"I will give you two seconds to open this door, or I will bust it down. Your choice. Make it quick, Isabella."
My heavy breathing is the only sound in the small room, that, and my rapidly beating heart as I try to get my body to do as he says.
Bang!The door rattles on its hinges as he slams his fist on it.
"I advised you to meet me at the dining room door. You failed to appear. I was forced to come and look for you. Hiding in the washroom is for children, Isabella. Keep acting like a child and I will treat you as such. Now.Open the door!!"
Oh God, Oh God.
I step closer to the door, and reaching out with a shaky hand, I grip the cold brass in my hand and turn. As soon as the click echoes in the room, the door is flung open so fast that it bounces off the wall, Alexander's large palm stopping the rebound. I yelp and jump, scampering back to the far wall by the toilet, wedging as much of myself behind it as best I can.
"There now, was that so difficult?" he says with a twisted smile. He steps in and closes the door, trapping me inside with him.
He lifts his arms; he adjusts his cuffs as he takes a small step toward me. A whimper escapes before I can stop it, and I shut my eyes again. I don't want to see what is coming; I do not want to look at him.
"Such a jumpy little bunny, aren't you?"
His deep voice vibrates in the room as he speaks. As he moves in closer, I can feel the heat radiating off his body. Turning my face closer to the wall away from him, clasping my hands close to my chest I stop breathing and listen for his movements.
A shiver breaks out in my body that I cannot control as I feel his finger run down the side of my temple to trail down my cheek, stopping at the base of my neck. "I like seeing my marks on you," he says as his fingertip lightly presses on the stinging marks he left behind. "Such a timid little thing, so fragile"
The stubble on his cheek rasps against my skin as he moveshis mouth closer to my ear. I feel his other hand rest lightly on my hip, making me jump at the unexpected touch. His fingers spread wide, stroking the silk with only the tips, like little cat claws digging into the ample flesh.
My heart beats faster in my chest and my breathing hitches in my throat as he presses the tip of his nose along the inner shell of my ear.
I almost want to lean my head into the sensation, but I know he is a monster, so I force myself to stay as still as possible.
He lowers his voice; "So little bunny? Are you ready to be a big girl and sit at the adult table? We have family waiting for us and you have wasted enough of everyone's time with your hysterics."
He runs the tip of his nose down my neck, stopping at the crease of my shoulder. His breath is warm as he speaks into my sensitive skin.
"I'm done with the games, Isabella. Youwillmarry me, and youwillbe my wife. Very soon, mark my words."
I can feel his heat leaving my body as he pulls away. I whimper as he grabs my chin in his large hand, forcing my face away from the wall.
"Open your eyes."
I try to shake my head no, but he forces my head back tight to the wall.
"Open!" He roars, my ears ring and he gives my jaw a slight shake, and I do. My eyes popped open at the command, and I wished to God they hadn't.
Steel gray eyes filled with contempt permeate my vision as I watch them dart across my face. His thick black eyebrows are pinched together, and his lips form a thin white line. His nostrils are flared, and he's breathing heavily, puffing his warm breath on my lips. A tear escapes from the crease of my eye, and he watches it as it trails down my cheek. His hand leaves my hip andhe uses his thumb to wipe it off my cheek.
Locking eyes with me once again, he brings the tip of his thumb to his mouth and sucks it off. A tremor starts in my knees and works its way up my entire body. By the time it reaches my shoulders, I am shaking so badly, my cheeks jiggle in his hand.
One eyebrow lifts and a leering smile spreads out over his lips, making his dimples appear in his stubble cheeks.
"Are you cold, bunny?" All I can do is nudge my head to one side in a nod.
"Then what has you trembling in my hand?"
Out of survival instinct, I raise both my hands to grab his thick wrist holding my chin, doing my best to pull my face free, but he is relentless in his grip and I pucker fish my answer. "Scared!"
My stomach rolls and I feel the need to pee again. For some reason, it feels degrading to answer this man who holds my life in the palm of his hand.
I close my eyes again as more tears leak out. A dark chuckle reverberates around the small room, and a little more of my soul diminishes at his mocking response to my anguish.
"Good."
