Page 66 of His to Keep

How could I forget?

When he shouted,Brother Joseph warned me about the wickedness of girls like you!

“—he too was fond of the technique. It taught control. Restraint. How else do you think I’ve been able to resist you until it was time?” Something whispers in the back of my mind. Didn’t he try to teach Callum to do the same thing? Whip to discipline. “Lay your hands on me. Touch them.”

My stomach squirms uncomfortably as I lift my hand and draw trembling fingers through his hair. Reaching skin that’s disgustingly warm beneath my fingertips, even though he’s hard as stone. My teeth grit. I just have to make him believe that I want this. Want him. But I’m wavering; I feel it. Can I do this—go as far as I need to?

Am I strong enough?

“Do you like what you see? Feel?”

“Y-Yes, my Lord,” I lie, cheeks burning with heat. I go to drop my hand, but he grabs it and suddenly backs me over to the bed until cool sheets touch the backs of my knees.

When he uses his hand to shove mine between his legs, my breath hitches as he manipulates my fingers to wrap around his penis. “Feelme. Feel how much I desire you. I may never want anyone as much as I want you—not for the rest of my life.”

My heart almost fails me when he pushes me back against the bed. Lifting my legs, I try to back away from him and whimper when he catches my ankle.

I can’t do this—I can’t. Not with him. This beast has destroyed my life. “Ava…”

“No—”

“Don’t resist.” He climbs on top of the bed like how he did this morning. Hovering over me like a cloud of doom. Grasping the collar of my dress, he pulls until the buttons pop. “Let me undress you.”

My body brutally shakes, and I close my eyes, heart thumping so hard I fear it’ll burst out of my chest. Maybe I even want it too. For this, what I’m doing now, is wicked. His hands snatching and tugging at me.

I hope you know what you’re doing, Callum.

Once Father Aaron has my dress removed, he’s over me like a prickly rash that makes me want to scream and tear at my skin. His mouth sucks and licks and bites, his sharp nails leaving red patches and scratches wherever they go. I’m lost in a sea of terror, waves crashing over, keeping me pinned down and paralyzed. He kisses my mouth, telling me how much he loves and wants me. His mistress. His angel. His light.

How much further? How much longer?

All the way,Callum’s words echo in my mind, and tears drip down the sides of my face as his father continues marking my body as his. Drowning me in darkness.

It’s the only way. Play the temptress.

The Ava inside is lost. Gone. I was never aware of the power my body yielded. Not until I met Callum. When he awakened all these feelings inside me that I was taught are terrible. No one ever told me that when you’re objectified, to become the object. Because there’s no other way to win when a man you don’t want wants you.

Right now, I’m not sure if I’m winning or losing. The line is thin. Having Father Aaron do all these things to the body he so adores feels like losing to me. And I’ve lost enough. I’vehadenough.

Opening my eyes, I glance down at the monster ravishing me, my panties and bra now removed. My legs are spread, and he’s attempting to pull down his pants when I reach forward and grab his face, stopping him.

Confusion creases his brow as I shift beneath him. Lifting my head, my lips touch his, and I watch his eyes close. His body sagging, relaxing,trusting.Now I know what they mean when they say selling your soul to the devil.

Behind us, the wardrobe door slides open silently. Father Aaron moans and groans into my mouth that kisses him harder, keeping my hand anchored on the back of his neck so that he doesn’t turn around and see his son is behind him.

“Oh, Ava,” Father Aaron breathes against my lips as Callum silently approaches, the expression on his face darker than the shadows that gloom around candlelight. “The heat and delicateness of your skin would send a man to heaven and back. Tell your Lord how much you want him. How much youneedhim. Call me your master.”

Callum’s right there, behind him, and I stop breathing. Just one slight turn of Father Aaron’s head could ruin it all, and we wouldn’t get another chance.

All the way.I can’t back out now.

Gulping down a lump in my throat, I stare into his lustful, greedy eyes. Eyes I’ll never forget. Stroking the side of his face, he visibly shudders from my touch. “But you said lying is a sin,master.”

Lifting his arm, Callum plunges his father’s own blade into his back. Father Aaron roars out in agony, and I scream when blood drips all over me. Stumbling back, Callum watches wide-eyed as Father Aaron drops to the floor, knife still protruding from his back as he whirls around. “You! Demon!”

“Shut up and just die!” Callum yells at him.

Sitting up, I quickly pull my dress back over my head as Father Aaron’s mouth slithers into a smirk, showing his teeth covered in blood.

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