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Zheme stood between the open space which the door had once been, his eyes fixated on his fiancé's erotically naked form. Even in such a drastic state she still looked like a being that had just stepped out of heaven. Her stiff breast, her most private possession, her curves, her...her everything, they were all heavenly, carefully and beautifully carved by that man they called god. But as he came to realize, physically, she was perfect, but mentally she had a problem that needed to be solved. She needed to learn how to submit, concede and obey, she needed to learn how to be his. His to control, his to use, his to love... She needed to learn and he'd teach her. Walking further into the room, he closed the door behind him and hasted but cautious steps were what he took to his bride. He stopped only inches away from her, dark eyes regarding her with malice. "What should I do to you Lexie? I'll let you decide." His hand moved forward, fingers running down her neck, then between the plumpness of her bosom. "Should I stab you in the shoulder? Whip you again? Put to use my my pliers? Starved you for another day?" Lexie's eyes rimmed with tears as fear practically consumed her. His stare was burning holes in her naked body, assessing her as if she was his prey, and the words that descended from his lips rocked her to the core. Stab? Whip? Starve? Lexie could feel her legs shaking, her heart palpitating, and when he leaned even closer, leaving nothing but a centimeter between them, Lexie's body fell weak, her legs, her arms feeling like putty beneath the shackles. "You don't have to decide if you don't want to kitten, I could resort to doing all, but if you sincerely apologize, then maybe I'll consider a simpler punishment." Lexie swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, her watery eyes trained on him with fear and panic. Should she apologize? Well should she...? The most logical answer was a yes, but Lexie's pride answered differently. Why should she apologize? After all, she did nothing wrong, all she did was defend herself. Who in their right mind would apologize for that? That's right, nobody would... So therefore, he could die, go to hell and reincarnate if an apology was what he was waiting for. Lexie's eyes hardened as she dryly voiced her thoughts. "I-I won't apologize, not for something that needed to be done." Zheme's head tilted a little to the left as his finger breached lower. "Something that needed to be done hmm? Are you saying that stabbing a person is totally normal?" "And kidnapping someone is?" In fleet movements, the hand that had been caressing her body disappeared and a stinging sensation invaded her cheek. "Don't talk to me in such a manner, Lexie." Her name rolled off his tongue like a scornful sin as he roughly grabbed her chin, steadying her face. "You will show me respect. I am your fiancé and after being put through hell, I deserve it." The tears Lexie's eye lids held back started to fall and amongst her fear, there now was fury. He went through hell? If so, then what about her who suffered through more than him? She was taken away from her family, her job and her friends and she was beaten for attempting to make her own judgements, isn't her life more of a mess than his? Isn't she the one who should complain? Isn't she the one who went through hell...? Lexie's heart fell along with her tears and she felt as though her mind was spiralling out of control. "Y-you said you went through hell from receiving just a stab? What about me who was beaten to unconsciousness? What about me who took ten lashes and suffered through a hunger I'd never in a million years experienced at home? What about me huh?" Tears rolled her cheeks like water did a waterfall and her heart ached with the anguish living within it. She didn't deserve this, she did nothing wrong to be kidnapped, abused and treated like a toy, so why...? From Lexie's dry throat came a heart wrenching sob and Zheme watched as her heart broke all because she refused to accept her fate and wholly belong to him. If she hadn't made such a fuss about everything, then none of what she just complained about would've happened. She'd probably be comfortable in bed with him now. But she was being a damn pest and he'd put her under control. With the shake of his head, he grabbed the whip in his good hand, assessing it with sharp eyes. "What did I say about talking to me without respect?" His fingers ran down the length of it. "What did I say about it, Lexie?" At the very least, he expected her to at least try to recite his words, but Lexie was too far gone to care if she was whipped to death. Instead, she hung her head in impotence, basking in her demolished pride. "You don't understand what it's like, I'm sure you've never experienced this. Ever been kidnapped? Taken away from everything you called home?" She drew in a deep breath, trying to calm her roaring heart. "What if you were in my position? Taken away from this place which you've known all your life, taken away from your family and friends and locked away in a cage with someone who demands that you accept your new life, demands that you accept things you've never experienced before, how the hell would you fee-?" "I never asked how you felt, Kitten. An apology, that's what I asked for and if you refuse to give it to me, you'll suffer the consequences." He drew his hand with the whip back and Lexie's breath caught in her throat, her eyes clenching shut. She wanted to beg, but before she could, the whip stroke her already sore skin. She cried out, and then suddenly, her chest felt like a block had fallen up on it, she couldn't breathe, could hardly make a sound and the only movements her body could make was the sudden convulsion it supported. Her heart started to ache from its accelerated pounding and a nauseous feeling invaded her head. Zheme watched her, now certainly alarmed. "Lexie, what's wrong?" Confusion and worry was laced in his voice but it went unheard by Lexie who sputtered out... "I-I can't breathe...I-I can't..." Zheme needed to hear no more, he dropped the whip, pulled the keys from his pockets and quickly unlocked each shackle, taking the shaking girl in his arms. He took a seat in the chair situated in the center of the room and settled Lexie on his thick thighs. Now with worry visible between the creases of his furrowed brows... "Breathe in Lexie, take a deep breath." He sighed out. Lexie tried, heaven knows she did, but it felt like there was no oxygen in this cramped room, no air to fill up her empty lungs. "Lexie its all in your head, just breathe, breathe in, it's just a panic attack." Zheme's hand caressed the small of her back as he tried to soothe her nerves. After all, he was the cause of this. He was at fault, he ignored his fiancé's feelings because of his inconsideration and now she was too deep in panic to even breathe. With gentle hands, he hugged around her waist, resting his chin on her bare shoulder. "I didn't know you felt that way, b-but for now just breathe Lexie, please breathe." AN/|\ What do you think? It seems to me that Zheme really does care about his fiance's wellbeing. If so, then why does he, himself mistreat her, but get worried when something threatening happens? Give me reviews!