Chapter 21 #2
“All the time.” My palm moves farther up. “It’s where we met.”
Her gaze flicks to mine, and her smile softens. For a moment, I feel that connection we used to have humming between us.
Then the voices outside the fence get louder, and she looks away to see the door along the wall open. I don’t have to. He’s the whole reason that I chose to bring her tonight.
“Who is that?”
I don’t bristle at the excitement in her voice because I know it has nothing to do with the fighter. It’s entirely because of his weapon of choice, of the promise of bloodshed reflecting off the glinting metal.
“That is Caius.” I finally look from Eden to the mat.
While Caius is an inch or two shorter than me with silver threading the temples of his dark hair, he has far more muscle than I do.
Something that is obvious given he’s standing on the mat in nothing but a pair of black pants.
The handles of two blades peek over either shoulder, the black leather crossing over his chest. I know that he has other knives tucked away from sight if he needs them, ones that aren’t obvious enough for his opponent to grab or see him going for.
“He runs the cages for me,” I continue as his opponent comes out.
The fighter is armed to the teeth—which isn’t going to work in his favor.
Caius is smart, always using his opponent’s weapons against him.
“He’s the one that keeps track of the fighters, manages the gambling, and sets the challenges. ”
“But tonight’s different?” Her hazel eyes are locked on the mat as the clock counts down.
“Tonight, there is an open challenge.” I drag my hand dangerously high on her thigh, tempting us both. “Every position in this city is earned, and Caius’s is no different. Once a year, I allow a tournament where the ultimate winner manages the cages.”
It was actually his idea. The cages were designed before I was even born, intended to allow those who are strong and cunning to rise through the classes.
But I liked the idea of giving anyone a chance to work out their grievances with the cages—whether losing a loved one or falling into debt at the tables—by providing entertainment for one special night.
They want to seek revenge? They can line my pockets while they do so.
Caius has never lost. It’s only reinforced his authority since everyone knows what he’s capable of.
“And the others? What happens to the people that didn’t win?”
I chuckle, my breath causing chills along her neck. “They’re dead, Eden.”
Instead of seeming horrified, she shifts on my lap, and I’m growing hard at the reminder of how much violence turns my girl on. Not that she seems to mind as I take in the flush in her cheeks and her quick breathing.
The buzzer cuts through the air, signaling the start of the fight, and I wrap my other arm around Eden, pressing my palm against her stomach. She’s already leaning forward, and I know how bloody this is about to get. Caius likes to make a real show of his strength.
A soft gasp escapes Eden at the first draw of blood, and I tug her closer, my chin on her shoulder. It gives me plenty of access to her neck as I sweep her hair over her shoulder. Normally, I love watching the fight, but I want to savor her instead.
My lips brush her skin as the crowd screams, and I can only imagine what Caius has done. Eden’s hips grind against me as my teeth drag along her neck, and I hope that the camera is catching us. I want everyone to see how Eden is still very much mine.
“Have you taken challenges?” Her voice has dropped low, that raspy tone that I love so much.
A chuckle rumbles through my chest. “Is that what you’re thinking about right now, wife? What I would look like out there?”
The softest moan leaves her lips as she nods, never taking her hooded eyes off the fight that has turned bloody. The crowd is screaming as Caius makes a mess, only adding to the atmosphere.
I tug Eden further back into my body. “I’ve taken many challenges, ones you’ve watched.
You’ve sat your pretty little arse in this chair and watched as I snapped another man’s bones for daring to think he could touch you.
” Her tongue swipes over her lower lip. “I held your gaze as I ended his life.” Her chest heaves.
“And then I took you in the back and fucked you with the same fingers that killed a man until you came all over them.”
She’s trembling now, and I’m a smug bastard that, despite the carnage, I still hold her attention. I bite down on the junction of her neck, making her back bow. “Can I watch it again?” she pants, and she sounds so needy that I’m tempted to break my promise to Rohan and Jude.
My blood has practically all left my brain, but I’m still aware enough to remember why we can’t do that. Even if I really want to give Eden anything she’s willing to ask for.
Bringing my lips to her ear, I answer, “I’ve sworn off being on the mat.”
The disappointment is evident on her face, even as the crowd screams again. They nearly drown out the pleas of Caius’s victim, but neither are enough to distract me.
Pressing my palm against her stomach, I draw Eden back against me.
“I’ll make you a deal.” Her head cocks. “The next time I need to rough a prick up, I’ll take you with me.
I’ll let you sit there while I get his blood all over my skin.
” Her hips shift, and I know I’ve got her again.
“I’ll let you watch as I draw it out until he’s begging for death and you’re pleading for release.
” Her legs part, making more room for my hand.
“I’ll even let you decide when it’s time to kill him.
And then you’ll drop to your knees and let me fuck your pretty mouth for giving you such a show, won’t you? ”
She nods, teeth sinking into her lower lip as her eyes stay forward. But she’s not really focused. Her skin is glistening with sweat, and I’m tempted to fuck her right here.
Dipping my head, I bite down on the spot below her ear, knowing that it has to be painful.
But Eden just moans out my name, the word drowning in the frenzy of the audience.
My eyes flick up as I increase the pressure to see Caius drive a blade through the fighter’s eye, slamming his fist into the handle to embed it all the way to the hilt.
“ Fuck ,” Eden gasps from the sight and the pain I’m inflicting.
I release her skin, licking over the bruise that’s already forming.
“Kieran.” She’s completely breathless as Caius pulls another knife free from his opponent's body, kneeling over the prone form that is unrecognizable. “You waited too long again.”
My lips curve as I laugh softly. It’s her way of begging for an orgasm now, and I’m always desperate to give it to her.
“Are you ready to go home? Do you need your husband’s cock, Eden?”
I might have to carry her out of here given how boneless she is in my arms right now. Lust paints her expression, and she’s so needy, I half expect her to straddle me here.
We both watch as Caius slices through the fighter’s throat, blood spilling out and pooling under him. I’m not even sure he was still alive, but there’s no doubt he’s dead now.
Eden’s head whips toward me as Caius stands, pupils blown wide and skin flushed. “Take me home.”