I fall the fuck apart.

  A wave of pleasure unlike anything I’ve experienced before washes over me, as the pounding tension in my core builds to a point where I’m convinced it could rupture from my body. My cries bounce through the room as my walls constrict around him, and the tightness against his cock is too much.

  “Oh, God, that’s it, baby… fuck, I’m going to cum.” Breathless and drawn out as he groans, he throws himself towards me, his hands clutching the sheets tightly. “Jewel… fuck,” he moans, the power of his thrusts propelling me backwards on the bed, making him shift onto his knees on the mattress to maintain his rhythm. He unloads inside me, his cock pulsing as he grunts and fills me.

  “Do you like having that sweet ass full of me?” I nod as I push backwards into him, wanting more. “Fuck yes, take it all,” he grunts as he thrusts harder. Body quivering and legs thrashing, his fingers continue to work me as his hips drive forward. “Take all my cum, baby, every fucking drop.” When he finally slows to a stop, both of us are panting while my wet hair clings to me.

  As he slides out of me, I wince and enjoy the cool air against my skin, my legs guided to rest on the bed as his release trickles down my thigh. He leans in and kisses me, his spent cock resting on my stomach and occasionally twitching.

  For a few blissful minutes, we just lie here, kissing and touching, fingertips grazing our flushed, heated skin. Finally, he pulls back and takes a moment to study me, a gentle smile forming on his lips. “Let me get you cleaned up.” He slides off the bed and disappears into the bathroom, returning moments later with a handful of warm, wet towels.

  The darkness outside the windows shocks me; we’ve spent the entire day in each other’s arms.

  After Stefan cleans me up, he brings me a soft nightgown, but I shake my head and grab another of his shirts from the dresser. His eyes rake over my body a few times, obvious approval in his expression.

  “Are you hungry?”

  Right on cue, my stomach lets out a loud growl as we both grin. “I suppose that answers your question.”

  Never have I seen him wear such a serene smile as the one he gives me now. “You sit,” he says, gesturing towards the chairs, “and I’ll bring us something to eat.” The soft cushion swallows me as I relax, closing my eyes until he returns, carrying a tray full of meats, cheeses, and fruits, along with a bottle of dark wine.

  He joins me at the table, and we talk and laugh, eventually making our way to bed and continuing to snack as we tell stories and ask questions. It’s all so… easy. He’s open and honest with everything I ask, except for one topic.

  The mention of his curse is met with an uncomfortable silence and dodged glances.

  So, I let it go, allowing myself to be swept back into the fairy tale we’ve woven around ourselves. As I fall asleep in his arms, I try not to think about the fact that I had every opportunity to leave earlier.

  And yet, here I remain.

  Chapter 9

  Stefan

  Peaceful sleep is a stunning look on Jewel, eyes closed and breath steady as I lean against the headboard, content to simply watch. Our conversation carried on into the early hours of the morning, and I opened up to her in a way I never have with anyone else.

  Her beauty is undeniable, but it is her spirit that truly sets her apart—thoughtful and curious. So much happiness that infects everyone around her, sharing that light wherever she goes.

  Pure joy for life.

  It’s a stark contrast to my usual isolated and brooding self—a burst of color in my gray-scale world. Even without the mask, I was always a solitary man.

  But what does one expect? Alone in the woods, raised by a psycho, my childhood was defined by darkness and isolation. There were no comforting bedtime stories to lull me to sleep at night, only the haunting echoes of the screams he thought he hid from me. There were no warm embraces or affectionate kisses, only forced and formal conversations.

  Is it really any surprise I ended up following in his footsteps?

  Every recollection of the day that cursed this sinister mask to my face presents me with a vision of an entirely different man. Like an otherworldly force had taken hold of me, detached from reality and watching in disbelief as a stranger grabbed that woman, dragging her into the woods.

  If only I could confidently claim that I would have regained my senses and released her. It’s hard to believe that I could bring myself to hurt someone in that manner…

  But I can’t be sure.

