Ava
Shayne hauls me to my feet and I start to tremble, violently. I know we must be in the master. Not just because of the enormous bed with the thick, black iron, box frame, but the room is huge, with more stone walls and thick wood rafters above, and large windows that lead to the mountains beyond. I know there’s carpet beneath my feet, a couple doors off to the right, and a small seating area by the window, but I don’t see any of it, because there’s something in the far corner that makes my stomach turn.
A dog crate.
Shayne doesn’t have any dogs.
I feel him behind me, undoing my wrists, but he must sense where my focus is, because he says, “I had a room all set up for you, but until you’ve earned it, you’re in the doghouse, sweetheart.”
His words and that crate have the anger boiling to the surface, and as soon as my wrists come free, I turn and strike as hard as I can. My fist lands on his jaw and he grunts and jerks back. My hand screams in pain, but I don’t care. I’m on him, kicking and screaming, and clawing at his face, but he’s so strong, and so quick. As soon as it starts, it’s over, and he’s got my wrists again, chuckling while he yanks them above my head. He ties them to the top of the bed frame, so high, my toes just barely graze the carpet, and so tight, the rope breaks my skin.
Shayne steps back and swipes at the cut on his cheek, then smiles. “Don’t worry, Ava. I like it rough too, you know.”
He takes a step towards me and I kick out with my legs, causing him to jump back and shake his head. He walks through one of the doors, that I know must be the closet, because he returns with a black tie. Then he’s on me before I can blink, gathering my ankles together and tying them so tight I know my feet will be numb soon. When my legs are bound he steps back and watches me flail, uselessly.
I can’t give up.
I won’t give up.
He steps in close and stills my body with his large hands. A sob stumbles out of me and I squeeze my eyes shut.
“What’s wrong, Ava?” he asks. “I thought this was how you liked it?”
Tears begin sliding down my cheek while Shayne sighs and runs his fingertips over some cuts on my stomach and along my waist, causing me to flinch. “Tell you what, wife,” he says, his voice quiet now. “I’ll give you a choice. If you tell me he forced you, that he took you and hurt you against your will, I’ll let you wait until you’re ready, however long that takes. I give you my word, which unlike you, I know how to keep. I’ll kill him of course, for what he’s done to you, but that will buy you some time. Which again, I think’s pretty decent of me, considering how long I’ve already had to wait. But, if you tell me you were willing—that you liked it rough, liked it when he hurt you—then I’ll let him live. Not his fault, after all. I’m sure you didn’t tell him about our little deal here. But then you take what I give you. I think that’s pretty fair, don’t you?”
I look at him now, wondering how anyone can be so cruel. He’s standing with his head cocked, his black eyes studying me.
Shayne steps back and I can’t help but watch as he slowly undoes his belt, slides it through the loops, and lets it hang from his fingers. “So what’s it going to be, Ava, hmm?” He dips his head, catching my gaze and bringing it up to his. He moves back close to me. “Come on,” he whispers, caressing my jaw. “I want to hear you say it.”
I swallow when he wraps his hand around my throat, his mouth inches from mine. “Were you willing…or not willing?”
When I don’t answer, his grip tightens. “I won’t ask again.”
I close my eyes and give him the only answer I can. “Willing.”
His fingers loosen but I keep my eyes closed. “And when he hurt you…did you like it, or not like it?”
His grip tightens on me again. “I—liked it.”
Shayne’s hand softens around my neck, and he leans his forehead against mine, just resting it there.
When he steps back, I open my eyes to see him gathering the belt in his hands. “Then consider this foreplay.”
His eyes gleam when he hauls back and brings the belt down with a loud smack across my left breast. I shriek when my nipple explodes in such pain that fresh tears burst through my eyes. I throw my head back and cry and squirm against the rope that takes more flesh from my wrists, only to hear the hiss of the belt again. It lands across my other nipple, and I scream. Then it’s my stomach, my legs, all the cuts and sores I know he’s aiming for. I’m sobbing, shaking my head, watching him crane his arm back and grunt as he delivers blow after blow. A burn spreads out across my front like a raging wildfire, then his rough hands spin me around, away from him. I hear the hiss again, feel the burn spread as he begins belting my back, my bottom, still aiming for all the cuts. The loud smack of the belt against my skin ricochets off the stone walls, but it’s when he tags the fresh brand on my hip, that my scream shatters the room. I keep screaming, because I can’t stop. Raw, raspy cries that tear at my throat, until at some point, he stops, and I’m left hanging from the rope, limp, panting, tears streaming down my cheeks while my body burns like it’s on fire.
