Sinful Illusions

by Morgan James

  “I warned you.” I palmed the flesh of her ass roughly, squeezing hard, and I was rewarded when she let out a soft cry. A crack split the air as I brought my hand down hard enough to leave a red mark in the shape of five fingers on her pale flesh. She sucked in an outraged breath, but I didn’t give her a chance to speak as I brought my hand down again in the exact same spot, harder this time.

  “Did you for one second think about your safety?” She let out a stifled cry as I smacked the left cheek twice in quick succession. “You could have broken your damn fool neck with a stupid stunt like that.”

  “Pl—please d-don’t!” Her voice cracked under the uneven breaths racking her chest. “I—”

  “I don’t want to hear your pitiful excuses. Never again,” I warned as I returned to the right cheek, smacking her reddened flesh several times before returning to the opposite side. Over and over, I spanked her mercilessly until my hand burned and her body bucked under the force of her sobs.

  I paused for a moment, watching her muscles clench in preparation for the next blow. I was tempted to tell her to relax, that tensing only made it worse, but she’d asked to be punished the moment she climbed out that window.

  The thought caused my anger to spike all over again. The image of her clinging precariously to the brick two stories above the ground would forever be burned on my brain. Those several minutes had seemed like the longest of my life, watching her scale the wall, my heart slamming against my ribs. Rodrigo had suggested we intercept her, but I wouldn’t risk surprising her and causing her to fall. Little idiot could have died. Or, maybe worse, ended up paralyzed. She was so intent on escaping me that she’d completely disregarded her safety. She’d recklessly put herself directly into danger, and I wouldn’t stand for it.

  Eva screamed as I landed one last hard swat just under the crease of her ass, already bright pink and sensitive. I pulled my tie from her wrists, releasing her hands, and they automatically moved to cover her face, as if she could hide from the humiliation and shame shrouding her.

  “You will never disobey me again, Eva. Do you understand me?”

  Soft sniffles filled the air as the tension drained from her body, the fight spanked out of her. Sprawled over my lap, her body jerked under the force of her silent sobs, submission practically emanating from her. I’d known she wouldn’t be the type to blindly accept her punishment; she resisted every swat as if it was a personal injustice. It would take a strong man to earn her trust and respect—and that man was damn well going to be me.

  I lifted Eva in my arms and shifted her so she sat sideways in my lap. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

  She kept her chin tucked to her chest as tears slipped down her cheeks, and she swiped angrily at the offensive tears. Something in me stirred, but I pushed it down as I studied her, waiting for a response. She refused to look at me, and that served to piss me off even more.

  “When I speak, I expect an answer.”

  Dark emerald eyes glared up at me, glistening with moisture. “Fuck you.”

  I clenched my molars together so hard I feared they would crack. “I swear to God… that mouth. Did you not learn your lesson?” She dropped her gaze when I glared at her. “Or do I need to add another twenty lashes with the belt this time?”

  She shook her head, but I felt no pleasure in her acquiescence. She was so headstrong, so stubborn. I’d hoped the spanking would impress on her the importance of following my instructions, but her pride kept getting in the way. If this continued, she wouldn’t learn anything from her punishment.

  “I’ll ask you once more, Eva. What did you learn from tonight’s little excursion?”

  She was silent for several long minutes, but I was determined to wait until she broke. Finally, she lifted her head and stared out the window, her face pale, her eyes bleak. “That I’m stuck here.”

  I swallowed down my annoyance as I studied her profile, just inches away. She still sat on my lap, rigid as a board. She kept her body perfectly straight, leaning slightly away to keep as much distance between us as possible. Deliberately, I shifted my thighs beneath her bruised and battered bottom, eliciting a wince from her. “Are you going to try to leave again?”

  I knew the answer before I even asked, but I watched in fascination as her head slowly swiveled my way, her expressionless eyes colliding with mine. “I would if I could.”

