I Taste Like Blood (Cricky)

Ground rules

After I had paid and my lots had been handed over to me, we had piled into the vehicle, on our way home. I sat in the back of the limousine with Brandon beside me, Richard in front of me, facing me, and Devin next to him. Rain beat down on the windows surrounding us, and it created my favorite sort of white noise. Though I wanted to listen to the rain, and hated to speak and disturb the sound, I had some things to set straight before these men were invited into my home. I cleared my throat, beginning, "Alright, before we arrive, I would like to establish some basic ground rules, which I'm sure you already know. Devin. If you'd like to remind me what they are, I'd be happy to grant you a reward when we get home." 

He looked up at me, well rather, at my tie, and said, "Um, never look your master in the eye. Do not speak unless spoken to. Look presentable. Refer to your master as sir or their preferred name. And always strive for perfection," Devin recited. He had heard this a hundred times, I'm guessing. "Very good," I smiled. 

"Now, on to my personal house rules. First, Devin and Brandon will both be in charge of cooking and cleaning, while you-" I looked at Richard, who only continued to stare at his lap- "Will, if I see fit, serve as my new personal pet. You will start as a sort of assistant, and after you have had adequate training, and if I am fond of you, you will be moved up to pet. So, for Brandon and Devin, here are the rules. One of you is to be at my side with coffee every single morning at 8 o'clock sharp. I like to sleep in. I'll show you how I like my coffee later. In terms of cleaning, you are blessed with only a few daily chores: Dishes if there are any, sweeping and mopping, vacuuming, light dusting, this and that. I'll give you a list later. Now, cooking. I don't normally like to eat, but every once in a while I like to have a meal. Otherwise, I will go by my typical feeding routine which you will see later. Richard, I will inform you of your duties tonight, in private. Understood? 

"Yes, master," he replied quickly. 

I nodded, "Good." We sat in silence until we got 'home', at which point I opened the door and got out first, letting my new slaves step out after me. I took pride in treating my slaves well, or at least the good ones. I shut the door behind them and led them to the side door, unlocking it and letting them in. I instructed them to remove their shoes, which were dirty and ripped up. "Here, come throw these away," I told them, showing them to the kitchen where they threw them away obediently. "Now, come with me, and we will get all of you cleaned up." 

They followed me down the hall and up the stairs, and I told them on the way, "So, I let my slaves live a life of luxury, much like mine. I like to think of them- you- more as housekeepers than servants. That in no way means that I will hesitate-" I turned on the stairs to face them- "To beat a lesson into you when I feel it's necessary." I continued on my way, until we came to their quarters. "This is where my...behaved slaves live- if ever you disobey me in such a way that requires punishment harsher than usual, you will find yourself in the basement," I said, stopping to turn in face them seriously. "If I were you, I would do everything I could to keep from being sent to the basement." They all turned pale, and I started back on my way with them at my heels, continuing, "So long as you maintain the fantastic behavior you gentlemen have displayed so far, this is where you will be staying. Over the years, it has earned many names, but the one that stuck is the Hive. Full of busy little bees, or soon to be."

Then, I stopped in front of the door I wanted and said finally, "Here we are, the showers. In this room there are separate showers and also bathtubs, if you so choose to treat yourself to a bath now and again. For today, a good hard scrub in the shower is warranted to rid yourselves of any dirt accumulated from former owners, etc. Each of you take a shower, no less than half an hour. I want you clean for me. What is the rule? Always look presentable! And you will, in Motionless Manor or you will find yourself in for a long day.

"Go on now, all of you. When you are done, Brandon, Richard, Devin, you will report to the room across the hall and the two to the right of it, one for each, where your new rooms will be. I will set everything up for you. After you have dressed, Devin, I will be waiting in this hallway for you to come and claim your reward from earlier. Enjoy," I told them. 

Richard's POV

JESUS H CHRIST. I've never had a hot shower better in my life. Brandon, Devin and I marveled at the black granite walls, and the white granite tiled floors. There were, on each wall, a row of five expensive- looking claw- foot tubs, each with a towel draped over the side. When we continued past them to the shower as we were instructed, we found a room with the same number of showers, divided by stall- like structures, complete with doors for complete privacy. "Holy fuck," Brandon said, and I grinned. "Oh, luxury!" Devin said, stripping his clothes off. We threw all our clothes on a pile and Devin turned on one of the showers. 

Brandon and I followed suit, and I teased, "What do you think your reward is, Devin?" He laughed, saying, "I don't know, maybe a kiss from your little flirt," He told me, peeking around the corner into my shower, "Or should I say BIG?" I blushed, smacking his arm as I heard Brandon laughing from his shower. There were sweet smelling soaps in mine, I assumed in the others too, and I lathered my body up with one of them. I washed my hair well, too, wanting to look good and be clean for Master. For some reason, I felt that we would bond quickly. I was also physically attracted to him, not so much in a sexual way so much as I wanted his arms wrapped around me, his face buried in my neck-

"Ricky, let's go dude," I heard, snapping my eyes open. I was still in the shower, daydreaming. I turned the faucet off and wrapped myself in a towel hanging on the wall, following the guys into the hall. I picked the room between theirs, with Brandon to the left and Devin to the right. In my room, alone, I found a bed clad in black sheets and a plush comforter, along with a cherry- stained dresser and matching nightstand. There was a television, as well as a big chair in the corner with a small table beside it. I imagined myself drinking a cup of tea with a book before bed, but I didn't allow myself to indulge in hopefulness that I would be allowed to. Instead, I went over to my bed, where there was a stack of clothes neatly folded waiting for me. I dried myself off and slipped the boxers, black skinny jeans and black button up on. I loved black, I wasn't complaining. 

I sat down on the bed after I was done, awaiting Master to come and give me orders.