Love Came Back (a Pyro-Princess Design and Style novel Book 1) (5 page)

7

Birthdays Officially Suck

Mikhail had crept up behind me, yanked my head back by gripping my hair and shoved me onto the floor. I heard myself scream and he clamped a hand over my mouth.

“Austin, Sidda? Really? Who the
fuck
do you think you are? Strutting your fat ass all over the place. Why did you go? What were you wearing? Some slutty dress I bet. You think any guy wants this piece?”

He cupped my vagina and pushed in. The pressure hurt. He released my mouth so I could answer but kept me still. Never have I ever been as scared to answer as I was now.

“Mags wanted to celebrate my birthday. I didn’t think you’d-

He replaced his hand back over my mouth.

“That’s right, you cunt. You didn’t fucking think. As for your punishment, you will receive twenty spankings. Fitting, since it’s your twentieth birthday. It will not be soft. You will learn to ask permission before leaving this house. No more school, no more work. You can work for me inside this house. You’ll do as I say. Do you understand?”

I jerked in surprise by what he said. Spankings? What the hell? Did he mean he was going to actually spank me? Like a disobedient child?

“I don’t need to ask permission, Mikhail. I am an adult. I can do as I please. We aren’t married.”

I said this strongly, but when I caught the steely hardness in his eyes and the flare of his nostrils, I flinched. His expression was hostile for a fleeting moment, before his normal façade of indifference took hold and he smirked.

“Do as you please, huh?”

I was shoved down to my elbows and knees as he released my hair. He drew his now free hand to my jeans, unbuttoned them, and told me not to move or he’d make my punishment worse.

I felt my elbows, arms and knees getting tired from the hardwood floor. I tried not crying. At least, not too loudly. I knew he meant to degrade me down to nothing. I just willed God to make me endure this with strength.

He pulled my pants and panties down enough to expose my rear, then a loud smack echoed. Jerking forward and crying out, I knew he was serious about spanking me. I started to feel terribly sick to my stomach.

“I said quiet. The only sound you’re allowed to make is counting your punishment. I want you to know how many you are receiving.”

With that, he hit my butt again. It felt harsher than the last one, but I reeled in my whimper and the urge to cry out by biting down on my own teeth.

“Siddaleigh?”

Oh. That’s right. He wanted me to count. I took a deep breath, “Two.”

SMACK
!

“Three.”

With each new hit, it seemed to sting more and hurt worse. When I finally reached twenty, he stopped and I heard unzipping. The hand that was holding my hip went to the back of my neck and my face was pressed even further into the ground. How this was possible, I didn’t know. Without any further ado, Mikhail shoved his penis between my thighs and I felt something inside my inner walls tear. I was dry and he wouldn’t relent or ease up.

“Mikhail, please.” I reached my hand back to stop him but he just grunted and pulled my hand tight against my back.

“Are you sorry yet, Sidda?” He pounded into me without remorse.

“YES! Yes, I’m sorry, Mikhail. Please, stop this,” I would say anything to make him stop.

“What are you sorry for, Siddaleigh?” Mikhail grabbed my other hand, the one I injured before and clenched them both against my spine. He was grunting and moaning in pleasure. I was almost ready to toss up the contents of my stomach, but I held it in my throat and swallowed a deep breath before speaking.

“Mikhail, I am sorry I didn’t ask permission before going out. I should have called you and told you Mags wanted to take me out.”

After a few more thrusts, I felt him finish inside me. He took himself from my body quickly, which made me flinch with pain and I cried out. He tucked himself back into his pants and moved to stand up. As I tried to right myself, he stood next to me, and kicked me in the ribs. I can guarantee this, I didn’t hold back the sobs and tears anymore. That hurt like I’ve never hurt before.

“Your cunt is bleeding, must be that time of the month. Take care of the mess you made and go clean yourself up. You need to learn who is boss around here, Sidda. I have a very important client coming tonight at seven. You have until then to clean up and make a meal for him and his trophy bitch wife. I made sure not to hurt your face but you need to wear something to cover everything else.”

