Chapter 7

Sterling's shock quickly morphed into cold, calculating fury. He pinched his nose to block the stench and lunged forward.

He grabbed Celestia by the upper arm. His large hand wrapped around her bicep like an iron vise, his fingers digging painfully into her muscle.

Celestia yelped. She dug her bare heels into the thick carpet, trying to anchor herself, but he easily dragged her off the edge of the bed.

Sterling marched her forcefully across the room. He kicked the heavy bathroom door wide open with his polished leather shoe.

Celestia kicked wildly at his shins. "Let me go!" she screamed at him, but he ignored her completely.

He dragged her into the massive, glass-enclosed walk-in shower. He pinned her back against the cold marble tiles.

Sterling reached out and yanked the chrome handle. He turned the shower on to full blast, setting it to freezing cold water.

The icy spray hit Celestia fully clothed. She gasped violently, the sudden shock causing her breath to catch painfully in her throat.

The oversized flannel pajamas instantly soaked through. They became incredibly heavy, clinging tightly to her shivering body.

Sterling stood just outside the direct spray. His expensive suit was getting splashed and ruined, but he didn't care. "Wash that stench off," he ordered.

Celestia glared at him through her wet, plastered hair. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest and adamantly refused to move.

Sterling's jaw clenched. He methodically rolled up his tailored sleeves. He stepped fully into the freezing water with her.

He grabbed a heavy glass bottle of milk-and-honey body wash from the built-in shower shelf.

He squirted a massive amount of the thick soap onto his hand. He roughly grabbed her shoulder to hold her still.

Sterling began scrubbing the soap harshly against her neck and arms. He rubbed her skin raw, trying to neutralize the vinegar and garlic.

Celestia struggled wildly like a trapped animal. Her bare feet slipped on the wet, soapy tiles as she tried to push his massive chest away.

He pinned both of her wrists against the wall with one hand. He continued to scrub her skin red with the other.

Desperation peaked in her chest. Celestia's eyes darted around the enclosure. She spotted a heavy crystal whiskey glass left behind on the edge of the marble vanity just outside the shower door-likely forgotten by a servant during the earlier flurry of preparations for Sterling's arrival.

She twisted her body violently. She managed to break her right wrist free from his slick, soapy grip.

She reached out blindly past the spray of the water. Her fingers wrapped tightly around the thick, solid base of the crystal glass.

With a guttural cry of pure rage, Celestia swung the heavy crystal glass with all her remaining strength.

The thick glass smashed directly against the side of Sterling's head, right at his temple.

The bottle shattered into sharp fragments. The loud crash echoed sharply over the sound of the running water.

Sterling staggered backward. His grip on her vanished instantly. Absolute shock registered on his usually composed face.

A stark line of crimson blood immediately bloomed from his temple. It mixed with the freezing shower water, running down his cheek.

Sterling touched his bleeding head. He stared at the red blood on his fingertips in absolute disbelief. No one had ever struck him.

Celestia seized the moment. She lunged toward the open shower door, making a desperate run for freedom.

Before she could cross the threshold, Sterling's shock evaporated. It was replaced by a terrifying, predatory rage.

He lunged forward, tackling her from behind. They both crashed hard onto the wet bathroom floor.

Sterling flipped her onto her back. His bleeding face hovered inches from hers. He initiated a brutal, forced encounter, using his absolute physical dominance to punish her defiance.