I lie there helplessly, my breathing coming in short pants and look to the side and see him grab a blindfold that's sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. He stands over me with it, almost as if he's taunting me with what's to come. I strain my neck to look up at him, and the only thing I can see are those beautiful eyes of his flashing with something dark, and I plead, "Please, sir."
Lucian responds by placing the blindfold over my eyes, eliminating my sight.
"I had to wait for you," I hear him growl somewhere nearby, "now you will fucking wait for me." I listen as I hear him walk away, his footsteps receding until all I hear is... silence.
I lie still for him for what feels like forever, and the only sound I hear is my own breathing. I accept my punishment. It's not the first time he's punished me. But this is different. This is more intense. I shiver repeatedly as a cool draft touches my skin, again and again, and I know my entire body is covered in goosebumps.
Thump! I jump at the sound of what sounded like a very deliberate footstep, my heart bucking in my throat, and then I hear another heavy footstep followed by another and another. My breathing quickens in relief and part anxiety. Lucian's back.
I go completely still, knowing that's what he wants, knowing it's the only thing that will get me what I so badly crave.
I nearly buck as I feel something hard graze my skin, leaving goosebumps down my thigh, before it's pulled back. A soft moan escapes my lips as my core heats with desire. This is it. This is what I've been waiting for. It's what I fucking deserve.
"Not only have you kept me waiting, but you lied to me, treasure," I hear Lucian say quietly from behind me. The quiet before the storm.
Smack!
I gasp with pain and pleasure, grabbing my binds to bear it, my pussy clenching violently around nothing. Immediately after, I feel Lucian kneading my ass, calming the pain pulsing through my ass cheeks.
"Tell me why you lied to me, treasure," I hear him whisper near my ear, his breath hot on my neck.
Shock goes through me, mixed with desire. Lied? What did I lie about?
"I know you've been hiding something. And you need to tell me what it is." Lucian's voice is hard. "You should have already told me."
Lucian knows? My heart races with anxiety. He knows what I'm hiding from him? I almost shake my head. That doesn't make sense. He can't know. I haven't told him anything.
But that doesn't mean he can't guess, a voice inside my head says, he's not stupid.
I part my lips to deny his words, and claim I don't have any idea what he's talking about, but guilt presses down upon my chest, keeping me from saying it. I don't know why I keep fighting to hold my secret. I'm tired of holding it in. I should just let it out and let the chips fall where they may.
"I'm sorry," I whimper, a soft admission.
Smack!
My body jolts violently and a strangled cry rips from my lips, my pussy moist with arousal.
"That's not what I asked for, treasure," I hear Lucian say somewhere through my mire of pain. His voice sounds like he's daring me to try to lie to him. And I wonder again why I'm fighting. It feels like he's already won.
I writhe on the bed from the sting of the savage blow he dealt against my ass, my mind a mix of pain, pleasure and confusion. I wait for another blow, but it isn't forthcoming. He's allowing me a moment of recovery, a moment to reflect on his words.
Tell him, my mind screams. Tell him and let this all be over with!
Smack! Smack!
Fuck! Tears leak from the corners of my eyes. This is different from the other punishments. There's no pleasure. Red is on the tip of my tongue. But a part of me knows I deserve this. That I need this.
Smack!
I suck in a sharp, painful breath, parting my lips to tell him what he wants to hear. That I'm broken.
Smack!
The strangled scream that escapes my lips is raw and filled with pain, but I manage to get three words out.
"I'll tell you!"
Chapter 19
Lucian
The last few hours have been difficult. When the emails came through and Isaac called, I couldn't believe what he'd told me. I saw the records, the charges against her father's brother. Isaac had a timeline of how her life fell apart, the court dates and her parents' divorce. Moving from one house to the next.
I knew she was hiding something. I never expected that though. Never.
How could she not tell me?
