The smile disappeared and she glared. “I never said you were getting it.” She turned toward the closet and grabbed one of the pajama sets I’d bought her. Why hadn’t I just settled with lingerie? I couldn’t deny that it had crossed my mind. Tomorrow, I’d have her some ordered.
“But I will have your virginity. There’s no doubt about that.” She glared at me and I wanted to laugh. “What do you think you’re doing?” I walked over, pulling the clothes from her hand. “We have to treat your wound. You can’t just go on putting clothes over it. The last thing we need is for you to get an infection. Let me call Marcio.”
“No.” Mary flew forward, her hand out toward me. The fear was all too familiar to the act I’d just seen. But this was real. It turned my blood cold and pissed me off to see her scared.
“Please, don’t,” she begged. “Could you do it?”
Why was she so afraid of him? He hadn’t even been the one that hit her. That had been Brace.
“Tell me why you don’t like Marcio or I’m going to call him in.”
A few seconds went by while her face changed expressions continuously. I tried reading each one, but they were so quick, all I picked up was the repeated fear. “He’s…evil. I don’t know why, but I feel it. He scares me.”
Evil. An interesting word for her to choose, but spot on. Marcio was a hired killer. Former SEAL, a doctor, and craved blood like it was water. He’d been through shit I couldn’t even imagine, but overall, I trusted him.
“You shouldn’t fear Marcio, Mary. He’ll protect you if I ever have to leave. And, I will. Soon.”
“You’re leaving me here?” Again…fear. I clenched my fists.
What was happening to my Mary? This wasn’t like her. Ever since she’d talked to her father, it’d fucked her up. Never again. He weakened her, and I didn’t like it. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the restroom. The moment I turned her around to face me, I lifted and sat her on the counter.
“Slade Industries isn’t going to run itself. I have to work. I’ve taken off too much time over the last three months. I need to get back.” Mary lowered her head and I was quick to bring it back up.
“How long will you be gone?”
Did she care? It looked like it, but I had seen her act. Is this what she was doing? Playing me? Making me feel bad for leaving, when really, she wanted me to go? Or maybe she didn’t care that I was leaving, she just didn’t want to be left with Marcio.
The medicine cabinet was filled with sleeping medication, antibiotics, everything that I needed to keep me running. I put some cream on the counter and began washing my hands.
“You didn’t answer me.” Her voice was low. Almost a whisper. A knot formed in my stomach at the thought of leaving her. I didn’t want to, but I also feared taking her back to San Francisco. That was asking for trouble. At least here in Washington, in the middle of nowhere, I could be sure Marcio or Brace would track her down if she escaped. There was nowhere to go for miles. They’d find her before she made it far.
“I’ll be gone a few days. A week tops. But I’ll only be home for about that long before I have to go back.”
The gauze and tape went flying from my hands at her slap. “What kind of kidnapper are you? You’re not even going to be here? What if one of them rapes me, or tries to kill me?”
My hand was around her throat before she could say another word. “Don’t you for one second question who I am. If anyone touches you, I’ll fucking rip them to shreds with my teeth. You belong to me, Mary. I kill for what’s mine.” I tightened my fingers. “Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” she breathed out.
My hand let go, grabbing the shit she knocked on the floor. I may have been angry at the beginning, but I couldn’t help the relief at her outburst. She’d stood up to me, and hit my hand pretty damn hard. Thankfully, she was beginning to return back to normal. At least, I hoped.
Chapter 9
Mary
The big bandage on my skin was all I could stare at as I lay in bed. Luckily, untied. Slade sat at his desk, doing something business related. He’d hardly talked to me after my outburst. I was hoping he’d give in and take me back to San Francisco. I knew that’s where his headquarters were. If I could just get him to change his mind, then I’d at least be closer to home, even if I couldn’t leave. I knew it was impossible though. He’d leave me here, trapped here with Giant and Killer. How was that going to turn out? Not good if things went back to the way they were with me in ropes.
