Page 84 of Dark Duet: Platinum Edition

Caleb nodded once as he followed Felipe past his curious guests and toward a set of red, velvet chairs in the corner.

“So you can see, but keep your privacy.” Felipe gestured toward the chairs.

“Thank you,” Caleb offered as humbly as possible. “I’m Caleb. Kitten is painfully aware of my name, so the formality is not necessary on my account.” Caleb had no desire to be calledmisterall night.

Felipe looked down at Kitten and smiled. “As you wish, Mr. Caleb,” he said and then stepped away to attend to his other guests.

Caleb took a seat in one of the velvet chairs and stroked Kitten’s hair when she quietly took her place next to him on the floor. She had followed him through the crowd on her good hand and knees, carefully guarding her shoulder. Caleb sighed deeply as he stroked her hair, comforting them both. He didn’t want things to be so complicated, but the time for wants had passed.

Abruptly, Caleb heard the tinkling of a bell and a petite Asian girl with raven hair and almond-shaped eyes commanded his attention. She crawled very slowly on her hands and knees, but a cursory examination revealed the need for her hesitant movements. The tinkling sound came from the tiny bell attached to the leather collar she wore. In addition to the collar, she wore a silver serving tray on her back, strapped across her midsection but allowing access to her otherwise-naked body. On the tray, tall, thin wine glasses were half-filled with white wine.

Caleb knew the game. If she spilled her tray of drinks, she would draw the collective attention of the guests and her master would punish her for their amusement. It was wicked, but relatively benign as far as games went. The young woman’s master didn’t appear to be predisposed to violence. The girl’s tawny skin was pristine.

Caleb looked at Kitten, who seemed transfixed by the sight of the woman. Her slender hands were balled into tight fists and her face appeared flushed.

“What are you thinking, Pet?” Caleb asked. It was the first moment they had to themselves, and he was somewhat surprised at how much he enjoyed being in Kitten’s sole company. He smiled gently when her big, puffy eyes shyly met his.

Her lips trembled from her effort to keep fresh sobs from escaping. Caleb sighed.Somuch for a moment of peace.He pulled his fingers away from Kitten and stood up to get a glass of wine from the tray.

The girl was deathly still as he reached for the glass. Her lips were slightly open, allowing for slow and shallow breaths. Caleb did the girl a favor and carefully selected a glass that wouldn’t disrupt her balance and returned to Kitten, who immediately rubbed her head in supplication against his knee.

“Scared I would leave you?” he taunted.

Kitten nodded against his knee.

He was still angry from their showing with Rafiq earlier, but it was directed mostly inward. He shouldn’t let Kitten get to him. “It would be no less than you deserve.”

She whimpered and pressed even closer.

Caleb knew he should correct her behavior, but he opted to reward the fact she wasn’t crying. He was also oddly pleased that while she did not respond to Rafiq, or his orders, she had attempted to follow all of Caleb’s.To varying degrees of success, he mused. He reached into his pocket and took two Vicodin from the bottle he kept there. He was out of morphine, and Kitten still had a lot of pain.

“Open your mouth,” he said. He offered her a smile when she immediately complied. He knew she was scared. He had no doubts it was the only reason she obeyed him, but having her yield was still incredibly arousing. He put the pills in her mouth and lifted the wine glass for her to drink. He watched the long, graceful slope of her throat as she lifted her head to swallow greedily until the glass was empty. His cock stirred.

Kitten’s chocolate-colored eyes looked on him in gratitude and supplication. She could say so many things with her eyes. All of her emotions were there for him to see. If she was an actress, she was a very good one.

Or perhaps you only see what you’d like to see.Caleb’s brow furrowed slightly and he noticed Kitten instantly returned her stare to her thighs. Perhaps Calebalsosaid things with his eyes. He needed to stop that. Caleb looked up just as Rafiq made his way over and sat in the seat next to him.

“I put the whore down,” Rafiq said in Arabic.

“Here?” Caleb was careful not to telegraph his mild surprise.

“Caleb, please. We are guests here. I put her down in the cellar… to sleep.” Rafiq’s tone was meant to poke fun at Caleb.

Caleb didn’t see the humor. He nodded and let the subject drop. “How much longer is this going to last? I want to get out of these ridiculous clothes. You deliberately didn’t tell me you were here. Furthermore, you didn’t mention there would be so many people bearing witness to our crimes. Yet,I’mthe sloppy one.”

Rafiq laughed and smacked Caleb on the back of the shoulder. “Ah,Khoya. It’s always betrayal with you. Even as a boy, you had to have things on your own terms. Do you remember the first time I took you to a brothel? You’d never been with a woman, but you would not be content with just any woman. It had to be the ‘perfect’ woman! Then what happened,Khoya? I’ll tell you – you lost control and finished in less than a minute!” Rafiq laughed so hard he shook Caleb’s shoulder as he laughed.

Heloathedthat story and the way Rafiq took such enjoyment in its telling. He did not like being made fun of, even by someone he considered a friend, a brother, and most importantly, an ally. Caleb felt his face warming in equal parts anger and embarrassment. “Damn you, Rafiq! If you want to reminisce with someone, why don’t you find your friend Jair? I’m sure you’d enjoy his company much better.” Caleb shrugged off Rafiq’s hand.

Rafiq wiped tears from the corners of his eyes as he slowly brought his laughter to a winding halt. “Such a child, Caleb. Jair is a source of information when you are less forthcoming. I know you well,Khoya, and I would be a fool to think you tell me everything. Besides, I wanted to see this girl you’ve selected for Vladek. I want to be sure she’sperfectfor the task. Frankly, as of this moment, I am unconvinced.”

Caleb drove his anger inward; absently, he reached out to stroke Kitten’s hair. “I take offense, Rafiq. I chose Kitten myself and, just as in your story, I’m content with my choice. Did it ever occur to you that a minute in that whore’s arms was all I needed?” Caleb finally relented and smiled. “She said it was perfect.”

Rafiq chuckled, and Caleb couldn’t help but laugh with him. They’d known each other for a very long time. Rafiq was the only person who really knew Caleb, and despite their odd and often tense relationship, Caleb had to admit it was good to laugh with him again. It had been a long time since they’d seen one another and their phone calls had been mainly business.

Caleb relaxed.

“I’m sure it was the best minute of her life,Khoya.”