spending more time with Stacy made Roland feel like he was walking on air.

His boss wasn’t thrilled when Roland gave him the news, but Mr. Callaway seemed to understand when the nature of the opportunity was explained to him. The manager approved his leave of absence, but warned Roland that if he wasn’t back in a week, his job was forfeit.

Felix took the news even harder, calling his friend ‘the luckiest son of a bitch alive.’ Roland had a triumphant glow about him as they hung out the Wednesday night before he left. Felix drowned his sorrows in booze, commenting repeatedly there was no way Stacy would invite him on a private vacation unless she saw him as potentially more than a business partner. Roland waved him off and insisted their relationship would remain professional. Still, in the back of his mind, even he was beginning to question that. It was hard not to let the compliments of a gorgeous model go to his head.

Friday morning finally arrived and Roland made another trip to Stacy’s condo. He was only there long enough to greet her, carry her numerous garment bags and suitcases outside and transfer his own luggage to Stacy’s Lexus for the journey. In no time, they were on the highway and heading north. The farther into the north country they headed, the further apart the exits grew and the smaller were the enclaves of civilization between long stretches of wilderness.

Roland and Stacy chatted away during the long drive. He learned a little about her family and that she’d gone to school for business management. However, each time he tried to probe into her hobbies or personal life, she was vague and evasive. Stacy always turned the questioning back around on Roland, probing him insatiably on everything from his relationship with his mother to his biggest fears and regrets.

He answered her earnestly, often turning to gawk at the beautiful woman. Her aviator sunglasses beamed in the bright light of late morning as her high ponytail flapped in the breeze. The wind flowed through the car from cracked windows as they grew closer to their destination. Although he was often oblivious to such things, even Roland realized she was growing more flirty the further they went.

“Do you know how ridiculous it is that you’re still single?”

“That’s what my Mom keeps telling me.”

“She’s right. You’re what women call a catch.”

“Am I being caught, right now?”

Stacy snickered. “Slow down, tiger. It’s a long week ahead.”

“That wasn’t a no.”

The curvy brunette peered over at him before turning her eyes back to the road. “I won’t deny, my interest in you has evolved. You’ve been so thoughtful, kind and accommodating. I wasn’t sure at first, but I think you might be my type, Roland.”

’Holy shit! Is this the real life?!? Was Felix right???’

“Stacy ... I’m flattered.”

“I know mixing business with pleasure can be dangerous, but the dark side of me enjoys that.”

“The dark side? What are you, a Sith?”

The mesmerizing model let out a loud, lilting laugh. “Maybe” she said with a grin.

“Well, if you’re a Sith, I’m happy to be your apprentice.”

“We’ll see if you still feel that way after you find out what a taskmaster I can be! I’m going to make thorough use of you, in more ways than one.”

Roland’s face was now beet red. He had no cool response to such a provocative and sexually charged declaration.

Stacy turned her gaze on him again. “Relax. Just do your best over the next week and we’ll see where things go.”

When they arrived at the lake house, Stacy took Roland for a stroll around the property. They toured the swanky looking home and took a trip down to the shore. It gave them the chance to stretch their legs after the long drive and allowed Roland to get the lay of the land. After the short hike, Roland set to unloading the car. It took him over a dozen trips to carry in the numerous garment bags, suitcases and boxes of supplies. Stacy lounged on one of the living room sofas, calling out instructions for where each load should be taken every time Roland entered the house with his arms full.

After a short lunch break, they launched into the cleaning. Or rather, Roland did. There were numerous tasks to perform, from dusting and vacuuming to window washing and sweeping the long wraparound porch. Each time he completed one task, Stacy assigned him a new one. She watched him with her hands on her hips, making sure he was doing the job properly before she strutted off to continue unpacking.

A less horny man might’ve cared that he was doing the vast majority of the work, but Roland was glad to. Each time he got an eyeful of Stacy in her form-fitting black tank top and tight, distressed jeans, he was filled with abundant energy and renewed purpose. Roland was determined to go all-out for the woman who’d opened new doors for him and hinted at the possibility of even more.

When it was almost six o’clock, he returned from raking leaves in the yard to find Stacy in the kitchen preparing a meal. She told him to take a load off and Roland collapsed on one of the sofas while the smell of a wonderful Italian meal gathered in the background. For a while, it felt like they were a married couple, enjoying the first day of their vacation together. The young man was surprised to find how much he relished the idea.

After a wonderful dinner, they retired to the living room. Stacy sat next to Roland on the plush leather couch opposite the large, widescreen TV. They surfed through endless channels of satellite cable garbage until they found something decent to watch. Roland barely paid attention to what was happening on screen. He was too preoccupied with the beautiful sunset and how Stacy kept inching closer to his body until her exquisite curves pressed into his side.

