Callum
I grab Bella by the waist and flip her over onto her stomach, then lay Amira on her back. Goosebumps shimmy down Bella’s spine as Amira slides across the uneven surface.
My legs straddle hers as I slide my cock up and down the slit of her ass. “Have you learned your lesson yet?” I ask, eyeing her round cheeks that hold a faded imprint of my hand from earlier.
Her toes curl into the bed and she makes her head comfortable on her folded arms. “Yes. Please, just fuck me.”
She’s lying. Bella has proven that I can’t believe anything she says. I tried to give her freedom to roam, but she’s proven twice, not once, that she’s incapable of being trusted. She tried to escape by boat in the middle of a storm, and now she’s snooping around.
I raise my hand and smack it hard against the same cheek of her ass as last time. Her skin welts into the shape of my fingers.
Her head shoots up. “Ouch,” she whimpers, but she doesn’t move. I’m not sure if it’s fear of Amira, or fear of me. I like to think it’s a little of both. The more worry instilled in her, the more manageable she’ll be.
“I don’t believe you.” I part her ass cheeks and slide my cock in between them. “I want you to tell me you’re sorry.”
She shifts nervously but doesn’t try to get up. Bella isn’t a virgin anymore, and that I am certain of. I wasn’t aware the first time and should have been gentle, but now, I am free to fuck her with everything I’ve got.
“I’m sorry,” she finally chokes out, “I won’t come into your room again.”
“You’re right, you won’t. But that’s not what I want an apology for.” I bite down on my bottom lip, piercing the skin as blood seeps into my mouth. My eyes widen in anticipation as I raise my hand and smack her ass again, only this time, I put all my strength into it.
“Ahhhh,” she bellows, shoving her face into the pillow and forcibly gripping the sides of it.
Once the sting subsides, she lifts her head and twists to look at me with tear-stained eyes. “What am I apologizing for?”
“Leaving me.”
We can pretend all we want—ignore the elephant in the room every time we’re together—but we both felt the pain that day. The only difference is, I still feel it. I tried everything to forget, to diminish the anger and live life to the fullest. I’ve fucked random women to feel close to someone. I’ve killed to rid myself of the toxicity. I’ve cut, I’ve bled, I’ve cried. Nothing worked until she came back.
I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep her here.
She won’t run. She can’t hide. She will live this life with me and learn to love the darkest corners of it.
Her fearful expression is replaced with one of empathy. I can see it in her eyes. The sorrow, the regret, the hope that one day I’ll forgive her.
Maybe I will.
I grab her by the waist, hoisting her onto her knees, and in one breath, I stick my cock inside her pussy. Her head drops down, back bridged, and ass up. When I begin thrusting, Amira slithers over Bella’s side onto the bed.
Pinching her waist, I use it as cushioning to drive myself deeper. “You’re so fucking tight. So warm. So wet.” She hugs my cock like she never wants to let it go. I push myself up onto my feet, crouched behind her, while crushing her ass with my pelvic bone. My balls swing back and forth, so I grab her hand and pull it between us so that she’s cupping them.
She squeezes and releases, repeating the action, and it feels so fucking good. With one hand on her waist, I use the other to grab her hair and tug enough to raise her head. “Does that feel good, baby?”
“Yes.”
An electrical charge roots in my cock, releasing and traveling through my entire body. I pull her hair harder, squeeze her waist tighter, and fuck her faster. My cock slides in and out, sloshing in the mess of her arousal. I’m close. So damn close, but I’m not ready.
Stopping my movements, I’m warranted a stink eye from Bella.
I ease up my hold on her hair, but still have a good grip as she drops her head down. “I hate you.” Her words are muffled by the pillow she’s pressed against.
Jerking her head back up, I cover her body with mine. “You wanna come? Get on your knees and say you’re sorry around my cock, then maybe I’ll let you.” I pull her up by my hold on her hair and she gets on her knees. “On the floor.” She looks at me, curious to see if I’m serious or not, so I give her a look that says how serious I am. “Now.”