I nodded in acquiescence and hurried to do what I was told.

♥

Dinner went
splendidly
. Mikhail seemed happy enough. He poured on the charm. I wore a simple shift dress that went to my knees and the scoop neck was just low enough for the barest hint of cleavage. I thought it was tasteful while meeting ‘high in the instep’ type people Mikhail wouldn’t shut up about. On my feet, were matching Jimmy Cho’s Mikhail insisted I wear.

I looked nice with Mikhail’s hand attached to my hip while he talked business with his guest, Mr. Winston. We were made for each other in public. The small town demure girl and a high brow-businessman. In private, was a totally different story if anyone who bothered to look under the surface could imagine.

♥

After the Winston’s left, Mikhail shut and locked the door, before turning and stepping into the kitchen to check on me.

“You did very well tonight. Except for that dress.”

I looked down at myself to see what was wrong but not seeing anything, I looked back at him in confusion.

“What’s wrong with this dress? It’s demure and elegant. Just like Mrs. Winston said and complimented me on.”

Mikhail walked up to me and placed a palm over the small line of cleavage showing.

“This,” gesturing to my breasts, “is not demure. Especially in front of a man I’m trying to get to invest in my father’s bank. You teased him with showing off your big tits. You might as well have shoved your big ass in his face screaming ‘screw me’!”

I couldn’t help but show my shock. I was in total shock, with a heavy dose of denial. This dress was the peak of appropriateness and femininity. So here I go, letting the sparks of self-righteousness and anger inside me go free.

“No, Mikhail, he was not. You’re seeing things from some screwed up sense of insecurity and jealousy. I’m not luring anyone by my assets. You need to so get over yourself. I’m voluptuous, you don’t like it, break up with me. I’m tired of this bull-shit excuse for a relationshit. It’s not a relationship because you should know it’s not right to hit women. You’ve no right to hit me, call me names or accusing me of asinine things, Mikhail. I’m going to bed. Good night.”

Yeah, I was that pissed off.

Consequences soon to be delivered? Check.

I turned and started racing up the stairs trying to hurry to my bedroom. When I reached half way, he came up behind me quickly and grabbed my bicep and his fist connected with the side of my face as my body turned. I yanked free, but I felt myself stumbling backwards.

“Mikhail! Help me!”

He just smirked and I fell down the twelve steps and landed not so gently on the ground floor. My ankle must have twisted because a pain so sharp crept up my leg and through my spine and left a breathless me, crying out.

“Oh God, my ankle. I can’t breathe. You need to take me to the hospital, Mikhail. Please. Please, don’t just leave me here.”

Pleading and begging wasn’t high on my list but it was either him taking me or me calling an ambulance. The way his face distorted, he knew what the other choice would be.

“Alright. Let’s get this shit over with then.” Mikhail came down the stairs, slowly as he pleases, bent down and lifted me easily into his arms.

Whoa. He’s never done that before. His face gave nothing away and was expressionless as usual. He seemed to carry me with ease and for once, I wished it was something I could enjoy. But then again, maybe not.

“Damn, Sidda. You need to start exercising. Luckily for you I don’t have to walk that far to get to the car.”

Yup. Gentlemanly chivalry, zero. Bastard McBastardson? Check.

My issues with Mikhail were building. I don’t know how much longer I could deal with this kind of relationshit of a relationship.

With his need for speed, we reached Texas Women’s quickly. I was seen immediately, fortunately. Unfortunately, however, it was the same ER doctor as before. Doctor Larsen looked from me to Mikhail and back to me in silent question.

I disguised my negative motion by shaking my hair around me and shaking my head no. I had a wild-eyed expression as I stared back at her. She must have taken the hint. With a clenched jaw though, she pretended she had never seen me before.

After some x-rays, a day stay at the hospital, I had a few heavily bruised ribs and a painfully twisted ankle. No broken bones. This time.

