The window seat was comfortable as she tried to concentrate on the book in her hands: A Veil of Vines. She loved the magic of the story and it was one she’d read time and again—a comfort read. This time though it wasn’t helping to comfort her because her mind kept wandering to Mikhail before his father, Konstantine had intruded.
Konstantine wasn’t a nice man and one of these days he was going to get what he deserved. She only hoped that she wasn’t around to see it because she didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire.
Her dreams had always been of traveling far and wide, away from her strict upbringing, away from her father. Earlier today her dreams had changed to just wanting to be anywhere but the Vasiliev house. She hadn’t known Mikhail a day but there was something about him that she didn’t want to let go of. He made her feel safe and cherished and wanted. Her pulse thrummed as she remembered the feeling of his touch on her body and the way warmth had bloomed between her thighs . . .
The bedroom door suddenly slammed open that her heart stuttered in fear. Two of Konstantine’s men stormed into the room toward her and before she could catch her breath the bigger of the two grabbed her by the arm, yanking her to her feet. As she fought to break free, he snarled in her ear, pinning both of her arms behind her back before he hissed, “He isn’t going to have sex with you, but don’t fight. You’ll make it worse for yourself,” to her surprise.
“What did you say to her, Dimitri?” The other man smirked, parading back and forth in front of them. “We’re not allowed to talk to her . . . or touch her. His voice thickened, “Although I wouldn’t mind risking it for her.” His tongue darted between his lips.
The way that he’d motioned to her made her skin crawl, but he shut up quickly after Dimitri rapidly fired a load of Russian to the asshole in front of her. “Vasiliev will kill you,” the large Russian holding her growled.
“I told you,” Konstantine said calmly, too calmly as he walked into the room, “that she is mine and mine alone, Sergei.”
The other man backed away and dipped his head, not so cocky now, while Konstantine turned his attention to her.
“She’s a beauty, isn’t she Dimitri?” he moved so close that his cologne became overpowering. His face moved closer to hers, pushing her into Dimitri who held his ground.
Dimitri wasn’t hurting her, but she knew that she wouldn’t be able to get free. She didn’t understand the man though. It was obvious that he was close to Konstantine, so why would he warn her? That didn’t make any sense.
“Sergei,” Konstantine snapped, “go bring it in.” Reaching up with a hand, he curled his fingers around a long, loose strand of her hair and brought it up to his face, inhaling.
Her belly quivered in fear and her first instinct was to snatch the hair back, but she didn’t with Dimitri’s warning floating in her head. She did move her head away in shock when she saw the large contraption wheeled into the room.
Konstantine clapped his hands. “My afternoon treat,” he announced, his voice sounded like that of an excited child.
She was terrified as her breathing became strained the more she stared at what looked like a medieval torture device.
The dark wooden frame had legs with wheels to stop the thing from falling over, and as Konstantine moved it to where he wanted it, he used his foot to put on the brakes. Her gaze followed him as he released the buckles to each side at the bottom before moving to the top. The reality of the situation that she found herself in hit her full force and the whimper she couldn’t control burst from between her lips.
His head whipped around and his dark gaze landed on her. The look he gave her made her skin crawl and once again Dimitri whispered, “Don’t fight him.”
“You fear me?” Konstantine questioned while prowling closer. “That makes it more fun.”
Swallowing back her fear, she told him, “I do not fear you.” She hoped that she’d spoken with conviction because she wasn’t feeling very confident.
“Hmm, we’ll see about that.” He smirked and looked at Dimitri before turning his attention to the other man who she was sure had tried to blend into the background. “Sergei, strap her in.”
“What? No.” She struggled but Dimitri held her firmly. “He’ll only have sex with you if you fight,” the man hissed and the words finally penetrated her brain as all fight left her.
“Sergei!” Konstantine roared. “I have a business call in ten minutes. I don’t have all day.”
The other man grinned as he approached and with what seemed like reluctance, Dimitri released her. She felt like turning and clinging to the huge man, begging him to save her. He could easily crush Sergei and Konstantine.
Sergei quickly grabbed her, noticing her hopeful gaze. “Oh no! Dimitri isn’t going to save you.”
Her breathing deepened as Sergei tugged her toward the frame and with her knees weakened to Jell-O, she allowed herself to be fastened to it. Her legs were spread wide and her arms above her head, spread like a starfish. It took everything in her to stay calm and to remember Dimitri’s words. She only hoped that she could trust him. She had no reason to, but in the room with the two prickly thorns, she hoped Dimitri had a soft spot for her and could be trusted.
“Now,” Konstantine waved a pair of scissors in front of her face, “for the fun.” He moved to step closer when he suddenly stopped. “Leave us,” he said while holding her gaze.
Sergei and Dimitri quickly left while she sensed a slight hesitation in Dimitri before she was left alone with Mikhail’s father.
Her eyes widened as he stepped onto the frame and sniffed at her neck. “I want to see,” he whispered. “I want to see your creamy skin.”
That was the only warning she got before he snipped at the top of her dress with the scissors and then proceeded to rip it from her body. He didn’t stop there and cut through her panties, followed then by her bra.
Once he’d thrown the ruined clothing across the room, he stood back and moaned, grabbing his groin. “You are so beautiful. Your milky white skin.” He rubbed at his crotch, the bulge behind his zipper getting bigger.
“I can’t wait to claim you.” He dropped to his knees in front of her, and her skin crawled as he put his hands on her thighs.
“What are you going to do to me?” She asked, fearful.
“Not what you think, at least not today.” He then stunned her by burying his nose between her legs.
Her breath caught at the back of her throat as she slammed her jaws closed, afraid that she’d scream, her joints aching as she tried to pull herself free.
“You smell like your roses,” he commented, standing. “I’m going to leave you here until I send Dimitri to get you down. You need to get used to this frame.” He grabbed his groin and when he appeared happy, he strode out of the door leaving her hanging.