Page 82 of Dark Duet: Platinum Edition

Finally, Caleb said, “Enough! Kitten, get down on the floor in your rest position.” Though terrified, I didn’t think twice about obeying and quickly found myself on the floor at Caleb’s feet with my legs open and my hands on my thighs, head bowed, just as asked.

“I want to look at her. Come here…” he chuckled again, “Kitten.”

I whimpered and shook, but I couldn’t make myself move. I inclined toward Caleb’s leg, cowering and begging as much as I could without speaking or breaking my position. He had promised to protect me. I hoped he would now.

The man tsked, and I could almost feel Caleb’s anger radiating off of him, but I didn’t know whom the anger was directed toward. It didn’t take long to figure out. Caleb’s hand pushed my head away and he left my side.

“Look at me,” Caleb said.

He stood next to the Arab-looking man. The man had put his clothes back on, and I was somewhat surprised to see him in a dark, finely-cut suit. His shirt was unbuttoned some of the way, exposing some of his deeply brown and slightly sweaty skin. He was a few inches shorter than Caleb, but still tall by my standard. He was older than Caleb as well, perhaps in his forties. His eyes were dead and dark. They seemed to be rimmed in kohl, but I could tell they weren’t. It was an attribute associated with Middle Eastern men to have such long, thick, and dark lashes. However, I was not attracted to him in the least. He was a monster.

“Come here,” said Caleb and I knew exactly what he wanted. It took quite a bit of effort on my part, but somehow I managed to crawl toward him without using my injured shoulder. In the process, I saw Nancy was out cold in the corner, still strapped down but with a gag in her mouth. I shuddered. I obviously didn’t give two fucks about Nancy, but no one deserved that.

More words were exchanged in Arabic before the strange man in front of me addressed me. “Leet sawm k’leet sue,” he said.

I looked toward Caleb, who repeated the command with some exasperation. With tears flooding my eyes, I lied back and opened my legs toward the pair, relieved I was wearing clothing. That was, until the man reached down and flipped my skirt up over my knees. Losing all composure, I flipped the skirt back down and struggled to move away.

“Stay where you are!” yelled Caleb, and I was helpless against accepting the command. He approached me at a fast clip and pushed me to the ground. Within seconds, I lay in the appropriate position with my most intimate parts displayed for this stranger. Betrayal burned hotly in my chest, but a voice in my head bade me to be smart and avoid confrontation. No one had hurt me, not yet – and until then, Caleb still kept his promise.

“She’s hardly been broken. I’ve had more obedient hounds!”

Caleb’s eyes narrowed in my direction. He was embarrassed in front of this man on my account. I knew that now. I knew who the man must be.Rafiq, my mind offered. This was the man Caleb owed, and he was the reason Caleb planned to sell me.

“Lye zhaash chee!” ordered Caleb, and once again I did as he asked. I rolled over and lifted my ass into the air, sobbing into the carpet as I struggled to demean myself fast enough.

Caleb and Rafiq spoke more Arabic as they ignored my sobbing and took stock of me. Caleb’s hand traveled my body, exposing parts of me along the way. One of his hands played along my spine, trying to soothe me as the other trailed up the back of my thighs and palmed each of my ass cheeks in turn. It was almost as though Caleb were trying to convince Rafiq of something. I hoped it would end in my favor, but I had my doubts.

Finally, Rafiq let out a resigned sigh. “Fine,Khoya. Perhaps when she is healed and trained properly, I will see her as you do. For the moment, I am not so impressed.”

Caleb urged me back into my rest position and put my clothing to rights with clipped and jerky movements that made me want to cringe. Despite my relief, I knew I’d be paying for Caleb’s embarrassment one way or another, and soon.

A groan from the corner brought our collective attention back to Nancy. Rafiq laughed. “Now this one,Khoya. This one is a whore. She’s been had by almost everyone, but she continues to come no matter how brutally she is taken, or how many times. It would be a pity to kill her, but of course, the choice is yours. I would never deprive you of your blessed revenge.” He walked over to Nancy and cut her loose.

She screamed as he lifted her, and I cringed when I saw blood and semen run down both of her legs as he forced her to walk toward us while he led her by her hair. It was my fault she was here. Ironically, I was glad she had been so cruel to me and had participated in my torture. Otherwise, I would be beside myself for what had been done to her. It was difficult to stomach as it was. I couldn’t imagine if this had been her penance for trying to help me.

Nancy collapsed when Rafiq threw her in front of me. She cried and whimpered, but what terrified me most was the way her hands reached out for me. “Help me,” she sobbed. “Please, help me.”

I was frozen for a few seconds, but then I grabbed her hands and bent her fingers until she let me go. I didn’t want any part in this. I scooted back and dared a glance up at Caleb.

“It’s your decision, Kitten. I don’t know what happened between you. I don’t know what role she played, but if you want her punished, if you want her dead, say the words and I’ll see to it,” Caleb said. He was deadly serious. I could see it in his eyes, and I knew what he wanted me to say. He wanted me to order her death.

Broken sobs erupted from Nancy and surprisingly…from me. “I can’t!” I wailed over Nancy. “I can’t do that! She’s awful. She helped them. She held me down,” I sobbed. “But I can’t kill her. I’m not a fucking murderer!”

Caleb’s face was grave as I yelled the word murderer. He lunged forward and I flinched, but Nancy was his target. He lifted her head roughly, craning it in my direction. With his eyes fixed on me, he whispered in Nancy’s ear.

“Yes!” she yelled. “Anything…just don’t kill me,” she sobbed.

Caleb let go of Nancy’s head like he’d just touched a piece of shit with his bare hand. “You hear that?” He pointed his finger at me. “She just said she’d kill you herself if we let her live instead. Is that the kind of person you want to spare?!?”

My head literally vibrated from the strength in his voice.

“No!” I sobbed. “I can’t, Caleb. I won’t. Please, please don’t do this. Not for me.”

“Caleb?” said Rafiq softly, his face twisting, and another torrent of clipped Arabic followed.

Horrified, I realized what I’d done. “Master—I didn’t mean to!” I pleaded. “I know you’re my master. Please forgive me. Forgive me. Forgive me.” I repeated the words as I rocked back and forth.

Without warning, Caleb hoisted me to my feet, completely unconcerned with the pain it caused me. More Arabic was spoken, and then he led me out of the room and away from Nancy and her belligerent screams.