Page 3 of Darkest Before Dawn (His Perfect Darkness #2)

I nara

The best thing about being bound by rope is being forced to surrender.

I had plenty of chances to escape when I presented my wrists to Rex.

I allowed him to loop the rope over and over into a makeshift harness that would support me when he hoisted me into the air.

The more the loops of rope touched my skin, the more I relaxed.

Now I hang suspended in my woven cocoon. I’m tied in a diving position with my arms secured behind me and my legs slightly splayed. Even my hair is wound with rope and suspended.

I can’t move. And yet, I feel so free. All the worry bleeds from my brain. There’s nothing but the rope snug around my limbs, the collar around my throat, and the shadowy presence of my dom. My Rex.

Warm air blows on my bare skin, but beyond the circle of neon light, there’s a chill. Rex could’ve brought me to his gorgeous dungeon to tie me up. Instead, he brought me to the dark cave he’s converted into his secret headquarters.

I peer into the darkness beyond the spotlight, trying to discover any clues as to the inner workings of his psyche. Rex has many secrets. I might be one of the only ones who knows the full details of his alter ego, his crimes.

It’s what drove me to his mansion. A few days ago, I was on the warpath, searching for a way in, searching for evidence to expose him.

Now I’m tied up and suspended, at his mercy. And all I feel is relief.

It won’t last. Rex and I can’t be together. He’s still a killer, and I’m still a detective sworn to uphold justice. But I can allow him to comfort me, just this once.

His touch ghosts down the back of my calf, and I shiver.

“I don’t think you’re focused.” His voice is deeper, darker. I feel the vibrations of his rasp in my core. Wetness drips from my labia. I would squirm and press my legs together to relieve the ache, but I can’t move.

“I promised I’d help you take your mind off things. Give you what you need so you can sleep. But you’re still thinking too much.”

He runs a hand up my thigh and brushes my sex.

His touch is barely there, but I know he’s collecting the moisture dripping from my pussy.

“At least one part of you is paying attention.” There’s a smirking edge to his tone.

“But I wonder. . . What will it take for you to let go?” He walks around to face me.

He’s dressed in black slacks and nothing else, and his hard torso is a feast for the eyes.

All sexy muscle and sinew, power incarnate.

He rubs my own essence over my lower lip. “You’re so beautiful like this.” He pushes a thumb into my mouth, and I run my tongue over it to thank him. “Good girl.”

All too soon, he moves away, and a band of black fabric falls over my eyes. The darkness falls, and I sigh, relaxing further.

I spent so many years with a white-knuckle grip on my life, keeping myself isolated so I wouldn’t dream of anyone's death. I craved connection so much that it hurt. And then, when it’d been so long I couldn’t remember human touch, I craved the pain.

It’s wonderful to give up control. I don’t know what Rex and I are to each other, but I do know he’s the only one who’s been able to give me what I need so perfectly. I fell for him once, when he was my mystery dom, before I knew who he truly was.

It’s tempting to fall for him again. But I can’t give in forever.

Just this once, I tell myself. I’ve told myself this before, but this time, it has to be true.

After this, I’ll distance myself from him. After tonight, we’ll go our separate ways.

“Give in to me,” he whispers, and for the next few moments, I do. My submission has an expiration date, but for now, I can forget myself and be completely his.

When I’m blindfolded, every touch is a revelation.

He’s wound rope around my torso to suspend me, but he left my breasts hanging free.

Now he toys with my nipples, pinching them until pain sings through me.

I gasp and flinch and moan, and I sense him watching me, taking in every reaction.

Even though I can’t see, I can feel his attention, and I soak it up like a parched plant soaking up the rain.

His hands are large and warm, cupping my breasts and tormenting my nipples. I can’t lean into him, and I can’t pull away. I can do nothing but hang from the ropes and take it. It’s horrible and wonderful all at the same time, just the way I like it.

