Seridae woke to the smell of food wafting from the living room. Whatever it was, the small was out of this world. Seridae slipped into a robe and brushed his long mane before tying it back with a scrunchie. When he walked into the living room, Seridae found Rolf removing the covers from dishes on the table. The slave wondered if he were still asleep and dreaming. This had to be a dream. He had received his first massage and, for the first time, he had fallen asleep peacefully to a sleep void of nightmares. He had opened his eyes and felt, well, happy. Or, what he thought it probably felt like to be happy. He had never felt that emotion before, so it was just a guess.

“Hello.” Rolf looked up when he heardSeridae’s soft tread on the carpet.

Seridae smiled without thinking about it. “How long have I been asleep?”

“About an hour. How do you feel?”

“Very good, sir.” Seridae reached the table. “What do we have here? It smells wonderful.”

“German pancakes and eggs.” Rolf pointed to crepe-like pancakes with lemon butter and lemon wedges sharing a platter with scrambled eggs. “Breakfast sausage patties and fruit. I took the liberty of ordering hot tea and orange juice.”

“Thank you. It looks god, and I admit that I am hungry.” For some reason, Seridae wasn’t afraid to just say what he felt.

Rolf pulled out a chair for him. “Have a seat.”

Seridae’s reservations and fears, or what was left of them, fizzled down to nothing. He felt comfortable with Rolf. As they ate, he had no problem talking to Rolf. For the first time, it felt right. He wondered if this was how people in the outside world lived.

“Do you like opera?” Rolf took a sip of juice.

Serudae nodded. “I’ve read the stories, and I like those. I’ve never been to an actual opera though.”

“Would you like to see one?”

“I…I don’t know. I’ve never really given it much thought.”

“The Magic Flute is being performed in the city. If you would like, I would enjoy taking you.”

What to say? Seridae wanted to go with Rolf, but he’d never been out of the palace.

Rolf studied the slave’s face. He’d read in the file that Seridae had never set foot out of these rooms. “Don’t worry about going out. I’ll be with you the entire time. We’ll come and go in my car, and I’ll get a private box. I’ll make it as easy and comfortable as possible for you. I’ll get you everything you need.”

“If it pleases you, then it pleases me.” Seridae found it difficult to admit that he was a little afraid of the world outside the palace. As much as he wanted to be free, he didn’t know what to expect.

“It pleases me. As my companion, you will accompany me to concerts, films, operas, theatre, the symphony, and when I travel. I will not let anything happen to you; you’ll be fine.”

Seridae just nodded.

They walked in the garden after their meal. The weather was growing colder.

“Some of your plants are going to need to be covered soon.” Rolf’s eyes roamed over the garden.

“I know.” Seridae knelled down to pick some mint. “And the roses need to be pruned back.”

Rolf thinned some herb plants quietly for a while. “Would you like another massage tonight?”

“Yes, sir. It was very pleasant.”

“Good. Just let me know when you feel uncomfortable, and I will stop.”

“I know, sir.” Seridae continued to gather mints.

They worked peacefully together until the sun was setting.

Dinner was light: a chicken cesar salad. Rolf decided to take the opportunity to teach Serdiae something else. Dinner had gone well, and Serdiae seemed to be in a good mood. Rolf pushed the dinner cart into the hall and went back inside. The slave had put on some soft music. Rolf smiled.

“Seridae, do you dance?” Rolf walked up beside him.

“Dance?” Of course he knew what dancing was, but he’d never done it. “No, sir. That was never wanted from me.”

“Ah, I will teach you then. Do you trust me?”

“Yes, sir.” Had he really said that? He didn’t even think about it.

“This does require some physical contact.” Rolf placed one hand on Seridae’s slim waist and held his hand with the other. “In proper circles, this is how you hold a dance partner you do not know well or who is married. This is how I would hold a lady I hadn’t known long or who was engaged or married to another. As Master, I could hold you any way I choose, but I will not do that. You’ll learn better if you can see your feet. Follow my lead.”

