Dante POVHer pace quickens, her body now slamming into mine with a new urgency. Her breath comes in shallow, hurried gasps as she kisses me with fierce intensity, her tongue pushing into my mouth, desperate, hungry. I meet her halfway, kissing her back with everything I have, my hands moving to grasp her hips, helping her move faster, harder. I keep my eyes locked on her face, watching every flicker of emotion cross her features, every twitch of pleasure that ripples through her body. I have to fight back speaking, all I want to do is whisper dirty things to her, but I feel that might push her back into the space where she closes her eyes. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, and I can feel her pulse quickening, matching the frantic rhythm of our bodies. It’s intoxicating—being this close, feeling her this way. She’s not just fucking me. She’s claiming me, too. I groan again, deeper this time, as the pleasure builds inside me. Her body clenches around me, and I know she’s close, teet
Luna’s POV Waking up, I groan softly, rolling over to take in my surroundings. This isn’t the room Dante had locked me in before. It feels more lived in, more personal, and my gut tells me this must be his bedroom. The room itself is a testament to luxury. The walls are painted in deep, muted tones, giving the space a warm, inviting feel. A massive king-sized bed dominates the center, dressed in dark, plush linens that feel like they’re made from the finest fabric. The headboard stretches up the wall, upholstered in dark velvet with a modern design. To my right, floor-to-ceiling windows are draped with heavy curtains in a rich charcoal gray, drawn closed but letting in slivers of light. The floors are polished hardwood, partially covered by a large, thick rug, so soft it practically swallows my feet when I touch it. Three doors are spaced along the walls, leading to who knows where. Climbing out of bed, I wince, groaning again as I notice the blood on the sheets. Great. Dante might
Luna’s POV Dante gestures toward me, his gaze unwavering, intense. “What?” I whisper, unsure of what he’s expecting. “You have questions, Luna. I know you have a lot to ask, so go ahead.” I do have questions—too many, really. But all of them lead down a path I’m not ready to face. If I ask the wrong thing, this entire fragile situation could crumble. And deep down, I know I’m not ready to be told the ugly truth about his business. “Is your plan to ignore your questions?” he presses, his voice challenging, as if daring me to confront him. I close my eyes in frustration, my hands clenching at my sides. “No,” I snap, “my plan is to try and ignore this whole thing. Your business, what you do, everything.” His head tilts slightly, and a dark laugh escapes him. “You still think I sell and abuse women, don’t you?” His voice is sharp, almost mocking. “I thought we’d moved past that. But you still think I sell women?” I stiffen, my mind racing. What am I supposed to think? I glare at h
Luna POVAs we leave, I can still hear the sounds of pleasure from the other side of the glass, and the image of three men tangled together lingers in my mind, leaving me more confused than ever about this place—and about Dante. Dante opens another door, and as I step in, my heart pounds. This room is similar to the others—dark, luxurious, and almost too perfect. Through the large one-way window, I see a woman with two men. They’re all engaged in a scene that seems intimate but controlled, completely at ease in what they’re doing. “So, what?” I snap, the frustration bubbling up again. “These people in these rooms... they’re hookers? Prostitutes?” Dante’s expression hardens immediately, and his voice is fierce. “Don’t call them hookers or prostitutes. Working women, working men, yes. But they’re not hookers.” The disgust in his tone is unmistakable, and it throws me off. “Sorry,” I mutter, unsure of what else to say. His reaction isn’t what I expected, and for the first time, I rea
Luna’s POV The elevator doors slide open, and Dante steps out with that confident stride, but I stay rooted to the spot, my arms crossed defiantly. I don’t care if I look like a stubborn brat. I am not moving. The thought of walking out there, accepting any part of this twisted reality, makes my stomach twist. It feels like giving in—like agreeing that everything I’ve seen is normal, when it’s anything but. Dante turns to face me, eyebrow raised, the patience in his expression thinning, but I just stare right back. He sighs, long and heavy, before stepping back into the elevator. His arm wraps around my waist, and before I can react, he lifts me clean off the floor. I thrash, my legs kicking at him wildly, fists flailing like a cat being dunked in water. “I can walk!” I yell, aiming a half-hearted kick at his chest, but it’s useless. He doesn’t even flinch. “I’m perfectly aware of that,” he says, voice cold and calm, like he’s merely remarking on the weather. “But I don’t care. If
