Free Consequences by Aleatha Romig Page A

hand stuck her cheek. She didn’t fall but wobbled off balance. He then pulled her toward him. His hand warm on the back of her neck, entwined in her hair, caused her face to tilt upward until all she could see were his penetrating eyes.
    “Simple instructions, which are what I gave you. Perhaps you are not ready to leave your suite quite yet.” He loosened the grip on her hair.
    “No, please don’t say that. I can follow instructions, I can.” Claire didn’t want to beg, but she couldn’t stand the thought of being locked in her suite another day.
    “Follow me to my office, now.”
    Each of his strides equaled three of Claire’s, she practically ran to keep up. When they reached the double doors of his office, he opened one and shoved her inside. She had only seen his office doors, but now she looked around the interior. Like everything else in the mansion it was lavish and substantial. The walls were surfaced with more of the impressive cherry paneling, decorative trim, and ornate bookcases. There was a very impressive mahogany desk, a leather sofa, chairs, and a conference table. His desk contained many computer screens as well as a large screen on the wall that could be one or divided into multiple screens. Currently, it was subdivided, and each screen contained stock information. The lights on the telephone indicated that it contained multiple lines.
    He turned and locked the door. Claire’s heart pounded in her chest, her face felt flush, and she could feel herself begin to tremble. Standing alone in the vastness of his office she watched Anthony as he contemplated his next move. His angry expression included the completely black eyes she witnessed in her suite two weeks before. After a protracted silence, he spoke with an even flat tone.
    “So you say you can follow instructions, we will see.” The debate was over. It was the outcome that frightened Claire. A few hours ago he had been another person. Now the man standing before her was the same one who abused her so violently the first two nights of her stay. His grin wasn’t playful, it was ruthless. “Let’s start with you taking off your clothes.”
    Doing her best to be obedient, Claire did as she was told and removed her clothes, starting with her shoes and ending with her sweater. Next he told her to lie down on the carpet, face first and keep her eyes down. She did and felt the plush carpet rough against her skin. The vulnerability of the position alarmed her, intensifying her trembling. She couldn’t see or hear his movements. Straining to listen she eventually heard his belt as it passed each loop. The first lash hit so unexpectedly that it made her scream out in agony and shock. She moved her hand to her mouth, bit down, and refused to scream anymore.
    When she didn’t respond he turned her over, stood above her, and removed his tie and slacks. He didn’t say a word but watched for her reaction. Perhaps she was in shock. Whatever it was, Claire was unable to respond. She watched, knowing that whatever he chose to do would be bad. His hands forcibly moved her legs as she watched, disengaged as if in another dimension. The scene she saw was brutal and domineering. By the grace of God, she felt everything in a removed yet present fashion. She watched his actions and heard his demands. She was present, saw his expression, felt his body, smelled his skin, and tasted her shame. Yet she was somehow detached, not there. By the time he finished, her body exhibited various rug burns, and her hair was tangled and matted from the same lush carpet.
    Anthony Rawlings callously stood and dressed. He paused for a moment, standing six feet above her, and then silently walked to the attached bathroom. There he combed his hair and replaced the tie he’d removed. Meanwhile, Claire sat in the middle of the room involuntarily shivering, holding her clothes, and silently weeping, unsure what to do.
    Returning to the office he looked at her with disdain, his tone