Toxic - Zoe Blake Page 0,33

Barbary duck breast with apricot ravioli.

Richard nodded his approval to the staff before picking up his fork and knife and cutting into his own succulent duck breast.

“How in the world?” I asked, giving him a confused look.

Richard shrugged. “I promised you your favorite dish prepared by the chef of Aqua Shard.”

It was an outrageously thoughtful gesture. The man had flown the chef over from London in the middle of the night just so I could have a dish I liked. It was also a gesture of his power and control over everyone and everything. As he liked to remind me, he got whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it, no matter the cost.

After choking down a few bites of food, I told Richard I was tired and would like to go to bed. Brushing his mouth with his linen napkin, he rose and led the way toward two wooden doors, pushing them both open. He stepped aside and gestured for me to enter.

In keeping with the cobalt blue and gold theme of the bathroom, the bedroom was similarly furnished, but the only thing that caught my eye was the contraption to the right of the bed.

My steps faltered.

“Please, no,” I protested weakly as I raised pleading eyes to Richard.

Chapter 13

Richard

She looked so beautiful when she begged.

Her emerald eyes sparkled as her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. Raising my arm, I stroked her cheek with the back of my knuckle, catching her tears.

“I’ll be a good girl. I promise,” she whispered, her lips trembling.

I caressed her soft curls as I chastened, “You’ve said that before, but I think we both know my sweet little bird likes to lie.”

Taking her hand, I led her across the room.

Elizabeth struggled, digging her heels into the plush carpet as she pulled on my grasp. “No! Don’t make me, Richard. Please!” she cried.

As her body tried to fight mine, the large plush robe became dislodged and slipped over her shoulders to catch on her bent elbows. Her full breasts bounced and swayed as she turned and twisted her body, trying vainly to escape from me.

“Enough,” I roared.

Elizabeth immediately stilled, her eyes large with fear.

The only sound in the bedroom was her whimpers.

Taking a deep breath, I reined in my temper. It was essential I remained calm and in control, otherwise I might truly hurt her. If I let my rage at her attempt to leave me get the better of me. If I let my white-hot anger loose at the thought she had put herself in danger by recklessly trying to leave the country… to leave my protection, I might go too far. I might scar her pale creamy skin, or worse.

She needed to learn her subservience to me was for her own good. Needed to remember she was happier when she simply obeyed me. When she fought my orders, when she questioned my motives, it only caused trouble and pain, for her especially.

Obviously, I had become too lenient with her.

Too relaxed in her daily discipline routine.

She had become wild and uncontrolled.

Well, that all stopped.

Tonight.

Taking another deep breath, I stared down at her trembling form. Without saying a word, I reached for the belt of her robe. Pulling it free, the already loose robe opened and revealed the rest of her naked body. I realized how vulnerable she looked. She was so small, so delicate.

So breakable.

Elizabeth reached up and tried to close the robe.

“Don’t,” I warned.

With a slight whimper, she lowered her head and let the robe fall to the floor.

“You know what I want to hear, Elizabeth.”

Her shoulders shook. Her face hidden behind a curtain of still damp hair.

“Say it,” I commanded through clenched teeth.

The longer she delayed, the thinner my patience… and my control… became.

Inhaling a shaky breath, she sniffed. “I’ve been a bad girl and need to be punished.”

“Louder.”

“I’ve been a bad girl and need to be punished.”

“Louder,” I yelled.

Elizabeth fell to her knees. Clutching at my trousers, she looked up at me and sobbed, “I’ve been a bad girl and need to be punished.”

Motioning with my head, I ordered, “Get on the chair.”

Using the bedpost for leverage, Elizabeth rose on shaking limbs and took a reluctant step toward the punishment chair. She was intimately familiar with it since I had an exact copy back at my estate. Not a day went by she wasn’t strapped to it one way or another. I had become slack with her discipline over the last week and it had led to nothing but chaos and disruption