A Delicious Conquest
25
Y ou will be sorry, Brynne.
What exactly did he mean by that? He said he wanted to find a solution that benefited them both. More likely, he wanted her to take the money and leave Skye. She grabbed her cell phone and pulled the covers up to ward off the chill. Jared was the only one who could be her sounding board. She needed his wisdom.
The screen looked like it was dialing, but nothing happened. She opened her email and there were no new messages. The Wi-Fi signal was strong, but she wasn’t connecting after two attempts. Goddamnit .
Throwing her robe and slippers on, she went downstairs to check her aunt’s notebook for another password. Access denied. WTF?! After a thorough search, she realized she had no modem or router.
What she did have was a landline hanging on the kitchen wall. Thank god! The receiver cord hung to the floor because Josie used to love to walk around while talking. Brynne looked up Alistair’s number and dialed.
“Hello Brynne.”
“Hi Alistair, sorry to bother you, but do you have the number for the internet provider? I realize the utilities aren’t transferred yet, but my Wi-Fi is down, and I don’t have an account number or anything to reference.”
“Hang on, I have a file here with all the recent invoices.”
She chewed on her fingernail while she waited.
“Sorry dear, there is nothing current for the internet. About six months ago, Josie closed her account with SkyeNet, so you’ll need to open a new one.”
“But I’ve had services up until today. I used the password Josie had written down.”
“Maybe they didn’t disconnect it until now, although that seems odd.”
“It does. Do you have their number? I can’t even get a signal to Google it.”
Brynne took the number and thanked Alistair, ready to hang up.
“Oh, Brynne…”
“Yes?”
“I am sorry MacCallum’s lawyers now have a copy of the unredacted will. By law, I had to provide it.”
“Oh god! He’ll see those absurd conditions.” She blew out her breath. “What happens next?”
“If they make a formal filing, they will notify us. So far, they haven’t.”
“No, he’s still hoping I will cave and give him what he wants.”
Alistair cleared his throat.
“What? Is there more bad news?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. I was, um, surprised. Magnus mentioned you and he dated back in London.”
Brynne’s mouth dropped open. She gripped the receiver, not believing her ears. That bastard. “We had a very brief… It was… Yes, we dated.”
“It’s none of my business, dear. It’s just too bad it didn’t work out. Maybe then—”
She cut him off. “Yes, unfortunate. Well, I must go. I can’t survive here without the internet. Keep me posted on their next move.”
“Will do.”
Brynne beat the receiver against the old Formica counter in a rage before slamming it into the metal holder. She wanted to kill him. How dare he? Obviously, he had a cozy little confab with her lawyer after she left!
“Bastard!” Screaming only made her feel marginally better.
After an hour of pacing up and down the kitchen, she was unwilling to listen to SkyeNet’s horrid hold music a second longer. Logan was due anytime, and she decided her best bet was to work from the library.
Jared texted his full support of her plan to date Logan. He was a firm believer in diving back into the pool, assuring her it would help her forget the demon, Gage.
She hadn’t asked a guy out in forever. What if he said no?
Logan arrived right on schedule and gave her a warm and twinkly-eyed hello as he carried an array of equipment into the house. She smiled and stood there, fiddling with the strap of her purse.
He looked at her quizzically. “What’s up?”
“Not much. I’m going to the library. My internet is down.”
“Okay.” He looked down at his phone. “Oh shit, no signal. Magnus has probably called and, knowing him, they’re on the way to fix it.”
“Okay, well, that’s good.” Brynne watched him unpacking his stuff and took a deep breath. “I wondered if you wanted to go out sometime. Um. Thursday, they are having a karaoke night at the Whistling Oyster Bar, and I thought, I wondered—”
He grinned, showing off his dimples. “I’d love to. I can’t sing worth a damn, but it sounds like fun.”
“Okay great, cool.” Her cheeks turned pink.
“I can pick you up around seven p.m. on Thursday. Does that work?”
“Sounds good. Okay, I’m off. Coffee is made if you want some.”
“Thanks. See you later.”
She waved awkwardly and left.
As she drove past Gage’s fortress, she threw up her middle finger in salute and hoped he was watching.