Stinging flared as I moved to my side. Damn my chest hurt. It was good. A constant reminder of why I was here. Lily. What was my father doing right now? Was he getting ahold of his men and trying to find her? I sure hoped so. I missed my apartment. TV. Not to mention, the internet. My email was probably overflowing from the few acquaintances I had. Sadness set in and I flipped over to the other side.
“Be still. I can’t think with you tossing and turning.”
I wanted to scream. To throw a pillow at him and call Slade every cuss word I could think of. Instead, I sat up and glared. “I’m bored. I should have asked for a flat screen and cable. Or a library. Hell, window privileges even,” I yelled.
“Is that what it is?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. “Open the damn windows.” One command and he’d hung up. I flew off the bed so fast that I almost fell. The moment the shutters began to come up, I couldn’t stop the excitement. Finally, I would be able to see.
“Now, just…stay there and be still.”
I didn’t even answer as the large trees and mountains came into view. Where the hell was I? Definitely not in California. For as far as I could see…nothing but nature. There was no way I’d be found even if I did happen to escape. Oh well. I knew I couldn’t. The view would be my companion. I could stare out there all day. It was beautiful, green, and filled with what looked like pine trees. Pine…my mind raced. Oregon…Washington? Canada? I’d never been there, but this sure as hell wasn’t Mexico. At least, I didn’t think so.
For what seemed like hours, I watched. From not changing windows, I picked up a lot. Toward the far right there was a heli pad. Sitting on top, a fancy looking black helicopter. The Slade Industries logo was on the side, a big S with the rest of the letters smaller. The lettering was gold. Elegant. Just like everything in Slade’s world. Birds flew through the sky every now and then. I envied their freedom. How would it be to have the ability to go as I pleased like that? That would be heaven. No worries, No responsibilities. No father, or kidnapper.
I turned and watched as my captor rubbed his finger over the center of his forehead. Headache? Probably. He’d been staring at that computer nonstop now for what seemed like forever.
Tired, I walked over and picked up the pajama’s I’d yet to put on. A part of me didn’t want to. Lily didn’t have ones these nice. I could almost guarantee that. But that only left me in the silk dress or naked, and it wasn’t a good idea to be that exposed. Not with the way I longed to be touched again. Why couldn’t I have been stronger? Put up more resistance?
Slade would be coming back for more of me tonight. Although I’d told him I would obey and have sex with him, I wasn’t so sure that was a good idea. He’d be mad that I was going to resist, but I didn’t care. If I was going to do this, I had to at least hold off a little bit. How would it look if I just threw myself at him?
The dark blue silk was smooth against my skin. As I looked up, Slade was watching. No doubt he’d been doing it from the moment I took off my clothes. The lust emanating from him could have scorched my skin from here. Slowly, I shook my head as he stood. “Not again,” I whispered. The words were almost impossible to get out, especially when he was focused on me that way. It sparked my own need and I could feel myself already wet as I scrambled across the mattress to the other side of the bed.
“Oh, yes, Mary. Again. And, again. And, again. For as many times as I want.” Slade kicked off his shoes and stripped down, all the while watching me like
the animal he was. My heart pounded and my feet stayed ready to spring at whatever direction he decided to take.
“I thought you had work to do.”
“Work can wait. This cannot.”
The steps he took were full of controlled power. The soullessness I’d seen on the boat was back. He was unreadable. Zoned in one on thing. Me. Again, I crawled onto the bed, waiting to see which way he was going to come.
“You don’t want this. Really, you don’t.”
A laugh filled the room, immediately telling me that I was wrong in more ways than I could understand.
“I want you kneeling at my feet by the time I count to three. If you’re not, you’ll have to face the consequences.”
Shit. What would those be? My mind raced. Slade was dark. Maybe more so than me. The game we were playing was full of delicious, painful possibilities, and damned if I didn’t want to discover them.
“One.” He walked to one side of the bed, only to turn around and head to the other. “Two.”
Where did I go? I was trapped. He was waiting, expecting me to make a run for it. A wildness came over me while I contemplated my next move.
