Stepping into a bathroom the size of a small lounge, I dragged Tess to a standstill. New sun tried to enter the room, but I’d drawn every blind, every shutter.

Tess and I were formed in the dark. The dark had moulded us, changed us, almost broken us, but in its black embrace we would find healing and peace.

“Look at me, Tess Snow.”

Her eyes met mine, flinty and fierce. Tears decorated her cheeks like silver droplets, and I wanted so f**king bad to lick them off her skin. I wanted to consume her misery and fight it for her.

“It’s time to wash it all away.” With unforgiving hands, I untied the belt from around her wrists and shoved the dressing gown off her shoulders. She stood trembling and naked. I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself not to touch her. My fingers screamed to stroke her, to dip inside her again.

“Don’t f**king move,” I ordered.

Tess’s lips tightened, but I didn’t wait to see if she’d obey. I couldn’t look at her another second. If I did, I’d break my first rule: no rape. God, I wanted her.

Going to the large freeform bath, I swung the ornate taps and pressed a chrome plug into the bottom. Water gushed, splashing wetly into a tub that’d never been used before. It wasn’t as big as the Tuscan bath where Tess had been stolen, but it would have to do.

Glancing around the large bathroom, I made out the silhouette of the two person shower, the twin vanity, and glittering towel rails. Only I knew what the room looked like in the daylight. To Tess this would be nameless—faceless. A dungeon.

A small noise jerked my head up. My mouth fell open as a curse ripped its way up my throat. “Fucking f**k me.”

She’d disobeyed me. She’d run. I should’ve known!

My dress shoes slipped on the tiles as I charged after her. “Tess! Goddammit, come back here.”

My headache roared as a dose of dark eagerness splashed through my blood. She’s run. When I caught her she’d be my prize—my conquest.

Why the hell didn’t I keep her tied? Did I think she’d forget about our masquerade and stand obediently for me? Did I believe she was so afraid of whoever she saw in her delusion to obey? The burn for freedom was stronger than her fear of pain or retaliation.

The knowledge walloped me around the head.

It’s stronger than her fear of pain.

If I could get her to accept freedom. Get her to think she won her freedom….

Hope. Glorious f**king hope. I knew what I had to do.

But first I had to catch the bloody woman.

A chase was not good for a man like me—a man walking the tightrope between civilization and animalistic needs. Running triggered one thing in my brain: prey.

My breathing increased as I charged through the house. Room after room—empty. She was tripping on substances I’d given her. Reacting to nightmares I fed to her.

And now I’d turned into a worse predator than I already was.

Every room I ran through, the more my headache grew. I lost control of the cage I’d locked the monster in; the beast hurled itself into being. Running after prey. Hunting for the weak. Searching for a woman I wanted to f**k so damn much.

Stalk her. Take her.

All my righteous thoughts of saving her were deleted by the overpowering rage in my stomach. It fired hotter and hotter, craving her beneath me—surrendering to me.

The situation turned from terrible to downright dangerous. I salivated at the thought of catching her.

My mind ran riot with so many sinful things of non-consent, screams, and endless f**king orgasms. Slamming her to the ground, spreading her legs. Both of us gasping for breath while I took her in retribution.

Shit, Tess, you really shouldn’t have run.

I slammed to a halt as a noise sounded from the back of the house. The beast inside howled while the man panted with black delight. I’d found her. The moment I caught her—

I’m going to taste her. I’m going to make her cry.

Then rationality knocked aside my monstrous thoughts. I had to get her before she found an exit. If anyone saw this. If anyone was witness to the CEO of Moineau Holdings chasing after a na**d woman screaming about being kidnapped for the sex trade….Shit, my company would be ruined. I’d be ruined. I’d end up in jail.

I couldn’t let that happen.

Sprinting faster, I grabbed onto walls, hurling myself around corners, slowly gaining ground on the running footsteps up ahead.

A glimpse of blonde as Tess sprinted, disappearing around a corner.

My body shuddered, cursing the tight balls between my legs, the lust thick in my veins. You’re almost mine, Tess.

Power supercharged my legs as I hurled after her. She was headed for the back door.

No! My heart exploded as I careened around the bend just in time to see her beeline for the exit—the exit we’d entered through. She’d been unconscious. How did she know it was there?

Tess grappled with the handle while I stood gawking like an idiot. In a twist and leap, she barrelled through the door and into beaming sunshine.

Shit!

I charged, bowling after her, squinting in the new dawn. Tess was fast, but she was no match for me. I gained on my runaway slave and every black part of me yelled in triumph. My mouth watered with freedom.

I’m going to show you why you don’t run from me.

I wouldn’t be able to control myself when I caught her. I wouldn’t have any hope at stopping what would happen. I would throw her down, rip off my trousers, and bury myself so f**king deep inside her I’d guarantee to make her scream.

Each whizzing heartbeat sang a different story. Run. Stop. Run. Stop.

There would be no stopping. Not until I’d wrung myself dry inside her.

Then, from my peripheral vision, a hurtling black suit and pumping arms appeared. Franco tore after Tess, effortlessly grabbing her, clamping his arms around her panting body.

I blinked, unable to believe what happened. Not only had Franco saved my reputation with the outside world, but he also saved me from raping and destroying her.

My entire body wanted to pounce, to drive deep inside. I needed to claim her. I needed to remind her she should never f**king run from me.

The beast inside howled. I wanted what Franco had stolen. I wanted the rage and freedom to hurt her. I’d been so close to taking her. So close to not caring about the aftermath.

Tess screamed, squirming in his arms. His green eyes flashed, managing to slap a hand over her mouth, locking her tight against him. Franco’s arm wrapped around her middle, carefully avoiding any part I’d kill him for touching.