With my heart in my mouth, I turned away then gasped when he tugged my hands behind me and secured them at my back with my panties. “What are—”
He moved the chair away. “Bend over.” He folded the belt in half, palming the metal buckle, and slapped his other palm.
It dawned on me what his punishment was. Dread built a slow pyramid in the pit of my stomach. “You can’t be serious?”
His brow shot up. “Every time you disobey me will serve as a count. Right now, you’re sitting at eight.”
I didn’t bother asking how he’d reached that number, my mind too numb to concentrate. My insides turned, squeezing until nausea tickled my throat. “Please, don’t—”
“Nine.” While there was no smile, I heard the amusement in his voice. The asshole was enjoying himself at my expense. “Be careful,bella. You don’t want to make this pleasure so easy for a man like me.”
Pleasure?What sick, twisted fantasies did this man indulge in. Wordlessly, I moved to stand in front of him, compelling myself not to hyperventilate. With one quick swipe, he shoved aside the place settings. I jumped at the clatter of glass and porcelain shattering followed by the clink of silverware against the marble tile.
His hand splayed out on my back, the touch warm in comparison to his cool demeanor, he pushed me down until my breasts pressed into the cold wood and my ass perched on display. There was silence for just a moment then his hand glided over my ass, and I bucked against the touch, an uncontrolled moan slipping out.
“Don’t move,” he warned.
With my eyes on the paisley pattern of the chair, I heard the belt slapping his palm again. I flinched. The fear of uncertainty tensed every muscle in my body and a shudder raced through me. Without warning, I heard a swoosh of air, a strike of leather connecting with my skin in a loud smack.
I screamed, my ass lifting off the table. “Oh, God.” I couldn’t stop shaking. The pain was so intense, it burned down my legs. I squeezed my eyes tight, trying to whisk myself away from this place. The second one landed and I yelped, the tears breaking free. “Please.” I convulsed hard on the third one, my sobs echoing through the room.
“I’m not done,bella,” his voice sounded different, almost thick and raspy. Was this turning him on?
Tears dripped down my cheeks as the fourth one found its spot on my burning ass cheeks. And then I lost count, my skin felt like hot coals dropping through a sieve, my knees buckled, and I struggled to stay up. The upper half of my body now supporting my full weight leaning heavily on the table. My shoulders ached from the position of my tied arms. My yelps became soft moans.
Embarrassingly, I felt a change in my body, not understanding that strange tingle between my thighs. Or that on the next smack, I shivered, this time in anticipation. My nipples tightened, puckering with the need to be touched. I felt shame at the wetness trickling down my inner thighs. Had I become just as sick?
Just when I thought it wouldn’t end, I heard the sound of the buckle clatter against the tile as he dropped the belt to the floor, untied my hands and pulled me upright. His chest to my back, he pressed himself up against me and even though I winced, I felt the hard bulge of his cock grazing my painful rear. Gripping my chin, he turned my head to look at him. “Don’t test my patience, little girl. The next time I whip you, it will follow with my cock fucking your tight cunt so hard, the pleasure of my belt on your ass would be the least of your worries.”
Even through my tears, the diabolical threat was frightening and strangely arousing. Startled by that notion, I lowered my gaze. How could I be turned on by what he’d just done to me? Not only had he punished me, he’d humiliated me, treated me like I was a child. Hurt me. He didn’t let go of my chin, his cruel grip lingering a few seconds longer, waiting for what, I had no idea. Regardless, I let the tears flow, too overwhelmed by the emotion of everything.
“You’re questioning what you’re feeling right now.”
Swallowing the surprise at his perception, I lifted my eyes once more, shards of annoyance infusing my body with silence. Those grueling blue-grays raked over my face like he could read my thoughts. Tears caught in my throat as he slipped his other hand between my thighs and dragged a thick finger through my slit. Embarrassment heated my cheeks.
“You’re dripping,mia bella.” The flames from my cheeks spread to my neck.
