Chapter Seventeen
Ramifications
Amy
A million thoughts swirled in her head as he slid the tiny key into the cuff and finally liberated her aching wrist. She snatched the limb away, rubbing her tender skin while he slid the key back into his pocket.
“I fucked things up.” He glanced out of the window, apparently not wanting her to see the pain swimming in his eyes, but she wished he’d just relent and tell her how he really felt. Amy had all but given up on hearing such brutal honesty from Kyle, but since he was in a sharing mood, she’d have appreciated hearing every last bit of his truth. “I know that.”
“You certainly have an unconventional approach, sir.”
Glancing down at her wrist, she double-checked there were no cuts, but just like their owner, the cuffs were hard and unyielding but had left no lasting damage. She knew deep down that Kyle loved her—his actions and words since she’d arrived at Brock Hall were both a testament to his affection—but she’d never guessed the devastating backstory he’d been hiding.
The idea that he’d hidden, surveying her misfortune for years, stung in a way she hadn’t been prepared for. He’d stepped up to play her savior eventually—and for that, she would always be thankful—but only when he deemed it appropriate. Amy had been on the verge of homelessness before his intervention. She’d been at rock bottom before he’d chosen to help, having literally lost everything, save for a few lousy boxes of her possessions.
His plan stabbed at her self-worth, which had already teetered on the verge of collapse before he’d crashed into her life, rocking her to her foundations. If he could be so conniving and callous, how could she trust him going forward? How did she know he wasn’t concealing some other treachery?
“Is there anything I can do to make this better?” A deep crease appeared in his brow. “I want to fix this, Amy.”
She swallowed, trying to ignore the answer resounding it her head— there is no fixing this —and replace it with gratitude. He’d hurt her, but he hadn’t been the cause of her financial hardships, and she knew it.
“You’ve done so much for me already.” The pain of his deceit didn’t make the statement any less true. “You gave me somewhere wonderful to live, and you helped Jonah at his lowest ebb…” She inhaled. “I’m grateful for that.”
“You know helping him wasn’t about controlling you, right?” His lips curled. “I actually really like the kid and thought he deserved a second chance. I wanted to give him that.”
“Yeah.” Clutching the covers to her chest, she didn’t know if she truly believed his altruism, but she wanted to. Whatever his motivations had been, he’d rescued Jonah from a prison sentence and her from the prospect of having both her boys locked away—a reality she’d have found unbearable. As it was, Jonah was free, and apparently, so was Seth. Her brow rose at the thought of her eldest son. She hoped she’d be able to see him soon. “I can never properly thank you for that. The money might not mean much to you, but it’s made a world of difference to my family.”
“There’s no need to keep thanking me, little girl.” He dismissed her gratitude with a flick of his hand. “You’ve more than repaid me with your love and submission, both of which are worth more to me than money. I just want to know how I start to rebuild your trust.”
Her gaze flitted to his face, surveying the lines furrowing as he waited on her verdict. What the hell was she going to do? She didn’t know how she’d come to terms with what he’d told her—the dreadful feeling of violation that he’d been toying with her life from the shadows, deciding whether she was desperate enough for him to intervene—but equally, she couldn’t conceive a world that didn’t involve her charismatic lover.
Aside from her grown-up children, there was no one she loved more than him. The truth was, Kyle was more than only her benefactor—he was her master—and try as she might, there was no getting over him.
She loved him, no matter what the sordid origins of the sentiment. The feelings he stirred were impossible to deny.
“So, where do we go from here, sir?”
It was strange to suddenly be the one with the power in her hands. She was so used to kneeling and waiting for his judgment that the change was as unwelcome as it was disconcerting. Staring at him, all she knew was she couldn’t give him up just to make him pay for his poor choices.
“Where do you want it to go, little girl?” He gulped, clearly struggling with the idea of ceding.
She imagined it was difficult for a man like him—a man always used to being in charge—to have to surrender any element of control in his life.
“I don’t love what you’ve told me, sir, but I want to thank you for being honest.”
“You deserve it.” He shifted on the bed, on the back foot, for possibly the first time in his life. “I wished I could have told you sooner, but there never seemed to be a good time.”
