Page 76 of Broken Princess
17
Willow
Leaningclose to the bathroom mirror, I brushed dark gray eyeshadow in the creases above my eyes, extending it outward to the edge of my brows. Then I carefully drew thick black lines across my eyelids before applying several coats of mascara. I topped the look off with bright red liquid lipstick.
When I stepped back to assess my appearance, I realized I’d made myself look like a completely different person with the makeup Jamie had given me. It wasn’t intentional, but something told me it was a subconscious survival instinct. Perhaps if I turned myself into a different girl whenever he was about to abuse me, I could disappear inside myself for a while. Let the other girl take the pain and suffering.
With a sigh, I took a few steps over to the other side of the bathroom to get a look at myself in the full-length mirror. Jamie had commanded me to dress myself up in lingerie and ‘look sexy’, but when my gaze skated over the black and cream bustier and thong set he’d given me, along with a matching garter, high heels and sheer black stockings, I didn’t feel sexy at all. I just felt cheap and pathetic.
Jamie hadn’t fucked me yet—he hadn’t had time over the last day to command anything other than a quick blowjob from me—but I knew it was coming.
Today.
He’d returned earlier this afternoon, handed me a bag of makeup and lingerie, and told me to prepare myself before heading upstairs to get a different room ready for us. That was half an hour ago, and I knew without a doubt that when he came back to fetch me, I would be expected to spread my legs for him.
I wasn’t going to fight it. I no longer saw the point. If I tried, he would beat me and force me into sex afterwards anyway. I would rather avoid that pain and get it over and done with. It was still rape, because I wasn’t exactly consenting, but it was better than being raped after having the crap beaten out of me.
I returned to the bathroom vanity and blotted my lipstick with a tissue. As I did so, I heard something out in the hall. I frowned and stood up straight, cocking my head to one side.
I could’ve sworn I heard Logan’s voice, but that was ridiculous. He couldn’t be here. No way.
Shoulders slumping, I returned my focus to my mouth, carefully wiping off a bit of lipstick that had transferred to one of my front teeth.
“Willow! Where are you?”
My heart sank as I heard Jamie’s voice at my bedroom door. “I’m in here,” I said weakly. “Getting ready like you told me.”
“Come out here. I have a surprise for you.”
I swallowed hard and turned to exit the bathroom. When I saw the man standing in the doorway of my room, my jaw dropped, and my heart began to race like mad.
It was Logan. He really washere.
“Logan!” I squealed and hurried forward, only to be stopped in my tracks when Jamie stuck an arm out in front of me.
“Don’t embarrass yourself, Willow,” he said coldly.
I ignored him. “You’re… you’re here,” I said. My pulse was going at a million miles an hour, heart threatening to burst right out of my ribcage from the shock.
Jamie spoke up again. “He’s not here to save you, sweetheart,” he said, smugly jutting his chin out. “Don’t you think I would’ve dealt with him by now if he was?”
“What? What is he talking about?” I asked, staring back at Logan. He was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest, gaze stabbing right through me.
“I didn’t come here to take you home, Willow,” he finally said.
I shuffled back a step, brows knitting as the stark shock morphed into pure confusion. “I don’t understand. What’s happening?”
“What do you think?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“Really? Are you actually that stupid?” Logan took one step forward, lips curving into a smirk. “Why the fuck would you think I came to get you out of here?”
I shook my head as confusion roiled in my guts. “Why wouldn’t you?”
“Because you’re a fucking nightmare and everything is easier without you around,” he went on, eyes stony and expression unruffled. “There’s just one thing I miss.”
His gaze pointedly coasted over my body during that last sentence. Despite the lingerie covering at least a quarter of my skin, I felt completely naked and vulnerable. “Logan, I don’t….”
