To See the Sky Read online

  AJ gritted his teeth, waiting for Blake to hurry up and finish. He just wanted this to be over. He counted the seconds silently in his head, trying to ignore the pain. He wanted to shout out for Blake to stop, or at least slow things down, yet he held his tongue. The next time would be better. He told himself the pain was just because this was his first time. Lots of men complained about the pain the first time they bottomed. Hell, some men never developed a liking for being fucked. Perhaps AJ was simply someone who would always prefer to top his partner. He only had to put up with this for a week, then he never had to be fucked again.

  Finally, the hot flood of Blake’s release filled AJ’s arse and the other man pulled out of him roughly before collapsing at AJ’s side, panting hard as he stared up at the ceiling.

  AJ sank down onto the mattress with a sigh of relief. He hadn’t come. His cock had turned flaccid the moment Blake had rammed his way inside him and hadn’t woken up again since.

  “Did Ryder tell you where to find the staff quarters?” Blake asked after he had recovered his breath.

  AJ looked over at Blake, surprised by the question. “Yes.”

  “Good. I’m too wiped to show you the way.”

  AJ sat up and looked at the man beside him. “What do you mean?”

  Blake gave him a look of annoyance. “You don’t expect to sleep with me, do you?”

  With his face flushed, AJ turned away. He had thought exactly that.

  “You’re my whore, which makes you staff, just like my housekeeper or errand boy. I’m done with you for the night, so make your way to the staff quarters and I’ll summon you when I need you.”

  AJ crawled from the bed and walked towards the stairs. “What about my clothes?”

  “You won’t need them until the morning. Now leave.”

  Blake’s tone made it clear the words were an order and AJ hurried down the stairs and across to the staff quarters.

  Through the door AJ found himself in the empty kitchen. There was a door opposite which he guessed led to the sleeping quarters, but when he tried the handle the door wouldn’t budge. He’d been locked out. He knocked on the metal door a couple of times, but no sound came from the other side. Calling out for Ryder also brought no response.

  AJ felt even dirtier than he had when he’d returned from the labyrinth. Blake’s seed dribbled down his thighs and AJ grabbed a cloth from the sink and used the wet fabric to clean himself up as best he could. By the time he had done he was shivering in the cold. He checked the cupboards, hoping to find something to wrap himself in, but all he could find were small towels which would do little to help stave off the chill. Heated pipes ran along the edge of one wall and although they didn’t give off much warmth it was better than nothing. AJ crawled under the counter to get closer to the heat and finally fell asleep right there on the hard, tiled floor. His last thought before he closed his eyes was that he’d never complain about the thin mattresses in the labyrinth again.

  * * * *

  When AJ woke the next morning the kitchen was still deserted. The sealed window out onto the world showed the same barren landscape he had seen from the elevator on the way to the party. As views went it was better than any in the labyrinth, but hardly inspiring. His stomach growled as he looked outside and he decided to search for something to eat. Neither Ryder nor Blake had said anything to him about meals, but surely they didn’t mean to starve him all week.

  He rummaged round in the large fridge, wondering what various things were, when he heard voices approaching. The previously locked door opened and a young woman walked into the room, followed by a teenage boy. The auburn-haired woman saw him first and let out a small scream of surprise.

  “This is why I always lock the door at night,” the boy said as he reached for a nearby carving knife. “You all say it’s stupid because the tower is secure, but this proves it isn’t.”

  “Who screamed?” Ryder asked as he ran into the room. “Oh, it’s just you.”

  “Who’s he?” the woman asked.

  “This is AJ4982,” Ryder explained. “He’s Blake’s whore.”

  AJ wanted to crawl into the fridge and close the door. Shame washed over him at Ryder’s cool introduction. Not only had he used his full name and number, highlighting his low status, he’d called him a whore as well. AJ didn’t care if Ryder spoke the truth, it was still humiliating to be referred to in such a manner.

  “AJ49…what was the number again?” the boy asked.

