He knows exactly what he’s doing. Instead of telling him off, I continue to play the role. That’s what I need to do now. “Yes, Anthony.”
He lets out a deep chuckle as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of black silk cloth. He holds it up with both hands and that’s when I realize it’s a blindfold.
Fuck. I was hoping I’d be able to see where we’re going so I can get the layout of this place. I need to come up with a plan to get out of here. I’m sure the next room will be locked as well though, and then what? I’ll be fucking stuck there, just like I am now. He promised though. I hate that I’m relying on his word. But I am. His word is the only hope I have.
My lips press into a hard line and his response is to smirk at me and raise a brow.
“Come on kitten, behave.” His tone is playful and it makes me hate him even more. It’s like we’re playing cat and mouse, but he’s always two steps ahead of me. I swallow my pride and turn around so he can place the cloth over my eyes.
I have no other option but to trust him. And I fucking hate it.
Anthony
My little kitten thinks she’s slick. It’s fucking adorable. I can practically hear her thoughts. I know all of this is an act, but for a moment, I had her. I had a sweet submissive who trusted me and craved my touch. I want more.
I tighten the sash over her eyes and take a step back. Her arms move out slightly, as though she’s off-balance. Without me there to guide her, I'm sure she is. Her mouth parts, but then she closes it and moves her hands to her side.
Good girl. She’s trying hard to obey. I know it’s only so she can use me. She’s not doing it because she wants to. Not yet, anyway. But we’ll get there. I just need to be patient.
I put my hands on her shoulders so she knows I’m there, and then let them fall to her hips.
“Walk with me and hold my hand.” I take her small hand in mine and slowly lead her to the door. Her other hand opens and closes. I know she’d like to reach for the blindfold. But she doesn’t. Not yet. It won’t do her any good to get it off though. Even if she does manage to get it off and race up the stairs somehow without me on right on her ass, she’d just come to another lock. And the combinations to enter her rooms are all different.
The entire basement is soundproofed. She could scream all she wanted, but she would be locked down here. The doors are programmed to unlock after three days though, if anything were to prevent me from returning to the house.
I punch in the code and lead her through the door. Her right hand twitches, and I know she’s fighting the urge to bolt. She's working hard to stay by my side and not take off.
But ultimately she obeys. It’s a fucking relief. Also, quite an achievement. A dozen or more scenarios played out in my mind, ranging from her starving herself to her throwing the chair at me. But this is nearly all I could hope for. It’s perfect really. She’s still resistant, but cooperating. I knew she’d be like this. She’s perfect.
She’s making it easy while still being a challenge. I like that. No, I fucking love that.
We get to her bedroom and I punch in the code. I see her shoulders sag slightly and the corners of her mouth turn down. She should be smarter than to think I'd place her in a room without a lock. I’m sure she knows better than that.
As soon as the door shuts behind us, I take off the sash. She blinks a few times before letting the astonishment show on her face. I look over her body and realize how unkempt she looks. Her skin’s still flushed and gorgeous, save for a few smudges on her face. But her feet are bare and dirty, and her hair’s tangled and in need of a wash. Even her nightgown looks rumpled and dirty on the part covering her ass since she sat on the floor most of the day. She was only in the cell for one day, but one was enough for her to get this disheveled. I’m not looking forward to having to send her back there, but I know she’s going back. It’s only a matter of time.
I made sure her room was spacious and would satisfy her every need and desire. It’s a combination of her bedroom and living room. The en-suite is to the left, through a pair of large antique doors, and to the right she has an office that’s accessible through another locked door. I hope that it will be hers one day. For now, all contact she makes with the outside world will be monitored. I made sure to take her phone with me when I left. She hasn't received any messages or calls yet, but her social media shit is fucking constant. I have my ways to ensure we’ll both be happy as far as that’s concerned.
