Page 32 of Coercion

“Look your husband in the eyes when you’re talking to him.” I growl, becoming more possessive as my frustration builds. Shemight be broken but she will damn well show me some respect all the same.

She gulps, her throat bobbing, and then she jerks her chin in a tiny show of defiance before she meets my gaze. “I won’t run.” She says more clearly.

I turn to go but as I reach the stairs I realise what other actions I have to take. What I have to do to ensure Ruby is compliant, that she understands that I have total control over her because, apparently, my wife will say anything, will agree to anything but the moment she thinks she has an opportunity she will take it. She will seize it and I know we’ll just be back here again.

When I walk back in the room her eyes widen. She’s off the bed but she hasn’t covered herself. She’s just stood, taking stock, no doubt contemplating her days’ adventure. It’s so damn hard not to stare at her, not to pin her against the wall and just lose myself for a few hours in that fuckable body.

“Give me your arm.” I say.

She narrows her eyes before dropping them to the instrument in my hand.

“What, what is that?” She half-whispers.

“Give me your arm, Ruby.” I order.

She takes a step back, a tiny one, but I’ve already closed the distance because in this, she won’t have a choice.

I grab her left wrist. She quickly moves her right to cover both her breasts like I’m some sort of caveman, though I can’t blame her considering how much I’ve perved on her so far.

“This will sting.” I state as I push the metal end into her flesh and quickly pull the trigger.

Her whimper tells me the thing has done its job and as I pull away, I can see the bead of blood.

“It will heal in a few days.” I murmur, swiping it gently with my thumb.

“You, you tagged me?” She gasps.

I meet the furious look in her eyes before she drops them, staring at her feet in a show of submission I know is put on simply to lull me into believing she’s obedient.

“Now I will know where you are, wherever you are.” I say. “So it’s pointless to run.”

She bites her lip and the tears start to stream again.

“Be a good girl, Ruby.” I say, cupping her cheek. “And I will only use this as a form of protection.”

“As opposed to what?” She snaps.

I take another step, boxing her in as my hand wraps around her neck, because I need her to understand how deadly serious I am right now. “If I have to, I will hunt you down, wife. If I have to do what your uncle said and tie you to a bed then I will. Your actions dictate how kindly I will treat you.”

She mumbles something so quietly I can’t make it out.

But it doesn’t matter.

I’ve played my trump card. She knows escaping me is a pipe dream. She knows any attempts are futile.

I’ve forced her obedience in this and once she accepts it, hopefully she’ll stop fighting me and start to come out of her shell.

And perhaps then I’ll meet the real Ruby Holtz.

Ruby

He tagged me. Like a dog. Like a damned pet.

Does he have an app where he can log in and see when I go to the toilet, when I eat, when I sit in the library?

My fury is matched only by my helplessness in this. I can’t escape now. I cannot get away because he will know before I even take a foot out the god damn door.

I let out a snarl, slamming my fist into the wall, and get another whiff of that awful stinking coat I had on.