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The Deal With The Devil 37
StefanVeronica reached out to take my hand, the one that held the whip, and walked behind me. When the fingers of her other hand traced the scars on my back, I flinched, tightening every muscle. She stopped moving but didn't pull away. With an exhale, I bowed my head, my hand turning into a fist on the post.She followed each line, her touch like a feather. She saw everything. She saw me. And I let her. I stood there, and I let her. And only after she'd acknowledged every scar did she pull away. It was only for a moment, and I remained as I was. When I felt her breath on me, her lips on my back, kissing me softly, kissing scar tissue, I shuddered.When I turned, she straightened. She stood naked. She'd stripped off the T-shirt. Her nipples tightened in the cool cellar air. I looked at them, at her. And when I took her and turned her so she stood with her back to the post, she let me. Even though her gaze warily skimmed the whip, she let me.Kissing her, I drew her wrists up over her
The Deal With The Devil 38
VeronicaI woke up in Stefan's arms. I didn't move and tried to keep my breathing level. What in hell had happened last night? How close had I come to being whipped? I knew he'd needed that scene—that insane scene—to happen. He couldn't tiptoe around the past any longer. Maybe coming back here, maybe subconsciously, he'd sought the confrontation because without it, there could be no relief. I hoped that last night was his victory over the demons that haunted him. I hoped that last night, he'd banished them to the hell in which they belonged.What kind of childhood had he had?What kind of guilt did he carry on his shoulders?He'd told me he'd protected his brothers from his father, and I understood he took whippings to save them. What he'd said last night, though, had his father—once Stefan was too big to beat—had he turned his rage on Stefan's mother?What a beast. What a monster.I looked up at my husband's sleeping face. It was the first time I'd seen him like this. The first time
The Deal With The Devil 39
Veronica"Don't you ever do that to me again, understand?""Which part, this?" I gave him the finger again. "Or the walking away?"He squeezed my arm, his mouth tightening. "You want to play after all?"I narrowed my eyes, but my heart pounded at the look in his eyes, the tone of his voice. I always seemed to forget my inexperience. Forget his power.Or maybe I just thought things had shifted between us last night."We can play."He turned me and pushed me over the footboard of the bed.I made to get up, but he pressed a hand between my shoulder blades and kept me down, then shoved the T-shirt up over my back and spread my legs apart before coming to stand between them. I felt him then, felt his hardness at my ass, and as much as I didn't want to, as much as I wanted to stay angry, my body was responding, like it always did to Stefan."You have a great ass, Veronica," he said, then slapped it once."Ow!""Keep your face on the bed."He twisted my hair around his hand and leaned over m
The Deal With The Devil 40
VeronicaI wiped the back of my hand over my mouth, sitting back on my heels."That was good for your first time," he said. "But you missed some."With his toe, he pointed to where some cum had dripped onto the floor."Lick it up."Rage burned hot inside me, starting at my belly, searing my throat as it made itself heard. "Fuck. You." I stood, somehow not stumbling, and faced him. I refused to look away. And when he grinned, I drew my arm back and slapped him.His body didn't move, only his head snapped to the side. He exhaled, and the side of his mouth curved upward as his hand rose to touch his cheek. Slowly, he turned to look at me.His gaze slid over me, and I shuddered, holding my breath when he brought his fingers to my belly and slid them up between my breasts, over my chest. His hand then fisted around my throat, and I grabbed his forearm as he leaned over me."Don't ever fucking do that again."He squeezed, and I trembled. He was volatile, like a land mine that if I didn't tr
The Deal With The Devil 41
VeronicaForty-five minutes later, Charlie and I stood at the gate alone. A sedan came toward us down the dusty road, pulling to a stop at the gates. My grandfather opened the back door and stepped out at the same time as the driver, and I climbed into the car with Charlie on my lap."What is that?" he asked, a clear look of distaste on his face.I scratched behind Charlie's ear and held him on my lap. "It's a puppy, Grandfather. His name is Charlie.""Does he have to join us?""Yes."He didn't argue with me but gave me a resigned look. The driver closed the door, and we were off."No one to wave you off? Where is your sister?""Resting," I lied. I knew he wouldn't like knowing Robyn was in enemy hands. Although Stephen was hardly the enemy. Maybe he was my only ally. Funny how, just a few hours ago, I'd been thinking Stefan was my ally."And Stefan?""Meetings.""Does he know you're with me?""No.""Good girl," he said with a smile, shifting his gaze out the window."Why haven't you
The Deal With The Devil 42
VeronicaI sat on the edge of the seat. My heart hurt at the realization.After setting the tiny bottle down, I ran my finger over the surface of the mirror and picked up the tube of lipstick and looked at the brand. It was a cheap drugstore brand I used to buy when I was a teen and had limited funds.Taking the lid off, I brought it to my lips and applied some. It was hard and cakey, but I imagined her gliding it across her mouth, and it almost felt like her. It was the closest I would come to my mother physically.Pocketing both, I closed the drawer and checked the dresser and closet. I found nothing. Not a piece of clothing. Not a forgotten stuffed animal or book or anything."Veronica?" My grandfather's voice called from the distance.Wiping my hand over my nose and eyes, I went to the door, taking one last look around. "I'm coming."Downstairs, the manager pointed out the new equipment they'd installed, including a new security system. He toured us through the vineyards with Char
The Deal With The Devil 43
StefanThe looks on their faces when they saw me approach their cozy little lunch was priceless. I wished I had a camera. Shock and awe felt about the right words to describe it. At least as far as Veronica went. I had a feeling the old man expected me.When Eric had called to tell me neither she nor the dog were anywhere to be found, I knew exactly where she would be. Or at least whom she'd be with. She had ignored me completely and done the opposite of what I'd said. Which I guess meant she hadn't ignored me completely. I did always try to see the silver fucking lining.I'd called the hotel in Siena where her grandfather was staying, and it had taken only a few minutes for me to get them to tell me where their driver was taking him. Kingston Winery."Well, well, what a surprise," Marcus said, wiping his mouth with his napkin.I ignored him, my eyes on my disobedient wife instead. In that moment, I realized I couldn't name the storm of emotions swirling inside me. They were too confu
The Deal With The Devil 44
StefanVeronica leaped out of the car after Charlie, hugging first her sister, then Stephen. He said something to her, but I didn't hear it. From the look on her face, it was a reproach. Good.Robyn took Veronica's hand, and they went into the house. But just before they were out of sight, I noticed the look Robyn threw over her shoulder at Stephen. There was something strange about it. Something unexpected."Where did Stephen take you?" Veronica asked.I didn't hear Robyn's response as they disappeared ahead of us, but I did study my brother, saw how his eyes followed them, how they narrowed as they tracked Robyn."She's a little young, isn't she?" I asked, meaning it to be a joke but realizing he took it as more of a taunt the moment I saw his face."What the hell does that mean?""Just that she's young. Sixteen, right?""So first you accuse me of being—what was the word you used? Cozy? Yes, cozy with Veronica, and now it's something else with her sister?"I grinned. "I thought you'
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