Chapter 33 Kashton
THIRTY-THREE
KASHTON
Istand in the kitchen at my house with my phone plugged in to charge. I officially own this house as of last week. Thankfully the family wanted to get rid of this as fast as I wanted to move in.
I’ve been staying here every night that I’m not with Eve. I’ve got eyes on her house at all times, watching over my girl. I’m giving her space. Or so she thinks.
Eve arrived home about three hours ago, returning from the grocery store.
Bill sent me a text yesterday that said it was done. Now all we do is wait for her to get her assignment, and she’s mine.
I pause the YouTube video I’m watching while I look over the three clothespins that are lined up on my counter. I’ve written on each one—
I’m in the middle of a DIY project when my doorbell rings.
I lock my cell and pick everything up off the counter, shoving it into a drawer before going over to answer it.
Probably some kid wanting to mow my lawn this summer.
The neighbors next door to me waved last night while I was pulling into my garage.
No doubt word is starting to spread, and the HOA is going to be a bitch to keep up with when it comes to what they expect my house to look like.
They gave me a pamphlet of the rules that I threw into the trash.
Twisting the knob, I pull open the door and come face-to-face with a gorgeous blonde. “Fuck—”
“Welcome to the neighborhood.” She shoves something soft and warm in my face.
EVERETT
I step back to keep the cake from dripping on me, but it’s on my hand, so I try to fling as much off as I can on his front porch before I rub my hand across the front of his shirt.
I turn and give him my back, but he surprises me by grabbing my upper arm and yanking me into the house.
I trip over my own feet as he slams the door shut.
“What the hell, Eve?” He pulls me into the kitchen and lets go of me to turn on the sink. “Fuck,” he hisses when he realizes there’s no running water. Reaching up, he pulls his T-shirt over his head. My eyes drop to the way his abs flex as he uses it to clean the cake off his face.
I have the urge to clean up my mess but bite my tongue instead, remembering why I’m here and pissed at him.
“‘What the hell, Eve?’” I snap. The nerve. “What in the fuck, Kashton? You bought the house across the street from me?”
“Yes.”
My teeth grind. How long has the house been for sale? How long ago did he buy it? “And you’re married?” I’m not surprised. Lords cheat all the time. It’s my fault for thinking he was different.
“No.” He slaps his cake-covered shirt onto the counter. “I am not married.”
I huff, crossing my arms over my chest. “Like I believe anything you say.”
“She was a hooker that I paid to be my wife.”
I roll my eyes. “Let me guess, you paid kids to call you Daddy too?”
He walks around the kitchen island and comes to stand in front of me. “No. They were make-believe. But you can call me Daddy.”
I punch him right in the stomach, forcing him to double over with a grunt. The suggestion makes me sick.
Turning to look over the bare kitchen, living room, and formal dining room, I frown. “You really just sit here and watch me all day?” Was this what I was feeling when I couldn’t sleep? How long has he been here?
“Yeah,” he says in a duh voice.
“That’s…pathetic.”
He steps into my back, his arms wrapping around me from behind, and I know there’s going to be cake in my hair. “Some would call it romantic.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
I turn in his arms, and he drops them to his sides. “Did you bake me a cake?” His blue eyes search mine before glancing at my lips.
“I poisoned it.” I give him an innocent smile, batting my lashes. Spending my afternoon baking him a cake just to shove it in his face was totally worth it.
Lifting his hand, he licks the icing off the ends of his tatted fingers. “Hmm. It’s delicious, angel. Poison and all.”
I can’t help but smile as I push away from him.
“So how did you know I was here?” he asks curiously.
“I woke up craving pancakes, so I went to the store and ran into Mr. Fells. He couldn’t stop talking about you and your lovely family.” I roll my eyes. The thought of Kashton having a wife and kids irritates me, but I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because I know I can’t give him that.
“Aw, is that jealousy I hear in your voice?” He smirks.
“No. It’s revulsion.”
“Yet you took the time to bake me a cake to welcome me to the neighborhood.”
“Yeah, well, if the part where I shoved it in your face wasn’t clear enough, you’re not welcome here. Go home, Kash.” I give him my back. “Your real home.”
He grabs my arm, spinning me around. “I want to show you something.”
“I…” I’m about to say that I don’t have the time, but that’s all I have. “What is it?”
He takes my hand, and I follow after him through the silent house.
My heels clap on the floor, the sound echoing throughout.
The house is empty, with bare walls, and it magnifies even the softest sound.
I hate that I dressed up for him—skinny jeans, a tight top, and Gucci heels.
Even took the time to fix my hair and do my makeup.
Wanted to make a lasting impression and give him something to look at while I walked back over to my house.
Guess the joke is on me.
Coming to a door, Kashton opens it up and steps to the side. Removing his hand from mine, he places it on my lower back. “After you.”
I peek inside and see a set of stairs leading down to a basement. “You’re not going to push me down them, are you?” I half joke. Making me break my legs is a sure way to keep me from running away.
“Here.” He turns to face me, grips my hips, and lifts my heels off the floor.
I yelp in surprise even as my legs wrap around his waist instinctively, and I lock my heels together at his back.
