24. Freya
24
FREYA
I ’m resting my head against Oz’s chest when the door opens and Eli strides in.
He crosses the room and leans against the wall by the walk-in closet. He doesn’t say anything, just folds his arms against his chest and rests one ankle over the other.
His dark gaze and blank face suggest he’s pissed but it’s kind of hard to tell because that’s pretty much Eli’s default setting when it comes to me.
Jude walks in too and my heart stutters when River follows behind him.
I extract myself from Oz’s arms and sit up on the bed. The cuff of my sleeve is rough on my cheeks as I use it to dry my face.
River’s eyes track the movement and suddenly I’m furious with him. He doesn’t get to say he’s done with me and then watch me cry.
I climb off the bed and head to the door, ready to get out of here. But Oz’s hand snags my fingers before I can stray too far. I stop, letting him hold me back.
River’s gaze runs over me from my bare toes to my frazzled hair. I must look a sight right now, my pale cheeks blotchy and pink, my shirt crumpled.
I hate that River is still so put together. Still so goddamn beautiful.
His silk black hair is pushed back, a few strands falling down to the side of his forehead. I long to run my fingers through it on a daily basis and my stomach sours at the realization that I might never get to do that again.
How can I be so angry and so in love with him at the same time?
It hurts to look at him and I want to turn away but I’m the daughter of a serial killer and I learned long ago you never show how much it hurts. So, I hold his gaze.
“You broke a rule, Freya,” he says, his voice deadly soft.
A shiver shudders down my spine. River gave me three rules before I joined their team.
No more lies, no more secrets, and most importantly, no more running.
Technically, I’ve probably broken two. And in this moment, I want to break the third. I want to get the hell out of here and only one thin thread, Oz’s fingers in mine, is keeping me in place. I jut out my chin. “So, what now?”
River tilts his head ever so slightly. He’s all predator again and I’m his prey. “Now, you get on your knees.” He points to the floor at his feet.
Oh fuck no. My face hardens and anger burns inside of me. I am not letting him punish me. Maybe, downstairs, I would have accepted this. Before he reacted the way he did.
If I’m brutally honest, part of me still wants it because I know I screwed up and the guilt over Lexi’s attack is pulling me under like a riptide.
But I don’t want River to be here purely because Jude dragged him upstairs. And I’m sure as hell not going to let him punish me out of some fucked up sense of duty.
I scoff and head for the door again.
River’s hand clamps around my upper arm, stopping me from passing. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out my phone. “Oz, take this and try and trace the messages.” He holds out the phone. “Jude, go with him.”
I refuse to look at River, keeping my eyes trained on the smooth white paint on the door.
Behind me, the bed rustles as Oz gets up. He shares a glance with Jude before he takes my phone from River and walks out the door.
Jude follows, catching the door before it closes. His gaze flicks to River before settling on me. “He’s sorry he fucked up.”
I clench my fists and the muscles in my neck tense. “Maybe he should tell me that himself.”
River dips his head till his breath ripples over my ear. “You first, darling.”
Darkness spreads over me. I messed up, I know that, but I didn’t deliberately hurt him. I didn’t reject him and I’m sure as hell not going to get down on my knees and beg for forgiveness now.
I twist my neck to look up at him. “I’m sorry you’re such a fucking bastard.”
The line of River’s jaw ticks.
Jude’s eyebrows skyrocket just as his slips out of the room.
I try to yank my arm free so I can follow him, but River’s grip is steel.
“Let go of me.”
He squeezes my arm almost to the point of pain and pulls me in close. “Not a fucking chance.”
“I could use my safe word.”
River keeps his gaze steady but his grip on my arm spasms. “Always. Do you want to?”
Our quiet breaths fill the room as I think about it and I sense Eli watching, waiting to see how this plays out.
I’m probably the closest I’ve ever come to using my safe word, but even when River’s mad, he’s still in control. And River’s not the only angry one. As fucked up and unhealthy as it is, I want to fight him.
“How am I supposed to trust you when you bail the second I screw up?” I ask, my chest tight.
“I’m not bailing. I’m right here.”
I scoff. “Yeah, because Jude came and got you. Do you even want to be in this relationship or is it just a fucked-up way of keeping your team happy?”
River’s gaze darkens and he tightens his grip. “Enough, Freya. Get on your fucking knees.”
I lift my chin. “Make me.”
Before River can move, I bring my free elbow down on his forearm. Hard.
He grunts and lets go of my arm.
I run for the door. My fingers graze the handle before I’m yanked back by my braid. I cry out and grab River’s hand, pushing on his knuckles until his grip loosens and I can twist myself free. I kick him, catching the back of his knees.
He buckles but hooks an arm around my waist, bringing me to the floor with him. We crash into the wood.
My forearm smarts as it smacks against the floor, but River’s hand comes up to cradle my head. I refuse to let the gesture lessen my anger. How can he hurt me in one moment only to protect me in the next?
I roll onto my back and bring my knees up to my chest. I plant my feet against his hard stomach and push, shoving him away from me so I can scramble to my feet. My heart races as I catch my breath, adrenaline buzzing through my muscles. My arm aches from where it hit the floor and my scalp still stings from River’s grip, but it feels so damn good to fight.
