Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

AURORA

I closed the bathroom door without responding and leaned against it. Panic and anxiety welled up inside of me. I ruthlessly shoved the feelings down. If I started thinking about my parents' death and the pending murder charges I would lose my mind.

I spread my fingers out as I held them before me. Dried blood had congealed under my fingernails. I shivered. It made me nervous not to be able to lock the door but the prospect of leaving my mother's dried blood on my skin upset me more.

I leaned my ear against the bathroom door and listened. I didn't hear anything.

Stepping away, I headed toward the shower.

My mouth dropped open in awe. It was seriously the most amazing shower I'd ever seen. It was the size of a small room with just a frosted glass wall to keep the water from splashing all over the bathroom. Like the rest of the bathroom, the floor and walls were covered in stone. There were several long rectangular showerheads stretched over the top of the space. When I turned on the spigot, it looked as if it were raining inside.

I stripped off my clothes and stepped inside. It felt decadent and strangely just a little bit wrong. As if I were standing naked in the yard during a rain shower.

Looking through the glass at the bathroom door, I snatched the long bamboo handle of the nearby shower brush and poured a generous amount of body wash on it. I then scrubbed my skin until it glowed pink. I also scrubbed under my nails until all traces of blood were gone. Unsure of how much time I had left before Roman returned, I picked up the shampoo bottle and poured some into the palm of my hand. I inhaled the spicy cologne scent. This was Roman's shampoo.

I tilted my head back and let the water splash against my face.

Roman had stood naked under this same water spray.

Despite the warmth of the water, I shivered.

Reaching for one of the plush towels on the warming rack, I wrapped myself in its heated softness. I then grabbed a second towel for my hair. After drying off, I selected one of the black brocade robes from the closet. The heavy, luxurious weight of the robe was soothing. Running my fingers through my hair, I searched under the marble-topped counter for a hair dryer. Finding one, I dried my hair until it fell in soft waves over my shoulders and down my back.

Staring at my pale complexion, I pinched my cheeks to add a little color to them before opening the bathroom door.

The bedroom beyond was so ornate it took me a moment to locate Roman. He was standing before a fireplace, dressed only in a pair of purple silk pajama bottoms. The orange glow from the flames highlighted each hard edge of muscle on his chiseled chest. I stood still for a moment and watched his profile as he lifted a brandy glass to his mouth and took a sip. My gaze focused on his mouth. Without thought, I licked my own lips, remembering the lingering taste of brandy from his kisses earlier that night.

Had I really just lost my virginity to this man a few hours ago?

It felt like a lifetime.

I must have made some kind of noise because he suddenly looked up and pierced me with his dark gaze.

Stepping further into the room, I wrapped the robe's belt around my hand over and over again. "Thank you for the shower. I feel much better."

He didn't say anything. Just stared.

I gestured toward the door. "Is there a spare bedroom I could use?"

He placed his glass on the ornate mantel and walked toward me. My breath hitched. He was so terrifyingly handsome. Roman placed his hands on either side of my throat and tilted my head back. "You're staying with me—in my bed."

I swallowed. "I don't think that is such a good idea."

His thumbs stroked the edge of my jaw. "You need to stop fighting me, Aurora. You won't win."

Everything about this man, from the moment I first laid eyes on him, screamed power and privilege. This was not a man who heard the word "no," ever. And yet, I couldn't say yes. Too much had happened over the last few days. I needed time to process, to think. Everything around me was just a swirl of chaos and confusion. I didn't know how I felt about anything that had happened. About him. About what he'd done to me both in my bedroom and at school. About losing my virginity in such a violent and impulsive way. About my parents getting murdered. Even about him showing up out of the blue to rescue me. I didn't want to seem churlish or ungrateful, but I needed time and space. "Please, I just want to be alone."

"No."

"I'm grateful for your help, really I am, I just need to be alone. I need to think."

"No."

"Stop saying no."

"No."

"That's not funny."

"I'm not laughing… and you're not leaving."

He took my hand and led me over to the bed. He picked up a long black silk scarf. "Turn around."

A sick feeling settled deep in my belly as my stomach clenched. "Please, Roman. No more games."

His gaze remained unreadable. "Do as you're told."

Feeling trapped and unable to refuse, I did as he commanded. He lifted his arms to cage me. The soft scarf settled over my eyes. I reached up to pull it off, but a low growl from him stopped me. He tightened the scarf around my head. I could see nothing.

