Exploration

• Nadia

She stewed in her frustration as her last attempt at making Ethan happy had backfired horribly, hurting and embarrassing him instead. She did manage to salvage it with that pep talk, but she needed to be more careful! He liked it when the other women felt safe and protected, she noticed, which made her happy too, of course... But deep down she knew that if only he decided to claim all of the women, then not only would they be protected too, but they would feel so much happier than they were right now. It was a win/win for everyone involved!

Yet, she dared not voice these thoughts out loud. It did not take a genius to predict that if she voiced her true opinions it would mark her as an enemy of all these women who still wanted to remain free, although this she honestly cared for very little. However it would also make them trust Ethan less and he would be devastated. And that she could not endure. Couldn't they see how great a guy he was? Handsome, kind, charming without being too pushy...

"Um, Nadia?" Zarina's voice broke her train of thought. The young woman with a headscarf seemed to be steeling herself before tentatively asking her question. "How was it like to be claimed?"

The question, direct as it was, caught her by surprise. But she looked around and saw the other women were curious too, and Ethan... Ethan wanted to know! He looked at her intently, curious. She immediately felt a burst of pleasure as she saw a chance to give him what he wanted and spoke without reservation.

"Honestly? It feels good. Like, really, really good!" She gave them a big, genuine smile as she said so, before continuing. "If I were to try and explain it? Well... Have any of you ever been in love? Like, really, really in love? Maybe for the first time? The kind of puppy love where you like everything you see about the other person, and every single experience becomes better when they're involved? The world is prettier, the food tastes better, and it's like you have butterflies in your chest when you think about them, even if they're away?"

Her own description brought goosebumps to her arms, which she rubbed with a soft, pleasurable sigh. "It feels like that, but times a hundred. Like... All my other happy memories don't even compare. And I got pretty lucky since I was claimed by such a cool guy! Seriously, I notice his good qualities so much more now that I've been claimed! And when I look at Ethan and he gives me a smile..." She let the sentence linger, looking intently at him. Ethan chuckled, somewhat nervous, but she could see his cheeks flush with her praise and the pleasure faucet in her brain was turned from a trickle to a splash, making her almost sigh as a mini-orgasm washed over her body. She made him happy, she made him happy, she made him happy!

"Wow," said Zarina, her eyes wide. "Sounds really... Intense."

"And scary," added Anna. Nadia felt a surge of annoyance, which she masked for Ethan's sake as she looked at the little tomboy latina. She had been one of the most skittish of the group, and Nadia filed away the potential for her to be a problem. And true to form, Anna immediately complicated things with a question. "Did you like Ethan at all before being claimed?"

"I did!" Protested Nadia. The lie came out smoother than she even realized. Ethan would not be happy to know the truth, so there was no hint of remorse or shame in the lie. "I... Well, I always found him cute when we had classes together, and we talked here and there after... Umm, but I never got the courage to ask him out until today. So really? Being claimed was honestly the best thing that could have happened to me!"

Anne narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but Ethan smiled again with a mixture of happiness and embarrassment. "Really? Oh... I didn't know." Nadia beamed as another burst of pleasure made her briefly see stars. Oh hell she wanted him to do this more often. She wanted to see him smile more, and see his other happy expressions. His nervous smile, his cheerful smile, his eager smile, his expression when he climaxed... Even the thought of that made her weak at the knees. She wanted it. She NEEDED it.

"But.. Realistically... Wouldn't you feel the same way if the person that claimed you was someone you hated?" Asked Jasmine, her quiet voice still heard in the silence of the group.

"I guess...?" Admitted Nadia, before quickly jumping to defend her case. "But I still think Ethan is a best case scenario when it comes to an owner, don't you think so? Even before I was claimed I’m pretty sure most women would think so. I mean… I would of course, but I already liked him before, so that’s a special case."

