“Yes,” she managed to whisper, “that’s what I need. You have taught me to understand what I need.”
He nudged her breast with his bare foot. “Now, goddamn you, I want you to prove what you said about that foolish word ‘love’. I want you to say it. Say it many times and you better goddamn mean it! I want to see you demonstrate this love. Show me in ways you never showed your husband... Convince me, Mrs. Ryan, that this is not a game. Convince me that you mean it. Prove to me that your greatest aspiration is to be worthy of the title, ‘Abul’s American w***e’. If you fail, believe me, I will watch your t**s whipped until they run with blood!” He half rose out of his chair. She thought he intended to drag her down to the punishment room.
She forced back a cry of despair. Her heart beat wil
