CHAPTER FOURTEEN

AVERY

MY BROTHER AND I STAND in the middle of the warehouse discussing business when a cell rings.

Kayn excuses himself to answer it. “What?” he barks out. He spins back around to face us, and I hold up my hand to my brother, quieting him.

“What is it?” I demand.

“We have a situation,” he answers, pocketing the phone.

“What is it?” I snap, wanting him to get to the point.

“It’s Presleigh. She ran.”

“WHAT?”

“Darrell stopped her …”

“Fuck!”

“Told you she would be a prob—”

“Don’t fucking finish that sentence,” I bark at my brother, then look at Kayn. “Let’s go.”

Twenty minutes later, I barge into her room to find her lying in her bed and Darrell standing in the corner. It feels like Deja vu. “Leave!”

He obeys without question.

I take a sip of my scotch that I had stopped by my study to grab. I go to sit down in the chair but notice it has a leg missing. Instead, I sit on the couch and wait for her to wake up. I was told that Darrell drugged her but with less than the normal dosage, so she should be waking up soon.

So I wait.

She fucking ran!

I didn’t think she’d be that fucking stupid. Again!

She just continues to prove me wrong. And that does not bode well for her.

Thirty minutes later, she starts to stir.

“Fuuuccckkkk.” She groans in pain.

Darrell told me he hit her, and I’m not happy about that. Why hit her if he already had the drugs in his hands and her cornered? He and I need to have a talk later. After I’m done with her.

She rolls over onto her back, covering her face with her hands.

“You’re daring me to prove something to you, Bunny.”

She sits up, and her dazed blue eyes meet mine, blinking a few times to no doubt try to clear her blurry vision. I’ve never been drugged with the stuff, but I know how strong it is.

After a few long seconds, she looks away and swallows.

“And I don’t like to be tested,” I say, swirling the scotch around in my glass.

Her eyes find mine again, and I look at the bruise on her right cheek from Darrell’s fist. My hand tightens on the glass. Only I am allowed to touch her. I’ll remind him of that.

Her jaw sharpens. She’s pissed. Good! “Fuck you, Avery!”

I place my glass down on the floor and stand. Then I’m walking over to her. “Remember how I told you not to run? That you would be punished …?”

She throws off the covers and goes to jump out of bed, but I’m faster than she is and reach the bed before she can get out. I grab her hair and pull her onto her feet.

“Avery!” She gasps out.

“You’re gonna learn to keep that smartass mouth shut unless I’m fucking it,” I growl, and she cries out.

I drag her out of the bedroom and down the winding staircase. Her legs can’t keep up with mine due to my fast pace and the drugs still lingering in her system. She trips, but I manage to keep her up with my hand still wrapped in her hair.

She tries to fight me; her hands grip my arm, and her nails dig into my skin, cutting me, but I don’t let go. I’m too pissed that the fucking bitch almost got away.

How the fuck would I have found her?

I hadn’t put a new tracker in her yet. I’m just as pissed at myself as I am her. Thankfully, Darrell put a new one in while she was out this time.

I continue to pull her through the house while she cries and tries to fight me. We pass Kayn and my brother in the foyer. Both men watch with emotionless stares.

We turn the corner, and I unlock the door underneath the staircase. She sucks in a few breaths, and her body slumps against mine.

The door opens, and I yank her inside. “You’re hurting me—”

I cut her off, pulling her down another set of stairs, then shoving her forward into the dark room. She trips over her feet, falling onto her stomach. I hit the switch on the wall, and my cellar lights up.

It’s freezing cold and smells of blood. No matter how many times it gets cleaned, the smell won’t go away. It’s as if all the souls of the men I’ve killed remain here.

She scrambles forward on her hands and knees, trying to put some space between us. I allow it because she has nowhere to go in here. It’s literally a dungeon.

When she decides to come to a stop, she spins around on her ass and looks up at me. Tears run down her face as she silently cries. Her hair a disheveled mess and her chest heaving with every breath. Her shirt pulled tight against her chest. She looks fucking perfect!

My slave!

“What … is this place?” she mumbles, eyes searching.

It was once a wine cellar, but I had it gutted. Two thousand square feet. Enough room for me to do what I do best—torture.

It’s just like my father’s.

It has three jail cells to the left, lining the black wall. A silver table bolted down in the middle and one chair beside it. I also bolted the chair down just so it can’t move when I’m yanking out their teeth or cutting off their fingers.

