32. Millie
I’d never been a big drinker. I didn’t enjoy the taste, but I also wasn’t a fan of not being in complete control. Hell, when I was sick, mind foggy from the sinus pressure or medicine, I hated not being my normal sharp self. Though, after tonight, I planned to cut even that small amount of alcohol from my life.
The couples laughing and shouting around me were basically one drink away from being sloppy drunk. Oh, wait, spoke too soon. A woman that just exposed both her breasts in the corner, allowing a man to suck on them while she was fucked from behind… she was for sure sloppy drunk. Though no one seemed to mind but me. Probably because I’d sipped the same glass of water that was made to look like a cocktail—thank you, Killian—for the last two hours.
A high-pitched scream reverberated through the room, where we watched from our perch along the wall, making me tense. I watched in frozen shock as a man tossed the woman over his shoulder and marched toward the powder bath Killian and I used earlier. Her smile was wide as she playfully slapped at his back and demanded to be put down.
What in the hell was this place?
Thankfully, the women seemed to enjoy themselves, not forced, but how much was out of coercion versus what they actually wanted? That wasn’t something I could dive into now. This was the perfect moment to slip away. Dinner was done, and everyone around us was either too drunk or engaged in other activities to notice our absence. Grabbing Killian’s hand in my own, I gave two hard squeezes, hoping it was enough to detach him from the woman who was basically dry-humping his thigh.
With a fake chuckle, Killian pulled himself away from the woman, muttering something about his wife needing some alone time. She offered to join, but Killian just laughed and reminded her we were there to observe only. It was irrational of me to be mad at the way she pawed at him. He didn’t want her or any of the others touching him, which was clear by the tension pulsing off him. Or maybe it was just clear to me.
Because he was mine.
Fucking mine.
I fought the urge to bare my teeth at the woman. Killian had told me enough about his particular trauma that I knew he didn’t want that woman touching him, no matter how beautiful she was.
Maybe I was wrong about the no-alcohol thing and a glass of champagne would help settle some of the anger boiling beneath my skin. My fingers stretched out, ready to wrap around the long stem of a glass as a waiter passed, but Killian gripped my hand midair. The waiter passed, none the wiser of my desperate need to dull the growing irritation.
“Stop,” I hissed over my shoulder. “I can have a drink.”
His chuckle skirted along my skin, heating me from the inside out. A gasp escaped at the pulse of need between my thighs. After watching the many live porno performances tonight, I was turned on and irritable. It was wrong, but I couldn’t help that watching what was happening right in front of me made me needy. It was human nature, biology, and psychology, damnit.
Killian’s hand wrapped around the back of my neck in a firm hold and guided us around the couples who were barely dressed at this point. Sure, clothes were on, but the more important parts were fully exposed. Out in the hall, Killian’s grip tightened as Pastor Paul approached. Only wearing a pair of white linen pants, he smiled our way.
Before turning my gaze down to the floor, I flicked curious glances at the two women on his arms. Wasn’t this his engagement party?
“Ah, there you two are, my most special guests.” Gary Paul shook Killian’s hand before taking mine and planting a kiss on the back. “Very special indeed,” he murmured against my skin. “I do hope tonight was enough to entice you to consider joining The Union of Blessed Souls. I see so much potential in you two. I know together we can bring light and happiness to your lives, your marriage, and into eternity.”
I bit my tongue to keep from snapping at the idiot.
“It has been… enlightening for sure,” Killian said. “A little too much, considering we weren’t able to participate.”
Gary Paul’s haughty laugh sent a shiver of revulsion down my spine. “Ah, well, only after you’ve pledged your souls and future, plus taken the required classes for ultimate enlightenment, does one access the full benefits of the leadership role. Though, I’m sure we can discuss other ways to speed up the process.”
Yeah, like adding a few zeros to the donation amount he’d already mentioned to Killian.
“Tomorrow,” Killian snapped. “Now, I need to go relieve some of this… enlightenment.”
Pastor Paul chuckled. “Of course. Though no one would mind if you gave us a glimpse into other ways you two could benefit the leadership team.”
I felt all the blood drain from my face. My mind spun, and I swayed on my feet. Did he want us to…. No. No. No. Killian wouldn’t agree to that, would he? I peeked a look up into his face, finding him already looking down at me with a smirk.
“She does love to be watched,” he murmured while running a knuckle down my cheek. “But maybe next time. Let her get used to the idea of such a large audience.” Pastor Paul nodded slowly. “I do want to stay and continue watching…. But…” He adjusted himself and huffed. “I have to take care of this, or I’ll break all your rules and fuck every person in this room before the night is over.”
“That’s the spirit.” He slapped Killian’s back. “But don’t worry, we have private rooms for those who want to participate but are not as adventurous.”
“Where?” Killian snapped.
Leaning to the side, Pastor Paul whispered something to the woman on his right. She smiled and nodded before stepping out of his hold. Hand held out to me, she inclined her head further down the hall.
“Come. Pastor has asked me to show you to a private room.” My clammy palm pressed into hers, and she guided me down the hall, Killian hot on my heels.
“I… we haven’t been down this way before,” I said softly. “Is this where all the bedrooms are?” Our guide looked over her shoulder and nodded. “Wait, is this where Pastor Paul sleeps?” I injected a bit of breath into my words, hoping it sounded like excitement.
“Not in this hall. His and the future of our church’s rooms are upstairs.”
I wanted to vomit. So now she didn’t even have a name? With the announcement, Karigan, or Kari rather, just ceased to exist and was now only known as the church’s future.
“That makes sense,” Killian said behind me. “Need to keep them safe. They are both the future of all of this.”
