Chapter Twenty #2
Narrowing his eyes at her sitting on the couch instead of on the floor, he grinned slyly. “I wasn’t aware you’d had a promotion, Ily sweetling.” He cocked his head. “Tell me, are you still defying your Master, or did he give you permission to perch on my furniture?”
Marching back to her, I sat down, planted my hand on her thigh, and forced a grin. “I sat her there. It’s, eh...easier access.”
“Oh, yes. I see what you mean.” Victor patted the tan leather beside him and smiled at Rachel. “Come here, my little incubator. Henri is right. I’ll be able to touch you better with you beside me, and...I suppose you will require certain concessions, seeing as you’re currently cooking my heir.”
“Yes, Sir V. Thank you.” Rachel shot Ily a look as she sat elegantly beside Victor. Folding her hands primly in her lap, she cupped her lower belly. The see-through white teddy she wore couldn’t hide the faintest shadow of her bump.
Victor undid the button of his blazer and groaned. “Mon dieu, it’s good to be home.” With a yawn, he cupped Rachel’s breast and ran a thumb over her nipple. It pebbled instantly.
He sighed with a happy smirk. “Have you missed me as much as I’ve missed you, my darling?”
Rachel blushed and fluttered her eyelashes, seduction all over her. “Every day has been miserable without you, Sir V. I’m so glad you’ve come home to me.”
With a sharp twist of his fingers, Victor pinched her breast until she flinched.
“You’re putting it on a little thick, my pet.
” Grabbing her chin, he whispered loud enough for all of us to hear.
“I’m aware you have days where you genuinely care for me.
Once, I would’ve sworn you loved me, but...
you can’t hide the truth in your eyes, and that truth will one day get you killed. ”
Keeping her lashes lowered, she licked her lips. “Yes, Sir V. I’m sorry. And...and you’re right that I do have feelings for you. I...I’m grateful you let me live.”
“Yes, well...there’s always tomorrow to change my mind, isn’t there.
” He kissed her cheek, then let her go. Kicking out his long legs, he smiled in my direction.
“So tell me, Henri. Have you enjoyed having my home all to yourself? Have you been a good boy? Haven’t killed anyone or gone behind my back with yet more secrets? ”
My pulse skipped. “Nope.” I reclined against the soft leather. “I’ve been impeccably well behaved.”
“And Ilyana?” Victor looked at her, a glint appearing in his blue eyes. “Have you behaved yourself?”
Without looking at Victor, she shot Rachel a smile and didn’t reply.
She bristled with defiance.
Yearning snarled through my blood.
Merde, I’d missed this part of her.
I’d forgotten how hard her strength made me.
My palm twitched.
The thought of punishing her all while begging her to continue being rebellious...
Fuck, you’re twisted.
Clearing my throat, I said, “She’s not much of a talker these days, I’m afraid.”
“Oh?” His eyes skated to Ily. “Why is that? Have you finally made headway on those obedience trainings? How far along have you gotten with her discipline?”
The urge to lie came thick.
But he’d see the truth on the cameras.
“To be honest, I’ve been rather busy. I’ve been writing a lot, and time tends to slip away when I’m in that zone, you know?”
A pinch appeared between his eyebrows. “You’re saying you chose work over fucking? Oh no, no, Henri, that won’t do at all. All work and no play is not conducive to a happy environment. I myself work hard but still carve out time to play. It’s sacrilegious not to give in to our urges.”
Ily didn’t say a word.
Victor sniffed. “Of course, I’m happy you’ve had a chance to pursue other interests, but it pains me that you haven’t made better progress with our jewel or looked after yourself.”
Our?
I stiffened.
He wouldn’t...would he?
Icy water shot down my back at the thought of him asking for a turn with Ily now that he was home.
When I didn’t—couldn’t—reply, he added, “What happened to the ownership levels we spoke about? Are you ever going to instil good behaviour, or do I have to do it?”
I tried to come up with an answer that would satisfy him.
I couldn’t tell him the thought of her broken scared the living shit out of me.
How was I supposed to discipline and dominate her when I wanted to keep her as vibrant and violent as possible?
You don’t.
It would be an open pass to shatter her.
Glancing at the fading shades of yellow and green on her skin, I muttered, “It took a while for her to heal.” I shrugged.
“Her bruises were extensive. My bicep also took a while to knit together, and my ribs still hurt. I figured a small time of abstinence would be a good thing.” Smiling, I squeezed her knee, making her jump.
“But now that you’re back, the urge to play is returning quicker than I anticipated. ”
I hated that was true.
