Persuasion

by Stone, Piper

  I pressed my hands against his chest, marveling at his sculpted muscles even more than before as well as the wave of heat and energy pouring from him. He was on fire, so very savage yet tonight, seeing a different side of the dangerous and rugged man intensified my arousal.

  He jerked back my head, issuing a series of growls before rubbing his lips across the nape of my neck, grazing his teeth back and forth possessively.

  I felt so exposed, more open for him that ever before, fearful this would all end. My eyes were unfocused, yet I concentrated on the shimmers of light dancing off the ceiling. Every nerve ending was seared from the live wire of electricity coursing through me.

  He licked and nipped as he rolled his mouth down to my shoulder, biting down not once but twice. Even the raw hint of pain was sheer bliss. He yanked even harder, pulling me into a deep arc, ripping away any control.

  I dug my fingers into his knees as he continued his trail, dragging his tongue along the cleft of my breasts.

  “Oh...” My moan was lost in the adagio of the violin, my pulse skyrocketing. The moment he flicked his tongue across my nipple then bit down, I issued a broken scream. Everything was intensified, every swipe of his tongue creating goosebumps.

  He refused to let me go, taking his time as he sucked on my hardened buds, moving from one to the other and all while his cock throbbed. I wanted nothing more than to have him inside my mouth.

  The sweet moment of anguish as he bit down on my tender flesh left me breathless. He eased me into a sitting position, brushing his fingers along my temple. “My beautiful little one.”

  I pushed back, breaking our connection, my eyes never leaving his.

  He sat back in his seat, a slight smile on his face as he watched me slide off his lap. The way he rubbed his index finger back and forth across his mouth was highly seductive, the blue light accentuating his chiseled jaw and succulent lips.

  I shifted back and forth in time to the music, allowing the vibrations to crush the last of my fears. I eased my hands down my sides, my fingers grasping the slip of material. When I shimmied my hips, the soft material fell to the floor, allowing me to step out. I kicked the dress away, taking several shallow breaths as I continued dancing.

  This wasn’t me, the girl who’d done everything to forget about savoring anything but hard work. Yet there was nothing more sinful and decadent.

  Kostya suddenly jerked forward, cupping his hand over my thong and between my legs. As he made guttural sounds, he jerked me onto my toes, pressing his face against my wetness.

  Moaning, my entire body quivered as he sucked on the thin lace, shaking his head back and forth like a wild beast. “Oh, God. Oh... God.” I was forced to grip his shoulders, the slickness of the brand-new shoes causing me to slide on the polished floor. The rush of nirvana was almost too much as he ripped at my panties, growling until he was able to tear a hole through the thin material.

  He gripped my hips, holding me in place as his tongue found its way to my clit, swirling around and around in lazy circles.

  I could no longer see clearly, my mind rattled from his erotic actions. He became more brutal, lapping my cream, dragging his tongue up and down. When he plunged it past my aching and swollen folds, I tipped my head back and whimpered. He refused to let me go, licking every drop of my juice.

  “Uh. Uh. Uh. Uh. Uh.” I had difficulty breathing, every muscle and tendon tense as an orgasm approached. I was shocked how quickly my body reacted, the heat continuing to build.

  He was forceful, savage in his actions, ripping portions of my panties away until he could have complete access. As he licked fervently, he slipped his hand under the back of my panties, crawling his fingers until he was able to grip the plug.

  I bit back another series of strangled sounds as he twisted it several times before pumping the implement in and out roughly. I was surprised how much I enjoyed his actions, licking my dry lips as I fell into the sweet moment of bliss.

  His grip became tighter, his tongue pushing in deeper until I couldn’t take it any longer, a climax rushing up from my toes.

  “Oh, yes. Yes!” As the orgasm rushed into me, a smile crossed my face. I lolled my head to the side, panting several times.

  He kept his face buried into me, slickening his face with my cream, covering his body with my scent. Everything was a beautiful blur as another wave rode over me, stealing my breath. I felt another rush of air as he ripped the remainder of the panties away from me, smacking my bottom several times with harsh slaps.

