Chapter Eleven

Pit

She does everything she can to stop her body touching any part of me. Even as we round bends, she fights the natural law of gravity, keeping her thighs from clenching around me. Robert Woods was a paedophile, but he was also a well-respected man in his community. A school caretaker who managed to secure a place on the governor's board, embedding himself deeper into the heart of his very own playground. He ran workshops for the kids who struggled to learn. He offered fishing trips to kids who couldn't control their behaviour or temper, telling them it was therapeutic.

His sick games only came to light a week ago, when the headteacher's grandson, now twenty-six years old, came forward and exposed everything. It was embarrassing for the school and more so for the governors. We were paid a lot of money to make the problem go away as quietly as possible. But I can't tell Tessa any of that. I needed that evidence as much as I need to let her go. Axel is right, I can't risk her rushing to the police the second she gets her freedom back. And at least this way, she keeps her life.

She jumps from the bike the second we get back and removes her helmet, shoving it against my chest. Then I watch as she rounds the back of the building. I get off the bike just as Axel comes out. "Done?" he asks.

"Yep," I mutter, pulling out my mobile to send him the photographs.

"Where'd she go?" he asks, nodding in the direction Tessa ran off.

"I dunno, to clear her head, I think." She won't get far, so I don't rush after her, but once Axel is back inside, I head off in that direction. I stop by the open basement door. There's no way she'd be down there alone. No way. But as I stare out across the dark field, I can't make out any movement.

"Te?" I call out. There's no reply, so I head down the stone steps. I find her sitting on the floor with her knees pulled up to her chest and her forehead resting on them. "Te?" I repeat, but she doesn't respond. "You hate it down here. Come inside."

"Go away," she mutters, and I realise she's crying.

"You'd rather stay here in the dark, alone, than come inside and shower?" I ask.

"Yes."

"He deserved it," I tell her again.

"I didn't," she mutters. Then she looks up and the moonlight catches the angry look in her eyes. "I didn't deserve any of this." She throws her bloodied arms up in the air in exasperation. "I just wanted to get married and have some fucking stability in my crappy life. For once, I wanted to be happy," she cries. "And somehow, I ended up here, meeting you," she spits the words like they leave a bad taste in her mouth. "And now, my life is more fucked-up than it's ever been."

"Tessa," I mutter, unable to find the words she needs to feel better about any of this. I sigh heavily. "It was just crap timing. Wrong place and wrong time."

"That's it?" she yells, pushing to her feet. "That's all you have to explain the shitty way you've treated me and continue to treat me?"

"What did you expect?" I yell, and she takes a step back. "You sold yourself to a scumbag. That was never gonna end well. What kind of man buys a virgin? What sort of morals is he going to have, Tessa?"

"You just killed a man in cold blood," she screams angrily. "Don't speak to me about morals."

"I have morals," I hiss through gritted teeth. "If I didn't, I'd have fucked you by now."

She scoffs. "I'm so fucking happy you didn't."

"Bullshit," I spit. "You've been desperate for me since you started sucking my cock."

"You make me sick."

"I make you horny, and you fucking hate it. Your body reacts to me, and you lose control," I say, smirking. "If I pushed you against that wall right now," I add, stepping closer, "and kissed you . . ." I back her to the wall without touching her, and she inhales sharply, tipping her head back to look at me with disdain. "You'd let me. Do you know why?" She gives her head a slight shake. "Because you want me." I press my lips to hers, swiping my tongue against hers and placing my hands against the wall either side of her head.

Her fists come between us, shoving hard at my chest. I laugh, breaking the kiss and stumbling back. "Get out," she growls, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. "And don't come back."

I snigger, trying to hide my anger. "Fine, Te. Enjoy it down here covered in another man's blood."

By the time I get into the clubhouse, I'm raging. I almost turned back more than once to drag her back here, but walking away is a good thing. It's the break I need to stop this bullshit idea I have in my head that we can be something more.

Axel is at the bar nursing a whiskey. I head over and take the seat beside him. He glances behind me and asks, "Where is she?"

"Basement."

He smirks. "Thought she hated the dark."

"She does."

"Right." He frowns but chooses not to comment further. Instead, he nods to the prospect, who pours me a drink before topping up Axel's glass. "You've got your evidence. That will protect you. I'll make the arrangements for her to go back where she belongs."

"Okay," I mutter, knocking my drink back.

"And you can hit the road when you're ready."

