I tried to be understanding of Viktor’s feelings, but he confused me. First he made these beautiful works of art in my honor; a hall decorated with flesh wallpaper, decaying statues around the property, blood everywhere. Then after spending time at the lake, he dragged my ass down to the basement for a lengthy punishment, because I had departed the premises without telling him.

I wasn’t even allowed to speak in his presence. He was that angry.

Apparently, I was not the first to have suffered exile down here, either. The area where I was chained was set up like a suite. It had a bed, a table, and a bathroom.

Viktor came three times a day to feed me. He wouldn’t let me eat by myself. He insisted on doing it by hand, forcing me to partake from his fingers, like I was his pet. We didn’t speak. Wedidn’t make love. Other than the simple meals, I was in solitary confinement, to think long and hard about my crimes.

Hearing the door above open, I sat up in the bed and waited for my husband to appear with breakfast. But he did not come with food. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he pulled a key from his pocket.

“Tiffany, my temper has cooled enough that it is safe again for you to be in my presence.”

I didn’t say anything as I watched him unshackle my foot. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to speak or not.

“I will punish you, and we will be done with this.”

Frowning, I took my chances and grumbled, “I thought this was my punishment.”

He shook his head as he straightened, and held his hand out for me to take. “No. This was simply to protect you from my wrath.”

I let him pull me from the bed and move me to another area in the basement, where a sheet-covered piece of equipment stood next to a drain.

“I didn’t mean to make you so mad. I was trying to help.”

Viktor squeezed my hand hard enough to make me squeak. “Your version of help was insulting and emasculating, Tiffany. The fact that you still live is a testament to the compassion I learned from my mother.”

With that declaration, he snatched away the fabric to reveal a wooden pillory. When he opened the contraption, I knew then that shit was about to get medieval.

It would be futile to fight it, so when Viktor guided me into it, I didn’t fight him or complain.

He closed the wood plank and latched it. With a heavy exhale, he regarded me for a few moments. He moved my hair from my eyes, cupped my cheek, and rubbed the pad of his thumb along my bottom lip, until I sucked it into my mouth.

“I missed you,” he admitted quietly. “I hate having to punish you,us,like this. But I need it to anchor in your stubborn brain that I lead this relationship, not you. You defer to me. You do not do anything without running it by me.”

I released his thumb with a pop and pouted. “You leave no room for surprises.”

“I don’t like surprises, Tiffany. And you especially do not do anything concerning my organization, period. I don’t need your help. I don’t want your help. Understand?”

My eyes welled. “Yes, sir.”

He pulled a syringe from his pocket and moved behind me. I felt him place the needle where my scalp met my neck, behind my ear. I hissed at the burn. It didn’t feel like a liquid.

“Shh,” he whispered in my ear. “I just want to keep you safe.”

“What is it?”

“A tracker.”

“Why?”

Victor kissed my shoulder and whispered his reply in Russian. Having gone a week without his attentions, my body quickly succumbed to his seduction. It wasn’t long until I was arching into his caresses, and begging for more. Even through his slacks, I could feel his erection pressing against my back.

“Please,” I moaned. I felt touch starved.

“You aren’t going to like what comes next,” he warned. I heard him unzip his pants. “But I intend for these last lessons to be ones you will remember.”

Before I could get my bearings, he slid his dick inside my slick pussy for a mere moment, before pulling out and delving straight into my ass.

I screamed, trying to scramble away from him, but I didn’t have anywhere to go. No foreplay. No prep. My own essence provided no real lubrication for the rough way he took me,fucking my rear viciously, until I was sure he was ripping me open.