  The combination was sweet, amazing, and able to push me into another rapid orgasm.

  “Yes. Oh...” The euphoria was the most powerful yet, leaving me wet and aching all over.

  When I finally stopped shaking, only then did he let me go, once again easing back against the seat, his stare full of an air of arrogance, extreme authority. As if he were king.

  I slowly dropped to my knees, sliding my palms up along his calves to his thighs. The way he studied me was entirely different, as if he was searching my soul just as I’d done his before.

  He tensed as I moved my hands closer to the bulging mound, his breath labored. He shifted his hand in front of his mouth as he ran the fingers of his other hand through my hair. I could tell there were things he wanted to say to me, perhaps allowing me to see behind his rogue demeanor, but he didn’t... trust me.

  Like I couldn’t trust him.

  I never allowed my eyes to leave his as I struggled with his belt buckle. Once released, I tugged on the zipper, again feeling the tension in him increase. I peeled back his trousers, tugging slightly until the material gave way. The moment I wrapped my hand around his shaft, he made a strangled sound, his eyes glazing over. What in God’s name had been done to him during his life?

  Very gently I rubbed the tip of my finger down the length of his cock, sliding my hand between his legs to cup and squeeze his balls.

  He took several deep breaths, never blinking as I lowered my head, blowing across the tip.

  When I eased his cockhead into my mouth, dragging my tongue back and forth, he issued a single husky moan. I took him down an inch at a time, sliding my tongue back and forth, a trickle of pre-cum floating into my mouth. The taste of him was incredible, musky and sweet, the combination irresistible. I pressed his legs even further open as I relaxed my throat, twisting my hand around the base of his cock as I sucked.

  I could tell the friction was getting to him, his chest heaving, strangled sounds pushing past his lips. I rolled his balls between my fingers, clamping down until he released a guttural growl.

  He allowed me to play for only a few seconds, more husky sounds permeating the air as he pushed me away. As he yanked me onto his lap, I pressed my knees against him, rubbing my pussy up and down in a teasing manner.

  “Very bad girl,” he said, although his tone was anything but playful.

  I wanted to touch him, to have the heat of his skin against mine. While we would never make love or share romance of any kind, I needed the connection in a different way. The moment I tugged his shirt from his waistband, he gripped my wrists with enough force I whimpered.

  “No,” he said sternly.

  “Why?”

  “Because I said so.” His tone was so gravelly, ripped with anguish.

  “Trust,” I managed to say, the word more difficult than I could have imagined. “Trust me.”

  His eyes opened wide and he briefly looked away before releasing his hold. I’d never seen him look so uncomfortable, until an odd expression crossed his face.

  One of anger.

  One of hatred.

  One of revenge.

  As I lifted his shirt, he didn’t fight me, yet his brow furrowed. When he was freed of the confines, I slid the palms of my hands up from his tight abdomen to his chiseled pecs, caressing lovingly. He was perfect, his body well honed. What was he afraid of me seeing?

  He slowly turned his head, the moment of our connection not just electric but something else entir
ely, a closeness that I had no idea how to explain. He’d allowed me to see yet another ghost haunting him, a period of his life that had altered any goodness he’d once had.

  And I still didn’t know how.

  The look of lust filtered back into his eyes, a smile curling on his lips. “As I told you, mine.” He lifted me, placing the tip of his cock to my slickened entrance, easing me down in a deliberate manner.

  My muscles stretched, accepting, leaving me shuddering from the pure ecstasy. He filled me completely, my pussy aching and so wet. As my muscles finally clamped down, he used his forefingers and thumbs, pinching both nipples.

  “Ride me,” he commanded.

  I did as I was told, moving back and forth on his lap in a slow and easy fashion, finally draping my arms over his shoulders. Another round of tension created a tic at the corner of his mouth even as I tangled my fingers in his hair.