"Right."

"Are you ready?" he asks, side-eyeing me.

The prospect tops me up again. "Yep."

"Cos if you're not, brother, and you wanna stick around . . ."

"Why would I wanna stick around?" I ask, knocking back the second.

"Maybe it's just time," he says with a shrug.

"For what?"

He smirks again. "Yah know, settling down, finding someone."

"It's not for me."

He openly laughs, and I glare at him. "I saw the way you were with her, Pit. I saw the same in myself, and then in Grizz, and even with Fletch. All of us swore we didn't want a woman, until we met the one, and now look at us."

"Yeah, well, I'm not like you. I like my solo life, and I like the road."

"Okay, well, I'll have her moved out ASAP." He pushes to stand. "Then you can get back to normal. We all can."

He walks away, and I stare into my empty glass. Fuck her. She isn't my problem. I turn the glass a few times. She was never even mine to begin with.

I growl and push to my feet, stalking out the clubhouse and rounding the back again. I sit on the top step of the basement and listen to her sobs. Fuck.

"I'm sorry," I say, and her sobbing quiets. "I didn't mean for any of it. I was just doing the same shit I've always done. It was just another job, and then you came along and . . ." I place my head in my hands and groan. "You turned my life upside down." She sniffles quietly, and my heart cracks. "I needed insurance because I can't risk going to prison. And deep down, I know you're not gonna rat me out, but Axel wasn't happy with your word. He was looking out for me." She doesn't reply, so I sigh, "Please come and shower, Te. Please."

I hear a shuffling sound, and then her hands wrap around the bars at the bottom gate. I smile to myself and head down to unlock it. She keeps her eyes to the ground but allows me to take her by the hand and lead her up the steps and back to the clubhouse.

Tessa

I'm shaking uncontrollably, and I don't know if I'm in shock, cold, or just terrified from being alone in that damn basement.

Pit takes me to his bedroom, where he leaves me standing in the middle of the room while he goes into his en-suite. I hear the shower turn on and raise my eyes to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I'm smeared in blood. It's dried on, making my skin feel tight. Pit comes back in and stops, looking unsure as I stare wide-eyed at my reflection. Eventually, he takes my top and begins to carefully pull it over my head. Then he kneels before me and taps my foot, so I lift it, and he removes my trainers. He hooks his fingers in my leggings and peels them down my legs. More dried blood is revealed, and a sob escapes me.

Pit removes my underwear and quickly leads me to the bathroom, which is now full of steam. "I'll wait outside," he mutters as I step into the shower and stand under the spray, closing my eyes. When I don't reply, he sighs heavily. "Te, you gotta scrub yourself." But I don't want to touch the blood, not now it's wet again and running down my body.

A minute later, he steps into the cubicle naked. He's naked. He doesn't meet my eyes as he grabs the sponge and covers it in his shower gel. He lifts my arm out and begins to scrub my skin. I watch the water turning red as it drains away. He does the same to my other arm then crouches before me and begins rubbing the sponge down each leg, careful not to touch me anywhere else.

When he stands again, his cock is hard. He rinses the sponge and throws it out the cubicle and into the bin. Then he takes his shampoo and squirts it onto my hair. He stands closer, his erection brushing my stomach as he works his fingers into my scalp, lathering the shampoo. He gently tugs my hair so my head goes right back, and then he begins to rinse. Now, all I can think about is his cock and how each time he moves, it prods me. I clench my teeth in frustration. It doesn't matter what he does, somehow, I always end up wanting him anyway. He's right. Everything he said is right. I can't fucking resist him. And I hate that.

When he's satisfied my hair is clean, he gives a slight smile. "That's better. All clean."

I bite on my lower lip, stopping myself from saying anything because I don't trust myself. His eyes fix there and he places his thumb just below it, gently tugging it free. "You're making this too hard," he whispers.

My hands glide over his chest, and I feel his heart hammering wildly. I run them up and over his shoulders, cupping the back of his neck and standing on my tiptoes as I bring his lips closer. His eyes burn into mine as I swipe my tongue over his lower lip. He opens slightly, and I kiss him. He keeps his hands by his sides, letting me know this is at my pace, and as I run my hand down to his shaft, gripping it tightly like he's shown me, he hisses, closing his eyes. I smile to myself. I love seeing him come apart, but right now, all I want is to feel him inside me.

