Page 21 of Emperor of Corruption
He smiles. “Fair enough. To address your previous point; youwillenjoy your time with me.”
“Just because you decree something doesn’t make it true.”
“You won’t enjoy it because Isayyou will; you’ll enjoy it because I’mthatgood.”
I scoff. “Whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep at night.”
“I don’t need to tell myself anything to sleep at night. I have no shame or regret over my actions. I did what I wanted to do. There was only one thing I might’ve regretted about that night…” He waits for me to take the bait and ask what he could possibly regret, but I don’t. I simply fix him with a blank, uninterested gaze. “I didn’t hear you beg enough. I think I’d like to hear much more of it.”
A cold shiver works its way down my spine. I don’t respond; I can’t. I’m frozen in place, gripped by fear.
“We’re going to fix that today.” He jerks his chin at me. “Take off your clothes.”
“No.” The word is scarcely a whisper, so faint I don’t know if Killian will even hear it… but he does. He rises from his seat and starts walking towards me.
I lose control of my baser instincts, of any intelligence I might have, and bolt to the door. Survival mode takes over; I bang on the wood and scream at the top of my lungs, hoping that the entire building can hear me and that someone—anyone—comes to help me.
My scream is cut short when a hand grips my neck, squeezing harshly enough to cut off the sound. I lose my ability to breathe, to do anything but grasp desperately at the hand and try to claw it off.
“The office is soundproof.” Killian’s tone has grown flat, dissonant, completely careless of my emotional state. “My secretarymight’veheard you banging on the door, but I assure you, he won’t come to help you out. Now, you can keep conducting yourself like you belong in an insane asylum—I might even put you there to teach you a lesson—or you can shut up and accept what will happen with grace. Which is it?” he gradually releases his grip on my throat,justenough to allow a single precious breath of air.
“Option two,” I wheeze.
“Good.” He releases me as abruptly as he grabbed me, leaving me jarred and disoriented. “Go to the desk. Plant your hands on it. Feet apart, back arched.”
That’s a horrifically vulnerable position.
“Pleasedon’t make—”
“Desk,” he emphasizes. “Now.”
If I do it, I’m accepting his insanity. But, once again, I’m struck with the fact that I really don’t have a choice. Resisting will only prolong the time I spend trapped here; doing what he says might let me leave somewhat unscathed. I don’t know if he’s going to hurt me or fuck me—in either case, it’ll be terrible.
Endure, Lyra. Endure and plot behind his back.
Slow, sullen footsteps carry me over to the desk. Killian remains by the door, watching me fight against myself to follow his instructions. I plant my palms on the desk and lean over it, sucking in a breath at the humiliating position.
“Even those ridiculous clothes can’t hide your beauty,” Killian murmurs, andsomethingstirs inside me. Pleasure at the praise, despair at his control over me—I’m not sure and I don’t want to find out.
I don’t turn around when Killian starts leisurely walking over to me. I don’t move until he plants a hand on my back; then, I flinch.
“Easy,” he says. “I’m just exploring.”
And explore he does. His hands wrap around my waist, giving it a tight squeeze. They finger the hem of my jeans, smooth over my ass, brush the backs of my thighs. I’m grateful that at least there’ssomebarrier between our skin, but then Killian does away with that, too. He yanks down my jeans so harshly I hear a tear as they rip, and my eyes bulge at his strength. They start to water when my panties go down next, leaving my bottom half completely exposed to him.
But eventhatisn’t enough, because my top goes next, with another rip. I have no clothes to wear when I leave, but that’s the least of my worries as Killian unclips my bra, straightens me long enough to push it down my arms, and bends me over again. He reaches around me to cup both of my breasts in his hands, pinching my nipples. When I don’t react, he tightens the pressure until I jerk and whine.
Then, his lips touch my shoulder, as if in silent reward.
“You’re easily one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.”
“I have no use for your compliments.” My voice is as weak as the rest of me.
“It’s not a compliment; it’s a statement of fact.” His hands move across my ribcage to my back, and then travel downward until he clutches a palmful of my ass. He gives me a swift, harsh spank that jars me and makes me yelp;againhe kisses me, rewarding me for my pain.
“Please stop that,” I whisper.
“No.” He doesn’t even ask what I’m requesting he stops; he’s letting me know, yet again, that my desires have no value here.
