Page 39 of Monsters In Her Head

Ryu dragged me offthe wall and down into a dark part of the mountain. My breath puffed out into the air in front of me. I’d wrap my arms around myself for warmth if Ryu didn’t have my arm in a death grip.

Finally he stopped us before a dark room. Ryu released me to walk over to what I guessed was the wall. Ryu’s chest burned orange and red before fire burst from his mouth, making me flinch back.

Once my eyes adjusted and took in the metal chains on the wall, my feet stumbled back. Heart in my throat, I glanced at Ryu and then back at the chains before making a break for the entrance.

I didn’t have a chance.

Ryu’s hand wrapped around the back of my neck, jerking me back into the room. I kicked my feet, twisting around as I tried to get out of his grip.Let me go. You’re not going to chain me up here like some kind of criminal.

Turning me around, Ryu pushed me toward the wall, acting as if my scratching and kicking wasn’t affecting him at all. I grunted and cried out, trying and failing to get my arms out of his grip while Ryu chained one arm and then the other up above my head until my arms were taunt.

My legs kicked out.What the fuck is wrong with you? How is this a fair punishment?

Ryu caught one of my legs, drawing his hand down my exposed thigh until he reached my ankle, which would have been exciting had he not clamped a metal cuff on it chained to the wall. He did the other one before standing up, leaving me chained and helpless against the wall.

My chest heaved as I tried to keep my breathing even. The situation was too close to how Cal and Luis used to hold me down while the other cut into my skin, laughing and rubbing their erections along my skin.

Ryu grasped my throat, smoothing his fingers up and down the sides.Breathe, princess. Breathe.

I shook my head rapidly.I can’t. I... this...

Look at me.Ryu commanded in my head. I didn’t. He shook me slightly.Look. At. Me.

Slowly, I lifted my eyes to meet the the chartreuse colored eyes of the drake king.

You are safe with me.Ryu’s eyes stayed on mine, his fingers stroking my skin.Do you believe me?

While being chained to the wall was bringing up feelings of the kind of helplessness I had with Callahan, I truly didn’t believe the drake would hurt me. He had ample time to do so. Many chances to use my position for his own twisted sick pleasure and yet he hadn’t. Ryu wouldn’t even touch me the first night until I touched him first.

This was punishment for avoiding Ryu rather than coming to him about Ira and me. If he was going to do something to me, I trusted that it wasn’t going to be something cruel and hurtful. At least, not unless I was screaming for more by the end.

Swallowing, I inclined my head.

Lips curling up, Ryu stroked the side of my face.Stay still.

Ryu released my face and quicker than I could gasp he sliced through the straps of my top. It fell to the ground, leaving my breasts to hang free. If I thought the drake king would stop there, I would be wrong. My skirt soon followed my top, leaving me bare and shivering against the dirt and stone wall.

Taking a moment, Ryu’s chartreuse eyes moved over my form. He didn’t skip any part of me. Not my breasts. My nipples pulled taunt by the cold. Not the scars criss crossing along my stomach and sides. Then they found the branding on my side. The one scar I wished more than anything to scour from my body. Ryu’s eyes darkened, smoke and sparks puffed from his nose.

When Ryu’s claw reached out to stroke along the lines of Cal’s name, I couldn’t help but flinch back.

I could remove it for you.

My eyes jerked up to his face.What do you mean?

Ryu opened his mouth, fire built up inside of the back of his throat.

Realizing his intentions, I shook my head vigorously. “No, no. I can’t.”

Closing his mouth, Ryu swallowed down the fire, making his chest and belly burn. One of these days I would have to ask him how that worked. Today was not that day.

Licking my lips, I turned my face away, unable to bear the weight of his gaze.

After a long moment, Ryu moved in closer to me. I braced myself for what my punishment would be. My heart racing in my chest, my pulse pounding in my ears. His fingers brushed along the curve of my breasts, his claw scraping against my nipple before pulling at it between his two claws.

I sucked in a breath against the pinch. It didn’t hurt. Not really. More of a stinging sensation that shot down to my core, turning my fear and anxiety into liquid desire.

Ryu did the same to the other breasts until both nipples were squeezed tight in his grasp. My head fell back and I groaned, my back arching toward him. I shouldn’t be letting him know I like this. Didn’t it dismiss the point of being punished if I was enjoying it?

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