Twisted Perception (Flawed #2)

by T. L Smith

  “We good to start?” Mika asks, dropping Sarena’s hand and turning to Dominic. He nods his head and Mika starts to take a seat next to me, but I lay my legs out before he can sit. He notices, turns to the couch, lifts my legs and sits under them, trapping them with his hands.

  “Aria?” Dominic asks, asking me if I’m fine. I’ve become accustomed to his voice now. To all the levels of it. I nod my head and feel Mika’s grip loosen, then he lifts one hand to remove his glasses.

  “How well do you know our Aria?” Sarena asks. Mika rubs my leg up and down in small gestures and I shiver.

  “Well enough,” he says, looking from her to me. I sit up and as he turns his head back to Dominic, I snatch my legs back and sit up in the seat.

  “Do you want us to change our process? Or keep it the same?” Dominic asks him.

  “Where do you all live?” he asks looking from me to Dominic to Sarena.

  “Sarena and I live here with our house nurse and our two bodyguards. Aria lives with her brother,” Dominic tells him.

  “I’ll want to change some things in the future, but for now, I’d only like to change Aria’s living arrangements.” I fly from the seat, standing over him and looking down.

  “Why?” I ask him and he looks up at me.

  “You will live with me,” he states smirking, and I want to smack that smirk straight from his lips. Dominic comes to stand behind me, his hand going to my hips to hold me in place. Mika looks to his hands and his face becomes dark.

  “Aria doesn’t do very well with being told what to do,” Dominic says, holding me in place and stopping me from what I want to do—punch, mame, inflict pain.

  Mika stands. “This will be effective immediately. You will leave with me,” he says narrowing his eyes at me.

  “Like hell I will,” I fire back at him.

  “You do not have a choice, Aria. I am your boss. You either come with me, or I will have your brother thrown in jail under a murder charge,” he threatens me.

  “He didn’t kill anyone.”

  “Yes, I know that and you know that. Would the police know that considering the last woman he bedded ended up dead in the back of an alley? I can make him a suspect and then give them evidence to convict. I won’t though if you come with me.”

  “I’ll live with you,” Sarena says standing from her seat. Dominic drops his hold on my waist and walks over to Sarena, shaking his head.

  “No, it’s Aria or nothing,” Mika says.

  “Fine,” I huff out. “Don’t expect me to play house, it won’t happen,” I tell him, walking out the door without saying goodbye. He follows and opens his car door for me. I climb in and don’t talk or look his way for the whole ride.

  We arrive at a mansion, not far from where my parents’ home is situated. It’s bigger then the mansion at Dominic’s, which is massive.

  He opens the front door for me and I walk in looking down at the floor, not caring what the rest of the house looks like.

  “Follow me,” he says, walking up a set of stairs. The handrails are gold and the floor marble white.

  He stops at a door and opens it, we enter and he shuts the door behind him. It’s a bedroom, with a king-sized bed, a chest of drawers, a single sofa, and a massive television hanging on the wall. There is a walk-in closet, containing all his clothes hanging neatly inside.

  “Why am I in this room?”

  He drops his jacket onto the floor and starts to unbutton his shirt. I try my best not to look. “It’s our room. You’ll be sleeping here,” he says.

  “Oh, no you fucking don’t. I am not sleeping in the same bed as you. Go fuck yourself and the horse you rode in on, motherfucker.” My raging temper is building, I want to hurt him so badly.

  “You’re welcome to the floor, but the door is locked and you cannot open it without me. So get comfortable, I’m going for a shower.” He walks to the bathroom, stopping at the doors. “You’re welcome to join me,” he says. I grab my heel from my foot and peg it at his head. He laughs as it just misses and closes the door behind him.

  I look to the ceiling, weighing my options. Should I? Then I look back to the massive bed. It’s huge and I’m sure we could keep our distance. Why is he doing this? I try the door and find it locked, just like he said. I give up and decide to lay down on the giant bed, curling up on my side of it.

