Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Marvel. Reader's discretion is advised. Within this chapter are some graphic scenes and questionable encounters between our two lovebirds.

Chapter Seventeen: Surprise

Ashtyn steeled herself, as she watched Erik's clothes dropped to the floor. Somehow, she instinctively knew that she was in deep trouble. Erik entered the shower, Ashtyn's eyes stared at his hard chest as the sprays of waters from the showerhead came into contact him. She unknowingly began moving away from him as he attempted to come closer.

He paused, "What's the matter? You act like you are afraid of me." He stated, with an expressionless face. It was then that Ashtyn decided that she needed to woman-up. If he was aware of what she had done, then there was no point hiding it. However, if he didn't know then her behaving as if she is guilty would tip him off. She decided to play it cool…or as unperturbed as she could be as he pinned her with his dark gaze. Ashtyn thought to herself; how could it be possible to be turned on and yet afraid? What strange black magic did her lover have over her.

"No, I am fine. It has just been a long day without you."

Erik didn't respond, he only stared. Ashtyn began busying herself with cleaning her body, trying her best to seem unbothered by his presence. However, she was a ball of jumbled nerves and she was plenty fearful. Ashtyn was about to turn around, to face the showerhead, giving herself a break from Erik's intimidating gaze. Suddenly, he ceased her hands. He began to look intensely at the tips of her fingers.

"Looks like dried blood." He said matter-of-factly.

"It is red dirt, I was helping Zoya in the garden today." Ashtyn lied and immediately turned away from him to scrub the evidence away.

"Oh…" He replied. Then grabbing the soap from her hands, he says. "I'll wash your back." He didn't give Ashtyn an option to refuse his assistance. Something was wrong, she could feel it. It wasn't anything that he said or did; but there was something in his tone which caused Ashtyn's apprehension. Erik began to lather the soap and then rubbed the suds onto her back with his bare hands. "Towel." He said demanding for her to hand her hand towel to him. Ashtyn obeyed him and stiffen as he began to scrub her back with it.

"How was your day?" Ashtyn asked, trying to disrupt his dark mood.

"It was…difficult."

"Oh, how so?"

"I missed you. I tried to find you, but you were nowhere to be found."

"I was with Zoya."

"Oh, yes you were gardening. Right." He said. Yet, again his tone caused Ashtyn to frown.

"That's right." Ashtyn would be damned if she would willingly admit her fault. Although, she was certain that he was aware on some level that she wasn't being completely honest with him. Nevertheless, until he mentioned his greater knowledge of her eventful day she would not confirm his suspicions. Ashtyn added, "You wanted for me to spend time with Zoya. Do you remember?"

"I do." Erik answered. Then, he turned her around, so that her back was to the streaming water; to rinse the suds away. He pressed himself against her and embraced her within his powerful arms. "Do you not know how much I love you?" He asked. His voice was foreign to her, he sounded as if he could cry. It was heartbreaking for Ashtyn to hear the desperation within his voice.

"Of course, I do." Ashtyn replied, she wrapped her arms around his waist. They stood in silence within each other's arms, with only the sound of the falling water hitting the floor beneath them. Ashtyn took in a deep breath hoping that he was finally accepting her story.

The moment was peaceful, as Ashtyn's worries began to fade. Yet, his next choice in words had completely undone her. "Then why do you test me?"

Pulling away Ashtyn look up to view his eyes. Indeed, unshed tears threaten to spill, but didn't. She sucked in a sharp breath and began to say yet another lie; but he held up a hand to silence her.

"W'Kabi's men were ambushed. Some of them were torn apart like a wild animal had attacked them. But you knew that already didn't you." He accused, as he gently began to caress her left cheek with the back of his hand.

Ashtyn began to tremble in terror. "Erik…" She said as tears began to cascade down her cheeks.

"Shush, don't cry. Everything will be cool." He said as he brought her to his chest. He stroked her back in a reassuring motion, but Ashtyn didn't feel comforted. "If you were anyone else you would be dead already. You know that, don't you?"

Ashtyn nodded not knowing what else to do. She thought fleetingly about going on the offense. She could shove him away and make her escape. With her newfound powers she thought that it might work, but then again Erik was a seasoned warrior. Ashtyn doubted that even with her superhuman abilities that she was a match for him. If he was barely holding onto his sanity, then she didn't want to push him over the edge.

Ashtyn decided if she was going to survive, that she would have to submit to whatever his requirements for repentance may be. For she knows his needs, and she knew that he would use her guilt to break her. He tilted her head upwards, so that their lips could meet. He began to kiss her tenderly, but Ashtyn was resistant.

Stopping to looked down at her he says, "Oh hell naw. You better kiss me like your life depends on it." His ominous words weren't empty. Erik needed to be shown that she was still committed to him. He leaned in and kissed her. This time, she kissed him back matching his passion. Erik's hands slid down from her back, to grip her ass. Ashtyn jumped as his hands squeezed her tightly.

