Seven.
Ashlee
I awoke in the dead of night, nestled between my two powerful protectors. The intensity of the moment sent a shiver down my spine—having both men by my side felt like a dream I never wanted to end. Despite Mag's bed being smaller than Ethan's, the closeness of our bodies made it feel like the perfect haven in this dangerous world we navigated together.
After stopping off at the bathroom, I went downstairs and grabbed myself a glass of water.
“Ashlee.”
I jumped, and spun around to find Ethan leaning against the doorframe in just his boxers.
“Jesus, you scared me.”
He chuckled. “Sorry, sweetheart. I just wanted to check that you were okay.”
“I'm fine. I just needed the toilet and a drink. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You know I'm a light sleeper,” he said. “Although I've been sleeping better since I've had you to cuddle.”
I frowned. “I wish I could take it all away for you.”
His jaw tightened as he closed the gap between us, cupping my cheek with his warm palm. “No, Ashlee. I wouldn’t wish what happened to me on anyone. You have no idea...” He released a sigh. “Come and sit with me and I'll tell you.”
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” I whispered.
“It's time that I told you the details, baby.”
I slid my hand into his, feeling the electric charge of his touch and giving him a reassuring squeeze. With a tight smile, he led me to a lavish sitting room, his grip firm and possessive. In one swift motion, he pulled me down onto his lap as he sat, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.
“The only people I’ve ever told this to are Mags and the therapist. My dad saw the videos so he obviously knows,” he said softly. “It was bad, baby. Ivan kept me locked in a dark basement tied to a chair most of the time. I only saw light when he and Dmitry came for their daily torture sessions. I was freed from the chair twice a day by one of his goons to relieve myself in a bucket as well, but they only used a torch for light.”
My stomach was already churning.
“They’d give me a slice of bread and some water for food, and I took it because I was starving. I resisted the bread at first until I had no choice. The hunger hurt. They’d watch while I ate every crumb. Then Ivan would cut me free and force me to my knees for whatever hell they had planned for me. He kept a gun pointed at my head at all times I was out of the chair.”
Ethan closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.
“It started with Ivan making me suck Dmitry’s cock, and then as the weeks went on, it got worse. I didn’t have a choice because it was that or death. At first I refused, and I ended up with a broken hand and a beaten face. Then he started cutting into my flesh every time I refused to obey.”
I didn't say anything, but my hand tightened around him, trying to offer any comfort I could.
"Eventually, I shut myself down and just accepted that I had to do it," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "There's only so much pain your body can take, Ash. Eventually, your mental strength shatters. One day, I gave in and opened my mouth for him. I didn’t believe things could get worse at that point, but they did. I felt a part of me die. He... Dmitry, he..."
Ethan choked on his words, his eyes filled with a pain that broke my heart. “It’s okay, you don't have to say anything more,” I said softly, but he shook his head, needing to get it out.
Taking a deep breath, he continued. “He raped me, Ash. He left me bleeding the first time. The more he did it, the easier the pain got physically, but I've never recovered mentally. I became dead inside. I shut down and stopped fighting. I became a broken shell.”
"Jesus, Ethan," I whispered, a tear escaping my eye. It was agonizing to hear what he'd been through, the horror of it cutting deep into my soul.
“Ash, it was true torture. Ivan filmed it all and sent the videos to my dad. They laughed about it. Besides sexually abusing me, he caused me other physical pain. Cuts, nail ripping, and waterboarding.” He lifted his hand and showed me one of his fingers where a nail was missing. I was shocked that I'd never noticed it before. "They'd smoke most days and always put their cigarettes out on my skin as well. I would have suffered a thousand burns over what Dmitry did to me though. I wish that it was only the physical torture. It's what Dmitry did which broke me. Ashlee, this went on every day until my father found me.”
I met his gaze and found his eyes all raw with haunted memories.
“I wanted you know the details. I wanted to let you see what a mess I truly am.”
I stood and repositioned myself to straddle his lap. “Ethan, you are the strongest man I know.”
His eyebrows drew together. “How am I after all of that? I didn’t fight or anything. I just did it all. I allowed them to break me.”
“You fought, Ethan, and you bled for it. You think you're broken, but you're not. You're a warrior, scarred but unyielding. Every wound is a testament to your strength. You survived, Ethan. You're a survivor, and that's what makes you unstoppable.”
He swallowed a lump in his throat, a tear falling from his eye. “Ashlee, I don’t know how I ever got so lucky to have you. I may never heal fully, but I promise that I'll try to be the best husband I can be.”
I brushed my lips against his. “You already are. Look at what you arranged this evening.”
“I want to make you happy, baby, and you are with Mags.”
“I’m happy with both of you.”
He kissed me softly. “I am as well. Ashlee, I don’t think my desire to watch will ever leave. I'm a voyeur. I love the thrill of watching, and watching Mags with you drives me crazy.”
I chuckled. “Yeah? You were pretty ravenous tonight.”
“Of course, I was. I wanted to claim my wife as mine,” he smiled. “I needed to be the first, baby. You belong to both of us, but I needed our marriage to be consummate. Call me old fashioned but it meant something to me.”
“I enjoyed it. ” I grinned, my pussy throbbing at the memory. "I loved seeing you like that.”
