Page 17 of Darkness of Mine

I cry out, the neck of my hoodie cutting into my windpipe as River grabs the hood and pulls me back. I fight to regain my footing, twisting around and bringing my elbow down on his arm until his hold gives.

“Freya. Stop it.”

I only make it another step before River secures me in a bear hug, trapping my arms to my sides.

“Let me go!”

His lips skate my ear. “Never.”

I buck in his arms but he just flips me around and slams my back against the wall. The air cascades out of me and I cough, fighting for oxygen.

River pins me with his hips, his hard length pressing between my legs.

I go still.

He catches my gaze and rocks against my center. That’s all it takes for a moan to slip from my lips.

River tilts his head. Soft fingers brush my hair back behind my ear. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find you? That Iwouldn’t search the deepest corners of this earth to get you back? I keep my promises, Freya.”

He rocks his hips again, the action alone enough to make me wet for him. His hands drop to my cargo pants, flicking the button open.

The last two months have left me starving for his touch, but I won’t give in. “No.”

River freezes, his hands circling my hips. His face is cold and detached when he looks up at me but the faintest glimmer ofmyRiver flickers in his eyes. “What’s your safe word, Freya?”

My throat is thick, and pressure builds under my eyes. “Melon,” I choke out.

“Are you using it?” he asks.

I should. I should say the word and tell him to leave and never come back. It’s the best way I have to protect him. But I can’t bring myself to do it. I don’t want him to leave.

I press my lips together then whisper, “No.”

That glimmer of softness disappears along with River’s patience. He tugs my panties down and shoves two fingers inside of me.

I convulse at the intrusion and grip his wrist. My mouth parts as sparks ricochet around my body. It would be so easy to lose myself in his touch. To let him dominate me until the rest of the world fades away and nothing else matters.

But nothing has changed. And every second he’s here I’m breaking my deal with Zach. I’m risking River’s life.

River’s gaze drops to where his fingers stroke inside of me, heat burning behind the darkness in his eyes. I take advantage of his distraction to wrench myself from his grasp. I throw myself to the side and lunge for the door to the garage, only a few feet away now.

Two steps.

One.

My fingers scrape the handle as River tackles me from behind and I crash onto the concrete. The impact jars my bones but I fight against it, crawling forward until strong, powerful hands grab my waist and tug me back.

“Enough!” River tears down my pants and thrusts into me from behind, hard and brutal.

I choke, feeling the impact in my lungs. He gathers my wrists, pinning them above my head with one hand as he pumps in and out.

“You are mine, Freya. You do not get to run. You do not get to fight. I told you I would hunt you to the ends of the earth and you may have broken your promise, but this is me keeping mine.” His breath is hot against my cheek as he marks me from the inside out. “You. Belong. To. Me.”

We fall quiet. Our heavy breaths the only sound filling the air. This isn’t sex, this is a claiming. A punishment. And the burn of each thrust ripples through me.

I didn’t know pain could feel this good. I let it wash over me. Let the fight drain away.

Despite the brutality, River’s body weight is a blanket of calm but the cold concrete on my stomach reminds me of where I am. Of why I’m here.