A Perfect Match?
By
Julie O
Edited
By
Amelia R.
Chapter 1
Ed Ainsworth sat nervously outside the office of his boss. He had no
idea why he was there; after all, he had only been working for the
company for three weeks.
Nervously he glanced at his watch again; it was now after six in the
evening, and he wondered if the big man had forgotten about him.
He had been hired after graduating from the University of Connecticut
and had originally been assigned to the Hartford office. He'd just been
getting settled in his new cubicle when he'd been told to report to HR.
The HR manager had then told him that he was being transferred to the
main office in Seattle. Ed was shocked, as he was just an entry-level
employee and couldn't understand why they would need him in Seattle.
It got stranger when he arrived at Sea-Tac and was whisked away in a
limo to meet with the CEO and founder of the company, Mark Walken.
Everyone who was hired at Walken Inc. knew about the founder. While his
past was slightly shrouded in myth and legend, they all knew how he had
created a Fortune 500 company from scratch in less than ten years.
Walken Inc. was involved in everything from international shipping to
microchips and had major offices in six countries.
Ed had heard all the stories about the CEO, and the one he liked the
most was that he had made his initial fortune after learning the MIT
blackjack card counting technique. He didn't know if it was true or
not, but it was a good story.
He looked at his watch again and wondered what was going on. The office
was now empty, and even Mr. Walken's secretary was gone. He debated how
much longer he should stay.
Chapter 2
"Are you sure about this one?" asked Mark Walken from behind his desk as
he paged through Ed's personnel file.
"Yes, sir," replied the man. "I ran all the tests on him, and he passed
with flying colors."
Mark Walken was a handsome man who looked as if he was in his early
forties. He was six-two and weighed around two hundred pounds, all of it
muscle. He was very pound of his physical condition, and he worked out
daily to maintain his shape. His thick chestnut colored hair was long
but neat.
Mark shifted to the report the man hand just placed on his desk and
opened it up.
"I can summarize that for you, sir. The candidate was raised in foster
homes and is single. According to the company doctor, he's in excellent
shape with no health issues," said the man.
Mark nodded without looking up. Ed was six-one, one hundred and eighty
pounds, blue eyes, no scars, no tattoos, and had 20-20 vision.
Additionally, he was single and not currently dating anyone.
"No one will miss him," continued the man.
Mark glanced up at the man. "Thank you John."
John wasn't the man's real name. He worked for Mark in a variety of
jobs, but wasn't listed on the company's roster of employees.
Additionally, he had one of those undistinctive appearances. He was of
slightly above average build, with dark hair and complexion. Some people
looked at John and thought he was Mexican, while others thought he was
either Mediterranean or Middle Eastern. John's background was part of
the reason why Mark trusted him, as John's family had been in his
employment for years. He was also impressed by the fact that John always
got the job done. Mark also liked the fact that John had the look of
someone you wouldn't want to anger, and therefore be reluctant to
question.
"I wasn't expecting a male," said Mark. "Not that it will matter if he
is the one."
"Do you want to see him, or should I send him back to Hartford and keep
looking for a woman?"
Mark shook his head. "I've been searching too long; let's see if he's a
match."
"I'll send him in," said John.
"Stand by; if he isn't a fit, I'll need you to send him back to
Hartford."
"And if he does?" asked John.
"Then you'll know what to do," said Mark.
Chapter 3
Ed walked into the office and saw Mr. Walken sitting behind his large
antique oak desk. Ed glanced around at the variety of artwork and
historical relics on the walls of the office. If he didn't know better,
he would have thought it was a museum.
On one wall there were a variety of historical weapons ranging from
broadswords to flintlock rifles. If they were real, they would be worth
a small fortune. On the opposite walls were several paintings. Ed wasn't
sure, but one looked like a Van Gogh and another looked like a Picasso.
Behind Mr. Walken's desk was a shelf of ancient pots. Ed recognized one
as ancient Greek and another as Minoan.
Mr. Walken looked up. "I suppose you wonder why you were brought here,
Mr. Ainsworth."
Ed nodded nervously. "Yes, sir."
"Please sit down. Do you like to be called Ed or Edward?"
"Ed is fine, sir."
"Ed it is. Anyway, I like to randomly meet with some of the new
employees, get an idea of who we're recruiting. When this company
started, I met with everyone, but we're way too big now," explained Mr.
Walken.
Ed nodded as he settled into the plush leather chair.
"Do you like my collection?" asked Mr. Walken. "I noticed you seemed
interested."
"It's very impressive. Is that a Van Gogh?" asked Ed.
Mr. Walken nodded. "I bought it a few years ago. I've been collecting
these things for years. I bought these vases when I was in Greece."
"They're fantastic," said Ed.
"I have something you might find even more interesting," said Mr.
Walken. He held out his hand and showed Ed his ring. It was gold and had
what looked like a very old ruby mounted in it.
Ed looked at the ring. There was something strange about it, he thought,
but he couldn't place his finger on it.
Mark felt a slight tingle from his ring and smiled. At long last, he had
found the person he had been looking for.
"Excuse me, Ed," said Mark. He pressed his intercom button. "John,
please stand by. I will need you to take care of things. Thank you."
Ed continued to stare at the ring on Mr. Walken's finger. It was
impossible to pull his eyes off of it. Suddenly, he became aware of a
weird sensation that was beginning to sweep over his whole body. He
rubbed his fingers together and noticed that everything seemed to be
slowing down. He tried to stand up, but couldn't. It was as if all his
strength was pouring out of his body.
Mr. Walken got up from his seat and walked around the desk. He stood in
front of Ed and smiled.
"Don't worry, this won't be painful."
Ed tried to speak, but found that he couldn't move.
Mr. Walken leaned down and began to unbutton Ed's shirt. "I'm sorry for
the inconvenience, but this will only take a moment."
Ed couldn't reply but he could still see. He saw Mr. Walken pull what
looked like an ancient leather pouch out of his side jacket pocket. He
opened the pouch and took out what looked like a round pink gem.
Without a word, Mr. Walken leaned down and opened Ed's shirt up and
pulled up Ed's t-shirt. He then placed the gem in Ed's navel.
Ed felt a strange warmth flowing outward from his bellybutton. It wasn't
painful; in fact, it was very pleasant.
Mr. Walken picked Ed up and carried him over to a leather couch. Without
saying a word, Mr. Walken proceeded to undress Ed. Soon Ed was
completely naked and lying on his back.
"Well, let's see how you turn out," said Mr. Walken.
Chapter 4
Ed gave up trying to move. Whatever Mr. Walken had done to him was too
powerful. He wondered what was going on and what Mr. Walken meant by
saying how he'd turn out.