“This is where you belonged from the beginning.”

“What?” She gasps, turning to face me. “Avery, no …”

“I think you prefer to be chained to the wall.” Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head frantically. “Left down here, alone. Only to be allowed one glass of water and two pieces of bread each day.”

“Please don’t …”

“I think I’ve been more than accommodating, Bunny. But if you want to run like a disobedient slave, then I will treat you like one.”

For the first time since I took her, I hate the look of terror in her blue eyes as she looks up at me from the concrete floor. This is how Damon would treat her. This is exactly how she would look up at him. I’m supposed to be better. But I also can’t have her running from me. I honestly didn’t think she would give me this much trouble. I thought she’d lie down and take it.

I was a fucking idiot!

I walk over to the right and grab a chain that hangs from the wall. The weight heavy in my hands. “Do you want me to chain you to the wall?”

“No! Please …”

I take a step toward her, and she crawls backward until she’s pressed up against one of the cages that lines the wall. “Do you want to have to piss and shit in a bucket?” I yell. I may have never owned a sex slave, but my father taught me how to treat one—like they’re fucking nothing!

“A-a-aver-r-ry.” She sobs.

I storm over to her, and she doesn’t even bother trying to run from me. I lean down and grab her chin and make her look up at me. She whimpers. “You are testing my patience, Bunny!” I snap.

“I’m sorry.” She sobs and closes her eyes tightly.

“Look at me!”

When she opens her eyes, I drop the chain and lift my now free hand to touch her wet cheek, and she flinches as if I’m going to hit her. “I don’t want to treat you like this, Bunny,” I say softly, and her body physically shakes. “I don’t want to cage you like an animal.” Lie, that’s why I brought her here in the first place. I knew what extremes I would have to go to, to keep her safe. She’s not safe from me, though. “But you’re not giving me any other choice.”

“I’ll do better …”

I sigh dramatically for effect. “I don’t think you can.”

“Please,” she begs, and my cock hardens at how breathless she sounds. Her bloodshot eyes quickly look around the room the best she can since my hand still holds her chin in place. “I don’t want to stay down here,” she whispers once her eyes meet mine.

“Are you going to be good?”

“Yes.”

I don’t want her down here either. I want her up in her room. “This is your last chance, Bunny. Disobey me again and you will find yourself down here. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Fuck!

The single word makes me want to rip her clothes off and fuck her right here. But that’s not part of the plan. On the way home, I decided what I was going to do with her, and it was never to put her in the cellar. I mean, the threat has been made. If she fucks up again, this is where she will find herself. But I wanted her punishment to be more of a mindfuck rather than physical.

“Go back up to your room,” I order, letting her go and standing to my full height.

She slowly stands and then walks out without looking back at me.

Fuck, I hate that she almost outsmarted me. Again!

I run a hand through my hair, frustrated.

“Avery?”

“What?” I snap, turning to see my brother has now joined me. “Go home, Tristan.”

I know why he’s here. He thinks I’m going to fold and go easy on her. And that he can take over when that happens. If he lays one hand on her, I’ll kill him.

He walks into the cellar, pocketing his cell. “I made the call. We’re on.”

“We?”

He nods. “The more eyes, the better.”

I can’t disagree with him there.

He just stands there as he looks around the empty cellar. When his eyes meet mine, I can see the disappointment in them. “Not making her stay down here?”

“What I do with her is none of your business,” I growl defensively.

His eyes narrow on me. “Look. I’m putting my ass on the line for not only you but for her as well.”

“I never asked for your help!” He lets out a long sigh as if he’s tired of this fucking game already. I’m just getting started.

“Eventually, she is going to succeed.”

I shake my head. “She will not …”

“We both know she will. Quit denying it.” My jaw tightens. “What are you gonna do when he ends up with her?”

“I won’t allow that to happen,” I say through clenched teeth.

“You can’t control her. She’s been here two days and already proven it twice.”

“It won’t happen again.”

“You can’t guarantee that.” He holds his hands out wide. “Unless you put her down here—”

“Drop it, Tristan!” I interrupt him. “I have a plan. Either fucking stick to it or get the fuck out!” Then I walk past him, exiting the cellar, running up the steps and then making my way up the winding staircase to the second floor.

I open her bedroom door without knocking to find her sitting on her bed. Her back against the headboard and legs up to her chest.

