Toxic - Zoe Blake Page 0,48
I saw her reading Pride and Prejudice and I knew, in that moment, I would be her Mr. Darcy.
I had become the villain of Nicole’s story, but I would be the hero of Elizabeth’s.
I broke it off with Nicole that day. Sent her the usual gifts of diamonds and money. Nicole ran in the same social circles as me. She knew the score. She knew this was how these things were handled. Usually, the partners went their separate ways with no unseemly public displays, but Nicole would not relent.
I did my best to hide all this from Elizabeth. That was until the day Nicole dared to accost her on the street. I thought I had made my displeasure known then. I thought Nicole finally understood it was over.
Then came the night of the masquerade party. Although I couldn’t prove it, I was certain she had something to do with the gilded cage falling, putting Elizabeth’s life at risk. One of the men involved was photographed meeting with Nicole a few days later.
It was then I knew I had to hide Elizabeth away… from the city… from everything for a while till I could figure out what to do with Nicole.
It was decided by me and her rather influential family that Nicole would be safest out of the country and out of the public eye. I had a business associate in Bahrain who owned a compound where they indulged in some of the more extreme sexual pursuits Nicole had craved.
For me, the solution was not so easy.
The stain on my soul remained… as did the cravings.
Sometimes I looked at Elizabeth and worried that one day I won’t be able to rein it in, that the beast would truly come unchained.
Unlike with Nicole, I wanted to see my mark on Elizabeth.
I wanted to brand her as mine. Each time I’d seen a welt from my belt on her creamy skin, my blood rose, wanting it to be permanent. I wanted to know that each time I saw her in public, that under her clothes, on her skin where only I could see, was a mark I gave her. Other times, I wanted to tattoo my crest on her body. Wanted to watch as the ink sank deep into her flesh, a permanent symbol of my ownership of her body and soul.
The more she fought me, the stronger these urges to dominate and brand her became.
The wicked side of me fed on her screams as much as her laughter.
I knew that inevitably, one day, I would go too far. Push over that irredeemable line. My only hope was that by then Elizabeth will be so bound to me in the eyes of God and the law that she would have no choice but to forgive me.
And if she didn’t?
Deep down, I knew I was capable of doing anything… anything… to keep her by my side.
It would be best for everyone if that was never… ever… put to the test.
For now, I needed to focus on the latest threat to our relationship. Clearly Nicole had escaped the compound and returned. Now a more permanent solution would have to be found.
I walked into our bedroom right as the doctor was finished examining her. Elizabeth, wrapped in one of my cashmere robes, sat on the chaise before a nice warm fire.
The doctor patted her on the shoulder in what I was sure he meant to be a reassuring gesture. That didn’t stop a momentary surge of anger at the thought of another man touching what was mine. It was stupid of course, but part of me didn’t even want him to examine her. It was why I’d had to step out of the room. I was certain my baser instincts would cause us all embarrassment and impede her getting medical attention.
Standing near her, I stroked her hair as she leaned her head against my thigh. “Well, Doctor?”
“She will be fine. I imagine the scare was worse than the injury. They are all superficial punctures and scrapes that should heal in a few days. Hot bath and a pain reliever with a sleep aid and she’ll feel much better in the morning.”
“Thank you, Doctor. There is a security guard just outside the door. He’ll escort you out.”
Forcing myself to smile, I said teasingly, “Well, you heard the doctor. Hot bath. Sex. Bed.”
“That is not what he said.”
I shook my head. “You’re tired and overwrought. You weren’t listening carefully.”
Giving her a kiss on the top of her head,