He could feel that something was happening, but he couldn't move his
head to see; all he could see was the ceiling.
Mark sat and watched with anticipation. He sipped his Scotch as he
watched Ed slowly transform.
The young man was gradually morphing into an attractive woman - well,
that wasn't exactly true, as Ed would maintain his penis, but otherwise
he was becoming very feminine.
He soon had two large round breasts. His waist shrunk down as his hips
expanded. Mark estimated that Ed was now five-six and had a figure
around 36-D-24-34. That was one good thing about being an engineer; he
was good at estimating sizes.
Ed now had a very sexy face. He, rather she, thought Mark, had nice
pouty lips, high cheek bones, and very sexy green eyes. Her hair was
growing out and was auburn in color. It was soon shoulder length.
Ed's penis was very small, barely an inch in length, and it looked
rather cute on her otherwise female body. Of course, there were some
internal changes that couldn't be seen.
Now, what to call her? thought Mark. He decided to call her Emma Jones.
It was one of the false identities that he maintained in the company
database. In many ways, she reminded him of a woman he had loved many
years ago.
He reached over and touched the gem, which now appeared to be part of
Emma's body. He knew that it was now a permanent part of Emma's body,
and any attempt to remove it would be fatal.
"Before I let you up, I need to explain a few things. First, you belong
to me, and you will find that I can control your every move. At first,
you may try to resist this, but as the days pass, you will no longer
feel the need to rebel, as you will become extremely devoted to me,"
said Mark. "The pink gem in your body has transformed you into my sexual
match. We were made for each other. Now, just so you don't worry, you
will now have a new identity. Your name is now Emma Leslie Jones; Edward
Ainsworth no longer exists. In time, you will forget he ever existed.
You will have a full history, and no one will suspect your past."
Emma? What is he talking about, thought Ed. I'm not a woman!
"I will allow you to get up and examine your new body; however, for your
safety I will maintain control," said Mark. "Now, Emma, please sit up
and look at yourself."
Ed sat up and was immediately aware of the changes. He reached up and
cautiously cupped his breasts. They were real.
"There is a full length mirror in the bathroom. Please, Emma, go and see
your new body," ordered Mark.
Ed got up and walked towards the restroom. He noticed that he was much
shorter; he also noticed that his body seemed to flow as he walked. His
hips swayed and his breasts bounced.
He gasped when he saw his reflection in the mirror. He looked totally
different. His face was so feminine. He reached up and touched it, just
to confirm that it was him, or rather her. With the exception of an
extremely tiny penis, she was totally female.
Emma had to admit that she was very attractive. She had a very
curvaceous body, very soft, non-muscular. Her skin tone was also very
light. She had auburn hair and green eyes.
She then touched the pink gem and immediately pulled back; it felt like
it was part of her. She touched it again and confirmed that it was now
part of her body.
"Don't try to pull it out; you would die," said Mark. "Now, what's your
name?"
She closed her eyes and sighed. She tried to speak her old name, but all
that came out was Emma.
"Your complete name, please, my dear."
"I am Emma Leslie Jones," she replied. Her voice shocked her as it had a
slight English accent to it.
"Very good, Emma. The accent is quite lovely. It reminds me of the women
back home," he said. "I haven't been back to England in years, but it's
still holds a sweet place in my mind."
It was strange, but Emma suddenly recalled that she was twenty-six and
had been born in Plymouth, England. Her parents had moved to the United
States when she was twelve, and she had become a naturalized citizen.
Her parents, who she could picture in her mind, had died in a car crash
five years ago. She knew that it wasn't true, but it felt so real; in
fact, she felt real pangs of missing them.
She could remember attending college to get a business degree, but
losing all desire after her parents died. Her first job had been as a
secretary for a small company in Boston that had been bought out by Mr.
Walken.
"Emma, There are some clothes inside the restroom that should fit you.
Please get dressed; I'll be waiting out here."
Emma nodded. She found the clothes and began to get dressed.
Surprisingly, everything fit her perfectly. The bra was her exact size,
as were the panties. She then put on the garter belt and stockings,
remembering to place the garters under her panties. Next she put on a
tailored gray skirt, a white silk blouse and a jacket. She then looked
at the shoes. They were black leather pumps with three inch heels. She
slipped them on and found they also fit.
She brushed her hair and then applied her makeup. She tried to
rationalize what was happening, but nothing made sense. She had never
put on makeup before, yet, she knew now how to do it. She also
discovered her ears were pierced, and she inserted some gold hoops.
Overall, she looked very respectable and quite attractive. Not
beautiful, but attractive. She realized that she would blend in with
society and wondered if this was part of Mr. Walken's plan.
Mr. Walken was sitting behind his desk and looked up when she walked out
of the restroom.
"Very nice, Emma. Please sit down; I'm sure you have plenty of
questions."
Emma sat down and instinctively straightened her skirt and crossed her
legs.
"Very much the lady," said Mark.
"What did you do to me?" she asked.
"You will be my secretary," said Mark. "Outwardly, you will be my loyal
employee. However, you will also be my mistress. We will keep our
relationship a secret for now; maybe if things work out, I will make you
my wife."
She suddenly had memories of applying for the secretary position. Emma
shook her head to try to maintain a grasp on reality. "Why me? I mean,
couldn't you just get a real woman?"
"You're my match," he said as he extended his hand. "The stone in your
belly is the match for the one in my ring. I've been looking for a
match, a person who could wear the stone, for nearly seventy years."
Emma shook her head in disbelief. "Did you say seventy years?"
He nodded. "Since we're going to be so close, I can tell you the truth.
My original name was Mark Goodson and I was born in 1555 in a small
English seaport. Its name is unimportant, as it was a craphole then, and
thankfully, it has disappeared over time. I went to sea like most young
men to seek my fortune. I quickly learned that a deckhand on a merchant
ship had no future, and so I jumped ship in Plymouth and joined the crew
of Sir Francis Drake," said Mark. He then took a sip of his drink. "I'm
sorry; would you like a drink, Emma?"
She nodded. "Yes, please."
He got up and poured her a glass of wine. He handed it to her.
"Thank you," she said. She sipped the wine. It was very good. "How did
you meet Drake?"
"It was common knowledge that he hated the Spanish and wanted to make
them pay for humiliating him in Vera Cruz. Back then, he had just been a
smuggler, bringing in goods to Spanish colonies. Most colonial governors
ignored this illegal trade and often profited by it. Well, one
overzealous official seized Drake's ship and killed many of his crew.
He immediately swore revenge and began to make the Spanish pay. Soon
they began to call him El Draque, or The Dragon, and both hated and
feared him. He wasn't content to just hurt the Spanish, but he also
wanted to get rich from them. That's what attracted me to his service,"
explained Mark.
