“I’ll leave you to get to know her. She’s mute.”
I didn’t turn from the window, not even when Sir left me alone with another male. My heart instantly went to my throat while my stomach fell to my feet.
“Hello, Oakley.” He stepped up beside me, almost touching. There was just enough space to fit a book between us. “You look….” He paused, looking me up and down. I shivered, feeling his gaze take in everything I wasn’t. “Beautiful. I had doubts that you’d be so lovely.”
I was anything but lovely,I thought.
“Come, let’s sit.”
He stepped back, pointing open-handedly towards the loveseat that sat against the wall not all that far away. The same one that I had been bent over at one point in the past month to get a whipping.
I took a deep breath before getting my feet to take me to the spot. Sitting on the edge of the seat, keeping my legs together and acting asgirlyas I knew how to, I didn’t dare look at the man.
He sat beside me, letting his legs touch my own. I wanted to scoot over, to put space between us, but I didn’t want to risk making Sir upset. It was bad enough at the burning on my butt flash anew as I sat. At least whatever pill Sir had given me soothed it enough that I didn’t flinch.
“So pretty.” The man’s hand traced the outline of my jaw, pushing some of the strands of hair aside. “Look at me.”
The order was spoken softly, so unlike Sir’s commanding voice.
I slowly lifted my gaze, meeting his dark, deep brown irises. They were like mud, but darker.
Whatever he saw in my expression, in my eyes, his gaze hardened. I couldn’t help but flinch away from his touch before righting myself back, forgetting my place for a single moment.
How could someone who didn’t know me already hate my guts so much?
“You were crying.” Not a question. Just a plain statement.
I blinked, dropping my eyes to his nose. It was straight, and not that big. Not like Sir’s. Sir’s nose was long and reminded me of a story about a boy whose nose always grew with lies.
“I’ll make this transaction as smooth as possible. Your father owes some people money, and really, I’m doing you a favor. You becoming my wife will be the best option for you.”
What? His wife?What the hell had Sir done now?
I shook my head, my heart instantly rising.
“Did he not tell you? He sounded like he had talked this option over for you since your life is in danger if not.”
There was so much wrong with everything this man was talking about. Sir wasn’t my father. My life wasn’t going to be in any more danger than it already was.
“Everything okay in here?” Sir drew the man’s attention, stepping fully into the room.
“Of course,” the man answered, laying a hand over the top of my own that was clenched in a tight fist in my lap. “Skittish little thing.”
“Very,” Sir laughed, trying and failing to ease the air. “Her bag is by the front door, all ready to go.”
“Great. We have a long drive. If you need to use the restroom, now’s the best chance.” The man patted my hand before standing.
I lifted my gaze to Sir, unsure if that was an order, or even knowing what was going on.
“Go on. We have a few more grown-up things to get sorted out while you get yourself cleaned up.”
A quick nod, I stood and walked quietly across the room. I didn’t make it far before Sir’s arm sneaked around to stop me, pulling me against his side. I held my breath.
“Take out the plug and leave it under the sink. Also, another pill is on the counter. Take it. And don’t fucking disappoint me, slut.”
One single nod before Sir’s hand slapped my already bruised butt, causing a whimper to escape before I scurried from the room.
“You hurt her.” The man’s voice followed me before I turned out of sight. I didn’t linger to catch Sir’s response.
