Page 37 of Obsession

“I guess you should have thought about that before you disobeyed me.” His concentration remained rooted to the pot, his hand stirring its contents over and over as though he was hypnotized by the act.

Disobeyed him?

Was he joking? All she’d done was request basic cleanliness. Her lips curled into a grimace as she recalled what he’d forced her to do. If she ever got out of there, she’d have to sanitize her entire mouth.

When… she corrected herself. Not if, but when. I can’t stay here and give in to his bullshit.

“I just asked for you to be clean.” She swallowed, trying not to think about what she might be tasting. Turning her head toward him, she hoped whatever he was cooking would wash the grim thought away.

“You don’t get to make demands.” His stirring hand paused, the sudden stillness elevating her heart rate.

“I wasn’t demanding.” She sensed the shift in the atmosphere, although even if her hands had been free, she couldn’t have put her finger on it. Her fury simmered on, but it was being replaced by that gnawing terror that Tucker seemed able to inspire. “Only asking, sir.”

“Hmmm.” He spun slowly to face her. “I don’t think so, little girl. You don’t even get to ask.”

“Why are you being so mean?” Her fingers balled into her palms at her desperate plea. Had that pathetic question really just come from her?

“Because it’s what you need to learn.” His tone was even as he watched her. “And that’s what’s going to happen.”

Learn? She bristled, her breaths coming faster as she once more shifted on her sore knees.

“I thought we were having a good time, sir.” Her brow furrowed, but she refused to acknowledge the emotions lurking not far from the surface. “You said you wanted to cuddle me, and…” Her voice trailed into silence as she glanced away.

“I did.” He took a step toward her, his lips rising into a smile. “And I’m glad I did. You’re lovely.”

“So lovely that you treat me this way?” Her voice almost broke that time, forcing her to gulp down her rising feelings, whatever the bad taste in her mouth.

“You clearly have no idea how good you look.”

Her chin rose at his wry tone. “You like me like this?”

He was even closer now. “You know I do. I told you that much, and I haven’t exactly been hiding my feelings, Ella.” He gestured to his zipper as he inched toward her. “All you need to do is what I tell you.” His voice was softer as he closed the space between them. “This experience will be a lot easier for you that way.”

“My mum always said I don’t usually take the easy route.” She peered out of the window, thinking of Susie. Ella hoped she was keeping it together. She still lived at home, and they ate together most days. She knew her mum would be worried sick about her.

“Well, she’s right.” He smiled in her peripheral vision. “You certainly don’t. What’s your mother like? I don’t think I ever had the pleasure of meeting her.”

“She’s kinda crazy.” Ella couldn’t resist the way her lips curled. “But she’s sweet and generous. She deserved better than Alexander.”

“Now that I can believe.” Tucker loomed over her again, his thigh blocking the limited light permitted by the cabin’s one window. “Your father is a grade-A asshole.”

That’s rich coming from you.

She suppressed the smirk that wanted to form at her thought. “You’ll get no objections from me on that one.”

“Well, that makes a pleasant change.” His hand brushed over her aching shoulder as he came to stand in front of her. “Look at me.”

Knowing she ultimately had little choice, she complied, allowing her gaze to fall over his torso. She’d seen him half naked earlier when he’d fucked her and had enjoyed his broad strapping chest and stacked abdominals, but as her attention scanned over his skin, she noticed scarring on his arm and shoulders she hadn’t seen before.

“What are those, sir?” She eyed the scars before her eyes traveled back to his face. He really was an attractive man for his age. If he wasn’t such a controlling psycho, she might have been able to appreciate him even more.

“What?” His terse tone told her that he already knew to what she referred.

“The scars.” Sensing she was on her risky ground and already bound and in pain, her voice was small. “The one on your shoulder looks like…” Staring more closely, her heart thundered.

Shit! Her throat dried as she realized precisely what it looked like. She’d seen enough similar wounds in those gross movies one of her exes had made her endure.

“Looks like what?” His finger tipped her chin, drawing her attention back in the direction of his face.

---