His fingers trace circles above and below my waist where the ropes cinch me. I shudder. My pussy weeps.

“My sweet submissive. You look like you’re flying.

Like a little bird.” He pokes a finger against the rope binding my thigh and adjusts it a little.

“I can keep you here for hours. You can’t get away.

” He pushes my hip, and I swing in the air.

He’s toying with me, and it only makes me wetter.

“Would you like that, little bird? Hanging here, at my mercy, for as long as I please?” He brushes my bottom, and goosebumps break out all over me.

“I think you would. You might say no, but your body tells me the truth.”

For a moment, I allow myself to imagine this level of possession. What if he never lets me go? He told me I would belong to him. He wants forever.

He’s already proven he doesn’t have limits when it comes to controlling me. He’s stalked me, trapped me, killed for me. What will he do when I try to leave? There’s no reasoning with a monster like him. He takes what he wants, and he wants me.

What if he locked me up for the rest of my life? I would fight, of course, but the submissive part of me would feel so free.

The submissive part of me doesn’t get to make the rules. But just imagining it pulls me deeper into the scene.

He strokes the insides of my thighs. Does he know what he’s doing to me? What I’m imagining? It’s scary how much he sees. My darkest desire and my deepest fear warped and morphed into one.

“Just let go and be mine,” he whispers and rubs a knuckle between my lower lips, stroking beside my clit. It takes barely any time for my orgasm to rush closer.

“Rex,” I gasp, and he withdraws his hand, only to let it fall in a hard, open-palmed smack against my sex.

I cry out in shock and wonder.

“No,” he barks. “That’s not who I am to you here.” His rebuke rings through me, more painful than the slap.

What? I sort through my thoughts to figure out what he’s talking about.

When I’m inside you here, you don’t use my name. You call me Master. And you come when I tell you to come.

He told me this last time he took me in his lair.

He smacks me again, more lightly, and suddenly, I’m on the precipice, ready to tip into ecstasy.

“Oh gods,” I gasp.

“No,” he purrs. “I’m not a god. Who am I to you? Tell me, and you get to come.”

“R—” I start to say his name, and he pats my sex, not hard enough to make me come, but hard enough to make me groan. “Oh fuck.”

“I’ll fuck you after you give me what I want. Can you do that? Can you be a good girl for me and tell me what I want to hear?”

If I call him Master , he’ll allow me to come. He’ll give me everything I want. I did it before, just last night. I don’t know why it’s so hard this time.

I should’ve known he wouldn’t allow me to withhold any part of myself. He’s always sought my submission.

And I’ve always given in. Like now.

“Please. . .”

“You beg so prettily, sweet submissive. But you still haven’t given in to me. What do you call me when we’re in here?”

“Master.” It’s the barest whisper, but he hears me.

“Good girl.” He presses against my side, gripping my hair below where he’s bound me with the rope, and shoves his fingers into my sopping sex.

He uses the rough edge of his thumb and rubs the needy spot next to my clit, hooking two blunt fingers in to massage the inner wall above my entrance.

My orgasm blows up so fast I scream. I explode, fragmenting around his fingers.

The convulsions rock me, making me swell and strain against the ropes.

I’m tied up tight, and I’m flying. I’m free.

“Such a good girl for me,” Rex murmurs, and gods, I need him. I need him to hurt me, to bring me down from this painful ecstasy. I need him to shove his cock into me, so I can focus on pleasing him. So I can earn his praise.

“That’s it.” He thrusts his fingers in and out, giving me a little taste of what it will be like when he’s moving his cock inside me.

It’s not enough, but my inner muscles clench, milking him desperately.

“You need this, don’t you? You need me to tie you up and spank your pussy so you can get relief.

” He withdraws his fingers. With one last swipe over my sex, he moves around to my front.

“Here. Taste yourself.” He smears my juices over my face before shoving his fingers into my mouth, deep enough to make me gag.

