Monsters in the Dark

by Winters, Pepper

  The freedom she granted—to allow my darkness to mix with hers—was indescribable. I wanted to crush her to death in an embrace, and never let go. I wanted to fuck her so hard she broke in my arms. I wanted to kiss her brow and nurse her back to health once I hurt her. I wanted so many things. So many things I never thought I could have.

  I couldn’t stop staring. She arched up, pressing soft, breakable lips against mine. “Maître, punish me. I deserve to be punished for fucking another man while I was away from you.”

  What. The. Fuck?

  My body slammed to a halt. My world spun with brimstone and hell. I wrapped fingers around her throat. “You dare admit that? Are you suicidal?” I squeezed until true fear popped into her eyes, and it fed me. Shit, it fed me. The fear, the fragility. A delicate bird I could wipe from existence so easily.

  Horror tempered my rage; I forced my fingers to relax. Get a grip!

  “Not suicidal, but close if you don’t touch me. I’m on a knife edge needing you, Q.”

  Hearing my name on her lips ignited the fuse I tried so hard to stop from exploding. I was done holding back. No more talking.

  Grabbing her hair, I dragged her to the crystal bar in front of the pool table. I wasn’t in the mood for games. I was in the mood for alcohol and getting wet.

  I pressed her over the bar, revelling in her moans, her cries, her sexy pants. “You’ll be sorry you said that, esclave. You want to see how dark I’ll go? Well, you can’t. Not until you prove your promise. Not until I trust you’re strong enough.”

  I wrapped my fingers around the base of her skull, placing her cheek against the cold granite countertop.

  She writhed, pressing her ass hard against me. Goddammit, this woman.

  “Does it make you jealous? Do you want to wipe away the memory of him with your cock? Because I want you to. I need you to. Q… please…Q.”

  Holy shit, who was this little animal? Did I create her, or was she always this twisted? My skin sparked with tingles. Emotions I never experienced before exploded. Happiness. True, unbridled happiness.

  I shook her for good measure. “I’m so fucking jealous of that boy. I was jealous of Franco flying with you back to Australia. I was jealous of Suzette for earning your friendship. I was even jealous of myself when I fucked you. Fuck, yes, I’m jealous. Insanely jealous.”

  Her mouth twitched. “Good. I’m happy.”

  Shaking my head, I grabbed the back of her grey dress—the same dress I bought her—and ripped it down the back. She trembled as the loud snarl of fabric echoed. Once it was destroyed, I splayed it open, exposing her back, ass, and thighs.

  My palm twitched, and I couldn’t stop it. I spanked her. Hard. Probably too hard, but she cried in such pleasure, my cock jerked and I almost came.

  Instantly, her white flesh bloomed red with a hand print. I groaned, caressing her, wanting more, always craving more.

  When I froze, trembling with the urge to go too far, Tess looked over her shoulder. “One smack? That’s all you feel I deserve?”

  I literally couldn’t take it. I hit her. So. Damn. Hard. My palm fired and stung. Tears sprang to her eyes, and I ground my cock against her ass, throbbing with unshed come.

  Needing to give my hands something to do, I opened the mini-bar below and pulled out a vintage bottle of icy champagne.

  Ripping off the gold foil and popping the cork, I shuddered with so much pent up need, I couldn’t think straight.

  Tess watched, tears glittering on her cheeks and eyelashes. Her face pressed obediently against the counter, not saying a word.

  Once the sharp tang of alcohol filled the space, I gave her a tight smile, then upended the expensive champagne all over her back, drenching her hair, making her shiver with bubbles and chill.

  Tess moaned, writhing, hips bucking for mine. I growled, swigging the last dregs as I thrust against her red slapped ass. Grinding, rocking, I wanted to do so much to her, but my need to come took all control out of my hands.

  She wants to see how dark I’ll go. We had a future to look forward to, full of sin and debauchery. I would teach her the meaning of blackness, initiate her into my world.

  A thrill shot up my legs and into my belly. A future. Together.

  My mind raced, unable to stay on one concise thought. She gave me everything so willingly, on a platter of sex, ready for the taking. In return, I owed retribution from her kidnappers. I wanted to lay corpses at her feet and prove I may be a monster but I was her monster.

