A Hurt So Sweet Volume Four - Isabella Starling Page 0,29

"I wonder which one I should make you take. The same one I got hit with when your father punished me? Could you handle it?"

"N-No," I manage. "Please don't..."

The memory of his whipping is all too fresh in my mind. The scars must be horrendous.

"Such a scaredy cat." Dex laughs easily. "Fine, we'll go easy on you. Maybe a nice leather flogger."

He picks up one of them from a table laden with instruments designed for sexual torture. I swallow thickly when I see his weapon of choice. It's dark red leather, with spiky silver studs on the tassels.

"I won't go too hard," he promises. "Just enough. So you remember what you're supposed to admit to me."

"I don't know what you want from me," I whine, fearfully looking away as he runs the tassels over my bare chest. It feels so good, I flush in embarrassment. "Please, Dex..."

"Dig deep, little toy." He grins at me, knowing he holds all the power. "Dig until you uncover all your secrets."

He forcibly spreads my legs. I watch his spit dribble down, hit my pussy and hear myself moaning when he fucks it into me with two fingers.

"Didn't even need it toy, did you? You were so fucking wet for me already, you little slut..."

"P-Please," I manage. "Don't hurt me."

"I won't," he promises. "Just give me what I want."

He begins hitting me gently with the tassles. At first it stings. But the more he increases his strength, the better the hits feel. Yes, they sting, but God, it's so fucking delicious. The leather and studs leave red kisses on my skin. I flush, hating myself when the first moan escapes my lips. Dex doesn't acknowledge it, doesn't say a word.

He just keeps hitting. Slowly, patiently, knowing he's going to get what he wants in the end, because there's no fucking way I can resist this. Resist him.

"I'll keep going, toy," he tells me gently. "I'll keep going until you admit the truth."

I keep begging and begging until my voice goes. I don't even know what I'm asking for anymore. The words are right there. I could say them right now. Because of-fucking-course I know what Dexter Booth wants to hear. After all, he's already forced me to say it before.

"Come on, toy," he urges me. "Say it. Say it for me. Admit it. Tell me how you feel. Tell me what you want."

"I need..." My voice breaks and I cry out when he hits me again, but not because it hurts. Because he's too gentle, and I want more delicious, beautiful pain. "I need you, Dex..."

"Tell me more," he demands. "Tell me everything."

"I need you." Suddenly I'm desperate. Eager to get the words out. Maybe this is the last chance I have, because it feels as if I'm being pulled somewhere far, far away from here. "I want you. I don't want anyone but you, Dexter. I love you. I love you."

"That's right," he mutters, but the sound is so very far away. "That's right, my pretty little toy, that's exactly right..."

I whimper, trying to reach out to him, but he's too far away, and I'm lost in the darkness again.

It pulls and pulls, demanding I fall deeper, give into the current.

But I struggle against it as much as I can.

I struggle, because I won't lose him again.

I want Dexter Booth, and no one is taking him away from me.

"Pandora, fucking please, please, I'm begging you. Please, toy. Please."

My eyes flutter open but can't hold position. I feel so heavy and so light at the same time.

"Stop it, Dexter," I mutter, but this time the words feel different than they did in the dream. They're heavier, carrying more of an implication. "Just fucking stop it."

"Look at me, toy, please—just look at me. I need to see those pretty eyes."

A hand grabs my cheeks and my eyes fly open, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I struggle against the unwanted, unfamiliar touch.

"Stop resisting," Dex hisses. "Look at me."

And I do. I force my eyes open, and I look deep into his. It's not a dream this time, it can't be. I used to know those eyes like the back of my hand. But they're different now. Darker. The pools seem deeper. There's pain in them. There was pain before, but it was sharp and deep. The new kind is layered. One thing on top of another. Too many sad things to count, all of them pushing down on Dex.

I let out a sob as he embraces me.

"Where