Falling For You (Love In All Seasons #2) - Frankie Love Page 0,49

come close. It’s ornate and flashy and the closer we get the more my skin prickles.

I don’t want to be here.

As we walk up the steps toward an entrance, I try to focus on anything other than the fact he is still gripping my hand in his, not letting go even when I try to pull away. “Did you live here with your late wife?”

“I did indeed.”

I try to ask him about Helen, but he brushes me off, forcing me to drop it.

But as we enter the house, the thick-carpeted foyer with an elaborately gaudy staircase in gilded gold, I try to imagine the down-to-Earth vision I have of Helen Ottenbagh.

“Were you and Helen married long?” I ask, unable to help myself.

“Long enough for her to rub off on me.”

I smile. “She gave you a passion for animals and protecting undeveloped land?”

Luther poorly conceals a smile. “No.” He stops walking and faces me. “She had a lot of money and was easily charmed.”

He steps toward me, his hand suddenly on my waist, drawing me to him. “Just like you, pet. You find me charming, don’t you?”

I step back, not wanting this to be happening. Ryder was so very right.

I squeeze my eyes tight, wanting this all to disappear.

“Don’t be scared little one. I know you will be very good for me, won’t you?” he purrs in my ear and my skin crawls.

Then I remember I am not alone here. “Where are my parents?” I ask, opening my eyes and looking around. The house is quiet, there are no sounds coming from anywhere.

“They haven’t gotten here yet. But they’ll be here any minute. Why don’t I take you upstairs while we wait? Get you a nice bath, wash your hair. It looks like Ryder made you rough it a bit more than a rich girl like you is used to.”

“No, I’m fine right here,” I tell him, suddenly desperate to call my dad, ask him to come quicker. Now.

“I know what’s best for you, darling.” He cups my cheek with his hand and I swat him away.

“Don’t call me that. I don’t want to go anywhere with you.”

“Oh,” Luther says with a devilish grin. “Playing hard to get, is that it? Is my little virgin needing to be taught a lesson?”

“You are not my teacher and I’m not a virgin.”

He raises his eyebrows and I immediately realize my error.

“Not a virgin?” he grabs my wrist, pulling me up the stairs. I try to resist, but he pulls harder, and my feet move not wanting to be dragged against the hardwood. “Did Ryder tarnish you or were you a lying slut this whole time?”

I cry out in pain as he pushes me into a room, locking the door behind us.

It’s dim, the lights are low, but it is obvious what kind of room this is.

A pleasure room. A sex chamber. But amidst the swing and the whips and the handcuffs, all I see is pain.

Torture.

Agony.

I don’t want to be here with him.

Ryder’s words from this morning ringing in my ear as Luther pushes me to a bed, cuffs me to the headboard. He’s a creep. A monster. He doesn’t deserve you.

I didn’t believe him. I told him he was jealous, wrong. I thought Ryder kidnapped me because he wanted to sleep with me and didn’t have the balls to stand up and bid on me like everyone else.

But that wasn’t it at all.

He kidnapped me because he knew what kind of man Luther was.

What kind of man Luther is.

Luther unbuttons my jeans and pulls them down and I close my eyes, my cuffed hands making it impossible for me to do anything but kick and squirm.

And kick and squirm I do.

But it does no good.

Luther leans over me, pressing his nose against my covered pussy, holding me in place.

This can’t be happening. Please don’t let this be happening.

All I want is to go back in time, to this morning. To Ryder and me.

Ryder.

Ryder.

I squeeze my eyes closed tighter as Luther pushes down my panties, my body exposed.

I need Ryder. I need him now.

Chapter 20

Ryder

As Luther’s mansion begins to come into view, I can’t help but think about when I grew up on this property. I loved it so damn much; before it was turned into something obscene.

Back when it was my mom’s home, birds could land to find sprinkled seeds in the rocks, tall grasses whipped around my legs as I searched for animal tracks, and tall cedars gave shelter to squirrels