The public library was decent. She found a quiet corner on the second floor to set up. She did an online application for internet services and then tried to settle into editing. Each time she reviewed a sex scene and tried to turn up the heat between her characters, it was Gage’s face she saw. Finally, she ran with it and allowed her thoughts free rein. It worked. She wrote a 1,200-word scene before breaking to grab lunch. It was a frustrating process; her second draft needed more erotic content, and she had minimal firsthand experiences to draw from.
If she was honest, forgetting Gage wasn’t her only reason for dating Logan. If things worked out, she could show the hot handyman what she wanted in bed. Meeting the “boyfriend” conditions of the will would be a bonus.
Thursday came quickly and Brynne tried on three different outfits before finally settling on a pair of jeans, a simple white button-down blouse, and her navy blazer. She found a cute pair of blue suede ankle boots in her aunt’s closet. The best thing to happen this week was the discovery of Josie’s designer shoe collection. And learning they both wore a size seven.
Logan looked very handsome when he came to fetch her. He wore a pair of dark jeans, a pale blue chambray shirt paired with a worn leather jacket and sexy cowboy boots. He told her how pretty she looked when he helped her step up into his truck.
On the drive to town, Brynne broke the awkward silence by asking him about his work. Logan was happy to have something to talk about and started regaling her about the last nine months spent working at Gage’s house. Brynne ooh’d and ahh’d at the right times while he told her about the imported slate in the bathrooms, the two-story stone fireplace, and the amazing gym in the third-floor loft with its own luxurious spa bathroom on one end and a massage room on the other. Brynne was relieved when they arrived at the restaurant, even though she’d been devouring every damned detail about the house.
Over dinner, Logan finally asked her about her own career and seemed surprised she wasn’t a full-time waitress. She told him about her journalism degree and the book project. When he asked what kind of book, she called it a mystery romance. She was happy he didn’t ask more questions, saving her from making something up. The karaoke started, and they ordered another round. She admitted needing liquid courage to get up to sing.
It started to get loud, making conversation difficult. Brynne went and grabbed a copy of the song book. The guy working the machine was the same one who ran karaoke night at Declan’s bar, so she knew he had a broad selection.
“You sure you don’t want to sing?” Brynne asked Logan as she considered her choices.
“Hell no. My voice would empty this place. I’m looking forward to hearing you. What are you going to sing?”
“I’m thinking of a song by Jefferson Airplane.”
“Nice—I like classic rock.”
“They were one of my aunt’s favorite artists. She introduced me to them, the Moody Blues, and the Stones.”
“So which song, ‘Somebody to Love’?”
“Either that one or ‘White Rabbit.’”
“Oh, that’s a killer tune. Do that one.”
Brynne gulped down more of her cocktail and put her name on the list. There were two other names before hers—a cute couple did an old country and western duet and then a group of friends sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” She was up next.
“Wish me luck!”
The drinks helped her nerves, but as she neared the stage, she wondered if this night was a bad idea. If it didn’t work out, he wouldn’t finish the repair work. First dates were always awkward. She needed to calm down and get through the song. It had been ages since she did this—and never without Jared. She walked up to the microphone and was glad the lights were so bright that she couldn’t see Logan or anyone beyond the dance floor.
The song began with its distinctive bolero-styled bass notes, and when the crowd heard the military beat of the drums, they cheered. Brynne started tentatively, but then got absorbed in the song and belted out the last verse—with the audience singing along.
“Feed your head! Feed your head!”
The clapping and whistling reassured her, and she received some high fives as she made her way around the tables to their booth. Brynne felt elated that her voice hadn’t cracked when she stretched to reach the highest notes.
When she got back, Logan was nowhere to be seen. What the hell? Did he miss her performance? She noticed he had left her purse unattended, and that pissed her off. A quick check confirmed her phone and wallet were still there.
She turned to search the crowd for him and was startled by a six-foot-two mass of testosterone staring down at her, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
“What are you doing here? Where is Logan?”
“I sent him home.”
“You did what?! You had no right!”
He moved to sit in the booth beside her, and she scrambled back and put her purse between them.
“Keep your voice down, Red.”
“I will not. Besides, no one can hear us over the music.” She crossed her arms and scowled at him.
“I caught most of your song. You were great.”
“Pfft. Why are you here, Gage? Or should I call you Magnus?”
“Why don’t we get out of here so we can talk?”
