Mia yawned behind a covering hand. She took a last sip of the carbonated treat and leaned forward to set it on the floor. Freezing in place as Rafael’s fingers traced the faint marks that the flogger had left on her rounded buttocks, Mia smiled into the darkness at his appreciative touch. The pain of the strikes blended with the pleasure that he had brought her afterward.
As she sat back to look at him, Rafael looked so serious. Without thinking, her fingers reached forward to trace the lines between his brows and around his tense mouth. “What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“Lie down, my sweet. You need to rest,” the handsome man responded without answering her question. He helped her stretch out with her head cushioned on his muscled thigh. As his fingers brushed lightly over her tangled hair, Mia’s eyes closed. The half-smile on her face easing the lines on his as Rafael watched over her. Stroked, touched, guarded, Mia relaxed into a deep sleep.
13
Cuddling into the blanket that Rafael had draped over her body before leaving with the pizza box and the empty cans, Mia’s eyes blinked open. What? She pushed herself up to sit and stared around. The lights were on. A few scattered shadows remained in the corners of the room and patterned on the floor near the bars.
The space should have been ordinary. Completely bare of anything other than the few pieces of furniture that Mia had seen. A table over there where they’d had breakfast, the spanking bench with different implements hanging nearby. The toilet and her mat were the only other items in the vast area.
Instead of a mundane area, Mia looked around almost sad to see the mysteries unveiled. She pushed herself up to stand next to the mattress, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders. What should she do?
In the bars in front of her, a door had been opened. Hesitating near the safety that her mat had always offered, she wondered what to do. Mia took two baby steps toward the open door and froze as the speaker began.
“My sweet. Come to me,” he gently ordered. His voice was even, not revealing any sign of anger.
Taking larger steps, Mia walked with growing confidence to the doorway.
Once outside the caged-in area, she spied a stairway to the right. Cautiously, ascending the stone stairs, she reached a large carved wooden door. She hesitated before placing her hand on the knob and pushing the door open. Climbing the last step, she emerged into a very sunny room filled with plants and flowers. Her hand shaded her eyes from the brightness as she felt the warmth of the sun on her face.
“Rafael? Are you here?” she asked.
“Close the door behind you, my sweet. If you are good, I will allow you to visit the darkness again,” his voice came from behind her.
Whirling, Mia almost tripped over the blanket. Her first thought was to rush into his arms. As she took a step forward, his palm rose to stop her. She nodded and eagerly turned to follow his directions. Grasping the large doorknob, Mia struggled to push the heavy door closed. It was clear that the weathered wood was old and skilled hands had carved it years ago.
Once closed, her blue eyes rose to read the words carved into the wooden panels.
May you escape to the freedom that darkness offers.
Her hand rose to trace the second to last word. Darkness. With a gasp, she looked back at Rafael. She had been trapped in the darkness for however long. The frightening environment had become a haven for her. There, she had experienced a stronger connection with Rafael than with any of the men she had dated in the past.
Snatching that hand back to her chest, Mia slowly turned to look at him. “Is it over?” Her voice trembled despite her attempt to keep it steady.
His hand reached out to her. “Come here, my sweet.”
Mia flew to his side and threw her arms around his waist. She didn’t want to leave him. He’d fascinated her online, and with each conversation, she’d lost a bit of her heart. Being taken and trapped in the basement could have been traumatic, but it was like the wish on the door. There had been freedom in the darkness. He had sheltered her from the surrounding world, forcing her to experience some of her fantasies.
“Don’t send me away,” she whispered.
“You belong to me. I knew that after just a few short conversations with you. You just need to realize it. Come. Let me take care of you,” he commanded. Stepping away from her, Rafael took her hand and led her through the sunroom.
Glancing into the beautiful rooms as he escorted her through the house and up a large curved staircase, Mia smiled at the elegant home that must match his refined public self. She felt even closer to him. Rafael had shown her the hidden side of himself. One that she bet very few people had ever seen.
As they walked into a large bathroom, Mia pushed her musings out of her mind to watch the charismatic man. Rafael leaned over to start the water gushing into a large curved bathtub that sat at the end of the beautiful room. He released her hand to open one of the crystal jars of bath salts and poured a generous portion into the warm water. Instantly, the lavender scent began to spread throughout the room.
Mia caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Horrified by the sight of her rumpled hair and lack of makeup, she walked forward to inspect herself. Her battered hands rose to comb through the birds’ nest that her hair had become. When his handsome, well-groomed face appeared behind her, Mia dropped her head down so that Rafael wouldn’t be able to see her face.
One strong hand reached out to pick up a silver-backed hairbrush. The young woman peeked up at the mirror as Rafael began to tame her snarls gently. Now in the bright lighting of the bathroom, Mia’s blue eyes devoured his features and expression as he worked carefully to avoid hurting her.
They’d exchanged photos after they had been talking for a month. Rafael’s picture had obviously been taken on a business trip to a large city. Dressed immaculately in a gray suit, Rafael had exuded power and importance effortlessly. Mia had stared at this picture frequently, searching for clues about where and who he was. She’d hated not knowing what color his eyes were under the dark sunglasses. Now, she knew.
