Page 13 of Tantalizing Tales

Rapture

Chapter One

Reid

Reid Masters, temporarily going by the name Mike Dunstin, entered the room quietly. His gaze immediately zeroed in on Alexis. He swore beneath his breath, and thanked God she hadn’t been there long. She was hanging by her arms in the center of the room, feet barely touching the concrete floor. Blindfolded, gagged and almost naked. They’d undressed her, leaving on only her red lacy thong and matching bra, the kind that emphasized her full breasts by pushing them over the top. The first time he’d laid eyes on her he’d been able to examine their perfection. Now her hair, long and thick, hid them from his view.

His gaze skimmed over the room, taking note of the two-way mirror giving whoever was on the other side an unobstructed view of everything that went on. He clenched his teeth—he knew what they expected him to do. This was a fucking test to see if he made the cut, and could be trusted. One of several, he’d been informed. And Reid knew that he’d have to see it through to the end.

Or he and Alexis would both die.

Except for the bed, which he was supposed to make use of, there was no furniture in the room. Walking quietly toward Alexis, Reid let his gaze roam over her lovely shape from the top of her bent head down to her painted toes. How many months have I imagined her without her clothes on? Nothing escaped his scrutiny. From what he could see, she was flawless, her skin like a sun-kissed peach. Healthy, with a natural sheen, toned where it needed to be, soft where it mattered. He saw the slightest stirring of her belly when she breathed.

Reid walked slowly around her. His gaze explored the enticing swell of her ass, the graceful curve of her hips and small waist. Damn, the sight of her was arousing as fuck. He felt something hot twist in his gut, and his cock began to swell. He hadn’t expected it to be this easy, not with an audience. But then this was Alexis, and he’d been aching for her, craving her for weeks. His mission was simple and crude. He was supposed to fuck her, and then they’d probably make him kill her. One reason he’d made damn sure to exchange the syringe given to him earlier for his own. While he couldn’t afford to fail and see six months of hard work go down the drain, he wasn’t about to kill an innocent woman either. The end was so close—all he had to do was make it through the next few days.

It was a stupid, demeaning initiation, but then he was dealing with Juan Rodriguez and the man was a fucking freak. A weirdo who got his kicks playing games with other people’s lives to suit himself. The only way Rodriguez let anyone new in his organization was to make them perform an act they found reprehensible, to prove they were as unscrupulous and evil as he was.

He was a sick fuck, and I couldn't wait for the day when I took him down.

Reid came to a halt in front of Alexis, standing for a moment, and just staring at her. She gave no sign that she knew anyone was there. But instinct told him that she knew. Reid gave her credit. She had to be terrified, yet she remained quiet. No screaming out or pleading for release, no twisting at the rope binding her wrists in an effort to break the restraint. The only signs of her turmoil were the tear tracks lining her slightly pale cheeks.

She had to be fucking terrified.

Resisting the urge to look at the two-way mirror again, his gaze dropped down her body slowly, feeding the need uncurling and growing in his lower belly. He’d never had to perform with an audience before. Could he do it? He reached forward, needing to see more of Alexis. He answered his own question when he pushed her hair back to expose her luscious tits, swelling over the top of her push-up bra. Jesus, the shape of her full, sensuous body was hot enough to bring him to full arousal.

She let out a whimper when he touched her face, her body stiffening, her tits heaving. It didn’t stop Reid from removing the tape over her mouth, exposing pouty lips that were meant to bring a man to his knees. She parted them immediately and sucked in air. Then her tongue came out to wet them. His gaze roamed slowly over her features, drinking in her flushed beauty. Fuck! The bastards had hurt her. A bruise discolored her cheek. He was careful not to let his expression give him away.

Always conscious of watching eyes.

Tony, the brown-nose rat, had to be the reason Alexis was here. They’d gone barhopping a couple of nights before. Tony had a big mouth. Reid should have remembered that. While making idle conversation with the man to gain his confidence, the topic had turned to women, and Reid had casually mentioned there was a hot babe living next to him that he’d like to get his hands on.

And then his dick in.

Alexis opened her mouth and Reid knew she was going to speak. He moved his mouth to her ear and made a sound for her to be quiet. “Alexis.” He’d made it his mission to learn who all his neighbors were when he moved into the building, but he’d have wanted to learn the beauty’s name regardless. The first time he'd seen her walking down the hallway she'd taken his breath away. “Don’t say anything.”

She caught her breath in obvious surprise. Reid sensed it was because she recognized his voice, not because he’d spoken her name. “Mike?” The voice that passed through her trembling lips was soft and frightened. “Is that you, Mike?" She sounded desperate, almost as if hoping that he turned out to be who she thought he was. "Why are you doing this?”

“That’s not important right now.” Reid said against her ear. “Do you want to live?” Ever aware they had an audience; he ran his hand along her collarbone and around the back of her neck, burying his fingers into the fall of her hair. Damn!Just like I imagined, thick and silky. He rained kisses along her soft cheek to her mouth. But he only toyed with her lips, teasing them with the barest touch of his. Letting their breaths mingle.

“Yes,” she whispered against his mouth. “I—”

“Then no talking.” His hand was still buried in the luxurious mane of her hair. He pulled her head back, exposing the graceful column of her throat to his hungry mouth. The light scent of her flesh was intoxicating, and he had to fight the urge to say fuck it and devour her.

Part of the initiation was ramping up her fear.

“Please…” she pleaded softly, trembling wildly. “Let me go. I won’t say anything.”

She didn’t listen very well, but then he couldn’t blame her. And Reid didn’t have time to explain what was going on. He had his orders, and his gut told him to get on with it and get her out of there as soon as possible. He had to wonder whether once he removed the blindfold, she would fight him tooth and nail. Or would survival instincts kick in, allowing her to succumb unwillingly to a situation out of her control?

And mine.

“Mike—”

He felt her slight resistance when his mouth covered hers but he steeled himself to ignore it. Her lips were soft, and the taste of mint caught Reid off guard. He moved his hands over her, from her hair down to her waist, taking hold of her hips and bringing her close to him. He kissed his way to her bellybutton, wrapped his arms around her knees, and lifted her to give her arms some relief. But it placed her thong-covered pussy right in his face.

Her arousing scent prompted Reid to bury his nose into her, and inhale deeply. At the same time, he drew her legs over his shoulders so that he was supporting her weight. He groaned, realizing that she was wet. Before he could stop himself his tongue came out and brushed over the silk covering her mound. Alexis gasped and stiffened, her sweet thighs clamping around his head. Reid turned his face to catch his breath, biting Alexis gently on the inside of her thigh.

Fucking hell, he’d forgotten where he was. His cock was pounding behind his zipper with the urgent need to fuck her. It would be easy to take her hard and fast, without regard for her feelings, yet he loathed what he was being forced to do. At that moment, he wanted to kill Juan, and forget about the mission. Since he’d been working undercover, Reid had been forced to do a lot of messed-up shit he didn’t like. Forcing himself on a helpless Alexis wasn’t the way he wanted to fuck her for the first time, or ever for that matter.

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