by Julia Sykes
I glided my hands along the contours of her curves, brushing her sensitized skin with the barest scrape of my rough callouses.
By the time I dropped to my knees, her high, keening whine rolled down my spine. The desperate sound reached my cock, making it stiffen for her. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed since my explosive release into her mouth, but my body already craved her again, greedy for more of the dark pleasure we shared.
I gripped her ankle and wrapped the second length of cloth around it. As I pulled on the makeshift rope, I made sure to steady her by wrapping my free hand around her opposite thigh, just above her knee. I wouldn’t allow my delicate captive to fall and damage her wrists.
When I was confident that she could balance her weight, I tied her ankle to the arbor, knotting the cloth around one of the pretty—very necessary—vines I’d crafted just for her. The position forced her knee to bend slightly, trapping her ankle two feet above the ground. She was spread wide for me, completely vulnerable and utterly dependent on me. She couldn’t so much as take a step if I didn’t allow it.
I sat back on my heels and took a long minute to admire her; my own pretty flower wrapped around the iron cage I’d made for her.
A low, satisfied hum left my lips as I pressed them against her inner thigh, indulging in the impossible beauty of my fantasy made real.
“I think I’ll keep you like this more often,” I murmured against her silky soft skin, loving the way she quivered beneath my mouth. “Once we get your arbor set up outside, you’ll look lovely in our garden. Don’t you think so?”
Her only answer was a deep moan, a sound of pained desire.
I kissed her thigh again, a bit higher, teasing my way toward her pussy. I paused just above her swollen clit, letting the heat of my words caress the needy bud. “Are you aching for me, corderita?”
“Yes…” The word hissed between her clenched teeth. “Please, Raúl. Please…”
She tried to thrust her hips toward me, but she immediately lost her balance, dropping into my waiting hands. I cupped her ass, sinking my fingers into her flesh as I pulled her to my mouth.
The first taste of her desire on my tongue was the sweetest drug. It hit my system with an instant high, immersing me in pleasure and taking my hunger for to her new heights.
Tugging her closer, I drew more of her honey into my mouth, feasting on her like a starving man.
Her harsh cries drove me into a frenzy, and I lost myself in her. The longer I tormented her, dragging her to the edge of orgasm and then easing off to deny her, the more keenly I tormented myself. The ache in my balls and rock-hard cock added a crueler edge to my game, and I punished her all the more for the pain I inflicted on us both.
“Please. Raúl, please…” The way her voice broke on my name, hitching on a desperate sob, drove me to the edge of my control.
Keeping her ass braced in one hand, I dipped my other between her legs and gathered up her slick juices. Lubricated with her wet desire, I pressed my forefinger against her asshole, demanding entrance to her most vulnerable area.
“Raúl!” This time, she gasped my name in protest.
I snarled against her pussy and pushed deeper, mercilessly forcing her tight ring to give way to my touch. Marisol would accept my claim over every part of her body. She would submit.
Mine. My lips formed the possessive declaration as I sucked her clit hard, forcing her to orgasm as I slid my finger deep inside her. I held it there, making her feel the invasion as I demanded her helpless release.
Her ecstatic scream echoed around us, and her muscles tightened and danced as pleasure ripped through her.
When she started to come down from the peak, I kept my mouth on her, drawing out each delicious aftershock that made her shudder and moan.
It didn’t take long for her panting breaths to turn to whimpers, and she tried to struggle away from my mouth as her clit became overly sensitive. Her attempt to evade me only forced my finger deeper into her ass, and she rocked back toward my mouth.
A soft sob jolted through her body, and she gave over to her helplessness, submitting to my claim.
I hummed against her clit in reward and slowly eased out of her ass. She released a shuddering breath of relief, but I wasn’t finished with her. I’d train her to like this particular violation. She’d take my cock in her ass one day, and she would love every depraved second of my most perverted use of her body.
My tongue was gentler on her pussy, circling her abused clit rather than stimulating directly. At the same time, I rotated my finger, toying with her tight ring of muscles to light up all the sensual nerve endings that would make her eagerly cede this most taboo area to my claim.
