by Stone, Piper
I hadn’t realized a smile had crossed my face until his nostrils flared. “You can’t get anything from me, Kostya. I have nothing to give.”
He cursed under his breath, spewing several words in Russian. I could only imagine what he was saying about the woman thwarting his command. The pain of his fingers digging into me was nothing in comparison to the humbling feeling of the entire experience. I’d taken my life for granted, a thrill seeker who’d taken advantage of whatever situation presented itself to me. Maybe I deserved this, true penance for my sins.
“You will stay in this room until I come for you. There is no escape, Giliana, and not a single way of contacting the outside world. I will see to it that you have a set of clothing and food.” His grip tightened, his hands holding me in a way that was far too possessive. “Do you understand me?”
He dragged me onto my tiptoes, shaking me. I was thrown by his vehemence, his almost desperate need for me to understand. Why the hell did it matter to him? Why did I matter to him?
“Do. You?” he demanded, his eyes narrowing.
“Yes. Yes!”
His mouth twisted, his eyes darkened from his level of rage, his chest rising and falling.
“If you want to hurt me, then just do it,” I whispered. “There’s little you can do that hasn’t already been done.”
“You have no idea what I could do to you, little girl.”
Why was there such a haunted quality in his tone, a sudden sadness in his eyes?
“Then go on. Whip me again, fuck me if that will make you feel as if you’ve done your job. You’re nothing but a monster, a man with a desperate need to make something out of himself. What happened to you, Kostya? Did Mommy ignore you? Did Daddy force you to steal from innocent people in the streets? Oh, wait, you said you grew up on the streets. Right? Let me guess, some horribly dangerous neighborhood where the only chance for survival was going the local gang.” I was shocked the accusations had flown from my mouth, expecting retaliation.
Hissing, he released his hold, yet he held his hands in the same place, his fingers flexed open as if debating how to handle my disrespect. Finally, he took a step backwards, lifting his head and his eyes burning into mine.
I held my arms, my lower lip quivering even as I held my head high.
I expected him to shove me into the cage, slamming the door and locking me inside for an undisclosed period of time. When he walked around me, I was thrown, my legs shaking to the point I was fearful of falling.
“There is a small refrigerator just outside the bathroom,” he said, now with no emotion. “You should find what you need for tonight. We will talk more in the morning.”
He took several steps away and while I didn’t bother to turn around, I bit back a cry.
“Solntsevo,” he muttered.
There was an incredible heaviness in his inflection merely uttering the single word in a much heavier Russian accent. “What?”
“Solntsevo, Moscow. That’s where I was born, considered one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the world. They used to say that blood ran freely in the water pipes, the sewers overrun with enormous rats, their bodies bloated from feeding off those murdered in the streets.”
While I shifted until I was able to see him, I had no idea what to say. What did it matter to me? Still, his words touched a nerve. “That sounds... awful.”
“My father disappeared when I was four. I knew he was murdered even then, although my mother tried to shield me from the horrors surrounding us. She was a good woman, strong in her convictions and her belief in God.”
“What happened to her?”
He sighed, his body stiffening. “She was forced into servitude for a man I’d originally thought was my uncle. After that, I lived on the streets, forging a way, fighting for food and dominance. You see, weakness wasn’t an option. I had to be powerful in order to live.”
I found myself inching closer, the story ripping at my heart.
“As far as my mother?” he asked, laughing bitterly. “I only learned the truth about her years later when I returned to the wretched streets in search of that same man, now one I was required to kill. He was a traitor to the Baranov family. I found him in his posh surroundings, surrounded by trinkets he’d stolen from his victims; pieces of gold, silver, and jewels. Enough to feed the city’s starving children for years. He didn’t need the damn money. He stole from them for revenge.” He huffed, cursing in Russian. “As I held the barrel of a gun against his temple, my mother appeared from the shadows, begging me not to kill him. She fell to her knees, pleading for me to save the man she loved. Isn’t that a crock of shit?”
A cold chill enveloped every inch of my body, my breath stolen. I could see the rage building, his body shaking from the heightened level of anger, his face twisting into that of a true monster. “Oh. God. Did she... I mean, did you...”
He laughed, rubbing his face. “She couldn’t recognize her own son.”
I listened at the sound of his heavy footsteps, jumping when he closed the door with a hard thud. As the sound of the lock being engaged filtered into my ears, I dug my nails into the skin on my arms, taking several shallow breaths.
The story was horrifying, surreal. I had difficulty processing anything of that nature, but I knew the guilt and shame he’d felt in finding her had been more treacherous than losing her the first time.
No wonder Kostya had such hatred for my father, at least if he truly believed my father had stolen the diamond. I was sick to my stomach, a single bead of perspiration sliding down my cheek. Kostya was a monster, but he was also a man seeking not just revenge.
But also salvation.
I was almost frantic as I walked the length of the room, slapping my hands against the thick wall. “No! Let me out of here!” My words seemed to echo, although I knew that couldn’t be possible. When I turned around, I took another deep breath, struggling to force my mind into accepting my fate. The room was large, at least twenty by thirty. Other than the gorgeous king-sized bed and the cage, there was a single dresser and nightstand, the small refrigerator he mentioned, and a single piece of art. Art. A bitter laugh left my mouth as I walked closer.
