Page 39 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“I am not a nice man, Alice,” I warned. “I don’t think you know what you’re asking for. I don’t do casual. I don’t do once-a-week playtime. I am an all-or-nothing, twenty-four seven, total power-exchange kind of person. I can’t turn it off. I am in, or out.”

Very gently, I set my hand around the soft ivory column of her neck. She was so tiny that my hand covered nearly the entirety of it. Her eyelids fluttered at my touch.

“I am not nice. I will not tolerate your shit. I will hold you to my rules, I will check up on you, I will take control of every aspect of your life. I will punish you in ways you do not enjoy. I am cruel. I am mean. I am sadistic, and I am a bully. I will enjoy watching you suffer.”

Excitement and arousal burned through my veins as I gave her neck the softest squeeze. Her mouth popped open and her eyes widened in shock. “This isn’t a game to me. This is serious, and it’s my life. You don’t even know what you’re asking for, but I promise you two things.

“One, I will never, ever, break your limits. I will swear on anything you want me to. And two...” I squeezed just a little harder, and leaned forward, forcing our faces just a few inches apart. “Iwilltame you. I will teach you to submit. I... will... destroy you.”

Alice gasped, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide with wonder and arousal. I could tell she was struggling to breathe, so very gently, I eased my grip on her neck, letting my hand fall away. Catching one of the tears on her cheeks with the tip of my finger, I ran it along the fullness of her silken bottom lip.

“So you think very hard, and very carefully about the next time you decide to act like a little brat to me. If you want a chance at a normal, vanilla relationship, I suggest you keep your mouth shut and your behavior in check. Because if you act up again, I’m going to take it as an invitation to show you who is in charge. This is your open door, sweetheart. It’s up to you to walk through... and you might not like what you find in there.”

I could feel every inch of my body burning and tingling with excitement. My eyes drifted up and down her flawless body, searing this moment into my head and relishing the feeling of power that coursed through my veins.

The Beast was awake.

She looked at me with as much desire as I felt for her. For the first time in years, I felt seen. She could see the monster, and she wanted it. It called to her.

Nobody would hear you scream out here in the woods. Do you like the snow, little brat? Do you like the cold mixed in with your heat? Do you like pain with your pleasure? Because I do.

“Goodnight, Alice.”

I turned and walked away from her, knowing if I stayed any longer, I wouldn’t be able to honor that promise to let her try for a normal relationship. I flexed my hand, feeling it tingle from where I’d felt her blood pulsing under her skin. I knew I’d have it back there soon enough.

She wouldn’t be able to resist for very long. My warning to her was more like a challenge, and I knew there was only so long she’d be able to resist before she’d step up to it.

As I neared the clubhouse, I felt my face break into a smile. Another rush of emotions ran through me at the knowledge that I was right around the corner from the hunt, and I felt something I hadn’t felt in a very long time.

Alive.

Chapter 10

After our conversationin the snow, I left the clubhouse and drove up the mountain to my home, trying to keep my frenzy at bay. The hunt was on. The games had started.

There was so much to do.

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