My Billionaire Captor
Page 15
He trails a path of warm kisses from behind my ear where he has swept my hair away following only along my jaw as he had dressed me in a gown that doesn’t allow much skin access, well none actually. I automatically turn to him parting my lips but he doesn’t kiss me on them but alternates the corners with light pecks and presses his forehead to mine. His hand making its way up to my sequin covered breast where he pauses and nudges away from me completely at the exact moment the music stops leaving me wanton and craving him like a drug. Clapping begins and the beautiful brunette scampers off stage into the protection of the dark, her long silky pony tail bobbing against her bare backside.
I have no idea what’s next but I feel trapped and frustrated after that part of the show and Marcus’s teasing, paybacks are going to be hell. He’s enjoying building my desire because he knows I’m not comfortable with public displays of affection and he believes I won’t make a scene. Next, the pitch black room comes alive with LED lighted hula hoops swirling around more naked bodies. Although, it’s not easy to see much of the women in the dark, only the skin over which the hoop is being rotated is visible but that seems to be what makes it so alluring. Trails of light drag behind the spinning dancers as they flow around the stage in time with the electronic arrangement of music.
It occurs to me then that Marcus and I aren’t the only two audience members being whipped into a sex crazed frenzy…that’s the obvious expectation of the show. I wonder what the patrons surrounding me are up to in the unlit room, and if no needs are satisfied during the show will everyone clear out and go somewhere where they can be when it’s over? My thought is interrupted by another change on stage. Five LED lit poles rise from the floor of the stage in a circle and dark silhouettes in pairs appear next to each one.
The first performer snakes her body up the pole and begins a routine while the other mirrors it from a lower vantage point, again all nude and lit only by the multicolored lights of the poles. Marcus slides his arm behind my waist and pulls me closer to his side and I mentally prepare myself for another onslaught of temptation. But instead of passion I feel the hair on my neck rise and a panic rushing around us.
I feel the table vibrate and everyone around me slides out of the booth leaving me being clutched in Marcuss painfully tight embrace and alone. “Don’t move. Don’t make a sound.” he whispers in my ear, this time his breath brings dread and not excitement. I sit. I’m quiet. And I feel my body’s reaction to heightened stress and fear, I’m going to faint. Fucking damsel in distress syndrome about to attack me. I don’t need to voice a warning to Marcus, he knows what’s happening to me long before I do somehow and I recoil when he brings a hand under my nose producing an ammonia capsule.
My senses are overwhelmed with the sharp smell and I’m brought back immediately from the threatened fainting spell. “Come with me. Now.” I’m pulled out by the waist along the booth until I’m assisted to a standing position, Marcus moves in close behind me and I’m aware of Elijah right in front of me. He grabs my hand and leads us to the far wall of the club near the bar which has also turned off every light for the stage performance. “What’s going on?” I whisper. I know he said not to speak but anxiety keeps me from obeying. “Quiet, just move.” he orders pushing me along with more intensity now.
Moments later we have made it to a door that when passing through brings us to a dimly lit very long hallway with doors lining both sides. Quickly Elijah produces a key and opens the first one on our right. Shoving us inside he leaves and I hear a click from the other side. I do not like this. Not one bit, and I’m not keeping quiet any longer. “What the fuck is going on?!”
I whirl around to find wild angry eyes shooting daggers back at me. I back up until I’m stopped by the door behind me. Shit…who am I dealing with now, and what the hell was Elijah thinking locking me in a room with Marcus unprotected?
Chapter 27
It takes my eyes a few seconds to adjust to the light in the room. When they do I look past Marcus and the first thing I see is an enormous bed and a camera on a tripod facing that bed. My scrambled mind attempts to sort things out. First things first though, what’s going on with Marcus? “I’m sorry I raised my voice. Are you ok?” Defusing the situation may not be possible but I’m sure as hell going to try, my life may depend on it. “Sit.” Marcus points at the bed and I begin to follow the wall around the edge of the room staying as clear of him as possible but still moving toward the bed as instructed.