She shook her head. How did she forget how big and imposing he was up close? His distinctive scent drifted over her, causing her heart to pound like a bass in her ears. She stuck her chin out. “Not until you explain why you scared off my date.”
“He doesn’t know what you need.”
“How dare you! And you think you know?”
His eyes bore into hers. “I do. Let me drive you home.”
“I can get a taxi after I have another drink and sing another song. Like, ‘You’re So Vain.’”
His unexpected laughter took her breath away. She was in deep trouble.
“You’ve already had plenty to drink, and it’s too loud to have a conversation.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
He shook his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I can easily carry you kicking and screaming out of here, or you can be civilized.”
“I am so past civilized, it’s not funny, Mags. Was that your nickname as a child?”
That last cocktail had made her reckless. She watched in fascination as he looked around, as if measuring the reaction if he tossed her over his shoulder and waltzed out.
He leaned close to her ear. “Be careful what you wish for, Brynne. If you keep teasing the beast, you might find yourself caught and devoured.”
She considered her options when he rose and held out a hand to her.
“Do you always get your way?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head and took his hand. “Fine. I’ll come with you, but only because I’m ready to leave and you scared off my ride.”
He helped her into the luxurious SUV, and she couldn’t help but run her hands over the rich leather seat. Gage got in and started the Range Rover. Then he reached over to clip her seatbelt.
She blew out a sigh. “Thanks, Dad. I would have done that, I was just captivated by all the pretty lights on the dash. It looks like an airplane cockpit.” When he didn’t respond, she said, “You better not have made Logan mad at me. I need him.”
“He’s not mad. I explained that you and I have some unfinished business.”
Brynne snorted. “That’s one way of putting it.”
They drove through the darkened roads in silence. But when they pulled into his drive and the garage door opened, she sat up. “What are you doing? I thought you were taking me home.”
“Your place is a construction zone. I’ll take you home after we talk.”
She huffed. “I hate that you know my business!”
“You seem to forget this is a small town. Everyone knows everyone’s business.”
He came around to open her door. She was struggling to unclip the seat belt, then turned pleading eyes to him. “I’m stuck.”
Gage put his foot up on the running board and leaned into her space. “I do enjoy seeing you like this. Trapped and unable to escape.”
Up to this moment, she never understood what romance writers meant when they described the hero giving the heroine a smoldering look. She knew it now because she was melting under his gaze. She licked her lips—whether it was inadvertent or because her body was inviting him to kiss her, she couldn’t say. Gage stared at her mouth for what felt like an eternity. His thumb caressed her bottom lip, then pulled her mouth open slightly. She closed her eyes, thinking a kiss would follow, but it didn’t. His warm breath tantalized; his fingers spread over her cheek and held her there, just below her ear. He nipped her bottom lip and then licked it. Lips brushed lightly across hers but were gone as she lifted her chin in a silent plea for more.
When his hand encircled her neck and tilted her head, her eyes flew open and met his.
“Do you want this?” His eyes pinned her in place.
“Yes.” Her voice squeaked.
The word “please” was lost when his mouth met hers. His hand moved to cradle her head and his tongue sought entry, darting in and out, until she moaned and grabbed onto his shirt to pull him closer. His tongue played with hers, gently at first and then harder and deeper. She met his ferocity with her own until he stopped and withdrew, just out of reach. A flush of satisfaction warmed her at the sound of his ragged breathing. He was just as aroused as she was.
Suddenly, he unclipped the seat belt and pulled her forward so he could hoist her over his shoulder.
“Oof!” It knocked the wind out of her, but that didn’t stop her from wriggling and playfully pummeling his backside.
A hard smack hit her bottom. “Stop squirming or I might just fuck you over the hood of the car.”
She was still trying to catch her breath and had no snappy comeback.
Gage headed into the massive country kitchen and put her down on the counter. He spread her knees and stepped in between. Brynne put her arms on his shoulders and entwined her fingers in his hair, which had grown past his collar since she’d last seen him. He allowed her to kiss, lick, and nibble his mouth while he pulled her jacket off and started on the buttons of her blouse. With three buttons to go, impatience drove him to rip the shirt open, sending the little pearls flying. Brynne gasped when he spread open her blouse and yanked it partway down her arms. He moved in to kiss her neck and drew the straps of her pale pink bra off her shoulders.
