Page 58 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

“Look at me.”

She stared out the window.

“Avery, I’m only going to say this one more time. Look at me.”

Nothing. I wasn’t sure what I expected.

“Don’t make me repeat myself. You know what happens when you disobey me.”

She stiffened at my words. The first sign she’d actually been listening.

“Look. At. Me.”

Very, very slowly, she turned her head towards me, doe eyes wide as she met mine.

“Good girl.”

She didn’t speak, but I could see a tiny spark of recognition in her eyes. Was this working? Was Tina right? Fuck. Who knew. I had to keep going now she’d actually responded. I had to try.

“Get off that chair and kneel at my feet.”

It took her several seconds to comply. She slid off the armchair, the blanket falling to the floor and knelt in front of me. I almost fucking died. My girl. My wife. She was finally fucking there. Finally present.

“What do I want?”

My words reminded me of that day in the forest. The first day I had my cock in her mouth. The day which changed everything between us.

“My submission,” she whispered.

My heart cracked wide open and bled. She sounded so fucking broken. It was the first thing she’d said to me in over a week.

“Good girl.”

The spark in her eye remained. I had to keep this up even though all I wanted was to hold her in my arms and kiss her. Tell her it was going to be okay.

“You’re going to do everything I tell you without hesitation. Can you tell me why that is?”

“I’m yours.”

“That’s right. Mine.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, her expression betraying just how much she savoured my voice. Like it was her lifeline. Fuck. I didn’t want Tina to be right, but maybe she was. Maybe I’d just been too fucking stubborn to see it.

“Stand up and come with me.”

She did as I asked, opening her eyes and raising herself to her feet. I wasn’t going to do things for her any longer. She had to remember how to do them for herself.

I walked out of the room, down the hallway and into the bathroom. She hadn’t had a wash in days. I pointed at the shower.

“Strip, get in and wash yourself thoroughly. I want you clean for me.”

She took off her clothes, watching me the whole time. Seeking my approval that she was doing this right. That she was obeying me.

I tried not to stare at her naked body. It made mine ache with longing. I missed her skin on mine. Her curves pressing against me as we slept. How she’d lay there, wide open and begging me to take her. I wanted that Avery back. I wanted my wife.

“You’re taking too long. Get in the shower.”

She flipped it on and walked in, shivering under the stream of water. Reaching for the shampoo, she lathered up her beautiful dark locks. I sat on the edge of the bath and watched her, making sure she did as I told her to. She kept glancing my way as if checking I was still there. I wasn’t about to leave her alone now she was beginning to come back to me.

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