Tears of Betrayal

I stare at him and then whisper, “Promise me you’ll always wear a bulletproof vest.”

“I promise.” He moves his hands, brushing his thumbs over the dark circles beneath my eyes. “How do you feel?”

Better now that you’re here.

“Hungry and dirty,” I answer, the corner of my mouth lifting.

“Shower while I fix you something to eat.”

We move off the bed, and then I think to ask, “Did you at least pack me a bag of clothes, or did you just fling me over your shoulder again?”

He lets out a dark-sounding chuckle. “Part of your punishment. I want you naked.”

My lips part, and I watch as he walks out of the room.

Punishment?

My stomach flutters at the thought, and then it hits that Demitri came back to me. He never gave up on us.

Even though we still have a lot to talk about, it feels as if my heart is beating for the first time in two weeks.

I walk to the bathroom, and turning on the faucets, I strip out of my leggings and shirt. I step under the spray and take my time washing my body and hair.

Demitri came for me. Once again, when I needed him the most.

I think back to our conversation and how he said he’s alive because of me, and it’s like a soothing balm to my bruised heart.

Stepping out of the shower, I dry my body and squeeze the excess water out of my hair. Grabbing Demitri’s toothbrush, I quickly brush my teeth, and then I walk to his closet and take one of his shirts from it. I pull the fabric over my head and then leave the room.

When I walk into the kitchen, there’s a plate with a slice of toast with cream cheese and a cup of coffee. Next to it is a note.

Eat and then go to your room.

Frowning, I glance over my shoulder, but there’s no sign of Demitri.

I take a couple of sips of the coffee, and then picking up the slice of toast, I take a bite as I walk to the entertainment room. I don’t find Demitri there or in the gym and finish my breakfast as I make my way back to the kitchen. I rinse the toast down with the rest of my coffee and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I head up the stairs.

Maybe he’s in the security room?

I’m just about to pass the room I stayed in, but stop and open the door. Stepping inside, I see Demitri leaning against the wall.

“Close the door,” he murmurs as he pushes away from the wall.

I shut the door, and then Demitri locks it and pockets the key. “No more running.”

“Ah… we’re on an island,” I remind him. There’s nowhere for me to run to.

He leans into me, and taking hold of the shirt, he pulls the fabric over my head, then says, “I told you I want you naked.”

I begin to frown, then let out a squeak as Demitri yanks me up and throws me over his shoulder. He tosses me on the bed and then grabs hold of my wrists and forces my arms above my head.

“What the hell are you doing?” I sputter, more surprised than anything else, as he uses a belt to tie my hands to the wrought iron bed frame.

When he’s sure I can’t get my hands free, he moves down to straddle my hips, and placing his hands on either side of my head, he gives me a predatory look that makes my abdomen clench.

“Ready for your punishment?” he asks.

“Why am I being punished?”

He tilts his head. “You lied to me.”

I glare at him. “Seriously? So you’re going to leave me tied to the bed butt naked?”

Demitri shakes his head as he climbs off me, and then my eyes widen as he pulls his shirt over his head.

“You’re going to wish I left you tied to that bed.”

Meaning?

It can’t be bad if it involves us naked on the bed.

Right?

When he steps out of his cargo pants, my eyes greedily sweep over his muscled body. I take in the scars left by the bullets, and then Demitri moves to the foot of the bed.

I lift an eyebrow at him. “Not to rain on your parade, but this is the furthest thing from punishment.”

He lets out a dark chuckle, the corner of his mouth lifting, and then placing a knee on the bed, he grabs hold of my hips, and in one fluid motion, I’m turned onto my stomach.

Ah…

And then there’s a hard smack against my bottom, and I let out a startled shriek.

Holy shit, he’s going to spank me?

Demitri takes hold of my ankles and spreads my legs open, and then his palm meets the other cheek of my butt, leaving them both stinging.

I’m not sure how I feel about this.