Free Hidden Currents by Christine Feehan Page A

still want both. You and our girls. I was a fool, Elle. I was afraid you’d get hurt. I have a death sentence hanging over my head and I didn’t want it following us around. Just—
    He broke off because, through her, he’d sensed Stavros’s presence. Stavros had come back into the room and Elle was so tuned to him, so aware of him, she knew immediately. Her heart rate jumped and she began silently praying for strength. She jerked at the ropes tying her arms over her head. She could barely reach the floor with her toes and every muscle in her body was screaming in pain. She knew Stavros was watching her. Waiting.
    She was so tired, so broken. Each time he came near her, she tried to use her psychic talent to defend herself, to keep him away. The pain was so intense in her head, she knew it was shattering her and if she continued, it would eventually destroy her brain. He was breaking her faster than she ever thought possible, using her own psychic defenses against her.
    She tried to remain calm, to relax, and let the pain wash over her. It wasn’t just about pain. It was about ownership and humiliation. Teaching her there was no hope. That he ruled her life, was her life and she had no other purpose than to serve him. How many countless women had gone before her? Been treated as a vessel rather than a human being? An object for a man to use?
    Stavros touched her bare shoulder, a light touch of possession that made her stomach churn. “We have another lesson today, Sheena, and I hope you’re paying attention to this one.”
    Her mouth went dry. She couldn’t see him, couldn’t turn her body, but his hands wandered over her, touching intimate places that he claimed were his and his alone. He stroked softly and gently over the welts on her back and breasts, deliberately delivering pain with each fake caress. Her body shuddered in spite of her resolve not to let him see her reaction to his torture. And Jackson knew. Jackson felt each touch, felt her soul cringing. She could feel his anger building, the need to retaliate, but he kept silent and stayed with her. A part of her was grateful, although she didn’t know which was worse, him sharing the humiliation and pouring strength into her, or being alone and feeling hopeless.
    The door opened behind her and she heard heavy footsteps. Her heart began to pound in alarm. So far the only other man Stavros had let in the room with her had been his brother, a sadistic man who enjoyed breaking the women they used in the prostitution houses they had in cities all over the world. Most of the women were kidnapped and he, as well as a team of his men, specialized in “training” them before placing them in the various houses. His brother had walked around her without touching her, but carefully instructing Stavros where he could hurt her most if she disobeyed, bragging how he could get cooperation in a matter of hours.
    More than once he had tried to talk Stavros into letting him have her, but Stavros had been adamant that no one but him touch her. In the end, his brother left after the first day and she never saw anyone again other than Stavros.
    A hand gripped her hair and jerked her head back hard. She found herself staring into Stavros’s eyes. He bent close to her until his mouth was against her ear and he could whisper to her. “I want you to pay close attention to this lesson, Sheena. Very, very close attention.”
    He dropped his mouth over hers, kissing her hard, mashing her lips against her teeth and biting on her lower lip hard enough to draw blood. He pulled his head back and she cringed at the look in his eyes. Where was the handsome, sophisticated man now? He was one moment tender and caressing and then would switch to the other side so rapidly she could barely process it. It left her off balance and fearful, her attention always centered on him.
    A man came into her line of vision. He was already rubbing his crotch in anticipation. It was clear Stavros had told him