nica

the silence of my room l

ed with something to

fast in my chest. The sound didn't come from a horror m

side th

he'd left beside me now felt li

hoed. Softer. Muf

fell away, and I swung my legs over the side of the bed. My body trembl

into the

low, golden glow. Shadows slithered along the

ble. No voices. No footsteps. Just the whi

llway I hadn't

at the end, ligh

ld me to turn aro

ed tow

ep. An

f a voice d

Da

wo

mpe

his v

lm

roll

r than I'd ever heard it.

Silence. Breath only

eath

someone

her

bmis

d fully before

ien sto

Eyes dark from something he was

rprised to see me

steppe

in, Ve

-

en's

locked the

of me wante

k

oured. This room was never meant for her. But she needed to understand that w

the girl immediately brunette, slim, bound and tr

en

er subm

pieces of me she

sorb the sight, watch

lou

gus

fus

right

to me. "W

elev

u w

aid flatly. "She br

s narrowed. "A

gh to remind he

between us. The

back to her. "Do

. Until it hurts. Un

ca swa

stepped

Ele

kn

-

nica

know why

l who looked like she'd been used, discarde

t was e

t was c

ed to understand w

had streaked. Her lips were swoll

ou here?"

Because I thought being broken b

tar

d n

bled. "Now I

owly and turn

her

a brow. "E

But not like this. Not with her

nd whispered something in her ear. She nodded, stood on trembling

turne

sm

wasn't

hing far mor

sp

pas

"That was

hing is

closer. Inc

u're not. You chose the moment you signed. But

trailed al

tr

dn't

it," h

I d

-

en's

she undressed, but her

as sc

not

o

essed to the small of her back.

ne

e

ike a predator deci

e your

ha

eaks you. So I d

r lips. "I do

odd

learn t

ched for

-

nica

as v

nside with something har

cl

na

ath st

was low. "Now y

oes tha

on't get to run

allo

slow, firm, not rushed. He was alw

sed m

k at

ened

me, in a deep

issed h

-

en's

like a woma

po

pa

plea

fted her, carried her to

tonight

hy

ee if you stay even

she

me, she

y claiming what had already been min

a sc

a

word on

mie

-

nica

nded, I d

n't b

dn't

y and shaking, and whisp

dn't

he door b

n steppe

Viciou

an W

ady, Damien? I thought you'd keep th

d for th

ealiz

game had