Dante’s POV I watch her, waiting for her to crack, for her to let something—anything—slip past the walls she’s so carefully built. Luna doesn’t let anyone in, not really. Sure, there’s Lucy, but even that feels guarded. Justin was always on the outside of those walls, and now I can see her fighting to keep me there too. This battle, her resistance, the biting words—it’s her defense. It’s her way of pushing me away, keeping me out of the place where she’s most vulnerable. But I see it. I see the truth she’s afraid to face. She knows that if she lets me in, if she stops fighting me and lets down those walls, she won’t be able to use the excuse of mistrust. She won’t be able to shove me out. She’ll have to face the fact that she’s not alone in her darkness anymore. And that terrifies her. All I want is to walk beside her through that darkness. I want to prove to her that there’s more than just hiding, that opening up isn’t a death sentence. But she’s making this harder than I imagined
Dante POVAs I reach her side, I unfasten the restraints around her wrists, her eyes meeting mine with a teasing pout. “What’s with the face?” I chuckle, loosening the last strap. “You promised you’d punish me,” she says, her voice low and sultry. “I was looking forward to it.” If I wasn’t already hard, I would be now. “Later,” I whisper in her ear, “when we’re alone.” Her pout deepens. “But I wanted everyone to see…” “You’re crazy, little deer,” I laugh, unstrapping the last of her bindings and hoisting her up. “Are you going to fight me?” I smirk, then shake my head. “Never mind, don’t answer that.” As expected, she squirms against me, and I slap her ass with a smirk. “I’m carrying you, and you don’t get a choice in the matter.” I lean forward, biting her ass lightly. “By the way, what’s with the outfit?” I had meant to ask her earlier, but she’s excellent at being a distraction. “I was planning on going to work, but you kidnapped me for a tour, so I guess I’ll head there af
Dante POVAs I push open another door, her body stiffens, eyes widening in shock. The room we step into is like an upscale club, but far more decadent. Podium cages line the space, each one holding a man or woman, completely nude, surrounded by an array of sex toys. Some women and men stand on small platforms, others are sprawled luxuriously on velvet couches, their bodies on display. Some are dancing, their movements slow and hypnotic, while others are interacting with the patrons, the air thick with lust and abandon. “This is the main stage area,” I whisper, watching Luna’s eyes dart between the cages and the figures moving within them. There’s a mixture of discomfort and something else playing across her face as she takes in the scene. “People come here to watch, to choose, or sometimes just to enjoy the atmosphere. It’s… well, it’s whatever they want it to be.” She doesn’t respond, doesn’t say a word—just stares, lips slightly parted, her gaze fixed on the figures moving inside
Jace POVAs the waves of pleasure slowly subside, our bodies remain tangled, our breaths uneven, heavy with the remnants of what we just shared. My fingers trace over her cheek, brushing damp strands of hair from her face, and I shift just enough to look at her. Her lips are parted, her pupils still blown wide, the aftershocks making her shudder beneath me.“How was that?” My voice is quiet, teasing, but laced with something deeper, something I’m not ready to acknowledge.A lazy, satisfied smile spreads across her lips as she blinks up at me, still lost in the haze. “Everything I wanted…” Her voice is soft, drowsy, and she buries her face against my chest, sighing in contentment.I exhale slowly, reaching up to unhook the restraints, my hands careful as I rub gentle circles over her wrists where the cuffs have left faint marks. She doesn’t move much, her body spent, boneless, completely relaxed against me.
Jace POVHer hands remain bound behind her, wrists secured in the soft leather restraints as my fingers continue their slow, deliberate exploration of her skin. Every inch of her is hypersensitive, every touch making her shudder beneath me. My lips follow the path my hands create, dragging heat in their wake as I kiss my way down her body, my tongue teasing the delicate curve of her hip. I have no concrete plan, only the intention of pushing her deeper into subspace, giving her mind the escape it craves.I bite down on the soft flesh of her inner thigh, and she gasps, her hips jerking instinctively toward me. The sound is addictive, a quiet plea wrapped in pleasure. Reaching behind her, I unfasten the restraints only to secure them above her head, forcing her arms up and keeping her open for me. Her breath is uneven, her body trembling with anticipation, and when my mouth moves lower, when my tongue strokes over her, she lets out a strangled moan that
Serena POVI hit the bag over and over, each impact sending a shockwave through my body. My breaths come in ragged gasps. I don’t even know what I’m angry at anymore, Dale, his father, Jace, myself. It all blends together in one endless scream inside my head.“Fuck you,” I hiss under my breath, but I don’t even know who I’m saying it to.Jace watches me, silent. He doesn’t try to stop me. He doesn’t try to tell me to slow down. He just lets me burn it off.When my arms shake and my legs feel weak, I finally stop. My breath is ragged, sweat clinging to my skin, and I brace myself against the bag, pressing my forehead to the cool surface.Jace steps closer, his voice quieter now. “Feel better?”I don’t answer right away. My body still feels like it’s running on high voltage, but the energy is different now. The desperation, the unbearable itch, it’s dulled.&l
