Page 122 of Pure Vengeance

“Save your lies.” He spat the words at her. “You only told Saul about your fetish for them last week.”

Her cheeks burned with embarrassed heat. Shehadtold him that, hadn’t she? For the hundredth time since she’d come around in the strange room, she wondered why she’d felt the need to reach out to any men at all, let alone tell Saul her deepest, darkest desires. Her friends had tried to warn her, hadn’t they? They’d told her it was too soon for intimacy, and she’d repaid their loyalty by ignoring them.

But none of us had guessed who was really behind Saul’s profile.

Her attention slid to his face again, trying to decide what she saw burning in his eyes. Was there anger there—rage that she dared to answer back—or only that same old irrefutable passion? Was he going to take her to the edge of sexual ecstasy before making her beg for forgiveness, or was there a far more forbidding fate awaiting her?

“I did say that.” Her voice was quiet.

“Because you like gags, don’t you?” He caught the end of the strap with his free hand and pulled the leather taut.

“Yes.” Her eyes closed as though not being able to see him would eradicate the indignity of the admission.

“What was that?” A sharp pain at her clit instructed her eyes to fly open. Searching her body, she realized he’d reached between her legs and given her defenseless nub a cruel pinch. Worse still, with her legs secured into the peculiar dental chair he had her in, she wasn’t able to close her legs at all.

“Yes, Mr. Lawes, sir.” She gasped at the attack.

“Don’t forget again.” His digits relaxed, tapping her aching clit through her underwear. “I can make this good for you, Hannah. You know I can.”

The tap, tap, tapping at her sex insisted he was right, and even though she wanted to object, wanted to spit in his face with disdain, she couldn’t. He was right. He could take her to the edgeof heaven. He’d done it multiple times before, yet he never saw the need for her consent.

“But I need you to be the good girl we both know you can be.”

Fuck.

Staring into his hard gaze, she didn’t know if it was fear or arousal guiding her as she replied. “I’ll try Mr. Lawes, sir.”

“I know you will.” The pleasant tapping ceased, leaving only the warm thrum of need his touch had inspired between her legs. “I’m going to gag you, then start work on these clothes.” His gaze fell appreciatively over her body. “You’ll notice I already removed your skirt and stockings.” He winked at her. “Lovely touches, by the way. I approve.”

Fresh trepidation twisted at his insidious inference. He’d removed them while she’d been sleeping. What the hell else had he done while she’d been unconscious? Squeezing the muscles at the apex of her thighs, she tried to calm her breathing. There was no obvious pain or tenderness. As far as she could tell, he hadn’t done anything.

She could only guess he wanted her awake for whatever he had in mind.

“I bet I can take your mind off whatever pain you’re experiencing.” He stroked the inside of her thigh.

That one tiny gesture tipped the scales in her mind. Lawes had a way of morphing what might seem loving into menace. If he stripped her, it would be just like it was before. She’d be powerless to prevent him from taking what he wanted. Her nightmare would be back in IMAX, and this time, no one would know where she was.

“Sir, I’m scared.” There was little to lose by being honest. Throwing herself on whatever remained of his mercy seemed her only route forward.

“I know.” His voice was eerily even, cementing her unease. “And we both know that’s just how you like it, little girl.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Elevation

Mark

It was as though all his Christmases had come at once. Hannah had admitted her terror, her wide eyes and flushed skin confirming what her lips pleaded, and he couldn’t believe his luck. In all the time he’d held her in the basement he’d shared with Fuller, he couldn’t recall such honesty from her. Or, perhaps that wasn’t fair. Maybe she’d expressed fear there, too, but all he could remember was how wet she’d been, how much she’d welcomed his touch.

This was different, though. It wasn’t like before. Now, there was no Fuller, no Matthew, and no other captives. It was only the two of them, ensnared in the delicious dance he’d initiated.

“Did you really think I’d forget what had happened?” His fingertips skimmed the back of her knee. “Forget that you took the stand to testify against me.”

“No, I?—”

“Did you think I’d forgetyou, Hannah?”

“I thought you were in prison, Mr. Lawes, sir.” Her watery eyes rose to meet his.

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