Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably on the floor. Her knees were beginning to feel weak and tired from kneeling for over an hour. She wondered where Nicholas was, leaving her anxious and scared. The scowl on his face and rage in his eyes had scared her to death. Who was that lady he was so concerned about?
The door swung open and her heart caught instantly. His scent filled the room, confirming her fears; he was back and she was in trouble for something she didn't do.
"There you are," his deep voice echoed, sending chills down her spine as he walked in front of her. "How dare you hit Arabella? Do you know who she means to me?"
Elizabeth straightened her back, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I don't know who she is, but she was the one who attacked me. I only defended myself."
A hard slap landed on her face, and she held her cheek in pain. Her tears spilled freely, pain visible in her eyes. "Why… Why are you treating me this way? What did I do to you, Nicholas? I loved you."
He shook his head with a scoff before bending down to her eye level. "You see, I had actually fallen for you. I wanted to protect you until I confirmed the news that had been tearing my heart for days."
Elizabeth creased her brows in confusion, her lips parted in anticipation.
His lips slanted in contemptuous anger. "Your father, your filthy father, killed my mother in the most brutal way."
Again, Elizabeth was confused, shaking her head unsure of what Nicholas was driving at.
"The hunting expedition," he reminded her with a scowl. "Your father went to my mother's kingdom and had her and her people put to the sword. He killed everyone!"
Elizabeth jerked her head up, her eyes blazed with anger. "That's a lie! My father would never do such a thing. He's not a monster like you and your father!"
"Shut your stupid trap," he jerked her neck in a vise grip, almost choking her. "You don't know what your father did. I swear I'll make you pay for it."
He released her, and she erupted in a cough, her face turning pale as she gazed at him with hurtful eyes.
He stood up and walked towards the bathroom side, quickly returning with a horsewhip in hand. Elizabeth's heart caught at the sight, tears welled up in her eyes as she tumbled back instinctively to the floor.
"Strip!" He commanded firmly. "Don't make me force you to."
Elizabeth shook her head slowly, tears falling freely from her eyes, staining her cheeks. "I'm still so sore from the trashing I received that day. Please, have mercy on me." She clasped her hands together, pleadingly entrancing him.
"One."
Elizabeth's face crumbled in sadness, realizing he meant it and wasn't going back on his words. She stood up gingerly and slowly took off her plain white gown, revealing her undergarment.
"That too," he pointed at her undergarment, his eyes devoid of any emotions.
Elizabeth swallowed visibly, unable to contain her sobs as her shaky hands made work of peeling the undergarment off, revealing her naked form to him.
His eyes roamed her body hungrily, his lips slanted in a grinning smirk. He couldn't deny the fact that she was a gorgeous woman, with perfect breasts and well-rounded hips.
Her hands flew to her upper and lower regions to try and keep her dignity at least but his eyes hardened instantly, making her tremble.
"Drop them!"
His intense order caused her hands to drop on their own accord, leaving her standing in front of him bare and humiliated.
"Over here," he gestured the whip towards the bed. "Hands on the bed, bottom up."
Elizabeth dragged her legs, each step weighing heavily on her as she approached the bed with cautious strides. She placed her hands on the bed and raised her bottom up, unwillingly inviting his smacks.
Prince Nicholas forced down a gulp as he took in her delicate bottom, which was covered in welts from her previous thrashing. A tug made its way to his heart, but he quickly dismissed it, hardening his countenance as he approached her quivering form.
"Stay in place and don't get up from this bed," his cold voice instructed as he raised the whip and mercilessly delivered the first blow, causing Elizabeth to scream out in horror.
With each stroke, she felt as if a hot coal was being smeared in her body, causing her to jerk painfully. Unable to stay still, she made to get off the bed but he pushed her back on it forcefully, twisting both of her wrists in a painful grip before proceeding to thrash her mercilessly.
Elizabeth screamed on top of her voice with each powerful stroke tearing at her skin, wishing so bad for the whipping and pain to end. She just couldn't understand how Nicholas, who had caressed and protected her so much, could do this to her.
After what felt like an eternity to her but was barely a few minutes, the whipping ended, drawing a watery sigh from Elizabeth. But before she could get off the bed, he pulled her up roughly and threw her back on it, her sore bottom connecting with the rough sheet.
She made to get off but he held a finger up. "Stay there."
Elizabeth's face contorted in horror. He wasn't through. What was he planning on doing to her? Her cries intensified as she watched him walk towards his shelf to retrieve some chains before walking back towards the bed.
He proceeded to grab her legs and spread them wide apart, chaining each one and connecting them to separate hooks on the bed. He took her hands and did the same, connecting the chains to their respective hooks. Elizabeth was mortified to find herself in this position, bare, open, and humiliated. She tried to struggle but realized she could barely move her body.
Prince Nicholas's lips twisted into a cruel smile as he climbed onto the bed and lay on top of Elizabeth's naked form. His eyes glistened with pure lust and triumph.
His hand moved to her face as he traced a pattern over her cheek, causing her to tremble beneath him. "Are you surprised?" he cooed in a false tone, causing fresh tears to pool in Elizabeth's eyes.
"I was always like this. All that gentlemanly behavior you see in your kingdom was only a gimmick I adopted. But you see," he leaned forward and planted his head between the warm valley of her breasts. "I was actually beginning to like being a 'gentleman' only for you, Elizabeth."
He brought his face upwards and attacked her lips with a painful kiss that almost restricted her airflow. When he released her lips, she was panting hard, her breasts rising and falling with each breath.
"But not now," his cold eyes pierced through her soul, sending an electrifying shock through her. "Not after what happened. Right now, I just want to ruin you and make you scream out in pain until you have no more life in you. And I'll do exactly that," he went on to pull off his clothes, leaving him bare and on top of her.
Elizabeth watched in horror, realization dawning on her. She shook her head, wondering how he could do this to her when he had been with some other girl only last night. Additionally, she was aching all over, and she hated him.
Her thoughts were interrupted when he thrust hard and intrusively into her, causing her lips to part in an involuntary moan. She bit her lips, not wanting to repeat it. Nicholas noticed and chuckled darkly before sliding back in and pounding into her with a hard thrust.
With each thrust, her breasts bounced, and her bottom brushed against the sheet, causing pain to explode throughout her body.
Elizabeth realized that the pain and pleasure were beginning to mix as she struggled to maintain her composure and not give in. However, it was a losing battle because soon she was moaning in ecstasy, her body jerking with each thrust.
She instinctively arched her back and wanted to run her hands over his back, but the chains restricted her, causing her to groan in frustration. Nicholas noticed and smirked, shame and frustration painted on her face.
How could she enjoy this, despite all he had done to her? She willed her body not to respond, but he was determined to show his power over her as he brought her to a severe orgasm before finally reaching climax together. Elizabeth's moans filled the room, and when she finally came down from her climax, tears pooled in her eyes. She berated herself for having enjoyed it, feeling like a disgrace.