The Dark Forest: A Collection Of Erotic Fairytales(74)

We hardly know each other. We’ve only just met. On the other hand, the mutual chemistry and attraction is undeniable. And we could spend the rest of our lives getting to know one another…

Telling himself he was being ridiculous, he took a deep breath and loosened his hold on her. “We should get up and dressed,” he said, as matter-of-factly as he could. “People are probably wondering where I am—technically I, as the host, should make an appearance—and you’re missing a great party.”

She shot out of his arms as if he’d touched her with a cattle prod, and rushed over to where her clothing still lay in a pile. She slipped her skirt and panties on, then picked up the corset.

Zainon sat, unmoving, watching her beautiful pale skin as inch after inch of it disappeared from his view. There was a strange, unfamiliar tightness in his chest.

“I-I’m sorry,” she said in a choked voice. “C-could you p-please help me?” Moving to stand before him, she clutched the corset with trembling hands.

“What’s the matter?” he said gently, taking the satin from her and pulling her to sit on his knee.

“N-nothing. It’s fine. I’m all right. I-I just can’t do this up myself. My hands—”

“You’re not fine.” Raising her chin with a fingertip, he forced her to look up at him. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

Her huge, beautiful eyes were brimming with tears and her lower lip, still slightly swollen from his kisses, was quivering. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know I’m being silly. I know we just met and you’re… you’re Zainon Matthews, and you can have anyone, and I’m just… just me, not important at all… but this was the most wonderful thing I’ve ever experienced and I never wanted it to end…” A tear spilled over, leaving a glistening trail down her cheek. “And I knew it had to end, I knew it would, but still, I don’t want it to. I don’t…” she lost her battle with the tears, then, and burst into great, wracking sobs, “I don’t want to go home!”

“Listen to me,” he said, forcing himself to remain calm, “you’re not unimportant. In fact, I should take my belt to you again just for saying so, but then, you’d enjoy that.” He winked and was gratified to see a small smile curve her lips. “You are special. You’re fascinating, in fact. I never want this evening to end, either, but it’s just not realistic to consider a future together. You’re…” he cast about for the right words, “fragile. Sweet. I mean, fuck, you were a virgin! And as much as I want to love, cherish you and treat you like a princess, there are—and always will be—things I want to do to you which would seem, to the outside world, at least, abusive. You got a tiny glimpse of it this evening, but believe me, that was nothing compared to what I would do if I could. If you were really mine. If you truly belonged to me.”

Expecting her to shy away, he was surprised when she raised her chin and looked him square in the eye. “Like what?”

“Like ordering you to take off all your clothes, except maybe your shoes, and making you go out there,” he indicated the music and general party sounds beyond the door with his head, “and crawl across the room, through all those people. Naked. If you hesitated, I’d be quick to encourage you to keep moving. With my boot.”

“Why?” She didn’t look afraid; merely curious.

“Why not?” he countered. “To humiliate you. To show everyone in that room that I own you, that you’ll do anything I ask you to. That you’re mine.”

There was a flicker of something he couldn’t quite read in her eyes, then she leaned forward and kissed him. “If I could be yours, I would do that,” she said quietly. His heart skipped a beat even as he wanted to throw his hands in the air with frustration. Was there nothing that would shock this girl?

“Then,” he went on, drawing as far away from her as the back of the couch would allow, “when you reached the other side of the room, I would mark you as mine in the most intimate way there is.”

“How?”

Deciding to be as brutally upfront and shocking as possible, he told her. “I’d piss on you.” This is it. This is where she runs out of the room, screaming. But instead of doing that, she simply met his eyes. Her face was open and trusting.

“I don’t think you understand, Sir,” she said at length. “I know you’re trying to shock me. I know you’re trying to frighten me into leaving. But that’s not necessary. If you really want me to go, tell me so, and I will. Before you do, however, I want you to know that I really and sincerely would do anything you asked me to. I can’t explain why, but I trust you. You make me feel like… like I could do anything. I want to do anything I can to make you happy, to make you feel good—as good as you’ve made me feel. If you really did make me yours, I wouldn’t just crawl across that room naked, I’d do it with a smile on my face because I’d be the happiest girl on earth.” Then a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. “Besides, how do you know I wouldn’t enjoy it? I’ve enjoyed everything else you’ve done to me so far.”

Zainon was seldom speechless, but this was one of those rare moments. He stared at her in disbelief, aware he should say something but completely clueless as to what.