Chapter 6
6
E lodie
Once again, I wake up in a strange but beautiful space. Jaeger’s bedroom is dim and contains nothing but the gigantic bed I’m lying in and two matching bedside tables with lamps. No other furniture. But the sheets and blankets are soft and smell like him.
There are worse places to wake up. I try to sort through everything that happened—the night in the woods, my return to the apartment, Margot leaving with the kids—and my brain stutters when it gets to Jaeger’s body count.
I’ve never seen a murder before. Much less two. It makes the violence he committed against Mr. Wilson seem friendly by comparison. And at that moment, that violence had been the worst I’d ever seen.
I have to be careful. I’m in the wolf’s lair with no way to escape. At least until my ankle is feeling a little better. The last thing I remember is Jaeger carrying me into his penthouse. The place was dark but I got a sense of how vast it is, and how empty. It’s like this bedroom, furnished in a modern style but with no personal touches. He might as well be living in a hotel.
There’s a glass of water on the bedside table next to my pain meds. Two pills are sitting in the open cap. I take them and scoot to the edge of the bed so I can go to the bathroom.
Once again, Jaeger appears without a sound to alert me that he’s close. How does he always appear when I most need him?
“Sleep well?” he asks. He looks wide awake and alert, the bastard.
My bladder is screaming, and I’m not fully awake, so I just grunt and hold up my arms.
He comes and picks me up, carrying me to a gorgeous bathroom with black and gray marble floor and walls, a sleek white tub, and a cavernous shower area. He leaves me on the toilet in the private alcove, and through the door, I hear the sound of water turning on.
He returns to help me hobble to the bath. I bite back a squeal of delight when I see the tub filling with bubbles. I don’t stop to ask why a mafia thug has a brown-sugar-scented bubble bath in his luxury bathroom. It either came with all the expensive, modern furnishings, or he bought it for me. The thought that he ordered things for me makes my belly quiver, and I don’t want to dwell on that too long.
He lets me lean on him so I can strip off the cami top and underwear I wore to bed, and I sink into the warm water with a groan. He sits on a stool beside me, watching me with that satisfied curve to his lips.
I don’t even care that I’m naked and he’s fully clothed. Most of the time we’ve spent together, we’ve been in various states of undress.
It’s a bit weird when he produces a washcloth and, instead of handing it to me, proceeds to wash me himself.
My cheeks heat from the hot bath water and also the way he takes his time rubbing the washcloth over my skin. I remember how he washed me in the shower after our primal play. He seems to love the aftercare, but it’s so intimate that I find it hard to meet his bright blue gaze. I fight the urge to shy away.
The washcloth swirls lower and lower, washing my belly on its way down between my legs.
“I can do it,” I gasp and catch his wrist. But he doesn’t relinquish the washcloth, and I’m not strong enough to wrestle it out of his hands. He holds my gaze with that smirk on his handsome face and rubs the cloth between my legs. I shudder under his perfect touch.
All too soon, he’s pulled the washcloth away. I slip deeper into the water as he washes down my legs and examines my swollen ankle.
“Atticus is coming by to examine you again,” Jaeger says.
It’s only been a day since the doctor saw me. I haven’t even had a basic checkup for years, and now I’m getting multiple doctor visits within twenty-four hours.
But Jaeger’s in charge, so I say nothing.
“I have something to show you.” He pulls out his phone and holds it up so I can see the screen.
It’s a picture of Janie smiling in a sunny yard, Tyson bent over and playing in the grass behind her. They’re both surrounded by tall plants staked with colorful sticks. Tomato plants, I realize, and then I understand what I’m looking at. This is Aunt Carol’s backyard and garden. The picture is from this morning.
“They made it.” My voice comes out choked up. They’re okay.
“My men decided it would be safer for them to drive through the night. Your aunt was surprised to see them, but she welcomed them immediately, and they’ve settled right in.”
I study the picture, drinking in the kids’ smiles. They look right at home.
“They’ll have new identities soon as well,” Jaeger says. “No one will be able to find them.”
My worry rears its head. “Margot has MS. She needs meds, insurance. If she can’t?—”
“Hey.” Jaeger sets his hand on my knee. Under his touch, the anxious flutters calm. “It’ll be okay. We’ll make sure she’s set up with a doctor. In the meantime, Atticus can prescribe what she needs from here.”
Another benefit of having a mafia doctor on call.
The rush of relief leaves me dizzy. My biggest problem was solved, just like that.
