Chapter 152

Susie was naïve to believe that Terry would take her on this private tour and not try to fool around with her. And, knowing her, she would likely be too shy and meek to properly defend herself from him.

I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t let her put herself in that position to start with.

Terry was only looking at her as a way to get to me. I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to Susie for my sake.

I glanced around the room. The three princes were still nowhere in sight. Their interviews must have been long ones. I could try to delay but who knew how much longer it would take? And if I waited too long to answer Terry, he really might pull Susie into his web.

I had my training, both from Nicholas and Julian, and I had my necklace if I needed a rescue. I could do this. I could protect myself.

“I’ll go with you,” I said. I kept my voice carefully level, certain not to let it waver even once, despite how much I was shaking inside.

“But, Piper –” Susie began to protest at once. She didn’t realize her own danger.

“Piper has made her choice,” Terry said curtly, cutting her off.

I nodded.

“Shall we?” Terry extended his arm. I had no choice but to take it.

Terry led me away from the rest of the group and down a familiar hallway we had previously taken on our group tour. Yet all too soon, he veered from that path and took me down a hallway of closed doors.

The door at the very end was even more elaborate than all the rest, with sparkling clear gemstones pressed straight into the wood. The door seemed to shimmer under the crystal chandeliers that hung in the hallways.

He opened the door and guided me inside. Before I could even get my bearings, he closed the door and locked it behind me.

A large bed sat in the very center of the room. On it, attached to each of the four posts was a cuff. Two, presumably for the wrists, and two for the ankles. Hanging on the wall behind were a series of items: whips of various sizes and types, ribbons and ropes, what looked like some type of harness…

My blood ran cold.

“We should head back,” I said. I tried to turn toward the door, but he was suddenly behind me. His hands gripped my shoulders roughly, keeping me right where I was.

“We are both more comfortable here.” It was a command of stay, even if he didn’t actually say the word. Fortunately, he wasn’t an Alpha. His orders didn’t hold as much mental sway. Unfortunately, without my wolf, he was still physically stronger than me so I still couldn’t move.

“Think of everything you could have, if you agreed to be mine,” Terry said, voice all honey and venom. “You could live in my palace. I would adorn you with gems and fine gifts. You’d be well cared for, without a single need unfulfilled.”

“You want me to be some dress-up doll more than a person.”

His grip tightened, fingers digging deeply into my skin. I’d likely have bruises on my arms to match the ones on my thighs he’d earlier left.

“Only I can fulfill your every need, Piper. Not just possessions, but sexually. My prowess is legendary. You will be crying for me.”

I shook my head. “And Jane? You would cheat on her?”

Terry laughed loud and cruel. “Your sister understands that I have certain desires that cannot be satiated with only one lover. I have dozens of women ready at my whim. Someday maybe they will join us. They all love this room the most.”

“Then maybe they can entertain you while I see myself out.”

I couldn’t be in this room a moment longer, thinking of him and those poor girls. Who knew if they’d been actually willing?

Did Terry imagine he would chain me up to the bed? Was he fantasizing about using those… items on me?

Fear coiled in my stomach, hot and acidic. I longed for Nicholas to be near, to burst through that door and save me.

Terry laughed again. “Piper, did you truly believe that once I brought you to this room, I would ever give you the chance to leave it?”

“I can’t stay here.”

He pressed himself against my back. I felt his growing hardness along my backside.

In my ear, he whispered cruelly, “You don’t have a choice.”

At once, my body reacted on its own. Remembering the training I did with Nicholas, I lifted on leg, then slammed my foot down hard onto Terry’s toes.

His leather shoes were expensive but flimsy. Everything he owned was built for appearance not durability. My heel crunched right down to his bones.

His hold on me loosened and I stumbled forward. I didn’t make it far, before he grabbed the back of my dress in to handfuls and ripped it in half, pulling it from my body.

I stumbled forward in my bra and panties.

Terry tossed the ruined fabric aside and grabbed at me. I dodged, avoiding his first attempt, but I hadn’t expected that he would anticipate the move.

He hooked his arm around my waist, then lifted me, and threw me down on the bed.

Panicking, I clutched at my necklace, squeezing it tightly. I kept my arms tight to my chest. But he was able to overpower me. He grabbed one of my wrists and yanked it upright.

With the quickness and ease that must have come from practice, Terry locked my hand into one of the cuffs. He moved slowly around me, locking me in, one cuff at a time, until both my wrists and ankles were bound.

No amount of struggling seemed to make a difference. He had simply overpowered me. And now the chains did the work.

He stood by the bed, crossed his arms and smiled. “You look good like this. Although…” His eyes narrowed in on the pendent around my throat. “Did one of the princes give you that? Nicholas, I presume?”

It had been Julian’s gift, but I wasn’t going to tell him a damn thing.

He grabbed the pendent and tugged. The chain snapped at the back of my neck and the necklace pulled free.

He threw it on the ground and then smashed it under his heel for good measure.

“They don’t own you anymore, Piper. I do.”

“N-no one owns me!” I shouted, fear making my voice quake. Had the pendant worked? Or had Terry’s smashing it disturbed the signal somehow?

I couldn’t stand the thought of being trapped here at the mercy of Terry, without anyone knowing where I was.

Maybe no one was coming to my rescue.

I pulled at my bounds with renewed fervor. I had to save myself. I couldn’t rot in here.

I couldn’t let this vile man touch me!

I was still a virgin. If he… If…

No!

Terry kneeled on the edge of the bed. His gaze trailed down the length of me and then back up again. He traced his fingers along my panty line. I squirmed away as best I could but I couldn’t go far enough.

He could look and touch his fill and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

“I will break you down to nothing and rebuild you into just how I want you,” Terry said. His smile twisted, vindictive. “I like the ones with fight in them. It makes it all the more satisfying when you come to heel.”

“I will never submit!” I said, as strong as I could.

He trailed one lone finger up my stomach to the valley between my breasts. “You will eventually, Piper. They always do.”

Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to give into terror or doubt.

Nicholas and Julian would come. They would.

Suddenly, there was a loud pound against the door.

Both Terry and I snapped our gazes to look.

A half-second of silence followed, then a batch of hurried footsteps, and BAM.

The door broke open. Wood splintered in all directions. That beautiful, expensive door was totally trashed.

Good.

Standing over the wreckage, totally shifted into wolf form, was Nicholas.