Monsters in the Dark

by Winters, Pepper

  Tess bit her lip, moaning in agony. “Enough! Please enough.”

  What the hell was that? “Nice try, Tess. I know you’re loving this, too. I’m used to your games. Your begs won’t stop me. You gave me this power! I’ll stop when I’m good and fucking ready.”

  Tess cried loudly as I tipped another spritz of wax over a nipple.

  Her tears looked genuine but I knew my little minx. I knew she wanted this, just like me. She wouldn’t have agreed if she didn’t.

  The instant the wax hardened, I latched my mouth around the greasy residue, biting it off. My cock lurched at the glowing burn mark left behind.

  Not only did the wax look like blood but it branded her, too.

  The pits of hell opened its gates at the morbid pleasure thrilling through me. Blowing out the candle, I put it down. With eager fingers, I picked at the hardened wax. Tess moaned as I peeled it from her irritated skin.

  Depositing the pieces taken from her, I savoured the revealing of her burned flesh. Waves of blooming heat that I’d put there. Me. Her master.

  The last piece, I dangled over Tess’s mouth. “Open.”

  Her face blanched, her cheeks glistening with moisture. “You can’t be serious.”

  Fuck, she was incredible. Her acting impeccable.

  “Deadly. Eat it and I’ll let you up.”

  Tess shook her head.

  With cruel fingers, I twisted the nipple I’d burned. Her mouth opened in a silent scream. Placing the small piece of wax on her tongue, I glowered as she screwed up her face.

  Raising an eyebrow, I let her make the decision of more punishment for disobeying or the end of torture by obeying.

  It took a never-ending second before she grimaced and swallowed.

  “Good girl.” In a fast move, I pulled her upright, before pushing her down onto all fours on the carpet. She sniffed, a small sob escaping her wracking body.

  Can’t you see you’re fucking ruining her?

  The sane thought came from nowhere, bringing the power of a migraine, shoving ice-picks into my temples.

  Oh, fuck, what am I doing?

  Pain compounded on pain. I cried out, clutching my head against the agony in my skull. I fell forward, collapsing onto one knee.

  Tess tried to crawl away, the curtain of curls hiding her face but not the red punishment on her ass.

  “Where are you going?” Grabbing her ankle, I pulled her backward. “I haven’t fucking finished.” Her legs splayed; my mouth watered at the sight of her pussy.

  I wanted to taste. I wanted to fuck.

  Don’t do this!

  Climbing over her, I pushed her onto her stomach. Locking a leg around hers, I kept her thighs completely open. Exposed.

  My fingers slid up her thigh, aching to touch her.

  The monster licked his lips at the thought of finally having satisfaction. Of finally taking her like I’d always wanted—rough, against her will—ruthless.

  Every inch I travelled, she didn’t say a word. Not a peep or sound as she buried her face in the carpet.

  The migraine made my mouth go dry; the sun became my worst fucking enemy. Too bright; digging into my eyes, ruining me further.

  This is wrong!

  I’m past caring.

  It felt so good to finally let go. To drop my barriers. Tess wanted it. She’d encouraged me.

  I couldn’t wait any longer. My fingers latched around my cock, guiding it to her pussy.

  “I’m going to take you. I’m going to come so deep inside you.”

  I thrust against her, wanting to lodge myself inside with one impale.

  She cried out, her back bowing with agony.

  I rocked forward, unable to understand why I couldn’t enter her. Come on! I needed to be inside.

  Reaching between us, my forefinger stroked her clit, dropping to where the head of my cock pressed against her folds.

  My world screeched to a fucking halt.

  What—?

  The beast froze, giving me one clear, untainted moment.

  She wasn’t wet.

  Not at all.

  Fuck. This can’t…no…

  A surge of agony hit me like a baseball bat. My migraine shoved the monster back into its cage. Beating it with hatred, yelling, cursing, threatening to murder everything awful inside.

  What have I done?

  I scrambled backward, dry-retching with horror. “No. No. Fuck, no.”

