Character 32 : Feeling And Learning...

***Rosella...***

*Are you feeling unsafe?*

*Scared about what I might do to you?*

*I have another approach.*

*I'll join you in a minute…*

His words hop around my head as I stand in the centre of the stage, squinting through the bright crimson and violet lights swirling around the edge and forming a spinning circle on the delicately carved ceiling.

*What is he doing?* I wonder, while my eyes drift over his muscled back, rippling with strength as he tap-taps on something. Steps back and waits.

Without any warning, all the lights go out. The ceiling fixtures, stage lights, little chandeliers; all gone. I shriek out loud, the sudden loss of sight inducing my imagination. In a desperate attempt, I hold out my hands, hoping to find something to stabilise myself. When my fingers connect with empty air, I drop my arms and stand rooted to my spot.

“Adrian…” His name trembles on my lips.

Fear shoots into my bloodstream when I get no response. *Where is he?* A quiet mechanical hum fills the thin air. The noise of metal clanking and wheels turning overwhelm my head, drowning out any other possible sounds.

I call out again despite knowing that my words will go unheard in this chaos. “Adrian, if you're here then please answer me. Please tell me you're not playing any sick game with me. This is seriously not funny.”

No response. *What the hell!?*

I burst out. “Adrian, please! Please, I'm scared. Turn on the lights. I can't see anything. And shut it off. Stop the noise!” I slap my palms over my ears, listening to the clash of multiple sounds as it sounds like it's coming closer.

All of a sudden, everything goes quiet, plunging me into dead silence. My ears buzz in the aftermath of those crazy rumbles. And I'm on the verge of tears when finally, his deep and calm voice reaches my ear, accompanied by his hands curling around my waist. “You have no patience. We'll need to work on that.”

I gasp, twisting in his embrace to cower in the safety of his arms, no matter how unsettling his words sound when the full meaning sinks in through the thick haze of fear.

“What happened? What was that sound?” I ask when I'm sure my voice won't crack, and it doesn't. “Where did the lights go?”

He pats my back and says, “there.”

Bright green rays descending from above blind me; I squeeze my eyes shut, letting out a surprised noise that sounds like a strangled whimper of an wounded animal. Adrian doesn't even flinch. Tightening his hold, he forces me to turn my back on him, his hands clasping my wrists as he rests his chin on my right shoulder.

“Open your eyes, Pearl. You don't want to miss out on this.” His accented voice is the only thing I can hear now and I can tell that he isn't excited for no reason.

But it takes me too long to open my eyes. So, Adrian leaves me no choice.

“Open you damned eyes, Esclave. You need to understand that I'm not going to repeat myself over and over again. Oblige as soon as the word is out of my mouth. You really don't want me to force you into anything. It'll be more painful for both of us than necessary.”

My stomach churns as tears press against my eyeballs. *I hate it when he talks to me like that.* He rarely ever talks to me though. So, I guess it's better than nothing. His silence is even more disturbing. And it's not like I have a choice anymore. I chose to give him all the power, now I have to live with its consequences.

At least, I told him how I'm feeling. I'm his responsibility now.

Breathing deeply, I square my shoulders, prompting him to lift up his chin, and slowly crack my eyes open… to see the splashes of green illuminating the room and furniture, washing the atmosphere in an ominous illusion that overflows with wild, reckless vibes.

“What the… Wow, this is stunning…” My voice wanders off as I stare in awe.

“*Esclave*,” I inhale sharply when Adrian presses his bare chest against my back, supporting my body from behind. “This is my little haven. The place I use when I need a retreat.”

I listen to him quietly, sincerely as my eyes drift over the ceiling, watching the formation of bright and dark fringes, which fill in the carved designs with vivid green and shadows that appear like some historical craftwork, the ones that you see on pillars of monuments. Coming down, I count a total of ten circular tables, draped in black velvet, accompanied by three armchairs each, dotting the other end of the room, all facing the stage.

