Only Pretend (10 page)

In my lap, my fingers knotted together. "Distracted, sir?"

That smile of his started fragile. As we rolled up into the driveway, it became a full cactus in bloom. "Yes. I had a phone meeting today." Cutting the engine, he turned my way, brushed my chin. "Celeste, my dear, things are going to change around here."

Change... what does he...

Closing the gap, Leonide nearly touched noses with me. "Someone paid your matchmaking fee. My lovely girl, you're going to be married. Isn't that exciting?"

Coldness spread from my toes to my chest.

Married.

No.

Leonide could call it what he wanted. I had no power to stop him. The truth was there, though. It sat between us like rotten meat and turned his gentle touch and cloying smile into a thing worth burning to the ground.

I wasn't getting married.

I'd been bought.

"It will be fun for me," he went on, pushing out the door. "The man who chose you, he has... specific tastes." Fuck, that low chuckle grated at my bones. "Tastes similar to mine. My only complaint is how quickly he expects me to have you ready." Shrugging, he came around, opened my door and offered a hand. "Well. A challenge never hurt anyone, hm?"

Holding my words back, I let him assist me from the car.
A man with specific tastes.
Peeking up at Leonide as we walked into the house, I fought down a shiver.
Tastes like his?
I was pretty sure I knew what those tastes were.

All along, I'd suspected the training would get worse. The cleaning, cooking, even grooming myself or dressing up... none of that was so bad.

The hungry demon dancing along Leonide's lips hinted at the trials to come.

Celeste

––––––––

L
eonide didn't wait long to begin.

The knock on my door woke me. That was unnerving; no one ever knocked before entering my room. Throwing my blankets off, I sat up just in time to cover myself again. Leonide was there, but he wasn't alone.

She was dressed as sharply as he was, taller and long in the neck. Thick glasses, cropped hair the color of pennies. The woman had an aura of importance, of business. In one hand, she fingered the handle of a leather bag.

“Morning, Celeste,” Leonide said. He inclined his head towards the stranger. “We have a guest today. This is Doctor Helen.”

My attention flew back to that bag.
A doctor?

“Don't be rude.” Stepping inside, he shut the door with a finality. “Say hello to her.”

“Hello.” I paused, unsure how to address the woman.

She saved us both by just dipping her head in greeting. “Hello, Celeste. I'm here to do a check-up on you.”

I didn't have a natural fear of doctors. Not even hospitals; there had been no need to show me my parents' bodies. No one could have recognized them. Normal medical things didn't scare me. However, this situation wasn't normal. Any doctor Leonide would bring to see me wasn't someone I could trust.
She must be in on this, too.

He folded his arms at the small of his back. “Let her examine you. I don't want to drag this out.”

“Neither do I, sir,” I said, pushing the blankets away. Fighting this wouldn't help me. Let his creepy doctor check me over. Maybe she'd decide I wasn't fit for his plans.

Helen glanced at Leonide, her expression blank. “Shall I begin?”

“Go ahead.”

The woman approached, placing her bag by her feet. “Sit on the edge of the bed and take off your clothes.”

I'd been naked so many times. Her clinical nature made it less nerve wracking. Tugging off my underwear, I perched where she pointed, hands on my knees. “What are you checking me for?”

Ignoring me, she opened her bag. It was uncomfortable silence. Sitting there, I let her prod me, became a statue while she felt my breasts and listened to my heart. It was uneventful, the worst part being the cold stethoscope.

Peering at Leonide, Helen moved her chin. “She seemss fine. You got the rest of her records, you said?”

“Had them emailed last week.”

A week. It's been over a week.
Time was flying by.
Wait, he found my medical records?

Tucking items away, the doctor bent over her bag. “Good. I can't test for anything else very quickly. You're on your own there, hope the results were what you desired.”

Those happy lips of his said a lot, even if he stayed quiet.

My uncertainty about what they were saying became very, very unimportant at the sight of Helen's syringe. “What the hell is that for?”

Leonide scowled, half-stepping my way before her laugh halted him. “Calm down, Leonide. The girl has a right to know.” Holding the instrument high, she pointed. “It's a hormonal implant. About the size of a matchstick—”

“Birth control!?” My nails clenched the mattress

Smoothing her short hair, Helen gave me a steady look. “I'll numb the area, then insert it. It will prevent you from becoming pregnant until it's removed, if you're worried about the long term effects.”

