Chapter 1

Like many of you reading this I too live a dual existance. Unlike many of you I do not have to keep them apart from each other. They coexist like darkness and light. I do however sometimes have trouble deciding which one is more important to me and hopefully I will never have to choose.

It first became apparent that there was going to be some awkward moments in my life at my wedding to Joseph. That day was the happiest day of my I've ever had and not just because I was becoming the wife of the nicest most humble man I had ever met. Joseph is a wonderful man who has provided a comfortable home for the two of us. He is a competent lover and my best fried in the entire world. He is my soulmate.

His brother Andrew however controls my very existance. He made that perfectly clear to me the day I married Joseph. As the best man to his brother it was expected of us to share in a few dances. During our first dance I realized just what kind of relationship I would have with my new brother in law. Up until that day I never really had an opportunity to have a one on one conversation with Andrew. Well I suppose we would have if I wasn't so afraid of what would be said to each other if we were alone. All Andrew ever had to do, whenever we were in the same room, was just look at me and I would get weak in the knees and wet between the thighs. Oh it's not that he is extremely handsome although he is faintly attractive physically. It is just that whenever he looks at me I see a man who is in total control f everything around him and if I gave him the chance he would control me. So I avoided him the best that I could until, at last, I could no longer.

I think that he knew this and that is why he never pushed the issue. He could afford to be patient because he knew that the time was coming when i could no longer run. I'll never forget that moment.

" And so it begins." he said as I stared into his dark eyes, oblivious to the music, the laughter, the world.

I could have tried to convince him, as well as myself, that I had no idea what he was talking about but I knew he would know that I was lying. " I want you to know that I love your brother more then life itself and so he must never know." I managed to respond.

" That will not be a problem Katherine for he already knows." he replied ever so confident.

" Impossible. If he thought that I would leave him for his brother he would never had married me." I cried softly.

" No one ever implied that you would leave Joseph. He knows you heart is his and that you will always be his wife. Yet he also knows and approves of the choice I have made for my newest slave. It is understood and so it need not ever be brought up again."

" You mean to tell me that Joseph does not mind that he will share me with his own brother? I seriously doubt that even you can manipulate people that much." I couldn't believe I had the nerve to respond in that manner.

Andrews response was to firmly lead me out of the reception hall and into a dark empty room. " This is for doubting what I say is true" and he slapped me hard against my left cheek. " And this is for thinking that I manipulated my brother into doing anything." and he slapped me equally as hard on my right cheek. " Do not question. If you do not understand you simply say you do not understand. If I feel you need to be released of your ignorance I shall answer you. For now all that you need to know is that your husband is aware. It is that simple. Now go back to your guests I will join you shortly."

That was it. I was in and nothing would have changed my status. I did as he ordered but for the rest of the celebration I was in a haze. I dared not bring up this matter to anyone except Andrew. Not even my husband could I trust. I see now the beauty in the way my master went about creating the boundaries separating my relationship with each of them. I was the equal of my husband. I would share his bed, his money, his pain, his sorrow and his joy. I would be his wife which meant that I shared in the everyday responsibilities and obligations of the household. But it was my master that allowed this. He could destroy everything, including me, if he so desired.

" Katherine, another dance." Andrew not so much ordered but rather deemed it the appropriate thing to do at the appropriate time. I was not to question. Never mind the fact that I was in the middle of dancing with my father. It was time to dance again with Andrew and that is all that mattered. My purpose in life was becoming much clearer and as a result I felt extremely fulfilled. " Yes Andrew, excuse me father."

" Of course my dear. Will you be back soon?" My father asked.

I looked up to Andrew for an answer since he was now in charge of my time management. He in turn nodded once and so I replied. " As soon as I can father." And I kissed him on his cheek.

Back in Andrews arms he spoke to me again. " Have you confronted your husband about your status?"

" No sir I did not see the need. If you tell me not to question the way things are or how they have gotten to this point then it would be inappropriate for me to confront. I should just accept who I am and where I stand." I logically responded.

" Very good but in the future a simple yes sir or no sir will suffice. Before you go to your husband to consummate the marriage you will come to me." I think he thought I was going to question but I had no such intent. He waited for a response and when he realized that none was forthcoming he continued.

" Is this a problem Katherine?"

" No sir." wanting to say more but prudently recalling my masters previous wishes.

" You get back from your honeymoon on wednesday and starting that even and every other evening you will come to me. Your husband is aware of this so..."