He steps closer, reaching out, and before I can protest, he places Vex on my shoulder. My breath catches, and I go rigid, terrified of moving, terrified of the weight of those soft legs crawling over my skin.
Damien leans in, his mouth brushing my ear.
“Stay still, Little Spider,” he whispers, his voice a dark caress. “She won’t hurt you… unless you give her a reason to.”
I shudder, but I don’t dare move, my pulse thundering so loudly I swear the spider can feel it. Vex moves slowly, creeping along my collarbone, her legs tickling my skin, and I’m paralysed—part fear, part twisted fascination.
“Good girl,” Damien murmurs, his hands bracketing my waist, pulling me flush against him. “See? You can be obedient when you want to be.”
His lips brush my neck, and I whimper, trying not to flinch as Vex moves closer to my throat. Damien’s hands trail up my sides, slipping under my shirt, pushing it up until it pools around my ribs.
His mouth moves over my jaw, biting softly, and I feel the spider shift on my shoulder, legs dragging across my skin. I can’t help the whimper that slips out, and he hums in approval, his tongue tracing the line of my pulse.
“Scared, Raven?” he whispers, dragging his teeth over my collarbone. “You like fear, though, don’t you? It makes you feel alive. Makes you feel like you’re mine.”
His hands squeeze my waist, and I can’t stop the way my body arches into him, desperate for his touch despite the danger crawling over me. Vex inches down, moving toward the hollow of my throat, and I hold my breath, afraid that one wrong move will make her bite.
Damien’s hands slide down to my hips, pressing me back against the pedestal, and his mouth crashes onto mine—rough, consuming, pulling a gasp from me that vibrates against his lips.
“You can’t run from this,” he growls between kisses, his hands gripping my thighs, pulling them around his waist. “You can’t run from me.”
His mouth trails lower, biting down on my shoulder, just above where the spider is exploring. I can feel the scrape of his teeth, the heat of his breath, and it’s dizzying—the terror of the tarantula combined with the way he’s forcing my body to respond.
“Look at you,” he mocks, lips brushing over my skin. “So fucking helpless. I should make you beg with that spider crawling all over you. Make you admit you’re mine while you’re shaking.”
His fingers slide between my legs, pressing against the heat soaking through my pants, and I bite down on a scream, terrified of startling Vex. He smirks, rubbing in slow, maddening circles, never enough pressure to push me over the edge.
“Stay still,” he warns, voice dark and sharp. “Or Vex might get curious. Might crawl right up to your pretty lips and see how you taste.”
I swallow hard, trying not to move, trying not to whimper when he slides his hand under the waistband, fingers brushing over my slick folds. The tarantula moves closer to my collarbone, and I fight the urge to shiver, desperate not to provoke it.
Damien kisses me again, slow and rough, his fingers sliding inside me, stretching and filling, and I can’t help the way my hips jerk. He bites down on my lip hard enough to bruise, his free hand gripping my throat, keeping me still.
“Good girl,” he purrs. “Taking it so well, even with Vex watching. You like being my little spider, don’t you? Trapped in my web, too scared to move.”
He thrusts his fingers deeper, and I choke on a moan, my head tipping back against the metal. Vex crawls closer to my neck, and I freeze, tears stinging my eyes, but Damien just smirks, licking the salt off my cheek.
“You’re so fucking beautiful when you’re terrified,” he growls, his pace quickening, relentless, his thumb rubbing circles over my clit. “I could make you cum right now. Make you scream loud enough to wake the entire city. But I want you quiet. Controlled. Show me you can handle it, or I’ll let Vex crawl right into your mouth.”
I bite down on my lip to muffle the moan, my body trembling, and he laughs, dark and satisfied. His hand tightens on my throat, his other never slowing, driving me closer to the edge.
“You know you’re mine, right?” he whispers, his voice low and possessive. “You’re not running anymore. You’ll stay right here, where I can make you feel every inch of fear and pleasure until you forget how to breathe.”
I can’t hold it back anymore, my climax crashing over me, and I can’t help the sob that breaks free. Damien swallows the sound with his mouth, kissing me fiercely, his hand finally leaving my throat to gently take Vex off my shoulder, placing her back in the container.
He grins, wiping the tear from my cheek with his thumb.
“Good girl,” he whispers, voice dripping with satisfaction. “You survived. Now, let’s see how many more times I can break you tonight.”
I’m trembling, my skin still tingling where Vex’s legs brushed over me, and I can’t catch my breath. Damien pulls back just enough to look at me, his dark eyes glittering with satisfaction and something far more twisted.
He sets the container down on the pedestal, cracking the lid just slightly open. My stomach flips, dread pooling low in my belly.
“You did so well, Little Spider,” he murmurs, brushing his knuckles down my cheek. “But I think you can handle a little more, don’t you?”
I swallow hard, every nerve still on fire, and he smirks, his hands sliding down to my hips, dragging me closer until I’m pressed against him. His lips find my neck, biting down hard enough to make me gasp.
He grabs my wrists, pinning them above my head with one hand, his body pressing me back against the cold metal pedestal. His other hand moves to the container, lifting the lid just a fraction more.