Pulling back, he wickedly grinned. Never, had he look more sinister. "I love your body."

Unsure of why he chose then to confess his love for her body she simply replied, "Thank you."

He sucked on his teeth, making a loud sound. Ashtyn's attention was drawn to his gold crowns as he completed the action. "Why don't you do a little twirl around for me. Show me what is mine." Ashtyn slowly begin to turn. Once her back was to him he wrapped his arms around her pulling her closely to him.

"Erik!" Ashtyn shrieked. His embrace was possessive, and he was holding her too tightly. She fought against him briefly, before he hushed her.

She calmed down to hear him out. "You know whatever comes next you brought it upon yourself." He whispered into her ear. It was a warning, but there was something seductive in his tone. Ashtyn's breath deepens in response to his dark promise. "Ask me what's my favorite part of your body is." He demanded. Dumbfounded by his question, she remained silent.

Erik then lean down to kiss the delicate skin, where her neck met with her shoulder. An involuntary shiver traveled throughout her body. Erik let out a soft chuckle, loving how her body responded to his touch. He wanted her to answer his question so that he could reveal how she was going to make up for her betrayal.

"Answer the question."

"I honestly don't know what part of my body you like the most."

"Okay, I'll give you a hint." Erik teased, as he began to grind his harden dick against her ass.

"My backside?" Ashtyn guessed.

"Hell yeah, I remember the first time we met. When you left I got my first glimpse of your ample ass. I got to confess… I have jacked-off thinking about how your booty moved as you sauntered off. Ashtyn, I want it."

"You want what?" Ashtyn asked, confused by his words. Erik gave another soft chuckle. Then, using his index finger he stroked between her butt-cheeks. With great concern Ashtyn realized what he wanted. He wanted to buttfuck her and she wasn't down. It had never been anything that she had ever wanted, or thought would be pleasurable. "Erik…" she started to object, but he cut her off by saying.

"Consider the alternatives." Instantly, Ashtyn recalled his earlier warning. It was only because he loves her that she was still alive. Though, he hadn't divulged his source, as to how he had discovered her treacherous behavior, she doubted not that he spoke the truth. After all, this was her Erik despite their current predicament, he wouldn't say anything that he didn't mean.

Ashtyn quickly decided, that she didn't have much of a choice. Though, she knew that Erik wouldn't hurt her; she had to admit that she was too afraid to test his resolve. His insane code of ethics made him a dangerous man. Furthermore, Ashtyn had seen him commit horrendous acts of violence against those who were close to him. Ashtyn's mind drifted to Angel, his previous girlfriend before her. He had shot her and moments later had his dick down Ashtyn's throat without missing a beat. This was who she loved…a coldblooded killer. Was this not the same man who she thought to protect from his own dark need for revenge? Was she a fool for thinking that she could save his soul?

Ashtyn knew that she didn't have another option. He wanted what he wanted, and she would give into his fantasy, because she had betrayed him. Yet, he needed to know her reason why. "I didn't betray you to hurt or to undermine you. I did it because I wanted to protect you."

"Protect me?" He questioned. As he applied the available bath oils to his member. Prepping to enter her.

Ashtyn begin to blurt out her reasoning, realizing how serious he was about getting down to business. "I didn't want for you to carry the death of your family upon you for the rest of your life. I was worried about your soul."

Erik paused as he aligned himself with her rear. He knew that she had her reasons, but he had never suspected that she considered her actions as a way for her to savage whatever remained of his soul. Indeed, she's in love with him, that he knew without her explanation. Erik knew that she wouldn't go against him without good reason. It was good to hear her confession aloud, but it changed nothing between them. She had to suffer for her crimes against him. Not even his queen could escape punishment.

"This is going to be intense." Erik warned. "The oil will make the entry smoother, but you're going to feel some…discomfort."

Ashtyn braced herself for penetration. This was going down no matter what she says, his dark mood had already confirmed it. Her guilt was making her submit to his will…like always. He wasn't just the master of her heart, but her mind. He knew how to play her. Perhaps, there was a part of her that longed to be dominated. It was a revelation to her that she liked him this way, she liked him dangerous. It was a high that she didn't know that she was becoming addicted to. Perchance, her motive was not as noble as she pretended it to be. Was it possible that she done it all to provoke him? Damn…If so she was truly fucked up and she couldn't blame him, it was all her.

He slowly entered her, and she tensed up. "Relax…baby." He hissed already feeling the effects of her firm hold. "Do you like pushing me so far? Is this what you wanted?" He didn't move, though he wanted her to feel some level of discomfort he couldn't bring himself to hurt her. Yet, he didn't like her silence he needed her to confess her own twisted desires. He thrusted once inside her causing her to moan, with a mixture of pleasure and pain. "Fucking answer me Ashtyn."

