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He stroked my hair and smiled down at me like I was his favorite pet.
“You look so beautiful on your knees,” he rumbled.
He glanced back at Luca, almost an afterthought. “Stand there and watch,” he commanded lazily.
Luca grunted, but he made no move to defy Dante. Not when his friends’ lives were on the line.
The monster had promised not to hurt me today. I could only hope that he would keep his word.
He leaned down and brushed a quick kiss over my lips. “Stay here, darling.”
When he stepped away, I could see Luca again. His eyes burned into me, his nostrils flaring like an enraged beast. His fists were clenched at his sides, and his muscles flexed with the need to attack our tormentor.
I subtly shook my head at him. I could handle whatever was coming. His friends wouldn’t be killed because of me, no matter how desperately I wanted to escape with Luca.
Dante filled my vision again, looming over me. I saw the coils of rope in his hand, and I shrank back.
The last time he’d bound me, he’d chased me through the woods and tied me up so that I couldn’t run from him. The bindings had hurt, digging into my flesh.
His eyes glittered with pleasure at my small show of fear, but he tenderly stroked my hair again, soothing.
“This won’t hurt,” he promised. “I will never lie to you, Nora.”
He’d called me by my name. Not one of the diminutive, mocking endearments he favored. The sound of it issuing from his lips was jarring and deeply personal. It made me feel seen, vulnerable. Especially when I was on my knees before him, and he held all the power.
“Take off your robe.” It was a gentle order, but an order, nonetheless.
My hands shook as I tugged at the silken tie that was the only thing preserving even a scrap of my modesty. This new, intense connection with Dante was unnerving. It was much easier to rail at him when he was hurting me. He’d been perversely tender with me at times, but never when he was toying with me sexually; he’d always been cruel and unyielding when he touched me with erotic intent.
I had no idea what to expect from him, and that scared me more than the whips that hung on the wall.
My fingers were still trembling when I’d shrugged out of the robe, baring myself to him completely.
He trailed his fingers through my hair. “It’s all right, pet. You’ll enjoy this.”
“That’s what you always say.” My defiant words came out in a breathless whisper.
He lightly tapped the gold padlock at my throat, and the chain weighed heavier around my neck.
“I’ll take care of you. I left marks on you yesterday. You bear them so well, but I won’t harm you with another whipping.”
“How is bruising me taking care of me?” My voice was still too small. He was taking up all the oxygen in the room, and he towered over me. So much more powerful than I could ever be.
He blew out a sigh, but he didn’t rebuke me. “You don’t want to accept it yet, but you enjoy our games too. We’re a good match, Nora.”
He said my name again. I shivered as the sound of it rumbled over my skin.
He gently rubbed the rope over my lips. My sensitive nerve endings crackled beneath the slightly rough fibers.
“That’s enough arguing. I know you don’t trust me, but you will. I’ll prove to you that I mean what I say. I’m going to make you feel so good that you forget your own name.”
“I don’t want to forget my name.” Fear bubbled up in me once again, making me speak before I thought better of it.
His mouth firmed to a determined slash.
I’d argued with him again.
He would punish me.