So much of chasing my father involves sitting in offices, pouring over case files that fill me with fury, or waiting in a car, hoping like hell we’ll catch a break.
I need to do something and right now it doesn’t matter that River is the wrong target. I know he’s mad at me, he has every right to be and maybe he needs this too.
He brushes off his shirt and a button falls to the floor.
I smirk a little, knowing it will drive him crazy that I ruined his pristine white shirt.
He narrows his eyes at me and grabs the back of the collar, pulling the shirt off over his head.
My eyes drop to his bare chest. A slight sheen from where we’ve worked up a sweat glistens against his amber skin. Apparently, adrenaline and attraction go hand in hand for me because heat flushes through my core.
My lips part as I follow the thin trail of dark hair that disappears under his pants. The moment of distraction costs me and I react a second too late when River lunges.
He ducks low and hooks an arm around my legs, trying to lift me onto his shoulder.
I use his momentum against him though, and let myself fall back, pulling him down to the floor with me. His eyes flare in panic as I fall.
I ignore the bruising force of my back hitting the floorboards and buck up from my hips.
River’s the one distracted now, busy running his hands over me to check if I’m okay, and I take the opportunity to roll us so River’s on his back and I’m straddling him.
His hands settle on my hips before I can pin them, and he snarls at me. “Reckless fucking woman.”
I wet my lips, breathing hard, and give a little shrug. “I win.” I smirk.
River shakes his head and lets out a low chuckle. “You forget, Freya darling, this isn’t a fair fight.” He pushes up onto his elbows and looks me in the eyes. “You were never going to win.”
I frown, not understanding until River glances behind him and it clicks.
Eli’s no longer there.
A hand darts out from behind and wraps around my throat. My eyes go wide, and River steals my smirk.
Eli drags me back off River, squeezing just hard enough to stop me from fighting back. He pushes me down to the floor and I grip his wrist.
River’s hands pin my legs to the floor, so I can’t kick out, but my gaze is locked on Eli’s shadowed face as he leans over me. He tightens his grip, cutting off my air for just a moment, before he loosens his hold.
I gasp for air and his lips crash into mine.
His kiss is possession and demand and leaves me breathless in an entirely different way. I whimper as he breaks it off.
He sits back on his heels and smudges his thumb across my lips. “Shh, you’re in enough trouble as it is.”
I don’t have the air to argue. My head feels like it’s floating, and I desperately need to ease the ache between my thighs.
Eli gathers my wrists in one hand and brings them above my head. He looks over at River and then they’re flipping me onto my stomach.
I lie on the floor, Eli holding me in place with a hand to the back of my neck. The wood is cool against my heated cheek and my hard nipples press into the floor. I watch River in the mirrored doors of the closet as he walks over to the curtains.
Eli chucks him his penknife and River cuts the rope tiebacks holding the heavy cream drapes in place. He walks back over and drops to his knees beside me then pulls my arms behind my back.
I struggle as he loops the rope around my wrist but then Eli picks up the pen knife.
He rests the blade against the back of my neck, and I go still as he trails it across my skin, tracing the fading ink of Jude’s designs. “You lost Freya, don’t be a fucking brat.”
With the way Eli’s been avoiding me, this is the most attention I’ve gotten from him in weeks and some part deep inside of me longs for this. For his darker, more vicious side.
He carries on drawing on my skin with the tip of the knife and I gulp air, my mouth dry. I know he won’t cut me but I don’t dare move a muscle while River winds the rope tight around my arms all the way up to my elbows.
When he’s finished, they pull me up to standing and turn me so I’m facing River with Eli at my back.
River reaches out and wraps my braid around his hand. He tugs on it, tilting my head back. When the pressure doesn’t stop it takes me a moment to realize what he’s doing. He’s forcing me to my knees, putting me exactly where he wanted me in the first place. I try to resist but with my arms tied behind my back I lose balance and buckle to the floor.
River keeps a grip on my hair, so I’m forced to look up at him. “Have I proved to you yet that I’m not going anywhere? That you can fight me and fuck up as much as you want but we’re not letting you go.”
Tears sting my eyes. I’m not sure I’d figured out that’s why I’d been fighting him.
River drops to his knees.
I blink and he wipes away a tear with his knuckles and cradles my cheek.
“I shouldn’t have said what I said. I shouldn’t have walked out and I’m sorry. I was mad, but that’s no excuse. I’m so fucking sorry, Freya.”
I hiccup on my breath. “I should have told you about the messages,” I whisper.
“Yes. You should have.” His eyes darken with heat. “But don’t worry, next time you think to hide something from me you’re going to remember what I’m about to do to you and think again.”
My stomach flips, the threat sending tingles between my thighs.
River stands. “Get her up and on the bed,” he says to Eli. “Her back to your chest.”
Eli pulls me up by the rope around my arms. He maneuvers me into the middle of the bed and sits behind me, his back against the cream cushioned headboard. His hands drop to my waist, and he tugs me back so I’m settled between his thighs, my bound arms compressed between us. It’s not overly comfortable but I guess that’s the point.
