BLYSS (Blyss Trilogy #1) (22 page)

“You would think,” I reply and nod my head. “Damn, that is one strong-willed chick. I can’t believe we had to damn near double her dosage.”

 
“You know, if she would just cave, she could be rewarded with so many things her heart desires, including certain freedoms,” Nick says, taking a sip of coffee and then shakes his head, displaying minor frustration.
 

“I decided to keep her in solitude all day yesterday. Let her think about things in a new light, you know?” I pause, glancing over the monitors. “It drives most of these women nuts to be alone, and usually they’re more than ready to comply by the next day.”

“Yeah, well, judging from her behavior yesterday, and watching her from the monitors when I had a chance, she almost seemed relieved to be alone,” he points out.
 

My elbow leans on the arm of the chair as my fingers play with my lower lip in thought. “Yes…yes, she did. She seemed to be pretty self-entertaining.” Every time I had a moment, I stopped in here to keep tabs myself. She was always reading a book from the collection Nick had placed in there specifically for her. Since Nick apparently did his homework, I suppose he knew her likes and dislikes and decided to mollycoddle her. I shake my head at the thought. Damn Nick, I can’t afford for him to intervene and screw up her training again.
 

“I had Jared go in her room yesterday morning before she awoke to inject her with another high dose of Blyss. Her dinner was drugged with a sedative, so when she passed out, Jared was able to go back in again, giving her a second dose. Need to keep her blood levels up.”

I turn to the guard and ask, “Did Jared get in there early this morning to give her a morning dose?”
 

“Yeah, saw him slip in around five-thirty this morning. Girl didn’t even budge.”

I didn’t want to go into her room yesterday at all, not after the way she glared hot daggers at me. If looks could kill, she would’ve had me ten feet under with that piercing stare. I needed her to cool off from her anger for a day or so. How could I even begin to tell her what I did in the clinic wasn’t an act?
Hell, if Nick knew
… I don’t let myself think about it. None of that shit was planned out; my own body took over, running on autopilot, desiring her just as much as she wanted me, if not more.
 

Nick breaks into my thoughts. “I know it’s normal in the beginning for these women to break down and fall apart, but you’ve got to put the pieces back together, Travis. I know with my temper that I’ll mess it up…and she’s too precious to destroy.”

I sigh out loud. “Well, since she hates me, it should make my job a little more interesting.” I look to the screen that has
Room Seven
written above it and see Julianna has already started her day. She’s already dressed, sipping a cup of coffee and reading a novel. Damn, she looks so beautiful. Her long, blonde hair is drying naturally from her morning shower, and I can’t wait to smell her fresh scent and pull her soft body into mine.
Oh hell, I’m in trouble.

“What time did she get up this morning?” Nick asks the guard.

The guard types into the computer in front of him, the keyboard clacking while he looks up the information. “Looks like she got up at 6 am.”

“Did she eat?” Nick questions.

“I watched her eat everything on her plate.”

 
Everything gets logged into the computer, every minute of every day, even what times they use the bathroom. There is zero privacy. We have to monitor and control every second of their lives.
 

“Well, since she’s been up for a while, I figure we can get this party started.”
 

With my statement, Nick turns toward me with a serious look on his face before I get up from my chair. “I’m sure I don’t have to remind you, Travis, that when you work with her today, you’re breaking her for me.” He eyes me speculatively.
 

“What’s that supposed to mean, Nick?”

“It means I’ve been watching you. I see the way you’ve been kissing her, and I don’t like it.” He grows tense, clenching his jaw, and my body stiffens at his declaration.

I cock my brow and put on my stone face. “Nick, this is what I do. Either you trust me or you don’t. You’ve never questioned my loyalties before, so why now?”

“Because…this one is special to me.”
 

“Yes, I see that. That’s why I’m working hard to break her down without breaking her spirit, but she’s a fighter. She isn’t making this easy, and I’m forced to turn on the charm.”

