Page 7 of Redemption

The other men smile wickedly enjoying the dance between us as I pop a shoulder, something I’d do when I was Blue and raise my fist. “Bow to me, dog.”

He sneers, fists curling as he steps closer. But I don’t dare step back. That would be weak. Besides, a wall of men stands behind me anyway. He steps forward until our toes practically touch, he’s obviously not afraid of my weapon.

“Stand down, little girl,” he hisses against my hair. His hand caresses my face and I shudder at the warm touch. There’ something so dominant and commanding and yet so utterly gentle its hypnotizing. Something deep inside of me wants to please him while the other ninety-nine percent of me wants to defy him and run like hell.

“Collar her!”

“Punish her.”

“Show us DOM how you make her beg!”

The men behind me become agitated. I jerk my face away from him, eyes shooting venom. He grabs the back of my hair, jerking it down enough to sting but not hard enough to really hurt… yet. “On your knees.”

I’m pushed down much to the delight of the crowd. He walks back into the shadows, crooking a finger at me. “Crawl to me.”

“Never!”

A man behind me smacks my ass. I turn, screaming and thrashing the shard in my hand. Before I can strike, it’s yanked from me and I’m hauled back into the wolf’s arms.

“Stop,” he hisses. “I’m trying to save you. But they will demand witnessing your punishment. You shouldn’t have come here, little girl.”

“I’m not a little girl.” I throw my head back trying to hit his chin. His arms cross in front of me. I’m caught in his embrace, plastered against his body. I bite the inside of my cheek until I taste blood. The fight is an aphrodisiac to me. Maybe I just need to admit to myself that I need an alpha. I crave the addictive game of control. The man always needing it and me always defying that need.

“Make her…submit. I demand it.” A man waltzes forward. On his wrist is a green bracelet.

“Don’t be a fool little girl. Do you see that bracelet signifies he’s in the highest rank of the Den. Dimitri charges millions for membership. The man you pissed off is Viktor Romano, head of one of the cruelest Russian mobs. They flay little girls like you for before breakfast. There’s only way out now.”

He drags me further into the darkness, but the man follows. I turn in my captor’s arms. “Please. Don’t… I-I can’t be humiliated.” My hands splay on his broad chest. I feel his pecs tighten under my palms. The mask should make him seem like a monster. It’s hideous and cruel. Made to make woman terrified. But the dark secret I keep locked within is that I crave the monsters.

“Who the fuck are you anyway?” The Russian spits, coming at us. “Since Dimitri is on the other side of the room.”

“No one you want to fuck with, Viktor.”

I already knew the man who held me wasn’t Dimitri. Dimitri wears expensive cologne, but this man wears nothing but the smell of his expensive suit and arrogance. I want to pretend it’s him. My dark love from the past. My nails dig into my own soft flesh at my weakness. He’s always been my one weakness and that’s why I need him to finally fall.

The Russian snarls at my back. “She must pay for the insults, to keep the other subs in line. Let us watch. You are wearing the Alpha mask. It’s your duty.”

I’m a strong woman but I shut my eyes, burying my face in the safety of my own monster’s neck. I won’t go through with this total humiliation no matter what is asked of me. “Please. I’m no sub. If anything, I’m a dominant myself. I’ll die before submitting to any man.” My protector’s arms hold me closer.

“I know that already, Red.”

He goes hard as I gasp in surprise against his skin. He’s caught me. I’m in the one embrace I’ve run from because it always felt like coming home.

The other DOMS form a half circle around us. Roque’s caress on my bare back is soothing until he whispers in my ear. “Regret all those times you’ve run from me? I can only save you by breaking you again,bella. They won’t let us leave. On your knees,” he commands, dropping me to his feet.

The other men shift, excited at the game. Roque lifts a hand to the mask, removing it. His aqua eyes glitter with fierce desire in the dark. He lifts his chin as I lift mine. This duel. This constant tug-of-war between us refuses to end. Behind Roque is the couple from earlier, the woman nods, encouraging me. I might be the one on the floor as Roque hovers over me, but aren’t I the one with all the power? He smirks, expecting me to refuse. He knows I’ll refuse. So, I do the unexpected. Tilt his world the way he’s always tilted mine. I reach for his belt.

His eyes widen, smolder, and burn as my tiny hands reach inside.

“I didn’t ask for a hand job.” He grabs the back of my head, walking backward into the dark corner and my knees burn from being dragged.

But I know what he’s doing. He’s saving me the humiliation and denying them their sick pleasure. This thing between us is for us. No one else. Especially, not spectators.

My tongue darts out, tasting him. “Bella,” he whispers as his hands cup the side of my face. He’s tense, holding back, knowing this isn’t me. “Just bob your head, I’ll make it look real enough.”

I let my teeth scrape along side him. If there was any doubt just who is in control, it’s gone as he hisses out my name. He steps back away from me and longingly caresses my cheek before snapping a collar around my throat.

And just like that he flips the game on me. The corners of his mouth lift. “Do you know how many times I’ve imagined this moment?”

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