Page 156 of Sawyer

I know that whatever he is about to show me isn’t what I want to see and that his goal is to break me down so I have nothing left.

He can try, and he will do his best, but it won’t break me, no matter what he’s about to play on that television. It might hurt me, but it won’t break me.

With a cruel smile, he hits a button, and the television comes to life. Though the screen is grainy and tinged blue, I can make out Thea stripping and tossing her clothing to the side. Her movements are jerky and spawned by hormones I know they pumped into those rooms.

That’s when I see Bryn sitting on the other side of the room, his knees up and his face full of pain. Even though the screen is grainy, I can see his muscles are tense and his eyes are closed.

There’s no sound as Thea crawls over the divider in the room and, on all fours, makes her way to Bryn.

My head swims, and dizziness washes through me as Thea mounts him, but it’s seeing his hands on her hips that nearly undoes me.

It isn’t anything I didn’t know would happen, yet seeing him reach for her hurts so much more than it should. Pain blooms in my chest, and Sal pauses the scene.

I say nothing. There isn’t a damn thing more to say, so I sit on the bed, my hands fisting the sheets and my chin held high.

He doesn’t get to break me.

He doesn’t get to hurt me.

“So prideful,” Sal whispers, setting the remote on the table and standing at the edge of the bed. “You forget, sweet Sawyer” —he leans down— “that I can smell your pain.” He speaks as though he believes his words will hurt me. What he doesn’t know is I won’t allow him the pleasure of hurting me.

I look up into his cruel eyes and bite the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste the tang of blood. I allow my own life force to hydrate my parched mouth, and each drop is a balm that eases the sting of dehydration. I bite the wound even harder until more blood fills my mouth. Using my tongue, I scoop up the blood and swipe it across my lips. Immediate relief settles across the dry flesh.

Sal smirks down at me. “You have a change of clothing in the bathroom, and exactly” —he glances down at his watch— “five minutes to dress.”

“Or else?”

“You think there will be a punishment if you don’t hurry?” His eyes trail down my body, making me feel slimy and exposed. “Of course there’s a punishment. Ticktock, Sawyer.”

Grinding my teeth, I roll off the bed and stand.

Unfortunately, that dislodges the phone I shoved down my panties. I can’t believe he didn’t change me. I set a hand on my hip, keeping it in place as I walk to the bathroom.

Three things at that moment give me more hope than I’ve had in days.

One, there is a lock on the door. I flip that switch fast enough to hear Sal chuckle beyond the door.

Two, my camera remains pinned to the shirt.

Three, the phone in my panties.

I grab the latter, set it on the counter, and then unpin my camera, which has long since died. Relieving myself and washing my hands takes up most of my allotted time, and then I strip out of my clothing.

A simple omega dress hangs on the door. The gauzy fabric is more see-through than anything and cream-colored. I slip the strapless gown over my head, grab my paraphernalia, and open the cabinet. There’s a box of feminine products that I toss my stuff in before I rush back to the door.

“Two, one.” Sal smirks at me. “Well, it looks like I can train you as a proper mate after all. Can’t I, Sawyer?”

Fuck this guy. “I know how to play the part.” I get as close to him as I dare before my skin crawls.

“Shall we?” He offers me his elbow. I expected cuffs or rope to bind me with, not this gentlemanly offer.

I slide my arm into his, and he guides me out of the room and into a hall. Pictures line the walls, and sconces sit every few feet. There’s history in these halls I feel more than see, and curiosity gnaws at me. It’s my nature.

If I were an animal, I’d be a cat.

I may as well make it worth my while.

“Now, my room is right here.” Sal knocks on the last door in the hall before we turn toward a large landing. The deltas standing there immediately set me on edge, and I stiffen up. “Don’t mind them. They are here to protect you. Now that we’re officially courting, I need to make sure no one tries to steal what rightfully belongs to me.”

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