I bet .
When was the opportune time to tell the woman you were bedding that you’d followed her financial demise with personal interest?
She reached for his hand, wanting to console him despite her sardonic monologue. “I can’t be too vexed at you.”
A part of her could hardly believe she was offering him any sort of reprieve, but the truth remained the same—she did love him, and she didn’t want to consider a life without him. If the newfound contrition in Kyle was genuine, she intended to make the most of it. “I suppose your callous control has always been one of the things I find so fascinating about you.”
“Callous control?”
His eyebrow arched, sending excited butterflies flying through her belly. Amy knew that gesture well enough to know what it could mean, but with the tables turned, she was prepared to push her luck.
“ I’m being honest now, sir.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth. “So, I’d appreciate you paying me the same courtesy I paid you.”
“Is that right?” He shook his head at her, his expression brimming with unspoken emotions.
“That is right.”
Her heart hammered faster as she watched his responses. Under usual circumstances, she’d have been skating on thin ice with that tone of voice, but at that moment, she had virtual impunity. How could he condemn her after the things he’d confessed? She was finally able to speak her mind.
“Fair enough.” He chuckled, seemingly releasing some of the tension he’d been holding onto. She noticed it fall from his muscular shoulders, wishing his physique wasn’t so damn distracting. “I’ll give you free rein this one time, little girl.”
“Thank you.” Relief emanated at his reply. She might have the moral high ground, but Kyle would always have the ability to dangle the threat of erotic punishment over her. It was one of his great many powers. “Because I have two questions for you, sir.”
That piqued his interest, his back straightening as he squeezed her fingers lightly. “Two?”
“Yes.” She risked a small smile. “And they’re important.”
“Go on then.” He signaled for her to speak with his free hand. “Let’s hear your important questions.”
She took a deep breath. “First, is there anything else you haven’t told me?”
The idea of a new revelation crawling out from its grave in a few months filled her with dread. Better that he told her while they were focused on intimate honesty. As for what had already been said, she would learn to live with his murky confession. Kyle had been devious but had come to her aid, eventually. She couldn’t forget that. Without him—without his love, money, and favor—she feared what would have become of her. He’d had an agenda, but he’d still saved her.
“Nothing else, little girl.” The warmth in his tone spoke of an easy sincerity she hadn’t witnessed when he’d admitted his terrible truths. He was more relaxed, his mesmerizing eyes large as he replied, and instinctively, she knew she could trust the answer. “I swear it. This conversation is me airing all my dirty laundry with you. I’ve put it all out there, and now it’s up to you.”
“Okay, thank you.” She edged closer, unhindered by the cuffs for the first time in what seemed like hours.
“And your second question?” His arm rose to tug her against him, the feel of his strong limb snaking around her as natural as drawing her next breath. For all their complicated conflict, the connection between them was real and impossible to deny. Even if she had fled from Brock Hall, she would never have gotten far. There was no desire for a life without William Kyle—without his love, attention, and twisted punishments.
“I need to know you love me, sir.”
Amy sensed the strength of feeling stirring inside her. She’d been on her own for so long before Kyle—barely surviving—it was hard to entirely let down her guard and believe his affection was real. Even when Graham had been alive, she’d learned to be emotionally detached, understanding that encompassing tenderness had not been the kind of relationship they’d shared. Standing on the precipice of such vulnerability with Kyle, it was suffocating to realize how exposed she truly was.
“And I mean really love me.” She closed her eyes, steeling herself. “Because if this is only about sex and kink for you, then…” She exhaled. “Well, I’m not sure it’s enough for me.”
“Amy.” The arm around her tightened, his hand shifting to tug at her hair and gently drawing her head backward.
Her eyes flew open at the change of tack, her heart racing as she twisted to look at him.
“How can you even ask? Of course , I love you.” He leaned closer. “I’m absolutely fucking crazy about you. That’s why I was so afraid of telling you and fucking this up. Losing you would kill me.” His voice broke with emotion as he pulled her onto his lap.
She went willingly, ignoring the tangle of ropes at her ankles. At that most pivotal moment, she needed to feel the strength of his embrace.
