Chapter 4 #2
Humans can also pass between worlds, but it’s not as straightforward.
Human eyes can’t see the Underworld except in exceptional circumstances, or when it is shown to them by one of the Kinfolk.
Certain things, rituals you might call them, are required, but are far easier when they are with Kin.
And often they are lured through with extravagant promises like I would offer Niamh if I thought she was corruptible.
Humans should never make a deal with the Kinfolk – they simply don’t understand the danger. But if they do … then we are restricted only by the limits of their desires.
Those desires take many forms, but the lowest level of The Three Graces, focuses on sexual fantasies. It’s not a sex club, but it does cater to those who seek desire in whatever form they can dream up if they are foolish enough to make one of those deals.
Vittoria pauses outside a door when we hear the crack of a whip, followed by a groan of pain-tinged lust but I stride on and, as soon as she realises where I’m headed, she follows.
The door at the end of the corridor houses my favourite playroom.
As soon as we’ve entered, any sense that she’ll go along submissively with what I want disappears.
I walk forward, stopping at the foot of the four-poster bed and turn to face her.
In turn, she saunters towards me, and I’m surprised to see a smile play along the corners of her mouth.
‘This is … exceptional,’ she breathes, her gaze moving from the blood-red satin sheets covering the bed, to the black velvet drapes that can be used to enclose the bed simply by tugging a single satin cord. ‘And so romantic.’
I almost believe her as we stare at the flickering flames of the black and red candles on display.
Most of this was my idea, but I did tell the Kin responsible for setting up the room to add her own flourishes where appropriate.
She knows both me and Vittoria well, having spent time pleasuring us both, together and separately, so I trusted her to know what our darkest pleasures are.
‘Wax play?’ Vittoria asks, waving her hand through the flames of the bottom row of candles.
‘Whatever you wish,’ I say, watching as she tilts her head to one side and takes the central candle from that row then stretches out her other arm in front of her.
She angles the black candle and we both stare as she moves the candle down the length of her arm from her elbow to her wrist, the heated wax dripping smoothly onto her tanned skin.
I smile at the sight of her skin reddening, and the way the wax hardens, as does my cock.
She sucks in a breath. ‘I’m sure the red will look good on you.’
‘On me?’
‘You don’t think you’re going to have all the fun, do you? There’s nothing quite like the fear in a man’s eyes when those hot drips of wax get closer and closer to the soft, sensitive skin of his—’
I blow the candle out.
‘Spoilsport.’
I unfasten my jacket and slip it off. Wandering back to the door, I hang it on a hook on the mahogany coat stand. Everything in this room is dark, from the wooden furniture to the soft furnishings to the various toys sitting in plain sight or hidden away in drawers.
One of those drawers scrapes open and Vittoria chuckles, the leather whip and cat-o’-nine-tails that she holds in either hand dark against her skin. She swishes the cat through the air a few times, then cracks it once at her side before repeating the same with the whip in her other hand.
‘What I’m wondering, Cillian, is why you’ve never brought me here before.’
‘This is my workplace, Vittoria.’ I loosen the bottom of my shirt and shrug. ‘But now, I’ve decided it’s time to explore your limits.’
‘Why now?’
‘It’s a celebration or our engagement. Besides, you’ll be part owner of this club soon. You should understand what we offer.’
She takes a step towards me, flicking her wrist so that the whip cracks between us.
Another step and it strikes the floor just in front of my feet.
At the third flick she angles her wrist and the leather strap wraps around my body.
I grab onto it at my waist on the side nearest the handle and pull her towards me.
It wouldn’t be difficult for her to let go, but she doesn’t, allowing me to pull her right up against me.
I thread my fingers through her hair and pull her mouth to mine.
Our kiss is violent and rough until she places her hands flat on my chest and pushes me backwards.
I let myself fall, my knees catching the edge of the bed.
I lie still, staring up into the depths of her brown eyes.
She looms over me, her long black hair tumbling forward in glossy waves that brush against me as she lowers her mouth to mine.
I can’t deny that as much as she antagonises me, Vittoria is beautiful.
Where Niamh is pale, Vittoria is tanned, her skin flawless, her voluptuous breasts peeking from the bodice of her dress, tantalisingly close to spilling over, begging to be kissed.
I fight the urge to run my hands over the sleek black satin that covers her otherwise toned, slender body.
‘Not fair,’ she says. She nudges my knees apart and steps between them but it’s when she places one knee up on the bed dangerously close to my groin that I begin to worry.
As she leans forward her angle shifts, and she grinds my cock and balls between her upper thigh and my pelvic bone.
A wave of pleasure mixed with pain envelopes me as I grow harder beneath her weight.
I capture her long hair in my hand, and twist it roughly before pulling her head back, exposing her throat to me.
I see a flash of pain cross her face as I pull more tightly, relishing in the moment of control I have over her.
‘Mercy!’ she says coyly, and I laugh.
‘No. This isn’t a game.’
‘Isn’t it?’
I shift one leg, straightening it and taking her feet from under her, use my weight to flip her onto her back. Her mouth opens in a silent scream that she quickly covers up before she even makes a sound.
‘Cillian,’ she sighs as I angle her head upwards, twisting her away from me.
My lips connect with her throat, sucking and biting as I kiss up to her jawline before pressing her hips into the bed with mine.
