“Your daddy sure does love you, poppet,” he whispers across my skin, causing goosebumps to dot my bare flesh. The deep baritone of his voice vibrates through me, reminding me he’s in charge. He doesn’t need to tell me; it’s clear in his expression.
I shiver, both from the cold and his ferocious stare. He looks angry, but there’s another emotion brewing in his stormy eyes.
Lust.
“What?” I croak once more, only to earn myself a chuckle so deep and rumbling it sounds like thunder rolling in.
“He wanted me to pay him five million for you,” the stranger informs me. “But I believe you’re worth so much more than that.” This time, he coos.
His hand reaches for me, his knuckles trailing a white-hot path down my icy cheek. The warmth of his skin against my almost-frozen flesh is a welcome comfort, and I find myself leaning into his touch.
“That’s it, sweetheart,” he whispers in a husky tone. “I’ll be your daddy now.”
“No, no,” I whimper, pulling away from him, but he’s too fast. Thick, calloused fingers grip my face harshly, turning my head to face him. His eyes glow with feral rage. His voice may have been the thunder, but his actions are the storm. He forces me to look at him, and I know there’s no way I can fight the blizzard of this man. I’m ready for the lashing of lightning to burn me alive.
“Listen to me,” he commands with fury burning through his words, igniting fear within my very core. “I don’t care if you say no. In fact, I want you to say no. When you fight and wriggle against me, I’ll fuck you harder. I’ll make you fucking bleed all over me, all over my cock, and when I’m done, I’ll ensure you clean me with your pretty pink tongue.” His laugh is manic, vibrating off the walls as it tumbles from his slim, red lips.
“Sir.” A voice at the door draws his attention. “We have contact,” the man says. When my captor moves, I get a glimpse of the stranger at the exit to the hell I’m locked in. His eyes land on me for a split second before averting his gaze to his boss.
“And they know what we have?” my captor questions. The answer is a nod. “Good. Get her ready.”
The stranger walks into the room. He has a confident stride, as if this is the most natural thing for him to do. His body is large, foreboding, with broad shoulders and a tapered waist. I take him in, wondering if I could fight my way free. If I can get my hands on a weapon, I’ll be able to do something other than lie here like a fucking toy.
The dress shirt he’s wearing is a dark color, but not black. Perhaps charcoal. His slacks match, but his boots are black leather with worn cracks. He doesn’t speak, but I take my time watching him move around the room.
He fills a bucket from the sink in the corner, the sound of water causing my bladder to ache.
“I need . . .” When I utter the words, he spins on his heel to pin me with a glare. “I, uhm, need to pee,” I tell him as embarrassment flushes through me, heating my cheeks, traveling down to my chest.
“Piss yourself on the mattress. The next girl won’t be here till it’s dry.”
My mouth falls open, gaping at him in shock. Horrified at having to do what he said. I turn away, attempting to not listen to the trickle of the tap.
“Don’t mind me, doll, I’ve seen much worse.” This time he chuckles. “Working with him, I’ve cleaned piss, blood, and shit when he’s finished with one of you, so you’re definitely not special,” he continues, not looking my way.
He picks up the bucket and strolls over to the icy metal bed I’m bound to. My wrists ache. Pins and needles pierce me as I tug and pull to get free, even though I know it’s a pointless exercise. Standing above me, he takes the bucket and tips it over me and the mattress I’m lying on.
A squeal of surprise is wrenched from me, bouncing off the walls. I tug on my restraints only to have the twine bite into my torn skin, and I feel the trickle of water and blood as it oozes its way over my flesh.
The cold has nothing on what I feel now. My body is frozen. My limbs lose all feeling, and my teeth chatter loudly against each other.
My tormentor captures me in his arms, and I realize he’s unbound me from the headboard. Even though I’m loose, I’m free, I’m still bound in another way. I’m so cold I can’t move but then he’s lifting me. My arms flail, one at my side and the other on my lap.