11. WYNTER

11

WYNTER

F uck this.

Fuck him.

Fuck my body for betraying me.

Fuck everything.

Bones thinks I’m his, but I refuse to be another man’s object.

That’s what I am here. I’m kept locked away all day, to aimlessly wander around until Bones comes home and decides to fuck me again. Every time my body gives in to him and my mind breaks I hate myself a little bit more. I’m disgusting. All my body is good for nowadays is sex.

I have access to pretty much the whole house when Bones isn’t here, but it doesn’t make the days go by any faster. Time is still an odd concept to me. It’s not as difficult to grasp as when I was in my cell, but each day is blurring into one and I can’t tell how long I’ve been here.

I’m bored out of my mind watching television so I switch it off and decide to head upstairs. A nap should pass the time.

Not paying any attention to my surroundings, I bump right into Bones at the foot of the stairs.

“Oh, you’re home,” I say, taking a step back.

“I was just heading back out. Sorry, little viper, I’ve been neglecting you haven’t I?” His tone is sickeningly sweet as he reaches out to cup my face. I take another step back so he can't touch me.

“I’m not missing you if that’s what you’re getting at. I’m bored stuck in here all day.”

With each step, he follows me until I’m pressed against the wall. “I can make some time for you now. We could go upstairs and I’ll be sure to leave you so satisfied your mind won’t be able to wander enough to be bored.”

My clit throbs at the thought and I hate myself for it. “I’d rather go lie on a bed of rusty nails for the rest of the day.”

I push past him and start heading upstairs.

“Do you want to come with me?”

The question comes out of nowhere, making me freeze. “What?”

“I’ve been paying attention, you’ve not tried to escape me. So today can be a sort of trial run for seeing how well you do outside.”

This asshole. There’s no doubt he’s aware of what going outside would mean to me. Yet he makes me feel like nothing more than an animal that needs to be trained to behave for him. Maybe I am. After all, I'm going to run at the first chance I get. If I’m caught I’m sure I’ll be punished to submit again.

He raises an eyebrow at me, waiting for my answer. “Alright, I’ll come with you,” I say with more hesitation than I’d hoped.

The reality of what I’ve agreed to hits me as he unlocks the door.

I’m going outside.

I should feel ecstatic, but all I feel is afraid.

They could be out there. Waiting for me to take that first step into the light before they grab me again.

Suddenly this task feels too daunting to accomplish and I find myself wanting to stay inside where it’s safe- ish . The only thing I have to worry about is Bones and with each day that passes, I’m finding him easier to handle.

“I can’t.” My voice is barely audible.

Bones turns at the sound and comes to meet me where I’m still planted by the stairs. “I’ll be with you the whole time. No one’s going to take you from me.”

I blink slowly at him. He thinks that’s what’s scaring me? Is it? I’m not even sure what is. Just the thought of not being confined to four walls, to being out in the fresh air where other people are terrifies me.

But out there is where Summer is. Where my freedom is.

I force the adrenaline in my body to propel me outside.

My palms start to get slick as I step over the threshold. There’s a nervous excitement building up in me.

It’s a sunny day and the heat immediately prickles my skin. God, it feels good. I urge my body to soak up as much as it can before we’re locked away again.

While I let myself enjoy the feeling of fresh air, Bones pulls a black, sleek sports car out of the garage. It suits him perfectly. Everything he owns and the way he acts seems to be so carefully curated. But whether it’s fake or real I can’t quite tell.

“Where are we going?” I ask as he gets out and opens the passenger door for me.

“You need some clothes so we’ll go shopping for you first.”

I would turn down his offer, but I look down at the baggy clothes of his I’m wearing. I don’t even have shoes on. Then I look at him in his tight black pants and white shirt open just enough for his silver chain to be visible. His hair is shiny and immaculate as usual. He’s even taken the time to put on eyeliner and mascara today. Standing next to his car he’s pure model material, like he belongs on a billboard for everyone to see.

