Kate
Days have gone by and while I’m still tied to this damn bed, things aren’t so bad. Matteo brings me three delicious meals a day, and sometimes even some snacks. Dark chocolate does wonders to the psyche, and I treasure every small treat I can get. I try to think of it as though I’m in the hospital and I’m being waited on while I heal. Perhaps I am. Slowly the pain of losing Tony and my friends dwindles each day. If I think about them too much, the wounds just break open deeper. It’s easier for me to put them in the back of my mind and focus on the present.
Matteo brought a television in my room yesterday. I never watched much of it before, but now it’s my one escape and I think it might be my crack. I can’t get enough of it. He won’t allow me to watch the news. I’m not sure why. My guess is he wants to keep me isolated from the world outside. Instead, I watch either cooking shows, the home repair channel, or old movies. At the moment, it works.
The abusive green-eyed monster I knew before no longer exists. If he does, he hasn’t reared his ugly head in quite some time. Instead, I have this man who worships my body and makes it feel good several times a day. It’s not too bad. Most of the time, I remove any emotions and allow myself to enjoy the pleasure. I’m a shell of the person I was, but I’m no longer in pain and more importantly, I’m alive. There’s something to be said for that.
There are voices in the other room. Matteo frequently has people over, but they’re never allowed in here. I wonder who his associates are and what they are doing. Sometimes I think about asking, but it’s none of my business, and I don’t want to do anything to upset Matteo when things are going so well.
The door creaks open and I’m face-to-face with Demetrio. I instantly try to curl up in a ball, but the restraints prevent the reflexive movement from happening. Suddenly, I’m very grateful for the protection my thin blanket offers.
My heart races and my body begins to protest against the ropes in an effort to run and hide. “What are you doing here?”
Demetrio stares at the floor. He’s ashamed or embarrassed. I can’t tell.
“I won’t hurt you. My father just asked me to come in and check on you to see if you needed anything.” He still refuses to make eye contact.
I begin to settle as I realize he’s not here to hurt me. My fear is replaced by anger and hatred. This man knew my life. He knew I was happy, and he helped his father take me away from all that. Why? Why would he do it?
“You want to help me? You can free me and take me home.”
He mutters softly to the ground, “I can’t do that.”
“Why? Why would you willingly keep me locked up here? I know why he does it, but why you?” My anger gets the best of me and for the first time in I don’t know how long, the fight is back in me. I want answers to this sick and twisted game.
“All I can say is this is bigger than just you.” Demetrio steps out and closes the door without saying anything more.
I’m speechless. For once in my life I don’t know what to say or ask. Things just don’t make sense. I think about yelling and screaming for help, but I know it won’t get me anywhere. I’ve acquired so many freedoms since I’ve been here, and I really don’t want anything taken away or worse yet, one of the people out there forcing themselves on me. I decide to keep my mouth shut and mull over the seed of information planted in my brain. Hopefully that nugget can be stored away for good use at a later date. Or maybe it was just given to provide a false sense of hope. Either way, it’s not doing me a lot of good now.
The hackles that arose because of Demetrio goes back down. I settle into the comfort of my bed and the pillows that now surround me. Pillows are a luxury that I’ve never taken for granted. I loved them at the Waldorf in Rome and I still treasure them every day. There’s something about lying in a mound of pillows that makes me feel pampered.
I settle back in to watching the cooking channel. Rachel Ray is on. At one point, I used to hate watching her. She banters mindlessly about stupid things. Many times, I’ve screamed at the television to just cut the crap and give me the important things, like what I need to know to cook the dish—not that it would’ve turned out edible in the least, but I’m trying. Now, I welcome her chit-chat. It’s almost as if we have a friendship. Sure it’s one way, but I’d gladly listen to her than silence filling every second of my day.
Thirty-minute meals. It’s such a foreign concept for me. My attempt usually takes an hour or two. Fortunately, Tony and I eat out a lot. Or at least we used to. Tony is a fabulous cook and makes amazing meals for me. I really don’t think there’s a more perfect man out there. His emerald green eyes are straight from the city of Oz. They are unlike anything in the world. His smile makes me swoon and my heart flutter like a little school girl. His washboard abs constantly put my body on edge waiting to lick them clean. No one has ever made me feel the way he does, and I doubt anyone ever will.
As if on cue, Matteo walks in the door. My cheeks go warm as though I’ve been caught doing something naughty. I know he wouldn’t approve of me thinking about Tony.
“Are you okay?” He cocks his head to the side quizzically.
“Yes, I just thought it was your son coming in again, and I was a little embarrassed.” It’s a good lie.
Matteo shuts the door and approaches the bed. “Why would you be embarrassed?”
The question seems to be ridiculous. “I’m tied here spread eagle with barely a cover for the world to see. After what we’ve shared lately, I don’t feel right being exposed to other men.”
He leans down and kisses my forehead. “You don’t have to worry about that. You’re mine now, and I’m not sharing. I think I know just the thing that will make you feel better.” Matteo leaves the room with the door open behind him.
I don’t hear any voices, only silence. I’m thankful for this and hope that he’s true to his word about not sharing me with anyone. I’ve learned really quickly to say the things he wants to hear. When I do, things go very well and I’m usually rewarded.
He walks back in with a pink box. I’d know it from anywhere. Victoria’s Secret. One can only guess what it is; I just hope it’s not something too trashy.
Matteo releases one of my arms. I move it around to get some feeling back. It’s the same routine I go through every few hours when he allows me to stretch one limb at a time. Once the blood is flowing again, I take my one free hand and remove the cover while he holds the box in place. I pull back the tissue paper and gasp at the contents. Inside is a navy-blue silk negligée. I hold what I can of it up. It’s beautiful and is heavenly against my skin. It’s been so long since I’ve worn silk or anything for that matter. A smile covers my entire face. I feel like a young girl opening a birthday present to find that Daddy purchased her first doll house.
