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 fiancΓ©e-