by J. S. Scott
My hand landed against her ass cheek with a hard slap, loving how she cried out and dropped her head to the mattress, her ass rising high as if asking for more. The second blow was quickly followed by the third, my handprints red against the pearly skin of her ass, so I could hold back no more, sinking my cock deep as I fisted her hair and pulled her head back.
I leaned forward, pounding each thrust into her slick heat, my mouth by her ear as I kept my hold on her tight. “You’ve been so bad…but that was your plan all along. Wasn’t it? So that I’d punish you…so that I’d fuck you…”
“I fucking hate you, Ash…” But despite her words, her hips were slamming against mine to take my cock deeper, harder, quickening our pace, as she pushed me closer and closer toward my orgasm.
“And yet, you still want me. Don’t you?” I was so close to coming…and then I slipped my hand down between her legs, stroking her clit as she bucked against me, crying out as she came, her answer to my question riding on her scream.
“Yes.”
It was all I needed to push me over the edge, claiming her as mine once more as I spilled my cum deep inside her with a few more thrusts. I rode out my orgasm, each wave of pleasure and release building on the one before until our bodies finally stilled, linked together as one, our breathing heavy and ragged.
“You’re mine, Wren. And soon you’ll be my wife.”
“That’s what you think.” She glared at me over her shoulder and pulled free of my cock, my cum slipping from her pussy and onto her thighs. “I fucking hate you.”
“I know. And yet it doesn’t change anything.” Ignoring her struggles, I pulled her into my arms and lay back against the pillows, holding me to her. “We’re still getting married.”
“It’s pointless to keep arguing with you, because it’s not fucking happening, and you don’t want to listen to me.” She tried to push me away and wriggle out of my arms, but since I didn’t feel like having to chase her naked through the house when she attempted to pull a runner, I only tightened my hold on her, earning me a glare as she cursed me between gritted teeth, “I swear, if you don’t let go of me, I’m going to fucking lose it.”
“Make me chase you, and you’ll find yourself handcuffed to the bed for the rest of the night.” And I meant it, though it might still come to that, since I was tempted to get some sleep before hitting the road again in the morning. “And in case you think I’ve forgotten, don’t worry…I already know that you hate me and I’m a fucking bastard.”
She shrugged my hand off her shoulder, though I only slipped it down to her waist, pulling her tighter to me. “Aren’t you even worried that you didn’t use a condom? I haven’t exactly been celibate since we broke up, you know.”
It wasn’t as if it hadn’t crossed my mind for a split second before I’d plunged my stiff cock into her slick heat. But I knew Wren, and I was pretty confident that it wasn’t really an issue. “Have you gone bare with anyone else since we broke up?”
She rolled her eyes with a look of frustration. “No. I haven’t. And I’m on the Pill, in case you were thinking you could get me pregnant as a way to convince me to marry you.”
“I won’t deny that it crossed my mind—though I wouldn’t be trying to get you pregnant just so you’d marry me, little bird. It’d be because I wouldn’t mind starting a family.” And that was a confession I had not planned on making to anyone at all. Not even myself—let alone to Wren.
“Well, count me out, buttercup. ’Cause I’m not marrying you and I’m not having your baby. Not now. Not ever.”
I just had to laugh. “That’s what you think.”
CHAPTER 6
Wren
The man was infuriating—and even worse was the fact that he was a light sleeper. Every time I tried to slip out from under his arm, he tightened his hold on me, making it impossible for me to try to get out of this mess. Because I knew what my father was like, and if this was what he’d decided was best, then he’d find a way to make sure it happened, come hell or high water.
As for Ash? Well, he was so worried about his family, he’d do anything to keep them safe. And though I wanted to blame him for it, I couldn’t. Not after he’d lost his father, especially when he and his family were so tight-knit.
Not that I’d be marrying him, even if I understood why he was doing all of this. My father was the only family I had left, since my mother had died when I was just eleven.
That had been the start of my nightmare—a nightmare that still haunted me. My father had remarried just a few years later, even though my stepmom divorced my father after my stepbrother’s death, wanting nothing more to do with him—and good riddance to the whole lot, as far as I was concerned.
I pushed aside my memories, knowing no good would come from digging up past wrongs and poking at old wounds, when I had enough problems on my hands already.
I needed to get free of Ash, any way possible. Instead of trying to slowly ease myself free of Ash’s grasp, I just pulled free of him, not caring that it woke him. “I’m just going to run to the bathroom. Go back to sleep.”
He gave me a sleepy grunt in response, as I climbed out of bed, pausing at the doorway to see if he’d fallen back to sleep. Moving as slowly as possible, I crouched down to grab my packed bag, having abandoned it earlier in the night, and then headed to the bathroom, which was, thankfully, down the hall instead of being attached to the bedroom. I locked the bathroom door behind me and quickly pulled out some clothes and got dressed.
Now to get out of here without Ash waking up.
I turned off the light in the bathroom, not wanting to risk any light making its way down the hallway, and then as quietly as I could, I unlatched the door and headed for my front door, pausing to find my handbag so I could leave.
