I didn’t think this man could do any worse than what Sir had done to my body. But there was more than enough room to prove me wrong.
I tried to ignore Sabastian when he came into the room while I took the tags off the clothes and tossing them into the laundry basket to be washed. I debated on just stripping and getting that part out of the way. Instead, I kept everything on, waiting for the man’s orders on what to do.
“Use the bathroom if you need to,” I jerked at his quiet voice, but quickly walked to the bathroom to do just that.
Was he going to tie me to the bed for hours? Was this going to be when he was so mad, he’d not be able to help himself to take exactly what he wanted from me?
Once done, hands washed and no mess left behind, I slipped from the bathroom. I kept my head down, hands folded in front of me.
“Come here, Oakley.”
I swallowed back a whimper, tiptoeing closer to the man.
Sabastian sat on the edge of the bed, the book right beside him. It was so bright next to his black slacks.
“You remember what I said reading the books on the shelf in this room?”
I nodded, trying and failing to stand still. My knees shook, ready to fall before him if he demanded it.
“What did I say?”
“Not to.” Not to read them. Not to sneak them or hide them.
“But you did. Is this the first book you snuck?”
I shook my head. I knew lying would only get me into more trouble.
“Oakley,” he sighed, disappointed. My own disappointment settled into me, knowing I deserved whatever he dished out. “How many others?”
“Four.” I choked on the word.
“You’ve been busy,” he mused, moving to finally reach out and take ahold of both of my hands. “What do you think should be your punishment for sneaking four books when I told you not to read them without asking me first?”
Why was he so calm? Why couldn’t he just order me to strip, or bend over his lap, or hands on the wall, while he hit or whipped me?
“What-what-whatever you wish,” I squeezed my eyes shut. “I’ll take m-m-my punishment.”
“I know you will,” he pulled me closer to where I was standing in between his parted legs. “Once your punishment is over with, you’ll be forgiven.”
I sniffed, trying so hard to not start sobbing.
I was pathetic. And stupid. A disappointment.
“There’s an empty corner in the living room. You are to go there, nose pressed against both walls, hands behind your back, for fifteen minutes.”
I knew where he was talking about, so I nodded, not daring to open my eyes just yet.
“Go on. Time starts when I see you have followed those directions.”
I sobbed, no longer able to hold it in, as he let go of my hands. I turned, wrapping my arms around mymiddle as I walked as quickly as I dared to the place Sabastian wanted me to be.
I heard his steps following, and I refused to look back at him. I didn’t want to risk making him more upset with me.
I knew I messed up. I knew I should have listened, obeyed his orders.
I stood in the corner, just as he wanted. My nose pressed to the wall, hands folded at my lower back.
Sobs kept catching in my throat. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stand here for a whole fifteen minutes, on top of doing whatever else he wanted to punish me with. But I would, because he said I had to.
