8
SHE'S PLAYING
HENRY
T he video feed flickers and my hand tightens around my glass. This is unbearable and I’m on the verge of losing my goddamn shit. Ivy’s about to shatter, but not in the way I want her to.
It’s been three days. Three days of hell.
She’s ignored me. She’s screamed. She’s cried and wailed. She’s thrown things at me. She’s refused to cooperate and she thinks she’s winning.
She isn’t.
Mia removed the hideous fake nails and Ivy’s happier. She hid it well but the tiniest smile gave her away, and she’s revealed her tell. I know what to look for and I can use it against it.
A doctor examined her and confirmed she’s healthy. It means I can push her. It’s set the parameters for how far I can go and she’s well enough to take a lot. She’s pushing it and if she won’t flex her mind soon, I’ll make her bend to mine.
Ivy doesn’t realize how lenient I’m being. She’s being indulged and I’m hoping the temper tantrum will peter out. Her room still has water and I’m still feeding her, even though she refuses to ask. Admittedly, her meals are small but they’re sufficient. Much longer and that will change. Hunger is a potent motivator. Boredom is too, and Ivy’s isolated and had little stimulation since she’s been here.
Ryan marches in and takes a seat. His edges are ragged and his weight sinks into the chair. He’s tired, but I don’t give a shit. I’m tired too and my days have been longer.
“It took longer than expected, but the Blackthorn Coven won’t be causing any more problems,” he says. “How’s Ivy?”
I grind my teeth. He waits impassively, ignoring the warning I’m sending him and leaving me little choice but to answer.
“Fighting.”
Ryan’s smile widens. “You enjoy it when your pets fight. Is it different with a mate?”
My eyes flick back to the video and watch my girl pacing around the room, pretending to stretch while she occupies herself. She’s asked for nothing, so I’ve given her nothing. She’s fraying around the edges, and I almost pity her.
“I wouldn’t know.”
My second stares at me like I’ve lost my goddamn mind. “You haven’t fucked her?” He pauses and my silence is all the confirmation he needs. “Why the fuck not, Henry? She’s your mate. I know you didn’t want one, but she’s meant for you. Quite literally.”
I rub my eyes. “I almost did.”
It feels like a confession. One I’m not ready to make .
“That doesn’t count. The bond isn’t complete. No wonder you’re so fucking tense. Fuck her and you’ll feel better. She’ll feel better. She’ll relax. You’ll enjoy it. She will too, if you allow her to.”
I get up and pour myself a brandy. I aerate it and take a sip, enjoying the burn as the cognac trickles down my throat.
“She’s a virgin, Ryan. I fed her blood and used venom. I couldn’t.”
His hands run through his hair and he stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. I have. Over her. I should have fucked her. I’ve never had qualms about using blood or venom before, even with innocents. Like every other vampire, I’ve been prepared to use every weapon in my arsenal to get what I want, whether that’s sex or a meal. Or both. Usually both.
But not with Ivy.
“I couldn’t take that choice from her, Ryan. She’s lost every other choice and I won’t take that one. It’s not…”
“Right? Normal? You?” Ryan tries to complete my sentence for me. “You’ve never let your pets dictate anything before now. The others won’t understand. I’m struggling to, if I’m honest.”
He’s not the only one.
I don’t understand why I’m being this soft with her. She’d be broken already if I was harsher, and I’d be rebuilding her into what I wanted. Ivy would be hurt, but I’d be putting her back together and comforting her, and we’d work. Instead, we’re still fighting because I’ve given her too much freedom and she won’t settle.
“I don’t either. I seem to want to protect her, more than anything. More than any other pet I’ve ever owned.” I take another mouthful of the brandy. “I want her to choose me. Freely. ”
We sit in silence as Ryan pours himself a drink. I’ve known him long enough to discern his moods by the liquor he chooses. Whisky means it’s serious.
He’s right. The coven won’t like this. They won’t understand why a human has such a hold over me, even if she is my mate. She’s already vulnerable, and she’ll be in even more danger if they see her as a threat to their security. Worse, it might make others question my authority and leadership challenges are bloody, brutal, and unsettling.
“She needs to accept her place, Henry. This isn’t kind. It’s making her more miserable. Harder but shorter would be less cruel than this.”
“I’m aware of what I need to do.”
Ryan takes a large mouthful of whisky. “Then fucking do it. It’ll be kinder in the long run.” He stares at the water lily painting, hoping to find tranquility in its blue and aqua waters. “You could turn her now.”
“No.” I slam my glass on my desk.
