Page 10 of Red

Her hands flittered at the hem of her shirt. His stare made the awkward moment stretch unbearably long. Undressing in front of a man wasn’t an issue for her, but this man in particular made it painful. Hadn’t he already taken enough from her for one day? If he was going for humiliation, he could choke on his dreams. Fear turned into anger as the moments ticked by with his irritated glare heating her up.

“If I have to repeat myself one more time…” His warning faded away as she gripped the cotton material and jerked it over her head.

She dropped the shirt to the floor and leveled a scowl on him while hooking her thumbs into her jeans. He seemed unmoved over her aggravation. His reaction remained blank, completely stoic.

Melinda snagged her shirt and jeans, neatly folding them and placing the short pile on the dresser as instructed. Then she put her fists on her hips and locked eyes with him. She would not cower. No matter how much everything inside of her shook.

“Bra and panties, too.” He wiggled a businesslike finger at her.

Some of her bravado slipped. With less jerky movements, she undid the clasp of her bra and let the straps slide down her arms. The satin cups dropped from her breasts, exposing them to his eyes, his scrutiny. She tossed the item onto the dresser, rolled her panties down her legs, and stepped out one foot at a time. Balling up the panties, she dropped them on the pile.

“Good. Now, stand over there.” He pointed a spot in the middle of the room.

Stinging retorts brewed in her muddled mind, but they were lost somewhere between her brain and her mouth. She took the few steps to the designated spot, wanting to wrap her arms around herself, to shield her vulnerability from his darkness.

He stepped toward her, stalking her as he moved around her naked form. Her jaw set, she slowed her breathing. If he wanted to degrade her, it would take more than an inspection of her physical flaws. And fuck him for trying.

“Hmm…it seems the best way to keep you from all your brattiness is to take away your clothes.” If he was joking, she wasn’t laughing.

He stopped in front of her, nudging her chin with a knuckle until she peered up at him. Those clear blue eyes of his peered straight through her.

“No comment?” He schooled his features, creating a mask.

“None for you, no,” she said, doing her best to ignore the nagging sensation she was pushing too hard, too fast. It was her way. The more scared she got, the angrier she became. She’d given up on being ruled by fear after her parents died.

She’d been scared to get in a car for almost a year after their accident. More fearful of her grandparents driving anywhere. If something happened to them, after all, she would have no one left. But she’d given that up, stopped being afraid. And if fear started to creep up, she battled it.

The tendons in his neck scrunched up, matching the fierceness in his eyes.

“Do you have any idea what I can do to you, where I can put you, what sort of life I could give you if I wanted to?” His menacing tone shot a shiver through her. She didn’t know the details, but she had a pretty good idea of a man like him was capable of.

“Let me go.” She tried to jerk away, but he gripped her chin. To make matters worse, he grabbed hold of her hair, fisting it at the base of her neck. Now, she was trapped, and in his control. He could turn her this way and that, like his own personal marionette.

“I can sell you to the most ruthless men in the world. The things they would do to you would give you nightmares. Even on nights they don’t touch you, you’ll feel their skin on yours, their cocks shoving into your pussy, your ass, your mouth.”

Tears burned her eyes and slipped down her cheek. She’d heard plenty of horror stories of women sold into sexual slavery. He didn’t need to go into detail for her to get a bright image in her mind.

“I can keep you, lock you away, and give you to my brothers. You can be their own personal fuck toy. Or maybe I’ll stick you on the corner, let you pay for your freedom by sucking off the gentlemen who pay for this pretty mouth of yours.” He released her chin and ran his fingertips over her lips.

“Do you understand the situation now, Melinda?”

The urgency in his tone stunned her into deeper silence. As though he hated what he threatened, that merely saying it made him as sick to his stomach as she was.

He tightened his grip on her hair, shaking her a little. “Answer when you’re asked a question.” Frustration broke out in his eyes.

“Yes!” She blinked, sending tears rolling down her cheeks. She’d been an idiot trying to get Dr. Abbante’s help. Of course, only people within Erik’s circle would be allowed access to her.

“Good.” He released her.

She dragged in a heavy breath, rubbing the tears from her eyes. Lesson learned.

“Now, get into the bed and go to sleep. You will not leave this room until I allow it. Do you understand?” He bent over at the waist, leveling his gaze with hers like a parent who wanted to be sure their disobedient child was listening.

She nodded, not sure if she could trust her voice yet. Her insides shook with rage and cowered in fear at the same time. This man could break her.

Melinda climbed into the bed, pulling the quilt up to her chin. Finally, covered from his eyes, she settled into the pillows.

“Sleep,” he commanded as though she were some robot, and he could flip her on off switch. The lights flicked off and the door slammed, signaling she was alone.

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