Chapter 10 #2
“You think you can escape your punishment by hiding, blondie?” he mocked as he used his free hand to stroke himself.
There was no way he was putting himself inside her body in any way until Emma was in a position to consent.
That was likely never going to happen. Emma might know the truth about him, but he was still part of the worst thing to ever happen to her.
When this was over, he’d bring her the news she didn't have to worry about Azure anymore, but he was pretty sure as soon as the words were out of his mouth, she’d slam the door closed in his face.
Shutting him out and putting this behind her.
As she should.
“Well, well, well,” Van said, leaning his shoulder against the doorjamb. “What do we have here?”
“Little wildcat thought she could hide in the chaos,” Nathan replied as he pumped his hand faster.
Having Emma in his arms, making her fall apart, giving her something pleasant in a world that was all horrors, had him already close, already teetering on the edge.
If they hadn't been found, he would have ignored this throbbing erection, but now he needed to do something to make sure no one knew what had happened.
“Looks like it,” Van agreed, amusement heavy in his voice as he smirked at Emma, who was staring at him with wide eyes.
“Bit me,” he said, tilting his head to the side to show off the red marks Emma had just put there as she tried to stifle her cries as pleasure tore through her body. “Didn't want to risk putting this in her mouth.” He grunted as he felt the first tingles of an orgasm.
“What’s going on?” Marvin’s head appeared over Van’s shoulder as he tried to get a look at what was happening in the closet.
“The wildcat decided she could hide, and Nathan’s teaching her that there’s no escaping her fate,” Van replied.
Oh, he was helping her escape her fate. That or he’d die trying. Locking his gaze on Emma’s, he tried to convey that to her without words, show her with his eyes that he would get her out no matter what it took.
Another few strokes and his orgasm rocked through him, squirting his release all over Emma’s face and chest. It was humiliating for her, he had no doubt about that, but it was better than the alternative.
“Should have taken the shower, one three nine,” Marvin said with a chuckle. “My turn with her.” The man tried to push Van out of the way, although the huge man with the black eyes didn't move an inch.
“Don’t think you want to risk putting anything in her mouth,” Nathan said, keeping his voice light, but he would do everything in his power to ensure it didn't happen. If he couldn’t get her out quickly, then she was going to wind up being sexually assaulted, but if he could delay it long enough, he might be able to get the drugs and fake her death before it happened.
“Aww, come on, we’ll show her what happens to naughty girls,” Marvin whined.
“You really want to risk it?” Van asked.
“I’ll get the gag then,” Marvin said. “That way we can all take a turn without worrying one three nine will bite.”
Sensing the question Emma was going to ask, Nathan cut in first. “We’re not putting the gag in to keep her mouth open long enough for everyone to take their turn. She hasn’t used it before, her jaw won't be able to handle it. Ruined merchandise doesn’t sell as well, and you know it.”
“Fine.” Marvin huffed, then his eyes brightened. “She obviously decided she doesn’t want a shower, or an orgasm. How about we all take turns painting her with our orgasms? Then she can really learn that doing as she’s told is always going to work out better for her than disobeying.”
About to open his mouth and tell Marvin that sure as hell wasn't happening, Emma tipped her head slightly.
It wouldn't have been noticeable to the others, and he only realized it because his fingers were still tangled in her hair.
Glancing down at her, he saw her eyes on him, and saw the tiny dip of her head.
Damn, her bravery and strength were going to give him a heart attack.
Because there wasn't a doubt in his mind that she was trying to tell him that she could handle this. She knew that both their lives depended on him not giving away who he was, and why he was really there, as well as the complicated dynamics between them.
Maybe Emma thought she could handle this, but Nathan wasn't sure he could.
Not that he had a choice.
Time to pull his big boy pants on and portray even a fraction of the determination that Emma was.
Forcing out a chuckle that didn't sound anywhere close to realistic, at least to his own ears, he ran a finger through the sticky semen running down her cheek.
“I think our dirty little toy would like that, wouldn't you, blondie? You avoid the shower, you avoid the orgasms, and you get to enjoy a show.”
Marvin cheered, Van still looked amused, and Emma said nothing as he shoved himself back into his pants and released his hand from her hair to grasp her bicep.
Instead of yanking her to her feet, he helped her up, making sure it didn't look obvious to anyone else.
When the others turned around, he swept the pad of his thumb across her skin in a small caress.
It wasn't much, but it was all the support he could offer her right now.
“Found her,” Marvin yelled out to the others. “Nathan found her in the closet and had a little fun teaching her a lesson about playing hide and seek. Anyone who wants to join in the fun, better come down here.”
Since Van and Marvin were both heading to the largest of the training rooms, Nathan followed along.
It took every ounce of his self-control not to make a run for it now, take Emma with him, and try to fight his way out.
Maybe if he’d had a weapon, he might have been stupid enough to try, but since he didn't, and Emma had indicated she believed she could handle this, he forced himself to follow.
Inside the room, he led Emma to the far wall and pushed her back down onto her knees.
He hated doing it, hated the submission it showed, when Emma was anything but submissive.
Hell, she was stronger than he could ever hope to be, because she was willingly accepting this humiliation for the greater good.
“Should have done as you were told, blondie,” he said, but he used the opportunity, which sounded like a taunt to the others to sweep his fingertips across her neck, trying to offer whatever small comfort he could, because now he would have to stand back and let this happen.
When he turned around, the hungry, lustful looks on the faces of the other men made it impossible for him to even make a guess at who was also undercover, and who really took enjoyment from degrading and hurting innocent women.
Everything began to fade around him.
The laughter, the grunts, the groans, the taunts, the moans, the sound of semen hitting flesh, even though he knew that particular sound was only in his mind.
Emma never wavered. She was on her knees, but she kept her back straight and her head high.
She didn't cower, didn't appear to waver in her resolve.
As badly as he wanted to run, to hide, to block these images from his mind, he couldn’t move. Emma’s gaze kept seeking out his as though his presence was providing her with the support she needed to get through this.
But he wasn't supporting her.
Not really.
He was standing there, doing nothing to help her, letting her take the heat when he was the one who had caused this situation.
He should have immediately returned her to her cell when he found her, hoping his distraction had been enough to delay her punishment.
Instead, he’d gotten her into this mess and was doing nothing to get her out of it.
The knowledge sent him spiraling out of control, and he was no longer worried that Emma knowing the truth was going to put him at risk. He was now worried his own feelings for the beautiful, brave woman were going to put her at risk.