“Don’t fucking move,” I ordered.
Tess’s lips tightened, but I didn’t wait to see if she’d obey. I couldn’t look at her another second. If I did, I’d break my first rule: no rape. God, I wanted her.
Going to the large freeform bath, I swung the ornate taps and pressed a chrome plug into the bottom. Water gushed, splashing wetly into a tub that’d never been used before. It wasn’t as big as the Tuscan bath where Tess had been stolen, but it would have to do.
Glancing around the large bathroom, I made out the silhouette of the two person shower, the twin vanity, and glittering towel rails. Only I knew what the room looked like in the daylight. To Tess this would be nameless—faceless. A dungeon.
A small noise jerked my head up. My mouth fell open as a curse ripped its way up my throat. “Fucking fuck me.”
She’d disobeyed me. She’d run. I should’ve known!
My dress shoes slipped on the tiles as I charged after her. “Tess! Goddammit, come back here.”
My headache roared as a dose of dark eagerness splashed through my blood. She’s run. When I caught her she’d be my prize—my conquest.
Why the hell didn’t I keep her tied? Did I think she’d forget about our masquerade and stand obediently for me? Did I believe she was so afraid of whoever she saw in her delusion to obey? The burn for freedom was stronger than her fear of pain or retaliation.
The knowledge walloped me around the head.
It’s stronger than her fear of pain.
If I could get her to accept freedom. Get her to think she won her freedom….
Hope. Glorious fucking hope. I knew what I had to do.
But first I had to catch the bloody woman.
A chase was not good for a man like me—a man walking the tightrope between civilization and animalistic needs. Running triggered one thing in my brain: prey.
My breathing increased as I charged through the house. Room after room—empty. She was tripping on substances I’d given her. Reacting to nightmares I fed to her.
And now I’d turned into a worse predator than I already was.
Every room I ran through, the more my headache grew. I lost control of the cage I’d locked the monster in; the beast hurled itself into being. Running after prey. Hunting for the weak. Searching for a woman I wanted to fuck so damn much.
Stalk her. Take her.
All my righteous thoughts of saving her were deleted by the overpowering rage in my stomach. It fired hotter and hotter, craving her beneath me—surrendering to me.
The situation turned from terrible to downright dangerous. I salivated at the thought of catching her.
My mind ran riot with so many sinful things of non-consent, screams, and endless fucking orgasms. Slamming her to the ground, spreading her legs. Both of us gasping for breath while I took her in retribution.
Shit, Tess, you really shouldn’t have run.
I slammed to a halt as a noise sounded from the back of the house. The beast inside howled while the man panted with black delight. I’d found her. The moment I caught her—
I’m going to taste her. I’m going to make her cry.
Then rationality knocked aside my monstrous thoughts. I had to get her before she found an exit. If anyone saw this. If anyone was witness to the CEO of Moineau Holdings chasing after a naked woman screaming about being kidnapped for the sex trade….Shit, my company would be ruined. I’d be ruined. I’d end up in jail.
I couldn’t let that happen.
Sprinting faster, I grabbed onto walls, hurling myself around corners, slowly gaining ground on the running footsteps up ahead.
A glimpse of blonde as Tess sprinted, disappearing around a corner.
My body shuddered, cursing the tight balls between my legs, the lust thick in my veins. You’re almost mine, Tess.
Power supercharged my legs as I hurled after her. She was headed for the back door.
No! My heart exploded as I careened around the bend just in time to see her beeline for the exit—the exit we’d entered through. She’d been unconscious. How did she know it was there?
Tess grappled with the handle while I stood gawking like an idiot. In a twist and leap, she barrelled through the door and into beaming sunshine.
Shit!
I charged, bowling after her, squinting in the new dawn. Tess was fast, but she was no match for me. I gained on my runaway slave and every black part of me yelled in triumph. My mouth watered with freedom.
I’m going to show you why you don’t run from me.
