"Do you trust me?" he asks, his tone laced with an edge of danger.

I hesitate, my mind racing. Trust him? How can I trust someone who’s done nothing but intimidate and seduce me since I walked through that door?

Yet, in this moment, there’s a part of me that wants to say yes. A part of me that craves the connection I sense between us, even if it’s rooted in peril.

"Yes," I finally whisper, my voice trembling.

He smiles, a slow, predatory curve of his lips. "You want revenge, same as me. That’s why you’re here. I will help you avenge that scum who threw you out like garbage."

His fingers trace the still healing scar on my cheek. “He will pay for what he did to you, but first I want something from you.”

“And what’s that?”

“Your virginity.”

12

CATHY

Before I can ask him how he knows I’m a virgin, he’s cupping my face in his large hands, tilting my head up. “I know everything,” he says, reading my mind.

His thumbs stroke my cheeks, leaving trails of fire in their wake. Without warning, his mouth descends on mine, claiming my lips in a kiss that’s both brutal and tender.

His tongue demands entry, sliding against mine with possessive force. It’s a kiss that steals my breath, leaves me dizzy and desperate for more.

He breaks the kiss, leaving me gasping for air. "Spread your legs wide," he orders, his voice thick with desire.

I comply, feeling a surge of embarrassment as I do. His hand slides up my inner thigh, stopping just short of where I desperately need him. I bite my lip, fighting the urge to whimper.

"Tell me what you want," he commands, his voice a seductive purr.

I hesitate, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and arousal. What do I want? Everything about this situation is wrong, yet my body is betraying me, aching for his touch.

"I want you to touch me.”

He chuckles, a deep, rumbling sound that vibrates through me. "Not good enough. Be specific."

I squeeze my eyes shut, my cheeks burning with humiliation. "I want you to touch me there," I whisper, pointing to the aching spot between my legs.

His fingers trace lines on my skin, teasing me mercilessly. "Where exactly? Show me."

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I reach down, tugging the folds apart to reveal the slick, throbbing pussy beneath. His eyes darken with satisfaction as he takes in the sight.

"Perfect," he murmurs, dipping one finger inside me.

I gasp, arching my back as his finger slides in and out, exploring the wetness that clings to them. He crooks his finger, pressing against a spot that makes my hips jerk involuntarily.

"Ah, so sensitive," he observes, his voice filled with a dangerous kind of wonder. "Tell me how it feels."

"It feels good," I breathe, unable to hide the truth. "Please, don’t stop."

He smirks, adding a second finger, stretching me further. "Beg for it, little girl. Beg me to make you come."

The command sends a shiver down my spine. "Please make me come," I plead, my voice breaking.

He grins, his fingers moving faster, hitting that sweet spot with precision. "That’s it. Let go for me."

I do, my body tensing as waves of pleasure begin to crest. Heat floods my veins, pooling low in my stomach as my orgasm builds. His thumb circles my clit, pushing me over the edge.