The Rules. They were pretty simple; there were five of them. Matt listed them in pure and simple terms. I’ll write them below so you can see them in all their simple, straightforward glory.

1. You will obey me
2. You have to ask before I let you do anything. Don’t ask, don’t get.
3. You will pay attention
4. You will tolerate my friends

And, last but not least:

5. You must never try to escape.

We were sitting outside in the small front garden of his Californian Bungalow the day after the tour had ended. I was curled up on a small cane chair dressed simply in a pair of beige slacks and a pink v-neck t-shirt. Matt was slouched on the long cane settee wearing a pair of cargo pants and his favourite Guns ‘n’ Roses muscle shirt.

He sat gazing absently out toward the ocean, chewing at his bottom lip. He told me he used to have a labret; however, he’d gotten tired of it so had just stopped wearing it. There was slight discolouration at the point where the piercing used to be. Apparently it took ages for the ‘scar’ to disappear.

I watched the waves as they moved up and down the beach, light white caps dotting the horizon. Matt turned his head toward me a contemplative expression on his face. Glancing up at him, I waited, sensing he had something to say.

“We need to talk.” He folded his arms across his chest; I tried not to stare as the muscles in his arms flexed, biceps thickening.

Shifting so I was facing him, I looked at him questioningly. “About what, Master?”

I’d gotten used to addressing him as such, found it relatively easy in fact, compared to my previous owners.

Matt smiled faintly, but then his face became serious. “Rules.”

My heart began to race at that single word. Every time one of my masters’ mentioned the word rules I always knew that none of them would be fair, and that I would get the short end of the stick. I was the slave after all, and I had no rights.

Somehow though, Matt must have sensed my anxiety because he gave a low throaty laugh and shook his head at me. “Don’t worry, Val. I’ve only got five. And they’re pretty fucking simple.”

Simple didn’t always mean fair, but I had to accept anything that was given to me, because that was my lot in life. I had no choice, never had and probably never would. And so I just nodded and remained silent as Matt proceeded to lay them out before me.

Matt leaned forward on his chair and caught my eyes with his. The look in his eyes warned me not to look away.

I swallowed hard chewing at the inside of my cheek as he began to speak quietly. “First rule. If I tell you to do something, you will do it. No questions asked. If I tell you to stop doing something, then it’s pretty obvious what you got to do, right?”

I shivered and murmured an answer. “I stop, Master.”

“Right. You will obey me. I’ll get to the consequences once I’ve finished with the rules.” Matt leaned back against his seat crossing his ankles in front of him. “Rule two. If you want anything, or want to do anything you have to ask me first. Don’t ask. Don’t get.” He smirked wryly. “Obviously, if you need to go to the toilet or do any of that girly shit...you don’t need to ask. Just tell me, okay?”

I shook my head in acknowledgement. Matt unfolded his arms and stretched them above his head before leaning forward again clasping his hands in front of him, still staring me directly in the eyes.

“Number three. You need to pay attention to everything that’s going on around you. Everything. Especially to me. If you can’t pay attention...then rules number one and two won’t work.”

Nodding, I thought that these were pretty stock standard rules that most masters gave their slaves, for that matter all my masters so far had given me similar rules.

Matt bit at his bottom lip before continuing. “Rule number four. You’ve met some of the band members and the guys who tour with us, the crew...Dan, the Berry brothers. So, this one probably won’t be too difficult for you.” He took a deep breath. “You need to be nice to my friends.”

I tried a smile bobbing my head. “That won’t be hard, Master...they’re pretty cool.”

Matt nodded raking his fingers through his hair. His shoulders tensed slightly though and I wondered what he was about to say next. He cleared his throat roughly rubbing his hands against his thighs.

“Mhm. I didn’t think that would be a problem. Last rule.” Something in his voice changed at that instant. It got harder and his eyes darkened as he looked into mine. A tremor overtook my body and I curled more into the chair watching him warily.

“Last rule,” he repeated, his voice rasping more than ever. “You belong to me, right?”

I trembled, but nodded in affirmation.

Matt’s gaze narrowed. “The last rule is this: You must never try to leave me.”

I blinked at him rubbing absently at my arms; a chill ran down my spine and gooseflesh appeared on my arms. He waited, obviously waiting for a response, or a question. I didn’t disappoint him.

“Escape, you mean?”

“Yeah. Don’t try that shit, ‘kay?”

I nodded vigorously, but then I glanced at him and just had to ask that burning question I always asked my masters after they’d given me that particular rule. Because they had all said the same thing, don’t try and escape.

Of course they had all given various reasons as to why I shouldn’t attempt to escape, ranging from if I were caught I would be beaten to the more drastic consequence of catching and killing me. The funny thing was that even after they had threatened me in that way, it didn’t make me any less likely to think of trying to escape.

Anyhow, I wanted to find out how Matt would respond to the question, whether he would resort to threatening me, or whether it would be more subtle, or reasonable.

“What happens if I do, Master?”

Matt gave me a long hard look. I held my breath.

He seemed to be holding his as well because he let it out in a rough breath before responding, calmly and coldly. “You’ll be punished.”

His answer was so flat, final that I knew straight away that Matthew Sanders was not one for bullshit. Not one for idle threats or warnings. What he said went, and that was the end of it. And, it didn’t even matter that he hadn’t stated a specific form of punishment. It was enough to know that I would be punished if I tried to escape.

Obviously the severity of the circumstances would determine the nature of the penalty. But, it made me wonder what his stance on the other rules was. I was soon to discover the answer to that thought.

Matt continued to stare at me unblinkingly then he rubbed at his biceps kneading the tips of his fingers into the ink there.

“As to the other rules, if you break any of them...you’ll get a warning the first few times, and then if you keep breaking them, you’ll be punished.” He paused for a minute or two then looked at me his expression softening somewhat. “I’ve heard stories.”