"Well, that’s a moot point," said Kaitlyn, her tone firm despite the usual grin she sported. “Ethan’s not claiming anyone else today, right?” And she shot him a look, both cool and commanding, that made Ethan wince slightly. How dare that bitch make him feel bad? After all that he had done for them, the ungrateful little -

“Absolutely not,” he agreed. He then glanced at Nadia and squirmed. “Claiming you was… Making the best out of a bad situation. Although maybe, still a mistake, even then.”

Nadia felt her blood run cold, and lowered her head. Had she been such a bad woman for him? Was she really such a liability? But it was so unfair! She had been watching Ethan intently, and knew that he liked her. She caught him looking at her body more than once, admiring her. And it took all her willpower not to strip right then and there, just to give him an even better look at what he wanted to see. She felt his desire radiate off him, and wanted so badly to give him what he wanted. It was so simple, and yet, the situation they were in made that so difficult! All of these women, judging him! How could she help Ethan realize that he would be so much happier if he used Nadia as he pleased? For both of them!

Well… It couldn’t be THAT easy. Could it?

“Ethan?” She asked, her voice low. She pretended to look hurt and serious. “Can we talk for a moment? Just the two of us?”

“... Sure,” he replied, looking uncertain and clearly regretting his choice of words.

It WAS that easy!

She tried not to show in her face how eager she was, as her heart beat faster and a thrum of excitement ran from her neck to her abdomen. This was her chance! This is how she could convince him to fully enjoy her and give her a chance to make him happy! And as the two of them made their way to the bathroom in the cafe, she couldn’t help but secretly smile when she was sure nobody else could see it.

She was going to make him understand how much more she could give him. Maybe then he would become a more enthusiastic master? Maybe she could even turn him around on claiming the other women? The thought of it made her bite down her lip to suppress a sigh of pleasure and she **** herself to calm down, to take things easy. She could not mess things up again.

• Kaitlyn

There was a moment of silence as Ethan and Nadia went around the counter and through the kitchen door, deeper into the cafe. Kaitlyn really hoped this would be just a chance for them to air out their thoughts, rather than an excuse for them to get frisky, but she was mentally prepared for either option.

It was an unfortunate part of their new reality, but this power imbalance was now baked into all their relationships whether she liked it or not. Even if Ethan did not **** his powers in any way, and that was one hell of an ‘if’, the imbalance would still be there. She simply had to find some way to make peace with it.

“So, now that they’re gone for a bit…” Jasmine glanced in the direction of the kitchen door. “Um, you guys don’t have to answer if you don’t want to… But have you considered choosing someone to get claimed by, so that you don’t have to be afraid? If given the chance, would any of you take it?”

Another moment of consideration for the women in the cafe. Kaitlyn smiled, leaning back against her chair, and was the first to answer.

“That’s an automatic no for me,” she said. “Whether I like the guy or not, it doesn’t matter. Nobody’s claiming me.”

“I agree,” said Anna, looking at nothing in particular as she spoke, deep in her own thoughts. “It’s so disgusting and evil... I’d rather die than be claimed.”

“Don’t say that around Nadia though,” muttered Kaitlyn, glancing again at the kitchen door. “It’s, y’know… A little harsh?”

“Just between us?” Said Zarina, and she swallowed nervously before continuing. “I think… I would be ok being claimed. If - and only if! - I liked the guy and… Um. It was right. If I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. And, uhh… If there was a risk of someone else claiming me instead.”

She seemed embarrassed to admit this, and Kaitlyn was about to say that she at least understood the feeling when she was beaten to the punch, and by Ros of all people.

“Honestly? I get that,” said Roslyn. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but she rallied on. “I would feel a lot safer if I knew I was in… In good hands, so to speak. And if this claiming thing doesn’t go away? Then maybe there will be **** but to get claimed by someone. If given the chance? Yeah, I think I would like to choose for myself.”