She obeys me, and I’m actually surprised.
Kneeled on the floor, she places her hands in her lap. I stand in front of her and grab her by the back of the head, shoving my cock into her open mouth. “Say you’re sorry, again.”
“I’m sorry,” she chokes out around my cock.
“Good girl. Now suck.”
My head drops back, hand resting on her head, guiding her motions. There’s no way in hell this is her first time sucking dick. Not with the way she’s flicking her tongue and using her own saliva to lubricate me as her hand slides up and down with her mouth. The thought of her even looking at another man’s dick infuriates me. Never again. She’s all mine now.
I grab her and flip her over the end of the bed. She gets on her knees, so her ass is level with my groin, then I feel the heat of her pussy around my swollen cock as I enter her.
My hips move violently as I slide a finger between her ass cheeks and roam around her tight hole.
She whimpers in delight and I’m pretty sure she likes it. “Have you been fucked in the ass before?” I ask her out of sheer curiosity.
She shakes her head no. “Good.” Another first saved just for me. But, we’ll keep that for next time. I’m too close right now and if I pull out, I’ll likely spill all over her when I really want to fill her up with my cum.
I slide my free hand underneath her and begin flicking her clit until it drives her wild. A loud moan rips through her as she comes, sending me over the edge with her cries of pleasure.
“Fuck,” I grumble, thrusting deeper and faster. My breaths become heady as she clenches my cock and milks me.
Standing still, I release inside of her.
My hands drop before thrusting a couple more times, then I pull out. Evidence of our orgasms spill onto the bed.
Bella drops down heavily and catches her breath.
I hope she learned her lesson. Then again, part of me hopes she fucks up again just so I can punish her harder.
Bella is in my bathroom cleaning up while I make the bed with a clean blanket. It feels surreal having someone in here. She doesn’t know this, but no one has stepped foot in any of my bedrooms since I was eighteen years old. I clean up after myself and set my laundry in the hall for Paulina. Even Peter knows to stay away. She’ll also never know that she’s the first girl in my bed. I’ve been with many other girls, but I have different beds for that.
Tonight was a close call. I have every intention of telling Bella about The Grotto and The Dungeon, but it won’t be today.
She needs to ease into things here. If I force too much on her too soon, she’ll try to escape again and next time, she might not make it out alive.
Bella is a firecracker and I didn’t anticipate that. All of my research suggested that she grew up to be a book smart, family-oriented Christian. Her parents are members of the school board, both well-known in their small community. Although they work for pennies and live in a three-bedroom ranch house, they all seem pretty normal and happy. Proof that money is not what makes the heart flutter.
I’ve always hated money. Just because I keep it and use it to my advantage doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have given it all up for a little normalcy. I didn’t want this life. I wanted the life she got—the life Mark got. It was stolen from me, just like my dignity. Now I keep the power because I knew how much Vincent didn’t want me to have it. He wanted to see me fail after Delilah died.
“All done,” Bella says, closing the bathroom door behind her. She folds her hands in front of her waist. “Mind if we talk before I go to bed?”
Fuck. She’s one of those. A talker, probably a cuddler. What’s next—a foot rub?
I blow air out and shrug my shoulders, smoothing my hand over the comforter, black this time.
Bella walks into the middle of the room and stops about five feet away from me. “Are you ever going to tell me where that secret door goes?”
I should have expected this question. “Yes. Eventually you will know everything about the businesses I run.”
“Businesses?”
“Did I stutter?” I turn around to look at her, crossing my arms over my bare chest.
I can see her throat bob as she swallows. “You’re so rude!” she stammers, eating the space between us.
With her eyes locked on mine, she runs her hands down my arms. I flinch at the foreign sensation. “Let me help you while I’m here. With the businesses, with whatever is eating away at you.”
