“No,” he said slowly. “You don’t believe that you’re mine. Not yet. But I can be very patient, little bird. For today, I’ll settle for unquestioning obedience.”

Perverse relief flooded me, making my knees weak. I could obey. It wouldn’t mean anything. I’d spent my entire life yielding to cruel men in order to protect myself.

“I’ll do whatever you want,” I said, a pleading edge to my tone. “Just don’t hurt me again.”

He massaged my scalp, and I almost groaned at the decadent sensation. “I won’t damage you, Nora. But I will have your true submission. This doesn’t end until you give in.”

His fingers trailed down my neck, tracing the line of my artery. A pleasurable shudder rolled through me, my body welcoming the tender contact. His touch lowered, until he circled my nipples. Callouses rasped over delicate skin, and my breasts grew strangely heavy.

“No,” I moaned. “Please…”

The pain was bad enough, but the forced pleasure was worse. I didn’t want to enjoy any aspect of what he was doing to me. If he made me come, he’d chip away at another piece of my soul. He’d devastated me when he’d bound me in the woods. Looking into his beautiful face, his sharp features firm with determination, I knew that this time would be worse. He wanted to break me down, to make me malleable.

I could promise to obey him over and over again, but he wouldn’t relent until the words were reality.

The whipping had weakened my defenses, as had my acceptance of his tender touches. I’d let myself be swept away by sensation, and now I was vulnerable to the pleasure as well.

He gently pinched my nipples, tugging at the tight buds and lighting up my body with warm sparks. They danced down to my sex, making my clit tingle.

My head dropped back on a despairing groan, and I closed my eyes to try to shut out the nightmare.

He cupped my nape, directing my eyes back to his steady emerald stare. “Ah-ah, pet,” he chided. “Stay here with me.”

He tweaked my nipple hard, and my eyes flew wide, locking on his.

“You like pain with your pleasure, don’t you, my pretty wife?” He released me from the pinch and stroked the abused peak. I shuddered and sighed. “You’re so perfect, Nora.”

The praise left me cold. I let it frost my skin, helping me start to go numb.

He slapped my sex, making my clit sting. I cried out and tried to edge away from him, but the restraints held me wide open. He spanked me again, punishing my most vulnerable area. My core contracted, ready to be filled.

“Stop,” I begged.