It’d been a long month of no sex.
And now...my body had a hunger growling deep within it. Heat throbbed between my legs, and my stomach twisted with other sensations, not just sickness.
“That’s because you still don’t trust yourself.
” Victor clucked his tongue. “I represent the freedom you’re still not brave enough to take.
Come now, Henri. I would’ve expected you to be over that little obstacle of your subconscious.
” He sighed almost sadly. “I don’t like the thought of you struggling.
I don’t like the idea of you being lonely all on your own.
Tell you what. We will spend the evening together, just the four of us.
What do you say?” He smiled kindly. “We can catch up, have a few drinks, maybe a few fucks. I’m happy to be home but I’m not in any rush to hang out with those ingrates.
I’m still annoyed at them, but you...” He bowed his chin.
“You—the brother of my greatest enemy—have somehow become my friend.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Your friend?”
“I know. Shocking to me too.” He chuckled.
“While I was away, I had time to think, and...my conclusions took me by surprise. I thought I was beyond the need of a genuine friend. Those with that label surround me. I have many acquaintances all around the world and some in very powerful positions that enable me to live the life I do, but...” He sighed.
“Until you came along, I wasn’t aware how empty those relationships were. ”
I blinked.
I had nothing to say.
My mind completely shut down, unsure how to play this.
“Here.” Victor snatched the black and silver bag he’d placed by his thigh. “I bought this for you.” He tossed it in my direction.
Catching it, I cocked my head. “Been shopping while hunting, Vic?” Catching his eyes and ignoring Ily beside me, I forced myself to ask, “Where have you been? Where did you find your new jewels?”
He shrugged with a secretive smile. “I will admit business has been good. And not just in my safari for new gems. It’s been a good month all round.”
“Care to share?”
He chuckled. “Always so curious.”
I did my best to remember how to play this game. I forced a chuckle. “I think you mean nosy.”
He laughed louder. “Yes, your nose is definitely rather large.”
“It seems your guests missed you.” I forced more small talk. “I overheard them taking bets last night on how many jewels you’d return with.”
“Oh? And what figure did you wager on?”
“I didn’t.”
“Shame.” He swiped a finger over his bottom lip. “You say my guests missed me, but did you?”
“Like one misses a root canal,” Ily quipped under her breath.
She flinched as if she hadn’t meant to say anything.
Rachel made a strangled noise.
Ily’s shock coupled with my brittle mood made a half grunt, half chuckle escape my lips.
Not funny, you idiot.
Fuck.
Ily shot me a look.
Something blistering, burning passed between us.
Victor sniffed. “If you missed me that much, Ilyana, perhaps I should reward your affection with a ride, hmm?”
She sucked in a breath.
My heart stopped.
Victor didn’t move, but his smile turned sharp. “I think you both got a tad too comfortable in my absence. All work and no play equals unruly, naughty jewels.”
Balling my hands, I growled with far too much truth. “She’s exactly how I want her.”
Ily threw me a bewildered look before dropping her gaze to her knees.
Victor scowled. “I see your argumentative self is still flourishing, mon ami. You’re like two peas in a pod.”
That damn sickness rushed up my gullet. “Sorry, Vic. I just mean she’s—”
“As spicy as ever.” Victor shrugged away whatever he’d been thinking. “No matter. I’ve grown rather used to her audacity. It’ll be a sad day when you finally whip that flagrant rudeness out of her. I admit...I do enjoy her spirit.”
Once again, my voice deserted me.
“Go on, Henri.” He arched his chin at the forgotten bag in my hands. “Open it. It’s merely a trifle for my favourites.”
“Favourites?”
“Of course. You and your little nightmare make this place highly entertaining.” Shifting his smile to Rachel, he commanded softly. “You may kneel now, my pet.”
“Yes, Sir V.” Rachel instantly folded off the couch, her breasts bouncing a little beneath her teddy. She was a stunning woman, but everything about her subservience turned me off.
I hated that Ily had adopted such traits.
That she’d thought the way to seduce me was to be like them when the opposite was true. If she’d slapped me instead of kneeled for me? Kicked me instead of ‘accidentally’ dropped her towel? Fuck, the past month would’ve been a very different story.
Ily and Rachel shared another look, and without a word, Ily dropped elegantly to the carpet and bowed her chin. She went without my command. She went because Rachel did.
The urge to drag her onto the couch was unbearable.
The desire to slap her awake from whatever submission she thought I wanted had my teeth clenching and cock twitching in my jeans.