Chapter 8
Reese
Desire.
I knew just how dangerous it could be. I’d lived to tell the tale.
A twisted moment in history that had stolen my innocence.
Every nightmare I’d had seemed to be rolling forward at the speed of a freight train.
As soon as Hunter walked closer, another wave of embarrassment rocked through me.
Maybe he was trying to quell my nerves or say silently that he wasn’t a monster, but as soon as the rough pads of his fingers tickled the skin of my cheek, I shuddered audibly.
His touch was as electrifying as he was, pushing me into a few ridiculously lurid images that were so uncalled for that another rush of anger rolled through me.
This time at myself.
He studied me so intently I could almost read his mind, a look of desire replacing the earlier sense of dispassion. I continued to wonder who he was even as he rubbed his thumb across my bottom lip. When he pulled it down, parting my lips, a whimper escaped.
The moment he shoved his thumb into my mouth, he took a deep breath. He didn’t need to command me. I knew what he expected. So I sucked the thick digit, delicately swirling my tongue across his heated skin.
Another shiver skated down my spine, not only from his touch, but the way he was looking at me.
Only once had I experienced a man who’d wore an expression of extreme hunger, something I’d never forget.
But this was entirely different. Hunter’s was explosive.
Seemingly satisfied, he pulled his thumb free, smiling as if pleased.
After brushing his knuckles down my face to my arm, he led me to one of the odd benches. “We’ll get the discipline over with. Then if you’re good, you’ll be rewarded. But you’ll need to trust me.”
He’d floated the word out there at the oddest moment. It didn’t fit with what was happening. Questions were on the tip of my tongue until another stern look was all the reminder I needed.
Now wasn’t the time to question anything. He expected me to go along with what was required. A testing of the goods, yes, but I sensed there was much more. Then it came to me. Lucifer was mindful of anyone allowed into his repulsive community, so tests were performed.
If either one of us failed, the outcome could prove to be… Dangerous. Or worse.
This was crazy. I was in a nightmare. That was the only conclusion I could come to as to why I was as calm as I was.
Yet as he guided me over the awkward sized bench, another wave of fear spooled with the remaining tingles of desire.
This wasn’t me. I wasn’t some undercover agent who knew how to both emotionally and mentally handle something like this.
I was just a teacher trying to find my sister. My entire adult life had been about following rules, teaching right from wrong to my students along with developing a literary appreciation for magnificent stories.
I’d never had a parking ticket. I’d never broken the law to the best of my knowledge. I was a good girl who read about adult fantasies. I didn’t live them.
Unable to stop shaking, I bit my bottom lip to keep from making a single sound. Not just to give Hunter some sense of satisfaction, doing so would provide Lucifer and his horrible members with a round of pure entertainment.
Lightheaded once again, I didn’t bother fighting as I was shackled to the bench, my butt higher than my forearms and knees. As soon as I was, he rolled his fingers down my spine, touching every bone as if memorizing them.
Flames flicked in my stomach, wild and hot from his touch alone. After he finished exploring inches of my body, he trailed his fingers with the flogger, draping the leather strips down my skin.
I hadn’t been prepared for the whooshing sound or the lurch of my stomach muscles when the leather was smacked across my bottom. There was no flash of pain, just a strange sense of floating somewhere outside my body. I fisted my hands, twisting my arms against the tight restraints.
There was no budging, no way of freeing myself.
Maybe that was the moment I realized I was completely helpless.
Now I truly struggled, trying to catch my breath as the horror of what was happening rolled through me again.
The yin and yang of feeling such helplessness followed by a sick sense of desire pushed me into an altered state.
He brought the flogger down again, only this time I felt not only pain in my bottom but also tearing down the back of my legs.
“Oh…” Once again, I bit my lip, fighting tears this time.
His deep breaths sounded exaggerated. I thought for certain he’d enjoy what he was doing, humiliating me in front of God knows who while satisfying at least one of his sadistic cravings.
After another three or four strikes against my bottom, heat exploded on the surface of my skin. I jerked up as much as the restraints would allow, taking gasping breaths. The lightheadedness had returned, but there was something else even more terrifying than being punished.
