But Kaiser’s shirtless in front of me, and I can’t look away.
“Oh, Bella.” He looks me over like I’m a plant he just rescued from a commercial nursery, one that has promise but desperately needs pruning. “Belladonna. Beautiful woman.”
He’s looked up my name!
“Or… poisonous plant.”
I waggle my eyebrows at him. Why not both?
His sigh gusts against my cheek. “You need to be good for me. But you don’t know how. That’s okay, baby. That’s why they gave you to me. I’m going to train you.”
What?
He pushes his fingers a little deeper, inching toward my throat. I panic, struggling, and grab his wrist with my free hand. It might as well be a fly that landed on his arm for all it deters him.
“Relax, baby girl. Breath through your nose.” His coaxing tone reminds me to inhale. I follow his instructions, and my panic subsides.
Holy Hecate, I’m so fucking wet.
“This is how it’s going to go. You’re going to listen and obey, and I will teach you to be good for me. Nod if you understand.”
He doesn’t let me nod. He moves his fingers, moving my head for me. Ugh, why is this so hot?
“You’re going to watch your mouth for the rest of the night. If I ask you a question, you can respond. But otherwise, you’re on voice restriction. You get one fuck up. I’ll spank you for it, but you can still earn a reward. But if you do it again—” He pauses before he finishes the threat. “I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the night. And I’ll be taking your vibrator and romance novel with me.”
No! My expression must communicate my distress because he chuckles.
“That’s right. No more playtime. Unless… you obey.”
He pulses his fingers, gagging me before pulling back and resting his fingers on my tongue.“So what’s it going to be?”
He waits. I think about it. I could bite him. But nipping his fingers won’t get me the upper hand.
So I lick his fingers, and he leans in and gives me what I want. What I’m willing to die for.
“Good girl.”
12
Bella
* * *
He washes me first. Draws a bath, adds a ton of my favorite honeysuckle bubble bath. My breath catches when he returns to my side and whips off my shirt, but he’s quick, his movements impersonal as he undresses me. He uses a knife to cut off my bra and undies, but I don’t notice it until they’ve fallen in pieces to the floor. My heart speeds up, but he gives me a break, going to check the water temperature before carrying me over and setting me in the bath.
I sink into the water, staring up at him. He’s naked and huge, leaning over the tub. His muscles are distracting, but not enough to make me forget the sinister black gloves. If this were a horror movie, he’d be about to drown me.
But he only takes a washcloth and gently cleans my face. He focuses on my lips, frowning like he’s trying to solve a puzzle. He’s trying to figure out how I was able to lick the poison sap from the manchineel tree, but that’s my secret. It makes me smile, which makes him frown more.
Then he runs the washcloth down my neck and over my collarbone. My body tightens and I gasp, remembering that I’m naked. Then it’s his turn to smirk.
He’s got me right where he wants me. He’s rubbing me all over, and I know what he’s doing. He’s trying to lull me into a sense of complacency. The thing is… It’s working. I’m mesmerized by the flex of his muscles, his dark tattoos. I dreamed of the chance to study his ink up close, and now it’s here, and I’m hypnotized. He smells like my own lemon sugar body scrub, a familiar scent, which relaxes me further.
He maneuvers me around so he can wash my front, my back. He’s intent, like he’s tending to a prized orchid.
I keep waiting for him to do something sexy. He barely brushed the washcloth over my breasts or between my legs. But all this scrubbing and gentle stroking is working me up more than watching him strip. Slow burn style.
I start squirming. His gloved hand comes around my neck. “Be still.” He squeezes a little, reminding me of when he had his fingers in my mouth. “If you need help with the voice restriction, I can gag you. You’ll have to thank me for it, without using your words.”