It makes me feel even worse about myself. Like I’m just some dirty little speck that will leave a layer of filth on whatever I touch.

“You getting in?” he asks.

I try to hide my emotions as I settle into the seat and he pulls the car out of the driveway. From the outside, his home looks even lonelier. So many dark and empty windows amidst the old white stone.

My eyes settle on his side profile as I rest back into the buttery soft leather. How long has he lived here all alone?

I’m starting to think there’s a lot more to him than the asshole on the surface. There has to be. As much as I want to hate him as some sort of beast, it’s exhausting. The more I look at him the more I see the sadness in his eyes. The tired circles that weigh heavily underneath. He hides it all with makeup and a smug smile.

When he catches me looking, I don’t pretend I wasn’t staring at him. He can read into that whatever he wants.

“Where are we going after we buy clothes?” I ask.

“I need to make a quick stop off at a club.”

“If it’s a sex club, I’m not going.”

He snorts out a laugh. “I swear it’s not, but that is an idea for another time.”

“Don’t even think about it.” My tone is harsh, but inside I’m not as pissed off as I sound. Why does he have to be so…so him?

We drive in silence down narrow country roads. There are no other houses in sight for what feels like miles.

After a while, the quiet tension between us grows to be too much and I ask, “Can you put some music on?”

Reaching forward, he presses a few buttons on the small screen on the dashboard and a gothic operatic chorus starts up before heavy drumming kicks in.

I’m not surprised he’s into death metal. I am surprised that it stirs a memory in me. One that I don’t want right now.

Summer and I shared a playlist where we had everything we liked on it. We’d put it on shuffle and go from headbanging to metal to bouncing around to K-pop.

“You can put whatever you like on. I will take it to heart if you skip this one though, Will Ramos is a vocal god. His pig squeals are,” he kisses the tips of his fingers, “magnificent.”

I chuckle and Bones smiles at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

“I didn’t know that was his name, but yeah he’s impressive.”

Bones' eyes widen and he looks like an excited little kid. “You like metal?”

“Yeah, amongst other things.” I shrug.

“I’ve got so many bands to show you!”

I bite back a smile as he tells me what his favorites are. He even shows me the tattoos he's got of their logos. My backstabber of a heart warms a little as I listen to him. The smug arrogant mask he likes to wear has completely slipped. The last thing I want is to like anything about this man, but after not being shown an ounce of kindness for so long it's difficult to ignore my feelings.

More cars start to pass us by and I realize we’ve hit a city. My heart drops as I immediately see it’s my city. The one I grew up in. The one I was taken from. Bones lives just past the outskirts of it.

My mouth goes dry as dread sits in my stomach. “Where did you find me?”

Bones frowns, his eyes flicking between me and the road.

“I need to know, Bones. Was it here?” I lean forward in my seat, suddenly feeling suffocated by the cramped car.

“Yeah. Tommaso Abato lived on the other side of the city with his wife.”

I assumed I was taken elsewhere, but I’ve been held captive in my own backyard all along.

Bones would know that. He found out my name and my medical records. Surely he knows where I live.

“You didn’t know where you were, did you?” he asks softly.

Sinking back into the leather I shake my head. “No. They never told me anything. All they did was order me around. I didn’t even know who he was until you told me his name. He wasn’t just a nobody was he?”

“Not really. He was a businessman who knew a lot of people and was about to run for mayor.”

“We should go to the police station right now, I can tell them what happened. If his wife’s still out there then maybe she can answer some questions. I didn’t even know he had a wife until now. What are the chances she didn't know about me either? She might be able to help.”

It's unlikely, but I can't imagine another woman willingly letting her husband do that to a person.

“Believe me, the cops won’t do anything for you. Your best bet is to let me handle it. And his wife, Daniella, she’s not going to be as easy to get to as the rest of them. Her face is still all over the news.”

“They suspect her?”

