“Yes. Okay? Yes, I do.” Asshole. Dickweed. Fucking son of a bitch. The situation was hopeless, fighting him any longer out of the question. I wasn’t strong enough. I wasn’t resilient enough. Maybe I was just numb inside, incapable of thinking clearly. I pressed my face against the fake wood, staring at the belt, trembling all over.

  Not from fear of what I was about to face.

  Not from worry that I couldn’t handle the pain.

  From the way I’d fallen into a treacherous abyss, starved from something that no woman should ever dare allow herself to feel. I hated him for who he was and what he’d done, but even that didn’t deter the excitement that I’d experienced. God help me.

  As soon as he claimed the thick piece of leather, I eased my arms to the sides, gripping the edges of the table. How could he do this to me? How? What was the point?

  What would being spanked feel like? I’d never been given discipline of this nature, hadn’t even had a boyfriend that kinky in the bedroom. I was also unaccustomed to the level of passion oozing from every pore in his body. I bit back a moan as he rubbed one ass cheek then the other, concentrating on his footsteps as he backed away a few feet. The anticipation was driving me crazy, my nerves on edge. I took several deep breaths until I heard a whooshing sound.

  The expectation didn’t meet the reality as the stinging sensations coursed through me, the pain not nearly as bad as I’d thought.

  Until he brought the thick leather down four times in rapid succession. Then I nearly jumped out of my skin, the agony blinding. I jerked up from the table, gasping for air as tears stung my eyes. “Oh… You can’t. I…”

  “You should have thought about that before you tried to escape,” he growled.

  “I don’t belong here. I did nothing wrong. I have a life.”

  “I have other business to attend to as well, Emily. Now, we will both have a different scenario that we never intended.”

  He pressed me down again, gently rubbing the tips of his rough fingers from one side to the other. I was appalled that his touch tingled my skin in any way, but it did. He swirled his fingers around in lazy circles and I sensed he was hesitating, his breathing as ragged as mine. Then he pulled my legs further apart, before starting again.

  I dug my fingers into the table, trying to keep from screaming. My entire world had just tumbled out of control. I was being spanked by an assassin.

  And I didn’t even know his name.

  As he continued bringing the belt down, I closed my eyes, pretending I was anywhere else but here. There was such a strange set of vibrations flowing through me, tickling my senses, that I was pulled into an entirely different kind of vacuum. He refused to stop, slicing across the tops of my thighs.

  When he stopped again, I whimpered slightly, shifting back and forth on the table. That’s the moment I realized I was aching for an entirely different reason. I was wetter than before, my pussy clenching and releasing several times. My God. I was being spanked by a fucking killer and I was aroused by a primitive form of discipline? I was in full blown shock. There was no other explanation. None.

  I could still hear his heavy breathing, the husky sound filling me with a combination of excitement and tension. A part of me continued to anticipate he would fuck me, taking me on this disgusting kitchen table. When he rolled his fingers from one side of my body then the other, finally easing them between my legs, I knew I’d been right. He caressed my inner thigh, brushing the edges lightly against my skin.

  The electricity soared, my entire body pulsing as I tried to catch my breath.

  Then as quickly as he’d ignited the fire, he pulled away.

  “Five more.”

  The two words were stark, just as cold as the man. He wasted no time, one coming after the other. I was in an abyss, the fogginess of my mind only finding clarity with one aspect. I was hot and wet, my pussy drenched from the sizzling vibrations. Heat remained on my face, my heart thudding wildly, matching the husky sounds of his heavy breathing.

  He leaned over, pulling hair from my face, caressing my cheek. “You are quite beautiful. The vile things I could do to you.”

  “You’re a pig and I’ll never let you touch me. Ever.”

  “It’s not your call any longer,” he breathed as he rolled two fingers down the crack of my ass, sliding his hand between my legs.