This room that I've prepared for her is nearly the size of her entire cabin. It takes up the majority of my basement. But she needs the space since this is all she’ll have from now on. I tried to section it off for her so she’d have a clear separation between the living room and bedroom. It’s all the same soft grey in color though, which helps to unite the spaces. Most of the linens are white, giving it a very clean and modern look. The accents are pink though. Very pale pink. I even hung floor-to-ceiling crushed velvet curtains for her. They’re only covering small windows that hardly let in any light, but they make the room look larger and more luxurious. I’m hopeful that everything is to her taste. Every piece I selected reminded me of her. I want this to be a dream come true, and the setting is every bit as important as the story.
In reality, her new home is much nicer than her cabin. Everything is new and fresh. I wanted everything to have the same feel as her cabin, just with more luxurious furnishings and decor. A huge bookshelf is in one corner. Some of the books are favorites of hers, but the others are my choices. I even brought her laptop for her so that she can keep working. Of course she'll only have access to it when I'll be present for now, and I installed a tracker and a logger so I'll be able to remotely monitor her, but she should still be thrilled to have it.
I watch her as she walks to each item, putting her hand out, but barely touching the furniture. She seems shocked, but also pleased, and that makes me happy. I’m proud that I can provide for her. I want that. I want her to see how good I can be for her.
She walks slowly to the table in front of the sofa. It's where I set her Kindle. The tablet's in its case, and she pauses as she recognizes it as hers. Her eyes widen, and she looks back at me.
“I told you I’d give you what you need. And I understand your needs,” I say. I know all of her needs, and I can’t fucking wait to fuck her exactly how she needs it. She looks at me hesitantly, but I don’t give her a moment to respond.
“You will obey me.” Now's the time for me to start going over the terms since she’s seen the alternative. “You will do what I say, when I say. I’ll do my best to be reasonable and keep your limits in mind.” I smirk and add a touch of humor to lighten the severity of the situation. Her eyes remain clouded with worry. I can tell she’s thinking there’s a catch beyond what I’ve told her. “But I will push you, and you will obey. If you don’t at least try to obey me, you’ll be punished, and this room will be taken from you.”
I give her a moment to digest what I’ve told her.
“You said...” She pauses to clear her throat before continuing. “You said I would have to agree?” I nod.
“On physically pleasing me, yes. I only want your touch if you’re eager to give it to me.” That’s absolutely true. I have no interest in taking my pleasure from her, I want her to give it to me freely.
She nods her head in understanding, appearing a bit more relaxed, but still unsure.
“Kitten, I have desires. And I want you to fulfill them.” My hand burns with the need to touch her soft skin. “When I come into the room, I want you to kneel and wait for my command. My needs will be your priority.” I want her submission more than anything. I want her to need me, and to look forward to my company. I need her complete trust. I will earn it.
Her breath comes in short pants, and I’m hoping this is turning her on more than anything else.
“Yes, Anthony,” she answers in a respectful low tone.
“You can speak freely, so long as you're respectful. But I will p
unish that smart mouth of yours if you back talk or raise your voice to me. Is that understood?” I keep my voice soft, but firm as I face her. I want to brush her hair off her shoulder and wipe the smudges off her face. She needs to be cleaned and pampered.
She nods her head and says, “Yes. I understand.” Her body language tells me everything I need to know. She’s scared, and she doesn’t trust a word I’m saying. She’ll learn though. She just needs time. She needs space as well. I can’t rush this fantasy. Deep down, she wants this. I’ll still be here when she’s ready for it. Until then, I’ll have to control my own needs and desires.
“Now,” I begin, as I walk to the soft grey sofa and pat the seat next to me as I sit down. She listens and quickly sits with her hands in her lap. Her eyes keep dancing around the room, so I wait for her full attention. It doesn’t take long, which pleases me.
“I want to go over your earlier behavior,” I say.
Her eyes widen slightly and she inhales deeply. I keep my face impassive, but it makes me happy that she’s nervous to discuss it. She should be.
“You know what a good submissive does and how she behaves, don’t you? I was under the impression I wouldn’t have to teach you that,” I say with a frown.
