Captive, Mine (9 page)

Taking a moment to look her over, he wished that time might slow, allow him to take it all in at his leisure. Her breasts weren’t large, but rather were proportional to her slight frame, firm and high. The dark nipples had tightened into hard points, whether from mortification or something else, he couldn’t tell.

He hoped it was both.

Her belly was tight and smooth, just like the rest of her, and he wondered what she did to keep that fit. Her overall physique suggested yoga, but then those strong thighs and round bubble butt made him think gymnast or some other sort of athlete. She was almost too trim though, the slight jut of her hip bones twin counterpoints to the deep navel, the smooth, elegant muscles of her belly. He wondered if she trained her body almost to the breaking point, relentless, uncompromising, to that pure state where there was only the exertion, her breathing, the pleasant fatigue of those muscles. More of that spirit that drew him to her, despite the surreal circumstances.

“We wouldn’t have to do this if you’d listened. Remember that, Ms. Cross, next time you feel like you should be running the show here.” He made sure he’d caught her gaze, before lowering his eyes to her bared sex. She kept it entirely smooth, the labia, like her bottom, surprisingly fleshy for one so slight, the lips of her sex closed in a tight seam that he wanted to tease with a fingertip, easing it between those folds to test that slippery heat.

Though he had no idea why, he knew she would be wet — despite the vitriol of her words, and the angry flash of her eyes. His cock wasn’t the only thing at attention here.

“Are we done? Let me go, Lake.”

“Turn around,” he said, making the motion with an extended finger.

“Lake…”

He gave her an arch of his brow, his fingers drumming on his crossed arms.

“Maybe I need to stand there and supervise your shower too? Or do I need to wash you myself?”

“You’d like that, prick,” she said under her breath as she turned, the slight movement of her hair matching the sway of her breasts

And then her ass was presented once more, and his breath caught in his throat. Her back tapered nicely down to twin dimples he found quite appealing indeed. Then the curve of her hips flared, bottom plump, lush even. The redness of her earlier spanking had disappeared almost entirely, only one spot, low on one cheek, threatening to darken with a small bruise. Her buttocks shivered a little as she shifted her weight, her fingers lacing tighter in that black mass of her hair.

“Legs shoulder-width apart.”

Complying, she muttered something, but it was too soft to make it out

“What was that, Ms. Cross?”

“Nothing… I. Please, isn’t this enough?”

He reached up, clasping her hands in his, her body tensing. Her hair was soft against his knuckles, and he thought then how much he’d like to run his fingers through it, feel that silky weight in his palms.

Too close, Lake. She despises you anyway. Just be done with this.

“I want you to bend over now. Body parallel to the floor. Keep your hands where they are.”

“Lake, for God’s sake—”

He smacked her ass with a loud crack, and she jumped, yelping.

“I’m not telling you again, Ms. Cross.”

She whimpered as she bent over, pausing a moment to widen her stance, hollowing her back and canting her hips a little to maintain her balance. Her movement was smooth, her hesitation borne of mortification rather than physical difficulty. He wondered at that as she held her position, the palm print blooming in deepening pink on her right buttock. The position was a stress position, intended to both expose the victim and physically tire them. He watched her for several long moments, the way the smooth thighs shivered with tension, the cords of the hamstrings taut, the crevice of her buttocks yawning open, the darkness within hinting at the anus not quite visible in the gathering morning light. The plump, smooth sex swelled below it, a glint of light catching what he’d suspected had gathered between the folds of her pussy. He laid a hand gently on her hip.

“Almost done.”

Her response was half growl, half sob.

Crouching behind her, he stroked a hand up the inside of each thigh, gauging her reaction. Surprisingly, though her thighs tensed further, she didn’t bolt, or even vocalize resistance. The handprint was an angry red now, and his palm caressed its heat before he ran his hands down her long, trembling thighs. This wasn’t about the wire anymore, and he wanted her to know that, to get used to the fact that he could — and would — touch her anywhere he liked. The sooner she understood that she was under his control, the sooner she might settle down, and the sooner she might actually be able to
help
him keep both of their asses from ending their days in shallow graves.

“Spread your cheeks, spread everything.”

Her breath caught at his words, and she froze. He could almost hear the wheels turning in her head, as she weighed the chances of punishment if she refused. He decided to help her along.

“If you don’t, I will. And you won’t like how I do it, either.”

She cut off a small, desperate sob but her hands slipped back to cup her buttocks.

“Lake…”

He didn’t respond, rather he let her dread — and his anticipation — hang heavy in the air. This was a turning point, of sorts. If he could get her to obey him here, he knew there was a glimmer of hope.

Her fingers grasped her cheeks and eased them slightly apart.

“More than that. I’ve got all day. Dragging it out only makes it worse for you.”

Lily pulled them fully open, her back hitching once, a quavering sound from deep in her throat.

The dark whorl of her anus came into view, the perineum, the delicate petals of her inner lips visible between the plump lips of her sex. Unable to resist, he drew a fingertip between her buttocks, savoring the feel of the smooth flesh there. He tapped lightly on that tight, vulnerable entrance, and she grunted, her anus clenching reflexively.

“You know what to do, Ms. Cross.”

Her fingers paused, one of them raised, shaking, as if she were agonizing over the decision. He hoped she was.

Then those fingers moved lower, between the soft labia, splaying them, the bright wetness within making his cock throb once more.

“That’s it.” He turned his hand palm up and stroked a finger along that wet, pink flesh, the tip easing forward against the prominent hood protecting her clit. He worked that bundle of nerves for a moment, again curious at what she might do. He smiled at the involuntary tightening of her hamstrings and her harsh exhalation of breath, but, again, she stayed put.

