Perfectly Broken

(6) Punishment

[For Mature Audiences]

Trembles coursed through me the moment his lips crashed into mine with force, my surprise only entertained him, his teeth biting my bottom lip. Oh no, he was crossing that border we agreed upon--no kissing on the lips. But it perplexed me. Kissing meant we had feelings for one another but he was kissing me so roughly yet so passionately, I couldn't tell the difference. Was this kiss born from admiration or rage?

His teeth dug deep into my lips and he muffled my whimpering, startled when I felt something wet and warm spouting from the sting. His kiss, his lips devouring mine making my knees weak and my heart race, making it harder to breathe. He tasted so good, his tongue tracing my top lip before begging for entrance into my mouth. He bit my bottom lip once again when I let a second go by without his tongue in my mouth. The stinging returned and I opened my mouth, falling passionately into the dance our tongues were doing.

My back was now pressed against the wall, Ryan pinning both my hands to the wall above me. His firm body was pressed against mine and I could feel his erection poking me in the stomach. His lips felt good against mine, whatever liquid was dripping from my lip made this kiss painful but oh so pleasurable simultaneously. Although I wanted to deepen it, run my fingers through his rugged hair, I couldn't because I was his captive.

He chuckled into my mouth and I felt him smile, pulling back and leaving me breathless, panting for oxygen or his lips, didn't know which. He left me lightheaded and wanting more. It was unexplainable, I've never been kissed before, but when his lips touched mine, I felt an overwhelming sensation. And I don't know whether it was because of our many s****l sessions but it resembled an orgasm rushing through my entire body.

"Now why didn't you answer my calls?" he asked. Staring at him, I noticed his lips were deep red and dripping blood. I licked my lips cautiously and realized that I was bleeding. He must have bitten me, not just once but twice, by how much was smeared on our lips. I clutched my jaws, now agitated that he made me bleed!

"None of your beeswax!" I answered, the pain of our bloody kiss finally dawning on me. I knew my lips were going to be swollen for a while. "You're going to make me late—"

"For lunch?" Damn him for knowing my schedule! His dark eyes dimmed gloomily, his hunger for more blood taking over, trying to scare me, which kind of work. I tried tugging him off but he stood his ground, not moving a fraction when I struggled, which made me look pathetic. "I don't like it when you lie to me, Emma. Now I'll ask again. Why didn't you answer my call?" he glowered. He looked ready to attack again if I didn't give him the appropriate answer. I saw he called, he knew that by just looking at me, but if I told him about Mr. Mason's suggestion, he'd go ballistic. I could already tell he didn't like him, why pour gasoline on the flames? "I don't like your silence."

Before I could react, he pressed his lips to my neck licking, sucking, nipping me into submission. I moaned at his touch, unable to control myself. I hated that my body knew him so well that it'd react so easily with him around. He knew all the right buttons to push to make me fall into ecstasy's clutches. He tugged harshly on my neck and the stinging sensation returned. I gasped. Did he bite me again?!

He did this several times, his burning touch leaving tiny stings in their place until I couldn't take the pleasurable pain anymore. I was restraint, his touch made me vulnerable to my pinned up s****l emotions, and he used this to his advantage. His bite marks torturing me, threatening me to speak now or he'd make it worse. There wasn't any liquid running down my neck which was a good sign I wasn't bleeding but the prickles he left on me made it seem that way.

"Okay, okay, I'll talk!" I caved, unable to suffer the burning pain any longer. When his mouth left my skin, I felt like several mosquitos had just made me their buffet, achiness rupturing through my neck. It hurts, you sick bastard! I caught my breath, glaring at his cockiness, knowing he was picking on me. "I told Mr. Mason about us and he suggested we...take a little break."

He clutched his jaw, wincing angrily at the mere mention of Mr. Mason. His grip on my wrist tightened and I whimpered that he was cutting off my circulation, the blood in my veins boiling for movement.

"Ryan, you're hurting me." I could feel my finger tingling now and Ryan looked lost in space, oblivious that his hands were growing tighter around me with every second. The veins in my hands were ready to pop. The vein throbbing in his temple included. "Ryan, you're hurting me!"

