Page 73 of Tainted Love

I block out the world, an easy task with her taste on my tongue. My nerves ignite, pulling all my blood south as her fingers slip inside my zipper to wrap around my throbbing cock. I twinge at the pleasure she gives, reaching into my pocket for the silver key to free her other hand.

“Leave it,” she says, her lips twitching.

Passion fires through me as I cup her ass and move her onto her back. Her left hand stays latched to the bedpost, her body locked beneath me just as she wants. She moves her legs, opening herself to me as she pushes my pants down with one hand.

I hike her skirt up, driven by my own wild desires for her, and settle between her thighs. I shift her right leg, careful not to bend it, but no pain fires through her eyes. They show only a sharp need to feel something more than this tragedy. I won’t deny her that.

I penetrate her quickly and she sighs, rolling her fingers into fists. She grips the iron bed frame with her cuffed hand, holding back her screams as I thrust her again.

“Dante, don’t stop…”

The old bed shakes and I ignore the sound, staring down at her blissful green eyes. Moments ago, they were broken, like a dying animal in need of mercy. Life shines beneath her lashes, growing more and more with each inch of me she takes.

I keep my groan behind my tongue, grinding harder inside of her, adjusting my movement to match the cues on her face. She purrs softly, driven closer to the edge.

“Lucy,” I growl, leaning over to crush her lips with mine.

She moans against me, begging for me to take her harder. I oblige, rocking her with my hips and relishing in the power charging between us.

“Is this what you want?”

“Yes,” she breathes, her thighs twitching around me.

“Say my name and I’m yours.”

“Dante—”

Her body crashes beneath me. I push my lips against hers to muffle the screams of ecstasy taking over her.

I feel her satisfaction twitching around my cock like a squeezing hand. I stay inside of her, letting her enjoy it until she finally opens her eyes again.

“Dante,” she begs, “stay with me tonight.”

I cup her cheek, feeling the heat rise off her face. “I’m not going anywhere.” She tremors in my arms, remnants of pleasure and pain battling inside of her. “I’ll never let anything happen to you again.”

Lucy Vaughn looks back at me and smiles, trusting every word I say.

* * *

I carry Lucy downstairs, cradling her in my arms, moving slowly to keep from bumping her feet against the banister.

“Careful!” she squeals, wincing as her toes narrowly miss the wall.

“Stop fidgeting.”

“I’m not fidgeting.”

She wraps her arms tighter around my neck, bracing herself for a flash of pain that never comes close to touching her.

We reach the bottom and I let out a confident sigh.

“There,” I tease. “See?”

I kiss her forehead and she stays silent as I turn and carry her through the foyer toward the dining room, following the active noises and voices.

Lucy’s stomach growls as the scent of bacon stirs in our noses and I wonder how long it has been since she’s eaten. I haven’t touched a thing myself since those strawberries. Yesterday feels so long ago now but the details are still so fresh in my head, a pungent layer of pain and decay in need of airing out.

“Good morning!” Elijah announces from the table as I step into the room.

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