Shayne turns me around and lifts my chin, eyeing my tears. I yank away and hurl a mouth full of spit at his face, lashing out with any weapon I can think of. He jerks back, surprised, but then the beast just smiles and wipes it off. I squirm when he closes in and reaches for my jaw, crushing his fingertips between my teeth and forcing my mouth open. Then he spits inside.
“Anything you can play at, I can play harder,” he says, clamping my mouth shut and waiting until I have no choice but to swallow.
When he lets me go, he steps back and begins taking off his clothes. That’s when I start crying again, because I know what’s coming next. Through the blur, I watch Shayne drop his shirt to the floor. I know there’s an enormous torso of hard muscle before me, but my eyes rest on the mounds of his chest—on the large tattoo over his heart. A tattoo that I can’t take my eyes off of. Because in the middle of a thick patch of red roses and thorns, all tangled up in barb wire, is…Ava.
I stare at my name, written in script.
“You seem surprised,” he says, undoing the top button of this jeans and looking down at the tattoo, then back to me. He moves in, wanting me to see it up close. I don’t want to look at it, but I do. All the different reds of the rose petals, the hundreds of thorns, the silver steel of the barbed wire, all weaved together so intricately. “I got this after we made our deal,” he says, rubbing his fingers over the top of it. “I got it so every woman I was with, every woman I fucked—every single one of them blonde with blue eyes by the way—would know who I was really fucking.” He smiles and gently tucks my hair back while I stare at it. “Can’t say most of them liked it once they saw it…or liked that I called them Ava while I fucked their brains out either.”
I look up at him.
“Oh, come on,” he says grabbing a lock of my hair and giving a little shake. “Don’t look so shocked. You know I’ve been lost to you, ever since that day on the playground.” He smiles, watching me carefully. “That’s right. You know what day I’m talking about, don’t you?”
I turn away, my mind venturing back to that day, when all I want to do is block it out. But it’s there, tearing through me so clearly, so vividly, just like it was yesterday.
“It was recess, after the holiday break, wasn’t it?” Shayne starts, dragging his touch down my neck. “You were off, sitting by yourself as usual, reading a book, while all the other kids were off bragging about what they got for Christmas. But you didn’t have anything to brag about, and neither did me or Red, so we were off to the side too, not far from where you were. I’d shoved a rock in Red’s hand and was trying to get him to throw it at this scrawny cat that was stuck up in that oak tree. Red missed it on purpose, but then I nailed it good, making it howl something awful. That got your attention real quick, and you figured out what we were up to. So you marched right on over and started throwing rocks at me and Red. Here you were, this tiny little thing, with these big, blue eyes and this ratty mane of white blonde hair, all swallowed up in this tattered blue dress, and you were nailing us good with those rocks, one after the other.”
He chuckles and his fingers drift down, following the curve of my breast. “Red was all shook up, looking like you’d hurt his feelings, but not me. I was laughing, wasn’t I? I didn’t laugh much back then, but you got me going good. I tried to calm you down, saying we were just having a little fun, but all that did was make you madder. So you picked up another rock and threw it right at me. You didn’t care that I was older, bigger, and stronger than you, because you didn’t care about much then anymore, did you? Nah, your world was crumbling down, because your momma had just left and your daddy had been drunk ever since. And not only that, but you weren’t talking anymore. I said as much to you, and you just bent down for more rocks, those big pretty eyes getting all glassy. Then what’d I tell you, hmm?”
He reaches up and strokes the fresh tears that coat my cheeks. “I said, ‘You don’t need them. You don’t need either of them.’ I said it in this quiet voice that made you stop and listen. You just stared at me then, like you were trying to figure out what I was really saying. And then I saw the tears begin to build, and your lower lip begin to quiver, but I didn’t like seeing that—at least not back then. So, I told you it was a good thing she left, because at least now you had a backbone. And man, that fire got so big in your eyes and you started launching those rocks at me again, as hard as you could.”
