Page 33

Fuck. I’m naked.

But sexy naked.

I gulp and grab the golden dress, pulling it on. With the not-there bra, my hard nipples poke into the material. I gather my few toiletries and cast a glance at myself. I look exactly like I had sex.

When I open the door, he’s found my favorite teddy bear, some books, my laptop, and my suitcase. He puts those in and then adds some of my jewelry. I look at what he’s put into the jewelry box. Trinkets that mean something and the few expensive pieces I inherited and love. The rest he left on my dresser.

“Those looked mostly untouched; these looked like you wore them. You had them in here. I just added the cheap shit because you’re rich, and rich girls don’t have cheap shit unless it’s something special.”

“Viv gave me stuff as a kid and teenager. We had anallowance, but it just became our thing. Cheap items we liked.” I put my things down and start grabbing some shoes, clothes, and then I fill the rest of the case. I’m not a material-possession person. I’m not Viviana with her closets bursting with clothes, but I do have more than one suitcase worth.

“That’s fine. I’ll buy you more clothes.”

“I need to fix my hair.”

He comes up, smooths his hands over it, then kisses me, biting my lip hard.

It hurts and sends bursts of pleasure through me. “What was that for?”

“I wanted to do it, and it adds to the illusion of you being claimed. Don’t worry, we’ll get there. But I’m not a performing monkey, and I’m not a fan of this traditional shit.” He kisses me once more. “Your hair is perfect like this.”

He holds one hand out to me and takes my case with the other.

“How’s your hand?”

“Not bleeding. I’m a big boy. This is nothing more than a scratch. Take my hand.”

I do.

And together, we head down the stairs.

The entire time I can’t help thinking that I’m honestly not sure if I’m walking out of one cage and right into another.

ELEVEN

callahan

I didn’t expectto have fun with her in that ridiculously frilly bedroom. I also didn’t expect to change my mind and go down on her, either, but I am full of surprises.

Fuck, she’s going to think I’m some kind of pushover when I’m anything but.

Cold, ruthless, a cunt of a bastard who’d cut your throat just as easily as look at you. That’s me. I’m not a fucking teddy bear like the ones she had hidden away in her closet.

She veers between looking at me like I’m a good guy and a monster. Both looks carry curiosity, want, lust, desire. And that’s something that undoes parts of a man.

I should set her straight now. Show her exactly who I am, in case she missed it when we met.

I don’t. Because… fuck.

The thing is, her father really is a dickbag, and to me it’s clear the love he has for his child is less than his love of power and money.

She knows it and doesn’t need me to pile on.

Even though I’m more of what her father is. Actually, worse.

“I didn’t even get to say goodbye,” she says, biting on the corner of her bottom lip, and as my stomach tightens, my cock stirs.

Her lip was unexpectedly plump, satisfyingly so, when I’d bitten it. Lucie’s biting the same spot.