Serena POVThe bedroom walls feel like they’re closing in on me, suffocating, even when Jace is there. He’s been letting me out, but only when he’s around, like he doesn’t trust me. Maybe he’s right not to. I don’t even trust myself right now.My skin crawls, my body restless, my thoughts moving too fast for me to catch. One second, I feel like I need to run, to escape, to do something—anything—but then it shifts, and I crash, exhaustion pressing me down like a weight.I hate this. I hate feeling like I’m not in control. It's been a week, I thought by now I would be fine, but I'm not.I pace back and forth across the room, my hands shaking as I rake them through my hair. Jace is sitting in the chair near the door, watching me with that same patient expression he’s had since all of this started. Like he’s waiting for me to snap.“Stop looking at me like that,&rd
Jace POVI head down the hall, my heartbeat picking up the closer I get to the room she’s in. When I push open the door, she’s still on the bed, legs crossed, fingers tugging at a loose thread on the blanket.She looks up, her expression unreadable. “Hey,” she murmurs.Stepping inside, I shut the door behind me. “You good?”She shrugs, glancing away. “I guess.”I walk closer, dropping into the chair beside the bed. “You ate?”She nods. “Rich made sure of it.”Of course, he did.Silence stretches between us, thick and weighted, until she finally speaks again. “Why are you here, Jace?”I meet her gaze, holding it steady. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”Standing, I watch her curl into herself, arms wrapped tight around her legs like she’s trying to disappear. She looks so damn small like this, so fucking frag
Jace POVThe exhaustion is like a weight pressing down on me, my body begging for rest, but my mind refuses to slow down. I’ve been working for hours, handling everything at the club, but it’s impossible to focus when all I can think about is her.I haven’t heard a damn thing from Rich since I left Serena with him. No updates, no messages. It’s not like I expected play-by-plays of everything happening in that room, but silence? It doesn’t sit right with me, so I need to check on her.Taking the elevator up, I roll my shoulders, trying to shake off the tension. As soon as the doors slide open, I step into my apartment, my attention immediately pulled toward the bedroom door. Then I hear it, laughter, Serena is laughing.It’s soft at first, then louder, full of something I haven’t heard in years. Pure, genuine happiness. It stops me in my tracks. My chest tightens, and for a moment, I just stand the
Serena POVRich doesn’t push, just watches as I drift back into memories.“When we were kids, we did everything together,” I say, a small smile tugging at my lips. “He’d come over, and we’d build forts out of blankets in my living room. We used to sneak out at night and go to the lake, just to sit by the water and talk. Sometimes we’d dare each other to do stupid things, like climb onto the roof of my house or steal candy from the corner store.”Rich chuckles. “He ever get caught?”I laugh, shaking my head. “No. I always did, though. He was too damn good at talking his way out of trouble.”Rich smirks. “He still is.”I nod, my smile fading slightly. “It was easy back then. He was always there, always... Jace. No complications, and no mess.”“But now?” Rich prompts.I sigh, pushing my plate away. “Now I don’t k
Serena POVRich runs a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. “Serena, he set you up. He made you the monster so you wouldn’t ever question what really happened, and if you did? He had Dale right there, feeding you those pills, keeping your head foggy enough that you’d never put the pieces together.”My stomach lurches. “The pills…” My voice trails off as realization starts to sink in.“Yeah,” Rich nods, his expression grim. “Makes me wonder how long they’ve been keeping you doped up. How long they’ve made you believe you were just crazy instead of realizing what they did to you.”I press a hand to my forehead, feeling like my skull is splitting open. “No,” I whisper, shaking my head. “I would’ve known. I would’ve remembered.”“Would you?” Rich’s voice is gentle now, but the weight behind his words i
Serena POVI wake up groggy, my body heavy, my mind wrapped in a thick fog. My limbs feel sluggish, my skin too tight, too sensitive.How long has it been? Panic creeps in as I blink around the dimly lit room, trying to piece things together. My throat is dry, my mouth like sandpaper. Something feels wrong.“Jace?” My voice cracks, barely more than a whisper. I swallow hard and try again, louder this time. “Jace!”I hear footsteps followed by the door creaking open, and Rich stands in the doorway, leaning against the frame, watching me.He lifts his hands, slow and easy, like he’s dealing with a wild animal. He steps inside, holding out a glass of water. “Easy there, trouble. Just me.”I don’t move. My heart pounds, and paranoia twists in my gut. Jace isn’t here. Where is Jace? “Where’s Jace?” I ask.Rich just smiles like I didn’t just snap at him. “Tr