Rafael was elegant, professionally dressed as always. She could now see that those captivating eyes were dark brown bordering on black. Set in a rectangular face with a chiseled jawline, his gaze could pin her in place or make her warm in places like she had never experienced before.
As he stood in front of the vanity, the bright lighting glinted off the silver in his hair. That small bit of gray just seemed to make him more attractive in a worldly, experienced way. She softly smiled at that thought.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, curious about her expression.
“We are so different,” she said honestly. “I wish I knew all that you know.”
“I like your mind just as it is.” He smiled at her in the mirror. His eyes contemplated the young woman before him that he had researched so thoroughly. Rafael knew that she was twenty-seven. His investigations of her background had revealed three boyfriends—only one had been serious. Two at the university and one from the office building where she worked now.
His Mia was a beautiful woman. Especially now, he thought. Her face was clear of any makeup or artifice showcasing her wide blue eyes and shoulder-length brown hair. He felt that he was seeing the real Mia—not the one she usually showed the rest of the world.
Rafael finished brushing the worst of the tangles from her straight hair, “In fact, I like all of you, just as you are. Mine.” He set the heavy, silver brush down on the granite vanity with a definitive click before carefully taking off his expensive watch and setting it down as well.
Those words spoken so solemnly sent shivers down her spine. There was no doubt that he had claimed her. When his strong hands began to tug the blanket from her hands, her fingers clenched automatically on the soft fabric. As she watched in the mirror, his gentle smile disappeared. Those beautiful lips hardened, warning her before his hand simply pulled harder, removing the blanket from her grip.
“Mine to dress or mine to undress. It is impor
tant to remember that a possession belongs to the owner to cherish or to correct.” His fingers wandered over a few faint flogging marks that remained. When those dark eyes met her shocked blue gaze, he added, “Come now, my sweet. It is time for your bath.” Taking her hand, he led her to the large soaking tub. Rafael wrapped his hands around her waist to steady Mia as she stepped into the tub.
The warm steamy water was fragrant and silky around her as she sank into the tub with a sigh of enjoyment. Mia leaned against the sloped back of the tub and closed her eyes to savor the luxury of this bath. A whisper of movement came from behind her. Starting to open her eyes and tilt her head back to look, Mia panicked as Rafael’s strong hands wrapped around her shoulders and pressed down.
Without time to protest, Mia’s head slid under the surface of the water. Panicking, she struggled to sit up, fighting the hands that held her under the surface. The ceramic coating on the inside of the tub did not allow her to gain any traction, especially with the addition of the bath salts.
Mia’s eyes burned as she stared up through the murky water at the handsome man who loomed over her. His face was composed as he watched her struggle under the water. He’s going to kill me! The terror-stricken thought raced through her head seconds before he pulled her up from the water.
Gasping for air, Mia clung to the sides of the tub. She tried to scramble from the water but was held in place. Trying to get away from his touch, Mia’s movements were easily controlled by the seemingly unaffected man. Terrified, she froze in the tub. Her eyes burned from the additives mingled throughout the water. She tried to clear her vision by rubbing her eyes, but her wet hands only spread more of the bath salts.
“Do not move,” he instructed.
Immediately, she nodded. Her mind raced as she realized that holding her under the water had been retribution for resisting Rafael’s pull on the blanket. Staying very still, she watched him walk to the counter and open a drawer. When he returned with a wet washcloth and a new packet of eye drops, Mia held perfectly still as he wiped her eyes carefully with the damp cloth before dropping several eye drops into each blue eye to wash away the chemicals that burned.
“It would be wise to keep your eyes closed next time,” he suggested without emotion as he knelt down by the side of the tub.
“You’re going to try to kill me again?” she choked out.
“You belong to me, Mia. It is up to me to teach you how to behave correctly. There was no risk that you would die.” His tone was eerily calm. “Now, your hair is wet. I think you will need to have it cleaned.”
Mia sat perfectly still in the tub as he applied sweet-smelling shampoo on her sodden brown hair. His fingers mixed the cleanser into the brown locks and scrubbed gently at her scalp. Her eyes closed at the pampering treatment before flashing back open. She didn’t want him to surprise her again.
When her hair was squeaky clean, he rinsed out the shampoo with a sprayer attached to the faucet. The feel of the water pouring over her hair brought back the panic she had felt as the warm liquid had covered her head. Instantly, she began to scramble wildly from the tub.
Rafael gathered her against his muscular body. His hand brushed her still soapy hair from her face before beginning to brush down her back to comfort her. “My sweet, have you done anything wrong?” he asked in a soft tone.
“Noooo!” she wailed against him.
“Then you have nothing to fear,” he reassured her. Holding her tightly against his body until her beating heart began to calm, the handsome man did not rush her or become impatient.
He simply held her in his arms.
Finally, Mia pushed slightly away from his body. His drenched shirt was plastered against his chest.
Scared that she had messed up again, Mia began to apologize, “Sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten you wet.” Her fingers plucked the almost transparent fabric away from his firm chest.
“You do not need to apologize, my sweet. You are still learning.” Rafael leaned back slightly and began to unbutton his shirt.
