My trembling legs seemed to fall apart under his heated gaze, warming my sex in return. His hands ran the length of my thighs, but he kept this touch light.

“I’ve always loved the feel of your skin. So soft and supple. Touch yourself. Feel what I feel.”

My fingers hesitantly pushed through the warm lips of my sex. My body quivered in answer, and I could almost feel everything he was thinking of doing to me. Everything he would do to me.

“I won’t need to ask if you’re ready for me. I can see the evidence dripping from your fingers.” I wanted to beg for him to touch me, but that would be surrender and I couldn’t do that. “I know what you want, but you won’t ask for it, will you?”

I continued the light touch of my fingers and even went as far as to insert one. If he could tease then so could I. His indrawn breath was barely audible, but my senses were too in tune with his not to hear.

“You’re going to fucking kill me,” he groaned. His mouth descended, and the moment his lips met mine, I came apart and filled the kitchen with my cries.

I could feel my willpower weakening along with my body. I didn’t even realize that I was falling. In more ways than one. My back now rested on the tabletop, and my legs opened wider for greater access.

“Take it all,” I whispered just before the force of my release sucked the air from my lungs along with my will.

“I plan to,” he whispered back. Regret that he’d heard me was quickly replaced by the sudden and merciless invasion of his cock. The table rocked and the chairs collapsed under the force of his hips. I swallowed back my cries until they were nothing but whimpers. I wouldn’t give him that. “No, baby, don’t you hold yourself back.” He slid his hand between our bodies and tortured my clit. “Scream for me.”

* * * * *

Keenan had spent the morning taking me, and not once did I resist. He had done things to me that still made me blush. There wasn’t a part of my body that he left untouched.

“What are we doing here?” I asked much later as I looked around the empty tattoo shop with irritation.

“Righting a wrong.” He started setting up as if getting ready for a client.

“Is this your shop?” I tried not to sound impressed when I asked but failed. I had always wondered what Keenan had gone on to do and if he had found someone else. He left before he could graduate due to his long stay in the hospital, and given his quiet yet desperate need for attention and affection, it was impossible to picture him without someone.

“It’s mine.” He patted the leather chair. “Hop up and lay on your stomach.”

“But I don’t want a tattoo.”

“I wasn’t asking, Shelly,” he threatened without looking up.

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“You can do it willingly, or I can strap you to the chair and do what I want anyway.”

I struggled with my choices and realized I lacked an advantage or the words to convince him that what he was doing crossed too many lines.

The foolish teenage girl in me still hoped…

I quickly did as he ordered before he could see my tears. I rested my head against the soft leather in defeat and willed my body to keep still.

I drowned it all out.

The hum of the machine.

The feel of his hand.

The needle’s piercing vibration against my skin.

I let it all go for the past.

* * * * *

SIX YEARS AGO

“Are you afraid?”

It took me a moment to gather myself after he’d just gotten through kissing me senseless. We were in his bedroom with romantic music playing softly in the background. I had to admit that he was pulling out all the stops. A twinge of sadness and anger flowed through me as I remembered our recent but short breakup and why. I’d forgiven him, but the urge to beat the brakes off Jessica Stanton was still strong. She had been a friend, and the two of them had done the unthinkable when they made out at a party.

“A little. I’ve never done this before.” The cutest grin spread to his lips and eased some of my nervousness.

“You don’t know how happy that makes me.”

“Why? Because you’re damaged goods?”

“Ouch. That hurt.” He clutched his chest as if seriously wounded.

“Maybe this will help,” I whispered and quickly shed my dress before I lost the courage. I was surprised at how brazen I was even though it was all an act. His eyes boldly traveled every inch of my body, and I shivered from that contact alone.

“Are you sure you want to do this now? We can wait if you want.”