Rainer could feel the deep hostility radiating from Elia.

For a fleeting moment, he had an impulse to pounce on her, pin her down, tear off her clothes with reckless force, and suspend her so he could whip that ivory skin into submission while watching her helpless tears flow. After all, what did he have left? His pride was meaningless now; his dignity had long since vanished into some unreachable realm. In a moment of sheer desperation, he lunged at Elia once more.

The combat skills Rainer honed on the silver rune stars were nothing short of extraordinary. And with Elia toying with him rather than fleeing far enough this time, she found herself caught off guard by his second attack. They tumbled onto the couch together—Rainer atop her and Elia beneath.

Elia's eyes glazed over as she stared at him, seemingly entranced.

A surge of vanity filled Rainer instantly. Look! Even Elia was bewitched by him. Proof enough that a man must be bold to truly command admiration!

He extended his lecherous hand through the low neckline of her silk dress, gripping her firm bust firmly and yanking the undergarment down without a shred of gentleness. This man was even less worthy than Calum.

A faint smirk played on Elia's lips as she watched him behave like an insatiable beast, sneering with disdain at his crude display. Yet when she spoke, there wasn't a trace of mockery in her voice. Leaning close to his earlobe and blowing softly, her velvet tone cooed: "Honey, must you be so impatient? We can play... for such a long time."

Rainer's hand faltered slightly as Elia pushed his pawing fingers away from her chest, still maintaining an air of serene detachment despite being pinned beneath him. Rainer found himself ensnared by her trap without resistance.

She feigned aloofness, sitting up and refusing to glance at Rainer again. Instead, she poured herself a glass of red wine from the table beside them.

Rainer gazed at her with dazed admiration, paralyzed in place.

Elia turned sideways with an alluring smile: "Want some?"

Rainer nodded helplessly.

With just a laugh, Elia lifted her crystal goblet to her lips.

The intoxicating crimson hue of the wine and the soft pinkness of her lips stirred Rainer's senses anew—the lingering warmth from his earlier touch still fresh in his memory. His primal instincts reignited as he prepared for another assault on Elia when she suddenly leaned forward with a coy smile, flicking her thumb against the stem while hooking two fingers into the glass. The entire contents of wine splashed onto Rainer's white shirt, leaving an irregular stain that radiated strong fermented fragrance.

Rainer blinked in confusion as Elia leaned closer, her rose-pink tongue grazing his dampened shirt fabric with deliberate slowness.

A fiery explosion ignited from his abdomen, incinerating every shred of rational thought. Ignoring the humiliated posture she'd adopted to deliver this humiliation and the enticing flash of thigh exposed by her forward lean—let alone the way her legs strained against each other—he felt only an unbearable heat coursing through his most sensitive region.

Yet strangely... he remained unable to move a muscle.

Elia cast him a mocking sidelong glance before flinging the glass onto the floor. With effortless grace, she shoved Rainer backward and collapsed onto the couch with them both tumbling over once more. This time their positions were reversed—Rainer beneath as Elia loomed above. She pressed her body weightless against his torso in slow, deliberate motions.

Rainer shut his eyes tightly while panting heavily.

The next second, one of Elia's fingers found its way to his chest and pinched his nipple with a knowing smile. Rainer experienced an electric jolt—a strange mix of pain and pleasure spreading through his body except for the singular region that had always been his pride.

Suddenly he desperately wanted to run into the bathroom and check if his manhood was even erect! How could it betray him at this crucial moment?

Memories of its earlier attempts to rise against invisible restraints flooded back. Why couldn't it break free? What was wrong with him now? Why had beauty lost power over him?

The more he raged inwardly, the more unbearable his frustration became. Why did fate subject him to such inhuman suffering? What sin had he committed?!

Rainer abruptly sat up, roughly shoving Elia aside as he roared furiously: "Don't waste your efforts! I will never sleep with you!"

Elia looked momentarily stunned—when had this man become so resolute?

Would she need to use the drugs still in development for Calum? Those medications only worked on the weak-willed. With Rainer's newfound determination, was he essentially forcing her to kill him?

For the first time, Elia's expression took on a lethal edge.

Just then Rainer's demeanor abruptly shifted again. He collapsed onto his knees with a thud, wailing: "I can't do it! I just can't!"

Shame, humiliation, helplessness and resentment intertwined in his soul. All he wanted was to murder Elia first before committing suicide!

Elia watched him curiously before suddenly realizing something. After scrutinizing his anatomy for several long seconds, she reached out toward that particular area.

Rainer jumped like a startled sparrow at the contact.

His last vestige of dignity now completely shattered, he couldn't help but clench his fists and scream to the heavens: "I won't let him get away with this! I'll never forgive him!"

