“Have you forgotten your manners yet again, Rain?”
My mouth thins into a line, and I look down, shaking my head.
“Then why haven’t you greeted me properly, little girl?”
I don’t look at him. My motions are robotic as I pick myself up from the chair and drop to my knees in front of him. I bow, allowing my forehead to touch the hardwood before pressing a kiss to his leather boots. I want to fucking scream like every time he makes me do this. But Adelina’s words ring in my ears, reminding me of the threat Xavier made.
But then again, going anywhere else would be better than here.
Maybe The Wife Breaker is a blessing in disguise.
“Good girl,” Xavier mutters, as I get back up and start brushing my hair again. “Let me.”
Without saying a word, I hand him the hairbrush, and he combs my hair. He’s rough, going through the tangles with a force that makes me wince. I’m sure that makes him smile. He loves hurting me.
“We’re going to have some fun today,” my husband goes on as he continues brushing my hair. “Jimenez is still here, and he wants to see you again.”
My eyes shoot up to meet his in the mirror, finding him staring back. He wants a reaction out of me, and that’s exactly what he got. I just betrayed myself, showing him just how repulsed I am by his friend. He’ll only use that to humiliate me further.
“I don’t want to see him.”
The moment the words leave my lips, I know I’ve just given Xavier more ammunition to hurt me, and judging by his smirk, he’s had the same realization.
“Since when do I care about what you want?” he asks, his tone almost caring.
If I didn’t know his cruel ways well enough, I could almost mistake it for kindness, his words a sharp contrast to the tone of his voice.
“Please.”
It’s too late to beg now, but I have to try.
“Don’t make me see him again.”
“He’s waiting for you.”
Xavier smirks.
“You wouldn’t want to be rude to our guest, would you?”
I shake my head wordlessly. I want to cry. But I know anything I do now to show my distaste for Jimenez will only be turned against me. Xavier is enjoying this too much.
“I’ll see you in a few hours,” he tells me with a cool smile. “Look pretty, so I can be proud of my beautiful fucktoy.”
Grinding my teeth together painfully, I don’t dare say a word. I know all too well Xavier has the power to send an electric current through the cuffs on my wrists. I’ve felt it enough times to know that’s something I want to avoid at all costs.
Xavier picks himself up and lifts my chin up so my eyes meet his. He smiles to himself, turning my face this way and that while I leave my eyes down-turned, unable to bear the weight of his gaze.
“So damn pretty, Rain,” he mutters. “One day, you’ll finally break for me. And it’s going to be glorious.”
With those words, he leaves my room, leaving goosebumps on my skin and a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach.
But there’s nothing left for me to do, only wait for the inevitable. And as the clock ticks by and I try to busy myself by getting ready, it only serves to make me more nervous. Xavier’s thinly veiled threat is lodged in my brain, reminding me with every step that I’ll soon be turned into a sacrificial lamb.
There’s a knock on the door a few hours later. By that time I’ve bathed, applied some makeup and dressed in an outfit Xavier has picked for me. I know well enough what it means to disobey him, and Adelina’s words from earlier are still playing on my mind. I can’t afford to disappoint my husband again. Based on what my maid said, The Wife Breaker is even worse than the monster I married.
I open the door to find Adelina standing there in the presence of a guard. She nods at me and chats in Spanish while my heart pounds. By her hand gestures alone, I know what this means. I have to come with her - my husband and Jimenez are already waiting.
Trembling, I follow the maid down a long hallway and into the room I fear most - the playroom, where nightmares are born.
In the darkened room, two men are already waiting. Adelina scurries away after delivering me to them, and I feel a chill go down my spine as the door is locked behind me.
“Present yourself,” my husband’s voice demands darkly from the shadows.
I’m shaking so badly I stumble when I step forward. I’ve heard the words enough times to know them by heart, but that doesn’t make what I’m about to do any easier.
My fingers find the ties of my wrap dress and I slowly peel it off my body, feeling the men’s watchful gazes on every inch of heated skin. A flush creeps into my cheeks as I wait for them to say something, but neither of them does. They just stare. Only when I take a step closer do I notice Jimenez is sitting on an armchair, and a gorgeous younger woman is sucking his cock.