  She was good, I would give her that. The words sounded innocuous enough, and from anyone else I would have believed it meant she’d come to terms with the reality of her situation. But coming from Eva, I knew she meant the words exactly as she said them. She’d practically admitted that she was going to try again—it was just a matter of time. There was no challenge in her voice, only the harsh truth, and it filled me with anticipation. I looked forward to it almost as much as I dreaded it, because it meant I was going to have to show her firsthand how different things could be. She thought being here in my house was bad? Evangelina was in for a rude fucking awakening, because she was in no way prepared to deal with the devil I truly was.

  “Challenge accepted,” I replied softly.

  Chapter Eleven

  Eva

  For the past week, I’d remained in my room, hiding away from Fox. For the most part, he’d left me alone. It was almost like being back in the cell, except that I had the privilege of seeing the sun rise and fall each day. After his parting words six nights ago, I’d been waiting for him to make good on his promise. So far, he’d avoided me as much as I’d avoided him. The dinners we’d shared were a thing of the past. I almost wished we could go back to those awkward evenings. They were infinitely better than living in almost constant fear of what would happen next.

  I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t considered escaping again, but my bottom and legs ached at the reminder of what had happened a week ago. There was no doubt in my mind that next time would be even worse. For now I would have to outwait him. I would follow his every direction, win his trust. Then, once he’d lowered his guard, I would make my move.

  It would take careful planning, but I had nothing but time on my hands. If what he said was true, it’d been almost four weeks since I’d scaled Fox’s fence and been taken captive. No one was coming for me; it was my harsh reality and a hard pill to swallow. It also only strengthened my resolve to save myself. I could withstand anything he threw at me—I just needed to be patient and stay strong.

  As if my thoughts had conjured the man, the doorknob turned and the door swung open, revealing Fox. There was a harsh set to his face, a look in his eyes I’d never seen before, and it sent chills down my spine. I shrank back as he stepped into the room, pinning me with that intense, dark stare.

  “You’re coming with me.”

  I shook my head and strove for calm as I regarded him. “N-no, thank you.”

  “It wasn’t a request.” His tone was hard and cold, leaving no room for argument.

  “Where are we going?” My voice shook, and I hated myself for it. I didn’t want him to see my fear.

  “We will be having dinner with some acquaintances.”

  I eyed him warily, then glanced down at my leggings and sweater. “I don’t think I’m really dressed appropriately to—”

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  As strange as it was, I didn’t want to disappoint him; I didn’t want to give him a reason to punish me again. The tenderness in my bottom and legs had faded, but I could still feel the phantom sting of his hand on my flesh. A small shudder ran through me at the thought. No one had ever spanked me when I was young, and his punishment had been painful not only physically, but also emotionally. I felt like he’d taken part of my body, part of my soul away that day.

  “Well, just tell me where we’re going, and…” My words trailed off as he closed the distance between us, and I automatically took a step backward.

  “Turn.”

  My pulse kicked up, my blood rushing in my ears as my gaze collided with his. “Why?”

 
; “Now.”

  I couldn’t control my flinch as the single word thundered out of his chest and echoed in the room. I hated giving him my back; I felt vulnerable as hell. I wanted to keep him in my sight at all times. Following his orders, I reluctantly turned to face the wall. Smooth, cold metal snapped first around my left wrist then, before I could react, around my right.

  I whipped my head toward him. “What are you doing?”

  “I’ll be introducing you to a few of my acquaintances.”

  Grasping my shoulder, he turned me to face him again, then bent at the waist and lifted his pant leg. I sucked in a breath and stumbled a step backward as he yanked a knife from the sheath around his ankle. He didn’t offer any explanation, and I flinched, barely holding back my cry of terror as the blade sank into the material of my shirt and swept upward. The tip of the blade brushed the base of my throat, and I swallowed hard, feeling the sharp blade against my flesh.

  “Don’t speak.” I gave a tiny nod, and he pressed the blade more firmly against my neck. “Don’t make eye contact. Don’t even think. Understood?”