That awoken him and he let me go in a blink of an eye. I fell to my knees, rubbing my wrist to get some feeling back into my hands, and I could see his fingerprints blistering around my wrist. First, he makes my lip bleed, then my neck sting, and now he left blisters around my wrist. God, I hated him! All he ever does is hurt me. It's been that way since elementary school. Why did I think he'd change when we started hooking up?

I glowered up at him, massaging my now swollen wrists. "And I'm thinking he was right about taking a break. You need to learn some self-control."

He bent down to my level with a menacing stare, making me regret my words during that pissed off moment. Oh, I was still pissed but he looked beyond pissed, his nose flaring and his eyes piercing into mine, frightening me enough to back off. "Emma, don't you dare bring that Mason bastard into our relationship!" he barked, looking like he was about to strangle me. "Why the hell would you tell him this in the first place? It's none of his business—we're none of his business! Why the hell would you tell him?"

Okay, the pissed off me was getting frustrated that he was yelling at me only inches away. Although his warm breath brought pleasant shivers down my spine, I hated to be yelled at like this, especially by an arrogant jerk like him. "Maybe because he actually cares about listening to me. All you ever care about is yourself and because I've come to lean on you, to empathize with you, I just went along with whatever you wanted. Have you ever thought that maybe you took advantage of me? That maybe I really didn't want to lose my virginity to you? That 'our relationship' is a bit more than I can handle? No, you don't because all you care about is yourself and pleasing your d**k!"

I stood up in a fit of rage, huffing at him, not caring about being in this cramped closest with him to "punish" me any longer. I swung the door open and left before he could say a word. The pain in my body was slowly eating away at me, discomforting me, and only fueling my anger at him. Ryan was mean, selfish, an asshole, a bully, and annoying. This break could clear my head. Hopefully whatever I felt for Ryan, even if it was just s****l desire, would fade away.

I didn't see him for the rest of the school day and the longer he was out of my sight, the more I felt guilty about what I said. I could understand that our relationship is personal and that telling Mr. Mason wasn't the smartest choice. However, he deserved my words. He deserved to know how I felt about his brutality. And that wasn't even the first time. I think past memories of when he'd bully me in elementary and middle school started to emerge and try to rip his head off.

I tried to hide my hickeys and keep my head down in class, keeping my thin jacket zipped to my chin. Luckily, Alec hadn't noticed anything, staring at me worriedly. I couldn't look at him. It only brought back memories of last night. My cheeks went scarlet just thinking about it and I ducked my head.

"Before I let everyone out today, the principal has informed us to tell all students to not walk home alone," the teacher cautioned. "If you've been watching the news, there have been murders around the town"—students gasped—"I don't want any of you to be alarmed, I just want you all to be aware. We caution that you don't walk around at night."

A student raised her hand, trembling a bit at the news when the teacher pointed at her to talk. "Um...who was murdered?"

The teacher sighed. "They weren't from this school. There were only two victims and we don't want any of them from our school. We hope they catch the person soon, but again, be aware, don't walk home by yourselves, and stay in at night."

Wow, I'd heard of there being murders around town this morning, police said that the two victims had similar wounds. Mom told me to be cautious as well before leaving the house, whoever going after high school girls supposedly. Trembling at the news, I grabbed my things as soon as the bell rung. This was serious, nothing like this ever happening in such a small, peaceful town. The worst we hear is a bank robbery gone wrong.

The bell rang and I stood up quickly, trying to veil the thought of this. Why was this worrying me? Maybe this wasn't my day. I had too much on my mind.

"Who'd have imagined this place having a murderer?" Alec asked, startling me.

Clutching my racing heart at his sudden appearance, I elbowed him gently in the stomach, watching him playfully hunch over. "You sound happy about it." I eyed him suspiciously and he gave me a cocky grin, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

"Please, I'm too cute for prison."

"You'd be surprised how many guys like the 'too cute' type there." I could feel his arms graze mine while walking and I kept my attention on the tile floor, noticing his light brown eyes caressing my skin. Don't look at him, I told myself, you'll only think about last night.

