Page 69 of Hush Darling

He grabbed her ankle and yanked her forward, making it unmistakably clear who had the final say. “Do you think I care?”

“You’re hateful!”

She tried to get away from him, but he pulled her back and snarled, “That may be true, but you signed yourself over to me knowing exactly what I was.”

They faced off in a moment of truth. He was a tower of secrets, and she was as transparent as glass. He saw through her and never lost the upper hand. When she took a swing at him, he caught her arm in an unbreakable grip.

“Careful, darling.” He watched her with the eyes of a depraved man. “Fight, and I’ll enjoy it just as much. Yield, and you won’t get hurt.”

She’d promised her surrender, and he intended to make good on that promise, no matter what.

Jagged breaths sawed in and out of her as he waited for her resistance to fade. There was no getting out of this. She was defeated and outmatched without a fight.

Closing her eyes, she turned her face away, letting go of all the tension in her body.

He eased back and frowned. “What is this?”

What did it matter? He won.

She lay limp before him until he fisted her hair, forcing her to look at him. “Answer me.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say!”

“Why are you acting differently?” His eyes searched hers, misleading her to believe, once again, that he cared.

“I’m acting like myself.”

“This isn’t you.”

“Maybe it is. Maybe I’m not as transparent as you thought.”

His eyes narrowed, and the energy between them chilled. “You think this attitude of yours will stop me?”

“No.”

“Then why not enjoy yourself.”

“Will that make it easier for you?” She met his stare with cold, hard truth. “If you’re the self-proclaimed monster you say you are, what does it matter how I feel?”

“I suppose it doesn’t.” He seethed, shoving his pants off. Somehow, her words offended him but did not deter his plans. “I told you before, good manners are wasted in carnal matters.” Jerking her forward, he pried open her legs. “Fight, cry, scream. Your fate is inevitable.”

He stroked himself as he leaned over her. His touch was cold, nothing like before.

The blunt tip of his erection nudged her opening, and she reflexively pulled back. Panic welled in her eyes. She always knew this part would hurt, but she feared him wanting to cause her more pain than necessary.

“Please,” she begged. “I’m scared.” Without the mask of affection, she couldn’t get there. He’d destroyed her flimsy illusion, and she needed it back.

The tension in his shoulders loosened, and he gentled his hold. Something merciful shifted in his eyes. “Relax. Life is full of pain, but we’re much stronger than you realize.”

He traced his fingers over her, easing his way, but the pressure consumed her. He was stretching parts of her that had never felt strain.

“Tensing will only make things harder on yourself.” His swollen cock breached her opening, and she gasped.

He was too big. It was never going to work. Frantically, she dug her nails into his shoulders, but he lowered his weight so she couldn’t escape.

“Look at me.” He framed her face, holding himself in a way that stretched her without penetrating her. “It has to happen.”

“I know.”