“Interesting.”

He rose, slapping her on the hip.

“Time for that shower.”

She spun around immediately, her hands covering her sex and breasts once more. Her brow was furrowed, her teeth working at the corner of her mouth. She moistened dry lips with her tongue then took two deep breaths and looked up at him. But when he met her eyes, they weren’t shooting daggers as he’d expected. He saw something else there instead.

Confusion.

She crouched down, reaching for her clothes.

“No. Those stay here. I need to check them too.” He stepped back, sweeping an arm toward the door. “You’re welcome to that shower now. You can close the door, but don’t lock it.”

“I don’t… I don’t understand this,” she said, shouldering past him. “Any of it.”

The door to the bathroom slammed, the springs of the mattress whispering as Lake sat down, studying the slippery moisture still glistening on his finger.

“Neither do I, Ms. Cross.”

Chapter 7

I
n the time it took me to get into the bathroom, I was already blocking what had just happened from my mind. I looked at my face in the mirror. What the hell was wrong with me? I pushed the shower curtain aside, switched on the water and glanced at the lock on the door. I reached for the little button, knowing if he wanted to, he’d shove the damned thing open with his shoulder and punish me for locking it. I did it anyway though. I needed one minute where I could be alone, even if I was kidding myself.

The tile was cold beneath me but I sat there anyway, processing. I didn’t believe my dad had hired Lake to protect me. Or rather, if he had hired Lake, Lake was no longer working for him. What had happened when he had knocked me out in the car? I had no idea and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I did remember the feeling moments before though. And I remembered well DeSalvo pulling on his gloves, asking me something about what I’d be willing to do to survive.

A shiver ran through me and I rose up off the ground. What had happened a minute ago in that bedroom left no doubt as to how far I’d go to survive.

“Screw you, Lake Freeman!” It wasn’t loud enough for him to hear and I did twist the doorknob a little to release the lock before I got into the shower. There was some noise in the hallway like he was drilling or something.

The water was thankfully hot, almost too hot, and the bathroom had already begun to steam up. I picked up the bottle of cheap shampoo and squeezed some onto my palm, scrubbing my head furiously.

What the fuck was that in the bedroom anyway? Checking me for a wire? Bullshit, and we both knew it. He was no different than other man — a horny fuck. He wanted to show me who was in charge? Well, I knew that. He hadn’t had to make me do
that.

And what about my reaction? Since when had I been one to strip when told to strip? Who dared even tell me to strip? Who dared tell me to bend over and…?

Heat flooded my face.
Fuck
! When had I forgotten who I was?

Blood boiled in my veins. At least I was getting angry. I might have been scared before, confused even. My body’s reaction to him puzzled me but that was chemistry. That was all it was. And Lake could go fuck himself. He got himself an eyeful today. Probably was jerking off at the memory even now.

“Hope you enjoyed the view, Lake Freeman,” I said aloud after rinsing my hair. I looked around for conditioner but all I found was a used bar of soap. Gross. My hair was going to be a wreck to comb through without conditioner.

Shaking my head, I switched off the water. I wasn’t here to win a beauty contest. I was here because Lake Freeman had decided to kidnap me and bring me here. His intent? That I didn’t understand. And quite frankly, I didn’t care. I needed to get out of here. All I needed was a way out of the house, a few minutes to get to the truck and I’d be gone. Hell, maybe I could run him over on my way.

Two towels were stacked on a shelf in the corner. I wrapped my hair in one and dried off with the other before wrapping that one around myself, my clothes being in the other room where he could check them for a wire. Christ, what bullshit.

I opened the medicine cabinet but found only an expired bottle of Advil there.

“You about done in there?” Lake asked, knocking, making me jump.

“No.”

I opened the drawers beneath the sink. There I found a toothbrush, some toothpaste and floss and one other thing that brightened my day a little: nail clippers, the old-fashioned kind with the file you could turn out that had the very sharp point. I could try to pick the lock on the window with it and if that failed, stabbing Lake was a good alternative. Better maybe.

He knocked on the door again and I palmed the clippers.

“What, you’re knocking now?” I asked, my heart racing. What would he do if he caught me?

“You’re right, I forgot myself,” he said, his tone flat.

I pulled the towel tight around myself when he opened the door and looked me over.

“Get out,” I said, meeting his gaze in the mirror.

“Mind your manners.”

“Screw you.”

“Lily…” he began, drawing out my name.

I needed a minute. “I need to brush my teeth. Can I at least get my toothbrush? I have one in my bag.” I’d keep talking, distract him until I figured out what I was going to do. “And toothpaste. You know what, just get me my purse.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I’m not your errand boy,” he said. “Let’s go, back in your room.” He gripped my arm and pulling away was not an option. “I’ve got work to do.”

“You’ve been busy already,” I said, eyeing the brand new deadbolt on the outside of my bedroom door.

“If you prefer to be handcuffed to your bed, let me know. A little gratitude would go a long way, you know.”

I looked at him, holding the towel tight to me, the clippers in the palm of my hand. I couldn’t help myself. “So I should thank you for kidnapping me?” I asked, my smile saccharine. “Is that what you’re waiting for? Is that why you’ve been acting like such a prick?”

“Careful, Lily. You get one warning.”

Why my belly reacted like it did to that comment, I didn’t even want to think about. I went into the room to find my purse there. It was open, and the contents had been dumped out onto the bed but it was here, at least. It was somehow a comfort.

“Be good, Lily,” he said, pulling the door closed.