Chapter 34 – IVY
Chapter
Thirty-Four
IVY
My knees ache as they rub into the hard floor. I look up to check how my wrists are doing, still tied above me on a hook dangling from the ceiling.
The door opens and Nikolai walks in, coming to stand in front of me.
“How’s my sweet cherry doing today? Ready to submit?”
“Never happening.”
He harshly grabs my jaw, forcing me to look at him.
“Always so stubborn. I think I’ve been too lenient with you.
I’ve been so thrilled to have you back that I’ve forgotten what has worked to correct your behavior in the past. My apologies.
” He releases me, only to strike me with another slap before making me meet his dark eyes again.
“I should shred that beautiful back of yours up. Punish you until you are screaming my name.” My eyes widen and adrenaline spikes.
Not that again, anything but that. “Please, Nik.”
His crooked smile grows. “I have missed your sweet pleas.” He stands and shouts, “Adrian! Bring my whip.”
No. No. No.
Fuck. I have to play this game for the long run. Who knows how long I’ll be here this time. I doubt I’ll ever have a chance to escape again. Nikolai won’t let that happen a second time.
“Nik, wait. Please. I’m sorry.” I try moving closer to him, my bruised knees pressing into the ground, making me wince.
He squats again and tips his head at me, eyes raking up and down my body. His beard is trimmed shorter now, and the sides of his hair have taken on more salt than pepper.
“Tell me, Red. Are you still a virgin?”
I swallow the lump in my throat and keep my gaze fixed on his dead eyes.
“Do you know how disappointed I’ll be if my precious property has been destroyed? If my sweet, innocent cherry spread her legs to be a whore for the Southern Poisoner? You don’t have to answer me now. I have a doctor coming who will give me my answer.”
The door opens again and in walks Adrian with Nikolai’s favorite whip, the Russian knout. He hands Nikolai the several foot long whip; a long thick wooden handle leading to twisted cords of leather with metal rings added to inflict extra pain. Panic begins to bloom inside my chest.
“Leave us.” Nikolai uncurls the whip, letting it hit the floor in front of me with a smack, the sound sending painful chills through my body. “I’ve missed you. So much.”
He then moves to my back, pushes up my shirt and unclasps my bra, leaving my back bare and ready for his torment.
“Nik. Don’t do this. Please. Anything else.”
His response is the all too familiar sharp sting across my skin that I thought I would never feel again.
But I don’t cry. As much as I want to, I can’t give him my tears.
I scream.
And scream more, until I pass out.
When I gain consciousness again, I’m met with Nikolai’s vile face.
God, this nightmare is never ending.
My arms are no longer stretched above me but secured tightly behind my back now.
Groaning, I sit up and lift my chin to Nikolai. The whip lies a few feet away on the floor, easing my nerves just a little that it’s not still in his hand.
“It hurts me to hurt you. You must know this.” He grabs my chin. “I wish we could get along. Things are much better when we get along, no?”
I say nothing and hold his stare with hatred pumping through me.
Grinning, he releases my chin harshly, then begins unbuckling his belt.
My eyes drop to his crotch before I meet his twisted hungry gaze again.
“I truly have missed you. Your beauty. Your fire. That mouth of yours.” He licks his lips as he removes his gun from the back of his waist, then lets his pants drop to his ankles.
I’ll bite him. I swear I’ll fucking bite him and rip his vile dick off. Even if it means I die here and now. He will never get away with violating me again.
“I can read your thoughts, sweet cherry. It’s written all over your face. Don’t do it.” He waves his gun in front of my face before pressing the barrel into my forehead. “Shall I return the favor? Let your skull feel the burning kiss of a bullet?”
I press my lips together and swallow the bile and dread rising in my throat.
“Open that pretty mouth and behave yourself. Convince me to forgive your betrayals.” With his other hand, he grabs a fistful of my hair, jerking me toward him. “Open!” he shouts, his voice echoing throughout the empty room.
I close my eyes and—
Gunshots ring out, causing me to flinch and Nikolai to drop his hand from my hair. I can hear shouting outside this room and footsteps running.
“Seems we’ll have to continue this later.”
Dressing up, he stalks out of the room, yelling to some guards in Russian.