by Zoe Blake
Pulling his head back, he cupped my jaw with both of his hands.
His jaw looked tense, his dark blue eyes hard and serious.
“I will make sure no one comes near you ever again,” he vowed.
Despite the heat of the shower, my limbs went cold.
If Richard were anyone else, anyone else in the world, I would have assumed he had misspoken. I’d have assumed he meant no one could threaten or scare me again, like with the dead bird.
But he hadn’t said that… he said that no one would come near me ever again. As I knew too well, whatever Richard said… he meant.
Thinking back on the isolation of his estate, when he had me truly believing I was in the Victorian era with no access to any form of communication, friends, or help, I now wondered what an extreme version of that would be… and if I would survive.
“It was probably just a prank. I overreacted,” I stammered, trying to placate him.
Richard shook his head slowly. “No. It was a mistake allowing you to return to the modern world. One I won’t make again. You were happier without all its noise and corrupting influences around you. You were safer.”
My heart beat so fast I thought I would faint. It was happening again. This was how it began the last time, Richard taking over and dominating my life… and me letting him. Soon, once more, I would be so far down the rabbit hole I wouldn’t be able to remember what was and wasn’t real. Once more, my only reality would be him and the kaleidoscope of pleasure and pain he forced me to endure each day.
“Richard, I…”
“Shh…” murmured Richard against my lips. “You’re tired. We’ll talk about this more later.”
Somehow I knew there would be no further discussion, Richard had made up his mind.
Wrapped in a plush robe, my legs were curled up on the seat as I sat at a small round table inside the lounge area of our bedroom suite while bleary-eyed servants, no doubt roused from their beds, brought in one decadent dish after another. Raising the cloche off the dinner plate in front of me, the servant said something in French that I didn’t understand, but I knew the look of my favorite dish from Aqua Shard: Barbary duck breast with apricot ravioli.
Richard nodded his approval to the staff before picking up his fork and knife and cutting into his own succulent duck breast.
“How in the world?” I asked, giving him a confused look.
Richard shrugged. “I promised you your favorite dish prepared by the chef of Aqua Shard.”
It was an outrageously thoughtful gesture. The man had flown the chef over from London in the middle of the night just so I could have a dish I liked. It was also a gesture of his power and control over everyone and everything. As he liked to remind me, he got whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it, no matter the cost.
After choking down a few bites of food, I told Richard I was tired and would like to go to bed. Brushing his mouth with his linen napkin, he rose and led the way toward two wooden doors, pushing them both open. He stepped aside and gestured for me to enter.
In keeping with the cobalt blue and gold theme of the bathroom, the bedroom was similarly furnished, but the only thing that caught my eye was the contraption to the right of the bed.
My steps faltered.
“Please, no,” I protested weakly as I raised pleading eyes to Richard.
Chapter 13
Richard
She looked so beautiful when she begged.
Her emerald eyes sparkled as her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. Raising my arm, I stroked her cheek with the back of my knuckle, catching her tears.
“I’ll be a good girl. I promise,” she whispered, her lips trembling.
I caressed her soft curls as I chastened, “You’ve said that before, but I think we both know my sweet little bird likes to lie.”
Taking her hand, I led her across the room.
Elizabeth struggled, digging her heels into the plush carpet as she pulled on my grasp. “No! Don’t make me, Richard. Please!” she cried.
As her body tried to fight mine, the large plush robe became dislodged and slipped over her shoulders to catch on her bent elbows. Her full breasts bounced and swayed as she turned and twisted her body, trying vainly to escape from me.
“Enough,” I roared.
Elizabeth immediately stilled, her eyes large with fear.
The only sound in the bedroom was her whimpers.
Taking a deep breath, I reined in my temper. It was essential I remained calm and in control, otherwise I might truly hurt her. If I let my rage at her attempt to leave me get the better of me. If I let my white-hot anger loose at the thought she had put herself in danger by recklessly trying to leave the country… to leave my protection, I might go too far. I might scar her pale creamy skin, or worse.
She needed to learn her subservience to me was for her own good. Needed to remember she was happier when she simply obeyed me. When she fought my orders, when she questioned my motives, it only caused trouble and pain, for her especially.
Obviously, I had become too lenient with her.
Too relaxed in her daily discipline routine.
She had become wild and uncontrolled.
Well, that all stopped.
Tonight.
Taking another deep breath, I stared down at her trembling form. Without saying a word, I reached for the belt of her robe. Pulling it free, the already loose robe opened and revealed the rest of her naked body. I realized how vulnerable she looked. She was so small, so delicate.
So breakable.
Elizabeth reached up and tried to close the robe.
“Don’t,” I warned.
With a slight whimper, she lowered her head and let the robe fall to the floor.
“You know what I want to hear, Elizabeth.”
Her shoulders shook. Her face hidden behind a curtain of still damp hair.
“Say it,” I commanded through clenched teeth.
The longer she delayed, the thinner my patience… and my control… became.
Inhaling a shaky breath, she sniffed. “I’ve been a bad girl and need to be punished.”
“Louder.”
