Nas stands up and smiles as he inspects my body. “Just wide enough for me to have unfettered access to you, which is what I’ll want all the time. I don't want barriers between us, so when I do this, there’s nothing you can do except give yourself to me.”

Nas plucks a black riding crop from a selection of them resting on top of a black dresser and smacks it across my pussy. The sting erupts between my legs and makes the darkness in me rattle its cage.

Yes. Do it again. Hurt me over and over.

“You want me to do it again?” Nas asks, smirking as he watches my fear melt away. At this moment, I finally put this entire tour of ours together. He’s not doing this just to show me around. He’s doing it to quell any fears I might have. He’s using it as a test for me—to show me there’s nothing to be afraid of. What he doesn't know is that I’m not afraid of the pain. My darkness fucking cries out for it.

“Wow,” I whisper, before adding, “Yes.”

Nas lifts the riding crop and smacks it against my clit again. This time the sting makes me jerk up and let out a squeal. My heart flutters to twice its speed and shadows cloud the edges of my vision—the darkness is ready to take over.

“Oh, my god,” I exclaim. I lick my lips as a surge of lust threatens to wash me out to sea, and I see the look of power and joy written all across Nas’s face. He loves this, and seeing me react to everything is the highlight of his day. It feeds his darkness and I can see his true self emerging. This isn’t Nathan, the author. This is Nas, the Dom … the sadist.

“See, the key is to make that beautiful little clit of yours as sensitive as possible, then to lick it until you're ready to come in my mouth.”

A wave of heat washes over me as I swallow hard. “Is that what you're going to do?”

Please do it. I’m fucking begging you. Pound that clit and kiss it better.

“Is that what you want me to do?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely,” I answer, almost pleadingly. Nas looks me up and down and tilts his head to the side.

“Then, no.”

My frown is immediate and deep. “What?”

“Because you haven't earned it, and I have more to show you. If there’s one thing you're going to have to learn with me, Alina, it’s patience. Trust me, Little One, you're gonna need it.”