I move my hand a few times, feeling his cock swell. The kiss becomes hungrier as I reach behind us to turn the shower off. He takes the hint and picks me up, wrapping my legs around his waist. His erection is right at my opening, but no amount of wiggling makes him fuck me. I've tried it too many times.

He takes us to the bed. Not bothering to grab a towel, he lays me down, kissing down my neck and along my collar bone. "I want us to . . ." I begin, and he pauses, glancing up to meet my eyes. "Please," I whisper, feeling my face burn with embarrassment.

"You know we can't," he mutters.

"But I want to."

"You're married."

"I don't want to think about any of that," I tell him.

"Axel is sending you—"

"Please," I say firmly, cutting off his words. "For one night, I want to be normal."

He drops down beside me and lays his arm over his eyes. "You're making this impossible," he mutters.

I see my opportunity and climb over him. He removes his arm and his eyes shoot open, but I've already lined his cock at my entrance. "Te," he shouts out as I sink down onto him.

Pain rips through me, and I cry out, digging my nails into his chest and squeezing my eyes closed. I'm frozen, too scared to move in case the burning pain rips through me again. As it subsides, I relax slightly, risking a look at Pit. He's staring wide-eyed. "It's done now," I mutter, feeling stupid.

"Get off," he says quietly.

I swallow hard, placing my hands flat on his chest and slowly pushing myself up. The pain isn't as bad, but I wince as it stings. Sitting beside him, I stare at the floor and wait for his rejection. Instead, his fingers gently run down my spine. "That's not how your first time should be," he mutters.

"It's what I want."

"Is it?" he asks, sitting up. "Earlier, you said you hated me."

"It's like a compulsion," I mutter. "I hate you, but I can't stop wanting you."

"It's not real," he says. "You said it yourself—you're not here because you want to be."

"If you left the door wide open right now," I say, glancing at him, "I wouldn't leave."

"It's not locked," he points out.

"And I'm still here."

"Then go, Te. Let me go to sleep, and then run out of here."

"And go where?" I cry, standing. I glance down at the blood on his semi-erect shaft and gasp. "Oh god, did I do that?" I look down between my legs and see smeared blood between my thighs. I instantly panic, holding my hands over my mouth as my breathing comes in rapid bursts.

Pit stands, gripping my wrists and crouching slightly to look me in the eye. "Te, I'm not hurt. Neither of us are. That happens on the first time."

"I know that," I cry, "but there's so much."

He smiles, pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around me. "It's normal."

I look up, and he's staring down at me, still smiling. "We need clothes," he mutters, his smile fading. His laboured breathing matches mine, and his eyes darken. "Before we do something we regret." And then he slams his mouth against mine, kissing me hungrily. I daren't move or speak in case I spook him, so I allow his hands to roam my body as he claims my mouth.

He guides me backwards until my legs hit against the bed, and then we lower, me on my back and him braced over me. My legs fall open, and his cock rubs against me. I cup his face, grazing my nails over his neck and down his back. He breaks the kiss and rests his forehead against mine, peering down between us. "Fuck it," he mutters, almost to himself.

I feel pressure as he presses the head of his cock to my opening, and in one swift move, he's inside me, filling me up again. I close my eyes, gasping in surprise. "Relax," he whispers, pressing a kiss to my forehead. I try, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. "I'm going to move," he tells me. "I promise it gets better." I give a stiff nod, and he smiles.

Placing a hand under my neck and using the other to tease my nipple, he begins to slide from me. He takes his time, gauging my reaction, and with each wince, he pauses, waiting for me to relax again before moving.

He lowers his mouth to my erect nipple and takes it in, swirling his tongue around it. I relax some more, enjoying the way he teases me. When he slides back inside me, it's not so sore.

After a few more times, he groans, resting his forehead against mine again. "I'm gonna pull out and put a condom on. I need to be inside you when I come."

He leans over to the bedside cabinet and retrieves a condom, kneeling up and ripping it open. I watch as he sheathes his erection, ignoring the blood.

When he settles back between my legs, he takes each of my hands and pins them beside my head, lacing our fingers together. "You good?" he asks, staring at me intently.

"Yes," I whisper.

He smiles. "I'm sorry for what's about to happen."

I frown, but before I can ask, he pushes into me, and I cry out. This time, he doesn't take his time. He slams into me and withdraws equally as quick, repeating it over and over. At first, it's uncomfortable, but the faster he moves, the nicer it feels, like a scratch finally being itched.

