Page 66 of Perilous

“How did she die?” Peri asks.

“Car accident,” I say. “I was on the phone with a friend. She… she came into my room to tell me she loved me. She always said that. Even if she was going somewhere for a minute. I was so used to it I didn’t look up at her. Instead of responding to her, I just said…yeah…”

Tears fall from my eyes.

“Take your shirt off. And your bra.”

My breath is shaky. “What?”

He touches the dull edge of the blade under my chin. “We’re getting to know each other, doll.”

“You’ve seen me naked already,” I say. “You’ve fucked me.”

“Is this you telling me you want to die?”

I grab the bottom of my shirt and lift it up over my head. I reach back and unhook my bra and let it fall to my lap. Just like that I’m topless in front of Peri once again. My nipples are pebbled from too many emotions to count at once.

“Have you had any dealings with your father or his company or any businesses at all that involve him?” Peri asks.

“I am not going to sit here half naked and talk about my—”

The tip of the knife presses against my right nipple. I suck in a breath and look down.

“Rethink your answer,” Peri growls.

I swallow hard. I lick my lips.

“Peri, I have nothing to do with anything,” I say. “I have no idea what is going on or why.” I look up at him. “I swear on my life.”

“I hope you’re able to connect the dots here then, Annika,” he says.

Peri circles the knife around my areola. It’s the lightest of touches. It’s pointy and pokey, but he doesn’t break skin. Of course my body reacts, my skin getting goosebumps and my nipple somehow gets harder. Painfully erect actually, a mix of fear and enjoyment hitting at the same time.

Peri moves the knife away and he lowers his mouth down, taking my breast into his mouth. His left hand touches the middle of my back. He pulls me closer to him, suckling me so hard it starts to hurt. I cry out, whimpering, my eyes watering again.

His teeth clamp down and he pulls away, leaving me groaning until his mouth breaks free of my breast, his teeth releasing their hold on my nipple.

He touches the knife just above my breasts right at the middle of my chest. He makes a straight line up toward my throat. I tilt my head back. I know at any second he can add pressure and start cutting me open with ease.

“So your mother dies and you’re raised by your father,” he says. “All alone. You do what he says to do and when he says to do it. That’s why you’re a business genius, right? That’s why you ended up atSA. But then suddenly you decide you don’t want to be here anymore.”

“Not suddenly,” I manage to say. “I’ve said it many times.”

“MaybeDaddy dearestis mad at you, doll. Ever think of that? You pissed him off. He wants you returned. Someone else wants you dead. Could be one big setup. With me in the middle.”

Chills tease my spine.

“Why you, Peri?” I ask. “Did you think of that yet?”

His left hand grabs my hair and pulls. His mouth crashes down to mine, his tongue sweeping through my mouth.

“Don’t ever talk about me,” he says into my mouth. “Now take your fucking pants and panties off. We’re not done here yet.”

I don’t think about hesitating and reach down and do as I’m told. The knife is touching under my chin and I have to be careful how I move. Here’s the insane part of this interaction…

I like it.

I look into Peri’s eyes and I know he’s evil. He’s cruel. He’s mean. He’s violent. He’s dangerous. And he has a knife under my chin. Yet I’m turned on by it all.

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