Her soft, shocked cry evolved into a husky moan as I began to thrust gently, going deeper each time she relaxed around the intrusion. When she started to wiggle in my hold, I eased my mouth away from her pussy, barely brushing my lips over her clit.
Deprived of stimulation against her tight bud, she shifted back against my finger, mindlessly seeking the only pleasure I allowed her. I encouraged her wanton behavior with an approving hum, and she bucked against my mouth.
I pressed all the way into her ass, and she welcomed me on a rough shout. Her inner muscles squeezed my finger as she came undone, and the thought of her milking my cock made the ache in my balls unbearable.
As soon as her orgasm peaked, I withdrew from her to quickly free myself from my jeans. I stood, bracing one arm around her waist while I gripped my dick in my fist, staving off my peak for a few more agonizing seconds, relishing the intensely erotic perfection of Marisol’s naked, spent body suspended in my ropes.
As I stared into her rich, chocolate eyes, I stroked myself to completion, reaching my release with an animal roar. My hot seed lashed her belly, marking her.
Mine. All mine.
Chapter 19
Marisol
Ten Days Later
“You look beautiful.” Raúl’s sweet compliment was warm on my neck, and he dropped a kiss on my shoulder. His hands closed around my hips, urging me to spin away from the full-length bedroom mirror where he’d been admiring me.
When I turned to face him, his luminous eyes roved over my body, devouring every inch of me. His palm brushed the curve of my hip, and he lingered there to give me a little squeeze. “Are you ready to meet our guest?”
My brows lifted to my hairline. “Our guest?” I asked in disbelief. “You’ve invited someone to your house?”
He chuckled and tapped the tip of my nose with one thick finger. I beamed up at him, loving his constant, casual displays of affection.
“I should probably clarify: I’ve invited someone here to be your guest. Once she arrives, I’m going to disappear into my man cave and leave you two to get to know one another.” He lifted a lock of my hair and idly rubbed it between his fingers, simply enjoying the feel of me as we spoke. “I know it’s been hard for you to be so isolated here. Things are calming down with Carmen and Stefano, now that the new regime is stabilizing. But it really isn’t safe for you to leave yet. I don’t want you to feel like a prisoner. I thought you might like some company.”
I beamed at him, overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness and generosity. Ever since our intense scene in his workshop, I felt more attached to him than ever. Even though we hadn’t advanced our sexual relationship, our bond had deepened. And the fact that he was giving me the time I’d requested to sort out my conflicted thoughts about his role in the cartel only further endeared me to him.
“I’d love that,” I gushed, grasping his shoulders to gain enough leverage to bounce up and kiss his cheek. He bent, happy to receive my affection.
“Who’s coming to visit?” Carmen was the only woman I knew who was associated with the cartel. Although I’d longed to see her again and assure her that I was okay, I didn’t want Raúl to get into trouble if she found out he’d been hiding me from her. He promised that we’d be reunited eventually, when it was safe for everyone involved.
I could wait. I trusted him.
“Isabel Vera,” he replied.
A pinprick deflated my joyful bubble. “Vera? As in, she’s related to Daniel Vera?”
Suddenly, the toxic heat of his groping hands burned my hip and breasts, and I shuddered at the memory of his cruel sneer when he’d left me terrified and wounded during the coup.
Raúl’s strong, warm hands roved over my body, unerringly finding the places where Daniel had touched me. The tick in his jaw and his possessive squeezes told me that he remembered, too.
I melted into his hold with a sigh, settling into his protective embrace. He pressed a tender kiss against my forehead.
“Yes, she’s Daniel’s sister. But you have nothing to fear from her.” The deep, hypnotic timbre of his voice reassured me. “She’s relieved that he’s dead. Apparently, he was always cruel to her. He didn’t even tell her about the coup, and he left her alone at home during Arturo’s planned ambush. He gave her no warning. She could’ve died in the firefight.”
