Page 31 of Keeping Her Under

“You’ll do this for me, baby, won’t you? It’ll be over quick; I already gave him a blowjob. Come on, baby. Don’t you love Mommy?”

“I’m sorry, Rath. I can’t help myself. I’m trying so hard. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

“I love you. I promise I’ll never let them touch you again.”

“He’s in his room.”

“He’s in his room.”

“He’s in his room.”

With a snarl, I jerk the red-hot metal off the stove. The glow of the S sears itself into my brain. My cock runs screaming. My balls shrivel up.

The phone starts vibrating again.

I know it’s Asher. He could somehow always tell when I self-harmed. I haven’t done that in years, but his sixth sense hasn’t seemed to wan. He was always the light I needed to pull me out of the dark.

But it’s not darkness enveloping me right now.

It’s clarity.

Grabbing my cock with my free hand, I stretch it out to the six inches it is when it’s hard. I angle the twisted piece of metal down.

And with a scream of both agony and elation, I brand Summer’s initial into the base of my cock.

I manage to stand for a few seconds.

Manage to hold the metal to me so the S will be sharp and clear.

Then the agony becomes all consuming. I drop to the tiled floor. The makeshift brand falls out of my hand and clatters away. Sweat pours down my face. My body shakes like a leaf on a summer day. I close my eyes on whimpers and moans.

But happiness soars through me.

I face my addictions head on. I see them when they hurt the people I love.

And I change them.

I…

I am not like her.

Eighteen

“What the fuck did you do?”

It isn’t Asher’s yelling that wakes me up.

It’s the foot he plants in my side.

He’ll call it a nudge, but it’s a fucking kick.

“I’m fine,” I say as I sit up tenderly. My cock still feels like it’s on fire. Fuck, I must’ve passed out from the pain. How embarrassing.

“You’re delusional,” he snaps. “And selfish.”

“Fuck off! No, I am no–”

“You know how much I love branding people!” he whines. “And you didn’t even wait for me? What do you call that if not fucking selfish, cuz?”