Surrender 01 - Surrender

it’s been your new mission to acquire me like any of your other possessions. I am not for sale. I am not your new shiny toy, and I think you’re actually rather pathetic. Deal with the fact that this is one game you can’t win.”
    Ari was proud of the strong tone of her voice. She was facing a giant and appeared to be winning. Ha, she’d go fight Goliath next! The slight flaring of Rafe’s eyes as she used his last name again caused a tremor of fear, but she repressed the feeling.
    “Do you want to know why I always win? I always win because I hold all the cards. I never go into anything without a guaranteed outcome. I’ve let you think you have a choice in all of this, but there’s never been a choice. The only decision you’ve actually had was in controlling the time frame. Even that has been relative. Now, my patience has worn thin. It’s time for you to accept that you’re mine.”
    “You’re so used to having everyone jump to do whatever you want that you don’t see what an unmitigated tyrant you are. Does this kind of talk motivate people? Do you really think that you command respect? Fear and respect are two very different things, and you may inspire fear in those around you, but none of your people respect you.”
    “I could disagree with you, but I don’t care enough to do so. I’ve tired of your self-righteousness, Ari. Why don’t you just concede defeat and show me the appreciation that I deserve? I’ve saved you now on more than one occasion. You need to show your gratefulness to me. A good start would be by dropping to your knees and demonstrating your loyalty,” he said with a smirk.
    Fire raged in Ari’s stomach. Never before had she wanted so badly to strike someone. She stepped closer to him, ready to show him exactly what she thought of his idea of controlling her.
    “Undo my pants,” he commanded. She froze at the arrogance emanating from him. Did he honestly think she was about to satisfy him? Maybe he was actually insane. Her arm rose involuntarily, and then the only sound that could be heard in the dark room was the sharp tone of flesh against flesh as her hand connected with his chiseled jaw.
    His eyes widened with incredulity, and he raised his h and, his fingers gliding over his jaw.
    “I must say I wasn’t expecting that. You are quite full of surprises, Arianna,” he murmured, flexing his jaw.
    Her unplanned action still left Ari stunned.
    “I’m leaving now,” she finally gasped as she turned to run away.
    “Oh, you’re not going anywhere , Ari. You’ve asked me about punishment before. Well, you’ll find out about it right now.”
    Ari screamed as he quickly picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Fear, and yet a strange excitement, overtook her body as his hand came up and smacked her on the ass.
    “Stop wiggling. The more you fight me, the more intense your punishment will be,” Rafe said with eager anticipation running through his voice. When he stopped to pick up a few silk ties, Ari’s eyes rounded with nerves. What was he planning to do?

Chapter Thirty-Five

    Ari’s stomach trembled as Rafe set her down on the cold tile floor. She immediately tugged against his hold on her arm, but she wasn’t going anywhere.
    “Rafe, stop. This is insane. We both said some things, did some stuff. All’s forgiven. Let’s just pretend this never happened,” she pleaded with him as he turned a knob inside the shower and a forceful jet of water began flowing.
    “Too late, Ari. You did two things wrong. Calling me by my first name now doesn’t help you.”
    “Fine. How about I call you asshole, or demon spawn!”
    “You’re not helping,” he said, an obvious smile in his voice. He was enjoying himself.
    He picked her back up, and though she struggled against him, it made not a bit of difference. He far outpowered her. Much too quickly, he had her hands secured together and then the soft sash he’d grabbed was holding her prisoner against the wall of the shower. He’d tied it to what looked like a bar on his shower wall.
    Water cascaded over her still-clothed body as he stepped back and stripped off his own clothes. She couldn’t turn her gaze away as he stepped inside the large space and his growing erection brushed against her hip.
    “You fight this the whole way, but your body doesn’t lie, Ari. That’s unadulterated desire burning in your eyes. The pinch in your nipples means they are reaching out for me to take hold of them. The wet