All the fixtures and light sources are now cascading the same forest green glow, in multiple shades that look same yet unique, creating an ethereal scene around me. I've never seen anything like this before.

“I'm glad I got the chance to show you this.” *Was I musing out loud?*

At his soft whisper, I twist my head back to stare up at him and find that he was watching me all the while I was lost in drinking in the fascinating lights.

“Why did you change the colour?” I ask, my curiosity getting the best of me.

His smirk gives me goosebumps. “I haven't changed the colour to give you a show, if you're thinking that. It's just a bonus with the content I needed to execute your first experience.”

“First experience?” I frown. “What did you need?”

“You'll find out soon enough.” He smiles mysteriously, hands tightening around my wrists, as though he's trying to hold me back. *Does he think I'm going to bolt now?* I might be stupid, but I'm not dumb. I know it when there's no way out, even when I desperately want out of somewhere. Like in this case, there's no way out.

Adrian shifts behind me, regaining my attention. “Relax your hands and shoulders. No matter what happens next, what I do, don't utter a single word. I promise you that you'll be safe. Just try to trust me and wait for it, okay?”

I nod tentatively and my mouth goes dry. Fear of the unknown embraces me like Adrian is embracing me right now; Less comforting, more restraining.

Breathing turns extra hard when Adrian continues in the same casual tone, as if what he's saying is anything less than terrorising. “But if you fail to follow through the simple order, I'll gag you. And there will be no negotiating. Understand?”

I nod again, this time quickly, agreeing to his conditions without any objections because I seriously don't want to be gagged. I'll probably choke myself to death on it.

“Alright then. Let's begin.” His tone remains aloof. And immediately, I have to bite my lip to hold in a protest when he removes his hot chest from behind me, but doesn't let go of my hands. He's deliberately putting space between us. Because I know he's still behind me, waiting for me to snap.

*Not so soon.* Even he has to realise that nobody breaks the first time. But… knowing Adrian, he must have figured it out already. *What's he playing at then?*

“I want the shirt off.” Adrian demands, releasing my hands as he moves further back to give me some space that, in this moment, I don't want.

*What has taken over me!?*

Shakily, my fingers reach for the top button and make their way down to the last one, popping them open. It was another thing to take off his shirt and it feels like a completely different ordeal when I have to take off mine now. It's just a shirt, but as I shrug it off and feel the material slide down my back then hit the floor, a sense of loss settles over me, making me vulnerable in a way I've not known before.

I wait for my next instructions, while my heart rallies against my actions inside my chest, thumping against the cage of my ribs. *Calm down, dammit!* In an attempt to divert my attention from my situation, I allow my head to drop back and study the carved designs with unbidden interest, trying to find figures or patterns.

After three beats of silence, raw heat caresses my naked back and I catch myself sighing long deep, in relief. *Was I missing his proximity already? Pathetic!* My head lolls on my neck.

All thoughts and worries flee my head as soon as Adrian gravitates closer and clasps my wrists once again. I tense in anticipation of his next move. But he disapproves.

His smoky dark voice chides me. “I told you to relax, Esclave.”

I wisely keep my mouth shut. Breath and relax.

“Good. You're getting a hang on this,” he appraises, fueling the protests of my rebellious heart. Then slowly, he begins to raise up my hands till they are standing vertically upright.

“Don't drop your arms,” he warns before seizing my left wrist and inclining it a little to the side. When I feel something soft brush the inner side of my wrist, I stiffen, quickly twisting my head up to find a feathery thing hooked on the loose end of a long metal linked chain that's suspended from the ceiling with another hook.

“Adrian! What are you—” I begin in a horrified tone.

He cuts me off, his fingers tighten around my wrist when I try to pull free. “What did I tell you, *Esclave*? No talking. Stay still.”

“No! You didn't tell that you're—”

“This is your last warning.” He continues raging over my words.

