Page 30 of Blue Velvet

16

Loran

It’s been three days.Three days since I proved to her that I know how to break her. Three days since I pushed her to overstep any limitations she may have thought she had.

We’ve barely spoken since then, and I have barely touched her. Taking her up to one of my bedrooms was a mistake, and it made her believe that she was free to roam through the house as she pleases. She struggled when I forced her back to her cell downstairs. I used more violence than I’d usually be comfortable with, and it was not only due to her defiant struggle. I resent myself for what I did. Not for the tears I caused her, but for the weakness I showed in front of her.

I’m falling for her. She’s like a succubus. It’s impossible to resist her seductive charm. She’s a professional, I must never forget that, never. She knows how to play men like me, because she’s been paid to do so for years.

I can’t afford to lose myself in her. It’s far too dangerous. And I have to make sure that her disappearance didn’t cause an uproar. If her client was unable to find her when he was expecting to, won’t he be looking for her by now?

I had to find out, and the only way I could do that was to leave my house. I left her in the basement dungeon, locked up but unchained. She has a mattress to sleep on, not a very elegant solution, but it beats taking her up to my bed, an option that I found myself considering against my better judgment.

There’s no way for her to escape from that basement, and no way to draw anyone’s attention. I don’t have to worry, but yet I do. I worry, not so much about her getting away from me, but about her, her safety, her sanity. The look on her face has changed ever since that fateful day when I unleashed the monster inside both of us.

The image of her face haunts me even now. I’m standing in front of a public pay phone, something I wasn’t even sure still existed until now. I’m dialing the number that was printed on her business card, a number I’ve called before, but for a different purpose.

The woman who picks up doesn’t sound familiar. Thank God.

“Violent Delights,” she pipes. “How can we serve you?”

I skip pleasantries and get straight to the point.

“I’m calling about one of your girls,” I say, noticing that I disguise my voice even though there’s no apparent need to. “I just came across her file and she really caught my attention. Her name is Ruby Red.”

“Yes, of course,” the woman replies. “You’re interested in booking her?”

I clear my throat. “Yes. As soon as possible.”

“For a night, sir?”

“Yes,” I hurry to reply, rolling my eyes. This is taking forever. “Is she available? When can I have her?”

“Please give me a moment to look up her file, sir,” she replies, unable to hide the fact that her politeness is pure show.

“Of course,” I growl, frantically checking my surroundings, as if there was any chance that I was being watched.

“Sir?” she asks after so much time has passed in silence that I’m startled by her voice.

“Yes, I’m listening.”

“I’m sorry, but Miss Ruby Red won’t be available any time this month,” the woman says. “Could I suggest one of our other-”

“Why is she not available?”

She clears her throat. “I’m not at liberty to divulge that information.”

“Is she with a client? For that long?”

I hear a sigh at the other end. “Sir, I can’t tell you.”

I roll my eyes. Of course I know that. Discretion is one of the main benefits of doing business with this agency, and one of the main reasons I became their client in the first place.

“Look, I just want to know whether she’s okay,” I say. “She’s not sick or anything? Because... you know, that would affect my interest in her.”

“Oh no, sir, she’s perfectly fine,” the woman assures me. “She’s indeed busy with a client.”

I huff. “For that long, huh?”

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