FIVE

Serena

"Now, I fuck you."

The words reverberated into my mind. So possessive. So demanding. The brutal stranger believed that he had every right to treat me like some wayward whore. There was no getting away, no way to fight his incredible strength. As he dragged me into my own bedroom, marching me in a stringent military fashion, I tried not to imagine where this would lead.

Imprisonment.

Punishment.

Death.

I couldn't think this way. I needed a clear head in order to figure out how to get away from this horrible freak. When he dumped me onto the middle of my bed, I swung around, able to look him in the eyes if only for a few seconds. I recoiled after he glared, trying to catch my breath. There was no soul to the man. There was also no sense of urgency.

Reacting, I scrambled off the bed, only to be yanked and tossed. The clang of the headboard slapping against the wall reverberated into the room, shadowing the ragged beating of my heart.

"Now, if you continue to disobey me, you will be punished severely," he huffed and yanked me over onto my stomach. "On your hands and knees and stay that way."

"Fuck you!"

The brutal smack against my ass forced another moan.

"I think you need to be nicer to me, Serena," he said, leering down, lording his prowess over me.

"You're out of your mind."

"I just might be, but I have absolute control over you. Get. On. Your. Knees. Now!"

"Please, stop. I'm begging you. I have some money, if that's what you want." Hissing, I crawled into position, simply reacting to the command. Think. Think! The command of my mind wasn't doing anything but highlighting the dire situation.

"Money certainly isn't what this is about." I inhaled the stench of the man as he moved closer to the bed. "Now, we're going to have a little fun, you and I."

"No. Fucking. Way." I kicked out, my foot snapping against his hard body.

Growling, he slapped his hand around my calf, holding my leg in mid-air as he issued a series of savage smacks against my backside, one crack coming after the other.

"Stop. No!"

After another husky chuckle, he raked the tip of his finger down the length of my spine. "I think you want this, Serena. In fact, I know you do."

His tone reeked of arrogance, pissing me off even more. "You're a piece of shit!" It felt good to spit the words in his direction. His hand connected with my bottom before the words had even left my mouth, creating another intense wave of discomfort. Whimpering, I clung to the comforter, digging my nails in. I heard him, the sound of his belt being unbuckled, his zipper being tugged, and I was shaken, petrified.

He was going to make good on his promise.

"Are you wet for me, Serena? The scent of your sex gives you away, the kind of burning desire that fuels your fantasies. You seemed to enjoy my attention before."

His attention. I wasn't imagining anything. I'd met this creep before. Okay. Where did I know him from? His attention? Everything was muddled together. His face. His hands. His...

Thoughts and images swirled in my mind until I snapped a vision into the forefront. Jesus. I wouldn't mistake recognizing... The coffee shop. The Goddamn coffee shop. He'd been behind me, crowding my space then I'd turned around, accidentally tossing hot coffee all over his chest. His massive, chiseled and perfect chest. Swallowing, I was finally able to envision his face. He'd looked somewhat different then, a full beard and his glorious hair in a pony tail. But the eyes were the same.

Sexy.

Imploring.

Seductive.

"I'm so sorry. I feel terrible. Let me get your shirt cleaned for you," I insisted, throwing out my hand and brushing my fingers across his chest. Every synapsis had come alive, my entire body tingling.

"No need," he said, grinning before yanking off his shirt from the back, peeling away the material and exposing the most glorious set of pecs I'd ever seen. So chiseled. So incredibly masculine. My mouth watered, a series of devilish images rushing into the forefront of my mind. I could lick his chest for hours, savoring the taste of him. Then I'd move to his thick, throbbing cock, sucking on just the tip until I opened my mouth wide, accepting every inch of his sweet glory.

"I just..."

He took a single finger, lifting my chin. "A woman as beautiful as you should never wear a frown."

Oh, my God. Oh. My. God.

The memory like a sharp jab in the eye went straight into my brain. I sucked in my breath, reeling from the vision. This was insane.

The mystery attacker laughed, so husky and reeking of such intense desire that my pussy quivered. "Hmmm... Your eyes are as telling as the day I met you."

"No. No!" My defiance seemed weak, ridiculous. He'd seen right through me. My burning desire. Needs that hadn't been fulfilled in years, if ever. But not this way. Never this way.

"Yes. I can tell you're very wet. I must admit, I could inhale your lust filled scent all day," he said, laughing in an even huskier tone, the words dripping with innuendos.

"You're wrong," I snapped, scrambling to get out of his reach.

He fisted my hair, yanking me back once again. "You're quite the disobedient little thing, aren't you? We'll have to fix that."

"No!" I knew it was no use, his brutal strength far too powerful. I took several short breaths, trying to regain my drive.

"Yes. You have no choice."

I was prepared for another savage volley as his hand spanked my aching bottom. When he kicked my legs wider with his knee, pushing my back until my face was only inches away from the bed, I trembled all over. Sickness and shame rustled through my entire being.

He'd been so nice about my clumsiness, laughing that same goddamn sultry laugh of his. I'd been beside myself at the time. Now, I knew he'd set up the whole damn thing. Next time I had a chance to dump coffee on him, it would be in a very strategic place.