She’d worn the satin dress with buttons down the front tonight, the one I’d bought her specifically for this evening.
I planned to tease her by unbuttoning it ever so slowly but the desire to remove it now overwhelms me.
Using my free hand, I roughly pull at the small buttons.
She scowls as the top one pops off and plinks onto the floor ad I expose her lace bra.
Her breasts are firm, her nipples dark and they’d be perfect topped with the black wax.
Given she’s already teased me by pouring wax over her arm, I know she’ll willingly let me drip wax over her naked breasts, maybe even down her inner thighs.
She arches her back as I kiss down the soft skin that lies between her perfect breasts, then circle each nipple with my tongue before sucking each one into my mouth. And then I bite.
Her cry of pleasure lets me know she’s turned on, but I think it’s the first time I have ever truly shocked her and my time in control is over. For now.
She rolls me violently onto my back, the two of us only just remaining on the surface of the bed.
Straddling me she starts to unbutton my shirt, leaving my tie in place, then she places her hand over my heart and presses her fingers down.
Her nails are sharp as they rake over my chest, and the pain sends a chill of unexpected desire down my spine.
I grab her wrist, squeezing my fingers tight around it and she eases off on the nails with a sigh.
‘Oh, Cillian. Sometimes you’re just no fun.
’ With one swift movement, she tightens my tie, choking me and I see the fire light up her eyes as she takes control.
But I am a Hunter and my instincts kick in.
I push her off me and flip her over pulling up her dress, and running my thumb along her underwear before she can stop me.
The hitch in her breath and the wetness I feel sends a guttural groan from my throat.
While we might dislike each other, our pleasure should at least appear mutual.
Pushing her down onto the bed, I undo my trousers with one hand and line myself up to take her.
Her teasing, the thwarted hunt, and my thoughts of Niamh, have driven me over the edge.
This will be rough, brutal, and when I’ve found my release, she’ll be screaming my name and begging me for more.
This is about me, not her, whatever she might think.
A particular chime from my jacket pocket commands my attention, just as I place my hands on her hips, ready to fuck her. I freeze.
‘Ignore it,’ Vittoria says as I feel the frustration radiate from her. Any other night and I might be tempted to do as she says, but something is telling me not to.
Pushing back off the bed I move to find my phone.
‘Honestly, Cillian. Surely, you’re not going to let a message interrupt us.’
Her seductive smile falls flat as I read the message.
‘What’s going on?’ Vittoria asks.
‘It’s Niamh.’
‘Niamh? Rose’s friend? Why the fuck does she have your number?’ Vittoria spits out. She’s still lying half-naked on the bed, her cheeks flushed from heat and now anger.
‘I have to go.’
‘But—’
‘My sister’s in trouble, Vittoria.’ I’m already getting dressed, my erection having vanished as soon as I read Niamh’s message. I lift the phone to my ear. Sean doesn’t answer, so I try again. ‘Aiden, meet me at the car. We need to head to Sussurri. As fast as possible. Rose is in danger.’
‘Cillian? You didn’t answer me. Why does that girl have your number?’
I put my phone back in my pocket and face Vittoria. I don’t have time for her pettiness. Surely, she understands that I won’t ever leave my sister in danger. ‘Does it matter? Rose is in trouble. I need to go to her. Now.’
Vittoria sighs as though this is all very tedious. ‘I can get security to take a look, but she’s probably just trying to ruin our evening, Cill. And you can’t just bring me here and then leave.’
‘You should know,’ I tell her, ‘that I will always prioritise my family’s safety. When you’re my wife, I’m sure you’ll appreciate that.’
Vittoria’s lips thin, but she buttons her dress back up, tutting at its loss when she reaches the top one and moves from the bed.
Slamming the door behind us, she follows me as I stride up the stairs and out of the Underworld.
I hear her on the phone behind me. She’s speaking Italian, so I don’t get more than the occasional word.
But as I reach the main door. She speaks to me.
‘Security found Sean unconscious in the bathroom with a nasty head wound.’ She shrugs as I round on her.
‘We can hardly put cameras in the bathrooms. Rose and her friend were dancing with three guys most of the night, but they’ve lost sight of them now.
Guess they left together. Again, Cillian, this might not be anything sinister. Your sister—’
I take a step towards her, forcing her back against the wall. My hand captures her throat and I begin to squeeze, all trace of desire replaced by fury.
Defiantly, she holds my gaze, and her hand curls around my wrist. ‘Let. Me. Go.’
I hesitate only for a moment before I release her, then start moving again.
I’m just wasting time with Vittoria. She’s not going to help me with Rose.
Or Niamh. Rage fills me as I imagine what might be happening to them now.
My sister at least has a chance of defending herself – as long as she’s conscious.
But Niamh? The thought turns my stomach.
‘Where are they?’
Vittoria hesitates. It’s brief but noticeable. ‘They can’t find them on the cameras, but they haven’t left the building,’ she assures me.
‘Don’t let them leave,’ I yell, and she gives me a short, sharp nod as she lifts her phone to her ear. ‘She’s my sister,’ I grind out through gritted teeth. ‘You of all people should understand.’
Jamil holds the door open for us and we step out into the not-quite-darkness of the summer night where Aiden is waiting in the limo. It feels at odds with the anger rushing through me right now. I clench my teeth.
What if I’m too late? For Rose. For Niamh.