Into the crook of her neck he drawled, “Did you wear this for Logan?”
“Maybe I did.”
He pulled back and stared at her. “How many dates before you send him packing?”
“Thought I might keep him around. He looks like good boyfriend material.”
“Ha!” he barked. “He is as vanilla as they come. You’d be bored in a week.”
“How do you know? Have you slept with him?”
Gage suddenly leaned back and grabbed her wrists. “Don’t think I will tolerate this impertinence. For once, are you going to do as you’re told?”
Brynne grinned impishly and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “What do you think?”
“I think by the end of this night, you will understand what obedience is. That is, if you don’t run home.”
She giggled nervously. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“You should be.” He smiled so wickedly, her stomach did backflips.
He dragged her arms behind her, holding them pinned against her back. Heat blazed from his eyes. “I’ve warned you enough times what I expect, yet you continue to play games.”
Brynne pressed her lips together and stuck her chin out. “You hate me. How can you want this?” I need the answer because I should hate you, but I can’t deny this unquenchable need.
“My cock doesn’t care if I hate you. Now is your chance to leave, because if you stay, I’m going to take everything I want from you until I’ve had my fill.”
The truth was Brynne had never wanted anything so badly. But she couldn’t bring herself to submit completely. “I won’t surrender willingly. I want you to make me.”
He rocked back on his heels and looked up at the ceiling. “That should go against all my principles, but for tonight, I’ll make an exception. And if you cannot take it, say your safe word and it all stops.”
Brynne thought to herself, he doesn't know me very well. She never backed down from a challenge and he just double-dog dared her.
He stood back and yanked her boots and socks off and tossed them into the corner. She found herself carried like a sack of potatoes through the great room to the master suite. Half expecting to be dropped onto the Viking-size four-poster bed, she was surprised when he walked into the adjoining bathroom and put her down. She felt the heat coming from the stone floor and was admiring the gigantic bathtub when he spoke. “You have five minutes to do what you need to, because for the rest of the night, you will be chained to my bed.”
He turned and shut the door.
Holy fuck. Brynne was glad to have a few minutes to collect herself. She needed to pee, then searched and found a clean facecloth. No way did she want him to know she was already soaking wet. The washcloth did the trick and, against her better judgment, she used his toothbrush. Knowing him, that could tip him off the deep end. Whatever, she knew he could can afford a new one.
One loud knock made her squeal and jump. “You have two minutes to get out here. Naked.”
Naked. Pfft. She took a minute to breathe and center herself. This was a dream come true. She would remember every detail of the night; it would fuel her writing, and she would get over wanting him.
His voice bellowed through the door, “Anything you don’t take off will be shredded if I have to remove them for you.”
“Okay!” she yelled back. Bastard.
The door opened when she was pulling her jeans off. She hopped on one leg and started to tip over. The hard floor was coming up to meet her. Just her luck, she'd get knocked out and miss the whole damn night!
Gage caught her before she hit the floor. She looked up with a weak smile. “My hero.”
“Christ, woman, the only way to keep you safe is to tie you down.”
He sat her on the closed toilet and pulled her jeans off, then helped her to stand.
“Cute panties. It will be a shame to destroy them.”
“Wait no! I was going to, before you came barging in here.”
He held out his hand for them, and she rolled her eyes angrily, then yanked them off and handed them to him. Rebellion shone from her eyes.
“Do you plan to keep them as a souvenir?”
“No, I will keep them close by. If you can’t stop talking back, you know where they will end up.”
She crossed her arms when he motioned for her to exit the bathroom. The bedroom was toasty and cast in a warm glow from the gas fireplace. She eyed the canopy bed that dominated the room. On top of each carved wood column was a wrought iron design with four scrolls that doubled as hooks. Thick metal posts extended the columns to well beyond seven feet and supported the forged metal canopy above. She shivered when she saw the restraints on the bed.
“Get on your knees.” His eyes were gleaming.
She met fire with fire. “Make me, Mags.” In her head she wondered if she had a death wish.
One hand gripped her by her hair and forced her over the side of the bed; the other pressed down between her shoulder blades so she couldn’t move.
“Fight me all you want. It will make your eventual submission all the sweeter.”
