Landon
A part of me thought I should refuse. Keep this moment with Quinn for myself. Enjoy time we might not get back.
But no part of me wanted to say no.
Not to her, ever again.
And although I’d been angry with him, not to him, either.
I nodded, and her eyes lit up with excitement.
She strained against the bonds before remembering herself. My eager Maiden.
She was a motherfucking Lady now, and in the end, she’d be a Queen. But she’d always be my Maiden first.
My good girl.
At my nod to Quinn, Kingston had stepped back to watch, but my voice whipped through the quiet in the room, halting him mid-step. “Don’t move.”
“I only planned to…” He darted his gaze between me and Quinn. “I thought, like before…”
“But this time, you’re not in charge.” I kept my voice firm and steady, hiding the tremor in my fingers by crossing my arms over my chest. “So, what do you say if you want to slow down?”
Kingston cleared his throat. “Mercy.”
I nodded before turning to Quinn and arching a brow.
Her voice, breathy and low as she stared between Kingston and me—the excitement filling her gaze—sent blood rushing to my cock. “I ask for Mercy.”
“And if you want me to stop?”
“I yield.”
“Good girl.” I winked at her, enjoying the quick rise and fall of her breasts as her breathing quickened.
But I turned away and faced Kingston.
He eyed me warily, not uncomfortable but unsure of what I’d do next. It wasn’t often he didn’t see the moves on the board, and I’d surprised him by maintaining control.
“What do you say…” When he swallowed deeply, my eyes fixed on the slight bob of his throat. “If you want to stop?”
“I—” He shook his head. “I won’t yield.”
I let the corner of my mouth curve into a smug grin. “We’ll see.”
His lips parted with a quiet gasp before he schooled his features. And I flicked my gaze over his clothes before turning back to Quinn.
“Lose those.”
Rustling confirmed he’d heeded the order and begun to shed his clothes. But he had to follow all the rules if he wanted to join us on the bed.
My rules.
Over my shoulder, Kingston worked another button open on his shirt, his head popping up as soon as I cleared my throat. I gave him the same arched brow Quinn had earned.
His eyebrows rose, a slight bite in his tone as he said, “Yes, sir .”
Hm. I’d have to deal with the brat in him later, if this became a regular occurrence.
Which, from the flush creeping over Quinn’s cheeks, neck, and chest, I suspected it would.
I sat beside her on the bed, stroking my hand over her thigh. Running it along her side and brushing the sensitive spot on her ribs. Her scars were sensitive, but I’d gauged how to draw out the right response.
How one caress sent a shiver down her spine. How another tightened her core. And drew out a moan from her red lips.
Responsive. So perfectly responsive to every single touch. I’d learned what each one of mine did to her.
And I took my time, simmering the building ache between her legs. Watching her features shift, the way she drew her lip between her teeth, still unable to tear her eyes away from him.
From us.
I dipped my fingers inside her, groaning at the silky wetness and tight hold as she tightened around me. Each glide heightened her arousal. Each retreat lifted her hips.
And when she was getting close, she begged me with her eyes. “ Please , sir. May I come?”
“Not yet.” I withdrew my hand.
She cried out.
I rose from the bed and faced Kingston, who’d been waiting patiently, standing with his spine straight as an arrow. His lean muscular frame commanding even in submission. Tall.
And proud.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he made no attempt to hide his body. His cock straining toward her. Twitching as she moaned in protest.
While I stalked over to him.
I circled him once with an assessing eye, as if appraising his suitability for what I planned to offer him, and though his jaw tightened under my scrutiny, he stood through it without a word. As if he wanted my approval.
Wanted me to deem him worthy.
For her.
Standing behind him, I met her eyes over his right shoulder. Her heavy-lidded gaze drank in the sight of both of us. Thighs clenched, her mouth parted, she darted her tongue out to wet her lips.
My cock jerked in my pants, tapping my fly, and the painful throb as it swelled forced a quick readjustment.
When my knuckles accidentally grazed his side, that brief moment of contact sparked. Like a match across a red-bricked wall, it flared to life, burning with intensity. Shedding light on a memory trapped inside my mind.
With vivid clarity, blue-gray eyes found me in the darkness, and I felt his hand as it clutched mine.
Felt the fear.
The pain.
I winced, sucking in a sharp breath that came out in a rush.
“Are you alright?” Kingston whispered.
Why would you do that?
Why wouldn’t I?
Blue-gray eyes shining in the sunlight…
They filled with tears as the memory faded away.
But I couldn’t remember why .
And I couldn’t stand it.
Instead of answering his question, instead of hiding the truth behind a lie, I found the bright, brown eyes I needed.
The ones that held me together.
And freed me from the dark.
Then, I ordered him to do what I wanted.