He chuckles again, his dark eyes roaming over my face. “That’s about when that bitch, Mrs. Carlson, saw you, wasn’t it? She shrieked your name, then came waddling over, demanding to know why you would do such a thing. You got pale and pointed up at the cat in the tree who was crouched on a branch, with these scared, yellow eyes, and its ears flat against its head. The cunt figured out what we were up to, but she still got all over you, didn’t she? Instead of us.” He pauses and shakes his head with a sigh. “Yeah, your momma had slept with almost every guy in town by then, her husband included. She’d even walked in on them. That bit of gossip flew around town real quick. Anyway, she said something to us about leaving the cat alone, then grabbed you by the arm and started dragging you away, saying you had detention for the next week. And you were so mad, and your cheeks got so red, that I couldn’t help but grin at you when you walked past. Well, that lit you up even more, didn’t it? So you jerked free of her, and threw that last rock you had hidden in your hand. You threw it right at me, and tagged me right in the chest.” He pats the tattoo over his heart. “Right here.”
He shrugs. “And that was it, Ava, right then and there. I was done. I was always watching you after that, wasn’t I? Yeah, you know I was. Always watching. Because I couldn’t help myself. You were the prettiest damn thing I’d ever seen.” He runs a finger along my cheek and over my lips. “You still are.”
His fingers drift along my jaw and down my neck, grazing gently over my shoulder blade. I whimper when they move lower and around my breasts again, only this time, they linger.
“I’ve waited so long for this,” he says, then he dips his head and rakes his tongue over my left nipple. The sensation makes me gasp, my flesh so sensitive after the belt. Then he’s on me, devouring, sucking, gnawing.
“So perfect,” he whispers, then moves onto the other one. My head falls back, the tears warm and wet against my temples.
My nipples are left raw and aching when he slowly makes his way further down my body. He falls to his knees and buries his face in my pubic hair and breathes in hard. I squirm and press my bound legs together tighter, but he pries his arms between my knees and grabs my bottom, and shovels me into his mouth. All my weight hangs on my wrists, causing more flesh to tear away.
His tongue licks me like fire and the more I struggle, the more he takes from me. But the more he takes, the more a feeling begins to build inside me—a feeling that makes my stomach turn. My body’s responding, betraying me. I clench my teeth and shake my head, trying to fight it off, but like Shayne, it’s relentless. I grunt when his fingers invade me. First one, then two, then three. I feel full, stretched. But it’s when his fingers push through my other entrance that I cry out, the beast forcing his way into every part of me.
It goes on forever, until finally, his touch leaves me, and through a dreary blur, I see Shayne on his knees at my feet, head bowed, panting.
Slowly, he rises and meets my eyes. “See how good you taste,” he says, pushing his fingers between my lips.
I try to jerk away, but his fingers follow me, so I bite down. He growls and yanks his fingers from my mouth. I expect a strike, but he only smiles. “That’s my girl.”
My head falls forward, both from exhaustion and frustration. I don’t have to look to know that Shayne’s taking off the rest of his clothes. I can hear it.
I flinch when he grabs my body and spins me around. His hardness digs into my back, like a burning steel rod, as he jerks at the rope and undoes my wrists, then my ankles. I gather what little strength I have left to fight back, but my struggles do nothing to stop him. He grabs me and throws me down on my back and climbs on top of me. The burn on my hip grates against the comforter, and I cry out.
I keep trying to get away, but he pins my wrists and settles his weight on top of me. “This has been a long time coming, Ava.”
He forces my legs apart, and with his black eyes staring me down, he enters me, splitting me open. I shriek, the pain from my hip gone, replaced by another, so thick and so vicious I can’t breathe.
Shayne groans, his eyes fixed on mine, then he lunges into me again, the agony exploding to every part of me. Then he takes me, over and over, grunting and forcing his way so deep inside I think I’ll die. I close my eyes to hide the terror on top of me, but it’s overwhelming. Time slows, my mind shrinks. I try to think of green eyes. Try to imagine it’s Gavin over me. But the beast is too real. The pain is too real. It goes on forever, an endless hell I can’t escape. When he finally comes, my body feels torn in half, my soul shattered. After a few final thrusts, he lies quiet, breathing hard over me.
I turn my head to the side, unable to face the monster. Tears stream quietly down my face. It’s only then I realize he hadn’t used protection. Some faint glimmer of relief wells inside that I have the implant, but it dies out, leaving just wreckage.
I barely hear him when he whispers, “You felt so good, baby.”
His words fade away, and I feel him stroking my cheek, kissing my neck, but the tenderness does nothing to ease the hurt inside me. I begin to drift, vaguely aware he’s let go of my wrists until he flips me over onto my stomach. Now I am aware. Aware that he’s hard against me once more. I make a meek sound of protest, but his only answer is to spit and finger my other entrance. The sudden breach makes me lunge forward, but he pins me down.