  Tess was the driest I’d ever felt. She isn’t wet. Everything I’d let my foggy fucked-up brain conclude had been a lie. She was drier than the Sahara.

  Low moans sounded as Tess panted hard. She hadn’t moved, lying unprotestingly and ready—ready for me to fucking rape her.

  My heart broke into a bazillion fractured fragments. My ears filled with screeching from the horror in my soul. “What have I done?”

  Fuck.

  Fucking fuck!

  I could barely function. My body crashed from its high of sadist animalistic needs, leaving a junky who’d never be fixed.

  “Tess—oh, my God.”

  Blinking away the pain of my headache, I gathered her freezing body off the floor. Rocking back, I sat and leaned against the table leg, cocooning her on my lap.

  Her body wracked with shivers, shuddering with every ragged breath.

  Shit. What have I done? What have I done!

  Silence echoed horribly loud. A minute ticked past. Then another. I didn’t know what to say. I had no clue how to fix the atrocity of what I’d committed.

  I wanted to carve out my sick, sick brain and beg for forgiveness. But this—this was unforgivable.

  Then Tess hiccupped, turning her face into my chest. Her trembling arms slowly wrapped around my neck, spreading the slickness of her tears. They turned from seeping to raging, soaking into my worthless flesh, staining my soul forever.

  My fractured heart oozed with corruption and terror. Everything she’d said was a lie. She’d made me hurt her against her consent.

  I’d spun the worst kind of lies by listening to the darkness inside me.

  I howled silently, slamming the cage into place, locking it forever. Never again would I let myself be swayed. Never again would I believe what Tess said.

  Lies had the power to tear apart a relationship—it also had the power to kill.

  How much further would I have gone?

  I never wanted to know the answer.

  My eyes smarted with rage—rage so hot and torrid I wanted to kill myself for being so fucked up. Then the rage dissolved under the colossal weight of guilt—rock after rock—burying me alive.

  “Why?” I whispered. “Why did you let me do it?” My arms banded tighter, completely terrified she’d walk out the door.

  How could she ever stand to look at me again? Nothing could fix what I’d done. No apology or heartfelt note could ever excuse almost raping the woman I would die for.

  I couldn’t stomach it. I couldn’t breathe with the enormity of what I’d become.

  Burying my face in her hair, I gave myself over to despair. “Tess, je suis tellement désolé.” I'm so unbelievably sorry.

  She hunched in on herself, but her arms wrapped tighter around my neck. My migraine pressed me further into the depths of hell. I suffocated on her hair. I’d never be able to look into her eyes again.

  I was scum. Fucking awful terrible scum.

  “Why? Why, Tess?” How could you let me do this—after everything?

  She sniffed, raising her head. I gripped her harder, forcing her to stay, shaking until my teeth clacked together.

  Pushing me a little, she sat upright, snuggling closer in my arms. “Because I love you, and I didn’t want to let you down.”

  I couldn’t. I couldn’t do it.

  I squeezed my eyes, unable to look at her. I was the worst kind of villain. Once a devil always a devil. I’d finally shown my true form. I’d shown Tess just how heinous I truly was. I’d lost my soul.

  “Let me down? Fuck, Tess, yo
u’ve just destroyed me. You let me do that against your will.”

  She shook her head. “It wasn’t against my will. I let it happen. I gave myself to you because I love you.”

  A cavernous hole opened in my chest, sucking me down and down. I didn’t deserve her love. I deserved nothing. Nothing.

  “You can’t love me. Not now.”

  Her face shone with tears but the strength I’d needed so badly shone in her gaze. “Yes. I do.”

  I couldn’t bear to look at her anymore. Bowing my head, I concentrated on the sickness rampaging my body. I threw myself into the pit of pain knowing it was all I ever deserved.

  “Q—” Her hand landed on my cheek. “Look at me.”

  I couldn’t.

  “Q—it’s okay.”

  Rage.

  She’d made me become this…this monster by being the perfect submissive. She’d drawn out the part of me I’d forever kept dormant. There was nothing okay about that.

