“You’re going to hurt yourself,” Rowan’s cool tone has my head whipping up.
He glowers across from me, the gas mask pushed up over his head as he takes a dominant stance. His legs are spread wide, and his thick arms crossed over his chest. His bloodied shirt is gone, exposing his inked chest and abdomen. Blood is smeared across his pecks from the open wound on his shoulder.
I want to speak, but I can’t. All that comes out is a muffled, garbled mess of sounds. My eyes widen as I register the gag that's tied around my head and lodged between my teeth. A scared moan leaves me as I finally look down.
The purple rope is what’s restricting my movements. There’s a crossing star shape across my chest, and the crook of my left leg is fastened close to my stomach, while my other dangles, and my toes touch the dirt. This position is open and vulnerable. It wouldn't be so bad if I weren't completely fucking naked.
My hands are bound behind my back, and I follow the direction of the rope until it leads to a low-hanging branch. He’s tied me to a tree, and I’m at his mercy.
The chilling nighttime air nips at my heated skin, sending goosebumps over my flesh. I try to pull on my restraints, but it’s no use. The rope bites into my arms and chest, leaving red welts in its wake.
“Struggling is no use,” Rowan reminds me as he reaches into his jeans’ pocket and pulls out my phone. He shakes it in his hand, showing me the cracked screen. “You have this whole town searching for you, Sunshine.”
Muffled whines leave me as my body turns. My toes barely touch the dirt, and it isn't enough for me to anchor myself in place.
He tsks, shaking his head as he observes the jagged wound on his shoulder. It looks worse now that I can see the torn flesh around it. “You have good survival instincts, and I'm proud of you.” Those stormy eyes darken as they lock with mine. “But you should know better than to push me.”
An eerie feeling creeps along the nape of my neck like a cold draft. The air around us is heavier—chargedwith something electrifying as Rowan steps towards me. I close my eyes as he lifts a hand to my cheek. He buries his fingers in my hair, tenderly rubbing a thumb over my bottom lip.
His eyes soak me in, masculine satisfaction flickering in them. “You’re so fucking beautiful like this.” His finger trails until he swipes something wet under my eye.
When did I start crying?
He braces both hands on my face, getting close to me as his brows lift. “You want to be my good girl so bad, but your mouth gets you into trouble. I’ll have leniency this once, but don't expect it from me, Sunshine.”
He’s speaking as if this will be the first of many, and the growing unease tells me that he’s right. He’s captured me, and I have no choice. I suck in a shaky breath, more tears falling.
“Don’t cry now,” he says, shaking his head before gripping my throat. “I told you, you wouldn't like the consequences. Now, you’re going to take everything I give you, and you're going tothank mefor it.”
He throws his request in my face like he did back in the truck. It’s edged with a warning that my punishment may be worse if I don’t thank him for doing whatever he’s about to do.
More muffled sounds leave me as I turn my face away from him, but my defiance is only met with his tongue, hot and wet, dragging up my cheek and collecting my tears. There’s something hard in the center of his muscle, but I can’t think past the rushing of blood in my ears.
He presses his forehead to mine, his breath harsh. “Fuck, you taste so good.”
Hearing the deep timber of his voice as if he’s in agony has heat flaring in my lower belly. The cold air blows over my dewy thighs, and I’m shocked to find that I’m aroused. I’ve never experienced fear and heat at the same time. It’s unnatural, but I can't stop the long groan that leaves me as one of Rowan’s hands trails down to my breasts.
He teases my nipple, brushing his thumb over the stiffened bud and sending a shock straight to my clit. “I’ve thought about these far more than I like to admit. You’re perfect, Sunshine.”
His head dips, and I suck in a breath when his mouth closes around one dusky peak. He isn’t gentle with me, and I feel something rounded drag across my peak. His teeth graze my sensitive skin before closing around my bud with a teasing bite that leaves pain in its wake. My body arches, and unmistakable fire ignites. It’s unwelcome, but that doesn't stop me from burning alive. I close my eyes, resting my head back as every point of contact assaults my senses.
He lavished my other breast with the same taunting attention; meanwhile, his hands trail my sides, tickling over my hips before he grabs them and drops to his knees. My eyes fly open when I feel his breath near the apex of my thighs.
Seeing him down on his knees as he fervently stares at my soaked pussy has need and desire combating my reason. It’s something in his look—like he can't believe he’s seeingme—that has my heart pounding like a drum.
No one has ever looked at me like that.
And it terrifies me with its intensity just as much as it serves as a balm for some part of my soul that’s always dreamed of a man looking at me like I washis.
But this is no fairytale.
And I'm not so sure my prince charming is actually a prince.
He pulls on the curls of my sex—not hard enough to elicit pain, but enough to grab my attention. “Keep your eyes on me. I want to see you fall apart, Sunshine.”
The first touch of his mouth on my pussy has my body tightening beneath him. My eyes widen when I realize the hard ball I keep feeling is dragging across my clit.
Oh, my god.
