Vanquished (The Encounter #3)
Page 3
“Do you honestly think I’d let you leave after you lied to me. Insulted me!”
Blasted stupid fuck.
“I did no such thing,” I reasoned as I quickly dropped the sheet and began dressing. “I can leave whenever I want. You can’t hold me hostage, Hugo.”
“Try me, Isobel. I can do bloody well as I please,” he said in a deadly manner before adding, “How many men?”
That made me pause halfway in to sliding on my black jeans.
“How many men what?” I snapped, impatient at this whole fucking fiasco.
“The men … you let into your body?”
Men? What men? Then it clicked. Ah, here we go again. I was the proverbial whore, right? Of course. Every single, sexually active woman was in this world.
“The word you’re looking for is fuck, Hugo. How many men have fucked me since you; is that your question? For a man who likes to fuck all day long, you seem to be rather reserved when it comes to using the word.”
“I could take everything from you; you know that, don’t you?” he threatened, determined to get the answer from me.
If I were not drunk, not so broken, maybe the threat or manhandling would have turned out the way he wished it to. Nevertheless, I was those things. Therefore, better luck next time, I suppose.
“Go ahead. I don’t do well with threats. Who cares, anyway? I’m young and beautiful—a lot of men would be more than happy to have me. So go ahead. Take it all away. Do as you wish. Wave your magic wand and make it all happen. Oh, wait, you simply snap your fingers, yeah? Do what you have to do, Hugo, but I’m leaving.”
Chapter Five
Isobel
“If you take one more step, I’m going to bring hell to your family. Every. Single. One,” he succinctly delivered, making sure I understood what the threat entailed. It meant Yannis. My mother.
Coldness washed over me as I spun around to face the guy who had my heart and was willing to go to such lengths to punish me. My father I couldn’t care less about, even myself. What I couldn’t stomach was the very thought of my little brother and mother in harm’s way. And the bloody man knew it, too.
“You can’t mean that …” I whispered, wondering what he could do to them. He surely had the money and power to make anything he wished happen.
“Test me. You’ll see the extent of how much you’ve angered me right now, Isobel.” His face said it all. He wasn’t toying with me. He was going to carry out whatever he promised.
“You want me gone. I’m willing to do that now,” I stammered, unsettled at the seriously deadly expression on his face.
He strolled towards me, biding time. “You betrayed me,” he said dispassionately before adding, “again.”
With my jeans pooling at my feet and only my tiny thong on, I tried to cover my breasts with an arm, ashamed that his closeness aroused me. It reacted to him even though he was threatening me. It was twisted how one’s mind and body didn’t communicate the way they should.
“What lured you to open those legs to my best friend, Isobel?” he hissed into my ear, sending hot air around my neck.
I winced, not from him barking into my ear, but from my nipples hardening and the aroused state of my wet pussy.
“When did this happen, Isobel?” he demanded, snapping me back to reality.
“After you told me to disappear from your life.” My mouth ought to be shut forever.
“Petite pute!” (Little whore), he bellowed out before his hands gripped my shoulders, almost shaking me.
“Let me go,” I demanded as his fingers dug into my skin.
“You’re nothing but filth. And to think I almost fell in love with you, thinking you were the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me!”
Almost? Almost … quite … but not. Just as well.
My precious lie … It was too late to take back now. I simply had to live with it.
“What are you doing?” My eyes dropped to where his other hand was … unbuckling his belt.
“Your punishment,” he grated out. “I’m about to show you how little whores should be treated.”
The second the belt was in his hand and snapped before me, I stared at it as if it was my death knell.
“You’re not going to beat me with that, Hugo, please …” I begged as I closed my eyes, utterly afraid now. All my bravado, my façade, immediately stripped away the moment I realized I had gone too far. I had pushed him to the point of no return.
“Shut your shameful mouth, you filth!” he roared, pushing me against the end of the bed face down. I then felt the belt being wrapped around my thighs. The metal of the buckle felt cold against my heated skin.