“Thank you,” I say. Without thinking, I reach up and cup the back of his neck, pulling him close so I can press my lips against his. I’m dripping soapy water on the back of his shirt, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He slants his head and takes control, plunging his tongue into my mouth. My nipples harden, and by the time he breaks the kiss, I’m panting.
He brushes bubbles off my chest. “Bunny,” he murmurs and slides his hand lower. This time, I don’t stop him. I lean back and open my legs, accepting his skilled touch on my folds. He knows just how to press, to rub, but in the end, it’s the intense gleam in his eyes that sends me over the edge.
And then, his hand is gone, and he’s standing up to strip off his T-shirt and jeans. I’m dazed, my insides still quivering, when he lifts me out. Water and foam flood over the beautiful tile and plushy bath mats, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He sets me on the marble vanity and moves closer to position his cock at my entrance, ignoring my protests.
“Jaeger, no. I can’t, my ankle?—”
“Shhh.” He palms the underside of my right thigh. “Relax, bunny. I’ll do all the work.”
And he thrusts inside.
Jaeger
She’s soft and warm. I steady her on the countertop, which is the perfect height for me.
Her pussy squeezes my cock. In no time, she has stars in her dark eyes. I lift her lush bottom right off the marble and pump into her.
Her complaint dies with a moan. “Ooooh.”
“Yes, that’s it. Cum for me.” I kiss her forehead until she tips her head back and I can reach her lips. I was careful to step onto a bath mat so my feet won’t slip.
It’s been almost twenty-four hours since I’ve had her, and I can’t go another minute. I’m going to fuck her often, I decide. Several times a day. She’ll need food and rest to keep up, but time will increase her stamina. She’ll live here and want for nothing.
I’ll tell her soon. She seems confused about why she’s here. I should be kind and ease her in, but I’m going as slowly as I can. I want her in my life, in my bed, for always.
I want her to be mine.
My balls tighten, and I slap my hips harder against hers. Her inner muscles clench on my cock. My hands are occupied, holding her suspended in the air, so I don’t have a hand free to find her clit, but I angle my hips so my lower belly rubs her the right way. She gasps, shuddering with an orgasm. I keep pounding into her, my own orgasm rising.
Her arms are around my neck, squeezing tight. Her beautiful breasts rub my chest. But it’s the way she curls into me, clinging like I’m her lifeline, that sends me over.
I want to be her rock in the storm. Her everything. She’s the only one who has ever thanked me. She kissed me, and for a blissful second, I was a hero.
I want more.
But there’s one obstacle to me claiming Elodie. I’ve sworn an oath to Fraternitas, and we’re no ordinary brotherhood. I’ll need the approval of the Devil and my brothers before I officially claim her. I need to do this right. I am a loyal soldier, but I won’t tolerate anyone taking Elodie from me.
Nothing will stop me from possessing my sweet prey.
Elodie
For the second day in a row, I’m eating breakfast in bed with the man who paid to chase and fuck me in the woods. This time, I have no idea why.
“What are you doing?” I ask. I’m naked in bed, propped up against the pillows. Jaeger’s in jeans and nothing else, with a tray of food on his lap.
“Feeding you.” Intense with concentration, Jaeger scoops up some scrambled eggs and carefully guides the fork to my mouth. “Open.”
I squirm at the humiliation of being fed like a baby but give in and obey. I chew and swallow so I can keep questioning him. “I mean, why am I here? In your home… penthouse?” This place is amazing, but it doesn’t feel like a home. It’s nice, but there’s zero personality. The first thing I’d do if I lived here is buy some knickknacks and throw pillows, maybe an indoor fern.
“Because I want you here.” His lips quirk upward. “And you’re hurt, so you can’t leave.”
I growl deep in my throat.
“Did you just growl at me? Bunny…” he says with so much fondness I want to punch him. He’s moved himself up my People I Want to Kill list. He’s not at the top, but the day is young.
“Do you want to go back to your apartment?” he asks.
I don’t, of course, but I can’t admit that to him. He’ll use it as an argument to convince me to stay.
And why? What does he want with me? Other than fuck me and then feed me breakfast while I’m naked and he’s not?
I’m afraid to ask outright.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll go down for murder? For the two guys?”
“What guys?” He frowns as he spreads strawberry jam on a fluffy-looking biscuit.
“The ones you threw down the stairs.” Watching him wipe those men out was the most intense moment of my life. Chilling… and a little thrilling. But apparently, Jaeger’s already forgotten it.
