Page 44 of Underworld

He does as I ask and picks up the pace. I whimper from the pleasure. I need the pain. I want the pain. It makes me feel real. It makes me feel alive. Opening my eyes, I look into Zane’s. I can see the battle waging in them. The battle between not wanting to hurt me and giving me what I want.

I release my grip on his hair to cup his face in both hands. Looking deep into his ice-blue eyes, I pant, “I’m here. I’m alive.”

He stares into my eyes for a moment, and I see the switch in him as he slams his lips to mine. He pumps a few times before I swallow his roar as he comes. My orgasm is not far behind as I milk the last of his orgasm from him.

We lie there, not moving, just breathing in each other and this moment. He pulls away, and his ice-blue eyes meet mine again as he shifts to run his fingers through my hair. We are still connected, but I don't mind. I think he needs this just as much as I do.

“I love you, Sunshine,” he whispers.

I smile as I say, “I love you too, Zane.”

He presses his lips softly against mine before pulling away again. “Don’t ever do that again, okay? Not even you are allowed to take my sunshine away.”

My smile softens. “I’ll try.”

Chapter Thirty

Jane

It’s officially been two weeks since my stabbing, and I’ve finally convinced the guys to allow me to walk around the compound so long as it’s with other Hellhounds. Silas and Jax needed a day off, and the guys couldn’t follow me around because they had better things to do. My men had finally caved when I’d pointed out that not only did Silas and Jax vet all of the Hellhounds, but Howe had too. We should be safe now. I hope.

So here I am now, being followed around by a thirty-something . . . maybe forty-something guy. He can’t have been here for more than a few weeks because he doesn’t seem to remember the protocols. I had asked him what his name was, and he had blurted out, “Chad!”

I facepalmed and asked, “What’s your code name?”

“Viper.”

Viper? That was the oddest code name for a Hellhound I had ever heard, but who was I to judge? I am enjoying my small bits of freedom while I can. I look behind me to find Chad—ugh, what an unfortunate name—looking shifty AF. He looks at me, and his eyes widen, so I arch a brow and ask, “You good?”

He rubs the back of his head as he smiles awkwardly, “Of course, Miss Persephone.”

My eyes narrow for a moment, then I turn back around. Just when I’m about to turn the corner to head back into the cave, there’s a sudden pain in my neck. I try to bat at it, but my body slumps to the floor before I can do anything.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Persephone.” I hear him say.

I growl as my body loses the battle against whatever drug is dragging my body into the darkness. Two thoughts go through my head before I succumb. One, fucking hell, the guys won’t allow me anywhere without them now. Two, never trust a fucking Chad.

When I wake, my brain is cloudy. I groan as I try to shuffle, but something halts my movements. What the hell? I'm tied to a chair. Lifting my head, I look around the dark room until my eyes focus on a male seated in the corner. Fuck. I thought I had finally been able to hide from this man.

"Hello, daughter."

"Father." Son of a bitch! I groan in pain. The stab wound in my abdomen is still healing, and the odd position I'm in right now isn't helping.

"I bet you're wondering why you are here, Sweetheart."

"Please tell me you aren't going to go off on a villainous monologue." Huffing a laugh, I say, "They are so overdone." A chair screeches across the floor, and I look up to find my father has moved, so he’s right before me.

"Well, I wouldn't call it a villainous monologue. But I may as well tell you why you are here before your new husband shows up." He shrugs.

Lifting a brow in question, I ask, "Husband? I hope you didn't sell off my virginity, Father. We both know that's long gone."

His laugh echoes in the dark room, startling me. "Sweetheart, we both know virginity doesn't sell like it used to. What man wants a blubbering, bleeding bride when he can have a woman with more experience? Virgins have become a hassle in the black market."

"How did you marry me off legally?"

He grins wickedly. "All I needed was something with your handwriting. There's a man who does an impeccable forgery of your signature. All I had to do was get a marriage certificate and the male who wished to buy you." He shrugs again. "Completely legal in the eyes of the government. You can't prove that his signature isn't yours. And once the male comes to receive you, you will disappear in the system."

He stands. Walking up to me, he pats my cheek. "I would advise you to do as you're told with this male, daughter. He has a dark fetish for the females he buys." He walks toward the exit, and I struggle against my bindings. Turning to look at me once more with an evil smile, he informs me, "The females often find themselves . . . disappearing." Then he leaves the room, slamming the door closed behind him. Well that doesn’t bode well for me.

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