Jasmine nodded, but she looked even more glum than before. “I figure it’s only a matter of time,” she said. “The way things are going? Soon enough most women will be claimed by a man, either forcefully or by choice. I… I don’t want to do it. But I don’t think we even have the luxury of a choice anymore.”

Kaitlyn looked with concern, first to Jasmine, then to the other women. Their expressions ranged from concern to fear to defiance, but the mood felt much heavier than before.

Which is why she stretched her back before hopping out of her chair and walking around, her eyes searching the place for something to do. She sauntered to the kitchen door and took a quick peek before turning around. “Hey, Jasmine! Think you can come with me to explore the kitchen and see if we can scrounge something up quick? A little something for the road.”

“Oh,” Jasmine perked up slightly, before frowning. “Aren’t Ethan and Nadia there though?”

“Nah, I think the lovebirds found a more private place to have their chat,” commented Kaitly casually as she opened the door and looked around to make sure. “Yup, coast clear. I’m not good at cooking as you are so I could use your help here. You don’t mind keeping watch for anyone coming in, right Ros?”

The short cute brunette shook her head. “I’ll let everyone know if I see anyone coming,” she muttered. Jasmine, after hesitating a moment, followed as Kaitlyn beckoned her inside. The kitchen.

Stepping inside showed that the kitchen was very much like the cafe, small and homey. Some ingredients were not very useful to them, but soon they found a large quantity of eggs and Jasmine was working on making a lot of scrambled eggs that they could bring in containers, while Kaitlyn helped. And as they worked the kitchen and focused on a task, surrounded by the delicious smells of the kitchen and the heat, Jasmine found herself feeling a lot better than before.

“Thanks for doing this, Kaitlyn,” she said, halfway though cooking her pile of eggs.

“For what? Making you **** here in the kitchen with me?” Joked the other woman, leaning on the counter and giving her usual wolfish grin.

“Oh, you know what I mean!” Replied Jasmine, although she couldn’t help smiling back. “Gosh. I was so terrified when you found me, hiding in the lab… And then you explained to me your plan and… It’s thanks to you that we are all still fine. And still ourselves. I don’t want to be a… A downer, you know?”

“It’s fine,” Kaitlyn waved away her worries. “I get it. It’s been a rough day, for sure.”

“And I’m also grateful to Ethan. Um, for going along with your plan too.”

“Hmm,” Kaitlyn’s grin wavered for the first time during their talk, concern flickering in her eyes.

“What? Is there something wrong with him?” Asked Jasmine.

“I… Don’t know,” And Kaitlyn ran a hand through her black hair and her expression shifted, looking suddenly much more **** than Jasmine had ever seen her be. “I’ll be honest, I’m glad that Ethan was there to help us. He’s one of the few guys that I would trust, in this kind of situation. It’s… It’s just a shame that he claimed that girl.”

“Oh.” Jasmine wasn’t sure what else she should say.

“I’m a little disappointed in him, sure,” continued Kaitlyn, half to herself. “But also… Now I have to worry about him and Nadia. If they just start fucking like bunnies that’s… Sure, that would suck, but I could still accept it. I guess most guys would do the same, or maybe worse, in his shoes… ” She sighed. “But what if he starts changing his mind? If he starts thinking claiming women is ok, letting it get to his head…”

“So you don’t trust him…?” Jasmine asked.

“I don’t know. Just trying to look out for all of us free girls,” she said, shaking her head before her grin returned in full ****. “Let me do the worrying, ok? I’m keeping an eye on things.”

Jasmine nodded, and transferred another batch of cooked eggs into a plastic container before asking her friend. “How come you’re always so… Tough? Like, you were still pretty no-nonsense even before this whole thing. But, like… Does nothing get you down?”

