Page 14 of Caged By the Stranger (Bad Decisions #1)

I’m sure she’s told me, but I just blink stupidly as I catch Rory returning from the flydeck bar.

Even in my peripheral vision, I still see the slight tent a man’s junk makes in such snug-fitting swimwear, making itself known at the front of his suit.

I can’t believe he wore a cock cage for an entire year.

It’s even more baffling now that I have a new perspective of who he is—a wealthy CEO.

Granted, he was in college at the time, but how does one go from letting their cock be beholden to another person to being in such a position of power?

Silently, I shame myself for such backward thinking, knowing that what we do for a living doesn’t dictate our personalities.

It’s just…I guess I’m still new to contemplating the idea of giving someone that much power over my body.

In my mind, I think I’d feel less confident and thus less likely to succeed in my professional endeavors. It’s all so baffling to me.

“Disney World five times! Six Flags four times,” Carmen rattles off animatedly.

“What did I miss?” Rory asks, slipping his lithe body back into the water.

“Charlie wanted to know why I’m all dolled up for the work cruise. I’m trying to explain to him that this is the first time I’ve ever been on a super yacht, so I’m damn well going to wear my diamonds if I feel like it.”

“Fair enough.” I hold my hands up in defeat, chuckling at her. “It was just a question. You’re the one who wanted me to play your damn game.”

She sends a splash my way, clearly not offended.

“I’m honored you dressed to impress,” Rory quips. “What’s that old saying? ‘ A garment needs only to please the wearer ?’” He smirks, taking a sip of his drink, and I catch myself in his gaze.

Is that a fucking cock cage joke? Because, if so, he already knows my truth. My garment does not please me.

“That’s right,” Carmen says smugly with a nod.

Great. I’ve created an alliance. Now, I’m not just the weird employee wearing a cock cage who let the CEO palm his balls and is no fun. And she wonders why I’m not having a good time on this trip.

“Are you going to give Rory shit now, too for being unglamorous, wearing just a chain with a key on it?” she asks.

What is she talking about now? I glance across the bubbling water at the man I’ve been avoiding looking at. He’s still wearing that silver chain I glimpsed in his room yesterday, but now I can see it in its entirety. Dangling from the length over a light patch of dark curls is a little silver key.

“Is that his question?” Rory asks her. “I thought he wasn’t playing.”

“Ooh, you’re right. It’s my turn.” Carmen perks up.

“Just for the record, I take no offense at being called unglamorous,” he deadpans with a smirk.

He really isn’t glamorous at all. He’s always clean and well put together, but now that I know the extent of his wealth, I’m a bit surprised to find he doesn’t flaunt it more in his appearance.

The key on his chain isn’t an adornment.

It’s just a plain metal key and isn’t even affixed to an eyelet.

It’s almost like how guys keep one for a gym locker.

“That’s not what I meant,” Carmen chides, “but, fine, since we’re on Charlie’s boring topic,” she pauses, casting an eye roll my way.

Like I give a damn about this stupid game.

“What’s with the key? Does it unlock a safe full of pirate treasure on the yacht, or is it for something boring like life preservers? ”

“Your priorities amaze me, Carmen.” He chuckles, and I have to hold back a chuff at the way he’s humoring her playful nature. Taking a deep inhale, he casts his eyes toward the darkening evening sky overhead in thought. “It’s for something very special to me.”

I don’t understand the crypticism other than it seems like his MO. I couldn’t care less about their sophomoric game, but that gets Carmen sitting up straight.

“Okay. Color me intrigued! Go on. Special how? Like a family heirloom?”

Rory lets out a soft laugh. “You already used your question.”

“That was not an answer. And hardly a truth!”

“It wasn’t a lie,” he digresses.

Sighing dramatically, she rolls her eyes. “It’s for the life preservers. Isn’t it?”

“No. Those aren’t locked up.”

“Good to know, but you’ve got to give me more than that.”

“Truth or Riddle, huh? Did we just level up?”

“What else have we got to do?” she challenges airily, turning her palms up.

I realize it’s starting to look like I’ve been forgotten, so I plan my exit. I can just get out slowly and act like I’m going to head to the bar. Then I can slip back below deck while they’re babbling.

Biting his lower lip in thought, Rory swirls his drink. “It’s something I just had to have. The first time I saw it, I knew it was meant for me.”

“Hmm. Was it expensive?” Carmen ventures.

“It’s not something you can put a price on,” he counters, fiddling with the little key between his thumb and index fingers.

