Page 78 of Embracing the Dark Side

When Adrik’s lips started to move against hers, a relief flooded her chest, and she swung her arms around his neck. He slipped his hands inside her robe, his fingertips grazing her hips, and he gripped her to pull her flush against him, her breasts squeezed between them. His lips descended her neck, and Jolie held him when his lips wrapped around her nipple. “I’m gonna get back your trust, Adrik. I swear it.”

He bit her nipple, and she squealed, pulling back with a look of humorous outrage. With a hand in her hair, he brought her to his lips. He squeezed hard enough to express his need but soft enough not to cause her pain.

If sex was what he needed, then she was gonna give it everything she had. She was going to be fierce in her desire, say and do things she’d never done. Jolie whimpered into his mouth. “I’ve been dying for you to touch me. God, I’ve missed you.” Her words soaked into him like hot water. “I’ve missed your voice. Your skin. The way you smell.” She giggled. “I sound crazy.”

Jolie’s hand slipped down into his pants and gripped his hard-on. He groaned into her before pulling back. She dropped to her knees and boldly pulled his pants down his thighs. His dick popped out, wagging like a tail. Jolie bit her lip, and it was the best fucking reaction she could have given him. She took him in her palm again and licked his tip.

All the fears she ever had were gone, replaced by a confidence built through Vincent’s destruction. Jolie knew what terrible things were out there, what cruelty life could awaken, and being on her knees in front of a man she loved was not on that list.

She licked her lips, jerking him before her tongue flicked over the tip, teasing and tasting the pre-cum. Adrik kept his hands fisted at his side. He wanted to hold her head and shove into her.

Jolie slipped it into her mouth, inch by inch, in and out, deeper and deeper. She worked him, her head bobbing slowly until it quickened. He couldn’t stop himself from clenching the back of her head and guiding her to keep a steady, intense pace.

Adrik watched her, impressed by her, and, at the same time, was concerned. Why was she so aggressive? Why was she good at sucking his cock? She hadn’t much practice before they were torn apart.

At least not with him.

‘Gotta say, you taught her how to suck dick pretty good.’

Adrik snatched her by the arm, yanking her to her feet. His other hand encircled her neck, squeezing, holding himself back when he saw the fear in her eyes. He ground his teeth, lowering his face till his nose was nearly touching hers. “Whose dick have you been sucking?”

Her brows knitted. “No one,” she whimpered, confused. “Please, Adrik, no one.”

Did he believe her? Could he ever believe her again?

When Katia first betrayed him, there was nothing that eased the pain she caused.

Except for one thing.

“Get your clothes on. I’m taking you somewhere.”

Chapter thirty-eight

Hell

It was cold. That was the first thing that Jolie could comprehend as Adrik nearly dragged her down two flights of stairs and into a dark tunnel. Filip followed them, and their footsteps echoed in the quiet. Her eyes were wide, flipping in many different directions, and then they came to a door that Adrik pushed her through. Jolie stumbled, and when she looked up, Vincent was there.

Her gasp was loud, and she slapped a hand over her mouth.

On a vertical gurney, his whole body sagged against the straps that nearly cut into his skin. He was covered in dirt and blood, and a puddle of urine sat at his feet. The smell came to her next, and Jolie’s fingers shifted to encompass her nose. Tears blinked down her cheeks and gathered against her fingers till they spilled over.

Adrik walked around Jolie and looked at Vincent with pride. The man looked appropriately tortured. The blood stain of his father was a dirty smear on the concrete floor. It splattered like paint, and the drag marks were nothing short of a masterpiece. Adrik turned his head to see what lay on Jolie’s face. He was discouraged, finding her sympathetic, but he wasn’t surprised. He couldn’t humor her anymore. The risk was greater than thereward. Her empathy could destroy him, and she needed to understand that.

Awareness was coming to Vincent. It was a struggle to lift his head. He blinked the sweat and tears out of his eyes, trying to clear the fogginess of his head. But when he finally saw what was in front of him, he was sure he was hallucinating. “JoJo?”

Her body trembled. His voice sounded so weak. He was beaten and starved, barely looking like the same man, but she knew him from that name alone. Jolie could still remember the first time he called her by that nickname. It had been junior year in high school, and he had accidentally bumped into her. She hadn’t known him personally, only by reputation. Their coupling had been so perfect in the beginning, like it was a meet-cute from a romance book.

Now, their story turned to horror.

Jolie backed up. “Get me out of here.” She spun to go, but Filip blocked the door. Jolie turned to Adrik. “Why did you bring me here? What’s the purpose of this?”

Adrik’s brows knitted, and he gave the most obvious answer. “Revenge.”

She shook her head. “No, no. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to do this.”

“Didn’t he hurt you?”

Jolie didn’t respond. She knew what it would mean.

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