I grab my matching champagne gold heels, but lose them when Lincoln swipes them from me. He drops to his knees, slipping the heels onto my feet, buckling the straps with gentleness. His hand cups one of my ankles, slowly gliding his hand up the inside of my thigh. “You look beautiful, Doll Face.”
I blush, standing. Causing his hand to fall away. “Thank you.”
He stands up, his hand reaching out to run through my blonde curls. “Something is missing,” he muses.
Puzzled, I ask, “What?”
He walks over to the nightstand, pulls a drawer out, and produces two white boxes. One is long, the other square and thick. He moves me in front of the full-length mirror. Slowly unraveling the pink ribbon of the bigger box, I watch in the mirror as he clips a black lace bow into my hair, a perfect match to my dress. I smile, eyes glistening with adoration instead of the grief I let spill earlier. “That’s beautiful. Where did you get it?”
He adjusts it a bit, making sure is sits perfectly in my half up, half down hairdo, only the top showing in my mess of curls. “I had it especially made for you. To show the delicate feel of your body, but also the dark desire you crave.”
His words hit me somewhere deep in my chest. Because of the thought process behind it, the fact that it came from him. Next, he opens the long box. Hiding it from my view until the diamonds slip around my neck, a delicate choker sparkling against my skin. He pulls a small key from his pants, using it to lock the choker in place. His eyes meet mine in the mirror. My hands rise, fingers trailing over the ice crystals around my neck. “I’m the only one who can open this necklace.”
“Like a collar?”
He smirks. “Like a collar. I own you, Callum Madison. Not your boyfriend, not your next boyfriend, or even your future husband. Me.” He whispers the words darkly, kissing the side of my neck. “Now, do you need a ride to this event?”
I shake my head. “Jake is coming to get me.”
His eyes darken. “Is he your date tonight?”
I have to hide the smile threatening to break free; he is so jealous for someone who didn’t even claim me. “He is my boyfriend. I can’t take my teacher.”
“Maybe,” he hums. “Just make sure he keeps his hands to himself, yeah?”
He stalks off, closing the bathroom door before I can even thank him for the presents. I hear the shower turn on as I walk over to the black tux and white dress shirt he has laid out. I have no clue where he is heading off to tonight, but I am claiming him. I lay an open-mouthed kiss on the collar of his shirt, smirking as I walk out of his house to my car.
* * *
I lookup to the gold-painted ceiling the high pillars hold up. The ballroom reminds me of something out of a fantasy movie. The way mini gold chandeliers line each side of the room. The dim setting. The dark floor and the gold that outlines every single detail of the medieval-looking room. The building is old and holds so much character. Apparently, every detail, small to big, was handcrafted. I look around. Everyone is dressed in red carpet attire. A sea of color in rich fabrics crowd the room. I grip Jake’s arm, trying and failing not to panic when my eyes land on his. His eyes narrow on my arm wrapped around Jake’s. Eyes smoking when they come back to mine.What is he doing here?
A throat clearing makes my eyes drag to the front of the room. My eyes zeroing in on Richard, who stands with a microphone in his hand. “So, I got married early this week.” The crowd offers a mixture of reactions. Some gasp, others cheer. Everyone is clapping. Everyone but me. I stand frozen as my mother walks up next to him. His sons following suit. All three of them, but not me. No, I am the outcast they hide among the sea of dresses and suits. Jake leans down, whispering in my ear, “Isn’t that your mom?”
I nod, numb. I ignore everything he says next. Watching my mom live her best life without me by her side. “You all know Rebecca, the founder of Second Chance. The organization that helps women?” The crowd cheers and I watch as Richard kisses her blushing cheek before he takes a step back and claps for her as well. Then he steps forward. “I have another announcement. This will be my last year as governor of our great state.” The crowd boos and he gently asks them to calm down. “I’ve given my whole life to politics, leaving my family in second place to my job, and I…” Richard looks straight at me. “And I have to make it up to them.” He smiles, eyes leaving mine and going across the crowd. “I hope you all enjoy your evening.”
What is this pain? Tightening in my chest, making it feel like I’m suffocating? The noise around me grows, the sound deafening as sweat rolls down my temple. “Are you okay?” Jake asks.
“I'm fine. You know how I get around so many people… I just need some fresh air.”
Jake leans down, pressing a kiss to my cheek. I pull away from him like he just stung me. A common reaction I’ve been having since Lincoln entered my atmosphere.
I walk to the open balcony doors, stepping into the shadows of the darkness the pillars provide. I sigh, leaning my head against one. But then I feel something—someone—step up behind me. A strong hand wrapping around my mouth to keep me from screaming as they drag me farther onto the balcony, a dark corner that faces the dance floor, leaving us blanketed in the shadows. “I want to try something. I know you like to be degraded, called a slut, but I want to see if you like true degradation. Are you okay with that?”
I nod and he releases my mouth. Anything to take my mind off this horrendous day. He lifts my dress to my hips; it spills in the front, hiding any exposure if anyone is to look up. He thrusts inside of me with one long movement, grunting. “You see the stunning woman in green? Short black hair?” I nod, eyes connecting to her. She permeates class and elegance. Tan skin shimmering beneath the chandelier lights. “My family wants me to marry her. She would be a good candidate, excellent breed.” He thrusts harder, kissing a trail down the side of my neck as he whispers in my ear, “You see how her hips curve, body made to be owned? I won’t have to break her in the way I’ve broken you in. Her pussy is mature, unlike your teenage one that chokes my cock. Her tits are round and plump, not that yours aren’t.” He squeezes one in his huge palm. “But they don’t fit so awkwardly on her body as yours do.”
Tears sting my eyes. I know what is doing, punishing me for his fucked-up thoughts, for wanting what is forbidden. For seeing Jake with me. It doesn’t make it hurt any less. No matter what excuse he uses to cover it up.
“You see that prick? The one everyone is smiling a little too wide at, trying a little too hard to impress?” He points to the center of the room and my heart stops. He’s really the last person I want to look at while I get fucked by my teacher.
I nod, looking to the ground as he plows into me with long strokes, letting me feel every inch of his unhurried thrusts.
“That’s my brother.”
Everything moves in slow motion. My heart drops, stomach souring as acid rises up my throat.
It’s like white noise; even though I can hear him speaking, nothing is coherent to my ears. “Raven,” I whisper, peeling his hands from my waist, stumbling away from him as my dress falls back into place.
“Callum?”The sound of Lincoln’s voice has me leaning over the railing as I puke violently.