“Yes, well, see to it you don’t turn on the charm full blast. I’m a jealous man, Travis,” he warns.

I nod my head. “Point taken, Nick. I’ve never let you down before, and I don’t plan to start now. I have the end prize in mind, which is seeing to the success of this enterprise, not getting sidetracked by a hardheaded female.”

“Just making sure we’re still on the same page. I’d hate for you to see what my jealous streak is capable of.”

“I’m well-aware of your capabilities,” I give him a cold, hard stare back, “and you are aware of mine.” He doesn’t intimidate me—no one does.

Having said that, I get up from the chair and leave the room. I make my way through the corridors and stop just outside Julianna’s door. Before I open her door, I hesitate a moment, preparing myself. I need to be the usual hardass that comes so easily to me, but each time her baby blues swell with tears, it twists a knife in my gut, breaking me down. I find myself caving in every damn time, and it’s got to stop.
 

 
I take a deep breath and walk into her room, and I damn near lose my breath at the sight of her. The camera doesn’t do the dress she has on any justice. The powder-blue fabric matches her eyes, and her long, blonde hair flips over her shoulder as she whips her body around to face me. I’m met with pure hatred as she glares her unyielding daggers at me once again. I shake my head.
Yep, figured as much, still pissed.

“Get away from me, you —“

I shake my head again, saying, “We talked about your behavior the first night you were here, remember? I let you get away with it on the second, but today, if I need to, I’ll have to adjust your attitude.”
 

“Fuck you!”

“Is that right? Are you sure you’re ready for me, sweetheart?” She’s got to learn, and I know what will help set her straight. She can’t stand the BDSM shit, so leisurely, I walk over to the set of red curtains and draw them open. Standing by the dimmer switch, I turn the lights on high so all the paraphernalia is highlighted. “This is what we call the attitude adjustment center.”

She gasps out loud. “You wouldn’t dare.”

I stroll to the center of the wall and take my time stroking the St. Andrews cross as if it’s a prized possession. Keeping my hand on it, I slowly look over my shoulder, zeroing in on her eyes with my stone wall erected. “Oh, I think I would dare,” I say in a deceptively-calm, matter-of-fact tone. “Care to test that theory?”

I watch her lift her chin and clench her fists, resolving to swallow her pride as she replies, “I’m sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.” That’s a start, but she doesn’t truly mean it.

“I won’t warn you again. Yesterday was your last free ride for an outburst. You were alone, so there was no one for you to throw a tantrum at.” My tone is cold and hard. “You will respect all of us here, and you
will
mean it, acting only with humility starting now. I know when you’re faking it, and I’ll warn you now…” I tap the cross for good measure, “…that has consequences, too.” I tilt my head to the side, letting that information sink in. “Care to try that again? You don’t seem like you’re truly sorry for your outburst, Julianna.” My tone tells her I’m done entertaining her mood swings. “You don’t want to see mad Travis.”

Hanging her head down and gazing at the floor, she says half-deflated, “Yes, sir, I truly am sorry.”
 

Smart girl.
“Are you beginning to see how imperative it is for you to take your situation seriously? You see, your daddy isn’t going to be able to rescue you anytime soon. In fact, he won’t be able to rescue you at all.”

She whips her head up, looking at me as if she’s seen a ghost. “That’s right; you need to remember that. You’re flying solo now, and you should be scared.” I arch my brow, leaving the curtains open as a reminder of how rough things could get if she gets out of line again.
 

I saunter over to her slowly, watching her form as she warily takes me in. She nervously takes a step backwards, bumping into the kitchen table, and she grabs its edge behind her with apprehension. I pervade her space with my body, and I get inches from her petite, trembling frame. I hear her breath hitch as I lean in closer. I let her think I’m going to kiss her, but I don’t. I reach behind her and grab the book off the table.
 

“What are you reading?” I ask, turning the book over in my hand.

