by Piper Stone
“Rules,” I repeated, trying to keep the quiver from my voice. “And I broke one of your cardinal ones.”
“Yes, but I neglected to mention that while you are free to roam the house, you certainly aren’t allowed in my private quarters under any circumstance. Do you find your room adequate?”
“Yes, of course. It’s gorgeous.”
He nodded, rubbing his thumb back and forth across the top of my hand. He had no way of knowing the kind of sensations I was experiencing. Suddenly, my mouth was dry, my heart hammering so hard against my chest that I could barely focus on what he was saying.
“I’m very glad to hear that. Believe it or not, I want you comfortable in my home. However, you need to remember what I’ve told you.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Are you certain you do?”
“What do you want me to say, Vincenzo? That I’m sorry I had some crazy thought in my head of getting to know you better? Maybe I was a fool and that’s okay. I know I mean nothing to you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You mean a great deal to me.” He continued to rub my fingers, the slight brush of the pads of his fingers keeping quivers dancing down every inch of my body. “To answer your question, the picture you found means the world to me.” He hesitated, looking away for a few seconds. “That is my entire family, my brothers and sisters as well as my parents.”
I held my breath, realizing by the shimmer in his eyes that whatever secrets the picture held, they tortured him inside.
“My youngest sister was killed needlessly several years ago.”
“I am so sorry.”
He smiled, although it waned immediately. “Bella was far too young to be taken away from us. She had her entire life to live. Her senseless murder took a significant toll on our family, one that will never receive the penance necessary in order for us to completely move on.”
“What happened?”
Vincenzo took a deep breath before cocking his head in my direction. “She was targeted, a method to inflict the most pain on our family. The asshole accomplished his feat, my mother almost taking her life, my brother prepared to burn down the entire city in order to find the monster who would dare do such a thing.”
I had no idea what to say. Leaning closer, I placed my other hand on his, squeezing in some crazy method of letting him know I was here. The why didn’t matter at this point. This was likely the only time I’d see him vulnerable in any manner. “Did you find him?”
He chuckled. “He was found. He was handled. However, the pain will never leave my mind from seeing my brother Cristiano’s reaction. She was his favorite. He was taking her for ice cream. I had to clean up the pieces, remaining on the scene until the police finished their less than lackluster job. I will never forget the last time I heard her laugh.” His expression changed entirely, becoming hard and cold like I was used to. “Which is why it’s vital that you understand the ramifications of refusing to follow my orders. That simply can’t happen, Acadia. You will need to be punished.”
There was no need to explain why any longer. I was forced to face the fact that in some crazy way my abductor was trying to protect me. “I understand.”
He lifted my chin with a single finger, cocking his head. “And you are going to respect me.”
My God. The audacity of the man was insane. “Yes. Sir.”
“Hmmm… One day you will be able to say that freely. Now, I assume you will honor wishes.” He moved to a standing position, pulling on my hand. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?” Saying it willingly? He was insane.
When he tilted his head, I found myself moving to my feet, darting a glance around the club. I could still feel all eyes watching us, scrutinizing everything we did. No one in this room could be considered a friend, but they certainly weren’t going to be stupid enough to cross him. The weight of what he’d just conveyed was horrible, gut wrenching.
I held my breath as he led me to another location in the club and toward what appeared to be an elevator. I glanced at the ceiling, able to see a loft overhanging a portion of the bar. Where the hell was he taking me? A private bedroom of some kind?
He pulled out a key, inserting it into a slender lock. Within seconds, the doors swung open. I trailed behind him, suddenly feeling a sense of claustrophobia when I was completely alone with him. There were no magical buttons, only a keypad.
“The top floor. Of course.” I hunkered against the steel wall, trembling for no other reason than a hint of excitement coursing through my veins.
When he planted his hands on either side of me, lowering his head until our lips were almost touching, I dragged my tongue across my lips.
He followed my action with his eyes, his breathing ragged. Then he cupped my face, tilting my head, the pressure he used just as electrifying as before. “You do indeed tempt me. If I’m not careful, I’ll break you in ways you couldn’t understand.”
“I’m much stronger than I look.”
“Mmm… Of that I have no doubt. We shall see what you think very soon.” He kept his lips hovering over mine, forcing me to inhale his cologne, his presence more intoxicating than his scent. “Keep in mind that you now belong to me. My property. My toy.”
I was lightheaded, butterflies swarming in my stomach and I hated myself because of it. With one look, he could reduce me to mush. I’d never been that kind of girl before. Ever. The power he had over me had little to do with being his hostage.
It was more about becoming his possession.
He was a man obsessed, determined to keep me in line.
As the elevator doors opened, he took his time before releasing his hold, once again grabbing my hand. I had no idea what to expect, but I was beginning to suspect his darkness entailed acts of BDSM. His talk of pleasure and pain should have tipped me off. He was a true sadist on every level.
The hallway was just as exquisite as the rest of the club, the walls painted a vibrant color of red, sconces on the walls every few feet. The ambiance was gothic, a telling of what was likely held behind the closed doors. There was no noise, which struck me as odd, just a sense of foreboding that I couldn’t dissuade.