“No. The opposite. She’s got the entire city’s sympathy. I promise you we’ll get answers.” Bones gives me a look that is meant to reassure me, but it only makes me spiral deeper into despair.

I’m starting to wonder if I even want answers.

“You really have no idea why he chose you?”

Chose me.

That makes me want to vomit and punch something at the same time.

“I don’t know! Maybe you should have asked him that before you killed him. I was just on my way home when I was snatched up. Taken somewhere else in the city, a motel or something. It’s hazy. They started drugging me straight away. I woke up one day in a basement and got to stay locked away until he was ready to fuck me again. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?” My smile is laced with bitter poison, all for him.

Bones grip on the wheel tightens and his eyes darken, staying on me rather than the road. “What we have is nothing like that.”

“ We don’t have anything. You have me because you’re a psychopath who thinks it’s okay to gamble with people’s lives.”

I wait for some sarcastic comment or another sexual remark, but he turns the music off and we drive in silence. His jaw is as tight as his grip on the wheel.

“You’re right,” he says tersely. “I do have you and unless you’re going to throw yourself out the door you’re at my mercy in this car. I thought I’d do something nice for you since you’ve been so good for me, but it seems that bratty mouth of yours is never going to change is it?”

To be honest, I thought he liked it when I talked back. It clearly does something to him as his pants are straining from his erection.

“I’m sure whatever I say will be wrong. So just take me back, I know that’s what you’re going to do. I said the wrong thing and now my punishment will be to go straight back to my cage like some naughty little pet.”

Bones rolls his shoulders back into the seat and runs his tongue over his lower lip. A dark smile curling them up. “You’ve got me all figured out haven’t you?”

I wish. “All I've figured out is that you’re a rich arrogant asshole that only thinks with his dick.”

“This won’t surprise you then.” He lets go of the wheel completely and unzips himself.

“What the hell are you doing?” I yell as I unclip my belt and lunge for the wheel.

Taking advantage of my momentum, he grabs the back of my head and forces me down onto his cock. I end up swallowing him as I scream.

He holds me there, his cock deep in my throat, making my eyes water and my gag reflex work overtime. I scramble for purchase on his legs to push myself up, but he keeps me firmly pinned down.

“Please!” I try to say, but only a gargle comes out.

“You must know these cars have cruise control. So I’m flattered you were lunging for my dick like that. I must have really built you up an appetite for it.”

Black shadows threaten my vision as I struggle for air with my throat closed around him. “Relax,” he tells me like it’s so fucking easy. “Let your throat open up and you’ll be able to take me.” One of his hands starts massaging my neck and it helps to loosen my muscles.

“There is an easy way to know when you’ve taken all of me. All you need to do is count each piercing as it enters your mouth.”

I manage to get some air in through my nose and it eases the discomfort of suffocating ever so slightly.

“I wonder how many of them used you like this. How many we need to make suffer for it? Should we kill them right away or drag it out? Make them think they have a chance before we end their pathetic little lives.”

“You’re crazy,” I gargle. My throat is burning now, his piercings rubbing uncomfortably inside my mouth and my jaw aches.

Running his fingers through my hair he strokes my head. “You’re doing so good, taking me like that. There’s only a few more inches to go.”

I try to push off him, but barely manage to move.

“Relax for me. Think of every brutal way you’re going to get your revenge on those who hurt you. Is it making you wet just thinking about it?” Now that he’s said that my focus goes to my pussy. From the heat I’m feeling down there I’m positive I am.

As my mind strays, my body relaxes and I start to count in my head. When I reach seven I know he’s all the way in.

I choke loudly and he says, “That sound tells me you’re loving this. Bet your little pussy is soaked. Now, am I really as bad as them? I don’t think I am. For starters, you’re fully conscious and I want you to enjoy this.”

It’s pointless trying to talk so I stay still and listen.

“Want to make another deal?”

Like I have a choice.

“Touch yourself. If you get yourself off before me I won’t take you straight back home.”

