Chapter 43
Addie
Darkness and the pounding in my head are the first things I notice as I wake up. My eyes are open, but I can’t see anything. It finally registers that something is covering my face. Words form on my tongue, but only come out as muffled sounds through the gag filling my mouth.
As my awareness catches up, terror swiftly follows. My arms are bound over my head while my legs are tied to the posts of the bed I’m lying on. I pull as hard as I can, but it only further proves I’m completely vulnerable.
My heart pounds in my ears, muffling any sounds that may give me a hint at what’s going on.
“Good, you’re awake,” Ronnie says from my left.
“You know, I bent over backward to show Michael I was worthy of his time. I’m the only woman he’s partnered with multiple times, and I swear to fucking god, I’ll be the last.” Her heels click across the floor.
“Oh, and by the way, if you scream, no one will come.”
The door clicks closed on her cackling.
Adrenaline races through my body as I try in vain to free my hands. The more I move, the higher my dress gets rucked up my legs, so I force myself to lie still.
I inhale for a count of four and then exhale, blowing all the air from my lungs. Then I do it again and again until my racing pulse has slowed enough for me to think.
Michael will come for me. He won’t wait all night for me to return, and depending on how long it’s been already, I can only hope he’s already started the search.
He’ll be in a bigger panic than I am, so I need to keep my head to make it through this.
No matter what happens, he’ll be there for me on the other side.
The passage of time has lost all context in my sensory deprivation. It could’ve been ten minutes or an hour since Ronnie left.
And when the door opens, I hold my breath, pleading for it to be Michael.
“When you said your friend helped you get ready, this is not what I had in mind.” The man’s unfamiliar voice sends a chill down my spine.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Okay, logic. Think logically, Adalaide. I am in the kink club. I hope. Oh, god, what if Ronnie took me somewhere else?
No. That makes no sense. There’s no way I’d be knocked out long enough for her to take me to a secondary location without knowing it. Plus, the silk sheets against my skin are indicative of the club’s bedding.
So that means this man isn’t likely here to kill me. I will survive this.
A hand lands against my chest, making me jump. The unfamiliar laugh sends another spike of fear through me. “You look beautiful, Addie.”
How does he know my name? Who the fuck is this guy? I whine, shaking my head no in the hopes that he’s a good Dom—one who can read body language like Michael can.
“I’m not sure why taking a compliment is so hard for you. You’re easily the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.”
Ah, fuck. This guy has no clue. I growl in sheer frustration.
“I wish a blindfold wasn’t part of your fantasy. I’d love to see your eyes.”
I nod my head. Fast. But then I hear drawers opening on the side of the wall and surmise he never saw it.
Is this guy an idiot? I pull at my restraints again, getting angrier by the second.
Ronnie will pay for this. I will not let her ruin the beautiful connection Michael and I have found through BDSM.
The guy’s hand suddenly slides down my sternum, making my skin crawl. I try to curl into myself to get away, but with my limbs bound, I don’t go very far.
“I’m curious as to why you kept your dress on. Makes things a bit more difficult, I’ll be honest.”
I grunt an annoyed sound.
“Someone is feeling feisty tonight.” He laughs.
I roll my eyes and grunt again because it’s the only way to make my displeasure known.
“You made it sound like you would be this sweet submissive in our chats. I’m beginning to think you were lying about that.” He makes an amused sound. “I don’t mind. I love to tame brats too.”
I shake my head no for what feels like the millionth time. I. Don’t. Want. This.
“Oh, yes. And that’s not going to stop me. You know what to do if you want this to end, feisty one.”
Well fuck. They negotiated this whole scene.
Ronnie likely told him I would fight against his actions, and of course, I have no idea what the gesture is to safe word out of this situation.
This guy is either a new Dom or a fucking horrible one.
Michael always asks me for the safe word for both speaking and non-speaking scenes despite the fact that we’ve done this several times now.
This guy should’ve checked in with me instead of barreling forward like a bulldozer, especially since he’s never met me before.
Okay, think, Adalaide.
Tied up like I am, there are very few actions I could attempt—snapping my fingers being the main one.
Hands begin to slide up my thighs, making acid burn in my throat. Sweet Jesus, throwing up is the last thing I need right now.
Focus. I snap my fingers once, twice, then over and over again until my hand starts to cramp.
The man freezes. “Addie?”
I shake my head again, screaming a muffled no, while yanking at my restraints. My desperation is so intense that tears begin to stream down my face.
Suddenly, the blindfold is ripped off my face, and I blink at the change in brightness. A man with blond hair comes into view, his blue eyes widening when he sees my distress. He quickly undoes the restraints around my wrists, allowing me to sit up and yank the gag out of my mouth.
He works on the straps around my left ankle while I rip off the other one. The second I’m free, I fly off the bed, falling onto the floor to get as far away from him as possible.
“Stay the fuck away from me.” My words are like gravel in my throat after screaming for who knows how long. I end up in the chair across the room, keeping my eyes on the man. He’s standing in front of the door, holding his hands up in surrender.
My gaze lands on the white button by the doorframe, and I slam my hand against the panic button next to me.
“Addie? What’s going on?”
“I am not the woman you’ve been talking to. I did not consent to this.”
Dread fills the man’s face. “Oh god. Who—what—”
The door suddenly bursts open behind the guy as two huge security officers barge into the room.
“Nobody move,” the first officer demands. His brown hair has been gelled back off his face, making his features look sharper.
The Dom starts pleading. “I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t know.”
The second officer moves toward me slowly. He also has brown hair, but it’s longer, curling around his ears. “You pushed the panic button?”
I nod.
The second officer crouches down in front of me. “What’s your name?”
“Addie.”
“Tell me what happened?”
It takes me a second to find my voice, too wrung out to speak much louder than a murmur.
“Veronica, a member here, hit me over the head with something in the bathroom and tied me to that bed. I was blindfolded and gagged when that man came in and started a scene. I’m assuming Ronnie has been impersonating me and arranged for him to participate in this whole thing.
He spoke to me as if he knew me, but I’ve never seen him before in my life. ”
“I’m so sorry. I swear I thought she consented,” the man in question babbles. He’s got his hands laced on top of his head while the first security officer stands watch.
“Do you think you’re up for pointing out Veronica?” the second officer asks.
I nod again, but it’s mostly a lie. I just want to curl up against Michael and sleep for the next five days. I’m exhausted. But I can’t take the chance that Ronnie leaves before we can find her.
The second officer holds out his hand to help me out of the chair, wincing at the redness around my wrists.
He escorts me down a hallway I don’t recognize until we get back to the main lounge.
I immediately look for Michael in the room, freezing in place when I see him holding Ronnie by her neck.
My first thought is that it looks as if he’s about to kiss her, but then I see his expression.
Harsh lines of anger have contorted his face, and Ronnie looks terrified.
Our entrance creates a stir. People crane their necks to find out what’s going on. It’s enough to grab Michael’s attention, his head whipping around until his gaze lands on me.
I don’t have to hear his voice to know what he says.
“Adalaide.”