I wouldn’t be able to control myself when I caught her. I wouldn’t have any hope at stopping what would happen. I would throw her down, rip off my trousers, and bury myself so fucking deep inside her I’d guarantee to make her scream.
Each whizzing heartbeat sang a different story. Run. Stop. Run. Stop.
There would be no stopping. Not until I’d wrung myself dry inside her.
Then, from my peripheral vision, a hurtling black suit and pumping arms appeared. Franco tore after Tess, effortlessly grabbing her, clamping his arms around her panting body.
I blinked, unable to believe what happened. Not only had Franco saved my reputation with the outside world, but he also saved me from raping and destroying her.
My entire body wanted to pounce, to drive deep inside. I needed to claim her. I needed to remind her she should never fucking run from me.
The beast inside howled. I wanted what Franco had stolen. I wanted the rage and freedom to hurt her. I’d been so close to taking her. So close to not caring about the aftermath.
Tess screamed, squirming in his arms. His green eyes flashed, managing to slap a hand over her mouth, locking her tight against him. Franco’s arm wrapped around her middle, carefully avoiding any part I’d kill him for touching.
His eyebrow rose as I skidded to a halt.
Jealousy took three long seconds to hit.
But when it did—fuck it crippled me.
Green. Hot. Liquid jealousy.
Fuck, he was touching her. Double fuck he was touching her naked!
I stalked forward, clenching my fists. “Franco…” My voice wobbled with pent-up, spewing aggression. “Get your motherfucking hands off her.” I’ll rip out your jugular.
“If I let her go, she’ll run. Before you kill me, give me your shirt.” His eyes dropped to my chest. All I wanted was blood. Rivers of it. His. Hers. I didn’t really fucking care.
With barely functioning limbs, I ripped it off, sending buttons flying.
My teeth chattered with the urge to destroy the fucking bastard. How dare he have his hands on my naked woman! Tess’s eyes were wide, drinking in my rage. She moaned, trying to speak behind Franco’s hand, but he kept her silent.
“Donne-la moi! Maintenant.” Give her. Now, I snarled.
He nodded, opening his arms. With a shove, he forced Tess to stumble forward. I took one step, grabbed her elbow and spun her into my furious embrace. With one hand, I wrapped my shirt around her, breathing a little easier when it covered parts no other fucking male should see.
I still wanted to fuck her, but I was obsessed with protecting my territory. Another man had threatened what was mine and the urge to slam her to the ground and claim took second place.
My eyes locked on Franco. He glared right back.
“Don’t touch me. Get off me!” Tess wiggled; I smacked a hand over her mouth.
“Shut up,” I growled. “Seriously, now is not the time to fucking push me. You will not like what happens if you do.”
I didn’t give a rat’s ass if that made no sense to her. Would a trafficker say that? I didn’t know. But it was the goddamn truth and my blood infernoed with the need to take her. Every part of my body felt foreign and sharp and so on edge.
My gaze returned to Franco. Fuck me he’d held her. Naked!
His body tensed, falling into a supple position, ready for a fight. “Mercer—think about this.” His eyes narrowed.
Think about it?
&n
bsp; His hands on her naked skin. Her body pressed against him. Naked.
The beast howled with utmost possession. He’d touched my property. He’d seen what no one else was allowed to see. No one! It didn’t matter that he’d been in the room when we’d found her. Naked and spread-eagled on the bed in Rio. It didn’t matter he knew she was mine. It didn’t fucking matter, because I needed a fight. I needed something. Anything to stop myself from spiralling into this dark pit of hell.
“It’s okay, Mercer. She’s yours.” Franco held up his hands. “Seriously, I get it.”
My nostrils flared as I struggled for control. My fists wanted nothing more than to connect with his jaw.
His head tilted; apprehension filled his eyes. “Is it going okay? You’re not…um...not losing it are you?” He inched closer, eyeing me up.
I wished fire would sprout out of my gaze and burn him. I wished I had spare arms to punch him in the chest and kick him when he fell. I was violent. Bloodthirsty. Oversexed. “Do you think I’m not strong enough? That I’ll give in?” My voice held a deadly undertone.
