Page 112 of Eternal

“It’s not important.”

It didn’t sound that way. But for the same reason I don’t ask when it comes to my father’s business dealings, I don’t push Declan to clarify.

“Let’s take a walk.” Declan grabs my hand, leading me farther away from my parents’ cabin.

The deeper we get into the woods, the harder it is for the moonlight to filter through the cover of the trees, and the darker it gets.

“Did you miss the part when I said this place is creepy?” I look around the shadowy forest, which is no more comforting than the foggy lake water.

“Afraid I can’t protect you?” Declan tugs me to a tree, pinning me against it.

“I don’t know.” I narrow my eyes in a challenge. “Can you?”

Declan drags his teeth over my jaw, nipping at my ear. “You shouldn’t have to ask that question, Tealene. You already know who your monster is and what he’ll do to protect you. There’s nothing that would stop me from keeping you safe. Not even if you fight me on it.”

“How comforting.”

He sinks his teeth into my neck, and my words mumble into a cry. They turn from pleasure to pain as he deepens his bite.

It’s a fine line with Declan, and I walk it over and over again.

“You don’t want my comfort, pet.” He licks the spot he bit, skating his hands to my shorts and undoing them. “And even if I offered it, you know it would hurt just as much as anything else does.”

“Maybe I like it when it hurts.” I moan as he nips at my neck again. “Maybe I like that you aren’t sweet with me. Maybe I like the monster.”

“Is that so?” Declan pulls back with a wicked grin. “You think you can handle me, Teal?”

He shoves his thumb in my mouth, notching it open.

“Yes,” I mumble around him, knowing that being in Declan’s circle of hell is the only place I feel safe.

Because at least here, I know what to expect. At least with Declan, I know in what ways I’ll hurt.

If he’s evil, it means he’ll protect me at all costs—truly. Without question. Without mercy.

“On your knees,” Declan commands, not releasing my jaw as I drop to the ground in front of him. “Just because I’ll protect you from everyone else doesn’t save you from me. Isn’t that right, pet?”

I nod, and his thumb digs into my tongue.

“Good.” He grins. “Now show me who you answer to.”

I reach up and unbutton his jeans, staring into his eyes the entire time. His cock juts free, and I take it in my hand; his cum is already leaking from the tip at the sight of me.Declan releases my jaw, and my tongue darts out to lick it. To taste him.

That’s all the control I’m allowed. The moment my lips part, he thrusts his cock deep and hard. The back of my head strikes the tree behind me, and he uses the leverage to fuck my face without mercy. I’m pinned, unable to pull back when he shoves himself so far down my throat it burns.

I try my best to suction my cheeks and please him, but he fucks my face so brutally I lose control. The back of my throat aches with every thrust, and my vision is foggy with tears. And as degrading as this is, I want to be his doll. His toy. His pet.

“You’re so pretty when you cry for me.” Declan wipes the underside of my eyes, pulling his cock out of my mouth far enough to rub his tear-soaked palm over the base before shoving it back in and forcing me to taste the saltiness. “So pretty when you beg for me to hurt you. When you beg for me to make you mine.”

His cock pulses, and I can taste him in the back of my throat, but instead of coming, he pulls out, grabbing me by the throat and forcing me to stand.

He spins me around, shoving my chest against the tree so hard it scrapes my cheek.

“Who do you belong to?” he asks as he shoves my jeans to my knees, pulling my hips back.

“You.”

“That’s right.” He slides a hand between my thighs. “You’re mine, Teal. And you will never be anyone else’s again.”

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