Dark (Beautiful Ashes #1)(46)

Braxton reached out his hand and Keeley didn’t back away. “You are a gem. One I mean to keep all to myself.”

She batted her lashes at him. “Sir,” she affirmed as the attendant led her out to Leith.

Leith put his arm around her shoulders. “How the hell are we explaining those marks?”

“Give me time to think about it. Right now,” she sighed heavily, “I need to close my eyes.”

“Let’s get you in the car before anyone else wants to chat.”







Leith acknowledged the ass-whopping he was going to get when Tar saw those raised welts on Keeley. He watched her search for something that would match. “We’re going to go with—I needed you to try these,” she tossed some leather straps his way, “on me to help get me into the right state of mind.”

“Keeley, I can’t keep lying to the man for you. He doesn’t deserve it.”

She spun on her heel and hissed, “Of course he doesn’t, but what choice do we have?”

He nodded emphatically. “I know. But you have to realize, the longer we deceive him, the worse it’ll be.”

Her finger was on his chest, poking. “You don’t think I know that! I’m betraying the man I love,” she screeched.

Leith captured her hand and pinned it against him. “It’s because you love him that I’m not seducing you right now,” he said through gritted teeth.

Her eyes widened at his confession. “Please, just help me do this. I’m trying to help you, Mitch, and Tar. My ways may seem misconstrued, but they’re for the greater good.”

He grabbed the straps and commanded, “Turn around.” Making sure he matched the patterns Braxton left, he struck. She cried out with each lash. “You go ahead and keep lying to yourself, Keeley,” he rasped in her ear, tossing the leather to the side. “But you’re doing this for you.”

She was on her knees hugging herself. “No. That’s not true,” she denied.

“Really? You want me to prove it.”

“Please leave.”

“Oh, I’ll go, but you better listen up. You’re out of your ever-lovin’ mind if you think you can control this addiction.” He slammed the door, leaving her to the misery that was all-consuming.

Leith was right. Keeley wasn’t stupid. She was living up to exactly what she already knew about herself—a complete fuck-up. She screamed and beat her fists against the mat underneath her.

The demon watched as she slowly gave into the guilt and shame. Yes, by the time she accepted the lies he was telling her, it would be too late for Tar or anyone to save her.







Tarius was up before sunrise and figured he needed to run off some of his anxiety. Music pumping through his ear buds, he pushed himself hard. Keeley was lying to him, but he couldn’t figure out about what. The niggling sensation that once he knew it would be over with her, taunted him. He wanted her to trust him enough to tell him what was going on. Prove to her, he could love her darkest parts and not give up. Yet he acknowledged, none of that was possible if she didn’t want to. He couldn’t help her heal if she wasn’t ready. Just like the drug she was once hooked on, until she wanted free of those chains no one could do a damn thing. Sure they could keep speaking the truth. Maybe, just maybe, some of it would trickle in. But her newest obsession could kill her before that ever happened. He needed to find a way to fight this demon of hers. Tar made a one-eighty and ran faster. An idea surfaced and he needed to verify if it could work.







Keeley stood in the shower as it stung across her tortured skin. She hissed, taking in the pain. Her fingers went to her hardened peaks, twisting and pulling. In her mind, she pictured Tar tugging on her nipple rings. She hadn’t put them back in since that sick fucker almost tore her boobs off. Her hand traveled down to where her womb once was. Every mistake she made stole a part of her body and soul. The water caught one particularly sore spot, taking her breath away. She sat on the shower floor, knees up, doing her best to breathe through it. At this angle the water was lightly tapping between her legs. Her focus shifted. One hand toyed with her nipple. Her other finger was moving in and out of her sex as she spread her legs wide for the shower to pulse on her pleasure spot. Tar was there in her mind’s eye as she played with herself, urging her on to make herself come for him. She climaxed screaming out his name. After a few moments, she stood and finished showering.

Keeley took in all the red stripes on her backside using a smaller mirror along with the large one above the vanity. How would she ever hide these from Tar? Then it hit, that book Lacey was reading had been on a very sexy scene. And hello, her sister knew a thing or two about bondage. After all, it was E’s specialty. Excited to learn more about the art of restraining Tar, she finished getting ready in a hurry.