“That’s it. Open up for me. Show me you can take it.”

It’s almost too much, being bound and helpless and humiliated like this. But I don’t care. I love it.

He withdraws his fingers and wipes them on my bare breasts. He’s making a mess of me, and I want him to. Yes, please. Wreck me .

“Now it’s my turn. You’re going to suck me, and if you do a good job, I’ll fuck your pussy until you come all over my cock.”

I open my mouth wide, ready for him. I don’t care if it’s humiliating to beg like this, with my face wet from where he used me like a rag. There’s nothing I won’t give him right now.

He steps close, and I smell his delicious scent, cedar and spice and a tang of sweat.

He teases me, brushing the head of his cock over my mouth, painting my lips with his pre-cum.

I lick my lips and extend my tongue, chasing another taste.

His dark chuckle rings in my ears, making me blush.

He’s mastered me, and he knows it. But he gives me what I want, pushing past my lips and filling my mouth.

There’s a tug on my hair. He’s holding the ropes back around my hair again and using them to control me.

“Lick the underside,” he orders, and when I do, he groans.

“That’s it, baby. Gods, you feel so good. ”

He presses forward, hitting the back of my throat. I gag a little, and he backs off, only to push forward again. He tugs my hair with one hand and strokes my neck with the other, coaxing me to take him deeper. “Relax, little bird. Let me in. Yes, like that. Fuck, how you please me.”

His dick knocks at the back of my throat.

I breathe through my nose and keep my muscles loose.

I love this, I tell him by swirling my tongue around him.

Give me more . I push my head forward and hum.

He curses and tugs me back by my hair until tears leak out from under my blindfold.

My pussy throbs, aching and empty, but I feel so satisfied, licking him, choking on him the way he likes.

“You’re too good.” He pulls out. I’m panting, my face painted with our combined essence, and all I feel is immense satisfaction at having pleased him.

He trails his fingers over my swollen lips. His scent wafts over me when he leans in to kiss me. I respond with eagerness, craning my neck to push into the kiss, straining towards him as much as I can while being restrained.

“Shall I give you your reward?” he whispers.

His big hand cups my cheek, and I lean into it.

My sex thrums with anticipation, but I’m content to soak in this moment of tenderness.

This is why I love submitting to Rex. He thinks ahead to the next move.

All the decisions rest on his shoulders, and I can just. . . be.

“Whatever you want.” I turn my head to kiss his fingers. “Master.” I still hesitate to call him that, but when I force it out, it fills me with peace. There’s nothing left for me to do but surrender.

“My gods.” His normally certain voice shakes. “You were made for me.”

He walks down the length of my body, his fingers never leaving my skin. He’s tied me up at the right height to pull my hips towards him and thrust into my entrance.

I’ll never get used to how his thickness stretches me.

We both moan from the pain that’s on the edge of the pleasure, and the pleasure that’s on the edge of pain.

He trails his fingers across my skin, tracing the sensitive line of flesh at the edge of the bindings.

The rope creaks as he begins to move. I can’t push against him, can’t escape; I can only hang here and take it.

His movements make me swing, and as the cool air rushes over me, I focus on the place we’re joined.

The way I’m stretched around him, the way he probes me, driving deep, using the swinging momentum to slam into me, tipping my senses into blissful overload.

And when he’s thoroughly used my body, he grips the tied length of my hair, bowing me back further. Making me feel his control. Obliterating me until there’s nothing left but pleasure. No more Inara. No more Rex. Only us.

I spent my whole life running from this level of intimate connection. Only Rex, with his passion to consume me, could coax me to this level of surrender.

In another life, Rex would be perfect for me. We could be together. Joined completely, allowing our bodies to sing to each other in counterpoint. It’s a tempting fantasy.

It’ll have to remain a fantasy.

After this, no more. I can’t allow myself to be with Rex.

But I’ll always remember this moment, this feeling of being totally his.