Page 78 of Hush Darling

“No!” she screamed and kicked as he dragged her back to his chest.

His hand closed around her throat, his bloodied fingers pressing down on her racing pulse. “Who taught you how to hold a knife?”

“No one.”

“That’s obvious.”

She slammed her elbow into his ribs, and he grunted but didn’t let her go. He dragged her down to the rug, where she fought and scratched like a feral cat.

“What did you think would happen?” Yanking the chains, he pulled her up by her wrist. “When you pull a knife on an enemy, you better be prepared to finish the job.”

“No!” She jerked her arm back before he could lock the cuff.

“Stay still!”

“No! Get off me!”

He thought he wanted her submission, but this fire in her eyes was worth far more. Somehow, he managed to get the chains onto her wrists and locked. “You have only yourself to blame!” He was covered in scratches and blood. “I trusted you, and look how you repay that trust.”

She jerked her trapped hands and growled, “You’re incapable of trust!”

“Enough!” he barked, disturbed by her statement’s accuracy.

She seethed and glared at him.

“I gave you a choice, and you surrendered. I’m not interested in your regrets or second thoughts. Is that clear?”

“Crystal,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Strike me again, and I really will move you below deck.”

Her eyes were wild, and her hair was a mess.

“This is my ship. No one raises a hand to me, let alone gets away with stabbing me.” It didn’t matter that he’d had mosquito bites that bled more. She’d tried to purposely injure him, and that needed to be addressed.

“You deserved it! You were going to give me away to your crew.”

“Quiet.” Hearing it from her mouth sounded even worse.

“You be quiet!”

He towered over her, and she bent back, finally shutting her mouth. “You want to challenge me? Open your mouth again and see what happens.”

Her lips pressed tight, and she shook her head. “Fuck you,” she growled through clenched teeth.

“Fuck me?”

“Yes. Fuck you,” she repeated, her voice shaking.

“Very well.” He went to the wall to turn the crank. Slowly, the slack on the chains tightened.

Her wild eyes looked up at the ceiling where the metal clinked through the iron hook. She had no choice but to clamber to her feet, and soon she was teetering on her toes, her arms stretched far overhead as the muscles in her stomach contracted and her breasts flattened from the pose.

He dragged a wingback chair to the carpet and set it aside. “I’ve been too lenient with you.” Moving behind her, he gripped her breast with punishing possessiveness and whispered into her ear, “I’m going to punish you for what you did, darling. And by the time I’m finished with you, no resistance will be left.”

His hand trailed down her stomach, and he pressed his fingers inside of her, swirling traces of his release with her arousal, getting his fingers nice and wet. When she moaned, he yanked her head back and shoved his fingers down her throat, making her gag.

“Savor that, darling. It’s what complete ownership tastes like.”