Deceitful Vows by Brook Wilder
Chapter 9
Paige
The guard hauls me to the top floor, opens a door, and shoves me in. Despite the time, the room is pitch black inside. I feel against the wall until my fingers touch a light switch.
I gasp when I see what’s in the room. I should’ve kept the lights off.
In the center of a massive room is a bed large enough to hold ten adults. There’s no sheet on it. It’s a padded platform covered in tacky green velvet. I approach it slowly and poke it with my fingertip. What the fuck is this place?
The bed is illuminated as if there’s a spotlight on it. I look up and see a mirror on the ceiling surrounded by small lights. I lean over the bed, careful not to get on that icky thing, and look up at my horrified reflection.
What a sick fuck.
I don’t realize my mouth is open until my tongue dries out. “You’ve got to be kidding me?”
My gaze works its way around the room, taking in the wack furnishings. Oddly shaped chairs are either covered in black leather or fluffy pink faux fur. I don’t even want to know what that leather sawhorse thing is with the chains attached. Then I notice the chains hanging from the ceilings with handcuffs attached.
I feel sick.
“Oh, hell no.”
My feet think faster than my brain, and I tug at the doorknob. The door won’t open, no matter how hard I yank and pull. Sweat breaks out on my forehead as I grunt with each tug. With a sob, I give up and focus my attention on defense. With all the leather and metal in this room, there has to be a weapon lying around. Aren’t these people into pain?
It figures that the most handsome man I’ve ever met in my life is a sex freak. I grab at a chain, but it won’t come loose. My body swings in circles as if I’m on American Gladiator. I jump down and look up at the mirror. It’s too far up to break it. Jesus, what am I going to do?
Sweat is covering my forehead as I race from one piece of deranged furniture to the next. Desperately, I search for a piece of metal I can break off. I scratch at bolts and nuts with my fingers, breaking my nails. I look over at the door, wondering how soon Andrei will appear. Is this the only way he can get off? By forcing pain?
I pull out a drawer from the wall and inside are scraps of sheer fabric. I pick up a piece and a crotchless thong hangs off my fingertip. I throw every piece of lingerie on the floor, looking for something solid, sharp, or heavy. Maybe I can strangle him with a bra.
There’s a door I hadn’t noticed, and inside is a bathroom with a ridiculously large tub. But more importantly, there are windows. I grunt as I push my hands against the molding. Nothing. Hurry back into the other room and drag a chair back. I bang it repeatedly against the glass, but nothing happens. It doesn’t matter. I keep pushing against that window as I start to sob.
I hear a noise in the other room and wipe my face dry on my hands. I’ll think of something. I always do. He won’t force me. I’ll bite his dick off if I have to.
Andrei appears in the doorway. He eyes the chair against the window and smirks slightly. Bastard. He approaches, and I place the chair between us.
“Stay away,” I demand, “I told you no and I meant it. You better not touch me. There are sites for people like you.”
“People like me?” he asks.
“People into pain.”
He smirks. “It’s consensual, Ms. Reyes. People who are into pain consent to do it. With each other.”
“Well, I don’t. Not with you. And I don’t need a lesson in sex ed from a freak.”
He laughs. The asshole actually has the nerve to laugh at me.
“Don’t you dare laugh at me. Whatever deviant sex you’re into … you won’t be doing it with me. You devil.”
His eyebrows lift. “Devil?”
“I thought you were good-looking, but not anymore,” I scoff. “You might as well grow a tail and horns.”
“You may change your mind.” He winks. “You do need an education, but we don’t have time for that.”
“I demand that you let me go.”
“Demand?” He smiles again. He comes closer as I shrink behind the chair.
Andrei strides toward me and easily lifts the chair, tossing it onto the floor. He steps toward the door and gestures for me to follow. I debate dragging the chair with me. I want something between us.
“You can stay here if you want,” he says before exiting the bathroom. “But I imagine the guestroom is more amenable to you.”
I hurry to keep up with him.
We stop on the second landing, and he guides me down another hallway. I struggle to keep up, and his hand grips me under the arm. A man with a scar on his face appears out of nowhere. He grabs me under the other shoulder and carries me with Andrei to another room. The door opens and I’m tossed unceremoniously onto the bed.
Andrei scowls at the guard standing motionlessly by the door. “She is to stay in this room.” He glances at me and then the door shuts.
I watch the doorknob and hear it click.
I scream, “This isn’t what I meant, and you know it! You’re still holding me against my will.”
I run my hands through my hair and take in my surroundings. Leather has been replaced with lace. And there’s no velvet except on an oversized upholstered chair. The bed is a normal king-size covered with a white duvet and a hundred throw pillows in turquoise, jade, and creamsicle orange. The closets are empty except for hangers. So obviously my abduction wasn’t planned, but the bathroom is kitted out with expensive toiletries, including shampoos that can only be purchased in a salon.
My heartbeat slows to normal, but it still is what it is—a prison. But why? Why me?
