Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
Where the hell is she?
She’s been gone for hours. How long can it possibly take to get your hair cut?
I’ve been trying to keep myself busy with work shit that needs to get done, but that’s been ineffective. I can’t concentrate for more than a few minutes, so I shut my laptop with a sigh and stand from my desk.
Asher.
Asher will know what’s going on.
He’s as protective as, if not worse than, me and surely he tracks Anabelle.
I make my way through the manor from my wing over to his, the west wing.
It took every ounce of my willpower to let Rapsody walk out of here after lunch. The fear that she may disappear and not come back like she did once before is a living, breathing nightmare. I made sure to have Anabelle promise not to let Rapsody out of her sight, but it still isn’t enough to satisfy me.
I’m possessive where Rapsody is concerned. More than I should be. More than is healthy, I’m sure.
I walk into Asher’s office without knocking.
He looks up from behind his desk, sees me, and leans back in his chair. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, brother?” A sly grin creases his lips because he fucking knows why I’m here.
Asshole.
“Have you talked to Anabelle?” I shove my hands in my jeans to calm them.
Asher may wear designer suits to work from home, but the fuck if I will.
“I talk to her all the time. In the morning, during the day.” He points toward her desk on the other side of the room. “Nighttime. Well, I don’t talk to her a lot at night, but there is talking.” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Cut the shit, Ash. Have you talked to her since she left?”
He steeples his fingers, enjoying this. “I haven’t. I’m trying to be less… domineering about checking up on her per her request.”
I knew I wasn’t alone. “They’ve been gone for a while.”
He nods.
“Well, can you tell me where they are?”
He purses his lips. “I just told you I haven’t spoken to her.”
I tilt my head. “You expect me to believe you don’t track your wife?”
Asher rolls his eyes and pulls his phone out of his suit pants pocket. I knew it. It’s the same thing I’d do with Rapsody if she had a phone.
After a minute, he looks at me. “Do not tell my wife I have a tracker on her phone.”
I roll my eyes.
“They’re at Black Magic Bar,” he says.
I scowl. “What the hell are they doing there?”
“My assumption would be that they’re having a drink.”
“I don’t like it.” I set my hands on my hips.
Asher chuckles.
“What?”
“I didn’t realize how far you’ve fallen for her. Didn’t think it was possible, if I’m honest.” He holds my gaze for a beat, and we’re both thinking about our shared past and all we endured. “I’m glad to see it though.”
I scowl. “Fuck off.” Then I stalk to the door.
“Remember you didn’t find out from me!” he calls after me because we both know where I’m headed.
I park in the lot beside the bar and step out of my car. When I round the building, I do a double take at a familiar car parked well down the street.
What the hell is Nero doing in town? As a rule, the four of us Voss brothers keep to ourselves in Midnight Manor. We’re not out shooting shit with the townies. I tuck the fact that Nero’s here in the back of my head to deal with later and enter the bar.
My eyes scan the bar, but Rapsody isn’t here. Then I hear her laugh and follow the sound to a woman standing by the end of the bar. That is not the woman who left the manor this morning. Her hair rests on her shoulders. And it makes her look sophisticated and closer to her age. It’s not only her hair; she’s wearing makeup. I’ve never seen Rapsody wear makeup, and I couldn’t care less whether she chooses to wear it or not, but it’s sexy as fuck on her. Gives her a sultry, wanton look that my dick takes notice of.
My attention snags on the drunk douchebag chatting her up. And from the looks of it, even though she and Anabelle appear to be making it clear they’re not interested, this fucker isn’t getting the message. I’m more than happy to help.
Fists clenched at my sides, I approach the bar. Anabelle spots me first, her eyes widening in alarm.
“Rapsody,” she says to get her attention.
But as Rapsody turns toward Anabelle, the man on her left grabs Rapsody’s arm to force her to face him again. Unlike when I was in combat and had control over myself, rage boils inside me, turning me into a pressure cooker about to explode.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” I say right before I remove his grip from Rapsody’s arm and toss him to the side.
Her eyes widen, full of worry.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She nods and lets out a ragged breath.
“What the fuck, man! I was just talking to her!” His words are slightly slurred, but I don’t give a shit if he’s drunk.
No one touches what’s mine.
No one.
“Get out of my sight before I use your face as target practice for my fist.” I attempt to rein in my fury, but it’s proving more difficult with every word out of this guy’s mouth.
“Why don’t you mind your own business, asshole?” he says and steps toward me, puffing out his chest.
This fucker just doesn’t know when to quit. The lion is banging on the cage doors.
“Back off, douchebag. Now apologize to the lady.” I motion to where Rapsody is behind me.
He laughs. “As if. I almost had her talked into coming home with me, didn’t I, sweetheart? She was drooling for this dick.” He punctuates his words by grabbing the limp dick in his jeans.
His words crack the cage doors, and the lion crashes through. I don’t think, I just react. My fist hits him in the face with enough force to knock him to the floor. I straddle his body, falling on top of him and punching him again.
I hold my fist over his bloody face, threatening to continue. “Now tell the lady you’re sorry.”
He turns his head and spits a gob of blood onto the floor. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry.”
“Now get the fuck out of here.” I stand, turning to find Rapsody and Anabelle standing behind me with shocked expressions.