His muscular arms rippled once as anger rolled through him. The indication that he felt protective of Isabel drew me deeper into his embrace. He was furious that Daniel had left his sister for dead. Raúl undeniably did bad things for his cartel, but he fiercely defended innocent women.
I squeezed him in return; a small show of my appreciation of the good in him. “Thank you for inviting her to meet me. It means a lot.” I pulled back slightly to offer him a teasing smile. “I know this is a big deal for you. Have you ever had a guest in your house?”
His low laugh filled my chest, enfolding my heart. “No,” he admitted. “I wouldn’t do this for anyone but you. And I’m still going to my workshop as soon as the introductions are over with.” The surly twist of his lips was belied by his dancing eyes.
My laughter bubbled up to echo his. “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of asking you to endure small talk.”
His phone dinged an alert, and he stepped away to pull it from his pocket. He nodded when he checked the notification, his mouth tugging down in a small frown.
“Isabel’s here,” he announced. He tapped the screen a few times, then slipped the phone back in his pocket. “Gate’s open. She’ll be at the door in five minutes.”
I traced the line of his frown with my thumb. “Thank you for doing this for me.”
His lips quirked up at the corners, and he offered me a grunt in reply. I could tell it was his happy grunt, so I returned his smile with a broad grin of my own.
Grasping my hand in his, he led me to the front door. He took a deep breath, bracing himself.
I shot him a wry smile. “I promise this will be totally painless. I assume Isabel knows you well enough not to trap you with boring niceties. And if she tries, I’ll make your excuses, so you can escape to your man cave.”
I yelped when he gave my ass a sharp pinch in rebuke for my teasing. His slightly cruel chuckle was punctuated by a tentative knock on the door. He rolled his shoulders, as though loosening up before a fight.
I smothered a giggle before he could pinch me again. I really did want to meet Isabel.
Now that I was facing the prospect of socializing, I realized how much I missed female companionship. Before I’d moved in with Gehovany and faded from my community in shame, I’d had lots of girlfriends. We’d spent our days gossiping and our weekend nights dancing.
Raúl would’ve hated it.
As much as I loved spending time with my taciturn protector, he’d never be the type to settle in for excitable chatter. And I could hardly imagine him laughing on a dance floor, losing himself in revelry at a big party.
He opened the door, angling his body in front of mine.
“Isabel.” Her name was a chip of ice on his tongue.
I peeked around his massive frame to find a slender young woman shrinking away. Glancing up at Raúl’s fierce scowl, even I had to resist taking a step back.
Okay, he really hates guests. My heart squeezed at the reminder that he was pushing himself way out of his comfort zone in order to make me happy. The least I could do was save him from socializing.
It looked as though Isabel could use saving, too. Her eyes were so wide that her thick lashes nearly reached her delicately arched brows. Her oversized, wire rimmed glasses only magnified them, making her seem downright terrified. Freckles dusted her too-pale cheeks, and the unnaturally ashen tone of her complexion made her bright pink, matte lipstick pop to an almost garish degree.
I slipped past Raúl’s intimidating bulk and extended my hand to Isabel. “I’m so glad you could come visit.” Genuine warmth imbued my tone, and she focused on my pleasant greeting like a lifeline. “It’s great to meet you. I’m Marisol.”
Her fingers trembled slightly when she shook my hand, but some of the color returned to her cheeks. She very carefully avoided looking at Raúl, keeping her large eyes pinned on me.
“Isabel.” She introduced herself before clearing her throat. She straightened her shoulders, and when she spoke again, the quaver dropped from her voice. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
“Do you want to come in? You’ll have to excuse Raúl,” I added quickly. “He was about to go spend some time in his workshop.” I turned to him with a sweet smile. “Don’t let us hold you up. I know you wanted to finish that big project today.”
We hadn’t discussed any such thing, but my white lie melted his scowl. He dropped a quick kiss on my forehead and strode away without a word, heading for the haven of his man cave.