I frowned curiously. “Stories?”

Matt cleared his throat looking almost self conscious. “Yeah, y’know, about how other people treat their slaves.”

I nodded carefully, wondering where he was headed with this line of thought. He unfolded his arms and braced his hands against his knees.

“It’s all pretty shit. A lot of...fucking...” he trailed off an absent expression entering his eyes.

I remained silent just waiting. After what felt like an eternity, he shook his head as if clearing his mind of uncomfortable images and focused on me again.

“Look. I’m not like them.” He laughed a little before adding, “Well, I fucking hope I’m not.” He pursed his lips then smiled. However, the genial expression did not belie the seriousness of his words. “I have a temper. A bad one. My friends...say that I can explode sometimes. But, I’d like to think I won’t lose it over anything you do.”

Nodding, I kept my eyes fixed on his face, wanting him to know that he had my full attention.

He inhaled roughly, and then let it out before speaking in a firm tone. “If you ever give me a reason to punish you...fuck this is gonna sound so fucking cliché...but, the punishment will fit the crime. I’m not gonna just beat on you...or whatever. Because, that’s just...immature.”

He paused for a moment looking at me to see that I understood. I tucked my chin down and bobbed my head slightly.

He rubbed at his knees then leaned back again. “Anyway, that’s the way it’s going to be. You obey those rules and we’ll be hunky dory.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Hunky dory?”

I glance up from the magazine I’m reading. Matt and I are lounging on his bed; the rest of the guys left half an hour ago, Michelle with Brian. I had a good time with her in the end. Random chatter about random shit.

Matt rolls his eyes at me and holds up my journal. He was as good as his word; and for some reason I’m not that nervous about him peeking into my thoughts.

I wrinkle my nose up. “Huh?”

He chuckles, “You wrote that I said ‘hunky dory’. I never say shit like that.”

I smile faintly. “I can’t remember everything you say. It was the attitude you had...”

His eyes narrow. “My attitude?”

I try not to laugh. “I’m not having a go at you, Master.”

“You better not be,” he growls and grabs me around the waist, my journal lying forgotten for the moment.

I shriek; he smirks and proceeds to tickle me, digging his fingers lightly into my ribcage. Tingles race through my body, but I don’t focus on those.

Instead, I try to pry his hands away as I burst into a fit of giggles, writhing around on the bed and gasping out in mock protest. “Stop, Master...please...you’re killing me...”

Tears of laughter prickle at my eyes as he continues tickling mercilessly, practically ignoring my pleas. His hazel eyes twinkle with mirth as he finally manoeuvres his much larger body over mine, pinning me firmly. Then suddenly, he stops and just stares down into my eyes.

A shiver runs down my spine, like a cold finger has just traced the sensitive nerves. He’s not smiling anymore. I avert my gaze unable to bear the intensity of his appraisal.

“Valary,” he murmurs my name.

I swallow hard, conscious of the vulnerability of my position. He doesn’t make any other move to speak, or try to get my attention; he just remains still over my body.

I tremble bringing my gaze back to his. “Master?”

He shifts then, so his hips come flush against mine. Tremors rush through my body. I can feel him pressing against my lower belly.

Yeah, you know exactly what I mean by that. I am not elaborating further.

He stares into my eyes, but then as abruptly as he moved to pin me down, he rolls off and lies on his side, studying my face with an almost tender expression. “Tell me, you have fun chatting with Chelle?”

Yeah, I know...I saw this coming from a mile away. He made me talk to her, so...yes he’s going to want to know how I feel about it. Well, here goes...

“Yeah, I did. I mean...it was kinda weird...but...uh...yeah, she’s something...”

Matt nods and reaches out to toy with a strand of my hair. I let him [I mean aside from the fact that he owns me so he can do what he wants, I like when he does that].

“What you talk about?”

I shrug slightly. “Stuff.”

Matt cocks an eyebrow, the corner of his lip quirks. “Stuff? Like?”

I suck on my tongue. “Stuff, like...things.”

He rolls his eyes. “Val,” he sighs, “did she apologise for before?”

I scrunch up my face. He gives me this look, like, well?

I shake my head yes. “Yeah, she said she was sorry.”

“Good,” he smiles and drops his hand to the blanket under us.

It’s quiet for a moment, just our breaths filling the room.

Then Matt lets out this rough sigh rolling onto his back and stretching his arms above his head. “Fuck damn...I’m whacked...”

I blink at him. He casts a sideways glance at me and smirks faintly. I look away. Late afternoon sunlight is streaming through the bedroom window.

He follows my gaze. “Wanna go outside, sit in the garden?”

I shake my head and hesitate.

He reaches over to cup my cheek. “Whatcha thinking, Valary?”

Biting my lip I feel suddenly shy. He smiles encouragingly at me.

Oh, what the heck... “Can we just lie here and cuddle, Master?”

That rare smile that touches the secret depths of his eyes appears on Matt’s face and he shifts closer sliding an arm around my waist. “Of course...c’mere...”

I turn my body to snuggle into his warm, solid frame. He wraps me completely in his arms tucking my head beneath his chin. He nuzzles against my hair inhaling deeply. I smile closing my eyes and after several minutes of just laying there together, I hear his breaths evening out like he’s drifting off.

He must’ve been tired. He works hard, I don’t think fans realise that. Being in a band isn’t all fun and games. I see the side of the band that fans don’t...they work so hard to get where they’re at and they’re almost ready to go through it all again. I admire them for that.

Matt’s arms slacken slightly around my waist and, after several heartbeats, I finally allow myself to succumb to the warmth and tenderness of sleep.

Just an afternoon siesta...will wake and organise dinner...later...

Notes