“You are too fucking beautiful,” he said, looping the rope around my wrist. “Do you know what I like to do with beautiful things?” He pulled me closer and caught me around my throat, maneuvering me until the back of my legs was pressed against the grill of his car. “I like to break them. I like to watch them crack into pieces as I destroy them.”

“Don’t…” My protest was soft, and he cut it off with a quick squeeze of his hand. He maintained that pressure on the sides of my throat just long enough that a light-headed rush came over me.

“Shut up.” Again, he said it like it was a joke, but the joke carried sinister weight. “That’s exactly what’s going to happen, baby. I’m going to break you, and you’re going to cry and beg me to stop even though you love it. Then, a couple days from now, Jason is going to have his turn with you and do the same damn thing. We’ll break you again, and again, and again. As many times as necessary.”

My heart was hammering as he eased me back, pushing me until I was lying against the hood of the car. My toes barely touched the ground and the hood was still slightly warm. He roped my other wrist and then pulled them taut, securing the rope to the bars inside his car. His every movement was so careful and practiced, you’d think he tied people to the hood of his car all the time.

Maybe he did.

Soon, both my arms were bound and spread. I was lying flat enough that it wasn’t too much of a strain on my shoulders, but I certainly couldn’t move much.

“You make a sexy hood ornament,” he said, arms folded as he stood over me. “It would be fun to drive you around Wickeston like this. I could stuff your ass with a vibrating toy and have you dripping the entire time.”

“Don’t you dare,” I said, torn between being aroused by the idea and horrified as I tugged at the rope. It didn’t move, not one bit.

“Nah. I wouldn’t be able to get away with it. If people see some poor woman tied to the hood of a car, they’ll get concerned. Can’t expect the general public to know a little brat like you enjoys being treated like you’re nothing more than a toy. Besides, my ride runs hot.” He patted the hood affectionately. “I’d hate for your ass to get burned.”