Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“It would mean she offended you, and offending you is one of the greatest disrespects to me. She’d be ostracized, which is as good as being dead.”
I took a breath and ran a hand through my hair, carefully choosing my words. “That seems rather extreme.”
He scoffed in clear disagreement and wrapped an arm around my waist. “She got off far too lightly.”
“But you did let her off,” I pointed out.
“Are you trying to humanize me, deliciae?” he asked with a hint of amusement. “The only reason she is still breathing is because my sister didn’t want her death on your conscious. I happened to agree.”
“How kind of you.” Leaning back into the chaise, I processed his words, a tumult of thoughts swirling in my head. The doctrine's teachings echoed in my mind, yet the sheer extremity of it all was hard to digest.
Wronging me, even in a petty manner, was apparently an offense grave enough to warrant death.
That was madness.
I didn't want this kind of power, this responsibility that came with one man’s obsession. My emotions were a rollercoaster, far from his steady control. At the rate I was going, I’d have a dozen people dead within a week’s time.
“She upset you.” His voice cut through my thoughts. A statement, not a question. I felt compelled to respond, anyway.
Nicolette's words seemed like something I’d heard eons ago instead of hours. The thought of her possibly suffering further because of them, and thanks to me, was unbearable. "Yeah, she said something that got under my skin, but it wasn’t so bad that she deserved what just happened to her."
His smile was faint, knowing. "Aren’t you curious how I knew?"
"I assumed Esther told you.”
His chuckle was deep and resonant, the kind that vibrated through the air and settled somewhere deep within me. "My sister is diligent in keeping me updated, but my methods of staying informed extend beyond her.”
As he spoke, his hand found mine, encasing it with a touch that was both tender and assertively possessive. It didn’t take long for me to understand what he wasn’t saying outright.
"Cameras?"
He nodded, completely unapologetic. “They’re placed throughout our home. Inside and out." He spoke with a sense of pride, as if the very notion of such constant vigilance was another testament to his devotion.“I’m always watching you, Lolita. I cherish every moment I can lay my eyes on you."
His words were a reminder of the inescapable reality that I would never truly be alone.
His presence, whether in physical form or through the lens of a camera, was always there. A promise of protection and yet another declaration of his ownership. I sighed and closed my eyes. His thumb drew small circles on the back of my hand, a soothing contrast to the turmoil inside me. Abruptly, he stood, and my eyes snapped open in response.
“You’re alright,” he said, his voice a soft murmur. He lifted my hand, brushing a feather-light kiss against the skin. "I have something planned for us. Something special." His tone was like velvet against my heightened senses. There was a promise in his eyes, a hint of something significant on the horizon. He let go of my hand and exited the room, leaving me in a state of wary anticipation.
I watched him, a mix of apprehension and curiosity brewing. This felt like the lull before a storm, a moment of deceptive peace before he turned my world upside down again.
When he returned not even two minutes later, it was with a black cloth wrapped around an object in his hand. He unraveled it, revealing a curved silver blade with his family emblem intricately etched onto its handle.
My eyes widened at the sight, its beauty contrasting with its ominous presence. He moved toward the fireplace, a hook catching my attention as he placed the knife onto it with a certain reverence. The firelight danced off the blade, casting eerie shadows across the mantle.
He returned to my side and wordlessly lifted me off the chaise along with one of the decorative pillows.
“What are you doing?” I questioned more calmly than I felt.
“Finishing what I started.”
I had a good idea of what was coming. My nerves tangled in knots. One side of my mind telling me to fight was easily subdued while the other told me I could handle this.
I didn’t have a choice.
I instinctively knew struggling would make things worse for me, better for him. This wasn’t a battle I would win. Alexander slowly removed my dress, his fingers travelling across every inch of my skin. I forced myself to ignore the enticing scent of his cologne that seemed to wrap around me, intensifying his already dominant presence.
The way he held himself, so close and looming above me, felt like an extension of his control, a silent assertion of his power. I struggled to keep my expression neutral as he scrutinized my face, noting my every reaction as his fingers continued their subtle, seductive dance.