He refilled his glass and offered more to Emma who shook her head. He
then continued with his tale.
"Now, back then I had nothing against the Spanish, but that would change
over time," he explained. He took a sip from his drink. "Anyway, when I
heard that Sir Francis was seeking men for a cruise, I immediately
sought him out, as did many other sailors. Thankfully, one of his men
was from my old town and recognized me and introduced me to Sir Francis.
I was in good health and had three years sailing experience. He asked me
if I could read, and of course I couldn't, but I could read a chart. I
had studied with the pilot on the merchant ship I served on and had
picked up enough to impress Sir Francis. The pilot, or navigator in
today's terminology, was one of the most important men on the ship, and
it never hurt to have someone who could stand in."
Emma just listened in silence and drank her wine.
"Anyway, I sailed with Sir Francis and was with him when he captured the
Spanish Silver Train in Panama in 1572. Now that was a great day! We
really showed those Papists a thing! We had been operating in their
lands for a while, aided by runaway black slaves called Cimeroons. They
hated the Spanish as much as we did, if not more. First, we captured and
looted the town of Nombre de Dios, then we later captured their treasure
in the jungle. It was a hard fight, and only thirty of us returned to
England, but we were rich! Anyway, I digress... it was in Panama that I
found this," he said as she showed her the ring.
"Found?" she asked.
He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, I took it off a Spaniard
that I killed."
"Is it Spanish?" she asked.
"Who knows? Rubies aren't found in Central America and the ring looks
like it was made in Panama. The stone may have come across the Pacific
and traded in Panama. Spanish ships from Asia stopped in Panama and
their goods were transported over the isthmus to save time. However, it
could have originated with the Mayans or Aztecs, they had very extensive
trade routes," he replied. "Now, I didn't know that at the time, and I
just thought it was just a nice bauble, but then I found it had special
powers." He sipped his drink again.
In spite of what he had done to her, Emma was fascinated by his story.
"Anyway, I didn't sell it and kept it as a lucky charm. I wore it when
we attacked the Spanish port Cadiz in 1587. I was hit by a musket ball.
The shot knocked me on my back, and I thought I was dead. However, when
I sat up and looked down at my chest, I saw that I wasn't even bruised.
Now at the time I thought it was just a spent shot, fired too far away
to do any damage. Well, we easily defeated the Spanish and looted the
town, which delayed the Armada from attacking England."
"How did you discover it was the ring?" asked Emma.
"It was later, during the fight against the Armada in the English
Channel. I was serving on a ship captained by Sir Richard Thorn - now
there was a good man! Sir Francis had promoted both of us as we had
survived Panama with him. Sir Richard was better educated and was given
a ship to captain, The Minotaur. He then picked me to be his first mate,
and I couldn't have been prouder. Anyway, we had one of the fastest
ships in the English fleet, and when we saw a straggler, we tried to
take it as a prize. As we approached, we were hit by one of their
cannons, one of the few shots that hit any of our ships. I caught a
splinter in the chest and should have been killed. Instead, I just
pulled it out and saw my wound heal before my eyes. Thankfully, no one
saw this, or I would have been accused of being in league with the
devil."
He emptied his glass and refilled it. He then did the same for Emma's
glass. "Anyway, I felt a tingling from the ring after I was wounded.
After the battle, I tested my theory. I took the ring off and cut myself
with my sword. When I put the ring back on, my wound healed instantly,"
said Mark.
"And it also slowed down your aging?"
He nodded. "I then began to try to find out about the ring's power. I
aged very slowly and didn't get sick. To avoid questions, I left England
and headed to the Caribbean to become a buccaneer. I should have been
killed several times over, but the ring always saved me. Knowing I
couldn't die allowed me to build up a fortune attacking the Spanish. I
gained a reputation as a fearless captain, but more importantly, it
became known that my cruises were very profitable. I never had a problem
manning a ship. I eventually acquired enough wealth to allow me to leave
the brotherhood. I also educated myself further, as I realized that I
could be a better pirate in the world of commerce than I ever could on
the high seas. It was also more respectable and much safer."
"Didn't anyone notice that you were living so long?" asked Emma.
"Emma, it was a much simpler life back then; no one had 'documentation,'
and all I had to do was move. Also, people didn't live as long. Now in
today's modern world, I have to pretend to age and then start over
somewhere else; it's quite annoying. Well, back to the pink stone. I
found it and discovered that it had powers of its own," he stated.
"Who did you kill to 'find it'?" asked Emma.
Mark laughed. "You have a wonderful sense of humor, Emma! No, I didn't
kill anyone to get the stone. It was back before I became a gentleman. I
was in Port Royal Jamaica, following a very successful cruise with Sir
Henry Morgan. We had looted Panama and were eager to enjoy our newfound
wealth. By the way, all those stories about buried treasure are
nonsense; any loot we got was spent on rum and women. I did the same at
first, as I could always get more. Anyway, back to the story, I was
recovering from a week of debauchery and felt a strange tingling on my
ring finger. I then saw the pink stone. It was on a chain around the
neck of a whore."
He took another sip of his drink.
"Anyway, she was a very unattractive woman, even by Port Royal
standards. She had smallpox scars on her face and looked much older than
her twenty-two years. When I looked at the stone, the image of a young
beautiful girl who I had known in England came to mind. Before my very
eyes, the whore became my old love."
"And she was your first?"
He nodded. "I found that I could control her and change her as long as
she was wearing the stone. I then discovered that the stone had
additional powers."
"Like turning men into women?" asked Emma.
He shook his head. "That's not its main power. I can control whoever
wears the stone. But the person that the stone attaches itself to is
special. That person wearing the stone is my partner for life. It
doesn't work on just anyone. I've been searching the world for its
match."
"I don't understand," said Emma.
"The image you now have matched my desires. While I would have preferred
you to be a woman from birth, I decided to make do. The good thing is
that you cannot get pregnant."
"So, I'll always be... in between?" asked Emma.
"For now, yes," he said.
"What good does that do you?" she asked.
"As I said, the stones have powers. Now, the way you look now is the
real you from now on. However, I can change you just by thinking about
it."
"What do you mean?" she asked nervously.
"Let me demonstrate; go stand in front of the mirror again," he said,
She set down her glass and walked over to the mirror.
"Now watch," he said.
Emma's eyes opened wide as she changed.
The transformation occurred amazingly fast and was also painless. Emma
was now Asian, most likely Chinese.
She had long straight black hair and almond shaped eyes.
"Keep looking, Emma," he said.
She morphed again. In less than a minute, she was an attractive African
woman with dark brown skin and very large breasts.
