SteeleKizz, Inc

Cold Shoulder

Jaxon

Jaxon had woken up the next day with Nessa's words still warring in his head.  He knew that his choices weren't the best, after he'd had time to think about it.  NOw that he was here, it was going to be hard to turn back.  He decided that he would ask Kat her thoughts on him changing his mind.  What would it hurt to ask?  Right?

Kat was coming down the hallway talking on the phone when she saw Jaxon creep out of his room still in his sleeping shorts.  She snapped her fingers at him.

"Jaxy!" she said abruptly, holding the phone away.  "Get dressed.  Wear the red outfit.  Be downstairs in less than an hour.  We've got a flight out west to make.  No time to toy around."

Jaxon gave her a nod and as he passed her she smacked his bottom.  

"Shame on you for wearing something to tease me like that!"  She continued on with a smirk across her face.  She put the phone back up to her ear proceeding with the conversation.

He shook his head and rubbed his bottom from her smack.  I would at least grab something to eat before getting dressed.   No matter what Kat said.  

Once in the kitchen, Tabitha had a small brown bag set out with his name on it.  She looked around before speaking.

"Mr. Jaxon," she said hushed.  "You will be the death of me if I have to rush you a bit to eat.  Mistress was already complaining that you'd slept in long enough.  I knew that you'd come get something for that stomach of yours."

Jaxon smiled winking at her.  "You're the best," he said and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.  "Don't let anyone know you're my favorite gal, okay?"

She shooed him away, blushing all the while.  Jaxon bolted back upstairs.  He opened the double doors to his closet unsure what outfit she was talking about.  Obviously, she must have had a conversation with Oliver and or Tabitha about his waking habits and requested to label and bag each of the outfits according to a key word that he would remember.  On the far left bag was a label noted 'red'.

"Well then."  Jaxon started talking out loud to himself.  "I guess someone doesn't trust me dressing myself.  Guess the red bag will be it."

After a brief trip in the shower and nibbling on his breakfast sandwich and sipping the last part of his juice, Jaxon looked in the full-length mirror on the open door at the outfit.

"Kat, what are you thinking when you buy stuff like this for me?" he asked no one in particular.  

The red-hued satin shirt fit tightly across his chest showing off his pecs and diminishing washboard abs.  He ran his hand across his stomach realizing he was getting out of shape, and faster than he realized.  He'd have to pick on Tabitha that she was feeding him so well that he was losing his boyish good looks.

Thankfully, the slight weight gain wasn't that obvious.  The walk last night helped some, but he would have to find something or somewhere that he could work out again.  He wondered if this house had a gym or an in -home workout set.  He'd ask Oliver when he comes back from their west coast excursion.

Tossing the brown bag into the trash by his door, he grabbed the dress jacket and headed out of his bedroom.  He could hear Kat's commanding voice relaying orders for the house staff.  Edging his way down the stairs, he saw several new staff members circling around her lowering their gaze.

He thought nothing of it.  He was used to Oliver's more timid approach to Kat, er, Mistress, when she was home versus when it was just him and the rest around.  Seeing Jaxon approach, she snapped her fingers and said in a foreign language a command.

He walked up behind her and ran his hand across her stomach.

"You don't always have to be so firm with the staff.  They already listen to the one who pays them.  Besides, I thought you prefered to boss me around, Kat."

His breath was hot against her neck and goosebumped appeared along her arms and nape of her neck.

"That is unfair," she murmured under her breath.  "Approaching me in front of my employees like that.  You need a good lashing."

"Bring the tongue lashing," he added.  "I dare you."

He pulled her in close to his body to feel every bit of his taut frame.  She shuttered a breath.

"I'll be waiting outside for you." 

Jaxon released his hold and walked out the front doors.  Kat stood still shifting her gaze around, her feet frozen to the ground attempting to gain her composure.  Oliver slinked up from behind her.

"Mistress," he said slowly.  "Your driver is waiting with Master Steele.”