My brows furrow as my gaze drips on her. “What makes you think something is eating away at me?”
“Come on. You’re so obvious. You go from hot to cold in the blink of an eye. There’s a constant push and pull between us. I don’t know if we’re friends, enemies, or lovers.”
My fingers sweep her ear, tucking her hair behind it. “If I remember right, you have a boyfriend. So, it’s certainly not the latter. Friends share secrets and all you tell me are lies. Enemies would be suitable, but the way I make your knees wobble, I doubt that title works on your end.”
“I’ll tell you a secret, if you tell me one.”
Share a secret? I haven’t shared a secret with anyone since…her.
“Okay. You go first.”
I take a seat on the bed, and she sits down beside me. For a brief moment, it feels like old times, even if we are older. I’m not sure that I’ve gotten wiser, but I’ve definitely learned to cover my tracks when I do something stupid.
Her hands fold in her lap and she looks at me, so I look at her. “I didn’t say yes to Trent.”
“Wait a minute. You mean you’re not engaged?”
She shakes her head. “I care about him a lot, but there has always been something missing between us. A connection, a spark, maybe? If that sort of thing even exists.”
“It does,” I spit out on impulse.
Surprised, she turns her whole body toward me and pulls her knees to her chest. “You’ve felt it?”
I feel it now. I don’t say it, though. Vulnerability is scary and something I’m not used to.
“No. I haven’t.”
“Hmm.” She bites at her lip. “Well, hopefully someday we both get to.”
My heart quivers, another foreign feeling. Our eyes lock and I’m mesmerized by her beauty. Twenty minutes ago I was punishing her and now all I want to do is wrap my arms around her just so she’ll do the same. I forgot what it feels like to be held in the arms of another person.
“Your turn,” she says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I wouldn’t call it a secret, but since it’s heavy on my mind, I give it a go. “You’re the last person I hugged.” There’s a bite in my stomach as the words leave my mouth and I instantly want to take them back and swallow them.
Her eyes widen. “You haven’t been hugged in twelve years.”
I look away, unable to see the pity in her eyes. It will only make me angry. “It’s not a big deal. Just drop it.”
“Not a big deal—”
“I said drop it,” I shout, getting to my feet and crossing the room to Amira. I got her the day of Vincent’s funeral. Amira stared me right in the eyes, challenging me. She stood straight up against the glass, exuding power and dominance. I didn’t know a thing about king snakes, but I learned quickly that they are one of the few snakes that will eat their own kind, and that appealed to me. Along with her, I purchased a dozen rat snakes to dump into Vincent’s final resting place. My hope was that they’d get so hungry and feast on his remains.
Everyone had left the burial site and I asked for a moment alone with my father. Well, I paid the undertaker a grand to open the casket and leave me alone with him.
It was just me and the man who took me in and tore me apart.
“You’re in good company, you rat bastard, or should I say, you dirty fucking snake. Rest in hell.”
Then I dumped the bucket in and told the undertaker to close him up and put him down.
Bella comes up and wraps her arms around me from behind. Her head rests on my back and I freeze. “What are you doing?” I ask in an authoritative tone.
She squeezes tighter, forcing the air out of my lungs. “Please don’t shut me out.”
“Let go of me.”
“No.” I can feel her shake her head against my back.
“Dammit, Bella. Let go of me now.”
“I’m not letting you go.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, but I will.”
“No, you won’t. I told you, I’m not scared of you.”
“You’re a fool then.” I turn around to face her, but she doesn’t back up. I walk around her and she grabs me like she’s the one with the upper hand. I snarl at her, grasp her bicep and jerk away. “Quit acting like you care.”
I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. Actually, yes, I do. I’m fucked up beyond repair and she’s the crazy one for thinking she can pry me open and force me to expose my wounds for her.
“I do care. I always have and I always will. Please,” she grabs my other arm so that her body is flush with mine, “let me in.”