Before I could manage to twist my head around to see what he was doing, I felt his hand wrap around the tightness of the belt before sliding my body down just enough for my toes to hit the floor. Then I felt the loud smack of his hand against my ass, making me yelp in pain and surprise. I hadn’t even had enough time to take a deep breath when his massive cock slid into my pussy and fucked me mercilessly, without bothering to check if I was wet enough to accommodate his size. He gripped my hips to control my body, to get the perfect leverage, while I remained unmoving, taking every inch of him.
“Your cunt is sopping wet, just like the whore you are. Do you like your cunt to be fucked like this, Isobel?” he huffed as he delivered another blow to the other side of my ass just as he drilled his cock into me, thrusting as if he were punishing me, purging me of all the lies I had told him.
I didn’t bother to answer him. He knew what his cock did to me. He never needed to ask. I was always ready for him. At any time of the day…
Just when I thought I was in blissful heaven, things shifted. Hugo pulled out of my pussy and forcefully inserted his cock into my other hole.
“HUGO”!” I squealed as I felt my sphincter painfully stretch open for him. “Hugo—uh—” My body coiled as I felt the burning pain of his length invading my depths. “Damn you!”
“Did he fuck you here, too?” His hot breath hit the back of my neck, making me shiver before my body gave in to him, as if I couldn’t deny him anything.
Too numb to respond, my body began to relax as I felt his dick slowly inch into me. Gradually, as the pain began to feel tolerable, I felt some pleasure resurfacing once again.
“Isobel …” he groaned as he reveled in the feeling of me. “Traître …” (Traitor.) He then took hold of my hair from the back of my scalp, yanking backwards so my ear was next to his lips. “Did you let him fuck you here, little whore?”
He felt larger than life. I was in awe. I was in pain. I was engulfed by the immeasurable pleasure of him feverishly thrusting into my body as if he couldn’t get enough. Nothing mattered—nothing but this.
His anger was justified. I had lied. But after tonight, I would let him be. My lies and the hurt I had caused him were enough to keep me at bay. His reaction and the wrath he was willing to unleash on me and my family were enough to shut me up forever. So this was my gift to him, my last good-bye—my body—because I knew I would never let another man touch me there.
“Je suis désolé, mon amour. Je suis désolé …” (I’m sorry, my love. I’m sorry…) He could take that however he wanted, but it was the truth.
For a moment, he stopped thrusting into me, heavily breathing against the back of my neck, before I felt his hand gently twist my head to meet his eyes.
Hugo appeared troubled. His eyes flickered as if trying to read me before he snaked out the tip of his tongue and licked the top of his lip. “I’m going to ask you this one last time, Isobel.” Dark orbs drilled into mine. “Did you let—” His nostrils flared before he cocked his head to the side then honed in on me again. “Did Julien—BLOODY FUCK! I can’t do this!” He cursed as he slid out of my body and unstrapped the belt from my thighs then furiously strode towards the opposite side of the room to the window, standing like a proud king with both his hands on his hips while his cock proudly protruded in the air.
He shook his head “I can’t look at you. I can’t be near you. I’m calling Julien. I have to know the truth. I have to know every goddamn despicable thing you did with him.”
My web of lies … fuck. Even if I told him I had made it up, he was too far into his anger to believe me.
“You should give him more credit,” I lamely tried to enlighten him, but there was no convincing him.
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you, so no, he should’ve respected that you’re mine, that you were forbidden,” he declared, taking his phone from the discarded trousers. Then, without any mar of clothing, he strode out of the bedroom, giving me an unprecedented view of his muscled, supple bottom.
In less than a minute, fluid, angry French words were being hurled in the air without pause.
Bless him, Julien probably was confused at his friend’s accusations, but I could explain later. I had so much to apologize for. And since there wasn’t much to be done, I busied myself by getting ready as I tried to wipe my tears away.
