Dante POVI get to the spot where I usually find solace. My haven. But today, even this place feels hollow. As soon as I stop the bike, I collapse to the ground. My body feels heavy, weighed down by everything I’ve been carrying for so long. What would usually take hours of careful riding to reach felt like it came in minutes. But it doesn’t matter. Nothing feels right anymore. My life is crumbling around me. Jamie warned me. He told me Luna was an obsession, and that I needed to keep my distance. I didn’t listen. In fact, I fucking told him myself that she was my obsession. How stupid can I be? It feels like every part of me has been ripped apart, burned to ash, and scattered in the wind. I can’t figure out how to put the pieces of myself back together again. The careful, cool, and calculated person I used to be? He’s gone. Dead and buried. Now, it’s like emotions are driving every single thing I do. And that’s not me. I never let my emotions take the lead, yet here I am, letting
Dante POVAs I open the door and step inside, my eyes immediately search for her. The tension in my chest tightens as I see her. Luna’s sitting on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket, looking small and tired. Her head lifts when she hears the door, and the moment our eyes meet, something inside me shifts. She looks relieved but also worried. “Dante…” she whispers, her voice hesitant, unsure. I walk toward her, every step heavy with everything I’ve been trying to run from. All the anger, the love, the confusion—they’re all still there, but seeing her reminds me of why I’ve been fighting so hard. Wrapping my arms tighter around her, I lift her effortlessly against me and sit down, holding her close. My face buries into her hair, the scent of her calming the storm that’s been raging inside me. The silence between us feels like the only thing right in the world right now, and I let myself sink into it. The longer I hold her, the more everything inside me settles, and slowly, I can thin
Luna POV I kick and squirm, but his grip is ironclad. “You can consider yourself getting three extra spanks for running. Even if it was fun to chase you,” he growls, his lips brushing against my ear. I swing my head back, trying to hit him, but he easily pushes me forward, keeping me pinned. My body bucks against him, but it’s useless. He’s too strong. As he bursts through another door, the room falls silent. I’m too busy fighting to notice the eyes turning toward us, too consumed by my desire to escape. But the click of metal cuffs around my wrists makes me pause. My arms are pulled up above my head, leaving me dangling helplessly in front of him. “Shit,” I mutter under my breath, glaring at him. I'm back in the same room again, the one with the spanking bench and bondage chair I've previously been tied to. The swingers club. Dante grins, amusement dancing in his eyes as he secures the restraints. “You wanted to be punished and fucked in front of everyone, right? Then you punch
Luna POVDante steps back, a slow smile curling on his lips as he surveys the room, letting everyone’s eyes drink in the sight of me bound and exposed. My skin tingles, every nerve alive with anticipation. His presence is magnetic, and I can feel every pair of eyes glued to us, watching, waiting to see what he’ll do next. My body trembles under the weight of their collective gaze. He paces slowly, gathering the items he plans to use, his movements deliberate. The room has grown quieter, the only sounds being the soft shuffle of feet and murmurs of intrigue. It feels like no one has ever seen Dante like this before—commanding, dangerous, in complete control of someone in this room. His voice cuts through the room like a knife. “This...” He points directly at me, my body stretched out and vulnerable before him. “This is what happens to naughty little kittens who think they can be brats and get away with it.” A shiver runs down my spine as his words sink in. I can feel the weight of t
Luna POVThe pleasure is overwhelming, my body responding to his every movement, but just as I feel that familiar tightening in my core, he stops. I gasp, my body trembling with the need to release, but he pulls back, watching me with a smirk. “Look at that,” he laughs, turning to the onlookers. “She was right there, so close, and now she’s practically shaking with frustration.” His voice is dark, dripping with satisfaction as he runs his fingers across my trembling skin. “She’s going to break soon. I can feel it.” He steps behind me, his breath hot against my neck as he speaks low in my ear, just loud enough for everyone to hear. “You want it so bad, don’t you, little deer? But you don’t get to come until I say so. You know that, right?” I nod, biting my lip to stop the desperate plea threatening to spill from my mouth. I can feel the heat between my legs growing unbearable, my entire body aching for the release he keeps denying me. He slips his fingers back inside, this time movi
