Chapter 5 - A Slave

Returning to their room after answering a phone call, Matthew was startled to hear sobs coming from the bathroom.

The advantage of having long legs was, with just a few big strides he had reached the bathroom door. At once he held the knob, turning it and pushed open the door. 

His eyes narrowed to see his wife on her knees, crying. She wasn't wearing anything, on display was her fair skin full of his marks. 

Quickly, taking a robe and putting it on her, he lifted her from the floor. Kirsten didn't stop crying even when she was settled on the bed. 

Matthew, confused by the mixed feelings crowding his chest, went out for a walk, leaving a crying mess, Kirsten. 

Bawling until fatigue overtook, she drifted off to sleep. 

Thinking that he had given her enough time to cry, Matthew came back. There he saw his wife, curled up at the edge of bed like a frightened kitten. 

She was sleeping but was sniffling in her sleep. Matthew sat down beside her. He lifted his hand and brushed away the locks covering her beautiful face. 

Kirsten was awakened by his touch and looked up at him with her puffy red eyes. 

"Done crying?" Matthew was surprised how gentle and warm his voice sounded in his hearing. 

This tenderness was reserved only to a certain person. But why is he giving it to this woman? 

Kirsten didn't turn away her gaze at the man. Never in a million years did she imagine that she would be married in this way. 

The marriage she pictured was like that of her parents. Her parents were the epitome of a happy marriage. That is what she wanted for her life. Not this one. 

This couldn't be considered marriage. This was… A slave bought by a master. This was more like a slave - master relationship than a husband - wife relationship. 

"Do you still feel tender?" Matthew swallowed, his sexy Adam's apple bobbed up and down his dry throat as his body was like a raging ball of fire razing into ashes everything it passed by. 

Fear engulfed Kirsten, she knew what the man meant when he asked the question. 

She remembered how he uncontrollably took her a number of times like a beast who had not eaten for a long time and in the process she fainted. 

Matthew saw fear flickered in the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. 

"I will be gentle," he said and sealed her lips with his, giving her no time to object.  

In her mind, Kirsten submitted to her fate. Who was she to object? She was a bought property and she was at his disposal. 

If it were a normal loving relationship between a husband and a wife, Kirsten could practice her right to refuse. Sadly, it wasn't the case. 

As he had promised, Matthew made love to her gently at first but he lost control afterwards. 

Kirsten silently wept after Matthew was done with her. She refrained from sniffing to hide the fact that she was crying. 

Her heart stopped beating for a second before it jumped and pounded wildly, banging her ribcage when a warm palm rested on her waist. 

She was then pulled closer to the man until her back felt the warmth of his lean chiseled torso. 

He slid his arm under her neck and turned her body to face him. Kirsten lowered her head and closed her eyes, evading Matthew's eyes. 

"Relax, I just want to hold you to sleep," Matthew cooed, he knew she was tired and afraid at the same time. 

Kirsten was half relieved and was half afraid. She feared that the closeness of their bodies would ignite and arouse his desire again. He did keep his promise to be gentle to her but he was rough all through the succeeding rounds. 

Kirsten found it hard to relax until she felt that his breathing indicated that he was asleep. Slowly she unwound his arms. 

"Don't move," Matthew spoke hoarsely and nuzzled her neck. 

Kirsten on the other hand, stayed still like a wooden block in his arms. Until finally, sleep overtook her. 

Movements and whispering in the room disturbed Kirsten's sleep.

As grogginess dissipated, Kirsten clearly heard that the voices were from women. 

Learning that other people were present in the room, the first thing that came to her mind was her body devoid of covering. Her eyes opened at once but shut it again as lights hurt her eyes. 

Relief flooded her soul when she realized that her naked body was under the sheet. Slowly she opened her eyes and got up from the bed with the sheet wrapped around her body. 

She wasn't surprised when everything she needed was there when she entered the bathroom. 

Her filthy rich 'husband' could do it. 

The concealer did a little to hide the conquering marks, a telltale of his dominance. 

She slipped into the dress. The dress accentuated her hourglass body. He has great eyes on dresses. Perhaps, he had been doing it for a long time. Practice makes perfect. Kirsten couldn't help but sneer. 

While she looked around the suite, a phone rang. It wasn't coming from her old phone. 

"He forgot his phone," she muttered as she strode towards the phone situated on the coffee table. 

"Hello," she said. 

"Did you like your new phone?" A man's attractive low voice came. 

He saw her old phone and ordered Steven to get a new one for her. She was his wife, he would never allow her to be deprived of anything. 

Kirsten had no reaction for a moment and looked at her phone when it finally registered to her, she whispered, "Thank you." 

"I'm glad you liked it. By the way, I have a business meeting. I'll be back late in the evening," Matthew said. 

"Sir, the meeting will be starting," Kirsten heard a female voice informing Matthew. 

She felt a slight uneasiness knowing that Matthew had a female secretary working for him. 

Matthew abruptly hung up the phone before she could say something. 

Her stomach began to complain, taking her attention off her husband in an instant. 

In such rare occasions like this, where a fine range of food for sophisticated palates will be gracing her taste buds, Kirsten ate with gusto, caring nothing in the world. 

When satisfied, she had a taste of the red wine. After she was feeling tipsy, she rang the room service to clear the place for her. She left the suite after that to take a breather. 

Despite the cold sea breeze, Kirsten felt warm because of the wine she drank. 

Under the pale moonlight, the sea was exceptionally enticing, calling out Kirsten to join the gentle waves. 

She bent down to remove her sandals. Barefoot, while giggling she walked and dipped her feet into the water. She played like a little girl. But her eyes stung with the unshed tears, pooling her eyes. 

If she could only bring back the past when her father was still alive. She was like a princess and she lived a carefree life. 

But now, she was a slave. She doesn't own her body. Someone, her so-called husband, bought her service for a year. 

Though Kirsten consoled herself that it was just a year and she was doing it for her family, she couldn't accept the fact she wouldn't be able to have a family of her own after divorcing her husband. 

Who would accept a used good like her? No man in his right mind would marry someone as filthy as her. She burst into tears after holding back, unable to suppress the nagging pain and sorrow permeating every fiber of her being. 

Slowly, as if the sea was calling her to its very depth, Kirsten lifted her foot and each step she made, the sea was engulfing her body. 

She closed her eyes, surrendering, drowning her sorrow. 

All of a sudden, she heard someone calling her name. Kirsten didn't know what the man was saying but she could hear him yelling and somewhat begging at the same time. 

Kirsten wanted to open her eyes to find who it was but her eyelids stubbornly clung to each other. 

She felt the last ounce of energy and heat from her body had been siphoned.