I felt rather than heard him move in front of me. Then there was a tug on my robe belt. I clasped the knot, trying to hold him off. "Roman…"

He pulled my hands away and loosened the belt. He then opened the robe and pulled it off my shoulders. The room was so warm from the fire that I didn't even feel a chill on my skin as I stood exposed before him.

With his hands on my shoulders, I was turned to the side. I took one hesitant step forward when something touched my knees. Roman's hand pressed into the underside of my knee, causing me to instinctively lift my leg.

"Kneel on the bench," he instructed.

It was then I remembered the tall black leather bench at the end of his bed.

I knelt with my left leg and then used his arm for support as I lifted my right leg and knelt on the bench as instructed.

His hand caressed the underside of my right arm as he lifted it high. Before I could react, a leather cuff clasped around my wrist.

I panicked. Yanking on the secured wrist, I exclaimed, "What are you doing?"

He snatched my left wrist and secured it with another leather cuff.

I was now kneeling naked on a leather bench with my arms stretched wide above my head. I had never felt so vulnerable and afraid in my life.

"Please, Roman. I don't like this," I begged.

He pushed my hair off my shoulder and pressed his naked chest against my back. "You need this, kitten. You need a release."

I shook my head. "No. Please, untie me."

The sharp sting on my ass had me gasping out loud. I was not prepared for the harsh spank from his hand.

"Do not question me, baby girl. I know what is best for you."

He stepped away from my kneeling form. As terrified as I was, I felt his loss.

Moments later he returned. I could feel the heat from his skin as he stepped close to my body. Then the cool touch of leather caressed my spine.

"Do you know what this is?"

I shook my head.

"It's my belt. I'm going to whip this gorgeous ass of yours until you scream for mercy."

Tears slipped past my blindfold. "Don't do this, Roman. Please," I begged as I pulled on the wrist restraints.

"You need to trust me, little one. There is nothing like the cathartic release of pain. You need this."

I shook my head. "I don't want the pain. Please!"

Ignoring my plea, he stepped back.

My body stiffened as I braced for what would come next. Despite feeling the punishing force of his hand, I was unprepared for the sting of his leather belt. The first strike caught me across both ass cheeks. My body lurched forward, stopped only by my restraints. Before I could catch my breath, he struck me a second time. Then a third.

The pain was unbearable. My skin was on fire. Fire-dipped needle pinpricks raced over my ass and up my spine. The blindfold only increased my anxiety. It also heightened all my other senses. With every snap of his belt, my body jerked. I could hear his movements. Feel his breath on my shoulder. Sense when he was near and even when he raised his arm to strike again.

I begged and begged, but he wouldn't stop.

The belt landed across my butt cheeks and on the tops of my thighs.

My toes curled with each impact as my fingernails dug into my palms. "Stop! It hurts!"

He rubbed my right butt cheek with the palm of his hand. It was both a caress and a different kind of punishment. "Not yet. Your skin isn't quite the bright cherry color I desire."

At that point, I gave up begging. I absorbed each strike. The pain morphed into something else, something surreal and almost out of body. All the thoughts that had tormented my mind fled. There was nothing but the pain. In that moment, I was aware of every inch of skin, every nerve, every breath.

So consumed in torment was I, that it took me some time to realize he had stopped.

Roman stepped away from my tortured body.

I hung limply from the restraints. My skin was on fire. The tiniest shift sent a fresh wave of agony over my skin. I could actually feel my pulse as it thrummed and pounded the blood to the surface. The sensation aroused me in the darkest, most twisted way. I clenched my thighs as my traitorous pussy throbbed.

I strained to listen for Roman's movement over my labored breathing.

Finally, I heard what sounded like a metal lid being loosened off a jar.

I groaned when Roman pried open my ass cheeks with his fingers. A cold glob of something pressed against my entrance. At first it was soothing but my hope that it was some kind of lotion that he would rub into my sore skin was short-lived. He pressed a finger inside of me as he spread the substance inside my dark hole.

Realization dawned.

I sobbed.

"Shhh, little one. I warned you that I would be taking this tight ass of yours soon."

I sniffed as my limbs shook. "Please don't do this. I'm begging you."

He placed another glob against my hole and pressed it inside. "You should see how the petroleum jelly is melting into your skin. It is making your cute little hole glisten in the firelight."

He made it sound almost poetic. I knew the reality would be far from it.

Again, I begged. "I can't handle this. Please. Don't."

"Trust me. This is just what you need to forget everything."

He stepped up to me from behind. His thighs brushed my ass as his fingers pried my cheeks open. The head of his cock pressed against my entrance. My cheeks clenched. Roman pinched them.

