Page 13 of Good Girl

9

Cadence

Iwake up completely disoriented. I frown into the darkness wondering where I am and why I’m naked when an arm grazes my hip. I smother a gasp of surprise. Memory returns, along with a twinge in my back from the abuse I took last night. Vin is next to me, sleeping deeply, his breathing even and steady.

I turn my head and stare at him. The only light is a glow coming from the direction of the stairs, a nightlight. He must’ve put it in so it wouldn’t be completely dark down here. Did he do it for me? Not wanting me to be frightened when I’m alone in my cage? Anger hits me hard… along with a good dose of lust. Aftershocks from the edging game he was playing with me earlier. Bringing me close to orgasm and then pulling back. I can still feel wetness between my thighs, a sticky reminder of how easily he can fine tune my body for his use.

My eyes fall on the tattoo covering his bicep, tracing the ink and muscle. His face is handsome, even while he sleeps. Craggy shadows cast a sinister look over his features, despite the relaxation of sleep. My heart picks up and trips a little as I stare at him. His perfect lips, firm when he’s angry, soft and smiling when he’s happy. His jaw is strong, just the way I like it, with a hint of shadow. He must not’ve shaved yesterday.

The blanket is over his hips but I can see every inch of his broad, powerful chest. He’s more handsome than I ever allowed myself to think about. So perfectly formed. As though made from my dreams. I probably should’ve asked myself at some point why I was resisting the lure of a relationship with this man. He was subtle in his wooing, but I knew, deep down, he wanted more. When he asked me to stay for dinner after one of our sessions. When he offered to come pick me up from the dealership and give me a ride home the day my car was in the shop. I refused every offer to move our relationship in a different direction.

Why? Was it fear of commitment? I’ve been hurt in love before, but nothing that should make me shy away from the things Vin offered. We have chemistry that sets the sheets on fire, so sex certainly isn’t the problem. No, I think I always knew Vin was going to be one intense motherfucker who would dominate every aspect of my life. The submissive in me purred at the thought, while independent Cadence had run as far and as fast as she could to get away. But I’d kept coming back. The addictive lure of our BDSM relationship was too good to resist.

Now look where it’s gotten me. Trapped in a basement, chained up and tortured. He’s fucked with my life, despite our agreement. He kidnapped me. I was supposed to go on vacation this week, spend some time in a spa recovering from an insane year. I run a successful food and travel blog. I have two employees and dozens of advertisers. No one will notice my disappearance though. My employees knew I was going away for some R & R. Besides, travel is my life. I take off on trips all the time.

I glance at Vin again. I don’t think he meant to fall asleep down here. He seems to have planned this whole thing out. He wanted me back in the cage. He wants to break my spirit, make me his good little slave until I’m ready to listen to his every word, obey his every command.

Fuck that. I may want his body, may even crave his dominance, but I have a life. And it’s not down here in his basement. I crawl slowly to the edge of the bed pulling the blanket off my legs as I go. I stand on unsteady legs, reaching out for the post. I need a moment as dizziness swamps me. He did a number on me last night, pushing me to the edge over and over again, hitting my every limit. But despite the beatings, I feel good. As my skin stretches I can sense the bruises, feel the tingle of their presence. The memory of his strikes sends a sharp thrill through me, ending in my belly.

I move away from the bed on wobbly legs, forcing myself to think. A few hours of sleep has given me energy and motivation. I will get the hell out of here and then I’ll make him pay. Even as this thought flits through my mind I shy away from the idea of going to the police. I don’t want Vin to be arrested. I just want him to leave me alone.

Liar, my stupid brain whispers, you want him, period.

I’m conflicted. I want to run for the stairs, race to the top and drag the door open. But I don’t know if Vin will sleep through my escape. What if the door is locked? I’ll be fumbling around in the dark looking for the bolt. So I decide to give him a dose of what he’s been giving me. I make my way through the dim dungeon toward his chest of drawers. I open the top and feel around inside. My hand drifts across all kinds of goodies. Nipple clamps, a vibrator, something that feels like a butt plug. I blush. It’s something I always wanted to try but was never brave enough to allow. I guess Vin decided it was time to breach that virgin territory.