"I…" She started to say as he began, but all she could focus on was the sensation she was feeling radiating from her ass. Was she enjoying it? Truthfully, it was too early in the act to determine her like or dislike for this new form of sex she was experiencing. She knew that he wanted an answer. "I like to test you. Something about you being the way you are now turns me on…I can't explain it any better than that."

Erik loved hearing her dark confession. He decided that she had gotten use to his length enough, so he began to move inside her. A tingling feeling began to engulf him. He looked down at his wife who was bent over before him. The hot water from the shower was spraying directly onto her back and cascading onto the shower's floor. "I can't believe that you are all mine." He said, just before he began to pick up his pace.

His strokes were getting deeper and Ashtyn's moans was driving him over the edge. He pressed on, going beyond his own sexual limits. Reaching around to touch her button he drove himself deeper into her as he played with her. She started to tremble beneath his touch. He smiled knowing that she was feeling it. "You like it when I pushed back don't you?" Erik quipped. As his lust had reached a fever pitch. He was going to come, and it would had served her right if he busted and didn't take her with him. Yet, his pride wouldn't allow him not to make her quiver. No, she would come, and she would know that he was the only one who could ever conquer her in this way.

He drove deep inside her, as he slid two of his fingers inside her punani. She screamed out. His thumb still managing to stroke her as he pumped his fingers within her. All the while grinding his dick in rhythm inside her ass.

"Erik!" Ashtyn exclaimed, as she submitted to her arousal.

Erik was on the edge of his control, he began to thrust wildly inside her. He roared her name as he came hard. His legs gave out, and they both fell to the shower's floor. He eases himself out of her. Taking the soap once more he cleans her, and himself.

Stepping out of the shower, he offers his hand to her. She takes it. They both remained silent as Erik dries her, and then himself. They enter their bedroom, he leads her to her side of their bed. She lays down onto her back.

She licks her lips before asking the question that has been floating around in her brain, "Are we good?"

Erik smiles a cruel smile before saying, "That depends."

"On?"

"How many times you can make me cum tonight." He said, as he crawled on top of her.

Hours later…Ashtyn awakes sore all over despite her accelerated healing. The room was dark. She slowly opened her eyes and could see her husband fully dressed sitting in the chair next to her side of the bed. Thanks, to her nocturnal vision she could see him clear as day. His face was stern, and his dark mood persisted despite them fucking each other senseless.

He didn't ask for anal sex again, but everything else was on the menu. She never thought that she could be sick of having sex with Erik, but she thought that she had finally had her fill. He was insatiable and seem like he could have gone on forever. He only stopped when Ashtyn finally tapped out. With a sickening feeling she realized that he had wanted her to admit defeat, and she had given it to him. Nevertheless, she didn't care if it meant that he would leave her alone to rest.

Yet, she knew somehow that her punishment was not over. He was staring at her too intently for it to be. Feeling brave, or simply not up for any of his shit she asked, "What the fuck now?"

Erik cocked his head to the side to consider her. "Is that how you greet me after all the love we made?"

"We fucked, not made love." Ashtyn corrected. She wasn't in the mood, if he wanted more sex from her it simply wasn't happening. She had paid for her sins against him, and his leverage over her was over.

Erik smiled, as if she had said nothing unappealing at all. "Come on get dressed. I want to introduce you to someone, and I have a surprise."

Puzzled Ashtyn attempted to ask him questions. Yet, he refused to answer her. He only urged her to hurry. She did as he said. Once she was dressed they headed out of their bedroom. She followed her husband down a few corridors. She couldn't help but to notice that they were descending into the cellar of the great mansion. Ashtyn attempted to ask again where they were heading, but again she was rebuffed. Erik's firm hold on their conjoined hands made it impossible for her to run away; not that it would had done any good.

They stopped before what Ashtyn could only assume was a jail…or more like a dungeon. Ashtyn looked at Erik, imploring him for an answer. She suddenly became fearful. Was he going to place her here? Was their last night a passion his way of saying goodbye? She tugged against his grip; not wanting to enter the dank cell, but he refused to free her.

"Ashtyn…I told you that there someone I want you to meet, and a surprise." Erik said eerily calm. Ashtyn sucked in a breath and followed her husband into the cell. Chained to the wall were two people. One who she had never seen before, he was a man, but she could tell from his clothing that he was apart of W'Kabi's tribe. The other person Ashtyn instantly recognized to be…Zoya. Ashtyn looked at Erik in horror. Who only says, "Surprise."

A/N: Please feel free to review. Their relationship is twisted in many ways but let me know what you think. Thank you for reading, enjoy! ~Concrete Lily.