Fuck. Where the hell had I abandoned it in the commotion of finding Ash in my apartment? And it wasn’t like I could flick on the light, which meant I was left feeling around in the dark.
But not for long. Light flooded the room.
Fuck.
“Little bird…you’re in trouble.” His voice was still thick and ragged with sleep, even if his eyes were alert and locked on mine, as his naked, muscular body stalked toward me, his cock already hard.
“If you won’t leave, then I will.” I glanced at the door, but knew he’d take me down, already a breath away and pushing me back against the cold, hard wall, pinned there under the weight and strength of his tight body, as he dragged my hands up over my head and he clasped them in his tight grip. “Please, Ash…”
“You should have heeded my warning…” He bent his head to mine and bit my bottom lip; my body sagged against his hold, the anticipation of what would come next only serving to stoke my incessant need for him. “Because now…now you’re going to need to be punished, though I have a feeling you might like that far too much for it to be a deterrent.”
The worst part was that he was right. And I knew how fucked up that made me…knew that I was totally messed up…that my body and head had gotten their wiring all sorts of screwed up. Because anyone with even a drop of sense would not be turned on by being at another’s mercy, wouldn’t crave the pain that only heightened one’s pleasure…wouldn’t need to have someone force them into doing what they already wanted to do.
But that was me…all sorts of fucked up, and no real way to hide it. Especially not when I was pinned against Ash’s body.
“Just let me go…please.” Because I didn’t know just how long I’d be able to resist him and keep up this façade. Not that he didn’t already know my true nature, even if he didn’t know the reasons behind it.
“Now, where would the fun in that be?” He didn’t wait for an answer, nuzzling me before he crushed my lips in an all-consuming kiss that had me struggling against his grip so I could run my hands over his skin and down to his cock.
He broke our kiss, but only
to feast on my neck, before moving to my breasts, biting them through the fabric of my shirt, leaving me to cry out in need. And then he was hauling me onto his shoulder, leaving me squirming and trying to get free as he carried me back toward my bedroom, nipping at my ass.
I cursed him, the flicker of pain sharp enough to have my clit throbbing with need as he tossed me onto my bed and tore the clothes from my body, stripping me down to nothing and then using my belt to bind my hands to the bed. “Ash…please…”
“Sweetness, I don’t know what you want from me, but if I had to guess…” He ran his fingers up the delicate skin of my inner thighs, all the way to my cunt as it ached for his touch, his fingers slipping along the folds to find me so slick with my need for him, it was embarrassing. “Fucking hell, Wren…I love how wet you get for me…love that you can’t resist me…even if you hate me.”
And though I wanted to beg for more, wanted him to ravage me, I instead bucked against his touch and struggled against my bonds, feeling far too guilty for wanting him. “Untie me, Ash. You fucking bastard.”
He sat back on his heels, kneeling before me, a stern look on his face. “If you want me to untie you, then use your safe word.”
I’d rather die than speak it, because in the end, despite everything, I wanted every bit of torment and pleasure he had to give me. “Fuck off.”
“It’s just one word…say it, and I’ll untie you.” A smug smile slipped onto his lips, making me want to scream. “Or maybe you need a little help making up your mind as to whether or not you want to use your safe word.”
When he reached over to my nightstand and pulled open the drawer, I knew I was fucked. “Don’t, Ash…please…”
“Use your safe word, babe… Because until then, these are just games and we’re both enjoying ourselves.” He pulled out one of my vibrators and held it up with a smile as he turned it on and ran the tip over my nipples before dragging it down my stomach and over my clit, forcing me to bite back my cries and my curses, as he spread my legs apart and slipped it inside me. And then he was back to digging around in my drawer, as I was left fighting back the building energy of my orgasm. “What do we have here?”
“You’re such a fucking bastard.” He was holding a warming balm in his hands, and I knew that if he used that on me, there’d be no way I’d be able to keep myself from coming.
“Tell me you don’t want this…” He ran his tongue up my neck and nipped at my ear, sending a shiver of need right through me, even as my breath went shallow and ragged. “Tell me that you don’t love it when I push you to the edge.”
It was nothing but the truth, though I’d never in a million years admit it. Not that he needed me to when he had all the evidence he needed. “I have nothing to say to you.”
And yet, I practically had to bite my lip to keep from begging him to stop when he popped the tin open and scooped out a generous amount of the balm on his finger. “It says it’s an orgasm booster, Wren. Doesn’t that sound like so much fun?”
I cursed under my breath as he massaged the balm over my clit, the feel of it mingling an icy coolness with a burning heat—and then he pressed a slick finger against the bud of my ass, working it just past the tight ring of muscle, to set my senses on fire. “Fucking hell, Ash… I can’t take it…I’m going to come.”
“Not yet, little bird.” He pulled the vibe free of my body, leaving me teetering on the edge, and yet unable to come now that it was gone. And then he was kissing me once again…my need for him overriding what little sense I had. “I’ve missed this, Wren…missed you.”
My heart ached with pain at his words, tears springing to my eyes as I fought back a sob. Because I still blamed him for leaving me when he was the only thing keeping my life from falling into a black abyss. “Why, Ash…why the fuck did you leave me?”
