He’s giving me instructions, and he’s right. I can’t want him as much as I do. This lust is a betrayal I can’t afford, but I’ll spend every last bit of treasure on.

“Pick up your skirt.”

“No!”

He does it for me, exposing my underwear. He runs his hand up and down, then between my thighs. “You’re so soft. So clean and sweet. My cock’s already hard for you.”

“I hate you.” But I croon it because no matter what words come from my lips, my body is telling me something completely different.

I want this.

I want you.

I love you.

He jerks my underwear down and fingers the seam between my legs.

“You hate me, but you’re wet.” He kicks my feet apart and spreads my lips open. In the reflection, I see him checking over his property like a mechanic checking an engine. “But I can’t believe you came here just to get fucked.”

“I came about someone else,” I say as he slides two fingers into me. My mouth opens involuntarily. Nothing comes out but an ahh of bliss.

“Did you?” He removes his fingers and takes out his cock.

I look over my shoulder at it. It’s as hard as promised. Long as a club, already diamond tipped.

“Her name was Rosemarie Palmeri. Where is—”

“Stay still while I fuck you.” He pushes my face into the plexiglass and puts his head at my entrance. “I stop for a Skylark.”

That’s my word. Skylark. Saying that will make him stop. Maybe Palmeri will understand I’m being given an emergency brake, but the fact is, he’ll ignore anything that doesn’t have to do with his daughter.

I have to resist to be convincing. That’s how I’ll gain the power to free us.

“No…” I can tell I don’t mean it. “Don’t!”

Our eyes meet in the glass’s reflection. I nod slowly. He thrusts into me, closing his eyes for a split second. For that moment, he’s relieved. He’s powerful and free enough to be vulnerable and captive. But then he opens his eyes, takes my hips, and drives deep.

“You’re my fucking property. In here. Out there. I can do whatever I want to you.”

“Get off me!” I make a half-hearted attempt to shake him off, but he only holds me tighter, fucking me as though he’ll never be able to do it again.

“Your lying little cunt is so fucking tight.”

“Please just tell me if she’s alive.”

“Stay still and take it like I taught you.”

“Rosemarie Pa—” He pounds me so hard I lose the rest of the name.

“I own you. They can kill me. This body is still mine.”

“You’re hurting me!” I cry it as if it’s true.