the same fashion. Both shoulders burn as if pierced by a molten spike. I thrash side to side, but the more I move, the worse the pain gets.
I give up and stop fighting. As soon as I do, and let my body go limp on the floor, the pain lessens. It’s not gone, of course, but it feels markedly better.
Stonehart’s breaths are coming heavy above me. I feel his weight lift off for a bare second. I don’t try to take advantage. There is nowhere to run.
All of a sudden, I feel my dress being lifted. Stonehart makes a primal sound of satisfaction as air rushes over my ass cheeks. He slaps me once, not hard, but the sound of skin-on-skin contact echoes through the room. He chuckles, and then does it again, to my other cheek.
He stands up. “I like you like this, Lilly. You become very… compliant .”
Out of nowhere, he hits me with a full-arm slap that contains enough force to make me slide forward on the floor. I cry out in pain. I don’t even have time to brace myself before he does it again. And again. And again.
Each violent spank rocks my whole body. I don’t know how long it lasts. By the time he’s done, I don’t even feel the individual slaps anymore. All my nerves are numb.
“Get up,” he commands. When I’m too slow to respond, the command becomes an enraged yell. “I said, get up!”
I scramble to my feet, losing my balance twice in the process. My face is wet with tears and saliva. Stonehart grabs the belt holding my arms back and pushes me toward the table.
My whole body is shaking. I can’t stop my tears. My former resolve? Gone. I just want out of this horrible nightmare.
“Get on,” he says. I start to turn my head back, just to get a look at him, but he prevents that from happening by shoving me forward. I stumble and fall. “Goddammit, Lilly,” Stonehart roars, “GET ON THE FUCKING TABLE!”
The rage in his voice makes me comply in sheer terror.
I struggle up again. Stonehart grabs the belt and guides me to our dinner table. With a broad, impatient sweep of his arm, he clears the dishware. Everything crashes to the floor.
I catch a quick glimpse of his face. It fills me with absolute, soul-wrenching fear.
It’s insane the things your mind picks up in desperate situations. I feel suddenly glad that he hasn’t made me face him.
“Lean over,” Stonehart commands. “Face down. Breasts on the table top. Don’t make me ask twice, Lilly.”
I do as he says without a second’s hesitation.
“Now,” he continues, “Spread your legs. Stick your ass out. Yes .” The word is a deep rasp. “God, yes. Just like that.”
He steps up to me. I can feel the fabric of his pants brushing against my bare legs. His hands stroke my hair, then move slowly down my back. Down my back, over my ass, and—I gasp—right inside me.
“You’re wet,” he says. He can’t hide his surprise. “Holy shit.” His fingers start probing me. He chuckles. “Holy shit, Lilly, look at you. You might just be enjoying this as much as I am.”
Somehow, I severely doubt that.
I gasp again as three of his fingers plunge all the way into me. He leans down and whispers in my ear. “I’m going to fuck you now. I want you to scream.” His teeth scrape my earlobe. “Scream for me, little flower. Scream loud .”
Chapter Nine
I lie on the table and cry out as Stonehart pounds into me. He’s relentless, ruthless. I have no idea how long this has been going on anymore.
My shoulders scream in pain as he holds my arms back and drives into me, again and again and again, with all the fury and rage that I incited.
He grabs my hair and pulls me back, pressing down on my spine at the same time so that my body forms a half-moon arc. Tears stain my face as he starts moving faster, each determined thrust tearing into me. I can’t believe his stamina. I curse myself for ever complaining about my ex-boyfriend’s. There’s karma for you.
The assault is endless. Try as I will to ease the discomfort by making my body