“I never meant to hurt you, Wren.” He kissed my tears away, trailing his warm lips over my skin as he nestled himself between my legs even as I buried my face in the crook of his neck, needing him to hold me. And he did…as if he knew my every need.
Held tightly in his arms, he caught my mouth in another kiss as he claimed me once more as his, stretching my body tight around his long, thick cock, thrusting into me with such determined purpose that I was left fighting off my orgasm once again. My head was swimming with too many thoughts, and far too many emotions, leaving me feeling vulnerable…leaving me to wonder how Ash could still have such a hold on me.
Yet I knew the answer to that question, even if I didn’t want to admit it.
I still loved him—even though I hated him.
And it was with my messed-up thoughts rattling around in my head that I surrendered myself to the moment, his pace quickening as he took me, our tongues clashing in a heated dance, until I could take no more. He swallowed my cries as I came, continuing to pound into me as my body quivered in his arms, until he joined me with a primal groan, pumping his cum deep inside me, with just a few more thrusts.
“Wren…” He pulled away just enough to take me in, his mood far more somber. “Please…just say you’ll marry me.”
“I can’t.” Because if he knew the truth, he’d never be able to look at me the same way again.
CHAPTER 7
Ash
“You need to eat, Wren.” I’d cooked us some breakfast, but after everything that had happened last night, I couldn’t even get her to look at me for more than a second or two. “Is it ’cause my cooking sucks?”
She rolled her eyes at me, since the omelet I’d made her, along with crispy bacon and the freshly brewed pot of coffee, smelled damn good and tasted even better, even if she’d only taken a bite or two. “Nothing you do sucks. Except when it comes to keeping my heart safe. You suck at that. Which is why you need to leave.”
“I know I hurt you, love…but we were young, and…things were so intense between us…so fucking crazy.” Not that it mattered. I didn’t think she’d ever forgive me.
“And? That’s what love’s supposed to be, you…asshole.” She reached over and punched my shoulder, glaring at me. “Love’s supposed to be crazy and intense…it’s supposed to be all-consuming. Except that you walked away from everything we had…and you left me alone…you left me in a hell I had no way of escaping.”
“And for that, I’m sorry.” I knew she’d been upset about it, but…people broke up. And yes, it was heart-wrenching, but…I didn’t quite understand her devastation. “I swear, I didn’t realize it’d be so hard on you.”
“Well, it was—and I’ll never forgive you for it.” Her eyes reddened and shimmered with tears, her lids slipping shut in a futile attempt to keep them contained.
I pulled her into my arms, ignoring her struggles, until her small form finally sagged against me as she quietly cried, and I kissed the top of her head. “I swear, I won’t ever hurt you again, Wren. I’m not expecting us to pick up where we left off, but I am asking you to give me another chance.”
She pulled away to look up at me. “How the hell am I supposed to give you another chance when I hate you for leaving? You have no fucking clue.”
“I suppose I don’t.” And I didn’t. I didn’t have a clue as to what I’d put her through. And yet none of my other exes had taken it so hard when we split up, though Wren was the only woman I’d ever been serious with. “So, why don’t you tell me?”
The last thing I’d expected to see was the panic in her eyes—just before her anger returned. “There’s nothing to tell you—and if you think I’m marrying you, you’re insane.”
Fucking hell…we were back to that again. “That’s not up for debate, Wren. I wish we had more options, but we don’t. And I know you don’t want to hear it, but we need to get going.”
“You and my dad…the two of you are unbelievable.”
We finished the rest of our breakfast in silence—not that she really ate much.
“Ready
to go?” I was expecting her to give me a hard time about going, but she didn’t, even if she was clearly not happy about it.
“I fucking hate you, Ash.” She brushed past me and grabbed the bag she’d packed, hating me once more for all my wrongs.
Without so much as another glance in my direction, she grabbed the rest of her things and followed me out to my car, tossing her stuff into the backseat of my SUV before climbing into the passenger seat.
This was going to be one hell of a long drive. I slid in behind the wheel and looked over at her, still taken aback by just how beautiful she was. She had the most amazing grey-blue eyes, and her dark hair was thick and wavy, always looking tousled like she’d been at the beach—and her lips…plump and kissable, and always so expressive. Except that now they were pursed together as she glared at me.
I couldn’t help but smile. “Seat belt, little bird.”
“’Cause you really care about me.” Yet she buckled herself in—which spared me from having to wrestle her in her seat, though my cock hardened at the mere thought of it, clearly liking the idea far too much.
“I do care—and you fucking well know it, Wren.” It was nothing but the truth, even if I’d walked away from her.
“Yeah…you really have a way of showing it, too.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest and kept her gaze looking forward, refusing to face me.
Well, at least I hadn’t had to haul her out of her apartment with her body tossed over my shoulder as I dragged her to my car kicking and screaming. Small consolation, though, when she still fucking hated my guts.
It’s not that I’d been expecting a warm welcome. I knew she wouldn’t be happy to see me. And I’d even expected her anger and hate. But there was something about that exchange in her bedroom—her tears as I’d made her come… It left me a bit rattled, because I didn’t quite understand the despair I’d felt in her as she sobbed in my arms.