The erotic painting was gorgeous, vibrant in color, and extremely provocative. I was shocked at the level of detail, the richness in textures. I couldn’t take my eyes off the subject, the naked woman’s face as the masked man issued another hard strike of a strap. Her eyes were so... telling.
She wasn’t in pain.
She had fallen into sheer ecstasy.
I wanted nothing more than to yank the painting off the wall, ripping it into dozens of pieces. Instead, I shifted backwards. If the fucker thought he could get to me this way, he was wrong. Kostya was a sick and merciless man, capable of performing heinous deeds.
He was also glorious in his level of domination.
No. Hell, no, I wasn’t going to allow myself to think this way.
My legs seemed to drag as I walked toward the bed, easing down on the soft comforter.
And instantly, the tears began to fall.
My body ached all over. It wasn’t the sting of a punishment or my abduction, but from the continued sensations from being close to the man. I could still feel his touch, the heated and passionate kiss that had seemed to go on for hours. I shifted my hand over my breast, pinching my swollen nipples, longing to have his mouth sucking vigorously.
The rush of guilt and shame was like rocket fuel, continuously igniting every cell until I was tingling all over. I shifted my hand, plucking and twisting my nipple until I was forced to bite back a cry. Then I slid my arms to my sides, clenching my fists and fighting the harsh mixture of emotions that I refused to allow to continue.
I was absolutely a nutcase. I rolled over, grabbing one of the pillows as I laughed, unable to stop for a full two minutes.
Nothing about this was funny.
Kostya was nothing but an assassin, dressed up in exquisite clothes and driving a fancy car. How different w
as he than my father, living in an expensive mansion? What seemed odd was that neither the surroundings nor his choice of vehicle seemed like him at all. I had no reason to think that way, but my gut was on overdrive.
His story had been so difficult to hear, tugging at my heartstrings. I was shocked how much it bothered me. I had to stop thinking with something other than my mind. Kostya was nothing but a criminal.
Right?
Wasn’t he?
I couldn’t take my mind off the ugliness in his life, the horrors he must have experienced.
What the hell was I going to do? My father wouldn’t give a shit that I was missing, if he even bothered to notice. What would happen when Kostya figured out my father would gladly give me away for the price of a diamond?
I rolled over, crunching my body into a tight ball. Then the Russian assassin would have no other choice but to make good on his threat.
I would not cry, giving into the tyranny.
I refused to surrender.
I would not be used as a pawn.
And I wouldn’t allow the fear to shape me, even though the chill ripping through me shivered my skin.
The realization of everything I was facing seemed surreal. Had my father called to check on me? Had he even noticed I was missing?
The real question was whether or not he would care. For all his posturing, he had no idea about the woman I’d become or the desires for a life I had. He only wanted me following in his footsteps, remaining under his thumb where my mother had once been.
The timing was odd, the call he’d made almost frantic. Maybe my father had realized he’d gotten in over his head.
I allowed my thoughts to drift to my brother. No, I didn’t respect or envy him. I was furious, pissed off as hell that he’d left me alone to deal with my father’s controlling bullshit. If I ever saw my brother again, I would slice him to pieces. I would kill him. I would...
I was suddenly completely exhausted, unable to keep my eyes open. I tugged the pillow closer, pretending that I was home in my little apartment, the small amount of furniture at least all mine.
I could be sitting in front of my computer, watching an episode of Blue Bloods while drinking a very large glass of wine. Dinner would consist of chips and guacamole from my favorite corner store. And I’d be happy as can be.
Only that would be a lie. I couldn’t fake my happiness any longer. Even working in the restaurant hadn’t provided the safety net I thought it would. My father kept nagging, haunting me with his phone calls and emails, no longer just encouraging me to come and work with him but demanding in a way that suggested something else entirely.
A threat.
My father had actually threatened me.
Oh, God. Oh...
I rubbed away the few remaining tears, determined to fight my way out of the situation one way or the other. Maybe I could fool Kostya into believing I knew where my father kept the diamond. Maybe I pretend to follow his directions.
My entire body ached, my skin prickling. Maybe I just wanted the terrifying Russian to take me away from my life.
I was such a freaking coward. I closed my aching eyes, trying to shove everything aside.
“Come here, Giliana.”
His powerful voice boomed in the room, cascading over the wind blowing in through the open windows. I shifted closer, the bright white of the glowing moon showering me with a series of iridescent shimmers. The rustling sound of the long drapes floating back and forth across the windows’ woodwork was haunting, much like the shadows hiding the man issuing the commands. I swallowed, the lump in my throat more pronounced than it had been before, a tremor of fear boosting the butterflies in my stomach. I opened my mouth to object, only to hear the hard cracking of his favorite strap smacked against the cool tile floor.
“When I issue a command, you will obey,” he huffed. “Do. You. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.” I shuffled forward, horribly aware of my nakedness and my body’s full arousal. My nipples were hardened, juice trickling from my pussy, slickening my inner thighs. I wanted him, this man who owned me, controlled me. I hungered to feel his touch, the harshness of his punishment.