  “Just AJ is fine,” AJ replied. He held out his hand for the boy to shake, but the teenager recoiled as though it was a snake.

  “How long is the whore here for?” the woman asked Ryder. “We’re not supposed to share our quarters with him, are we?”

  “Of course not, Ashleigh,” Ryder said impatiently. “AJ will be staying with Blake, like he did last night.”

  AJ guessed he would be sleeping in the kitchen again if that was the case. He couldn’t say he relished the idea of a week of crouching under the counter all night. He wondered if Blake would mind him sleeping on the sofa, even if it wasn't part of the staff quarters. Perhaps it Blake was in a good mood that night he'd ask him for permission.

  Ashleigh nodded. “Good.”

  “So, how long are we stuck with him for?” the boy asked.

  “Just a week,” AJ answered. “I don’t think I caught your name?”

  The boy sneered at him. “My name’s none of your business, whore.”

  Ryder didn’t reprimand the boy for his manners, but he did answer AJ’s question. “Jessiah is Blake’s errand boy. Ashleigh’s the maid. Corrine, who’s probably still sleeping since this is her day off, acts as cook and housekeeper.”

  AJ nodded, hoping Corrine wasn’t as hostile towards him as Ashleigh and Jessiah.

  Ashleigh pushed her way past AJ and pulled items out of the fridge. “I suppose the whore has to eat with us?” she muttered.

  “Yes, Ashleigh,” Ryder replied. “He has to keep his strength up for his work.”

  AJ glared at Ryder as he tried to manoeuvre himself to the opposite side of the table to the rest of them, hoping to at least shield his nakedness a little. He prayed Blake would appear with his clothes soon.

  Breakfast was a tense affair and, as hungry as AJ was, he struggled to eat the scrambled eggs and toast without choking. Even the novelty of eating something as rare as fresh eggs and soft bread wasn’t enough to bring him pleasure in the meal.

  Jessiah left soon after eating, off to run his errands. Ashleigh set about cleaning the kitchen and Ryder sat at the table with his small handheld tablet computer. AJ could tell they were all blocking him out and he tried not to let their cool dismissal bother him. He told himself the same thing as when he’d been in Blake’s bed. He just had to get through the week and the torture would be over. He’d never have to set eyes on any of these people again.

  “AJ!”

  AJ looked at the door with trepidation.

  “You’d better not keep him waiting,” Ryder said without looking up. “He’s liable to get testy if you don’t hop to attention when he calls.”

  Although AJ thought Blake already sounded testy he kept his opinion to himself and hustled through the door.

  Blake stood in the centre of the room in a smart business suit. He held a second suit over his arm. “Go shower and change into this. You’re coming to work with me today.”

  AJ was so relieved not to have to spend his day with Ryder and the rest of the staff he practically ran up the stairs to the shower, realising half way there he had forgotten to take the suit from Blake and dashing back to get it.

  Unfortunately, the relief at spending the day with Blake, not to mention the excitement of seeing an actual laboratory, vanished when AJ realised his cover for being at work with Blake would be blown only minutes after their arrival.

  “What do you mean, you can’t read?” Blake appeared both surprised and annoyed by AJ’s admission.

  “I can’t read,” AJ repeated, fe
eling ashamed of the fact despite it being common knowledge that no education was provided to the inhabitants of the labyrinth.

  “That’s ridiculous. How am I supposed to pass you off as my assistant if you can’t even read?”

  “I thought my job was to be your whore, not your assistant,” AJ pointed out.

  “You are my whore, and you’re supposed to be available to service me any time I want for the week. But your presence in the laboratory has to be legitimate. If you’re illiterate you’ve no business being here. You won’t even be able to read the warning signs to know what not to touch.”

  “I’m not stupid. I can recognise a sign for danger like anyone else.”

  Blake picked up a bottle and pointed to the label. “What does that mean?”

  AJ had no idea and it pained him to admit his ignorance. “I don’t know.”

  “It’s the sign to warn you the contents are hazardous,” Blake explained impatiently. “Now get out of here and return to my place. I’ve got work to do.”