He scowled, grunting, no longer amused. "Whatever. But seriously, I think you should stick by my side until this dies down."

I scoffed. "And be the third wheel while you and Brooke hook up in front of me? No thanks. How was last night with Brooke's parents by the way?" Emphasizing on parents, I acknowledged the way he finally took his eyes off me, biting his bottom lip to suppress the heat rising to his cheeks.

"It was fine." Liar! They weren't even there as I could see. And I would have called his bluff if I didn't have my own secrets to conceal. If I blurted that out, he'd definitely know I was snooping, stalking him, and he'd never see me the same again. That reminded me of Jude for a second, quickly pulling up my hood to veil the sudden blush that refused to die down. "Anyway, Brooke and I know how to control ourselves and she had somewhere to be today so—hey, where you going?!"

I turned the opposite corner he did, swerving around on my heels. "I have to catch a ride with a friend. I'll talk to you later."

"What friend? Does the word 'murderer' mean nothing to you, woman?" he shouted when I was halfway down the hall.

"I'll be fine, cutie!" He smirked at his new nickname and if he hadn't turned around so quickly I would have thought I saw him blush. I pushed that aside for a second, thinking it was my obsessive imagination. I needed to get away from him. If I had to hear about Brooke one more time, I was going to become the murderer with her as victim number one. But I'd settle on exposing her cheating ways which had more benefits than killing any day, especially Alec being the grand prize.

Heading out the back of the school where the buses were slowly departing, I waited for Jude to pick me up. Yeah, that's right, Jude! He said he'd come to pick me up after school yesterday and I idiotically believed him. I didn't trust the guy, threatening to kill me then molesting me, there was no way. But I had to break Brooke and Alec up, I had to catch her cheating, and taking a chance on him could be my only hope.

Within minutes, I sat on the bench watching different students get picked up on the same route when the buses had disappeared. The warm sun hit my face when I removed my hood, leaning back with the slight chill of a breeze hitting my face. It felt good against my lips, having swollen down since Ryan's "punishment." Nonetheless, his touch still lingered no matter how much I washed my face off after and my lips only grew hotter at the thought of him. It's been three months yet I still couldn't grasp what he made me feel besides s****l desire and empathy. Not obsession like Alec, not curiosity like Mr. Mason, and not even secrecy like Jude.

It was something else...

"You coming, babe?" My head jolted up to see a silver mustang pull up a few feet ahead of where I sat, having to look over my shoulder.

Julie Carter came trotting towards the car happily. I knew her from the second block, teacher's pet, vice-president of the student council, and president of the book club. She was pretty, smart, and nice. But she hadn't always been that way. Last semester, she had kind of an unexplainable problem to the point where she didn't come to school. Rumors about her new bad-boy boyfriend in college flew all over and she almost got kicked off the student council.

"Miss Carter," a familiar voice by the school doors called, halting her between the building and the car. Mr. Mason rushed out the building to hand her a notebook. "Remember what we talked about." He smiled but his tone had an underlining of threat, barely prominent. I wouldn't have noticed if I didn't have a view of Julie's profile, flinching in fright before concealing it with an angelic smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Mason, I will." She snatched the notebook away gently, turning away and entering the silver mustang. We both watched it drive away, Mr. Mason running a hand through his hair, sighing distressingly before acknowledging me when he turned back to the school.

"Oh, hey, Emma," he smiled charmingly, walking towards me. He looked rather delectable today in a black dress shirt, deep purple vest, and black slacks. "Are you waiting for your parents?"

Just when I was about to reply, Jude pulled up in his black Sedan. Mr. Mason raised an eyebrow, frowning now that he knew it wasn't my mom. For some reason, I didn't want Mr. Mason thinking anything ill of me. He already knew I was whoring around with Ryan. I didn't want him thinking I had someone on the side.

"Ah, there's my cousin!" I lied, grabbing my things. The frown on his face faltered slightly as I inched to the Sedan, giving Mr. Mason I smiled. "Bye, Mr. Mason."