“Oh, um...” she nervously whispers, confusion crossing her face over the invasion that never came. I know the game; I damn near invented it. I know how to manipulate and knock her off-track, and she falls into the trap so easily, like leading a kid to candy.
 

“It’s called
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire
,” she finally replies.

“That’s not the book you were reading yesterday,” I say with a knowing grin. She flushes and glances down. I find it humorous she can’t look me in the eyes and tell me she was reading smut.
 

She lifts her head at the sound of my chuckle and schools her expression. “What’s so funny?”

I shake my head and let her off the hook with a grin. “Nothing, sweetheart.” I turn the book around and skim over the excerpt. “Is it any good?”
 

She shrugs her shoulders and takes the book from my hands. “I suppose if you like history, then yes, it’s a wonderful book. It reads like a novel; so much so, that by the time you get to the end, you don’t realize you just read a unique, real piece of history. Because it’s so highly-engaging, you actually walk away having learned a great deal of Roman history.”

“You’re amazing, you know that? I’m astonished at how much you know, and yet you’re so young,” I tell her honestly.

She tilts her head and looks at me speculatively. “I don’t feel amazing, Travis. I’m just another girl trying to enjoy what life has to offer.” She lets out a sigh. “But for some unknown reason, I was picked out of a crowd and plucked from my existence.”

I almost frown, but I catch myself, keeping my expressions unreadable. I ignore her previous statement, asking, “Yes, well, how do you know so much?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “In the scheme of things, I still know very little, but thanks to the internet, it’s possible to learn almost anything...about everything, all at your fingertips. I’ve just never been one to sit and watch a lot of TV. I’ve always entertained myself with either a book or a paintbrush.”

Suddenly, I find myself reaching out, wanting to touch her long hair, but I reverse the move and scratch the back of my neck, avoiding contact. I ask her with sincere intrigue, “Have you created a lot of art pieces?”
 

She bites her lip in hesitation, deciding whether or not to share a piece of her personal life with me. I get it. I’m sure she thinks I’m just making conversation regarding her personal interests to warm her up, to get back in her good graces again.
 

“I truly am interested, Julianna. You really are a unique young woman. Most of the girls that come through here, believe it or not, can be quite shallow. The majority of them never seem to have had any real hobbies or even have enough intellect to hold a deep conversation. Seems like most of the women our clients choose are selected for how they’ll look as arm candy. They love to go to shows, parties, dances, and discuss dialectical materialism. You don’t seem to be any of that.”

She gives me a half-smile. “Don’t get me wrong—I do enjoy a good party, dancing, and having some nice things, but I also understand that materialism is not the solution to true happiness.” She taps her heart several times for emphasis. “True happiness is in here, on the inside. It can’t be bought or sold.”

My hand decides to act on its own accord this time, and before I know it, my thumb is caressing the side of her cheek. “You’ve got somewhat of an old soul, ya know?” She stills, but she doesn’t pull away; that’s a good sign. I’m wonderstruck by this girl. The more I get to know about her, the more attached to her I feel. She’s so easy to like and converse with, and she seems so genuine.

She lets out a chuckle. “Yes, so I’ve been told many times over.”
 

It’s good to see her smile, and it feels good to really talk with her, something I never do with the women here. I step back into her space with a grin lining my lips. Damn, I don’t want to break this mood. I bite the inside of my cheek, thinking how I’m going to broach the next subject.

“What are you thinking about, Travis?” she asks as her grin slowly dissipates.

I let out a sigh and get down to business again. “Jared has been giving you doses of Blyss while you sleep. I’d like you to show me you can be a good girl and take your own medicine twice a day by mouth,” my tone is serious, “without fail.” I reach into my pocket and pull out a small pill bottle. Twisting open the top, I tilt the bottle, and a capsule rolls into the palm of my hand. “You are to take one in the morning and one in the evening. There is no negotiation on this.”