Page 26 of Fervent

Brock wrenched my arms behind me and forced my body into a bent over position. I spread my feet for traction and lifted my head, finally peering at Rafe through my thick, messy curls.

He pulled at the chains mercilessly, and panic strained his features. He looked ready to rip out of his skin to get to me.

The heavy thump of Brock’s footsteps halted behind me. He took his time, prolonging the torture of waiting for that first strike.

It was going to hurt. I knew it before the whip sliced the air. The leather cut across my ass with scorching impact, and I locked my gaze on Rafe, pretending he’d ordered the lashing.

I’d been bad. Maybe I’d come before he’d given me permission, or I’d done something more serious, like piss him off with some sort of reckless behavior. I could see myself doing that. I was, after all, the girl who’d tried to kill herself in an attempt to escape a psychopath.

My scattered thoughts were on the brink of reality. Even acknowledging that didn’t slow the wheels of my mind. We had no way out, no way of knowing how long either of us would live.

I wouldn’t let them take this from us. Pain…pain between Rafe and I was supposed to be good, so with eachthwackof that whip, I pretended it was from him. Squeezing my legs together, I hoped they wouldn’t notice the evidence of my arousal.

I was sure Rafe knew though. He read me too easily, and my face was on fire as I returned his heated gaze. Neither of us said a word, as if we’d come to a mutual understanding. After several more lashings, Brock dropped the whip with a clatter and exchanged a glance with Cleft.

“She’s hot from getting him off. Those fucking endorphins.” Sighing, Cleft paced the area between Rafe and me. “Gotta say I’m disappointed. Mason got to blow his fucking load, and you,” he said, stopping to grab my chin, “seem to be impervious to pain at the moment.”

Letting go of my face, he ran a hand through his brown hair and halted to confront Rafe. “This is a bit unfair, dontcha think? If you get to come, I think I should too.”

Rafe shook his head, his eyes spitting poison. “Not with her. You wanna fuck someone, do me.”

“Rafe!” I jerked forward, pulling the muscles in my shoulders, and nearly lost my balance. “No!” I’d rather Cleft fuck me. I could take it. But Rafe…he’d been raped in prison because of me. This was all my fault. I couldn’t stand the thought of him enduring it again.

“Ignore her,” Rafe said. “Fuck me. I know you want to.”

“No!” I shouted. “You can do whatever you want to me. Leave him alone.”

Cleft frowned. “Gag the bitch,” he told Brock.

Brock disappeared then came back a few moments later with a large ball gag held tightly in his fist. I shook my head, squirming in my restraints. Tears threatened, an unbearable burn behind my eyes.

Brock shoved the gag against my mouth. I groaned, pressing my lips together, and shook my head back and forth. His mouth flattened into a mean line as he forced the gag in. My protests came out as whines, screeching higher, and Vinnie cocked a gun and pressed the barrel to my temple.

Cleft dragged a chair near Rafe, then released him from the chains. “You see that gun? If you fight me even a little bit, Vinnie will blow her brains all over the place.”

I didn’t recognize Rafe in that moment. His eyes were alight with something I couldn’t name. He averted his gaze as he bent over the armchair, baring his ass to Cleft, who stood behind him, stance wide and cocky. He slowly unbuckled his jeans and pulled the zipper down. Cleft palmed his ass, fingers gouging skin, and Rafe’s whole body twitched. He fisted his hands.

He was really going to do it—allow this bastard to rape him, all to protect me.

The burn of vomit lingered in my throat, and I closed my eyes, panicked at the thought of puking while gagged. Five in, hold, five out. There wasn’t time for the repeat part.

Rafe hissed in a breath, and my eyes flew open.

Cleft worked the tip of his cock between Rafe’s ass cheeks. I pleaded for him to stop, but no one paid attention to the smothered whines emanating from my throat.

Then the door banged open and Lucas stood in the doorway. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he shouted, his face red with fury.

Cleft backed off, and I let out a breath. This was the second time someone had stopped him from violating me. I didn’t know how much more of this I could take. I glanced at Alex, feeling like shit, because she’d suffered far more than I had.

I stood, and the room whirled around me for a few unsteady seconds. I wanted more than anything to go to her, but Vinnie remained at her side, gun dangling at his thigh, and I’d probably fall on my ass if I tried. I reached for the back of the chair and propped myself up.

The guy who’d burst through the door jabbed a finger at Cleft. “This place is full of pussy, yet you’re trying to ram your prick uphisass? I can’t turn my back for a fucking second without this place going to hell.”

Cleft opened his mouth, his gaze darting in my direction. “Uncle Luke…I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

So this was the fucking father figure Alex had almost married. A swift rush of possessiveness crashed over me, and I wanted to pound on him. I settled for squeezing the chair until my knuckles whitened.

“You never mean any disrespect, but you keep fucking up. You and Jax both. If you weren’t my blood, you’d be dead by now.” Perrone began pacing, one hand rubbing his chin, and his gaze ran over Alex’s restrained body. Slowly, he made his way to her and ran a palm over her face, down the valley between her hanging tits.

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