by Melody Anne
Elena was used to that, though. She knew better than to complain. When she dwelled too much on things like that, it would make her sad, depressingly miserable, so she chose not to focus on it. What good did it do her?
It was a warm day and she was in the living room, her work flawless — at least, she felt it was. She didn’t see confrontation coming, but suddenly she was on the ground, the sting of Ken’s slap leaving a red mark on her cheek.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I . . . I’m cleaning,” she told him.
She was used to the pain, but still, being hit in the face knocked her for a loop.
“You call this clean?” the man thundered.
“What am I doing wrong?” she asked.
“Everything! I don’t understand why you’re still around,” he snapped as he ran his gloved finger over the surface she’d been dusting. She didn’t see anything on his spotless glove, but he looked at his finger in disgust.
“You won’t eat lunch today. Redo this entire room.” With that, he turned and walked out.
Most days, Elena would simply begin her work again, redo a job that was already impeccable, but this wasn’t one of those days. She was at a breaking point.
She crawled into the corner, allowing a random moment of self-pity as she wrapped her knees close to her chest and sat there with tears streaming down her cheeks.
She wouldn’t allow this pity party to continue for long. If she was caught, the consequences were just too great. It wasn’t worth it. Finally, she pulled herself together and stood.
And that’s when she realized she was no longer alone.
Standing in the doorway, Dalton was watching her. She couldn’t tell from his expression what he was thinking. But like the first time she’d seen him, her breath was taken away.
He’d changed in the past few months. His jaw was firmer, his shoulders a little wider, his eyes, oh his eyes, were hard. But when she looked at him, the first thing that came to her mind was he’d saved her from a fate she hadn’t been able to comprehend.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize you’d be in here,” she told him, quickly averting her eyes. She wasn’t allowed to look at him, if ever she did happen to be in the same room.
If Ken found out about this, she would be punished severely, even though it wasn’t her fault. She was in the room she’d been assigned to. That didn’t matter though. Whether it was her fault or not, she would be the one in trouble.
“Why are you crying?”
His voice was so controlled, so cold and hard. It sent a shiver down her spine. She feared this man, but not in the way she feared Ken, or any number of other people. She feared this man because there was something about him that she knew would break her in ways she’d never imagined being broken.
“It’s nothing, Sir. I’m truly sorry. Let me get out of your way,” she told him, not knowing if she should move and walk away or wait for him to exit the area first.
“I’ll dismiss you when we’re finished,” he told her, his voice never modulating. “I asked you a question. I don’t like to ask twice.”
“I’ve not been doing my job well enough, and I was having a moment of self-pity. I promise you it won’t happen again,” she said, not wanting to face this man’s wrath by not answering.
“Self-pity is for the weak,” he firmly said.
“I know that, Sir. I’m very sorry.”
She stood there, her eyes still averted to the ground. Everything inside her wanted to look up, wanted to see what his expression was, but she knew better than that. In her months of having more freedom, she had grown. She still felt fear run through her, but she was gaining more backbone. It was something she didn’t fully understand.
“You’ve changed,” he finally said, his voice a tad softer.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she said.
“Look at me,” he commanded.
Her head came up. She wouldn’t refuse. He began moving toward her, and her stomach tightened in panic. She had the urge to turn and run, but she wasn’t allowed to do that. She stood right where she was as he slowly approached.
Lifting his hand he cupped her chin and tilted her head from side to side as he examined her. “Yes, you’ve changed — grown,” he murmured. Was that surprise she saw in his expression?
“I guess I have,” she finally said, unsure what he was wanting from her.
“There’s no guessing about it,” he almost whispered, his eyes darkening the tiniest bit. “Are you being treated well?”
He’d asked her something like this the first time she’d met him. She was still unwilling to tell him the truth.
“Very well, Sir.”
His lip turned up the slightest bit as his eyes held hers captive. “I see you still lie,” he said in a mocking tone.
Then as if her touch were burning him, he quickly released her and took a step back, his expression turning back to the cold look she’d first witnessed in his telling eyes.
“I’ll take care of it.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Elena wanted to call after him, ask him what he planned on doing, but she stood frozen to the spot he’d left her.
What was he going to do? And what would be her punishment because of it? Her knees shook as she looked around the spotless room. Ken had told her to redo the entire thing, but she could barely stand, her knees were shaking so badly.
The first time she’d met Dalton, she’d been afraid but drawn to the man in a way she couldn’t comprehend. This time, he’d been like a magnetic force. She’d wanted to run, but she’d also wanted to stay right there with him.
What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she think for herself? The encounter had made her weak in the knees, and her heart was racing. There was something so controlled about him, something that drew her to him.
Maybe it was because she always felt like she was spinning out of control, maybe that was why she wanted to be in his aura, to feel like her feet were firmly planted on the ground. Whatever it was, she had no business feeling this way.
