(Trigger Warning)

What Aurora wanted was a lukewarm shower and to sleep for days. The rigid bodycon dress clinging to her caused a dull ache on her skin; she longed to peel it off. Not to mention she was dirty - her frigid, bare legs, arms and neck powdered in dirt. The music had helped to calm the throbbing headache pulsating against her skull. It also made her so sleepy, nearly lulling her to slumber against the cold car window. Her body deserved deep rest after the night's traumas.

Aurora cautiously twisted the door knob of her bedroom open to not wake Arlan. She was eager to pull on an oversized cotton tee and bury her migraine plagued head in the pillow. Only, he was awake.

And just as Arlan had suspected, a pungent reek of liquor sourly radiated off her body. He observed her movements, aware of her wobbling stance and the way she caught herself against the wall.

With a cigar cindering between his fore finger and thumb, the light of it contoured the jagged angles of his face. Irritatingly strong sulfer and carbon fumes suffused the air, bothering Aurora's sensitive nose.

"Oh, sorry," Aurora quietly blurted upon shutting the door, noting his ominous figure in the dark. She nervously nibbled her bottom lip. "I-I thought you'd be asleep."

Arlan's robust frame straightened in bed, the outline of his barrel chest broadened in the dark. Aurora gulped. She was unsure of why he was awake with a cigar in bed, it was unsettling to say the least. Had he waited for her?

"Turn the light on," Arlan rasped, a slow shudder climbing down Aurora's spine. "I didn't get to see your costume."

Aurora's heart deadpanned. She had hoped Arlan would be sleeping so he wouldn't find her in the state she was. The dress he had bought her was caked in mud; She knew he'd be infuriated.

Aurora had hoped to quickly change into pajamas and give Elise the dress tomorrow to launder so Arlan would never know. But here she was, no other option. Terrified, she refrained from an argument. Her soft fingers found the light switch and fumbled it on. Her face immediately winced, a hand to her eyes - it was way too much light for her.

When the cold light flood in, she took note of just how disheveled Arlan's hair was. It looked as if he had just fucked someone, or maybe he was just stressed. He was dressed in a pair of low hanging black sweatpants, his black inked skin on rippled, burly arms and his rigid abdomen remained naked to her eye. Then, her eyes fell to the ash tray beside him. Several cigarettes had been lit, now he was smoking stronger tabaco. Finding his face again, Aurora noted it was devoid of a reaction. His brows did not furrow nor did his lips grimace. He simply stared, eyes free of any inclination to how he felt.

Arlan observed the little doe with her matted hair. He removed the cigar from his face and lay his hand near the bed cover, flicking his thumb repeatedly on it to rid of ash.

"Your dress is caked in mud," Arlan's observation was a cold ice slab.

Aurora's stomach flip flopped. The muscles in her knees weakened as her face felt sweaty.

Arlan's lips thinned.

"Unzip it. Now," He snarled darkly.

Aurora's cold arms trembled. A punishment, after the exhausting traumas she'd already endured today? Her psyche questioned if she could handle it.

Fumbling fingers found the zipper at the nape of her neck and worked to unline it, all the way down the slope of her back. Her muscles, at the least, we relieved to be free from the constricting tightness of the dress.

Shyly, Aurora stepped out of it. She was left in a bubblegum satin bralette and matching cotton panties. She looked like a fresh Spring Calla Lily in the lingerie, innocent and pure.

Arlan did not want to be deceived by her outward pure innocence. His bitter heart knew she was a drunk, frivilous, bratty party girl who took his expensive gifts and ruined them in dirt. He plunged his cigar into his ash tray and stepped off the bed.

Aurora saw his body double in a ghostly hallucination. She couldn't focus on anything, let alone what Arlan was saying to her. She felt the room sway as the towering man domineered high over her frame.

"What kind of inconsiderate bitch are you?" Is what he had growled. "You're going to get over my lap and learn just who you belong to. If you cry, I'll take that to just hit harder. Get over my lap," He demanded.

With a heavy chest, Aurora whimpered. Arlan paused to take in her tottering body. He quickly caught her by the wrists before she could collapse and with that, she was sick all over him.

His strong arms kept her weight upright and stable and he found his hand mousing over her hair. "How much did you drink?" He demanded lividly.

She did not respond, her little body rejecting the alcohol poisoning her stomach. She sighed in relief and leaned into his chest.

"You frivolous little brat!" He shouted. "Thinking you're invicable, right? That you can poison your hearts desires with alcohol - and ruin the nine hundred dollar dress I bought for you! Stupid little girl. You're going to be punished."

Aurora sobbed despairingly and he lifted her quivering figure to the connecting luxury bathroom. Her mostly bare bum was placed on the cold toilet seat, and Arlan rubbed her face clean with a wash cloth. He was surprised when she attempted to rise and hug his torso. Instead of writhing against him or punching at his chest, she gently tried to wrap her arms around him and he was stunned.

"No punishment..."

"Yes, punishment," Arlan snarled, forcibly pushing her back down.

He all but grimaced at her as she looked up with tears welled in her big blue eyes.

"No..." A tiny whimper broke from her, bottom lip trembling.

The back of his hand struck her cheek and she let out a strained whine of pain.

"Ow," Aurora sobbed.

Her hair fell over her face as it flew to the right, the sound echoing in the large bathroom. She clutched her cheek, her heart jumping inside her as she was panting. Her fear radiated out of her skin.

"Yes, slutty brat. Hush."

Her body wracked with trembles as she bawled and touched her bruised cheek. Slowly, she turned her face to look at him. Her heart twisted in pain. Being called such a degrading word hurt her more than the slap itself. It felt so dehumanizing, like she was a mere sexual object and not a human being with feelings and emotions.

She dared herself to meet his heated expression. His snarled upper lip was twitching and his jade eyes burned through her soul as her blue eyes held hurt and anger.

"Don't say that word!" Her voice trembled but was vehemently angry. "It's not true. It hurts my feelings!"

Arlan squeezed her cheeks with his thumb and forefinger tightly, seething. His eyes held burning fury.

"And you ruining my expensive gifts hurts mine."

"Well if you weren't in debt, you could just buy another one!" Aurora seethed.