When we enter the club, we’re in the corridor in the back, where The Beast and I first met. My eyes land on the spot where he held me against the wall and I feel the same dull ache forming in the pit of my stomach that was there that evening. I tried to convince myself that it was nerves, but it’s foolish to kid myself any longer.
I’ll give him a chance, but I vow not to lose my sense of self. I refuse to be a mindless whore who drops to her knees just because a man tells her to. If that's who The Beast wants me to be, he’s got another thing coming.
Chapter Eleven
Rosabelle
My heart has never beat as quickly as it’s beating right now. Paige went into the training room, but told me that I needed to wait outside until they called me in. I would give anything to know what they’re talking about. It infuriates me to no end knowing that they’re in there discussing me or my life and I am not part of the conversation.
Just as I feel myself ready to snap, the door opens wide and Paige waves me in. My feet feel like boulders, barely able to move. I look at Paige and she urges me to hurry.
When I get to the doorway, she whispers to me. “Come in and stand up straight, just inside the door. Don’t raise your eyes, keep them on the floor.”
I want to ask her if she came up with that rhyme herself, but I wouldn’t be able to speak right now even if I were allowed to. It turns out that the fear of the unknown waiting for me in that room, vastly overpowers the embarrassment I feel about being seen in this outfit. I put one foot in front of the other and walk over the threshold. I do exactly as she says and wait by the door, keeping my eyes fixed on the floor in front of me.
“Good job, you’re doing great,” she whispers again before closing the door and standing next to me.
“Rosabelle.”
My heart races faster at the sound of my name on his lips. It’s the first time he’s used it when speaking to me. I thought for sure he would call me “little lamb” again. Do I look up or do I keep my eyes down? I wait for Paige to help me out, but she remains silent.
Thanks a lot.
She calls him “Master B” when she’s talking to me about him, but when she spoke directly to him earlier, she called him “Sir.” The idea of using either of those terms makes my skin crawl.
Open your mind Rosabelle; step out of your comfort zone.
I force every value that I was raised on back into the furthest corner of my mind, locking them away for safekeeping, and step into the new world that I am a part of.
“Yes, Sir?”
“Come.”
I turn my head a little in Paige’s direction, before moving.
“With submission comes freedom,” she whispers.
Her words give me just enough encouragement to get my feet moving. I pad across the floor slowly, moving in the direction of his voice. I am very thankful for the rule about keeping my eyes lowered. I don’t think I would be able to move if I had to look at him. But, when I see two pairs of feet up ahead, I pause.
Who else is here? And which feet belong to The Beast?
I see one pair of feet move forward and it’s as if he can read my mind.
“Here.”
I continue walking until I am directly in front of him. His scent hits me and I breathe it in deeply.
“Ange.”
Angel.The other man speaks and I recognize Luca’s voice from the night before. I laugh inwardly at the revelation. With Paige here, I should have known the other pair of feet belonged to Luca.
“Good girl. Have a seat.”
I watch Paige out of the corner of my eye as she kneels on the floor, in the same way she did in the hallway outside of my bedroom. Legs spread, hands behind her back. Her eyes are still focused on the floor. I see The Beast's hand come into view and he places it under my chin. He gently lifts my face to meet his gaze. My eyes bore into his for a moment before I begin to feel uncomfortable and need to look away.
“Look at me. Keep your eyes forward.”
I comply with his request.