Page 4 of Under Her Skin

He pats the sponge over her wounds, wiping the dried blood from her skin. Dread coils in my gut as I watch his measured and tender movements. I recognize the expression on his face, and I’m sick to see it on him while he tends to Ava. Kiel performs his task slowly, taking the time to change out the solution in the bucket several times as he cleans the blood.

He drags the sponge across her breasts reverently and grips one of them in his bare hand. My face feels numb as I watch in horror when he traces the sponge down her torso to her inner thighs. My chest is rising and falling irregularly, and I can’t seem to catch my breath.

I’m again thankful she’s asleep, that she won’t remember this moment, but I nearly come apart as he tends to the wound on her vulva and the blood gathered on the inside of her thighs. She could have bled out. I don’t know how she didn’t. A horrible part of me wishes she had if it meant she could be spared from whatever he has planned for her.

Kiel places a hand on the inside of her thigh, the movement offering an unobstructed view of her vagina. I can’t contain myself anymore, my rage bubbling past my mouth.

“You motherfucker!” I thrash in my chains. “I will eviscerate you, you piece of shit!” I keep shouting at him, but he doesn’t so much as flinch. Realizing the room must be soundproofed, I slump against the wall. Vomit rises up my throat as I prepare to witness the worst.

A moment later, he stands up to dump the bucket. As he washes his hands at the sink, I take the opportunity to watch Ava. I pray for her to have the strength and courage to hold on a little longer. I know her brothers have to be looking for us - and if I know the Giovanni brothers as well as I think I do, they will find us.

Too soon, Kiel comes striding into my room, his expression indiscernible. He paces in front of me a few times, then stops in front of the window to watch Ava.

“Have you ever felt as worthless as you do now?” Kiel asks softly.

“What? Are you my conscious now?”

He smirks as he turns to face me. “Always the smartass. Tell me, Callum, when you abducted and slaughtered my wife, did you imagine our story would end like this?” I flinch and he continues. “You killed my wife in front of me. You tortured me. And yet you still couldn’t stop me. My empire is flourishing. You couldn’t stop me from taking the woman you love. Everything you did was worthless.” He may be trying to manipulate me, but it’s hard to deny that he’s right.

“The only reason Ava is mixed up in this, is because of you. She’s suffering because of you, Callum Drake. And she will never forgive you.” I close my eyes,

unable to face the truth of his words. He laughs wryly. “Not that you’ll live for long. Ava, however, I might keep. If only so you can go to your grave knowing that she’ll be mine for the rest of her life.”

Kiel leaves me then, and I watch Ava in the silence.

5

AVA

The cold is always what hits me first. I’m so tired of being naked, but I’m even more tired of being awake. Every time I’m awake, I’m afraid. And I’m so tired of being afraid.

I have no idea how long I’ve been here. There aren’t any windows or outside noise to give me any clues either. My spine and my skin where the straps hold me down are on fire from laying in this position for so long. I need to use the restroom, but I’m afraid to ask.

Trying to focus on something else proved to be hard because of how hyper aware I am of my nakedness. They’re keeping the temperature so low, it feels as if my nipples are perpetually hard. I listen to the rattling of the AC and the subtle dripping noise from behind me. There might be a sink somewhere close, but I can’t be sure. The water drips steadily. For a few minutes, I forget where I am and how badly I need a restroom.

My temporary peace is broken as one of my doors flies open and the wide-eyed man strides into the room. I freeze and fight to keep my face still so that he won’t know how terrified I feel. He smiles at me as if I’m his favorite person in the world and pulls a chair to the bedside.

“How are you today, dear?” He seems excited today. For some reason, this scares me more. He frowns a little when I don’t respond and pushes my hair away from my face.

“You are very important to me Ava,” he says, voice suddenly gentle. “I didn’t anticipate it. You always intrigued me, but now you actually mean something. I have incredible plans for you, and you’re going to perform them beautifully.”

His eyes have taken on this strange light again. I remember the first time I witnessed it. I squeeze my eyes tight as the memory of his blade floods my mind. He cut into my flesh over and over, and I remember asking him to kill me. There was no pleasure like I had felt with Cal. There was only fear like I had never experienced before.

“Eyes open, Ava.” I ignore him and keep them closed. A second later, my nipple is being twisted and pulled. I gasp, eyes involuntarily flying open at the painful sensation.

“Much better,” he murmurs, and lightly traces my nipple with his fingertips. My eyes well with tears as he watches my expression. “As I was saying, you are very important to me and to my future endeavors. You are mine, now, and it’s time you come to terms with that.” I have no idea what he’s talking about, and I open my mouth to ask him when his hand curls on the inside of my thigh. I gasp, a tear trickles down my cheek.

“Please,” I whisper. “Please don’t.” I didn’t want to beg him like this, but any remnant of my pride is out the window.

“You’re mine, Ava. I will treat you as such, and you will behave as such,” he says firmly as he spreads my slit. The cut on my vulva burns as I feel it open again. Tears are flowing freely now as he circles my clit.

“Please,” I choke out. He doesn’t respond as he drives a finger into my opening. He pumps his fingers in and out harshly and the wet sound fills me with shame.

“Your body wants me,” he says, “Can’t you hear it? Your body knows who it belongs to.” He pulls his fingers out and circles my clit roughly. My body responds to the sensation, back arching away from the bed.

“That’s it,” he murmurs, eyes fixed on my core. I pull against the restraints as a shameful pleasure builds in my belly.

“Cal will kill you for this,” I pant. He grins at me and plunges his fingers into my heat again.

---