by Piper Stone
I hesitated before turning off the water and walking into my darkened bedroom. As I stared at the screen, the horror of what was unfolding sent a wave of terror skating down my spine.
“I need to go,” I managed, my body swaying.
“Are you okay? Do you want me to come over?”
“Na… No,” I whispered. “I’ll call you later.” I ended the call and almost dropped the phone before I was able to slide it onto my dresser. My vision was foggy, my heart racing. How could this kind of thing happen?
Danger. Danger. Danger.
“No.” It wasn’t possible. There had to be a mistake. He was supposed to remain behind bars for at least ten years. Ten.
“This just into the newsroom. Cristiano King, son of the notorious mob boss, Sylvester King, has been released from the Louisiana State Penitentiary where he was serving a ten-year term for second degree murder and extortion. While the information is yet to be confirmed, our sources indicate his early release was due to mistakes made by the prosecution. While there is some question as to whether he will be retried, that will depend on the original judge in the case.”
As a photograph of Cristiano flashed across the screen, my heart rose into my throat. Everything about the man terrified me. His angular jaw. His powerful stance. The way he commanded a room when he entered. The gruffness of his seductive voice, the tone leaving me wet and hot all over. Even though I’d been lucky enough to testify behind a screen, his deep baritone had remained with me long after the trial.
But mostly his dark, cold stare, as if the man had no soul, was something I’d never forget. His gaze had penetrated my dreams almost every night.
His eyes were so deep blue that even from the picture, I could swear he was staring right through the screen, a predator hungry to feast on his prey.
The monster had been freed. Free to walk the streets. Free to return to his normal life. Free to put the past behind him.
And I’d live in the nightmare all over again.
Boom!
Another rumble of thunder only added to the jitters, goosebumps trickling over every inch of skin.
Click!
When the television shut off, I yelped, backing away from the screen.
“Hello, Emily.” This time his voice was nothing more than a dark growl.
One of hunger.
One of rage.
And one of possession.
Cristiano.
“What… How did you…” Unable to finish the sentence, I swallowed hard, trying to think about an escape route. I dared to look in his direction; the bathroom light created a slight glow over him. He’d reclined in the tattered chair I’d purchased from a thrift shop, the remote in his hand, but I could swear I was able to notice a glint of steel from a weapon. I was able to see the curve of his angular jaw, his voluptuous lips and his long fingers. He was gorgeous, dangerous, and the single man I feared.
“If you’re asking how I found out who you are, I assure you that there isn’t a form of law enforcement that can keep me from learning what I want to know.”
I folded my arms across my chest, shivering, the realization that even if I screamed, no one would be able to hear me creating a rapid wave of terror.
Leaning forward, he placed the remote on the bedside table before rising to his feet, his actions forcing a whimper to escape my mouth.
“You’ve been a very bad girl, Emily, but you already know that, don’t you?” He crossed the room within seconds, gripping both my wrists and dragging me against the heat of his body. He was so strong and much taller than I’d envisioned, his chiseled cheekbones and high forehead only adding to his dangerous appearance.
“No. No! Let go of me.”
“Hmmm… Not until I’m finished with you. What you might not have realized, sweet, precious Emily, is that no one crosses either myself or my family without paying a significant price.”
The man was going to kill me for testifying against him. I’d been the reason he’d gone to prison. Neither his parade of expensive attorneys nor the threats he’d likely used against other witnesses had saved him from the prosecution’s best weapon. Me. The sole witness. The single person who’d given details regarding the vicious crime I’d seen, the wretched violence and blood remaining permanent images in the back of my mind.
Me.
The girl who’d been promised anonymity for the rest of her life.
Me.
The woman who’d fought against the devil and lost.
Now he was going to make me pay.
Inhaling, he tilted his head back and forth, his eyes sparkling in the dim lighting. My God, the scent of him reeked of exotic spices and cedar wood, the fragrance entirely too intoxicating. I was thrown by the haze forming around my eyes as I was forced to stare into his. The same frigid cold, soulless cavern peered back at me but this time, his gaze was filled with something else.
Burning desire.
“Your penance begins now.” Ripping my arms over my head, he positioned a single hand around both wrists before jerking the towel away.
I’d never felt so vulnerable, scared to death about what he was going to do. When he backed toward the bed, easing down and yanking me over his lap, my mind began to shut down. I was lost to the fear, my heart hammering to the point the thudding sounds echoed in my ears. Was he going to… no. No! I had to fight him. I refused to become another victim.
The second I began to struggle in his hold, he brought his hand down against my bottom with enough ferocity I was stunned. Pain skittered down the insides of my legs, creating a wave of nausea. This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be possible.
Cristiano smashed his hand down again, delivering several brutal smacks in a row. My stomach twisted and I managed to pitch my body forward and backward, realizing in horror that his cock was hard as a rock. He was enjoying this. When I was almost able to roll my hips off his lap, he released my wrists, fisting my hair instead.
“That’s not very nice, Emily. I don’t think you want to cross me any further.”
I hated the way he said my name, the syllables far too seductive. He was spanking me. I was in some kind of shock, my tone turning into pleading. “Please, just let me go.”
