Shifting my gaze between them, I waited to see what he would say. I didn’t care what the dress looked like, how long it was, or whether it was pretty. None of that mattered. I hated Master and Luke, but for just a moment, I wanted to be outside the walls of that green and black room.
Lips in a thin line, his eyes dared her to argue. “That or she goes back downstairs.”
Zarina looked at me, and I wondered if she noticed my silent plea to agree. “Okay,” she mumbled.
Ten minutes later, we stood in a room with big white seats, paintings on the walls, and a rug in the center. It felt so soft under my feet, I wished I had one in my little room. I wanted to explore more, especially the paintings, but Luke’s stern presence by the door prevented me from moving further than the rug I stood on. After Zarina dressed me and tied my hair, she stared at me, shaking her head. “Not what I had in mind, but it will have to do.” She sighed. “I tried, honey.”
“Thank you.” I fingered the soft material of the dress. It felt cool against my skin and much nicer than my tunics. I’d read about mirrors and wished I could see my appearance, but there were none here. I kept my delight hidden as Master walked into the room.
He ran his eyes over my body before they lifted to meet mine. “Behave, kitten, or you’ll regret the air I’ve allowed you to breathe. Understood?” I nodded. “Luke will drive you,” he said to Zarina.
“Oh, come on, Kabir. Does he have to? You can trust me, you know,” she grumbled.
Master’s face scrunched up in a scowl—a look I never liked and prayed he wouldn’t change his mind. “Luke will drive you there and wait in the car. He’ll come inside to fetch you if you’re not out by midnight. Disobey me, and you’ll pay the consequences. Remember, Zarina, Rahim still needs his mother.”
I didn’t understand this conversation, but I did notice Zarina’s expression change for a moment. I couldn't be sure whether it was sadness or anger because she quickly smiled and took my hand.
“Ready,” she asked, looking down at my feet. “Oh, wait, you need shoes.”
Oh, I’ve never worn shoes.
She opened a small black box and took out a pair of shoes. They were gold and so beautiful, I wanted to clap my hands. Master’s frown stopped me from reacting. “Thank you,” I said instead.
“Sit.” Zarina pointed to one of the seats and knelt in front of it.
I did as she asked, unprepared for the softness of the seat that made me want to lie back and sleep. It was nothing like my bed. I watched, fascinated, as she lifted one foot then the other and slipped the shoes on. Done, she stood and held out a hand. I took it and rose with her help, feeling like a princess. I couldn’t help thinking that maybe this was it. This was the moment I met my prince. When I finally straightened, the strange feeling in my feet made me wobble.
“I got you a small heel, so it will be easier for you to walk without falling over.” Zarina smiled, her gentleness made me want to return the favor, but with Master hovering nearby, I didn’t dare to. “Can you walk?” She let go of my hand and took a few steps back. “Come to me.”
I tried, shaking a little. Regaining my balance, I took another. With each step forward, Zarina took one back. I didn’t like the feeling of being this high off the ground or the unfamiliar pinch in my toes. Determined to show Zarina I could do it, I took another. Without warning, my right ankle gave out, and I fell to the floor, my knees hitting the hard surface, my teeth automatically clamping down on my tongue to prevent yelping.
Zarina jumped forward to help me.
“Leave her!” Master boomed. I didn’t dare look at him, knowing what he desired most. “Get the fuck up, Sixty Six.”
I hated that name, yet it gave me the strength to defy him. Planting my palms on the floor, I pushed upward. I fell again, and I felt his anger as he neared me. “You want to go, don’t you?” He laughed before his brown shoe lifted and connected with my ribs in a sharp jab. I doubled over, groaning.
“Fuck.” I heard Zarina curse. “You don’t want her to go? Say so, Kabir.”
“What I fucking want is her tears, and she won’t give it to me,” he sneered, kicking me again.
Clutching my stomach, I breathed hard. This was a game he always played. Hurting me until I passed out. But I never gave in to the tears he desired. Mama taught me that before she went away. She told me to save them for a man worthy of them. To use my tongue as my beacon of hope and fill it with my pain. And I did. Every time he hurt me, I did. As I grew, my tongue numbed from the excessive biting. Still, it helped.
Zarina laughed. “Well, I’ll be damned. That’s the power she holds over you, brother?”
That set him off. “No one has any fucking power over me.” Leaning down, he grabbed me by the hair, yanking my head back until it hurt. “Not even you, kitten,” he snarled, staring at my face. Then he released my hair and stood. “Get the fuck out, Zarina,” he barked, sliding his zipper down. “I think I’ll take that blow job now.”
My insides crumbled, my earlier excitement drying up. I shifted my gaze to Zarina. Shaking her head, she walked away with Luke following her.
“Knees, kitten, and open that fucking mouth for me.” He grabbed my hair again, using it to pull me up, his other hand stroking his hard-on.
No amount of mental preparation helped get me ready for him. Not giving me a chance to find a rhythm, he shoved his cock into my mouth, driving hard and fast. I gagged each time he hit the back of my throat, giving him the tears he wanted, yet they lacked the real emotion he craved.
After a few forceful thrusts, my hands came up, and I tried to push him away.
“Hands,” he grunted.
I dropped them down to my sides, but his next thrust went deeper and had me pushing against him again. “Hands!” He pulled out and slapped me so hard my head shook.