I want to say no and go back to my prison, but I also want to get away from him. As long as I’m not locked in that house I have a chance at freedom.

Awkwardly I reach inside the waistband of my sweats and slide my fingers down to my pussy. Fuck, I am wet. Not soaked, but still enough to be embarrassed and I’m glad he can’t see.

“I’ve needed this. It’s been a rough two weeks.” Finally, he lifts my head and I inhale a sharp breath. He doesn’t let his cock leave my mouth before he’s pushing me back down. “First my friend almost died, then I find out my father’s selling out the company that should be mine and now I have to listen to you calling me a rapist. It’s good to get some of that frustration out. I’m so lucky to have you to help me do just that.” His tone is gentle, not condescending at all. That makes it worse. I don’t want him to lure me into that false web of security he spins so easily.

The need to get my freedom back has me rubbing my clit faster. My arousal making it easy to slide my fingers back and forth either side of it. I pinch and massage myself like I used to do to get myself off. My fingers dipping in and out of my pussy with each long stroke.

I find my orgasm building quickly and it’s nice. All I can think about is the pleasure between my legs and the ache in my jaw as he holds himself there. Nothing else exists but my own orgasm and Bones’ cock in my mouth. A moan escapes me, humming through his cock and he hisses in pleasure.

Everything feels heightened and my whole body jolts as I come all over my fingers. “Good girl,” he praises as he massages my scalp. “Give me your fingers.”

I’m too lost in my orgasm to think about what I’m doing and I slide my fingers out of my pants, holding them up for him.

I feel his warm mouth enveloping them and he sucks with a loud moan.

He gets harder in my mouth, making my jaw hurt more, but he’s still not moving me. I’m just holding him there.

When he helps me to sit back upright I’m left dazed.

Why does this happen anytime his cock’s inside me?

He’s still hard when he tucks himself away. He didn’t come. Why? I don’t question it out loud. If I tell him that I’m sure he’ll force me on him again. I can taste him on my tongue, but It’s not like I want to taste more of him.

Huddling close to the window I try to ignore him.

“Still want to compare me to them?” he asks, with a sick pleasure to his tone.

Biting my tongue I keep my thoughts to myself. I don't think that's possible for him as he keeps running his mouth.

“You know why they did it? Because they saw someone weaker than themselves and took advantage. I don't see that. You’re strong, Wynter and I know that if you really wanted me to stop you’d do everything in your power to make it happen. You’d bite my dick off or crash the car.”

I look at him, perplexed as I listen. He sounds so sure of himself. The worst part is he’s right.

The rest of the drive is spent in silence. We pull up outside what looks like a small boutique. The storefront is painted all black and the windows are tinted so I can’t see inside.

In my periphery I see Bones open up the glove compartment. I scoff at the huge bag of weed in there. “You’re a drug dealer? Should have known.”

“Not a fan of weed?”

“I’ve never tried it and I don't plan on it anytime soon.” I thought he would have known that from whatever he found out about my dad. Unless he assumed I followed in his footsteps.

“You’ll be pleased to know I'm not a dealer, and I just quit.” Rolling down the window he tosses the bag onto the sidewalk.

“You can’t just do that!” I frantically look around to see if anyone noticed, but focus quickly back on him as he pulls a gun from the glove compartment.

“What’s that for?” I quickly ask.

He slips it into the back of his pants. “Just a precaution.”

I grab the door handle to make a break for it, but it doesn’t open. “Really? The child locks?” I growl as I tug on it harder.

With a smirk painted on his lips, Bones saunters around the car and opens the door for me, holding his hand out like I’m royalty.

When I refuse to take it he grabs my waist and pulls me out of the car and over his shoulder. “Put me down!” I beat my fists on his back and he slides me down his chest to hold me in his arms. My height makes it awkward and I feel like he’s going to drop me any second so I wrap my arms around his neck. I hate this feeling inside me when I see him up close like this.

