Idon’tknow what I’mdoing.I don’t know how to say sorry in a way that means something.But I’lltry anything – everything to show him Itruly meanit.
“Then punish me,” Isay, my voice wavering, my eyes challenging in their desperation.
“What?”
“Push me to my limit.”Iprayheunderstandswhat I’masking because Ihaveno idea howI’msupposed to go about this.
“Arienna.”My kingsaysmy name like a curse.Like a warning.Like heknowswhat I want buthe’ll refuse.
But Idon’tcare.Hecan’thurt me more than I’malready hurting.
“Do it.”I slap him again.“Punish me.”
Growling, herollsoff the bed.Runningahand through his hair, he turnsaway.
I sit up, staring at him.EverythingI am – every future and hope and dream, it’s all trappedin my throat.
“My king,” I breathe.
Hespinsaround, his eyes hot, his face twisting with too many emotions to name.“If we do this, you have to promise me you won’t lie.If I ask you how you are, you’ll fucking tell me the truth.None of that brownie shit.”
Ishakemy head.Thennod.Realising I’mmessing it upbyconfusing himalready, Isay, “I promise.None of that brownie stuff.Complete honesty.”
He sucksin a breath.
We stare at each other, letting the silence speak for us.
His body tight, he stepsforward.“Green means you’re good to continue.Yellow means you’re okay butyou’regetting uncomfortable.Red means I tone it back down, and ‘peace treaty’means I fucking stop.Do you understand?”
Inod, needing him, needing this – whateverthisentails.“Yes.”
“Arienna,” he warns.
“I promise.”
“Then get out of bed and on your knees.”
I’mon the floor in an instant, kneeling in front of him, staring up into his eyes.
“Hand me my belts.”I lean down, my hand groping the floorblindlyas I search for his discarded clothes.Idon’twant to move my eyes from his.
“Now,” he snaps.
Glancing away from him, I look down.Snatching up the two belts, I hand them to him.
He grabsthem, along with my hands.Looping one belt through itself, he tightensit around one of my wrists and then the other.Locking it tight, he dragsme across the room.My knees scrape against the hard wood floor.
Hauling me up underneath a beam in the ceiling, hetearsoff my slip and twistsit into a rope.He tiesone end around the belt binding me.Spinning me around, putting my back to him, he tiesthe other end over the beam.I’mlifted up onto my toes, my arms stretched tight above my head.
Ican feelthe tension in his body as he stepsin closebehindme.
“Do you know what you’re being punished for?”my kingdemands.
Itryto turn my head to look at him, but a hard grip on my chin forcesme to stare at the wall ahead.
“For trying to kill you?”My body shakesin anticipation.
The second belt slapsmy ass.I jump, a yelp leaving my lips as my skin stings.