She groaned in response and tried to wiggle free, but his body was on top of her, and she could feel his erection through his jeans.
He grabbed the padded leather cuffs and buckled them snugly on each wrist. Then he dragged her arms up over her head and clipped them together by a short chain.
He lifted her up and maneuvered her to stand facing the post at the foot of the bed. One arm gripped her around the waist and the other pulled her arms up over her head. Before she could react, he pressed her forward against the post and hung her wrists over an iron hook. She struggled for purchase on her tiptoes and watched him cross the room to his closet. He returned with several scary-looking implements and laid them on the bed where she could see them.
“See anything you like?”
“You’ve seen one flogger, you’ve seen them all.” She tried to sound flippant and failed.
He laughed, a low gravelly sound that skittered across her skin.
“First, let’s ensure you can’t kick me.” He grabbed another set of cuffs and fastened them around her ankles. Brynne’s pulse thrummed hard in her ears and wetness pooled between her legs. She was helpless to his whims and the truth was inescapable; she would give him anything he wanted.
She felt the heat from his body right behind her and tried to press herself against him. Bad idea. He smacked her ass hard. Slowly, his hands trailed a path up from her hips. With a feather-light touch, he caressed the undersides of her breasts. All around he went, playing close to her hardened nipples, but never touching them.
“Please,” she whined.
“Please, what, Red?”
“Please touch me, let me feel you up against me, inside me…anything.”
“Punishments first. Rewards later.”
“Do it then! Punish me—just stop teasing me!” Her body flooded with need. Desperate and impatient, she turned her face into her arms and moaned, “Just get it over with.”
“What is your safe word?”
“Red.”
Gage picked up the flat two-inch-wide leather strap with the braided handle. He smacked his hand, and she jumped at the sound.
Thwack! The first strike hit the fullness of her bottom. That wasn’t so bad.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
“OMG that stings!”
He took his time and spanked every single part of her ass, then her thighs, then back up to her already tender cheeks—all the while acting oblivious to her whining and moaning.
“Oh! Ow! Ooow!” she screamed. Her backside was on fire; strange electric currents were thrumming over her clit. In her head, she could hear the intense bass line of “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac. It vibrated across all her nerve endings.
She lost count of how many times that infernal strap hit her tender flesh, aware only of the prickling burn that zinged through her body—equal parts pain and arousal. Her hips pressed forward, trying to rub against the bedpost, but he noticed immediately and wrapped his arm around her waist. His mouth was next to her ear. “Don’t even think about it.”
With little effort, he lifted her off the hook and laid her face up across his bed. Brynne groaned when her tender flesh touched the cool sheets. She felt him detach the clip holding her ankle cuffs together and flushed in embarrassment when he dragged her left leg toward the foot of the bed. He tugged it wide and chained it there, leaving her totally exposed. She drew her other knee up and rolled to conceal herself from him. His low and wicked chuckle mocked her as he captured her right ankle and fastened it to the head of the bed. She covered her face with her arms and called him a bastard under her breath. The chains held fast, but she still tried to draw her knees together.
A hard smack on her inner thigh made her gasp and jerk against the cuffs.
“Keep your legs open. I want to see how wet you are for me.”
“You’ve got me where you want me. What now?”
“What do you want, Red?”
Letting him know how much she wanted him was not an option. “You have a cock and I happen to want one.” Lifting her head up, she stared him down. “You ran my date off—and I almost forgot, you stole Mr. Boss!”
“What?”
“My vibrator—you took it with you, remember? I want it back.”
“So, any phallus will suffice right now?”
He moved to the other side of the bed, out of her sight. She paused, not sure how to answer. “Yes… No! Please, I’ll do anything.”
Silence.
“Fine, it’s your cock that I want. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
Warm hands grasped her cuffed arms and drew them over her head, where he had another chain ready to secure them. She tested the give and found none. When he placed a blindfold over her eyes, a whimper escaped. The bed dipped beside her. Then he grasped her just above her waist and pulled her toward him until her legs were stretched taut and her arms were pinned to the bed.
“Are you afraid I will escape?”
No reply: just footsteps moving away, shoes being kicked off, the sound of a zipper followed by the jingle of his belt. She squirmed in anticipation. A drawer opened and closed. Then the sound of leather hitting his hand. Uh oh.
