Chapter 3
WHITNEY
Iwake up alone.
I can’t believe I slept so well, given I haven’t shared a bed with another person before. I guess Dane’s absence means that he doesn’t do the whole morning cuddling bullshit. Good. Neither do I.
I try to sit up, and my entire body screams in protest. My wrists ache where the silk ties left marks. My pussy is sore in a way that makes me very aware of what happened last night. My throat is raw from screaming his name.
Fuck, I’m horny and pissed that he isn’t here right now. I would be willing to sink my aching body to the floor to beg him to fuck me again. It took him less than twenty-four hours to make me a needy slut for him. The bastard.
The gorgeous, sexy bastard who is now my husband. I had no idea he had tattoos on his chest and shoulders, and it makes me even more of a slut for him.
I drag myself out of bed and catch my reflection in the mirror across the room.
Jesus Christ.
My hair is a disaster, and my face is covered in black streaks from my makeup. My ass is definitely going to show handprints for days.
It won’t stop me from pissing him off so he’ll spank me again. God, my pussy is wet again.
I wonder if he has cameras on me. If I fingered myself right now, would he come barreling in here and spank me until I am his good girl again?
The thought makes me wetter, which pisses me off even more.
My marriage to Dane is going to be like living out my favorite pornos.
I’m surprised to find my phone on the dresser. I wasn’t certain he’d let me keep it. It’s ten in the morning, which means I slept longer than I have in years. I have three missed calls from Sloane.
I should have at least sent her a text last night, but everything happened so quickly.
I push the button to call her back, and she answers on the second ring. “Mom? I was getting worried about you. Are you settled in at Harrison’s place?”
Fuck. I told her Harrison was going to buy me. I didn’t want her to worry about me or about the Victor Ashworth situation.
“Actually, baby, there’s been a change of plan.”
“What do you mean?” Her voice goes tight with worry. “Did something happen? Am I going to have to—”
“No, you’re safe. I promise.” I sit on the edge of the bed and try to figure out how to explain this. “Harrison bid on me. But someone else outbid him.”
“Who?”
“Dane Sinclair.”
“Holy hell, Mom. How much did he bid?”
“Does it matter?”
“Mom.” Her tone reminds me she’s too smart for her own good. “I want to know how much.”
“Fifty million dollars.”
She gasps. “Fifty million? Why would he pay that much?”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, baby.”
“You know what I mean.” I can hear her moving around her dorm room. “That’s insane. Harrison must be furious.”
She has no idea.
“Harrison will survive.”
I don’t know what Harrison is going to do. But I have no doubt that I’ll find out soon enough. He covered up my crime with the promise that I would help elevate him. He’s going to expect to collect.
“But what about Victor Ashworth? If Harrison didn’t buy you, then is Dane going to—”
“No, he already promised that you’re free to finish college and marry whoever you want. Within the Society, of course. But you’re not going to be part of any arrangement, Sloane.”
“He promised that? Why would he do that?”
“Because I’m his wife now, and you’re my daughter. I think you might like him, actually. He’s surprising.”
Sloane is quiet for a moment. Then she says, “You sound different when you talk about him.”
My entire body goes tense. “What?”
“I don’t know. Just different. Like . . .” She trails off. “Did you know him before? Before the auction?”
“Everyone knows Dane Sinclair.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Damn. I close my eyes. She’s very perceptive. She always has been.
“I met him at a Ravens event years ago. Before I married your father. We spoke briefly. That’s all.”
“Mom.”
“What?”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not—”
“You do this thing with your voice when you lie.” She pauses. “What happened between you and Dane Sinclair?”
Nothing, except I’ve thought about that night for twenty years and finally lived out that fantasy last night.
“Nothing happened,” I say. And it’s not a lie. Nothing happened back then because he wasn’t allowed to have me.
Until now.
“Okay.” Sloane doesn’t sound convinced. “But Mom, are you okay? Like really okay? I know you said you’re safe, but Dane Sinclair has a reputation. He’s a dangerous man.”
I stare at the marks on my wrists.
“I’m fine, baby. I promise.”
“He didn’t hurt you, did he? The auction is fucked up enough as it is, but it bothered me less when I thought you’d end up with someone of your choosing.”
That was exactly why I told Sloane about Harrison.
At least I can answer my daughter honestly to ease her worry.
Dane tied me up and made me beg and fucked me until I couldn’t think straight. He marked every inch of my skin so I’d remember who I belonged to. He made me come so hard I screamed his name loud enough for the entire house to hear.
But he didn’t hurt me.
“No, he didn’t hurt me.”
“Okay.” Her voice softens. “But if anything changes, if you need anything—”
“I’m quite resourceful, I assure you. How’s the dorm?” I’ve already killed one husband. How difficult could it be to kill another? Besides, I’d much rather talk about her life than mine.
“It’s good. My roommate seems nice. We went to some orientation thing last night.”
“I’m glad.” My throat tightens. “You get to choose your future now, baby. That’s all I ever wanted for you.”
She’ll marry a Raven, but it doesn’t have to be one of the assholes. Other women would wonder why we don’t run. Why we continue to stay in this world run by controlling fucks.
But it seems that is the case everywhere, so I’d rather operate with the devil I know.
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too.” I force myself to sound steady. “Now go do something fun and reckless, college girl.”
She laughs. “Okay. Call me later?”
“I will.”
We hang up, and I sit there staring at my phone.
Sloane is safe. That is what matters.
She doesn’t know I killed her father, and if I can help it, she never will.
I’m about to get up to shower when my phone buzzes with a text.
Unknown Number: We need to talk. I’ll find you soon.
Fuck. I know exactly who it is.
I stare at the message. I knew Harrison wouldn’t just forget about our arrangement.
I don’t know how I'm going to be able to help him now. And Dane won’t want me anywhere near Harrison. He’s already suspicious and doesn’t believe me after his questions last night.
But I can’t have Harrison revealing my secret.
I look at myself in the mirror again. At the marks Dane left on my skin. At the evidence of his ownership written across my body.
I belong to Dane Sinclair now.
But Harrison Lockwood expects me to pay him back.
And somehow, I need to resolve this without my new husband finding out.