"Bye, Emma, be careful." He gave a wave to Jude when I slipped inside, closing the door. I waited for him to turn away before looking at Jude who was smirking.

"Someone has a naughty crush on their teacher," he mocked, sounding like he was scolding me. "Shame on you, naughty girl. Someone needs a punishment."

I flinched at the word punishment, recollecting Ryan's punishment. Just like how my lips burned with his touch, so did ever bruise he's created on my skin at the thought. I bit my lips, trying to suppress the moan wanting to escape, the heat drifting to my core. Why did he have to say that?

I gave Jude a deadly glare when the feeling evaporated. "No thanks. I don't have a crush on him."

He put the car in drive with the same taunting smirking. He spoke in a girly voice, trying to mimic me horribly and exaggeratingly. "Bye, Mr. Mason." He said it seductively, moaning at the end and fluttering his eyelashes girlishly. Then he deepened his voice to mimic Mr. Mason, leaning closer to me. "Bye, Emma, be careful." He put a little growl at the end, giving me a chiseled smile. He went back to his usual annoying voice. "You could cut the s****l tension with a knife. Admit it, Emma. You want to jump his bones and get his pedophile ass in jail, regretting nothing."

I rolled my eyes. "You're insane. He's my teacher. Plus, I'm eighteen, it'd be legal." I stuck out my tongue and he chuckled, leaning an elbow out the window. "Where are we heading anyway?"

We drove passed downtown to the city complexes of the town where most of the businesses were. "My father's company." He checked the time, blinking at a thought before accelerating on the gas. "We need to get there before her."

"Why?"

He gave me a cocky smile. "To get the best seats in the house, of course." He was such a weirdo and surprisingly, he was the best thing out of my day. I found myself smiling and laughing with him when he did. "I love having a partner in crime. It's not fun talking to myself."

That comment made me laugh harder. "I knew you were a nut job. Who molests a stranger?"

"I'm only a stranger to you. Alec showed me a picture of you on his phone. I found you quite adorable." Alec had a photo of me on his phone? The fluttering of my heart was the last thing I wanted to contain, a smiling capturing my face at the thought he had a memento of me by his side.

"Don't get too happy, gorgeous. Brooke deleted them right after he showed me." He snickered to himself, something going through his mind. "They fought for hours about it outside, it was hilarious. Who knew Alec had the balls to stand up against her?" Them? There was more than one picture? That was it. My heart ached with love that he first kept a picture of me close and second defended me against Brooke. Maybe he secretly had feelings for me. It couldn't hurt to dream.

We eventually pulled up to his father's company, a towering skyscraper blocking the suns view, leaving us in the shadows. It looked dark and sinister, giving me the creeps. Stopping the engine, I stepped out of the car and Jude did the same, locking it.

Abruptly, he grasped my hand and leaned his lips against my ear sending warm tingled down my neck, sinking through my jacket. "Just go with what I say, okay?" He placed his tongue on my earlobe, causing me to moan at the arousing sensation. I nudged him off when I returned to reality, hating that he could pull me into his deceiving web so easily.

"Got it." It came out sarcastically.

We walked hand in hand inside, him holding the door and rushing to the reception desk. The secretary grinned at the sight of him then scrutinized me when her eyes fell over my strained posture, pushing up my glasses. She had a questioning expression but focused on greeting Jude. "Hello, Mr. Whitaker. You've come for a visit?"

He nodded seriously. He stood straighter, having a dominant posture with an emotionless mask I'd never seen before. "Yes, I want to introduce my girlfriend to the big man."

She eyed me for a moment then picked up the phone. "I'll page him and tell him you're both—"

"No, I wanted to surprise him. Is he in a meeting?"

She pursed her lips. "He's in a little gathering in the boardroom but he should be out in a couple of minutes."

"Perfect, can I have his office key?" His tone and the dark look in his hazel eyes told her not to hesitate. She bent down and grabbed it from under her desk. He gave her the first smile since entering, resembling a reward when the key touched the palm of his hand. "Thanks."