When I returned my attention to Isabel, I found her jaw hanging open. She quickly closed it with an audible snap and blinked rapidly, clearing away her momentary shock.
I supposed Raúl’s intensity would be enough to shock anyone, especially someone like Isabel, whose willowy frame looked as though she’d be knocked over by a strong wind. Her loose-fitting, white crop top and wide-legged, ankle length jeans did nothing to bulk out her appearance. If anything, the shapeless clothes made her limbs seem even more delicate.
I stepped aside and welcomed her into the house with a bright smile, eager to offer her shelter. Anyone with half a heart would experience the impulse to shield her fragile frame.
Raúl’s forbidding scowl flashed across my mind, but I immediately dismissed his hostility. It hadn’t been an intentional show of intimidation. He’d clearly been enraged by the fact that Daniel had put Isabel at risk during the coup. His fearsome expression was solely a result of his discomfort at having someone in his private space. It had nothing to do with actual dislike.
A pleasant lightness made my feet seem to float a few inches off the polished wooden floorboards as I ushered her into the lounge. I’d forgotten the simple joy of hosting a friend, adding happiness to their day through offering a warm welcome and engaging conversation.
When she’d settled on the gray leather, L-shaped couch, I went to the kitchen to get drinks for us. Suddenly, I wished Raúl had given me a little more notice about her visit. I would’ve prepared a more elaborate spread.
Next time, I promised myself as I returned to Isabel with a wide, almost silly smile stretching my lips.
I don’t want you to feel like a prisoner. Raúl’s words played through my mind.
For the first time, the sense that I was trapped here against my will began to ease. Ever since the day he’d hunted me through the woods and punished me for trying to escape, I’d avoided thinking about my captive situation. I’d remained focused on living one day at a time, languishing in each blissful hour I spent in Raúl’s strong, silent presence.
But in the back of my mind, I’d still felt caged. Now, the invisible bars that kept me confined seemed to fall away. Raúl truly didn’t intend to keep me locked away forever. I’d thought I wanted my freedom, but maybe I was already free.
Raúl might not let me leave, but I was free to refuse him. He didn’t force himself on me, and he treated me as though I was the most precious thing in his world. And he gave me more pleasure than I’d e
ver dreamed was possible, lighting my body on fire with his domineering, demanding hands.
I’m free to choose to stay, too. A small, hopeful voice whispered from deep in my soul.
“I’m glad to see you smiling.” Isabel’s tentative statement pushed through my new, tempting thoughts as she accepted the drink I offered.
“I’m glad, too.” I sighed happily and settled down on the couch, seating myself across from her.
Her thick lashes narrowed slightly, skeptical. She cocked her head at me, studying my face for several seconds before finally speaking slowly, as though choosing her words carefully. “Are you really doing okay? I mean…” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “We haven’t met before, but I know about you. Just a bit. Everyone in the cartel has been made aware that Carmen is worried about your safety. She thinks you’re lost and all alone somewhere, and she wants you found. She thinks Raúl is helping her.”
Her eyes darted around the huge, empty lounge, checking to make sure no one was listening. “But he has you here with him. He’s been lying to Carmen and Stefano. When he told me you were here…” Her chin dipped, making her big eyes seem larger than ever as she fixed me in her worried stare. “Are you really okay, Marisol? You can tell me. I can help you.”
“I’m fine!” I insisted, making my own quick inspection of the room. I heaved a soft sigh of relief when I confirmed that Raúl wasn’t lurking anywhere nearby. If he heard Isabel offering to help me escape, he would probably lose his mind; just like when he’d torn after me in a feral rage when I’d tried to run from him in the woods.
“Seriously, I’m fine,” I said in a calmer cadence. “More than fine. Raúl has been amazing. He’s been keeping me safe here, that’s all.”
She pressed her hot-pink lips together and shifted in her seat. Then, she straightened her spine. “He shouldn’t be hiding you from Carmen. Even if he is treating you well, this isn’t good. Carmen truly cares about you, and she’d be furious if she found out Raúl’s been keeping you locked away in his house.”