But that boy was gone, and the man who replaced him had left me naked and at the mercy of two men who I didn’t know.

The sound of a belt unbuckling drew my attention, so I looked back in time to see Lucas removing his thick leather belt from his pants. “So be it. Three lashes for three offenses.”

I exhaled.

I could deal with that.

“Make it your hardest,” Angel dictated. “I want her to understand me.”

I shuddered involuntarily. Lucas was the most muscular of the three without being bulky. He would no doubt, draw the attention of every female, including mine… and then we would run the other way.

“Tie her hands and feet.”

I heard the jangle of another belt, and it occurred to me then that I should fight. With a surge of adrenaline, I was able to lift my upper body and lock my elbows, but then I was pushed back down and eating mattress just as quickly.

“Where would you go?” I felt more than heard the whisper in my ear. I had the perfect retort when he caught the shell of my left ear between his teeth. Strange that my concern was if Angel could see what he was doing. Would he think I seduced him somehow? Would he be jealous?

When I escaped, I needed to get my head examined.

My arms were pulled behind me, and I felt fine leather bind my wrists at the small of my back. My feet were roughly pushed together, and I was tied up with more leather. The cold buckles rested against my heated skin uncomfortably. “Maybe we should use something else to bind her. Or I could use my hand—”

“Use mine.”

It took some effort, but I twisted my head enough to bring him into view. He sat as still as death, and his gaze was as hard as stone. I licked my lips again and swallowed hard. It frightened me that he had so much control. God, why won’t he move?

My silent plea seemed to awaken him. His hands moved, but his gaze never left me. From his lap, they lifted to his waist, and I watched, spellbound by what would come next. The gold buckle released with a click and his strong hand pulled the smooth black leather through the loops until it was free. He then folded the leather half all the while holding my stare. We were alone in this room. Nothing else existed but us, and nothing else mattered but what he’d do next.

I held my breath.

The hand holding the belt lifted and our spell was broken.

He smirked, and I decided there was nothing that could ever make me not hate him. It was hard to believe I once lov—

“Ahhh!” Burning pain bit into the skin of my ass. I cried and fought against my restraints. The gruff sound of someone calling my name could barely be heard over the screaming pain.

“That was a request for your attention.”

I did beg then. “Please let me go.”

“Give me what I want.”

“I don’t have what you want!”

“Then we’ll beat you every day until your answer changes. Do you really expect me to believe you sold power to a pawner?” He nodded to Lucas and the whistle of the belt slicing through the air prepared me in the worst way. My body tensed and I cried into the mattress when it struck.

Fingers threaded through my hair as my head was lifted from the mattress. Bright green eyes stared back at me. “Don’t tense,” Z advised. “It will only hurt worse.”

“Don’t touch me.”

He cocked his head and stared at me in amazement. “With everything that’s going to happen to you… you still want to fight us?” His gaze shifted momentarily and then he focused on me again. “Get ready, sweetheart. Here comes another one.”

My body naturally tensed but then something bizarre happened. Z’s lips touched mine. Softly. His tongue darted out, licking the seam between my lips. I felt his breath shudder just before he took over completely and kissed me. I was stunned that he would make such a bold move but also terrified at how good he tasted.

I realized it was a distraction when the next blow came. I hadn’t fully recovered from the last and the biting pain still proved too much, but at least I had something else to focus on. I cried into his mouth, and he groaned like a starving man.

Why did I enjoy his lips when all he did was hurt me?

He was another criminal.

Another monster.

And he wasn’t Angel.

“Come on, sweetheart. Open up that sweet mouth.” He bit my lip causing me to gasp and then shoved his tongue as far down my throat as possible. His tongue danced with mine, and I became drunk from the taste of him. It took my mind away from the pain.