62. Penelope
Penelope
To be drugged was a gift. More than I had known when I wanted nothing more than to be free.
To feel was to fall.
To break … was to be destroyed.
It was odd that when I could barely process thought, I held in more control. I didn’t now. I was running on pure rage. Every touch sent my blood boiling. Every sentiment had me snapping and threatening him even more.
I was losing it. My killer was blanketed in constant pain and that was pushing me further over any edge I could manage. I longed to spill blood. I needed to see King Lawrence suffer.
“Get the hell off of me.”
“We’re just starting. Surely, you’re not sick of this already.”
A yell left me as I thrashed and fought against the cuffs.
“I told you not an hour ago not to touch me. Did you miss the part about me being a queen and not a whore? I’m not a body you can use whenever the hell you want.”
“I happen to disagree. You had demands, I gave them. I fed you. I opened the curtain so you could have a view. Now it’s my turn for demands.”
Fingers trailed over my breast. I jerked my hand, feeling the leather cuff rub my wrist raw from the constant tugs and pulls.
“One more touch, and I will break you apart. You make me sick. You hear me say no.”
“I hear Vaughn—”
“It is me! I don’t want to be with you. This has nothing to do with Vaughn. I love him. I love him,” I repeated, lifting my head. “I could never love a spoiled rapist like you.”
Fire burned across my cheek, and I felt my tooth tear into my lip. Blood washed over my tongue, feeding my monster.
“What’s the matter? You don’t like the truth?”
“I love you—”
“You love yourself! You want to know why I never chose you, Lawrence? That’s why.
You’re selfish. Vain. Your ego is as thick as your head.
You know nothing but what you want or what you can’t have.
And then you go after it. I never wanted to be your queen.
Losing my family’s title was worth washing my hands of you. ”
Pink tinted his face growing darker as he lifted more to tower over me.
“Is that right?”
“It is. What are you going to do about it? Nothing. You’re going to do nothing.”
Fingers gripped bruisingly into my jaw and cheeks.
“Being nice obviously isn’t working. That suits me just fine. Nothing worthy ever came out of easy situations. If Vaughn doesn’t want to leave, I’ll beat him out of you.” He let go, turning to open the bedside table. “Meet my cane…”
My lids grew narrower at the small, thin rod. “That’s what you’re going to beat me with?”
“You can say that. Looks are often deceiving. You’re about to find that out.”
Whistling cut through the air, and burning merged with an odd popping sensation. My skin split at my thigh and agony was immediate. I could barely register the shock of pain before he brought the cane down again. And again. And again.
Whack!
Whack!
Whack!
Whack!
My mouth was open, but air refused to come.
I pulled at my arms, kicking out my legs as oxygen finally came gushing in.
I choked on the amount, sobbing just as fast. It all took me over, leaving my brain stalling as blood raced quickly between my thighs.
His cock was hard, pushing against the material of his pajama pants as he looked on hungrily.
“Beautiful. I knew it would be.” He laughed through the thrill that left his eyes wide. “Scars. I’m going to mark you like he marked your back. Maybe not him, personally, but you’ll carry signs of both of us.”
A scream left me as I went wild. The slap across my face was followed by him latching on and diving to grind his lips into mine.
“I’m going to kill you. I’ll fucking—”
He lifted.
Whack!
Whack!
Whack!
Blood pooled over the strikes to my stomach, but that didn’t stop my thrashing.
“Get off!”
“Oh, I’m about to. Tell me more how you’re going to kill me.”
“I hope Vaughn does it first. I hope he finds you and he drags out your death.”
Lawrence dove down, but I slammed my head up into his nose just as fast. A yell sounded, and he jerked back as blood poured and dropped down over me.
“Bitch!”
He reared back, sending lights flashing as he struck me hard against my already swelling cheek.
“You’re the bitch. I bet you cry throughout this more than I do.”
“You think I’m so soft?” His palm dropped from his nose, and his hand locked around my throat. “You think I’m like a child? You have no idea the life I’ve led!”
Air constricted, disappearing completely as he squeezed mercilessly to my throat.
I could fight.
I could kick and try swinging my cuffed arms.
I didn’t move.
Pressure built in my face as I glared up at him with blurry eyes.
“You think you’re so strong. We should have started here. This is so much more fun. Goodnight, Penelope. This is one game you won’t win.”
Stars danced in my vision. The need to fight was there. Survival screamed for me to do something. My body jerked, but I didn’t act. The room faded out, and I let it as I kept my stare on his as he grew further away.
“Fuck. This is what I’m talking about.”
