“So you’re the master who doesn’t let himself play.” Smith’s voice slammed into my head. It didn’t matter I’d stolen his heart—he’d come to destroy me.
My back locked straight as I growled under my breath, repeating what I’d said to him that night. “I’m the man who knows right from wrong.”
“No, you live in denial. One day you’ll see the truth. It will happen. You can’t ignore who you truly are forever. One day the decision won’t be yours anymore, and when that happens operations like ours will be your saving grace.”
Fuck.
I couldn’t live like this much longer. I couldn’t live so torn.
I clutched my head, sucking in greedy breaths, forcing my mind to fill with images. Images I deliberately blocked from my past.
“Do you want a taste, Quincy? You keep sneaking into rooms you’re forbidden to fucking go, all because you want a piece of pussy?” My father motioned me forward with his free hand, while his other thrust thick fingers into a screaming blonde.
My ten-year-old stomach threatened to evict the cherry pie Mrs. Sucre had made me, but if my father told me to do something, I had no choice but to do it.
Inching across the carpet, my eyes fell on a tangled mess of hair and limbs. A girl. Skin that should’ve been dusky and pink was now grey and lifeless. Even her blood had turned from bright red to brown.
My feet reeled backward, faster and faster. “No!” I screamed. “I’ll never be like you. I’ll never touch a girl like you!”
My father laughed. It started as a chuckle but grew and grew until it felt as if the entire room shook with corruption. “You’re wrong, boy. You have my blood in your veins. You’ll grow up needing exactly what I need. And there’s nothing you can do to fucking stop it.”
Hitting the blonde so hard she fell onto her knees, he held out his hand again. “Now, come. Take your place as my son and heir. Come and play with your subjects like a good Mercer boy. I’ll even let you fuck one of them.”
I ran.
I ran away from my father. I ran away from any hope at having a mentor in my life. I ran to my mother, only to find she’d drunk herself into a stupor.
I found out later she drank to drown out the screams. She committed suicide by alcohol all to forget what her husband did down the hall. Leaving her son to fend for himself.
The memory shattered, and I stumbled to the side. I’d never had a flashback—such an intense recollection come to life. I fucking hated it.
But the glacial disgust and hatred I’d felt that day lodged itself in my chest, granting me a defence against the dark whispers in my head. I didn’t need to make an oath not to hurt Tess. Sheer repugnance of what lineage I’d come from would do that.
Tess kept her chin down, either accepting her fate or acting like the docile prisoner. I didn’t trust her one bit. Not after her strength in the hotel. Fuck she was wild. And beautiful, so mouth-wateringly beautiful.
She’d fought me like I’d always wished to be fought. With the abandonment of sheer survival. She would’ve gladly taken my life—or given up her own in order to win.
Was she strong enough to survive this? Was I strong enough to step into the role as trafficking asshole and come out on the other side intact?
The questions were irrelevant. I had to be.
I am.
“Come,” I growled, tugging on the binds.
Tess’s head snapped up, eyes blazing grey fire. “Just kill me. I’m done playing your games. You had your fun and now I refuse.”
Hearing her strength mixed with equal terror made my heart shoot out of my chest and splat against her feet.
I wanted to caress her cheek and murmur, ‘Don’t be strong. Don’t fight. It will be easier to hit rock bottom if you just let yourself slide.’
But Tess would never just give up. She might want to. She might think she had. But she didn’t know herself like I did.
She would never stop fighting. And I needed to teach her how, so I could build her up again.
Forgive me.
Gritting my teeth, I cuffed her around the side of the head. My cock thickened, throbbed.
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t touch me!”
It was pain she hated. Pain was the catalyst in this mess. I had to use pain against her.
Fuck! I struck her again, this time hard enough to knock her to her knees. She swayed but shook her head, snarling, “Back to your old tricks? Back to beating up women because that’s the only way you get off? You’re sick!” She spat on the floor, her saliva mixed with a small tinge of blood. “Just sell me already, at least a new master will know how to fuck.”
Her tirade tore my chest open. How dark was her mind? How much blackness did she keep hidden in that angelic face?
Squatting on my haunches, I grabbed her chin, glaring into her eyes. “Do you want to be fucked? Is that it? You want a master who will abuse you and give no shit to your happiness or humanity?”
Tess tore her face out of my hold, hissing, “I have a master. And he’s good and kind and the only man I would gladly give my body to for his pleasure. But you keep stealing me from him, so I’m done. Do you understand? I’m done being stolen and drugged and hurt. Sell me! I want to be sold. I never want to see you again!”
I couldn’t swallow. I couldn’t breathe.
I wanted to stop this terrible fucking idea.
