The proposal

Two weeks had passed since they made the terrible choice.

They were now living in Vikram's massive, sprawling mansion in Alibaug. Just as Vikram had demanded, there were no maids or servants in the main house. Arjun was entirely responsible for cooking, cleaning, and managing the huge property. He was living the exact life he had always wanted, doing the domestic chores he loved, but it felt like a beautiful, terrifying prison.

It was Tuesday afternoon. Arjun was in the giant marble kitchen, preparing lunch. Since moving here, his daily attire had changed. To keep Vikram satisfied and distracted, Arjun had been forced to embrace a much more seductive, alluring presentation.

Today, he wore a rich, emerald-green transparent silk saree with a heavy gold border. The sheer silk clung to his lean waist, leaving his smooth, hairless midriff completely exposed. Beneath the transparent fabric, his deep low-cut blouse was made of black velvet. Inside the tight blouse, he wore new padding that was much larger and heavier than before. It pushed up massively, creating a very deep, prominent curve on his hairless chest that the low-cut neckline displayed fully.

His jewelry was no longer just traditional; it was massive and striking. A very long, heavy gold mangalsutra rested deep in the cleavage of his padded chest. Huge, dangling gold earrings brushed against his smooth shoulders. Long, thick stacks of glass bangles covered his wrists.

His totally hairless face was painted with heavy, seductive makeup. Thick black kohl and sharp winged eyeliner gave his large eyes a dramatic, feline shape. Heavy mascara made his eyelashes look incredibly long, and his lips were painted a bright, glossy blood-red. A large red bindi sat on his forehead, and bright red sindoor filled the part of his dark hair, which was tied back in a neat, heavy low bun.

Instead of his sensible block heels, his bare, painted feet were now strapped into four-inch stiletto heels. Every step he took made a sharp, loud clack-clack sound on the marble floor, forcing his hips to sway with a very pronounced, seductive roll. His heavy silver anklets chimed loudly, and his silver toe rings gripped his toes.

"That smells wonderful," a deep voice said from the doorway.

Arjun's stomach tied into a painful knot, but he forced his body to relax. Vikram walked into the kitchen. He was wearing a casual linen shirt, looking arrogant and entirely comfortable in his absolute ownership of the house, and of Arjun.

Vikram stepped close behind him. Arjun felt a wave of pure disgust, remembering the terrible stalking from their college days. But he took a deep breath, channeled his natural submissive energy, and began to play his part. To survive, he had to be exactly what Vikram wanted.

Arjun turned his head slightly, looking down at the floor like a shy, obedient prize. He let a soft blush creep onto his cheeks. He reached up with his manicured hand and slowly tucked a loose strand of long dark hair behind his ear. His massive gold earrings swayed heavily, catching the light.

"I am making your favorite chicken curry," Arjun said, using his softest, most feminine breathy voice.

Vikram smiled, completely charmed by the domestic, highly seductive display. He reached out and lightly ran a finger over Arjun's smooth, bare shoulder, just above the transparent silk. "You are adjusting to your new life very well, Arjun. You look absolutely stunning today."

Arjun did not pull away, even though his skin crawled. Instead, he slowly lifted his hand to his chest, acting nervous and overwhelmed by the compliment. He deliberately played with his long, massive gold mangalsutra, drawing Vikram's eyes directly to his huge, heavily padded cleavage.

"Thank you, Vikram," Arjun whispered, looking up through his heavy eyelashes.

"I have to go back to my study," Vikram said, his dark eyes lingering hungrily on the deep cut of Arjun's blouse and his sheer saree. "Bring my lunch to my desk when it is ready."

"Yes, of course," Arjun said sweetly.

As Vikram walked away, Arjun closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath. He gripped the edge of the marble counter so hard his knuckles turned white, trying to wash away the feeling of Vikram's touch.