I was wet. The sticky feeling between my legs was as unnerving as the harsh punishment. Even the scent floating over me was getting under my skin.
He took his time caressing my skin, rolling the tips of his fingers from one side of my bottom to the other. But he didn’t waste much time, resuming the spanking seconds later. While the punishment was painful, I knew from everything I’d seen and heard that it could be so much worse.
With every snap of his wrist, my body stiffened, but juice slowly slipped down both thighs.
The sense of being lost was slowly being replaced with something else altogether. A need to feel his cock pressed against my pussy.
No. Hell, no.
I couldn’t handle the thoughts running through my mind, turning instead to concentrating on the pain as Hunter doled out four more strikes. I wiggled on the bench, fighting moans and images, crawling into a safe place to wash the horror away.
Three more strikes and suddenly, it was over, the flogger tossed aside.
I finally closed my eyes, thankful the horrible experience was over.
Then, feeling the touch of his hand, I was able to take a deep breath. At least now I could leave. Everything ached as he unshackled me, gathering me into his arms as if he really cared.
“Just leave me alone,” I managed, my eyes opening wide when realizing I’d gone against the rules.
He raked his hand down my chest, pinching my nipple between his fingers. “I suggest you learn your place.”
“Yes, sir.” My comment was said more for the people watching, yet the tone was less than conciliatory. “What now?”
“Now, I’m given the joy of tasting the merchandise to ensure I’m satisfied.”
The words slowly sank in. The test included him being required to fuck me, although I doubted that he would have any issue with doing so. Backing away, a single tear slipped past my lashes, slowly trickling down my cheek. I dared not wipe it away for fear they’d start in earnest.
No longer did it matter that this was likely some crazy game this man had cooked up.
The reasons simply didn’t matter. He was required to fuck me.
I was as sick inside as I’d been before, nervous and hating everything including the man standing in front of me.
How had I been attracted to him in the first place?
He was just like the others, his actions and needs disgusting.
The feeling of being lost returned, but for an entirely different reason.
“Would you like a drink? I plan on having one.”
His question surprised me. I hadn’t even noticed there was a bar. Now he was going to try to suggest this was a date? My nerves were riddled with anxiety and I nodded as if I was required to do so.
He didn’t ask me what I wanted, merely heading to the bar. Every clink of the glass was nauseating, every minute that passed pushing my mind into a very dark place.
When he returned, two glasses in his hand, I couldn’t look him in the eyes any longer. What was the point in doing so? I had no choice, but I certainly wouldn’t give him the idea that I was going along willingly.
Fuck him.
As my stomach continued to twist, he reached out, taking my hand and wrapping my fingers around the dense crystal. Exhaling, I brought the drink to my lips, fearful I would drop it, my hand was shaking so badly.
“Relax, Star. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“You already did,” I dared whisper.
“That was different. That was for punishment. Soon I hope that won’t be necessary.” The softness of his voice also surprised me.
“Whatever you say. Sir.” I took a swig of the drink, coughing immediately. I wasn’t used to hard liquor and the whiskey burned the back of my throat. But after a second swallow, a slight calm washed over me.
Why did he continue to study me? Did he think he knew me because he’d learned my real name? The questions continued to burn in the back of my mind. How was it even possible he knew anything about me?
Another darted look toward the mirror and I resisted the strong urge to bolt.
He turned away, walking toward the chair and sitting down. My eyes were drawn to his actions and the way he commanded the chair, sprawling across the cushion as if completely comfortable when I was a bundle of nerves.
I concentrated on my drink, trying to buy time, fighting the inevitable. He didn’t rush me, merely enjoying his drink as if the night was nothing but a sweet end to a lovely dinner out. Maybe I could pretend that’s all it was and I’d be able to get through whatever he had in mind.
As before, his eyes never left me. He certainly didn’t need to undress with his eyes. There’d been no pretense necessary.
After a couple of minutes of silence, he cleared his throat. “Come here, Star.”
The nerves remained in full force, the anger and hatred of what I’d gotten myself into pushing at my nerves until I could barely move.
But I did as he commanded, moving to within a few feet of him.
“Closer.”