Total pages in book: 767
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
My smile faded at the reminder of our real relationship dynamic. He wasn’t some nice boyfriend who’d bought me a cool gift. He was my captor.
“You’re manipulating me again,” I accused.
“So you don’t want the comic books?”
“No,” I said quickly, clutching #101 to my chest. “I mean, I want them. I um, actually already read all of them. But I’ll read them again,” I babbled on, not wanting him to take them away if I sounded ungrateful.
His brows rose. “You read all of them today?”
“I tried to go slow, but they’re so good,” I said. “And I process things really fast. I usually do more than one thing at a time to stay occupied. But this was good,” I hurried on. “Way better than staring at the ceiling.”
“I’ll have to get you more, then,” he said, smiling again.
“You don’t have to get first editions,” I replied. “I like newer stuff, too. Graphic novels are awesome. Works by Frank Miller and Alan Moore are great.”
“I’ll get those for you, then,” he said. “And more first editions.”
“But I just said you don’t have to. I’ve read most of them online, anyway.”
“But they made you smile. So you’re getting more. Don’t argue with me, Samantha,” he said sternly before I could protest further. “I’ll put in an order tonight, and they’ll be here in the morning.”
“How did you get them so fast?” I asked. “These had to be really hard to find.”
“There was a store in New York that had them in stock. I sent someone to go get them.”
“But I just told you I was bored last night.”
He shrugged. “It’s not a long flight.”
I gaped at him. “You flew someone from Chicago to New York and back again overnight to get me some comic books?”
“Yes, and it made you smile. So the fifteen minutes it took me to set it all up was more than worth it.”
The full power of what his dirty money could get him came down on me like a hammer, deflating the last of my joy.
“What’s wrong?” He sounded a little strained.
“I don’t want anything you bought with your Bliss money,” I said quietly.
His jaw firmed. “You’ll get the books, anyway.”
“I won’t read them.”
“That’s your choice. You’ll still have them.”
I glared at him. “You’re trying to manipulate me again. You know I’ll go out of my mind and end up reading them if they’re in here.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “If you already know this, then why bother fighting me on it?”
“Because you’re a smug bastard, that’s why.”
He shook his head at me, but his smile didn’t waver. “I’m going to find a better use for that dirty mouth.”
He crossed to the bed and unlocked the chain from the bedpost. He kept the length of it attached to my collar.
“Come,” he commanded, coiling the chain around his fist and tugging gently. The pressure on my neck forced me to scramble to my feet.
“Where are we going?” I asked, having no choice but to follow him as he walked out of the bedroom.
“What was it you so charmingly called it?” he mused. “Oh, yes.” He shot a wicked smirk at me. “My torture room.”
I tried to stop in my tracks, but he kept walking. The chain pulled taut, and I stumbled forward. I fisted the metal links in both hands and yanked. His arm barely tugged back toward me, but he stopped and turned to face me.
My chest rose and fell rapidly, my breaths coming too fast as my heart raced.
“I don’t want to go in there,” I said, my voice higher than usual. “I won’t cuss at you again. I won’t.”
He shook his head, but the tilt of his lips was almost indulgent. “You will. You can’t seem to help yourself.”
“I’ll try really hard,” I promised. “Just don’t take me in there. Please.”
He took a step toward me. I flinched back. He frowned and pulled on the chain, forcing my body to tumble against his. I clutched at his shoulders for balance, but his hands had already closed around my waist to prevent me from falling.
“This is part of your training,” he said calmly. “It will feel good. Not everything in that room is meant to cause you pain.”
“It scares me,” I admitted on a shaky whisper, remembering my helplessness when he’d flogged me.
Shock obliterated my growing fear when he leaned in and softly pressed his lips against mine. I tried to jerk away from him, but his hand curved around the back of my head, holding me in place while he continued the kiss. It was gentle, coaxing. My lips began to shape to his, and he increased the pressure of his mouth on mine, turning more demanding. My body softened against him, even as my fingernails curved into his shoulders, clinging on tight.