Kat gave a scoffing huff dismissing Jaxon’s passes and distracting her from her task.  She thought to herself just what she would do to pay him back.  

“Keep the staff busy downstairs, Oliver.  I expect it to be in order by the end of the month.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Oliver said, bowing to her.  He headed to the door ahead of her to open it.  He then closed it as she went through.  He gave a slight sigh of relief at her departure.  Looking at the long list of work to do in the lower quarters, he understood why there were so many hired.  It would take them the weekend to complete her task.  He dashed to the kitchen to let Tabitha know the plans for meals and snacks while the crew worked.

The pair were driven to a small air strip about an hour south.  From there they took a private jet to Phoenix, Arizona.  Jaxon had never been any farther west than where he grew up in the midwest.  He understood why Kat picked out this outfit.  The heat, while dry, was smoltering.  Thankfully, the outfit was a lighter fabric and could breathe so sweat wouldn’t be so apparent.  Jaxon took off the jacket draping it on his arm.

At the hotel, Jaxon and Kat settled in their suite until the sun set.  Jaxon reclined in the love seat watching the pinks, lavenders and orangest paint across the sky.  The white clouds mimicked the colors as they drifted along.

“So what’s the agenda tonight?  Or this weekend?” he asked out of nowhere.  He glanced around, finding that there wasn’t the abundant seating to allow her to pass out drunk like she had the first time she took him out.

He turned in his relaxed position over at her, nearly throwing herself on the countertop flipping through a fashion magazine.

“You don’t say,” he said, continuing his conversation.  “Sounds like it’s going to be a grand time.”

She could detect the sarcasm in his tone and closed the magazine shut with a thump.  She went over to him and sat down hard on his stomach knocking the air out of him.

“Since you must ask, it’s another auction.  Just like before.  I have several clients looking for certain ‘things’.  I need your eyes and appeal to help me.  If you really need to know,” she said firmly.  

He tried to catch his breath but her weight stopped him from doing it successfully.  HIs breathing was shallow.

“Okay,” he said.  “I get it.  That was payback.  Get off, please.”

Kat laughed at his pleas.  “That was not my payback for earlier.  That was for your sarcasm.  Your payback for distracting me from my staff, will come much later, Jaxon.  Just wait and see.”

She stood up and sat down in the chair by him.

“So, you’re using me, for finding things in people?” he asked.  “I don’t get it.”

She gave a shrug.  “You are a sexy, healthy, young man with devilishly good looks.  You keep your boyish frame and girls will be frothing at the mouth.  Some guys will too, but I’m looking for girls.  Tonight at least.”

Jaxon shook his head hearing this wealth of knowledge. “So basically, I’m your f**k toy.  Your trophy catch.  Above all, I’m your bear bait.”

Kat thought about what he was saying, none of it was false, but the terminology was not something she was too familiar with only in passing.

“You could say that,” she said bluntly.

“Wow,” Jaxon said, learning more about her every day.  “So any girl who sees me and twitches at my presence, you’ll more than likely bid on for your...clients?”

She silently replied with her look.  “You are quite a piece of work Kat.  Had I known your actual intentions for me, I’d have never agreed.  You do realize that?”

She gave another indubitable look with a shrug of her shoulder.  “Possibly.  But you, Jaxon, fell for it.  So, my plan worked.”

“What if I want to leave?  What if I grow tired of you using me for slave girls?  What if I pack up my own personal belongings and leave?  Jaxon couldn’t believe that she was this heinous.

She sat up straight in her seat and leaned towards him.  A deep penetrating gaze hit him like a ton of bricks.  What she said next, had him swallowing the bitterest of pills down hard.

