Darkness Comes by Scarlett Sanderson Read Free Book Online Page A

blindfolded woman to the platform. He shackled her wrists and pulled the chain, snapping her body taut as she stood on tiptoes.
    “Mia, what’s going on?” Dylan’s touch withdrew her from the scene.
    “It’s me. That woman. It’s me.”
    Men approached the platform, stroked her naked form as she twisted and turned.
    It was surreal, like an out-of-body experience.
    “They can’t hurt you now.”
    “I know. I still feel raw though. Scared. This was the first time I did group stuff. After this, they hired me out for these parties and I was the main attraction.”
    They plumped her breasts, plucked her nipples. One of them caressed her pussy lips and she jerked against her bonds, pushing her body closer to the man who’d touched her.
    “Eventually I grew to enjoy it.” Shame colored her cheeks. She’d never admitted that to anyone. Never voiced her desires. She turned away from the grunts and moans to look at Dylan. “That’s fucked up, isn’t it?”
    “No.” He stroked her cheek. “No, it’s not. Psychological conditioning usually happens as a result of sexual abuse.”
    “I know. Believe me, I’ve read the textbooks. I know it wasn’t my fault.” It didn’t stop the shame from stealing her breath.
    “Why did you show me this, Mia? What made you bring me to this place?”
    Mia shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    “Don’t lie to me.”
    Heat flushed her skin at his harsh tone.
    “Is this something you want?”
    “No.” She didn’t want this, didn’t want to be chained and fondled by strangers.
    “Is it something you need?”
    “Yes.” She whispered the word, hoping he wouldn’t hear. Her gaze downcast, she focused on the floor.
    How could she look at him? How could she explain the need to be shackled? Back then she didn’t have a choice, didn’t have the power to choose her response. Now she was in control. She could choose what brought her pleasure and she wanted to be chained. By him.
    “Look at me.”
    She did as he commanded.
    “Never be ashamed of what you need. Have you tried this with anyone since your past?”
    “No. I never trusted anyone enough.”
    “Good, otherwise I’d have to kill them.”
    She didn’t think he was joking.
    He banded an arm around her waist and dragged her body flush against his. Excitement sparked her nerve endings. He pressed his mouth to her ear. “I can give you what you need. I’m going to give you what you need.”
    * * * * *
     
    Mia bolted upright in the darkness. She sucked air into her lungs, tried to calm her racing heart. Another damn dream. Just another night she woke aroused and aching.
    It had been almost three weeks since she defied death in the virtual reality. No one was sure what happened. The construct worked alongside Mia’s brain patterns. Dylan shouldn’t have been able to tap into the program. Mia was certain he’d found a way to hack into the mainframe. Two people trying to control a closed virtual reality environment had caused a clash, a meltdown in the code. As their blood infused in reality, their minds merged in the VR.
    It defied explanation. Especially to her, a psychologist. Despite all her denials to herself and to the other Company psychologists they insisted she speak to, Mia felt deep down something she dared not admit in the light of day.
    She had changed. She was linked to Dylan. She shared his past and his present. Did she share his future? Shivers ran down her spine as she imagined abandoning the life she’d constructed for herself, of letting go and sharing his world. Criminality. Illegality.
    A life of freedom, a life where she didn’t have to pretend. It seemed so tempting. Appealing on a base level. To live every day with someone who knew her mind, body and soul. No secrets, no chastisement.
    Even now, just thinking of him, her body heated. Primed. She wanted him inside her, gripping her hair and fucking her hard. She wanted him to tie her down and torture her body to the heights of pleasure. She wanted to