Her eyes lock on mine as she replies. “Yes, Anthony.” Her complete attention and obedience is fucking beautiful. And hearing my name on her lips makes my dick jump. I know she has expectations just as much as I do. They’ll help us for now, but they can hurt us, too.
“Earlier, you hadn’t agreed to be mine. In fact, you said no and chose death at first.” Her eyes stay locked on mine, but her mouth stays closed. “Because you weren't aware of my terms, you weren’t punished. But now, you’re mine. That behavior you displayed will get your ass whipped, kitten.”
She nods her head diligently.
“You deliberately teased me.” I bring my finger to her mouth and trace her bottom lip. Her mouth parts slightly, but I pull away. “Next time you’ll find out what happens when you tempt that side of me.” I have to work hard to keep my eyes locked on hers rather than roaming her body and picturing those sweet lips wrapped around my cock. “Do you understand, kitten?”
“Yes, Anthony.” A wicked smirk pulls my lips up.
Now that she’s agreed, we can really play.
Catherine
“You need a bath and then dinner, kitten.” Anthony rises, towering above me as I sit paralyzed on the sofa.
“Yes, Anthony.” The words fall easily from my lips in a tone I’ve only ever imagined could come from me. I feel...numb. Almost as though I’m not present in my own body. I don’t understand how things have changed so quickly. I’ve gone from being in a dark, cold cell with nothing, to this room that’s more beautiful than anything I could ever imagine.
“Come.” Anthony holds his hand out for me and I quickly place my hand in his. I’m relying solely on my instincts and what I’ve read in my romance novels. My heart flutters as he leads me to a set of double doors carved from wood. I want to touch them, but I don’t. Not with him here. I imagine he has cameras everywhere, but as soon as he leaves, I want to touch everything. I need to see what all he brought from my home and what he has for me here. A part of me wants to cry with joy and feel nothing but gratitude. But that part of me is fucking stupid.
And I’m not stupid. This is a gilded cage for his pampered pet. And he intends for me to be that pet, his kitten. I can play along. I will play along. At some point I’ll be able to get out of here. I just need to survive and be whatever it is that he wants me to be until that time comes.
He opens the doors and reveals the most gorgeous bathroom I’ve ever seen.
The walls are lined with a beautiful pale blue paisley wallpaper. Hanging from the center of the ceiling is a silver and Lucite chandelier positioned directly above a large, oval soaking tub. Running the entire length of the back wall is a huge walk-in shower complete with waterfall shower heads and massage jets arranged symmetrically on the walls. There’s a large double vanity to the left, and that makes chills prick over my skin. Is he staying here, too? It never occurred to me that he would. This space is feminine and designed for a woman. I try to ignore the fact that there are two sinks and walk forward to the shower.
My heartbeat picks up. I know what he’s going to want. I’m not an idiot.
“Kitten.” I hear Anthony’s rebuke from behind me and I quickly turn around to face him. I don’t know what I did wrong. My knees weaken and my immediate reaction is to lower myself to the ground to show complete submission. I don’t want to go back to the cell. I can’t. I can’t go backward.
Before I can drop to the tiled floor, Anthony reaches out and firmly grips my arm and waist. “Now now, you’re alright. I just want you to relax.” His hands loosen on my waist and I struggle to look at him. I feel lost and powerless.
“I want you to undress out here. I need to take a look at you.” I nod my head at his words. Obviously that’s what he wanted. He’s already made me cum and seen my naughty bits, so this isn’t that far of a stretch. But it feels dirty somehow. I guess in a way it's more intimate. I pull the straps off my shoulders and let the thin nightgown fall into a heap around my feet.
Naturally I want to cover myself, but I don’t. I’ve read enough dark romance to know better. A submissive doesn’t hide her body from her dom.
Anthony’s quiet. He doesn’t move to touch me, and he doesn’t say anything at all. I find myself growing more anxious the longer he stays silent. What if he doesn’t find me attractive? What if he changes his mind? I close my eyes and try to breathe easy, but I can’t.