“I’m scared.” I admit in a small voice, whoever this is may as well know that I fear him. “That makes it so much better.” A different smirk, nothing like the one I love, twitches at the corner of his mouth. This smirk is unrecognizable, not like the one that makes my heart beat out of my chest and electrifies my core. No, this expression is that of a reprobate. I’m sure now that this is not the Marcus I love.
Elijah why? Why on earth would you abandon me here with this monster? I continue on to find the bed while Marcus’s wicked eyes follow me. I perch anxiously, unsure of his intentions or his next move. He begins a leisurely approach that makes me feel like a cornered animal with no escape, because essentially I am. I find my voice and decide to try again but with less attitude. “What’s happening out there Marcus? Why were we rushed back here?” I’ve taken him by surprise by speaking again and he halts his pacing, looking conflicted.
“Nothing out of the ordinary little one, I have many enemies. I’ve tortured many people and at times those people actually have loved ones who want revenge, justice you might say. No worries though my pretty, they never get what they want. I always win. And it seems tonight you’ve been offered up as a sacrifice to the Duke, or the Beast as many see fit to call me.”
My blood turns to ice in my veins and I instinctively begin to shrink away from this horrible look alike to the man I love. I scoot away, my heels falling off onto the floor as I dig my heels into the mattress and eventually feel my back pressed against the padded headboard. “What do you mean s…sacrifice?” I squeak. He starts toward me again and my heart plummets. He’s really going to hurt me, I can see it in his eyes, and he’s planning on enjoying every second of it.
“Oh lovely, I’m given playthings all the time in exchange for sparing a life. Stupid husbands who owe more than they could ever pay back to me will give me a relative to save themselves, sometimes it’s their very own wife.” He laughs and it begins again, I’m on my way out of consciousness. I can’t decide if this is good or bad. My vision tunnels and he seems to stretch far away, my hearing fades and that’s it, I’m out.
For the second time tonight my nose is assaulted with bitter ammonia and I gasp and open my eyes wide to see Marcus hovering over me with a bloody lip and black eye. I’m cold and shivering, and I can’t move my arms or legs. It takes me a moment to realize what’s happening, I’m naked and tied to all four corners of the bed and we aren’t alone, letting my head fall to the right where I feel tugging at my wrist I see Elijah working furiously to free me.
I’m lost, what has happened while I’ve been unconscious? I start to collect my wits and assess the scene. Seeing now that this room is much more than a bedroom. More of a torture room with restraints built into the bed frame that are holding me secure, above me are metal tracks with dangling chains and cuffs, what is this place? “Baby, I’m so sorry, are you ok? Are you hurt?” I feel his hands skimming over my bare skin softly searching for injuries but he doesn’t discover any.
Elijah succeeds at releasing my hand and I bring it into my body covering my exposed breasts. I don’t know where to look, at Elijah who is working on my foot now or into Marcus’s confused eyes. It’s obvious my soul mate is here with me now but what did his other evil half do to me while I was unconscious? “God baby please, please, please forgive me. I’m so sorry. I don’t remember…I...I…”
Elijah pushes Marcus hard, “Help me get her free Marcus, you can apologize later we’ve got to get her out of here before they come back.” Elijah hisses. Marcus l
ooks pissed but follows orders and jumps to my other arm. The two men release me and I curl into the fetal position my back to Marcus. I tuck my chin to chest and close my eyes tight, this isn’t happening this can’t be happening. “Get her dress.” Elijah barks and the men shuffle around the room gathering my clothes.
