Chapter Twenty #3
I wished I could reverse time and never hug her the night she was high. Never kiss her. Never meet her at the club because every day I spent in her company, I died a little more. I died because I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe because she’d stolen everything.
Victor eyed Ily kneeling demurely, her slouchy jumper puddling around her thighs. He huffed. “For a woman as beautiful as you, you’re always so determined to hide. Pity.”
I needed his attention off her, but Ily continued to dig her own grave. “For a man as sick as you, you somehow remain alive. Pity.”
Rachel coughed.
Victor scowled.
And lightning bolts of savage lust shot right between my legs.
There she was again.
The girl who blazed.
The jewel who burned me alive.
Fuck, she was otherworldly when she let her temper free.
I felt so connected to her—dragged into her scalding energy as it tattooed embers on my heart.
“I see your tongue has not been tamed in my absence.” Victor sighed as a staff member entered, carrying a tray with two beers, two waters, and a big bowl of french fries.
Doling out the beer to me and Victor and the water to Rachel and Ily, the guy placed the fries on the coffee table and slipped out the door again, leaving us to a tense silence.
Ily broke it with a sneer. “And like I said, I see you’re still breathing...unfortunately.”
Victor snickered around a mouthful of fries. Chasing it with some beer, he smirked. “Oh, Ilyana...are you so sure you wish to spar with me?” His pupils dilated in interest.
I made the mistake of sipping the cold, crisp IPA.
I choked.
Fuck.
This was exactly what I’d hoped to avoid.
Out of all the moments I wanted her to be submissive, this was it.
With trembling hands, I placed the beer on the table and ripped open the bag. Anything to change the subject or stop his intrigue. “I wasn’t expecting a gift, Vic.”
Almost reluctantly, Victor shifted his stare to me. His posture softened, and he sipped his beer again. “Like I said, it’s merely a trifle. I keep suggesting we have a session in the snuffbox, and now that I’m home, we’ll make it happen. How about tomorrow? You can use your new friend.”
“New friend?”
“Open it.”
Rachel suddenly looked up and caught my stare. Her icy-blue eyes blazed, narrowing with things I couldn’t unravel. Her gaze slipped from mine to Ily. The two girls shared a glance before they stared at the carpet.
What the hell was that?
What was I missing because I was sure as hell missing something.
Whatever it was, Peter was in on it too.
The way he thumped his fist over his heart had to be some sort of acknowledgement.
What the fuck are they up to?
Ily stayed stiff on her knees as I fisted the bag and looked inside.
Instinct made me jerk away.
Snake.
Peering closer, I rolled my eyes at my stupidity.
No, not a snake.
A whip.
Holding my breath, I reached in and wrapped my fingers around the leather braided handle. So soft. So smooth. The perfect width and length for my hand as if Victor took measurements of my palm and had this especially made for me.
Pulling it out, the tight coil stayed in a neat circle thanks to the black ribbon knotted around its length. The dark brown tannins released an oaky, earthy scent. It filled my nose with a thousand urges to swing it and hear it sing.
Stroking the tip where it ended in a nasty forked lash, I hefted the weight and despised that, once again, Victor had seen a weakness and toyed with it. “Thank you.” I cleared my throat. “It’s stunning.”
“And it will deliver stunning results too.” He smiled at Ily. “Now you. Reach into the bag and take out your gift.”
I tensed for her to say something derogatory in return, but she merely soared higher on her knees, dove her hand into the bag on my lap, and pulled out a box with a glass lid and two items nestled in black velvet.
Her eyes narrowed on the present before shooting hate at Victor. “Yet again, you’ve found a way to take something I love and ruin it.”
“I admit...it’s a talent.” Victor chuckled.
“May I?” I quirked an eyebrow, reaching for the box.
She offered it up to me. “Why even bother asking? It’s meant for you more than me.”
“On the contrary.” Victor grinned. “It’s for both of you.”
Opening the glass lid, I ran my fingertips over two long, thick crystals. Carved into the shapes of veiny phalluses, both of them were garishly obscene.
“Rose quartz and obsidian,” Victor said. “I suggest you use the smaller one in her ass to stretch her, mon ami.” He threw me a conspiratorial look. “Preparation is key, yes?”
Images of pinning Ily down and taking her in that way exploded in my mind.
Once I thought it, fuck me, I wanted it.
Badly.
“Why two?” I swallowed hard.
“To stretch both holes at once, of course. Fuck her with both or fuck her with one. The choice is, as always, yours.”
Standing suddenly, Victor grabbed another handful of fries.
“Right, that’s enough of chit-chat. I’m going to shower away my travels, have a quick massage by my lovely Rachel, and then...
I’ll send my butler to find you. I’m tired but horny so we’ll share a private dinner in my personal chambers before I retire.
” He huffed happily. “I never let anyone up there, so I hope you appreciate the invitation. If I’m honest, I’m feeling all round very content.
My business went well. The energy in my home is balanced.
And I have a true friend who needs some fatherly guidance.
” Tugging Rachel’s leash, he smiled. “I look forward to tonight, Henri. We both need a good fuck so tomorrow we can play all day in the snuffbox.”
“See you soon.” I gave him the best smile I could as he left with Rachel in tow.
The moment the door closed behind him, Ily let out a breath.
Our eyes met.
And the dark depression grabbed me all over again.