I’m not skinny, but I wouldn’t say I’m overweight either. I’ve got a pear shape and the cellulite on my ass to go with it. My breasts are small, but perky. I think I could be cute if I wasn’t so fucking pale. His eyes don’t give anything away. I wish he’d just say something already.
Before I can go into a full panic attack, he reaches out and places his hand on the dip in my waist. He crouches low and puts his face just inches above my pelvis. His fingers trace over a small scar on my hip.
“Where did this come from?” he asks.
I look down at the shiny white scar. It’s hardly noticeable. I’ve had it most of my life and I’ve never thought twice about it. “When I was younger, I hit something I guess, or fell.” I swallow thickly and say, “I don’t remember.”
He nods his head and walks around my body, looking over every inch. I feel like he’s evaluating whether or not he’s going to keep me, and I’m terrified he’ll find me lacking.
From behind me, I feel his hands gently rest on my hips, and I close my eyes as I feel his hot breath on my shoulder. I gently tilt my neck, expecting him to kiss me there, but he doesn’t. In an instant he’s gone, and I’m left standing awkwardly as he completes the circle and stands in front of me as though it didn’t happen.
For a moment I wonder if he even touched me at all. Maybe I imagined it.
I clear my throat after a moment of silence, but he speaks before I can and says, “You’re beautiful. Every inch of you.” I look up at him with surprise and wonder. He sounds so sincere. I can’t help but believe he really does find me beautiful.
“You’re dirty though. Let me clean you.” I back away out of instinct as he walks around me toward the shower. My breathing picks up, and I can’t hide the fact that I don’t want this. I don’t want his hands roaming my body for a mix of reasons. He’s fucking good at this game, and there’s a small piece of me that I know would cave at his touch. I don’t trust him. I don’t want him to take care of me.
“Would you rather I give you space, kitten?” he asks.
I can’t hide my shock. I can hardly believe that he would leave me alone in this room. That’s a lot of trust for him to extend to me. I could easily break the glass and use a piece as a weapon. Either on myself or him. As if reading my mind, he cocks a brow.
“You aren’t going to make me regret that, are you? You’ve been
so good today. I’d hate for you to upset me just before bedtime.” There’s a dark threat in his voice, and I’m quick to shake my head and alleviate any worries he has.
“I didn’t think you would. You’re smarter than that,” he says.
“Yes, Anthony.” My response earns me a warm smile, and I hate that it eases the apprehension in me, but it does.
“Dinner will be ready in an hour; you’ll need to be done by then.”
“I’m not very hungry.” I speak just above a murmur and stare at the beautiful marble floor. The silence he gives me in return compels me to look at him. He gives me a tight smile.
“I understand not having an appetite, but you need to eat, kitten.” He takes a step back and looks into my eyes. I try to break eye contact, but I can’t. The intensity of his gaze has me pinned.
“Tomorrow will be different; you know that, don’t you?” he asks with an even voice.
Tomorrow I’m his, and I'll have expectations to meet. I know. I know what this is. Regret overwhelms me. I’ve read this story so many times. Girl gets taken and held against her will. But this is no story. It’s not something I can edit and critique. What's happening right now isn't the same as words on a page that can be changed on a whim.
“It’s going to be good, kitten.” His calm tone eases the stress threatening to consume me. He grips my chin in between his thumb and forefinger. He leans down with his lips close to mine, but he doesn’t let them touch. My body ignites from the proximity of our bodies--mine naked, and his fully clothed. He holds such power over me, yet his touch is gentle. I almost lean into him, expecting him to kiss me, but he doesn’t. He whispers, “You’re going to love this kitten; I promise you.”
I close my eyes, waiting for him to kiss me, but instead he drops his hand and turns to leave me. “Sleep well, kitten,” he says as he opens the double doors and leaves me alone.
Those Boys Are Trouble: Valetti Crime Family Box Set Page 69
