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“Relax, beautiful one. The boat is very safe.”
“The waters aren’t.”
“Are there predators everywhere? Yes, but you don’t have to worry. I will protect you.”
Her laugh held more bitterness to the sound as well as disbelief. I managed to ease her toward the side without too much resistance, gently placing her hand on the railing then wrapping my fingers around hers.
“Take a deep breath and close your eyes.” I nuzzled against her neck, barely able to contain my needs.
“O-kay.” She was so stiff in my arms, yet her slight sense of trust yanked out the protective side of me. I’d thought about killing her. Now I couldn’t imagine causing her harm and wouldn’t even as I inflicted the pain I sensed she craved.
“What do you see?”
“Nothing.”
“I don’t believe you. Relax and allow images to pop into your mind.” The warm glow of the sun was slowly fading, but the vibrant colors remained. Just being close to her made me realize I hadn’t taken enough time to bask in the picturesque view in this way. As her breathing changed, softer and less pronounced, I crushed her against the railing. I hungered for her to feel and accept my prowess, realizing that I couldn’t get enough of her. “What do you see?”
“Darkness.”
“Take a deep breath and hold it for ten seconds. Then tell me what you see. Remember that if you open your mind, you’ll allow yourself to experience an entirely new dimension.”
Her slight tremble reinforced my desire. I took a sip of the Sambuca, enjoying the powerful aroma and the warmth in the back of my throat. I wasn’t certain how long I could maintain control around her.
“The water. Fish. Beautiful fish in so many colors. And dolphins frolicking in the surf.”
“Yes.” I noticed movement to the right and almost laughed. What perfect timing. “Open your eyes.”
She did so slowly and when I pointed, she stiffened again. Then she squealed with delight, leaning further over the railing. “Dolphins?”
“Yes. They often play in the waves just before sunset.”
“Oh, my God. They’re so beautiful.” She lifted her glass as if in a salute, the smile on her face lighting up the twilight. I was absolutely mesmerized by her. Her beauty. Her resolve. Her refusal to succumb to me even after I’d taken her from her world.
I lifted my glass as well, a silent toast to creatures who had no sense of doing harm.
“There are four of them. No. Five.” She turned her head, her eyes searching mine. “Amazing.”
“Yes, they are.”Yes, you are.While I remained where I was, hopefully fulfilling the promise I’d made, I had no need to hold her. She’d freed herself of a single fear, basking in the moment. As the dolphins came closer to the boat, she leaned over further, trying her best to reach out to them.
“I would love to swim with them. I’ve heard it’s popular. Maybe we can do that one day.” Almost as soon as she’d mentioned the joyous thought, she stiffened, her body sagging. “For a few seconds, I almost believed this was… normal. But soon a ferocious beast will surface, devouring them whole.”
Sighing, I didn’t try to control her movements as she ducked and moved away, heading away from the edge of the boat. I remained where I was, fisting my hand around the iron railing, furious that I couldn’t find a way to break through her defenses. Maybe I never would. I’d forced her to accept what I considered righteous punishment. Then I’d begun dragging her into my corruption. While I still had the nagging need to seek vengeance, the anger was being replaced by something else altogether.
When I turned around, I was quite surprised she was sitting on the edge of the hot tub, her feet in the water. She’d removed her bracelet and the sterling silver glistened in the moonlight. I was happy I’d purchased something she liked, even if I wasn’t in the habit of doing so. It would seem my captive brought out an entirely different side of me.
As I approached, I noticed she was staring at the pulsing lights as they changed colors, chewing on her bottom lip. Why was it that habits that had annoyed me before seemed adorable with her? I finished off my drink, taking another look at the dolphins as they faded into the distance. She wanted simple things in her life.
People she could trust.
A life that was free of danger.
Several dreams fulfilled.
And even though I doubted she’d say otherwise, I sensed she needed love to make her whole. That wasn’t something I was capable of. I could only dismantle and destroy. As I walked closer, she kicked her feet in the water, shifting her bottom back and forth against the surrounding deck. Perhaps her buttocks continued to ache from the harsh punishment I’d inflicted. I fisted then flexed my fingers, itching to do so again. I craved her being marked, redness covering her luscious skin.
As I walked closer, she placed her empty glass on the deck, leaning back and lifting her head toward the sky. “I wish I had a swimsuit.”
“Undress.”