He shrugged. No judgement or fear existed in his face. “Just asking. Don’t want you to fuck yourself up while trying to help her.” He smirked. “Excuse me for saying, but you look completely manic.”
I’d bottled so much up, I was ready to explode. I probably looked like a fucking psycho.
His eyes fell to Tess squirming in my arms. Her lithe body rubbed my cock in such delicious ways making me throb with an orgasm living permanently in my balls. “Having difficulties?”
A loud laugh exploded from my mouth. Difficulties? Try mountains of them. The laugh helped demolish the tension in my limbs. It turned dark, petering out.
The black clouds broke; I sucked in a ragged breath. Insanity gave way to sanity, soothing my feral heartbeat. I’d almost lost myself.
I’d been too caught up in the charade—I almost became him. I’d stepped over that line and would’ve broken Tess if Franco hadn’t caught her.
Time played its cruel joke again, draining me as if it’d been days, not minutes.
I’m not strong enough. I’ll snap before it’s over.
Franco followed my breakdown. “You probably have another hour before that thing wears off. Don’t take too long.”
Urgency laced my heart. I only had to survive another hour, then Tess would be free and I could get as far away from her as possible. I could find an outlet for all this blackness inside and spare her from my rage.
Gathering my tattered energy, I collected Tess in a stronger grip. My eyes met Franco’s as I dragged her backward to the door. I should thank him for helping, but I couldn’t. Seeing her naked was all the fucking thanks he’d get.
Tess fought, wrenching her mouth free from my grip. She winced as something struck her foot. “Let me go. No! I don’t want to go back in there.” Her heels left indents in the grass as I stole her back to her nightmares.
“You don’t have a choice. And if you ever recall what really happened today, try and remember never to run from me again. You were lucky this time. Next time—” My voice drifted off as another wave of need crippled me.
Her heat and wriggling body scrambled my self-control.
Reaching the door, I yelled at Franco, “Don’t worry about what’s going on in here. Just do your fucking job and keep watch.”
Franco smiled, saluting me flippantly. “Keep watch for her running again or intruders?”
I bared my teeth, slamming the door in his face. I left him standing in the sunlight while I welcomed Tess back to the dark. The soundproofed dark where her screams didn’t matter, her tears wouldn’t be seen, and no one would find out how fucking dangerous all of this was.
Breathing hard, I stomped through the house with a fighting naked woman in my arms.
“I won’t do it. I won’t hurt them. You’ll have to kill me this time,” she rambled, her fingernails clawing at my arms. I clamped my fingers over her mouth again. I couldn’t listen to how much damage I caused.
I hissed as she drew blood, but managed to keep the monster locked in its cage—I had no fucking clue how.
This house was too big—too far to drag a woman who I wanted so fucking bad. My jaw ached from clenching by the time I marched her into the bathroom. The minute I’d slammed and locked the door, I unglued my fingers from around her lips.
Tension suffocated the room, swamping the area with Tess’s panic and my self-restraint. She backed up, seething, “You said I could be free. I took the initiative.”
I dragged my hands over my face, scrubbing hard against the headache, grime, and severely tested discipline. There would be no breaking her. She was too damn strong. I had to hope my second idea would work better than my first. It would also test every inch of my self-control.
You’re tempting fate. Don’t do it.
Ignoring myself, I growled, “You didn’t ask permission. You think you can get what you want without asking?”
Tess pressed her lips together, not saying a word.
Scowling, I stalked toward her, crowding her against the wall. Her eyes flared, dancing with panic and anger. I pressed my body against hers, shivering with how good she felt. Every inch of my erection throbbed, digging into her belly. I lost my thoughts, my decency, my fucking human spirit.
Her stomach rose and fell with uneven breaths; her delectable curves tempted me to hell.
Take her. No one would know. Just one thrust. Just one release.
My cock became possessed. Every rub of her, no matter how gentle, was enough to send me into full-body convulsions.