  He emerges a few minutes later, showered and smelling delicious. I don’t turn to face him, I stay on my side of the bed looking at the sofa. I hear him fiddling around in the closet, opening and closing a door, then he walks to my side. His footsteps heavy with each step. I see his legs first, strong muscular legs. My eyes travel upward, over his very large junk in his boxer briefs, then to his torso which is decoratively covered with ink. I would never have guessed. His arms are completely covered as well, there’s not a spare patch of skin on either. I try not to look up at him, will myself to just close my eyes and sleep, but I can’t. His eyes are on me when I reach his face. Looking me up and down.

  “You can’t sleep in that,” he says, pointing to my clothes. I give him a disbelieving look, but don’t say a word. He’s right, I’m sweating in my long sleeved shirt, my shorts are short, but they’re denim and uncomfortable to sleep in. He lies next to me, not saying another word. I stand from the bed and drop my jean shorts, leaving only my bikini bottom on. I remove my long sleeved shirt. Leaving the tank top that’s on underneath it and remove the bikini top.

  I lay back on the bed, not saying another word, and neither does he. The pillow and bed feel like heaven, like I’m floating, and I quickly drift off to sleep.

  Chapter 15

  “Stay still,” a voice mumbles in my ear. It takes me only a moment to realize whose hands are wrapped tightly around my waist and whose body basically covers mine. Tattooed arms trying to encase me in. I jump up from the bed, knocking his hands away as I do and look down. We’ve somehow ended up at the end of his bed. His eyes lazily open and search out mine, I stand there shocked.

  “Why were you touching me?” I ask in a calm voice though I feel anything but.

  “You wouldn’t stop fucking moving. You’re like a ninja when you sleep. I’m pretty sure I will have a black eye in a few hours,” he says rubbing his eyes and sitting up.

  “Whatever,” I huff at him. I know it’s true. Jagger used to share a cot with me when I was little. Our parents had to separate us because he was waking up bruised and screaming in the middle of the night. I haven’t slept in the same bed with a man in forever.

  His eyes roam me up and down, appreciating me. I grab my clothes from the ground and storm off to the shower, shutting and locking the door behind me.

  Showering in silence, I wonder why am I here?

  The bedroom door is open when I come out with Mika nowhere to be seen. I hear him talking when I reach the top of the steps and follow down to his voice. He’s standing there completely dressed in a suit, talking to a very attractive blonde. He must sense me when I reach the middle of the stairs because his eyes and the blonde’s shoot up to mine. I don’t smile or wave. These people are not my friends, they can all go and fuck themselves.

  “Aria, please meet Gabrielle,” he says, waving his hand at me then to the blonde as I reach the bottom of the stairs. I nod my head to her. Her eyes travel up and down my body, a smile touching her lips.

  “Pleasure,” she draws out. Oh, she’s sex—sex on a blonde stick with big tits, a small frame, and an average ass.

  “I have a man in the room I want you to assess, Gabrielle. Aria, I want you to tell her what she’s doing wrong,” he says and we start walking to the basement. It’s set up much like the room at Dominic’s. Mika flicks the light switch on and it lights up the man behind the glass. He’s tied up much like we tie ours up, with his hands held high over his head.

  “Gabrielle,” Mika says, sitting down. I follow and sit next to him watching as she walks in. She’s not showing off her sexiness, just determination that she’s in charge of this situatio
n. She stalks over to him, lifts her leg high up on his shoulder and talks in low whispers. He starts shaking his head, trying to will her off him. She smacks him across the face and his temper flares. She sees it and smacks him again, her leg dropping from his shoulder. I stand and remove my long sleeved shirt leaving me in heels, shorts, and a tank top and walk from the seat. Mika stops me with a hand to my arm.

  “Will I need to leave? Will I be able to see straight after this? After watching you?” He looks at me closely.

  “You’re the boss,” I say, shrugging my shoulders and pulling free from his grip. I unlock the door and step into the room, locking the door again behind me. Gabrielle takes a step back when I enter, and grimaces. Her man looks up at me with wide eyes, then drops his gaze to the ground.

  “Gabby,” I say, slowly shaking my head. I shorten her name—never, ever, give full names to the Thrall. I’m holding a screwdriver, the one I picked up in the main room, the one I was planning to use on Mika.

