On arriving home, it’s a relief. Connick has been playing on my mind like you play a piano, with passion and drive. My hand is safely by my knife in my bag, and when I reach the door, my heart stops again and my hand clutches around the handle of the knife.

Another bunch of lilies sits there waiting for me.

Is he playing mind games with me?

Opening my front door, I pull the knife from my bag and walk in with it. Locking the door behind me, I check around my little house. Most of it is open so I can see immediately if someone’s in here. Moving to the bedroom, I look under my bed and in my closet. I don’t see anyone and wish I’d let Connick come back with me, even if it was just for a bit.

Pulling up my big-girl panties and shaking off the thoughts of both men, I undress quickly from my work clothes and dress into more comfortable ones. After going to the refrigerator, I realize I’m in need of milk. I suck at doing shopping and try to limit it to once a month, though in between, I always need milk and bread.

Contemplating taking the knife with me or not is my main decision right now. I’m sure if the police pulled me over and noticed the knife it wouldn’t go over too easy. I need to buy something small and easy to conceal as well as carry, or just move to another country to get away from all things Derrick. Though, he’d probably find me there as well. So maybe I should stick this knife in through his stomach and puncture every internal organ he has.

Placing the knife down and opening the front door, I check to make sure no one is there before I walk out. It’s getting darker, and I wish I didn’t need milk, or even got it before I went to work, but I’ve made a promise to myself years ago that I wouldn’t let him control my life anymore. Especially, with something as normal and so small as getting damn milk. He can’t have that control, I won’t allow it.

* * *

The store was uneventful, though the walk home is very interesting. Connick is at one of the stores I pass on my walk—probably another business he owns— and I spot him before he sees me, and take my time taking him in. The way he stands, he commands authority over those around him. The way they obey and nod their heads so as to not disappoint him or disagree with him. He looks around after he’s finishing speaking to a few of the men and looks straight at me. His baseball cap’s gone, and I can see his eyes more clearly as he stares. He says something I can’t hear and begins walking to me. Only seeing him a few hours ago hasn’t done him justice. He’s all man as he marches over to me, as if he’s about to pick me up and claim me. There’s power in his stride and determination written all over his face.

My hand is gripping my milk, my other is ready to go up and stop him from coming at me full force.

“You’re meant to be tired, Milanka.”

I like, and also hate, that he has to use my name like that. Holding up my carton of milk, I smile at him. “I am.”

His lip twitches. “Too tired to play, maybe?”

“Play?” I ask, having no idea what he’s talking about.

He leans so he can whisper, “Let me take you back. You won’t know anyone there, I promise.”

His offer is appealing, spending the night with him is high on my ‘what I want to do’ list. I’d most definitely feel safer with him, of that I’m sure.

“Milanka, say yes.”

I nod my head, and he grabs the milk from my hands and then takes my hand as he walks me to his car. Looking down the street, I see the streetlight outside my house and wonder if I should take the milk home first. He smacks my ass telling me to get in, and I do, forgetting all about the milk as he climbs into the car next to me. He drives like a racecar driver, and I cling to the door and my seat as he speeds off down the street. Soon we’re pulling up to a very familiar place.

He stops the car and turns to me. “She isn’t here, I’ve made sure of it.”

I nod my head and open my door. He’s already out and waiting for me when I make my way to him. Connick knocks on the door and it opens, the same door as last time, then the same red room comes into view. It’s not so much red, just a fluorescent red from the downlights which make it appear darker when you enter. After you walk past the dining tables, it goes very dark unless you’re turning on a switch to watch people. Small lights illuminate the floor like in a cinema to direct you where to go. His hand comes to my back as he starts guiding me, and we walk down the dark hall and stop at a door. He pushes it open, and a light comes on in the room. It’s very simple, a loveseat is the only piece of furniture in the room. Looking up, though, that’s a very different story. He walks in after shutting the door and steps over to a wall that’s basically silver. Picking something up, he turns to face me and looks me over.

“Undress, Milanka,” he commands while undoing his dress shirt which reveals the front of him. He looks deliriously good with his shirt unbuttoned and dressed the way he is. Pulling my shirt over my head then reaching for my pants, I look up, and he’s watching me. He’s very interested. But unlike last time I undressed for him, he isn’t watching my eyes, this time his eyes are solely on my body, and he approves very much of what I’m doing, I can see it in his eyes. Dropping my pants and panties, I step out of them and take a step forward as I undo my bra. He licks his lips, another sign that he approves. It is, after all, what men mostly do. It’s what made me know I could use them. They’re controlled by one thing, their cock. I wasn’t sure if he was interested in me, because of his mixed signals. Now, though, there’s no hiding it as he watches me.