“Tess…” I murmured.
Her eyes practically popped out of her head. “How do you know my name? No!” Wracking sobs clawed up her throat; the crack in her ferocity gave me a spark of faith. It was working.
God, fucking forgive me for what I’m about to do.
Slapping her cheek, I growled, “That’s right. We know your name. Tess Snow. Tess. Tess. Tess.”
She shoved me, but her arms were weak. I shoved back. She sprawled onto her side, before cowering into a ball.
Standing upright, I said, “We know you let your master string you up and taste your blood. We know you let him suffocate you to the point of death. We also know you love giving fucking blowjobs—apparently you have quite the talent.”
Fuck, I’m scum. Why was I doing this? It was so, so wrong.
Nudging her balled body with my foot, I added, “So, Tess….are you sure you want to be sold. Knowing you’ll survive only on the cum from men forcing themselves on you? Do you want to spend your life strung up and at their mercy?”
Just like the poor women who served my father.
“Answer me, Tess Snow. You’re not so fucking innocent now.”
Every word I uttered whipped Tess worse than any cat o’ nine tails. I broke down her defences, throwing back memories she no doubt thought as treasured and totally private. I ripped her mind open, flipping it back with scorn.
Grabbing her by the hair, I hauled her to her feet. She clutched my fingers, trying to control the burn in her scalp, but I shook her instead. “Tell me! Do you wish to be sold? Or do you wish to be free?”
She hiccupped, her face flushed with tears. “Free. I want to be free. Let me go. Please. I’ll do anything. Anything.”
“Wrong answer.”
“But you said—”
I couldn’t suck in a decent breath—I felt lightheaded, high, and sick to my fucking stomach. My cock rippled with pre-cum. I had to close my eyes from the misplaced rush of pleasure.
“I know what I fucking said. I asked if you wanted to be free or be sold. I didn’t ask for anything in return. Did I ask you to suck my cock? Did I ask to fuck you in return for your freedom?”
I wobbled on my feet, too enraptured with the mental images of forcing her to do just that. I’d blow right down her throat with one lick of her tongue.
Her head hung, hiding her feverish face with tangled blonde curls. Between ragged pants she said, “I don’t know what you want from me!”
“I don’t want anything!” I roared. I want you to take back your destiny. Take it. Admit you want your freedom. Don’t offer anything in return. Just take
it.
Her sobs took over, dragging her into sorrow.
It was obvious I needed more time to get the message across. Shaking her again, I snapped, “You failed this lesson, Tess Snow. But we’ll visit it again soon enough.”
Her head flailed from side to side. “No…please. Just let me sleep. I’m done. I’m done.”
“Don’t fucking talk back. And you’re not done. Not by a long shot.” Spinning on my heel, I yanked the rope, bracing myself against the conflicting hatred and lust oozing in my veins. Tess followed behind—her bare feet slapping softly against the expensive travertine.
I threw a look over my shoulder. My body suffered a sick roll. Tess shuffled, her eyes downcast in her own drugged-up world.
I wanted nothing more than to smash through the fog and apologise. I wanted to beg for forgiveness for putting her through this.
I had to believe I was helping, because right now it felt like I was making it worse.
Tess didn’t make a sound as I dragged her through the dark-shrouded house. I ignored the rich decor of the twelve bedrooms, five bathroom home that’d been designed by myself and an architectural team. Sitting pride of place on a cliff overlooking the sea, it was part of the subdivision I’d participated in a few years ago. It was also the house that granted one sex slave in return for the bribery of Tenerife planning officials.
It was empty. Fully furnished and staged as a show home to encourage cashed-up rich fucks to buy into the twenty-plus complex.
It’d been a quick phone call to secure and ensure complete privacy. Franco would make sure we weren’t disturbed. There wasn’t a more perfect place for the first stage in the crescent moon with Tess. I had no desire to ever come here again—the bad memories would be left in its walls, and Tess would be free.
Stepping into a bathroom the size of a small lounge, I dragged Tess to a standstill. New sun tried to enter the room, but I’d drawn every blind, every shutter.
Tess and I were formed in the dark. The dark had moulded us, changed us, almost broken us, but in its black embrace we would find healing and peace.
“Look at me, Tess Snow.”
Her eyes met mine, flinty and fierce. Tears decorated her cheeks like silver droplets, and I wanted so fucking bad to lick them off her skin. I wanted to consume her misery and fight it for her.
“It’s time to wash it all away.” With unforgiving hands, I untied the belt from around her wrists and shoved the dressing gown off her shoulders. She stood trembling and naked. I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself not to touch her. My fingers screamed to stroke her, to dip inside her again.
“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.”