Ugly girl

Lucien catches my eyes and lets out a frustrated sigh and it’s almost as though he’s put off for having to explain himself. “Skylah, when you are of legal age, you will be married to Marcus. Your union will bind our business relationship and will benefit us all.”

My heart races as I stare at the man who’s supposed to protect me, but I don’t think I can actually see a foot in front of me. “What?” I slur, hating what I’m hearing. This couldn’t be right. Surely, he got something wrong. I knew one day he would try to marry me off, but I’m just a kid. What does legal age even mean?

Lucien ignores my question and flicks his gaze to Marcus. “Why don’t you take a moment to meet your bride.”

The fuck?

I shake my head and step away, but Marcus is on me in seconds. He takes hold of my shoulder and forces me forward a step as his dirty cigar breath bears down on me. Lucien strides to his door and walks out as though he didn’t just throw me to the Mambas and for the second time in my life, I feel that things are about to change for the worst.

Marcus brushes his hands down my arms, not once meeting my begging gaze. “Don’t touch me,” I demand, trying to pull away.

His hold tightens and I feel my eyes fill with tears. I’ve heard stories about what men do to little girls and it’s something that I’ve always feared, but Lucien handing me over like that…no. This can’t be happening.

“I just paid a lot of money for you,” he growls low in his throat. “So, if I want to touch you then that’s exactly what’s going to happen, you hear me?”

I suck in a breath, never feeling so terrified. His hands continue roaming my body and I hold back vomit. Something tells me if I run, I won’t like the consequences. I have no choice but to stand here and endure this torture.

Marcus leans in, placing his lips at my neck. I hear his deep inhale before his tongue trails over my skin. “From now on, you wear perfume.”

I swallow back, too scared to talk as he continues his assessment of my body. He grabs my hair and winds it around his hand like it’s some sort of leash. “Your hair is too long. It will be cut fresh in the morning.”

A tear falls but I refuse to wipe it away.

His gaze drops to my chest and he dives in, cupping them and giving them a firm squeeze, making me want to curl into a ball. “They’re small, perky, but I’m sure they’ll grow with time. By the time you’re mine, these will be perfect. There’s always surgery if need be.”

Marcus steps around me as I stand like a statue being judged, he never once takes his hands off me. His arm curls around my waist as I feel his body press up against my back. His rank breath comes over my shoulder and I do my best not to breathe it in.

He grinds against my ass and I feel his erection pressing into me but it’s his hand dipping down into my pajama bottoms that has me ready to scream bloody murder. He doesn’t dive down beneath my underwear so I guess that’s a positive but it doesn’t stop the fear from racing through me. “I bet you have a tight little pussy.”

I close my eyes, trying my best to remember my mother’s sweet face, hoping it can somehow make this nightmare disappear.

The sound of the door opening has my eyes flying open only to find Lucien. A small relief filters through me but now I don’t know if I can trust this man walking into the room. He betrayed me tonight and from the way he watches Marcus’s hand down my pants and hasn’t instantly scolded him, I don’t know how to be feeling.

“Now, now, Marcus,” Lucien laughs. “The time to enjoy her is your wedding night.”

“Oh, come on, Lucien. Just a taste. I need to know what I’m buying. You won’t purchase a car without test driving it first.”

Lucien’s gaze hardens. “Wedding night. Her virginity is part of the deal, take it before your nuptials and the deal is off. It’s your call, Marcus.”

I swallow back fear, feeling his hand tighten between my legs and I realize that Lucien isn’t trying to protect me, he’s trying to protect his business deal.

Marcus lets out a disgruntled sigh and I smell his breath hitting my skin once again. He slowly pulls his hand from my pants, making sure to press his fingers between my folds on his way out. “Fine,” he says, stepping away.

Lucien nods then glances at me. “You may be excused.”

I’ve never run faster in my life.

Tears stream down my face as I’m baffled with disbelief. I dart through the massive house, past the dining hall, and into the living area. I’m just about to hit the stairs when Maria’s piercing tone fills my ears. “What have I told you about ru

“I…I…”

Maria lets out a heavy sigh before walking forward and wrapping her arms around me. “Is this because of a boy?”

I shake my head into her fake chest. “No,” I say, pulling back and wiping my tears on the back of my arm. “It’s…it’s Lucien. He wants to marry me off to this awful man and he…he touched me.”

Maria looks at me as though she’s still waiting to hear what has me so distraught. “I don’t understand. What’s wrong? What happened?”

“He…that man. Marcus Maloney, he put his hands in my pants and said awful things.”

Maria lets out a soft sigh and pulls me back into her arms. “Oh, honey. Don’t be upset. This is just what it means to be a woman. That’s our reason for being. Men provide and women serve our men. It is your duty to make your man happy and if Marcus is your man, then you’ll learn to bend to his will. Now, if Lucien has deemed that you will marry Marcus Maloney, then you must be grateful. He will be a great provider. He has lots of homes, boats, a jet, and I don’t doubt he will shower you with diamonds. Lucien has set you up with a very promising future. You must remember to thank him.”

“Thank him?” I gawk in horror. “He let that man touch me.”

“Don’t be so absurd. Your father would never let it go on that far, part of the agreement was that your virginity must remain intact for your wedding night. Your father made sure of that. He’s such a great man, always protecting his family. You were safe, dear.”

I shake my head in horror. Who is this woman?

I step back out of her arms. How can she not see how wrong this is? I was just used as a pawn in a business deal. “I…I should go and clean up.”

“Good girl. Wake early in the morning and make your father breakfast to show your gratitude for all his hard work securing this deal for you. I know he’ll appreciate your thanks.”

Without a backward glance, I bolt up the stairs and into Blake’s room. He takes one look at my face and within an instant, he raises the blanket and lets me scoot in beside him “You’re going to be alright,” he promises me, knowing that whatever would have rendered me to tears couldn’t be good.

“Not this time, Blake. Nothing is ever going to be alright.”