Chapter 15

She twisted in his grasp, and when she did, her tee shirt twisted and rode up, exposing her back. It took every bit of Zane's self-control not to gasp out loud or mutter a curse. He had applied the whip to his subs. Lily loved it. But lightly, so that although there were red stripes crisscrossing her skin, the lotion they used soothed them and made them fade. He didn't use it to create permanent marks on her or any other sub.

In contrast, Dara's back was crisscrossed with visible scars, a network of welts that combined both old and new marks. This was not the use of a whip for erotic pleasure. This was the work of someone determined to cause the most pain possible. Looking at her back made him sick to his stomach. Unable to stop himself, he coasted his hand over the dRafecate skin, fingers tracing each and every one of her marks.

With unexpected strength, Dara pushed off his lap, yanking herself away from him.

"Don't." She bit her lip, her eyes cast downward. "Don't look at them."