Dark Need (House of Sin 3)

Maybe he won’t let me off so easily if I tried twice.

I shiver from the thought, and I turn my head to watch the beast sleep beside me so gently that I almost forget he is my captor … and that we’re literally tied together.

He’s snoring loudly, to the point that it makes me drowsy and I lose track of time. Opening my eyes every few seconds doesn’t help because there’s nothing but trees and a warm fire crackling away. And within no time, my eyes close.

When I wake up again, the sun is already peeking through the top of the trees, blinding me as I try to open my eyes. But when I do, I don’t see the fire or the trees …

Two giant human pectorals are right in my face. I’m snuggled up against his chest, with his chest hair prickling my nose. His arm is wrapped around my waist, cuddling me close.

My eyes open wide. So do his.

And for a moment, I’m caught staring into the eyes of the beast.

A shriek leaves my mouth before I realize it.

I scramble up from the ground, only to be tugged right back down again by the sheer force of the rope around my waist and his. I fall, landing painfully on my ass. I barely manage to keep the blanket in place as I come to my senses after a harsh wake-up.

But a loud roar makes me turn my head to my captor.

Soren clutches his pants with both hands, pure pain settling in his eyes.

His teeth clench together as he groans, his face turning red from rage.

It looks like he’s in physical pain.

But why? How?

I didn’t do anything.

His body thrashes as he dives headfirst into the ground, burying his face and body as though he wants to hide. And I’m left wondering what the hell is going on.

Guilt and sympathy tug at my heart. I can’t let this man suffer while I sit here in silence and watch him. I have to do something.

I lean over to him and hover my hand over his shoulder. Maybe I can get through him. If I could ask him what’s wrong …

When the tip of my finger touches his skin, he turns his head, rage overflowing in his eyes, and he yells the all too familiar words, “GET AWAY FROM ME!”

A year ago

I didn’t expect to be home so early from work, but my boss wanted to surprise me so I could celebrate my two-year anniversary with my boyfriend. He’s probably still lounging on the couch, waiting for me to get home like he always does, as he works the night shift. But we make it work.

I whistle a happy tune as I walk up the steps of my home and fish my keys from my pocket, shoving it into the lock quietly. I don’t want to alert him that I’m home. It needs to be a surprise.

The package in my pockets makes me giggle. I hope he likes it.

I open the door gently, peeking inside to see if he’s downstairs, but I can’t see him. Maybe he’s taking a shower or a nap. My cat comes running toward me, purring loudly at my legs, and I give her a good petting. Then I go upstairs.

The closer I get, the more I hear a strange creaking noise coming from the bedroom. What is going on?

With my package in my hand, I open the door wide, holding out the package, and yell, “Surprise!”

But my lips immediately start to quiver.

Because in front of me, in the bed, is Eric.

On top of another girl.

And they’re both staring at me.

“E-Eric?” I mutter, unable to believe my own eyes.

“Oh my God,” the girl squeaks, and she pushes him off, fumbling with the blanket like she wants to cover herself up. Like it could hide the evidence of her fucking my boyfriend.

Rage boils up to the surface. “You … you’re fucking another girl in my own house?!” I throw the package at his head. “It’s our anniversary, you fucking asshole!”

“Calm down!” he yells back, scrambling out of bed.

“No! I will not calm the fuck down!” I yell back, and I focus my attention on the girl hiding in the corner of the room. “Get out! GET OUT!”

She blinks a couple of times, then picks up her clothes in a hurry and runs past me.

Eric stares at me without saying a word.

“Don’t you have something to say?” I fight the tears. “On our two-year anniversary?”

He picks up the box I bought for him and opens it up. There’s a renewal ring inside. A different color of the same ring we’re already wearing. It was supposed to be a promise. A vow we made together, to stay pure until marriage. And he broke it.

So I tear the ring off my finger and chuck it at his face. “You ruined it! You ruined everything!”