Page 25

Chapter Seventeen

Hallie

A fter fucking me into oblivion, Rocco carried me into the shower, then placed me on the bench and got down on his knees to wash me, taking extra care and attention around the marks on my wrist and ankles.

Being tied up was another new experience for me, and, again, not one I disapprove of, no matter how much I fought him. The man withheld my orgasms, playing my body against itself until he got what he wanted—my compliance.

I lie on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart while he plays with my hair. How can I be so relaxed and calm when I know how deranged the man lying beneath me is?

Yet something inside me calls to him. His brokenness and obsession don’t scare me as they probably should, they only excite me.

Maybe my dull previous marriage caused me to become so reckless, to seek excitement from someone else, something I never had before, or felt.

“I can hear you thinking,” he whispers against my head, placing a tender kiss there.

I smile against this chest. “Really? I doubt that.”

“You’re thinking about how good we are together.”

A strangled choke leaves me. He’s being serious, and when I turn my head to face him, I see the sincerity as clear as day. Oh, sweet Jesus, I’m totally screwed. My life will be over. My career in shambles, and my family will disown me.

He tenses below me. “I admit, I’m not entirely sure what you’re thinking right now, but I need you to stop it before you piss me off.”

His words have me wanting to soothe him, to replace his anger with the softness he hides, so I lick my lips and slowly move my hand toward his cheek, relishing the way he turns into my touch. I caress his handsome face and over his jaw while his hand moves down my spine and over my ass. “I can’t wait to fuck your ass, Hal. Your tight little ass sucked my thumb in so well.” My breath hitches. How can he be so sweet and crude at the same time? “Have you been fucked here before, Little Red?” He squeezes my ass cheek hard, then palms it gently, taking away the bite of pain.

My face burns under his scrutiny. “No.”

A wicked grin spreads over his face. “Good. I didn’t think so, but knowing my cock is going to break your tight hole open makes me very happy.”

My face reddens.

He slaps my ass hard. “Not yet, though. I want my baby inside you first.”

“Rocco…” I try to reason, but he shakes his head, as if warning me to stop speaking, and my body sags.

In all honesty, it doesn’t matter that he comes inside me as long as he’s clean. When I first slept with him, I made a trip to the pharmacy, and they gave me Plan B and the pill just in case I wanted to take it too.

He slides from beneath me, and his solid ass tightens as he strides toward his jeans and pulls them on. “I’m going to go and make us some food. You haven’t eaten all day, and I don’t like the thought of you and my baby hungry.” He winks at me before heading toward the door while I throw a hand over my face and fall back into the pillow. His words sink in, bringing with them a wave of nausea. I know deep in my soul that he has no intentions of letting me go and, worse, I don’t want him to.

Whatever crazy train this is, we’re on it together, and I’m not ready to get off.

I don’t know if I ever will be, and that thought unnerves me the most. If my ex-husband finds out about Rocco, he will go insane, and knowing what power he holds over both me and the city causes a rush of panic to slice through me.

This needs to stop.

I pick up my phone, and my stomach sinks at my missed calls, but instead of dealing with them, I open my messages to Sharna.

Me: Guess who walked into class yesterday?

Sharna: (Shrug emoji)

Me: Rocco.

Sharna: The toyboy.

I wince at her choice of words.

Me: Yes.

Sharna: Holy shit, Hal. What are you going to do?

Me: He’s kind of blackmailing me.

Sharna: No way.

Me: Yes. He told me I’m his.

Sharna: No way.

Sharna: You want him though, right?

Ugh, why can’t she be the adult and tell me what we’re doing is wrong.

Sharna: You deserve to have fun.

Me: Did you miss the part where I said he’s blackmailing me?

Sharna: You should thank him. You want him.

Sharna: Admit it.

Me: I do. But I shouldn’t.

Sharna: (Eye roll emoji).

Me: He’s here. In my house. Cooking for me.

Sharna: Are you kidding?

Sharna: Is he naked?

I choke on a laugh. Trust her to not see the severity of the situation.

Me: Please be serious, Sharn. What am I going to do?

Sharna: Can you report him?

A ball of dread fills my stomach as I bite into my lip and contemplate my next move. But ultimately, I don’t want to. There’s far too much at stake.

Me: No.

Sharna: Then let him fuck you senseless until he gets you out of his system.

I scoff at her words as they filter through me. Something tells me Rocco is sticking around and I’m totally screwed. Instead of panicking at the prospect, I feel excitement.