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That jealousy rises like a tidal wave claiming my body. Curls around my lungs. I growl in annoyance.

James, tall and infuriatingly blasé, paces the floor in front of me. Paces behind me until I have to turn my head to see him.

“Objectively good-looking, Ophelia,” he repeats. “ButIwasn’t attracted to her.”

Crack!

Fire shoots up from my ass, reaching behind my eyes. They squeeze shut, my head bowing back as the sharp pain slices through me.

“You belted me! Monster!” I scream.

“Questioning me…”Crack!“Lying to me…”Crack! Crack!“Taking over my sanity the way you do…”

Another two blows to my ass. Four to the backs of my thighs.

I think I’m going to faint. My vision blurs around the edges. The air I breathe burns my lungs.

“I…hate…you,” I whisper.

A hand tugging my hair pulls me out of my near blackout.

“Sonnet.” His lips are on my shoulder. His light scruff is silk compared to the ache in my ass. “This pain. This confusion. That’s what you do to my heart. That’s what I meant when I said that you messed with my head. I’m willing to bet you already knew. I can’t let you have it. We are not equals. I don’tfeelthe things you insist that I feel. So you’re going to stop all of that right now. You’re my property. That’s it.”

I can’t stop what I can’t control, I think.

Then it’s,Go fuck yourself. I hate you. You’re a bastard.

So many words. Accusations. Fury.

None of them come out. Because of the things he just said. Because his free hand rubs and soothes the tormented flesh of my ass.

“James.” Something so bad shouldn’t feel this good. I’m dripping for him. My nipples are pulled tight. I angle my head toward him, leaning into him. My sadist. My only comfort in this hell I’m in. “This is fucked up. You’re fucked up.”

“Never said I wasn’t.” A squeeze of my ass follows his confession. Where he belted me. I bite my lip to silence the howl. Can’t hold back the tears, though. “That’s who I am. That’s all I’ll ever be.”

He’s lying again. To both of us.

There are many facets to this man. Hidden sides that he himself isn’t aware of. He’s had to be this person, this monster, for years. But when his lips trace a soft trail up my neck, I see what he can’t. When he licks the tears on my jaw, I know.

I. Know.

“Topher told me she died.” Goosebumps rake along my skin as the words roll past my lips.

He rips himself from me, taking his warmth with him. A series of fourcracks, two on each butt cheek follows.

I refuse to sob. To let my breath hitch.

Sadly, the stream of tears down my cheeks won’t stop, no matter what.

“You’re here to listen, not ask questions.” Lust. I hear it in his rugged voice. Feel it in his hand on my waist. “I own you. I control you. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

He’s insane. Sadistic. A terrible, terrible person.

I’ve been surviving him.

I’ve been falling for him.