“Yeah? Inform me.”
My heart feels like it’s about to crack when I murmur, “The cabin could use some color.” Taking another step back, I add, “I’m going to go and pick some flowers to cheer it up.”
He doesn’t seem as keen on the idea. “You cheer that place up. No flowers needed.”
My body softens into silk. That was so...sweet...romantic... I jerk. Can’t go mushy now.
“I still think it would look n...nice...,” I stutter, because now I’m getting seriously nervous and I glance at the woods over my shoulder. If only it wasn’t so freaking dense! And I know that me doing this on my own is a death trap but what am I supposed to do when Dom refuses to cooperate.
I freeze when Dom slowly shakes his head as if disappointed, rasping, ”Don’t.Don’tdo that.”
Turning to him, I whisper, “Do what?”
His eyes harden but his voice is gentle. “Don’t play stupid with me, sweetheart. And don’t try to get away, you can’t outrun me.”
Maybe not. But I can try...
Throwing him a half pleading, half brash glance, I set off into the forest and I’m not even sure in which direction I’m going but the few couple of times I’ve watched wildlife shows, they always say to just follow the water and you’ll find civilization.
I guess that’s my plan, just follow the water and I jump over rocks, shoving at branches that are in my way and I curse silently when they rip holes in my clothes. These woods are violent, difficult, almost as if they’re on Dom’s side and don’t want me to leave either...
A hard gasp slips from my lips when I feel a hand around my ankle, getting dragged to the ground and I let out a sound of protest.
“Slade, don’t do this!” I cry, blood flooding to my brain when he pulls me over his legs, dragging my shirt up, a chilly wind hitting my bare buttocks and I flush. I choke from the shock when I feel Dom’s palm land on my backside. Hard.
“That’s for letting a boy into your bedroom,” he snarls and I can’t catch a breath. Another slap lands and I squirm violently and let out a wail. “And that’s for getting those photos of you all over social media.”
“Slade, please...” I mewl, my eyes rolling in my head. He needs to stop hitting me, I can’t take much more...
“And that’s for trying to run from me,” he growls, hitting me once more, a slap so hard that it moves like a string throughout my body.
“Slade!”
Another ringing slap. “What did you call me?”
“Dominic!”
“Wrong,” he growls. “Again!”Slap.
“Dom!”
“You can do better than that, sweetheart.”
“Daddy!” I cry and his palm freezes in the air but it’s too late, I’ve already gone limp, there’s dirt under my fingernails and I’m cold on the outside but on the inside I’m burning up. A moan that I didn’t even know I could make, expels from my mouth and my body tightens, before loosening, my vision blurring.
Lifeless, I barely have the strength to roll over Dom’s legs but when I do, there’s a harsh look in his eyes. It sears through me and I gasp, scurrying to cover myself with my shirt. Without a word, he rises, not bothering to help me up or caring about leaving me in the dirt.
I feel so unprotected in front of him and I know he can see it in my eyes how much I needed the discipline. How much I need for us to play this game and see that look on his face that tells me I’m his everything and that there will be consequences if I don’t fall into place.
“Run again and I’ll catch you,” he says gruffly. “But I don’t think you’re reckless enough to try.”
I’m not anymore. He needs to do that again. He needs to make me feel that way again and I’m so desperate for it that any ideas of the city get squeezed out of my mind.
Reaching for him with pink cheeks, I say, “Where are you going?”
Dom grinds his jaw, snarling, “Daddy’s angry now.”
14