  The anger practically emanated off of Blake as he turned to his desk.

  “Can I do anything for you before I go?” AJ asked quietly, hoping to appease Blake a little.

  “Just get out of here,” Blake snapped.

  AJ didn’t need to be told again. He left the laboratory and slowly returned to the tower apartment. He wished he knew what time Blake was expected home from work, so he could hang out somewhere else for the day and time his return shortly before Blake. Unfortunately, he had no idea what hours Blake worked and had no choice but to return to the apartment and the hostile staff right away.

  When AJ got back he found Ashleigh humming as she dusted the main room. Ryder sat at a desk in an alcove, scowling at a book as he tapped away on his computer.

  “You’re back early,” Ryder commented.

  “So?”

  Ashleigh snickered. “Perhaps he isn’t as good a whore as he thinks.”

  Ryder laughed with her, though to AJ’s ears his humour sounded a little forced. Or perhaps it was merely his imagination.

  AJ sighed. He wasn’t sure what he would do for the rest of the day. He wanted to offer to help out with whatever jobs were needed round the place, but neither Ashleigh nor Ryder seemed particularly approachable.

  “Maybe the whore should clean Blake’s bedroom?” Ashleigh suggested, almost as though she had read AJ’s thoughts. “I don’t want to be cleaning sheets covered with a whore’s spunk anyway.”

  AJ resisted the temptation to tell her he hadn’t even come the previous night, and that their employer wasn’t so great a lover himself. It was none of their damn business. Instead he grabbed some of the cleaning products from the floor and took them up the stairs, muttering “fine” under his breath.

  He heard Ashleigh say she was only joking as he reached the top of the stairs, but he didn’t care or stop his progress. The bedroom would be sparkling by the time he had done with his cleaning.

  He stripped the rumpled sheets from the bed in a few moments and kicked them out of the way. Screw them all. He’d make it through the week, take his nineteen and a half thousand credits and be living a life of luxury while Blake’s staff slaved away at their miserable jobs for the rest of their lives.

  He’d never let them know he cared about their opinions of him. He might have been reduced to a whore, but he had some pride left.

  Chapter Five

  When Blake returned he stamped around the apartment, growling and snarling at anyone who approached him. His temper hadn’t calmed since the morning. All the staff spoke in whispers and walked on eggshells until he retreated to his bedroom with orders for AJ to join him immediately.

  AJ followed Blake up the stairs with even more trepidation than the previous night.

  Blake pulled AJ towards him and tore his new fine clothes right off his body. Buttons scattered across the floor and AJ looked in horror at the ruined garments. “What a waste of credits,” Blake muttered. “Should have left you naked since it’s the only time you’re of any use.”

  When AJ tried to cover his nakedness with his hands Blake pulled his arms apart so he could look at him. “I’m going to use you hard tonight, to make up for a day of frustration at having you here when I needed you at my side.”

  Hard? AJ wondered how much harder Blake could be.

  “Do you agree to my terms?” Blake asked. “You can always leave now with nothing more than the five hundred credits I paid for your sister’s medicine with.”

  What choice did he have? AJ nodded. “I agree.”

  Blake smiled for the first time since his return from the laboratory. “Excellent. Now bend over the end of the bed.”

  AJ did as Blake ordered and closed his eyes, trying to prepare himself to be taken. He jumped at the hard slap of a hand against his arse, instead of the expected thick cock between his buttocks. What the fuck?

  “That’s for neglecting to tell me you couldn’t read,” Blake said.

  A second smack landed on his other cheek.

  “That’s for the waste of my credits on your suit.”

  AJ closed his eyes and tried to ignore the sting of the slaps as they rained down on his arse, one after another, each one punctuated by Blake telling him what it was for.

  “For making me look a fool.”

  Smack.

  “For sitting around on your arse all day doing nothing.”

  Smack. AJ suspected he wouldn’t be sitting down again for a week if Blake kept this up.