"Ow!"

"Unclench or I'll get my belt again."

I forced my cheeks to relax as he pushed in and his fingers dug into my hips. My body gave in to the pressure. With the aid of the petroleum jelly, the head of his cock slid into my ass.

"Oh, God! It hurts!"

"It's supposed to hurt."

He slid in a few more inches.

My mouth opened on a silent scream as my body struggled to accommodate his girth.

He slid in further. His right hand shifted from my hip to my stomach. He pressed in with his open hand, holding me in place as he thrust in deeper.

I bit my lip. "Oh, God, you're so big!"

"And you're going to take every thick inch, baby girl."

He thrust again. Then again. The tops of his thighs grazed the backs of mine. "Almost there, baby. I'm almost all the way in."

I moaned in response as my head lolled to the side.

He thrust again. This time seating himself deep inside of me.

I couldn't breathe. The pain was so intense, I feared I would pass out.

"Don't move," I whispered. "Please, don't move."

He gently bit the top of my shoulder before growling in my ear, "Moving is the best part."

He pulled back until only the head of his cock remained lodged inside of me. The pressure eased but my relief was short-lived. He wrapped my hair around the fist of his free hand as he pressed his other hand against my stomach.

I inhaled a ragged breath as my body braced.

The only sound in the room was our shared breath and the crackle and pop of the fire.

Roman thrust in to the hilt.

I screamed and bowed forward until the restraints forced me back.

Everything else was a confusing blur of passion and pain. As if his punishing thrusts were actually pushing me closer and closer to orgasm.

Roman viciously pushed in deep over and over again, opening my tight asshole, abusing it.

"That's it, baby girl. Swallow my cock with your ass. Can you feel it? Can you feel me inside of you?"

The small butt plug had done nothing to prepare me. The pressure and strain on my sphincter muscles was beyond anything I had ever experienced before. My stomach cramped. I knew it wasn't possible that his cock was pressing against my internal organs, but that wasn't how it felt. I tasted blood as I bit down on my bottom lip in an effort to quell my moans.

My head hung limply as I groaned. Feeling overwhelmed, I said, "It's too much. I feel… too much." Every nerve in body was on fire. I had never experienced such intense, aroused emotions before.

He tightened his grip on my hair, forcing my head back. He then wrapped his other hand around my throat. Just like before, he didn't squeeze. The threat of him doing so was enough. He whispered harshly in my ear, "You're mine. You're all mine now. I'll take this ass whenever and however I want."

He pounded in faster and harder, proving his words.

My body rocked with the impact as my punished skin screamed in protest.

Roman's hand slid over my stomach to wedge between my thighs. He used his fingers to tease my clit. "You're going to come for me."

Horrified, I shook my head. "I can't. It's too painful."

"Yes, you can, baby girl. You're going to come while my cock is in your ass and beg me to do it all over again."

Fresh tears soaked my blindfold as I wailed in response.

He continued to relentlessly tease my clit. Against all that was holy, my body responded to his masterful touch. My orgasm was even more powerful than when he'd taken my virginity. The man was not human. He was a demon, sent here to plague me. This was twisted and wrong. Even as the waves of euphoria swept over me, I felt dirty for submitting to him.

Roman thrust several more times. He then let out a guttural roar as his hand tightened in my hair.

I could only imagine the hot spurts of come that now filled my tortured hole.

The moment he pulled free, some dripped down my inner thigh.

Roman unknotted the blindfold. It slipped away as he released me from the wrist restraints. I fell forward onto the bed and curled up into the fetal position, sobbing. I was sobbing because of… everything. My pain. My parents. My fears. My confusingly aroused response to his touch. Everything.

Roman pulled back the covers and then lifted me into his arms. He settled me in the center of the bed before curling up behind me. His strong arms wrapped around my middle as he held me tight.

I didn't know how long I continued to sob.

Eventually, my tears turned to soft sniffles as his touch and the warm weight of the blankets soothed me.

Roman stroked my hair as he leaned in to whisper, "You're welcome."

I turned in his arms and stared at him. The early morning light was filtering through the age-old stained-glass windows that surrounded his bedroom. His skin was covered in soft jewel tones as his dark eyes stared down at me.

My chest rose and fell with my agitated breathing. "You're welcome? Are you serious?"

Roman stroked my cheek. "You said you wanted to cry. So… you're welcome, baby girl."

The blood froze in my veins. Only a psychopath would say such a thing.