Kaitlyn shrugged. “I’ve always had assholes trying to make me a compliant little bitch, even before all this. Giving me shit about my piercings, shit about my tattoo or my hair… Giving me shit just because I think gay people are people or because I think women should have opinions… And my attitude is still the same. Fuck if I’m going to let that happen. Fuckers can break my face, they can steal my money… But they can’t take the fight out of me.” Kaitlyn glowered, before adding in a lower tone, “although I guess now they can. Tch. But if they think I’m gonna roll over they’ve got another thing coming. Motherfuckers can claim me after they kiss my cold, dead ass. Fuck those controlling assholes and fuck whoever sent that message.”

Jasmine nodded along as she spoke, and grinned back at Kaitlyn. “Yeah, I could get behind this attitude.” She chuckled. “Fuck the Source!”

“Fuck the Source!” Agreed Kaitlyn.

• Nadia

Nadia was finally alone with Ethan, and it didn’t matter that they were in a cramped storeroom full of cleaning supplies and pans all stacked on a shelf, because for one of the first times since she had been claimed she was now alone with him. This was her chance!

But her heart still twinged when she noticed how Ethan looked both wary and ashamed as he closed the door behind him, but not fully. She noticed he left half an inch open, and with an impatient huff she pulled the door fully closed before looking at him. She was almost eye level with him, maybe a few inches taller, but he seemed to have trouble meeting her eyes.

She sighed. “I’m not doing anything to you without your permission, Ethan.” She shook her head sadly. “And I can’t stand to see you sad or upset. And I can’t help but feel like I make you feel bad no matter what I do.”

“It’s not that…” He protested. “I… It’s just that you’re not in your right mind at the moment and that sometimes makes things… Difficult.”

“Ethan!” She looked at him, pleading with her eyes. “I told you already that I was in love with you. And I am happy that you claimed me! So how do you think it feels when you say it was a mistake to claim me?”

“I’m sorry,” Ethan looked down, mortified, and the pang in Nadia’s heart intensified. She had made him sad!

“No, Ethan… Don’t feel bad. It’s my fault, really. I was the one who put you in this position. It’s my fault… So I think it’s only fair that you get to use me however you like.”

Ethan’s eyes widened briefly, before he looked away from Nadia. “This again…”

“I mean it,” said Nadia, doing her best to keep her voice firm but gentle, even as she lowered it to a whisper. “If you’re worried about the others finding out, we can keep things quiet. They will never have to know.”

He sighed. “It’s… It’s not just that. Even then, it would still be wrong.”

“Why?” She protested. “I want this, Ethan. And… I think you want me too. Or do you find me ugly? Or gross?” She ran a hand, gently, over his cheek and she could see him shiver (‘I made him feel good!’ she thought as her brain released a wave of pleasure washing through her body) before he gently brushed her hand away.

“You’re NOT gross. Or ugly,” he chuckled at the absurdity of it before turning to look at her, serious. “It wouldn’t be right. Right now you would do whatever I would tell you. And that’s… If I took advantage of you, I’d be no better than those other guys. The ones you were running away from when I…”

“When you claimed me,” she finished, the tension building in her like a string pulled to its breaking point. She could feel his desire, his need! And yet he still refused. She had to find a way to convince him, to make him understand that she was a toy for him to use, and she LIKED it that way… Then a thought entered her mind, and she considered it.

“Ethan, that’s very sweet,” she said, her voice gentle. An understanding smile on her lips. SHe touched him again, on the shoulders. “But right now? Right now I need to make you happy, I… I need you to use me. If you don’t it’s painful to me. Or maybe not pain, but… Like a need. Like I haven’t eaten a whole day, and here you are with a delicious sandwich in your hands and I am begging… Just begging. For one bite. Please.”

She saw him waver, open his mouth and then close it, considering her words. She felt so close to victory she had to contain herself for long enough to seal the deal. She finally saw the first crack in his defenses. She could do it. She could make him use her as he truly wanted.

“So…” He spoke. “You feel a need to… Please me? And if you don’t do it you feel sad? Do I have it right?”

