Read Torn for Free Online Page B

limo.
    They drove for perhaps thirty minutes before the limo turned into a long tree lined driveway, stopping outside a huge mansion, chandeliers visible through the windows at the front. Madeleine looked at the building in awe of its architectural features, the sheer size and design of it. As Madeline got out Daniel took her by the arm again leading her up the steps to the entrance. As they stood at the door a uniformed butler opened it.
“Good evening Sir.”
    “Good evening Graves.” Daniel replied to him.
    “Madam,” he addressed Madeline.
    “Hi.”
    Daniel led her into one of the front rooms, a large library.
“Graves, would you bring some Champagne please?”
“Of course Sir.”
    “Thank you.”
    As Graves left them, Daniel turned to her.
“You seem to like books Madeline. What do you think of this collection?”
    “It’s incredible.”
    Floor to ceiling bookshelves lined the walls, full of antiquarian leather bound volumes.
“I’ve always been a collector. Currently I’m building a collection from the Civil War era. I’ve now got a substantial number of volumes of Byron, Shakespeare. This one,” he moved to a shelf and pulled out a book, “Is a rare first edition of Othello. Have you read Shakespeare?”
    “A little.”
    “Baudelaire?” He moved to another shelf.
    “I’m not familiar with.” She felt conspicuously illiterate in his presence.
    “I have several of his first editions.” He picked out a book and opened it, flicking through to a page. He read aloud. “The insatiable thirst for everything which lies beyond,” he paused, turning a page, “Bending over you I thought I breathed the perfume of your blood. Night deepened like a wall and my eyes in the darkness sensed yours and I drank your breath.”
    Madeline didn’t know what to say, embarrassed.
    Graves entered, bringing in a tray with the champagne and glasses. He opened the bottle and poured the champagne into glasses.
    “Thank you very much Graves. I won’t need you anymore tonight.”
    “Thank you Sir.”
    “Goodnight.”
    “I guess he’s used to being dismissed for the night.” Madeline muttered after he left the room, cynical of this seduction scenario.
    Daniel handed Madeline her glass. “Very few women have come here; this is my home. I value my privacy. Do you find it impossible to curb your tongue?”
    She drank quickly needing to quell her nerves, draining the glass. He refilled it halfway for her.
    “You’re thirsty I presume.” His tone was mocking.
    “Since you find it impossible to appreciate things without comment, I think I may have something that will help with that.”
    He put down his glass and began to undo his tie. Pulling it from around his neck he walked toward her holding it between his hands. She was confused watching him. He brought his hands up so that they were level with her face and placed his tie horizontally across her mouth. Around the back of her head he secured it in a knot, his body towering over her as she looked up at him anxiously.
    “I think we will get on a lot better now. The prospect of the evening has become a little more pleasurable with your silence. Take off your skirt Madeline.”
    Concerned about how far he was prepared to go, her eyes appeared wide with alarm. She could only hear his breathing in the silence of the room.
    “Do as I tell you.”
    His voice was authoritative, commanding, and that gave her confidence in his capability to lead things, to take the responsibility of decisions away from her, allowing her to feel as though she could deny any responsibility for her own actions, on the grounds that he was making her, that it wouldn’t be her fault if things happened.
    Her hands were shaking a little as they went to the zip at the back of her skirt, and she wished she could have more champagne to relax her. She couldn’t do it and so he came to her and took over.
    As though reading her mind, he said, “If you are a good girl, I will let you have another