There were so many strange feelings pulsing through me when he finally opened the door at the end of the hall.
Fear.
Trepidation.
Excitement.
They all meshed together, leaving my throat closed and my heart racing.
Vincenzo remained quiet as he pulled me inside, closing the door behind us.
I was immediately thrown by the apparatuses in the room. While I was no prude, having read romance novels and glanced at a few websites, the actual wooden cross taking center attention near one wall forced a moan past my lips. I realized my body was swaying. He’d meant what he said earlier. I was his toy, a girl he could do anything with at any time. The same fight or flight thoughts rushed into my mind. I wanted to fight him with everything I had inside of me, racing away to a location where he’d never find me.
But I knew that was just a fairytale. It was obvious how powerful he was, his influence and the way he held a room’s attention without speaking incredible. There wasn’t a location on Earth where he couldn’t find me. I shifted my attention to the other side of the room, noticing chains hanging from a thick metal beam attached to the ceiling. While I couldn’t detect a breeze of any type in the room, the chains shifted back and forth slightly. I could almost swear I heard metal scraping against metal.
There was even a posh seating arrangement for at least ten people, a bar located behind, as if the entire setting was meant for spectators. I shuddered at the thought. A steel table was positioned to the side, the six-foot-long piece reminding me of something that I’d see in a doctor’s office. Located close by was a steel hanging system meant for clothing. My God. He’d thought of everything in his special room. How many times had he been here? How many women had he punished? The questions came fast and furious in my mind. I dragged my tongu
e across my lips, trying to control my breathing as I fisted my hands.
Wooden cabinets completed the room, the triple set of rich-looking wood with brass handles a showpiece. My imagination got the better of me, images of wooden paddles and whips, canes and floggers remaining in my mind.
Then there was the music, a soft reminder of something even more grandiose than the room. Classical in nature, the gothic sound was fitting, drawing me into a vision of what I believed sadism looked like.
I felt his presence behind me and fought another whimper. I didn’t want him to know just how scared I was. For all the bravado I tried to portray, all the rough words that flew easily out of my mouth, I was a softie inside. I’d been on few dates in my life let alone sharing intimacy with a man, and certainly not of this nature.
When he placed his hands on my upper arms, I almost jerked away from him. “What do you see, Acadia?”
“Pain.” The word came easily.
“With pain can come pleasure.”
“So you’ve said.”
He brushed the tips of his fingers up and down my arms, only adding to the fire in my belly. “Then you’re going to have to trust me. Take a look around again.”
While he continued to use the word, he had to be nuts to think I could trust him. Yet, it was funny the various thoughts running through my mind. A part of me knew he wasn’t lying about anything. His desire to protect me was almost as strong as his need to consume every inch. I blinked several times as I did what he commanded, studying the pieces in front of me.
“I don’t know what you want me to tell you.”
“Never lie to me, Acadia. I will never punish you for the truth.”
“But you are going to punish me.”
Chuckling, he lowered his head, nuzzling against my neck before nipping my earlobe. I swayed against him, closing my eyes briefly. The electricity was amazing, jabbing little prickles in every cell and muscle.
“Punishment is often necessary. You continue to break the rules.”
“I’m sorry,” I managed, although I wasn’t certain that I was. Surrendering to him was a requirement, but not something that I’d ever easily do. Just thinking about doing so made me furious with myself.
He took a step away, leaving me cold and aching inside.
“Remove your clothes,” he said in such a dark and alluring tone that I was pulled into a slight haze.
Even though I continued to shake, I walked stiffly toward the rack where I could place my things. He’d seen me without clothing several times, yet as I slowly removed my shoes, I felt so dirty, even more vulnerable than before. I couldn’t look at him as I performed the deed, my heart racing as I placed the dress over one of the steel bars, ignoring the hanger. Only then did I dart a look over my shoulder.
Vincenzo was seated on the thick leather chair. One leg was crossed over the other, his elbow resting on the arm. He was watching me intently, sliding the tip of his index finger back and forth across his lips. While he wore no expression, his dark eyes bore into mine.
Fighting the nausea and growing anxiety, I eased my bra straps from my shoulders, reaching behind my back and fighting with the clip. For some crazy reason tears formed in my eyes out of frustration when I couldn’t remove it easily. I took a deep breath then managed to unfasten it. When only my panties remained, I hesitated before sliding my fingers under the thin elastic, wigging them over my hips. I stood for a few seconds, shivering all the way to my toes.
“Look at me, Acadia.” His command was more powerful.
I’d never felt more naked in my life, the rush of embarrassment burning into my skin. I closed my eyes briefly before finally turning to face him, immediately folding my arms over my breasts, placing one leg in front of the other.
He shook his head in such a slow manner, I felt even more awkward. Like a bad little girl. “Never cover yourself up. Hands by your sides.”