I watch Ivy abandon her exercises and head for the bathroom. I switch feeds and my cock hardens as she strips and steps under the shower. I change to another camera and stare as the water cascades down her perfect body, dripping from her breasts and running over her ass and down her legs.
“It’s a solution.” Ryan watches me, guessing I’m watching Ivy. “Henry, I’ve never seen you on edge like this. You’re frazzled. You’re obsessing over her. It’s meant to be the other way around. She circles you. Unless she’s the dominant.”
“She’s not.”
“You’re acting like it. Like she controls you.”
I’d lash out at any other vampire. But Ryan and I have always been close and always given each other advice. Admittedly, Ryan’s walked the harder path and I’ve usually given counsel, rather than received it.
At least he’s found someone who makes him happy now. Matt is good for Ryan, and Ryan’s good for Matt. Their constant fighting for dominance makes them an unusual pairing for vampires, but they seem happy to contend it. They alternate depending on who wins out or whose need trumps the other, finding their balance while their equilibrium is always in flux.
He's the best-placed person to give advice, but that doesn’t mean I like it. Or that I’ll let him question who’s the dominant partner.
I swirl the remnants of my brandy and watch Ivy run herself a bath. She doesn’t need one, but she’s bored and has limited options. She could be doing much more entertaining things if she wasn’t so fucking stubborn. With me. For me.
“She’s getting there, Ryan. I prefer doing this slowly with her. I want to drag this out and savor her struggles. It’ll make her submission more enjoyable.”
He knows this isn’t the only reason. He knows I don’t want to hurt her. Ryan knows I’m holding out in the hope she’ll turn of her own accord before I escalate and things become unpleasant.
“I’ll tell the coven you’re enjoying playing with her.”
I nod.
We’ll delay her introduction until she’s better trained. The coven doesn’t need to see a perfectly behaved pet, but they expect certain things. A modicum of defiance is acceptable provided she’s mostly obedient—and right now she isn’t compliant. She’s wild and rebellious. They’d expect me to discipline her in front of them, and Ivy wouldn’t forgive me. I won’t subject her to it. She isn’t ready; she doesn’t understand, and it isn’t fair.
“I need you to do something, Ryan. ”
He nods and waits for instruction.
“Her father told me she’d had lots of experience, even though he knew it devalued her. It makes no sense. I need to know why he lied about her virginity.”
My cock strains again, and it’s fucking painful at this point.
“I almost hurt her, Ryan. I could have badly hurt her. If he’s prepared to let that happen, then I need to know what else has been going on.”
Ryan shifts and he doesn’t like it either. I stare at the small, defiant girl failing to enjoy her bath and wonder what else she’s endured. Maybe that’s why she’s tougher than expected. Perhaps that explains her hardness. It might be why she’s struggling to trust me.
“Henry, there was no indication of anything. Her stepmother’s a bitch and her stepbrother’s as big an idiot as her father. But there were no signs of violence. I checked and found nothing.”
“Check again.” My tone isn’t pleasant and Ryan shifts. “Thoroughly, Ryan. Something isn’t right.”
My fragile, resilient girl turns in the bath and floats on her front. Her ass is spectacular and I intend to see a lot of it. She kicks her legs, lazily splashing and going nowhere in the oversized bathtub. Ivy’s frustrated and I could ease that for her—and me—so easily if she’d give in a little. At this point, I’d accept even any gesture.
Just something.
A small step towards acceptance.
I’d be gracious. I wouldn’t push for more. I wouldn’t gloat. I’d praise her and reward her. Give her one we’d both enjoy.
She moves to the side of the bath and leans over the edge. My eyes narrow and I follow her finger as she draws shapes on the floor tiles. She’s bored. Her mind’s struggling to amuse itself. I almost feel sorry for her, but I’ve offered her anything she wants time and again, and she refuses to ask.
I sigh as her hands move her hair over one shoulder, and it exposes her back. She drops her knees and her fingers work the tension in her neck. It could be nothing, but it’s caught my attention and the way her head tips back suggests she’s enjoying herself.
“Did you hear me?” Ryan asks, demanding my attention again.
“Sorry, Ivy looked upset.”
“She might be happier if her sister was here. She might be reassured when she knows her sister’s safe. Maybe she’ll do better when she’s sure her sister’s safe?”
I’m contemplating Ryan’s suggestion when Ivy moves her hands down her back. She’s massaging herself and when her arms uncross and come around to her front, I’m certain it isn’t innocent. She’s on the verge of playing with herself and the anticipation is fucking killing me.
