2brown-eyes says read at your own risk!

The minimal mistakes are all mine!

I stand under the shower in the guest house until the water runs cold. When I leave the safety of this marble haven, my life will no longer be my own. I'll belong to a nearly seventy-year-old man, whose true purpose for wanting this union remains a mystery.

"Isabella." Chills race up my spine at the tone of his voice, and the knot in my stomach tightens. "I've been a patient man, but you're pushing my boundaries."

"A-Almost done," I stutter, stepping under the spray to rinse my body. "I'll be out in a sec."

"Lovely."

I listen for his footsteps or the closing of the double doors, but the pouring water drowns out all sound. My hands shake as I pull open the frosted glass door and blindly reach out, feeling for my towel on a nearby hook. I hold the door tight against my arm, afraid he's still in the room. I'm only putting off the inevitable, but every second that passes is one more where I still have ownership of myself.

"Here you are, Isabella." His tone is mocking as he hands me the towel.

I fight to keep my voice from shaking like my hand as I pull the towel inside and shut the door. "Thank you, Eleazar."

"Though I don't find it necessary, I'll allow it … For now."

My entire body quivers in fear. I realize he has no intention of physically harming me, but emotionally, I'm already a basket case. And it's going to get worse as I perform for this man. My father will kill me if I fail to please Eleazar in any way.

I tighten the towel above my breasts and slowly open the door. I take a shaky breath and offer him a shy smile. "Please, forgive me, Eleazar. This is all so very new to me, and it's quite nerve-wracking."

"I understand, child." For the first time, he acknowledges our age difference. At nineteen and sixty-six, we're more than four decades apart. "But in my experience, removing all pretenses is the most efficient way to handle these things." He turns, waving me forward. "Follow me."

My legs quake, but I do as I'm told, and I keep a smile on my face the entire time. "We're actually quite lucky to have this guest house to ourselves," I comment, just to have something other than silence between us. "The entire house underwent a renovation not long ago."

"Yes," Eleazar says, motioning to an ornate wooden chair that sits in the center of the master bedroom. It's from the dining room table. "Drop the towel and brace your hands on the seat."

"W-What?"

"Don't make me repeat myself."

The shaking I've tried so hard to keep contained explodes from my body, and I stand before him, unable to follow this simple command. "I … I don't understand."

"There's nothing to understand, Isabella." His tone is nastier than I've ever heard as he approaches with his hands held tightly behind his back. "I command it, and you do it." He circles me, and he's so close that his breath ghosts the bare skin of my shoulder. "You were rude to me earlier today, so now it's time for your punishment." He stops in front of me, his finger slipping into the knot of my towel. "Now."

I'm suddenly naked before him, and the man I thought I was marrying no longer exists. In his place is a much crueler version, and I'm terrified. His dark eyes stab me with their hatefulness, and the tone of his voice is snide.

"Did you not hear me!" He reaches out and fists my hair, dragging me over to the chair. "Bend over and place your hands on the seat."

Tears pour down my cheeks. "Please. No. I swear, I'll be a good wife. I'll never disrespect you again."

He holds up a leather strap. "Once I've shown you the consequences of bad behavior, I expect you'll make an exemplary wife."

"P-Please don't hurt me."

"Begging turns me on, Isabella."

The strap snaps across my bare ass, and I jump, screaming. He draws back and does it again, harder this time, a gleeful smile on his face. Over and over he swings, and with each one, I become more numb, hiding away inside my mind. Until, at some point, I take each lick without a sound.

He throws down the strap and grabs a handful of my hair, bringing my face to his. "Are you being defiant, my petulant little bitch?"

I stare directly into his eyes, unflinching.

"Two can play this game," he snarls.

He shoves me to my knees and draws back his fist, slamming it into my mouth. I taste iron, but I keep my gaze impassive, and it only enrages him further. He drags me across the floor by my hair, and I've retreated entirely inside my mind. It's as if I'm watching this happen to someone else.

I'm not sure where the strength comes from, but he's able to lift me and push me face-first down on the mattress. The strap thwacks across my back, and I recoil from the unexpected pain.

"There you are," Eleazar croons, and I feel him between my thighs. "I promise to this make memorable for you."

I squinch my eyes closed as he enters me, and silent tears run down my cheeks as the one respectable thing I've clung to vanishes in an instant. He thrusts his hips, and a loud smack follows as the strap lands longways on my back. I close my eyes and take deep breaths, praying for the minute this all ends.

Thrust.

Thwack.

Moan.

It repeats like a mantra over and over. At some point, I begin to think it will never end. My entire body has gone numb, and I'm not even sure my legs exist anymore. What I expected to be a chore has turned into a living nightmare with no end in sight.

One lash misses my back entirely, the leather lying just beside my fist. "Isabella, Isabella, Isabella," he chants, sloppily thrusting against my ass. "I'm about … ah, yes."

He groans, stilling, and lays his weight on top of my back. I use the distraction to grab the blood-stained strap and shove him to the side. He stumbles over the pants that are around his ankles and falls to the carpet with wide eyes.

I don't hesitate. I bring the strap down, whacking wherever it lands. He covers his face, making no effort to fight back. I do it again and again until it's no longer enough. My rage is boiling over, so I toss the piece of leather and look for something more substantial. A lamp sits on the nightstand, and as I move toward it, he grabs my ankle, bringing me to the floor with him.

I turn, kicking him in the face until I'm able to scoot free. I nearly bring the entire nightstand over on myself as I scramble to stand. He crawls over, tugging at my legs, and I grab the ornate light fixture, crashing it against his head. He slumps to the floor, eyes closed, chest moving up and down in a steady rhythm.

For a split second, I consider ending him altogether, but I'm not a murderer. Instead, I hurry to the bathroom and pull on my dress and hat from the funeral. My mind is racing. I made a choice without planning to and now I must escape, or I'll die.

I've been on this property my entire life, and I remember spying on Emmett when he snuck out to meet his first girlfriend when he was my age. It didn't go well for them once father found out, but that's a story for another day.

My only hope is that those weaknesses still exist as I run into the darkness. My heart thunders inside my chest as I flatten against the tall concrete structure, afraid of coming across a guard or being caught on camera and hauled back to face my sins.

The tall wooden gate in the back corner for groundskeeper access is imposing, but the large hinge bolts wiggle free just like they did for my brother. Tears of relief flood my cheeks as I pull the door away from the stone just enough to slip through. I don't know what to do next or where to go, but I know I can't stay anywhere near here.

So I take off running.

A laugh bubbles up inside me.

And for the first time in my life, I feel free.

I'll see you next Tuesday, most likely, with this one.

And next Thursday, most likely, with Christmas Ink. Thank you for all the teaser love! If you missed it, check out my page, Fyregirl Fics on FB.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and eat all the awesome food!

See ya next week :)