A Beautiful Prison by Jenika Snow

You are mine, my property, to do with as I please. I have certain desires, and you are the one that will appease them.” She started shaking her head, but he didn’t think she even realized she was doing the act. “Oh yes, Princess. I have many things planned for you, for your body, and for how to make you scream for more.”
    “I will never want that, or you.” Her voice shook as she spoke.
    “We will see, darling.”
    “Why me?” Fat tears fell from her eyes and she angrily wiped them away. He leaned back again and smiled. “Why can’t you just tell me that? You can tell me everything else, but have yet to really tell me why you are keeping me here.”
    He had told her already why she was here—to pleasure him. But it was clear his earlier words were not getting through to her. He knew her fear was paramount, knew that this must be very hard for her, but she would have to get used to it and accept it.
    “Why not you? You were there for the taking, sweet Ruby. But I saw something special in you, something fiery and determined. I knew when you struggled on that stage that I had to have you for myself. I liked the fighter I saw in you, and there wasn’t anyone that would stop me from what I wanted, and what I wanted was you.” She didn’t respond for several seconds. “Go on, Ruby, tell me how you feel.” Normally he wouldn’t have cared what a female thought. He also didn’t care what others thought if he didn’t directly ask them. That was the way of the world, of his business, and it suited him fine. But Ruby was different than others. Yes, he owned her, and yes, she would be the perfect pet for his deliciously sadistic pleasures. But he just needed to look in her eyes to know that her resistance would slowly fade as she came to terms with her life now. It would take time, but they had an abundance of that.
    “You do realize how wrong this is?” He thought about what she had just said, but all he could do was smile. “You do realize I was kidnapped, drugged, and sold like cattle?” She had stopped crying, and once again he saw that flash of fire behind her eyes.
    “None of that matters, Ruby, because you are here now, and I have no intention of letting you go. But if it makes you feel better you are more than welcome to tell me your dreams and aspirations.” He smiled wider as he saw the way she bunched her hands into fists on the table.
    “It doesn’t matter anyway.”
    “Oh, but it does. I’d like to know about you, Princess.”
    “Stop calling me that.”
    His former easygoing attitude started to fade at her words. “You don’t make the demands, I do.” His voice was low and he slammed his fist on the table once again. She jumped, and he liked that she was frightened of him. “I’ll call you anything that pleases me. You are here for my enjoyment. If I choose to give you pleasure, then you greedily accept it, say thank you, and hope I am generous and give you more.”
    She stood quickly, knocking her chair over in the process. She was shaking her head and glancing around the room for an exit, but she wouldn’t get far. She took off toward the door that led into the kitchen, but he was already out of his seat and striding toward her. He pushed the kitchen door open with so much force it slammed against the opposite wall. She cried out and spun around, and in her fear and haste to get away she knocked over the serving wear that was on the marble island. It fell to the floor, shattering into little porcelain pieces. She had picked a simple sundress to wear, but was barefoot, and when he saw that she was about to turn and run again, and therefore step all over the shards beneath her, he moved swiftly. He had her up and in his arms seconds later, and set her on the counter. The sound of crunching under his shoes was loud, but not nearly as loud as the sound of her frantic breathing.
    He took a step forward, parting her thighs even further. He placed both hands on the counter and leaned in