  “Don’t. Just stop it. None of this is okay. Don’t you get it? I would’ve raped you. I would’ve been no better than those fuckers I’ve put down like dogs. Don’t you dare tell me this is okay!”

  Tess flinched but her touch never left my face. Her eyes locked onto mine, looking angelic and so forgiving.

  The anger suddenly evaporated, leaving me a trembling wreck. Resting my forehead against hers, I whispered, “We’re broken.”

  Tess froze. “No. Don’t say that.”

  “We are. I’ve ruined us. Ruined you. Ruined everything.”

  “I’ll get better. I’ll find myself again. I know I will.”

  I didn’t believe her.

  “Did you even want me before—when we first arrived?” The need to know filled me with undeniable urgency. She’d come for me. She’d been wet. But what if I took advantage? What if she hadn’t wanted me to go near her? I was already condemned.

  “Yes. More than anything. I loved having you inside me.”

  My arms lassoed tighter, trying to calm the confusion inside. The migraine coated everything in gritty agony—lacing with tears I wished I could shed.

  Then it hit me.

  The truth.

  The truth Tess had tried so hard to hide and by doing so fed the demons inside.

  She no longer wanted pain.

  The jitters stopped, leaving me freezing cold and numb.

  She doesn’t want what I do anymore.

  Tess curled closer, her eyes swimming with tears. She knew I’d figured it out.

  “I’m so sorry, Q. So sorry.”

  I couldn’t stand her apologising—not when I’d be forever indebted and endlessly sorry for what I’d done.

  “You’ve nothing to apologise for.”

  “But I can’t give you what you need anymore. I’m the one who ruined everything.”

  Temper thawed my numbness. “It wasn’t you. It was them.” Capturing the back of her neck, I glared into her eyes. “Listen to me, Tess. Nothing and I mean nothing can stop me from loving you. I don’t fucking care if you no longer need pain. I’ve sworn my life to you—if you’ll still have me—don’t you ever feel guilty for this.”

  “But it isn’t enough.” She used her hair as a cloak to hide her true despair, but I saw it. Fuck, I tasted it. “It isn’t enough for you,” she breathed.

  She’s right.

  I hated that she was right.

  No matter how much I wished it. No matter how hard I tried. I would never be able to control myself without a small outlet—a small avenue of granting what I so needed.

  You almost broke her. That’s enough to bury those urges forever.

  A small curl of confidence strengthened me. I could use the debilitating fear of what I’d just done as a deterrent. Yes, I could bury them. Because I never wanted to hurt Tess again.

  “Esclave. I don’t give a fuck anymore. I refuse to lay one finger on you. After today, I’ll keep my needs under control.” I sighed, hugging her harder. “I want you. You and me. Together. That’s all that matters.”

  All my life I never thought I’d find someone to match me. I’d carefully kept my heart locked away for that very reason. No woman should have to put up with a man like me.

  But life decided to create a perfect other. A girl so strong and brave I was in total awe of her.

  And I fell flat on my face in love with her.

  I’d had the perfection of a life I never thought I could have for three fucking days. Then the devil stole her, hurt her, damaged her, and left me with a shattered dream.

  Fucking bastards.

  I howled for my loss. I snarled for the ghost of the girl I’d fallen for.

  I’d lost her and any chance of complete happiness I stood to have.

  Looking at her, I drank in her beauty. I’ve lost you.

  Tess shifted in my arms. “You haven’t. Don’t ever think that.”

  My eyes flared. “I didn’t say anything.”

  Her gaze turned liquid with sadness. “You didn’t have to. I know you think you’ve lost me. But you haven’t. You never will.” Her chilled body scattered with goosebumps even in the warm room. The sunlight had faded to twilight, leaving us in shadows.

  “This changes nothing. I still want you to love me in your way. I need you to still take me. Promise.”

  My lips pulled back. “You can’t be serious. I’m not going to hit you for my own pleasure. That makes me no better than everything I’ve run away from.” I swallowed, trying to keep my heart from threading with anger. “It was different before. You wanted it. I fed off you—I lived to please you. But now…” I sucked in a breath. “Don’t ask me to hurt you again, esclave, because I won’t. Ever.”