“But you keep it locked up…” she hums in thought. “Are you afraid it could be stolen?”

“No, that’s not possible. You can’t steal something that’s freely given.”

I don’t know why I haven’t gotten out yet, other than I’m growing curious as to what the fuck he’s talking about. Or maybe I’m just curious about how long it will take Carmen to give up on this stupid guessing game.

“So…it was a gift?”

“You could say that. It’s certainly the greatest one I’ve ever received.” His gaze flicks to mine as he adds, “It’s a huge compliment to be given such a gift.”

Letting go of the key, he lazily extends his arm across the edge of the tub.

If I look away, I’ll look like a guilty man who was recently seen in a cock cage, so I hold his stare even though it makes me want to squirm.

He said those words earlier today when he was talking about cages. It feels like…he’s taunting me.

“Can we see it?”

A hint of a smile plays at the corner of his mouth as he glances down at his drink. “No. Afraid not. I don’t plan on ever sharing it with anyone.”

I don’t like the insinuations he’s making about our conversation from earlier today. Something he won’t share with anyone? Yeah, I’m not being paranoid. He’s fucking with me. Now, I am curious. What the fuck is that key for?

“Oh, I’m gonna figure this out. I’m not giving up,” Carmen mumbles. “Is it on this yacht?”

“At the moment,” he murmurs and then his eyes meet mine, “yes.”

There’s something heated about his stare. Combined with that one little word of affirmation he just uttered, it has me gasping. My lungs are suddenly heavy.

No. That’s not what he means.

It can’t be. He’s just…fucking with me.

He’s giving off his weirdo vibes again. I guess his professionalism at dinner was just a fluke.

“Hmm… Is it new? No, wait!” Carmen exclaims, acting like she’s got a limit on the number of questions in this stupid riddle. “How long have you had it?”

“About…a week, I’d say.” Bringing his drink to his lips, he continues to hold my gaze. “But if you want to get technical, you could say it’s been several weeks.”

A flood of heat washes over my skin. I’d like to think it’s from sitting in this tub for too long, but I can’t deny it’s more likely from the feeling of Rory being one step ahead of me with his mind games. I find my gaze fixed on his key. I can’t pull my eyes away as my heart pounds in my chest.

It’s a small key. Very small. Small enough, it looks like it could fit my cage. And it’s silver…the same color as my cage.

Fuck! No…

No. He…

How…

It can’t be him.

He can probably have whoever he wants. Why would he go to a private club and cage some random guy in a…

I swallow against the dryness in my throat. I’m not some random guy, though, am I? I’m the one he gave the card to the club. He…he fucking knew I would be there.

Oh, God.

“Is it a work award?” Carmen asks curiously, like she thinks she’s getting close to solving the riddle.

I find myself staring at his mouth as his gaze moves to her. “It has nothing to do with work, but…it’s for a gift someone in my professional life offered me.”

The words leave his lips, low and soft, creating a familiar tingling sensation in my balls.

I’m hoping like hell it’s just my paranoia that has me considering how his mouth seems like an exact perfect match to the one that brought me so much pleasure.

A quiet panic creeps up my throat, making my hands tremble.

‘A gift someone in my professional life offered me.’

The description both arouses and pisses me off. My cock is not a gift, but at the same time, I find myself blushing that someone would think of it as one. Who is this man? I’ve never heard anyone talk about another person in such endearing, intimate terms.

It’s too much. I can’t fucking take it. I have to get out of here before I plunge across this tub, snatch that key off his neck, and cause a scene in front of Carmen.

Turning, I push up and hop out of the tub in one quick movement. Landing on wobbly legs, I snag my towel and wrap it around my waist even as I move toward the steps, like it will hide my dirty secret that’s not really a secret at all.

“Charlie? Where are you going?” Carmen yells.

“Cabin,” I babble. “To my cabin. I…I’m done for the night. Goodnight.”

Hustling down the stairs, every fiber of my being is vibrating as my wet feet hit each step, making me realize I forgot my damn flip flops.

I’m not going back up there. I’ll freaking murder him.

I’ll murder the damn CEO of my company and then have to explain in an interrogation room that I did it because he locked my cock up in a cage.

Because no matter how much I try to convince myself it wasn’t him, I know it was. It was fucking Rory that breathed his hot breath on my cock and made me lose my mind so much that I begged for him to come back and do it again. I did offer myself to him, and now I don’t know what to do about it.