"All I have to do is think about it, and you will become the image of my
thoughts," said Mark.
She watched as she returned to her original Anglo-Saxon female
appearance.
"In the other forms, you are a complete woman," said Mark. "As you are,
you have some other differences."
Still in shock, Emma turned to him. "Like what?"
He sipped his drink and smiled. "You have the equivalent of a clitoris
in both your throat and in your rectum. They are only sensitive during
sex," he said. "Also, your nipples will be ultra-sensitive, and you will
be able to achieve orgasm just by touching them."
"In my throat?" asked Emma as she touched her neck.
"It makes up for the fact that you don't have a vagina," he said. "Trust
me, you'll enjoy having them."
"And I can take any form that you desire?"
He nodded. "It makes sex rather exciting. I have some rather exotic
sexual tastes, as you will learn. I can also change my form if the mood
suits me."
"So I'm not the first?" she asked. "I mean, the first to have the stone
as part of my body."
"No, Emma, you're not the first. While the stone protects you from
physical injury, it doesn't prevent your aging," he replied. "My last
partner died eighty-two years ago. She was sixty-five when she died, and
we had been together since she was sixteen. I maintained her beauty
until the day she died."
"Please, let me go. I don't want this," begged Emma. The idea of being
with Mark for decades was too much to take.
"I can't. The stone is part of you until you die. You can't harm
yourself - or me either; it's not part of your essence," he said.
She collapsed on the ground and began to cry. "This isn't fair."
"Life isn't fair. So, fair or not, you're mine. In time, you'll get used
to it, and hopefully enjoy the life I am giving you. You will lack
nothing. I plan on running this company for another ten years or so and
then selling it. I will move away and eventually recreate myself. For
now, you will be my secretary and mistress. When I leave the company,
you will come with me and be my wife."
"You've thought of everything," she replied in a flat emotionless tone.
Her voice reflected her sense of defeat. She wiped away tears that were
rolling down her cheeks.
"I've been at this for a long time. For now, you'll live in a furnished
apartment I own until your permanent home is ready," he said, "I will
also provide for you a full wardrobe. Please, let me help you get up."
Emma took his hand and stood up. She then recalled his words.
"When you said you have exotic tastes, does that mean that you can
change me into non-human forms too?" she asked.
"Among other things," he said. "Don't worry, I will give you time to
adjust before we try anything like that. Now, John will drive you to
your new home. He will also see to it that you receive your new
identification papers. You will do whatever he tells you. Don't worry,
he is a trusted employee and will not touch you."
Emma stared back. She wanted to tell him that didn't make her feel any
better, but she held her tongue.
"Now, give me a kiss before you leave, my sweet," said Mark.
To her horror, she walked over to Mark and passionately kissed him.
"See, that wasn't so bad, was it? In time, you will actually enjoy it,"
said Mark.
Chapter 5
Emma explored her apartment. It was very nicely furnished. At least she
would have a nice prison.
All the furniture was new and of very high quality. There was a large
screen HD TV and a Bose stereo. The place also had a great view of Puget
Sound from the living room window.
The kitchen was filled with the latest appliances and had both a fully
stocked pantry and an excellent selection of wine and liquor.
John had brought up several bags of clothes and toiletries for her. He
carried them into her bedroom.
"I will be here at nine in the morning," he said. "We have much to do
before you start work. See you in the morning, Miss Jones."
Emma just nodded. Even if she had still been a man, it would have been
difficult to overpower John.
Emma found that she had enough clothes to get by for a few days and
suspected that John would be taking her shopping. What clothing there
was was all high quality.
She continued to explore her new home. There was a small office that had
a computer. It was already hooked up to the Internet. She then got an
idea and picked up the phone, and to her surprise, she heard a dial
tone. She was about to place a call, but then it hit her...who could she
call?
To the entire world she was Emma Jones. If she called the police and
told them that one of the most respected citizens of the city was
actually a 17th century pirate and that he had used magic to transform
her, they would laugh in her face. She hung up the phone and
contemplated her future.
She found that if she concentrated, she could break out from his
control, but she had no idea how long this ability would last. She could
say her old name and could even write it down - that is, if she really
concentrated. It was very tiring, but at least she found that it could
be done. However, she decided to hide this ability. For now, she would
appear to surrender and wait for an opportunity to break away. Maybe he
was lying, and there was a way to kill him.
Chapter 6
After dinner, she went into the bathroom and began to fill the oversized
tub. She undressed and carefully hung her clothes up. This caught her by
surprise; as a guy, she had always been a slob.
She slowly lowered herself into the tub of hot steamy water. It felt
very nice on her smooth body.
The strange thing about her new body was how normal it all felt. She
found herself wishing that she was completely female. Her tiny penis
looked very much out of place on her otherwise feminine body.
The momentary transformation into a total woman had left her longing,
and she wondered if this was part of the way he would control her.
She ran her fingers over the stone that was part of her body. The stone
was really part of her body now.
She also wondered what other things he'd alluded to when he talked to
her that afternoon. He had said something about having exotic tastes,
and she wondered what he meant by that.
Emma also wondered about her throat and rectum and wondered if he had
been telling the truth. But she was too tired to investigate it that
evening.
After her bath, she slipped into a silk nightgown and went to sleep.
Chapter 7
Emma made no effort to engage John in idle conversation. He was a
strange man, and she wondered if he was also under a spell. He was
almost like a robot, she thought.
The first couple of stops were to obtain her new identification. In less
than two hours, she had a Washington State driver's license, a bank
account, two credit cards and a cell phone.
Next, he took her to a very upscale woman's clothing shop.
"Mr. Walken has specific tastes for your working attire," said John.
"The women here will be able to accommodate his wishes."
"Does it bother you what he's done to me?" she asked.
"No. It's not my place to question him," said John. His tone was flat
and unemotional.
He parked the car and got out and opened the door for her.
"Are you going in with me?' she asked.
"No. I will wait outside. They've been expecting you and will take care
of you. You also have an account here, so everything will be paid for."
"That makes it so much better," she muttered to herself as she walked
inside the store.
Just as John had said, the saleswomen were extremely helpful. She soon
had a very extensive wardrobe for work. Apparently, Mark had fabricated
some story about Emma losing all her belongings in a fire.
"Now that you're all set for work, let's get started on the rest of your
wardrobe," said Kristy, the head saleswoman. "It's so nice to see a
young woman with a sense of style."
Most of the outfits were dresses and skirts. In fact, Emma soon realized
that she didn't have a single pair of slacks. Everything was very
feminine, and she wondered if this was done to enforce her new feminine
status.
The saleswomen accepted her as a woman, and apparently didn't suspect
that she had a penis.
Emma had to admit that the lingerie was very nice, all top of the line.