Looking around the room one more time, Elena decided this was a good time to make her exit. Ken wouldn’t be able to tell if she’d re-cleaned. It was already immaculate.
Moving swiftly, she made her way to her dungeon and sat on her bed. Without thinking about it, her fingers lifted and caressed her cheek where Dalton’s fingers had caressed her. It felt as if the skin had been burned.
She would do well not to think such thoughts. But when hardly anyone ever spoke to her, let alone offered her even a moment of kindness, it was difficult not to dwell upon the one good moment.
That night, Elena fell asleep and dreamed of Dalton. When she awoke, she was feeling things inside of her she didn’t understand and couldn’t possibly comprehend. But she ached; her entire body ached.
What was worse, she wanted to see Dalton again . . .
Chapter Twenty
The sun was just setting, and Elena had a favorite spot in the garden where she liked to watch it dip below the trees. She leaned back against the log, watching the sky fill with oranges and purples.
Her stress fell away as she took in the brilliant colors. There was something about the sky darkening that made her feel like a new day would take away all her worries. She didn’t know what it was but any time she was done with her chores early she would rush outside to this same place and sit for over an hour, feeling her body relax.
“I thought I would find you here.”
The deep baritone startled her, making Elena’s relaxed body shoot up as she gazed over at the hulking man walking toward her.
“Am I not supposed to be here?” she asked. No one had ever had a problem with it before.
“I’ve just noticed you like routine. You come out here almost nightly,” Dalton told her. She began to rise. “Sit back.”
The words were a command. She had no doubt about it. Her body was no longer relaxed as she sat a bit straighter,
bringing her knees up to her chest and hugging them while he walked closer and then surprised her by sitting down next to her.
She couldn’t imagine a man in impeccable clothing dropping down on the ground. His suit jacket hung open, showing her his crisp white shirt and loosened tie. His five o’clock shadow gave him a mysterious look.
The sun was all the way down now, leaving the two of them in the shadows of the shade trees, and she squirmed beside him not knowing exactly what it was he wanted from her.
“I’ve been trying to stay away from you,” he said, as if answering her question.
“Oh.” She paused for a long moment, unsure what she was supposed to say to that. “I’m sorry if I’ve been in your way,” she finally added.
She held her breath when he turned, his body now facing her while he stretched out his hand to run through her hair.
“You have nothing to be sorry about, Elena,” he said, his tone hushed. “There’s something about you . . .” His words trailed off as his fingers tightened in her hair.
The breath she’d been holding finally exploded, breaking the sudden silence.
“Do you know why I’m sitting here with you?” he asked, his fingers moving to her neck.
She shivered as his fingers caressed her. There were strange flutters in her stomach and suddenly her nipples were aching. What in the world was going on?
“No,” she finally said when she knew he expected her to say something.
“You have no idea how attractive you are, do you?” Though it was a question, she could see he was simply voicing his thoughts aloud. She didn’t understand why he was speaking to her this way. They’d barely seen each other, let alone spoken more than a few words.
“No, you’re obviously innocent, despite being here. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to you,” he told her, his fingers moving down her shoulder, his fingertips running along her arm.
Goosebumps appeared on her flesh, and she sat wide-eyed while he drank his fill of her. She’d never been caressed before. Every inch of her body had been beaten, touched, and fondled, but no one had ever made her feel what she was feeling right at this moment.
A flash of people naked, grunting, and moaning on the screen in the media room flashed before her eyes, and she shook her head trying to focus on the memory, but just as soon as the image started up in her brain, it quickly fluttered away. There was nothing she could remember before waking up in that bed with Leo next to her.
Leo had touched her a lot, but never like this, and never while looking into her eyes with the look Dalton was currently giving her. Should she tell him she had to go in now? She never disobeyed orders, and he hadn’t told her she could leave yet.
The funny thing was, she didn’t want to leave.
Her lips were dry. But when her tongue came out and moistened them, Dalton’s eyes narrowed the slightest bit and his mouth opened. The look made her stomach flutter all the more.
Without another word his hand came to rest against her neck, this time not so gently, as he held her in place and then leaned forward.
When his lips found hers, she didn’t know what to do. She’d been kissed by some of the men in this house; they’d told her she had to know how to do it right, but never before had a burst of heat surged through her at the touch of their lips on hers.
Dalton was confident as he pulled her onto his lap and took the kiss to a new level, pushing past her lips and thrusting his tongue inside her mouth while his fingers wound through her hair. He straddled her across his lap and surged his hips up so she felt hardness press against the V of her thighs.
She felt wetness coat her as the surges of electricity running through her body intensified. He deepened the kiss for a moment before pulling back.
“I should let you go,” he murmured, his lips only an inch from hers, making it impossible for her to see clearly into his eyes.
“I don’t know where to go,” she whispered. She didn’t know if he was talking about this moment in his arms, or for her to leave his place, but either option terrified her.
