Page 37

The kiss grew more demanding, his teeth nipping at her bottom lip, and she couldn't help but respond.

Her body was a traitor, her hips moving against his, her hands sliding up to grasp his shoulders.

He pulled back, his eyes burning into hers.

"You want this," he said, his voice a growl. "Admit it."

"I can't," she gasped out, the words torn from her.

Vice's smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming. "Can't or won't?" he asked, his voice a low purr.

Ivy's breath hitched as she stared up at him. "Can't" she managed to say, the word barely a whisper.

Vice's grip tightened, his thumb tracing her lower lip. "Why?"

Ivy swallowed hard, her thoughts racing. "Because... because then I'll have lost.”

Vice leaned closer, his gaze piercing through the dim candlelight. "Lost what?"

Ivy's eyes searched his, trying to find a shred of mercy behind the mask. "Lost any hope of seeing Alice again," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Vice's smile vanished, his eyes cold and calculating. "Ah, the girl," he said, his voice devoid of any warmth. "Your precious little girl. I've been wondering when she'd come up again."

Ivy felt a flare of anger and fear, her eyes flashing with defiance. "What have you done with her?" she demanded, trying to sit up.

Vice's grip on her wrist tightened. "Ah, ah," he chided, a cruel smile playing across his lips. "You don't get to ask the questions here."

The words hit Ivy like a sledgehammer, shattering any hope she had clung to. Her mind raced, thoughts of Alice's sweet face a painful reminder of the stakes. She had to keep her emotions in check, had to find a way to turn the tables on this monster.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice a mix of fear and anger. "What have you done to her?"

Vice's grip loosened, and he leaned back, a smug look on his face. "I've done nothing to her," he said, his tone mocking. "But if you're not careful, that could change."

Ivy's stomach twisted into a knot. "What do you want from me?" she asked, desperation creeping into her voice.

Vice leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin. "Everything," he murmured. "But for now, I want you're submission."

"Now, say it. He hissed. Who do you belong to." Tears started to form in Ivy's eyes, the weight of her fear and despair threatening to break her. "You," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"You, what?" He said with a devilish grin on his face. "I belong to you, Vice." she managed to whisper out.

Vice leaned in closer, his hand sliding up to cup her cheek.

"That's right," he said, his voice a gentle caress.

"You belong to me. Now, show me that you understand.

" Ivy felt a tear slip down her cheek, the pain of her situation overwhelming her.

But she knew she had to play along if she wanted to keep Alice safe.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on the warmth of his hand.

"I understand," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Vice leaned in and kissed her, his touch surprisingly tender. His hands roamed over her body, his movements slow and deliberate. Ivy tried to ignore the way her body responded, the way her skin tingled under his touch. She had to remember why she was here, why she was doing this.

The kiss grew deeper, his tongue exploring her mouth with a hunger that was both terrifying and intoxicating. She felt his hand sliding up her thigh, pushing the fabric of her dress aside. Her thoughts screamed for him to be between them.

Ivy's resolve wavered as his fingertips grazed the sensitive skin of her inner thigh. She knew she had to keep her wits about her, but his touch was like a siren's call, luring her into a dangerous embrace. "Vice," she murmured, trying to find the strength to push him away.

He pulled back, his eyes searching hers. "What is it?" he asked, his voice a seductive purr.

Ivy swallowed hard, her body betraying her with every beat of her heart. "Is Alice safe? she managed to ask, her voice shaky.

Vice's expression softened slightly. "For now," he said, his voice a silky promise. "But remember, Ivy, you're compliance is the key to keeping her that way."

The weight of his words settled heavily on her, and she nodded, tears spilling from her eyes. She had to play his game, had to keep Alice safe.

Vice took her silence as an affirmation and began to unbutton her dress with a sense of urgency that made Ivy's heart race. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the reality of the situation, focusing instead on the rhythm of his movements, the sound of his breathing.

As the dress fell away, revealing her trembling body, Ivy felt a flicker of anger. She had to find a way to regain control, to turn this twisted game to her advantage. She opened her eyes and looked directly into his, her expression a mix of defiance and need.

