He took a leap of a stride in her direction and Ariel turned her body, aiming to dive off the other side of the bed. But the bed was gigantic, and before she could execute the move, Eric's arms ensnared her, like steel vines, pulling her back towards him. Her nails caught in the sheets as he continued to pull her back.
"Eric, you're making...a mistake..."
She managed to gasp out. Eric shook her once, recklessly, to stop her from speaking. His added violence silenced her instantly. He flipped her onto her back and pinned both of her wrists to the bed with one giant hand. Then he rolled his weight down on her somewhat roughly, aligning his full lips with her ear.
"I would never betray your love."
"Liar!"
Eric 's hand found Ariel's delicate throat and began squeezing. Not enough to endanger her, but enough to scare her...and turn her on even more. She felt herself get wet, and cursed herself mentally for it. Eric's breath was haggard, hot on her face.
"That was Adrienne Renoir. We're friends, and business associates."
A light bulb went on in the messy web of emotions that was Ariel's mind. The artist? Eric could see the realization in her eyes and he released his grip on her throat. Ariel gasped for air and her arms went slack as the oxygen flooded her. She could barely speak.
"So what'd you do? Paint her body with your tongue?! You bastard..."
Ariel was heady from the rush of oxygen straight to the brain. She noticed Eric looking at her hand.
"Where's your ring?"
He sounded pissed.
"I don't...I don't know."
Eric slapped her. Ariel screamed, more from the shock than the pain. She couldn't believe that in all the action, she had misplaced her two-hundred-seventy-five thousand dollar engagement ring.
"Baby I'm sorry... just let me go...please..."
Eric looked like he wanted to slap her again. Ariel braced herself for it, shutting her eyes.
Instead, Eric's ring finger pushed deep past her lips, into her dampness. She gasped.
"You're wet. You... like this."
Ariel turned her face away, ashamed. Eric beckoned inside her with his finger. She moaned as he slipped a second finger in. He let go of her bruised wrists and Ariel began to feel the bulge against her thigh. Eric's fingers went to work and Ariel's hands began sliding up the headboard, gripping it in urgency. But it just wasn't right. She still didn't have proof that he was telling the truth about Adrienne.
She attempted to push herself away, succeeding, while Eric's guard was down. Eric made a noise that sounded like a low, human growl as he snatched Ariel away from the edge of the bed. Her pulse quickened, breathing offbeat. Eric overpowered her mercilessly, turning her over onto her stomach. His breath tickled her ear once more.
"The only way out of here is in my arms, as my fiancée-
Ariel bucked again, using her last ounce of strength. Eric continued nonplussed.
"With my fucking ring on your finger."
"Fuck you."
Eric's rough grip made Ariel cry out. Then his fingers slipped up underneath the dazzling chain J-Mac had given her earlier, celebrating her new status as a Hype Artist. Eric pulled forward on the chain, causing Ariel's head to jerk forward slightly.
"You lost the ring but you let some rapper brand you?"
"Eric, no!"
He peeled the heavy chain off her queenly neck and stood. Ariel wanted to get it together, and try, yet again to escape, but her fight was almost gone. She felt the cold metal of the chain against her ankles, tightening painfully.
"Eric...please...I'm already hurt."
He responded by seizing the fabric of the unbelievably expensive goddess-like dress J-Mac had bought her, shredding it with inhuman strength. Part of Ariel wanted to attack her gorgeous ex-fiancée for treating her like some ho, but another part of her, deep down inside, wanted him more than ever.
Eric paused, taking in her nakedness. Her perfectly perky, nearly D Cup breasts sat up for him, chocolate nipples small and fully alert. Her toned, 23-inch waist flowed into gorgeously rounded hips. Her gift of womanhood was concealed, hiding behind iridescent black panties.
"So, my future wife shows up to another man's house, nearly naked. Wearing his chain, like she's down with him owning her like that...while I sit at home, scratching my head, trying to come up with a killer plan to win her back."