“Oh, yes,” she said as we slowed in front of a closed door. “Also, that way, security doesn’t get distracted by what happens on the first level.” Her hand wrapped around the knob and twisted at the same time she urged the door open.
Heart in my throat, unsure what to expect, I stepped into the room. A relieved breath blew past my parted lips. Normal. A normal, though just as opulent as the rest of the house, room with a four-poster bed, side tables—I did not want to know what was in those drawers—and a chair situated in the corner.
“It’s perfect. Leave.” Killian pulled me toward the bed. “Now,” he barked over his shoulder.
The girl just giggled and quietly closed the door behind her. Killian stood frozen for a few seconds, staring at me, though somehow I knew his attention was on the room. It looked normal to me, the untrained eye, but if there was something off, Killian would no doubt find it. His shoulders visibly relaxed, and he leaned against the bedpost, staring down at where I sat on the edge of the bed.
“You ready for this?” he asked with a smirk. Stepping in front of me, he ran a single finger along my jaw and bent low. His lips brushed against my ear. “So now we know to go up a level, and the security we assumed would guard her door was just confirmed.”
“How?” I whispered. The single word spoke to so many questions.
How will we get up there?
How will we get around the security?
How will we get Karigan out of here, all of us, without being seen?
How in the hell did I get myself into this?
I knew the answer to the last one, but it didn’t stop me from questioning my decision-making skills, considering I put myself in this messy situation.
“Based on the plans Charlie pulled, there is a staircase at the end of the hall. It’s hidden since it’s meant for the staff. We can make our way down there and then go up to the second level. I’m not sure what to expect as far as the security goes. Could be multiple armed men, could only be one.”
“That doesn”t sound promising for success.”
“Do you trust me?” And being a tease, he sucked my lobe between his lips and nipped.
A moan slipped out, and I swayed toward him. “You know I do.”
“Then don’t worry. We’ve got this.” Pulling back, he studied my face. “Flushed cheeks, hooded lids—why, Dr. Anderson, did seeing all those couples out there fucking turn you on?” My reluctant nod made his smile grow. “Oh, we will have so much fun together, my Millie. So many dirty, dirty sides of you for us to explore together.”
“I—”
The door swung open, cutting me off. Both our heads whipped toward the familiar frame stepping into our room and quietly closing the door behind him. Killian’s hold on my shoulders tightened as he glared at the smirking Simon.
“This is a private room,” Killian hissed, tracking Simon’s every step like a predator hunting its prey. “Get out.”
Ignoring Killian’s order, Simon moved toward the single upholstered chair in the corner of the room and folded into the seat. “Don’t worry,” he said, gaze locked on me. “I won’t touch, but you did mention she loves an audience.” My wide eyes flicked to Killian, who winced. What the hell was this guy talking about? “And I do love to watch.” His fingers worked at his belt, the clang of the metal resounding through the otherwise silent room. “Please, continue. I’m looking forward to this show.”
I watched in awe as Killian’s entire demeanor shifted from rigid to relaxed between blinks. With a cocky-ass smile, he leaned down and planted a kiss on my lips. “Be right back,” he whispered so low I almost missed the words.
Stepping back, Killian tucked both hands into the side pockets of his slacks and casually ambled over to where Simon sat, fingers hovering over his partially undone pants. When Killian stood in front of the now-confused Simon, he huffed a humorless laugh.
“I’ve wanted to do this since that first time you eye fucked my wife.”
“What—”
Simon didn’t get a chance to finish his question. The look of confusion morphed into utter fear as Killian’s solid fist swung toward his head. The man didn’t even have time to duck, too caught off guard and not nearly as fast as my husband.
I flinched, palms flying up to cover my ears, when the distinct sound of Killian’s fist connecting with Simon’s temple sounded through the room. But I couldn’t stop watching. Again and again, Killian beat his tightly clenched fist into Simon’s face and head, even after the man slumped unconscious out of the chair and onto the floor.
After a swift kick to Simon’s back, Killian stood tall and shook out his blood-splattered hand. I purposefully avoided looking at the crimson droplets, knowing I’d likely pass out. Me and blood were not friends. Checking over his shoulder, he caught me watching and smiled.
“I feel a shit ton better. Fuck, I needed that. Now, if I could only do that to every other asshole who has dared to look at you, maybe I won’t need therapy after all.” His wide grin held an edge to it that warned me he wasn’t nearly as relaxed as he wanted me to think.
Slowly standing from the edge of the bed, I made my way to him and paused at his side. I nudged the unconscious body with the toe of my black patent leather high-heel shoe, carefully avoiding looking at the blood. Peeking up through my lashes, I offered Killian a hesitant smile.
“Does it make me a bad person for not being upset that you just beat a man to death?”
“Nope, it makes you even more perfect to be mine. And he’s not dead. I held back.”
My lips parted, and my jaw went slack. “That was you holding back?”
“Oh, babycakes,” he said with a huff. “You have no idea what I’m capable of. If I wanted the asshole dead, he would be.”
My shoulders shook with the pulse of desire his dark words sent down my spine.
“Now what?” I asked, instead of questioning my sanity. Who got turned on by violence? Me, apparently. Guess all those dark romance books I’d read over the years prepared me for this moment.
“Now I tie him up with his own tie, stuff one of those awful throw pillows into his mouth and lock him in that closet. Then we go upstairs, and the real fun begins.”
“Right,” I muttered. Eyeing Simon, I sighed. “Want some help?”
A genuine smile spread across Killian’s lips. “Really?” I nodded. “Best. Date. Ever.”
My hair shifted as I shook my head in exasperation, and I bit down on my lower lip to hide my smile.
What the hell had I gotten myself into?
And why wasn’t I worried?