My body bounced and again I jerked as my lids fluttered open. My throat was on fire and ached, but that barely registered as I went crazy at the thrusts.
“Get off me. Get! Off!”
“That’s it. Fight for me.”
I sobbed, my voice scratchy and barely there.
“Stop!”
“I don’t think I will.”
He slowed, jerking my hair to angle my neck to the side as he latched on and sucked. Back and forth I threw my head to the side, but I didn’t manage to dislodge him. He broke away on his own, chuckling as he lifted, looking down to watch his cock slide in and out of me.
The slap of the cane came down over my breast from nowhere. I gasped, screaming out again as he lifted it and let it strike me with brutal force. Blood blossomed under the skin, some beading over the flesh it broke.
He lifted his hand, hitting me even harder as he eased deeper.
Whack!
More…
Whack!
Whack!
“Tell me that you love me.”
“Fuck you.”
My body shook through the heavy pants and cries as pain registered all over. He kept striking hard. Hitting somewhere entirely new. Going back to the lines he was making over my breast. Striking somewhere new. Going back…
“Tell me that you love me.”
“Fuck. You! I hate you. You make me si-ck.”
Whack!
Whack!
I tried twisting away from the savage blows.
Whack!
“You love me. Say it.”
“I’ll never say it. You can kill me first.”
Another chuckle.” He withdrew his cock from me, pulling up his pajama pants. “I’ll never kill you. Not physically.” He placed the cane on the nightstand. “Your mind is another story.” Lawrence headed for the door, opening it. “Bring me some salt!”
My eyes widened, and I pulled at the cuffs in earnest.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting results. You don’t want to play by the rules, I’ll make you. How do you think that salt is going to feel when I rub it into your wounds?”
Trembling took over my bottom lip, and I hated it. “You won’t.”
“You’ll learn to listen.”
“Please! Help me!”
Footsteps approached, and I sobbed, lifting my head. I could see George’s hair and edge of his shoulder.
“We have to talk.”
“I said get me salt.”
“Sire… I keep knocking. You’re not listening. We’re in trouble.”
“You’re about to be. Get me salt.”
A sound left George. “The entire palace is burning. As we speak, I’m sure they’re announcing more of your residences on fire. Four is the count right now. You must—”
“What?”
Lawrence disappeared, and I sobbed, taking in George as his lids narrowed hatefully at me.
He turned, walking deeper into the room and out of view.
Stickiness itched against my cheek, and I rubbed it against my shoulder and bicep.
Pain flared, and the blood from my nose and face smeared to my skin.
So many places were unbearably stinging.
My back screamed through every breath. My wrists were so raw from the constant twisting and jerking, not to mention how badly I ached in my most private area.
I knew I was bleeding there. It hadn’t really stopped from the first time. It wasn’t heavy, but it was continuous.
“Fuck!”
Lawrence’s roar in the distance made me jump.
Minutes passed as he cursed and talked to George.
I had to figure a way out of here.
I had to somehow break free.
My head lifted again, and a dark color blurred past my window. I jumped, my brow creasing as my heart nearly stopped. Seconds passed and the shape returned, easing its head just far enough to where I could see it. My lips parted, and I jerked at the cuffs.
“Wallace.” I mouthed the name, not able to stop the sob at seeing my Reeve’s second. “Help me. Please.”
“That son of a bitch!” Footsteps pounded back towards me, and I shook my head frantically to Wallace, watching as he disappeared. Lawrence’s eyes were blazed with fury as he pointed at me.
“That crazy bastard is burning my houses down! My palace is in flames.” He let out a roar. “Just wait until I get my hands on him. He’ll hang for this.”
He paused at my sobs, only seeming to just realize my changed demeanor.
“Why the hell are you crying? It’s not your places burning to the ground.”
“You hurt me.”
His face softened for the smallest moment as he walked around the bottom of the bed, coming around close to the window. “You had it coming. That mouth of yours is out of control. Vaughn is all I hear when you speak. He’s stealing you from me. I hate him—”
“I hate you! You hurt me!” Harder I sobbed, knowing I needed to be as loud as possible to cause a distraction. “I’ve been raped. I’m bleeding, bruised, and all you care about is your stupid houses.”
“Those are going to be your stupid houses too when we marry. Besides, I’ve only just got started. Unless, of course, you’ve changed your mind and have decided to stop fighting me.”
“This isn’t a fight! This is you being an abusive prick trying to make me feel something for you. Let me out of these cuffs and I’ll give you a real fight.”
“You think you stand a chance against me?”