"Wake up, little pet," Ferrara said softly in my ear, his hot, minty breath tingling my lobe. I sat up instantly, rubbing my bleary eyes with the back of my hand then stared at the tall, imposing mansion in front of us. "We're home."
I nodded, hating the fact that my sleep had been cut short. It felt as though I'd only closed my eyes for three seconds.
Ferrara was watching me closely. "You don't like it?" he twirled my hair around his fingers. I shook my head.
"It's beautiful, Master."
His face brightened with a smile. "Thank you, pet."
I shouldn't have loved that smile the way I did, or the way my body reacted to it— like a magnetic field. Granted, he wasn't as harsh as Jax had made him be over the years, but I'd just been with him only for a few hours. There was still so much more to unravel, and if he had this much-unspoken control over my body at such an early time as this, I could very well start counting my days to failure.
He's my master and the enemy. I strengthened my resolve to hate him no matter how nice he was. He lifted me now into his arms and carried me inside, two men in dark glasses accompanied us with his assistant whose name I was still yet to learn. The guards opened the huge, double glass doors for us.
Ferrara walked past the exquisite threshold, striding through the tastefully decorated living room. The ears of my wolf perked up in alert as I scanned the stunning living area, itching to explore. My wolf, Selma hated strange places. It made her agitated.
I squirmed in Ferrara's arms. "I can walk, Master."
His response was automated, as though he was waiting for me to talk. "I know you can, little one. But this is your first time in my house. I want to carry you."
I kept my mouth shut at the finality of his words. We reached the elevator doors now and it opened, the two guards and Ferrara's assistant halting as he carried me in. He seemed to deliver a silent message to them with his eyes for they nodded and turned to stalker off. The doors closed and we gradually began to ascend slowly.
"Stop being so restless, Seline," he murmured, amused. I heaved a deep sigh, not comfortable being in an enclosed space with him. I didn't trust him as much as he let on. He could have told his guards to prepare a grave while he killed me himself.
The key is not to let your guard down, no matter what, Seline. He communicates with his eyes. Be cautious of them.
"Are you that eager to satisfy me?"
I gulped, the mental image of what he was implying left me breathless. My cheeks burned as he tilted his head back in laughter, the slight protruding ball in his jugular bobbing sexily. It scared the shit out of me because I hadn't intended to be funny at all.
"Fear not, pet. I will give you enough time to rest. With time you'll know what I really mean by being satisfied. I'm a vampire that's hard to please. Whatever you've heard or learned about me until this very moment should be discarded because it's of no use. At all."
Mischief flared in his golden orbs. My heartbeat escalated as they skimmed the skin of my neck, his fangs slithering out from the shadows of his canines. I shuddered, averting my gaze. He whispered. "You want to walk so bad? I prefer to see you crawl. Wouldn't you like that, little one? Crawling for your master?"
I flushed scarlet. "Y-yes, sir."
"Hold onto me," he ordered, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. He held my hair back, thrusting his face in my neck, and inhaled. Sensual tremors shot through me and I whimpered as I felt his tongue trail down the hollow of my throat. He sucked gently, his eyes not leaving mine for a minute, his lips pink and inviting. Kissing them would be too forward and I was too mortified and turned on to think.
When the elevator stopped and the door opened, he pulled back, the corner of his lips pulling up into a smirk. He carried me wordlessly into his private chambers, past the spacious black-themed living area into the bedroom. There was a king-sized poster bed with black blankets, well-made, and a bathroom big enough for twenty people to use and move about without a hitch. I gaped at the shimmering luxury I'd only seen and thought possible in dreams as he placed me down to sit on the tiled edge next to a jacuzzi tube. He twisted the tap knob and the water began running.
"You want to have a bath?" I asked, clueless. He stripped his suit coat and shirt off, flaunting the fair skin strew with dark tattooed underneath. I did a double take, eyes widening as I surveyed his solid abs and the dark trail of hair leading into his pants.
"My eyes are up here, pet." I colored, snapping my face up to meet his gaze. I ducked my head, expecting a slap or punch for being naughty. When he didn't move to do anything of that sort, I mumbled.
"I'm sorry."
"It'll be best you don't speak or ask me questions unless I tell you to." His hands tugged at the hem of my dress and I raised my hand so he could slip it over my head. He tossed it aside and then stood to watch as I dipped a toe on the surface of the half-filled tube. "It's warm."
"Yes, I made it so. Get in." he groused impatiently. I sighed in contentment as I slid into the tube, the warm water reaching my shoulders. Ferrara squatted by my side and took my arm, massaging the purple bruises with a finger. "Did you fight your men before you were brought up onstage?"
I shook my head. "No. But they were rough with their grasp. Silly things."
He hummed, taking off a dry, white cotton cloth from a towel rack above my head. Plunging it into the water, he rubbed the yellow bar of soap against it and proceeded to clean my bruises.
I drew my hands away. "Master, you don't have to. I can do it."
He pinned me down with a cold stare, and I growled in defiance, my wolf rising close to the surface. We both stare down at each other until he reached out and forcefully grabbed a handful of my hair, yanking me forward. I yelped.
