Chapter Twenty-Eight
A s my eyes open, I realize we aren't in the library any longer. My body is sore and as I try to move around, I'm unable to. Panic wells inside of me and I scream.
"Shh," Vincent murmurs as the lights turn on. The room we are in isn't very bright, but I can see Vincent, and that calms me down. "You're safe."
Turning my head into Vincent's hand as he touches my cheek, I gulp, trying to calm myself down. Moving, or trying to, I can't. "You're tied down, Aribella."
Vincent rubs his thumb across my cheek. "I promise, everything is going to be alright. You passed out after we made love and I have to be honest with you Aribella, I was afraid you’d run from me, so I tied you down." He bends down and kisses my forehead. I yank my wrists and the burn of the rope is instant, causing me to yelp.
He takes my face in his hands and I'm forced to look at him. Once I'm paying attention to him, he continues. "I brought you to our home, sweet reina . You are safe, but you need to be held accountable for your naughty behavior."
"Please, I..." The urge to scream is too much and I shake as we look at each other. "Please, I ..."
He takes my mouth in a deep kiss, pushing his tongue into mine. The emotions sway inside of me and I feel myself relaxing. "Trust me, Aribella," his whispered words tease my lips and I tremble under him.
"I'm trying," I whimper. "You won't hurt me." I'm not sure if I'm trying to reassure myself or him at this point.
"That's right. This isn't about hurting you, love. It's about making sure you won't run away from me."
Taking a deep breath, I peer at him, and he smiles down at me. "You are in my dungeon, but don't worry, I'm not going to use anything on you until you are ready. Well, except keeping you tied up, to punish you."
My body goes rigid at the idea of being in a dungeon. "Can't we go to our room?" I pull against the restraints, wanting up.
"Be still. You'll make the rope cut into your arms." Vincent runs his hands along my body and I get self conscious. "You are so beautiful, mi reina. " He trails kisses down my chest and along my stomach. " Mi reina needs to know that she is safe and wanted."
Slowly, he moves his head down, kissing each scar that I now have. My nipples get hard and my womanhood is clinching with need. "Vin... Vincent," his name comes tumbling out of my mouth as he latches onto my clit.
He growls into my body and the vibrations of his deep voice make me arch my hips into his mouth. "That's right, Aribella, fuck my face."
A nervous giggle leaves my throat as he holds both of my butt cheeks in his hands and devours my wetness. I forget about the ropes on my wrists and ankles. Everything in my mind goes blank except for the pleasure that Vincent is giving me.
"Come for me," he demands against my opening, and I tense. My body is ready to go off, but it won't. I have no idea why until he pushes two fingers into my womanhood and I scream his name.
By the time my orgasm subsides, I'm exhausted. "Such a good girl." Vincent praises me and kisses back up my body.
Once his lips meet mine, I kiss him back happily and greedily. It doesn't matter that I can taste myself on him. His tongue coaxes mine into a soft and lazy dance. Sighing, I arch my lower half into him and he lets out a growly laugh.
"See how enjoyable the ropes can be?" he whispers in my ear as he reaches over to my right wrist and releases it. Vincent repeats his move three more times and once I'm free, I wrap my body around him.
"I do see that." I kiss his cheek and relax into him. He's made one nightmare go away, I'm sure of it.
"Now, if you promise not to run away again, I will take us to our bedroom."
Looking around, I see the sex toys, whips, chains, and cages. I wait for the anxiety and panic to rise, but it doesn't.
"I'd really like that, Vincent." He helps me stand up. Keeping my hands on his shoulders, I look him in his eyes. "Maybe.... maybe you could show me more things later?" I ask before I lose the courage to do so.
Vincent pushes his hands through my hair and massages my scalp. "Yes, mi reina . It would be an honor to show you how to enjoy all of this with me."
Nodding my head in agreement, I blush. I've never asked for anything like this. I'm still scared of the things in this room, but it isn't as overwhelming as it used to be because I know now that Vincent would never harm me.
"Thank you," I tell him as we walk up the stairs together. He holds my hand, keeping me next to him. I don't exactly want to be anywhere else right now.
Espresso is on the bed sleeping when we enter the bedroom. "Why don't I draw you a warm bath and you can rest and clean up?"
Making my way over to Espresso, I run my fingers through his fur and he purrs but doesn't wake up. "I'd like that. Will you join me?"
