I hated what he did to me. I despised the sickness in me. His body pressed over mine and he whispered in my ear.
“Tell me you want me,” he growled.
I couldn’t.
His insistent voice burned in my ear. “You’re wet for me. Tell me you want me inside of you. Beg me to fuck you, and I’ll give you the release your body needs.”
How he kept me balanced on the knife’s edge of desire, I had no idea. Pleasure built up within me to a point where it became painful. I wanted to fall over that cliff, and let passion overcome me, but I couldn’t allow this.
“No.” My voice was a whimper, all strength fled.
“You can’t deny it. I now know the truth. I thought I imagined it in the aviary, but now I know. Look at me.” The command in his voice had my eyes snapping open. He measured out his words, control but a thread behind the desire burning in his gaze. He lifted his hips and settled between my legs. His erection pressed at the entrance to my pussy, waiting. “You can’t help but submit to me. You crave it with a passion I know too well. Give in to your desires, Raven. Embrace the truth of what you are, what you want, and the things you need.”
My chest heaved. Each breath brought taut nipples in contact with the silk of his shirt. The touch unhinged me. I couldn’t invite him in. I wouldn’t be a willing partner to my violation, no matter how hard I wanted him to plunge inside. He moved with me, never venturing past that last remaining barrier.
“I hate you.”
His brusque laughter tore at me. He lifted his hips, gripped his erection in his hand and lined up to thrust into me. This was it. I cringed against his onslaught.
“You’re nothing more than a cowardly rapist,” I breathed out. “You’re going to have to kill me after this, because if I ever get free, I’m going to destroy you.”
My entire being ached to be taken, to be brutally owned by this man in the most perverse way possible. My tears weren’t for him. They were for the depths of my debasement. Who could want this?
Me. I wanted this.
I wanted to drown in his strength. I wanted to struggle and rage against him as he ripped control from me. He did things to my mind, stirred up dark fantasies from nowhere and fanned them into life. His entire body stilled. He pressed his head against my breast, pulling deep lungfuls of air into his chest. The beat of his heart hammered against my belly.
“You’re wrong.” His voice came out as a whisper. “Until you say yes, this is where it ends.” He lifted off me and began to dress.
My eyes drifted closed. I didn’t understand his withdrawal.
“Open your damn eyes.” The shout filled the room.
My eyes snapped open.
“You think you can absolve yourself of responsibility?” He bit out the next words. “That’s not going to happen. You want this as much as I do. If you want me to fuck you, you’re going to beg me for it. I’m not going to take it from you.”
My eyes widened at what he said. He couldn’t possibly believe that.
“I’m not going to fuck you until you beg.” He sat beside me on the bed, eyes glowering.
“I don’t want you to fuck me,” I said, spitting the words out in denial of my true desire.
“Yes, you do.” He withdrew his touch. “And you will.”
“No,” My cheeks burned with his assurance I would do just that. “You’re wrong.”
His lips twisted and his brows lifted. “I know you better than you know yourself.” He leaned down and brushed my brow with a kiss. “And I know exactly what you need.” He cupped my cheek. When he kissed my lips the taste of spice and copper swirled around my tongue. His lower lip swelled from where I bit it, but it no longer bled.
“You’re wrong.”
“Don’t worry, slave…” The word slave rolled off his tongue heavy with the promise of dark desires yet to be fulfilled.
My eyes widened and I shrank away from him, but he loomed over me.
“There will be plenty of opportunities to punish you, and I’ll enjoy it nearly as much as you.” He pressed his palm to my belly as if cementing a promise. His hand dragged up my belly. His fingers walked between my breasts, traced a line up my throat and wandered over the angle of my chin until he brushed his thumb over my lower lip. Holding pressure, he forced his thumb between my teeth.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Yes,” X said with an irritated growl.
“Master Xavier,” Ben said, “the plane has landed. Your guests will be here in ten minutes.”
X blinked and ground his teeth. “Thank you, Ben.” He turned to me. “Business calls.”