Panic swirled upwards. “You think I'm worried about that? I know what this is about.” I made no effort to hide my loathing at Leonide. “This is so you can fuck me and not knock me up. I'm right, aren't I?”

No shame, nothing; he touched his chest and smirked. “Guilty.”

The muscles of my neck clenched, hair whipping so I could stare at the doctor. “And you think that's fine?”

Her calm, green eyes didn't move. “I'm only concerned with making sure this goes in safely. Now, listen.” The needle looked too wide for my skin, my tummy flipping. “I can numb you, insert this, and everything will be fine.”

“'Fine.'” Nothing about this was fine. “And my other option?”

Helen cast a meaningful look at Leonide where he stood. “He'll hold you down, tie you up so I can do this. The choice is up to you, Celeste.”

The smile felt funny on my face. “My choice?”
I don't have choices anymore.
Holding out my arm, I locked eyes with the doctor. “Go ahead. Stab me.”

It was over with quickly. True to her word, Helen made it so I didn't even feel the needle. The only hint of what had gone down was a small red mark on my flesh, tender from the implant. It was hard not to look at it, harder not to poke at the area.

Gathering her bag, the doctor strolled to the door. “I'll invoice you later.”

“Always nice to do business. Would you like an escort out?”

“I know the way by now.” She never looked at me, she just slipped out and left us.

Left me with him.

Leaning on the door, he let the quiet mood grow. Under his stare, I squirmed, reaching for the pleated dress I'd had on the day before. It was dirty, he'd never given me anything new. I'd had to use water from my dinner to rinse the mud from my cheeks.

Fingering the hem, I finally went to put it on. He must have been waiting. That, or my action brought him to life like some cursed gargoyle. “Celeste, wait.”

The garment dropped back to the bed, I just let it fall. He had some game in mind, I was sure of it. The clothing from yesterday would have no part of it.

His chin bobbed, subtle. “Let's go for a walk.”

“I'm naked.” His eyes flashed; I jumped to my feet. “Sorry. Yes, sir, let's go.”

Outside, the house was the same level of ever present emptiness. Trailing Leonide, one arm over my breasts and one over my crotch out of habit, I shivered in the cool air. I didn't know where he was taking me, only that when I thought we were on the bottom level, he detoured and pushed open a doorway. Through it, another staircase cascaded into the abyss.

The wooden steps were ominous, feeling like expensive, polished stone under my bare feet. This was not a neglected area.
But where does it go?

A long passage was illuminated by light bulbs on the ceiling. The wallpaper curled with white french circles, red diamonds. The sound was missing, here. Our surroundings seemed to eat the noise, begged for me to shout just so I could see what would happen.

A place where screams are softened.
The implication was ice in my bones.

Leonide pushed open a curtain, nudged me inside. Hugging myself, I tore my eyes around the large and rounded room. Tiny candles, orange flames that cast jagged shadows and revealed a circular white bed. On the walls, cupboards hid away their secrets.

“What is this room?” I asked.

“Many things. It's meant to be whatever I need.” Striding around me, he peeled away his jacket. Underneath, his torso was hugged by a hard-lined vest, the same color as a king's crown. It drew in his waist, enhanced his wide shoulders. I found myself staring; found him
seeing
me stare.

I dropped my eyes to my feet. “And what do you need it to be, sir?”

He stood in front of me. I wondered how his rough clothing would feel on my naked flesh. “Look at me, Celeste.”

Seeking to hide the uncertainty in my eyes, I reluctantly did as he asked. Could he tell what I'd been thinking, my inappropriate thoughts?

In his hand, my face felt like crystal he could easily shatter. “Right now, it's where your punishment begins.”

How fast my heart dive bombed into my guts.

“Lay on the bed,” he whispered.

I took a step—paused. I
felt
his disappointment, hurried to speak. “Stomach, or on my back, sir?”

His humor was a ghost in the room; there, then fading away. “Stomach.” Finishing the walk, I crept onto the bed. It was firmer than I imagined, big enough that I could stretch across the middle, toes and nails not touching the edges.

