Thrashing in her bonds, Zoe felt for me with her feet. She tried to make me go deeper, but it was useless. I set my knees on her thighs, forcing her wide open. With easy access, I rubbed her clit gently, never enough to get her off. My other hand pushed against her asshole again, daring to go half an inch into her warm walls.

I whispered, straining to keep control. “Tell me what you want. I need to hear that sweet mouth saying it's desperate for me to fill this tight ass.”

She didn't fight long. Baring her teeth, she hissed and tugged at my headboard. “Dammit! I—just do it! Fucking stuff my ass, you bastard!”

Closing my eyes, I endured the new rush she'd caused. Eager to please, my finger slid into her with torturous patience. Zoe was heaving, rocking on the bed. Deeper, I slid inside up to the knuckle. In and out, I did it until she was ready for another.

Two fingers, I spread them, tested what she could handle. She was sweating, the dampness collecting under her shaking breasts. I tried to take a photo with my mind.

“More,” she said, ever hungry.

Pulling my hand away, I ignored her sad noises. From the bag, I took out a new toy. It was slightly rounded, light blue and bigger than my thumb.

Coating it in lube until it shined, I tickled it up and down her crease. Finally, I pushed it inside, digging it deep into her ass until she closed around the tapered bottom. Her moan was long, loud; it shook my bones, turned my cock hard as rock.

I was done playing. I couldn't handle this. Zoe and her wanton lust for me was pushing me over the edge.

Fisting myself, I straddled her hips and slid my fat tip into her pussy. It eased into her, the trip made smooth by how wet she was from all my teasing. “God damn,” I growled, ripping her blindfold away. Zoe would watch me fuck her, of that, I had every intention.

Her eyes were a blizzard, but they didn't cool me off. Without hands, she only had one way to gain leverage. Wrapping her legs around my waist, she met my strokes, her own far more spastic and wild.

Ramming into her, I gripped her hair and demanded our mouths grind together. She tasted like sex, smelled like heaven. I was lost, and fuck it, I didn't want to be found. I could die here, I'd never felt more happy.

Hooking my arms around her knees, I pushed her to the limit, bending her nearly in half. With new gusto, I stuffed myself to the root. My cock swelled, stretching her walls until I was disoriented.

Warbling like a songbird, Zoe threw her head back. “I'm—fuck, I'm...!” She never said, but I knew. Around my shaft, her cunt rippled in the most powerful of embraces. It sent me over, hot prickles going from my feet to the back of my eyes.

At the last second, I pulled out. “Fuck,” I hissed, the pressure of my orgasm leaving me breathless. I covered her belly and inner thighs in my come, a sticky mess that shouldn't have happened.

The idea of using a condom had vanished somewhere in my careful plan. I'd lost it, forgotten the need to be careful. Zoe ruined me, stole the part of my brain that acted decisive.

Panting, I stared down at her. Static energy coursed between us, pure delight that acknowledged how erotic that had been.

Clearing my throat, I pushed the hair from my forehead. “Normally, this is where I'd clean up and leave.”

Smiling sideways, she tugged at the cuffs. “What, leaving me like this?”

My eyes warmed, one hand jerking my still half-hard cock. “Maybe. Some girls like that.”

“Not me,” she said, laughing. “Untie me. Not to spoil the mood, but we need to clean up and go.”

Right. The fight.

Sighing dramatically, I removed the cuffs and helped her sit up. “Still want a movie after this tonight?”

Winking, Zoe hopped off the bed. On purpose, she stretched upwards, showing off her ass. The toy was still there, and she knew I could see. My cock was waking again. “I've been inspired, magically, to want to do something much more... fulfilling, instead.”

Not for the first time, I hated that Nehro was dictating our lives. I ached to bend Zoe over and go at her again.

Later, I told myself, looking for my clothes. It's just another fight. Another fucking speed-bump.

Nehro could command us to go to his fucking Dog House.

But that was where it ended.

I'd play his dumb game, because when it was over, he could look on longingly as I left that grim place with the most stunning woman in the world at my side.

And she would be at my side.

Every fucking time.

I knew something was different when we entered the Dog House.

There was always a roar, a buzzing energy that existed before each fight or just after. This time, the air was... sharp.

Poignant.

“What's going on?” I asked, speaking to Zoe when we cleared the bottom step. Hundreds of eyes fixed on us, the mumbling getting louder. My hackles were sharp as needles.

Shaking her head, she grabbed for my hand. “I don't know. I'm not sure.”

People parted for us as we walked, giving us space. This wasn't good. Like we knew it could crack the mystery, we bee lined for the whiteboard. Our answer lay there, scribbled down in row upon row of marker.

Zoe growled out a simple, “No.”

I didn't look down at her. I just stared at the board, taking in the situation. There were five names listed on the left, each a different man, a unique fighter.

On the right there was only one name, repeated over and over.

Huxton.

Me.

“They want me to fight all of these guys?” I laughed, not believing it.

Gripping my hand fiercely, Zoe let me go. Her absent touch left a hollow itch. “No way. This is impossible, no one could handle this!”

My smile was sharp. “That's exactly it.” Covering my mouth, I laughed without any humor. “Fucking Nehro. He wants me to fail.”

“Huck, you're not doing this. That many guys...” Lifting her eyes, the blue depths glimmered with fear. “You wouldn't live through it. You'll be killed.”

A cold, angry sweat rippled down the back of my neck. She was right. This was an impossible task. A gauntlet designed to ruin us both.

Nehro was a true monster.

I studied Zoe. She saw the heat in my eyes, recognized my thoughts. “Don't you dare.”

“If I don't fight, you'll owe your body to Nehro.” Grimacing, I rolled my shoulders, loosening my tightening muscles. “I'd gladly die before I let that happen.”

She was going to slap me. Her hand whipped back, poised in the air and wavering. It never came forward. It fell down, limp and weak—helpless. That was how she felt.

I understood.

Sensing him, like a part of my brain had become attuned to the man, I saw Nehro before he opened his mouth. “Ah. You're still here, Huxton.”

“Of course I'm still here,” I snapped.

Showing his teeth, Nehro jerked his head at the board. “How does the lineup look?”

Eyeing his throat, I imagined myself choking him. “Looks fucking perfect. Thanks for having so much confidence in me.”

Ice spread over his eyes. He looked around me, nodding at Zoe. “He does know that he isn't obligated to fight in this gauntlet, right?”

“Of course he knows!” she shouted. “What the hell is wrong with you, Nehro? If you want me to fail in your little game so badly, why are you even doing this?” She gestured wildly, her tone rising with distress. “Just threaten my Gram! You know you can! You know it'd be enough!”

“Zoe, stop it,” I said.

She ignored me, screaming so loud people were staring. “Force me to be your whore, isn't that your fucking goal? Stop making me torture myself and everyone else! You're a fucking monster!”

Narrowing my eyes at Nehro, I reached for Zoe. No part of her was steady, I coiled her against my side.