“I’ve been a bad girl and need to be punished.”
“Louder,” I yelled.
Elizabeth fell to her knees. Clutching at my trousers, she looked up at me and sobbed, “I’ve been a bad girl and need to be punished.”
Motioning with my head, I ordered, “Get on the chair.”
Using the bedpost for leverage, Elizabeth rose on shaking limbs and took a reluctant step toward the punishment chair. She was intimately familiar with it since I had an exact copy back at my estate. Not a day went by she wasn’t strapped to it one way or another. I had become slack with her discipline over the last week and it had led to nothing but chaos and disruption in our lives. I wouldn’t be making that same mistake again.
Sizing up the two padded platforms, one bracketed on top of the other, Elizabeth climbed onto the higher platform, the one with the stirrups. Wisely remembering that was the one I preferred for her more severe punishments, my smart little girl knew there was no hope in angering me further by placing herself on the lower platform in the hopes she would get away with a simple, forceful mouth fuck as her punishment.
As she sat on the platform and was about to lean back and place her feet in the raised stirrups, I stopped her.
“On your stomach.”
Her face crumpled as her mouth opened on a silent sob.
She knew what being on her stomach meant, knew the pain she was about to endure.
Flipping onto her stomach, Elizabeth placed her knees in the smooth cups at the base of the stirrups and pointed her toes high before stretching her arms high above her head.
Circling the chair, I tightened the leather restraints around each ankle before moving to her wrists.
“You should feel honored, my love. Prince Albert first designed this chair specifically for a brothel in Paris. You are experiencing history in its original lo
cale with this punishment.”
She didn’t respond.
Feeling for the small brass crank below the upper platform, I turned it as I watched the stirrups swing outward, opening her legs painfully wide.
Elizabeth cried out but was powerless to stop it.
Releasing the crank, my hand went to the buttons on my shirt, then my cuffs. Shrugging out of the confining garment, I tossed it on the bed as I made my way to a carefully concealed cabinet built into the wall. As I pulled down on the hidden lever, the cabinet doors sprang open, revealing many whips, paddles, restraints, and insertion implements.
Knowing I would be too dangerous with a whip this evening, I selected a riding crop with a particularly long leather keeper and a lightweight bamboo shaft.
Returning to Elizabeth, I placed the leather keeper under her chin and raised her head. Looking down the shaft of the riding crop before meeting my eyes, she sobbed.
“Please, Richard! I’m sorry!”
“I know, little one. But I also know you need this. You’ve become wild and are now a danger to yourself. I am only doing this for your own good.”
“Please don’t!” she wailed.
“You begging me not to punish you only proves how much you need this punishment. You didn’t honestly think you could run away from me in the middle of the night and only get off with a quick ass fucking, did you? Your mind is filled with chaotic thoughts, which are leading you to reckless conclusions. After tonight, your only thought will be of the pain and of me. Things will be more simple and uncomplicated then.”
“I’m scared,” she whimpered.
Leaning in close, I kissed her forehead, then whispered into her ear, “You should be.”
Circling around to the end of the chair, I stood between her legs, which were stretched obscenely wide. The upholstered platform of the chair ended at her lower abdomen, which allowed easy access to both her cunt and ass. With her legs stretched open, both her small puckered hole and the delicate lips of her pussy were vulnerable to the lash. Her dark hole was still red and a little open from the brutal fucking I had given her less than two hours earlier. It still being sore and gaping would allow this punishment to be that much more effective.
If this were a proper punishment, I would also shove a piece of ginger up her ass so she might feel the burn both inside and out, but given the late hour, that would have to wait till tomorrow’s discipline session.
Adjusting the grip of the riding crop in my hand, I asked her again, “What have you done to deserve this, Elizabeth?”
“I’ve been a bad girl,” came her muffled response as she buried her head in the soft fabric of the chair. The muscles of her thighs and ass cheeks clenched as she anticipated the first strike. She didn’t have long to wait.
Raising my arm, I aimed her first riding crop lash dead center between her ass cheeks.
Elizabeth howled, her body arching as she pulled on the restraints.
Over and over again, I whipped her ass. Watching as dark pink strap marks appeared on the back of her thighs and ass. I had to be careful. This was about her punishment, not my anger. If it became about my anger, we would both be in danger.
Despite her cries, I could also see the dark stain of arousal as she drenched the fabric between her outstretched legs.
Fight it all she wanted… I knew what my baby needed.
Dropping the crop, I placed my fingers on her cunt.
“What do you say?”
“I’m sorry!” she moaned.
Using my two middle fingers, I flicked her clit, teasing her. Placing my left palm on her bottom cheek, I felt the heat rise off her skin. Just for good measure, I gave her a few open-handed spanks. Elizabeth’s hips bounced with each touch as she cried out.
Not until her ass was a bright cherry red, glowing with heat and pain, did I stop. Driving three fingers into her tight cunt, I ground out, “Say it.”
“I’m a bad girl.”
“Say it again.”
“I’m a bad girl.”
