Ruins of Temptation (Corium University Trilogy 4)

“I don’t know if I have it in me to do it.”

“Everybody thinks that until they actually have to do it. And don’t think she wouldn’t do the same thing to you. She probably only kept you alive so she could feel like a good person. Like it balances out what she did to my brother.”

He has a point. And yes, between that and the whole sharing clothes thing, it’s obvious she wants to be superior. Like Gee, isn’t Aspen amazing, even after everything that was done to her.

But killing her? With my own two hands? “Listen, I’ve imagined a lot of really awful things. Like all the different ways I want to kill Rossi. But I still don’t think I could actually go through with it. I’m not that type of person.”

“I see.”

I flinch, squeezing my eyes shut. He sounds so much like Nash. That’s how he always sounded when he was disappointed in me. It hurts more than I want to admit. “I’m sorry.”

“I guess you forgot what Nash did for you.”

There it is. The one thing he knows will break me down.

“I didn’t forget.” How could I?

“Please stop!” I sob, but my pleas fall on deaf ears. Nathaniel pulls back the cane once more, bringing it down on my already raw skin. He forced me onto his lap and tore my panties off shortly after my father left me at his doorstep.

A scream rips from my throat as I try my best to shove off his lap. That only makes him hit me harder. “Three more strikes, and you’ll get your reward. I’ll fuck your tight little pussy while you call me daddy.”

Bile rises in my throat. I don’t want this. I don’t want him.

Another strike with the cane has me gasping for air. Burning pain radiates from my cheek down my leg. I notice something wet drips down my naked thigh, letting me know he finally broke the skin.

“Yes, bleed for me whore.” Another hit, just as painful as the last. My vision blurs. I don’t know how much longer I can take this.

Please let this be over soon.

“Last one. Let’s make it count.” Before I can brace myself, he slams the cane down again, on the same spot he just hit.

The pain is unbearable and splinters across my backside. Black spots appear in my vision, and I’m sure I’m about to pass out any moment.

“There you go. Now, be a good girl, get on your knees and suck me off for a little before I shove my cock into your cunt. Unless you’d rather I do it without lube?” he taunts, shoving me off his legs.

I fall to the ground with a thud. My muscles ache from the exhaustion of fighting him. My eyes are heavy and swollen from crying, but I force myself to get up anyway. Not obeying only means more pain; I’ve learned this the hard way in the short time I’ve been here.

Still, if I don’t get away now, he is going to hurt me beyond repair. I have to try, no matter what the outcome.

Getting on my knees, I pretend I’m getting ready to suck his dick, reaching for his zipper. Instead of opening his fly, I ball my hand into a fist and slam it into his crotch with all the strength I can muster up.

His pained scream echoes through the house as I jump up and dash away as fast as I can. I don’t care about being half-naked and barefoot. All I want is to get away. There is no such thing as shame when you’re trying to survive.

My feet pound against the pristine tiled floor in the hallway. My legs push me forward as I make it around the corner, where I know the front door is. Only I don’t run into the foyer like I hoped. Instead, I run into another person.

“Shit!” He groans, his strong hands wrapping around my upper arms to steady me.

“Please help me!” I beg, gasping for air. My whole body is shaking, my knees weak, and the pain from the punishment that was momentarily numb returns with a vengeance. “Please, I’ll do anything.”

I blink back tears and get a good look at the guy in front of me. He seems to be my age, maybe a little older. His dark hair is messy, and his eyes look sleepy like he just woke.

“Did my father bring you here?” Only then do I realize the resemblance to the man who did this to me. This is his son. Oh, god. “What did you do?”

“He hurt me. I… I punched him… in the… you know.”

“Dick?”

I only manage to nod. A grin spreads over the stranger’s face. “He is going to make you pay for that.” My shaking intensifies. “But I could help you. I could bring you to my room and keep you safe.”