She was also supplied with a large selection of silk stockings.
The store also had a full assortment of boots and heels. The women
helped her pick out a dozen pairs of each to go with her new wardrobe.
They filled out her wardrobe with belts, handbags, and outerwear.
As Emma surveyed the growing number of bags and boxes, she wondered if
it would all fit in John's vehicle.
What really bothered Emma was how normal it all felt. It was as if she
had been wearing dresses her whole life, instead of less than twenty-
four hours. She constantly had to remind herself that she was actually a
male, Edward Ainsworth, born in Connecticut, and not Emma Jones born in
Plymouth, England.
Just as John had said, the entire bill was paid for by Mark.
Without a word, John appeared and began to carry out the bags to the
car. It took him several trips. He did it all by himself in an efficient
and silent manner.
"So where are going next?" she asked.
"I'm taking you back to your home, Ms. Jones," he said as he opened the
door for her. "You must be tired."
"Why, John, I didn't think you cared!" she replied.
Her response caught both of them off guard. In fact, while he didn't
reply, Emma saw a slight smile momentarily appear on his face.
"I'll take you home; you'll be starting work tomorrow," he said.
"How will I get there?" she asked.
"You now have a car. It will be in your parking spot of the apartment
building. The directions will be in the GPS monitor," he answered.
They drove towards her new home. Emma decided to try to break John's
shell again.
"Doesn't it bother you what he did to me?" she asked.
John didn't reply at first.
Emma gave waited a few moments before asking him again.
"I heard you the first time, Ms. Jones."
They drove another block, and when they stopped at the light, Emma spoke
again.
"So what does he have on you?" she asked.
He didn't reply, but Emma thought she heard him sigh slightly.
"So he did something to you too?"
"We're almost there; I'll bring your things up," he said.
Emma just nodded.
After everything was in her new place, John asked her if she needed
anything. He told her where her car was and handed her a set of keys.
"I hope you can trust me someday," she said.
He appeared to look right through her for a moment before answering.
"You need to be at work by eight. It should only take you ten minutes to
get there. Security will direct you to your parking spot."
"Okay; well, thank you."
He then pulled out a business card and handed it to her. There was no
name, just a cell phone number. "If you need anything, Ms. Jones, please
call this number."
Emma smiled and took the card from him. "Thank you. John."
"Good night. Ms. Jones."
Chapter 8
The first few days at her new job passed without incident. In fact,
everything seemed too normal, and Emma wondered if he had forgotten
about her.
What was strange was how easily she had adapted to her new life. She
found that she did things automatically, as if she had done them her
whole life. Her petite penis was the only reminder of her past life.
Using her internet hookup in her home, she searched for any trace of her
old life and found nothing. Edward Ainsworth had been erased. She did
find information about her new life, including an article on her
parents' accident.
She was brought back to reality on the third morning of her job.
The intercom on her desk buzzed, and she answered it.
"Ms. Jones, would you please come into my office," ordered Mr. Walken.
Emma got up from her desk and headed into his office. As soon as she
closed the door behind her, she felt a change sweep through her body.
"You may need to remove your clothing, my dear," said Mr. Walken.
Emma could see what he was talking about. The buttons on her silk blouse
were straining as her breasts grew.
Mark smiled as he watched her strip down.
Her figure was now very exaggerated. Her breasts were at least 38-G.
They were huge and very round, with very prominent nipples.
Her hips and rear were also large; with her newly thin waist making them
look even larger.
Another change was that she found that she was now a complete female.
She didn't have time to study her new figure as she was suddenly
overcome by what could only be described as pure lust. Her eyes were
drawn to Mr. Walken, and all she could think of was surrendering her
body to him.
She tried to speak, but nothing came out.
"It makes it more interesting," he said as he stood up and unzipped his
pants. He pulled out an enormous erect penis. It was at least a foot
long. "I can modify my body too."
Emma should have been horrified, but she was too driven by her desire to
think. She quickly moved towards her boss.
"I know it looks big, but you can take it all, Emma. Now get on your
knees and suck my cock, wench," he ordered.
Emma obeyed and felt his massive cock fill her mouth. It pushed in all
the way and down her throat. Instead of choking, she found that she
could easily take it all. Soon she was taking it in and out with an
increasing pace. She felt an extraordinary pleasurable sensation growing
in her throat, which only served to increase the speed at which she
sucked him.
"That's right; you can feel the pleasure of your new body. It feels
good, doesn't it?"
Emma didn't answer and just continued giving Mark oral. Instinctively,
she began to finger her vagina. The pleasure was too strong to fight,
and she surrendered totally.
They achieved orgasm at the same time. Emma was flabbergasted by the
dual orgasms in her throat and vagina. They were so powerful that she
barely noticed the fact that she was swallowing Mark's cum.
"Take it all, wench," he ordered.
Emma obeyed and swallowed every drop and finished by licking him clean.
"There, that wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked.
Emma just looked up at him and nodded.
"Another good thing about our pairing is that we can immediately start
up again," said Mark.
He then lifted her up and placed her on his desk. His cock was
immediately hard again as he pressed it into her vagina.
As he fucked her, he placed his hands on her colossal breasts. He
squeezed her nipples as he moved his cock in and out.
Emma had barely recovered from her first orgasms when she felt the
latest one building. This couldn't be happening, she thought as she
momentarily regained mental control. But the growing sexual sensation
was too intense, and she lost this fragile grasp of control.
The single orgasm was almost as pleasurable as the earlier dual one. She
opened up her mouth and screamed out in pleasure, even though only
silence came out.
Mark pulled out and nodded his approval. "You were worth the wait."
Chapter 9
Emma's body quickly returned to its pre-sexual form.
"Please get dressed, Emma," said Mark.
"Yes, sir," she replied. She seemed shocked that she could talk again.
"I know that this was a bit of a shock, but I've been waiting for
someone like you for a long time. Just so you know, not all our liaisons
will be this abrupt."
Emma didn't know what to say, and so she just continued to dress.
"You have to admit that you enjoyed it," said Mark. "Be honest, Emma."
"It was pleasurable, even if I was forced into it," she replied.
Mark didn't seem upset by her reply. "In time, you'll feel differently."
Emma finished dressing and returned to her desk. She tried to get lost
in her work, but she kept thinking about the wonderful pleasure that she
had just experienced. She was scared that Mark was right and that
eventually she would lose all her resistance.
It was later that evening when the full impact of the experience truly
hit her. She was lying naked on her bed and began to stroke her
miniscule penis. It did get hard, but it was less than two inches long
when fully erect, and the orgasm left much to be desired. She found that
she got more pleasure from fingering her rectum and playing with her
breasts. Additionally, she found that she was fantasizing about Mark's
cock. It had felt so good in her mouth and even better in her vagina,
when she had one.
