Trembling with fear, I opened my eyes. Heavy bits of grit fell from my lashes scratching my eyes. Blinking several times, I looked around to see where I was. My wrists throbbed from the tight bindings and my back ached as if I’d been tied to the chair for some time.

Ayden.

How was he alive? I’d seen his car smash into the concrete median. There was no way he could’ve survived.

I’d been coming out of Ash’s apartment getting into my car. I sensed someone in the car with me when everything went black.

The room was dank and dark with the heavy musty odor of mold. Obviously a basement, I looked to see tiny rectangle windows at the edge of the ceiling. With a sinking heart, I realized no one would see me in here.

Or hear me.

Suddenly, I heard heavy footsteps above me. Ayden was coming. The footsteps got closer and closer. I held my breath pulling against the restraints.

As he descended the wooden staircase, I watched as his shoes appeared. I held my breath bracing myself for the worst.

He stopped at the foot of the stairs to stare at me. He was as handsome as ever with his dark hair falling over one eye. He jerked his head back to clear a lock from his forehead. He was dressed casually in tight jeans and a long sleeve thermal shirt. He was more muscular than I’d remembered. He must’ve been working out a lot more.

As he walked toward me, I cringed dreading his touch. His hands brushed my cheek lightly.

“Hello, Amber.” His voice was husky and deep. His hair was longer than he’d normally worn it. Several locks fell into his eyes. His build was even more defined his muscles rippling beneath his tight shirt. The sleeves were pushed up so high so I could see the tattoo, ‘Forever Amber’ still emblazoned on his bicep.

“Ayden? What happened? Why did you bring me here?” My throat was so sore it was difficult to talk.

He knelt beside me to stroke my hair.

“Princess, I brought you here because it was the only way to get his attention.”

“Whose attention?” My vision was blurry and I wondered if he’d hit me on the head as well.

“Ashton Blackthorne. You’re his little sub now, aren’t you?”

“Ash? No, not at all.”

“Come now, Princess. I know what a dirty little girl you are. I saw you coming out of his house in the middle of the night! I doubt you were working at 3:00 AM!”

“Nothing happened, Ayden! He’s my boss. And now he’s my business partner.”

Ayden threw back his head laughing. He leaned forward to caress my breasts. My skin crawled at his touch.

“Right, Princess. A man like him would have a beautiful woman like you over at his house in the middle of the night to simply work. Sorry, I just don’t buy it.”

“It’s true, Ayden. I wanted Ash, but he told me to leave! So, there you have it!” I struggled against the ropes despite the pain.

“Oh, my pretty little Princess, how I’ve missed you. Don’t you remember Daddy spanking your sweet little ass, how hard you would come as I would drag my fingers across your wet clit?” Ayden’s hands roamed my body.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” I screamed kicking at him.

Ayden seized me by the throat pulling my face up to his. Staring into his eyes, I couldn’t believe I ever once thought he was handsome. He repulsed me. His breath smelled of stale cigarette smoke causing my stomach to churn.

“Amber, you’re mine. You’ll always be mine. I don’t care how many times you and Ash fucked you’re still mine.” He pulled me even closer crushing his lips down onto mine.

Pulling back with all my might, I managed to sink my teeth into his lower lip.

“You bitch!” He cried stumbling back clutching his mouth. Blood dripped onto his t-shirt.

“Don’t fucking touch me again, Ayden!” I screamed, struggling with my hands tied behind my back.

I cringed waiting to see what he would do. Ayden reached for me pulling me to my feet. He smiled the blood staining his lips.

“You’ve become quite sassy, haven’t you, Princess? Maybe it’s time for Daddy to correct you. Remember how I used to do it?” He growled bending his head low.

Recalling the way he used to spank me which was more attuned to a brutal beating than a playful spanking, I trembled with fear. Tears began to well in my eyes. He wasn’t playing anymore.

The time it was for real. And I sensed unless Ash showed up I would never escape from him alive.

He walked over to me. His gait was slow, panther-like stalking me. When he spoke, his voice was low and evil.

“Princess, I want you helpless, hopeless, and broken.”

Tears poured down my cheeks as I trembled with fear.

“Oh, Princess, such sweet tears.” He leaned over to swipe his finger across my cheek. He brought it to his lips.

“You know you’re so beautiful when you cry. Gives me a fucking hard on, did I ever tell you that?”

Sickened, I swallowed hard.

“Ayden, please don’t. I’m sorry for the way things ended between us. It was never my intention to hurt you.”

“Isn’t that what they all say? ‘I never meant to hurt you’. All the while they’re fucking some other guy behind your back.” Ayden grabbed me and spun me around.

I shrieked with terror as he thrust me over a chair.

“There now, Princess. Time for punishment.” With that, he pulled his leather flogger out.

Seeing him standing there with the flogger in his hand, screams erupted from my throat. I shut my eyes tightly as I braced myself for his beating.

“Princess? I want to hear one thing from you.”

“What?”

“Call me daddy.”