  “Be careful what you seek, my little princess. You might not like what you find.” His words were stilted and he took over control, his fingers gripping my hips, forcing me up and down brutally. Everything became even more savage, his hand wrapping around the back of my neck, keeping me in place.

  The feel of his cock was incredible, my pussy clenching and releasing several times. At least for a few minutes we were as one, the passion exploding between us. Riding him was incredible, my body on fire as white-hot heat swept through me like a firestorm.

  His growls were nothing but barbaric and as he crushed his mouth over mine, he tilted away from the chair, using his massive thighs to keep me aloft. I squeezed my muscles at the same time. There was no holding back, his body tensing once again but this time he released, spilling his seed into me.

  As our tongues twisted back and forth, I slid my arms around him, wanting nothing more than to hold him tightly against me. An insane moment of joy erupted, the feeling terrifying but so very right. I tensed, feeling indentations in his back, unnatural in every way.

  In those beautiful seconds of feeling so close, the magic was suddenly broken, his reaction swift and caustic as he tossed me away, jerking to a standing position.

  I was shocked, unable to breathe as I tried to figure out what had happened. Then I knew, my fingers still tingling from the touch of him.

  From the roughness of the skin on his back.

  From the welts that were deep and long.

  From the scars that would never heal.

  He’d been whipped savagely.

  Like an animal...

  Chapter Twelve

  Kostya

  There were no words to describe my anguish. I’d allowed Giliana to get close, too fucking close. I’d pretended that I wasn’t the vile monster of her nightmares, a man who could rip her apart in an instant, if only for a precious period of time. Hissing, I recoiled, moving into the shadows as I retreated in my mind to a place of my training, no matter how harsh and uncomfortable the actuality. I was required to remember everything I’d been taught, the challenges I would face when dealing with females on my mission.

  And. I’d. Failed.

  She cowered on the floor, her distraught face another reminder that I’d crossed the line in far too many ways. I’d broken her, tainting her last concept of anything decent. Unable to look her in the eye, I took long strides, yanking my shirt from the floor. Another mistake would not be made.

  “Don’t.”

  Her sweet voice penetrated the night, even lilting over the last chords of the CD. I clenched my fists, rage furrowing into every muscle as I turned away. “Leave me alone, Giliana. Go back to your room.”

  “What about dinner?”

  I was annoyed with her question, her momentary notion that the night meant anything more than what it had been.

  Taking her.

  Breaking her.

  Yet every part of me was on edge and it had nothing to do with the audacity of her question. “Take food to your room.”

  “What happened to you?”

  Her voice was sweet music, filtering into my heart as well as my soul. But I would deny her; my feelings and thoughts, my desires and needs. She was nothing. I was forced to laugh at the ridiculous thought as every muscle tensed. Fooling myself was no longer an option. The way I felt about her could mean failure.

  Even death.

  “Talk to me, Kostya. Whether you like it or not, I care about you.”

  Her words were chilling, sending a thudding echo into my heart. The brute in me wanted nothing more than to shut her up, preventing her from digging any closer to the man inside.

  I could tell she’d moved closer, her presence like a suffocating blanket. “Do what I command.” I rubbed my temple, the aggressive throbbing more intense than the night before.

  “No. You can beat me or cage me, but that isn’t going to matter.”

  She was right behind me, the heat of her voluptuous body overwhelming. “You will follow my orders!” Every part of me was sick with all-consuming anger, the same kind that had eaten at me for several wretched years.

  “Or what?” she asked quietly.

  My hesitation was a damning moment, the warmth of her long fingers brushing down my back more terrifying than the harshness of the whip crisscrossing my skin. Snarling, I jerked my body to its full height, self-preservation taking over, ready to shove her violently away.

  She gripped my arm, the simple action keeping me from reacting other than the heavy hammering of my ragged breaths. I dug my fingernails into my palms to keep from hurting her, my reflex honed from years of being taunted. As she delicately traced one of the jagged welts, I was pulled back into the horrors of what I’d endured so long ago.