  And that’s the true curse. It’s the grim truth that gnaws at me—the possibility that, buried deep within, I too might harbor a monster.

  In her sleep, Jewel’s eyes dance beneath her fluttering eyelids, while her lips curl upwards, revealing the happiness that fills her dreams. God, she deserves so much better than this.

  So much better than me.

  With a raspy gulp, I drag myself out of bed and slip into a pair of shorts before heading down the stairs to prepare breakfast. As I step into the hallway, I don’t bother locking the door or even pulling it shut. No, I leave it wide open.

  A beacon.

  An invitation.

  Deep down, a tiny part of me is begging her to escape, running as far as her legs can carry her.

  The bed is empty before me, and I place the tray on the table with shallow breaths, my heart pounding with uncertainty and questioning whether she has gone.

  Hoping that she has.

  Praying that she hasn’t.

  While I pour myself a cup of coffee, my trembling hands falter when I hear her familiar voice saying, “I wondered where you’d disappeared to.”

  A long, low rumble escapes my throat as I turn and lock eyes with my target.

  The leather corset clings to Jewel’s body, the straps barely covering her nipples and emphasizing her mesmerizing curves.

  My cock flares to life, leaving me momentarily paralyzed and unable to form coherent thoughts. The scorching coffee spills over the brim of my cup, scalding my fingers and forcing a sharp hiss from between my lips.

  She saunters towards me, the metallic clinking of the handcuffs she twirls around her finger punctuating every swing of her hips. “Poor baby,” she mutters, and takes hold of my hand, sucking my stinging fingers in her mouth. Her tongue swirls over them before she sinks her teeth into my flesh, biting just enough to make it hurt.

  “Fucking Christ,” I groan, so hard I’m afraid I might rip right out of my pants.

  In desperate need of relief, I reach for my cock with my other hand, my desire so overpowering that I’m willing to gamble with the almost certain outcome of blowing my load too early. But just as I’m about to indulge, she unveils a small crop from behind her back and slaps me away.

  “Did I permit you to touch yourself?”

  I have died.

  There’s no other explanation—I must be dead, and this is a depraved, perverted version of heaven.

  The crop lands on my hand with a sting as she flicks it at me a second time. “Answer me, Stefan. Were you allowed to touch yourself?”

  My other hand drops to my side, my eyes wide as I attempt to control my body, because this… this is going to make quick work of me. “No,” I finally say, and she responds with a throaty laugh, swatting my thigh and relishing the sight of my cock straining to get to her.

  “The correct answer was ‘No, Mistress.’ Let’s try this again. Did I grant you permission to touch yourself?”

  “No, Mistress, you didn’t.” Fuck, fuck, fuck… I swear to God, I will never live it down if I fucking cum in my pants, but it’s a very real risk at this second.

  She takes a step closer, dragging the crop up the length of my starving cock. “And what should your punishment be?”

  “Whatever punishment my Mistress desires, I am ready to submit.” My voice is unusually breathy as she teases me once more. No one—no one—has ever dominated me and this is like my every fantasy coming true.

  Satisfied with my response, she turns and struts towards the bed. “Follow,” she commands, and I become her faithful shadow, trailing behind her. She climbs on, her body arched and exposed, granting me a full view of the glistening wetness between her thighs.

  My knees sink onto the mattress, ready to chase after her, but she spins around and glares. “You didn’t have permission to get on the bed.”

  “If you expect me to do anything other than follow you, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed,” I snarl, throbbing and thrumming and goddamned desperate as I pitch forward. A loud crack rings through the room as she pops me on the side of my left ass cheek.

  “You’ve not been given the right to argue. Stay on the floor, obedient like a well-trained pet should be.”

  The sharp sting leaves me breathless, and I’m tempted to defy her just to experience it once more. However, I choke down my argument, adopting a submissive stance with my hands clasped behind my back and my head bowed.

  “Good boy,” she purrs, giving me a gentle tap on my cock that vibrates through every inch of my body. “Now come here.”