  “Would you come closer?” I say sensuality oozing from my voice. She listens and so does the Thrall. His head shoots up, I don’t look at him as she steps closer and closer to me. I run my hand along her collarbone, feathering over her tits, watching as her nipples react and pucker up under the thin piece of material that covers them. “Leave,” I tell her, watching as her breathing grows heavy just as my hand reached her waist. “Watch from the room,” I demand, listening to her walk away. I take a few steps closer to the man and sit on the floor inches from his legs.

  He looks at me and cocks his head. “Get out, bitch,” he hisses. Tough one, I like them, they’re more enjoyable to break.

  I slide my heels along the floor, spreading my legs wider. His eyes drop and follow. I lean back not watching him, but I know he’s watching me. Lifting my leg in the air, I run my hand down it and come to my pussy. Stopping, I hitch a finger under my waistband and slide my shorts off. They stop on my other foot hooked at the heel. My shirt is next to go. As my back arches upward, I fling it off and throw it behind me.

  “Tell me, should I touch myself here?” I ask, pulling a breast free and rubbing the nipple between my fingers. “Or here?” Sounding more turned on as my hands come to a stop at my pussy.

  “There,” he says, breathing heavily. I remove my hands and stand. He watches and realizes what he’d said. I made him listen to me, whether he realized it or not.

  “You fucking bitch!” he roars at me. His hard on is visible through his pants. I reach for the scissors and lean forward, cutting his pants away from his body. He moves and tries to kick me off. I snap the scissors at his skin and blood is drawn.

  “Do that again and I will aim somewhere else, somewhere you won’t like,” I say looking up at him. “Got me?” I watch as he nods his head.

  “I think you need to learn respect. You may call me Master. Nothing else. Every time you disobey, I will draw blood.” He doesn’t say a word, just watches me. His dick springs free and bounces off his belly. He stares at me like he knows it’s my fault it’s that way.

  “Who am I?” I ask him. He takes a little while to answer, obviously thinking about what to say.

  “Bitch,” he says, determination in his voice. I was planning to use the screwdriver, but the scissors seem a bit more fun now. I move closer to him, reaching up for his hands. Standing on my toes, I cut the side of his palm and he screams and swears.

  “Who am I?” I ask again, stepping back.

  “Slut,” he replies with even more determination. I cut him again on the side of his foot. Screams fill the room.

  “Who am I?”

  “Manipulator,” he spits at me now.

  That earns him two cuts, one on each of his kneecaps.

  “Who am I?”

  “Master,” he whispers, deflated. His head drops to his chest and he is silent. I nod and drop the scissors by the door as I walk through it.

  Mika and Gabrielle look up at me, shock written on their faces. “You injured him,” she says speaking first. I nod my head and sit down on the couch.

  “Yes, how long does it take you to break them?” I ask, looking at Gabrielle.

  “Months,” she says.

  “I can do it in weeks.”

  “You hurt them to break them,” she says shaking her head.

  “Do your clients complain about your Thralls?” I ask her. She looks puzzled and glances back at Mika.

  Mika points to the man tied up and says, “Thrall.”

  “Yes, they try to escape.”

  “Then you’re not doing your job properly,” I tell her, kicking my shoes back off.

  “Who are you?” she asks, a question more to herself than directed at me.

  “You will do as she did, not a thing different. Now leave,” Mika says and she stands, looking back once at me as she closes the door.

  “Let me touch you?” Mika asks from his seat, slouched back and watching me.

  “Not a chance in hell,” I tell him, shaking my head.

  “Is it ‘cause it will mean more than them?” he says pointing to the Thrall behind the glass. “Or because it will make you feel?” he asks me. I stand and place my heels back on.

  “I have a family dinner to attend, I need to go home. I’m leaving,” I tell him. As I walk past, he captures my wrist.

  “I’m coming,” he says standing, then letting me go.

  “You’re not coming to my parents’ home.” I blanch at the thought.

  “I can and I will.” He opens the door, gesturing for me to walk through first.

  Arghh, I want to inflict pain on him. So bad!