“Will someone be joining us?” I ask him.

His eyes skim me then land on my face. His face hardens at my words and I know he didn’t like what I’ve said by the scrunch of his forehead and his nostrils flaring.

“Do you want someone else to join in, Milanka?”

There he goes again with saying my name like that. Why can’t he just ask a question without adding my name? I shrug my shoulders at him because I’m unsure of what my answer should be. He walks toward me with the silver object in his hand while his face stays stern.

He lifts his free hand and touches my chin as he speaks, “I won’t share you, Milanka. Don’t even think about sharing yourself with anyone but me. Do you understand?”

Nodding my head, I agree to his terms.

“Good… now let’s play.” I hear the excitement in his voice as he says it. Reaching my hand up, I go to touch him, but he captures my wrists and secures both in his hand. Then the coldness followed by a click is all I get before I look down and see my hands are now handcuffed together.

Looking up at him, before I can freak out, I see his eyes on me waiting for my reaction. He expects me to freak out. I guess it is part of the reason he did it in the first place. Taking a breath, I calm my reaction and wait for his response. He nods his head and pushes me backward with his hands.

My legs hit the loveseat, and I fall back onto it, basically a couch with no sides. He pushes my legs open, separating them, and walks next to me, grabbing hold of my cuffed arms, pulling them up high and over my head. Connick pushes a button on the wall, and I look up as something starts sliding down from the ceiling. It’s a hook, just not as sharp as ones that would scare you. He lifts my arms up just a tiny bit and hooks the handcuffs up to the hook, leaving me on the sofa.

Connick comes to stand behind me. Looking back at him, I notice him smirk. His large hand trails down my body and touches me all over, all the way down to my clit where he flicks, making my body move before he comes back up and turns my head to the side.

Hearing a click, a light comes on but not in the room. It’s the glass window. I notice everyone out there, up to five people sit out there watching, some naked and touching each other as they stare at us. I don’t even hear Connick move as I watch everyone.

Not sure how comfortable I feel with eyes on me.

I turn back to Connick, who’s undressed and hovering over me at the end of the sofa. He has a cup in his hand. He looks down and then brings the cup over my exposed sex. Cold water hits my pussy, I shiver and go to clench my legs to close them. He stops me with his hands then bends down to breathe on my pussy, the warmth of his breath feels better. He licks, and the warmth is all too much and I want much more.

I begin to moan then he does it again, cold followed by his tongue. I can feel the water dripping down my legs and under my back. It’s cold, yet the moment he touches me, my body submits and all I can think about is wanting more of what he’s doing.

My head turns to the side, and that’s when I remember we have an audience. People are watching us, some are even making out and touching others as they observe what he’s doing to me. My legs go to close and my hands try to come down, but they can’t move because they are handcuffed to the ceiling above. He repeats this action, and soon I’m coming. With the audience removed from my brain, nothing else matters but what’s happening to me and who’s doing it.

My back tries to drop and my body is exhausted, though Connick isn’t finished with me yet. Because he holds my legs down and kisses my inner thighs as he works his way up my body. Connick doesn’t look to the window at all—it’s like they don’t exist to him. His eyes are only on me and no one else. I go to turn my head, but he grabs hold of my chin and swings it back with his cold hands to face him. His nose touches the tip of mine and his lips are only a whisper away. I’m waiting, holding my breath for what he has to say. I’m afraid he’s going to kiss me, being so close.

“You think I care for you?” His breath touches my lips. My eyes open wide and his narrow. “I’m here for your body, Milanka. It’s all become quite a disapproving addiction to me.”

“Disapproving?” I manage to squeak a word out.

“Don’t fall for me, Milanka. I’ll bring you nothing but pain.” His eyes drop to my lips and with a hard breath from both of us, his lips land on mine hard and fast. It’s quick, but the moment he pulls away, we both know the mistake he’s made. He uncuffs my hands and my body drops off the love-seat. Turning my head, I go to look out the window but the lights are off and no one is there—at least from what I can see. He notices me looking and whispers in my ear as he drops down to pick me up, “They left. No more sharing.”

Managing to keep my eyes open, I look at him as he brings me to his chest. He’s fully clothed and not a bit exhausted at all. Whereas, I feel like I have run a marathon and can hardly stay awake.

Closing my eyes, I drift in and out of sleep, and before I know it, I’m waking up in my bed, with Connick standing over me. I’m still too tired to speak, then I touch my lips.

He kissed me.

He also knows where I live, did I tell him again? How does he do that?