Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 129986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
I don’t immediately know what she’s talking about, but then Anae glances at the necklace I’m wearing and smirks. My stomach drops, the pendant suddenly burning like a hot coal branding my flushed skin.
Anae turns around and heads for the garage to get more rope.
There are not words to express how I feel right now. It’s hard to believe I still possess the capacity for hope, but I must because my feelings are suspended for a crazy moment as I look up at him, this first moment we’ve had alone, and somehow still think maybe—just maybe—he’ll turn this around.
He could be tricking her, right?
But the suggestion feels hollow even in my own mind. Watching them together, their strange ease with one another…. There’s nothing that feels romantic to me on his end when he interacts with her, it’s not like how he is with me, but there is definitely camaraderie. He may not love her—I’ll go to my grave refusing to believe that, apparently—but they’re friends. He likes her.
My stomach hurts so much, I almost wish I could throw up just to relieve the ache.
As if he heard my request and wants to make it easier for me to empty my stomach, Dare moves his hand off my mouth.
It doesn’t go far. I hear the stiff leather crack as he cups my jaw and strokes my skin like he always has, only this time, with a leather barrier.
“Do you want it in your mouth or your pussy?”
His low murmur triggers a fresh round of tears. I’m hurt and angry and I want to lash out, but I also desperately don’t want to die, so I control myself. This might be my last chance alone with him, and he’s the only shot I have at getting out of here alive.
“Dare, please don’t do this to me,” I whisper, reaching up and touching his face tenderly, like I have all the nights we spent together. Like I did just last night after he had a bad dream. “Please. I love you.”
He nuzzles my hand, still enjoying my touch. I guess at least I know that wasn’t a lie.
“Please,” I whisper, pulling him down to me so I can kiss him. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I don’t know, mermaid. I’ve already come this far.”
My heart sinks, then lifts back up because it feels like I have a chance.
“It doesn’t matter,” I assure him, caressing his face more desperately and shaking my head. “You can change your mind. You don’t have to finish this.”
He pulls back and caresses my face, watching me. “You’ve heard a lot I didn’t want you to hear.”
“I don’t care,” I blurt. “It doesn’t matter. Please, just… Dare, I don’t want to die. Please don’t do this to me. Maybe it wasn’t all real for you, but it was real for me. I love you.”
His thumb moves deliberately across my cheek. His voice is so calm in the face of my tearful panic, it sends a chill straight down my spine. “Still?”
“Yes, still. Please. Please don’t do this. Help me.”
I stiffen as he pushes his gloved thumb into my mouth, but I let him do it. “You want my help, baby?”
Terrified and with tears still glistening in my eyes, I nod.
“You still love me?”
I nod again more desperately.
He leans in, trailing his lips across my jaw and making the hair stand up on my arms. “Even after all the twisted shit I’ve done to you?”
My heart is in my stomach, but I nod. “Yes.”
His lips tug up as he pulls his thumb out of my mouth and leans back. He looks down at me, but there’s no humor in his eyes. “I don’t know if you mean that, mermaid. I think you’re drowning again, but this time, I’ve done enough bad shit that you’re willing to pull me down to save yourself.”
“I do mean it,” I say tearfully, disappointment swelling inside me because I know I’m running out of time, and I’m not getting through to him. He’s still doubting me.
He’ll never save me if he thinks I’ll tell on him.
“Dare, I mean it. I don’t want to get you in trouble; I just want to go home. Please…”
He pushes his thumb back into my mouth, pushing it deeper this time and gagging me. “I think I’ll take your mouth. I haven’t had it before, and if this is going to be the last time…”
“No, please, Dare.” Tears spring to my eyes. “It doesn’t have to be the last time. Please.”
“That’s it,” he rumbles, watching a tear slide down my cheek. “Cry for me, baby.”
I squeeze more tears out, not because he told me to, but because I can’t stop them.
Dare moves my hands in front of me as Anae comes walking back into the room, and the last flame of hope burns out.