  Chapter 16

  Mika quietly follows me up the stairs to my parents’ home.

  I look back to him before I enter. “Do not tell them what I do.” He nods his head and I open the door. Jessa, dressed in all black and looking bored, spots me first. She looks behind me as Mika steps in closer and she stares at him.

  “Mom! Dad! Aria brought a boy home!” she screams and I give her the middle finger.

  “Man. She brought a man home,” Mika corrects from behind me. I laugh at him. It doesn’t take Mom long to come around to the entrance and she stops when she sees me, shaking her head.

  “You should at least cover them up when you come home,” she says, stepping closer and kissing my cheek. She looks behind me and spots Mika, then looks back to me. “Who’s your friend, Aria?” she asks and Mika steps next to me offering his hand.

  “Mika, Mrs. Bliss,” he says, using our last name. Mom blushes, and I’m a bit taken aback. She never blushes. “Call me Deb,” she says. “Do you work together?” she asks, pointing to Mika and me.

  “No, I am dating Aria.” My head spins so fast, if you saw it, you’d think I was possessed.

  “Oh, really? I’ve never met anyone our daughter has bedded.” My mouth drops open. Does my mother think of me as a slut?

  “Oh, I haven’t bedded her, Deb, we’re taking things slow. Plus, I don’t think Aria’s like that. She truly is a remarkable woman, I’ve never met someone like her.”

  “Yes, there’s no one like our Aria.” My father walks in and gives Mom a look that makes her cringe. He’s obviously heard what she’s said and steps forward and wraps me in a hug. “Don’t worry, baby. She doesn’t think that of you,” he whispers into my ear and pulls away from me. He then offers his hand to Mika, who shakes it and introduces himself. I look at Mom and watch her eyes go from me to Mika, apparently trying to work out how he’s with me.

  Her eyes stop on me, but she doesn’t say anything. The next thing I know I’m being picked up and placed on hugged. “Missed you,” Jagger’s voice comes booming from through me. He places me back on the ground and hooks his hand around my shoulders. His body goes rigid next to me; Mika is staring at us, his jaw clenched.

  “Who’s this?” Jagger asks.

  “Oh, that’s your sister’s new boyfriend,” Mom says leaning in and kissing Jagger’s cheek before walking back to the kitchen. My father indicates for us to
follow and Jagger gestures for Mika to walk first. He does, and as I go to follow Jagger stops me.

  “Who is that man, Aria? I know he isn’t your man. So tell me and don’t lie, or I will ask Zeke who it is.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Oh, I would. What would he say about you bringing him here? Does he know who he is?”

  “Yes, he does. He’s my new boss. Not my boyfriend.”

  “Why is he here, Aria?”

  “I kind of…had to…move in with him,” I say the last bit fast and it takes him a moment to digest what I’ve said.

  “I don’t think so, not happening,” he states firmly.

  “Too late! It’s for my safety anyway, so don’t worry. I will still come home, Jag,” I tell him, easing him with a hand on his shoulder.

  “Your safety?” he questions.

  “Yes. I know you want to know, but some things, maybe you shouldn’t. Trust me.”

  “Okay,” he says, easing up only because he wants me safe, nothing more.

  We walk into the dining area where Mika is standing and waiting for me. He pulls out my chair and before I walk over to him, Jagger whispers in my ear, “I don’t like him. He has a stick up his ass,” he jokes and I laugh. Mika cocks an eyebrow and I walk forward taking my seat. Jessa comes in and sits next to me, with Jagger and my parents opposite.

  “How long you been screwing my sister?” Jessa asks, picking up a piece of bread and buttering it.

  “Watch your language,” my father warns. She shrugs her shoulders like she doesn’t care.

  “I would like to know how long you’ve been seeing each other, though,” my mother says, looking to Mika.

  “Just under a year now,” he says, reaching back to the first time I’d met him, but didn’t know who he was.

  “And why are we only hearing about this now? Your brother didn’t even know, and you tell him everything,” she says, pushing it further.

  “What are you getting at?” I ask her bluntly.

  “Just wondering why a man of his caliber would be with you, sweeties?”