Tears prick the corners of her eyes and I search them, wondering if they’re real or if this is all just another act. For all I know, she could be warming up to me so I let her go. Not that I would. But she doesn’t know that.
“I let you into my room. I think that’s enough for the night.” I walk past her toward the door. “Goodnight, Bella.” I pull it open, waiting for her to leave, but she stands there, looking at me like I’m this sad, broken boy in need of twelve years’ worth of hugs.
“Go!”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m not leaving you this time.” Her feet move, but not toward the door. Instead, she goes over to the bed and flops down like she owns the damn thing.
A low rumble climbs up my throat as I slam the door shut. “Get off my bed.”
She was really good at obeying my commands when she wanted to get off—now, not so much.
“You were right,” she says, like I’m supposed to know what the hell she’s talking about. “I didn’t accept the scholarship because they made me feel guilty for leaving. It wasn’t their intention, but their words made me feel it anyway.”
She’s talking about her parents. I do know that.
“I enrolled at a local university. Recognized Trent in a language arts class and I’ve been under his thumb ever since. Before I came here, I started to realize my dreams didn’t matter to him. He just wanted me by his side while he lived out his own dreams.”
Damn her for doing this.
I round the bed and sit down on the edge, my feet still on the ground. “So you turned down Juilliard, stayed with Trent, but still accepted an offer to work on a private island. Why?”
“To finally get away. I was hoping to come here and find myself. I’ve been searching for the girl with ambition that was heading into foster care—but I still haven’t found her.”
“I thought you had everything you’ve ever wanted.”
Bella sits up and crosses her legs into a pretzel. “It’s not always black and white. I love my family, but I’m more than just a daughter or a sister.”
“If you could go back, would you take the scholarship?”
“Without a doubt.” She doesn’t even think on the question, just spits out the answer like she’s known it all along.
There’s a beat of silence before I break it. “My adopted mother committed suicide when she realized that I wasn’t her son and he was never coming back. I watched her stuff her mouth full of pills and didn’t stop her. It was one less person I had to fend off before making my escape.”
Her void expression doesn’t falter. I see no sign of judgment or hatred in her eyes. “And your dad?”
“I killed him. A little hydrofluoric acid in his evening shot of Scotch and I watched as it ate away at his insides. He screamed in agony as it burned his esophagus, but that was only the beginning.”
“Help me,” he cries, a harrowing sound that only made me laugh harder.
“Help you? Why the hell would I do that? I’m enjoying this too much. How’s it feel to be burning from the inside out? Not quite as bad as I felt every time you tried to give me a fever because your wife always thought I had one. You’re a loyal husband, I’ll give you that. That’s why she thought I said those things. Because I was sick! No. The only sick person in this house is you. I almost died three times, but you wouldn’t know that.”
“He curled over and dropped dead, then I had his own men come and take his body out and make it look like an accident.”
This time, I see it. The judgment. The fear. It’s written all over her pretty face.
“Go ahead and tell me what a sick bastard I am. Not like I don’t already know.”
“I…I’m not saying that. It’s obvious you went through some things that made you do what you did.”
Now she knows the monster I became when she left me. And for that, she can join me in the darkness.
“Get some sleep, Bella. We have a busy day tomorrow.” I stand up, thinking she’ll jump at the opportunity to run out of here, so she can get as far away from me as possible.
Instead, she slides under the blanket and makes herself comfortable. “Just one night? For old times’ sake?”
I’ve got no fucking idea why she’s not hauling ass, and I don’t like this unpredictable action, but I also don’t make her leave. Instead, I kill the lights, leaving the middle aquarium light on, and go to the other side of the bed.
I don’t lie down. I just sit there and watch her until she’s fast asleep. Then I watch her some more. Every twitch of her lips and crinkle of her nose. I admire the crease in her forehead when she dreams. I take it all in, wondering how I expect a girl like that to ever love a monster like me.