He laughed, the sound subtle yet even more provocative. “That’s not going to happen.” He continued the spanking, bringing his hand down in rapid motions, moving from one side of my bottom to the other.
I bit back my whimpers, refusing to allow him the satisfaction of hearing me cry. The anguish was excruciating, and stars floated in front of my eyes, tears of frustration and fear not far behind. I’m going to die. The thought rolled through my mind as his actions became rougher, the sound of his palm striking against my ass cheeks floating into the room.
My imagination was getting the better of me, the graphic visions stealing my breath.
When he caressed my skin, rolling the tips of his fingers up and down my heated ass cheeks, I threw my arm behind me in some crazy attempt to stop him.
He wrenched it against my back, his fingers digging into my wrist.
“I can tell you’re going to need to be taught a much stricter lesson. All in good time.” He slid his fingers across my seared flesh then down the crack of my ass to my wetness.
“No!” I struggled as hard as I could, my actions only allowing me to grind against his legs and the bulge between them. My entire body ached, and I was shocked and humiliated that my nipples had hardened. Fuck. Fuck. I couldn’t be aroused.
As he dipped the tips of his fingers past my swollen folds, I let off a series of moans.
“You’re very wet, sweet Emily.”
“Fuck you.”
The spanking began again in earnest, the strikes long and hard. My pulse in my throat, all I could do was close my eyes and pray this would be over soon.
Cristiano pushed his hand between my legs again, this time rolling a single finger around my clit several times before thrusting it into my pussy. “You will learn respect as well as
absolute obedience. I won’t accept anything less. Do you understand me?”
“You’re insane. You’re just going to kill me. Just get it over with.”
“If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead already. Death would be too easy for your betrayal.”
My betrayal? Was the bastard kidding? I’d done my civic duty, keeping a monster off the streets.
“You’re a horrible person.” Tears finally flowed, blurring my vision and stinging my cheeks.
“You’re right in that account, but from here on out, I’m your master, the man who will determine your fate. But only if you learn to be a very good little girl.” He thrust several of his fingers deep inside, flexing them open as he drove them in hard and deep. Every touch was invasive, deliberate. With every plunge of his fingers, he dragged me toward a climax.
My breathing stopped short, my mind refusing to accept what was happening to me.
I was incensed by his words as well as the way my body responded to him. That was the only betrayal. I was sopping wet, aching for him to continue touching me, furious that I couldn’t control my reactions.
The bastard released the same damn chuckle, dark and devious yet ripped with the most intensely sultry tone I’d ever heard. I’d been warned about him by the prosecuting attorney, the police, and my best friend. Hell, even my boss had told me the asshole was brutal, capable of killing anyone who got in his way. He certainly wouldn’t care about adding someone who’d sent him to prison to the list. I might as well go out fighting.
Bucking hard, I managed to dump myself off his lap, immediately scrambling on my hands and knees in the darkness, trying to reach the safety of the bathroom. I heard his deep sigh seconds before he yanked me by my hair, jerking me against his massive chest. He held me in place for a few seconds before dragging me back to the bed and shoving me onto my hands and knees.
I was out of breath, paralyzed with fear. There was no way I was getting away from him.
“You’re a little fighter. I’m going to break you of that, but first things first.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I barked, although I knew exactly what his nasty intentions were. I looked over my shoulder, watching as he took his time removing a weapon, placing his gun carefully on the chairside table. As soon as he took two steps away, I lunged forward, almost managing to wrap my hand around the gun.
His hand was around my throat before my fingers were able to touch the cold steel, digging in as he slowly pulled me backward. “That wasn’t a good idea, Emily.”
Barely able to breathe, I blinked furiously, shivering to my core. He was going to snap my neck. When I was back in position, he removed his hand, patting my bottom then yanking me until my feet were dangling off the bed.
“To answer your question, I’m going to fuck you, sweet Emily, which is exactly what you desire. Isn’t it?”
“No. Hell, no!” I clawed at the comforter, using all my strength to kick him, finally able to connect my foot against his stomach.
“That’s going to cost you.” He brought his hand down several times against my bottom, only adding fuel to my rage.
The pull on my hair was just as painful as the spanking. Within seconds, I was exhausted, panting, aching all over as a wave of electricity shot straight into my core. He stroked his fingers along the seam of my pussy, every move utter perfection, arousing me even more. The man knew exactly what he was doing to me. When he thrust them inside again, I realized I was bucking against his hand involuntarily, driving the long digits as deep inside as possible.
I was sick and embarrassed, horrified and breathless.
“Oh. Oh. Oh.” The guttural sounds from my throat were almost unrecognizable. This wasn’t me. This had to be a horrible nightmare.
But when I heard the sound of the bastard unzipping his expensive trousers, I sucked in and held my breath, another round of lights pulsing in front of my face.
“I can provide extreme anguish or exquisite ecstasy. The choice is entirely up to you. If you’re a good girl and obey me, you’ll get exactly what you crave. If you fight me on any level, then the punishment you receive is going to be something you remember for a very long time. Do I make myself clear?”