“So be it.” Slade dove across the end of the bed right for me. I slid to the left, barely touching the floor before his hand jerked at the silk of my top. Buttons went flying through the air and fingers dug into my side. I twisted, letting him have the damn shirt. My feet carried me to the door so fast that I barely touched the ground. The moment the knob connected with my fingertips, he wrapped his arm around my stomach and jerked back.
I didn’t think. I’d trained for something like this to happen a million times. I threw my head back, connecting with his shoulder. Dammit. That’s not where I intended for the blow to go. My elbow followed right into his side and he squeezed me even tighter as he sucked in air. No amount of training could stop the panic at that point. What I was doing wasn’t working and with the hold he had on me, there wasn’t really anywhere for me to attack.
“You are so going to get it, Mary. I thought we’d settled this already. You are mine, and therefore will do as I say.”
Slade stalked into the restroom until he stood right in front of the large mirror. The bandage was ripped off my chest. The stark reminder of his name was thrown in my face as he pointed.
“Mine,” he growled next to my ear.
Before I could head butt him again, he locked into my hair and pressed his lips down the side of my face. My hips slammed into the counter, keeping me trapped. The exhaling caused my body to shiver and awaken a hundred times over.
“Doesn’t it look wonderful, Mary? Look at it.”
I couldn’t have turned away if I wanted to. He made sure of that. Fingers made a path over my bare stomach until they dipped down past the blue silk pajama bottoms. My breath caught at him brushing over the top of my slit. I was so wet. Any need to fight was slipping away with the increasing touch.
“Tell me who owns you.” Teeth grazed my neck while he circled the entrance to my pussy. Everything inside of me wanted to push down, to have him enter me fully.
“I already did that.”
A bite next to the bruise already on my neck had a small cry coming from my mouth. I didn’t think, I reached back and dug my nails into the arm that was locked into my hair. A hiss filled my ear. “I want to hear you say it again. Tell me, Mary.” His eyes rose and met my reflection. So dark. So full of things I couldn’t comprehend.
“I will not.”
Slade’s hand left my pussy and I was pinned into the counter again. The click of the knife had me jerking against his hold. “Perhaps we’ll play a little game. Every time I ask and you deny me, I’ll break the skin. What do you think?”
“No.” My fingers dug into his arm more.
“No?” The blade traveled down the side of my neck until it made its way across my shoulder. I watched, waiting for him to apply pressure. The tip stopped at my inner elbow. “Let me taste you. Just once. Say you’re mine.”
It was a lose-lose situation. If I said I was his, I lost. If I didn’t, he was going to poke that tip right into my arm. I truly didn’t mind so much. The more it scraped against my skin, the more I wanted the sting it would bring. But that’s what he wanted. Therefore, my mission was to keep him from obtaining the most pleasure. The question was, which one would satisfy him the most? The battle was short lived.
“I belong to me.”
Blood pooled over the blade and he jerked my arm up to meet his mouth. The suction and pull on my vein had my knees growing weak from desire. In the distance I heard the knife close in his hand, but I saw nothing but the image of his body looming over me as he pushed his cock in deep. Dammit, I wanted him inside me so much I couldn’t even think straight.
The weight of my arm had it falling and I’d only just realized he wasn’t holding it anymore. How long had I been free and subconsciously leaving my arm up before it’d lowered? Embarrassment heated my skin. Slade watched me, his face still unreadable, but I knew he could tell how much I wanted this.
“Let go of me. You got what you wanted.” My ass pushed back and the thickness of his hard length was all too noticeable.
Slade gripped my breast, squeezing my already hard nipple between his thumb and index finger. “I’m far from getting what I want. You have no idea.” Anger filled his face and he stepped back, ripping my pants down. “This is what calls to me.” Pressure cupped my pussy and his finger slid in deep, hitting my wall. “Fuck, I think it’s going to drive me crazy if I don’t have it soon.” Another joined and I cried out as he picked me up, holding me to him while he strode to the bed. The moment we came to the side, he dropped me to the mattress.