She sat on the edge of the bed, longing to be totally female. OK, she
thought, my life as a male is over. She accepted this, bedsides, being
female had its advantages. What bothered her the most was that now Mark
controlled her like she was a puppet. Also, deep down, she suspected
that he would modify her in even more extreme ways.
Chapter 10
The next day she reported to work. She was wearing a suit with stockings
and a garter belt. She wondered why he insisted that she only wear
stockings, as he'd had her strip down totally. He would answer her
question that morning.
Her phone rang, and she was surprised to hear Mark's voice.
"Emma, please be a dear and take off your panties. Don't leave your
desk, just take them off there. Be in my office in one hour," he said
before hanging up.
Emma wondered what he had in mind as she obeyed his command. Without
standing up, she reached under her skirt and slipped off her lace
panties. As soon as they were off, she felt a strange tingling.
With trepidation, she reached down between her legs and felt that she
once again had a vagina. Then there was another tingling at the base of
her back. She reached back and discovered that she now had a long furry
tail.
It slipped down and flickered around as if it had a life of its own. She
glanced back to see that it was around two inches in diameter and around
three feet in length.
She then reached up to scratch her left ear. Her hand pulled back when
she touched it. With both hands, she reached up and felt her ears. They
were now pointed and covered with a light coating of fur. Thankfully,
her hair style hid them from view.
What was he doing to her now, she thought. She reached down into her
purse and pulled out her makeup mirror. She looked at her face and
gasped. Her eyes now looked catlike, as did her entire face. Whiskers
were also sprouting out to complete her feline appearance.
Suddenly the door to Mr. Walken's office opened, and he gazed out at
her.
"Please come in, Emma; I have a saucer of milk for you," he said.
Emma tried to stand, but found that she could not walk on two legs.
Walking on all fours, she followed her master into his office.
Just as he had said, there was a large saucer of milk on the floor by
his desk. She was overcome by a craving and moved towards the treat. As
she licked it up, she felt Mark attach a collar around her neck.
"Nice, kitty," he said as he began to pet her head.
Instead of being angry, all Emma could do was purr contentedly.
She felt him undress her and soon was totally naked. A light soft
coating of black fur covered her entire body.
"Emma, my kitten, why don't you take a nap? I will be with you soon," he
said.
Emma slowly moved towards the couch, climbed up on it, and curled up.
Soon she was sound asleep.
When she awoke, she found her head in Mark's lap. He was now naked, and
his erect penis was inches from her mouth.
"Take it, kitten," he ordered.
Emma immediately obeyed, and her mouth engulfed his cock.
"Yes, that feels so good," he moaned. "You make a very nice cat-woman. I
think I will play around with additional animal forms."
Emma didn't care; she was too lost in the growing sexual bliss of his
cock rubbing against her throat clit. The pleasure was too good, too
powerful for her to resist, she craved the orgasm that he was about to
give her.
It was as wonderful as the day before, if not better. She was on a
sexual high that she had never dreamed possible when she had been a
male. She hoped that he would fuck her too. One orgasm was not enough.
Mark didn't disappoint her as he mounted her from behind. His cock
pressed deep into her vagina as her tail arched up between them,
twitching in excitement.
Animal-like sounds poured out of her throat as she surrendered to the
sensation of his cock pounding deep into her body. Who cared if she was
half-human? The sex was too good and too addicting.
"When we're together, I can read your thoughts, my kitten. You are
seeing what I can offer you; we will do things that you cannot imagine,
and you will love every moment of it," he moaned as he fucked her.
Emma felt her body approaching another orgasm, and she howled in sexual
delight.
Chapter 11
When she awoke, Emma found that she was back to her "normal" female
form. However, she was still naked.
Mark was standing over her. "I see you've finally woke up. How did you
like being a cat-woman?"
"It was interesting," she replied honestly as she stretched.
"I have one more thing that I want to try with you, Emma, before you
dress," he said. He reached down and took her by the hand and helped her
up. He then positioned her against his desk. She had her back towards
him as he moved her down. He gently wiped something on her rectum.
"It's time we see how you like anal sex."
While this possibility would have frightened her just a few days ago,
Emma was immediately excited by the possibility of a new sexual
experience.
His cock pressed against her, and after a momentary hesitation, entered
her. It was not as she thought it would be; instead of feeling pain, all
she felt was sexual delight.
Mark reached around and placed his hands on her breasts. He then began
to pump her; Emma instinctively matched his rhythm.
"Can you feel your other clitty?" he asked.
"Oh, yes," she moaned back.
His pace picked up, and he began to fuck her faster and faster.
The only thing on Emma's mind was the impending orgasm. Resistance had
evaporated, and she only wanted sexual joy.
The orgasm was as powerful as the others, and Emma moaned in delight as
he came in her body.
"Do you still want to be a man?" he whispered in her ear.
"No," she replied honestly.
"You're mine, right?" he continued.
"Yes, yes, I'm yours."
"I thought so," he replied. A huge smile grew on his face. He leaned
over and kissed her. "Now, clean up, my dear, and get dressed."
Chapter 12
While at work, Emma was content with her new life as his sexual toy. The
sex was so good, and he did treat her well. It wasn't until she left
work that she was able to have feelings of regret and resistance.
She now understood that the closer she was to the ring, the stronger his
power was over her. This by itself meant little, as escape was still
impossible. With his power and money, there was nowhere she could run to
escape him. No, there had to be another way, she thought, as she
prepared herself dinner.
As she ate, she thought about how great the sex felt. It was superior to
what she had felt as a male, and better than what she could do by
herself. She suspected that the real reason he was keeping her in
between genders was to bond her to him and maybe to prevent her from
trying sex with someone else.
When she was finished with dinner, she logged online and began to do
some research. Maybe the answer to her predicament was in the past.
Emma had always considered herself very savvy when it came to doing
research. She would start with what he had told her about his past and
work from there. Even if nothing came out of it, the online
investigation gave her hope of breaking away from him.
Meanwhile, across town, Mark was at his mansion drinking a glass of two-
hundred-year-old brandy. Emma was even better than he could have hoped.
Her sexual energy was unrelenting.
The weekend was coming up, and he had some very special plans for Emma.
He would give her a special order at work tomorrow and then await her
arrival at his home. It would be a delicious weekend of one sexual
experience after another.
He stretched out his hand and looked at his ring. Without it, he would
have been dead centuries ago. It had allowed him to create fabulous
wealth and power, and once again he had a lover that he could control
and manipulate.