“I know.” Burying her face into his chest hair, she breathed in his familiar, spicy scent. “But that fear you speak of has encouraged you to hold on to me too tightly. I can’t live like that anymore.” She forced herself to meet his stare. “You know I love the bondage, but I can’t cope with waking to find myself cuffed.” She glanced at the metal in question, all too easily remembering how it felt wrapped around her flesh.
“If you love me, then you have to trust me—when you shower, when you make breakfast— all the time.”
“You’re right.” His hand slid to cradle the back of her neck. “I’m going to work my ass off to prove to you I can be that man.”
Her lips twitched at the passion in his voice. She adored how much he wanted to try for her. “I still want you to be you , though, sir.” The last thing she wanted was for him to lose the sexy edginess she’d always found so alluring. “I’m just saying, let’s do better.”
“Yes.” His mouth skimmed over hers, his lips planting hot kisses on her collar as he went on. “I’m all for better .”
“Sir.” She groaned at his sensual caresses, sensing how easily their tete-a-tete could dissolve into desire. “We should finish talking before we—”
The noise of her message alert interrupted her sentence, inspiring their attention in the device’s direction.
“My phone.” Anxiety simmered as she recalled the way it had buzzed earlier when she’d still been cuffed to the bed. She still didn’t know if it had been Seth or Jonah reaching out.
“Let me get it for you.” He shuffled her from his lap and smiled as he walked around the bed to retrieve it.
“I appreciate that, sir. It seems I’m still a little tied up.” Her hand tugged at one of the ropes still attached to her ankles.
“Mmmm.” His eyes sparkled with indecency as he swooped to collect the device, thrusting it at her before she could object. “Take it. Hopefully, this shows that I do trust you.”
Their fingertips grazed as she collected it from him, electricity sparking as their eyes met. She’d all but forgotten her need for the bathroom.
“Thank you.”
“And to show I mean what I say, I’ll start work on these.” Walking to the bed, he crouched to begin untying the rope from the base of the structure. “Who messaged you?” His attention remained rooted to the knot his fingers were working on as he asked.
Unlocking her phone, she checked her messages. She hadn’t had the opportunity to charge the device for a long time, but thankfully, at thirteen percent, its power was hanging in there. Scanning her inbox, she saw her son’s name.
“It’s Jonah.”
“What does he say?” Kyle asked, discarding the first rope before turning his attention to the second.
Her gaze scanned Jonah’s words in a hurry.
I’ve given Seth Kyle’s address, Mum.
He’s heading to see you both.
Her heart galloped as she reread Jonah’s words, and she sensed the blood draining from her face. Seth was coming to Brock Hall? That could be a problem.
“Oh.”
“What is it?” Kyle’s fingers paused, his focus rising to her face.
“He said his brother is on his way here.” She glanced out of the window, conscious that the dawn had already broken. Somewhere in the middle of their emotional maelstrom of the last few hours, light had seeped its delicate spell over the land again.
“Seth?” Kyle arched a brow at her. “When?”
“He didn’t say.” She sighed. “I wished I could have spoken to him last night, sir.”
Kyle laughed softly. “You weren’t being good enough to take any calls, little girl.”
She eyed him, wanting to argue but realizing there was little point. If Jonah was right, Seth would be arriving at Brock Hall soon, whether they liked it or not.
“Do you mind Seth coming here?” She might as well know how big a mess she’d need to clear up when her son landed on Kyle’s doorstep.
“Your sons are always welcome here, but a little notice might have been nice…” Kyle’s fingers stroked over her bound foot. “After all, you and I are kind of in the middle of something here.”
Aren’t we always?
“Based on the missed calls, he tried to let me know.” She flicked back to her inbox. “And I had another message when you were downstairs. Maybe that was him.”
Finding his name on her device, her tummy lurched at the two unread messages she found. She read the first quickly.
Mum, it’s Seth.
I’m out of jail and I’m here at Brock Hall.
Wanna let me in?
x
“Oh God.” Her hand rose to cover her mouth as she scanned Seth’s second inquiry.
Mum, is everything okay?
“What?” Kyle prompted.