“Come here,” I order.

I wait impatiently as she slowly crawls out of bed. She has quit crying, but her cheeks are still wet, and I know the drugs are still in her system. She walks over and stands before me. I look down at her. “Get undressed.”

Her shoulders slump at my command, but her fingers remove her shirt and jeans. She stands before me dressed in a black bra and matching thong.

“All of it.”

She unclasps her bra, and it falls to the floor before my feet. Then she slowly pushes her thong down her legs, showing me her smooth pussy.

I look over her slowly, allowing my eyes to take in every inch of her. She looks better than she did yesterday. Her color is back, and her face is healing. Well, except for the new mark Darrell gave her earlier.

She reaches up, crossing her arms over her chest, and bows her head. She’s nervous. Good, I want her to feel something. Fear is a very strong motivator. She needs to be terrified of me. Because if she were to get away, and Damon got a hold of her …

“Turn around and get down on your knees.”

Her head snaps up, and her blue eyes meet mine, wide with fear. “Avery …”

“I gave you an order, Bunny. I won’t repeat it.”

She very slowly turns around and goes down to her knees, her hands resting on her thighs.

I grab my scotch from the floor and take a drink. This is her punishment. The anticipation. She never was good at waiting. “Place your ass up in the air and your cheek on the floor.”

“Please, Avery …”

“What did I say about begging?”

I hear her sniff, and I take another drink. Fuck, I want to toss her on the bed and fuck her tight little pussy. Show her that she has been and always will be mine. But she ran. She made her choice, so now she must face the consequences.

She bends over, placing her palms flat on the hardwood floor, and she lowers her right cheek as well. Her ass and pussy are up in the air.

“Spread your legs, Bunny.” My voice comes out rough, and I grip my glass tighter as my cock hardens. Fuck, this woman is incredible.

A soft whimper leaves her lips while she spreads her knees for me. Not as much as I’d like, but it’s a start.

I throw back another drink and lower myself to my knees behind her. When my hand touches her ass cheek, she jumps.

“Are you going to hurt me?” Her voice shakes.

“Yes.”

She sucks in a breath at my answer. But not the way she is thinking. I’m not gonna remove my belt and make her black and blue. Or bleed. I’m gonna fuck her body and her mind. I’m gonna remind her who the fuck is in charge here.

My hand runs over her wet pussy, my thumb sliding over her clit before it enters her. She shuffles on her knees and arches her back more. I smile.

Raising my drink, I finish off the little I have left and pause. I look over her pussy and get an idea.

“Don’t move,” I order.

Lifting my glass, I hold it over her ass and pussy and pour the contents out. She gasps as the dark liquid dribbles down over her skin, coating her thighs before dripping onto the floor. Pieces of ice fall, and she sucks in a long breath. The coldness causing a chill to run through her body.

Then I lean forward and lick it off her smooth cunt. The taste has my hands gripping her cheeks, spreading them farther. It tastes like the best fucking thing in the world. Scotch and candy.

“Avery …” She cries out, pushing back against me.

“What, Bunny?” I ask as my tongue creeps higher, licking up the scotch as I run over her ass. I wanna fuck it!

“Please.” She whimpers, pushing her hips back more.

I pull back and slap her ass cheek, and she moans. Then I lower my lips to her pussy again. Placing my hands on her thighs, I spread them farther apart and bury my face into her. My tongue enters her, and I taste the sweetness of her cunt. My cock pushes painfully against my zipper.

Her hips rock back and forth as I fuck her with my tongue, and she continues to whimper.

I hear her start to pant, feel her pussy start to tighten, and I pull away, licking what is left of her off my lips.

She cries out, and her body shakes, knowing what I’ve done. I’m gonna have my way with her tonight, but she isn’t gonna come.

I make my way to my feet. “Stand up.”

She pushes herself up off her face and gets to her feet. She sways a little bit, and I reach out to help steady her. Once I know she’s not gonna fall, I order, “Don’t move!”

I go over to her closet and grab what I want. Walking out, I grab her arms and bring them behind her back. I wrap the fur-lined cuffs around her wrists. I would prefer to use handcuffs, but her one wrist is still healing, and I don’t want to hurt her.

“Go lie on the bed,” I instruct her. “On your back and your head at the foot.”

