“I had a nice day, Sir.”
“Is there anything you want to talk to me about?”
Apprehension rose in her and the tension of the moment made her insides scream.Why is he asking me that? Did I do or say something that I wasn’t supposed to? Did he find out I know Roche. Oh God, no. He couldn’t have found that out.
She felt his hand pull her hair hard.
“Answer me.”
“No, Sir. I don’t have anything to talk to you about.” She didn’t dare breathe.
He ran his fingers through her hair. “You’re such a good little pet.”
She smiled demurely, her body relaxing. “Do you want me to fix your dinner, Sir?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. I want to look at you for a while.” And so they stayed for a long time, his intense gaze taking in her naked body with an admiring look in his eyes. Then he reached out and his fingertips brushed across her soft skin, sending shivers up her spine. Her nipples hardened, and his mouth curled into a smile. “You like that, pet? You’re so beautiful, and you’re all mine. Your body is mine to do with as I please. And you like that, don’t you?”
She nodded.
He pinched her nipples gently and she suppressed a moan. Frederick didn’t like her making a lot of sounds when he played with her. Then he pulled and twisted her reddened buds until she squirmed. Yanking them harder, he dragged her closer to him and kissed her deeply. When she began to respond, he fell back in his chair. “You can make my dinner now.”
“Thank you, Sir,” she said before she stood and went to the kitchen.
As she grilled his steak, she looked out the window at the Rocky Mountains, noticing a tinge of gold beginning on some of the trees. The air had the feel of autumn to it, even though summer wouldn’t officially be over for at least another month. She wondered what it would feel like to be on the back of Roche’s motorcycle, her arms clutching his waist as they rode high up the mountain passes.I wonder what he’s doing right now. Stop, Clotille! These kinds of thoughts will bring heartache, not only to you but to him and a lot of other people. You must forget you ever saw him.But how could she? He’d been her first love.We were so young.Where had all the time gone?
“Clotille!” Frederick’s harsh voice broke through her recollections.
She scurried to the family room, her large breasts swaying. “Sir?”
“I need another drink. You should’ve brought it. You know this. I shouldn’t have to ask you.” A displeased frown spread across his forehead. “What were you doing to make you so disobedient?”
I was remembering who I was before my nightmare started. I was remembering how much I loved Roche and thinking about how Ihaveto see him again.“I was making sure your steak and baked potato wouldn’t burn.”I’m lying to him. Can he tell? Oh God, I hope not. This is the first time I’ve lied to him since we’ve been together.
Frederick’s eyes pierced right through her. She stood her ground, her gaze never wavering from his. Finally he smiled at her. “I’ll forgive this one indiscretion, my pet, but don’t try my patience any more tonight.”
“Yes, Sir. You are kind.” She scampered away to fix him his drink. She knew he loved her. He reminded her all the time of how much she meant to him, and how important she was to him. He’d told her everything he did was because he loved her. He controlled almost everything in her life: what she did and didn’t wear, what she ate, how many times she exercised, what time she went to bed, when she could go out with her friends—the list went on and on. She really didn’t mind the control; it helped rein in all her distractions and gave her meaningless life some purpose. Before Frederick had come into her life, she had made a mess of it, but he’d taken control and organized it for her.
That night, he let her sit at the table and eat with him. Usually he liked her at the table with him, but sometimes if he was in a foul mood, or didn’t care to see her, she’d eat alone in the kitchen while he took his meal in the dining room.
He brought his glass of red wine to his lips and sipped it. “What did you think of our bodyguards last night?”
Her insides froze. “I didn’t really notice them.”Another lie. I’m getting good at this.
“They were outlaw bikers, and they kill without batting an eye. They live in their own world and have their own rules. They are violent brutes.” She cringed but then remembered how soft Roche’s lips had been on hers when they were young and in love. “They scare most people, even the bad guys.” He laughed and slathered sour cream on his baked potato. “Is your salad tasty, pet?”
She nodded as she chewed slowly.
“I’m going to have them again when I have the Peak Five meeting at the house. With all the money that’s going to be there, I can’t take any chances.”
Please let Roche come again. Wait, what am I saying? I can’t risk Frederick finding out that I know him. And I don’t want him to see me like this.A flush of shame filled her when she replayed how Frederick had humiliated her in front of the other guests, and Roche.I can’t let him see how far I’ve fallen.
“You’re not with me tonight. I don’t like that. I demand one hundred percent of your attention. What’s been on your mind this evening?”
“I was just thinking about home. I don’t do it very often, but whenever fall is in the air, I get a hankering for Cajun-style jambalaya and crawfish. Maybe I’ll make some jambalaya next week. Would you like me to?”
He watched her intently. “If you like.”
“Excellent.” She smiled sweetly, her insides playing a game of handball against her stomach.