He looks at me for a moment and smiles. "If you want me to."
Is he giving me an option? Usually, he just does things and I have to accept it. Warmth fills my chest as he takes me into the bathroom and starts the bath.
"Yes, I'd really enjoy you holding me in the bathtub."
Vincent turns away from the tub and picks up a jar of bath salts. "Then I will join you." Once he's done pouring the salts in, he puts the jar away and takes off his clothes.
Watching him, I take in each muscle and moan. He is built , and so powerful. I want to touch him; I think. Before I even finish my thought, my feet have carried me to him and I run my hands along his chest.
"Aribella," his tone holds a warning, but I need to touch him.
"Do you want me to stop?" I look at him and he's frowning at me.
"Never. I never want you to fucking stop, Aribella, but I want to get you in this tub so I can let you rest. Not have another round of sex with you."
Another blush pops up and I look down, embarrassed.
"Don't do that, mi reina." Vincent lifts my chin with his pointer finger and thumb. "I want you, love. So fucking much, but I want to do what's right for you. And that, right now, is getting in the warm water and letting it soak into your sore body."
How he knew what to say, I don't know, but I smile at him. "Alright." That's all I say and Vincent helps me into the water.
We settle into each other, and I sigh. "This is wonderful, Vincent. Thank you."
He takes the soap and pours it into a loofah. "You're welcome," he grunts, and I can't help but smile. I feel myself slipping into darkness as he runs the loofah along my body.
Waking up once again, I blink and stretch. This time I can move and I hear Espresso purring against my head. Chuckling, I look up and there’s my baby. He flicks his tail at me and I reach up to rub him. Vincent isn't in the bed and I wonder where he went off to.
Getting out of the bed, I use the restroom quickly and wash my hands. Looking into the closet, I smile. My clothes are still there and I'm not sure why, but I thought they'd be gone. Laughing at myself, I grab a dress, put it on and don't even think about panties or a bra.
"I don't give a fuck what you do, I want this shit demolished," Vincent's angry words reach me, giving me pause along the last step of the stairs.
"Sir, I understand, but if we take this wall out, it will compromise the structural integrity of the second floor.."
I don't recognize the voice, but I slowly make my way over to Vincent and see he's in the room we were in last night.
"Why are we tearing it down?" I ask curiously.
Vincent whirls around and I gasp. He moves so fast and blocks me from the view of the other men in the room. "Mi reina, I didn't know you were awake." He pulls me into him and I wrap my arms along his back.
"It's alright. I seem to keep falling asleep on you."
He smirks at me and kisses my nose. "It's alright, mi reina. You need your rest. I'm taking this room out. We can play other ways."
"Oh." My smile falters and I wonder why I want him to keep the room. "Keep it. You promised to show me stuff and help me through things. Remember?"
A frown turns his lips down, and I kiss him. "Maybe... maybe take the chains out and get better lighting?"
A howl of laughter leaves him and the atmosphere turns from angry to happy within a second. I smile at him. "Besides, I did enjoy what we did earlier," I whisper.
"Oh, mi mariposa , you have no idea what you are asking for. But we will keep it for now. If you are alright with it."
Peeking around Vincent's body, I look at the room and the men standing there. "Eyes on me , Aribella," Vincent growls and I huff.
"My gosh, you are so grouchy."
Vincent walks us out of the room and turns back. "Take the chains, whips, and canes out of the room. Bring in more lighting and... don't fucking touch the bed."
The men burst out into loud Spanish and laughter, but Vincent walks us toward the kitchen. "Why did you want to tear the room down?"
He looks down for a moment before he looks at me. There’s so many emotions running through his eyes, I’m not sure how to read them. "I shouldn't have put you in there and tied you up. But I didn't know how to keep you from running. And besides, the idea of the dungeon, and how you looked when you first woke up, made me realize I shouldn't have done it."
I stop walking and look at him. "You made the fear go away. The panic was only for a moment and when you did... well, you know, when you touched me there, I was excited."
Stumbling over my words, I look down. Gosh, I can't even tell him I want him to do it again. "I don't know if I'll ever be comfortable in the dungeon, but I want to try things with you. You make all the crazy paranoia and anxiety go away."
"Oh, Aribella." He pulls me into a hug and I melt into him, feeling better than I have in months.