  A beast who would turn savage on those who wronged her.

  Ducking down, I tore the white G-string off with my teeth, dragging an eager tongue up the side of her back, lapping over ribs.

  Her ribs were virgin, no tattoos, unlike mine. It’d taken four years to get it exactly right, adding more and more birds as I saved more and more slaves.

  The fact Tess inked herself with a bird told me how deep she already went. How much she wanted me. All of me.

  The taste of her and champagne fogged my brain. I needed more.

  Slamming to my knees, I grabbed her ankles, spreading her legs with force. She slipped, hands gripping the countertop. “Q… God, yes.”

  Her voice vibrated through me, sending lust into overdrive. I stood back up, yanking my tie off in one swipe. Her eyes widened. “No, don’t gag me. I’ll be quiet.”

  I cocked my head, glaring. “Obéis, esclave.” Obey. She closed her eyes, parting lips slightly, allowing the material to bind her. With the two ends behind her head, it felt like reins. Controlling her completely, ready to be ridden into a frenzy.

  Tying the ends quickly, I resumed my position between her legs. Her exposed cunt above dripped with wetness and champagne. It was the most delicious sight I’d ever seen.

  Groaning, I licked the bubbles, tracing them up her inner thighs.

  She bucked, spreading her legs even more.

  Fuck, she tasted amazing. Soft and smoky and hinting at orchids and frost.

  When I flicked a tongue over her clit, she spasmed, moaning, tears oozing. I dug my fingers into her thighs, keeping her steady. My cock ached in the confines of my pants. I wanted to shove it inside her.

  But first, I wanted to lick and drown in her taste. Without warning, I spurred my tongue into her slit. She screamed, muffled by the gag, inspiring me to lick harder. The sharp tang of champagne drowned in her powdery sweetness. Nectar just for me. A mind-blazing aphrodisiac.

  I wanted to bite, to brand, to rape.

  I lost track of time as I worshipped her pink flesh. Who needed time when everything I needed was right here. I never wanted to eat again unless it tasted like Tess.

  But my cock wept with pre-cum, throbbing with urgency to replace my tongue and fuck. Games would have to come another day. When I wasn’t about to spurt like a fucking school boy.

  I stood, breathing hard, wiping Tess’s juice from my chin. Fumbling with my belt, my eyes widened as violence took me over. I yanked the leather from the loops, weighing it in my hands.

  With lust-heavy eyes, Tess looked over her shoulder. Her lips were split and grimaced thanks to the gag, cheeks ruddy red with passion.

  I folded the belt in half, palming the metal buckle. I slapped my palm, wincing at the sting, loving how she panted harder.

  I cocked my eyebrow. “Is this punishment enough for fucking another?”

  For a moment, she paused. I expected a no. A whimper, a plea to run. Instead, with a sharp blue glint in her eye, she shook her head coyly. She cocked her jaw, body language asking me to remove the gag.

  I didn’t want to, but obliged.

  After I untied it, she sucked in a breath as I lay the drenched tie on the counter. For a millisecond, she didn’t speak, intoxicating me with her pants. Then that sexy, dangerous glint appeared again. She snapped, “Don’t fucking think about whipping me, you monster. I told you, I don’t want this. Let me go.”

  Oh. My. Fucking. God. Denial. Rape. Anger. Delicious delirium.

  My eyes sn
apped closed and the beast raged to life. “Fuck, esclave. I told you not to tempt me.”

  My hands curled around the leather, snapping it tight. This perfect woman was about to get the whipping of her life. Then I’d fuck her. Hard.

  She let me do unthinkable things to her. She gave me everything I needed and more. She fed both the man and beast and she would never be free again. She was in my cage and I would never open the door. She was the key. The key to my happiness.

  Patting her ass, I raised my hand. The moment of anticipation had us both shivering out of control.

  I struck.

  The belt whistled through air, connecting with her champagne-damp skin with a loud smack.

  She moaned and bit her lip, squeezing her eyes tight.

