"No, by explaining to you what I did last night?" She dropped the bra.

"What did you do?" he croaked, his eyes riveted to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

She pushed down her skirt, her heart beating so fast she swore he could hear it. "I got into bed with you."

His eyes flicked up to hers. "What?"

"You heard me, and do you wanna know why I did it?"

"Why?"

She dropped her knickers. "I wanted to get a taste of what it would be like to sleep with you every night."

"We f.u.c.ked?"

"No, I meant to sleep literally."

"But, you weren't there this morning."

"I snuck out, even though I didn't want to leave, cos you felt perfect against my body." She touched her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "I pressed these up against your back." She lowered one hand to her crotch. "While this throbbed for you. I wanted to wake you, but I didn't, cos I need you sober so you would remember everything you did to me. I want your mind as well as your body."

He snorted. "Did you get that stupid line out of one of your romance novels? Cos it's s.h.i.te."

"If you wanna mock me, then stop looking at my b.r.e.a.s.t.s."

His eyes shot up to her face. She took another step forward and reached for his zipper, the large bulge in his pants giving her confidence.

He stumbled backwards, almost falling over his suitcase. "What do you think you're doin'?"

"You know the answer to that."

He shook his head. "You abused my trust."

"Then abuse me in return." She grabbed his waistband and unzipped his pants, surprised to find no underwear.

"Beth, no."

She lowered herself to the floor and took him inside her mouth, his groans telling her yes. Watching his face intently, she ran her tongue up his c.o.c.k and flicked the hood. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back, his visage a portrait of s.e.x. She grasped his c.o.c.k and started twisting it as she sucked on him hungrily.

"Deeper," he said.

She breathed in through her nose and took in more of him, trying to relax her throat as he began to move his hips.

"Deeper."

Unable to, she bobbed her head up and down, hoping he'd like that instead. With a loud groan, he grabbed her head and started pumping her mouth, almost making her choke. She forced her head back for a breath, then before she knew what was happening, she was tugged up and shoved onto the bed. He kicked off his pants and climbed on top of her, his expression overflowing with l.u.s.t. Overcome with happiness, she grabbed his b.u.t.t and pushed up against him, rubbing herself against his hard c.o.c.k. She squealed as her wrists were wrenched away and clamped over her head.

"Don't touch," he growled.

He lowered his head and latched onto her breast, sucking it so hard she thought he was going to eat her. She screamed as he bit down. He lapped the mark, then moved to her other breast, pulling at her nipple with his teeth. She knew he was a biter from the incident at the party, Carly's squeals having woken her up.

Aching to touch him, she tried to free her wrists. He squeezed them tighter, making her gasp, "Dante, you're hurting me."

"Payback's a b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

He bit down again, pulling out another scream. Pain shot through her body, turning into pleasure below. She arched up into him, not sure if she could take much more, but desperately wanting to.

He replaced his mouth with his fingers and squeezed her nipples hard, his smile telling her he was savouring her squirming under him. "Who would've guessed that sweet li'l Bethy-babe's a pain junkie."

She shook her head, not wanting to admit anything to him, or more likely too scared to, because she knew he'd give her what she wanted-and more.

His smiled widened, telling her he didn't believe her. He let go of her nipples and traced her body with his mouth, kissing and biting a path down-under. Her eyes almost shot out of their sockets as his mouth started attacking her below. She grabbed his head and thrust upwards, the feeling so frigging good.

He knocked her hands away. "I said, don't touch!"

She went still, too shocked to do anything else.

He moved up over her body, the glint in his eyes scaring her. His top lip curled up into what she could only describe as an evil grin; then without warning he flipped her over, planting her face down. "You really want me to abuse you?" he whispered into her ear, giving it a lick.

She moved her face to the side, barely able to get out a "Yes." No. Yes. No, f.u.c.k yes!

"Then let's see whether you're all talk, wh.o.r.e." He grabbed her hair and twisted her head around, bruising her lips with his own.

She pulled away. "Don't call me a wh.o.r.e!"

"Okay, princess?"

"Don't make fun of me either!" She tried to turn around, but couldn't.

"I can do whatever I like..." His hand edged under her breast, cupping it roughly. "...cos you do. You thought you could control me with s.e.x, but it ain't working, is it?" He squeezed harder.

"Ouch! You're hurting me."

