Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 35602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
But first, there's some aftercare to do. After all, I know that we both need it after what she's done to us. I wash her, slowly massaging her hair with my fingers, making sure to wash out all the suds from her locks after putting in some conditioner and slathering her body with white peach fragranced oils to compliment her scent.
By the time I'm done, she smells and looks perfect. I even take special care to shave her, making sure not to hurt her with the razor, even though it would be so fucking easy to just slide it into her creamy skin and watch the blood drip out. She seems nervous when I touch her, probably convinced I'm going to kill her for everything she's done. But that's the furthest thing from my mind. That would be too swift a punishment for a girl like her. What she needs now is to trust me again. And once that's been established, I'm going to break her more than anyone else ever has.
Once we're done with the shower, I comb her hair and lather her in lotion. I dress her in a new pair of pajamas, and take her back to the bedroom where a feast is already waiting for her. She tucks in hungrily into the food and has her fill of everything I've laid out for her.
I'm far from merciful, even though she might think now that I'm going to be nice to her from now on. She couldn't be further from the truth.
"You've been a good girl for me today," I tell her darkly. "But our story isn't over yet. We need to talk about what happened while you were gone."
Swallowing her last bite, Tallulah nods and I can tell that scares her, but not as much as my next question will.
"I need you to tell me about Ivette... Everything you know. Start talking, right the fuck now."
Chapter 14
My mind is still reeling from everything Xavier's done to me tonight.
I expected a punishment, some sort of cruel pain inflicted upon me for running away from him. But that's not what I got. Instead, he treated me with kindness, as if I was still his beloved fiancée.
He washed my hair, shaved me. He fed me, he dressed me, he baited me and he spoiled me in every way possible. But now that it's over, I know it's time for me to pay for my sins.
I look away when he brings up her name, but that doesn't please him, and this time when he touches me, his hands are more punishing than they were before.
"I asked you a question, angel," he says in a dark tone. "I asked you about Ivette. Do you know who she is? Don't lie to me."
My bottom lip wobbles as I wonder whether I should tell him the truth. But I already rescued Ivette once, and I'm not about to give her up. But now keeping my word means my safety being at risk.
I can't afford to lose my only friendship in the world, and I'm not going to betray her to fulfill Xavier's cruel agenda. I know he's probably asking me about her because of her husband. She's spoken about him often enough to ensure I know he's a dangerous man, and I have no doubt Xavier knows exactly who he is. The mere fact that he knows the girl's name when she was going by Ivy in the home tells me everything I need to know.
"I see the cats got your tongue," Xavier chuckles darkly. "But that just won't do. Because now I'm forcing you to choose again, Tallulah. Once, you already chose your parents, you chose them over me and you chose to fulfill their evil wishes instead of submitting to me like you should have all along. Now I'm giving you another choice. Choose between protecting Ivette or being with me. You will have to betray her, tell me exactly where she is and everything you know about her or you will be chained in my dungeons forever. I will not rescue you this time. I will not show you any mercy. If you do not give up the information about your friend... I will lock you in those dungeons myself and make sure no one else visits you. Do you know how soon you'll go mad from the solitary confinement, Tallulah? I can tell you, because I've seen it plenty of times and I know exactly how long it takes to break someone. I think after a week you'll be more willing to speak, but I'm giving you the option now. Tell me what happened, and I won't lock you up."
Still, my lips don't move and I refuse to give him an answer. This seems to piss him off, and lips set in a thin line as he watches me with dark resignation.