He stood, leaving me strapped to the bedposts. He ran a hand through his hair and it shook. A sign of weakness? Did I do that?
“What do you want me to do with the girl?” Ben said in his gruff voice.
X paused as he adjusted his shirt and tie. He turned to me as he adjusted his erection inside his pants and zipped up his fly. A gleam shone in his eyes.
“Bring her downstairs.”
“Downstairs?” Ben looked to me, confusion scrawled across his face.
X traced the swelling of his lower lip with his fingertip. “She’s to learn a lesson in obedience. Attending the sellers’ meeting will allow her to understand her place.”
“Sir,” Ben said in a warning tone, “that is not wise. She is…unpredictable.”
“And very much overdue for a demonstration of what it means to be a slave.” X stepped away from the bed. “Release her and bind her wrists to her collar. Meet me in the library in five minutes with the rest of your team. And Ben…”
“Yes, sir?”
“Do not forget your place.” X leveled a stare at the hulking form of my bodyguard.
Ben’s shoulders curved inward and he bent at the waist into a low bow. “Forgive me, Master Xavier.”
X walked back to me and put his hand over my forehead. His thumb dipped between my lips and pressed between my teeth. He stroked his thumb against the roof of my mouth, his lips parting as a hooded expression heated his gaze.
I glared up at him with all the hatred I could muster, only I had to force the emotion. I didn’t hate X. An odd attraction pulled me to him. My heart thrummed in my chest wondering how he intended me to please him. The way he pulsed his thumb in and out of my mouth didn’t make that difficult to guess. Anticipating his need stirred more heat in the apex of my thighs and I squirmed on the bed.
“Think about what happened here. Your punishment will be the main entertainment of the evening.” The roughness of his thumb brushed against my lips. “The men coming today work for your father, and I’m sure Zane Carson is eager for news on how the training of my new slave is progressing. I hadn’t intended on including you in today’s event, but now I know I must.”
Chapter Thirteen
Of my four guards, I liked Ben the least. I hadn’t bonded with him like I had Chad and Bay. Or maybe it was because he was the oldest, with a marine close-cropped shave and a gruff voice to go with it. Maybe it was because he snored and kept me awake on the nights it was his turn to watch over me. Or maybe it was because he had been the one in charge of my kidnapping.
“Don’t kick me, kid,” he said as he released a leg. He rubbed out the kinks in my muscles as he undid the restraint tying me to the bed.
I didn’t fight him. I knew futile when I saw it.
He freed my other ankle and rubbed at the abraded skin. “I want to tell you not to judge too harshly, but I know I can’t.” The scratchiness of his voice slowed the beat of my heart. “You have no reason to trust any of us, no reason at all.”
He released a wrist, but then shackled it to one of the rings at my neck. “Sorry, kid,” he said with his low susurrations. The deep tonalities of his voice soothed me, such a contrast to the violence moments before. He released my other hand, checking the skin under the bracelet for abrasions, before locking it in place at my neck. “Sit up.”
I lay in the bed, staring at the ceiling
, feeling desolate and lost. X’s revelation destroyed my center. Hatred for a man I desired made no sense. Not being able to hold on to that hatred filled me with shame.
Ben helped me to a sitting position and swung my feet around to hang off the edge of the bed. He crouched down before me and searched my face.
“Do you need to use the restroom?”
I shrugged and breathed out a sigh.
Behind me, someone leaned against the doorframe. “Car’s arriving in five. Master Xavier wants her downstairs in position when they arrive.”
“Gotcha, Mel,” Ben said. “Look, there’s no telling how long you’re going to be tied up. Best to take care of business now.” He lifted me off the bed and settled me on my feet.
“Four minutes,” Mel called out.
“Tell Bay to stall them at the door. I’m not taking her down there in this condition. Master Xavier can whip my ass for it later.” He nudged me toward the restroom.
I gave him a look and turned my locked wrists to him.
A flush bloomed in his cheeks. “Sorry.” He released one of my hands. “Go, but you don’t have much time.”
