Chapter 7 #2
“Let’s get this very clear, Star. You will obey me. As of now, you belong to me. Are we clear?”
When I didn’t answer because I wasn’t certain what to say, he wrapped his hand around my throat. There was no pressure, no attempt to steal my breath. Just a firm, demanding hold that captured my attention.
“If I ask you a question, you will answer me. Otherwise, you’ll remain silent.
Do you understand me?” With him being turned away from the watchful mirror, he was able to shift his expression by lifting his eyebrows over the edge of the mask.
The look in his eyes was entirely different.
The darkness remained, but something even more soulful was just at the surface.
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, sir.” My voice was so small in comparison to what it had been only moments before. “Who are you?” I whispered.
He lowered his head and placed a finger across his lips, even lifting his eyes toward one corner of the room. Hunter was trying to tell me they weren’t only watching. They were listening.
Our lips were close, so close that before I knew what was happening, I’d leaned into him. He shifted his hand so he was cupping my face, his breathing as labored as mine.
A series of stars floated in front of my eyes from being so lightheaded.
Or maybe his aftershave was the reason. When I involuntarily licked my bottom lip, I could swear I heard a slight growl.
It was as if we were locked together in a strange dance that neither one of us wanted yet the act required.
“You’re very beautiful.” His voice was low and husky, suffocating in a way that I couldn’t fathom. His words sounded sincere and something none of the others would say because they didn’t need to. This close, I was also able to catch something in his eyes that floored me.
Empathy.
Concern.
Anger.
But the rage was meant for someone else.
Also a haunted quality that didn’t make any sense with his dangerous, powerful persona. My heart pounded harder, the dull but intense throb between my legs creating another wave of heat.
Seconds ticked by and I wasn’t paying any attention that I’d rubbed the flat of my hand down his chest, marveling in the feel of his chiseled abdomen.
He was much taller than I’d thought, at least six foot four and all muscle.
Even with the mask covering half his face, I could clearly tell he was extremely handsome.
Suddenly, the air disappeared from my lungs and I was no longer being held captive in a room with a man I didn’t know. I was swept away into a quiet cabin where there was no one else but the two of us. The visionary elements were bold and colorful, my imagination working overtime.
As he pressed his body against mine, the feel of his hard cock pushed between my open legs once again tickled the sense of desire. Blinking, I tried to pull myself away, instead clamping both hands around his shirt.
“You’ll do very well.” The quiet hum of his voice pulled me into a haze, the fog thick enough that focusing was impossible.
Every action he took was unexpected, which added to the confusion I couldn’t get a handle on.
He’d just paid two million dollars for me.
There was no reason he needed to purchase anyone.
He could easily grab the attention of any female in any bar in any corner of the world.
Unless he was looking for something other than a quick fix of sadistic sex.
Even now, nothing made any sense.
Especially when he captured my mouth. I was frozen, completely incapable of moving a single inch.
Only my thudding heart allowed me to realize I was still breathing.
The strange sense of hunger continued furrowing into my stomach.
When he swept his tongue inside, I found myself on my toes in my heels.
He rolled one hand over my shoulder, taking his time as he crawled his fingers down the length of my back. As he bunched a handful of my dress in his fist, he was forced to capture a moan even as his tongue explored the darkest crevices of my mouth.
Everything about him was dominating and I allowed myself to be swept away. Until a series of vile thoughts broke through the surface, spilling into the moment and reacting in my mind.
I slammed my fists into his chest, pushing him with everything I had.
Yet he was the one who decided when the kiss would be over. His look of disappointment was followed by a short sigh as he took a step away.
“Undress.”
As soon as I started to say something, he cocked his head. The darkness in his eyes was real, but there was something oddly redeemable about him. The attraction remained even as his demand began to settle in. Perhaps he was trying to guide me through the nightmare, but to what end?
He walked toward the cabinet and my pulse skyrocketed. He was going to punish me. I turned in a full circle, trying to catch my breath.
“Don’t test my good will, Star. As you might imagine, I am eager to enjoy my win in my own private space. Please don’t make me regret my decision.”
Was that a signal? Or was he simply asserting some crazed sense of authority over me because he believed he owned me?
Still sick, I turned away from the mirror, fighting every sense of decency I had to try to just get through this. The rage and indignation I’d felt remained but was slowly being crowded out by reality.
With my fingers numb, I slowly pulled the dress over my shoulders, fighting the wave of nausea. I hadn’t been allowed to wear anything underneath. Now I was standing in high heels and nothing else. He selected some piece of leather, even testing it with a hard crack of his wrist.
I was instantly mortified, slowly moving toward the chair so I could grip something to keep from falling. As soon as he turned, he placed the flogger on one of the tables. With his gaze concentrated, he peeled off his jacket, taking the time to unbutton and roll up his sleeves.
My eyes were drawn to his forearms. They were muscular creations of beauty, perfectly carved.
Even his long fingers appeared strong. Just looking at them had me rubbing my neck where he’d touched me.
The dim light of the room highlighted his inked sleeve, which made him seem that much more dangerous.
The colorful designs seemed out of place in comparison to the elegance of his tailored suit.
Yet the intricate design gave way to lurid thoughts about the stories associated with every colorful creation. I envisioned something rough and undeniably sexy, which prompted my mind to envision dragging my tongue along the black lines and curves.
Shaking the thought away, all I needed was a quick toss of my head over my shoulder as a reminder this wasn’t an episode of a fantasy show. This was a sick reality spectacle where rich and powerful men believed it was their right to kidnap and sell women for their pleasure.
Anger tore through me as I realized even with the reality hitting me hard, my attraction remained the same.
And the kiss… Well, the kiss had only increased the longing.
This was maddening. The flutter in my stomach from just looking at him was unexpected.
The nausea was gone, replaced by some crazy sense of excitement.
And I hated myself for what I was feeling, a longing that had been swept away a very long time ago.
When I’d considered myself innocent and eager, a woman hopeful of finding her prince and living happily ever after.
Not like this.
And not with him.
He was no hero. He was the devil in disguise.