I STEP OUT of the shower and look over my shoulder into the mirror. The whip marks on my back have healed, leaving only ghost trails behind of what really happened to me. Even though I won’t bear the scars physically, I’ll never be able to forget everything I endured. I’m scarred emotionally and mentally, probably for life.
Over the past few days, Mateo has slowly weaned me off the drugs he was supplying to me. And although I miss the high and escaping reality and the gravity of the situation I’m in, I’m glad to be coherent and clearheaded for once.
It’s also been nice to be able to shower on my own and not have to rely on one of the housekeepers for help. I’m sure that poor woman has enough to do around this place without having to worry about me. She cooks for an entire army of men but claims to love it. Her passion is cooking, and I’ve promised to help her in the kitchen as soon as I’m better.
Even though I shouldn’t be making false promises that I probably won’t be able to keep, it felt good to see her smile. I’m still not giving up on hope that my family is on their way to rescue me. It could be any day now, and I have to stay vigilant. I must stay prepared.
I’m brushing my teeth when a cramp in my lower back has me almost doubling over in pain. I drop my toothbrush and clutch the edge of the sink to keep from falling over. I’ve been off my feet for a while, so I chalk it up to my body protesting all the moving I did today and decide to just get ready for bed. I’m suddenly feeling exhausted, and sleep sounds like just what I need. I rinse my mouth out quickly and dry my face with a towel.
When I emerge from the bathroom, the lamp by the bed is on and Mateo is coming out of the walk-in closet wearing only a pair of boxer briefs. His muscles and numerous tattoos covering almost every inch of his bronze skin are on full display, and I can clearly see the outline of his dick through the thin cotton material. I have to tear my eyes away. He looks…huge. And I can’t help but wonder if he’s hard or if that’s just him soft. Oh god, what if he’s a shower and a grower?
He flashes me a knowing smirk before disappearing into the bathroom. Internally, I facepalm myself and force myself into bed, rolling over onto my side facing the wall and closing my eyes. I’m so tired, but the pain in my back doesn’t subside, and I end up tossing and turning well into the night.
Sweat beads on my forehead as I begin to have the most lucid dreams. I’m back home. With my family. My brother is the first one to hug me, telling me how much he missed me. And then I hug my father and mother. I’m so happy to be home.
Something or someone is telling me to wake up, but I don’t want to leave the dream. I just want to stay here. Forever.
Mateo
IN THE MIDDLE of the night, I feel Aria stirring beside me. She’s been restless for a while, and it’s been driving me crazy. I’m a light sleeper; my body and mind always on constant alert. And every time she moves, I’m wide awake.
It’s almost morning I realize when I glance at my watch. Aria snuggles close to me, muttering about being cold. And when she presses her backside against my cock, I have to stifle a groan. Fuck, her body is so damn sexy. What I would give to take her right now. And therein lies the problem. I would probably give everything to be inside of her. My entire empire. All my riches. Maybe even my own life. Because I know I would die a happy man having been inside of her virgin pussy and hearing her chanting my name like a prayer as she comes all over my fucking cock.
I try to shake away the thoughts, but her ass keeps grinding on my dick. “Aria,” I warn, gripping her hip and forcing her to stop.
“Please,” she begs. “Please, Mateo,” she whimpers like she’s in pain.
“Christ,” I hiss. I feel like a wound-up rubber band, threatening to snap at any given moment. And when she presses her luscious backside against me once again, my constraint finally shatters. “What do you want?” I growl into her ear. I need to hear her speak the words.
“You,” she whispers. “Please…touch me.”
My hand gripping her hip slowly eases its way down. She’s wearing tiny shorts and panties, and I find my way under them in the darkness. And the moment I touch her bare pussy, I curse under my breath. Fuck, she’s so soft and smooth. Perfecta.
My fingers gently part her lips, and I find her clit, rubbing slow circles as she grinds against my hand.
“Yes, please. Oh god,” she pants. Her hand grips my wrist, her fingernails like little claws digging into my skin.
