I watch as Mr. Bingley jumps into Jas' lap. He groans as the cat settles down. At least the cats are warming to him – that's got to be a good sign, right?

I'm not going to let him get away with this, I decide as I pour myself a glass of ice-cold water and drink it down in long, thirsty gulps. Jas flicks on the TV and I come to stand in front of him, blocking his view.

"What is it, Pet?" he asks, never taking his eyes off the screen.

"I can't just ignore what you did tonight. You acted like a crazy person."

He doesn't reply, knitting his brows together and flicking through the channels before finally speaking up. "Fine. Maybe it wasn't my best moment."

I scoff and he shoots me a warning look. I guess it's as close to an apology as I'm going to get.

"I'll make it up to you," he goes on, eyes sparkling with mischief. "You have one question. Use it carefully. Ask me anything you want."

The words render me speechless, and I stare at him without a reply.

"Go on, Pet," he grunts. "I thought you had so many things to say. Cat got your tongue now?"

I hiss, crossing my arms and staring him down without fear. You wanted to play this game, Jas. "Your employer. What’s his name?"

"Lucio. What about him?" Jasper folds his hands in his lap and looks back at me with a stone-cold expression.

"The jobs you do for h-him." I hate myself for stuttering, but I can't help it. This is completely out of my league. "Do t-they in-involve... hurting people?" Jasper's eyes darken even more, going from a cool icy blue to an inky, stormy sky.

"Tell me, Jas," I demand. "I deserve to know the truth."

He still doesn't answer and I sigh in frustration.

"Jasper, you're being totally unreasonable," I cry out. "You said one question, and you'd answer it, and –"

He interrupts me by getting up in a flash, pulling me on the couch and holding my body on his lap so I can't move. I can feel his heartbeat, steady and slow, a stark difference to the hammering of my own heart.

"Are you going to tell me?" I whisper as he turns the volume up on the TV.

“You don’t want to know.” He gathers me in his arms as he stands up and I have no choice but to wrap my legs around him as he strides into my bedroom and throws me over the mattress.

Then, he’s on top me, gripping my jaw. “The fun is over. Time for your punishment.”

15

Jasper

People usually have one strike with me. At the second, they’re out.

It’s fucking finished; their dreams, their lives, and everything in between.

My little Petal has just reached her second strike. The first was getting drunk and dancing with those asshole friends, the second was trying to chase me away.

As if that will ever happen.

My little Petal seems under the misconception that she has a fucking choice in the matter. She doesn’t.

She stares up at me with wide eyes as I pin her to her bed by her jaw. I can feel the pulse underneath my skin, heightening, quickening, as if her heart is about to explode out of its confinements.

It’s a shame for her heart to stop beating. If she needs one, I’ll just rip one out and give it to her all bloodied and even still throbbing.

“Jasper—”

“Shh.” I cut her off, shaking my head. “You’re at your second strike, Pet.”

“S-Second strike? What does that mean?”

“It means you should be lifeless right now, but I’m thinking about an alternative. The best thing you can do right now is to shut the fuck up.”

She swallows. I can see her need to speak, say something, even protest, but there’s something curious about my little Petal. When she’s at my mercy — or the lack thereof, her smart mouth is usually slightly parted as if begging for my cock inside it.

That’s an idea.

I release her and she shudders, visibly pushing against the mattress. Poor little Petal. Does she really think anything will save her from me?

“On your knees, Pet.”

She pushes against the headboard, pulling the sheet to her neck and watching me with unfocused eyes. Could be because of the alcohol in her system, but she’s finding trouble keeping up.

“Jasper, I... I don’t want to do this.”

I cock my head to the side. “Do what?”

“Whatever it is you want me to do.”

“Why?”

She thins her lips into a line but says nothing.

“Why, Pet?” I rise to my feet, towering over her until my shadow falls on her small frame.

“Y-you’re scaring me.”

A smirk lifts my lips. “Is that so?”

Her mouth trembles as she tightens her hold on the sheet. My sweet little Petal is almost like those who beg for their lives at the last second. They know nothing will save them, but they still fight for that hope of freedom anyway.

“It’s useless, Pet. You’re already caught.”

“Can’t you un-caught me.” There’s a hint of her feistiness in there, but she soon clamps her mouth shut.

A humorless chuckle rips from me. “No, and that’s not even a word. Aren’t you supposed to be a nerd?”

“How... how do you know that?”

Her huge eyes widen even more, almost bulging out of their sockets. She’s starting to suspect me, and while I camouflaged it well at the beginning, I couldn’t give two shits about it right now. She can suspect me all she likes, but there will be no changing this.

“On your fucking knees. I won’t repeat myself.”

It’s slow and almost uncoordinated, but she releases the sheet and lets it fall beside her as she stumbles. I shove both my hands in my pockets, so I don’t reach out and steady her.

My little Petal needs to learn how to follow orders. From now on, it’s going to be imperative for her survival.

“Faster.”

She flinches at my authoritative tone but quickly kneels in front of me, her eyes meeting mine. Although they’re clouded by fear, there’s something else, too.

Something wild and unhinged.

I unbuckle my pants and let them fall to the ground as I free my dick. It’s been rock-fucking hard since the moment I beat those guys up for putting their goddamn hands on her. I even contemplated bending her over the bar’s table and fucking her in front of the entire club, so the world would know who she belongs to.

“You’re going to suck me and you’re going to make it good, Pet.” I shove my dick against her lips, wetting them with my pre-cum. “Am I making myself clear?”

She slowly opens her tiny mouth, her hands reaching out to aid her with my thickness. I’m too big for her, and I groan as I watch her struggle, trying to fit me in without triggering her gag reflex.

She’s gentle, soft, too soft for my mood right now.

“Did I ask you to caress me?”

She shakes her head frantically, picking up her pace, but it’s still not enough. Nothing is enough with my little Petal. She can stay on her knees for eternity, getting me off and it still won’t be enough.

I grab a fistful of her hair, wrap it around my hand, and tug harshly. She cries out at the pain at her roots, but she doesn’t stop sucking.