I was sure Rafe knew though. He read me too easily, and my face was on fire as I returned his heated gaze. Neither of us said a word, as if we’d come to a mutual understanding. After several more lashings, Brock dropped the whip with a clatter and exchanged a glance with Cleft.

“She’s hot from getting him off. Those fucking endorphins.” Sighing, Cleft paced the area between Rafe and me. “Gotta say I’m disappointed. Mason got to blow his fucking load, and you,” he said, stopping to grab my chin, “seem to be impervious to pain at the moment.”

Letting go of my face, he ran a hand through his brown hair and halted to confront Rafe. “This is a bit unfair, dontcha think? If you get to come, I think I should too.”

Rafe shook his head, his eyes spitting poison. “Not with her. You wanna fuck someone, do me.”

“Rafe!” I jerked forward, pulling the muscles in my shoulders, and nearly lost my balance. “No!” I’d rather Cleft fuck me. I could take it. But Rafe…he’d been raped in prison because of me. This was all my fault. I couldn’t stand the thought of him enduring it again.

“Ignore her,” Rafe said. “Fuck me. I know you want to.”

“No!” I shouted. “You can do whatever you want to me. Leave him alone.”

Cleft frowned. “Gag the bitch,” he told Brock.

Brock disappeared then came back a few moments later with a large ball gag held tightly in his fist. I shook my head, squirming in my restraints. Tears threatened, an unbearable burn behind my eyes.

Brock shoved the gag against my mouth. I groaned, pressing my lips together, and shook my head back and forth. His mouth flattened into a mean line as he forced the gag in. My protests came out as whines, screeching higher, and Vinnie cocked a gun and pressed the barrel to my temple.

Cleft dragged a chair near Rafe, then released him from the chains. “You see that gun? If you fight me even a little bit, Vinnie will blow her brains all over the place.”

I didn’t recognize Rafe in that moment. His eyes were alight with something I couldn’t name. He averted his gaze as he bent over the armchair, baring his ass to Cleft, who stood behind him, stance wide and cocky. He slowly unbuckled his jeans and pulled the zipper down. Cleft palmed his ass, fingers gouging skin, and Rafe’s whole body twitched. He fisted his hands.

He was really going to do it—allow this bastard to rape him, all to protect me.

The burn of vomit lingered in my throat, and I closed my eyes, panicked at the thought of puking while gagged. Five in, hold, five out. There wasn’t time for the repeat part.

Rafe hissed in a breath, and my eyes flew open.