“Good, because I have plenty planned for the next week.”
“Like what?” My interest spiked.
“It’s a surprise, sweetheart. Anyway, we better get back to bed. Come on.” He stood and lifted me, carrying me back upstairs. He placed me down in front of the bed, and both of us looked at Mags passed out for a few moments.
“I’m surprised you want to sleep with him,” I whispered.
Ethan chuckled. “I love him like a brother, and I know you’d prefer to be between us both.”
“I do like it,” I said.
“Well then, get back into bed.”
I didn’t need telling twice, crawling up the mattress and settling in beside Mags while Ethan got in on my other side. He wrapped an arm around me and held me close, and my eyes soon closed in sweet contentment.
***
“Come on, baby,” Ethan said with a grin, holding his hand out for me after we passed through security at the airport.
“What about Luna?” I was shocked that we were in an actual airport. I didn’t see this coming today, but I couldn’t stop thinking about our kitten being left alone.
“Ro’s looking after her so she’ll be fine. Now come on.”
I took his hand and allowed him to pull me through to the main waiting area with Mags following.
“I promised you a coat, didn’t I?”
“It's fine, you don't-”
“Don't argue with me, sweetheart, or I’ll put you over my knee.”
I shut my mouth because I didn’t doubt that he would.
Mags slung his arm over my shoulder with a chuckle. “I like seeing you getting spanked, Red.”
“I don't.” My voice lacked conviction.
“Liar,” he said. “We’ve seen how wet you get from it.”
“Her pussy's always wet for us,” Ethan said.
“Guys, please don’t talk like that. We're in public,” I hissed.
“Behave, Ashlee,” Ethan said sternly. “Don’t talk back.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I knew it would only earn me a punishment if he saw it and I sure as shit didn’t want one here.
Ethan led me into a posh clothing shop, heading straight towards a rack of coats. “Pick whatever one you want.”
I glanced through the rack and then looked at Ethan. “I don’t know.”
“Do you like any of them?”
“All of the ones in
my size are nice.”
“Christ, woman, just pick one,” Mags groaned.
Ethan chuckled. “Shall I pick one for you, sweetheart?”
“Please,” I said.
He looked through the rack again, and then pulled a woolly black one out. He removed it from the hangar and held it out for me to try on.
“How does it feel?”
“Warm,” I said.
“And it fits okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Then this one it is.”
After paying for the coat, Ethan walked me around a few shops offering me various things. I didn’t say yes to anything, but he was evidently paying close attention to me because he ended up buying me some perfume, chocolates and a bracelet. Things that I liked but didn't want to seem like a needy gold digger.
“You've spent too much,” I mumbled.
“Don't be stupid. My wife deserves everything.”
“Ethan-”
“We’re married, Ashlee. My money is yours. Everything I own is yours.”
“Red, you need to stop arguing with us. We'd buy you the world,” Mags cut in.
I released a sigh. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
My heart pounded as Ethan led us to the gate, anticipation mixing with anxiety. I'd never flown before, and the unknown loomed large. Ethan, ever the enigma, hadn’t even told me our destination, keeping the ticket hidden.
“This is it,” he said, flashing a roguish grin.
I looked up at the screen, my breath catching in my throat. “Sicily.”
“Yeah. Thought I'd show you the beauty of Italy. My family’s roots run deep here,” he replied, his voice tinged with pride.
“Wow,” I whispered, awe-struck.
We bypassed the usual queue, guided straight onto the plane. Stepping through a curtain, we entered a space unlike any I’d ever seen. It was opulent, a stark contrast to the rest of the cabin. The seats were plush, enclosed pods that promised comfort and privacy, hinting at the luxury that awaited us.
“Only the best for us, baby,” Ethan murmured as he led me to a seat in the middle. I sat down, looking around in amazement as he walked around to the pod on my other side. There was a small open partition separating us, but at least we were close. Mags sat on my other side by the window.
“Ethan, I'm scared,” I whimpered as an engine started up.
“Why?” He frowned.
“I've never flown before.”
His eyes softened as he reached over to grab my hand. “You should have reminded me. Don’t let go and keep looking at me, okay?”
I nodded.
“How long will it take to get there?”
“About twelve hours.”
“Oh.” I felt the colour drain from my skin.
“We’re safe, Ash. Nothing is going to happen.”
I nodded. “What are we meant to do in that time?”
Ethan chuckled. “Watch a film on the screen in front of you. There’s drinks and food available as well, and the seat lays back into a bed if you want to sleep.”
I nodded.
“Once we're in the air, you can always come around to my seat and lay with me. There's a partition that can go up to close us off more.”
My eyes lit up. “I’d like that.”
“That’s settled then. We can lay down and watch a film together if you want.”
I nibbled on my lower lip, my heart racing as I gazed at this incredible man. He wasn’t even a fan of movies, yet here he was, willing to indulge me. I felt like the luckiest woman alive to call him my husband. My eyes drifted to Mags, catching him casually flipping through a magazine.
“Don’t fret, darling. You’ll have your fair share of time with him this week too,” he assured me.
“Really?” I asked, hope bubbling in my chest.
“Really. I’ve got some surprises up my sleeve, Ashlee. Here’s to our blissful honeymoon, my beautiful wife.”