Black Rose

The Party.

"You look worried, my rose," Blake said, cutting through the silence of the car.

It took me a moment to even register what he'd said. "Huh?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I said, you look worried. Terrified, actually, ever since we left the gas station. Is everything alright?"

"Yes," I said, curtly, then he raised an eyebrow, and I sighed, "or maybe not. I'm not sure. I'm sorry, master, it's just been a long and confusing day."

He let out a sigh. "I know, my rose, and I know that I am the reason for that." I frowned, looking up at him. Was that remorse I heard in his voice? Surely not. He shook his head. "The truth is, I haven't been fair with you, Rose. I have been tormenting you, punishing you, and making you angry so that I would have an excuse to lash out at you. I guess I've just been stressed about tonight and I took it out on you. I'm sorry, Rose."

I stared at him, incredulous, and he frowned. "What? What are you staring at?"

I shook my head quickly and looked down. "Nothing, sir, I'm sorry. I just didn't expect that."

He lifted his hand and gently placed it under my chin, guiding my head up. I was surprised to see that he was smiling. "You're cute when you're meek, Rose. You should be like this more often."

I felt my cheeks burn. "Cute when I'm scared, you mean," I said quietly.

I expected him to snap at me again, but he just chuckled. "Yes, I suppose so, Rose. Or I suppose you're just cute all the time."

He leant forward and kissed me. It made my stomach churn. He pulled away and threw me a small smile.

"Come on, Rose, compose yourself." He said, nodding to the window. I glanced out, surprised to find that we were at the gates down into Blake's private carpark. I took a deep breath, shifting in my seat to try to ignore the longing deep in my chest to kiss Blake again.

I looked back across at him as we dropped into the carpark. He was still looking at me, a smile on his face. At that moment, a flash of light passed across his face, and my breath caught in my throat. All of a sudden, he didn't look like the man who kidnapped me. He looked like someone enamoured. He was enamoured with me.

Then the light changed, and I instantly felt horrified, guilty that for a single moment, I saw him as anything but my tormentor.

I blinked away tears and looked away. If Blake noticed the change, he didn't say anything. He just gently took my hand and rubbed my thumb gently.

I didn't dare pull it away.

The limo slowed, and we pulled up to the elevators, and Blake gently tugged my hand, bringing my attention back to him. He gave me a grim smile. "Listen, Rose. There are some bad people coming tonight, and I am the only one that can protect you from them. I need you to trust me to do that."

"Okay," I said, distracted.

"No, I'm serious. Some of these men want things that they can't have, and that doesn't bode well with their egos. The only way I can guard you is if you do as I tell you to. Do you trust me?" He said.

As if I could ever fucking trust you.

"Yes," I said, lying through my teeth, "I trust you."

He smiled, relieved, then nodded. "Alright, let's go party then, shall we?"

With that, he opened the door to the limo and climbed out. I watched as he dusted himself off, then turned, and leant back into the car to help me out.

I don't think I would have been able to get out without him.

He led me into one of the elevators and hit the button for the ground floor. Blake threw one last wave at the limo driver, then the doors shut.