  I closed my eyes against the tears gathering behind my lids as he methodically cut the sweater off of my body and dropped it to the floor. The leggings went next, and every muscle in my body went rigid as I felt his fingers slide under the thin straps of my bra. With two quick slashes of the knife, the material fell to the floor at my feet as well.

  “Let’s go.”

  My eyes flew open, and fear clogged my throat as I tried to form words. “I—I can’t go like this!”

  He fisted one hand around my hair in a rough ponytail, then jerked back until my head was tipped up to his. “You seem to have difficulty following directions, so let me explain to you how this will work. You will join us for dinner. You will carry out my every instruction to the letter, and you will remain silent as you do so.”

  “But—” My words were cut off as his hand moved to my breast and tweaked my nipple hard. I let out a keening cry and jerked backward, away from the pain. Hampered by his hold on my hair and the wall at my back, I couldn’t move. I could only stare helplessly up at him.

  Dark brown eyes held mine as he swept his thumb in a gentle circle around my aching flesh. “Do we understand each other?”

  I bit my tongue and nodded against the tears that had formed in my eyes.

  “Good.” Grasping my bicep, he directed me out of the room and down the hall, marching me down the curving staircase and through the lower level of the house to the formal dining room on full display for anyone to see. The whole way, I stared at the ground in front of me, my shoulders hunched forward as if it would help to hide my nudity.

  One of Fox’s men held the door for us as we entered, and I could practically feel his gaze crawling over me like a thousand tiny spiders. The sensation made me want to claw the skin off my body. I felt like my flesh was bright red from humiliation by the time we reached the dining room table. Fox moved to the head of the table, then took a seat. “Kneel.”

  There was no question that he was talking to me, but I had no intention of obeying his orders like a fucking dog.

  “Kneel.” There was an edge of warning in his voice just before his hand landed on the back of my neck. His fingers dug into my nerves there, and a soft cry stuck in my throat as my knees buckled. I dropped inelegantly to the floor, just barely resisting the urge to glare at him.

  A man seated to Fox’s left, the one closest to me, let out a little chuckle. “Looks like you are having some trouble with your sub.”

  “She just needs a little work,” came Fox’s smooth reply. “She’ll be fine as soon as she’s broken in.”

  “I could take her off your hands, teach her a thing or two.”

  I fought the urge to recoil as I studied the man in my peripheral vision. Hell, no. I would rather die than go anywhere with that man. I hadn’t known him for more than thirty seconds, but I knew instinctively that I would rather run the risk of staying here with Fox. Better the devil you know.

  From the corner of my eye, I watched as Fox relaxed back in his chair. “Maybe I’ve been too lenient with her,” he replied to the corpulent man. “What do you say, Nikolai? Are you in the market for a new wife?”

  “Not just yet,” the man replied with a soft chuckle. “But I never could resist the temptation of a pretty face with the figure of a goddess.” Nikolai gestured toward me. “May I?”

  Panicked, I lifted my head slightly, looking at Fox. His face remained impassive as he stared at the man to my left. Finally, he shrugged. “It’s why we’re here, after all.”

  Icy fear slid through my veins, and goosebumps rose over my body from head to toe. My breathing increased rapidly and my stomach clenched as the man’s fleshy hand lifted toward me. Time seemed suspended as it came closer and closer before settling on my breast. I swallowed down the whimper that sprang to my lips and clenched my hands where they were bound behind my back. I pressed my lips together and slammed eyes closed as he pulled and tweaked my nipple. His movements were clumsy and rough, and I bit my tongue against the disgusting feel of him.

  I wanted to scream, but I forced it down as bile rose up my throat. His hand swept down my stomach to the tiny scrap of underwear I wore. His huge fingers yanked the fabric aside and he pressed one digit against my folds. I gagged and recoiled, and he let out a little laugh at my reaction.

  “Delicate little thing, isn’t she? I think I’d like to have her.”