“No.” He scoffs and feeds me the biscuit. I should be freaking out right now because Jaeger not only committed a double homicide in front of me but is shrugging it off completely. And it looks like the cops will, too.
Instead, I’m eating the softest buttery biscuit I’ve ever had right from his hand. I don’t know where he found Southern-style biscuits in New Rome, but I could kiss him for it.
Again. But he’d get the wrong idea.
Again.
“What if Mr. Wilson talks?—”
“He won’t talk. He won’t do anything. Neither will anyone else.” He wipes crumbs away from my face with a napkin and leans in to kiss the side of my mouth. His lips taste sweet, so I must have had some strawberry jam clinging to mine. The kiss quickly deepens, his tongue sweeping into my mouth, and I’m lost in the waves, going under?—
I plant my hands on his bare chest and push. I can’t budge him, but it gets his attention.
“This is supposed to be over. I fulfilled the contract.” I wave at my chest, which is bare because the blankets have slipped. “You got yours, so?—”
He cups the back of my neck. “I want to take care of you.”
That shuts me up. I let him go back to kissing me because I can’t breathe. I’ve never had anyone say that to me. He sounds determined.
Just when I think he’s going to push the blankets aside and fuck me again, he leans back and leaves the bed to clear the breakfast tray.
“I’m not in the market for a boyfriend,” I tell him warily when he returns.
“Good. I’m not a boy.” He gives me a dangerous smile. A thrill runs through my body because my pussy is stupid when it comes to him.
I sigh. “Then when do I get my money?” If Jaeger insists I stay with him, I will until my ankle’s a bit more healed. Then, I can use the money I earned to escape.
“Today.” He pulls out his phone and starts texting. “I’ll make the arrangements. St. James should be back in the city by now.”
I stiffen because St. James is the scariest guy I’ve ever met. The fact that he wears expensive suits only makes him more intimidating. I’ve survived working at a business run by Fraternitas by keeping my head down. St. James is my boss’s boss’s boss, and I knew instinctively that I shouldn’t attract his attention.
But now I’ve attracted Jaeger’s, for better or worse. And while my ankle heals, I’m stuck with him. I might as well go with it and use this time to plan my escape.
“He says the money’s ready for you at Inferno. We can go together to pick it up.”
“What?” I was told the money would be deposited into my account. I’m not going to push back against a man like St. James, but I blanch at the thought of returning to my place of work with a hurt ankle and Jaeger at my side. “What am I going to wear?”
And that’s how I find myself getting carried into a high end fashion shop, the sort Margot’s model friends would work at while they tried to make it big.
“You need to stop doing this,” I complain, even as I wind an arm around his neck to steady myself in his arms. Shoppers turn and stare at us.
“You can’t walk.” He doesn’t seem to mind my grousing. He just looks amused. “And you said you needed clothes.”
I’m wearing the joggers I wore yesterday and one of Jaeger’s shirts. It’s huge on me, so I knotted it in the back. “I thought that was your plan. Keep me naked,” I mutter.
“That’s still my plan. I figured you would prefer this.”
I shut up because of all the options, this is the best one. It’s not a great idea to return to my apartment, and I didn’t take any of my stuff. Not that I have anything worth taking. Everything I own could fit into a suitcase, and I’d be fine if I had to leave it all behind.
I didn’t expect Jaeger to head straight to an exclusive shop on 5 th Avenue. With his tattooed sleeves, he’d attract attention even if he wasn’t carrying me bridal-style through the fancy store.
Over by a jewelry display, three skeletally thin ladies turn and stare. One of the ladies has a tiny dog in her purse, and it starts barking as Jaeger passes. He turns his head and gives the dog a long, hard look until it cringes. The ladies gasp and scuttle away.
The salespeople freeze when Jaeger approaches. “She needs clothes,” he tells them. I wave hello and cross my arms over my chest.
The head salesperson glances down at Jaeger’s skull ring and flies into action. “Oh, uh, yes… yes, of course.”
In no time, I’m settled into a comfy armchair and given a glass of champagne. Jaeger takes point, standing beside me and ordering the staff around. Clothing piles up around me. I feel like Cinderella, but instead of a fairy godmother, I got a giant, scary godfather.
“That too.” Jaeger points to a nearby mannequin displaying a slinky cocktail gown in white sequins, and I have to speak up.
“I do not need a dress,” I argue. “Besides, that won’t fit me.”
“We’ll have it fitted,” the salesperson assures me. “We just need your measurements.”
