My Kind of Love

Lesson One: Obey

Three Rules to Remember

1. Never talk back.

2. Do what your told.

3. My Master's words are final.

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Flashback

The sound of whimpering got my attention. I looked down at my feet and saw the black dog. I've always wanted a dog, I thought kneeling down to get a better look at it. It's fur tangled and matted in patches across the tiny body. My small hands hovered over the body before picking the dog up. I ran up the tree lined street. Sweat dripped into eyes, wiping it away I continued to run. I had to get in the house before my parents came home.

Rounding the corner I saw it was to late. The black audi sat in our driveway mocking me. The sun making the head lights sparkle and gleam in the light. It was laughing at me. Silently telling me how stupid I was for doing what I was about to do. I let out a breath and walk up the steps.

"So stubborn," I whisper. The door opens as my hand reaches out to touch it. A woman in her early thirties, looked down at me with cold gray eyes.

"Remington Migola Von Toya, I know that's not a dog in your arms," she said hands on her hips. One...two...three, I was on four when the first sneeze released itself. The gray eyes watered, her artificial blond tossed back and forth by the sneeze. "Get that...that," another sneeze. "Remi...dog...out...now."

"Mama, it was all alone," I pleaded. "You'll never know it's here. " More sneezing, my mother started scratching her face and chest. Phase two had started. She screamed her frustration and took out her inhaler.

"GET RID OF THAT DOG, NOW," she wheezed, taking a puff. Her face now red and splotchy.

I could feel the laugh, my eyes threatened to water from holding it in. I walked passed my mother and up the steps behind her.

"Where are you going Remi?"

"Getting rid of the dog like you asked," I tell her, closing the bathroom door behind me.

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Nine years later

The summer sun bathe my skin in its warmth. I rocked back and forth in the hammock. My eyes heavy with sleep, I looked around the porch. What woke me? Taking another look I spot the moving truck. Its engine announcing its presence to the rest of the street. I stretch, so much for a nap, I tell myself.

My body flops back down in the hammock. It refuses to cooperate, keeping me from getting up. Trying again, I swing my legs out. I sit there for a while, watching. The movers take boxes out of the truck and into the house one by one. Ants. The way they're moving remind me of the annoying insects. They move in a single line up the steps of the house and disappear within, only to come out moments later.

I heard a car pull into the driveway and turned to see what color the car is. Red that meant father was home. My guess was right, as I saw the man walking towards me minutes after hearing the slam of the car door. His brown hair was beginning to grey at the edges. There was a twinkle in his hazel eyes as he came closer. His bulky form took a seat in the chair across from me.

"Did you see, " he asked. "We have new neighbors. It's been so long since the last ones." He was excited, chatting away about things I could care less of. I nodded and smiled at each pause he took. I stared at the house across the street. My heart quickened at the sight of him. I blinked and shook loose strands of black hair out of my eyes. He was shirtless standing in front of a black truck. A smiled played on his lips, the blush had already started burning my cheeks, as I tried to hide my embarassment. He'd caught me staring. An arm raises and he waves in my direction.

I turned away. His laughed caressed my ears. "Remi, Remi, are you listening."

"Of course Papa. The new neighbors, right," I ask.

"Yes. I was saying we should welcome them to the cul de sac. I think they have a daughter your age. What do you say?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"No. Now come on. It'll be fun," he tells me, pulling me up and across the porch. I snatch my hand from him before we go down the steps. I look down at what I'm wearing. Gray and green plaid pajama pants, gray tank top and flip flops. I frown, not exactly the outfit I want to see him in but Oh well. I take my glasses out of my pocket and put them on.

I follow behind my father unwillingly. We walk the few feet to the house that stares back at us with wide eyes. I hold my breath as I walk up the cobblestone steps. The boy I saw minutes ago, is now sitting on the porch smiling up at me. He ran a big hand over his short black hair, while licking his lips. He was teasing me. Each movement he made was deliberately directed towards me. My eyes followed his hands as he moved it down his chest. A light brush across his abs. The blush was back creeping up face. He chuckled.

"Excuse me," my father started. Causing the boy to tear his eyes away from me. "I'm Evan Von Toya and this is my daughter Remington, are your parents home?"

"I'm Athren Walker," he says, shaking my father's hand. "My parents are in the house, you can go right in." Athren grinned at my father, showing rows of white teeth. My father smiled and walked through the open door. I made to follow. A hand reached out, grabbing my arm. My brown eyes glared at the hand touching me. It pulled me towards its owner. I found myself sitting on the lap of this Athren guy. He looked down at me and smiled.

"Nice outfit," he laughed.

"Whatever," I tell him, as I try to remove myself from my current seat. He puts his arms around me, keeping me in place.

"I was just joking. So, did you like what you saw?"

"No!" I elbowed him in the stomach and get up. I waited, expecting to hear him scream. Instead I turn to see him smiling. This boy was definitely weird.

"I know you did," he says grabbing me and pulling me back to him. I put out a hand to stop him from getting me any closer. My hand touches an old scar. His arm is riddled with them. Starting from the wrist and working their way up. "I'm not suicidal," he tells me, after noticing where I was staring. "I just like the way it feels when the knife slices my skin. It gets me really excited, you know." I did know. I could already see the bulge in his pants. So, the dude liked pain, I think to myself. I could show him true pain. I smirk, removing my hand from his arm.

Words are about to be said. My mouth starting to form them when voices interrupt my thoughts. I look and see my father and several other people come out of the house. He introduces me to them. I smile and shake their hands. My father says his goodbyes, leading me down the steps. I look over my shoulder to see Athren watching me. I shrugged, I'll definitely be seeing him again. I smile and follow my father across the street.

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Night breeze feels good on my skin. I swing softly in the hammock. Closing my eyes I imagine the boy from earlier. I wonder if he'll succeed where the others failed. Six guys and none of them could sate my desire for a dog. I sigh. Footsteps were approaching me. I opened my eyes to see Athren walking towards me.

"Can I help you," I ask. He smiles and climbs into the hammock beside me.

"Admit that you want me," he breathes in my ear. I couldn't fight the smile beginning to spread.

"Cocky, are we? I don't want you in the way you think."

"Then how do you want me?" He brings me closer. I can feel his warm breath on my neck. A shivers runs through me. I remove my body from his arms and gets out of the hammock. He gives me a bewildered look as I run into the house. I return moments later to see Athren sprawled out, taking up all the space. He watches as I approach. Taking in every inch of my body. "Are you going to answer my question?"

I toss the object in my hands to him. He look the piece of leather over. His fingers dancing among the metal studs. He raises an eyebrow in question. "I want you as this," I smile as I get on top of him in the hammock.