She gets on and lies on her back with her head at the end of the bed. I undo my black slacks and push them down my legs along with my boxers. Then I reach up and unbutton my dress shirt. I walk to the end of the bed and look down at her. She lifts her knees up, and they fall open. I smile, reaching down to stroke her face. “Tonight is about me, Bunny.”

She closes her eyes and licks her lips. I grab her shoulders and pull her closer to me, her head falling off the end of the bed.

“Open that pretty mouth so I can fuck it.”

She keeps her eyes closed but follows my command. Her lips part, and I grab the base of my cock. I rub it along her lips, letting the pre-cum paint them like a canvas. Then I push into her mouth. She opens wider, running her tongue up my shaft.

I moan when her lips close around me. There’s no other feeling like her in the world. Looking down at her, I start to move back and forth, my cock moving easier with each thrust.

I reach out and grab her breasts, my hands kneading them, and she moans around me. Her chest rises as she arches her back. I know she’s uncomfortable. She’s lying on her bound arms, her head is hanging over the side of the bed, and her pussy is begging to be fucked, but I don’t care. Just as I told her, tonight is about me.

I release her breasts and wrap my hands around her throat. I feel it work as my cock fucks it. I pick up the intensity, and her body shudders when I hit the back. “You look so pretty with my cock in your mouth and hands around your neck,” I tell her.

She moans and lifts her hips off the bed, needing more.

“Fuck, you feel incredible, Bunny. So fucking good!” I hiss.

I continue my punishing pace while her body thrashes helplessly before me, and I wanna pull out. I wanna crawl on top of her, spread her legs wide, and fuck her with passion. Remind her that she is mine! That no one could love her like I do! Or fuck her like I do!

But I don’t.

Instead, I continue to fuck her as she lies there taking it like she fucking needs to be used just as much as I need to use her.

I come with her name on my lips, and she swallows.

When I pull away, she’s panting, and tears run down the side of her red face from all the blood rushing to it.

I help her sit and then move over to the middle of the bed with her head at the headboard. I push her down on to her stomach and then walk into to the closet, grabbing some more things.

PRESLEIGH

Shame washes over me. My second attempt to save myself ended up hurting me more.

Avery isn’t gonna let up. I don’t know this Avery. The one I knew was soft and loving. He didn’t believe in punishment or only pleasing himself. He didn’t have slaves. He was a giver in and out of the bedroom.

I’m trying to catch my breath when I feel Avery grab my ankles. He spreads them far apart, and then I feel fur just like on my wrists wrap around them.

When he’s done, I try to move them, but they’re spread wide. “What?” I try to lift my head to see what he’s done.

“It’s a spreader bar,” he tells me, coming over to push my hair from my face as he stands beside the bed. “It keeps your legs spread far apart. You’re going to stay like this all night.”

What? “Avery …”

“You’re being punished, Bunny. You are not allowed to touch yourself and not allowed to come. Do you understand why I’m punishing you?”

I bury my face into the pillow and try not to cry. I thought he would hit me, choke me a little, or just slap me around if he caught me. I was so wrong.

“Answer me.”

“Yes,” I mumble into it.

He grabs a handful of my hair and jerks my head back. I hiss in a breath as wetness pools between my legs. “Why?”

“Because I disobeyed.” He can’t really expect me not to try to run.

His hand comes out, and he gently runs his thumb over my cheek. “Are you going to do that again?”

“No.” I whimper. “Please just fuck me,” I beg. After I had his lips on my pussy, it’s throbbing.

“When you deserve to be fucked, Bunny, I’ll fuck you.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” I ask as tears form in my eyes once again. I hate whatever they drugged me with because it messes with my emotions.

He squats beside me so we’re level, and he tilts his head to the side. “You are doing this to yourself.”

“Just let me go, Avery. Please.” I can’t help but beg. I pull on my chains and I hate that they turn me on. I fucking hate myself.

“I can’t do that,” he says softly, letting go of my hair. The side of my face falls to the pillow once again. He runs his hand over my head.

“You might as well kill me,” I whisper.

“You’re no use to me dead,” he says simply.

My heart pounds in my chest, and I fist my cuffed hands.

“Look at me,” he demands.

I open my eyes and look at him. His dark blue eyes search my face. They linger on my cheek where Darrell punched me, then they fall to my lips. I wiggle in my chains, and my pussy starts to throb.

His eyes meet mine. “There is no escape, Bunny. You need to understand that.”