Page 40 of A Debt of Darkness

“I’m not your fucking pet.”

Henry tilts his head to mirror mine. “Ivy, you are, and the sooner you accept it, the sooner you’ll be happy.”

It's going to be another one of these conversations. I don't know why I expected anything else. Anything softer. He's heldthe line for three days and made it clear I need to make the next move.

He picks up the empty bottles of water and fetches a new one. Just one. That's one less than yesterday.

“You cheated yesterday and we can't have that. If you need more, then I'll bring you some later.”

I roll my eyes and shuffle back into the corner. He stares at me and I stare back. He's gauging my response and any emotion will tell him where I'm at, but being impassive tells him I've still got reserve.

“This can end now. At any time you choose, pet.”

I rest my head back and adjust my weight. He's going to give me the same talk he's given me every time he's come in here. It's about the only thing I hear.

It's repetitive. It's boring.

It's tempting and sounds easier every time he says it.

“Accept what's already true, pet. Just give me what I want. Accept me. Accept your place and this stops. We’ll go back to your room and you can eat.”

I grind my teeth and Henry steps closer. He's seen the slight crack and he's pressing harder, trying to force a collapse. I look away and remind myself I hate him. I run through all the reasons why, and I flick my eyes back to him, determined to resist.

He crouches down and his features soften. This is new. This is different.

Henry's hand stretches toward my face and he holds it between us and I swallow, darting my eyes between it and his eyes. Those bright blue irises aren’t as cold as they were before, and he’s desperate for me to give him this. He waits, edging his hand forward slightly until I toss my head a little.

“Easy, pet. You'll like this.”

My eyes widen and I pour all the hurt and hate into the glacial stare I shoot him. Henry arches his eyebrow slightly and creeps his fingers forward until they're millimeters from my face.

They're achingly close and it hurts.

It damn well hurts.

Because I want him to run them down my face. I want him to soothe my soul. I want him to ease this burden.

And I hate him for it.

“Such a good girl,” he whispers. “We’ll start small, pet. At your pace.”

My heart races and I want to fight this. I don't want to like this and I sure as fuck won’t ask for this. I tell myself he's despicable over and over as his hand stays perfectly still, and I wish it would move closer.

This is how it begins. It's how Henry's going to break me. He'll offer me kindness and safety while threatening me with cruelty. He'll make it so straightforward and I'll crave more once I get a taste of the reward. It's the promise of hope and pleasure, when all he's caused me is pain.

“Stay still,” he says in a voice as smooth as chocolate. “You're going to be okay. We're going to be okay.”

His fingers brush my skin and his touch is electric. I'm on fire and my body relaxes, letting pleasure wash over me as my tension releases. I'm at peace and desperate for more, aching for anything he'll give me. His fingers leave my skin for a moment and he strokes them down my cheek again.

I close my eyes and moan. From pleasure. Like a fucking idiot, I give away how much I’m enjoying this. I shouldn’t have given in and I curse my lack of control. Now he knows, and even worse, I’ve accepted this. Let him do this. As if this fucked up mess is okay.

“Such a good girl.” Henry hums. “You can have as much of this as you like. See how nice this is? How much better this is?”

My eyes open and lock with his. They’re flooded with emotion and he’s trying to hide it but failing miserably. He’s as desperate as I am and I don’t understand it. He’s the one in control, he’s the one with the power—he could end this instantly if he wants. But he’s as trapped by this as I am and my chest tightens as something inside me screams I need to make this better. For him. Not me.

He changes his touch and his knuckles run up and down my cheek. Their sharper edges send a different kind of pleasure through me and I’m on the verge of leaning forward and pressing myself against him.

It’s fucking madness.

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