I tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and inhaled. She smelled like sunshine, rain, and life itself. Possessiveness washed over me as I pulled in every single emotion I had that was screaming at me to touch her more, to hug her.
Offer comfort when I had none to give.
Comfort was a lot like love—once you give it, there was no taking it back.
She would need it to survive, and then I’d fuck it out of her when it was convenient for me. I tried not to focus too much on the thought of her beneath me, blindfolded as I thrust into her.
The vision was too tempting.
I’d make her fall in love with me.
And in the end, if she didn’t…
She’d die.
Juliet
My eyes fluttered open, feeling him staring at me. He was sitting in a chair beside my bed.
Talk about fucking creepy.
As soon as my sleepy gaze connected with his, he ordered, “Strip,” in a rough, demanding tone.
I didn’t know what came over me; my father always said that my defiance would get the best of me one day.
Well, that day had come.
He simply stood, commanding respect and obedience. I didn’t back down, lifting my chin higher and glaring at him. In one fluid motion, he unhooked the cufflinks of his collared button-down shirt and rolled up the sleeves. Through my stupidity, I still didn’t cower. Instead, I sat up, tucking my knees under my body, and pretended like I wasn’t scared as if I was a child. Unbuckling his belt next, he graciously pulled it out of the loops from his slacks. At first, I thought he was going to push himself on me. I could have been ready for that. Not once did I think he was going to do what he was about to.
With a snap of his belt in the air like a whip, I jumped. Instantly, I opened my mouth to tell him I would do what he ordered, but I was too late. He had other plans, and I only had myself to blame.
“You can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“What are you—”
He raised his hand and swung the belt down, right by my leg. I loudly gasped as it hissed through the air and then slapped against the mattress. My eyes widened with fear, immediately cowering away from him. Gripping the belt tighter, he whipped it again, by my ass this time. The sound echoed off the walls, and I shuddered, panting profusely.
“I’m sorry!” I shouted, hoping my apology would be enough to suffice him.
I was wrong; if anything…
It only provoked him.
His grasp white-knuckled the belt the whole time, not letting up on his assault. “Now, let’s try this again. I. Said. Strip.”
“Or you’ll hit me?”
“Or you’ll like it.”
Just to prove that he would, he struck the belt to my ass, and it bit my skin. It didn’t break my flesh, but I could feel my skin swelling. It was enough for me not to have to be told again, basically throwing off the clothes I was taken in. My naked body shook while my knees buckled, and my chest was rising and falling with each second that passed between us.
He didn’t just look at me—he stared through me, seeing every last inch of me.
I swallowed the shame I felt, yet again, at my body’s response to him. It wasn’t the violence that got me; it was the look in his eyes that reminded me of all the men my father was always around.
Soulless.
“Happy now?!”
He moved so fast I barely had time to register that I was stumbling backward until his hand was on my neck, shoving me against the wall behind me. My mind pleaded with me to search for something sharp to stab him with, while my horror held me captive with his tight hold over my windpipe. This was when I noticed how tall he was; he towered over my small frame.
“I’d be happier if you obeyed my orders. That was me being kind to you, Juliet. Disobey me again and watch how fast you’ll live to regret it.”
With that, he cruely let me go and nodded toward the bathroom. Once we were both standing in there, he turned on the shower, and I didn’t have to be told this time. I stepped inside, only to be met with freezing cold water.
I shrieked and jolted back. “It’s cold!”
“Of course it is.” He leaned against the door, folding his arms over his solid chest. Relaxed as ever. “You get hot water when you deserve it.”
I was naive to think he wouldn’t punish me. “What happened to you?”
He stood, belt in hand, and the sound of it twisting between his fingers would be forever burned in my mind. “Did I say you could ask me questions, Juliet? Did I say you could even look at me?”