I doubt she realizes I’m watching. She’s guessed there are cameras in the bedroom, but she’s made the mistake of thinking I wouldn’t put them in the bathroom. She’s relaxed in there, unaware she’s being watched as she catches what she thinks are moments alone.
She wouldn’t give me this if she knew I was watching.
And I don’t give a single fuck.
Her hands cup her breasts and she’s kneading them. Her lips part and her breathing changes, and the water in the pool moves with her, lapping against the sides.
“It might work.” I watch as Ivy’s hands move down her body and stroke her thighs. “Ivy might worry her sister would be at risk here. ”
Her fingers move over her skin and I want them to be mine. She tasted like heaven and her reactions were perfect. I’ve been craving her and now I’m watching her tease herself, unaware she’s toying with me.
“Is everything alright?”
Ryan’s read the change in my body language and he’s noted how distracted I am. In fairness, pets have been known to hurt themselves when they fight against their Master—and this is why I had the cameras installed. At least partly.
Ivy’s hand dips between her legs and I lose all sense of reason.
“She’s playing with herself.”
“Oh, I’m fucking leaving,” he says. “I don’t need to see you jerking off to your pet misbehaving—or deal with the consequences when you’re done.”
Ryan leaves quickly and Ivy commands my full attention. She grinds against her hand and I turn the sound on, groaning as her faint moans drive me wild. I pull my cock out and stroke it, matching her rhythm as she closes her eyes and settles herself.
She won’t be closing her eyes with me.
That’s a nasty fucking habit and I’ll break it immediately. Ivy’s going to look me in the eye every time she fucking comes and know exactly who’s given her the pleasure tearing through her. And then she’s going to look at me and beg me for more while she gets lost in her climax.
The water moves faster and her moans become more urgent. Ivy’s chest collapses on the bathtub and her knees move further apart.
Fuck.
I wonder where her hand is going, what her fingers are touching. She’s pleasuring herself and I can’t see exactly how she’s doing it.
My hand tightens around my cock and it starts weeping precum as I imagine her little fingers circling her clit. She’ll push harder and faster, building her pleasure until she finds her release and maybe she’ll slip her fingers inside to help her get to orgasm.
Ivy’s movements slow and my cock jerks, knowing she’s got near a climax, but it’s been too much and she’s backed off a little. She’s fucking edging herself, even if she doesn’t know it—and my exquisite little mate has been training herself to be the fucking perfect pet.
Gods, she’s going to be fun to play with.
My hand moves harder, faster as my pumps become more determined and I allow myself to experience the same pleasure she is. I’m fucking close and my balls tighten, straining as they need to release. I want to come; I need to fucking come, but I’m holding back, waiting for her.
Ivy’s hand dives deeper between her legs and I’m sure her fingers have crept inside her delicious little pussy. I’m going to discover exactly how perfect her cunt feels soon and she can take more sooner if she’s used to having something inside her.
Her head tips back and mine follows. I’m so fucking close and my cock’s desperate to explode. I need the release, the relief. I need the fucking pleasure and she’s got to come. She’s got to give me what I want.
I watch as her pleasure builds again and her hips buck wildly. Her breathing’s ragged and she’s right on the edge, clutching her chest with her free hand. Her moans turn into pleas for the same release I’m craving, and her eyes screw tighter shut.
She’s trying.
Ivy’s fucking trying .
And she can’t quite get there.
Fuck.
Maybe it’s the stress of the past few days.
Maybe it’s the position she’s in.
But maybe—just maybe—she doesn’t know how to come and can’t quite get there. Maybe this is new to her and she’s trying to experience another orgasm like the one I gave her.
Fuck, my cock likes the thought I gave her the first orgasm she’s known. That I’m responsible for all the orgasms she’ll ever know. My dick’s swelling and my hand’s no longer in control, moving in response to what my cock needs.
Her breathing falters and her lips part as a slight flush spreads between her breasts. She’s about to come, and my precious pet needs to give in and the pleasure will sweep over her. The blush deepens and her moans become cries as she fights, struggling to relax enough to start contracting.
I suck my stomach in and my cock jerks erratically, and I spray my desk with come.
Fuck, I needed the release and I listen as Ivy’s cries turn into screams and she fucking yells my name. I watch my innocent, precious girl come with my name on her lips and I’m completely content.
She lazes in the bath, enjoying the same post-orgasm bliss washing over me. Ivy stares at her hand and she’s confused, probably wondering why the hell she masturbated thinking of me. She’s almost there, almost ready, already cracking under pressure—and I’ll shatter her to pieces soon.