The sex hadn’t meant anything. It meant everything to me, but it was best I saw it for what it was. I shouldn’t let my heart think Hugo had changed his mind, that he, indeed, wanted me. He had said it himself: it was a punishment for my pseudo-betrayal. Therefore, it meant nothing.
Wiping my tears, I almost smiled when I saw my phone discarded next to Hugo’s clothes. Plucking it up, I slipped it inside my purse before I quietly dressed then walked out of the bedroom. Immediately, I saw Hugo at the bar, cursing and yelling as if it was the end of the world. He was so distracted from his heated conversation with Julien that I easily slipped out of the penthouse without him noticing me.
Walking out of there and striding towards the elevator, I felt as if something punched me in my chest. Still, I managed to trudge through, pressing the call button and waiting for the lift with a heavy heart.
I had royally fucked everything up, and I had no one to blame but my deluded self. So much for all the bullshit I had fed myself.
The elevator dinged before me, indicating it had arrived, just as I heard his voice calling out to me. My heartbeat instantly picked up speed as I fought the urge to stay and try to explain myself to him.
I didn’t look back as I hurriedly entered the cart, quickly stabbing the button to take me to the main level of the hotel.
“Isobel!” He caught me in the elevator with nothing but unbuttoned pants on. “If you know what’s good for you, you better start walking back into the suite.” He looked mighty disheveled, but he had never looked sexier in my eyes.
“I know what the repercussions are …” Nervously, I matched his gaze. “I don’t care. Hurt us all. I don’t care anymore.”
Without a word, he placed his thumbprint on the elevator pad, pressing it before the penthouse button began blinking, as if waiting for a command. “You’re not going anywhere, not without my permission.”
Why wouldn’t he just stop this? I was exhausted from arguing.
“Let me go … please.”
“No.” He was unwavering before pressing for more answers. “Why did you lie to me, Isobel?”
I had told him earlier in the bedroom. Did he not hear me? “Because … I’m in love with you; that’s why.”
Something flashed in his eyes as he stepped closer to me while I stood there, waiting for him to engulf me with his presence, with his scent, with his masculinity.
“So you lied to hurt me?” he asked under his breath, halting just as he towered over me magnificently.
I nodded in confirmation. “I can’t take the thought of you with anyone else.”
His eyes reached into my soul, into my heart. “I can’t be with you, Isobel.”
“I know,” I whispered back with a broken smile. His rejection wasn’t new to me, yet it felt as though it was.
“I’m sorry.”
Why did he have to be sorry? No, I wasn’t that petty. I wasn’t going to let him see me fall apart. No.
Trying to fight the tears that were a breath away from streaming down, I begged, “I know it’s over … so please, just end my misery and let me go.”
“Isobel …”
I hysterically shook my head. “I have to go. I can’t—I can’t do this. Please.” Just as I finished uttering the words, I felt his arms around me, holding me close, and I tried to fight and push his chest with all my might.
“Let me hold you at least,” he pressed, tightening his hold around me.
His gesture made me sob uncontrollably. It was as if the floodgates were open and there was no way to shut them.
“Why did I have to fall for you? Why did you make me fall for you, Hugo?”
“I’m sorry … I’ll forever remember you, Isobel.” He kissed my forehead while I clung to him.
’He would forever remember me. Great. That should be some consolation, I supposed.
Nevertheless, this was the hardest good-bye.
One that would surely scar me until eternity.
Chapter Six
Isobel
Whoever said getting closure was the quickest way to heal a broken heart was delusional. It had been twenty-one days of unbelievable misery, nonstop crying, and sheer neglect of my own well-being. It was so bad I had forgotten what it felt like to be hungry. Maybe it was the bare fact that I hadn’t heard from Hugo ever since he had let me go that night in the elevator, standing back with an emotionless face as the door closed, shutting us apart forever.