  His hand lifted to my face, and I opened my eyes just as his thumb dragged over my lip. A mixture of hatred and fury welled up and exploded outward. I opened my mouth and sank my teeth into his flesh. Nikolai let out a grunt of pain, and triumph surged through me. He yanked against me, and I finally released him. The taste of him filled my mouth, and I spat on the floor. Before I could blink, the back of his hand connected with the side of my face, knocking me off balance. Stars danced in front of my eyes, and unable to catch myself, I collapsed sideways, my head cracking hard against the marble floor.

  A loud screech filled the air as Nikolai shoved his chair back, a string of coarse Russian epithets falling from his lips. I tried to scramble away, but Fox grabbed me and lifted me to my feet. “My apologies. She bites.”

  I swore I heard a trace mirth in his tone, but it was drowned out by the thrum of blood rushing in my ears as Nikolai advanced toward me, still swearing. I automatically took a step backward but stopped when I collided with Fox. He maneuvered me to the side and delivered a stinging slap to my bottom. “Go stand in the corner.”

  It literally hurt to obey his command as I forced my muscles to move. A thousand emotions flooded through me, humiliation and anger battling for supremacy. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to cry or scream until I had no air left in my lungs.

  Behind me, seated once more at the long table, Nikolai spoke. “Whatever the cost, I’ll take her. The little bitch needs to be taught a lesson.”

  “Perhaps,” Fox conceded. “I will review your offers at the end of the night and let you know what I decide.”

  I’d almost forgotten about the second man, he’d been so quiet. I could feel his gaze on my back, but I didn’t dare turn around to look. Tears glazed my eyes as I wallowed in my predicament. I should have listened to Fox; I should have kept my mouth shut no matter what. Fox wanted rid of me and would surely sell me to Nikolai. And if he did that, I would die. There was no question. I didn’t know who the second man was, but if he was in the same league as Fox and Nikolai, he had to be just as bad. I had to find a way to stay here with Fox—I just had to. I would find a way to earn his trust, whatever the cost to my soul. I was a survivor, and I would do what I had to in order to prevail.

  Chapter Twelve

  Fox

  This fucking woman. I forced myself not to react as she followed my instructions and retreated into the far corner of the room. A pink mark in the shape of my palm bloomed over her ivory skin, turning my blood to fire.

  Nikolai was correct; Eva w
as too goddamn defiant for her own good. But even thinking of him taking her home, breaking her in, made my stomach turn. I’d seen firsthand the things that had happened to some of the women he had before. Nikolai was particularly brutal, known for torturing the women before finally putting them out their misery. He hadn’t even reacted to my slight earlier when I asked after his wife. I hoped for the poor woman’s sake that she was already dead so she wouldn’t have to endure his torture anymore.

  There was no way Eva would last with a man like Nikolai. She had strength of spirit, but her body was delicate. I could only imagine what he would do to her. In my mind’s eye, I saw the dark purple and black marks that he had left on his second wife, Arabella. Once, she had spit fire just like Evangelina. In the span of just a few months, he had managed to extinguish her spark, leaving her praying for death.

  I tried to defuse the situation. “Let’s enjoy our dinner and discuss business afterward, shall we?”

  I turned to the man on my right, a man who went by the name Johnson. Like me, he was an independent dealer. While a majority of my assets were legitimate business holdings, Johnson’s were not. He peddled drugs, firearms—whatever the situation called for. If a client wanted it, he could get it.

  Two hours later, I showed both men to the door with the promise of contacting each of them regarding my decision. I didn’t mention I’d already made up my mind. Once they were gone, I strolled back into the dining room. Eva stood in the corner, fingers laced together just above her butt, legs spread wide, exactly the way I’d left her.

  I leaned one hip on the table, then crossed my arms over my chest and regarded her. Even from here, I could see the faint quiver of her muscles. After her show of defiance with Nikolai, I should make her remain like that all night long. I picked up the steak knife that lay next to my plate and strode forward. It had been a test of sorts, leaving it out in the open like that, and a smirk jumped to my lips. It didn’t matter that her hands were still bound behind her—I’d learned to underestimate nothing where Eva was concerned. If she’d wanted to go for the knife, she would have found a way to get it.