He leaned in and sucked her bottom lip into his mouth for a brief moment before releasing it and then he lifted her from his lap.
“I know.” He stood up and her eyes trailed to his pants where a large bulge was obvious.
He seemed to notice her look because he groaned. Her eyes shot up to his, and he took another step back.
“I’m going straight to hell,” he murmured.
He said nothing else as he turned and walked away.
Elena didn’t move for maybe an hour. She wasn’t sure her legs could hold her up. She didn’t know what to think about what had just happened. All she knew was she’d been kissed for the first time that hadn’t revolted her.
Finally, she got up and stumbled to the safety of her room. She found it difficult to sleep that night. All her thoughts were focused on Dalton and the strange feelings he was inspiring in her.
If only there was someone she could talk to, share with, ask advice of. But there was no one. And Elena knew there never would be a person. How could she have these feelings and not understand them?
Maybe someday she would know who she was, maybe then she could understand all of this. But for now, she tossed in her bed, and when sleep finally did come to her, so did Dalton . . . if only in her dreams.
Chapter Twenty-One
Happy birthday, Elena.”
Leo handed her a sugar cookie with frosting on it, and she glanced at him in surprise.
“I can’t remember if it’s my birthday or not,” she finally said, shocked by the kindness Leo was offering her.
“I don’t know your actual birthday, but it’s how long you’ve been here,” he said. “You’re nineteen.”
“How long have I been here?” Time had no meaning.
“A little over two years,” he told her. “But it looks like things won’t be so bad anymore. Ken has been fired, and the boss said that if any of the staff lay a single finger on another member, they will be escorted off the premises.” He was quiet a moment. “I somehow think you had something to do with that.”
“I didn’t say anything,” she quickly defended.
“I’m sure you didn’t.” He was quiet again as he looked to the ground and then back up. What was in his eyes was different from anything she’d seen before. “I’m sorry for all you’ve gone through, and the part I’ve played in it.”
Elena was in shock as Leo stood before her, shifting from foot to foot. This man had never been particularly cruel to her, but he’d always done his job, and sometimes that included punishment.
Why did she feel a strange connection toward him? Maybe it was because she didn’t have anyone else, and he was being kind to her. Whatever it was, she had the sudden urge to hug him. Though that wasn’t allowed.
“I’m fine, Leo,” she finally whispered.
He took a step closer. “The rules are that there’s to be no more abuse. The boss hasn’t said anything about the staff not being allowed to . . . date,” he finally said.
“What are you talking about, Leo?” She was suddenly nervous.
“You’ve grown up, Elena,” he responded.
He moved even closer, and then he was cupping the back of her head. Elena panicked. She didn’t want to make this man mad, one of the few men who had been kind to her, but she also didn’t want him to touch her anymore.
Since Dalton had taken over the house she was allowed to bathe herself and dress on her own. She didn’t have to prance around naked. It had been more than a year since any of that happened, and she was beginning to get a little of her dignity back.
She didn’t want to lose it again.
“What are you doing?” she asked, trying to step back.
“Don’t fight this, Elena.” His tone changed, became more frightening as he grabbed her and pulled her against him.
“Leo . . .” Her voice was barely more than a whimper.
“I never thought I would want you, care about you
. I never have with any of the girls. But normally they’re gone by now. You’ve just been so . . . strong. You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman.”
He was grabbing her behind, pulling her tightly against him. She struggled against the hold, trying to push away. This wasn’t what she wanted.
“Stop!” he thundered. She went still. “That’s better. It’s better if you don’t fight, Elena.”
The look in his eyes was almost wild. Where had the normally kind man gone? Who was this person?
“I’ve wanted you for a long time. I’m in love with you, Elena.” There was something almost feral about the way he was looking at her, the way he was speaking.
She didn’t recognize the man she’d come to look at as her savior in so many ways. And his touch wasn’t the same as Dalton’s. He didn’t make butterflies appear in her stomach or make her want to lean into him. She wanted nothing more than to pull away from him.
“I don’t even know what love it,” she whimpered as he leaned in and ran his tongue along her neck.
She felt none of the same feelings she’d felt when Dalton had virtually done the same thing. Maybe it was because somehow she had known she’d had a choice that night with Dalton. Right now, she knew she had no say in what was happening.
That had to be the difference. She wasn’t sure, but she tried to reason with Leo again.
“You’ve been good to me, Leo. I appreciate all you’ve done for me and more than that, I appreciate our friendship, but I’ve been touched so much, I’ve been hurt . . .” she tried to explain.
He either wasn’t capable of hearing her in this moment, or he thought he was entitled. Whatever it was, he didn’t pull away, and her fear grew.
He bent down and his lips covered hers. Silently, she wept as he crushed his body against hers, and his tongue plundered her mouth.
He began stripping her, as he’d done so many times before. But now, it was different. She knew it was different. When she was naked and he laid her on the bed, she wept.