Page 21 of Haunt

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“I’m sorry,”I whine, staring up at Harrow’s mask. “I just wanted to fuckingseehim, okay? And you, obviously, by extension. You really think I’d go to the cops?” I fix him with a look that’s part pleading and part skepticism, but it doesn’t sway him. I can see it in his eyes.

“You’re reallynotsorry.” But I can hear the humor in his voice. “And I don’t trust you, Noa. Who knows what you’d do or say just to get away from us. But if someone has to teach you how to make good decisions, then I don’t mind being that person.” Ravage reaches up from behind me, wrapping his fingers around my throat, only for Harrow to make a noise of disapproval.

“Stop.” His voice is flat, eyes on mine. “She likes that too much. I can see it on her face. Gosit, you’re done anyway.” There’s no room for argument in his tone, but I hear Ravage’s grumble behind me as he slides free of me, gets up off the bed and strides over to collapse in the old, threadbare armchair.

Harrow watches him, only looking back at me when he’s satisfied. “This doesn’t have to be that bad,” he informs me, reaching up to press his fingers sweetly to my jaw. I lean into him nervously, letting him cradle my face in his hand.

“Please don’t stab me. Or, okay…” I can feel the nervous rambling coming back, panic bubbling in my chest. “I’d rather you stab me than do anything involving a chainsaw. Also, Clown Mask Girl skewered some eyes and handed one to me. I didn’t realize it was real at the time but—” I suck in a breath, trying not to go down that tangent. “All I’m asking is no chainsaws and nothing with my eyes. I’m actually pretty attached to them.”

With a snort, Harrow rolls his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’m also pretty attached to your eyes,” he points out. “I like how you look at me when you’re begging for something. I’m not going to kill you, little girl. What would be the lesson in that? I’m going to teach you about consequences.” His grip tightening on my face is the only warning I get before I’m suddenly face down over his lap, his cock brushing against my skin and my face in the worn blanket under him.

My head spins, and I try to figure out what’s going on as Harrow situates me more comfortably over his thighs, dragging his fingers down my spine. When I try to sit up, he just clicks his tongue at me and shoves me right back down.

“If I have to let Rav come back over here to hold you down, it’ll be worse,” he informs me, his tone full of warning. “So, are you going to stay for me like a good girl?”

I don’t know what’s going on, or how it could be worse, but I don’t think I want to find out. I nod fervently against the blanket, sucking in a breath through my nose as I brace one knee under me for leverage.

As if I’m going anywhere.

“I know you just want to see. You’re so curious, aren’t you? That’s what got you into this whole mess, in the first place.” He sounds so pitying. Socondescending, and it makes me squirm, the feeling strange and not all bad. “Yeah, I see you. I know you like being talked to this way. We’ll have to explore that another time, won’t we? This is apunishment, Noa.” There’s a reprimandin his voice, but with the blood rushing in my ears, I can barely bring myself to care.

His fingers stroke up my thighs, and finally he lays his palm flat against my ass, making me tense. Suddenly, I have a pretty good idea of what his punishment is, and I’m not sure I like it. I take a few breaths, trying not to let my heart race its way to an early failure, while Harrow just murmurs soothingly to me and rests his hand where it is.

“You’re going to count for me. How many do you think she deserves, Rav? It was your mask, after all?”

I can’t look up to see Ravage somewhere behind me, but I hear him shift on his little throne. “Five,” he says finally. “She just wanted tosee.”

Harrow huffs out a laugh. “You’re way too soft.Andtoo attached. We’ll have to talk about that later. Ten,” he declares after a moment of thought. “I don’t think that’s too much to give her.”

“Ten? For wanting to see myface? Come on, Harrow.” It’s an interesting feeling to have Ravage on my side. And an unexpected occurrence I hadn’t expected.

“You’reabout to get twenty if you don’t shut up.” Harrow’s retort is sharp, and from Ravage’s silence, I figure he’s not bluffing. He flexes his fingers against my skin, dragging his nails over the curve of my ass, before his hand disappears and I tense.

“No, don’t do that. You’re fine. I promise, you’ll be more than fine. Will you count for me, pretty girl? Out loud?” It’s not a question, not really. But I nod anyway in answer, turning my head to the side to gaze across the room where I can see Ravage’s shorter boots.

Harrow doesn’t hesitate. His palm comes down hard and hot against my skin, pulling a yelp from my throat and causing me to buck up against him in instinctive protest. But he pushes me back down with his hand on the back of my neck, his touchgentle and patient. When I don’t say anything, it’s Rav who coughs pointedly.

“One,” I say quickly, remembering finally what I’m supposed to be doing.

“Good girl.” I love Harrow’s soft murmur, and when his hand makes contact with my skin again, I only whine and shudder, instead of trying to fly away.

“Two,” I whisper, counting out the next two as well as my head begins to spin.

After number five, his hand comes back down softly, fingers stroking the overheated, tender skin and making me squirm against his thighs. “Not so bad, is it?” he purrs. “You’re doing so well for me, Noa. But I knew you would. You take everything we give you so well. Five more, darling. Then you’re done and I’ll make you come on my cock.”

His next few hits are on the backs of my thighs, which hurts in a different way and have me sobbing in protest while forcing myself to count those out as well. Finally, I gasp out the wordten, chest heaving and head spinning wildly. The pain is hot and sharp, and when I realize I’m grinding down against his thigh, I’m mortified with myself.

“You can thank me now.” His voice is flat and expectant, leaving no room for argument. He’s not joking. But then, he never seems to joke.

“Thank you,” I murmur without complaint, flinching under his soft touches on my thighs.

“Oh, that was so easy. You learn so well. You can just lie there for me. Just breathe, okay? You did so well for me.” His fingers brush between my thighs, teasingly at first, before he slips two digits into me. “And so wet for me still? I think you might be into this, Noa. Hmm?” He twists his fingers, thrusting them in and out of my sore pussy easily, like he has all the time in the world.“Yeah, precious girl. I really think you’re into this. Come on. Sit up.”

He gently pulls me upright, his sudden sweetness is just as confusing as everything else. He pulls me over his lap, forcing me to straddle his thighs, and reaches out to gently wipe away the tears rolling down my cheeks. “You can cry for me,” he promises. “I won’t tell you not to. Cry for me all you want, okay?” His grip doesn’t give me a choice of where to go or how to move. He urges me down on my back, pinning me there with his hands braced on either side of my head. “Good girl.” God, I love it when he praises me. Just those words have a shiver going down my spine, and he reaches out once more, tugging my thigh up over his hip.

When he thrusts into me, it’s a smooth, controlled motion, and he doesn’t pause until he’s buried in me. I can’t help the sound that escapes my lips at the feeling of him fucking my sore pussy again. “Look at Ravage,” he orders, his voice low and rough. “I want him to see your face and see how fast I can have you begging for me.”

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