Page 35 of Under His Control

She did nearly a year in prison for perjury. Aunt Dee and the rest of her family stopped talking to her. Then she wound up with health issues that stole what she valued more than money—her beauty.

She paid her price.

It’s time I paid mine.

“What next?” I ask quietly.

He stares at me for a short moment before he speaks.

“Put down your shirt.”

“What’s going to happen after I—”

“Strike one.”

“OK! I’m doing it!”

I quickly toss the shirt on the table then hesitate. I’m wearing a bra but not any underwear.

Do I show him my breasts or my pussy next?

It doesn’t matter. He’s going to see both anyway.

I reach behind me and unsnap my bra clips. My humiliation climbs to new heights as the straps slip down my arms and the cups sag away from my body. I shield my breasts with one arm as I deposit my bra on top of my shirt.

“You’re torturing yourself and wasting my time,” he says.

“Sorry I’m not giddy with excitement to show off my birthday suit to my former stepfather.”

He lets out a short, mocking laugh.

“That’s not going to work.”

“What are you talking about?”

Jacob stands and takes a purposeful step around the table. My body stiffens. I preferred it when he was sitting.

“Reminding me who I am to you isn’t going to change my mind. I gave this a lot of thought and now it’s in motion. We’re going to see this through. Quit stalling and take off the rest of your clothes.”

I’m even more disturbed that he used the same words I thought before I came out here. It’s like the universe heard me and said, “Challenge accepted.”

He’s right. I’m only making this worse for myself by dragging it out.

It takes herculean effort to let my hand fall away from my breasts. As soon as I do, I bend over and tug down my leggings. My whole body is on fire knowing that Jacob got a perfect view of my breasts dangling and swaying from the action.

I can’t look at him after I straighten and slap my leggings down on the small pile of clothing. His gaze scorches me and I’m desperate to shield my intimate areas. All my flawed ones too. I don’t bother because he’ll tell me to lower my hands.

It’s obvious why Jacob wants me naked, why he wanted me on my knees last night too.

He wants to humiliate me.

Tit for tat.

He’ll probably do what my mother did before I stopped letting her see me undressed: criticize my plump arms, my soft tummy, and the fact that there aren’t any gaps between my thighs.

My favourite parts of myself are my hair, my breasts, and my ass in tight leggings. I think I have cute toes as well.

But I’m still self-conscious, too nervous to bare my body to anyone. That’s why I couldn’t send that picture to that guy and why I’m still a virgin at twenty-two.