Chapter Fifteen #2
Yanking my shorts open, my cock sprang out, borderline bruised with twisted need.
It didn’t care that this was a role-play in the sickest sense of the word.
It didn’t care about my newfound hero complex.
All it cared about was Ily’s ass was red from my punishment, and I was about to feel the heat of that abuse as I fucked her.
Keeping my attention on the archway and my ears ringing with the sounds of approaching footsteps, I ordered, “Press your cheek against the carpet, ass up, and hold on. You’re about to learn who you truly belong to.
” Running my thumb over her hipbone again, I stroked her with promises.
“When I’m balls deep inside you, you’ll finally know. You’re mine.”
Ily’s shoulder blades flexed, making the crystal wand and raining magic tattoo ripple over her skin. It felt as if she cast a curse on me all while she did what I asked.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her right cheek to the carpet and dug her fingernails into the thick pattern.
For a second, all I could do was stare.
So fucking beautiful.
So fucking tragic.
Footsteps sounded nearer. So close they’d see me plunge inside her.
I orchestrated it for that moment.
Wait...
Wait.
With my heart in my throat, I grazed my fingers from her hip to between her legs.
I sucked in a breath as I dipped to her most private place. A place I’d already touched. Already almost been inside. A place I should never have been permitted to invade if it wasn’t for Q’s ultimatum and the unexplainable awareness I’d had of her at the club.
She flinched as my finger ran over her clit.
I slipped deeper, penetrated—
“Fucking hell.” I couldn’t control my reaction. Or my savage groan. “Fuck...y-you’re wet.”
Her eyes squeezed tighter. A droplet glittered on her eyelashes.
And I knew just what sort of hell she was in.
She was affected.
Same as me.
Affected by things we shouldn’t want or need.
My chest imploded in on itself, folding and crumpling.
My finger feathered of its own accord, drunk on her slipperiness.
Her eyes flew wide, catching on mine.
Something passed between us.
Wordless and senseless, but oh-so fucking powerful.
I couldn’t catch a proper breath.
With a whimper, she shut her eyes again, cutting me off from the conduit of something flowing between us.
To know someone else felt betrayed by their own body? To see how she struggled? It bound me to her in entirely different ways.
A fresh surge of fierceness rose inside me.
I pressed a single finger inside her.
She bit her bottom lip all while her hips rocked back, offering more.
“Jesus, Ily.”
Footsteps slowed outside, slicing through whatever magic she’d cast on me, reminding me of my purpose. Of our performance.
She’s just acting, you fool.
She doesn’t want you.
She’s doing what you said!
Ignoring the pinch in my chest, I withdrew my touch and smeared her arousal around the delicate folds of her body.
I reared up behind her.
One hand on her hip, the other on my cock, I prepared to do what was necessary.
Victor appeared, followed by the slave who’d taken Ily away when we first arrived.
“Ah, just in time.” I rocked my hips, pushing in just a little.
Fuck.
Lightning shot down my shaft from her wet, hot heat. How I had the ability to speak when every drop of blood arrowed between my legs, I didn’t know. “You did say I needed an audience to fuck her.” I shrugged, my voice tight and dark. “So...watch me fuck her.”
I looked down.
Ah shit.
The visual of my body on the precipice of sinking into hers threatened to turn me into a demon. The role I was supposed to play flew right out my goddamn head, and I ached to—
“If you fuck her,” Victor hissed, “you’ll be escorted out of my home and forbidden to ever return.”
I froze. “What?”
“You heard me.”
Shifting my hips back, my cock throbbed with frustration. “I’ve been patient. Let me have her.”
Buffing his nails on his shirt, Victor sniffed.
“I like you, Henri. I like your fumbling attempts at being free. And I like your honesty. But what I don’t like is your selective hearing.
I told you to wait. I told you patience is a virtue.
Do you think my strictness stops with my jewels?
” His eyes hardened. “You are here by my invitation. All the men currently dwelling in my stronghold are here by my grace. They may indulge in their basest natures and cause pain to those beneath them, but they will never usurp my orders.” Pointing at me, he bared his teeth.
“And you, my impatient friend, are going against my orders.”
Ily opened her worried eyes but didn’t rise from the carpet.
With shaking hands, I tucked myself back into my shorts, doing my best to zip up without maiming myself.
“That’s the third time you’ve given me blue balls, Victor.
” I let fury taint my voice as I climbed stiffly to my feet.