Her eyes focused on the deft movements of his fingers. As each button slid free, he revealed more of his chest. Mia had never seen him even casually dressed. His crisp, white dress shirts were always immaculate. Finally, Rafael pulled the tail of the shirt from his waistline to unbutton the last two closures. As he shrugged out of the wet garment, her blue eyes devoured the masculine grace that he revealed.
Toned and fit, Rafael’s body revealed the discipline with which he lived his life. Without an inch of spare flesh, his form was almost perfection. Black hair scattered over his chest in just the right amount to invite fingers to curl within them and perhaps tug a bit. Her eyes jumped to the ragged scar running just below his collarbone.
“What happened?” she blurted out as her fingers reached out without thought to touch the healed injury.
“Come, my sweet. Close your eyes. Allow me to rinse your hair. The water will cool soon,” Rafael urged, ignoring her question as he lifted the sprayer and tilted back her head to rinse the last of the suds from her hair.
Mia understood. She would only know those things he chose to tell her. She closed her eyes and allowed him to take care of her hair. When he’d stroked a leave-in conditioner through her hair and wrapped a towel like a turban around her hair, Rafael’s attention turned to Mia’s body.
“Close your eyes, my sweet,” he directed as he dipped a washcloth into the water.
She hesitated slightly and saw his face begin to harden. Slamming her eyes shut, Mia held her breath.
“Thank you, my sweet.”
Within seconds, she felt the soft fabric touch her face. He spread the suds across her face and throat, avoiding getting soap into her eyes. After quickly wiping the lather away, he began bathing her arms. Mia’s eyes flashed back open to watch him carefully clean any dirt from her stay in the basement from her skin.
She inhaled sharply as the cloth rubbed over her small breasts. Arousal shimmered inside her body as his thumbs brushed over those beaded tips. Her eyes darted to his face, and inside she grew warmer upon seeing the desire written on his handsome face. Mia tried to hold on to the terror that she had felt earlier—to remember just what this man was capable of doing. Her mind instead chose to thrill at his touch on her body. Smoothing over her legs with the cloth, Rafael washed every toe as she anticipated feeling his hand on more intimate areas.
“Spread your legs, my sweet,” he commanded.
She’d learned her lesson. Immediately she bent her legs and allowed her knees to fall to the sides. Watching with equal amounts of anticipation and apprehension, Mia’s eyes were glued to that cloth as it glided down one inner thigh before stopping.
“What?” burst from her lips before she could stop it. Quickly, she raised her eyes to meet his. Relaxing just a bit at the amusement dancing in his dark eyes, she quickly put her hand over her mouth to stop her outbursts.
“Hand down, my sweet. I always want to hear your questions and your sounds of enjoyment. Lie back against the tub and relax. Let me take care of you,” he instructed.
Waging a battle in her mind over each inch, Mia leaned back slowly. Only when her shoulders pressed against the porcelain did Rafael move the cloth through the water to glide over the sparse hair at the junction of her thighs. Without a pause or tiny hesitation, his hand drew the washcloth through the pink folds usually hidden between her legs.
His other hand reached under her lower back to lift her hips slightly. Mia started to buck up into a seated position but remained reclined when those piercing eyes rose to look at her in a warning. She immediately pressed her shoulders back against the tub’s edge.
Satisfied, his gaze returned to the washcloth. Rafael pressed the cloth past the clenched, small opening between her buttocks to finish her bath before releasing the washcloth to drift slowly to the bottom of the tub. One hand still held her bottom slightly elevated off the tub surface. The other hand rose to lay against one creamy thigh as his thumb began to brush thro
ugh her pink folds. Lightly back and forth, that teasing digit glided over her swelling clitoris
Off-balance in the slippery tub, that lifting hand under her hips robbed her of any movement. Not that she would have resisted his attentions. She knew the pleasure that he could give her. Since the water had begun gushing into the tub, Mia had fought her growing arousal. The scare of being held underwater should have erased her desire. But it didn’t.
14
Later, as she stared into the bathroom mirror, the heat of his body behind her warmed Mia’s body. It still tingled with the aftereffects of Rafael’s skilled caresses. He had brought her to orgasm twice before lifting her from the water.
After drying her swaying body, Rafael unwrapped her hair and quickly combed it into place. His patience and unwillingness to hurt her as he detangled her hair clashed with his actions earlier to punish her.
Learning quickly to do what he asked without hesitation or question, Mia enjoyed his care. Her sated eyes stared at him in the mirror as he tended her hair. She memorized his fit body and stared hungrily at the thick erection that pressed against his fly.
Why didn’t he have sex with her? He hadn’t even kissed her. Somehow, she knew not to ask. They were on his time schedule. Not hers.
When he had smoothed her skin with luxurious body cream, Rafael interrupted her thoughts to ask, “Do you need to use the restroom?”
At her embarrassed nod, he opened a door to reveal the enclosed toilet. Waiting outside for her, Rafael did not appear impatient but merely lounged against the opposing wall. Mia appreciated the small bit of privacy. Quickly using the toilet, she emerged and washed her hands before returning to his side.
Leave Me Breathless: The Black Rose Collection Page 83