Luna POVOut of the corner of my eye, I see Lilly smirking, clearly enjoying the show. “She’s tougher than I thought,” she muses, but her tone is laced with mockery. “Is she?” Dante’s eyes gleam with challenge. “We’ll see how long that lasts.” His words hang in the air as the wand is pressed against me again, harder this time, the vibrations more intense. My hips move involuntarily, chasing the sensation, but before I can even get close, he pulls it away once more. A sob escapes me—pure, raw frustration—and my body collapses in on itself. “Please,” I whisper, hating how weak I sound, but the need is too overwhelming to resist any longer. Dante tilts his head, feigning curiosity. “What was that?” My pride holds on by a thread, but my body is too far gone. “Please…” I repeat, my voice breaking. “I’ll do anything.” He grips my head pulling it back as he steps in front of me, his eyes locking onto mine. “Anything?” I nod, barely able to meet his gaze. “Yes.” A slow, wicked smile s
Dante POV I step back from her, taking a moment to just look at her body, utterly spent and exhausted. There’s a raw beauty to it, a reminder of how much she trusts me, how much she lets me push her to the edge. My chest tightens with a mix of possessiveness and something else—something deeper that I’m still trying to figure out. But this... this moment is everything. I adjust my clothes, my eyes never leaving her. She’s still trembling slightly, her body worn out from everything I’ve just done to her. There’s pride swelling in my chest—she’s mine, every part of her, and no one else will ever get to see her like this again. Stepping in front of her, I release the cuffs on her ankles, letting her legs fall free before I lift her into my arms. Her legs instinctively wrap around my waist, her head resting against my shoulder, her breath still coming in shaky gasps. I press a kiss to her lips, slow and deliberate. She gives me a small, exhausted smile, and it takes everything in me no
Dante POVCallum sighs, leaning back as if he’s been holding onto this for too long. “There’s nothing to talk about, really. Me and Sasha went out a while back, she invited me. She came back here, we slept together, and the next day when I tried to talk about it, she laughed it off like it was nothing. She acted like it didn’t even happen.” It hits me then—why would Sasha act so distant after sleeping with him? It doesn’t add up. “Anyway,” Callum continues, “I waited for her to change her mind, but she never did. She was stuck in her decision. So, I moved on. Me and Lilly have always been close, you know that. But it was never anything more. Then, one night... it just happened between us. I thought about telling Sasha, but she was still on her whole ‘nothing happened, we don’t need to talk’ bullshit. Then she comes here, sees Lilly answer the door, and loses her mind. Slapped her right across the face.” My eyes narrow as I lean forward. “You didn’t fucking tell me that,” I say, mor
Jace POV“Count for me,” I instruct, my voice firm but steady. Without waiting for a response, I bring the paddle down with more force against her upper thigh.“One,” she gasps, her body tensing before quickly relaxing into the sensation.I continue, alternating between her thighs, her ass, and the curve of her hips, watching as her skin warms under each controlled strike. I push the intensity just a little further each time, testing her limits, feeling her reactions shift between sharp gasps and breathy moans. By the time we reach ten, her body is flushed a beautiful shade of pink, her muscles loose, her breaths uneven.“Good girl,” I murmur, setting the paddle aside. My voice is low, soothing, meant to anchor her even as I prepare to take her further. “Now for something different.”I pick up the flogger, letting the soft leather strands dance over her sensitized skin. She shivers instantly, her breath catching, her body trembling under the featherlight touch. I watch as anticipation
Jace POVWhen the feather brushes against her inner thighs again, her legs tremble, parting slightly without thought. I watch as the tension in her hands loosens, her fidgeting slowing, her mind beginning to quiet. She’s sinking into it now, letting the sensation take over.Setting the feather aside, I reach for the pinwheel and an ice cube, the stark contrast between the two designed to overwhelm her senses.The moment the cool metal of the pinwheel makes contact with her hip, she shudders, her skin tightening under the delicate prickle of each tiny spike. I roll it up her side, the subtle drag leaving a trail of awareness in its wake. Her breathing shifts, turning into soft, shallow pants as I circle the pinwheel along the curve of her breast, teasing but never fully touching.At the same time, I press the ice cube to her lips. Her gasp is sharp, instinctive, her mouth parting slightly from the shock of cold. I take advantage of the moment, dragging the ice along her neck, leaving g
Jace POVBy the time we pull up outside, I’ve made my decision. I climb off my bike and walk straight to her, grabbing her wrist before she can say anything and leading her inside. But I don’t take her to my apartment. Instead, I step into the lift, pressing the button that takes us downstairs.She doesn’t question it right away, just watches me with that sharp, wary gaze, waiting for whatever comes next.When we step out, I walk her down the hall to a vacant room, pushing the door open and stepping inside before locking it behind us. The air shifts instantly, her body going still as her eyes flick around the space. It’s simple—clean, dim lighting, nothing extravagant—but the energy in the room is different, charged with something she doesn’t fully understand yet.“Have you done anything like this before?” I ask quietly, watching her closely.Her head shakes, a slow, hesitant movement, but her eyes don’t leave mine.“Okay,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “We’ll start with the basics.