Eli unbuttons my jeans and River drags them down my legs. They leave my panties on, and Eli hooks his feet inside my ankles, drawing my legs just a little wider than hip width apart.
River stands up again and when his hands drop to his belt, my heart thunders. Oh, fuck.
The leather whispers against the fabric of his pants as he takes it off. I don’t like the fact I’m not on my back right now.
River folds the belt over and wraps his fist around the buckle. My skin tingles and I try to bring my legs together, but Eli keeps them open with his.
He threads his hands around my neck and interlocks his fingers across my throat. He doesn’t use much pressure, just keeps my head in place against his chest.
River strolls around to the side of the bed, his belt dangling from his hand.
“Did I mention I was sorry?” I ask, eyeing the black leather.
The corner of River’s lips ticks up. “Nice try, darling.”
I wet my lips, my throat pressing against Eli’s fingers as I swallow.
The bed dips as River places one knee on the mattress by my hip. He rests his free hand on the inside of my upper thigh and trails the end of the folded belt over my now damp panties. “What are your rules, Freya?” he asks, his eyes on my core.
I stare at the belt. My skin pricks from my head to my toes and instinct has me wanting to struggle, to beg, to never fucking lie to River again.
I’m bound too tight to get out of this now, my arms behind my back, my legs spread open, and Eli’s hands on my throat. I steady myself and answer River’s question. “No more lies, no more secrets, and no more running.”
River nods to himself. “Three rules, three strokes. You’ll name them after each one.”
I tense and shut my eyes, but they fly open the second the belt hits its target.
I scream, fire burning my pussy. My back arches, pushing my throat farther into Eli’s hands and restricting my air. A broken sob falls from my lips and my eyes water. I try to curl my legs up to protect myself, but Eli keeps them locked down.
I shake.
River strokes his thumb back and forth over my inner thigh as I come down and compose myself, but his tone is firm. “The rule, Freya.”
“No lies,” I say, my voice raw.
The belt wooshes through the air and the second hit has me choking. Even if Eli’s hands weren’t cutting off my air every time I arch my back, the pain is so much I don’t have the capacity to breathe. But as the burn eases, a throbbing heat spreads from my core. I curl my toes and squeeze my eyes shut, trying to catch my breath as need unfurls inside of me.
The back of River’s hand strokes my soaked panties and I hiss. “No secrets,” I whisper.
His palm goes back to my thigh. “One more,” he says.
I’m trembling.
Eli kisses the side of my forehead.
I press myself farther into his chest and take a deep breath.
The third stroke is the worst. The thin panties provide little protection, and the force is bruising but the moment the belt lands on my clit my climax tears through me.
I finally manage to draw my legs together and I get one second of relief for my burning core before River knocks my knees apart and wedges himself between my thighs.
My own blood rushes in my ears and I barely hear the sound of the zipper as he frees himself, rips off my panties, and thrusts inside of me.
Each stroke chafes against my abused cunt in the best way and I whimper in Eli’s arms as River takes me.
The pad of his thumb finds my clit and he rolls it in circles until I’m teetering on the edge of a cliff. River lowers his face to mine.
“Please,” I murmur against his lips. “Please, Sir.”
He stops moving, holding just the tip of his hard cock inside of me, his thumb hovering above my clit.
I cry out.
“What’s your third rule?” River demands.
“No running,” I say, rushing the words, frenzied and desperate. “No more lies, no more secrets, no more running.”
River growls. “You’re going to be the fucking death of me.” He plunges his thick length back inside of me and pinches my tortured clit.
Eli dips his head and whispers in my ear. “Look at you, being such a good little pain slut for us.”
My eyes roll back as I come apart, the two of them launching me into the stratosphere, so high up I might never come back down.
River keeps fucking me, punishing my pussy, his grip bruising my hips.
Eli’s fingers find my diamond-hard nipples and they send me crashing into another orgasm before River finally stills and pulses inside of me.
His hot cum fills me and I moan as he pulls out, his seed dripping from my throbbing pussy.
Eli unlocks his fingers from around my throat and River cradles my head. “No more breaking any rules, Freya. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir.”
River holds my gaze for a moment then nods.
Eli moves me forward and cuts the ropes loose. He digs his thumbs into my shoulder blades, easing the ache.
I groan.
They lay me on my back and the comforter feels like heaven after being restrained for so long.
River disappears into the bathroom and once he’s cleaned both of us up, he unscrews a small pot and spreads aloe over my still pulsing pussy. It stings at first and I hiss but then the cool gel soothes the burning and I’m grateful.
River lies down beside me and traces Jude’s illustrations on my body.
Eli takes a shower, and the white noise of the water must send me to sleep because the next thing I know, he’s fully dressed and heading for the door.
“Don’t go,” I plead, still feeling frazzled and needy.
He hesitates, his head down, one hand holding the edge of the door. Eventually he lifts his head and looks at me. “I’ll be back,” he says, except I don’t believe him.
My heart aches and I desperately wish my third rule applied to him too because River may have just proved he’s not going anywhere but Eli’s running away from me, and I don’t know how to get him back.