But I can't stop the panic from surging. “You're restraining me! That's insane. I won't fight, I promise, if you're doing this for that reason.”

“I warned you, Esclave.” His voice is as cold and flat as the dead of the winter, snatching the warmth from my back and the breath from my lungs in a blink of an eye.

Jerking me on my tiptoes, Adrian shackles my wrist then proceeds to do the same with the other one, causing tears to clog my throat. His icy tone does nothing to relieve me as he continues, “I thought that I would walk you through all this with small and easy to follow instructions, ease you into my world gently, with no additional punishments. But if you're going to insist on making this difficult for both us, that's fine by me. We are doing this, either you like it or not, now.”

“Please don't do this, Adrian…” Tears stream down my cheeks, my vision blurs. Disdain steals my fortitude and leaves me to grovel for mercy from my cruel, displeased master. “I'm not ready for this.”

“Too late for pleas. And if you seriously thought that you're not ready, you'd never come down here. You would have stayed put in your room.” His voice leaves no room for any hearing for my statements anymore. I know that no matter what I say, how much I beg, I'm not getting under his skin anytime soon now.

*I'm screwed.*

Securing my right wrist in another cuff, Adrian comes around to stand in front of him. I stare into his charged eyes, that appear black due to our surroundings, and silently beg for him to consider my situation. He simply looks away, more like looks down. My eyes fall shut in utter helplessness and defeat, only to fly open when big, warm hands grope my breasts, flicking my pebbled nipples.

I gasp in surprise, a loud moan tears out of my throat when he punches my nipples, hard, drawing out the dark buds. My swollen eyes snap to his face, glaring. He remains focused on torturing my breasts, squeezing the flesh with angry fingers that threaten to leave marks.

“I love your tits. They are fucking perfect.” He mutters in a low, smoky voice. His words ignite a fire low in my belly. Shame warms my cheeks as liquid heat surges through my core, vibrating in my clit and I'm compelled to scissor my thighs.

The one to never pass up the opportunity to humiliate me, Adrian lets out a quiet, deep chuckle, watching me squeeze my thighs together. His fingers release my nipples, kneading my flesh instead as he closes the space between our bodies, filling my senses with the scent of his gorgeous body. I only need to taste him now, to be forever high on him, embed all of him deep into my system.

Bending his head, he exhales on my flushed cheek, making toes curl as more heat unfurls between my legs. *God, I'm so fucking turned on! And I don't understand why, when we aren't having sex.*

“Want to change your mind again? I'm giving you another chance.” Leaning back, Adrian whispers over my forehead, fanning my damp hair.

I stare at his chest, rising and falling in time with his inhales and exhales, slowly, steadily, sexily. His body is my strongest aphrodisiac and I don't think I care anymore. I'm in for it, *all of it.*

“No. I want everything you want to give me.” My voice doesn't waver, not once.

Adrian's breaths deepen, hasten, and then I hear him growl low in his chest, that rumbles throughout my body. I curl my fingers around the same cuffs that terrified and restrained me a moment ago, relishing in his heat and desire for me. *God, this man wants me.*

*A man!*

*Wants little me!*

“Now you know what I want.” I hear the smile in his low mumble and yearn to press myself against him, rub my lips against his.

But takes it all away by dropping to his knees and hooking his thumbs in the waistband of my panty, tugging it down and instructing me to step out. Rising up, his pinches my jaw. I open with little resistance.

“I would have loved to hear you scream for me. But alas,” he tells me as I watch his free hand bunch my panty in his palm, “you couldn't follow my simple orders.”

He shoves it in my mouth, making me double up in stark surprise. *Did he just stuffed my own mouth with my own panty? Oh god!* I try not to, but he has deliberately kept the underside out. I taste myself on the satiny material as the wet patch presses against my tongue.

I stare at him, flabbergasted and he just smirks, planting a chasty kiss on my cheek.