Twisted Together (Monsters in the Dark #3)(34)

Don’t. Pull away. Something isn’t right.

That voice. The words of wisdom I always listened to.

Too bad it faded with every heartbeat.

Pressing my lips against hers, I never looked away from her blue-grey depths. She stood so regal, not slouching or trembling when I released my grip. “Are you telling me the truth?”

Tess never spoke to me in French, but she whispered, “Je comprends. C'est bon.” Yes. It’s okay.

Her touch threaded through my hair, cupping the back of my skull. Her nails sank into my scalp, causing me to break out in shivers. The sharp thrill reminded me all too well of being strapped to the bed and at her f*cking mercy.

She’d torn me apart.

She’d flayed me alive.

She’d made me weak.

The beast inside growled; I trembled, trying to keep the cage locked and secure.

“Take your hands off me, Tess,” I said, low and curt. Gritting my teeth, I fought against the violent craving. The one screaming of retribution. I wanted payback. Strike for strike. Lash for lash.

Tess stiffened, dropping her arms.

The sane part of my brain—the part unshadowed by monsters—fought to understand what had changed. Something about her drew everything evil to the surface. She called to this awful part of me.

Squeezing my eyes, I hissed, “I need you to stop.”

Stop so I don’t hurt you. I don’t want to f*cking hurt you.

Yes, you do.

“There’s nothing to stop,” she murmured. “I want this. I want you.”

“Stop!” I roared, shaking her. My fingers burned to choke. Unable to stand touching her, I shoved her away. She fell onto the chaise, her breasts bouncing with the force of her fall.

I spun away, clutching my head. Get out. Get out!

I had to get control. I had to find a way to protect her. None of this was right.

Then why does she give you permission?

I opened my eyes, hoping to see the strong unsullied woman I’d fallen so madly for. I needed to see her strength. But all I saw was a shell. A vacant shell.

Fuck!

I took a step back, cursing when something sharp poked my sole. I looked down and my stomach hollowed out.

My belt.

Hit her. Strike her. Turn her white skin red.

Breathing hard, I stared right into Tess’s flushed face. Where was my esclave? The equal measure of f*ckedupness I’d come to rely on was gone—twisted into something entirely different that I couldn’t understand.

Her fire had been replaced by acceptance and resilience. Her eyes didn’t taunt me to hurt her, or glimmer with lust. She stood, waiting like a perfect f*cking slave.

Goddammit!

My anger went from simmering to explosive; I lost another part of my soul.

Her panting chest drew my attention; my eyes devoured her naked flesh. “I can’t stop it. Whatever you’re doing—it’s making it worse. Ten times worse. A thousand times worse.” The roaring grew louder, tearing my brain apart with the need to give in. “Tess—you’re…” You’re not safe. Run!

Her entire body flushed with fear before being hidden by submission. Her back straightened. Her eyes screamed some silent message while her mouth devastated my remaining self-control.

“Do it. Please, Q. You need to. I see how much you need to.”

I wrenched my hair. Tell the truth. Stand up to me.

Only she could stop this. Only she could put me back on the leash I desperately needed.

“I’ll hurt you. Do you understand that?” I could barely speak through clenched teeth.

Silence.

Tell me no. Be brave.

She bowed her head. “Yes.”

I shook my head, disbelieving. “I’ll draw blood. Do you want that?”

Her shoulders rolled. “I understand.”

“I’ll make you f*cking scream. You can’t mean it.”

Her body hunched. “I do. I do mean it.”

The beast roared, and I had nothing left. No sanity, no strength. She’d given me absolute control while presenting her fear and acceptance in front of a man who’d fought against his baser desires all his life.

This was why I ran from weak women.

This was why I never let myself go near a slave who’d been used to the point of graceful compliance.

Because I wasn’t f*cking strong enough to say no. I wouldn’t hold back—not now.

The leash snapped free. The cage flung wide.

I snatched the belt off the floor.

Breathing harder than I ever had before, I slammed down on the chaise beside Tess and yanked her over my lap.

The rapid pace of her chest rose and fell; her clammy skin stuck to my thighs as panic sprang from her pores. I’d crossed the threshold of no turning back.

Tess wiggled, but I held her down.

“Q…Q, wait.” Her voice rose an octave, filling with terror.

Before, it would’ve been enough to cut through the dense black fog I existed in, reining me back.

But not now.

Now it f*cking fed me.

Having her splayed, so vulnerable over my legs, set free every diabolical demon inside. I would hit her. I would f*ck her. And I wouldn’t stop until I tasted her blood.

Bending over, I hissed in her ear, “You’re going to writhe for me. You’re going to scream.”