She nodded fiercely. “If you care for me, if you want to make me happy… Then please. Use me. Let me make YOU happy,” she said, and again she brushed her hand gently at his cheek, and felt the bliss associated with making him feel good. She so desperately wanted to touch him more, further, lower, until she made him feel really good. If this is how good it felt from minor touches how would it be when she made him moan? How would it feel to make him orgasm? This thought almost overwhelmed her control, moved her hand down on her own, and she had to take a deep breath and suppress a moan as she ran her fingers down his neck, and onto his chest.

“You can give me a massage?” He suggested.

“Oh,” she was taken aback for a moment, a lot tamer than she thought. But then the opportunity to obey him and make him feel good quickly perked her up again. “A massage? Do you want me to give you a massage?”

“Not a lewd massage or anything,” he quickly added. “You could just… massage my face a bit. Or, umm… My back. It would make me feel good, without breaking any boundaries. Right?”

She was amused at his **** need to still respect her boundaries, even when she didn’t have them anymore. But the idea did sound enticing. “I can absolutely give you a massage, if that’s what YOU want. It’s your needs that matter here.”

He blinked at her, and for a moment she thought it wouldn’t work. Until…

“Give me a massage, Nadia. Touching only my face and upper body,” he said, taking that tone of voice that she loved. Commanding.

“Of course!” She said, a rush of pleasure following her obedience as she reached up with her hands and began touching his face. Tracing his brow, his nose, his cheeks and lips, exploring the face of her owner with butterfly-soft touches before she began to make gentle circles with her fingers, massaging his face.

She felt him relax at her touch after the initial moment of tension, eyes closed. And after enjoying her fingers' ministrations for a moment he allowed himself a smile and sighed, relaxing even more. Another splash of pleasure washed over her, making her moan softly. To her, this felt amazing.

“I’m going behind you so I can massage your back, ok?” She asked. And after waiting for his nod, she squeezed past him in that cramped storage before she began rubbing her hands on his neck and back.

She took a moment to enjoy this moment while she planned her next move. Then suddenly, with swift, confident moves, she lifted her own shirt and bra before pressing her naked chest against his back and wrapping her arms around his chest. She felt him tense up, and quickly chimed in. “Hey, shh.. It’s ok. It’s just a massage, right?” She bit her lips. If he ordered her to stop, she would obey of course, but…

“I… You shouldn’t…” He mumbled, but he could not finish his words, and she jumped on this opportunity.

“Does it feel bad for you?” She asked, her hands now exploring his chest. Feeling the curves of his muscles, his stomach and arms while she rubbed her chest against his back, up and down. Her nipples were hard as diamonds right now, but even that was secondary to the pleasure she got from making him feel good. “Are you not enjoying it?”

“I… I’m…” He hesitated, before finally admitting, his voice quiet, almost defeated. “It does feel good.”

“See? Don’t worry, this is just a massage,” she whispered into his ear. “No hands below the chest. Just like you asked. So relax and enjoy it.” She then moaned softly, her own pleasure rising too as her hands slowly went down and lifted his shirt, slowly, until her nipples were rubbing against his bare back and she felt the motion of his breathing, and his warmth, against her body.

He let out another soft sigh and she noticed her was breathing harder. And as she looked below, just out of reach, she could almost see his excitement rising under his pants. ‘I did this, I made him feel good!’ She thought, over and over and over as she rubbed her hands and her body against his. The mini-orgasms were constant now, like a never-ending stream of pleasure that ebbed and flowed, but never ended, as she massaged him. And deep within her blissed-out mind she felt a small surge of triumph.

She could do it. She could break down his useless, self-imposed barriers. She could show him where he truly belonged, as her master in every way, using her as he saw fit. She had to be careful, not to spook him for good. She had to goad him, one step at a time. But she could do it. And one day, he would truly see her as his ****. Maybe he would even see other women that way too, maybe.

She could only hope he would.