She lounged against him for a time and Stacy’s perfume washed over him like soothing wave. It had a floral base of rose and jasmine, but with hints of sweet vanilla. Eventually, her right hand crept over Roland’s left thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Time for a drink” she announced before popping up and strolling to the bar.

The sultry hostess returned a few minutes later and set a copper mug filled with spirits and ice on the table in front of Roland. She smiled and took a sip from her own.

He reached down and picked it up. “What’s this?”

“It’s called a Moscow Mule. Vodka, ginger beer and lime juice.”

“Oh boy ... Last time I had vodka, the morning after was less than pleasant.”

“Always a risk, but I promise you’ve never had a cocktail this tasty” she replied while taking her seat again. Stacy raised the drink in the air. “Let’s renew our toast. To new beginnings!”

“To new beginnings” he repeated before lifting the drink to his lips. Roland took a large sip and the frigid combination of spicy and sweet liquid charged down his gullet. “Woooo! Yeah, that’s got a nice zing to it. Good flavor.”

“Right? Don’t hold back. There’s plenty more where that came from.”

Little by little, Roland downed the beverage. Stacy’s curves pressed into his side yet again. Feeling a little bold, he extracted his arm and slipped it over her head, laying it along the back of the sofa as she leaned against his shoulder. Within ten minutes, his muscles relaxed completely. The buzz flowed through his body and mental fogginess descended. Roland’s mind grew giddy as his body became calm as a Hindu cow.

He set his empty glass down, almost missing the table and dropping it. “Jezus ... Dun know if I can drink anozer of those...”

“One is plenty for many people” Stacy confirmed with a smile.

A few minutes later, Roland began nodding off.

“Alright, looks like that’s it for you” she proclaimed. Stacy set her glass down and placed a hand flat on his chest. “Let’s get you to your room before you pass out on me.”

“Sorry ... Juz really tired...”

“It’s okay. I’ll help you there.”

With her assistance, Roland rose and stumbled from the living room into the hallway. He staggered down the corridor with Stacy holding his side until they reached the guest room that contained his luggage. Roland was only half awake as he felt his shirt being pulled off. He fell back into the bed and realized his shoes and socks were being removed as well. His belt buckle jingled at it was undone, followed by the loosening of his pants and the alternating tug at his pant legs until they were down his body. Roland was already in blissful darkness. He melted into the mattress with nothing left on but his boxers.

“Goodnight my adorable pet. Sleep well. We have a busy day tomorrow.”

“Yeah ... night...”

snip snip snip snip

Roland’s crusty eyes peeled open, but only halfway. His body felt heavy and cumbersome. His head swam with nausea. His limbs wouldn’t move. Stacy sat near the bottom of the bed, wearing only a black bra and short-shorts. Ripping sounds unwound as Roland’s boxers were torn away from his waist. Cool air rolled over his flaccid cock and balls.

“Wha the...?”

Stacy set the scissors to the side of the bed and leaned her face down close to his.

“Go back to sleep, Roland.” Her voice echoed in his head. “It’s not time to get up, yet.”

“I ... Wha-? Okay...”

His awareness slipped down into the darkness once again.

When consciousness returned, Roland felt something snug around his neck. The scrunch of leather creaked and the clink of metal buckles rang out as Stacy completed her work. Her perfume filled his nostrils again, slowly bringing Roland back to the world of the living. She lifted his head a final time and double checked the fittings. When Stacy released him and his head fell back into the pillow, Roland could feel something solid and rectangular propped behind his neck.

“Ugh ... my head.”

“I’d offer you ibuprofen” Stacy said, taking her hands from the device around his neck. “But it doesn’t really help.”

As his eyes opened fully and the woman stepped back, Roland got his first look at Stacy’s new form. Except in a few places where her lightly tanned flesh was still visible, her entire body was covered in shiny black. Thigh-high boots, latex pants, a leather corset, black rubber bra and arm gloves that reached up to her biceps. She even had the officer’s cap atop her head and a riding crop in her hands.

Stacy stood before him, the quintessential, sexual disciplinarian. A full body shot of her in this outfit could serve as the dictionary picture for ‘Dominatrix.’

’Oh fuck ... What’s happening?’

Roland tried to raise his arms and found they wouldn’t budge. He tugged with his legs and discovered that they, too, were held down. He gazed from side to side and down the length of his body. Leather cuffs with tiny padlocks were tight around his wrists and ankles. Each was secured to a corner of the bed.