"Is there anything else you desire?" I ask.
"Crawling. I don't want to crawl." Her mouth is set in a grim line. "You said I would have to crawl when we're at home."
"Very well, pet. If you win, you will only crawl if you desire it."
Her chin jerks up. "I won't ever desire it."
I just smile.
Selene
THE VAMPIRE KING smiles and my bones melt. I steel myself for an attack, but it never comes. Only these subtle games that keep me guessing.
"Finished?" He indicates my plate. I nod and he comes around to help me out of my chair. Predator, my body screams when he steps behind me. I half rise before he pulls my chair away. He offers his hand and I hesitate. His look turns mocking. I'm not scared of holding his hand, am I?
Of course I am. But I won't let a little thing like fear stop me. Lucius proposed this game, and I'm going to win. At worst, I'll learn more about what he's about. At best, I'll prove he'll never be my master.
He leads me into a long room that ends in french doors overlooking a dark patio. Chairs and coffee tables and couches, a gorgeous bar, paintings on the wall--everything is pure, opulent but tasteful luxury. In between two windows is a long expanse of wall covered by a tapestry. Lucius positions me in front of it and draws the cloth hanging aside, exposing two large wooden bars set in an X formation.
"Are you familiar with the St. Andrew's cross?" Lucius bends to open an antique looking chest. "The saint was crucified on a diagonally shaped cross. Upside down, by his request. Don't worry, pet. We won't be reenacting that particular scene."
I shiver but stay where he put me. He strips off his dressing robe, baring his chest again before approaching me. I expect him to strip me roughly, but he only gathers my hair back. He fiddles with it for a moment. What is he doing? He's not... no way.
Lucius Frangelico, Vampire King, is braiding my hair.
When he's done, he steps back and looks me up and down. He must like what he sees, because he turns away with the order, "Strip and stand in front of the cross, facing outwards."
The game has begun, and it's a mind fuck. I'm supposed to participate willingly in my subjugation.
This doesn't mean I submit to him, I tell myself as I undo the tie on the robe and let it fall. If I let him put me on the cross, I know what will happen. He'll use an implement on me--some medieval torture device he keeps in the trunk by the window--and it'll hurt.
But I can take the pain.
After the soft touches that confuse me, I'll welcome it. I need to remember to hate Lucius Frangelico.
I can't suppress a tremor as he returns to my side. He takes my wrists and secures them above my head in cuffs attached to the cross, and kneels to loosely bind my feet apart. His dark hair brushes my thigh and my heart nearly pounds out of my chest.
"Breathe, Selene," he murmurs. "Don't forget to breathe."
I obey, taking big gulps of air. This is going to hurt, but I'm ready. Xavier made sure I could withstand discomfort and pain, all sorts of pain. I lay awake long nights, my body aching, wondering what tortures Lucius might choose to inflict on me. I can endure anything when I focus on Lucius' death. I close my eyes and imaging the killing blow.
"Comfortable?" He jars me out of my concentration. He has me wiggle my fingers and toes, checking that the bonds aren't too tight. I want to glare at him. What's his game? If you tie a woman up to hurt her, what does it matter if her circulation is good? Keeps her alive longer, I guess. I wouldn't expect a vampire to care.
"A few rules." He moves out of my line of sight. "I'm in charge of the scene, but you can stop it at anytime. Just say, Stop. If I've gagged you or you can't talk, snapping your fingers means the same thing. Nod if you understand."
I bob my head, but I still don't get it. He won't stop if he doesn't want to. Would he?
Lucius takes his place in front of me. "This is a flogger." He shows me his chosen tool. Black strands hang from a smooth mahogany handle. He runs the flogger up and down my body and I shiver.
"No need to fear. I can make it feel good." He flicks his wrist and flogs my chest. The strands fall in a light rain.
"Does that hurt?"
I jerk my head to the left.
"Answer me. You can speak out loud. Does this hurt?" He repeats the movement.
"No."
He raises a brow.
"I mean, no, Sir."
"Good. How about this?"
He swings his arm, flogging me in a criss cross motion. The strands hit my skin with a harder thud. I register the impact but again, it's miles away from pain.
"No," I sigh.
"That's it, pet. Just enjoy it. Think of it as a massage. Sensation."
I blow out a breath and my shoulders move away from my ears.
"That's it. Relax." Lucius' voice deepens. He's one hundred percent focused on me, his movements slow and controlled. The flogger is an extension of his large body. He whips my chest until my breasts are pink. The flogger dances down my body, slapping my hips and thighs, coming close to my pussy without trespassing. I rock my weight from left to right in subtle response to each soft impact. Heat dances through my body, lulling me into compliance.
"Let's make this a little more interesting," Lucius says. He disappears and returns with a small wooden chest. I crane my neck but can't see past the open lid until he removes what he wants, puts the chest away and shows me two tiny rubber and metal clamps.