Page 40 of Lily

“Jesus…”

Roselia sighed. “He touched me again when he put my collar on. Very rarely did my skin ever come in contact with his after that.” She rubbed her neck. It still felt weird not wearing it. She’d touched her neck dozens of times every day, reminding herself it was gone.

“He struck you with his cane without touching you?”

She nodded. “He made me participate in my own discipline. He made me bend over, ask him to punish me for my transgressions, and hold my body in the position he required. Maybe he didn’t want to touch me, or maybe he knew how much more humiliating it was for me to willingly lift my naked ass for him and ask him to cane me.”

“Did you ever defy him, sweetheart?”

“I didn’t even have to. He pretended I did anytime he wanted, and on those days, he simply struck me more times,” she murmured. She lowered her gaze, unable to control the rush of emotion that flooded to the forefront. Now that she’d told him, he knew. He knew how ruined she was.

“Rose…”

“I’m so dirty, Stefano. I can’t even wash it off. I can’t get the visions of all those people touching me and laughing out of my head. It’s like their hands are still on me. I shudder every time the memories flood back. I’m just so dirty.” A sob followed her words. She was exhausted and embarrassed, but now he knew.

“Rose… Sweetheart… You are not dirty. What they did to you was unconscionable, but it was not your fault. Not even when you weren’t physically restrained. You were a prisoner, sweetheart. Those men are disgusting, vile pieces of shit. All of them deserve to rot in hell for what they did to you and the rest of the women. I will find out every one of their names and make them pay, Rose.”

She jerked, her eyes widening as she shook her head and looked at him. “No. You can’t. Don’t talk like that. I’d lose my mind if you went after them. They would kill you and then kill me for daring to escape. Please, Stefano. Please promise me you’ll forget all this and leave it alone.” She fisted her hands at her sides, but she was shaking violently, scared out of her mind.

Stefano sat with his mouth open as if to argue, but he finally closed it and reached out a hand. “I’m sorry, Rose. I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean to upset you. Please let me hold you.”

She stared at him for long seconds. “Tell me you won’t leave me to go after those men.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “I don’t have anyone else. You’re all I have in the world. You’re the only person who cares about me or even knows I’m alive. I need you.” She started sobbing again, and she dropped onto her knees, scared and nervous. The thought of losing him was more than she could bear.

Stefano rose from the bed and lowered to his knees in front of her, not touching her. “Rose, sweetheart, I’m right here. I won’t leave you. I promise. You’re not alone. You have me. I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time. You’re not dirty. No matter how many people touched you, you’re still my Roselia. I’m so sorry I couldn’t find you faster, and I’m so grateful you were brave enough to get that phone and call me. I’m absurdly relieved no one penetrated you, but that doesn’t mean you weren’t violated. Rape doesn’t have to include penetration. Your violation was just as degrading or perhaps worse. But you’re so strong. You’re going to survive this. I’m going to help you.”

“Don’t leave me,” she begged. It was the only part she cared about. “Please, Stefano.”

“I won’t. I promise. You have my word.” He held out his arms. “Please, sweetheart, let me hold you.”

She crawled forward on her knees and threw herself into his arms.

He pulled her close, held her tight, and rocked her back and forth while she wore herself out with more tears until she was so exhausted that she hardly noticed him rising, carrying her to bed, and climbing in behind her to cradle her like he always did.

Chapter Fourteen

Roselia woke with a start sometime later. It was dark. After a fleeting moment of panic, she remembered where she was.

Stefano’s arms were around her, and he stroked her forearm. “I’m right here, sweetheart. You’re safe. Lean into me.”

She let her body relax against his and took deep breaths until she fell back asleep. The same thing happened a few more times before morning, but Stefano never let her down. He was with her every time, calm, soothing, and caring.

Loving.

“Thank you,” she whispered when she finally opened her eyes to find the room bright with sunlight.

“Always, Rose. Always.” He rolled her to her back, cupped her face, and smiled down at her. “I love you so much.”

She smiled back. “I love you, too.”

“I’m more than twice your age,” he pointed out with one brow raised.

“I don’t care. Do you?”

“Other people will judge us our whole lives.” He chuckled. “That’s not true. People will judge me. They will think I’m a pervert for luring such a young girl into my web.”

“I’m not that young. I’m almost twenty-two.”

He chuckled again. “That’s pretty damn young for a forty-five-year-old man, sweetheart. Can you take the heat when we get stared at in public?”

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