"This is your last chance, pet. You do as I say or I won't be nice." he groused, his grip tightening even more until I felt my scalp being drawn out along with the hair. I hadn't meant to make him so violent.
"I-I'm so sorry, Master. It won't happen again. Please."
"Then don't object to whatever I say again." I nodded, the pain searing through my scalp unbearable. He pushed me back down and began washing my body with the cloth, trying not to look at the tears pooling in my eyes. Hate pulsed through my veins and I choked back uncontrollable sobs. I had no idea why I was crying. I was stronger than this.
He ignored me, scrubbing my arms and shoulders, down to my breasts. He turned me away from him and took long hours shampooing my hair and making sure they were soaped properly. I fixed my gaze on the drain through which the dirt that washed off my body ran through. My eyes were dried now and I decided not to expect anything. Ferrara was a twisted demon. He could be nice this minute, and violent the next. I couldn't risk a second hair pull without retaliating, and he was stronger and more experienced in combat than I was, so there were zero chances of me taking him down. And I couldn't ruin my mission by doing that.
I had to try my best and be submissive, even though it wasn't a part of my nature. I couldn't risk Ferrara throwing me out or sending me back to the Academy in exchange for a more obedient pet. This was a chance I'd waited for like light itself.
I exhaled softly, relishing the feel of his hands as they washed my lower back. I didn't realize how long it'd been since I was caressed last. Mother used to caress me whenever I woke up, and I was so engrossed in my intensive training after she passed on to stop caring about those things. I lay most nights alone and untouched, weeping onto my pillows and praying for the grace to execute my mission. I didn't care if my skin missed human contact. I wasn't human.
But here I was, being washed by my enemy and loving the way he was crouched, handling me with such expertise and tenderness like a father washing his youngest daughter. I wasn't small as he made me out to be, but compared to him, I was a mere toddler. The Vampire King's large hands ran down my ribs and pinched my belly button.
I loved the way he was serving me. No, not serving, exercising his rights to my body. He'd paid loads for me so it was only natural that he indulged himself in making me suitable for his standards. You belong to me, his long fingers implied as they dragged along the pores of my skin. You're mine. My possession. I can do whatever I want. Whatever I desire and you'll say nothing.
I didn't want to say anything or move away. Instead, my body craved more of his magic touch. Every inch came alive under his solid, veiny hands. My breasts were up at attention, my nipples tight and pointed in anticipation. I suppressed the overwhelming feeling of shame, wanting his hands on my bosom. Our gazes locked and he raised a hand to pull my left nipple. My body quaked, and rivulets of pleasure spiked. I was expectant, watching him, waiting for what he'd do next. Where would he touch me? How good will it feel to have him explore my womanhood? Would I like it, or feel revulsed? What was going on in his mind?
I needed answers so badly, but I lost the ability to think straight when his hands dived in between my legs without warning and I drew them tight together in alarm. He was patient, waiting for me to relax my nerves. The thrilling sensation rippled through me. I sucked in air, breathless as he rubbed the soap on the hair covering the sensitive skin around my pussy.
"Hold still, little one."
He ripped open a new pack of shaving sticks and set to work, cutting the soaped patch of hair. I go rigid, scared as the blade razed the hair off and got closer to my skin, my pussy throbbing wildly.
"Good girl," Ferrara rubbed a finger on my smooth labia, taking up the hand-held sprayer and rinsing me thoroughly. He helped me stand and dried me with one of his numerous large, white towels. Handing me a fluffy robe, then ambled into one of the shower stalls with transparent walls. I tried not to look as he stripped out of his pants and underwear and turned on the tap.
When he was done, he called out. "Hey, pet. Hand me a towel, will you?"
I pulled off a second towel from the pile on the rack and approached him with my eyes shut. He took it from me, his laughter ringing out through the bathroom. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"It's nothing, Master. I don't... I don't deserve to see your thing?"
"Thing?" There was a hint of wonder in his voice. "You call my dick a thing?"
I flushed scarlet, probably red as an overripe tomato. "You're misunderstanding me. I don't want to be disrespectful or make you angry again. My head still hurts from the hair pull."
There was a terse silence that stretched on for so long, that I began to wonder if he'd already left the bathroom. Taking a peek through my fingers, I saw him staring, his hard eyes soft. I glanced down cautiously, relieved to see that he'd tied the towel around his waist.
He cupped my cheeks. "I'm sorry for that, okay? I just... don't like it when you challenge me. I don't like a stubborn pet."
"I understand," I murmured, not meeting his eyes. "I apologize too."
If you want to fool a fool, act like a fool.
He beamed, hoisting me up so I could wrap my legs and arms around his waist and neck. "Why don't I prepare something for the two of us? You look hungry."
In response, my stomach gurgled and he chuckled when I hid my face in his neck in embarrassment. He didn't seem to mind. We entered the bedroom and he placed me on the bed, turning to shuffle through an armoire closet for a nightdress I could wear. I perked up when he brought out a short, pink, silky nightdress and threw it at me. "Wear that and wait here. We're having lunch in bed."