“I told you I wanted to see you writhe and pull against these restraints. I control everything, sweetheart, including when you come, and when you get released.”
Brynne sighed dramatically. “If you don’t let me come soon, I may perish.”
“Mmm. So impatient.” The bed dipped again, and she could feel the heat of his body next to hers. Her hands reached out, but the tether was too short.
His fingers grazed her breasts like before, except both hands teased her simultaneously, alternating between squeezing and then lightly caressing them. Then finally his palms abraded her nipples, back and forth, making them engorged and achy. One hand grasped her flesh and plumped it—she hoped for his mouth, but it was the shocking sting of leather instead.
“Ah, god!” she screeched just before his mouth was there to soothe and bathe the tortured nipple. He repeated it with her other breast, and even though she knew what was coming, it still made her jerk against the bonds when the leather tongue bit her. He lapped and kissed and grazed the tips with his teeth until Brynne was panting. Again and again, he punished and then soothed them until they were swollen and throbbing.
“Open your mouth.”
No hesitation, just total compliance. Much, much later, she would question her blind obedience. Right now, she wanted to scream, Oh yes, please!
Gage kneeled over her head and lowered his cock to her mouth, dragging the tip across her waiting tongue. Brynne raised her head so she could wrap her lips around the head, her tongue stroking in circles, swirling the sensitive underside, reveling in the sounds that came from his chest. She licked and sucked as much as he would give her and was so engrossed in the task that she hadn’t noticed he had moved down her body—until he settled himself on top of her, with his mouth poised above her spread thighs.
She felt his warm breath first, then his fingers on her most intimate parts, exploring her folds, dipping into the source of all her pent-up desires. His fingers penetrated and withdrew, once, twice, three times until she was writhing beneath him. On the verge of a climax, she screamed a desperate plea, which was muffled by his shaft. Suddenly, he pulled back, raising himself above her. His accent was stronger than she had ever heard it. “No coming yet, sweetheart. I’m going to fuck your throat first.”
Brynne was close to the edge—one touch on her clit, and she would come. But the bastard had other plans. “I hate you,” she whispered.
He chuckled. “Good things come to those who wait. And obey.”
In response, she dropped her head back on the bed and stuck her tongue out before opening to him. He slowly slid his shaft in deeper until the head tapped the back of her throat. As he withdrew, she used her tongue and lips to enthrall him. He allowed her to lavish the head like a lollipop before pushing down, deeper this time. It thumped against her soft palate, and she tensed. He withdrew a few inches and held it there. “Relax your throat for me. I’ll take it slow.” His voice sounded strained.
Brynne forced herself to breathe so that the next time he slid deeper still, she was ready for it. He established an unhurried pace, leaving her enough time to inhale and focus solely on the rhythmic pulsing of his cock owning her throat. It thrilled her to hear his breath becoming labored, and each time it kissed the back of her throat, he made a noise like he was enduring rapturous torture. She felt him swell further and his whole body tensed. Gage groaned, “Fuck,” and pulled himself out of her mouth.
“What’s wrong?” She couldn’t hide her pleased little smirk.
It took him a minute to answer. “Nothing. I got too close to the edge. And I intend for you to go over when I’m coming down your throat.”
She swallowed a shiver. “Oh.”
Gage straddled her body but kept his cock out of reach. She felt him between her legs, his fingers spreading her open, and then his warm, magnificent mouth began worshipping her. She shuddered when his tongue lapped back and forth, waking her clit back to full attention. His thumbs stroked, one finger delved into her vagina, then two, all the while his wicked tongue teased and tormented until her legs tensed up and she began tilting her hips back and forth in near madness. “Please don’t stop. I’m close, s-so close.”
“Open,” was all she heard. She did, surrendering to his command. His thickness filled her mouth, and she gloried in the moment. Her lips enveloped him, and her tongue laved him as he thrust in and out. Her orgasm was building, but she wanted to hold it until he was there with her. She knew the moment had arrived when he groaned, and it reverberated on her whole mound. When he latched on to her clit and sucked, she shattered into a million pieces. Her entire body shook. Her keening wail was muted by the head of his cock, which was poised at the back of her mouth and starting to pulse. She thrust herself up and started swallowing around him, milking it straight down, until he finally stopped shuddering.