Rolf moved slow and easy to the music. Seridae followed Rolf’s steps. Seridae’s emotions were on a bit of a rollercoaster ride. Slaves weren’t treated this way. Or, were they? This certainly had never been Seridae’s experience. Where was the abuse, the put-downs? Seridae hated even the sound of his previous masters’ voices, their touch, their roughness. This was not anything like he’d experienced before. This was nice. He wasn’t afraid, and his stomach wasn’t in knots. His stomach felt fluttery. Not a bad fluttery, but a good kind of fluttery. What was that? As the movements became familiar and easy, Seridae eased closer to Rolf.

“Do you dance with many males?” It just slipped out. Seridae hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

Rolf grinned. “No. I’ve only danced with women, but I like slow dancing.”

“I can see why.” Seridae was now completely in Rolf’s arms and pressed up against him. For once, he felt as if he mattered.

Rolf held Seridae, finally. Not tightly. He didn’t want to upset the slave. Seridae felt relaxed, but Rolf wasn’t taking any chances. The two danced slowly for quite a while. Rolf had to work hard to control his desire. As Master, he had the right to demand and take what he wanted, but he didn’t want to do that. No, he would act when the time was right. When the piece of music ended, Rolf sent Seridae to take a hot shower so that his muscles could be warm and relaxed.

While Seridae showered, rolf busied himself preparing the room. He pulled down the covers neatly and dimmed the lights. He lit some candles and made sure that soft music played in the bedroom. He undressed and slipped into his robe. Seridae emerged from the bathroom clad only in his light robe. Rolf had him shed that robe and lay on his stomach on the bed. Seridae did so without hesitation or fear. Rolf poured a little lotion into the palm of his hand and began to massage Seridae’s hand.

Starting with the fingers, Rolf worked his way up Seridae’s arm. “Is the lotion cold?”

“A little.”

“No problem.” Rolf poured more into his hand and whispered a short incantation before working on Seridae’s other hand.

Seridae sighed. The lotion was warm.

Rolf shed his robe and began to work on Seridae’s feet after hands and arms were done. Each toe, then down the foot to heels and ankles. From the ankles he worked his way up to the thigh. Rolf did both legs before climbing onto the bed and kneading the slave’s firm bottom. Seridae sighed as waves of pleasure flowed through him. Rolf’s hands worked up Seridae’s sides and back. He massaged the slave’s shoulders and neck. His thumbs massaged Seridae’s head, temples, forehead, cheeks, and jaw. Then Rolf had Seridae turn over onto his back. Straddling Seridae’s loins, Rolf worked the slave’s chest. As his hands moved, Rolf became aware of Seridae’s arousal.

Seridae couldn’t help it. Rolf’s touch ignited feelings in him that he didn’t know and couldn’t control. His body was betraying him. This was another first. He had never had a natural arousal. He hated being taken by former masters. When they wanted him aroused, a rubber ring device or a leather strap was attached t the base of his member and tightened until the desired affect was achieved. Then he was strapped down and used as much as was wanted. Some masters even used desensitizer on his arousal or even injections to keep him useful until they and their friends were satisfied. He’d be punished if he let go to soon. Now, here he was obviously aroused. Would there be punishment for that?

“Ah.” Rolf felt Seridae’s arousal rub against him. “You’re enjoying yourself, I see.”

Seridae’s face turned red.

“Don’t be embarrassed. Your body is just letting you know its needs.” Rolf smiled. “I’ll give it attention when I finish.”

The time was almost upon him. Seridae knew it would come. The surprise was that he wasn’t afraid, and he didn’t feel sick. He was anxious. To his own surprise, Seridae wanted this union. Usually a master would just make him bend over or get on his hands and knees. Or, he’d be forced to lay face down on the bed and Master and friends had their way with him. Sometimes they would shove objects into him just to hear him scream in pain or cry out. Something told him that this time it was going to be different.