I retreated to the restroom and took care of business. A quick glance into the mirror had me exiting fast. X had a scratch under his eye and a bloodied lip, but I looked like I’d been in a war zone. Red puffy eyes stared back at me. My hair scattered in all directions and I couldn’t help but try to smooth it into place. Not for him. I didn’t care what I looked like for him. Straightening my hair calmed me and restored order to my world. I controlled nothing in my life right now, but I could control this little bit. When I turned around, Ben leaned against the doorway watching me.
“Are you ready?”
“No.”
“No, I suppose you’re not.” He turned to the dresser and pulled out lace panties and a bra. “You need to change.”
I shrugged out of the tattered remnants of the dress and changed. I stood there in delicate pink lace, expecting another dress.
“I’m sorry, little one, but that is all you’ll wear. It’s expected of a slave.”
I barely reacted to his words. I was to be paraded in front of my father’s men as the slave I’d become. Ben clipped my wrist to a ring at my neck.
The corners of Mel’s eyes softened. “He’s really taking her in there?”
Ben nodded.
“What is he thinking?”
“Trust him, Mel.”
Mel’s mouth twitched. He looked like he was going to say one thing, but then decided on something else. “Are you going to prepare her?”
Ben gave me a long hard look and sucked at his lower lip.
I no longer cared. Despondency had wrapped me in a cloak of protection. If I didn’t care, then nothing could hurt me.
“Come on,” Mel said when Ben didn’t respond. “You can’t let her walk in on that.”
I gave a shrug. I wanted to tell him it didn’t matter, but X’s rules blanketed me in silence. Ben and Mel were not my allies. Any infractions of the rules would be reported.
Ben took the end of the leash and stepped forward. “Time to go,” he said.
Mel gave an agonized sigh of frustration. “It’s a slavers’ meeting,” he blurted out.
“Mel,” Ben said in warning.
“Ah fuck me,” Mel said. “I’ll gladly take the strikes.” He put a hand on my shoulder as Ben led me out of the room. “The men coming today are selling a group of slaves. This is the delivery meeting.”
I stumbled at the revelation. These were men who worked for my father. Not that it shouldn’t surprise me to discover X and my father were doing business together. X was more than a simple buyer of women. My future suddenly became very unsteady.
He paused and I willed Mel to continue. “Each slave will be tested to make sure he or she is ready for market.”
What? Not just women? Holy crap.
Ben breathed out. “You’re scaring her,” he said. “She’s shaking like a leaf.”
“You know what’s going to be expected,” Mel said. “He’s going to have to convince them he’s claimed her as his own.”
Ben scrubbed the top of his head with his palm. “Mel, you’re so fucked.” Ben led me down the stairs into the atrium. One more hallway to go, if my memory served me, we would arrive at the grand foyer of X’s home.
Ben pulled up short and turned toward me. His dark eyes rooted me in place. “Not everything is what it seems. Keep your mouth shut, follow Master Xavier’s rules. Obey him in all things.” Ben tugged me forward. He pulled me around a corner and the grand foyer yawned with malevolent promise.
In the very center stood X in his signature dark wool suit, silver shirt, and brilliant blue tie. His eyes pierced me like twin lasers searching for a target. I melted before him, my insides turning molten in the blink of an eye at the longing leveled in my direction.
Ben whispered. “Don’t forget the rules. Eyes. Down. Kneel at his side. Obey all his commands. Serve his pleasure.”
“Why bother?” The words fell from my lips in a whisper of despair.
Mel wrapped a silver chain around my wrist. A dolphin dangled from it. “He told me to give this to you tonight, sweetie.”
X watched Mel attach the bracelet. His shoulders rotated back and his chin elevated. His imperious gaze slammed into my chest.
My voice cracked. “Why?”
“He said, obey him and it’s yours,” Mel said.
“But, upstairs? What I did…”
“Don’t question the generosity of your master, girl,” Ben cautioned. “And don’t fuck up this meeting, or you’ll have more than a whipping to worry about.”