His soft eyes and the way his hair blows in the breeze creates a confusing mix of emotions that are fighting for control of my heart.

It’s unfair that my body takes his side rather than mine.

“I can walk by myself,” I mumble as I look around for any passersby who could be watching, but the street is empty.

“Not without shoes on.”

How… considerate ?

No, he’s only doing it so I don’t run, not because he cares about my well-being.

“I could scream right now and someone would come help me.”

“Give it a try," he whispers in my ear. "I’ll have you in the trunk of the car before they can call the cops.”

I don’t think he’s bluffing, but still, I should be screaming. I should be thrashing around, fighting for him to put me down. But I’m letting him carry me inside.

The store's interior is just as dark as the outside and there’s metal music playing. Clearly, this is somewhere Bones shops regularly.

A few people are milling around, looking through the racks of clothes. A woman gives me a weird look as we pass, making me feel even more uncomfortable. “Can you please put me down now?” I whisper.

“In a moment.”

Bones carries me straight up to the counter and the cashier raises an eyebrow at us. She’s stunning with snake bite piercings, a huge moth tattoo on her throat, and cleavage that’s spilling out of her leather corset. Bones barely looks at her though.

Without putting me down he grabs his wallet and flips it open on the counter, pulling his credit card out. “I need the store for an hour. I’ll pay you whatever you want for the privacy, just make it happen now.”

She smirks at him and then me, shrugging her shoulders. “Sure. It’s been a slow day anyway.” She claps her hands and calls out, “Store’s closing early! Everybody out.”

The people still shopping huff their complaints that they weren’t done, but the cashier glares them down and they quickly leave.

She goes to lock up the door and Bones finally puts me down.

“You need help browsing?” she calls over her shoulder.

“Yes—“

“—No.”

I glare at Bones as he speaks for me.

“Yes,” I say again. “You’re not picking my clothes out for me.”

“Fine. I still want to see what you pick. You can give me a nice little fashion show.”

The woman chuckles like she’s seen this all before. “I’ll find some pieces out for you and leave you two to decide on the rest.”

“He’s kidnapped me. I’m not here voluntarily,” I blurt out, causing her to drop the dress she was holding. She fumbles to pick it up and looks nervously up at me.

Bones leans in close to whisper, “You really think she’s going to believe that after you came in here willingly clinging to my neck?”

“I’m not making it up!” I say with more exasperation than urgency.

She looks between us clearly unsure of whether to believe me or not.

Bones takes my hand and guides it to his lower back where I feel the hard ridges of his gun.

Fuck.

Grabbing a few more items off the rack next to her she says, “I’m going to put these in a changing room for you. Do you want me to help you into anything? The zips on some of these dresses can be tricky to do by yourself.”

I slowly look at Bones. He’s smiling sweetly like we really are just a couple shopping together and not like he’s going to shoot a person if I say one more wrong thing.

Surely he wouldn’t do that? I suppose I don’t really know him at all.

“No, it’s alright. I’ll manage. I was only joking, trying to prank my boyfriend.” l give her a small smile of thanks for believing me and trying to help. Ultimately I want her to get out of this alive so I pray she drops it.

Thankfully all she does is chuckle and give me an odd look. After she hurries off around the corner to where the changing rooms are, I yank my hand away from Bones’ gun. He starts picking out clothes like nothing just happened.

I look to the door and without looking up Bones says, “I wouldn’t.”

Silently I accept my fate so that this stranger can live.

In the changing room, I don’t look in the mirror at a single thing I’m putting on. I expect Bones to have the final say over everything anyway.

“You’re not having fun,” he points out bluntly.

Yanking the dress I just tried on back over my head I toss it at him. I’m standing in just the new underwear I picked out for myself, but he’s seen plenty of my body for me to no longer care.

“You made me suck your cock in the car and then you threatened to shoot someone. How is any of this supposed to be fun?”

“I didn’t threaten anyone.”

Is he serious? Holding my hand to a gun isn’t a threat to him?