  The heavy-duty metal headboard is over six feet tall, and she’s strung the handcuffs around the top rail. On my knees, my wrists will be bound just over my head.

  Imprisoned.

  A voice in my mind screams that this is a terrible idea, warning me that if she has any sense, she’ll confine me and abandon me to rot. But I’ve never been this turned on in my entire life, and if this is the end for me, it will be a thrilling way to go. My movements are deliberate as I crawl across the mattress, lifting myself onto my knees and presenting my wrists to her.

  A clink from the first cuff sends a jolt through me, causing my heart to pound in my ears. The second one seals my fate, and I’m trapped.

  Probably a goddamned idiot.

  She whispers in my ear, her lips brushing against my skin. “Are we forgetting our manners so soon?”

  My eyes flutter shut as I surrender, my hips rocking with this overwhelming hunger. “Thank you, Mistress, for letting me on the bed.”

  “What a good boy,” she says as her thumbs hook into my shorts, pushing them down until they pool on the mattress. Her hand wraps around my body, loosely gripping my cock and stroking me with the faintest graze. As the gentle touch makes contact, my moan escapes in a slow, deep hum. The exquisite sensation, as light as a feather, is unlike anything I’ve ever known.

  With a flick of her wrist, she withdraws from my pulsing erection, her tongue clucking softly against my ear. “You are absolutely leaking for me, Stefan. Do you think you deserve a reward for that?” My eyes shift downwards, landing on my engorged cock, its veins prominent and a sticky, transparent trail of pre-cum stretching from the head.

  Fucking glorious torture.

  “Only if you believe I’ve earned one, Mistress.”

  With an approving hum, she positions herself in front of me, brandishing a substantial rubber cock. I can’t look away as she slowly trails it down her body, teasing her clit before sliding it inside. In and out, she pushes it further until she’s taken the whole thing in.

  Loud moans leave her as she makes a wild show of fucking herself, and I struggle against the cuffs, goddamned desperate to get to her. She takes her time, working herself up as my cock weeps for attention. Finally, she pulls it out of herself and holds it in front of me.

  “Open wide,” she purrs, and I obediently part my lips as she pushes it inside, coating my tongue with her sweet flavor. Slow and sensuous, she slides it in and out, and I eagerly suck and lick, leaving no trace of her behind.

  Once more, she brings herself to the brink of climax, her cries growing louder, before she stops to return the dildo to my mouth. We continue this give-and-take dance until it becomes almost unbearable. A small puddle of pre-cum has pooled beneath me, my cock saturated with my own arousal.

  A single touch would probably send me over the edge right now, and she knows it.

  She’s back in my ear, tongue tracing the outline when she asks, “Stefan? Have you ever taken a cock in the ass before?” My head twists to the sight of her fastening a strap-on around her hips, and another loud groan leaves me.

  Maybe a prayer with it.

  “No, not a real one,” I utter, tripping on my words as she slides up behind me.

  Out of nowhere, a sudden crack pierces the air and searing pain shoots across my ass, forcing me to let out a hissing cry. “Don’t forget your manners, pet.”

  “Not a real one, Mistress,” I correct, earning another pleased hum from her.

  “But a toy?”

  The squirt of lube from my rear makes me groan, “Yes, Mistress.”

  There’s pressure at my ass as the slickness is spread around. My balls throb in anticipation as she teases.

  She grips my hipbones and the tip of her toy pushes against my tight hole. “Are you ready for me to fuck you now, pet?” She’s offering me the opportunity to bow out, to use the safe word and end it all.

  Not a fucking chance.

  My head nods aggressively as she drives forward, finding resistance for a second until I relax enough for her to push in. “Fuck, yes, please,” I gasp as she inches deeper, the intense pressure making my breath come in ragged inhales.

  Unable to contain myself, my voice escapes my control, grunting and moaning and calling out as she fills my ass. Finally, she’s all the way in, and pulling out just as slowly as she entered. Another quick squirt of lube is added before she thrusts in, bottoming out much quicker than before.