A car pulled up in the drive outside.
“What could possibly be worse than a whipping?” I asked.
Four men exited the vehicle and were greeted on the steps by Bay.
Mel inclined his chin toward the car outside. “He could send you home with one of them.”
X heard Mel’s pronouncement. His jaw clenched. “What the fuck have you been telling my slave, Mel?”
Mel took position to X’s left. “Only what she needed to know.”
Ben handed the end of my leash to X and stood to his right in a position of parade rest. He was definitely ex-military. “He told her to obey you in all things, Master Xavier.” Ben looked to me and pointed to the floor. “Such as kneeling at your feet.” Ben took half a step to the side and pressed down on my shoulder. I went to my knees as the front door opened.
X hissed. “Eyes. Down. Hands on your knees. Whatever the fuck you do, do not say a word.”
I gritted my teeth. “As you command.”
He gave a sharp tug on my leash, and I straightened my spine. I kept my head bowed.
Men entered. Their shiny black shoes clacked against the expensive tiles.
“Welcome to my home.” The tone of X’s voice lowered. “Well, what is this? I wasn’t expecting you, Zane.”
“It’s so nice to see you Xavier.” A man walked forward, stepping up to shake hands with X.
My heart stuttered upon hearing my father’s voice. As I lifted my head, X palmed my scalp pressing down hard.
“And you too,” X said. “I hope the flight wasn’t too rough? I would have come out and met you in person had I known you were coming.”
“A bit of turbulence as we landed, but nothing too bad.” The false cheer in my father’s voice evaporated and turned cruel. “How are you enjoying your newest slave?”
X laughed. “The bitch tried to scratch my eye out and bit my lip, so you could say I’m having the time of my life. I have something special lined up for tonight’s entertainment for her punishment.”
“Really?” Z rubbed his palms together. I hated that gesture. Made me cringe every time he did it.
“Unless you have a problem watching, considering she’s your daughter. You know my reputation with a whip.”
Z paused and I thought I heard him swallow. What an offensive man. “I’m always a fan of the whip,
boy,” he said with a sneer. “But, there are so many other…effective forms of punishment.”
“You knew who you were giving your daughter to when you made the deal, Zane. You know what I like.”
My father stepped back. “It doesn’t matter what you do with her. She’s yours now. As long as you and I are square. Tonight, we have new business to discuss and pleasure to enjoy. This crop of slaves is superb.”
“Well, that sounds promising.” Dangerous undertones laced X’s words. “My men tell me your cargo has been unloaded. I’m sure you’ll want to check on it.”
“My associates will see to that,” Z said. “Let me introduce Braxton Bastion, Derk Paulson, and Mark Bennett.” He introduced the three men accompanying him.
X shook each of their hands.
I tuned out the introductions. My head spun in the presence of my father. I’d long suspected our wealth didn’t come solely from my father’s legitimate business dealings, but this dark secret was news to me, though not unexpected since my kidnapping.
I’d long suspected something wasn’t the same about the women in Z's life. Sometime in my early preteens, and probably subconsciously much younger than that, I noticed a difference. They acted differently towards Z than my friends’ mothers did to their fathers, always deferential and fearful. None stayed in the house for very long. I think the longest lasted eleven months.
At twelve, a late-night escapade found my father’s private chambers. I never knew we had a dungeon, but I found it and had nightmares for years thereafter. At thirteen, suspicions about my mother’s death grew. By fifteen, I put the pieces together. Z was a collector. I took some solace in the knowledge my mother had been his favorite. Unfortunately, she gave him a daughter and not the heir he demanded.
What I never expected were Z's plans for me. I thought I had a life to lead, never knowing I was merely an object to be traded and sold. The fire burning in my belly ate at my insides. This was what hatred felt like. It was nothing like what I felt for X.
X turned to Ben. “You remember my associate, Ben Chambers, and his business partner, Mel Abrams.”
My back stiffened and my head jerked up, only to be pressed down by the firm pressure of X’s palm.
She’s Mine: A Captive Romance Page 10