Page 18 of Stranded

She loves it, the darkness in me. It’s why she was so fucking wet after she saw me kill those bastards. Death turns her on as much as it does me. I can still see the spark in her eyes, the same spark I’ve seen in the mirror after every kill.

Only in her it’s beautiful.

I finish covering the bodies and start my way back to the cabin, my heart pounding in my chest. As I approach the cabin, my heart drops. I see footprints in the snow that don’t belong to us. Rage and a need to protect fill me.

I increase my pace. And then I freeze when I see who is inside the cabin with her. Preston fucking King.

I'd better keep my shovel out, as I’ll dig a new hole for him. I prop it against the edge of the cabin, clenching my fists, my nails digging into my palms. This is my territory. She’s my woman. And no one threatens what’s mine. Not if they want to live.

Without wasting another moment, I turn around and sprint back to my cabin, my heart pounding in my ears and my blood burning with anticipation. I need a few tools to deal with this situation.

I open the door and immediately head toward the adjoining garage. There, I select a neon purge mask. It was always one of my favorite ones to use at night. And then I grab an array of weapons: a gleaming knife with a serrated edge, a compact pistol, and brass knuckles.

I gather everything, my hands steady, despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Slipping the cold, menacing mask on, I can feel my resolve harden. I'm ready. Preston King won’t know what hit him.

With a final check of my arsenal, I storm out of the garage and barrel toward Ivy’s cabin. The door flies open with a menacing creak, and I appear in the doorway.

Ivy gasps as the room falls silent, her eyes wide with shock as she witnesses the unbridled wrath in my eyes, the deadly calm of a storm about to erupt.

“Get away from her,” I growl.

Preston whirls around. “Who the fuck are you?”

“She’s mine,” I say, advancing forward.

Ivy steps between us. “Maddox, don’t,” she pleads, her voice trembling. The sight of her trying to protect him after everything he did to her is like a cold slap in the face. “He’s not worth it,” she insists.

I tilt my head. “Why would you defend him?”

She bites her bottom lip and moves closer to me, a flash of something undetectable in her eyes. “I want to make him hurt,” she breathes.

Fuck.

My dick turns solid hearing her say that.

“Good girl,” I murmur.

I smirk behind my mask. “Then we’re on the same page.” I turn to Preston, and the color drains from his face.

He’s too stunned to react as I walk toward him and slam my fist into his stomach, making him double over. “You should never have treated an angel like shit. As you’re going to pay for it.”

I haul him to his feet by the collar and drag him out of the cabin toward mine. I will deal with him in my garage. He squirms and curses, but I can barely hear his protests. All I can think about is Ivy’s words, her admission. I throw him into a corner and turn to him. “Strip.”

His brow furrows. “What the hell, man?”

I harden my gaze. “I said, strip.”

He takes off his clothes as he’s told.

I pull out the cage I found in one of my favorite shops from a drawer. In the past, I used to be a Dom at a club and experimented with men and women, even if women are my real passion. “It’s gonna be a long night, King,” I say, strapping the cold metal around his cock.

“What the fuck, man?” He looks down at the cage on his dick.

All I can think about is Ivy. Her desire to hurt him.

She’s standing in the doorway, watching. Her cheeks are flushed with anticipation. I approach her.

“What are you going to do to him?”she asks.