Page 73 of Bound To Me

“Are you going to be good, or do I need to keep an eye on you?” he asked as my foot touched the first step of the stairs.

I paused to look back at him. “I’ll be a good girl, Daddy.”

He seemed pleased with my answer because he turned back to his laptop and continued to work. I quickly descended the stairs and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.

“Elliott?” I whispered as my heart raced; if he wasn’t there, I was fucking screwed.

Just as I started to panic, Elliott’s voice filled my ear. “Jacqueline, I’m here.”

As I exhaled, tears I hadn’t realized I’d been holding back streamed down my face, washed away by a flood of relief.

“We have to do this tonight. Did you hear him? He wants to get married tomorrow,” I breathed, feeling out of breath.

“Yes. But Jacqueline, I think we need to re-think this. He’s far more dangerous than I thought. I’m afraid he’s going to hurt you before you can even see it coming. I think you should get out of there. Now.” His muffled voice carried a clear undertone of concern, but I immediately shook my head.

“No, Elliott. I’m doing this,” I argued.

“Fuck, Jacqueline. I don’t know what we were thinking. I should have done this myself and kept you safe,” he continued, and I started to grow more nervous.

My chest tightened as I stared at my tear-streaked reflection in the mirror. My hazel eyes were hardened, and there was an unmistakable frown upon my lips. “Please continue to have faith in me, Elliott. I can do this.” My trembling voice belied the urgent determination I felt to proceed with our plan.

He sighed before he spoke. “I know, baby. I know you can. I’m just so terrified of losing you. Hearing what he did to that poor girl…”

I cut him off before he could continue. “You won’t lose me. I’m gonna fucking do this, Elliott.”

I didn’t know where the surge of confidence came from; perhaps it was fueled by my sheer determination to finally be free of Michael.

He was quiet before he spoke again. “Okay, baby. I’ll tell Hana. We’ll be waiting.”

* * *

Being in public with Michael felt surreal. He had kept me hidden away throughout our entire “relationship,” and now he was parading me around like a shiny new toy. As we strolled through The Grove, I found myself continually glancing at our reflection in the passing windows. It was as if I were observing someone else’s life. As we eyed clothing in a high-end boutique, women ogled the monster that stood beside me, ignoring their stares. He was undeniably handsome, and it was such a shame that he was such a fucking heartless beast.

I clutched the bag containing the dress I knew I would never wear as we headed back to the house in an Uber. The sun began its descent, and my nerves heightened with each passing mile. It was going to happen soon: either Michael would die, or I would. Perhaps both of us.

I followed Michael into the house, following suit after he placed his jacket on the coat rack. I shrugged off my boots and started for the stairs, planning to hang my dress up to appear as if I were excited about the impending marriage that would never come to fruition. But Michael stopped me, grasping my arm back and drawing me close to him. I gasped, my nerves heightened, as he leaned in, gently cupping my face in his hands. I stared into his dark gray eyes and a small flutter stirred in my belly. Don’t do this. Don’t fucking seduce me when I’m about to kill you.

“You’re going to look so fucking sweet in that little black dress of yours,” he whispered, his gaze intensifying. “I’m going to rip it off of you and claim you as mine the instant we get back here. I’m going to mark your pretty, wrecked little body again.”

I almost wanted to laugh in his face. None of that was going to happen, and he had no idea.

I smiled as I replied, placing my hands to his arms. “I can’t wait, Daddy.”

I felt his cock harden against my jeans and he gently grazed his lips against mine before pulling away, trying to tease me. “Ihave an idea. Meet me in the hot tub downstairs, naked. I need to acquire a few things in here first.”

Holy shit. This is perfect. This is so fucking perfect.

“Yes, Daddy.” I smiled before excitedly skipping down the stairs, though my excitement was for something else entirely.

“Elliott, it needs to happennow. We’ll be in the hot tub in a few minutes,” I whispered as I began to undress.

“Okay, Hana is here. We’ll be there soon,” he responded quickly in my ear.

My heart thudded fiercely in my chest as I pulled down my underwear with trembling hands. Adrenaline surged through my body as I slid open the glass door leading to the hot tub on the deck, the cold air biting at my bare skin like tiny shards of ice. My loud breathing echoed in my ears as I pulled off the hot tub cover and hurriedly stepped into the warm water, sinking down to sit. With my nerves fried, I jumped when Michael, half-naked in his boxer briefs, slid the glass door open, holding a rope in his hand.

He slowly walked toward me with a smile, eyeing the hot tub. “Sweet Jackie, I’m excited to try this with you. I hope I don’t go too far,” he said, grinning menacingly.

Fuck.Panic surged through me, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from my chest.

---