Page 106 of Velvet Cruelty

Cold slithers through me. “I don’t want to disappoint you, Mr. Morelli. I just want to stay a virgin.”

Eli draws on his cigar, and the end burns orange-white. “In some ways I admire you, Miss Whitehall. There isn’t a woman in a million who could have withstood Orchard the way you have, and your childish insolence has its charm. But I laid out certain expectations tonight and you have failed to meet them.”

His even tone is worse than Doc’s threats. More unnerving than Bobby’s anger. “I’m sorry, Mr. Morelli.”

He points the cigar at the floor in front of him. “On your knees.”

My heartbeat pounds in my ears as I crawl across the bed toward him. I eye his cigar and remember the fire from my dream. Was it a warning? Is he going to burn me?

Eli blows out a cloud of smoke. “I will not ask again.”

I collapse at his feet.

“Bella.” The cigar hovers above me. “You’re running out of time and options. Do you know that?”

I nod, trying not to keep my face away from the burning end. I already feel the heat of it on my cheek, the threat of it in my heart.

“You’re going to finish what you started in the dining room. You’re going to suck me like your life begins and ends with my cock. And while you do it, I’m going to sit here and smoke this…” he tilts the cigar at me. “…and think about why I should let you live.”

My mind goes blank. Fear obliterating thought.

Eli moves his hands to his armrest. “What a mess we’ve made of you.”

I touch my hair. It’s a rat’s nest from being grabbed and pulled and I’m still covered in Bobby’s cum. Eli’s judgmental smile makes me want to curl into a ball and hide. But I’m frozen, hypnotized by the burning cigar tip.

“You’re filthy,” he says with satisfaction. “Now take me out and suck.”

My hands shake as I undo his fly and pull him into my palm. On my wedding day, I nearly fainted at the thought of doing something like this to Mr. Parker. Tonight, it’s a compromise I need to make to stay alive.

I fist the base of Eli’s cock and take him into my mouth. As I bob in his lap, I watch the cigar. Fear has me moving twice as fast, sucking as though he’s something delicious.

“Did you enjoy what my men did to you tonight?”

It’s a trick question. He’s only saying it to taunt me. I re-double my focus, running my tongue along his shaft.

“Fine,” he says curtly. “Don’t respond. The reason I ask is because like Bobby, I have something I enjoy in bed. Do you want to know what it is?”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I’ve already been spanked, already had a knife against my throat and between my legs. What more can these men do to me that’s not sex?

Eli shifts forward, the movement forcing his cock deeper inside me. I retch, readjusting my jaw and try to swallow. The fingers of his free hand close around my throat. “I like choking. Knowing I’m holding a woman’s life in my hands as I make the blood rush to her head.”

I gag.

“Good girl,” he croons. “I look at your pretty white neck, dressed in my rubies, and think how easy it would be to end you, Miss Whitehall. How convenient.”

His grip tightens. The sensation is unnatural but no more uncomfortable than having his cock thrusting between my lips. I lap at him, trying to be better than I was in the dining room. Trying to make him come. Trying to finish the night a virgin.

Eli fingernails dig into my throat and I taste a burst of salt. My head spins at the lack of air, but I keep going, pushing, knowing he must be close.

“Bella,” he breathes and semen floods my mouth. I swallow and he moans, shuddering helplessly above me. He’s so ruthless, so utterly controlled, but I made him weak.

I sit back on my heels and wait.

After a long moment, Eli tilts my chin to look at him, his chest heaving. “Have you had enough, or should I send for Adriano?”

My heart stops. He wouldn’t let me negotiate my virginity. He would sleep with me just to humiliate me—and then end my life. “No please,” I say, thick-tongued.

“Fine. Maybe next time.” He holds out a hand to me. “Come, bella. You need sleep.”

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