My lips find her neck. Fuck, she’s so hot for me. She certainly lied about being cold. But as my mouth creeps up to her cheek, I realize she’s not just hot. She’s burning up.
I snatch my hand out of her panties and quickly reach around to turn on the light by the bed. “Aria?” I question, pulling back the blankets and looking down at her.
A sheen of sweat is present on her beautiful face, which looks ghastly pale in the dim light, and she stares up at me with an unfocused gaze. I put the back of my hand to her forehead, and it feels like a wildfire is raging inside of her.
Her teeth chatter as she reaches for the blankets and protests, “I-I-I’m c-cold.”
“The fuck you are,” I snarl. “You’re burning up with a fever.” I scramble out of bed and grab my cell phone. It takes me two tries to unlock it before I’m speed dialing the doctor in town. When he answers, I tell him, “I need you here. Now.”
He doesn’t say a word or even goodbye. He simply ends the call, knowing what is expected of him. He should be here in several minutes. Until then, I don’t know what to do with her. I scoop her up in my arms and take her into the bathroom. Placing her down on the counter, I grab a nearby washcloth and wet it under the faucet before running it over her face and then down her arms.
Her skin is so damn pale it scares the hell out of me. Her eyes flutter shut as I gently run the cloth over her pretty face. “Stay awake, Aria,” I demand. “Do you hear me?” I say, raising my voice.
Her honey-colored eyes blink open, and a grin appears on her face. “I love it when you’re bossy,” she says, her words slurred. She inches forward, wrapping her legs around my waist and drawing me closer. “I want you, Mateo,” she moans.
“You’re delirious,” I tell her with a shake of my head. Of course she would only want me when she’s out of her mind. I should have known something was wrong the moment she begged for me to touch her.
I continue to wet the washcloth and gently run it over her fevered skin until one of my guards alerts me that the doctor is downstairs waiting. “Time to go,” I tell Aria before lifting her off the counter and cradling her in my arms.
About halfway down the stairs, I realize she’s gone limp in my arms. “Shit,” I bite out before I haul ass to the room that we use for medical procedures and exams.
“Put her down,” the doctor tells me in Spanish. He’s an older gentleman, short in stature with salt and pepper hair. He’s the only doctor in a forty-mile radius, and I pay him well to always be on call for emergencies.
I gently lay Aria on the table. “Is she…is she breathing?” I ask him, and even I can hear the worry…and fear in my voice. Fuck, I haven’t been this scared of anything in a long damn time.
The doctor checks her breathing and then presses two fingers to her wrist as he watches a clock on the wall. With a grim look on his face, he tells me, “This isn’t good.” He reaches into his medical bag and produces a digital thermometer. He scans her forehead. “One-oh-four,” he reads.
I mutter a curse under my breath. “Do something!” I demand as my heart drums in an irregular rhythm. “Save her. Please. I…I can’t lose her too.” My words don’t even make sense at this point, but I can’t dwell on them right now. All I know is that I want her to be okay.
When I look up, the doctor is readying a needle. He swipes an alcohol pad across her arm and then injects her with something. I trust this doctor, so I don’t question him. He knows that if he double-crosses me, a painful, agonizing death is the only suitable punishment he will endure.
“I’m going to run some tests,” he informs me. After a few seconds, he looks up, realizing I haven’t left the room. And when I cross my arms in front of my chest and stare him down, he says, “Just try to stay out of my way.”
I nod in agreement. I’m not going anywhere.
Reaching out, I hold Aria’s hand. It feels cold to the touch, and I swallow hard, studying her pretty face and the way her long, dark lashes fan out over her pale cheeks. “I’m here, Aria. You’re going to be okay,” I try to assure her even though she probably can’t hear me.
Just the thought of not hearing her sassy words coming out of her beautiful mouth or seeing those honey-colored eyes locked onto me as they narrow and throw invisible daggers into my skull absolutely crushes me.
I realize in that instant that I would miss her. Terribly so. And that scares the fuck out of me.