“You can do that, Jaxon.  I’ll make you regret ever leaving my side.  I’ve promised and will uphold my end of our agreement.  You get to travel and see the world.  You, be my bait, as you so like to say it.  I could have had us married that evening, but figured you needed time to decide if that’s what you wanted.  Instead, we have an unwavering and binding agreement that you signed, remember?  You leave, I will hunt down your sisters and they will be my own personal slaves.  Whether it be for s*x, bait, or just for the sheer pleasure of seeing them tortured.  Everything that I spend on you, will be billed to your parents.  I can guarantee that the shanty you call home wouldn’t cover a single percentage to pay me back if they mortgaged it.  Now, you tell me.  Do you want to leave now?”

Kat lifted his feet off the ground and turned to face her.  

“You can do to me whatever you must, but you leave my sisters out of this.  They are still babies.”

She sat back in her seat proud of herself.  “Then you have a clear understanding of our arrangement, Jaxon.  I have every intention of doing with you what I want and when I want.  I can cut you off from everything, your family, your outings from the property, and all the money I’ve spent on you.  So far, you’ve behaved like a good little pet.  I haven’t had to question your motives.  Do I need to question them now?”

Jaxon inhaled and let out a breath.  In his mind, none of this was right, but to save his sisters and his parents from financial debacle he had to.

“Yes, you’ve made yourself clear, Kat.”

“Good,” she said.  “I’ve allowed you a few modifications to our original agreement.  Understandably so.  I don’t think I could handle seeing you vomit everytime we go out.  Though you will need to harden up.  The time will come where I won’t care what you think of where we go or what you see.  For now, have your fun, Jaxon.”

A buzz came from the intercom system.  Kat stood and smoothed out her knee length pencil skirt and adjusted the buttons at the cuff of her blouse.  She looked down to Jaxon as she walked by.

“Come, my pet.  We have some girls to bait tonight.”

Jaxon stretched his neck dreading the remaining hours of this vacation.  

The ride to the auction house wasn’t as far as it was back in New York.  Then again, he didn’t think that Phoenix was as big of a city as NYC.  It did have it’s better moments.  Jaxon took in the sights he could see while riding along.  If he had any free time, he would manage to do some sight seeing of his own.

Arriving at a large house set off from the main highway about a mile and a half, Kat turned to Jaxon and adjusted his shirt.  Unbuttoning it to show off his chest.  Attaching his diamond and silver collar, minus the leash this time.  She looked into his eyes unblinking.

“Same as before.  Stay by my side.  Don’t wander off.  Don’t let your eyes stare for too long.  If you do, I can’t help nor stop what happens with the other bidders in my absence.  Am I clear?”

“Perfectly,” he said, clearing his throat from the tighter than expected collar.  “Must I?”

She gave him a look over as he motioned to the collar on his neck.  “With what you questioned and proposed today, absolutely.  It’s a reminder who exactly is in charge.  Me.  Not you.  Now, let’s go, my pet bait.”

They got out of the car when one of the valet’s opened the door for them.  She showed an invitation card to the valet and he pointed to the front entrance.  

Walking to the entrance, she gave a laugh only heard by him.  “You know, I’m starting to like that name for you.  Pet bait.”

She looked back at him, a menacing grin spread over her lips.  It was the same routine as before.  They had several blockades inspecting who was coming and going.  Who was everyone’s plus one.  Kat handed off an official document.  Jaxon wasn’t quick enough to catch what was on it.  

They then proceeded through the curtained entrance.  Bronzed, glistening bodies littered the room in various focused positions.  Several times Jaxon had to look away from the demeaning postures.  Kat had nudged him a couple of times when she found something interesting.  Or something found Jaxon interesting and her gaze following them around.  

He couldn’t believe what he was doing.  The only good thing, he never had to speak a word, just displayed his very masculine body to some very young unsuspecting females.  His stomach started turning as they went further and the female's appearances seemed rather youthful.  

Having enough for the moment, he needed something to distract him.  He gave Kat a nudge of his own and turned to whisper to her.

