My breath hitches.
“Your safeword still goes, Trouble. But if you don’t wanna use it, you better make these nice folks think you’re my innocent victim. Sell it.”
A rush of adrenaline makes the hairs on my arms stand. I know he won’t shoot me, but I want to pretend I don’t. I want to imagine he’s a masked stranger robbing this diner, unpredictable and dangerous.
I choose to surrender myself to the fantasy he offers.
But in this fantasy, one wrong word, one wrong move could cost me everything. Resisting could end my life. I have no choice but to obey. Having that decision taken from me is the most free I’ve ever felt.
My head bobs. “I promise I’ll behave, sir.”
Rust reaches into his pocket and takes out two old plastic bags, shoving them into my hands.
“Now listen up!” he shouts at the other customers. “For the next magic trick, this pretty lady is gonna be my assistant. We’ll walk around the room together and all y’allare gonna drop your phones in one bag, your wallets in the other. If anybody wants to play the hero, I’ll show you what your guts look like spattered across the floor.”
Rust’s threats are met with a wave of demure nods. He has the room under total control.
That stark duality between the sweet, respectful man I know and the ruthless, dominant outlaw is sexy as fuck. Add in the fact that he still asked for my consent in this? We’re talking volcanic levels of hotness.
Pussy explosion.
At this point, a single brush of his finger over my clit would probably have me orgasming on the spot.
Rust’s palm meets my shoulder in a light shove. “What’s goin’ on in that head of yours, Red?”
Huh, I like that new pet name.Red. Really makes it feel like he’s a perfect, dangerous stranger.
“Your cheeks are all pink. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were havin’ naughty thoughts in public. Anything you wanna share with the class?” he presses.
Bastard. I swear he read my dirty fantasies like they’re written on my forehead.
“I–uh, sorry, sir. No sir,” I say quickly.
“Then stop daydreaming and do as you’re told.”
Rust is right behind me with the shotgun while I approach the closest customer.
Panic mirrors in the guy’s eyes as he reaches slowly into the pocket of his khakis. He pulls out his phone and his wallet, putting them in the bags.
“Hands behind your head again!” Rust barks. The man obeys instantly. “Now go to that corner by the counter and while you’re there, turn off that damn radio!”
The man stumbles as he gets up. He shuffles to the corner and fumbles with the radio until he findsthe off switch. Oppressive silence comes over the diner like a storm cloud.
Person by person, we collect wallets and phones. Rust herds the customers like sheep into the same corner. I’m the last to put my things in the bags.
“Give me the loot,” Rust orders.
I hold the bags out to him. He grabs them, but the moment I let go, he lets go, too. Wallets and phones scatter over the floor. My pulse stutters as I read the truth in his smoldering gaze.
He made me drop the bags on purpose.
His hand flies to my throat. “Look what you’ve done, you clumsy little slut. You’re lucky I’m a patient man or I’d put you across my lap and tan your hide right here in front of these fine folks.”
“I-I’m sorry!” I wheeze as heat gathers between my legs.
“Hey, let her go!” the guy in the khakis yells.
Rust raises his shotgun and fires. I flinch at the bang. Screams echo through the diner as debris rains down from the ceiling.