Marcus touches my shoulder to encourage me toward him but I flinch and shoot into motion on the opposite side of the bed. I slide off the bed and into Elijah’s arms. Every muscle in Elijah s’s body freezes and his breathing stops. I look back at Marcus across the bed, his eyes are huge, jaw clenched, hands balled into fists at his sides, he’s enraged. “You have to know she would be afraid Marcus, you can’t react to this. Remember what you just tried to do to her and get, her, dress!” Elijah shouts. I curl myself into his body tucking my forearms against his chest and burying my face there, he circles my back protectively.
“That wasn’t me.” “I know Marcus but it’s kind of hard for her to sort that out right now and we must get her out of here.” I can’t see but I feel Marcus hand my dress to Elijah’s hand when he removes it from my back. “Come on honey, let’s get you into your dress ok?” Pushing me back a step gently he holds out the dress for me to step into and I do while flashing Marcus looks over my shoulder to make sure he stays at a distance. His eyes reflect an immeasurable torture, it’s absolutely killing him to see another man have his hands on me, and to add salt to the wound his name is scrawled all over my body where he claimed me as his own just hours before.
Except now the autographs are all smeared and smudged in an ironic representation of our relationship. We always start out beautifully written and full of passion and love but inevitably end up streaked and defiled. “What’s happening Elijah ? Why did you leave me here? Who are we running from?” I have my hand on his broad shoulder as I step in, he keeps his eyes to the floor only looking at my feet. When it’s necessary for him to stand he looks me directly in the eyes ever the gentleman he refuses to let his gaze roam. I extend my arms into the long sleeves of the gown and he spins me by my shoulders to zip me up. “We don’t have time now, I’ll explain in the car.” Marcus is holding my shoes. “It’s ok Imani, he’s ok now. You can trust him.”
Oh no I can’t, I snatch the shoes and slip them on wondering where my bra and panties have gone, oh hell who cares I just want out of this room. Marcus goes to the door opening it for us as we file past as always Elijah leads me with Marcus bringing up the rear. “This way.” Elijah takes my hand pulling me, forcing me into a trot that hurts my feet in these heels. Suddenly a door is swung open and cold air rushes over me. I gulp it in and wrap my arms around my torso, without my coat the Italian winter wind feels glacial. Not for long though, an unfamiliar limousine pulls up to the curb and a door flies open, Elijah shoves me inside and follows. Marcus magically slides in on the opposite side and we pull away with a jolt.
I don’t even have to ask again before Elijah begins. “Imani, there are people here in Milan who have no idea Marcus has lost his memory, we worried about one of them learning of our presence tonight and as it turns out they were well founded concerns. I’m so sorry I left you alone. I had to make sure you were safe from them and I didn’t have time to separate the two of you. Mr. Black was following two men and Lizbeth and Carmen went after three others. I...I...didn’t think. Fuck I can’t believe the horrible timing, I’ve failed you twice and that’s inexcusable.”
I turn my attention to Marcus who is staring out the window at the city flying by, elbow propped on the door molding with his chin resting on the back of his hand he is lost in thought. “Marcus?” I timidly reach out to bring him back from wherever he is. Turning to me dazed with glassy eyes brimming with tears a little piece of me dies inside. As afraid and apprehensive as I am I realize he is suffering equally. “What happened?” I whisper. “I don’t know Imani, I swear I blacked out and when I realized what was going on I must have…God Imani, I don’t know what I did…will you ever be able to forgive me?” “Yes.” I answer with no sign of hesitation.
He raises his eyes to mine. “What did you say?” “I said yes, although there is nothing to forgive you for, it wasn’t you in that room, and I fainted, I don’t even know what happened.” “Nothing happened Imani.” Elijah interjects sharply, “I found him when he had just finished tying you up. We fought until something shifted and he realized what he’d done.” Marcus reaches to touch my shoulder and I do all I can not to flinch at his touch. “Marcus, how is your vision?”
The shoulder touch was directly linked to his loss of vision before and I’m struck with the realization that he may be backsliding again. “Why?” “Just tell me, are you seeing clearly?” A long pause follows the question and I lace my fingers with his on the seat between us to encourage him to answer. “It’s dim, no peripheral vision.” He admits. I reach deep down to the reserves of my ability to clinically and not emotionally assess situations and I begin to voice my summary of the night.
