He said nothing, just flew on through the night.
Clinging to her captor, Heather allowed herself to cry. She wasn’t feeling sorry for herself. She simply needed the release. The past ten days had been torture, every moment filled with fear and dread. Now that the waiting was over, she felt a sense of relief. She’d made mistakes, horrible mistakes, and now she must pay for her decisions. If Patrick had wanted her dead, she would be dead already. This was about retribution, and she was so encumbered by guilt that she was ready to make things right.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked again.
“You’ll see,” was his only response.
The air grew colder, the trees thinning as he headed farther up the mountain. She could no longer see Eagle Village. Clusters of trees were now interspersed with outcroppings of rock. The ground sped by, blurred and indistinct as he soared along the treetops. She had no idea where he was taking her and knew she would have little control once she arrived. He would punish her.Of that she had no doubt, but what form would that punishment take?
Before she could torture herself further with speculation, he flapped his wings forcefully. She gasped and wrapped her arms around him more securely. They ascended along a sheer cliff wall, then he landed on a wide stone ledge. He set her down and motioned toward the rocky steps in front of her. “Up.”
The steps were wide and irregular, seven in all. Were they naturally occurring or had someone chiseled them out of solid rock? She climbed up, unsure of what she would find. The cliff was much larger than she’d first thought and most of it was covered with trees. She’d expected barren rock or windswept grass. This felt like a continuation of the forest.
“There.” He pointed toward a structure half hidden in the shadows to their left.
When she didn’t immediately walk toward the building, he grabbed her arm and pulled her along as he walked.
She started to ask why he’d brought her here, but they both knew the answer, so she remained silent. Explanations and excuses filled her mind next, but she disregarded them too. What could she possibly say that would make him hate her any less?
More of the structure became visible as they approached. The cottage was simple, but well-constructed with a steeply pitched roof and functional shutters. He opened the door and urged her inside. Darkness enveloped her for a disorienting moment and then a row of lights inset high in the walls activated automatically.
Heather looked around, more curious than afraid. A kitchenette sat off to the left, a bed over to the right. Matching chairswere arranged near the fireplace. It was rustic, yet cozy. Under different circumstances, she would have found the place charming.
“Strip,” he snarled as her attention returned to him. “You’ve lost the privilege of wearing clothes.”
Her heart sank and she helplessly shook her head. “Please, don’t do this. I tried to help you. I?—”
He grasped her upper arms and yanked her toward him, face bent close to hers. “You will besilentunless you are asked a question. Is that understood?”
She nodded as tears flooded her eyes.
“The proper response is ‘yes, Master.’” He accented the statement with a fierce scowl and a warning squeeze of his strong fingers.
“Yes, Master,” she echoed. “I understand.”
He nodded once, then ordered, “Undress. I want you naked and on your knees.”
She understood the power of humiliation. Her supervisors at Nuevo Biotech frequently used it with ruthless effectiveness. “Patrick, please. It’s much too cold to?—”
He lunged for her and roughly pulled her hoodie off over her head. She wasn’t wearing a bra, so she instinctively crossed her arms over her breasts. The reflex made it easier for him to tug her sweatpants and panties down to her ankles.
“I was naked each time you worked on me,” he snarled. “Why should this be any different?”
She lowered one of her hands to her pussy while keeping her breasts covered with her other arm. “I brought you blankets and smuggled in food. I?—”
“Knew damn well what they were doing to us, and you didn’t give a damn!” He bent and lifted one of her feet off the floor, leaving her off balance and helpless. He tugged off her sock and one side of her sweatpants and panties, then switched to the other foot. Within seconds she was naked, and he kicked her clothes across the room. “On your knees.”
Anger flared within her fear. Yes, she was guilty of contributing to his pain, but she was not responsible for his captivity. He had been a prisoner at Nuevo Biotech long before she joined the team. “Can we please talk about this?”
“I gave you an order and I expect you to obey.”
She clenched her jaw and bit back her angry retort. Arguing with him was pointless. Still, she knew what would come next if she got on her knees. Males, especially Rydarian males, loved to demonstrate their dominance by roughly fucking a female’s mouth.
As before, he waited for only a moment before reacting physically. He fisted the back of her hair and urged her to her knees. Heather struggled, but he was fast and strong, easily positioning her without her cooperation. He pushed her legs apart with one booted foot then drew her hands to the back of her head. Humiliation washed over her at the lewd position. Her breasts were lifted and thrust forward. Her pussy was accessible to his gaze or his touch.
“You will not move until I tell you to move or there will be consequences.” He stood in front of her and crossed his armsover his chest, glaring openly. “Do you remember the night we met?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “I treated you with respect.”