I open my mouth to say, “I can’t afford that,” but Jaeger speaks first. “Good. Take the measurements.”
The salesperson’s eyes light up. “And undergarments, what are we thinking?”
Jaeger turns to me, silencing me with his heated stare. “Lingerie. Lots of it.”
“This is ridiculous,” I say when I’m back in his arms, being carried out of the shop and wearing a brand-new outfit. Jaeger paid for everything. I didn’t ask how much it cost, but the head salesperson had a big smile on her face when she promised to have the bags delivered to his penthouse.
Outside, the shop windows reflect the sight of Jaeger carrying me. I look good in my new vegan leather skirt and off-the-shoulder sweater. Jaeger is sexy in a black leather jacket, but he always looks sexy.
The worst part about him carrying me is how good he smells. And I’m up close and personal with his perfect profile, the golden stubble on his high cheekbones. Even though I’ve only known him for two days, my body is primed and ready. I’m soaking my new lace thong.
“We need to stop and get crutches,” I argue. “You can’t carry me everywhere.”
“Yes, I can.”
He’s certainly strong enough.
“This isn’t practical. I’ll tell Atticus. He’ll agree with me.”
“Atticus can’t see you until tonight. There was an emergency at the fight club.”
I bite my top lip. The underground fight club is something Fraternitas is famous for. File it under stuff I don’t want to know.
“You just like carrying me.”
“You’re right, bunny.” He smiles with such warmth I have to look away.
Up ahead is a popular department store. “At least take me there to buy some more makeup,” I grumble to distract myself from him.
“You don’t need it,” he says, but he makes the detour.
“Yeah, but your place could use some throw pillows.” I point to a display in the home goods section.
He halts, staring at the display. “What is their purpose?”
I roll my eyes. “They make things homey. Have you seen where you live? I’ve been in corporate lobbies with more personality.”
He sets me down in an armchair and waves over a sales associate. “Pick what you want.”
“Are you serious?”
In answer, he picks up two candles. One is pine-scented, and the other reads ‘spiced apple cider.’ “Red or green?” he asks.
In the end, we get both candles, a bunch of throw pillows, and knickknacks. It’s weird to decorate for a Fraternitas enforcer, so I pretend I’m window shopping with Margot.
Jaeger’s penthouse is going to look like my favorite hygge magazine when I’m done with it. Will he look at it and remember me when I’m gone?
I can’t think about that right now.
After the home goods section and make up counter, I raise my arms for Jaeger to lift me. “I think we’ve done enough damage for today. I’ll pay you back for the makeup.”
“No, you won’t.” He leans in and nuzzles my neck, smelling the perfume sample I tried.
I shiver, and the tingles spread through my core. “Stop it,” I whisper.
“Stop what?” His lips ghost past my ear. “This?” He bows his head and kisses the spot where my pulse is pounding.
I turn my head. Unfortunately, we’re in the jewelry section of the store, and I spy a ring that makes me gasp.
“What is it?” Jaeger raises his head, as alert as ever.
“Nothing,” I say. But I can’t take my eyes off the ring. It’s made of delicate rose gold, with tiny, tear-shaped diamonds surrounding a pink center stone.
He moves us closer. “That one?” He studies the display.
I can’t say anything. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.
“Can I help you, sir?” an attendant asks.
“She wants to try that ring.” Jaeger nods to it.
“No, I don’t.” I curl my hands into fists. I’m close to crying for some reason.
The attendant is already taking the ring out of the display case. “Are you sure, Miss?”
“Just try it…” Jaeger tips me so I can offer my hand. The salesman slides it on my ring finger.
It fits perfectly.
“Beautiful,” the salesman gushes.
“I don’t want it,” I whisper. I pull off the ring and hand it back.
Jaeger just responds with a “Hmmm.” I keep my eyes fixed on the black shapes of his tattoos swirling out front under his collar.
After a moment, he moves on. I breathe a sigh when he carries me out of the shop.
“Lunchtime,” he announces. I don’t say anything. I’m trying to unravel my freak-out in the shop. I’m mostly fine with Jaeger literally carrying me off to his home, treating me like I’m helpless, buying me anything I need. Fixing my problems. Fucking me anyway he wants.
What is it about me that I just accept this, but when I see something that I want, I freeze up in fear for no reason? Am I so ground down by life that all I can do is keep my head down, going from problem to problem and just trying to survive?
Will I ever have the courage to reach for what I really want?