  My God. I couldn’t stop shaking, stars floating in front of my eyes as he flicked a single finger across my clit. I used that exact moment to shift hard to the right, practicing a move I’d been taught years before. Even with my shorts at an awkward angle, I managed to ram my body against him, rocking him enough I was able to smash my fist under his chin.

  “Fuck!” he growled, almost going down.

  When he snagged my hair, jerking me back, I swung a second time, this time able to ram my fist into his jaw.

  The change in his eyes was instantaneous, the dark and cruel look unlike anything I’d ever seen before. Lust had combined with his anger, woven together in a malevolent force. What small amount of humanity he might have left in him was tossed aside, replaced with nothing but the filthy needs of a beast.

  He slowly lowered his head, taking several ragged breaths as he returned his hand between my legs. “That wasn’t very nice of you.”

  “You must have me mistaken for someone else.”

  “And you must have mistaken me for a man with a conscience. All infractions are required to have punishment.” He cupped my mound, allowing a single finger to slide just past my slickened folds. Even though I tried desperately not to react, the slight moan was a clear indication that even though my mind screamed he was a twisted fuck, the chemistry between us was something I’d never experienced before. “You’re very wet. I think you crave the darkness. Don’t you, sweet Emily?”

  “Never. Especially not from a horrible fuck like you.”

  “You’re right. I’m a very bad man, the kind of man who just altered your future. As of now, you belong to me. And I’m going to enjoy every moment of devouring you, breaking down all your defenses. Is that what you want, Emily?”

  Even the way he said my name was seductive, pulling me into a swirling cloud of darkness and explosive heat. I was sopping wet, the repulsive scent of my own desire forcing me to shut down my mind. I refused to accept my body’s betrayal, slamming my hands against his chest.

  “You can fight me all you want, but that’s not going to change a thing.” He laughed, the sound so deep and throaty that my nipples hardened, aching for his touch.

  No. No. Oh, hell, no.

  He drove several fingers inside, flexing them open as he thrust in and out, taking his time to indulge in teasing me.

  “Yes, very wet.”

  I closed my eyes, no longer able to think clearly, the tight clutch of my fingers relaxing as I fell into a lull. Then I realized I was jutting my hips forward, meeting every thrust. Oh, God. Oh, no. How could I be this starved from something I didn’t know existed? It was crazy thinking, my mind nothing but a ridiculous blur. I was sick inside, embarrassed that he could tell how aroused I’d become. As his hot breath skipped across my skin, I could tell easily he was becoming even more turned on.

  “Do you like the feel of my fingers pleasing you?”

  “No. Fuck you.” My voice was little more than a breathless whisper, a ridiculous attempt at denying the sickest, most incredible feeling of pleasure. I did everything I could to drag myself out of the dark oblivion, finding the strength to punch him in the gut. He was hard as a rock, the only movement that of my hand, an ache immediately developing.

  He’d pulled his hand free and when I opened my eyes, I knew I’d crossed a line that had changed everything.

  “You shouldn’t have done that, Emily. You really shouldn’t have done that.”

  He jerked me around, pushing me onto the table once again, only this time grabbing my two wrists in one of his massive hands. I was exhausted from the fight, the very core of my world on fire, the closeness of the man driving me to a dangerous edge where fantasy and reality combined. As he leaned over, I held my breath, uncertain whether he was going to put a bullet in my head.

  “There’s something you should keep in mind, Emily. I can either bring you pure, raw ecstasy night after night or I can generate mind-bending anguish. That choice is entirely up to you. If you’re a good girl and obey me, you’ll get exactly what you crave. If you fight me on any level, then the punishment you receive is going to be something you remember for a very long time. Do I make myself clear or would you like a reminder?”

  What the hell was I supposed to say? I couldn’t form a coherent sentence. Not one. Everything had turned into a surreal nightmare.

  “Answer me. I need to know that you understand.”

  “Yes. I get it.”

  “Good. Now, I’m going to make certain I provide you with incentive for remaining a very good girl.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “That means that I’m going to fuck you.”

