Chapter 44
FORTY-FOUR
CASSIE
He has broken me. I am now officially ruined for anyone else. Frankie Majerio has definitely lived up to his reputation and I am one hundred percent captivated by him.
He could do anything to me right now and I would consider it a very good idea and as he steps away, my heart is racing as I come to terms with that.
He leaves me chained to his bed as he enters the bathroom, and I hear the sound of running water.
My entire body has never been so alive and as I close my eyes, a soft smile lights my face. I never knew I was capable of an orgasm like that. I came twice, both equally hard and so addictive I already realize that wasn’t enough. I’m an addict now. Addicted to sex with this man because I won’t be controlled by any man, but I’d happily submit to him for more of the same.
I don’t care what that makes me. I’m too far gone to care and now nothing but Frankie exists in my life. He is right. I am his now.
He heads back into the room and surprises me by kneeling down and bending his lips to mine, offering me the softest kiss. He cups my face in one hand and passion has been replaced by almost love. It’s as if he is handling the most delicate butterfly as his tongue darts into my mouth and joins with mine. It’s not passionate, just the sweetest kiss possible, and I can’t help falling a little harder for him.
His thumb caresses my cheek and I lean into him, loving how the most passionate sex of my life has led us to this. It’s differently addictive in a more powerful way because right now, I truly believe that he loves me.
He pulls away and smiles into my eyes and whispers huskily, “Thank you. I’ll release your wrists now.”
His touch is light, almost reverent as he sets about unfastening the handcuffs, rubbing each wrist with his fingers and kissing the blood back into them.
I am astonished at his multiple personalities and can’t decide which one I prefer and once again he surprises me by tugging me to the floor and then swinging me into his arms, as he carries me into the bathroom like a baby.
A soft smile transforms his usual dark expression into a thing of great beauty. He is beautiful. His dark hair is slightly longer on top, just the way I like it. His eyes are dark and brooding and reflect his thoughts much better than his expression when he wants them to. When he doesn’t, they are cold, hooded and devoid of anything, disguising the complex individual they belong to.
His smile is rare, but when it breaks across his face, it transforms his usual surly features into a thing of great beauty. He is a complex individual with a complex personality and I’m aware I haven’t even touched the surface of what makes him who he is.
He lowers me gently into his claw-footed tub and the way my entire body burns with relief drags a smile onto my face.
I lean back in contentment as he applies soap to my tingling skin and whispers, “You are beautiful, Cassie. I could stare at you all day.”
I say nothing. What would my answer be to that, anyway? To be honest, I could lie in here all day and if this is what being his slave involves, sign me up for a longer term.
Occasionally, he bends down and kisses me softly, almost reverently, and I truly feel worshipped by him.
“Stay with me tonight.” He whispers in my ear and I shiver with excitement.
“Okay.” I smile into his eyes and as he strokes my face, he whispers, “Do you trust me, Cassie?”
“Hell no.” I chuckle softly, causing him to smirk.
“Good answer. You are right to have reservations.”
“You are a strange individual, Frankie.” I smile. “You hide this softer side well. I’m guessing it’s because of your past.”
His eyes darken as he sighs. “I’m hiding nothing. Most of the time, life has nothing good to offer me, nothing pure.”
“That’s sad.”
“It’s fact.” He exhales sharply. “My family business is brutal and requires a certain type of training to survive it.”
I consider my own upbringing and nod. “I get that. I’m guessing we have that in common.”
“Tell me about your life.”
He leans on the edge of the bath and stares at me with an intensity that should unnerve me, but it doesn’t.
“I live with close to fifty bikers in a steel clad compound in the middle of nowhere.”
If I thought that would shock him, I’m mistaken because he just nods, his eyes flickering with interest.
“My father is the president of the motorcycle club we live in. I was born there to a whore who trapped him.”
“That sucks.”
“It happens.” I shrug. “He’s an honorable man and turning his back on her—on me—wasn’t an option and when she turned up dead in a ditch, it probably did us both a favor.”
“That’s harsh.”
He doesn’t appear appalled by my lack of compassion or love for my birth mother, and I sigh. “I didn’t know her. My memories don’t run that far back. He is a good father, the best in fact, and when Ashton came into our life, he married her the next day.”
“That’s risky.” Frankie grins. “Is he always so impulsive?”
“Not at all.” I laugh, loving picturing my father as impulsive. “On the contrary, he plans everything, right down to the smallest detail. He leaves nothing to chance and I suppose he knew the first time he laid eyes on her that she was his.”
“I understand now.” Frankie’s eyes darken and he trails his fingers around my neck, causing me to shiver at the memory of what he did back in the bedroom. He had my life in his hands—literally and what appalls me most is I loved every second of it.
“Tell me about her.”
His expression is almost hungry and as my mind turns to my stepmother, I can’t help smiling. “She is the best. I love her unconditionally because she taught me that. She has always made me feel loved and wanted and when they had a son, Caspian, I couldn’t have been happier. I finally got the family I saw in the storybooks and on the television and I am so proud to call them mine.”
“Your brother?”
He won’t let this lie, and I roll my eyes.
“Caspian is five years younger than me and is the mirror image of our father. He’s cocky, self-assured and has no fear and yet he’s decent with it. I can’t fault any of them if I’m honest.”
I regard him thoughtfully.
“Tell me about your family, Frankie.”
He shrugs, dragging his finger through the steaming water, causing it to ripple against me.
“They are unconventional.”
He lifts his eyes to mine and grins.
“I kind of love unconventional, which is why we work so well together.”
“We do.” I grin, noting how he changed the subject. Siri’s brief potted history about his past causing me to let it lie. He will tell me if he wants to, and he obviously isn’t ready for that yet, so I sigh with contentment.
“Being your slave is more pleasurable than I ever imagined it would be. I’m impressed.”
“We still have one week to shatter your illusions.”
His lazy grins makes me smile, and he jerks his head to the other room.
“Sex makes me hungry. Let’s dress and grab some food at the cafeteria. We have less than a week before the next Claiming and there is a lot to do.”
He helps me from the tub and I push down my disappointment. I would be happy to spend the entire day in bed with this man, but he’s right. There is shit to shovel and something sparks my imagination as I follow him into the bedroom to retrieve our clothes.
“Frankie!”
He turns as I say with a gasp, “What if the passageway under the dungeon is part of a network?”
“It could be. Why do you ask?”
“Whoever dragged Abigail back to Willow Tree house may have remained undetected because nobody saw them.”
His eyes gleam as he smiles. “I see what you mean. There may be a network of tunnels that run under Rockwell Academy, linking the dungeon and all of the houses.”
I stare at him wide-eyed. “Fuck. This is bigger than I thought. What do we do now?”
“We eat.” He smirks before adding. “It may be time to call in the experts.”
I’m confused, and he laughs softly. “And I know the perfect man who can help us.”