  Finally Blake finished meting out his punishment and when his thick cock pushed its way inside him AJ was almost glad. Blake held him in a tight grip, the hands bruising the already tender flesh.

  This time when Blake had finished with him AJ didn’t wait to be dismissed. He stumbled from the room and retreated to the kitchen. Even though the door to the staff sleeping quarters had been left ajar AJ didn’t want to face the others. He slipped into the space beneath the counter once again and tried to find a comfortable position in which to sleep. Maybe Blake would be in a better mood tomorrow, so he could ask him about sleeping on the sofa then.

  * * * *

  The next morning AJ woke to the sound of someone moving about in the kitchen.

  “Looks like the lazy whore’s sleeping in today,” Ashleigh said. “Blake left for the lab an hour ago.”

  “Idle good-for-nothing lab rat,” Jessiah replied. He sounded like he spoke round a mouthful of food.

  “Have you met him yet?” Ashleigh asked.

  “Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure,” a stranger replied. AJ guessed the voice belonged to Corrine, the housekeeper who had had the previous day off. From the tone of her voice her idea of pleasure wouldn’t be meeting him.

  AJ pushed himself back under the counter, as far into the corner as he could get. The movement caused him to gasp in pain as his sore buttocks brushed against the now cold pipes. Thankfully, the chatter of the others masked his noise and no one noticed his presence.

  Eventually they all went about their business and AJ crawled out from under the counter, stretching his aching muscles and wincing in pain. Only when he stood fully upright did he realise the kitchen wasn’t as empty as he had thought.

  Ryder sat at the table, watching him in silent contemplation. AJ grabbed a towel from the counter to cover himself.

  “Eavesdropping?” Ryder asked casually.

  “Not on purpose,” AJ said, not bothering to deny he had overheard much of the morning’s conversation.

  “What were you doing under there?” Ryder asked.

  “Sleeping, or trying to.”

  Ryder shook his head. “Try again.”

  “It’s the truth.”

  “Why weren’t you with Blake?”

  “He’d done with me for the night,” AJ explained. “He only fucks me. He doesn’t sleep with his whore.”

  “Where did you sleep the night before?”

  “Down here,” AJ admitted.

  “Why didn’t you come into
the staff quarters?”

  “Someone had locked the door.”

  “Not last night, they didn’t.”

  “I didn’t think I’d be welcome with the rest of you through there,” AJ whispered, unable to look Ryder in the eye.

  “Oh for the love of—” Ryder stood up and steered AJ through the door to the staff quarters. “Corrine and Ashleigh have the room to the right. Jessiah and I sleep here in the room on the left. The door straight ahead leads to the washroom. Go take a shower. You reek of sex.”

  AJ slipped into the washroom and showered as quickly as he could. When he exited the room Ryder stood leaning against the wall, waiting for him.

  “This way,” Ryder said as he shepherded AJ into the men’s sleeping quarters. “Jessiah has the capsule next to the window. I have the one near the door. You can use either of the other two.”

  “Why are there so many?”

  “There used to be more staff, back when Blake’s parents owned this place. Now get some sleep.”

  AJ turned to the nearest unoccupied capsule. It didn’t look as comfortable as Blake’s bed, but anything had to be an improvement on the kitchen floor.

  “What happened to your arse?” Ryder asked quietly.

  “Blake was unhappy with me.”

  “He hit you?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” AJ’s reply was firm. By saying nothing he had silently agreed to Blake’s punishment, no matter how much it pained him to do so.

  Ryder didn’t say anything as AJ crawled into the capsule. He showed AJ which button to press to bring down the shield to soundproof the sleeping chamber. Just before the shield closed AJ heard Ryder say they would talk later. He tried not to worry about what the conversation would entail. It didn’t take him long to fall asleep, after the last two nights trying to sleep on the floor and several nights of concern over Essie before that, he was so exhausted even worry couldn’t keep him awake.

  * * * *

  When AJ crawled out of the capsule several hours later Ryder sat across from him on his own capsule. He worked on his hand-held computer, but he put it aside as soon as he spotted AJ had woken.