Mark refilled his glass. He wondered if Emma really believed what he had
told her. It was true that he could tell the story very believably, but
did she really think that he would keep her as his lover for decades? He
snickered. No, he would wear her out and cast her on the trash heap as
he had with all the others. Still, the girl had spirit, and she might
last six months before he wore her out. At least she would die with a
smile on her face.
Chapter 13
Emma felt her body change as soon as she drove off the company grounds.
She glanced up in the rearview mirror and gasped.
She now had a very different look. Her hair was jet black and styled in
a pageboy cut. Her complexion was so pale it could almost be called
white. Her conservative outfit didn't match her new face.
Emma sighed and knew that it would be a very long weekend. She glanced
at the computerized map on her dash and followed the directions to the
store where Mark had told her to go.
She wasn't surprised when she arrived to see that it was a fetish
clothing store. Mark had told her to buy an appropriate outfit.
"You'll know what to get. I expect you to look stunning," he had said
before sending her off.
Emma entered the store and was greeted by a saleswoman.
"I'm Shannon," said the woman. She was dressed in tight leather pants
with a matching bustier. Her long black with purple streaked hair was
braided and hung down to the small of her back. "How can I help you?"
"I need a complete makeover, love," said Emma. She noticed that her
accent was suddenly more pronounced and not as cultured as before.
"Well, you came to the right place," said Shannon with a grin. "So, what
are you looking for?"
"I would like something very sexy," replied Emma. "My master said that
money is no object."
Shannon nodded. "Does he like leather, PVC, or latex?"
"I think he'd prefer leather," replied Emma.
"Okay, well, let's get started. I think I have a few things that he'll
approve of," said Shannon.
Emma smiled back in spite of herself. She had learned something new
about Mark's powers; if he changed her to meet one of his fantasies, his
control was very strong. Emma decided not to waste her energy by
resisting him. No, her time would hopefully come another day.
"I see that you also have a salon here; do I need an appointment?" asked
Emma.
Shannon shook her head. "Not today. What do you want done?"
"Nails, and makeup," she replied.
Shannon nodded. "It won't be a problem. So let's check out the outfits
first. I have some things that will look great on you."
Chapter 14
It was nearly four hours later when Emma departed the store.
She was now dressed all in black leather. Her dress was a corset dress
that shaped her body and showed off her ample breasts. She was wearing
thigh high black spike heeled boots. Around her neck was a leather
collar.
Her nails were now long and painted a deep purple. Her makeup was very
exotic too. Shannon had applied lots of eyeliner and eye shadow. She
must have applied half a tube of mascara to give Emma very prominent
eyelashes. Emma's lips were deep red in color, with several layers of
gloss on top to make them look wet.
She had a leather cuff locked on each wrist. The keys to the cuffs and
the collar were in her purse.
Shannon had given her a complete tour of the shop. It was fully stocked
with a variety of fetish outfits. Emma suspected that she would become a
regular customer.
It took her a few minutes to get used to driving in the boots.
Thankfully, her drive out to Mark's estate took less than an hour.
The good thing about being under his spell was that she looked
significantly different from her normal appearance, so that, even if
someone saw her, they wouldn't recognize her.
She pulled up to Mark's estate and pressed the intercom at the gate.
"Very good, you're on time. Just follow the driveway. It's nearly a mile
to the house," said Mark.
Emma did as he ordered. They would definitely have their privacy, she
thought.
Chapter 15
Mark inspected Emma's outfit and nodded approvingly. She had exceeded
his expectations and picked out an exquisitely sexy outfit, not that she
would be in it long.
He mainly wanted her to establish herself as his property at the store.
This would enforce her role as his.
"Very nice selection, Emma. I particularly like the fact that you have a
collar on," said Mark. "The next time you're there, I would like you to
pick out some fantasy outfits to please me."
"I will," she replied.
He pulled her close and began to kiss her.
The rich aroma of the new leather outfit filled his nostrils and only
served to increase his arousal. His cock hardened at the thought of
filling Emma's body. He would take her all three ways this evening. But
it would be just the start. She had no idea what was awaiting her.
Chapter 16
The sex was excellent, and Emma was soon intoxicated on a sexual high.
She was lying naked on Mark's king-sized bed in her post-sexual glow.
Her entire new outfit was strewn around the bedroom.
Mark was lying next to her, his strong arm around her shoulders, pulling
her close to his body.
"Did you enjoy that?" he asked.
"It was lovely," she replied with a sigh. "I'm just a little surprised
that you removed everything."
Mark laughed slightly. "You'll find out why in a few minutes."
"What do have in mind?" she asked.
He stood up and took her by the hand. "Come with me."
He led her out of his bedroom and outside.
"I know it's a little chilly, but you'll warm up in a moment," he said
as they walked across his yard.
Emma could see a large building ahead of them.
They walked in, and he turned on the lights. Emma looked around and
could see that it was a stable.
"Step into that stall, please," he ordered.
Emma had to obey and did as he said.
She immediately felt a tingling over her whole body.
"This will take a few minutes, I love watching the transformation. Don't
worry, it won't hurt," said Mark.
Emma felt strange all over, especially in her posterior. She looked back
and saw that she was transforming. Before her eyes, she saw a long tail
sprouting out from the base of her back. It was long and chestnut in
color.
Next her body began to change. Her legs began to grow longer and more
muscular. But that wasn't the most bizarre part of her transformation,
as she grew another set of legs.
While she was still human from the waist up, below it was a totally
different story. She was now a centaur.
Mark studied her appearance.
"The hair isn't right; it needs to be longer," he said.
With that, her hair grew out. It poured down over her shoulders and
changed from straight and black to brunette and wavy.
"There, that's much better," he said.
Emma felt a little uneasy on four legs, and it took her a few moments to
become steady.
"You'll spend the night here, Emma," said Mark. "You are truly
magnificent to look at. I will be back in the morning."
Emma tried to protest, but all that came out of her throat was a whinny.
"Don't worry. I'll give your voice back in the morning. Now, get some
sleep."
Chapter 17
Emma slept standing up and found that it wasn't as difficult as she
thought it would be.
She was awoken by Mark the next morning, as he slipped a blanket and a
saddle on her back.
"I just want to go for a short ride. Don't worry, no one will see us,"
he said. He then slipped a bridle on her.
She felt the bit being forced into her mouth. "Now, we won't try
anything difficult, just a nice little trip around the grounds," said
Mark.
Emma felt him take his place in the saddle. To her surprise, he didn't
feel that heavy. He pulled back on the reins, and they headed out of the
stable.
Instinctively, she followed his direction. She found that it was
becoming very difficult to think as her equine side took over.
Mark was an expert rider and had ridden many horses in his long life,
but this was the most incredible ride he had ever taken. He had long
wanted to create a centaur, but none of his previous partners had been
capable of the transformation.