Elia looked at him compassionately for once. She no longer toyed with him as she knelt gently before Rainer and cupped his face in her hands, pressing her lips against his: "It's okay. I don't mind."

"Stay away from me!" Rainer shoved her roughly while shouting again: "I told you—I can't!"

Elia gave no response.

Something suddenly felt off to Rainer as he glanced sideways and found Elia slumping on the floor, tears shimmering in her eyes.

A sudden wave of guilt washed over him. Although his physical potency was now lost, hadn't Elia still refused to abandon him? Even leaving Calum behind at their wedding day just to be with him—wasn't that the greatest comfort possible?

It was merely a temporary setback anyway. With modern medical technology so advanced, all he needed was to leave this hotel and his manhood could be healed instantly.

After that, couldn't he make love to Elia however he wished? Enjoy fine food and liquor as much as desired? Nothing would be impossible!

For the first time Rainer behaved gently toward her. He walked over, picked up Elia tenderly in his arms, carried her into the room and laid her on the lavish king-sized marital bed.

The deep red bedding cover resembled their wedding ceremony itself.

Elia said nothing more, allowing herself to rest her head against his chest as he held her until depositing her onto the mattress. She then raised her eyes, wiping away tears with her fingertips before smiling gently: "Dear, I have a way to make you happy today."

Rainer now trusted Elia completely and nodded: "Whatever makes you happy is fine by me."

Elia stood up and kissed his cheek: "Lie still. Wait for me."

Obediently Rainer waited.

After some time, Elia returned with a bundle of red ropes in hand. Looking back at her, Rainer couldn't help commenting: Hey? You're into bondage too? In the past he was actually quite skilled at it himself...

Elia lifted his shirt and straddled him cross-legged on his waist, rubbing up against his back while the warmth between her legs brushed against his midsection. Her thighs wrapped around his waist as skin met skin—heat rising anew.

Yet this time Rainer's perception felt different. Now that he knew Elia still treated him with such tenderness despite his impotence, she seemed almost angelically beautiful to him.

She wasn't wrong about feeling pleasure from her actions and making him happy in return.

Elia continued rubbing while binding his hands with rope. Soon enough she had his wrists bound behind his back.

Rainer gave a casual struggle but found himself unable to break free and remarked with surprise: "This rope is really good."

The smile on Elia's lips was knowing—as these ropes were made from materials extracted from mutated plush creatures, particularly skin-friendly for use.

Suddenly Rainer realized something was amiss. He asked anxiously: "Sweetheart, why are you binding me?"

Elia leaned forward over his back and whispered in his ear: "You'll see soon enough." Straightening up, she moved to the side of the bed and picked up a remote control from the table before pressing a button.

The ceiling panel opened and a hook descended precisely through the opening to catch Rainer's rope-bound wrists. The sturdy ropes held firm as did the hook itself—surprisingly preventing an overweight man over 150 pounds from falling at all.

Panic suddenly gripped Rainer: "Sweetheart, what are you doing? Please lower me down!"

He struggled desperately but couldn't free himself even to return to the bed. Watching in helpless horror, he was hoisted onto a peculiar chair placed nearby.

Earlier when carrying Elia into this room, he hadn't noticed that strange chair at all. Oh damn—this had to be his most regrettable moment of the year without question!

Beside the chair stood a robot butler smiling as it positioned Rainer's legs on either side of the armrests' recessed areas before locking them with a sharp "click."

Rainer couldn't decide whether to scream or maintain stoic composure.

Now suspended with his posterior exposed and body arched backward, Rainer was completely at her mercy.

At least he still wore clothes...

The next second, the robot cheerfully tore open his shirt, unfastened his belt and undressed him.

Its smiling face appeared amiable enough, yet somehow its movements felt ruthlessly brutal—like an entirely deceptive tiger in sheep's clothing.

Rainer pleaded urgently: "Can we not remove these at least?"

No response came from the robot.

Elia merely offered a patronizing reply: "Nonsense, let them be."

The robot finally ceased its actions upon her command.

A slight wave of relief washed over Rainer—good, good, he hadn't been utterly humiliated after all. Still, this chair held an eerie familiarity; it was none other than the very one he had designed for Elia to seduce Calum with. And here she was now without Calum in sight, having instead placed him right into that same chair.

Panicked beyond reason, Rainer abandoned dignity entirely and begged: "Elia, as a man I really shouldn't be sitting on this chair!"

"Whatever's wrong with it?" Elia shrugged indifferently while retrieving a whip from the side cabinet. The handle was tipped with stiff tassels which she brought to her lips before sniffing thoughtfully.

She smiled wickedly: "Like it, dear?"

-RS