“So we were in danger just showing our faces tonight. And we were almost attacked. Marcus you had a setback with your vision and another personality change or black out, whatever. The threat was frightened away and Elijah , you fought with your boss and best friend, knocked some sense back into him and I lost my underwear. Does that sum it up? I alternate looking at the two surprised men. The shock was received exactly the way I had intended it. We need to move away from the seriousness for a minute so I can regroup. “Right?” I say. “Uh...yea, right.” Elijah responds. “Yes, that’s it.” Marcus repeats. “Ok then, no harm done, we’re all in one piece and going home.
You have some serious explaining to do about that club Mr. Castillo.” I turn my attention from him to Elijah , “And if he can’t remember you will fill in the holes, got it?” “Yes Ma’am.” “Ok then. Good.” Marcus pinches the bridge of his nose between his eyes and sighs deeply. “You’re amazing.” he mutters. “I know.” I respond, relaxing into the leather seat preparing for the long ride home.
The dark countryside that I missed seeing on our way to Milan blurs by as we travel back to the house on Lake Como. I keep trying to remember what happened back there. How the hell have I gone from my normal simple life as a single woman and professional nurse, working shifts and relaxing with my friends and family to being autographed head to toe, tied up spread eagle naked and passed out in a sex club in Italy? Fuck, this is insane, I absentmindedly begin to run my hands over my body checking for injuries. Nope nothing out of order but the action doesn’t go unnoticed and I feel two sets of eyes on me.
The facade I’ve been keeping up is cracking and if I don’t play this right I’ll lose all credibility. I know being strong for Marcus is essential to convincing him that he needs treatment and I’m so close I can’t lose my grip now. “Did I hurt you?” I turn to him and his usually sharp green eyes are dark and encompassed in pain. As always, when I see him suffering my heart constricts. “No, of course not.” “You were checking though…” Tiny familiar frown lines appear across his forehead and he reaches for my hand, I grab on tightly. “I was chilly, that’s all.” I’m the shittiest liar. His frown deepens and he obviously doesn’t believe that line of crap but he pulls me close wrapping me in a blanket of pure Marcus, his smell, his touch, his warm breath in my ear.
“Don’t lie to me baby, I know you. Sometimes I like to give you the opportunity to be honest. I may not have control of what’s going on in my mind but in yours I stroll effortlessly down your quaint cobbled paths feeling and experiencing exactly what you do.” I don’t respond but let that seed be planted and as it grows it dawns on me that changing anything about Marcus’s mind could sever the invisible connection between us. Not only could his old personality return but he could forget me, the magnet could be reversed. His ability to read my mind could be stripped away with the tumor. “You’re worrying again, relax.” He begins to massage my shoulders and I’m instantly limp, my chin falling to my chest I moan forgetting Elijah and Mr. Black are in the car.
Silence falls between us during the trip home, he finishes my neck rub and I cuddle into his side dozing off and on until we pull into the drive of the Castillo Estate. I’m gathered onto Marcus’s lap, he swiftly exits the car cradling me in his arms. The cold night air takes my breath away and I think of the beautiful coat I left behind at Dominus. “The coat was real, you wouldn’t want it back. I lied. You looked so beautiful in it though I couldn’t resist.” he admits and pecks me on the forehead smiling while we cross the threshold of the front doors.
“What? I wore poor innocent little animals that were murdered to make a coat?!” I screech. He tightens his embrace and smiles down at me shaking his head. “The things you put up with and are exposed to because of me and this is what you choose to be upset about?” He’s right, in the scheme of things this is really not important. “Well I’m glad we left it then.” I pout and slide my fingers around his neck and up his nape into the soft thick waves of his hair. I drop my head back exposing my throat fully aware of where this will lead us.