Unsure what else to do, I put my chin on my folded arms. My ankles were crossed, muscles taut as a drum.
What is he going to do to me?
The punishment... yes. He'd warned me in the car. I should have known this was coming.

Hinges creaked; I looked over, saw him in a cupboard. “Eyes forward,” he snapped. Pushing my forehead to my arms, I went so far as to close my lids. My senses were waking up, hearing him rustling, gathering whatever.

Didn't I think ignorance was bliss, before?

The mattress told me when he knelt on it beside me. Bracing myself for his slaps, for pain or brutality only my mind could conjure, I held me breath.

A slippery palm rubbed between my shoulders. I was made from cement, lying there and not understanding what was happening.
Is he... massaging me?
I wouldn't risk looking; he'd instructed me not to.
He is!
Fingers caressed my shoulders.
Leonide is giving me a massage.

I would never figure him out.

It took awhile for me to calm myself. I was reminded of when he'd bathed me.
This side of him, where does it come from?
His thumbs worked out knots in my neck.
Why bring me down here... for this?

Gliding down my form, Leonide covered me in oil. It let his hands slide quickly, never pushing to the point of pain. I felt him move, his weight shifting. Now he was kneeling over my calves, taking care of my lower back.

He hit the tension caused by hours in heels.
Oh, fuck.
In spite of everything, I moaned into the bed.

“Good?” he asked softly.

“Yes, sir,” I managed around another gasp. I wiggled my toes, flushing with pleasure. It was fitting for him to be so good at this. His fingers were deft, I knew that from experience. Just thinking of those times, how he'd teased me so easily, made my belly clench.

Now he's rubbing my naked body.
The realization had me blushing. Lower he went, over my thighs. He curled in rapidly, pushed away more elastic cramps. On his trip up my legs, I expected him to avoid my ass like he had on the path down.

“Oh!” I blurted, shocked by the sudden rush. He'd started kneading my rear, laughing darkly at my reaction. Pushing my soft skin, Leonide massaged my ass cheeks in gentle circles. They were initially small, my heart out pacing his speed.

Slick hands spread me open, tickling down my inner thighs; rubbing across my buttocks again and again. “Do you like that?” he asked me.

Squeezing my eyes tight, I struggled to answer calmly. “Ah... yes, sir.”

“Good.” His grip rolled down my legs. In a blink, he spread them apart. My weakened state prevented me from reacting in time. The click of snaps, something captured my ankles. I felt the air, how he knelt between my thighs.

I'd never been so exposed, not like that.

Rocking on my elbows, I twisted to see him. “What are you—ah!” My face was pushed down into the blanket. Reaching for my wrists, ignoring my struggle now that I knew something was up, he clipped them to the edge of the mattress. I hadn't even noticed the straps there; not until he had me tied into position.

“I don't want you struggling while I do this.”

“Do
what?
” I shouted, turning my face, wishing I could see behind me.

He was fiddling with something. Again, lubricated fingers touched me, stroked my upper thighs. Pulling at the cuffs, I hissed in frustration at how my legs wouldn't close. “This is a nice view, when you wiggle like that.” He went for my ass again, molding the globes.

Thumbs rippled inwards, oiling the sensitive skin of my crack. Freezing, I inhaled sharply. “Don't.”

“No?” A slick finger rubbed over my asshole, tiny strokes. I'd never had someone touch me there; the sensation made fireworks in my brain, my whimper obscene. “I think you like it, Celeste. I think your cute little asshole is as greedy as you.”

I rocked my hips, there was no where to go. “Please, I've never... that's...”

Patiently, he pet my rosebud like he had all the time in the world. “Your future husband has requested a number of things.” The circles came faster and faster, more oil poured, dripping down to my pussy. “One of them was a wife who enjoys anal.” My heart pumped, mimicking his movements. “I'm not going to ruin my reputation, not after all this time. Not after everything my family worked for.”

His... family...?

He pushed his thumb inside of me. All thought, all ability to think of anything but how he was stretching my virgin hole... it fled with my dignity. Groaning, squealing, I ground my hips and felt my insides flutter on him.