If that wasn’t finality, I didn’t know what was. I was reeling from it all—the speedy rate that our relationship escalated and fell flat like a heavy block of ice, shattering like shards before becoming a mere memory that was sometimes remembered, sometimes forgotten. The latter option would be more realistic since he had a lot of women to entertain him, while I, on the other hand, trudged through life at a snail’s pace, picking up the broken pieces and trying to glue them back together. The scars would remain visible, but at least I would be alive and living, not some broken shell of who I was, hoping ’I would one day wake up with the pain finally subsiding and being bearable.
Waking up this morning was no different than yesterday … and the day before that. My days were bleak, uneventful, and beyond monotonous. Releasing a melancholic sigh¸ I slid off the bed and heavily stomped my way towards the kitchen in dire need of a good dose of caffeine, hoping ’it would give me a little shot of life back into my body.
Chaotically forming my unwashed hair into a haphazard bun, I moved towards the coffee machine, mechanically doing the usual habit of pouring the water into the pot as I measured it until it reached six cups. I released a sigh and barely glanced up when Claire strode past me, heading towards the fridge as she enthusiastically hummed a jovial tune.
“I hope today’s the day,” she muttered, probably speaking to herself.
Choosing to ignore her, I went about my task, scooping coffee grinds before placing them into the strainer. Normally, ’I would make some chitchat, but ever since getting back from that abhorrent event in my life, nothing had been the same.
“Isobel?”
For a moment, the fogginess temporarily vanished as I spun around to face her with a questioning look. “Yeah? What’s up?” I asked.
She pressed her lips together, looking as though she was trying in earnest not to send me a pitiful face. “I love you. I do. I deeply care about your well-being … and I know you’re going through a difficult time, but I believe it’s high time you wash your hair, my love.” She made a pained face. “If I let you carry on, ’you’ll have a bird’s nest in a day’s time.”
Her obvious concern took me aback a little before I snorted loudly. There was no doubt I was beyond flabbergasted, but somehow, I found myself hysterically laughing at my hideous physical state.
“Oh, dear. I’m looking like a fright, aren’t I?” My gurg
led laughter began to produce hot tears. I couldn’t stop, realizing how ridiculous ’I had become. “I’m sorry. I truly am. Please accept my apology, and I promise you I will wash my hair after I have my coffee.”
Claire gave me the most endearing hug before bestowing a kiss on my forehead and telling me that Hugo was an idiot. I didn’t comment on her remark. Everything inside me felt too raw. I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I mean, how often did a woman place herself out in the open, unbarred, barefaced with her heart on her sleeve, willing to fight for the love she had thought she almost had, just to be warmly rejected in the most caring manner? I had the worst flashbacks of those last moments with him each time I shut my eyes.
I was thankful Claire didn’t often intrude on my personal process of mending my brokenness. She knew when to stay put and leave me alone and when to also chime in on her concerns.
Making a mental note to truly give myself a full-bodied wash-up, I brewed the coffee, waited for a bit until it was ready, and then savored it.
Retreating back to my room, I contemplated going to school. I sat on the edge of the mattress, looking about my cozy, plush surroundings, knowing everything this flat consisted of had been bought and paid for by Hugo Xavier. He most likely had hired someone to furnish the place before gifting it to me, too. It was another grand gesture.
Even though I was hurt by his rejection, I couldn’t bring myself to hate him. He didn’t deserve that, most especially since he had given and provided me with so much. He was unforgettable.
Amidst my chaotic thoughts, my phone rang, cutting through the mindless fog that had plagued me to no end. Without will, I decided to let the call go to voicemail. Nothing sparked my interest. Getting calls from friends, most especially from Damen, didn’t do much to lift my spirits.
I sighed the second the ringing stopped. That moment of relief lasted seconds until the caller blasted the phone once again. This process kept on, and when it was on the fifth call, I was so tired and annoyed by it all that I was ready to surrender and answer the damn call.