  My hips jerked on their own accord, fucking air as I struck again and again. Never in the same place twice, I decorated her ass with stripes of red. I couldn’t get enough oxygen; my chest rose and fell with every pummel.

  I lost control and hit too hard, a small trickle of blood welled. She yelped, moving her ass away, but I held her still. “I’m not done with you yet, Tess. Ten strikes for running. Ten strikes for leaving. And ten strikes for coming back to the monster’s den when he willingly set you free.” I hardly recognised my own voice, it was so thick with need.

  “Too many. I can’t do that many.” Tears dripped and her entire face was grief-stricken.

  “You’re the one who wanted dark. I’ll give you dark.”

  And I did.

  Thirty pieces of dark.

  Thirty strikes of delicious temptation that made my life seem cosmically bright compared to the black I lived in.

  Tess screamed and sobbed, but beneath it all was an undercurrent of sexual need. Her wetness trickled down her thigh, thicker, creamier than the champagne. She may hate it, but she loved it.

  Once the last kiss smacked her perfect ass, I dropped the belt and in the same second, undid my fly, pushed my pants down, and pulled out my throbbing cock. “Spread,” I ordered, pushing her lower back, bending her to my will.

  She obeyed, whimpering as my cashmere blazer rubbed against sore skin.

  Then she wasn’t crying anymore.

  I plunged so deep, so fast, her feet left the floor and she slid on the champagne wet counter. “Oh fuck, yes,” I grunted.

  Her back arched as a delighted scream erupted from her. I wrapped an arm around naked breasts, holding her upright. My hips dug into hers, trying to possess every inch. My cock was hungry, desperate, already rippling with the urge to fill.

  She’s so tight, so wet.

  I slid in and out, thrusting deep until my balls slapped against her.

  “Oh, God I’ve missed this,” she cried. “Missed you. Missed the pain.”

  “Shut up and take it, esclave.” I thrust, twisting her nipple, biting her neck. My jaw trembled with the urge to draw blood again. I went wild for her blood. It was the best drug. The elixir of the beast inside.

  Her hot, whipped flesh burned my lower belly; I couldn’t think of anything else but fucking her. I lost control. Spreading my stance, wrapping fingers around her hips, I gave myself over to darkness.

  “Take me, Tess.”

  “I’ve already taken you, maître.”

  I pounded into her, beyond caring her hipbones collided with hard granite, or knees bruised against cabinets. All I focused on was pleasure.

  She cried out, thrusting back, urging me to go harder, harder.

  I couldn’t breathe as a sharp band of release throttled my cock, demanding to spurt into this amazing slave. This woman who turned my world upside down. This woman… the key to my undoing.

  I growled like a feral beast as I gave myself over to pleasure. Sensation exploded from my thighs, up my balls, and into my cock. I thrust like a monster with only seconds left to live, filling her with come, marking her, making sure she knew who her master was.

  The moment I spurted, she clenched around me. “Fuck, yes, Q. Oh, God. Give it to me. I want you. I want all of you.” She came and came, fisting, milking, tearing every drop of come I had to give.

  I spasmed and twitched as overbearing intensity replaced hot-arching pleasure, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop rocking inside her. I never wanted to leave her hot, dark wetness. It was where I belonged.

  She went floppy, breathing like tormented blackbird. My legs grew weak and wobbly. I pulled her into my arms, heading to the floor in one jumble of sweaty, champagne sticky bodies.

  She laughed as I laid her on my belly, protecting her nakedness from the cool tiles. Even though depleted, my cock never softened and every wriggle fired new life into it.

  Would I ever get enough of her? Would I ever show her how dark I could go?

  She went to pull away, but I lassoed my arms tighter. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “I thought I was crushing you.” She wiggled her ass, sending sparks into my balls. After a month of not having her, she wouldn’t get away that easily.

  I gently smacked her belly, aware her ass was beyond punishment after the belt. “You think I’m done with you, esclave?” I nuzzled her ear, licking softly. “I’ve only just begun.”