“Bathroom, now” he said under his breath.  Kat glanced around the room.   Seeing a doorway in the far corner, she motioned to it with her head.  “Make it fast.  Remember what I said.  What happens in my absence, falls on you.”

Acknowledging her words, he gave a bow of his head making quick strides to the far away door.  Inside, he was thankful to see a bathroom.  Once he had finished his task at hand, he stood at the sink splashing cold water on his face.  He ran his wet fingers through his hair, the water dampening it as he slicked it back.  Dammit, he thought.  Realizing that only enhanced his look even more.  Kat would unanimously applaud his unconscious habit.  He had nothing to dry his hair off with now.  He would just have to deal with it.

As he was leaving, another male, an older gentleman of sorts came into the bathroom.  He paused looking over Jaxon like he was the best piece of meat on the slab.  Jaxon’s heart picked up and started racing.  Crap.

“Excuse me,” he said, trying to lower his gaze, but with his natural straightforwardness he couldn’t look away.

“Oh no, excuse me,” said the older man.  His chestnut brown hair combed back to perfection.  Jaxon started noting his features as the guy slowly made his way in front of him.  This was pushing Jaxon farther back into the bathroom.  Jaxon could possibly take this guy out with the right move, but in this setting, his more aggressiveness would be seen as hostile.  Jaxon had to keep his cool.  He inhaled and exhaled slowly trying not to let on that the guy was about to push the wrong little guy around.

“I’ve seen you with quite a ferocious young lady.  Katarina Krzysztof, is her name, right?  She’s definitely the talk of the art show tonight.  So are you.  I don’t think I caught your name, handsome.”

Jaxon clammered to find the words to reply to him.  “Jaxon.” he said, leaving off his last name for all intents and purposes.

“Ah, yes, Jaxon.  Quite the charmer.  Those young ladies out there seem to be eyeing you this way and that.  I can’t say, I don’t blame them for eyeing you up.  Your s*x candy for them.  Katarina is quite lucky.”

Just as Jaxon’s back hit the wall.  The door flew open and Kat stood in the doorway looking on.

“My pet.  Come.  Now.”

The man turned to look at Katarina who stared daggers at him.  He extended his hand out to Jaxon.

“I was just commending your pet for behaving well tonight.  He’s definitely the bell of the ball.  Nice meeting you.”

As Jaxon pushed off the wall and walked by, the man’s hand discretely slipped a hard piece of paper into Jaxon’s hand.  Jaxon gave a nod and looked down as he headed out of the bathroom with Kat.

“See what I mean?” she scolded him.  “Thankfully, the bathroom is an off-limits space.  It might have been your ownership being traded off otherwise.  Come.  Let’s get this show behind us.”

Kat and Jaxon gave another tour of the display models before she went to a private room with Jaxon standing outside, one of the guards next to him.  When she was finished with business, they left the show and went to a small diner on the outskirts of town.  He was thankful to be out and away from the prying eyes.  

While waiting for their order, Kat dismissed herself from the table to head to the ladies room.  Jaxon had quickly lodged the hard paper into the edge of his pants as they walked around the showroom floor.  If he’d have put it in his pocket, it would have been too apparent.

Pulling it out of his safe space, he unfolded it.  He did a double take as he read it.  He looked up and around making sure no one else was noticing or that Kat was returning.  

It was a business card.  Detective Homer Marshall from Atlantic Beach, NY Unit, NYPD.  Jaxon slipped it into his shoe at the heel so that it wouldn’t mess up the print.  When he confirmed it wouldn’t slip out he sat back in his seat.  He was trying to recall if he saw this guy at the New York show.  It had been at least two, maybe three months ago and his memory was failing him.  He would have to find out more about this guy and what he was wanting with either Kat or himself.

He saw Kat heading back to the table and the waitress following soon after with their meal.  

Kat and Jaxon both sat in silence as they finished their meal.  Jaxon had very little to say that wouldn’t bring up more questions than he was ready to answer.  He decided it was best to err the side of caution.