I needed to come. Badly. It tainted my every thought, made it that much harder to stay sane.
Tess looked up, glaring deep into my soul. “You’re a traitor. A liar. And a thief.”
I backed away, unable to ignore the churning in my gut and overwhelming pressure in my balls. Why had she said that—what did she see?
Tess moved quickly, dashing to the door.
Goddammit.
In a quick strike, I planted myself in front of her, barricading the exit.
She glowered, then in a totally defiant move, ripped my shirt off her body, and threw it in my face.
I shoved it away, breathing hard, willing myself to keep control.
Christ, she was fucking amazing. Lean muscles, tight stomach, beautiful full tits. “What the hell are you doing to me?” I groaned.
Shit. I shouldn’t have said that.
Tess didn’t seem to notice; she planted her hands on her naked hips, hissing, “You were wrong to bring me back. You should’ve left me alone. You’d won. Don’t you get it?” Taking a step closer, she accented every move, sashaying her hips, seducing me with every fucking twitch.
“I’d lost myself. I’d turned my master’s life into a misery. You’d won!” Her head bowed, her gaze flickering down my chest. There was nothing weak or coy about her now, it was complete steel and rebellion.
She looked up through hooded eyes. “But now…” One step closer. Another. “Now, I’m beginning to remember.”
My entire body froze; my cock grew ever harder. She stopped a breath away; the tip of her finger stabbed me in the solar plexus. “I’m remembering how to fight.” The flash in her eyes unravelled me. My knees buckled, stealing control just for a moment before I forced myself to stand tall.
The headache I’d been fighting crashed over me with blades, daggers, and needles. “Don’t touch me.” I cleared my throat, hating how my voice cracked with heavy lust. Touch me. Fuck me. Bend over and let me sink inside your sweet, sweet cunt.
“Oh, poor you.” She pouted, taunting me. “Big bad Leather Jacket doesn’t want me to touch him.” Her mouth twisted as she slapped a hand on my naked shoulder, sending a bonfire of want through my blood.
Fuck…this wouldn’t end well.
I loved that she stood up to her nightmares and seemed to be winning. I loved that by standing up to me, I could change the theme of her dreams by backing down, eradi
cating the horror forever.
What I didn’t love was the unforgiving need making my brain bleed and teeth turn to dust in my mouth. Just a little longer.
I curled my hands so hard my short nails punctured flesh, growing slippery with blood.
Not moving muscle, I ordered, “Get in the bath.”
One thing.
Just one thing left to do to shatter what I believed to be the main issue. Then I’d be free. My job would be over, and I could run like the fucking animal I was.
When Tess didn’t move, I towered to my full height, glowering into her eyes. “Get. In. the. Fucking. Bath.”
Tess cowered, the strength spluttered and fizzed. She took a hesitant step toward it.
Then iron replaced her bones, slamming her to a halt. She stood regal and proud and entirely fucking naked making my throat close up with how much I wanted to hurt her.
“No. Fuck you.” With a roar, she flew at me. Her palm slapped my face, sending my head snapping sideways.
And that was it.
I was done.
Control snapped.
Sanity slipped.
Needs roared to life.
My hand came up, wrapping around her throat. So, so breakable. “How about I fuck you? Then we’ll see who walks away.” I threw her against the wall, sliding her upward so her feet dangled off the ground. She weighed nothing. Absolutely nothing compared to the monster’s fury.
Tess sliced at my hands with her nails, choking in my hold. “You always were pathetic. Making up for your lack of cock.” Tess’s hands suddenly stopped fighting me, dropping to squeeze my erection.
I swayed; my forehead crashed against the tiled wall.
No. No. Yes. Yes.
The monster tore at my brain.
Headache.
Lust.
Need.
I shoved my hips into her hand, making her cry out in pain. Her cries made me pant for more—made me fucking delirious.
Her eyes popped wide. “So you do have a cock. You must’ve had cosmetic surgery, you bastard, because when you raped Blonde Angel you were infested with spiders and the size of my little finger.”
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