Page 31 of Fervent

“I can do that anytime I want. You’re helpless here, Alex, and you can’t stop me.”

“What do you want then?” I lowered my gaze and imagined blood all over the shiny black surfaces of his shoes.

“I want you towantme to fuck you.”

“That will never happen.”

“Are you sure about that?” He placed a hand on my chest, between my breasts, and gently pushed until I flopped to my back. Grabbing my legs, he slid them onto the bed before bending and spreading my knees. I closed my eyes and found that place I hadn’t ventured to in a while—the place where I’d sought refuge when Zach had pushed me beyond my breaking point in that cabin.

The scrape of the plastic bucket on rough ground pulled me from that mental sanctuary. I sensed him shifting, and the mattress squeaked under his weight. Water sloshed, eliciting a shudder, and warm drops dribbled over my breasts. Goose bumps broke out on my skin. My nipples tightened, begging to be touched, pinched…bitten.

I wanted Rafe. God, how I wanted him—to get me out of here, to make my body bend, to fucking love me.

Lucas’ sleeve brushed my stomach, and I silently cursed my body for displaying any sort of reaction. He ran the sponge over my mouth and chin, wiping away the musk of Rafe, and continued to my breasts.

“My men fucked up. They should have separated you from Mason upon your arrival.”

I scoffed at his tone. He made it sound like we were his guests. “Let us go.” I swallowed hard. “If not me, at least let him go.”

He let out a heavy sigh. The sponge dipped between my thighs, and his fingers followed. Unlike the brutal force of his touch the first time he’d thrust his fingers into me, now he dipped into my center with such teasing skill, something inside me twitched to life.

I hated myself for that twitch.

He caressed my clit, soft and light as a feather. I gritted my teeth. “Just fuck me and get it over with.”

His low laugh rumbled through the room. “I’m not fucking you today. But you’ll beg me to, believe me.”

Over my dead, bloodied body.

“My personal slaves learn to serve me with pleasure, Alex. Some men like to forcefully take. I like to forcefully take what is given.”

“I’m not giving you anything.”

“You already have. You gave me a piece of yourself months ago. I saw your potential, your passion. And now,” he said, pressing on my clit with firm pressure, “you’re giving me your reluctant arousal.” He burrowed his fingers deep.

“Do you think this will work?” I asked, disdain bleeding from my lips. “You’re a sick, disgusting bastard who rapes women. You destroy them.” I thought about the young girl one of his men had brought to screams for hours on the other side of the wall.

And I thought of the blonde whose throat Lucas had so carelessly slashed. He’d pulled that blade across her neck as if she were an animal, as if she meant nothing. She’d been someone’s daughter, someone’s sister…someone’s mother.

She’d had history with Jax and Rafe. They’d both cared for her.

“Why are you doing this to us?”

“Some people believe in that old adage, ‘an eye for an eye.’ I’m underwhelmed with that saying. When someone wrongs me or mine, I don’t stop at the eye.”

He might as well have been speaking in Pig Latin. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you need to grasp the reality of your predicament. You’re not getting out of here.” He leaned over me, and his breath hit my face. “You feel my fingers inside you? Iwillhave my cock there.” He ran his tongue along my earlobe. I cringed, but a rough hand kept me from retreating. “Maybe I’ll keep Mason alive long enough to hear you beg for it.”

I spread my legs as wide as I could. “I have nothing left to give, so you’re gonna have to take it.” I was playing with fire by inserting that challenge into my tone, but I didn’t care. Maybe I was still in shock. Numb. Seeing red.

It didn’t matter. He was going to kill Rafe. If anything had the power to break my pieces, it was the certainty of his death busting through me like a wrecking ball. I’d rather die on our terms.Ourtime. I’d rather call Lucas’ bluff and die now than continue to bend.

He removed his fingers and stood. The sponge splashed into the bucket, and he reached for the button of his pants. “I’m visiting him next.” He paused, and my heart pounded out of control during those tense seconds. “You sent him to prison, Alex. Do you know what he did while he was in there?”

“No,” I whispered, barely able to get that single word out.

“Mason killed my blood, so I’m going to kill him.”

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