Rage

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Wren

M y heart pounds as he reaches into his suit jacket, pulling out a gold key.

“You’re going to let me go?”

His lips lift in a smile. “No. Your training is beginning, little bird. I’d suggest being quiet. I still haven’t forgotten that stunt at the office.”

“Stunt? What stunt?”

“You’re going to make this oh-so-fun for me, aren’t you?”

I close my mouth, even though I’m dying to ask a million questions.

“Good girl,” he praises.

I’ve seen that term a million times in the romance novels I like to read and never saw the appeal. But hearing Gideon say it in his deep, growly voice… well, let’s just say that now I get it. And I hate the heat that is now swirling deep in my stomach.

He unlocks the door, letting it swing open.

“Crawl to me.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to question him. Or maybe even tell him to go to hell. One look at the gleam in his eyes tells me that’s exactly what he’s hoping I’ll do. Silently, I lower to my knees and place my hands on the floor of the cage. And then I crawl to Gideon Rossi.

“Very good, pet,” he says as he moves toward the bed, sitting at the foot of it. “Come over here so I can punish you, and then we can get on with our wedding night.”

It’s killing me not being able to ask him anything, but I’m not going to test him. Not when I’ve heard of the terrible things he’s done. I come to a stop at his feet.

“Up.”

He pats his lap, so there’s no questioning what he means. My swallow is audible as I climb into his lap, laying across his muscular thighs. I regret wearing a skirt to work today because cold air licks my skin. Gideon must be thinking about my skirt, too, because his hand settles on the back of my leg, creeping under the material.

“No panties. Another thing to be punished for, wife.”

There’s a low humming in my ears as reality hits me. Oh, my god. I’m his wife.

“Why am I getting punished for that? I wasn’t your wife until moments ago,” I murmur, unable to keep silent.

“There she is,” he says.

I get the feeling that if I were to look at him, I’d find him smiling. So I don’t look.

“No reply. Smart little bird. Very smart.” He pauses. “Ten for the stunt at your job. Ten for back-talking me. And ten for not wearing panties.”

Nothing happens, and then my skirt is yanked up over my hips. A moment later, his hand makes contact with my butt cheek in rapid-fire succession. My god. I’ve never been spanked before, not even as a kid. My dad thought it was uncivilized.

Tears stream down my cheeks, but I don’t make a sound. I won’t give Gideon the pleasure.

But after number fifteen, I can’t stop the moan that leaves my lips. Because somehow the pain has mixed with pleasure. Gideon’s hand comes down lower, making me bite back another moan. The contact presses my clit against the material of his slacks. It’s enough friction that jolts of pleasure shoot deep into my stomach.

How in the fuck am I getting turned on by this?

Gideon delivers the rest of the spankings, bringing me to the edge of an orgasm. When he’s finished, I try to scurry off his lap, but he stops me.

“Oh, no, little bird. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t make sure you received aftercare?”

There are so many things wrong with what he just said, but all thoughts go out of my mind when he kneads the tender flesh he abused moments ago. His hand moves between my legs, and he runs his fingers through my drenched slit.

“Such a good little wife,” he praises. “You took your punishments so well, Wren. Do you know that?”

My reply is stuck in my throat as he reaches my clit, rubbing it in slow circles that send me closer and closer to climaxing.

But then he stops, and I hate myself because I want to beg him to finish.

“Up,” he orders.

I do as he says and stand on wobbly legs. He stands, too.

“I’m going to give you two choices, wife. Think carefully before answering.” At my nod, he continues, “One, I will give you all the answers you seek, but I won’t touch you again. You will stay locked away in that cage until the entire world forgets about you. But you’ll die with the truth. Two, I will give you what you so clearly want—what I want, too—and you will become my pet. You will obey me no matter what. You will be happy, Wren, but you won’t get the answers you seek.”

My mind races. Can I live with this man, not knowing what drove him to do all of this?

“May I ask one question?”

“You may.”

“Will my father be safe?”

Something dark flashes in his eyes. “He’ll be safe for as long as you’re my pet.”

“Then I choose option two.”

Because I value my father’s life more than needing to know what has driven Gideon to go to extremes to marry me.

Shock is etched in his expression.

I take a step back from him, pulling my top over my head.

“You said earlier today that you wished I would speak my mind. Is that still true?”

“It is.”

“Will I be punished for it?”

“Such a quick learner, little bird. No, you will never be punished for telling me the truth.”

I nod once. “My truth at this moment is that I want you to fuck me. Husband.”