  She shook her head, curls cascading over her shoulders. “Don’t say that. I want you to. You have to believe me.”

  My muscles locked in incredulous anger. Imprisoning her, I glowered. “Forgive me, Tess, but everything you just said is bullshit. Your lies piss me off. I know you don’t want it.”

  Her face went from imploring to young—so fucking young. She looked lost and afraid and on the verge of tears. The truth she’d been trying to hide burst forth. “You’re right. The thought of you hurting me terrifies me. I no longer need it to feel alive. I no longer crave that bond through pain.” Her eyes glassed with unshed tears. “But it doesn’t mean I don’t want you or need you to take me however you want. Je suis à toi, Q.”

  I dropped my hold, my body seizing with understanding.

  That’s what set me off before. That’s what conjured all the rottenness from my soul.

  She’d given me power over her, all the while deploring it. The mixed signals had turned her into ultimate prey.

  I shoved her off me, bolting upright. Yanking my hands through my hair, I stumbled backward. “You can’t do this.”

  Tess scrambled to her feet, spreading her hands, looking as if she calmed a beast. “I already have.”

  “God, Tess. Qu’est-ce qu’ils t’ont fait putain?” What did they fucking do to you?

  Somehow, I’d broken the one slave I thought would be forever strong enough to defy me. Her inner spirit was gone. Her will to fight me vanished.

  My wonderful Slave Fifty-Eight had turned into the one thing every cruel master wanted.

  She’d willingly given me every part of herself.

  Her pain.

  Her sanity.

  Her free will.

  She sacrificed her happiness all to keep me pleased.

  Fuck.

  I groaned as the gross realization of what I’d lost finally crashed into me.

  She was perfect.

  She was mine to control.

  She would never argue or say no.

  She wasn’t just in love with me. She believed she fully belonged and would spend her life never displeasing me or fighting back.

  She was the perfect slave.

  My heart raced to a dying beat. “God, Tess. What have you done?”

  She couldn’t have decimated me more. She’d
taken all my dreams, throwing me headfirst into the dark. She’d made me become him.

  She’d turned me into my fucking father.

  Standing on the precipice, I visualized my future. Two paths. Two choices. One, I could accept Tess’s unselfish gift and take her—become her true master forever. Or I could reject her offer and fight to get my woman back.

  Take her. Accept it.

  I growled as a slow burn scorched through me. Temptation. Sheer fucking temptation. It would be so easy to accept the blackness and take her as the ultimate submissive.

  Too tempting. Far, far too tempting.

  But by accepting, I would condemn myself to a life worse than death. I’d lose myself forever.

  I’d be no better than the man I strove never to become.

  I would kill her.

  Tess stayed bowed at my feet; her gorgeous face glowing in the gloom. She looked like a goddess straight from another universe—sent there to see just how far I’d fall.

  She was sublime. She was majestic. She annihilated me.

  “Tess—” My lips wouldn’t move. I wanted to tell her to snap out of whatever enactment she played. I wanted to shake her, slap her, hit her until the old fire and thrill of pleasure and pain came back into her eyes.

  But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t go near her—not while she stayed so open and willing at my feet. I could feel the beast inside reaching for her, snarling at the taste of fully owning her. If I let myself touch her, it would be over. She wouldn’t be my wife. She would be my slave. I would never find balance again.

  I was better than that. Tess deserved more than that.

  I had to find a way to end all of this horror.

  I had to rewind time.

  * * *

  “On your knees, esclave.”

  Tess slid to the floor, looking so fucking beautiful in a sheer silver dress and no underwear. Every bruise, every cut, every bite glowed beneath the fine material, stamping my ownership. Marking my claim.

  “Please—not again,” she whimpered, sliding to the carpet.

  Her disobedience drove me mad—I’d teach her a lesson about her rights. Namely that she had none.

  “Your only purpose is to please me. Open that pretty little mouth.”

  Her face blanched, but her lips parted like a good little slave. She wore no collar but the brand on her neck glittered silver with permanent scarring.