“Because I refuse to hurt you more than I already have.” The dark urges pricked at me, growing with intensity the more I thought of thrusting into her. I didn’t know if I could keep from flirting with disaster when it came to her gorgeous neck that tempted the strength in my hands.

“You won’t hurt me,” she said, tugging on my hand. “Come to bed.”

“No.” I disentangled from her grip.

With a growl of frustration, she stomped off in the direction of the loft, where hopefully she’d stay. I knew I wouldn’t be able to say no again if she pressed her tight, seductive body against mine. Letting out a shuddering sigh, I reclaimed my place on the sofa and checked under the pillow to make sure the gun was still there, but falling back to sleep didn’t come easily. My cock throbbed with the need for release. I’d already jacked off once tonight in the shower, before I’d called it an early night after Alex had stripped and shackled herself in my damn cellar.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Just past midnight.

Fuck.

This was going to be a long night because jacking off wasn’t going to cut it. I flopped to my side, facing the back of the sofa, and willed my dick to settle the fuck down. Eventually, sleep pulled at me, welcoming me into the embrace of oblivious relief. If not for the unexpected noise, I would have been out for good.

Footsteps.

Damn. Alex was going to be my downfall. I’d known it eight years ago but had ignored it. “Go back to bed,” I mumbled.

Something sharp pricked the back of my neck. I shot up, twisted around, and barely made out a large shadow as I slumped against the couch, hand reaching for the pillow.

Then everything went black.

22. Torched - Rafe

22. TORCHED - RAFE

Voices drew me from the black pit I’d fallen into, except I wasn’t on the soft cushions of my couch. My cheek pressed against the hard floor where every footfall vibrated through my jaw with the force of a jackhammer.

“Hurry up,” someone muttered. Liquid sloshed and chugged, and the formidable odor of gasoline burned my nostrils. “Watch it! Don’t spill any on him.”

More footsteps thumped, more words drifted in the harsh air. I guessed there were two, possibly three of them surrounding me. I thought of Alex alone upstairs, and panic tore through my veins. I tried to push off the floor, intending to lunge for my gun, but my limbs were heavy and useless.

“I doused every part of the island.” Thud-thud-thud. Each step poked at the throb in my temples. “Is it done?”

“Yep. She’s across the river. I gave her enough to knock her out cold for a long time.”

“Good,” a deep voice said. “Finish with the inside. We need to get outta here.”