My adrenaline is sky high now, and my thoughts are moving a mile a minute, but even in my state, I detect Rapsody’s horror at what just happened. What I just did.
I flick my gaze to Anabelle. “Go home, Anabelle. I’ve got Rapsody.”
She double-checks by looking at Rapsody quickly. Normally, I’d be mad, but she’s Asher’s wife, and I like the way she’s looking out for Rapsody. Anabelle nods, gathering her purse before heading to the door. Rapsody watches her leave, and for a second, I fear she’s so disgusted by what I did that she’ll ask Anabelle to take her because she’s afraid to be with me, but she doesn’t.
People scatter to their seats in the bar as the idiot drags himself off the floor and makes his way to the exit.
“Go back to whatever you were doing!” I shout.
Everyone diverts their eyes, and murmurs fill the room again.
“Come with me.” I take Rapsody’s wrist and drag her behind me to the washrooms, going into the women’s and locking the door behind us. I’m too amped to wait until we get back to the manor to have this conversation.
I position Rapsody against the wall, staring up at me with her big green eyes that have the power to undo me. The need to show my ownership over her, to prove that she’s mine is scratching to come out.
My hand flies up and grips her chin. She flinches from the blood coating my fingers, but I don’t care. I have to make her see.
“You’re mine,” I growl.
She looks at me for a beat and blinks.
“Say it.” I squeeze her chin a little harder.
“I’m yours.”
“Then why are you looking at me like you’re afraid of me? I would never hurt you, Rapsody. Never. I’d hurt myself before I let anything happen to you.”
She cradles my face with her hand. “I’ve never had anyone stand up for me. If it were my mom, she would have blamed me and said it was my fault. So, thank you.”
I smash my lips to hers. There’s nothing loving or thoughtful about our kiss. It’s frantic and animalistic and demanding.
Rapsody’s hands clutch my shoulders and a moan erupts deep in her throat. My hand trails down her body and under her skirt to find her wet and wanting. I bite her bottom lip harder than intended, and the coppery taste of her blood fills my mouth. I start to pull away, but she grabs my shirt, pulling me back to her. I tease her clit with my fingers, and she becomes liquid heat in my arms.
“I need to take you rough, sweetheart. I need to show you that you’re mine.”
“Please, Kol…”
I take my hand out from under her dress and whip her around to face the wall. She splays her hands beside her head, her cheek pressed against the cool tile wall.
“You’re so ready. Your cunt is practically begging for me.”
“Yes,” she groans, offering her ass to me.
I undo my belt with one hand and push down my jeans far enough for my cock to spring free. I flip up her skirt and rip off her panties, discarding them on the floor. I slide my cock through her folds a few times before lining up with her entrance and savagely thrusting inside her.
She cries out, eyes closed as I take her rough, like an animal that’s been caged for too long. I watch my glistening cock slide in and out of her, covered in her arousal. Then I press my chest to her back so she’s trapped against the wall.
“Who.” I thrust into her. “Owns.” I thrust again. “This.” I thrust another time. “Cunt?” Again, I thrust, but this time, I hold myself inside her until she answers me.
“You.”
“Damn right me.” I plow into her again, changing my angle.
“Oh god,” she groans.
My face falls to her neck. “I’m your god, remember, sweetheart.”
I pull my length from her and step back.
“No!” she cries out.
Hands around her waist, I lead her over in front of the mirror. “Hold on to either side of the sink. I want to see your face when you come.”
She does as I say, always so good at following my instructions. As soon as she’s bent over with her hands on either side of the small sink, I flip her dress back up, exposing her ass, and sink inside her.
Rapsody’s eyes flutter closed as I drag myself in and out of her. My speed increases until the only sound filling the bathroom is our skin slapping together. She’s fucking drenched for me, so much so I’m surprised she’s not dripping onto the floor.
Someone knocks on the door.
“Fuck off!” I shout.
I bend over her and bring my fingers to her swollen clit, and her hips buck. Rapsody whimpers and sinks farther down toward the sink.
“Head up. I want you to watch us.”
Her head bolts up, so much easier now with her short hair, and meets my gaze in the dirty mirror.
I play her clit as though it’s my own personal instrument I’ve been playing for years, knowing just what to do to get her off. In less than a minute, her entire body goes stills before her head drops, and she cries out, climaxing.
Her pussy milks my cock, and with one final thrust, I hold myself in her, spilling inside.
We stand joined, gathering our breath, gathering our wits.
Finally, she raises her head to meet my gaze in the mirror. “Wow. You didn’t hold back.”
I grin at her. “And you took it like a fucking queen.”
I’ve been holding back with her, even on the night I took her virginity, not wanting to push her too far, too fast, for fear that she’d retreat from me. She’s experienced some of what I want to do to her, but we haven’t even scratched the surface yet.
Now, she has a better idea.
I withdraw from her and our mixed arousal drips down her thighs. Rather than getting her some toilet paper like a gentleman would, I rub it into her skin between her legs.
“I’ll lick it off when I get home.”
Intrigue boils in her eyes as she straightens up. She turns and wraps her arms around my neck, kissing me.
I am so fucked. If this woman ever decides to leave me again, I’ll be destroyed.
I want to believe she won’t, but everyone who has ever loved me leaves me.
I really fucking hope she’s the first one who won’t.