“You don’t see how that’s horrifying?”
His blank stare was answer enough. Why should he concern himself with the troubles of ants beneath his feet?
Fuck you. The conceit was enough to choke a horse. I read somewhere that the extremely wealthy had zero ability to relate to ordinary people. Henri was proof of that theory. “Were you born rich?” I asked.
“Yes.”
Shocker. “Do you know who Madame Moirai is?”
“Why should I?”
His negligent answer was proof enough that he didn’t care where she got her product because we didn’t have real value. Was Henri a father? Would he offer up his loved ones to Madame Moirai to be used? Of course not. They were elevated above those who scrabbled and scraped together a meager living just to survive. By that way of thinking, no wonder people like Henri thought they were being generous as they threw cash at vulnerable girls desperate for a new life. God, how I fucking loathed him and everyone like him.
I tried a different tactic. “I would think a man of your stature would be very interested in the person you’re doing business with,” I said. “How do you know Madame Moirai can be trusted? Prostitution is still illegal, no matter how you dress it up.”
His gaze narrowed as his nostrils flared, the first sign that I’d kicked a nerve. “I know enough to satisfy my concerns and protect my interests.”
“And do those interests include a family? Are you married? Kids? You’re old enough to have a daughter my age. Would you offer up your flesh and blood to Madame Moirai?”
“Why are you trying to goad me?” he asked.
“I’m not.”
“Lies do not suit you, Nicole,” he chided.
“I’m not the one lying,” I returned, holding my breath. I was playing a very dangerous game. If I were smart, I’d shut my mouth but I couldn’t. I’d never been able to bite my tongue hard enough when it mattered most. Why should this be any different? “So, would you be willing to offer up your blood to your rich friends to use as they saw fit? I mean, as long as they’re returned alive, it should be fine, right?”
“You needn’t worry about my children.”
The subtle chill in his voice crawled across my skin, causing goosebumps to pucker.
“Are you a cruel man?” I pressed, ignoring his warning.
“Aren’t we all capable of cruelty?” he replied, his gaze resting on my breasts. I shifted with discomfort, hoping he wasn’t interested in touching me again. “And cruelty is subjective. What you may find cruel, I find a necessity. It’s an endless cycle of circular logic that bores me.” He moved to pull me to him. “What doesn’t bore me, is your body. I could spend days discovering your hidden treasures.”
“The contract is specific. Twenty-four hours,” I said, my voice shaking a little. “You have to return me within twenty-four hours.”
“Aren’t rules meant to be broken?” Henri shifted and his erection pressed against me. I stilled, afraid to move, afraid to encourage anything but he forced my hips to rub against him. “You are a curious little bird, aren’t you? So many questions. I find your mind incredibly sexy. You’re much more clever than most of Madame Moirai’s selections.”
What did that mean? It didn’t feel like a compliment coming out of his accented mouth. I tried to stop him, staring hard as I said, “What if I told you that I didn’t want to do this? That I found you repulsive?”
He laughed. “Then I would call you a liar as your body tells me differently.”
I couldn’t control physiology. Pleasure created ripples that cascaded down the nerve endings, activating certain reactions that I couldn’t control. “You’re a terrible person,” I said, blinking back tears.
His laughter told me he didn’t give a shit what I thought. He rolled me to my back, staring down at me. Henri’s smile faded as he regarded me with lust burning in his eyes. “You want me to play the part of the monster so you can feel better about your choice?”
“Yes.” I wanted to hate him and everything he stood for. I didn’t want to remember his touch as gentle or kind because it was a lie. He played the part of the compassionate lover because playing a role appealed to him, not because it was real. Except I refused to play my role of the wide-eyed ingenue being seduced by the older, more sophisticated gentleman. I saw him for what he was: a deviant.
“Very well, little bird.”
With rough hands, he flipped me to my stomach. I gasped in fear as his touch became mean and insensitive. Fingers dug into my skin as he jerked me to my knees, forcing my head down. “You should be careful what you ask for,” he said in a silky tone that scared me spitless. “You have no idea what a monster I can be.”
The first ring of truth from his mouth since he bought me but I knew I shouldn’t have pushed so hard.
I cried out as he reached down to wrench my hair, twisting my neck painfully. I was much smaller than him. His body covered mine easily. Without care or interest in my comfort, he rammed himself inside me. I screamed, feeling ripped apart. I sobbed against the silken bedding, my fingers clutching and squeezing, trying to escape but Henri was everywhere.
“You like to play the victim, little bird? Let me give you something to cry about, something to remember so that when you put me in the role of the villain, I have truly earned the title.”
“Please stop,” I cried, my voice choked by tears but he was beyond hearing me.
The pain lessened as my body acclimated to the invasion but my mind was screaming. I shouldn’t have provoked him. How stupid was I to play a game with someone who held all the cards? I should’ve played the part of the simpering sex toy, plying him with flattery and sucking his dick like it was a privilege to do so.
Stupidly, I let my mouth override my ass and wrote a check I couldn’t cover. I bit my lip to keep from begging. I was still that naive girl who thought a sharp tongue could protect her from the worst life had to offer.
I wasn’t prepared for Henri’s world where human life could be bought and sold.
I tried to be somewhere else, to block out the reality of what was happening but it was impossible. Tears dribbled down my cheeks as I gritted my teeth against the assault, just praying he finished quickly.
After what seemed an eternity, he ended with a rattling groan, withdrawing and pushing me away. I curled up in a ball, holding myself, wishing I could go back in time to tell Mr. Personality to fuck off with Madame Moirai’s offer.
But I couldn’t. I’d taken the deal. I signed the nondisclosure paperwork. They owned me. Henri owned me for twenty-four hours.
Tears dribbled down my cheek as I gulped back wild sobs, determined to stuff it down into a deep, black place. Henri leaned over me, his hand lightly caressing my shivering skin. “We shall have so much fun together, you and I, sweet Nicole. You are my most promising purchase to date. I will loathe returning you.” He rose and strode away, naked to bark over his shoulder before leaving the room, “Bathe yourself. I will return in an hour.”
And then he left, locking the door behind him.
10
I couldn’t stay here. Wiping my tears with a savage motion across my face, I scrambled from the bed, going to the window but it was sealed shut. I searched for something in the room to force the window open but there was nothing sharp enough to do the trick.