He pulled me towards the elevator, clicking the top number. He leaned back, pushing his hair back wearily until he noticed I was looking at him. "Like what you see?" He gave me a goofy grin which shattered the stern exterior he once held.

"Look at you, mister big shot on campus." He simpered at the title.

"I know my way around—kind of like, oh say, your delicious body." He licked his lips, eyes darting to my private triangle between my thighs.

I rolled my eyes again when the elevator stopped on the floor. "Keep looking 'cuz you ain't touching." I purposely gave him a seductive look, pulling down my glasses and posing against the wall. When did I become so comfortable with this pervert?

A tiny laugh escaped. "That's what you think," he muttered.

I ignored him, following his lead, noticing that his hand was still holding mine securely, warm and large. There was no one in the halls but he refused to let me go, tugging me to a large white door, the window covered with closed blinds. "Is he in there?"

He shook his head confidently, unlocking the door. I wanted to ask how he knew but he pulled me inside roughly, crashing into his chest, his arm wrapping around me protectively. At the unexpected, my heart hammered in my chest, my face pressed against his chest for a long second. I could feel his heartbeat, matching my speed, soothing me slowly into submission.

He closed the door behind me, making sure to lock it again. "Come on." Although he said that, he held me for a few seconds longer and I took in his peppermint scent I'd just noticed at his closeness. Then our ears perked at the sound of footsteps and he pulled me pass the desk into a tiny coat closet, keeping it cracked a bit to see through. I fell into his lap, leaning back on his chest before I could stop myself, now intoxicated by that peppermint scent. It always comforted me since I was young and it was doing the same now.

Jude never unwrapped his arms around me, only growing tighter when the door unlocked. I could hear a feminine giggle enter the room and I knew the voice immediately. "Oh, Brent, you never cease to surprise me," Brooke giggled.

Peeking through the crack I could see her legs first, her skirt being lifted by a large hand exposing her thigh. A husky male voice spoke soothingly to her. "Baby girl, I'm supposed to surprise you." He pressed his body against hers, her back trapped between him and the desk. It felt weird seeing Brooke being caressed by someone other than Alec. Yeah, I know what cheating entails. It's still different seeing it than it was thinking about it, reality shattering the mirror of lies before our eyes.

Slipping out my phone quietly, a sickly feeling of being caught clouding my mind so much I was shaking, trying to get to video mode. I pushed on. Jude, noticing my shivers, rubbed my arms soothingly, his head lying on my shoulder, away from the scene. I would have asked why he didn't want to watch his evil step-sister finally getting defeated but got distracted by her cries.

Looking further up the crack, I could see the Brent guy holding her by the throat and she smiled at the masochistic pleasure. He kissed her lips hungrily, craving every ounce of her as his other hand scooped her up easily on his desk. She threw everything, the paper, stapler, folders, on the ground hastily. "Oh god, I need you," Brent moaned, pushing her skirt higher.

Feeling slight quaking in my shoulder blade, I noticed Jude was clenching his jaw in anger, his eyes concealed in my hair. "What's wrong?" I asked in the tiniest of whispers, hardly hearing myself.

The sound of a zipper going down ruptured in my ears, the camera focused on Brent fingering Brooke quickly, holding her down by the throat with his pants falling. "You like that, baby girl?" he asked dominantly. I could tell he was moving quickly and roughly manhandling her by her pleasurable cries and whimpers.

Jude leaned in the nuke of my neck, his breath hitting my earlobe, pulling my back close to his chest. "I really don't want to watch my step-sister f**k my father." I couldn't stop the nauseous feeling in the pit of my gut, hearing him say that. His own father now having s*x with the girl who's supposed to be like a daughter to him disgusted me and I knew Jude felt the same. To cheat on Alec with her own step-father!

"Ah, daddy, more, more!" Brooke screamed. I turned away when he plunged into her, hating myself that I was videotaping this, knowing Jude would prefer not to be witnessing this at all. He's grown up with this man and though I didn't know their exact relationship, it haunted him to the core to see his father was so unfaithful. With my free hand, I patted his head, letting him bask in my shoulder as long as he'd like to avoid looking.

Brooke would pay for this; I'd make sure of that.