“Are you ready to behave now?” he askedme.
I nodded, as I remained where I was in thecage. He tilted his head to the side and eyed me as if waiting forsomething.
“Yes, Darren,” I finally croaked out, mymouth and throat dry from my earlier exertion.
“Good girl,” he replied unlocking the cage.He stepped aside and gestured for me to come out.
I pushed myself from the floor of the cage;my muscles strained and ached from my position and earlier battlewith him as I crawled out. The pain between my legs had subsidedslightly, but I was still terribly sore from his violent onslaught.Darren helped me stand while I kept my eyes on the floor. I was now an array of emotions, feartrembling through my body, anger radiating in my chest, but anewfound hope rose front and center.
Placing his hand around to my lowerback, Darren pulled me against him and held me in a tight embrace.I didn't even fight it as I graciously accepted the warmththat came off him in waves, and I shivered as my body reacted tothe change in temperature. His hands caressed my back, soothing itgently as I trembled, and I found it strange how quickly I allowedmyself to become comfortable.
I hated this man with my entire being, buthere he was, gentle as can be. I wanted to cry for accepting hissudden act of kindness, but I honestly needed it. He sighed as mybody melted into his and I buriedmy nose in his chest to warm my face. I then noticed he hadchanged his clothes since our battle. He was now wearing a blackcotton t-shirt and what felt like a pair of jeans.
“You know … I didn’t enjoy having to put youdown here. I much rather prefer you to be at my side, but you leftme no choice. You need to learn who is in control, Jaden. Do youunderstand now?”
“Yes,” I whispered. I could barelyspeak.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, Darren,” I tried to clarify.
“Good. Now, let’s get you cleaned up.It’s past dinnertime”
He kept a heavy arm around my hips as hewalked me into a nearby bathroom. I was grateful for his support,as I didn’t think I could keep up with his pace for once.
“Sit,” he said, pointing at the toilet. I gently sat down, attempting tohide the wince from the throb between my legs that blossomed oncemore from the pressure. I immediately leaned over and rested myhead in my hands, trying to relax while Darren drew a bath next tome.
I could hear him rummaging throughout the bathroom, pouring shit into thewater. The scent of eucalyptus filled my nose, calming me. I honestly loved that smell.When the tub was filled, I listened as Darren removed his clothesand took my hand to pull me up. He lifted my dress up over my headand removed my bra with the simplest pinch of his fingers. I had noidea what became of the thong I had worn earlier. Then, to myprotest, he lifted me in his arms and placed us both in thescented hot water. My body jerkedfrom the temperature, but after a few seconds, I settledeasily.
Darren placed me between his legs and leanedme back against his chest. My skin crawled as my bare body touchedhis. I wanted nothing more than to inch away until I was completelyon the other side, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“Relax,” he said, his hands rubbing my armsto release the tension in my muscles.
Eventually, I just gave up my fight and sankagainst him. I was exhausted, defeated, and sore. I just wanted tocurl up in a giant soft blanket and disappear from the world. I hadnever been more embarrassed in all my life. I had lost. I hadfucking lost, and now, here he was subtly claiming his victory overme. I wasn’t going to fight him anymore today, now that I knew whathe was capable of. I would have to change my strategy—find aweakness and use it to my advantage somehow.
“Sit up,” he suddenly said, and I allowedhim to help me return to an upright sitting position. He thengrabbed a pitcher from the edge of the tub, dipped it in the water,and gently poured it over my head. The warm water poured down overmy body, completely drenching me and warming me all over. He thentook some shampoo and began rubbing it into my hair.
I wrapped my arms around my knees as Darrengently massaged my scalp with his strong fingers. It felt so good Inearly moaned. When he was satisfied, he rinsed my hair severaltimes until it was soap-free before slathering my ends in conditioner. He then pulled me backby my shoulders to rest against him again. He poured more soap intohis hands and began to massage and clean the rest of my body.
He started with my shoulders, then down myarms, rubbing in slow circles, until he reached my hands, massagingthem and being especially gentle around my knuckles, which werestill bruised. My internal struggle was beyond real as I foughtwith myself not to cringe away from him. I didn’t want him to touchme in the slightest, not after what he had just done to me earlier,but I had to get over my fear of him. I had to pretend it was okay.I don’t know how, but by some miracle, I was able to relax andsomewhat enjoy what he was doing to me. It must have been theeucalyptus.
Eventually, his soapy hands found their wayto my chest, and I immediately tensed and allowed a small vocalprotest to slip past my lips.
“Stop,” he said lightly, yet I could notmistake the annoyance in his voice.
I closed my eyes, biting my lip as hehandled my breasts; not in a sexual way, but simply just to cleanthem. His touch lasted only a few seconds before they made theirway down my torso and stopped at my hips. His hands grazed up anddown from my ribs to my hips, over my abs and back. His trail sent a chill through me even though Iwas nearly neck deep in hot water.
And then his hands found my
