Chapter Twelve
Drake felt like he’d waited forever before the girls came out of the family room. He was pleased to see Camila’s expression had settled a bit.
He didn’t take offense when his wife stiffened upon seeing him. He knew she was afraid, but they’d fix it before the night was over.
He nodded at Mandy as she passed him on the way up the stairs, but always kept his gaze on Camila.
“You have two choices, little sub. We can either talk in our bedroom or the bathtub.”
He watched her swallow.
“I ... I think the bedroom, at least until I’ve told you some things,” she said.
He nodded and held a hand out to her. “Come to me, love.”
Drake was pleased when she moved toward him without hesitating and took his hand. He led her up the stairs and into their room. He turned and locked the door.
He had thought about the best place for them to sit and decided on the sofa.
“Let’s go over here,” he said. He sat down and pulled her into his lap with her legs on either side of his hips, facing him. It was the closest they could be without fucking.
He made sure she was comfortable. “Talk to me.”
Camila laid her hands on his chest. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“Let’s start with the night your family betrayed you.”
Her eyes widened. “You know?”
“Some of it. I asked Mandy and she told me a little. She wanted you to tell me everything. Don’t be mad at her, please. She could tell how upset I was, and she hated how much you were hurting.”
Camila nodded, and he relaxed.
She cleared her throat. “I had been gone from home for several years. I never planned to return, but my mother insisted I come back. She said the family missed me and wanted to see me. I really thought they had changed, but I could tell the moment I walked through the door that they seemed off, like they were wearing masks. During dinner, I knew something was wrong when I started to feel sleepy. I didn’t know what was happening. ”
She paused for a moment. “I woke up briefly to find my sisters and mother undressing me. I was on my bed in my bedroom. They talked about how fat and ugly I looked. I tried to talk, to plead with them, but I couldn’t move. I was so scared.”
“I can’t imagine. I’m so sorry, love.”
Camila nodded and looked down for a moment.
“I passed out again, and when I woke, it was early morning. I couldn’t understand why I was in my bedroom, naked on my bed, and my head was throbbing.
Every instinct I had was to run as fast and as far as I could.
I dressed, grabbed my bag, and quietly left the house.
I drove until I couldn’t anymore and paid for a hotel room.
I felt safe because it had security. I tried and failed to sleep that night, despite being exhausted.
I kept trying to remember the night before, but every time I tried, my head would start to pound.
I made it home to the apartment I had with Mandy.
I was able to evade her for several days until she finally caught up with me.
I couldn’t tell her anything. It took months before I was able to talk about it. ”
Drake ran his hands up and down her arms, trying to soothe her.
“Even though I couldn’t remember a lot, I .
.. I heard men’s voices in the bedroom. At first, I thought it was my imagination, but the memory was the same each time I thought about it.
Until now, I thought that they had r-aped me.
” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “Mandy said that I was a virgin when you and I...”
Drake nodded. “Yes, love, you were. I wish I had known this. We would have been able to dispel that horrible thought from your mind at least.”
Camila nodded. “I’m sorry. I know it wasn’t my fault, but I still felt so dirty.”
His thumb caressed her cheek. “I understand, and I’m not mad at all.”
He watched her relax a bit. “Now, tell me what they said to you before they left here?”
“They threatened to expose pictures they took of me with the men if I didn’t do what they said.
They plan to bring our parents here, and I think they want to stay.
I can’t let them do that to you, but I didn’t know what to do.
I didn’t want to lose you, but I also didn’t want them to ruin your reputation. ”
“Do you know how badly I want to redden your ass?” he asked softly.
Camila looked away. “I know. I should never have let them come...”
“Whoa. Wait a minute. I want to spank you because you didn’t come to me when they threatened you. I’ll say it as many times as I need to, but there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that I’ll allow between us. I will never want to be away from you.”
A sob tore from her throat, and she collapsed against his chest. “Oh, God, I don’t ever want to be without you either,” she said and cried against his shoulder.
He let her get it all out and just held her tightly against him, murmuring soothing words of love.
When she finally settled, he reached for some tissues and wiped her face. “Blow,” he said while he held a tissue up to her nose. He tossed it onto the table and continued to cuddle with her.
“What are we going to do, Drake?” she asked.
“I’m going to take care of it. I don’t want you to worry anymore.”
She sat up and looked at him. “Wait. I can’t ask you to do that.”
He smirked. “You’re not, little sub. I’m telling you that’s what’s going to happen, and as your master, you’re going to agree.”
“But...”
“Let me do this, love. I will take great enjoyment out of destroying every member of your family, even your father, for letting it happen.”
He watched new tears fill her eyes.
“My sisters said that it was my father’s idea.
When I was growing up and being tormented by my sister, he never helped me.
He always said I was being dramatic, even when I showed him the scars of things they did to me.
Even when they cut my hair, he told me, it would grow out and not make a big deal out of it. And that’s it.”
“Then I’m going to have more fun destroying that bastard,” he said. And he would. If he had his way, they would all end up in jail.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not right now.”
“I don’t like the weight you’ve lost,” he told her.
Camila shrugged. “I thought you’d be happy.”
He scowled. “Never. I want the woman that I married. The one with gorgeous curves. The one I can lie with and have something to hold. I’ve never been attracted to skinny women.”
“Most men are.”
He shook his head. “Not the ones I know.”
She tucked her face against his neck. “Is there anything else you haven’t told me?” he asked.
She sat back so he could see his face.
“I don’t know. They did so much to me, and I’m not sure what I’ve talked about or not.”
“I think as time goes by, you’ll remember some things you haven’t disclosed to me, and you’ll tell me then.”
She nodded.
“I’ll call down for a tray. I think we should stay in our bedroom. I want to be able to hold you.”
“I like that idea,” she said. “Are we just going to cuddle?”
“Oh, hell no. I’m going to be all over you, all night long, little sub.” He would love her until she had no doubt about his love for her.