Obeying slowly, I glared at him, wanting so badly to spew words of hatred. As he drank me in with his eyes, allowing his gaze to travel down the length of my body, another wave of warmth traveling directly into my aching pussy. I was hot and wet, my muscles throbbing.
“Now, go and study the pieces in the room. Then open the doors of the cabinets.”
What was he doing? Was this all about tormenting me with anticipation before he punished me severely? Another flash of anger drove into me, but I held my tongue, padding toward the cross. I wasn’t certain what the hell I was supposed to be looking at. The design? The material used?
“Use your fingers to touch and explore.”
Exhaling, I inched closer, finally noticing the detailing on the wooden surface. The inclusion of other woods using intarsia was exquisite. The intricate detailing was spectacular. I ran my fingers up and down one side, marveling at the workmanship. Then I focused on the thick leather straps hanging from the top of both pieces, slowly dropping my gaze to the ones on the bottom.
I would suffocate if attached to them.
Holding my breath, I shifted toward the other apparatus, reaching up and touching the chains before fingering the straps. I could see a hoisting mechanism, which obviously would allow the punisher to pull their prey into the air. I couldn’t imagine having my legs dangling inches from the floor.
Another wave of shivers became almost draining. I still couldn’t figure out what he was trying to accomplish. As I made my way to the cabinets, I realized they were constructed of the same wood as the cross, similar intricate designs on all three doors. When I tugged on the handle, another gasp escaped my lips. I was crumbling from the apprehension digging into me.
I was stronger than this.
Wasn’t I?
After taking a series of gasping breaths, I opened the second door, wincing as I peered inside. I’d guessed correctly, the myriad floggers and whips shocking the hell out of me. They were in every size, some with a single tail while others had as much as four. I couldn’t bear to touch one. Very quickly I moved to the second cabinet, realizing it was full of paddles of every size and shape, various thicknesses of wood.
He didn’t make a sound as I continued my exploration, allowing me the time to discover the various pieces on my own terms. The third cabinet held a combination of canes and other implements that I couldn’t describe. There were also several vibrators. Those I knew well, my little bedroom drawer holding three.
The only passion I’d understood or enjoyed.
Until him.
Him.
The single word bounced in my mind, forcing me to glance in his direction again. He was obviously enjoying the view, one foot tapping on the floor ever so slowly. I backed away from the cabinets, even more confused than ever.
If the man was going to force me to select one of them so he could punish me, he had another think coming. Hell, no. Not a chance.
When he moved off the couch, I bristled, refusing to look in his direction. Damn, why did he have such an effect on me? I was lightheaded as he approached, his cologne filling my senses.
I was surprised when he didn’t touch me, moving around me to the first cabinet, selecting one of the whips. My legs were now shaking so badly I was fearful I would drop to the floor. Enough with the anticipation. I couldn’t take it any longer.
When he turned to face me, I expected a smile on his face. He was as emotionless as ever, taking his time to come closer. “I think this will do nicely.”
I wasn’t certain what to expect, but when he gently rolled the two leather ends down the length of my neck, taking his time to slide them between my breasts to my stomach, a chill raced down my spine. The act was extremely intimate, more so than I ever would have imagined. I was breathless, my eyes never leaving his until he shifted behind me, repeating the move down my spine. I fisted my hands, biting my lower lip.
The single crack across my bottom I’d expected. The rush of stinging sensations not nearly as bad as I’d imagined. What surprised me was the myriad reactions in my body. The flutter in my heart had nothin
g to do with pain, the pulsing sensations between my legs intense. It was as if my body was exhilarated from the single crack of the whip.
He repeated the move, the strike a little harder. There was no way I could hold back a moan.
“Often with anguish comes ecstasy, a fire building deep within that cannot be denied.”
His words were little more than a beautiful whisper, calming in some crazy way.
“Once you embrace the pain, the moment of euphoria will be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.”
“Yes. Sir.”
His chuckle was dark and ominous. When he took me by the hand, leading me toward the bar and chains, I almost pulled away.
“Trust, Acadia. You need to learn to trust me implicitly.”
“That’s… hard.”
“I know.” He kept his voice even as he placed the whip on the small table in close proximity. When he took my hand, pulling me underneath, I closed my eyes. “Lift your arms over your head.”
I closed my eyes, unable to watch the horror show as it began. But I obeyed, never fighting or struggling with him as I felt the placement of one leather cuff. I winced at the sound of the buckle being secured, but I maintained a small sense of resolve. When he attached my other arm, I fisted my hands, small and ugly scattered breaths pushing past my lips.
“You’re doing very well.” Vincenzo took the time to brush the backs of his fingers down one side, moving across my thighs then up the other. When he opened my legs, I began to struggle, moving forcefully against the chains.
“It’s okay.”
“Please. I just…”
“Trust. I’m not going to harm you, Acadia. While I know you believe me to be a treacherous sadist, I’m not always a horrible man. However, discipline is vital.”
Vital to what? Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
I clamped my mouth shut as he shackled first one ankle then the other, leaving me wide open and helpless. Nothing about this made me feel protected or cared for. This was just his way of lording his ownership over me.