  There was an even more ominous tone to his voice after he’d taken the last phone call, as if capturing me held an entirely different meaning. I sensed he’d reined in his control for as long as it was possible, his true predatory nature clawing its way to the surface. When I heard his button and zipper being undone, I almost lost it, fighting him with everything I had.

  But as he brushed his hand under my shirt, caressing in a soothing manner, I was torn between the self-loathing and the delirious rush of excitement.

  “Voy a disfrutar tomando cada centimetro de ti, mi florecita.”

  I’m going to enjoy taking every inch of you, my little flower.

  I relished the sound, the raw hunger oozing through every syllable. I could barely catch my breath, my heart racing. He yanked my shorts and panties all the way down, crawling his fingers along the inside of my leg, rubbing them toward my aching pussy.

  “I’m not your little flower. I’ll never be your anything.” Even as I said the words, there was no conviction in them.

  “We shall see. Won’t we, mi hermosa flor?”

  Names. I hated all the fucking nicknames and why? Because they made me feel special. Because they made me feel wanted. Because I felt the heat and lust dripping in every word. As his scent filtered all though my system, I closed my eyes, shuddering from the sheer jolt of current jetting through me. When I felt the hard press of his thick cock against my bruised bottom, I let out a moan, the sound almost like a pure invitation to take me.

  Use me.

  Pleasure me.

  As he pressed his cockhead past my swollen folds, my body acted entirely on its own, pushing against him. A warm, almost dizzying series of sensations washed over me, shooting straight into my aching pussy. Nothing was going to stop him from taking what he wanted.

  He was huge, my muscles struggling to accept the thickness. I was stretched wide open, involuntary moans rushing up from my throat.

  “So wet. So tight. Your hunger is as great as mine.”

  Why did his guttural voice have to slide across me like a warm blanket, soft and velvety?

  He pushed another inch inside, allowing me to get used to his huge girth. I was thrown into a frenzied state of mind, intoxicated by his musky scent, allowing the disruptive fire to ignite the embers I’d buried long ago. How could this bastard manage to do that to me? There weren’t enough adequate answers and there never would be.

  “Uh. Uh.” My pants were primal, my starved-for-attention body and mind yanking the brazen woman from the dark catacombs of my being.

  He thrust the entire length inside, digging his fingers into my skin. His husky growls were cries of satisfaction, his breath just as ragged as mine. “You’re tight. So fucking tight.”

  Every part of me was on fire, my hunger almost as desperate as his. I was crazed from what was happening, unable to process his actions.

  Or my body’s intense explosion of sensations. I couldn’t believe I was so wet, my pussy muscles immediately clamping around the thick invasion.

  “When you learn to obey my every command, I’ll bring you pleasures unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.”

  Obey. He was out of his mind if he thought for a second that…

  He pulled out, interrupting my thoughts and when he slammed into me again, I arched my back, my moans strangled. As he developed a rhythm, the force enough to pitch me across the surface of the table, I fell into a sweet lull, no longer the woman I’d thought I was.

  Sweet.

  Conservative.

  Respectful.

  I’d become some lust-crazed girl who’d found her perfect drug.

  Then he huffed before easing me into his clutches. As he placed his arm around me and across my chest, lowering his head, I closed my eyes in some crazy effort to try to block him from my psyche.

  His touch was like a thousand bottle rockets, his heated breath electrifying every cell. I was thrown into utter bliss, his relentless plunges awakening my senses. As I gasped for air, he shifted his angle, driving the tip of his cock against my G-spot.

  “Oh. My. God.”

  “Do you want to come, Emily?”

  “Yes,” I whimpered without hesitation.

  “Then I’ll give you this gift.” He let go of my arms, slowly sliding his hand down my hair, wrapping the long strands around his fingers. Then he gripped my hip with the other, rolling onto the balls of his feet.

