Page 22 of The Labyrinth

When he looked away from me with a quick nod of his head, I saw his acceptance for what it was—an acknowledgement that maybe we weren’t all that different.

Chapter10

Ten

There was something about Rissa that made me feel like I was experiencing everything for the first time all over again. The way she felt the grass under her feet. The way she looked at me in the cell when I kicked Grey out, and again when I stood between her legs. And now, the way she had eaten the food I had offered, taking it from my fingertips so gently, even though I knew she was starving.

She didn’t even realize how beautiful she was. She didn’t realize the spell she was slowly weaving over me, entrancing me further with every moment we spent together. Which, when I thought about it, was probably best. It was safer she didn’t know. Rissa would be taken from me by the others for the smallest offense, and I needed to protect myself from losing her. Wall myself from whatever feelings were growing, poisoning my blood.

It was better to just take what I needed from her, and put the rest to one side. Even if she was the sexiest thing I had ever seen, enjoying every morsel of food I had put in front of her. Even if she was looking up at me now, a question written in her unblinking gaze. I sighed. “Whatever you want to say, you might as well say it before you burst.”

She fiddled with her fingers on the tabletop. “Are you ever going to tell me what Ten is short for?”

I schooled my expression to a blank look. I hadn’t expected her to continue her line of questioning into my name. But all the same, she deserved an answer. “It’s short for my real name. So yes, a nickname of sorts.”

“What’s your full name, then?” she asked.

“Is Rissa your full name?” I leaned over the counter. I couldn’t stop myself from asking the question. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to know just a little bit more.

Rissa nodded. “Yes. It’s the only name I’ve ever known at least.”

I sighed. She was so open and honest with me, whether that was her nature or by choice after my threat, I couldn’t be sure. “Ten is short for Tennyson.”

“Tennyson,” she repeated. I watched as she said it again in a whisper, her tongue sweeping over her teeth. “That’s a strange name.”

“You’re forgetting something, Rissa,” I warned. I looked down at her, hoping she would remember before I had to remind her. Annoyance bubbled in my chest, warring with the heat that began to burn. I wanted to punish her. But I also wanted her to be my good girl. I wanted so many conflicting things with her, and my mind was a jumble. “Try again.”

She looked up at me, confused. “Should I not have said it was a strange name? Because it is.”

I gritted my teeth together. “And what are you supposed to address me as?”

Realization flashed through her eyes, before a furrow grew between her brows. “Is that like an all-the-time thing? I assumed it was a while-you-were-fucking-me kind of thing.”

I was going to snap. My patience was wearing thin, almost down to nothing by this woman, who I wanted to possess more than anything. “It’s an all-the-time thing, yes. Whenever you address me directly, you should refer to me as Master.”

She rolled her eyes, and my blood temperature reached an all-time high, scorching through my skin. “I’m not really sure it’s necessaryallthe time.”

I shot to my feet, wanting to lean over the counter and throttle the daylights out of her. But I hadrestraint. I hadcontrol. I also had fucking needs, and I was going to lose my goddamn mind. “We’re going upstairs.Now.” I pointed through the doorway, back the way we had come where the stairs led up to the bedrooms. “Follow me.”

Rissa paled, even through her tanned skin, and the dust still lingering on it. I should really draw her a bath. But bathing could happen later, after she learned some fucking respect. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry! I swear. I’ll call you whatever you want.”

“I’m sorry,Master,”I hissed. “Follow me, unless you want me to tan your ass over this kitchen counter. Because, make no mistake, youaregoing to be punished. And I could care less where it happens. But you might.”

She jumped to her feet. Satisfied, I stomped out of the kitchen. I was beginning to realize that if I ever wanted her to do what I wanted, I simply needed to make her feel like she was making the decision herself. Her footsteps trailed mine as I stormed up the cool stairs, passing my bedroom to the guest room just beyond it. I held the door open for her, and she met my eyes as she passed, nervous, but not quite afraid enough to back down. “This is your room,” I offered briefly, my focus still on what would come.

I wasn’t sure how I would punish her. I wanted to make her scream, I knew that much. But I wasn’t sure what way would make her scream the most. Which way would be the sweetest? The loudest? My cock grew hard between my legs, aching with the idea of sinking into Rissa’s sweet cunt once more, but I needed to wait. I had taken what I wanted without thinking at the camps, and I needed to be more logical about how I fucked her this time. One thing was for sure, though. I couldn’t let her have free reign of the house until she learnt to be obedient.

Would the knife be best for her? Gliding across her freckled flesh, the ruby red blood that would trail the silver of my blade…delicious. Or maybe tying her up and gagging her. I had a selection of flogs I could use. Or the candle on her mantle. Would she enjoy the heat of the flame, scorching her delicate skin? There were too many options, and I fully intended on trying each of them out on Rissa, seeing what she enjoyed the most. Because shewouldenjoy it.

But right now, I didn’t want her to enjoy it. I wanted her to learn some respect. I wanted her to grovel for my approval, beg for my forgiveness. I wanted to hurt her, and I wanted to enjoy doing it.

I stroked my chin as I looked down at Rissa, still standing in just my shirt. “Kneel for me,” I said. “Kneel for your Master.”

I expected a complaint. A protest. But Rissa sank to her knees, looking up at me expectantly. I grew impossibly harder, watching her obey without hesitation. This was what it should be like all the time. Rissa, listening to my every word, wanting to be so goddamn good for me. It was almost more than I could bear. I needed to release some of this pressure building in me, just a little bit of the steam before I exploded. She could suck my cock, get it wet, and then we could play. A little bit of release, and then a lot of pain. It was the perfect combination.

I undid the button on my pants, shifting them down over my hips. Out of the bottom of my gaze, I caught Rissa licking her lips as she watched me expose my thick cock, dripping its dark cum, all for her. She would take every last drop of it. I’d push it back inside her if I had to, like I did last time, but we weren’t wasting a single ounce.

“Fuck, deliciae, you have no idea how absolutely feral you make me,” I whispered, pumping my hand up and down my erection. “You want to take all this? You want to suck me dry, and then let me hurt you? Tell me, is that what you want?”

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