Then he’s turning us so he can walk down the stairs while I cling to him.
His hands are on my ass, and I spot a piece of icing smeared on his neck and have the urge to lick off the sweet sugar but refrain. I can bake myself a cake anytime.
My hands are on his back, and I feel his muscles flex as he carries me down the stairs. I imagine myself naked, underneath him, with his weight on top of me. His cock in my pussy and his lips on mine…
Fuck, I should have paid for a clown to deliver the cake and just watched it from my front porch, dressed in lingerie while drinking a bottle of whiskey. I let my emotions get the best of me when it comes to him.
I knew he wasn’t married, but the thought was too much. To think he had a Lady and children made me jealous, and I had to say fuck you to his face. I wanted him to see me. For fuck’s sake, I spent time getting ready while the cake was in the oven. I’ve never cooked or baked for a man.
He hits the last step, and with reluctance, I lower my legs while he helps me to stand. He grabs my hand, lifts it up over my head, and spins me around like we’re dancing.
I laugh, but it cuts off when I see the basement is just as empty as the house. “What am I looking at, Kashton?” I ask. “There’s nothing down here.”
He flips on a light and walks past me over to the far wall. Bending down, he picks up what I can only assume is a collar that is chained to the wall. I take an instinctive step back, and my heels hit the stairs behind me.
“This is for you, angel.” His eyes meet mine.
I’ve seen what evil looks like. How black and empty someone’s eyes can be when you beg them to help you, and instead, they hurt you. Kashton’s look nothing like that.
His tattoos may make someone walk in the opposite direction if they meet him on the street, but his eyes—they’re kind and inviting. But even they can’t calm the fear that overtakes me.
My heart slams against my chest, and my pulse races. Fear crawls up my spine, but butterflies of excitement take flight in my stomach. “I…I don’t understand.” I swallow the knot in my throat. “You want to chain me to the wall?” I whisper.
He drops the collar and chain to the floor and the loud clank of metal on concrete makes me flinch. He slowly strolls back to me, and I stay frozen where I am as he cups my face with both of his tatted hands.
“Kash.” His name is heavy on my dry tongue.
“I want you to be mine, Eve. All mine.”
Most men would give flowers or diamonds, and he has done both of those things, but it was just for show.
He wanted other Lords to think there was something between us.
But in private, he wants to tie me up and keep me as a pet.
“Meaning?” My voice is soft, and the blood rushes in my ears.
The thought of being his is as scary as it is exciting.
“I want to take care of you.”
He knows no different. It’s how he was raised. What he was taught. It’s not his fault. “Chaining someone up isn’t taking care of them,” I argue.
Kashton frowns as if that’s the stupidest thing he’s ever heard.
I take a step back from him and swallow nervously. “I have to go.” Giving him my back, I stomp up the stairs and shove the door open so hard that it hits the interior wall with a loud bang.
I’m running through the living room when I hear him behind me. “Eve? Eve, wait.”
“Quit fucking watching me, Kash. Get a life,” I throw over my shoulder.
“You are my life.”
I spin around, and my hair slaps me in the face. “Quit fucking saying that,” I shout, fisting my hands down by my sides.
He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans and rocks back on his heels. His abs flex at the simple movement. “I don’t want to hurt you, Eve.”
“Just imprison me,” I snap.
I’m shaking. I’ve come so far from who I was.
Would it be so bad if I let him take care of me?
To belong to him? To a Lord, that can mean many things.
And from my experience, none of them are good.
Chaining someone to the wall means they get to decide when you eat and drink.
This isn’t love we’re talking about. This is an obsession. An imprisonment.
But to be his pet? Kashton has been the nicest Lord I’ve ever met, but when will that end?
He’ll chain me up and get tired of me. Eventually.
He’ll forget to feed me. Bathe me. I’ll rot in there and no one will know where I’m at.
Or worse…he’ll start beating me. This is simply him buttering me up to get what he wants.
And what happens when he finds his Lady? I’m forgotten about and left to die.
I’m shaking I’m so fucking mad…or confused, maybe? I don’t know what to think right now. “I worked too hard to get where I’m at.” I shake my head. “I won’t let you take me back there.”
“Where?” He steps forward. “Dollhouse?”
I flinch at the word.
“I know you were a doll, Eve. Even if you don’t want to admit it.” He takes another step.
“Kashton,” I warn. His name trembles on my lips. “Don’t.”
“It’s okay, angel. You can tell me. It won’t make me love you any less.”
Love? Him wanting to chain me up like a dog in his basement isn’t love. Not the kind a girl dreams of anyway. Then again, I’ve never had the option of dreaming. It’s always been nothing but nightmares.
“You don’t love me,” I say, and tears sting my eyes at the thought that no one ever could. “You don’t even know me.”
He tilts his head to the side. “Angel, I’ve been in love with you since the moment I saw you that night on the yacht. And if you think I’m going to just let you walk away from me, well…I’ll prove to you that’s not an option.”
I swallow at the threat because I know it’s true. The chain and collar bolted to the wall in the basement prove he’s prepared to drag me down there and make me his pet.