Page 17 of CHASE: Captive to the Dark

Chase stopped mid-stride, but kept his back to me. “Name.”

“You know my name.”

He spun around, calmer than I expected. I knew it was a mask. He may have been pretending to be indifferent, but behind his stare told me exactly where he was. And it wasn’t a good place. He was desperate and in his mind, I was the only one with the answers he seeked.

“You’re going back to the cross.”

A scream broke from my throat as he surged forward, covering my body. No matter how hard I fought, I couldn’t get him off me. My hand fell free, immediately gripped while he moved to the next.

“Get off!”

My other arm was set free and he grasped both of my wrists, pulling me off the bed. “You won’t be set free until you talk. I’m done waiting.

Like each time I was placed against the cool leather, he had me strapped within seconds. I pulled hard, yelling at him to let me go.

“You’re wasting your time!”

Chase picked up the flogger, coming back to me. When his arm lifted, I knew he wasn’t going to argue. I’d seen so much of him within the last three days. I should have been afraid, and at times, I was, but I knew he wouldn’t seriously injure me. He never crossed the threshold into unbearable pain. It hurt, yes, but not to the point where he drew blood. There were even times he made it enjoyable. Or maybe I was sinking deeper into my own fantasies, conjuring something that wasn’t accurate.

“Why don’t you let me try to help you some other way? We can call that woman. We—”

Whack! Whack!

Fire flared over my stomach and I sucked in air at the sting.

“I already called. She’s dead.”

Whack!

No words would come at the shock and pain I felt. He reared back, connecting against my thigh. A cry poured out, but I refused to stop asking questions. Besides, I needed what he was giving me. Craved everything from the dominance to the harshness. My body was on fire, from more than the flogger.

“Was she killed? What did they say?”

Chase’s hand paused and sadness flashed for only a moment. It came so fast, I doubted whether I saw it at all.

“What is your name?”

“Answer my question and I’ll answer yours.”

Darkness flickered while he began to pace in front of me. “I’ll tell you, but if you don’t answer, you’ll pay worse than this.” He paused. “Drug overdose. Her friend said there was nothing suspicious about it. The friend, of course, couldn’t answer anything I asked. Now, what is your name?”

Yes, there it was again. The sorrow seeped through. It poured from him in waves. Whether Chase remembered her or he was just upset about the lack of answers, I wasn’t sure. But I felt for him. Regardless that I shouldn’t. For days, he had pushed me…and I was weakening, wanting…

****

“I told you, now it’s your turn. Name,” I said forcefully.

“Kathleen.”

I cocked my head, waiting to see if she’d keep her word. “Kathleen, what?”

“Danielle.”

My arm hesitated from rearing back. I hadn’t expected her answer. “Kathleen Danielle, what?”

Each step closer brought Kit’s face lower. The flush on her cheeks was disappearing with her descent and I couldn’t stand it. I wanted to see her hot and worked up. She couldn’t hide that now. Not while I was so captivated.

“Last name.” My hand cupped her cheek hard, bringing her face back up. I moved in close, pressing my body into hers. “Tell me,” I coaxed. “Help me.”

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