I knew I’d been a very bad girl.
The shadows became more ominous the closer I came to the massive and rugged man. Even in the dim light, I was able to make out the crispness of his starched white shirt, the firmly pressed linen trousers he always wore. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, my mouth parched, and my throat clamping shut. He was my drug, the only thing that could quench my thirst.
“Yes, that’s much better,” he said in a deep, gravelly voice as he reached out, only his index finger brushing across my jaw. “You have no idea what you do to me, my sweet and beautiful fairy princess.”
“No, sir.”
“You are learning, my sweet. With my tutelage, you’re only going to become stronger in your commitment. I am very excited about how far you’ve come in your training.” He took a deep breath, holding it before gripping my chin, dragging me several inches until I was only centimeters away from him. The scent of his cologne was even more intoxicating than ever, filling my nostrils then filtering into my very soul.
I was only able to make out the lower half of his face, the slight smile I’d adored from the first time I’d seen him. The mask. I’d been in awe of the roughhewn man in dark clothing, yet his dazzling eyes had called out to me.
He twisted his mouth as his grip tightened until I cried out in pain.
“When you learn how important it is for you to follow every direction, then we will endeavor to bring you to new heights of ecstasy. Would you enjoy that, my princess?”
“Yes, sir.”
He shifted the strap against my cheek, rolling the thick leather very slowly down the side of my neck, flicking the two thinner tails back and forth across my aching nipple. “Are you wet for me?”
“Yes. Oh, yes, sir.”
“Are you hungry for my cock?”
“Mmm... My sir.”
“Good girl. You shall have everything you desire, but only after your punishment. Do you understand why I must spank you?”
I closed my eyes, trembling to my very core. “I disobeyed you, sir.”
“Yes, you did. Not once but twice. But all will be forgiven, my princess.”
He dragged the strap up and down the space between my breasts, forcing me to hold my breath. I heard the crack of his wrist a second before the tails sliced against my naked breasts. The pain was incredible, blinding.
“Oh!”
“Shush, sweet girl. This is only the beginning.” As he snapped the strap against my breasts again and again, I fought the whimpers forming in my throat. My entire body was on fire, desire for him raging like it never had. As I swayed back and forth, I heard his soft words spoken in Russian.
“Moya krasivaya neposlushnaya devushka.”
I knew the words well. My beautiful disobedient girl. He’d said them often.
And I believed him.
“Now, we begin.”
As he moved me toward the odd-shaped wooden bench, every part of the girl inside screamed to be released from this man. Yet my heart murmured something else entirely. I wanted him.
I craved him.
I needed him.
“You will find solace in your cage tonight,” he said, almost in passing. “You will repent your sins.”
Sins.
I was a wicked girl in need of punishment.
I eased over the bench, every part of my body quivering. With every snap of bindings, first on my wrists and then on my ankles, I shuddered with anticipation. I knew this would be painful, even if the ultimate moment of true bliss embraced every muscle and tendon. I took several deep breaths, listening as he moved behind me. I wanted to beg, to cry out that I would obey him, but I knew my scattered words wouldn’t matter.
He was my master.
He was my owner.
He was my savior.
The first crack of the strap was hars
h, sending a wave of anguish rushing throughout my body. The second was sublime, sending me straight to an altered state of mind, my arms and legs tingling all over.
As his fingers pressed against my skin, I gathered a sense of his hunger.
“And I can’t wait to fuck you in the ass.”
“Oh!” I jerked up, my mind still playing out the vibrant images as I took several deep breaths.
Boom!
It seemed like everything around me rumbled. I was thrown, incapable of putting the pieces together.
Darkness. Suffocation. I clawed at my neck, my breathing labored, the hard thud, thud, thud more like a warning. As I blinked several times, I attempted to figure out where I was and what the hell the dream meant.
How could I forget?
I’d been abducted.
I was a prisoner.
A slight screech managed to form, pushing past my lips. The absence of light was overwhelming, dragging me back into the series of images.
The nightmare.
You were dreaming, nothing more.
Even the little voice inside my head held no conviction. As I controlled my breathing, I noticed a single light, although dim in nature. I eased my hands from my throat, sliding them down soft and luxurious material. Only then did I realize my body was covered. I took several deep breaths, swallowing the anguish as I forced my thoughts to move past the dream. Kostya. Even thinking about the man brought another round of fear.
Yet I was unharmed, free from the ugly cage I’d dreamt about. When my eyes became accustomed to the light, I realized that I’d been placed under the sheets and comforter. Kostya. I bit my lip as I tried to rationalize why he’d bother. The light drew my attention and very slowly, I crawled out of the bed, standing on shaky legs. The pain from the spanking had subsided into a dull ache, but nothing would erase the continuing fear. I had difficulty moving toward the source of the warm glow, my heart racing.
Another hard boom rattled the entire room. Thunder. The sound had to be thunder. I usually hated storms but right now, a sound from the other world, one where I had control, was comforting.