Sean glares at me with those steely eyes. “We can’t.”
Brushing my lips against his, I whisper, “But you want to.”
“You can’t do what I need right now, what I want.” Sean is about to pull away, when I reach for him, taking hold of the back of his neck.
“Try me.”
Two words. That’s all it takes to break him. Sean darts upright and pulls off his wet jacket and shirt, leaving only his jeans. He kicks off his boots and climbs urgently back on top of me. His eyes are hungry, devouring me like a starving man. He doesn’t speak. His head dips for my neck as he presses my body to his. His lips trail over my soft skin, teasing me, leaving me gasping for breath. His hand is on the back of my neck, tangling in my hair as he yanks me up onto his lap.
With a tug, he rips off my cheap shirt and tosses it to the floor. My bra is given the same treatment. Unchecked, his strength sends a chill over my skin. The way he holds me, as if he’ll never see me again makes my pulse race and takes my breath away. I want to feel my body against his, skin on skin, hot and slick, but Sean pulls away. The sudden rush of cold air makes me gasp. I reach for him and he quickly grabs my wrists, tying them together in front of me. He’s careful not to make eye contact with me as he works. It seems like a movement he’s mastered through practice. My heart pounds harder with anticipation and regret. I liked what we were doing a moment ago, but I told him he could do more.
When he’s done, my wrists are bound tightly in front of me. A shiver works its way up my spine. He stands, setting me gently on the floor. Sean’s cool blue gaze flicks up and peers at me from behind damp hair. That predatory grin spreads across his face. He circles around me, watching my chest rise and fall, tracing my body with his eyes before reaching down and ripping away my panties.
I cry out, startled by the speed with which he grabbed me. I look up to find Sean’s eyes filled with lust and something more, something dark. My pulse races faster, as my heart beats harder. I wanted this. I asked for this.
“Turn.” It’s a single word command. I do as I’m told and turn to face the bed, my back to him. He pushes me down so I’m leaning over the side of the bed, hips in the air, my tethered wrists stretched out before me. He jumps over the bed, and hooks my tethered wrists to the bottom of the bed frame.
Up until now, I’ve been able to see him moving in the faint glow of the clock and a nightlight reflecting off the bathroom mirror. Sean disappears from my view and the room turns black. The red glow of the clock is gone and the nightlight is doused.
My eyes search the darkness, but I can’t see anything. My pulse quickens as worry pinches my stomach. “Sean?” I call his name softly, turning my head when I think I hear something behind me.
The movement makes it easy for him to slip something over my head so I can’t see. Something else comes over my face, passing my eyes and lands in my mouth. He yanks it tight, gagging me. A third cloth is looped over my head and settles around my neck. That’s when I freak out. I can’t see, I can’t breathe, and if he chokes me I’m going to flip out. I buck my hips and scream, trying to free myself.
I can imagine him watching me, getting harder, as fear consumes me. The only way this would be worse is if he put a bag over my head. Sean pulls on the neck cloth tightening it. I try to lift off the bed, but can’t because my hands are tied down. I scream into the gag and kick out behind me.
I hear the snap before the pain registers. He hit me with something thin and hard, across my ass. I kick out again, and the resulting whip is harder this time, stinging so much it brings tears to my eyes. Shivering, I try to roll over, but I can’t. He pulls my make-shift collar and I still.
“Good girl.” He coos in my ear, making me jump. That’s when I feel his hand travel over my back, barely touching my skin, so that it raises goose bumps. “But I like it better when you fight me. Fight with me, Avery.” He whips me again, harder this time. It stings so badly I’m sure he’s cut my skin. The sensation makes me kick out, but he grabs my legs and spreads them apart, wedging himself between my thighs.
As I feel his hard length against me, I freeze in place. My back goes rigid as he moves, lining up with me, and pushes in. The gag muffles my high-pitched noise, but Sean could feel the truth in my response to him. It finally registers that this doesn’t hurt because I’m already wet. What’s wrong with me? I like this?
Sean breathes in my ear, “Stop thinking. Just act. Be the wild animal I know you are.” He tugs my collar and I panic as the sensation tightens, making it feel like I can’t breathe even though I can. There’s no way for me to tell him to stop.