I pumped my hand into her barely willing body, feeling her muscles desperately clenching around my fingers. “You’re a dirty little girl who deserves this pain.”
“Yes! Yes! Hurt me. Hurt me,” she screamed.
Tearing at the zipper to my trousers, my cock sprang free. Stepping closer to her open legs, I thrust to the hilt, watching as my thick shaft forced its way into her body. As I forced her to accept my cock, I pushed a thumb into her already sore and open dark hole.
Elizabeth’s whole body shook and trembled. The streetlight from outside, filtered through the gauze curtains, sent a stream of light over her stretched and restrained form. Her back glowed with a light sheen of sweat and she struggled with every deep push of my cock and the invasive feel of my thumb penetrating her ass, pulling on the delicate skin around her puckered hole.
Her body tightened around my cock as she came. The moment her tremors stopped, I pulled free. Circling around to the front of the chair, I pulled on her hair to force her head back.
“Open your mouth.”
Her face flushed and red, she obeyed.
Fisting my shaft, I gave it several more pumps before a hot stream of cum hit her lips and open mouth.
“Swallow it.”
Then, with the taste of my cum still on her lips, I unstrapped her from the chair and placed her on the bed. She only gave a slight whimper when she saw the restraints.
After securing her wrists and ankles, I left the room, keeping the door open so I could hear if she cried out. Walking down the mirrored hallway, I opened one door and selected a clean shirt as I hit the intercom, instructing Harris and his security staff to meet me in the bedroom lounge. It was probably after three in the morning, but I didn’t give a damn. They worked for me. They were on my time.
Lizzie
The cool satin sheets did nothing to quench the heat of my skin as my bottom and thighs still pulsed with pain from my punishment. Richard was right. Gone were thoughts about his games and his manipulations. Gone were all my doubts about our relationship and what was and was not real. All I could think about was the pain and the humiliating pleasure I got from it.
Through the open doorway, I could hear Richard and his security staff discussing the dead bird and bloody feathers. It was clear from his deep, even tone that he was extremely angry. With Richard, it was easy to fear the silences and the deadly calm more than the rage of his storms. He was at his most dangerous when he was most in control.
“We’re looking for the maid who entered your bedroom and handed Miss Elizabeth the purse. So far we can’t find her.” Harris cleared his throat before continuing. “There is no record of her being hired, Your Grace.”
“So, a complete stranger got past your security and entered my bedroom and threatened the woman I love?” hissed Richard. “Is that what you’re telling me, Harris?”
“It won’t happen again, Your Grace.”
“You’re goddamn right it won’t,” snarled Richard, his tone still low and deadly.
At that moment, Richard paced in front of the slightly open door. I hunched lower in my covers and closed my eyes, pretending to sleep just in case.
“I have sacked the driver who lied to us,” continued Harris.
I felt a momentary pang of guilt for getting John fired. If I hadn’t agreed to keep the dead bird a secret, he might still have had his job. Then my worry for John was replaced by a cold, dark fear for my own well-being.
“I want all the camera footage from the Mayfair house sent to my computer. All of it. Every room and every hallway. Every minute, from the last seventy-two hours,” demanded Richard.
There were cameras around the house?
If Richard reviewed the footage, he would see me stealing the phone from the footman.
The chains of the restraints rattled as I curled into a fetal position, sick with the knowledge I would soon have to endure yet another punishment from Richard.
Chapter 14
R
ichard
As I adjusted my tie, I turned to look down at my still-sleeping little bird. She was curled up in the center of our bed, safe and secure in her restraints.
She was back under my protection.
All was as it should be.
Soon, the world would know Elizabeth was mine and to harm her in any way would bring swift retribution from me.
More important, my plans were progressing rapidly. I would have my little bird back in her cage before the end of the month.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stroked her cheek. “Wake up, sleepyhead.”
Her emerald eyes fluttered open. Stretching out her arm, she asked, “What time is it?”
Checking my watch, I answered, “Almost three in the afternoon.”
Startled, she sat up. “I slept that late?”
“Well, you had a rather intense evening.”
I loved the way her cheeks flushed a hot pink whenever I reminded her of her punishments.
Tapping her on the nose, I teased, “If you are a good girl, and get out of bed now, I just might have a surprise for you.”
As she started to leave the bed, she bit her lip and turned worried eyes on me. “I have nothing to wear.”
I winked. “Do you honestly think I would let my baby girl come to Paris and not get her a new wardrobe for the trip?”
Her smile at the news faltered. “Richard, I’m sorry I didn’t come to you about the dead bird. I’m sorry I doubted you.”
Pulling her close, I kissed her on her mouth, then the tip of her nose, then her forehead. “If you doubted, even for a moment, how strongly I feel about you… about us… then that is my fault. I just need to go to greater lengths to prove to you how much you mean to me, and that starts today. Get your lazy bones out of bed!”
Elizabeth giggled as I gave her curls a playful tug.
No matter how harsh I could be with her, the truth was I preferred her laughter to her cries.
After bundling her up in one of my silk robes, I insisted on carrying her down to the lower level where her surprise was getting set up in the ballroom.
