Sinking my teeth into the meat of my thumb, I trapped a scream in my throat. Crawled to the closest wall on hands and knees and pressed my burning, wounded flesh against the concrete. Instant relief flooded through my skin, cold against hot flesh aching from my latest whipping.
I spent the night like that, curled in the fetal position. On my side in the dark. Soaking in the silence, because despite the torment the captain meant to inflict in this dank little hole, there was nothing I knew better than how to be alone.
At first, the chill of the concrete floor was a soothing balm, but as the night wore on, the shaking set in.
It started with tossing and turning. The bite of tiny, frosty fingers curled around my internal organs until I could no longer just sit and wait.
Stumbling around the room, blind in the dark and trying to keep warm, I lost all track of time. Could do little but pace until I was too tired to do even that. Until I slid to the floor and wrapped myself in a hug that didn’t come nearly close enough to consolation.
When the door opened, I could hardly bother to cringe back from the light. Blinking at the soldier who’d appeared in the doorway to deliver bread and a glass of water.
“Eat,” the soldier barked, and when I remained pressed against the wall, he kicked the plate in my direction. “Don’t make me ask twice, slave.”
But despite my pacing, I’d been sitting too long. My limbs had gone stiff and tingly where they were wrapped around my knees, muscles locked in place. Nudity hidden, too cold to muster the effort to put food to mouth.
Hands balled into fists, he advanced on me, the intent to do harm written clearly on his face.
To make me obey.
Lurching into action, I scrambled for the small loaf of bread that had rolled from the plate. Stuffing my mouth full of the stale, flavorless stuff of army rations, I cringed back from him at last, trying to appease. The loaf was so dry I couldn’t swallow without taking a mouthful of water to choke it down. And by the time I was halfway through, my jaw was aching, but the activity had warmed me.
Seizing my arm, the soldier waited only long enough for me to finish before he dragged me from the dark.
One arm wrapped around my breasts, I staggered along in his wake, trying to free myself from that iron grip. Fighting until we got to the front hall, and I realized we were far from alone.
Soldiers.
A score of heavily armed men milled about in the cramped quarters of the captain’s home. Laughing and pushing, a cloud of cigarette smoke hung thick over their heads while others ate simple breakfasts. The dull roar of conversation oppressive—until, as one, they took notice of the naked girl shivering in their midst.
A deadly silence settled over the room before the men erupted in laughter and started cheering. Forcing me to press close to my escort, to cling to his crisp uniform. Terrified to be left without some form of protection as they drew near.
“Holy shit, Cal! Is this the wild thing from last night’s auction?” a burly soldier asked, touching my shoulder.
I jerked away from him, fingers winding tighter into Cal’s coat as I was inspected. Terror surging in my blood, I trembled, eyes flicking from one leering face to the next.
“Yeah,” Cal said, and dropped a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Captain got her cleaned up last night. Rawlings said she attacked Beau, so I wouldn’t get too close if I were you.”
Squirming, I shook my head—Beau had struck me first. I’d only defended myself.
“Shit. She’s actually kind of pretty,” the burly soldier said, offering a warm smile framed by chocolate eyes. “Now that I can see what’s under the grime.”
With a short bark of cold laughter, Cal turned me to face the crowd. Letting them look, he looped one heavy forearm around my ribs, pulled my hands away from my breasts, and dragged me back until I hissed. Showing teeth. His uniform agitating skin the captain had made tender. “Don’t worry, Gabe. Rawlings’ll put the fight out of her in no time, and this little thing will be free for the taking.”
“Shit, I hope not! I like a little spirit now and then,” Gabe said, touching my face. Not put off by my curled lip, but neither did his gaze drop to my exposed nipples. “What’s your name, pretty girl?”
My only response was the most acidic glare I could muster.
Gabe laughed, face lit with interest. Easygoing with a sparkling smile.
“He asked you a question, slave!” Cal barked, giving me a violent shake, forcing me to my bruised and bloodied knees. And then, catching a fist full of my hair, he twisted. Forcing my head back, he set my cheek to the inseam of his trousers.
Straining away from something hard that twitched against my skin, I whined. Shoulders bunched, braced for a blow—until I felt it.
Dark flames lapped at the back of my neck. The explosive energy of a predator, coiled for the strike, drawing nearer with every passing instant.
“Easy,” Gabe cautioned. “You know the captain doesn’t like it when you fuck with a slave he’s training. Confuses the message.”
“Nonsense, Gabe.” Spoken in an easy drawl, it was the voice of a man who had all the time in the world.