I glance up at Matteo, whose eyes have softened. In fact, I’d say they have a warm glow about them. “Can I wear it?”
“I was hoping you would. I’d love to see you in this, and I thought it might provide you with a little more of the privacy you were wanting.”
It’s such a small thing, but the thought of wearing clothing is like how I felt having that first meal after several days of not eating. I hand the silk garment to him. “Will you put it on me?”
His face lights up as his smile grows into a full grin. “I thought you’d never ask.” He walks to the other side of the bed and releases my other arm. It’s the first time since he’s taken me that both of my arms have been free at the same time, except for when I had to give Demetrio a blow job. Instead of letting the feeling back into the arm, I bring my hands together and hold them. I’m not sure why it feels amazing to hold my own hands, but it does, and I hope it’s something I never take for granted again.
“Lift your arms.” I do as I’m told. The blanket falls from my breasts, exposing them to the blast of air which forms my nipples into stiff peaks. Normally, I might be modest, but this man took all that away from me.
Matteo gently pulls the fabric over my head and breasts. The softness against my skin is better than I remember. It’s like bathing in rose petals. I’m instantly transformed from a hostage to a beautiful woman. I’m alive, and it feels amazing. I reach up and wrap my arms around Matteo’s neck. I plant a kiss on his cheek and thank him. A happy tear escapes my eye. I can’t believe how emotional I am about a piece of clothing.
Matteo pulls the blanket off my legs and brings down the negligée all the way before stopping to appreciate what is before him. “It looks beautiful on you. I couldn’t have picked a better color. The blue makes your eyes turn a darker, stormier shade of blue. I think you’re sexier in this than you are naked, if that’s even possible.”
The redness returns to my cheeks. Matteo is drunk on my body and can’t get enough of it. It’s flattering but, at the same time, a little overwhelming. The bulge in his pants tells me he likes what he sees.
“I need you, Katherine. I need to be inside of you.” He moves to the side of the bed and grabs one of the restraints.
“Please, no,” I beg. I’m not ready to be tied up again. It’s only been a few short minutes that I’ve had both of my arms free at the same time. “I want to touch you with my hands while you’re in me. I want to feel the muscles in your back contract as you plant your seed inside. Please.”
He stands there staring at me, obviously conflicted as to what he should do. For a brief moment, I think he’s going to tie me up and then he climbs on the bed, crashing his mouth against mine. I think I’ve found his weakness. It’s me and the loving touch I can provide. The man just needs to be loved. In a way, I feel sorry for him. The other part of me says to use it toward my advantage to make every day with him a little bit easier.
Matteo straddles his hips across my body. He tugs on his shirt, but I stop him.
“Please, let me do it.”
I gently take the rayon fabric and slip it over his head, delicately placing kisses up his rock-hard stomach and onto his chest as I do so. Matteo isn’t as fit as Tony, but he’s definitely good looking in his own right. I could’ve done worse as far as my captor is concerned.
Once his shirt is off, Matteo’s gaze penetrates mine and I’m unable to look away. His eyes are a turbulent sea green. There’s so much going on in them, I gasp at the emotion and the connection he’s sharing with me right now. The man may be pure evil, but he’s also hurting. He needs someone, whether a companion or lover, but he needs someone he can trust.
I reach up and touch his face. Despite my current predicament, I do feel sorry for him. I don’t like to see anyone hurt. He takes my hand and plants his lips to it and seemingly inhales my scent before reaching down to wipe the hair from my forehead. There’s an unspoken dialogue and for a few fleeting moments, I feel like I’m the one in control.
Matteo scoots down my body and pulls up the negligée, exposing my tummy. He circles my navel with his tongue while gliding his hands up to my breast giving them the gentle tug they’re so desperately craving. His lips are gentle but electrifying and his hands torturous, leaving me craving very little but more of the expert stimulation my body can’t seem to get enough of.
He gently spreads my legs, exposing the delicate pink flesh that screams for his nurturing. I’ve given up trying to fight my body and instead have succumbed to the ecstasy that unfolds several times a day. It’s not such a bad thing if I don’t think too much.
He uses his thumb and presses against the bundle of nerves that have taken control of my mind and body. My eyes roll into the back of my head as his mouth makes contact to my most sensitive parts. I put my hands through his hair, pulling his head closer and giving the pressure I need to reach the ledge and dive off into the unknown world waiting below.
Without warning, Matteo pulls away and looks me in the eye with that sadistic grin I haven’t seen in a while. My breath hitches and I immediately move to cover up. The grin disappears and changes to concern. “I’m not going to hurt you. I was just going to comment on how greedy you are. Your body is insatiable for me.”
I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. I force a smile, not completely ready to let my guard back down. He leans down and plants kisses along my inner thigh. My sex is clenching, searching for something to grab onto and take it for a pleasure ride. My mind wanders and is lost into why I get so worked up over that hateful grin. He’s done nothing to hurt me lately. I need to trust in that.
He comes back up and brushes his hand against my cheek as he stares deeply into my eyes. “I’m falling in love with you. I’ve never experienced anything like this. You’ve taken a hold of my heart, put a chain around it, and won’t let go. I just want to be with you, just the two of us all the time. I want your body next to me and for us to be one—partners and soul mates.” He crashes down on my lips pushing against them with his tongue and connecting with mine. The man is staking claim to me right here and now, and there’s no way for me to escape it. All I can do is concede the battle and allow him to ravage and mark me as his own. Perhaps, one day I can learn to love him.