  “You are utter scum, nothing but a worthless beast. You deserve to die.” The sound of his deep baritone vibrated in my ears, the hard beating from the night before keeping me pinned to the frigid concrete. “I’ll make certain your... master is presented with a gift.”

  I could barely breathe given the anguish pouring through my body yet with what little strength was left, I planted my hands on the floor, pushing up.

  “Fuck. You.”

  Cursing, he stood over me, his face twisting from the rage he’d exhibited. He closed his eyes, taking several deep breaths. When he spoke, his tone was even, devoid of the savageness from before. He tipped his head, smiling at two of his soldiers. “String him up.”

  I heard the heavy thudding of his steel-tipped boots as he stormed toward the cell door. “And make certain he doesn’t forget. Ever.”

  I’d placed the ugliness in a dark and foreboding place, promising myself I’d never revisit the anguish or the reason for the harsh punishment. Every breath was difficult, stars floating in front of my eyes.

  “Who hurt you?” she asked with such innocence, as if her life had never been touched by strife or violence.

  Yet I’d abducted her.

  Caged her.

  Punished her.

  “It no longer matters,” I answered in succinct words, practiced from years before. No one would ever know the experience had bothered me. As I started to simply walk away, I felt the wetness of her lips, the sentiment sweeter and more loving than any I’d had in my life.

  “Yes. It does.”

  She pressed her mouth over the worst of the scars, taking her time to dart her tongue into the jagged crevices. I heard the raggedness of my breathing, even though I could no longer feel anything but her cherished act. She truly believed the simple gesture as well as the kind words would be able to shove aside the memory.

  Or the remaining fury.

  I wanted to believe her, to keep some level of sanctity in my heart, but I was too far gone. Somehow, the words came easily. “I was caged for days, whipped like an animal. Not because of what I knew but because of who I cared about. Because of my association with a true monster. There was no escape, no sense of purpose, the bastards enjoying treating me exactly like the creature I’d become. Loathsome. Dirty. Without conscience.”

  I heard her breath skip, the slight ago
nizing whimper that I’d expected.

  “I’m... so sorry,” she managed, her voice strangled to the point it was almost inaudible.

  I laughed bitterly, flexing my arms. “I learned to survive. I also accepted that caring about anyone could never happen again. People die.”

  “That’s not who you are.”

  “Don’t try and change me, Giliana. I chose my life and I’ve enjoyed being the bastard you know me to be. I relished the moment of caging you, keeping you as my possession. I...” This time, my voice faltered. I didn’t want that for her any longer. I wanted her safe and pampered. I needed her to give a damn about a different life, to accept that she belonged to me, forgoing everything she’d worked so hard to achieve. I wanted her ready for more.

  Another round of darkness yanked at my heart, the desires I felt for her sick and twisted, yet stronger than before.

  She rubbed her fingers down my spine, pressing her face against my back. “You can’t lie to me. I can see through your bravado, all the ugliness you’ve attempted to show me.”

  “You know nothing. I am a killer. I am a monster. There will never be anything else. Nothing. I can’t care about you and I won’t.”

  “Kostya. Don’t. Please.”

  My anxiety snapped and within seconds, I had her shoved against the wall, my hands squeezing her arms. “Don’t try and save me, Giliana. I’m not worth saving.”

  Her lower lip quivered at first before her eyes held the conviction I’d seen before, but for an entirely different reason. “I don’t buy that. You can sell that bullshit to anyone else but not me.”

  “You’re a fool.”

  “Yeah? Maybe I am, but I care about you.”

  I smacked her back against the wall, shocked at my savagery. “Why? Why the fuck do you care about me?”

  “I...”

  “Tell me!”

  She blinked several times, shaking her head. “Because you’re worth loving.”

  The words were so unexpected, the sentiment one I couldn’t handle, but something I wanted more than anything. I jerked her arms over her head before capturing her mouth, immediately thrusting my tongue inside. She’d peeled away the last of the layers, exposing the anger and hatred, the despondency that had never gone away.