“I don’t understand why you keep saying she’s mine to do with what I want, yet whenever I start to accept that, you fucking stop me. ”
Victor sighed as if he was the headmaster of this twisted school and I was the unintelligent student. “How many times must I tell you, Ward? She’s new. You’re new. The first fuck is always witnessed.”
“And you were about to fucking witness it,” I snarled. “You and your pet standing next to you.”
“Peter did right by coming to get me.”
“Wait.” I balled my hands. “He snitched on me?”
Ily lifted herself upright, hissing under her breath as she sat on her heels. Her red ass positively glowed against the contrasting paleness of her feet.
She glanced at the slave boy; something unspoken passed between them.
My heart stuttered.
What the hell was that look?
How did they even have a look? She’d been with him being bathed and injected for all of two goddamn minutes.
“He merely knows how I like my guests to behave.” Victor smiled tightly.
“Besides, my unscheduled appointment has been dealt with. I’m now free to partake in today’s activities.
” Opening his arm and stepping back into the corridor, he added, “Shall we? I approve of you disciplining your jewel and have no doubt she deserved it, but I think a more public space for the next part is warranted, don’t you? ”
“You want me to fuck her in front of everyone?”
“Yes. Just as I’ve been saying from the beginning. You can tell a lot about someone from that initial taking, and I have no intention of not watching yours.” His voice turned deceptively quiet. “You do want to become a member of my little club, don’t you? To be granted permanent welcome?”
“You know I do.”
“Well then...play by my rules, and you might just get your wish.” Planting a hand on Peter’s shoulder, he grinned. “Who knows, if you impress me today, I might even be persuaded to allow you part ownership over Ily.”
Peter didn’t react to Victor’s touch. His face remained unreadable, eyes locked on Ily.
A curl of temper rose.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was goddamn jealousy burning in my blood.
Why did Peter look at her that way?
Why did he drink in her bareness as if he’d never seen a naked woman before all while being surrounded by flesh?
I forced myself to focus on Victor. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means...for a substantial sum, you can reserve her for every visit you bestow upon my humble home. If anyone else has staked a claim on her, your arrival will supersede that. She will remain yours until you leave again.”
“But others will use her while I’m gone?”
He chuckled. “Others will use her while you’re here—when you aren’t enjoying her yourself, of course.”
“Then why the fuck would I pay—”
“Because it’s an honour to share a jewel’s life and wellbeing. Guests can use my jewels however they want, but part-owners can request greater rights.”
“Like what?”
“Like having her sleep in your chamber instead of returning to the wing with the rest of the jewels. What goes on in the dark is your decision.” His fingers tightened on Peter’s shoulder.
“I might even be tempted to let you take her into the snuffbox for the first time. Perhaps I’ll allow you to initiate her into our beloved Emerald Bruises games, or dabble in something I like to call Sapphire Scars.
Or...if you proved worthy enough to pledge for a lifetime membership, you could be the one to give her a Diamond Kiss. ”
Peter went shock still.
His eyes drowned with fear as he looked at Ily.
Twice Victor had mentioned such a kiss, and I had no idea what it meant.
Ily shifted on the spot. I didn’t have the strength to look at her.
To make eye contact with her while discussing her as if she were a car I was about to buy.
A very expensive sports car that came with a complex instruction manual and special licensing.
A limited edition that I’d have to share with other collectors all while being the one who got to garage it at night.
Fucking hell.
Another bout of nausea grabbed me by the throat. Surprising me. Enlightening me. For all my deep, dark tendencies, apparently, when face to face with abhorrent choices, I still valued the sovereignty and safety of everyone...including those labelled as slaves by a bastard overlord.
Remember why you’re here.
This was never about me. This was always about them. About my brother. About...her.
“Fine.” I nodded. “I want in on the part ownership. After all, you used me as bait to catch her. I’m incentivised to watch over my prize.”
“Bait?” He chuckled, looking me up and down.
“I admit, you do have a certain bad-boy allure that could attract plenty more women and men. Perhaps, in exchange for part ownership, I’ll employ you to fish for me.
The calibre you could catch would ensure I had the most glittering gems in every syndicate. ”
I fought the urge to either kill him or kill myself. “I’d rather just have the fish I’ve already caught, if it’s all the same to you.” I gritted my teeth and smiled. “Are we going to stand around here all day talking in code again, or can I fuck her now?”
Ily twitched but didn’t say a word.