Page 17 of Unhinged

We just stared at each other, and the way he inhaled so deeply that his nostrils flared made me feel a certain kind of way.

“Having you here, doing…these things,” I finally murmured, my voice distant as my mind wandered. I glanced at the fingers then at the now-empty syringe on the bedside table. Finally, I looked at the pocketknife I held. It was the one I cut him with in the alley—the one I dropped when I ran. He must have picked it up before stalking me, then breaking and entering my apartment. I looked back at Roman. “They weren’t good to me, you know. They made my life hell.”

Roman said nothing. Maybe he was still trying to figure out how we ended up here. How I’d flipped the game he thoughthewas playing. But I didn’t care about any of that. I’d told no one my secrets. But that changed tonight. Because as I looked into Roman’s dark eyes, I knew if anyone could understand me wholly, it would be this man.

“And because they were bad people,” I continued and kept my voice calm, “they hurt me in ways no one should hurt a child.” I swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in my throat. “And I couldn’t take it anymore.” My mind wandered to that night again… the night everything changed. “I had to end the cycle. I had to make sure no one else got hurt. So, I took care of it.”

I heard Roman start breathing harder, faster. His pupils dilated impossibly further, and he kept straining against the ropes, my knots holding firm.

“Tell me,” he said deeply, low, but there was a groan in his voice that was unmistakable. He was… turned on.

“While they slept,” I whispered. “I set the house on fire.” I could picture that little shack of a home in my mind, could see the flames and feel the heat. “I watched it burn from the front yard, standing there barefoot in the grass in my pajamas, and feeling so free.”

He said nothing, but his expression told me all I needed to know. Roman saw the darkness in me now, the same kind I saw in him.

“I had to end the cycle,” I whispered, more repeating it to myself than to him. “There was noother way.” I lifted the pocketknife. “This was my father’s. He used to threaten me with it.” I squeezed my fingers around the handle and gritted my teeth. “He used to cut me with it.”

The sound of Roman growling was loud, animalistic, and so very primal.

He strained again, clearly trying to free himself and get to me. I glanced at the knots on his wrists, admiring my handiwork. They were tight. Perfect. “My father showed me how to tie nautical knots,” I said absently. “It was the only fucking thing that piece of shit taught me.”

I turned the knife over in my hands, feeling its slight weight. I leaned in close so we shared the same air, so that if I wanted to, I could have kissed him. And then I told him what I knew.

“But I found myself in the same situation with my one and only boyfriend.” I got angry as I thought about how I’d been abused all over again years ago. “I could finally break free. I got myself healthy and tried to find him… to end the cycle just like I had with my parents.” I slowly lifted my gaze to Roman’s again. “But I wasn't able to find him… yet.”

He was breathing so hard now, like he could barely control himself.

It brought me back to the present. “I know whatyou’ve been doing,” I whispered, my lips inches from his ear. “I know you’ve been taking out your cock while I sleep and jerking off over me. You’ve been doing twisted, disgusting things to me while I slept.”

He bared his teeth, but I knew it was because he wanted me so damn badly. It was the same intensity of need and fucked-up desire that I wanted from him.

“Take the rope off me,” he groaned and snapped his teeth.

I jerked my head back and smiled. “And if I did that, what would you do?”

He laughed from deep within his chest and leaned back an inch. “I’d hold that little knife to your throat, make you spread your legs for me, and I’d force my cock all the way into that little cunt of yours.”

I sucked in a sharp breath at his crude words. I was so wet, my pussy ready to get torn up by Roman and his no undoubtedly massive cock.

I let my smile grow until I was grinning. I leaned in closer to him now and prompted, “How about this, Roman?” I could feel him tense beside me after I said his name. “How about I hold the knife toyourthroat as I climb on top and force your big cock into my little pussy?”

His breath caught, and he snapped his teeth at me again. He was a fucking predator, and I was toying with him.

“Yeah.” I tilted my head to the side, smiling as I held the knife up between us. “I’mgonna be the one to fuckyou.”

10

ISLA

“Take me out, Isla,” Roman snarled, and I found myself setting the knife aside and going for the button and zipper of his dark pants. “Stop taking up all our fucking time and get my cock out, little girl. You want me, so fucking take it.”

I slowed my movements and lifted my gaze to Roman. “It’s funny and even kind of cute that you think you’re in control right now.” While staring into his eyes, I popped his button undone.

He strained again, his black T-shirt rising to show a glimpse of an abdomen covered in muscles, his biceps bulging with restrained power and strength.

“How many people have you killed?” I found myself asking suddenly, not realizing that waiting forhim to answer was making me feel like a fiend for my next fix. I dragged the pocketknife up his chest, wanting to tear away his T-shirt. He didn’t respond, just stared at me, letting me run the blade over him with the threat that I could cut him.

I placed the pointed tip at his jugular and scanned his face. His dark hair was on the longer side with locks hanging over his forehead. I didn’t know how it happened, but I was on top of him. He looked massive beneath me, his muscles straining, his teeth bared as if he were a trapped animal.

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