  “Oh my god,” I groan, the fullness almost unbearable as she finds a steady rhythm, my body reacting like a pressure cooker reaching its limit.

  Her every thrust hits a spot deep within me, causing my muscles to tense and demanding my complete focus to prevent myself from erupting. She gives a particularly well curved swing and I call out, clenching my teeth as my cock pounds.

  As I combat against the relentless urges of my body, she leans in close. “You’re not going to last much longer, are you?” A laugh escapes my throat, unfamiliar and filled with a wild, manic energy. When I can finally trust myself to do anything other than tense, I give a quick shake of my head.

  There’s another click of her tongue as she shifts, leaving me in agonizing anticipation of her next move. “Well, then I guess I’ll just have to fuck myself instead of fucking you for a few minutes while you calm down.” She’s breathy and seductive as I wrestle against the cuffs to look behind me. “You remember that big rubber cock you sucked on earlier?”

  “Yes,” I moan, earning an open-handed slap across my ass. “Yes, Mistress,” I correct, pushing backwards in my attempt to get some friction.

  “Well, it’s inside me again, deep in my pussy, and I’m dripping around it.” Her movements become more pronounced behind me, her hand jostling her body as she thrusts with increasing vigor. “Do you want one more taste?”

  “Fuck, yes please, Mistress.” In one fluid motion, she takes both holes at once; her hips punch forward as she shoves the toy between my lips. After only a few seconds, she rips it from my mouth with a distinct pop.

  “I’m almost there,” she moans, her words catching in her breath. “If you continue to be a good pet, I might reward you with the same pleasure.” As soon as it leaves her mouth, she calls out, her hips jerking forward on instinct, forcing me to once again resist the urge to let go.

  She grinds against me, her orgasm fueling her movements, until she’s left breathless and panting in my ear. Somehow, against all odds, I hold back. “You are a good boy, aren’t you?” Her voice gets more focused as the effects of her bliss fade away. “Do you feel deserving now?”

  “Yes, please!”

  “First, I need you to beg for it.”

  Wild laughter escapes my lips as I plead. “Mistress, I implore you to grant me release.”

  “How do you want me to do that? Shall I fuck your ass until you cum?”

  “Yes, please,” I moan again, my plea becoming more desperate with each repetition.

  Another loud smack lands, hard enough that she’ll have left a handprint behind. “Use your words and ask for it.”

  Her hands slide around my torso, clamping her fingers down on my nipples. “Mistress, will you fuck my ass until I cum? Fucking please?”

  “Such impeccable manners,” she purrs, her hand descending and gripping my cock, causing another loud cry to escape my lips. “I think I’ll give you an additional reward.” And with that, she pulls back and rams into me at the same time she gives an aggressive stroke.

  “Oh, fuck,” I gasp as she does it again. The string of words that leave my mouth are unintelligible as she increases her power, her hand sliding up my entire pounding length. The cuffs dig into my wrists as I violently jerk against them, and as she delivers one final thrust, I goddamn explode.

  The thumping is as heavy as a bass drum, unleashing thick streams of cum with each one. I call out with every sway of her hips, her grip punishing on my cock as she feels it hammer against her fingers.

  When the intense waves finally subside from my body, I’m left gasping for air and dizzy. Jewel pulls back, sliding out of me as I groan, still helpless with my bindings. With a prowling grace, she moves to my front, both hands on my cheeks as she kisses me deeply.

  Again, I fight against the handcuffs, consumed by the need to grab her and throw her down on this bed. Her tongue dances with mine as she tugs me closer. A deep chuckle passes between us when I use my teeth on her.

  “Undo the cuffs, Jewel,” I groan, the cold metal digging into my wrists, “and let me find a way to repay you for that.”

  She’s all smiles as she pulls away from me, fingers still possessive as they curl around my chin. “Who said I was letting you loose?”

  Chapter 10

  Jewel