Page 69 of Untamed

There’s something dark in his voice, and I know it isn’t a lie. If he knew what really made me scared… if I told him about Shawn.

I can’t tell him.

Rodion pulls me back to the moment, brushing my hair away from my neck. His lips barely graze my skin, and I shiver. “I’ve thought about this,” he admits, his hands tightening the ropesslightly as if to ground me. “Your little video—so proud of your words but so clueless who was watching.”

“You were stalking me,” I accuse, though the words sound faint, almost playful.

“You made it easy,” he counters, and then his hand grips my hip, holding me firmly in place.

When he finally loosens the ropes, I let out a small gasp, though I’m not ready for the rough silk sliding from my eyes. I blink as the moon filters through the trees, and in front of me, he stands—bigger, broader than life. His face is unreadable, the sharp angles softened only by the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips.

He takes my chin between his fingers, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. “I thought about tying you to a tree,” he says casually. “But I have a better idea. For now.”

I swallow; the reality of him is so much more than the fantasy. He takes my hand and gently but firmly pulls me along a narrow path. It’s eerily quiet, the forest swallowing every sound but the rustle of our clothes and the occasional snap of a twig.

When the cabin looms into view, my knees nearly give out. It’s old, the wood weathered but sturdy, the kind of place you’d find in a thriller or a dream.

Inside, the air is heavy with the scent of pine and cured wood. Firewood crackles faintly in the corner, though the flames are low, casting golden light across the room. A large but rustic bed sits in the center, draped in thick quilts.

Rodion’s hand slides up my arm, his touch firm but never harsh. “Tell me to stop,” he says again, his voice softer now. “Say it, Ember. Tell me to take you home.”

I shake my head, my throat too tight to speak.

“Good girl,” he murmurs. Then he pushes me back onto the bed, his weight pinning me down just enough to remind me I’m exactly where I want to be. His hands skim my wrists, binding them to the headboard with practiced ease.

Oh god.

When he leans down, his breath is warm against my ear. “Now, let’s see how much you like this fantasy of yours.”

I try to swallow but find it hard. I’m excited and nervous and so fucking turned on—I’d probably come if he dared to kiss me.

The ropes rub against my wrists, not enough to hurt but enough to remind me they’re there—tight and unyielding, just like him. Firelight dances on the cabin walls, the only light in the room, and it paints Rodion in hues of molten gold and shadow. He prowls at the edge of the bed, his gaze devouring me, and I shiver despite the warmth of the room.

“Do you know what you’ve done, little queen? I’ve seen how many times you’ve packed up and moved. You’re good at covering it up with the camera, pointing it at others instead of facing it yourself. But I see everything. The way you love to keep people at an arm’s distance so you don’t have to get too close…” His voice is a low growl, roughened with just enough heat and danger to make my stomach flip. “I want to hold you still so you stop running for a second. You don’t trust me? Smart. I’m not here to promise you safety. I’m here to show you what those fantasies really feel like.”

My body responds before my brain does, my thighs squeezing together in search of friction. He notices, of course, because Rodion misses nothing. A dark smirk pulls at his lips as hecrawls onto the bed, his weight sinking into the mattress. He smells like woodsmoke and pine. The warmth of his body contrasts with the cold of the cabin. His eyes burn into me like lasers, focused and sharp.

I shiver.

I wantmore.

“You like this,” he says, his hand brushing my bare thigh before gripping it hard, pinning me in place. “You like being tied up for me. You like being helpless under me, don’t you, little queen?”

I hate how easily he pulls the truth out of me, even as I shake my head.

“Lying doesn’t suit you,” he whispers, leaning in until his breath skates across my ear. “But I don’t mind. I’ll make an honest woman out of you.”

His hand leaves my thigh, and before I can process the loss, he brings it down on my ass—hard.

Oh fuck.

The sound cracks through the cabin, sharp and punishing, and I gasp, my back arching involuntarily. The sting blossoms into heat, and I feel it everywhere, radiating through my body and settling deep in my core.

I want more.

“Rodion!” I gasp, but he shakes his head, his smirk turning into something darker.

“You know you love it, little queen,” he says, his palm sliding over the spot he just spanked, soothing it before lifting his hand again.

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