Emma's breasts were bouncing gently as she trotted down the path. It was
very erotic to see the beautiful half woman-half horse transporting him
through the wooded lanes of his property. He was also becoming very
aroused.
He knew that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to mount Emma in
her current shape, but he wanted her so badly. There was only one
solution.
When they returned to the stable, he took off the saddle and bridle. He
then stripped down and changed his own form to that of a centaur
stallion.
Emma eagerly accepted Mark and whinnied in delight as he mounted her.
His cock was so big, and it pressed deep into her body. She felt his
weight press down as he fucked her. The combination of her animalistic
cravings and the intense pleasure of the lovemaking was almost beyond
comprehension. They climaxed together, and when Mark pulled out of her,
she collapsed to the ground.
Chapter 18
When Emma came to, she was in a large bed. She sat up and found that she
was more or less normal. She looked like her regular female form, with
one slight difference; she still had her vagina.
She got up and found a note by the bed. It read "Dear Emma, please dress
in the outfit provided."
Emma examined the outfit. It was a simple white blouse and a long
flowing indigo colored skirt. There was no underwear included with the
ensemble. There was a lace-up crimson colored bodice that held in her
waist and enhanced her breasts.
She dressed and brushed out her hair with her fingers as she had no
brush. She examined herself in the mirror and nodded in approval. She
was looking as good as she could, considering the circumstances.
Emma left the bedroom and found there was one lit candle after another.
This was the only light. She shrugged her shoulders and followed the
candles.
They led her to the large study, where she found Mark lounging on a
couch in front of a fire. She noticed that he was wearing an outfit that
could be best described as that of a pirate.
He was wearing black trousers tucked into boots, a white ruffled shirt,
and a brocade vest.
In his hand was an antique pewter mug.
"Ah, you're up. Please refill my cup," he said as he held out the mug.
Emma nodded.
Mark pointed to a bottle of dark rum on his desk.
The outfit looked perfect on her body, he thought. She looked so much
like one of those pretty tarts he had known back in old Port Royal.
She refilled his mug and returned it to him.
"I do miss the old days," he said softly as he pulled Emma down next to
him. "It was so much simpler. The rules were black and white."
"So you don't regret being a pirate?" she asked.
"Not in the least," he replied. "Life was hard back then, and life was
cheap. There was no safe life, so one had to look after their interests
first. The merchant ship I left in Plymouth was attacked six months
later by the Spanish. They tortured and killed the captain and
navigator. They then enslaved the surviving crew. We, being Protestants,
were seen as worthless, and they would sentence common sailors into a
living hell as galley slaves.
"Now I had never been very religious, but out of respect for Sir Francis
I attended services; he was a very religious man. However, it would have
made little difference to the Spanish; they assumed anyone sailing
against them was Protestant. Anyway, back to the men of my old ship, I
know this wasn't just a story and that that their capture actually
happened, as we captured a Spanish ship a year later, and I found three
of my old shipmates onboard, in chains. All the others had died."
"What did you do?" asked Emma.
He smirked. "After we freed the men, we killed all the Spanish. I
personally slit the throat of the senior surviving officer. It was very
satisfying. I know this sounds harsh, but they would have done the same
to us," replied Mark. He gently ran his hand through her hair.
Emma didn't sense the normal feeling of control that he usually had on
her when they were close. He seemed distracted and lost in his
thoughts. She decided to use this to her advantage.
"There's something I don't understand. If the ring protects you from
physical injury, how did you kill the man who had it?" she asked.
He smiled. "Pure luck. I suspect the previous owner didn't know what he
had. He wore the ring because it told everyone of his wealth. Well, I
was assigned to attack the guards at the back of the mule-train. He was
leading the remaining defenders. When we fought, he was wearing the ring
on his sword hand. Now, since he was a nobleman, he had a fine rapier.
Being a sea wolf, I had a cutlass, the weapon of a pirate. It should
have been a mismatch, and he should have killed me easily. Oh, I was
good at killing, but it was the brutal close-in sort of fighting. He was
so arrogant, and he wanted to show me what a skilled swordsman he was,
when he should have just killed me and defended his treasure," said
Mark. He took another sip of his rum. "Anyway, his mistake was thinking
that I was there to duel him. His arrogance sent him to his maker."
"What happened?" asked Emma. She found that she was truly fascinated by
his story. I mean, how often can you say that you've talked to a real
buccaneer?
"I was young and eager to get the treasure and wasn't about to let him
stop me. I had already killed several of the guards. He had killed two
of our men, and he stood between me and the treasure. Now, it was
obvious that he was a man of high standing, judging by his clothing and
armor, and he didn't think that I would be any trouble. He lunged at me
and cut my arm. I screamed out a curse, and he just laughed. It was
evident that he was toying with me. My blood was up, and when he struck
again, I sidestepped his lunge and with one mighty blow I cut off his
hand at the wrist with my cutlass. He fell to the ground gripping his
wrist. Without hesitation, I cut his throat."
Emma gasped.
"Don't forget, my dear, he was trying to kill me. If I had been
captured, he would have turned me over to the inquisition for torture
and then execution," said Mark. "Well, after he was dead, I searched his
body and took his coin purse and jewels. I then saw the ring on the
severed hand and took it," said Mark.
"How do you know that he didn't bring the ring from Spain?" asked Emma.
Mark shook his head. "Unlikely, as most of those bastards came to the
New World to become rich...just like me. Anyway, look at the stone;
you'll see that it hasn't been cut by a trained artisan. No, he found it
on some poor hapless native and took it. I do know that the ring was
fashioned in Panama."
"And the jewel that I wear? Where did the woman you took it from get
it?"
He sipped more of his rum. "She got it from another buccaneer, in
payment for her services. I later found the man who had given it to her.
He got it from raiding a treasure ship off India. He said it was part of
a necklace, and he had been given the stone as his share. I've never
found any of the other stones, although I've searched all over for
them."
Emma felt him pull her closer.
"Enough talking, let's just relax, my sweet. Just lie here with me, and
let us enjoy the fire," he said softly. "I've been lonely for so long. I
just want someone to be close to."
Emma wasn't sure, but he sounded weary, and for a moment she felt
compassion for him.
They fell asleep in each other's arms.
Chapter 19
Emma left Mark's estate in her work clothes. She was now torn by
conflicting feelings. Part of her was still furious at how he had
changed her. But she also felt some sympathy for him; after all, it must
be difficult to live so long without having someone else.
When she got home to her apartment, she checked on the information that
Mark had told her. Everything seemed to be true. His details of the
events were very accurate.
She then surfed several information sites. It took her sever