I'm crushed by the feeling of insignificance. I feel useless. Or at least to her I was. She didn't tell me because she didn't think I'd make a difference. Isaac's still looking into her ex, but I have no clue if she told him, or anyone else before him. Maybe she wants to keep it a secret. Maybe it wasn't mine to know.
But she's mine. My body heats with guilt for taking her the way I did. I assumed. No, I trusted she was forthcoming. She's my Submissive, and I had no idea about something so crucial to her needs. I still don't know everything. I don't know how this affects what she needs.
I'm going to find out though.
"It's alright, treasure," I whisper softly, cupping her face in my hand and kissing her tears away as I release the cuff from around her wrist. "It took a lot for you to tell me; I'm proud of you."
My voice is soft and comforting as I massage her arm and then release the other wrist. Her eyes are glassed over with tears and shining with insecurity.
"I'm sorry," her voice cracks as she wipes under her eyes.
She has nothing to be sorry about though, this is my fault. It was my responsibility, but I was too eager and too presumptuous.
I grip her hip and pull her closer to me. "Relax, Dahlia," I whisper into her hair as she leans against my chest. "I need you to talk to me, Dahlia."
I hold her close, running my hand down her back in soothing strokes. I knew she was hiding something from me. I could see that she so badly wanted to confide in me, but she didn't.
What I don't know is why. Why hide it? Did she think it was truly unnecessary, and that her past has no bearing on our current relationship? That's possible, and I was hopeful. But her current state begs to differ.
"Tell me, treasure," I say and gently press my lips to her forehead. My words fall into the space between us, "Tell me why you kept this from me."
She stills in my arms. I don't want to push her. Trust takes time, but I want this from her. I need this, or I won't be able to continue the way we were.
I need to know what I'm doing isn't hurting her.
"It doesn't matter."
Her words are hollow and soft. Her voice is chilled with the sadness that's echoed in her body language as she tries to push me away.
I let her. She's not going anywhere. She's stuck in this room with me and she can turn away from me and hide for the moment like she's been doing, but she's not leaving.
She doesn't have to tell me just yet. But I'm not going to let her lie. Not to me, and not to herself.
"It does matter," I say and brace my arm around her body, caging her in slightly and refusing to let her move away any farther. "You don't have to tell me any more than you want, but whatever comes out of your mouth needs to be the truth."
Dahlia hides her face from me, burying herself into the mattress. I'll allow it for a moment. I forced her to open up to me, but I can only push her so much. If she keeps running, it'll force me to break her. She can't hide from me. I won't allow it. Not when it comes to this.
"You aren't broken."
Her eyes whip to mine. Red-rimmed and her cheeks tearstained, even in such distress she looks beautiful. Maybe even more so because of it. "I am," she says and her voice is hard. "I can't … " her voice croaks, and she trails off. "I can't get off … "
Bullshit. I know she's cum for me. I hold in a breath and wait for more.
Her head hangs low and she picks at the comforter, her voice soft as she admits, "I have to feel like I'm being forced."
I keep my expression neutral, but internally I'm breaking, going over every encounter we've had. I can't remember one time where I wasn't rough with her. I knew she enjoyed it, but I didn't consider why. It's a simple preference for me. And I made the assumption that it was for her as well.
I set my hand down on her hip and scoot her a bit closer to me. As I think of what to say, I remember being gentle with her, early in the morning at the end of our first week. She was sore, and I didn't want to hurt her.
I suck in a breath, hating that I have to ask, but already knowing the answer.
"You've only cum for me when I was harsh with you?" She tenses under my embrace, but I continue to hold her.
"Yes," she softly whispers.
I feel sick knowing, hearing her confession. I took pleasure and failed her as a Dom.
"I'm sorry, treasure, I didn't know."
I fell asleep holding her, after causing that. Leaving her unsatisfied, but even worse, with a trigger of what happened to her. Completely unaware. I know I'm a selfish man, but I've never felt it quite like I do in this moment.