“Seth was here last night.” Her pulse accelerated as she admitted it out loud, her gaze flitting to see what time Seth had sent the missive. “He was here before midnight.”
“But he can’t be.” Kyle glanced around the room as though he expected her eldest son to appear from the en suite. “He’s obviously not here.”
Apprehension furled in Amy’s stomach, threatening to rise as nausea. She was desperate to see Seth again—especially since he’d asked her not to visit him in prison—but the idea of him just turning up there in the middle of the night spelled trouble. ‘Trouble’, it seemed, had become Seth’s middle name.
“Well,” she blew out a breath. “Apparently, he was…”
She was loathed to mention it, but Seth had become something of a master burglar before he was finally put behind bars. The idea that he might have arrived there, not heard back from his mother, and taken matters into his own hands was all too probable. Seth wasn’t like Jonah. He wasn’t compliant, and if he wanted something, he tended to just take it.
Her gaze floated back to meet Kyle’s stare. “Is it possible he let himself in, and we didn’t notice, sir?”
“ Let himself in?” Kyle’s chin rose. “This isn’t a hotel, sweetheart. It’s my house!”
“I know!” She didn’t like the edge to Kyle’s voice. “But you wouldn’t let me talk to him, sir, and if he came here looking for me, he wouldn’t have been easily dissuaded.”
“You’re saying he would break in?” Ignoring the final knot at her ankle, he rose to his full height. “I mean, I have great security, little girl, but it wasn’t designed with convicts in mind.”
“He’s my son, sir!” Offense bubbled at his inference. “And he’s just finished repaying his debt to society.”
“That’s as may be, but you’re saying his first act as a free man might have been breaking into Brock Hall.”
Shit, she was saying that, wasn’t she?
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “Seth isn’t good at hearing the word no.”
You two have that in common.
She stopped short of vocalizing the final line, but she wondered if Kyle could see the implication in her expression.
“For fuck’s sake.” Kyle stretched his neck as though the last few hours had been a trial for him, but Amy wanted to scoff at the idea.
Aside from his sudden urge to confess, he hadn’t been inconvenienced. He hadn’t been the one cuffed to the bloody bedstead for hours or denied access to a toilet.
“I’ll call him.” Frantic to take control of the situation before her lover and eldest son collided in a blaze of egos, she searched for Seth’s number. “Let me speak to him and see where he is.”
“Fine.” Kyle’s jaw clenched as he collected the bucket she’d been forced to endure and carried it to the bathroom. “You do that, but he’s going to have some fucking explaining to do if he’s broken into Brock Hall.”
I know.
She held the words back again, her unease ballooning as she identified Seth’s number. Her fingers trembled as she pressed the button to call it.
There always seemed to be a need for an explanation from someone at the moment. Her thoughts were like a pendulum, swinging from misery to joy, then back to chaos.
Heaving in air, she brought the phone to her ear and waited while the line connected. The sound of the dialing tone burst into life by her ear, dominating her senses as her free hand clawed at the bedding.
Calm down, she willed herself, gazing around the commotion that was Kyle’s once pristine bedroom suite. She’d landed and torn his immaculate world into pieces. Reaching for her hair, she tugged her fingers through her tangled tresses. I can’t wait to get myself cleaned up.
With the exception of the one remaining knot, she was finally free of Kyle’s bondage, and as soon as the business with Seth was ironed out, she was determined to get in the shower and freshen up. God only knew how long she’d been stuck there, tethered to his bed. Despite baring his soul, Kyle had a lot to answer for.
“Come on, Seth,” she whispered, her gaze darting to the bathroom door to check Kyle hadn’t returned. “Pick up the phone. Let’s get this sorted.”
She swore the noise of the tone grew louder as she waited, her nervousness heightening with each fresh ring. It took a moment before she realized the tone was being echoed by a new noise beyond the bedroom door. Concentrating on what she could hear, her heart threatened to leap into her throat as she finally recognized what it was—the sound of another phone ringing.
She barely had time to register what that meant before the line went dead, and the bedroom door creaked open a fraction. She held her breath, pulling the covers to her chest as time suspended around her, and there, emerging from the shadows of the hallway, was her eldest son.