Collaring Cinderella

And maybe, just maybe, Rafael would be the one.

I remembered the way my body felt under his—vulnerable, exposed, desperate for the lightest of touches. His fingers brushing my skin, entering me, ridding me of the one piece that was left of my virginity.

Eighteen, and a virgin… I kept to myself in high school. Nobody knew, and it was better that way. I never got any attention from boys, anyway, not until this spring when my boobs grew to a full C-cup and my hair reached my butt. Then, I was the center of attention for the last few months of school.

But I kept away from all of it, kept to myself.

I didn’t want a boy to have my virginity.

I wanted it to be a man.

A real man, just like Mr. Goldwyn…

“Ella!” Martha was staring at me, and I blushed deeply, soaking my rag in the bucket again. “Snap out of it. I swear to God, you’re the worst helper I’ve ever had the displeasure of working with.”

“I’m sorry,” I muttered under my breath. “So sorry. I’ll keep working.”

“You better,” she grunted.

I fought the urge to sigh and kept working under her watchful eye. She made me do everything twice, but even I had to admit that by the time we were done, the mansion sparkled and shone with a beauty I’d only seen before in interior decorating magazines. I felt jealous of the man who owned it all, the beautiful house, all those jewels. He could have anything he wanted. I bet he looked at every other girl the way he’d looked at me. There was no way he’d want me permanently. He’d just use me and toss me aside like he did with all those models.

“Martha.”

I gasped lightly, and my stepmother gave me a dirty little look as we turned to face the man that had spoken.

Rafael Goldwyn stood at the top of the stairs, staring right at me with that impenetrable gaze of his. He came downstairs, taking the stairs fast and efficiently and coming to a stop only a few feet away from me.

“You are done for the day,” he said to me, and my stepmother let out an annoyed moan.

“We’re nowhere near done, Mr. Goldwyn,” she said. “We haven’t even started on the first floor!”

“I don’t care.” He turned towards her briefly, giving her the once-over.

She smoothed down her uniform. I hadn’t gotten one yet, I just wore an outfit I’d had at home, but I felt raggedy and ugly next to him. He was dressed in the latest fashion, with expensive fabrics and brands I could only dream of owning. And me… I was just wearing leggings and a top I’d owned for years. I blushed deeply, turning my face away so he wouldn’t notice.

“You may leave, Martha,” Mr. Goldwyn told my stepmom, and I leaned down quickly to pick up my bucket. “Not you, though.”

My eyes shot up, right into his, and his dark gaze cut straight to my center, making me melt.

“Mr. Goldwyn, I really think–” Martha started, but he held up a hand in her direction, his focus remaining on me.

“The girl stays, Martha,” he said with a rough edge to his voice. “I have some things to discuss with her, and I’d appreciate if you’d let us do that in peace. We don’t need you here.”

We.

As if I could ever be a ‘we’ with a man like that.

“Alright,” my stepmother said with an exaggerated sigh. “But after that, straight to the house, Ella. You have dinner to cook, and I will not be kept waiting.”

“Yes,” I mumbled, keeping my eyes downcast.

I was too terrified to look up at him, feeling his hot gaze on me, searing my skin every time he moved them to a new spot on my body. I heard my stepmother’s retreating steps, and I realized we were all alone in the huge entrance hall of Rafe’s mansion.

“Look up,” he ordered me.

I bit my bottom lip and shook my head no, and he laughed at me.

“Oh, I’m going to have so much fun with you,” he said, his voice holding a dark promise.SHE LOOKED SO FUCKING GOOD with her eyes downcast. I could barely imagine what she’d do to me once she looked up.

“Ella,” I said, tasting her name on my lips. “Look up at me. I’m your boss, aren’t I?”

“Yes, sir,” she mumbled, and my cock responded instantly, twitching and standing to attention.

“Then look up,” I ordered.

Slowly, so slowly, she raised her eyes to meet mine. Her baby blues shone with hidden wishes and unspoken needs. I wanted to devour her. Make my lips connect with hers and suck every single taste of her body from her mouth like an addict. Because that’s how she made me feel… Like I needed a lick, a taste, a view of her body, or I’d be cursed forever.