“Did you give him this too?” he asks.
I nod with a jerk, not caring that I’m lying.
I brace for the worst, but he only sighs and shoves in a second finger, causing me to grunt. When the third finger enters, I shriek.
“You know what I think?” he says, slowly moving his fingers back and forth. “I think you’re lying to me again. You’re way too tight.” I cringe when he leans down over me and whispers, “Can’t tell you how happy that makes me, wife.”
The bed creaks when he shifts over me, straddling my thighs. His fingers are gone, but when I hear him spit again, I know what’s coming. I try to squirm away, but his flesh is there, relentless, the pressure slowly building until the head pushes its way in. My scream shatters the air, the pain so blinding tears burst through my eyes.
I barely hear his voice behind me. “Don’t worry, Ava. You don’t deserve it, but I’ll go slow. I’m a lot to take, I know. And this little ass. So damn snug. You’re not much bigger than you were on that playground, are you? You’re a little taller now, a lot more filled out in the chest, but your body almost looks like it did back then. My little Ava. But don’t worry, I’ll get you loosened up. Not too much though. Didn’t get to make you bleed with your other hole, so guess I’ll have to do it with this hole.”
He slips out of me, only to enter again. He does this for a bit, until my flesh finally starts to give, and the pain begins to settle. Then he leans down, cradling my head in his hands, and begins moving over me, slow and relentless, venturing deeper and deeper.
“I love hearing you cry like this,” he says, running his lips across my cheek. “You sound so sweet, so precious. And you know what? This is my hole now, Ava. You gave him that other one, so this one is going to be mine. All mine. And see, you’re softening already. Ahhh, fuck. There you go. That’s my girl. Almost halfway there. But I still got to make you bleed, don’t I?”
He stills above me, his body so quiet when he gives me a kiss on my cheek, then he grips me by the hair and shoves himself all the way in. I feel the tear and I scream. I scream so loud, and I can’t stop. I scream until my voice is nothing but a rasp, but the pain’s still there.
“Fuuuck,” he hisses into my ear, leaving himself wedged in. He strokes my hair, nuzzles my neck. “I’m so far inside you,” he whispers. “I’ll always be inside you, from here on out.”
Slowly, he draws out the length of him, then pushes his way back in until I feel the rake of his pubic hair against my tailbone. He gives a few quick grinding thrusts, that make me shriek even louder, then he does it again and again.
I’m drowning, spiraling into a sea of pain I can’t escape. The beast grunts and his pace builds, until he’s pounding into me so hard the bed shakes and I can’t breathe. It barely registers when he shoves his hand between me and the mattress, and begins circling my flesh.
I sob, because I don’t want this. Not from him.
“Fight me all you want, Ava,” he says, “but I’m going to make you come, wife.”
I’m determined not to give him what he wants, but he touches me, manipulates me. I fight him, fight the unwanted pleasure. It’s something I don’t want, not from him. But Shayne knows what he’s doing, and the pain is changing, turning to pleasure as my body loosens, taking him in. My mind reels, torn between want and need, and then I come, choking, gasping.
“Fuck,” he groans. He lunges into me, into my most private place, and lets out a roar that tears me apart. It goes on forever, echoing inside my skull, until finally, it dies out.
It’s quiet now, except for his heavy breathing and my quiet weeping. He stays huddled over me, the heat from his body burning through mine, searing me in the broken places, especially my hip. My hip. The thought of what’s there twists like a blade inside my gut, adding to the horrible ache flooding me inside.
Slowly he withdraws, the mattress shifting and creaking when he stands. I want to hide, I want to curl up and die, but I’m too weak to move.
“Told you I’d make you bleed, Ava.”
I’m past caring, about his words or that his voice sounded sad.
The light shifts when he moves to the other side of the bed, near my head. He sits next to me and pushes my hair from my face—hair that’s soaked in sweat and tears.
“Now sleep wife. Get some rest. We’re going out later.”
My eyes peel open and widen just a fraction, then droop closed once more, my mind limping off to some dark wasteland. I search for green eyes among the shadows, but they elude me.
Because he’s gone.
Everything’s gone.
Somewhere in the distance, I hear a voice drifting through the haze.
“And don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ve got a dress and a ring lined up for you. Cause we’ve got some celebrating to do. It’s our wedding night, after all.”