Captured (Devil's Blaze MC #1)(7)

“It was just a kiss, Colin. I’m almost twenty now,” I tell him, doing my best to sound defensive and not scared or guilty. I’m not sure I achieve my goal.

He grabs my hair, wrapping it around his fist and pulling it tight. Tears sting my eyes and he forces my face up to look at him.

“Have you given him your body, Beth?”

My heart pounds against my chest. Cold, clammy beads of sweat pop out of my skin. I feel the tears leak down the side of my fear-stricken face.

“No… of course not.”

“Has anyone got in this body, Beth?” He asks, his voice so cold it amplifies my fear. Before, I only suspected Colin thought of me in a way that was not sisterly. Now, I see ownership in his eyes. I see… jealousy.

“No, Colin. No. I was just curious. All the girls talk about kissing, and I wanted to… see what it was like. It wasn’t even that good. I think, maybe…”

His hold on me loosens, but the venom is there in his eyes and I know, like a snake, it wouldn’t take much for him to strike. I find my fear isn’t anything to do with me. No… I’m scared of what Colin might do to Skull now.

“Think what?” he asks, his eyes moving down my body. My stomach churns in revolt.

“I… didn’t see what they’re all so curious about. I… didn’t enjoy it,” I lie. “I think maybe I’m cold.”

“Cold?” Colin asks, and there’s something in his eyes I can’t describe. I’m lying through my teeth here, but I need something to discourage him, something to diffuse his anger. I’m scared for me, sure. But more importantly, I’m scared of what he might do if he gets Skull in his sights. I can’t let that happen. Skull doesn’t even know about my family. I haven’t wanted to tell him.

“Sister Puterbaugh says that some women are saved from earthly desires… that God has a higher purpose for them.”

Colin lets go of my hair and steps back. His eyes never leave mine and I do my best not to show fear while trying to inject sincerity in my lies. Maybe if Colin thinks I want to be a nun, then he will leave me alone. Maybe…

“Dear Beth, no one with a body like yours is made to be a nun.”

“If your faith—”

Before I can form a complete sentence, he pulls me from the chair and pushes me against his desk, his hand tight around my throat. I can’t get air. My fingers claw into his and panic threatens to engulf me. There will be more bruises there—if I live. I’m beginning to wonder if I will.

“You do not give your body to anyone, Beth. Not even your lips. Do I make myself clear?”

I can’t agree or disagree; the tight grip he has on my throat doesn’t allow it. Black spots are swimming in front of my eyes and I think I might pass out. Whether it’s from fear or lack of oxygen, I can’t say.

“I’ve been gentle with you because of your illness. Apparently too gentle. You are mine, Beth. No one will touch you except me. No one will stick his goddamn tongue in your mouth but me, and no one will get inside of your body except me. Do I make myself clear?”

His words make disgust boil inside of me. My eyes close, finally the panic and lack of oxygen combining to put me out of my misery. His hold on me loosens and I gasp for air, coughing and sputtering as my lungs try to take it in all at once. My legs are too weak to support myself and I sink to the floor.

“You will stay here the remainder of the week until I see that you have learned your lesson. Gerald, take her to her room.”

I hate having Gerald carry me. I want to argue, but I can’t, my whole body shaking at this point.

“Beth?”

Gerald stops and spins us around, my head lolling back, but I do my best to hold it up and look at the monster in front of me. We stand like that for a couple of minutes until finally I try to respond. “Yes?” I ask, my voice hoarse and raw. It sounds like I’ve screamed until I’ve lost a vocal cord.

Colin’s smile makes me shiver. “You will be dressed and down for dinner at six. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes,” I tell him, managing to hold my tears in until Gerald deposits me on the bed and leaves me alone in my room.

I cry until I can’t anymore. Exhausted, I fall asleep on the bed. My last thoughts are of Skull and what he must have thought when I didn’t show at the coffee shop… or when I never show again.





She’s late.

It’s an unusual feeling, waiting on a woman. It’s not something I can remember doing in all of my thirty years. I glance at the clock again. She’s exactly twenty minutes late. Each time the door opens, I feel tension coil inside of me, and each time it’s someone else, my anger spikes.

I can’t tell you if the anger is directed at her or at myself. I was stupid, playing the tease with her. I beat down the feelings inside of me that said to just take what I wanted. She just seemed so innocent. I wanted to give her time. Truthfully, it never occurred to me that she wouldn’t be here today. Women don’t usually turn me away. They never stand me the f*ck up. As the door opens again, and it’s not her that walks through the door, I realize that I was way too smug.

It’s disappointing. I wanted to learn more about this woman, and I most definitely wanted to get lost inside of her. I pull away from the wall I’ve been leaning on. I’m standing outside the damn coffee shop waiting like a f*cking loser.