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Bile rises in my throat, but I know that I have no other choice.

I need to survive. I need to escape. And if that means sacrificing my dignity, my self-respect, hell, even sacrificing my soul, then so be it.

Besides, it’s not like he wants something his family hasn’t already taken from me more times than I have any notion of.

What’s one more insult to add to the list?

I can do this. I can use him, just like I’ve been used.

I scramble to my knees, my hands shaking as I reach for him. He smirks, grabbing a handful of my hair, pulling my head back as he meets my gaze.

“Your life depends on how much you can act like you want this.” He states before he thrusts himself into my mouth with such force that I instantly gag.

Hot tears stream down my face, but he doesn’t relent, doesn’t give me a moment’s reprieve. He just holds himself there, watching me choke while I fight for every breath.

“What’s the matter, princess?” He taunts. “My cock too much for you? You prefer sucking on my dad’s wrinkly old thing?”

I glare back at him, but that makes him laugh all the more.

He pulls himself out, tilting his head as if he’s trying to commit this entire scene to memory.

“Go on then, be the whore you are.” He murmurs, resting the very tip of himself on my lips.

God what I wouldn’t give to bite his dick right off. To prove that I’m not the weak, pathetic creature they can all use and abuse. But that moment isn’t now.

No, I have to pick my battles, and today is not one of them.

So I reach up, grabbing hold of the base and I open my mouth further, wrapping my tongue around the very head of him. Teasing him as if this is consensual. As if I actually want him.

“There you go.” He says as I start to find a rhythm.

I take a deep breath, inhaling through my nose and that heavy, heady scent of him seems to take over my senses. It feels dizzying, intoxicating, and yet this moment here is not much removed from all those ones his brother and father have forced on me. Did force on me just last night.

I can’t think of that. Not right now.

I need to convince him that I want this. I need to convince him that I’m worth helping.

I suck him in, taking his full length down my throat, and I’ll admit there’s some pathetic part of me that feels satisfied. Did he really think he was so fucking big I wouldn’t be able to deepthroat him? Well, fuck you, Rafe Forster, your cock isn’t that fucking impressive.

“Good girl,” he murmurs, his voice growing thick with lust. “Such a good Little Bird. See you can be tamed…”

I ignore the degrading nickname, the taunting words, concentrating on the end goal.

I need him on my side, need him to see me as an ally, not a pawn.

If I have to do this every day, then I will. If I have to get on my knees and suck him off until I’m full to the brim with his come, then fine, I will do whatever is necessary to get the fuck away from here, from these people, from this family.

The twigs dig into my knees. My bones protest the position I’m forced into, but there’s nothing I can do. He’s clearly in no rush and every time I try to speed this up, he tuts with annoyance and shakes his head like he wants to keep me here all day.

I expect him to take over, to start brutalising me to prove who’s really in charge. Only, he doesn’t. He just stands there, rocking his hips with pleasure, but obviously intent on having me do all the hard work.

It’s a power play, but of a different kind.

He groans with pleasure, sending goosebumps spreading along my skin. I hate the way I react, I hate the way my body seems to feel almost exhilarated by this, as if I’m so fucked in the head now that even danger lands differently.

He digs his fingernails into my scalp, and I hiss at the sudden hit of pain. But he’s there, coming, finally pouring down my throat as he growls out his release.

He pulls out, making a big point of taking his time with that too, spreading more of himself over my tongue.

“Tell me, Scarlett,” he says as he tucks himself back into his boxers, while he does his belt back up and I’m still there, in the dirt. “How do I compare to my brother, huh? Whose cock do you prefer to choke on?”

“Fuck you.” I snarl, moving to get up.

He shakes his head, planting a hand right on top of mine. “I’m not done with you yet. I’m not nearly finished…”

The sound of a twig snapping causes him to fall silent.

He yanks me to my feet and with his thumb, he brushes my lips. “Ssssh.” He whispers just as Alex of all people rounds the corner.

He comes to an abrupt halt, his gaze flickering between Rafe and me, and his expression goes instantly to one of suspicion.

Subconsciously I lick my lips. Is he still smeared there? It’s hard to tell when all I can taste right now is him.

My husband notices the movement, taking a sharp step towards us. “What the fuck is going on here?” he demands.

Rafe’s face turns into a smirk. “I found her lost in the woods,” He says, his tone casual as he removes his hand. “You should keep a better eye on your wife, brother. There’s no telling what kind of danger she might find herself in wandering out here, all alone and defenceless...”

Alex’s eyes narrow, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “I’m taking perfectly good care of her,” he snaps, his voice filled with barely contained fury. “She doesn’t need your help.”

“Is that so?” Rafe replies, all but staring him down.

I can see the tension between the two brothers, it practically crackles in the air like electricity before a storm. I know I should be afraid, but all I feel is numbness.

Alex extends his hand to me, his expression softening ever so slightly. “Come on, Scarlett. Let’s go back to the house.”

I hesitate for just a moment, my gaze shifting back to Rafe.

There’s a promise in his eyes, a silent vow that this isn’t over.

It’s obvious he’s just as much a monster as his brother and father, but is that a good thing or not?

Will he actually help me, or have I simply opened the floodgates to more abuse, more horror?

I don’t know what I expected. Did I think one blowjob would result in Rafe scooping me up, putting me on his bike and whisking me away to freedom?

Christ, I’m a fool. A stupid, na?ve, reckless idiot.

I can still taste him. He lingers on my tongue and if my husband were to kiss me now, he would know exactly what we did. What I did.

I grit my teeth, placing my hand in Alex’s, allowing him to pull me away, because I have no choice here.

But in my head, all I can hear is a scream. A cry for help so loud nothing will drown it out.

And I can’t help but look back over my shoulder at the man who said he would help me, but right now is doing absolutely nothing.