I was almost one hundred percent sure hewould catch me before I reached the door, and that was assuming itwas even unlocked in the first place. I’d be fucked even more thanI already was. I stared down at the “chains” that would representmy life, and of all the emotions I was swimming in, rationalitywon. And it killed me inside.
“Fine,” I said rather harshly.
“Smart girl,” he replied. “Hold out yourwrists.”
Smartgirl,yet I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My fingers gripped the wood of thedesk like a hawk clutching a branch; letting go would mean losingmy control, my everything.Atleast,if the hawkletgo,it wouldn’t fall to its death like I would. It could fly. My wingswere still working on the process of evolution, assuming I survivedthe processing period in the first place.
“Now, Jaden,” he growled, and I nearlyjumped again. “I will not ask again.”
Begrudgingly, I held out my wrists as ifthey were about to be placed in handcuffs. There didn’t seem to bemuch difference. I turned my head away, hiding the tear thatslipped down my now hidden cheek as the owner picked up each littlecuff and gently linked them around my wrists. They clasped aroundmy flesh perfectly as if they had been made for me, so naturally,there would be no possibility of slipping them off.
“Sit on the desk and put your feet up,” heordered.
Hating every single bit of myself, I didwhat he asked as he bent down and placed the larger of the cuffsaround my ankles, looking very satisfied with himself as he did.Then he grabbed the final ring, the largest of them all, and heldit up for me to see. Dread and humiliation filled me as I suddenlyrealized what it was and where it was going next.
“Lift your hair,” he ordered, staring medown, ready for my resistance.
Cuffs were one thing but agoddamncollar? That was too much, and I didn’tthink I had it in me to willingly let him do that. What was I now,some fucking animal to him? Fuck that noise.
“No fuckingwa-” I started to say before he pulled me forward by myhair, turned me around, and slammed my head and upper body down ontop the desk. His hand kept me in place.
“I thought we hadagreedno fuss,” he said menacingly in my ear.
“You said cuffs, notcollar,” I retorted through clenched teeth.
“It doesn’t matter what you interpreted.You’re mine now, little girl,” he growled in my ear. “There will beno arguing with me anymore,” he said, leaning over me now. “Intime, I will teach you my rules and you will obey them to the T oryou will face the consequences. And you already know how much Ilove to deliver on that. Now, lift your fucking hair or I will fuckyou right here until you bleed all over my cock.”
I clenched my fists until my nails bit intomy palms. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I couldn’t believeit had come down to this. I knew what kind of person he was, knewwhat he would want from me, but now that it was happening, I had ahard time believing this was even real. Yet here Iwas,bent over a desk waiting to be fucked orcollared. Neither option was ideal, but I knew one of them wasgoing to happen whether I wanted them to or not.
Hating him and fighting my pride, I compliedand reached back, lifting my hair from my neck to accept the onereal chain that would truly symbolize my status ofproperty. I felt him clasp the diamond-studdedcollar around my throat, and I nearly broke down right there. Itwasn’t snug, but it wasn’t loose either, the metal feeling icy coldaround my neck and sending shivers down my spine. My pride wasofficially pounded into a tinycubeand shelved just like the rest of my freedoms.
“Get up and turn around,” he said, backingup now.
I shoved myself off the desk quickly andturned with more hatred in my heart than I had room for. The ownergazed down at me with a sick, twisted grin and deviousawein his eyes. I could only imagine what hewas doing to me in his head … and when he was planning to act onit.
“Mmm … picture perfect.” He smiled withobvious approval.
“Fuck you,” I scowled, unable to filteranymore of my outspoken words.
And then he backhanded me across the face sofast I hadn’t even seen it coming. I grunted as I fell to the flooronto my side, pain exploding in my temple and cheek. I brought myhand to cover my now swelling face and looked up at the piece ofshit, but the darkness that came over his eyes was enough to makeme shrink a little inside. I didn’t know why it surprised me thathe actually struck me with his bare hand; it wasn’t as if he wasabovehurting women. He did it fora living.
“You had better wipe that attitude off yourface, Jaden. Suddenly, I’m not feeling so generous with clothingwith such a disrespectful mouth,” he mocked. He stood over me withhis hands in his pockets and the most sinister and satisfied lookon his face.
Even though the damnnightiewould barely cover my ass, I still wantedsomething that actually covered me. Hell, I’d wear a potato sack ifit were at my disposal.
“Now, get up,” he ordered.
I stood; the scowl still present on my redand now swelling face as I glared at him.
The owner smirked at me then. “Tell youwhat,” he said, taking a light step toward me. “I’ll change my mindif …”
I waited for the awful act I would have toendure just for the sake of clothing and the thought made mystomach wrench.
“… you give me a kiss … right here.” Hepointed at his cheek, that shark grin of his making my insidescurl.
I dropped my arms and narrowed my eyes. Fuckthis guy.
“You expect me to kiss you after that littledisplay? You know what? I don’t need it that bad,” I said with anattitude and turned away from him. If he wanted a kiss, he couldkiss my perfect ass.