Jace POVI need to put a stop to this.That’s the only reason I’m back here, standing in the middle of this fucking street, watching her make the worst decision of her life like it means nothing. The guy in the car doesn’t give a damn, his lazy smirk saying he’s already won. He’s not going anywhere. He’ll sit there all fucking night if he has to, waiting for her to crack, waiting for her to climb inside like she’s done a hundred times before.Her hand moves to open the door, and I reach out, grabbing her wrist before she can. “I’ll pay you,” I say, voice tight, my chest burning with frustration. “Don’t get in that car, please.”Something’s off. She’s different today, her energy too erratic, too wild, like she’s running on something other than adrenaline. The way her body sways, the way her pupils are blown wide—it’s not just the club, not just the high of the moment.Then she tilts her head, eyes locking onto mine, and she grins, teeth flashing in the dim light.“Will you fuck me, Jac
Serena POVChecking my bag it's empty. I don't understand, I remember it in my hand, but did I give him it?“You said you had it,” Dale continues, voice steady. “But you never gave it to me. You must have lost it.”“No,” I whisper, shaking my head again. My throat tightens, panic trying to claw its way back up. “I—”His sigh is soft, almost disappointed. “You’ve been all over the place, Sera. You were late taking your tablets, you were shaking so bad you could barely stand… maybe you thought you gave it to me, but you didn’t.”I try to argue, but the words don’t come. The way he says it, the way he looks at me like I’m something fragile, something easily broken—it makes me hesitate. The confidence I had in my memory crumbles, the cracks widening with every second of silence between us.I was late. I was shaking. I don’t even remember how I got here, not really. The ride, the searching, the desperation—it’s all a blur, a mess of fragmented pieces that don’t fit together.Maybe I did fo
Serena POV“I warned you,” he says, voice calm, too casual. “Told you not to be late again, didn’t I?” He leans back against the bar, stretching his arms out along the counter like this is nothing more than a minor inconvenience. “And yet, here we are. You fucking up, me waiting for you to figure it out, and now you get to deal with your dad like I said you would.”A cold sweat breaks out along my back. My chest tightens as the words sink in, my panic twisting into something more dangerous. I shake my head, forcing myself to swallow the lump in my throat. “Dale, please. You can’t—he’ll—” My voice cracks, but I don’t care. He knows exactly what my father would do if he thought I wasn’t taking my meds right.Dale watches me struggle, his lips twitching at the corners like he’s savoring it. He leans in slightly, voice dropping just enough to make sure I hear every damn word. “I can. And I will. You’re making my life harder, Sera. I told you the rules. I told you what happens if you don’t
Serena POVMy body trembles, the shakes making it harder to hold onto the handlebars as I ride. My vision blurs in and out, my skin crawling with that unbearable itch that only gets worse the longer I go without my pills. My thoughts slip in and out of focus, fragmented and disjointed, like pieces of a puzzle that won’t fit together. I don’t remember half the ride by the time I stop outside the house, my heart pounding against my ribs like it’s trying to break free.I barely get off my bike before I’m moving, legs unsteady as I push through the door. My breaths come fast, uneven. The world tilts for a second, but I ignore it, shoving past the few people lingering inside and taking the stairs two at a time. My hands shake as I reach his door, and I knock hard.“Dale!” My voice comes out rough, cracking on his name. No answer. I knock again, harder. “Please, Dale!”The door stays silent.“He left,” Joanne’s voice cuts through my panic, and I spin to face her, my stomach twisting.“What?
Jace POV“So she’s been close to death,” he muses, his voice softer now, almost admiring. “She’s witnessed it. Felt the fear of it. And at some point, she realized how alive it made her feel in that moment.”I shake my head. “No. Because she hasn’t. That’s the thing. There’s nothing. Not even a broken fucking bone,” I mutter. The frustration burns under my skin, because none of it makes sense.Rich leans forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his expression shifting—darker, something lurking behind his eyes that makes my spine go rigid.“You can face death and show no signs of it, Jace,” he murmurs, his voice too smooth, too knowing. “Death doesn’t have to be messy and loud. It can be calm while being completely fucking insane. It can be clean, but still leave blood in your mind that never washes off.”Something in my stomach knots as I watch him, the way his gaze sharpens, his fingers drumming idly against the desk like he’s enjoying the moment.“It can be a moment of pure terror,”
Jace POVWhen I wake up, I already know she's gone. The room feels different. The air feels empty.I walk through the apartment, glancing around, half-hoping I’ll find her still curled up somewhere, but she’s gone. A part of me expected it. Another part of me hoped she’d stay.Rubbing a hand down my face, I head for the kitchen, needing coffee to push away the exhaustion clinging to me. I barely slept, too wired, too focused on every word she said last night. I grab a cup, take a sip, and turn—then stop cold.My wallet is open. That sinking feeling hits hard, a slow burn in my gut as I move toward it. The cash is gone.She fucking didn’t. I grab it, flipping through, but it’s empty. Every single bill. She took it all.The anger comes fast, pulsing hot under my skin. I wasn’t expecting a damn thank you, but I also didn’t think she’d rob me the second my guard was down. My jaw clenches as I spot the note folded beside the wallet.I snatch it up, eyes scanning the messy scrawl.Sorry.So