I couldn’t answer him. I had no words, no ability to make any additional sounds. I was lost in a surreal moment, wishing I’d never said a single word to the police, praying I could wake up on that dark and rainy night moments before I’d left the office in search of Italian food.
“Answer me, Emily,” he growled.
“Yes. I understand.” The perfunctory tone of my voice startled me.
“Good girl,” he said in a subdued voice, as if using the softer tone to try to comfort me, to sway me into thinking he wasn’t a monster.
But I knew better.
I’d heard all the stories about his family’s powerful hold on New Orleans, their wealth and influence just as dangerous as the weapons their soldiers wielded against their enemies. I knew what he was capable of, the horrors he’d inflicted. I also knew of his dark desires, a sadistic man refusing to take no for an answer.
He’d hunted his prey.
Now he was going to cage and use me for his personal pleasure.
And there was nothing I could do about it.
The moment I felt his cock slicing back and forth across my bruised bottom, I stiffened, fisting the covers.
“Relax, precious one. I’m giving you exactly what you need.” He purred the words, driving me into a state of desire unlike anything I’d ever known. I’d never been taken so forcefully, disciplined as if I was a bad little girl. The concept took my breath away, leaving me weak and anxious yet a sickening level of excitement continued to build. The scent of my arousal made me sick to my stomach.
Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. The words rolled in my mind over and over again, as if they had the ability to keep me sane.
He kicked my legs apart then pressed the tip of his cock against my slickened folds. “Relax and push back for me. Take my cock like a good little girl.”
Obey him. The thought was disgusting but the softness of his voice enveloped me like a blanket, soothing and enticing me into submitting. Maybe if I did, I could finally get away from him. Maybe.
No. No. No! He was never going to let me go.
As he pressed his cockhead past my swollen folds, my body acted entirely on its own, pushing against him. A warm, almost dizzying series of sensations washed over me, shooting straight into my aching pussy. Nothing was going to stop him from taking what he wanted.
He was huge, my muscles struggling to accept the thickness. I was stretched wide open, involuntary moans rushing up from my throat.
“Uh. Uh.” My pants were primal, my starved-for-attention body and mind yanking the brazen woman from the dark catacombs of my being.
He thrust the entire length inside, digging his fingers into my skin. His husky growls were cries of satisfaction, his breath just as ragged as mine. “You’re tight. So fucking tight.”
Every part of me was on fire, my hunger almost as desperate as his. I was crazed from what was happening, unable to process his actions.
Or my body’s intense explosion of sensations.
I could tell just how wet I was, my juice trickling down both legs. Horrified, I smacked at the bed, groaning like a crazed animal. When he pulled out, slamming into me again, I couldn’t fight the gasps coming from my throat.
“That’s it. Take all of me. Every fucking inch.” He pummeled into me, the force used rocking the bed. He kept his hand tangled in my hair, holding me in place, as if there was any possibility of escaping. I was his prisoner.
Time seemed to stand still as he fucked me, the monster growling as he ravaged my body. I did everything I could to shut down, but it was no use. Tingling all over, only seconds later, I could feel an orgasm threatening to make the final betrayal, taking me to a place of bliss.
I gasped for air, my moans scattered. And I lost it, the climax rushing up from my toes, slammin
g into my system with such ferocity I could no longer see.
“Oh. Oh. Oh!”
The same dark chuckle sounded behind me as he fucked me long and hard, filling me completely.
“Such a little tease,” he growled, finally releasing his hold on my hair, gripping my hips as he powered into me, yanking me back with every brutal stroke.
I dropped my head, my body nothing but a ragdoll as he thrust harder and faster. I wanted this over with. My muscles continued to clamp and release, another orgasm forcing me to throw my head back, the scream soundless, my body shaking violently.
“Fuck. Yes. Yes,” he roared.
As he erupted deep inside, filling me with his seed, another tear slipped from the corner of my eye.
“Why are you doing this?” I whispered.
“Why? You really need to ask me?” He leaned over, curling his body around mine and whispering in my ear. “You fucked with the wrong man, Emily. You see, I take what I want. Now you belong to me.”
Chapter 3
Cristiano
Violence.
I’d always taken everything I’d wanted without hesitation. She’d been no different. The feel of being inside her tight pussy had been a clear reminder of everything I’d missed for far too long. The irony that she was the person responsible for sending me to prison had dragged the primal beast from his lair.
Fucking her had been cathartic, a sweet moment of revenge, but I wanted more.
Required more.
I wanted to feel her pert little mouth wrapped around my cock, sucking as I tangled my fingers in her long strands of hair. I craved sliding my cock into her tight asshole, stripping her of any belief that I was anything other than a monster.
There was some quiet innocence about her, perhaps because she was conservative in her dress, only a hint of makeup covering up her fair complexion. Even in the picture, her silky blonde hair had been worn in a tight bun, as if attempting to hide her beauty. The women I’d been used to had been hardened by status and wealth, well-coiffed, their bodies sculpted by private trainers. While they’d been tasty arm candy, they’d also been devoid of any substance.