"You want me to submit," she said, her voice steady despite the quaking inside. "But you have to show me you deserve it."

Vice raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Is that so?" He leaned closer, his breath warm against her cheek. "And what makes you think I'm willing to play by you're rules?"

Ivy's voice was firm. "Because you want something from me, and if you want it, you'll have to give me something in return."

Vice's smile grew wicked. "And what is it you think you can offer?"

"I will give you what I’ve been refusing to give you, the one thing you've been craving," she murmured, her heart racing with a mix of fear and determination. "All of me"

Vice leaned in, his eyes searching hers. "And what would that be worth to you?"

Ivy took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the deal she was about to make. "Alice's safety," she said firmly.

Vice's smile grew, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Ah, so you do have a price," he murmured, his thumb brushing away a tear from her cheek. "But what if I decide to not honor our little bargain?"

Ivy's gaze didn't falter. "Then I'll make sure you regret it," she said, her voice a mix of desperation and steel.

Vice studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Very well," he said finally. "If you truly submit, if you give me everything you have and become mine in every way, I will ensure Alice's safety."

The words hung in the air like a dark cloud. Ivy searched his eyes for a hint of deception. But found none. Her hands coming up to cup his face. She pulled his face to hers and kissed him.

Vice was taken aback by her sudden affection, his eyes widening in surprise before his mouth responded with a fervor that matched hers. The kiss was desperate, a blend of passion and pain, a dance of dominance and submission that she had never experienced before.

As their lips parted, Ivy's eyes searched his, looking for the monster she had feared, but instead, she saw something else entirely.

Something that made her stomach twist with a feeling she didn't dare name.

His eyes were dark pools of emotion, a stark contrast to the cold, hardened gaze she had grown accustomed to.

With a tremble, she brought her hands up to his face, her fingertips tracing the harsh lines of his jaw.

The touch was gentle, a stark contrast to the power struggle that had come to define their interactions.

She felt the roughness of his skin, the heat of his breath, and she realized that beneath the mask, he was still a man.

Vice's gaze searched hers, the intensity in his eyes unnerving. "Prove it," he rasped, his voice thick with desire. "Prove to me that you truly belong to me."

Ivy's heart hammered in her chest as she slid her hands down his body, feeling the hard muscles beneath his clothes. Her mind was racing, trying to figure out how to outsmart him, how to get what she needed while keeping Alice safe. But she couldn't deny the strange pull he had over her.

With a sudden burst of strength, she pushed him back, making him fall onto the bed.

He looked at her, surprised but also excited.

She could feel the power shifting, and she knew she had to take control if she was going to survive.

Straddling him, she kissed him again, this time with an intensity that left them both breathless.

Her hands roamed over his chest, feeling the contours of his muscles beneath her hands. She could feel his heart racing, his desire undeniable. He watched her, his breath shallow, as she reached down and removed her panties, the fabric fluttering to the floor.

Crawling up his body, she placed feather-light kisses along his collarbone, her teeth grazing his skin just enough to elicit a shiver.

His hands gripped her sides, his body tensing beneath hers.

As she reached his neck, she licked a trail up to his ear, her breath hot against his skin.

She took his earlobe between her teeth, gently biting down.

Vice's eyes rolled back in his head, his cock pulsing with need.

He hadn't expected this sudden shift in power, but he found himself craving it, desperate for the release it promised.

Ivy's hands slid to his chest, her nails digging in slightly as she ground down on him, feeling the heat of his arousal through the thin barrier of his pants.

Her lips kissing their way up to his jaw line, his breath hitching in his throat. He groaned, the sound echoing in the quiet room. Her movements grew bolder, her hips rolling in a slow, deliberate rhythm that had him aching to be inside her.

"Ivy," he breathed, his hands moving to her hips, trying to guide her, but she placed her own hands over his, stopping him.

"No," she said, her voice low and seductive. "You said you wanted me to prove it. So let me show you."

With surprising strength, she pushed his hands away, and began to unbuckle his belt then his pants. He watched, his eyes never leaving hers, his breathing growing more erratic as she revealed the length of him. He was hard, the tip glistening with his desire.