He brought the wet finger up and studied it like he would a rare diamond. His gaze met mine before he rolled that finger over my lips. I would’ve flinched if his touch wasn’t so soft, so intimate, coating my lips with my arousal and catching me completely unawares by the jaded lust starting in my pussy and radiating upward until I reminded myself what a bastard he was. I hated him but I hated the reaction of my body more. I was his prisoner. Free will be damned. Seemed like my pussy didn’t get that memo.
“Taste yourself,” it was an order. Biting back the urge to say I’d done so before, I ran the tip of my tongue over my lips, tasting the saltiness of the liquid. Then he leaned forward, the tip of his tongue tracing the path of mine. “Sweet. Just like your tears,” he said, drawing back. “Would you like me to fuck you?” The low thrum of his voice conjured wicked desires I shouldn’t be thinking about.
The vehement shake of my head had him slanting his eyebrows at me and once again I couldn’t read his expression. A whimper fell from my lips when he cupped me between my legs, a finger massaging my clit with lazy circles. The sudden ache in my pussy made me delirious with need. His touch sparked fiery trails along my skin in unbearably slow strokes. My legs trembled, breathing quickened, and my traitorous body bowed, eager for more.
In a complete three-sixty he pulled his hand away and asked, “have you eaten?”
Something snapped inside me. I dug my fingers into my thighs, the pain of no consequence. “You’ve just tainted my ass with your belt and you’re now worried if I’ve eaten. Seriously?” The sarcastic laugh slipped out before I could stop myself. “Shouldn’t that have been your first concern? Instead of punishing me for not dressing appropriately.” I mouthed off. “Then again, I guess you’re used to keeping women captive in this castle and punishing the shit out of them for stupidity,” the words slewed out between the tears, and I didn’t care. He’d taken away my right to freedom. “I’d rather eat grass than the food you paid—”
“Go to your room,” he ordered, stepping away. My words did not affect him. Picking up my clothes, I moved to pull the dress on, he stopped me. “Naked,bella.”
My head snapped in his direction, my eyes wide. “What?” He merely cocked a brow, his expression impatient. “There’s almost a hundred people out there?” A sob caught in my throat, I bit down on it, the ache in my jaw intensifying with each harsh breath I swallowed. “Please, don’t.” I knew my big mouth instigated the degradation and I wasn’t above pleading.
He moved toward me, taking one painstakingly slow step at a time, stealing my space and towering over me. I tried to lean away, the chair at my rear, pressing into my back. With his thumb and forefinger hooking my chin, he tilted my head, forcing my gaze to meet his. “I won’t warn you again. The sooner you learn your place, the easier this will be. Now go to your fucking room unless you prefer my dungeon where I keep all my women captive with nothing but rats for company.” Despite his deathly quiet words, his eyes burned into mine like the epitome of hell itself.
Rats. I shuddered at the thought of those pesky rodents crawling over me. When I still hadn’t moved after what seemed like a long while, he yanked the dress from my hand. As I gaped open-mouthed, the sound of ripping material filled my ears. Half expecting him to laugh in my face, I got no reaction other than him handing the shredded garment back to me. What did he expect me to do with it? Thankfully, I didn’t ask the question out loud. When I didn’t take it, he tossed the material, gripped my arm, and walked me to the door. Opening it, he let go of me with a jerk, stepping back.
Although I couldn’t see anyone, the muffled voices coming down the hallway, confirmed his guests were indeed still out there. I turned pleading eyes on him. The clenched jaw a clear indication I was wasting my time begging. “You’re sick,” I hissed. All I received was a blank stare.
Shoulders sagging on a deep inhale, I stepped out. Cowering beneath my humiliation, I dropped my gaze to the floor, seeking its reprieve, and began walking. I heard the first sharp curse followed by several shocked gasps and my legs took on a life of their own. Not caring about the bodies, I bumped into, I made a mad dash for the stairway. With the deafening roar of my mortification filling my ears, I sprinted up and only stopping when the door to my room slammed shut behind me.