  Playlist

  *Some songs that inspired Tears of Tess*

  Demons by Imagine Dragons

  Bring Me Back To Life by Evanescence

  Arms by Christina Perri

  Dark Paradise by Lana Del Ray

  Undisclosed Desires by Muse

  Animal by Disturbed

  ET by Katy Perry

  Halo by Depeche Mode

  Higher Level by Beseech

  My Immortal by Evanescence

  Tainted Love

  Familiar Taste of Poison by Halestorm

  Gravity by Sara Barielles

  Closer by Nine Inch Nails

  Stay With Me by Danity Kane

  So Far Down by Three Doors Down

  SOS by Rihanna

  Quintessentially Q

  For all the esclaves of Q and lovers of twisted romance.

  Prologue

  Quincy

  I ache to see your flesh bleed, scream for me, give me what I need,

  let the rivers run, the monster inside has won…

  I thought I would be her nightmare—her terror and darkness. I wanted to be. I needed her more than food or sunlight. Only when she came into my life did I start to live—intoxicated by her taste, screams, and joy.

  But our fucked-up-fairy-tale didn’t exactly have a happy ending.

  Tess.

  My Tess.

  My esclave—so strong and fierce and sexually feral—wasn’t strong enough for what happened.

  Her cage wasn’t me anymore.

  It was them.

  Chapter One

  Quincy

  Naked and restrained, this darkness cannot be contained,

  you, my esclave, have been claimed…

  All I could think was—she’s dead. She had to be. All that blood, so bright with a coppery tang, almost sweet.

  Her snowy skin was extra frosty, grey-blue eyes closed to me.

  Rage and terror strangled me as I fell to my knees in the warm puddle of crimson. The whip in my hands grew slippery with sweat, and I hurled it away in disgust. I did this. I let myself go and showed my true self. The monster inside ruined the only brightness in my life.

  “Tess?” I pulled her into my arms, dragging her cold, lifeless form closer. Blood smeared over us. Her red-welted body oozed with damnation.

  “Wake up, esclave,” I growled, hoping an order would force those dove-blue eyes open.

  No response.

  I bent, pressing my cheek against her mouth, waiting endlessly for a small puff of breath, a signal I hadn’t gone too far.

  Nothing.

  Fear stopped my heart, and all I wanted to do was reverse time. Rewind to a simpler place where I lived with needs and urges, but never let myself believe I could be free. Rewind to the day when Tess arrived and I promptly sent her back to h
er stupid boyfriend Brax. At least if I did she would be safe, and my life wouldn’t have ended.

  At least then, Tess would be alive.

  My demons killed her.

  I killed her.

  I threw my head back and howled.

  * * *

  “Q. Q!”

  Something sharp bit my shoulder, and I flinched. Rolling away, I tried to ignore the call. I deserved to stay in this nightmarish hell. The hell I created for killing the one woman who stole my life and showed me an emotion I never dared dream of. A dream I never knew I wanted until Tess came into my life.

  My cheek smarted as if someone slapped me, blazing through the darkness with a bite of pain.

  I wrenched my eyes open to find a wild-eyed, blonde goddess on top of me. The debilitating terror wouldn’t leave, even though she was alive and glaring with passion I grew to know so well.

  “What the hell, Q? That’s the third time this week. You going to tell me what you’re dreaming about to warrant howling like a werewolf?” Tess pinned my shoulders to the mattress, and I couldn’t stop muscles from tensing. I liked her on top, but I didn’t like her holding me as if she was in control. It wasn’t how I worked.

  “None of your business.” I rolled, grabbing her hips to pin her beneath me. I risked a small smile. With her under me, my world righted again. I ran hands over her waist, up her throat, to her lips. Her breath fluttered, coming faster; the rest of my panic receded.

  She was still breathing.

  I hadn’t killed her.

  Yet.

  Tess ran her hand softly over my cheek, tickling. “You should tell me what you’re afraid of. Brax used to—”

  I froze, grinding my teeth. “If you know what’s good for you, you won’t finish that sentence.” Goddammit, why did she have to bring the ghost of her idiot boyfriend who treated her like a fragile princess into our bed?

  Tess squeezed her eyes. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to…it’s just—I’m concerned. If you’re having bad dreams because of me, give me the opportunity to make them go away.”