"And you like it." He slackened his grip, then brushed her hair aside and kissed her neck. "Gentle and rough," he whispered against her skin. "Soft and hard, my princess, my wh.o.r.e." He kissed down her spine, his hands caressing her b.u.t.t, then he smacked it, making her yelp. He kissed the ache away, then moved a hand lower. He said something else, but she lost all concentration as his talented fingers started playing with her entrance. She wriggled about, desperately trying to get him to push them inside. Instead, he pushed her legs apart and moved back up, replacing his fingers with his c.o.c.k. "Do you really want me?"

Oh G.o.d, "Yes."

"Even the bad?"

"Yes, yes."

Without warning, he shoved his c.o.c.k inside of her, pushing to the hilt. Heaven and h.e.l.l shot through her all at once, the feeling far too intense. She screamed as he pistoned in and out of her, the friction sending her over the edge. It was how she'd imagined he'd do her, taking her roughly as he forced his way in, the pain adding to the fantasy, and making her come harder than she ever had before.

He froze on top of her, then pulled out. He said something, but she couldn't take it in, the o.r.g.a.s.m still swamping her mind and making her body shudder. Loud swearing started up behind her, snapping her out of her s.e.xual high. Lazily, she turned around, surprised to find Dante staring down at her, and looking like he was about to cry.

"What's wrong?" she said, not understanding why he was upset.

"I did it like that sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

"Who?"

He bent over as though he was going to throw up. "Please forgive me."

"There's nuthin' to forgive-"

He jerked upwards. "Yes, there is! I f.u.c.k everything up. Everything!" he yelled, his emotions controlling his body like a puppet master.

She pushed off the bed, almost falling over the tangle of clothes at her feet.

He reached out, then whipped his hands back as though he was afraid to touch her. "Get dressed."

"But, I wanna stay-"

"No, you hafta leave."

"Why?"

"I'm sick; go before I hurt you again." He went to his knees, searching through the clothes on the floor. "I need my meds, I need my meds..."

Wanting to calm him, Beth bobbed down and placed a hand on his back. He smacked it away, causing her to fall onto her b.u.t.t. He started talking fast in Croatian, the words "I'm sorry" the only ones she recognised. He refocused on the floor, getting more and more worked up when he couldn't find what he was looking for. Not taking her eyes of him, she started dressing, wondering again whether he was on drugs.

Dante's focus shifted back to her as she pulled on her skirt. "I scare every chick away."

She stopped doing up the zip.

He got to his feet. "Go on then, run away like everyone else."

"I'm not running," she said, reaching out for him.

He backed into the cabinet. "Don't touch me."

"But, I wanna hold you."

"No, get dressed and go away."

"But, you just said-"

"Leave!"

She grabbed her blouse and pulled it on. "I needa know you'll be alright."

"Just go."

She backed towards the doorway, then hesitated. "Will you be alright?"

He picked up a CD and threw it at the wall. "Go, dammit!"

She turned and ran down the pa.s.sage, heading for the dining-room. She grabbed the phone off the breakfast bar, quickly dialling Sledge's number. The front door opened, making her drop the phone.

Ash stepped inside, looking shocked to see her. "What the f.u.c.k are you doin' 'ere?" His eyes lowered to her ripped blouse. "For Christ's sake, you can't help yourself, can you?" A crash came from Dante's room, snapping Ash's head up. "What's goin' on?"

"Dante's gone nuts."

Beth followed Ash down the pa.s.sage. They stopped in Dante's doorway, both of them watching as Dante trashed his bedroom.

"What are you doin'?!" Ash hollered.

Dante looked over at Ash, his eyes frantic. "Someone stole my meds."

"I told ja not to take meth."

"Not meth, you f.u.c.kwit, meds."

Ash shot across the room, shoving Dante onto the bed. Dante went to punch Ash, but got an arm clamped across his throat instead. "Stay!" Ash yelled.

Dante tried to push Ash away. "You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I bet you took 'em. Give 'em back!"

Ash pressed down, making Dante choke. "I didn't take any of your s.h.i.t!"

Beth grabbed Ash around the waist, trying to pull him away from Dante. "Get offa him!"

Ash slackened the pressure on Dante and glared back at her. "What the f.u.c.k did you do to him?"

"Nuthin'," she said, backing off.

"I doubt it with him naked and you half dressed."

"He thought he hurt me, but he didn't. I think he might be on drugs."

"Gimme back my meds!" Dante yelled. "The doc gave 'em to me."

Ash looked back at Dante. "What're you talking 'bout?"

Dante started cursing.

"Stop swearing, so I can b.l.o.o.d.y understand you."

"I need my medication."

"What medication?"

"Bipolar."

Ash's back went rigid. "Why didn't cha tell me this sooner?"

"I'm telling ya now, so give 'em back."

"But, I didn't take 'em."