Chapter 46

He moved to the counter, unscrewing a canister. What looked like salt was poured into the water. A light, relaxing smell filled the air and he went back, pouring liquid into the stream. The bubbles were automatic. I let the dress drop and climbed in. Again, something poured into the water, but I was too tired to argue. The smell lured me to lie back and I closed my eyes as the bubbles rose. When the water stirred, my lids shot open. West was sitting on the edge, still dressed. His sleeves were rolled up and he had a large sponge he was dipping in the water. His eyes met mine and he leaned over, turning off the water. It was full now, even though it had only seemed like seconds had passed.

He didn’t speak as he dipped the sponge again and brought it to my chest. Instinct had me grabbing his wrist hard before I could stop myself.

My anger was still there, buzzing in my head while I fought to think. “No, no. Close your eyes. You’re safe right now.” But it was a lie. I was never safe with West. Never.

Darkness took over and it wasn’t long before I yawned. Warmth rushed over my shoulders and the sponge took its time sliding over my arms, chest, and stomach. When West lifted one of my legs to rest on the edge of the rub, I could barely think about how wrong it was. I blinked, taking in the tingling of my skin. Faster, my mind raced. There was a familiarity here. Too much familiarity … and fear.

The click in my brain left me fighting to move my limbs. Water splashed, but my control wasn’t my own. Words were a jumbled mess on my tongue and the only thing that came was sounds.

“Calm, slave. I’m only washing you. Feel.”

He didn’t leave me a choice as my body sunk back into a comfortable state. This time was different than before. At the auction, I’d at least been able to walk, even if I couldn’t figure out how I was doing it. But now, it was almost impossible to move. Even in my moment of fighting, I was aware that my arms and legs were barely moving.

“There we go,” he whispered, pulling my knee closer toward him— spreading my legs wider.

The foamy square went back and forth over my inner thigh until West dipped even lower. Sensations exploded as he let his fingers trace over my folds. My body jerked, but I could still barely move. Only felt, like he wanted.

“You know, I have to admit. Listening to you talk to Bram, I was pretty jealous. Enraged. But then I thought, what do I have to be envious of? He’s dead, and I have you. At least to an extent. And I have Whitlock. I have everything I’ve always wanted. And my plans for you, they’re not entirely dishonorable. I’m going to give you a chance to love me like you loved him. I’m going to treat you well. Ultimately, though, it will be up to you how things play out. You may be angry at me for what I’m doing right now, but you’ll come to see how it was for the best. To experience me like I want you to, I can’t have your innocent little mind working up reasons not to give me a chance. You have to see the other side of me. The one you keep pushing away.”

His fingers rose higher, rubbing over the top of my slit. The sponge floated to the top of the water and I blinked heavily as ecstasy soared inside of me. It shouldn’t be like this. I didn’t want it to be, but my body cared not for the little denials that managed to seep through my mind.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” He bit his lip, reaching down to ease his finger inside of me. “I can feel it too. It’s in the water. Soaking into our skin even as I speak. Fuck, I’m going to make it good for you. You’re going to love this.”

The thrusts only lasted a few more moments before he drew back and pushed down the drain. Pressure pulled against me from the water, but I felt like I was flying. Like I was being sucked toward some unmovable force.

West didn’t grab a towel. He reached down, sweeping me back into his arms as he took us to the bed. He grabbed the book, tossing it to the floor as he laid me on top of the comforter. Despite that I couldn’t move, he reached to the ends of the bed, pulling up the cuffs. Panic broke through the fog, but all I could do was stare as he stretched out my arms and legs, restraining me. I knew I should be fighting—screaming for help, but it was impossible. And my body was still wanting something else. Something more.

Deep breaths left me while he jerked at his clothes, removing them. Like a man possessed, his eyes held mine. He lowered me to the foot of the bed and kiss by kiss, he worked his way up my inner leg. Each brush of his lips sent my skin burning with even more fire. My stomach was so tight that a cry involuntarily left me. The sound had West smiling as he glanced up from where he hovered between my legs.

“What is it you want? This?” His tongue traveled the length of my slit, pushing between my folds as he flicked over my clit. “Or maybe this?” A cry tore free at the pressure of his tongue invading my entrance. My head somehow managed to shoot back and forth and I took a deep breath. The drug gave off a rolling sensation and I felt the effects slam back into me.

“Fuck, you’re so hot and wet.” He sucked against my folds, going back to thrust his tongue inside. My eyes rolled and the sensation numbed for only a moment before it kicked in a million times stronger. I was shaking. I knew that much. And screaming? God, I was having an orgasm … The thought was enough to make sickness slide in. But it didn’t last.

More, he sucked and licked. With every sweep of his tongue, he built me even more.

“I could do this every night. I think I’d like that. And I know you would.” He rose, sliding his fingers inside of me as he moved to kiss up my stomach. When teeth tugged at my nipple, my body arched, trembling and jerking, again. But this time my orgasm was more powerful. And I had no control or even warning when it was coming.

Tears raced down the sides of my face, but sobs didn’t come. Only the deep inhales and exhales as he rubs along the inside of my channel. Suction drew my nipple into his mouth and the vibrations from his moan ignited a humming so strong that even my teeth vibrated. I gasped, hating how I was beginning to rock against him.

“You want me. God, I knew you’d want me.”

He rose higher, a grin forming as he stared. Softly, his lips brushed against mine and the cringe came naturally. It reflected my mind and I held to hope. But it didn’t last as he began to stretch me with his cock.

“Yes. This,” he whispered against me. “This is how things will be between us. I like this side of you: quiet, unmoving. Someday I will tell you why. Someday, you will know more of my secrets.”

A jolt locked my body as he slammed forward. Pain hit sharp but faded almost just as fast. The oil was feeding me false emotions. False sensations. His cock began to feel good. Almost as if it were meant to be inside of me.

With each inch, each thrust of his long length, the oil burned me hotter. My fear faded as did my nonconsensual mindset. Everything vanished but the pleasure and I knew at that moment the drug had me. I wasn’t Everleigh anymore. I was no one but a dead slave, alive.