  Within seconds, I was unable to hold back, my mind splitting in two as a climax roared into me. No. No. No… This couldn’t happen. This… Panting, I threw my hands against the table, rearing back as the orgasm became a giant wave, the intensity stealing my breath.

  “That’s it.”

  Every growl he made added to the combustion shared between us, the strange connection that made zero sense. I was lightheaded, nauseated from everything that had occurred, yet I wanted more. Oh, God. What the hell was wrong with me?

  I could sense his body tensing, shaking violently. I clawed my nails on the table and clenched my eyes shut, fearful of what would happen next. When he let out a long, husky roar, erupting deep inside of me, all I could do was pray he’d allow me to live.

  He slumped over me, the weight of his body almost crushing. After a few seconds, I dared to ask him a question, uncertain I was prepared for the answer.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  His searing breath scalded my skin and after he nipped my earlobe, he whispered words that would haunt me for years to come.

  “Why? Because you betrayed me, Emily Shephard, daughter of Jonathan Shephard, otherwise known to some very dangerous men I work with as Ivan Romitoff. Once a former DEA agent, now deceased at the hands of the Bratva.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Kostya

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  I’d fucked the girl, something I’d never intended on doing but I’d found myself incapable of ignoring the strong pull she had. Emily Shephard. I couldn’t believe my string of bad luck, although to some it would be considered a godsend.

  Fuck that.

  Once her identity was discovered, there would likely be a bounty on her head if for no other reason than to relieve anger for her father’s betrayal. His treachery had driven a stake into the Bratva, but the trickle-down effect had been felt throughout other syndicates and cartels. No other member of law enforcement had managed to shatter the tight security.

  Now that I’d claimed a taste of the lovely rebellious creature, there wasn’t a chance in hell I could let her get away. I hungered for more. Hissing, I pulled away, dragging Emily to her feet. She shivered in my hold, remaining quiet. Obviously, it was dawning on her just how damning her predicament had become.

  My second in command was the single man I knew I could trust without question. Diego had worked with me for years, handling various smaller operations as well as maintaining my compound when I was gone. He also had experience in various methods of reconnaissance, serving time in the United States Marines. He was tough, brutal, and often a pain in my ass. However, his skills in locating anyone or anything that I required were extraordinary.

  I’d established connections all over the world, my name never mentioned nor had any of my limited personal information ever been disseminated.

  At least until now.

  Diego also had a hand in keeping my anonymity, but more important, he’d managed to bypass almost every single top-secret computer within various law enforcement agencies. That made his services invaluable.

  That had come into play earlier in the night. I’d sensed that Eddie had hired Emily for a reason, and certainly not for her waitressing skills. He was very cautious as to the people he employed, almost all of them from his extended family. When I’d sensed her name for another reason, that had prompted me to take her fingerprints.

  What she knew about weaponry and communications equipment now made sense. Evidently, her father had conveyed a significant portion of his training to her, attempting to keep her safe in case the big bad wolf came for her. Little did her father know I wasn’t just a wolf. I was the devil himself.

  Granted, the news hadn’t been what I’d expected, although now I realized why Eddie had broken his own rules, protecting her likely at the request of her father. The diner owner had been snitching to the DEA for almost six months, although his atrocities against the New York Bratva as well as the Italian mafia had only recently been discovered. However, it had taken Diego’s skill to track him down by hacking into the DEA’s computers.

  And still, that paled in comparison to what her father had managed to accomplish while undercover.

  I ran my hand through my hair then turned her around to face me, gently easing her panties and shorts into place. She refused to look at me, her breath coming in short, scattered pants.

  “Now, I think you understand my position.”

  “I…”

  As I slid my fingers under her chin, she tried to jerk away, allowing me to see another smoldering look of desire in her stunning green eyes. I was attracted to everything about her, but her eyes were mesmerizing, a true window into her soul. I wrenched her jaw, forcing her to look into my eyes.