“How much longer?” The way he loomed over with his shoulders rising and falling made me feel small. He looked like a beast ready to devour me…and I wanted the ravaging.
“You can’t have my virginity.”
The weight of his body was suddenly pinning me down. His powerful thighs wedged mine apart and his cock rubbed along my slit, nudging into my entrance the tiniest amount. “You feel that, Mary? My cock wants to slide deep in your pussy. You want it. I know you do.” Slade’s eyes moved down to glance at his name across my chest, lifting just as fast.
“You know nothing. I don’t. I’ll never give it away.” Lie. God, how I couldn’t wait for him to fill me with every inch. It’d feel so good. I knew it would. My arms pushed into the one he’d used to hold me down. I didn’t even budge him, but it gave me the excuse to move my pussy against his long length. The wetness helped me slide along the underside perfectly. Slade let out a deep sound, giving me satisfaction.
“Mary.” My name left him in a moan. We moved against each other in a fevered pace, needing something only the two of us could give. The muscles in Slade’s arms flexed while he lowered himself even more. The kiss he meant to give landed on my cheek. He was quick to bring my face back to him. The smile that met my returned gaze was full of challenge. His fingers slid down and gripped my throat, but never applied pressure. “You fucking love this.”
I did. No question about it. There was no way I was going to tell him that though. Instead, I’d go after what I wanted. “Take me to San Francisco with you. I know that’s where you’re going. Please? I’ll be good. I promise not to run. I wouldn’t do that to Lily. Please?”
“Is that what this is about? You’re throwing a tantrum, withholding what belongs to me, because you’re not getting your way?”
“I don’t want to stay if you’re not going to be here. I don’t trust anyone in this house.”
A look of astonishment flashed. “And you trust me? I’m the last person you should put your faith in. If anything, you’re safer with me being gone. You don’t know how much I want to hurt you.”
I closed my eyes, feeling my body move against him again. “Please. Take me and I’ll say it right now.”
Slade made a sound and let go of my hands. They settled on the sides of my face. “Give me everything. A
ll of you. You’ll never leave my side again, if that’s what you want.”
“Damn you.” My hands wedged between his arms, trying my best to pry them of my face. “My virginity is not a bargaining chip. You might as well have offered me a million dollars. That’s how insulting your words are.”
“A million?” He laughed. “I’d give you twenty. Thirty. Fifty.”
“You’re such a bastard.” I shook my head, appalled.
“Never forget it, baby. The good thing is, I’m not going to pay. You’re going to give it to me freely. Proudly.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Never.”
“We’ll see. Now stop arguing.” His hands grabbed my wrists, locking them into the handcuffs. I didn’t even put up much of a fight. There was no use. My body wanted him.
“Spread wide and let me taste what I own.”
Just at the thought of him licking against me again, I opened for him. Tingling was already taking over my clit and it was impossible to stay still. Even after him being an ass, I was still his whore. God, I was.
“That’s my girl. You’ll admit what’s mine when you want my face buried between your legs. So, say it. Who owns you?” The growth on his cheeks rubbed against my stomach while he continued to lower. I opened my mouth and he shook his head. “Say it the first time and you might get a reward. If you deny me, all you’ll get is left here for the night by yourself.”
Figured he’d give me an ultimatum like that. “You do.”
“I do what?” He sunk his teeth into my stomach, possessively.
“You own me. Now just…” I wiggled, trying to get him to move down. I didn’t want him to talk. He did much better things with his mouth than speak.
Wetness from his tongue swirled down to my thighs. Sensitivity from the tender spots where I was bruised had me clenching my fists. I welcomed the alarms that went off, wondering if he was going to bite me again. But he didn’t. Slade’s hands pushed my legs impossibly wider until my muscles screamed. The first brush of his tongue down my folds was like heaven. How had I been without this for all these years? It didn’t seem possible. And, yet, I was glad Slade was the one who’d been my first. He knew what he was doing, and that made all the difference.
SLADE: Captive to the Dark Page 9