Mikhail left me sometime after I was admitted into a room the day before, and when I was waiting for discharge papers, Doctor Larsen had prescribed me with a good pain pill prescription. I tried getting ahold of Mikhail to come pick me up, but he didn’t answer any of my calls.

I gave him another hour, but with no avail, I called my mother.

8

Gimme the Truth and Nothing but the Truth

“Hospital? God, what happened, Sidda?”

After explaining the lie Mikhail came up with, my mother seemed appeased. I was normally clumsy sometimes, so she calmed down.

“Oh, you know me, mother, just clumsy is all. I was walking up the stairs where I live with Mikhail and my heel didn’t quite make one of the steps. Would you be able to come get me? Mikhail’s at work and can’t leave the office in time.”

Even my mother heard the stress and strain in my voice.

“You sound burned out. You need to make sure to stay off it and keep it elevated. Take the pills the doctor gave you. Let it heal. I’m at work, I’ll get your sister-

I made sure to stop her right there.

“Yeah, mom, don’t worry about that. I can call Mags to come get me. I just gotta call her. No use calling Jeanine or Megan. Too much of a drive to get out here for them.”

“Mags is a sweet girl. Alright, girlie, call me later, love you!”

“Love you, too,” clicking off the phone, I was glad I could dodge getting one of my older sisters to come pick me up. My family has only met and talked to Mikhail once, which was before I moved in with him. My mother thought he was a world class gentleman. At that time, he was. My sisters thought he was kind of snooty and stiff. Not one country-boy bone in his body. I always just said it’s because he’s a yank.

If you live in the south, life is so different than any New York, Chicago or even Los Angeles city life. There’s a slowness here that makes you want to bust out your hammock and take a nice long nap. Don’t get me wrong, we got fast city people in Houston, but take yourself down them old, back, country roads with friends or that special someone, and things changed.

My sisters rolled their eyes with that excuse. They’d smile to his face, but when he turned around, they’d just shake their heads in aversion.

So, Mags it was. I knew what calling her would mean. It would mean telling her the truth. The whole truth. I gave up feeling apprehensive. I just had to get her to keep her mouth shut. Scrolling down my iPhone to Mags pic and contact, I called her. When she answered, she sounded like she was asleep.

“What’s up, baby-cakes? You and Mikhail have such a great night, you had to take two days to bask in all that sexual glory?”

“Oh, Mags.” I started sobbing right there in the hospital room. Thank God the door was closed.

“Sidda? What happened? God, Siddaleigh, talk to me, girl!” Yup, I knew me sobbing, would wake her up in a heartbeat.

“Can you pick me up? I’m at the hospital.” I said this between sobs and knew the screws in her head were working overtime.

“Hospital?” She paused for just a moment before her screaming let me know exactly what she thought about that. “What did that sorry sonuvabitch do to you?”

I told her I’d tell her everything, but I didn’t want to tell her in this hospital room.

“So are you coming or not, Magdalene?”

“Don’t real name me, woman. Of course I’m coming. And damn right you will explain. Everything, Siddaleigh. I’m your BFF, hello! So of course I’m coming dummy, I love you, girl.”

“I love you too, Mags.”

After giving her the hospital information, I could hear rustling in the background. “Ok, ETA fifteen minutes tops!” Hearing some squeals from the other line, I could hear her peeling out of the apartment parking lot as our call was disconnected.

I could always count on her. Even as our friendship nowadays were strained, I knew she’d be there for me. After our first stupid argument, about clothing of all things, we didn’t talk for two days. When my 2005 Mustang over heated, I debated calling her, but when I did, she didn’t hesitate. Told me as soon as she saw me, ‘Anytime Siddaleigh. No matter if we’re at each other’s throats. Call me. Day, or night. BFF’s always. Anytime, anyplace. Never forget that. I know I’m difficult. But I am loyal, (she took a deep breath and laughed out). So over, huh?’

At the time, it sounded kind of clingy, but I’m glad I got over that, because I needed her now.

