Deceived Read online

  As he spoke the last words, he tugged especially hard on both nipples, sending a jolt of pleasure/pain through her entire body and shocking her to the next level.

  Suddenly, Anna was coming—waves of pleasure rolling through her like jolts of electricity. Her back arched as she pressed against her fingers and she heard a high, breathless moaning coming from somewhere and realized it was her making the desperate, hungry sound. Her pussy spasmed helplessly against the thick spreader inside her and she felt her honey gush around it, wetting her thighs with her own need and desire.

  Through it all, Dark watched her avidly, his bronze eyes trained on her face.

  “That’s right, baby,” he growled. “That’s right, make yourself feel good. Stroke that soft little pussy and make yourself come.”

  Anna couldn’t have done anything else even if her life depended on it at that moment. She made soft, desperate sounds as she rubbed hard against her throbbing clit. It was the first time she’d come in months—ever since Lazlo had sold her to Gorn. It was the first time she’d felt in control of her own body since she’d been sold too—and the first time she felt like she deserved the pleasure she was giving herself.

  It felt amazing.

  That’s right, she thought hazily as the pleasure finally began to ebb. I’m taking it back—taking back my body. Taking back what was taken away. Me.

  And then, moaning softly, she collapsed on Dark’s broad chest and began to weep.

  * * * * *

  “It’s all right, Anna. It’s all right—let it out. Just let it out.” Dark gathered her to him and cradled her to his broad chest. He knew through the use of his gift that she wasn’t really sad. Though she still felt pain and worry for the future, what was mainly coursing through her at the moment was relief—perhaps because she’d been able to reclaim a part of herself she’d thought was lost forever.

  Anna shook against him. “Sorry,” she whispered, her voice muffled with sobs she was trying to hold back. “Sorry, don’t mean…to cry all over you.”

  “It’s okay, baby,” he murmured, stroking her trembling back and shoulders and dropping feather-light kisses in her hair. “It’s all right—they’re just tears. Let them fall.”

  She seemed to take him at his word because she pressed her face against his neck and wept as though she would never stop. Dark held her and let her pain and worry roll through him, just as he had earlier when he’d told her to feel the emotions she’d had during the attack she’d suffered.

  That had been harder than just taking her worry for the future as he was doing now. Her pain when that bastard Lazlo had raped her had been very similar to Dark’s own pain when Mistress Hellenix had taken him against his will. It was pain upon pain—-agony piled on agony—the way it had been when he’d taken his brother’s sorrow for the loss of their mother on top of his own grief.

  A part of him had wanted to get up and leave the room at that point, to get away from Anna’s pain, which brought back his own in such vivid detail. But just as he thought he couldn’t stand it a second longer, it seemed he had heard a voice whispering to him.

  Be still, Warrior, it had murmured to him. Help your female to heal and I will give you the strength to endure.

  Strength had flowed into him and his resolve had hardened. Dark had closed his eyes and breathed through the pain—both his own and Anna’s—and finally, it had lessened. Now, he let himself breathe through her worry and doubt, her fear for the future and what Gorn had planned for her.

  I won’t let him hurt you, he swore silently, as he held her to him and stroked her trembling shoulders. Won’t let him have you, baby. You’re mine now—mine and I’m never letting you go.

  Almost as though she had heard his comforting words, Anna sighed deeply and stirred against him. Her sobs trailed off to sniffles and finally she took a deep breath and wiped her face on her black robes.

  “I’m sorry,” she said at last, looking up at him. Her soft voice was slightly hoarse with emotion. “I just…I haven’t cried since the first night Gorn bought me. And I haven’t come, either. I think maybe the one brought on the other.”

  “Not surprising.” Dark kissed her forehead. “Physical release often brings on emotional release. Feeling better now?”

  She nodded. “In all kinds of ways. I still don’t like what’s going to happen to me but, well, it seems a little more bearable now.”

  “What you fear is not going to happen,” Dark swore fiercely. “Gorn will not have you, Anna. You’re mine now—I claim you. I won’t let him hurt you or take you.”

  She looked at him doubtfully.

  “I’m sorry but…I just don’t see how you can stop him, Dark.”

  “Just trust me,” he told her. “And sleep in my arms tonight. Will you do that? I want to wake up beside you in the morning.”

  She blushed and looked down at her hands as she did when she was uncertain.

  “It should be safe enough, I guess. Gorn is so loud in the morning I’m sure he’ll wake us up long before he comes anywhere near my room.”

  “Come on then—let’s get comfortable.” Dark had already taken off his boots—he was wearing nothing but his trousers and the fake pseudo-skin he had on under them to cover his shaft. He generally preferred to take it off at night but he thought that holding Anna as they slept was worth the discomfort of leaving it on.

  Anna slid beneath the covers and was about to pull up her robe, which was still down around her waist, baring her breasts, when Dark stopped her.

  “Wait,” he murmured. “Can we sleep like this? I want to feel your skin against mine.”

  She blushed again—something that wouldn’t have been visible to anyone without his enhanced Kindred vision in the dim room.

  “If you want. I like to feel you against me too,” she whispered. “No one has touched me in such a long time.”

  “Then let’s touch each other,” Dark suggested, getting under the covers and pulling her to him. “Let me hold you, baby. Want to feel you pressed against me.”

  Sighing, she cuddled against him, pillowing her cheek on his shoulder and letting her bare breasts press against his side. Dark could feel himself getting hard again at the intimate contact. His balls ached but he didn’t care—he just wanted to be close to her, even if it was a sweet torture not to be able to touch himself and seek a release when he wanted to so badly.

  He kissed her forehead again and breathed in the warm, sweet scent of her hair and skin.

  Mine, he thought as he slowly drifted towards sleep. You’re mine, Anna, and no one else is going to touch you or hurt you ever again…

  Chapter Thirteen

  Anna woke feeling more relaxed than she had in a long time. Why was that? At first she couldn’t remember but then she felt a slow, steady movement under her cheek and realized the pillow she had her head on was actually Dark, breathing deeply. Then everything came back to her.

  Dark holding her and somehow taking her pain…then giving her pleasure… then holding her again while she cried. He’d been so patient—so tender. She wouldn’t have believed it was possible with a real man but clearly his programming made him incredibly sensitive and kind.

  He really is almost like a real Kindred, she thought drowsily as she rubbed her cheek against the silky-rough hair of his chest. She remembered her mom getting upset around her time of the month and Brex holding her while she cried. He was always kind and patient and never got upset with her. She’d used to wish she could meet a man who would be as good to her as her stepfather was to her mom, Anna remembered.

  Well, I did meet one but it turns out he’s a robot, she thought dryly. Not exactly husband material.

  Although really, why not? So what if Dark didn’t have the usual male equipment? He was sweet and handsome and wonderful. That was enough for her, she thought.

  But a robot can’t love you back, Anna, whispered the voice of reason in her head. It might feel like he does, but it’s just pretend.

  Well, she