I close the drawer and reach for the next. I find what I’m looking for. A pair of handcuffs. Hopefully the same ones he used on me when I was chained to the spanking bench. Poetic justice. I pull them out and close the drawer.

I try to slow my racing heart, my harsh breathing, as I approach the bed. I hesitate. He’ll be angry if he wakes up and discovers me. But that’s not why I hesitate. No, it’s because a part of me wants the things he’s promising. Wants a life with him. My perfect Dom. A man who makes my girly parts wet with a single look. Makes my heart pound like a teenager around her first crush. A man who can wring orgasms out of me like nothing I’ve ever imagined or hoped for. We match so well.

But this isn’t right. He’s proposing slavery and bondage. I have a life, independence. I can’t be running my every decision by some man. I’ve cultivated a life of my own and I’m not willing to give it up.

One of his arms is already thrown over his head making it easy for me to slip the cuff around his wrist. I flinch at the audible click of the metal cuff closing. He has strong, thick wrists making the cuff barely big enough to close on him. I realize I’m going to have to tug his arm up in order to chain him to the bedpost. I bite my lip, rethinking this plan. He’s going to be pissed when he wakes up. Would I rather he be pissed and cuffed to a bed or pissed and free to come after me?

Decision made, I count down from ten, channelling bravery as I count. When I reach one, I jerk his arm up to the bedpost and snap the cuff closed. His eyes open and sweep over me where I’m hovering over top of him. A frown appears between his brows and then a look of realization. He flings his free arm toward me just as I jump away, out of reach.

I stand about three feet away from the bed, hand over my mouth, staring in awe and trepidation as he swings his legs over the side, shoving the blanket away. He’s naked. Strong, beautiful, muscular, fit. He glares at me, every trace of sleep gone.

“Come here, Cadence.” His voice is a quiet demand, but I can hear the seething anger. His slave has disobeyed in a big way.

I ignore his command and spin on the spot, hurtling myself around the end of the bed. As I race for the stairs I expect to hear his voice bellowing after me. The silence is almost more unbearable. He must be trying to unlatch the cuffs, but I can’t hear him. I feel as though he’s right on my ass, reaching for me, planning some kind of awful punishment for my betrayal.

I stumble up the steps, breathing harshly as I reach out for the door. My hands land on the smooth wood and I feel my way to the handle. I twist and wrench at it but it won’t budge. My fingers feel all around and I quickly realize there’s a coded door lock on it. A code probably only he knows. Unwilling to give up, I trace the edges, feel if there’s a bolt or something that I can open. Of course, there isn’t. Vin thought of this. He’s too smart to let his captive escape this easily.

After a few minutes of useless trying I’m forced to give up. I don’t want to return to the dungeon so I sit down on the top step, my bare ass pressed against the wood. I prop my arms up on my knees and drop my face into the cradle. Classic ‘I give up’ pose. What the fuck am I supposed to do now? I have an angry Dom handcuffed to the bedpost. I’m naked, hungry and terrified of his retaliation.

“Cadence.” His hard, smooth voice drifts up the stairs, reaching out to me. Wrapping itself around me, pinning me to the spot. “Come here.”

A whimper leaves my lips. I have no choice. I have to go back down and try to sort this mess out. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why am I so stupid? Why didn’t I realize this door would be locked in a way that I couldn’t penetrate? I could’ve crept up the stairs while he was sleeping and checked it. Instead I had to make sure he would not only know about my escape attempt, but that he would be good and pissed off too. My only excuse is that my brain is still screwed up from sleep and the constant endorphin rushes he pushed on me last night.

“Cadence!” The sharp command hits me like the crack of a whip.

I stand and make my way back down the stairs on shaking legs, my hand against the wall so I don’t fall. That’s exactly what we need now. Him handcuffed to the bed while I lay at the bottom of the stairs with a broken leg. I have to swallow a giggle. I think fear is making me loopy.

“Turn the light on,” he says.

“Where is it?” My voice comes out in a croak. I lick my lips and try to steady myself. I know he won’t hurt me, not truly. But he can do a lot of damage. Not permanent damage. I can’t bring myself to believe Vin would do that. But he will torture me. Will push me toward my breaking point. And the very idea makes me sweat in both anticipation and terror.

“Bottom of the stairs. Wall on your left.” His voice is gruff. I can hear the tension in his tone.

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