He's panting hard, and when he releases my hand, he grabs the back of my knee and lifts my leg, pushing it towards my chest. This time, when he sinks into me, I feel him on a whole new level.

I watch his expressions. He's completely lost, fucking me like he's on a mission, like he can no longer see me. And then he growls. It's deep, coming from the back of his throat. He stills, occasionally jerking but keeping his eyes closed as he enjoys his orgasm.

After a few minutes of silence, his heavy breaths slowing, he withdraws and heads for the bathroom. He returns minus the bloody condom and holding a washcloth. "Are you okay?" he asks.

I nod. He sits at the end of the bed and parts my legs, forcing them apart when I try to resist. He gently wipes me clean, folding the cloth a few times before throwing it in the corner of the room. "It gets better," he repeats. "The first time is always terrible."

I feel my cheeks redden. "Was I terrible?"

His smile fades and he realises he's offended me. "Shit, no, Te. You were fucking amazing. I meant, it's not as good for you because it's your first time. For me, it was . . . fucking mind- blowing."

I relax slightly, watching as he goes to his drawers and pulls out a T-shirt, handing it to me to put on.

Then he slides into bed, pulling the sheets back for me to slip under. "We need a plan," he mutters, pulling me into his arms and wrapping himself around me like vines. The T-shirt rides up and I feel his cock pressed against my backside.

"A plan?" I ask.

"To keep you here," he mumbles sleepily. "Forever."

I lie awake, staring at the ceiling and thinking over his words. Forever. Keep me here forever. A stray tear slides down my cheek. Forever with Pit. Forever . I wipe my wet cheeks, slipping one leg from underneath him. Whenever we share a bed, he sleeps with me glued to him, his arms encasing me, his legs over my own. It makes me feel safe, but right now, I feel claustrophobic. He's a murderer. He kills in cold blood and smiles while he does it. He's held me here for weeks and forced me into a situation that means he'll always have something to hold over me. Forever can't be with him.

I get my leg free and work on the other, carefully pulling it from under his body. His arms tighten, and he stirs. I freeze, holding my breath as his hand finds my breast, cupping it and gently teasing the nipple. Even in his sleep, he's thinking about sex.

I wait for him to settle before trying again, carefully taking his arm and placing a pillow there instead. He immediately grabs onto it, tucking it into his arms. I smile, taking one last look at his face before sliding from the bed and going to the bathroom.

I pace. Shit. Shit. Shit. Now what?

I dress quickly in a discarded pair of shorts from Pit, tucking in the T-shirt to hold them up. I pick up my trainers, carrying them so I don't wake him with my footsteps.

I creep back through the bedroom, holding my breath as I ease the door open, pulling it slowly. I glance back to see Pit still blissfully unaware as I slip from the room and rush along the landing. At the top of the stairs, I push my feet into my trainers and run down, coming to an abrupt stop when Axel steps from his office. It's the early hours of the morning, what the fuck is he doing awake?

He takes in my trainers and brings his eyes to meet mine. "In here," he orders.

I curse under my breath but follow him into his office. "I can only assume you and Pit have fucked up my deal?"

I don't bother to answer, staring hard at the floor instead. "I'm gonna call your husband and tell him you're ready to leave."

My chest tightens, but I give a stiff nod. "And you're gonna keep your secrets, yours and Pit's, because the alternative is non-negotiable. My reach is deep, Tessa. The second you enter a police station, I'll know. Are we understanding one another?" I nod again. "Words," he yells, and I jump in fright.

"Yes."

"Your husband can't know what you and Pit have done. He paid for a virgin and that is what you are."

"Yes."

He picks up his phone and sends off a text. "Does Pit know you've left?" I shake my head. Humiliation grips me. "Good. I'll tell him you asked to go home." I finally look him in the eye. "What? You'd rather he thinks you snuck out of here with no money, no phone, and no clue where to go? Wasn't that the plan?" He laughs. "Jesus, how long did you think you'd last out there on the streets?"

"I didn't want to hurt him," I mutter.

He scoffs. "Pit? You think his heart is beating? You're na?ve, Tessa. If you take anything away from all this, it should be not to trust anyone. Whatever you think Pit felt for you is bullshit. He was doing a job. Acting is all part of it. But I'm glad to know he's doing it well." His phone beeps and he glances at it. "He's on his way. He wants you to wait outside at the gates."