Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

160. Olivia

Snow keeps falling from the sky. The wind blows strongly.

It was knowing when Camila died.

When that boy with turquoise eyes broke whatever was left of me, it also snowed.

cas seventeen back then. Alone. Scared. And in so much pain.

| loved him with all my being and he leftalone too.

Soon after that, | was forced to take part in the gatherings at the Celestial Heaven and f u c k Dukes and guests. If | made

mistakes, | was punished in front of everyone. When Jason cto takeout of that hell hole, | cried out of reliel, which upset

him. | ended up with a black eye.

Ansel’s voice finally registers when he asks, “You always liked winter, right? Camila too, especially snowy days like this

one

Camila and | shared so many interests and hobbies. We even dressed the sor matched our outfits. We liked the sflavors,

movies, books, songs, colors. She was my twin flame. We had so many plans and things we wanted to do.

All that is gone now.

The hole in the fabric of my soul gets bigger, the pain turning my blood to ice, hundreds of hot iron rods touching my skin at the

stime. | scream in agony but no one ever hears me.

| still hope to be reunited with Camila soon. Not having her in my life, not speaking to her.... There is no one | can trust with my

secrets, to tell about things that had happened.....

A door slams, probably that of Rueben’s room. Whatever Ansel told him made him angry.

Instead of replying to what Ansel asked, | say, “A snowstorm is quickly approaching.”

Ansel looks out the window. “You think so?”

“Do you hear the roof creaking and cracking with the howling wind?”

“Yes,” Ansel replies.

“Roofs always sound like that when blizzardse.”

His free hand slips beneath my shirt, his fingers drawing circles on my skin. “I never noticed it.” His hand travels up until it reaches

the underside of my t t, his thumb brushing against my nipple. “Maybe the cold will force Jason to back

off

“He won't leave without me.”

Ansel cups my ti t. His hard erection pokes my as s. “Then | will have to kill him.” Tilting my head to the side so he can

160 Olivia

look at my face, he adds, “I have been a coward before but not anymore. Aty... demon wants your. So do 1.

Ansel’s wonds mean nothing. Just pretty lies. Many women fall for them, but | learned that sweet promises are only empty words to

lure women into well crafted traps,

“| thought you wanted children. That is something | can’t give you.”

“There is always adoption,” Ansel points out. Grinding his coc k against me, he growls in my ear, “If you weren't hurt...” his hand

moves from my ti t to my bare pus sy, “the things | would have done to you.”

A finger slips between my folds and he licks the shell of my ear. | am still sore from the scorpion’s stings, but | am sure | can give

Ansel what he wants. | turn around and, keeping my gaze on his lips, | ask, “How can | please you?” as | ru my palm up and down

his erection.

Ansel groans, “Go d. That feels amazing.” He grabs the back of my neck and brings my face so close to him that our lips. are

touching. “I am dying to c¢ k your as s until it is red, gaping, and sore. Then | will do the sto your puss y.”

| should have known he likes a n a I. All men do. Even if | showered this morning, | say, “It will takea few minutes to prepare

myself.”

Ansel kisseshard, his tongue exploring my mouth. | return the kiss as | start to retreat deep inside my head. It is easier to do

with drugs but when Carlos began my training, | had to figure out how not to break the hard way. Men can harm my body and use

it as they want, but as long as | have my mind, | am safe from them.

“Jasper will killif | f u c k you while you are still recovering.” His lips trail down my skin, kissing and nipping along my jawline,

his fingers unbuttoning my shirt. “I am not even talking about the cut on your arm or that you drank what was left of the tequila,

but,” he peppers kisses on my neck, “I might play with your tit s a bit,” and opens my shirt. Lifting his head, he studies me. |

lower my gaze. “Look at me!” My eyes find his and he smiles. “You are still skinny and by the dark circles under your eyes, you

need more rest, but you are so beautiful, Honey.”

“So are you.”

| said the sto many men before Ansel, but | don’t have to lie this time. Ansel is a handsman.

He chuckles before he takes in the fading bruises, his eyes narrowing. “How are your ribs?”

“Healing.”

He puts his mouth on my slowly kissing them. “I should have never kicked you,” he murmurs as his lips reach my broken ribs.

“Hurting you....” His mouth finds mine. “It wasn’t my intention.”

“It's alright. You are not the first one nor the last one.”

“You said the sthing in the barn. Regardless of what happened in the forest, | am not anything like Carlos or Jason.”

Despite being beaten repeatedly for not being able to keep my mouth closed, | say, “You surely hateas much as Tyson and

Rueben do.”

Rolling a nipple between his fingers, he says, “As much as | loved Camila, | never hated you.”

2/4

160 Olivia

“It doesn’t matter if you do. Everyone hatesanyway. Rueben wantsdead, not that | blhim. Tyson hates my very

existence...”

It would takeforever to finish naming everyone who hates or wishes to seedead.

Still rolling my nipple between his fingers, Ansel takes the other one in his mouth and sucks it hard. | close my eyes, bracing myself

for pain. Ansel keeps sucking and licking, his tongue swirling around my nipple, his fingers grabbing my ti t, squeezing it.

Despite how rough he plays with my tits, he makesfeel... strange. Like | wouldn't mind if he kept sucking and licking my

nipples for a little longer.

He gently bites my nipple before doing the sto the other. The wind blows stronger, and | glance out the windo looking at how

fast the snow is falling. Should | take my chances with the snowstorm and try to escape then? Probably the cold will killbefore |

find Jason. Spending my last moments free is more than | deserve.

Ansel stops what he is doing and looks at me. “Aren’t you enjoying yourself?”

| blink several times, his question takingby surprise. Then | realize | ot to moan. “Yes,” | say quickly. “Don’t stop,” | try to

invite him back but he buttons my shirt.

Will he punishfor not reciprocating? In the beginning. | used to pretend that | loved f u c ki n g pretty well, but most men

soughtfor a quick release or to makecry or scream in pain, not to hear my fake moans, so | stopped bothering. Jason's

friends were turned on by my screams, but what does Ansel prefer? | need to learn fast about Ansel and the others’ preferences.

Especially since they are going to recordwhile they me. It is always easier when | give men what | want. They tend to hurt me

less... or not.

“When you are better, we will finish what we started. | am hungry. Do you want to eat with me?”

He doesn’t want to continue? It's not like | amplaining, but men usually don’t hold back once they have erection. “I don’t want

to bother you.”

ean

Laughing, he says, “You never bother me.” Liftingup in his arms, he adds, “In case you get dizzy again,” and takesto the

kitchen, where he putson a chair, then goes to the fridge and looks inside. Seconds later, he closes it. have to run to the main

house to grab singredients. Stay right here!”

“] understand.” | sound so robotic, but there is nothing | can do about it unless | am high or drunk. Unless | et about everything.

Before Ansel leaves, he bringsthe soda can. “Finish that before | return.”

I nod, letting him know that | will and | take a sip. Ansel kisses the top of my head and goes out in the cold.

A minute later, the front door opens.

“You returned sooner than 1—’

| stop speaking because it is not Ansel