The nurse that was assigned to my room came in with a wheelchair and my discharge papers. She seen my tear streaked face and was quick to ask me if I was okay.

Reassuring her it was just emotional and nothing to do with pain, she seemed skeptical and made double sure. I told her yes, and nodded firmly and she wheeled me towards the elevators and down to the where the patients were picked up at.

“Okay, Miss Carrington, have you got someone to come pick you up? Perhaps that good looking man that came in with you?”

Putting on my fake smile I was becoming accustomed to, I told her no.

“He’s working and couldn’t get away, so my best friend, Magdalene Beckridge is on her way.”

I could see the disappointment on her face and as every other chick that got a good look at Mikhail, I saw the ‘how did you get lucky enough to get that hot piece of manhood to be your man?’ look. Yeah, well, obviously his panty dropping smile and charm worked on chubby girls too and he picked me. His prince charming good looks and attitude only lasted so long.

They faded with every single blow to my face.

Finally, I saw Mags hot pink Volkswagen Beetle pull up. I was so ready to go until she got out of her car, looked at me and opened her mouth.

“Damn, you lookin’ pretty rough,” she bent down to get a good look and said, “Yeah, you are
so
telling me everything. Promise?”

She held out her pinkie finger and I stared at but for a split second before giving in.

Wrapping my pinkie with hers, I looked in her eyes and told her, “Yeah, I promise.”

Mags helped me in her car, and drove me to Mikhail’s house. It wasn’t my home anymore. During the drive, she kept stealing glances at me. It made for an uncomfortable trip. The silence was stifling. She looked sideways at my bruised face. My wrapped ankle. I knew she’d freak if she saw my chest and ribs.

“Sidda-

“Don’t. Please, I can’t right now. When we get to Mike’s, if he’s not there. Just, please.”

“Shh. Okay, Sidda.”

Mags crooned to me as if I was an infant. We pulled into the driveway and Mike’s car was thankfully absent. Relief washed through my body and I was able to relax as Mags helped me into the house. She sat across from me on an ottoman as I reclined on the leather sofa. Stared me straight in the eye and waited.

She knew putting me under pressure wouldn’t do her good. So she got up and sat next to me. She took my hand in hers and sighed.

“I cut.”

My head whipped up to hers in shock.

“But Mags, you’re-

I didn’t know what else to say. Finding out my best friend for the past year, did that to herself, made me question just about everything.

“Sidda, I haven’t cut for a long time. When you moved out, I did. Once. I’ve been seeing a therapist and dealing with it ever since I was a teen. Don’t look so guilty, it’s not your fault you found something to move up and on to. I just don’t deal with change really well. I thought I’d have a dorm to myself. I try not to get so attached to anyone. Then we met and everything seemed to click. I don’t handle it good if I get close to them and then they leave. Enough about that, we can dive into that some other time. It’s you who is the queen of the hour. So tell me.”

So I did. Every sordid, horrid thing between
him
and myself. Even the threats he kept over me.

“Oh my God, Sidda, he can’t do that! We need to pack up your shit and go.”

I shook my head valiantly.

“I just can’t Mags, not now. I don’t want my family,
you
, hurt. I can’t risk that.”

“Jesus, Sids. I don’t know what to say. Don’t worry about me. I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with this alone. Let me take pictures. Because when the time comes, you need proof. Gimme your discharge papers and I’ll keep them safe.”

I nodded because I knew she had a point. A very valid point. So we took pictures of all the bruises outside my clothing.

“That’s it. Thanks, Mags,”

“Oh, no it’s not. I know he would’ve done more. You walked in here as if you could barely breathe. Lift up your shirt and let me get
everything
, Sidda. Don’t be a coward. I know he must’ve roughened you up pretty good.”

Sighing heavily, I did. Her gasp rang loud and clear and I didn’t have to see for myself how horrid the markings looked.

“Jesus, one day, Siddaleigh. One day, you’ll escape this.”

“Yeah, one day.”