I shake my head as I turn away to put some clothes on. The outfit I end up wearing is pretty yet comfortable. A long, sleeveless purple top with black lace trim that cuts low on my chest and the softest leggings I’ve ever worn in my life.

“You look absolutely stunning. Honestly, I didn’t know you could get any hotter.”

I don’t want his words to matter, but I’m so starved of human interaction that the smallest morsel from him feels like a blessing.

Brushing him off I say, “I thought men were supposed to be bad at this sort of thing.” Then again Bones really isn’t like anyone else I’ve met. “Do you have a girlfriend or something?”

“If I did would you be jealous?”

“Hardly,” I scoff. The way he doesn’t answer the question riles me up in all the wrong ways. I shouldn’t care, not after that show he just put on, but he is my only constant. I can’t help the way my fucked up brain is latching onto him for security.

He breaks the distance between us and I fold my arms over my chest as a sign not to touch me.

“No, I don't have a girlfriend, but I do have a future wife,” he smirks.

His words hit me right in the gut. Obviously a man that looks like him would be taken. It’s not like I want him, I just don’t want to be his piece on the side that he uses after he’s fucked some other woman.

When he laughs I decide I can’t take anymore and I turn to leave the cramped space, but he grabs my wrist. “Wynter.”

“What?” I snap. Bones yanks me towards him and I spin into his chest. His lips claim mine and no matter how hard I shove him he doesn’t budge an inch.

Once he finally stops, his lips don’t leave mine and I can feel every word he says to me. “I want you to be mine in every way, including as my wife. The day you let me put a ring on your finger will be the happiest day of my life.”

He can’t honestly believe that?

I step away from him. “I’m your prisoner not your fucking girlfriend,” I whisper harshly, too afraid that the woman out front will overhear and I’ll get her killed.

“That’s just semantics.”

“So you keep all your girlfriends locked up in the house and threaten to rape them?”

Bones' eyes darken as he stares me down and I have to force myself not to cower.

“Don’t twist what we have into something bad, Wynter. It’s okay to enjoy sex. Even after the things that happened to you, you’re still allowed to have a good time with me.”

I’m speechless. He’s deluded yet he somehow just unraveled all my insecurities.

“You’re insufferable. I’m not debating what happened between us with you.”

To help distract myself I re-sort the pile of clothes.

“I can’t even wear half of this stuff.” I hold up a short red mini dress that Bones picked out and keeps finding its way back to the keep pile no matter how many times I move it. Everything he’s picked for me is either black or red. “Seriously, unless you’re planning on taking me clubbing I’m not going to wear this.”

“I just know you’ll look beautiful in red,” he sighs and his eyes go distant. I’m sure I don’t want to know what he’s imagining.

“Why do you think I chose purple?” I mumble.

He blinks back to life and laughs.

“Maybe I will.”

“Will what?” I ask frustratedly. Why is nothing ever simple with him?

“Take you clubbing. I want to show you off everywhere.”

“Oh, I get it now.”

“Get what?” He frowns.

“That you really are stupid. To show someone off you need to take them places, dumbass.”

“What do you think we’re doing?”

A controlled trip to play dress up with his new toy is entirely different to a carefree night of getting drunk in a crowd of people and he knows that.

Groaning loudly in frustration I grab the pile of clothes, taking them to the cash register. I don’t look at any of the price tags or see the total after the cashiers rung it all up. I do however notice the hefty tip Bones leaves her. One that seems an awful lot like hush money.

Back in the car, I don’t know what to do with myself. I fidget in my seat and flip through music, but the noise irritates me more and I turn it off.

“What’s wrong?” Bones asks and I stare at him with my mouth wide open.

Is he that self-centered that he can’t tell a single thing that he’s done is bad?

“I’m not spelling it out for you. Just take me back to my prison. I’m done with the outside.”

My outing has left me feeling nothing but bitter and I’m starting to think that being his kept little plaything is better than living with false hope for my freedom.